Latest news
Members win top RSNZ awards (Nov 2011): The NRCGD wishes to congratulate Professor Christine Winterbourn and Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, both of whom were recognised by the Royal Society of NZ at their 2011 Research Honours dinner in Wellington on November 16th.
Professor Christine Winterbourn was awarded the Rutherford Medal, the country’s highest science and technology honour, for her extensive work in the chemical biology of free radicals for which she is a leading world authority. Christine is the Director of the Free Radical Research Group in the Pathology Department at the University of Otago in Christchurch and has been involved in the NRCGD since its establishment in 2003. Further details can be found on the University of Otago website.
In addition, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman was awarded the inaugural Callaghan Medal for outstanding contribution to science communication. Sir Peter, currently the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, was the founding Director of the NRCGD and is still actively involved in the Centre’s research programme through his ongoing work at the Liggins Institute at The University of Auckland. Further details can be found on the Liggins Institute website.
We are delighted that the work of Christine and Sir Peter has been recognised and our congratulations go to them both!
The full list of this years’ medal recipients can be found on the Royal Society of NZ website.
• • •
NRCGD members gain Marsden Fund grants (Oct 2011): Two NRCGD researchers, both from the University of Otago, have been awarded grants from the highly competitive Marsden Fund in the latest round of funding announcements.
Associate Professor Mark Hampton (Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch) has been awarded funding to investigate ‘Regulatory cytokine with a built-in redox sensor’, and Dr Elizabeth Duncan (Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin) has been awarded a Fast-Start Grant (which supports outstanding early-career researchers) for investigation into ‘Plastic genomes: does genome structure facilitate phenotypic plasticity?’ Both researchers have been awarded funding for 3 years.
Congratulations, Mark and Liz!
Further details are available on the University of Otago website.
• • •
LENScience students excel at science fair (Sep 2011): Students from the LENScience Student-Scientist Mentor programme dominated the NIWA Auckland Science and Technology Fair recently, taking 12 of the 44 prizes on offer. The programme provides participating students with the support needed to undertake genuine scientific research in areas of their own interest, with a view to encouraging students to see science as a real career option. This is just one of the LENScience programmes, and a programme that the NRCGD is pleased to be associated with.
Full details on the LENScience Student-Scientist Mentor programmes success at the Auckland Science and Technology Fair are available on the Liggins Institute website.
• • •
NRCGD speakers at BioLive (Jun 2011): NRCGD members Jacquie Bay (president of BEANZ) and Professor Sir Peter Gluckman (Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor) will be keynote speakers at the 2011 BEANZ BioLive Conference taking place in Auckland between the 17th and 20th of July. This year the focus of BioLive is to explore how educators can foster an understanding and appreciation of ‘Biology for Life’ for all students – whether they are in primary, secondary or tertiary education.
In addition to the keynote speakers, a number of our members will be speaking and presenting posters at the conference. The NRCGD is pleased to be the platinum sponsor of this event.
• • •
The NRCGD 2010 Annual Report is now available online.
• • •
Alison Paterson, Chair of NRCGD Board, honoured (May 2011): Alison Paterson CNZM QSO has been honoured as a University of Auckland Fellow for her role as the first Chair of the Board of the National Research Centre for Growth and Development (NRCGD), a Centre of Research Excellence hosted by the University of Auckland.
Mrs Paterson joined the Board of Governance of the Centre at its inception in 2003 and has been the Chair since that time. Her background is in Corporate Governance and leadership in the service and health industries. She has served as a director on numerous public sector and private organisation boards, including the Board of the Reserve Bank, the Wrightson Board, Chair of the Board of Landcorp Farming Ltd, Chair of the Electricity Complaints Commission and Chair of Waitemata District Health Board. Alison is also a Board member Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, another Centre of Research Excellence hosted by The University of Auckland, and a Councillor of Massey University.
This long history of excellence in governance has provided her with a breadth of experience and a wide range of skills. Indeed, in November 2003, Director magazine profiled Alison Paterson calling her “the consummate director”.
In bestowing the honour, University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon said Mrs Paterson’s commitment as Chair has ensured the NRCGD has a solid foundation upon which to continue to grow and which should ensure its ongoing success as a Centre of Research Excellence.
The NRCGD is delighted that Mrs Paterson has received recognition for her significant contribution to the Centre, and thank her for the considerable support and guidance she has provided since its inception.
• • •
This year's NRCGD Science Symposium is to be held in Dunedin at St Margaret's College in mid November. The symposium, taking place between the 15th and 17th of November, is a forum for NRCGD-funded students and scientists from across the country to get together and talk about their research and to build colloborations. For further details, please contact the directorate office: info@nrcgd.org.nz.
• • •
Mother’s diet during pregnancy effects her child’s chance of obesity (Apr 2011): A new study, involving NRCGD members based at the Liggins Institute and at AgResearch, has shown for the first time that a mother’s diet during pregnancy can alter the function of her child’s DNA and, ultimately, affect the child’s chance of developing obesity later in life.
Full details are available on the Liggins Institute website.
• • •
Developmental Biology satellite meeting to QMB2011 (Apr 2011): The NRCGD is pleased to announce that in association with the 2011 QMB, we are sponsoring a Developmental Biology satellite meeting in Queenstown on the 1st and 2nd of September.
Planning is well underway with a number of international and local speakers already confirmed. Sessions will cover evolution and development, early-life events, epigenetics and development, and include a student session.
For further details about the meeting, please visit the QMB website at http://www.qmb.org.nz/ or contact the NRCGD at info@nrcgd.org.nz.
^ Back to top ^