Prestigious appointments for two scientists

Prestigious appointments for two AgResearch scientists

14 November 2006

AgResearch’s Dr John Caradus and Dr Stephen Goldson are among the 10 new Fellows elected to the Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ) science academy this year.

Dr Goldson is AgResearch’s Chief Science Strategist and has led programmes to explore mechanisms of biological suppression for two severe pasture pests in New Zealand - the clover root weevil and Argentine stem weevil. His other work includes the invention of Sniffertech™ - a device that seeks to identify biological risk material in shipping containers. He has helped to identify the potential of sensor technologies to improve New Zealand's border biosecurity.

Dr Caradus is CEO of AgResearch subsidiary Grasslanz Technology Ltd (Grasslanz™) and his work with forages has led to him being dubbed by "Mr White Clover." He is acknowledged as the world's expert on the breeding and development of white clover cultivars, and the use of white clover in agriculture. Through his work on the genetic control and heritability of characteristics that affect persistence and performance of white clover, he has produced 13 new cultivars.

As Fellows, both Dr Goldson and Dr Caradus will be involved in providing expert advice, promoting scientific best practice, and disseminating scientific information. President of the RSNZ’s Academy Council, Professor Carolyn Burns, says the scientists elected demonstrate the breadth of excellent research being carried out in New Zealand today.

“These are people who have dedicated years of hard work and exceptional thinking to their respective fields,” she says.

“A lot of world class science is being conducted in New Zealand but the selection process for Fellows involves such exhaustive discipline-specific selection panels and independent international reviews that only a small number of those nominated ever get through.”

ENDS

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