Octavia Calder-Dawe – The Conversation

Staff and students queue to receive antibiotics at the University of Kent, UK, after a deadly outbreak of bacterial meningitis. Carl Court/Getty Images

March 20, 2026

Bacterial meningitis is deadly, but can also have life‑altering long‑term effects – new study

Octavia Calder-Dawe, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Kate Smith, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Outbreaks of bacterial meningitis at NZ and UK universities highlight a need for greater understanding and ongoing support for those who survive an infection.

Shutterstock/fizkes

April 27, 2021

How crowdfunding campaigners market illness to capture the attention of potential donors

Tom Baker, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Ann E. Bartos, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Caitlin Neuwelt-Kearns, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Octavia Calder-Dawe, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, and Susan E Wardell, University of Otago

Crowdfunding campaigners appeal to potential donors by describing the recipient as the subject of misfortune, rather than personal irresponsibility, and therefore deserving of their sympathy.

Contact Octavia for