Dr. Steve Davis’s distinguished research career has spanned 48 years and contributed greatly to the quality of New Zealand’s dairy herd and its production. Currently Senior Researcher at LIC, Dr Davis gained his PhD in “Amino acid metabolism in the mammary gland” from Nottingham University in 1975. Dr Davis has since published over 120 scientific…
Dr. Luke Harrington is significantly advancing our understanding of climate change impacts and adaptations. Most communities do not experience climate change via shifts in the mean climate. It’s more recognised in increasingly intense and frequent weather events, like Cyclone Gabrielle. Dr. Harrington’s work in the field of ‘extreme event attribution’ seeks to quantify whether climate…
The AgResearch Cattle Urine Sensor Team has developed a device to inform strategies for reducing nitrogen leaching from cow urine patches. Nitrogen loss from livestock urine is a major environmental concern in New Zealand, and frequently subject to regulation. Dr Paul Shorten (an expert in modelling biological processes) and Dr Brendon Welten (who researches nutrient…
Hilary Johnson’s efforts are boosting student achievement and the reputation of horticulture as a career. Katikati College had offered horticulture for many years but it had become known as a ‘drop-out’ subject, with poor engagement, poor student and staff retention and very low achievement. Meanwhile demand for skilled horticulture workers was growing. Hilary Johnson A…
NIWA’s Māori Environmental Research team, Te Kūwaha o Taihoro Nukurangi, helps Māori communities access the latest scientific tools to manage natural resources while respecting their unique knowledge systems. Te Kūwaha has worked collaboratively with iwi, hapu and councils to incorporate mātauranga into a number of catchment restoration programmes including strategies for the Waipa Catchment, Lake…
LIC’s Variant Discovery Team is giving farmers new options for selecting healthier, higher-performance dairy animals and raising the bar in genetics research. LIC’s Variant Discovery Team has discovered over 20 genetic variants which cause disease or impact fertility, milk yield, or growth and developmental traits in dairy animals. Finding one variant is a significant achievement,…
Dr. Manar Khashram’s dedication to vascular surgery and research is enhancing the management of aortic and vascular disease. Widely published, Dr. Khasham’s research includes a groundbreaking Metformin Aneurysm Trial, an investigation of genetic aspects of thoracic aortic diseases in Māori and Pacific Island communities, and validation of two decades-worth of New Zealand data on the…
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…
Dr .Charles Lee is on the front line between climate change and one of the most pristine and least understood places on earth. Dr. Lee’s early career busted many myths about the nature and behaviour of microbes in Antarctic soil and with them the prevailing belief that the icy continent’s ecosystems were stable and insensitive…
Dr Megan Grainger is securing sweet success for our multi-million dollar manuka honey industry. As a university student Dr Grainger isolated and identified MGO, the compound behind the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) which indicates the honey’s special qualities. Dr Grainger went on to develop the first model to predict MGO concentration from freshly harvested honey,…