ScienceNZ - The Value of Science Discovery
Science Value
NZ’s deep-sea research boosted by new partnership
Two New Zealand research organisations will work closely with one of the world’s leading ocean research and engineering organisations to accelerate research and exploration in a wide range of oceanographic topics in the southwest Pacific region.
New Value
Stab-resistant wool attracts attention
AgResearch says it has several international companies interested in commercially producing its stab and flame-resistant wool fabric.
Chief Scientist named in New Year Honours list
Plant & Food Research Chief Scientist, Dr Ian Ferguson, was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to horticultural science in the 2010 New Year Honours list
X-ray crystallography in the spotlight
Radio New Zealand's Ruth Beran goes to Massey University to meet Geoff Jameson and IRL’s Graeme Gainsford who explain what x-ray diffraction and crystallography is, how it’s done, and what it can be used to measure.
Plant & Food Research Scientist recognised by arable industry.
The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) has named Plant & Food Research scientist, Dr Mark Goodwin, as the 2009 Researcher of the Year, for the pollination research that he and his team have carried out over recent years.
Rare honour for Antarctic researcher
IRL senior scientist Dr Tim Haskell has joined an elite group of Antarctic explorers and scientists by having a geographic feature in the region named after him.
Globe Caritas used in major seismic survey
Software from GNS Science is being used to get a first look at New Zealand’s offshore geology as part of a major push to open up new areas for oil exploration.
Drinking water
The results from ESR's annual review of New Zealand's drinking water on behalf of the Ministry of Health have been released...
Royal recognition for IRL engineer
IRL Research Engineer Paul Harris has been awarded the RJ Scott medal for his significant contributions to the development and application of electronic devices in New Zealand.
Genetic tools boost breeding
A raft of new genetic technologies developed by AgResearch in consultation with Deer Industry NZ, will soon be put to use to boost breeding in the New Zealand deer industry.
Study models likely destruction from tsunami
A tsunami triggered by a massive South American earthquake would swamp Auckland motorways, coastal roads and low-lying bays, a new study has found. Click here to see map of possibly affected areas.
New facility aims to unlock potential
Plant & Food Research opens new Bioprocessing Laboratory in Nelson. The new facility aims to unlock potential value from marine byproducts.
New Thinking
Science a priority says PM
RS&T is critical to New Zealand’s future wealth”. CRIs welcome commitment.
It's time to create a favourable climate for R&D
More of our private companies need to invest in R&D but they will only be encouraged to do so if the right conditions are apparent, says IRL CEO.
AgResearch CEO resigns
Dr Andrew West, Chief Executive of AgResearch Ltd, has announced his intention to resign his position effective 30 June after six years in the role.
New licensing deal could develop new animal health products
ParaCo Technology Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AgResearch, has signed an international licensing agreement with leading Belgian Agro-Biotech company deVGen NG to access a range of small molecules that could facilitate development of active ingredients for new animal health products.
NIWA to put temperature data on web
The country's climate forecaster is bowing to public pressure and putting all of its temperature data and calculations on the internet because of mistrust fuelled by errors overseas.
Scion fuels bi-lateral bioenergy talks
Crown Research Institute Scion hosted a high profile delegation recently to discuss US-NZ research collaborations in bioenergy. The workshop was part of the wider programme of the New Zealand-United States Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on Science and Technology Cooperation.
Methane research is ballooning
AgResearch scientists are using water balloons to measure sheep burps as part of research into methane emissions.
Fiordland continues to rumble
GNS Science geologist Dr Gill Jolly says aftershocks of the 7.8 earthquake centred 100km southwest of Te Anau that struck on July 15 last year were still being felt.
US Science Adviser set to discuss agricultural challenges
Plant & Food Research and The University of Auckland Faculty of Science will host Dr Nina Fedoroff, Science & Technology Adviser to Hillary Clinton for a public lecture entitled "Rethinking agriculture in a changing climate"
Science Of Sand
For many of us, summer isn’t summer without getting some sand between our toes. But did you ever wonder what that sand is made of, and how it got there? Dr Terry Hume of NIWA, is the man to ask.
New lighting system to beat bugs
Scientists at Crown Research Institute Scion are trialling a new lighting system to beat off aerial attackers.
Scientists set sail to study live whales
NIWA is providing its ship Tangaroa to take 18 scientists from New Zealand and Australia to the Southern Ocean next month to conduct research on the live whale population.
Grave time for sheep industry
Sheep farmers seem to have lost some of their nerve and enthusiasm in the wake of two years of low returns, AgResearch chief executive Andrew West says.
Scientist named in Listener Power & Influence list
Plant & Food Research scientist, Dr Brent Clothier, recognised as one of the five most powerful and influential New Zealanders for environmental issues in 2009.
NIWA stands by its statement on methane rise
The statement made by NIWA Principal Scientist, Dr Keith Lassey in a TV3 news story on 22 Dec 2009 about methane is correct.
Greenhouse gas methane on the rise again
The concentration of methane in the atmosphere is rising, according to measurements made by NIWA.
Charismatic scientist named as NZ Wine Personality of the Year
Plant & Food Research scientist, Dr Mike Trought, has just been named by New Zealand Wine Grower as their 2009 New Zealand Wine Personality of the Year.
Illicit drug tests
ESR tests on new illicit drugs reveals dangerous cocktails
Deeper look into animal health targets
Sheep and cattle health are in view at AgResearch as it launches a venture called ParaCo Technologies Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Pushing the boundaries
It may look like a typical Waikato dairy unit. But at the AgResearch farm at Tokanui, 35 kilometres south of Hamilton, they will do much more than milk cows.
Wellington of the Year Award for world-leading IRL scientist
World-leading physicist and IRL Group Manager, HTS Conductors and Devices, Dr Bob Buckley has won 2009 Wellingtonian of the Year in the Science & Technology category.
Advancing a bio-based economy
Showcasing New Zealand’s life sciences sector, NZBIO 2010 provides a perfect forum to explore new business opportunities across the bio economy. Registrations now open.
Research farm aims to lower carbon emissions
AgResearch hopes to show dairy farmers how to reduce carbon emissions on their farms by experimenting with farm inputs on its new $6.5 million dairy research farm at Tokanui.
CSI - ESR
ESR provides independent impartial forensic science expertise to support the New Zealand justice system, but is it like CSI? TVNZ's Close Up investigates ....
Priorities setting welcomed
Clarity, simplicity, strategic context will boost ability to maximise value from New Zealand's science. (Note. PDF file of 864Kb to download for this item).
Quake brings cooler times at Welcome Flat
GNS Science monitoring shows South Westland's celebrated Welcome Flat hot pools have become a little less welcoming.
New animal health company underway
ParaCo Technologies Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of AgResearch Limited, has signed agreements with a number of research groups giving it exclusive animal health screening rights for a number of potentially active biological molecules.
Seabed drilling probes sea level change
An international team of 33 scientists, including some from GNS Science, will spend the next two months drilling beneath the seabed off the Canterbury coast in a bid to pin down the link between climate and sea level changes over the last 35 million years.
NZAS honours scientists
New Zealand Association of Scientists’ Awards for outstanding service to science, research and communicating science.
Lifetime Award
Dr Fred Davey, GNS Science, gets Marsden Medal for outstanding service to science, advancing knowledge of New Zealand and Antarctic geology and evolution.
Research Medal
Dr Thomas Buckley, Landcare Research, honoured for outstanding fundamental or applied research for a scientist under age 40.
When will the next big eruption happen?
GNS Science volcanologist Dr Gill Jolly says although there have been 25 "little" volcanic eruptions in the central North Island in geologically recent times, it is 1800 years since the last big one.
Farm emissions research will need contributions from farmers
AgResearch's former head of climate and environment, Harry Clark, who is setting up the new The Government's new Centre for Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Research, said he would be looking to industry for support beyond its current $50m taxpayer-funding over the next 10 years for the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium.
NIWA scientist honoured by Royal Society of New Zealand
Ten top New Zealand scientists have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand at the annual general meeting of the Society’s Academy. They include Dr Philip Boyd, NIWA/University of Otago – internationally recognised for his work in the field of oceanography and the productivity of the global ocean.
AgResearch application to ERMA to permit GM ruminant research
AgResearch has submitted a limited application to ERMA for specific research using genetically modified goats, sheep and cattle in containment.
New Science
NZ scientific breakthrough: Heart rate regulator
AgResearch scientists, working with Victoria University and a scientist in the USA, have discovered that calcium-activated-potassium ion channels, present in only small amounts in the heart, have a significant role in modulating heart rate.
NZ drug may offer relief from gout
IRL scientists are working on a new medicine they say may provide relief for millions of people who suffer crippling pain from gout.
NIWA's 'show-off piece' may be new species
A small sea creature, found in the murky, mysterious depths of the Kermadec Ridge, is causing a stir among scientists.
Chemistry award for supercritical extraction
IRL Group Manager, Integrated Bioactive Technologies, Dr Owen Catchpole has won the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry Fonterra Prize for Industrial and Applied Chemistry.
NZ's temperatures have risen 1degC since 1931
NIWA scientists say that the analysis of long-term measurements from seven weather stations showing warming was backed up by other observations, including measurements from ships.
World first in bio-crude oil
NIWA’s scientific expertise on advanced wastewater treatment used in world’s largest wastewater algae to bio-crude oil demonstration puts CO2 to good use.
Warming through past century unequivocal
NIWA’s analysis of measured temperatures uses internationally accepted techniques, including making adjustments for changes such as movement of measurement sites.
Deepest-dwelling fish in Southern Hemisphere photographed
NIWA scientists have photographed the deepest fish in the Southern Hemisphere - over 7km down.
US jet tests gas levels in sweep of NZ atmosphere
US scientists swooped over New Zealand yesterday to measure greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. The data will be used to calibrate past and future measurements by the NIWA at its Lauder site in Central Otago.
