Scientists honoured with medals and awards

News release from the Royal Society of New Zealand

STRICTLY EMBARGOED until 10.00pm Wednesday 18 November 2009

New Zealand scientists honoured with medals and awards

Top New Zealand scientists have been recognised for their work with the presentation of prestigious awards at the annual Royal Society of New Zealand’s Science Honours Dinner held in Auckland on Wednesday night.

The country’s highest science and technology award, the Rutherford Medal, was awarded to internationally renowned biomedical engineer Professor Peter Hunter, FRS, FRSNZ, of The University of Auckland for his revolutionary approach to modelling the human body. (Note to editors - see separate release with details of his work and the award.)

The top award for achievement in technology, the Pickering Medal, was awarded to Professor Kenneth McNatty FRSNZ from Victoria University of Wellington for his contribution to the field of reproductive biology, with products having been commercialised from his work.

The Thomson Medal was awarded to Dr Richard Garland, managing director of New Zealand Pharmaceuticals Ltd, for his outstanding leadership in the development and application of science and technology to New Zealand business development. 

The Hutton Medal for earth sciences was awarded to Professor Colin Wilson FRSNZ from Victoria University of Wellington for his outstanding work on volcanism. Professor Wilson’s research aims to better understand volcanic activity so adequate warnings eruptions can be given.

This year’s Te Rangi Hiroa Medal for excellence in social sciences was awarded to Professor Ian Pool FRSNZ of the University of Waikato for his demographic research on Māori fertility and family formation, the theory of age-structural transition, the measurement of mortality and morbidity, and the relationship between population and development.

Professor Peter Steel FRSNZ from the University of Canterbury was honoured with the Hector Medal for the advancement of chemical sciences, for his world renowned work in the field of metallosupramolecular chemistry leading to potential applications in medicine and nanotechnology.

The RJ Scott Medal for engineering sciences and technology was awarded to Paul Harris of Industrial Research Limited in Lower Hutt for his significant contributions to the development and application of electronic devices in New Zealand.

The Science Honours Dinner is organised by the Royal Society of New Zealand, whose prime purpose is to promote excellence in science and technology.

Full list of awards follows:

2009 Science Honours Dinner, hosted by the Royal Society of New Zealand

Full list of the 2009 awards, with citations and details of winners’ work:

Rutherford Medal - for an exceptional contribution to New Zealand society in science and technology: awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand to Professor Peter John Hunter FRSNZ of The University of Auckland

Citation: Professor Peter John Hunter FRSNZ has pioneered a new approach to modelling the human body using simulations that span biological levels all the way from genes to the whole organ. He has shown outstanding leadership in advancing New Zealand biomedical science and engineering.

Description of work: Outstanding research by Professor Peter Hunter of The University of Auckland was recognised by the Royal Society of New Zealand’s highest scientific prize, the 2009 Rutherford Medal for science and technology. As a biomedical engineer, his work combines engineering, mathematical and computational tools to model the human body. Professor Hunter initiated and led the development of mathematical modelling techniques that are providing the computational basis for a virtual human, right down to the genetic level. His ground-breaking research will eventually help advance treatments for a number of life-threatening diseases.  The award acknowledges Professor Hunter’s outstanding leadership of the Bioengineering Institute, as well as his efforts in promoting and advancing the field, both at home and abroad.

Pickering Medal – to recognise excellence and innovation in the practical application of technology: awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand to Professor Kenneth Pattrick McNatty FRSNZ of Victoria University of Wellington

Citation: Awarded to Professor Kenneth Pattrick McNatty FRSNZ for his outstanding contribution in the field of reproductive biology. He has enhanced our knowledge of ovarian function and products commercialised from his work have had a major impact on animal production and fertility management.

Description of work: The highest award for achievement in technology, the Pickering Medal, was awarded to Professor Kenneth McNatty from Victoria University of Wellington, for his contribution to the field of reproductive biology. His work has led to the discovery of an entirely new class of proteins that regulate ovulation and the development of new therapeutic and diagnostic methods for the management of reproduction in humans and animals. Professor McNatty’s current work focuses on the effects of environmental contaminants on reproduction, and his research aims to provide greater insights into the effects of nutrients, chemicals and pollutants that may affect fertility including that of endangered species. Professor McNatty has enhanced knowledge of ovarian function and the products of his work have had a major impact on animal production and fertility management. His innovation, foresight and abilities have led to commercialised products that have contributed over $100 million to the New Zealand economy each year.

Thomson Medal – for outstanding and inspirational leadership in the management of science: awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand to Dr Richard Pelham Garland

Citation: Awarded to Dr Richard Pelham Garland for outstanding and inspirational leadership in the development and application of science and technology to the New Zealand business development, in particular developing a niche fine chemical industry using local expertise, raw materials and capital.

Description of work: The Thomson Medal awarded to Dr Richard Garland continues the recognition of notable New Zealanders who are outstanding leaders in science innovation and commercialisation. Dr Garland is Managing Director of New Zealand Pharmaceuticals Ltd (NZP), in Palmerston North, a manufacturer and exporter of pharmaceutical intermediates and diagnostics products for the world's leading pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies. NZP’s business uses by-products from the meat industry to make a number of biochemicals, with the main end-use being in a drug used to treat liver disease.  Dr Garland built NZP to become a successful and rapidly expanding business, boosting New Zealand’s yearly exports by over $50 million. Recently NZP diversified into building expertise in complex carbohydrates, and in 2008 built a plant to make such chemicals in compliance with the exacting standards of the international drug industry.  Dr Garland’s company recently acquired Dextra, a UK company specialising in synthesizing complex carbohydrates for the drug discovery industry which will lead to additional manufacturing opportunities at the New Zealand plant.

Hutton Medal – for excellence in earth sciences: awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand to Professor Colin James Ness Wilson FRSNZ of Victoria University of Wellington

Citation: Awarded to Professor Colin James Ness Wilson FRSNZ for his outstanding work on New Zealand volcanism.

Description of work: The Hutton Medal for earth sciences was awarded to Professor Colin Wilson FRSNZ from Victoria University of Wellington for his outstanding work on volcanism. Professor Wilson’s research aims to better understand the effects of volcanic activity so that adequate warnings of impending eruptions can be given. Currently based in Wellington, his work ultimately aims to minimise the potentially devastating effects eruptions. Since viewing these events first-hand is obviously not an option, Wilson looks at what’s been left behind—analysing products like pumice and ash. He describes his work as “a kind of forensic science applied to sleeping or dead volcanoes rather than dead people, you might say it’s like CSI: Taupo”.  His research is carried out in New Zealand, at volcanoes in Taupo, and overseas on supervolcanoes in Alaska, California and Yellowstone. He is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most highly-regarded earth scientists and is known as one of the world’s foremost and influential physical volcanologists.

Te Rangi Hiroa Medal – to recognise excellence in the social sciences: awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand awarded to Professor (David) Ian Pool FRSNZ from the University of Waikato.

Citation: Awarded to Professor David Ian Pool FRSNZ for research in the demography of Māori, fertility and family formation, the theory of age structural transition, the measurement of mortality and morbidity, and the relationship between population and development.

Description of work: This year’s Te Rangi Hiroa Medal was awarded to Professor Ian Pool FRSNZ from the University of Waikato for his demographic research on Māori fertility and family formation, the theory of age-structural transition, the measurement of mortality and morbidity and the relationship between population and development. Hamilton-based Professor Pool’s research looks at mapping the histories of New Zealand's populations from Captain Cook's time until the present, researching such details as population growth and geographic distribution within New Zealand. Pool has published several papers and two books, including Te Iwi Maori, and The New Zealand Family from 1840: A Demographic History. Writing in the journal Population Studies, former Government statistician Len Cook suggested Pool’s work as “likely to remain without peer in New Zealand as a critical reference source for many years”. Professor Pool is a member of IUSSP, a scientific committee that analyses age-structural transitions across the world. The committee was established by the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population and Paris-based organisation (CICRED). Along with other members, Pool edited several books on the topic. His studies play a central role in helping New Zealanders better understand their past and prepare for the future.

Hector Medal – for an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the chemical sciences: awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand to Professor Peter Steel FRSNZ

Citation: Awarded to Professor Peter Steel FRSNZ for his world renowned research in the field of metallosupramolecular chemistry leading to potential applications in medicine and nanotechnology.

Description of work: Professor Peter Steel of the University of Canterbury was honoured with the Hector Medal. Professor Steel FRSNZ is world renowned in the field of metallosupramolecular chemistry, which is concerned with the synthesis and properties of large assemblies of organic molecules held together by metal atoms. These fascinating macromolecules can behave as nanoscale flasks within which one can isolate individual molecules. The research has potential applications in the fields of catalysis, drug delivery and nanotechnology. In Christchurch currently, Steel is researching the assembly of new supramolecular structures with unusual architectures, such as cages, boxes, rings, chains, necklaces and ladders, as well as the discovery of new interactions to hold together such species.

RJ Scott Medal – for outstanding contribution to engineering sciences and technology: awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand to Paul David Harris of Industrial Research Limited

Citation: Awarded to Paul David Harris for his significant contributions to the development and application of electronic devices in New Zealand.

Description of work: The RJ Scott Medal for engineering sciences and technology was awarded to Paul Harris of Industrial Research Limited in Lower Hutt for his exceptional work in the advancement of engineering science in New Zealand. Harris has made a number of significant contributions to the development and application of electronic devices. He describes his work as “firstly gaining an understanding of the issues and physics involved with a problem and then development of instrumentation to realise a solution”. Most often he designs custom electronics to acquire the sensor signals and signal-processing software to make sense of them, and develops the instrumentation so that the outcome is useful for industry.  This work has lead to new applications and products such as stiffness grading in forestry, dynamometers for tuning cars and cool store humidity measurement. Harris leads a research programme in ultrasonics addressing fundamental aspects of how acoustic waves propagate within solid materials and the design and fabrication of miniature ultrasonic transducers for high resolution, real-time imaging. His work resulted in the formation of three companies that manufacture this equipment, with substantial economic benefit for New Zealand.

Gold Crest Awards – to encourage innovation and creativity in problem solving: awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand to Jessie Bird (formerly Tawa College, Wellington, now at Victoria University), Louise Davison (formerly Morrinsville College now at Massey University), Anne Sim (Manurewa High, Auckland), Nicole Steele (Morrinsville College), Rebecca van Rooyen (Morrinsville College), Sophie Zhang (formerly Palmerston North Girls High School now at Columbia University).

The CREST scheme is the Royal Society of New Zealand’s international awards scheme designed to encourage years 6–13 students to be innovative, creative, and to problem solve in science, technology and environmental studies.

Citations:

Jessie Bird has been awarded a Gold CREST medal for her investigation into the anti microbial properties of fungi found growing in the local bush. She used a variety of methods to test for the presence of active compounds in the fungi she collected.

Louise Davison has been awarded a Gold CREST medal for her research project on making a difference to milk production through clean trough water. This included adapting a trough cover to provide a low cost, and reduced labour, method to keep drinking troughs clean.

Anne Sim has been awarded a Gold CREST medal for her studies investigating the concept of whether algae could be used to reduce industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. 

Nicole Steele has been awarded a Gold CREST medal for her investigation into whether prolonged therapy increases the bacteriological cure rate in the treatment of subclinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows. She evaluated the efficacy by varying the number of daily treatments of the injectable antibiotic penethamate to show that 6 days was significantly better than 3 or 0 days in terms of increasing the cure proportion.

Rebecca van Rooyen has been awarded a Gold CREST medal for her research on agility in netball in particular the techniques of changing direction in a 90 degree turn and exploding into a 5 metre sprint, which are “subcategories” of technical agility. She designed an agility training program with subsequent collection and analysis to show that the students that undertook her training programme improved significantly to those that did not.

Sophie Zhang has been awarded a Gold CREST medal for her research into developing ways of purifying water using chemical Titanium Dioxide, plastic drink bottles and sunlight’s natural component of UV light for use in nations where many people do not have access to clean, uncontaminated water. Sophie is in her first semester studying Maths and Physics at Columbia University after having won a John Jay Scholarship.

Liley Medal – to recognise research that has made an outstanding contribution to health and medical sciences: awarded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand to Professor Allan Herbison FRSNZ of the Department of Physiology at the University of Otago in Dunedin.

Citation: The award recognises Professor Herbison’s contribution in the field of neuroscience and neuroendocrinology. His research, published in 2008 in the Journal of Neuroscience, described the process by which a small group of nerve cells in the brain, called gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons, are activated, thereby triggering the hormone surge that leads to ovulation.  This study, involving his laboratory in Dunedin and collaborators in Cambridge, used an elegant experimental design to show an essential role for a small protein called kisspeptin and its receptor, GPR54 in the process.  While kisspeptin was known to be involved in the initiation of puberty, its newly discovered role in the brain’s control of ovulation suggests new targets for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of infertility and in contraception.

McKenzie Award - for education research: awarded by the New Zealand Association for Research in Education to Professor John Barrington

Citation: John Barrington, an Associate Professor at Victoria University until 1999, has been a leading educational researcher for 40 years. His research has consistently produced ground-breaking insights in several educational fields. His latest book, Separate but Equal? Māori Schools and the Crown 1867-1969, published by Victoria University Press in 2008, was described in the Journal of Pacific History as a ‘landmark study’, and further cements his reputation as the foremost historian of Māori education. This reputation recognises his many comparative ethnic studies, which include numerous international and national publications in edited international and leading journals. John has also produced several major research reports for Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal inquiries.

John’s ability to undertake original research has also been demonstrated in other fields, including educational administration.  His extensive analysis of the Tomorrow’s Schools reforms demonstrated that several underlying explanations for these had indigenous origins, rather than just being attributable to overseas influences.  He has held several senior positions in education, particularly in the area of governance, and was a founding member and second President of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education.

NZ Mathematical Society Research Award – to recognise excellence in mathematical research: awarded by the New Zealand Mathematical Society to Dr Andre Nies from The University of Auckland.

Citation: This award recognises André Nies's special creativity and highly influential contributions in the area of mathematical logic and in particular its application to questions of computability, complexity, and randomness.

Easterfield Medal – in recognition of quality and originality in research in chemistry: awarded by the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry to Dr Richard Tilley from Victoria University of Wellington.

Citation: Dr. Tilley’s research lies in the field of materials science and the syntheses and characterisation of nanoparticles.  

The solution synthesis of inorganic nanocrystals, or nanoparticles, provides a powerful method to control both their size and shape, which can lead to the formation of materials with unique and specific chemical and physical properties. The shape- and size-dependant properties of these nanoparticles include superparamagnetism, and the tuneable luminescence of quantum dots. Hence, the control of nanocrystal shape is currently one of the major challenges in synthetic chemistry. To this end, the Tilley group has gained considerable knowledge in the influence on nanoparticle growth of surfactants that control the morphology.

Tilley’s group is now recognised as world leaders through their development of three different methods for nanoparticle preparation that has allowed them to synthesise a wider range of novel materials. A particular feature of Tilley’s work is his specialisation in high-resolution electron microscopy as a technique for the detailed characterisation of nanoparticles. Also notable in the Tilley approach to research has been his willingness to seek collaboration with colleagues overseas, including groups in the UK, Japan and the United States.

Three Rs Award – for excellence in the humane use of animals in research, teaching and testing: awarded by the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee to Dr Mark Oliver from Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland
Citation: The concept of the 'Three Rs', from which the Award takes its name, is to replace live animal subjects, reduce the number of animals used and refine experimental techniques to minimise pain and distress.

This year's Three Rs Award goes to Dr Mark Oliver, a senior research fellow at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, for his work in refining indoor sheep housing for physiological studies.  The initiatives undertaken by Dr Oliver have resulted in improved welfare and animal suitability for experimentation, the reduction of inter-animal variability and an overall reduction in animal use.

Roger Slack Award – in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the study of plant biology by a young scientist: awarded by the New Zealand Society of Plant Biologists to Professor Mark Turnbull from the University of Canterbury

Citation: Matthew Turnbull, a Professor at the University of Canterbury, studies the regulators of the acquisition of carbon and nitrogen by plants in response to the environment.  Climate change is the most pressing environmental issue facing humans, and our understanding of cycling between the atmosphere and the terrestrial biosphere is vital in efforts to predict future climate change.  Using both measurement and modelling approaches, Matthew's research has demonstrated that respiration by plants acclimates to temperature, but that photosynthesis does not.  This surprising result means that moderate increases in temperature may favour carbon uptake by terrestrial vegetation, and may help mitigate climate change.

ENDS

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