Dr Evans, who was born in this country, growing up in North Auckland, yesterday gave two fully-booked workshop sessions - titled Science Rocks - for youngsters aged 5-13, as part of Dunedin's latest New Zealand International Science Festival.
Last night, she also gave a keynote address on "Ageing Well: Genes, Lifestyles and Medicines" at the University of Otago, also as part of the nine-day festival, which started on Saturday.
Dr Evans, who is vice-president at Amira Pharmaceuticals, in San Diego, said she had "happened to fall in love with science in my later high school years".
New Zealand needed more scientists, technologists and engineers and she recommended young people pursue a career in science if they were keen to do so, she said in an interview yesterday.
Asked whether mixed messages were being sent, given concerns by scientists about insufficient funding and the insecurity of research careers, Dr Evans agreed this was "a bit of a contradiction".
She did have mixed feelings about science career prospects in New Zealand, although difficulties in gaining sufficient research funds was "a problem all over the world, not just in New Zealand".
More funding for research in science and technology was clearly needed in this country.
New Zealand needed a permanent workforce of scientists but there was too much "temporary funding", involving grants lasting only a few years.
Young scientists could not commit to paying off a house and supporting a spouse and family without more secure funding.
"That really has to change," she said.
Making grant applications also involved too much bureaucracy.
University of Otago scientist Dr Cushla McKinney, who is on maternity leave, told the ODT recently she was concerned problems in gaining funding could force the abandonment of her research into genetic risk factors underlying rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.
Dr Evans said she had "great sympathy" for Dr McKinney and others in her situation and noted that a key research funding agency in Canada took account of the pressures facing young scientists who were also caregivers.
Maintaining a positive attitude, trying to have fun and minimising stress were ways New Zealanders could try to maximise their potential lifespan, she said.
She also experienced stress, but tried to take her own advice by avoiding too much worry about short-term concerns, she said.