As scrutiny increases on the environmental impact of food production, AgResearch is providing vital support for our dairy and meat industries. Over the last decade, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) team at AgResearch has consistently delivered impactful research on the environmental sustainability of our pastoral farming systems. This includes examinations of our agricultural products to…
As the perils of plastic production and pollution rise, Scion/AgriSea spies a solution in seaweed. Nanocellulose is considered to be a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics and can be used in a vast range of products including adhesives, batteries, biomedical supplies and cosmetics. It’s widely available, biodegradable and biocompatible but the bulk of the world’s…
Professor Matt Littlejohn’s research for LIC has identified key genetic variants that have a significant impact on production and health in our national herd. Over the last 25 years, LIC has made a number of discoveries about genes that affect production, fertility and survival among dairy and beef animals. Professor Littlejohn has advanced this work…
Paul Champion’s work tackles the wicked problem of weedy waterways. Aquatic weeds can easily grow rampant, affecting recreation, interfering with hydro-generation, hindering restoration efforts and driving native species onto endangered lists. One of our leading authorities on aquatic and wetland plants, NIWA’s Paul Champion’s guides, toolkits and advice have helped organisations throughout New Zealand to…
Chris Duggan’s bi-lingual science kits for primary schools have grown from a one-city wonder to a nationwide phenomenon. Observing a downward trend in our primary level science results and knowing that a lack of teacher confidence was part of the problem, accomplished science educator Chris quit her teaching job to start ‘House of Science’, a…
Outstanding leaders in terrestrial ecology, Professor Bruce Clarkson and Dr Bev Clarkson have dedicated their careers to understanding and protecting our special landscapes. Collectively, the Clarksons have attracted approximately $26 million in research funding, written nearly 200 peer-reviewed papers, supervised over 25 postgraduate students, supported many major community environmental/conservation advisory organisations and provided senior leadership…
From sewage to sea-level rise, Dr Rob Bell has devoted his professional life to protecting New Zealanders from water-related hazards. Principal Scientist and Programme Leader at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Dr Bell’s remarkable career began with a series of engineering projects to clean up wastewater outfall discharges into our coastal…
Better health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies is a passion for Dr Ruth Martis. Dr Martis has been involved in research on breastfeeding, teenage pregnancy, fetal heart-rate monitoring and movement in labour and most recently gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). High blood sugar levels during pregnancy pose risks to both the mother and her…
The ebb and flow of the ocean holds a particular fascination for Dr Julia Mullarney. Dr Mullarney creatively combines lab experiments, numerical modelling and field research to understand the dynamics shaping our coastal environments. She has shown international research leadership in her studies of mangrove zones, making important discoveries about the factors influencing sediment movement…
Through clinical research, quality improvement initiatives and education, the Midland Trauma Research Centre (MTRC) aims to reduce the incidence and impact of traumatic injury. The MTRC team has published numerous important papers on cycling, workplace and on-farm injuries; equity and ethnicity; trauma in the elderly and the experience/impact of trauma on patients and whaanau/family. The…