Dr. Jiafa Luo

AgResearch    Nitrous oxide, N2O or commonly known as laughing gas, is produced when excrement from animals is broken down by bacteria in the soil. Once the nitrous oxide is lost to the atmosphere, very little of it is able to be recovered by bacteria and returned to the soil. It is a greenhouse gas…

LIC Genomics/ Biology Team

LIC Genomics/ Biology Team   Heifers from LIC sire, Matrix, had inherited a genetic mutation and passed it on to his daughters. DNA sequence analysis quickly pin-pointed a genetic defect in a key structural part of prolactin, a hormone produced in the pituitary gland and known to be vital for regulating milk production and coat…

Dr. Michael Walmsley

CodeAvengers & University of Waikato   Michael Walmsley Jr. started creating the CodeAvengers.com learning platform in November 2011, launching April 2012, while doing his Ph.D. on the related topic of Computer-Assisted Foreign Language Learning at University of Waikato Computer Science department. Learning from his Ph.D. research about student engagement, language learning pedagogy, user interactivity and…

Natasha McGuire & Leno Spurrell

Farm Medix   Natasha and Leon developed CHECK-UP, a high-tech culture based system allowing farmers a DIY kit to utilise a small sample of milk and culture overnight to help detect mastitis. Mastitis is an infection of the udder and is the biggest health disease in the dairy industry, costing the average farmer, $55,000pa. Natasha McGuire…

Ian Carr

Rutec   Ian is responsible for the development of a fast curing adhesive and applicator to apply high retention heat detectors directly to cattle. This allows bonding of between 20 – 60 seconds when the adhesive is applied. HEATMARK ERO Heat Detectors offers a faster, less messy way to achieve a well bonded/well-retained heat detector.…

Dr. John Innes

Landcare Research   John is the leading rat biologist in the Waikato. His most significant contribution to conservation at the national and international level was his team’s discovery that possums eat native birds and their eggs and young and are not just vegetarians. This revelation not only permanently refocused subsequent possum control throughout New Zealand, it…

Prof. Brendan Hicks

University of Waikato   Brendan began his research in the field of estimation of fish abundance by developing the systematic and quantitative use of drift diving, a direct counting technique of salmon and trout. He has used statistical analyses of fish abundance to produce a unique quantitative view of fish abundance in New Zealand’s lakes…

Dudley Bell

University of Waikato   Dudley provides technical support for more than 100 postgraduate (Ph.D. and Masters) students, and with his technical experience, expertise and knowledge have helped to develop outstanding scientific facilities to support the University of Waikato. His role has been instrumental in the success of some groundbreaking scientific discoveries at the University. Dudley…

Aaron M. Wall

University of Waikato   Aaron’s team identify farm management practices that either decreases soil carbon losses or increase gains. One of the major components of the carbon balance is the exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the ecosystem. This exchange is measured using eddy covariance systems, which he installed and maintains. Aaron M. Wall…

Brian Smith

Scientist at NIWA    Brian is an aquatic entomologist, who’s research over the last two decades has produced a comprehensive identification guide to our caddisfly fauna. His identification guide provides a major taxonomic resource for the identification of New Zealand caddisflies, an important and unique component of our freshwater fauna. Brian Smith NIWA Back to…