The Waikato Data Portal team has broken down silos to better leverage and improve access to data generated by our region’s councils. There are 12 councils in the Waikato, all collecting information to support their legislated activities. People wanting to access this data have previously had to approach councils individually to get what they need.…
In day-to-day lab management and as a champion for her profession, Raewyn Keene goes the extra mile. Described by colleagues as an unsung hero, Raewyn is a vital cog in the St Paul’s Collegiate science faculty, where she is sole-charge Science Technician supporting a faculty of 16 teaching staff across six departments. Raewyn came to…
Karen Thompson’s technical career demonstrates an appetite for challenge. Aside from a two-year spell overseas, Karen Thompson has worked at NIWA since 2001, and is now manager of its Ecotoxicology and Chemistry Group. She has proved her skills in some demanding situations, from conducting assays on long oceanic voyages, to devising experimental setups for fish…
The ultimate quiet achiever, John Williamson has been a mainstay of our dairy research industry. John worked in laboratories for the Dairy Board and Dexcel, joining Dairy NZ as a Lead Research Technician when it was formed in 2007. His focus has been microbiology and he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of mastitis, including treatment and…
A dynamic, visionary science educator, Rachael Goddard is committed to fostering sustainability. Rachael Goddard has been a passionate environmental scientist and educator for over 17 years. As Sustainability & Environment Manager for the University of Waikato, she developed, delivers and reports on its sustainability strategy. She has engaged thousands on campus and in the community…
Ricci Wesselink is making a difference to student learning by flipping the education model. A passionate health science educator, Ricci Wesserlink teaches anatomy and physiology at Wintec’s Centre for Health and Social Practice. Her research and practice focuses on changing delivery to enhance learning outcomes. Her students used to attend a two hour lecture, followed…
For many decades, Lynnette Rogers has been driving change and agency in grass roots science education. Lynnette is currently educator for the Kukutaaruhe Education Trust, which supports science, Maatauranga Maaori, environmental and community learning through The Fairfield Project on the grounds of Fairfield College. Her work utilises gully restoration and community gardens to provide education…
Little things making a big difference to air, soil and water quality are Dr Jonathan Caldwell’s realm of expertise. An environmental chemist by training, Dr Caldwell is an integral and senior member of the Waikato Regional Council (WRC) Science Directorate, manager of the council’s regional air quality monitoring programme and technical adviser for its contaminated…
Dr Matthew Luckie’s work is supporting global efforts to make the internet safer and more transparent. As the internet grows organically and at pace, it is becoming the ‘wild frontier’ of the digital age. Dr Matthew Luckie is one of its prominent explorers, going beyond text-book accounts to observe and document its real-world operation at…
Farm Medix’s latest screening technology helps maintain milk quality, counter disease and reduce antibiotic use in cows, sheep and goats. High somatic cell counts (SCC) in milk prevent it from being sold, can incur penalties for the farmer and can indicate bacterial disease (like contagious mastitis) in animals. Managing SCC can be a frustrating business,…