Come and learn how to be an observologist* from the world’s premiere expert on observology! Author and illustrator Giselle Clarkson literally wrote the book on it. Let her be your guide into the fascinating world of very small scientific expeditions. Discover the art of observology, learn some cool facts about easy-to-observe animals and plants and finish by doing a small drawing together.

* Observology is the study of looking. An observologist makes scientific expeditions, albeit very small ones, every day.

Suitable for children ages 7-12. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets required for child attendees only.

Tickets to this event are available on a Pay What You Can Afford (PWYCA) basis. The New Zealand International Science Festival is a non-profit organisation that strives to make its events accessible to anyone who wants to attend. For those who can pay, the recommended minimum ticket price for this event is $5 per ticket.

The University Book Shop will be in the Festival Hub on Friday 12 July with a selection of Giselle's books available for purchase before and after the workshops.

Giselle Clarkson is an award-winning author, illustrator and cartoonist living in South Wairarapa. In 2023 she was made an Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate, receiving the Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award for an outstanding contribution to New Zealand children’s books. Giselle blends humour with detailed observation and a bold immediacy to achieve her signature style. She is a regular contributor to the NZ School Journal, NZ Geographic magazine, children’s literature website The Sapling, and once experienced viral success with an illustrated poster of NZ baked goods. Her bestselling non-fiction book The Observologist: A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions (Gecko Press, 2023) is her first as both author and illustrator, and has been and has been translated into four languages.