ScienceNZ - The Value of Science Discovery
Science Value
Full Metal Coat
A machine called AECL Theratron T-80 Teletherapy, containing a radioactive source (Co-60), was recently decommissioned by ESR and returned to Australia. Learn about the journey and watch the video.
New Value
Positive result with New Zealand Bee Colony Loss Survey in 2016
Landcare Research's reputation as the leading provider of survey services that gather solid scientifically proven data has been further enhanced with the release of the 2016 Colony Loss Survey of beekeepers.
Forensic Intelligence: increasing the value of science to justice
How can past criminal case data help justice today and in the future? ESR's Forensic Intelligence project is currently developing ways to enhance the value of forensic science to the justice system.
Douglas-fir essential oil a winner in timber design awards
Scion's Doug Gaunt, who sat on the judging panel, said the oil project had a close alignment with Scion's strategy to use as much of each tree as possible, not just the wood.
Calling all citizen scientists
A smartphone app has been developed to give the public a new way to report sightings of eucalyptus pests.
Massive mudslides in Kaikōura Canyon destroy seabed life
Huge mudslides from November's earthquakes have wiped out all organisms living in the seabed of the Kaikoura Canyon.
Environmental radiation monitoring in Hong Kong
Proton beams are used for cancer treatment like traditional irradiation facilities. Their advantage is that they can be focused with greater accuracy and therefore cause less side effects for patients
Novel approach wins research funding
Engineered water systems including plumbing, drinking-water, water tanks, spas and cooling towers, are known to harbour Legionella pneumophila which can cause severe pneumonia (5 –30% death rate)
NZ to benefit from new science links to China
AgResearch intends to form a joint international research centre with China's largest state-owned food company and largest university research department specialising in food science and nutrition.
Real-Time Identification of Designer Drugs
With internet access widening the scope of drug sources, a new threat has emerged over recent years with the introduction of designer drugs
New international science links to benefit New Zealand
New relationships forged between AgResearch and key overseas science organisations will provide a host of valuable opportunities for New Zealand
How do we value forest ecosystem services?
New Zealand’s green image is an integral part of our identity, adding value to both our exports and tourism. Our forests contribute to this image by providing a range of ecosystem services such as habitat, water quality, carbon sequestration, erosion prevention and recreation, the value of which is not well established.
Packaging – more than meets the eye
Scion’s WHITE room can test up to 25 corrugated boxes under accelerated conditions.
Manuka as a tree crop
Kiwis have grown up with mānuka honey and tea tree oil but these humble household items are fast becoming a multi-million dollar forest industry for New Zealand.
New Thinking
Growing sheep milk industry bolstered by science
New research is adding weight to the benefits of sheep milk as New Zealand's industry continues to expand its base and reach to the world.
Port Hills fires: Lessons for the entire country
Planting back quickly and correctly is crucial, writes FIONA CARSWELL, chief scientist at Landcare Research.
Wellington's summer was bad, but not as bad as you think—honest
Summer has officially ended but for Wellingtonians it feels like it's only just getting started. NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll explains what went wrong.
Good for exports, health and environment: a history of apple pest management
A unified goal-driven sector with a responsiveness to market demand is credited with the development of a pest management system in New Zealand's apple industry that is the envy of other countries and crop industries.
Hungry helpers beat weeds and save country millions
Waikato dairy and beef farmer Steve Fagan was sceptical, to say the least, when tiny beetles were released on his farm about 25 years ago to control ragwort.
Cultural Heritage Visualisation - Te Rererunga
ESR has worked in partnership with Ngāti Rangitihi and Blue Cube Consulting to create a prototype Cultural Heritage Visualisation platform as a 3D record of marae
Huge savings for economy from humble wasp
AgResearch estimates a humble Irish wasp has saved New Zealand almost half a billion dollars
Wool as a `last line of defence’ for armed forces and emergency services
AgResearch scientists have been putting the heat on wool garments to see what level of fire protection they can provide
Novel microbial seed treatments protect wheat seedlings from insect damage
AgResearch scientists are following promising leads to identify effective environmentally benign microbial seed treatments for use by arable farmers
Containing the spread of hitchhiking pests
The past 50 or so years has seen a dramatic change in the volume, and mode, of international trade. Not only has the volume escalated substantially, but around 90% of it is carried by sea, mostly in containers.
Fuelling a greener economy
A report released recently by the Royal Society of New Zealand calls on New Zealanders to take action against rising greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to curb global warming. New Zealand’s emissions are well above average for developed countries, and steadily rising.
New Science
Zespri's biospife ready for market
Taking a product from the laboratory to market is a challenging process. But after a long journey, the biobased and industrially compostable version of Zespri’s iconic spoon-knife, the biospife, is now ready for use. Following many rounds of testing and development, Zespri has 150,000 biospifes ready for kiwifruit lovers all over the world to cut, scoop and compost.
Study of mutant sheep provides exciting new opportunities
Research into "mutant" sheep has AgResearch scientists eyeing up a greater understanding of what makes human hair curly or straight, and the potential for innovative new wool products.
ESR's MinION hard at work!
The MinION is a breakthrough portable DNA sequencer produced by Oxford Nanopore.
Smoke gets in your eyes
Smoke from wildfires can have a serious health impact for some members of the public, even if they are far away from the flames. Scion science is supporting the response to the Port Hills fire burning in Canterbury.
Smart Ideas Fund for new DNA tracer
A new project is underway to develop a new environmentally safe tool for simultaneously tracking multiple water contamination sources and pathways
Finding sustainable solutions to clean our water
A 3-year project aims to pilot an in-stream woodchip denitrifying bioreactor to remove nitrogen from drainage water on agricultural land
Enhancing forest productivity with soil sciences
Our ability to understand and manage the links between soil properties and forest productivity is being expanded by the “Growing Confidence in Forestry’s Future” (GCFF) programme.
