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…
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,…
By successfully accounting for movement in ‘time of flight’ range imaging, Dr Lee Streeter has revolutionised this technology and expanded its potential application. ‘Time of flight’ imaging allows for physical measurements to be captured by timing how long it takes a light wave to travel to an object and back. Multiple images can be compiled…
Combining practical engineering skills with research excellence, Dr Amir Tarighaleslami is helping industrial plants use heat more efficiently and reduce emissions. Our processing industries use around 214 quadrillion joules of heat per year, with around 65% supplied by fossil fuels. Despite dwindling fuel resources and pressure to reduce related greenhouse gas emissions, this valuable heat…
CRV Ambreed’s LowN team is tackling the issue of nitrogen loss from urine patches at its source. Every day around 1,000 tonnes of nitrogen (N) hits New Zealand farmland in urine from lactating cows. On average, 200 tonnes leaches into groundwater or waterways where it can affect water quality. A smaller amount becomes nitrous oxide,…
Dr. Douglas White’s research and award-winning communication initiatives are increasing both our understanding of rheumatic diseases and outcomes for patients. While working at Waikato Hospital, Dr. White has enhanced knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic conditions. He has explored how skin changes can assist early, accurate confirmation of systemic sclerosis; genetic predisposition for…