Associate Professor Joe Baker’s specialist bent is keeping our backs in good form. A leading academic orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in spinal deformity and disease, Associate Professor Baker’s research focus is on infection and metastatic cancer of the spine, particularly in children. His work is enhancing understanding of spinal conditions and injuries, predictors…
Associate Professor Bridgette Masters-Awatere draws on mātauranga Māori knowledge to inform medical best practice. Associate Professor Masters-Awatere has been instrumental in embedding Kaupapa Māori approaches and principles into medical and health-related research, creating meaningful health impacts for Māori at individual, community, service-provision and policy levels. Her focus is consistently reflected in her publication record, supervisory…
Biogeochemist Dr Terry Isson has clarified the link between silica-rich marine ecosystems and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, with big implications for climate change. Dr Isson’s work reveals the death of creatures such as single-cell plankton, that have skeletons made of silica, influence levels of dissolved silica in seawater and its subsequent deposit in marine clays,…
With her research into goat milk and its impact on brain processes, Dr Anica Klockars is traversing new ground in nutritional research. When breastfeeding is not possible or practical, formula feeding is the alternative. Cow-milk products are the usual choice but rising popularity of goat milk options revealed a research gap. Dr Klockars examined the…
Dr. Etuini Ma’u’s leadership and research is improving our understanding of dementia care needs, particularly in relation to Pacific people. As our population ages, the number of people with dementia is rapidly increasing. An academic psychiatrist specialising in mental health services for older people, Dr. Ma’u is currently undertaking a PhD looking at dementia prevention,…
Associate Professor Leandro Bolzoni is a world leader in the realm of titanium alloys and economic, environmentally-friendly ways to produce them. Strong, light, corrosion-resistant and biocompatible, titanium and titanium alloys are invaluable to the aerospace, land transport and biomedical industries. However, use has been limited by high extraction and manufacturing costs compared to other materials.…
Fiona Wolff is committed to increasing interest, access and participation in science within her classroom and beyond. At Morrinsville College, Fiona teaches the Year 9 learning support class where she thrives on helping students who have struggled with achievement to develop strong skills in specialist subjects. She has reshaped the school’s junior courses to increase…
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…
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…