Dee has a strong passion for the Taranaki Mounga project as this supports her whakapapa (genealogical) connections to her tūrangawaewae (place of standing) and whenua taurikura (ancestral lands).
Dr Acushla Sciascia is of Ngāruahine Rangi, Ngāti Ruanui and Te Āti Awa descent.
She completed her doctoral studies in 2013 with Massey University and since then has been working in the public sector as a research, evaluator and strategist.
Dee’s research background has largely emerged from Kaupapa Māori research specifically Māori negotiating and navigating new technologies and online environments.
Dee’s research interests have transitioned into the Climate Change space as was a part of the National Risk Assessment Framework for Climate Change panel and is co-leading the Mātauranga Māori Programme in the Resilience to Natures Challenges National Science Challenge.