ScienceNZ - The Value of Science Discovery
Science Value
Outstanding science recognised at inaugural awards
Science New Zealand 2017 National Awards celebrated 21 Awardees on Thursday 9 November at the Banquet Hall, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. These inaugural Awards recognise outstanding science achievements that help to shape and benefit New Zealand. The Awards demonstrated excellent science working for New Zealand and acknowledge the people behind the work.
New Value
Assessing clonal tree performance in Māori-owned forests
The forests of Lake Taupō and Lake Rotoaira are unique. Having started as joint ventures with government, the second rotation stands, which are now approaching maturity, are all Maori-owned and governed by the Lake Taupō and Lake Rotoaira Forest Trusts (the trusts).
Kawerau container terminal - demand nearly triples!
The town of Kawerau in the Eastern Bay of Plenty (EBoP) is unique. It boasts the world’s largest application of geothermal energy for industrial use, and provides the ideal environment and support for companies pursuing a sustainable way of operating.
Intergenerational land management solutions
“Kia mau ki te whenua, hei oranga mo te iwi” – “Hold onto the land as sustenance for our people”, is the vision statement of Rotomā No. 1 Incorporation (Rotomā). The incorporation manages over 1,200 hectares of forest surrounding Lake Rotomā on behalf of more than 2,000 shareholders that whakapapa (have family connections) to it.
New weapons in the battle for urban biosecurity
Biosecurity officials receive over 10,000 reports of suspected new pests and diseases in New Zealand every year.
Radiata pine genome - draft assembly completed
In a world first, the Scion Forest Genetics Team in collaboration with Massey University has completed a draft assembly of the radiata pine genome. At 25 billion base pairs, the radiata pine genome is eight times the size of the human genome, and its sheer size was a substantial challenge to researchers.
New ways to measure and value small forests
“Collectively, the 14-16 000 small- and medium-scale forest growers are the largest forest owning group in New Zealand – but when it comes to measurement they don’t have easy access to the benefits provided by research outputs, and the economies of scale that come with larger plantations,” says Jonathan Dash, remote sensing scientist at Scion.
Sustainable wood for sustainable development
Wood is the world’s most used renewable resource. We rely on it for building materials, heating sources, musical instruments, modes of transport, clothes and packaging. But, are the full benefits of wood being realised?
“A Billion Trees”
One of the challenges I was told I would face when I started at Scion was that despite being the third largest export revenue earner forestry was never talked about by government ministers.
ESR Chief to Advise China on the Environment
Mclea is is the only New Zealander who will this week attend meetings organised by the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development as a special advisor.
ESR's holiday hours and contacts
All of ESR’s laboratories are open for business as usual until 12 noon on Friday 22 December and will reopen 8am on Wednesday 03 January 2018.
New book showcases latest mapping of New Zealand’s geology
A new book has just been published that updates the geology of New Zealand and our offshore islands mapped at a scale of one to one million. It updates and replaces earlier publications at the same scale.
Wasp biocontrol update
After racing badgers to wasp nests last year, and losing half the time, I decided to schedule this year’s collecting trip a few weeks earlier in the year, starting in late northern hemisphere summer. I started the trip in Leuven, Belgium, where I teamed up with colleagues at KU Leuven who specialise in the evolution of sociality in bees, wasps and ants.
Summer Series 2017 - NIWA's Year of Weather
Four seasons with a little bit of everything. It started with the bummer summer… then came the fires, rain, flooding and a very weird November. But it’s all in a year of weather as NIWA wraps up the seasonal highlights.
FAR Researcher of the Year
Agronomist Shane Maley from Plant & Food Research has been named this year's Researcher of the Year by the Foundation for Arable Research.
UN FAO Sustainable Wood for a Sustainable World report released
Over 100 professionals from 40 different countries have agreed that sustainable wood value chains are relevant for all 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
New science exhibition open now
Explore forest science this summer at a new, fun and family friendly exhibition installed by Scion at Rainbow Springs Nature Park in Rotorua.
New Thinking
Is that a plastic wrapper in your snapper?
Scion and fish make an odd combination, but biopolymer scientist Jamie Bridson was part of a team that looked at plastic microparticle ingestion by commercial fish species across the South Pacific.
How will climate change affect plantation forestry in NZ?
New Zealand-grown Pinus radiata will be taller and slimmer in the future according to a new paper¹. While sequestering greater amounts of carbon, the trees will be more exposed to risks from extreme winds and wildfire.
Growing a biofuelled New Zealand
New Zealand could build a renewable low carbon transport fuels industry - but only if we as a nation get our act together. A new report by bioenergy specialists at Scion looks at how New Zealand could grow and process feedstock crops into liquid biofuels targeted towards the heavy transport, shipping and aviation industries.
New CEO announced for Plant & Food Research
Plant & Food Research is pleased to announce the appointment of David Hughes as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Use of grass fungi saving NZ billions
Fungi that live within grasses are being harnessed by scientists to save the New Zealand economy billions of dollars.
Summer Series 2017 - A year of new knowledge
It has been a year of discovery for NIWA scientists who now know more than they did 12 months ago – their top five discoveries for the year range from the bottom of the ocean to the top of the atmosphere.
Scion Connections Issue 26, December 2017
Scion Connections is a quarterly newsletter that aims to keep you up-to-date with our key science success stories and discoveries and to connect you with our people and capabilities.
New Science
Getting to the heart of coast redwood durability
Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) has the potential to be a high-value timber crop. Its timber is attractive and its high stability and natural durability make it ideal for outdoor uses. There is strong local and international market for naturally durable timber that does not require chemical preservation or paint for outdoor use. Most of this is supplied from redwood stands grown in the USA, which has a reputation for heartwood resistance to decay.
How eco-friendly are your winter woolies?
Every time a synthetic garment is washed, it sheds thousands of fibres. These tiny fibres escape waste water treatment plant filters and end up in the ocean and along shorelines near waste water release sites. Fabric structure and composition affect fibre release. Studies have found that polyester fleece jackets can shed up to 0.2% of their weight with each wash and as the jackets age they shed even more.
Scientists and Navy join forces to map the floor of Lake Rotorua
The Royal New Zealand Navy’s Military Hydrographic Group, in collaboration with GNS Science and the Te Arawa Lakes Trust, has gathered high resolution multibeam sonar data to build a new map of the floor of Lake Rotorua. The surveys spanned 15 weeks over two years and included 29 Navy personnel.
Antarctic microbes can live on thin air, study shows
An investigation involving New Zealand and Australian scientists has discovered that microbes in Antarctica have a previously unknown ability to scavenge hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from the air to stay alive in the extreme conditions.
What on Earth?
What does the latest satellite Earth observation technology mean for New Zealand industry, environment and climate? March’s ‘What On Earth’ Colloquium in Wellington is the perfect place to answer that question.
Scientists explore deepest parts of the Kermadec Trench
Scientists exploring the Kermadec Trench believe they have retrieved the deepest ever sediment sample from the bottom of the ocean using a wire-deployed corer. The sample was obtained at 9994m deep in a mission that took six hours to complete.
