Winning Waikato Scientists

MEDIA RELEASE

October 15 2009

Eczema, Couples’ Love-lives and Nitrates Drive Winning Waikato Scientists

Nearly 200 people attended the Hamilton’s annual Science Excellence Awards – The Kudos Awards – on 14 October at the Narrows Landing.

The seven winners proved science in the Waikato region has depth and breadth as their research ranged from cures for facial eczema, ground breaking research into couples’ sexual health, controlling nitrogen levels in groundwater and studying the grazing habits of cattle.

Winners were awarded for their contributions to innovative and exciting discoveries in the fields of medical, agricultural and environmental science.  The region’s young scientists, science educators and science entrepreneurs were also recognised.  

Dr Rex Munday of AgResearch took home the top prize for Lifetime Achievement for his work developing the zinc bolus to treat facial eczema in animals as well as his work on cancer research.

The main awards were sponsored by Hamilton City Council, Environment Waikato, Waikato District Health Board, WINTEC, Calder and Lawson House of Travel and Waikato University.

The winners announced were:

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner – Dr Rex Munday of AgResearch

·         For his work developing the zinc bolus to treat facial eczema in animals and cancer research

Medical Science – Dr Helen Conaglen of The Psychology Centre

·         For her work studying the effects of medical conditions on couples sex lives

Science Teacher/Educator/Communicator – Dr Paul Lowe, science teacher at Morrinsville College

·         For his work in developing ‘Problem Based Learning in Teams’ – a new way to teach science to high school students

Environmental Science – Dr Malcolm Green of NIWA

·         For his work in planning for the future health of our region’s estuaries

Agricultural Science – Dr Stewart Ledgard of AgResearch

·         For his work researching nitrogen levels in pastures and development of the Overseer model

Emerging Scientist – Dr Pablo Gregorini of DairyNZ

·         For his work developing models to research the cattle grazing process

Science Entrepreneur – Dr Rod Claycomb of Quantec

·         For his career track record of turning science discoveries into commercial products

Waikato is a main science hub in New Zealand.  It is home to the Ruakura Research Centre and Waikato Innovation Park, where the resident scientists’ research and developments contribute to their disciplines both nationally and internationally.

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