Greetings, fellow curious souls!Step into Soulo, where science gets a makeover, and curiosity knows no bounds. We're here to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary and the complex into the comprehensible.
Projects
Strangers CollectiveEthical Online Homewares
Lake Panorama is a gorgeous green space in Auckland, NZ that needs some major TLC!Click the link to see what this community group is all about!
I blog on topics related to Environmental Science and Communication. Check out my blog topics to find something you love!
Textile workshops to keep fabric and clothing out of landfill by creating useful items.
I write content and copy for busy people who know how much Google loves words, but alas - who has the time or energy to start a blog or update their website?
I do! - Let me write it for you. Not only will you be able to cement yourself as an industry leader, but you'll get people noticing - and visiting your website.
Check out my portfolio and testimonials to see what I've achieved for people like you!
Lake Pano Project
Lake Panorama is a gorgeous green space in Auckland, NZ that needs some major TLC!
We aren't only about working bees and volunteering. LPP is about connection - with events and activities for all to enjoy.
Click the link to see what this community group is all about! While you're there sign on for updates.
Soulo Restore
Textile Workshops
Delivered based on demand, workshops are focused on creating practical items from un-workable textiles.
I always confirm textiles used or brought to the workshop cannot be gifted/sold, repaired, re-purposed, or recycled (in that order) before upcycling.
I resist the urge to create items that are likely quick to become in-disposable again. For this reason and despite my creative heart - I don't offer craft workshops.
Workshops are held at local West Auckland community venues - to find out where, when and how, fill in the contact form to express your interest.
Soulo Blog
I blog on topics related to Environmental Science and Communication.Check out my blog topics to see what they're about and find something you love!All the blogs are kindly hosted on the Strangers Collective website.
About Me
Greetings, fellow curious souls!
I'm Elise, the chief juggler behind Soulo – a whimsical blend of science, motherhood, community empowerment, and environmentally conscious entrepreneurship.
In my daylight hours I'm an environmental scientist, namely a biosecurity guardian. My mission? Protect and nurture our Earth's wonders.
But wait, there's more – as well as experiencing all the wonders of parenting and working, to spice things up, I moonlight as a freelance writer, weaving tales from the threads of science environmentalism, sustainability, and ethics.
When I'm not waxing poetic about nature, I'm the proud curator of an eCommerce store brimming with ethical home delights that you'll be hard-pressed not to adore.
If you've ever met a person elbow-deep in a plethora of projects, that's me. From fostering community connections to orchestrating workshops, I'm a chronic project starter, and it's an addiction I'm not looking to kick.
There's also more (because of course) – that's my undying love for citizen science. It's more than just a passion; it's a way of life.
I want to invite you to the ever-thrilling world of participation, curiosity, and discovery. From plant watching in your backyard to tracking the stars above, we're all in this grand, citizen-driven experiment.
So, if you're up for exploring the world through the eyes of an ecologist, a parent, and an advocate for accessible science, then you've found your haven in Soulo.
Ready? Let's dive in and start this grand adventure together.
Elise, the Science Storyteller 🌿💡🌍
P.S. For more unfiltered fun, check out my alter ego at Strangers Collective – where environmental issues meet aesthetics in a dynamic dance of creativity and change.
Strangers Collective
www.strangerscollective.co.nzStrangers Collective is a socially and environmentally responsible homewares and gift store.
We're here to help you make your space beautiful.
All our objects are chosen to inspire individuality and delight the soul; we continue to discover items that bring harmony and character into your home.Browse products from all your favourite eco-brands.
Strange Blog
Strange Blog provides latest trends, product reviews and tips to stay strangely eco.
Enjoy!
Botany for Humans Blog
Ever Google a botanical thing and meet the frustration of polar opposites?
You know how it is - either information aimed at high-level scientists that has you Googling every second word and finding yourself down the rabbit-hole 4 hours later, wondering what your "quick search" was.
Or you're faced with the most patronising "Kids Fun Science!" that has you starting to wonder if botany is even a legitimate science. Read on to find accessible (but not that accessible) botany.
Written for humans, by a human. Discover some history, women in botany, taxonomy, plant info, or read up on the plant of the week.
Mission and Values
Here's the magic trick – every project I've initiated, every word I've written, all the irons I've thrown into the fire – they echo a singular heartbeat. It resonates with the core values of Soulo and its sibling, Strangers Collective.Future Thinking: We've got one Earth, and it's our collective responsibility to make it a better place, not just for us but for the generations that follow.Innovation: Every challenge is an opportunity to spark change. Let's embrace innovation to tackle the problems that lie ahead.Responsibility: With great knowledge comes great responsibility. I'm here to deliver information responsibly, without bias or judgment.Radical Collaboration: We're stronger together. Our collaboration knows no bounds. We're here to break down the silos, shatter echo chambers, and create connections that count.Ethical: From product sourcing to content creation, ethics guide everything we do. It's about the small decisions that make a big difference.Environment Focused: A no-brainer, right? Our focus is on the planet, where all life begins. We're here to protect it.Good Ancestors: Remember, the actions we take today echo through generations. Let's be good ancestors, leaving a legacy that truly counts.
My Writing
But why start sharing my writing you ask? Not only is it a new adventure (which is like air for me) but the world changed after the Covid experience and it amplified the previously not so obvious crisis of misinformation.
What I realised is that scientists are a huge driver of misinformation. Hear me out, we have closed science off to the public by either habitually writing only for other scientists, or dumbed it down to the point of insult. Both approaches make people feel stupid and when we feel stupid, we take a hard swing in the opposite direction.
My scirbbles used to be just for my eyes but times have changed and I decided to step into the public realm to share my knowledge and insights. I have a firm belief that us scientists bear some responsibility for the misinformation epidemic and maybe by sharing my writing we can help turn things around.
My mission? Scientists, unite!
(well, one of my many missions - its an Elise thing)
We've got an obligation to bridge the gap between the complex world of science and the eager minds yearning to understand it. The secret ingredient? Serving up information that sits in the sweet spot between robust science and accessible information - A delightful mix of rigorous facts and accessibility, with a splash of creativity for good measure.
My writing dances through a tapestry of themes, all woven into what I call "Environmental Science Communication." Here, I have one goal – to make sure you don't just consume information; you devour it, digest it, and serve it up at the dinner table of intellectual discourse.
Here, we're not just readers; we're explorers. Welcome to a land where science has a story to tell, and everyone's invited to listen.
Together, let's turn science into an open book. Let's make knowledge as inclusive as the air we breathe. After all, isn't it about time?