Latest Sci-Tech Headlines
UC Chemistry Student Selected to Attend Prestigious Event
Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 12:05 pm | University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury (UC) PhD chemistry student Sandra Atkinson is to join an elite group of international young scientists. More >>
Ecstasy and Alcohol Cause Serious Problems During Pregnancy
Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 11:56 am | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury (UC) psychology researcher has identified the first direct evidence that combined use of ecstasy and alcohol during pregnancy causes brain damage. More >>
Former UC student made a Fellow of the Royal Society
Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 11:48 am | University of Canterbury
A former University of Canterbury (UC) student, Cambridge University astronomy professor Gerry Gilmore has become a Fellow of the Royal Society (UK). More >>
UC Investigating If Native Forests Can Be Restored
Monday, 20 May 2013, 1:30 pm | University of Canterbury
New Zealand has suffered a dramatic decline in native biodiversity which a University of Canterbury (UC) researcher has called the most pervasive environmental issue facing the country. More >>
Computing Expert Wants More Women Learning Computer Science
Monday, 20 May 2013, 1:27 pm | University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury (UC) computer scientist Professor Tim Bell wants more women studying computer science. More >>
SMC Heads-Up: Climate consensus, Budget, mental disorders
Friday, 17 May 2013, 4:38 pm | Science Media Centre
R&D tax relief; Mental illness; Dyson Award; Sciblogs highlights; Research highlights; Policy News; Sci-tech events More >>
A wet end to the week
Friday, 17 May 2013, 12:38 pm | MetService
A broad area of low pressure over the Tasman Sea will bring an extended spell of unsettled weather lasting into early next week. More >>
IK Multimedia updates iGrand Piano and iLectric Piano Apps
Friday, 17 May 2013, 12:16 am | IK Multimedia
May, 2013 - IK Multimedia, the leader in mobile music-creation apps and accessories for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch - is pleased to announce that iGrand Piano for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and iLectric Piano for iPad is now Audiobus compatible, allowing ... More >>
iKlip 2 and iKlip Studio for iPad mini from IK Multimedia
Friday, 17 May 2013, 12:03 am | IK Multimedia
IK Multimedia announces iKlip 2 and iKlip Studio for iPad mini now available Now positioning any iPad or iPad mini on stage, in the studio, in the office or at home is easier than ever More >>
Budget enables RS&T to boost productivity for New Zealand
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 4:58 pm | Science New Zealand
“Today’s Budget shows that the central government is also committed to significantly increasing the ability of RS&T to boost the nation’s productivity and ability to meet the big challenges of our society. More >>
Climate change challenges top of lecture agenda
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 1:25 pm | Massey University
Climate change commentator and the United Kingdom’s former Government chief scientific adviser, Sir David King, presents lectures at all three of Massey’s New Zealand campuses as part of a public lecture series later this month. More >>
Light cast on lifestyle and diet of first New Zealanders
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 10:56 am | University of Otago
A University of Otago-led multidisciplinary team of scientists have shed new light on the diet, lifestyles and movements of the first New Zealanders by analysing isotopes from their bones and teeth. More >>
UC’s Roy Kerr heads to Europe to receive the Einstein Medal
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 9:04 am | University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury (UC) Emeritus Professor Roy Kerr heads to Europe next week to become the first New Zealander to receive the Einstein Medal from the Albert Einstein Society in Switzerland. More >>
Nurturing the next generation of scientists
Wednesday, 15 May 2013, 12:24 pm | Cawthron Institute
The Cawthron Trust is asking primary students ‘What will the next generation of scientists look like?’ this month, as part of the celebrations for National Primary Science Week, 20th – 24th May. Students are invited to answer the question in a ... More >>
Sleep-disordered breathing & biomedical engineering research
Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 2:37 pm | Joint Press Release
The University of Sydney and ResMed Limited today announced a new partnership that includes significant and long-term funding of research at the University, ultimately benefitting the hundreds of millions of sufferers of sleep-disordered breathing worldwide. More >>
Small particles require big computers
Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 9:27 am | University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury's (UC) powerful BlueGene supercomputer which is part of a national e-science project (NeSI) has been helping to solve complex nanocluster problems relating to LEDs commonly found in car and bike lights. More >>
Novel coronavirus outbreak - experts respond
Monday, 13 May 2013, 4:47 pm | Science Media Centre
A new coronavirus -- the same type of virus responsible for the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS -- has been identified as the cause of an increasing number of illnesses and deaths in several countries. More >>
Explorer Grant targets cure for life-shortening disorders
Monday, 13 May 2013, 11:37 am | Health Research Council
One of the recipients of the Health Research Council of New Zealand’s (HRC) new Explorer Grants will use his $150,000 award to test a new technology that could potentially replace the defective genes responsible for such incurable genetic disorders as cystic ... More >>
SMC Heads-Up: Budget 2013, bird flu briefing and media award
Friday, 10 May 2013, 4:08 pm | Science Media Centre
In This Issue Bird Flu Briefing; SAVVY Wellington; TV3 Science; Canon Awards; Sciblogs highlights; Research highlights; Policy News; Sci-tech events More >>
UC Expert Wants More School Children to Learn Sign Language
Friday, 10 May 2013, 2:15 pm | University of Canterbury
Some students learn sign language but with many deaf New Zealanders and children with hearing difficulties, more children should learn the language, UC researcher Dr Dean Sutherland says. More >>
UC Researching Some of the Most Threatened Ecosystems
Friday, 10 May 2013, 11:16 am | University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury (UC) is researching parts of north Canterbury and the Mackenzie Basin areas which include some of the most threatened ecosystems in New Zealand. More >>
SOP signals end to software patents in NZ
Friday, 10 May 2013, 10:12 am | New Zealand Open Source Society
Commerce Minister Craig Foss' SOP237 - announced today - demonstrates the government's commitment to ending software patents in NZ. The membership of the NZOSS and the significant majority of software developers in New Zealand are gratified by the government's ... More >>
UC Research Identifies Patterns Leading to Terrorist Attacks
Thursday, 9 May 2013, 1:20 pm | University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury (UC) research has found that terrorist incidents that kill a lot of people are often preceded by a number of small-scale attacks. More >>
UC Sets Up Wireless Monitoring to Protect Threatened Species
Thursday, 9 May 2013, 1:16 pm | University of Canterbury
New technology developed at the University of Canterbury (UC) is helping protect New Zealand’s kiwi and other native birds. More >>
Hamilton Zoo Releases Special Kokako Pair
Wednesday, 8 May 2013, 4:35 pm | Hamilton Zoo
A pair of kokako, a rare species of New Zealand bird, are leaving Hamilton Zoo and being released in the wild at Puketi Forest in Northland. More >>
Vets Urge Owners to Look For Signs of Heart Disease In Dogs
Wednesday, 8 May 2013, 3:40 pm | NZVAs Companion Animal Society
“Unfortunately, many owners fail to recognise the early symptoms of heart disease in their pets, putting them down to ‘old age’. In missing the early signs, they may be missing the opportunity to give their pets a better quality life as a senior ... More >>
UC Researching Into Severe Loss of Memory
Wednesday, 8 May 2013, 1:25 pm | University of Canterbury
Severe loss of everyday memory associated with brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases substantially impacts quality of life and is a major health issue in New Zealand. More >>
Chemical Exposures On Developing Children Being Investigated
Wednesday, 8 May 2013, 1:19 pm | University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury (UC) researchers are investigating the effects of chemical exposures on developing children including potential future health implications. More >>
Researcher Studying How Companies Can Be More Effective
Wednesday, 8 May 2013, 1:16 pm | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury (UC) management researcher is studying organisations to see how they can become more effective, especially in relation to their day to day operations. More >>
A quieter spell but still some rain about
Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 4:49 pm | MetService
The very active low that brought severe weather to parts of New Zealand at the start of the week has now moved well off to the east. For most of the country, the weather over the next few days is expected to be settled. More >>
UC Researcher Dr Eileen Britt Awarded Scholarship
Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 3:54 pm | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury (UC) psychology researcher Dr Eileen Britt has been awarded a new scholarship named after CTV building victim Susan Selway. More >>
UC Team Seeking Breakthrough In Next Generation Electronics
Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 3:51 pm | University of Canterbury
A UC team is seeking a breakthrough nano-technology for computer microchips. If successful, it would mean that a Kiwi developed technology could become the next hot item in integrated circuit manufacture. More >>
National Science Challenges Must Break New Ground
Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 3:06 pm | New Zealand Association of Scientists
“The profile of science in New Zealand has been raised by the announcement of 10 National Science Challenges by Minister of Science and Innovation, Steven Joyce, and the commitment to invest $133.5m of new money in these challenges over the next ... More >>
Paediatric Appendicitis – Where to Manage It?
Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 2:01 pm | Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
The mandatory transfer of paediatric patients with appendicitis to dedicated paediatric surgical units does not appear to be justified by analysis of patient outcomes in a regional centre, delegates to the 82nd Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) of the ... More >>
Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair
Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 1:56 pm | Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair through 5mm port sites with mesh, is a safe, technically feasible and effective procedure with no associated infection and minimal perioperative morbidity, delegates to the 82nd Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) of ... More >>
Could Coral Reefs Become Sponge Reefs In the Future?
Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 1:39 pm | Victoria University of Wellington
International research has suggested that many coral species won’t survive beyond the end of this century, but marine biologists at Victoria University are offering an alternative scenario. More >>
UC Psychologists Helping Shape the Robotic Future
Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 1:37 pm | University of Canterbury
Remotely-operated vehicles are emerging globally as a big business and University of Canterbury (UC) psychology researchers are looking for ways to make them more user-friendly. More >>
Wood burning fires a winter health hazard
Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 1:17 pm | Victoria University of Wellington
Research by a Victoria University student shows that particulate matter from wood burning fires is a winter health hazard in New Zealand. The research by Canadian-born Travis Ancelet, who graduates from Victoria University with a PhD in Chemistry next ... More >>
Fighting rheumatic fever - experts respond
Monday, 6 May 2013, 4:31 pm | Science Media Centre
New funding to combat rheumatic fever announced today will provide for free drop-in clinics for sore throat testing and treatment in some of the areas most heavily-affected by the disease. More >>
Global leadership for NZ growth and development scientists
Monday, 6 May 2013, 3:19 pm | Gravida
Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development has developed an ‘International College’ of celebrated global experts who will provide leadership to all its members working on cutting edge research in reproduction, pregnancy, growth and development. More >>
Professor Lord Robert Winston becomes Gravida patron
Monday, 6 May 2013, 3:15 pm | Gravida
Famous scientist, clinician and broadcaster Professor Lord Robert Winston is strengthening his ties to New Zealand by becoming a patron of Gravida, New Zealand’s national Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) dedicated to discoveries in maternal, children’s ... More >>
Science of Animal Testing Thrown into Doubt
Monday, 6 May 2013, 1:48 pm | Pat Dutt and Jonathan Latham
New scientific research has cast grave doubt on the safety testing of hundreds of thousands of consumer products, food additives and industrial chemicals. Everyday products, from soft drinks and baby foods, to paints, gardening products, cosmetics ... More >>
UC Investigating Impact of Earthquakes on Couples
Monday, 6 May 2013, 12:24 pm | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury researcher is investigating how Canterbury couples’ relationship satisfaction was impacted by the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. More >>
UC Research Into Predatory Attacks on NZ Falcon Nests
Monday, 6 May 2013, 11:04 am | University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury (UC) researchers have found that that feral cats, stoats and hedgehogs are likely to be the biggest threats to ground-nesting New Zealand falcons. More >>
Summary of the April 2013 Community Research Newsletter
Monday, 6 May 2013, 9:26 am | Community Research
Five Line Summary of the April 2013 Community Research Newsletter More >>
SMC Heads-Up: Science of crime, SAVVY, Challenges
Friday, 3 May 2013, 3:51 pm | Science Media Centre
SAVVY Wellington; Science of crime; Monckton rebuffed; PM's Science Prizes; Quoted; New from the SMC; Sciblogs highlights; Research highlights; Policy News; Sci-tech events More >>
Top of the South ready to take on science challenges
Friday, 3 May 2013, 3:34 pm | Cawthron Institute
Cawthron Institute has welcomed the National Science Challenges announced by Government this week. More >>
Turning wetter then colder this weekend
Friday, 3 May 2013, 3:30 pm | MetService
A complex low over the central Tasman Sea, and an advancing front from the Southern Ocean, will make for a wet weekend. Media and Communications Meteorologist Daniel Corbett commented "For many places the weekend will start off dry. However, on Saturday, ... More >>
Lincoln University welcomes new National Science Challenges
Friday, 3 May 2013, 3:17 pm | Lincoln University
New Zealand’s specialist land-based university welcomes and supports the Government’s new National Science Challenges. The National Science Challenges are clearly identified social, environmental and economic opportunities and difficulties that face New Zealand. More >>
What If People Were Complacent About Tsunamis?
Friday, 3 May 2013, 12:14 pm | University of Canterbury
Professor James Goff of the University of New South Wales in Sydney is a visiting Erskine lecturer at UC and will talk about tsunamis at his lecture next Wednesday (May 8). The Erskine fellowship programme was established in 1963 following a generous ... More >>
UC Research Investigates Drug-taking Pregnant Mothers
Friday, 3 May 2013, 12:06 pm | University of Canterbury
Drug-dependent pregnant women are very high-risk, with high rates of chronic physical and mental health problems including depression and hepatitis C, University of Canterbury (UC) research has found. More >>
One In Five Civil Union Couples Are Visitors
Friday, 3 May 2013, 10:59 am | Statistics New Zealand
There were 20,521 marriages registered to New Zealand residents in 2012, Statistics New Zealand said today. A further 2,422 marriages were registered to overseas residents. There were also 303 civil unions registered to New Zealand residents, and an additional ... More >>
Antarctic proposal one of ten National Science Challenges
Thursday, 2 May 2013, 2:44 pm | Antarctica New Zealand
Prime Minister John Key and Hon Steven Joyce, Minister of Science and Innovation, today announced the final 10 National Science Challenges. The ten research areas identified as New Zealand's first National Science Challenges include the Antarctic ... More >>
EU restricts neonicotinoid crop protection products
Thursday, 2 May 2013, 2:15 pm | Federated Farmers
Federated Farmers believes enough research will be available within two years to scientifically inform New Zealand decision-making on the future use of crop protection products from the Neonicotinoid family. More >>
Study Of NZ Children’s First Words Expected to Finish 2014
Thursday, 2 May 2013, 1:03 pm | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury (UC) survey of up to 3000 children, which will help provide the first comprehensive study on early language development in New Zealand, is expected to be finished early next year. More >>
UC Engineer Wins Major NZ Earthquake Engineering Award
Thursday, 2 May 2013, 12:52 pm | University of Canterbury
UC Engineer Wins Major Nz Earthquake Engineering Research Award May 2, 2013 A University of Canterbury (UC) engineer has won the 2013 Earthquake Commission and the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering's Ivan Skinner Award for the advancement ... More >>
Genetics companies urged to eliminate small calf syndrome
Thursday, 2 May 2013, 12:01 pm | New Zealand Animal Evaluation Ltd
New Zealand Animal Evaluation Ltd (NZAEL), the DairyNZ subsidiary company that manages the National Breeding Objective for New Zealand dairy cattle, is encouraging and welcoming moves by genetics companies Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) and ... More >>
NIWA: the Deep South Drives New Zealand’s Future
Thursday, 2 May 2013, 10:42 am | NIWA
One of the biggest drivers of New Zealand’s climate is the influence of ocean currents and climate systems in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Even relatively subtle changes could have dramatic impacts on our climate and ability to work and live as ... More >>
Top 10 Driver Frustrations
Thursday, 2 May 2013, 10:38 am | AA Insurance
Drivers who don’t leave their contact details after hitting a parked car frustrate New Zealand motorists the most, according to a new survey by AA Insurance. More >>
Intensive Effort to Beat Pest Butterfly Breeding
Thursday, 2 May 2013, 10:24 am | Department of Conservation
More than 200 great white butterfly infestations were found and removed in Nelson Tasman last month – more than double those detected in March - as intensive efforts continue to beat an autumn spike in butterfly breeding. More >>

