Finalists for Zonta Science Awards

MEDIA RELEASE

ZONTA SCIENCE AWARDS

On Tuesday 27th May 2008 His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand, The Honourable Anand Satyanand, PCNZM will present the 10th Biennial Zonta Science Award and the 3rd Zonta Building Research Award at Government House.

The Zonta Science Award was established in 1990 to further the status of women in scientific fields.

The finalists for this Award are:
Dr Deidre Hart - Christchurch, geographer who is researching new analysis and modelling techniques for application in research on river mouth lagoons.
Dr Julie Lim - Auckland, molecular biologist who is researching developments of medical therapies to prevent age related nuclear (ARN) cataracts.
Dr Bridget L. Stocker - Wellington, synthetic organic chemist who is researching the role of the immunological function of glycocongugates in asthmas and cancer.

This Award has the support of BP New Zealand.

The Zonta Building Research Award was established in 2003 to further the status of women in scientific research, especially in fields related to the building and construction sector. Both are awarded biennially.

The finalists for this Award are:
Maibritt Pedersen Zari - studying for a PhD in biomimicry specifically research to investigate how relationships that can be identified in biological systems may be applied in New Zealand's built environment in order to cope with climate change impacts.
Wendy Saunders - studying for a PhD in natural hazard planning linking this to innovative land use planning and natural hazard risk reduction.

Background

Zonta International

Zonta is an international organization of executive and professional women working together to advance the status of women. There are over 33,000 members in 1,242 clubs in 68 countries around the world.

Zonta International Holds consultative status with United Nations' agencies - UNICEF, UNESCO, ECOSOC - and has permanent observers at the UN in New York, Paris and Geneva. It undertakes international funding projects to which all clubs throughout the world contribute. For example the Amelia Earhart Scholarship is awarded annually to 15 postgraduate students to pursue work in the aerospace science.

Over one million dollars has been contributed to the United Nations Unifem Fund to aid the economic development of women in ten of the world's poorest nations. In addition, the fund-raising activities of local clubs support local organizations.

The Zonta Club of Wellington is one of 29 clubs in New Zealand. The original Zonta Science Award was initiated by the Wellington Club to fulfil one of Zonta's main objectives, to improve the economic, legal and political status of women. Visit our website at http://www.zonta.org.nz

BUILDING RESEARCH is the building and construction sector's leading research investment agency. It was established in 1969 to develop the knowledge base that the industry needs to serve the NZ community. You can find more about BUILDING RESEARCH at their website www.buildingresearch.org.nz.

As well as this ZONTA/BUILDING RESEARCH Award, BUILDING RESEARCH provides other postgraduate scholarship assistance. (see http://www.buildingresearch.org.nz/mainsite/scholarships.html)

BUILDING RESEARCH wholly owns the company BRANZ Ltd, which
delivers research, education and information services to meet the needs of the building and construction sector and its customers
Many of the staff at BRANZ Ltd are acknowledged as world leaders in their fields. Recent research has included:
Materials durability
Indoor environments
Fire Safety science and engineering
Light frame structural engineering
Energy and environmental issues
Economic issues relating to building and construction

BUILDING RESEARCH is also part-owner of
Construction Information Ltd, a company which delivers standardised specification systems,
Greenbuild Ltd, a company which provides a building products web-based database with specific evaluation of the environmental properties, and
Beacon Pathway Ltd, a research consortium company which is addressing issues of sustainability in the residential built environment.

ENDS

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