ScienceNZ - The Value of Science Discovery
Science Value
New alliance boosts Antarctic and climate research
The number of New Zealand organisations comprising the Joint Antarctic Research Institute has risen to three with Crown Research Institute NIWA joining Victoria University and GNS Science in the alliance.
The Joint Antarctic Research Institute was established in 2006. Researchers from the three organisations have worked in Antarctica for the past five decades and the new alliance formalises and strengthens their working relationships.
The Joint Antarctic Research Institute was established in 2006. Researchers from the three organisations have worked in Antarctica for the past five decades and the new alliance formalises and strengthens their working relationships.
New Value
Student ultrasound researcher scoops international award
Ultrasound researcher Andrew Dawson has been named the winner of a prestigious international student innovation competition. He is engaged in research work at Industrial Research Ltd (IRL) under the supervision of IRL Research Engineer Paul Harris and VUW Senior Lecturer Gideon Gouws.
Plant & Food Research scientist wins international award
Plant & Food Research scientist, Susan Gardiner, has received the ASHS Outstanding International Horticulturist Award from the American Society for Horticultural Science.
Harness science to the plough
Plant and Food Research's Karl Crawford says that showcasing the science-backed health benefits of our food is the way to lift returns from agriculture.
Europe recognises New Zealand expertise in apple breeding
Scientists at Plant & Food Research have received funding to encourage science collaboration with Spanish and Italian researchers.
Earth science book a finalist in 2009 Montana Book Awards
A book co-published by GNS Science and the Geological Society of New Zealand has been selected as a finalist in the 2009 Montana Book Awards.
Queen honours New Zealand scientists
Queen’s honours raise profile for value of New Zealand science
Power surge for Kiwi scientists
A New Zealand project that could transform the way the world's electricity is transmitted has received a multimillion-dollar boost.
Innovative pet food research consortium launched
A research consortium that aims to make New Zealand globally recognised as the leader in innovative meat science for pet care, has been launched by AgResearch, Mars and Massey University.
International accreditation for CarboNZero programme
Landcare Research´s carboNZero programme has become the first greenhouse gas certification scheme in the world to receive international accreditation under the auspices of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
High-tech trace of wool's origin
AgResearch-developed technology that can prove the origins of New Zealand carpet wool is being used to try to boost record low returns to wool growers.
R&D spend rises to $2.14 billion
Research and development spending reached $2.14 billion in the year to September 2009, up 17 per cent from the amount spent two years earlier, Statistics New Zealand says
ESR responding to swine flu
ESR is providing a comprehensive laboratory and surveillance response to the swine flu outbreak.
Surveillance shows rise in MRSA
Surveillance by ESR has found significant increase in the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the period 2003-2008.
New Thinking
US researchers to help rumen research
AgResearch scientists trying to find ways of reducing livestock emissions of major greenhouse gases, are to be given a helping hand by American researchers.
Farming smarter, agricultural innovation
AgResearch chairman Sam Robinson told guests at the CRI’s annual media dinner that farming smarter demands all farmers take action now, at ground zero, to remain sustainable, resilient and productive.
Competition finalists announced
The judging panel for IRL’s R&D competition What’s Your Problem New Zealand? has chosen ten finalists from a field of more than 100 entries.
The Ahuwhenua Trophy
AgResearch is proud to be Gold Sponsor of the Maori Excellence in Farming Awards 2009.
AgResearch developing the dairy farm of the future
AgResearch’s new dairy research and development farm provides a vital facility to trial leading-edge technology and novel farming practices to help the dairy industry meet today’s challenges, and grow the sector.
New Acting General Manager for AgResearch Food and Textiles Group
Providing leadership for AgResearch’s substantial capability and capacity in food and textiles research and development will be the focus for the new Acting General Manager Professor Warren McNabb.
Partnership model agreed as best future for AgResearch and Lincoln University
Three months of investigation by Crown Research Institute AgResearch and Lincoln University have identified that a partnership model would be preferable to a full amalgamation.
Testing time cut as sample numbers rise
ESR's National Influenza Centre has cut its testing time of influenza samples to less than eight hours despite processing the highest daily number of samples in its history….
Queen Bees heading home to England
A rare species of bumblebee, extinct in its English homeland, has been clinging on in the South Island of New Zealand.
NZ scientist eyes 'super-volcano'
A GNS Science geologist is worried another "super-volcano" is being created under Mount St Helens in the US.
Developing 'smart foods'
AgResearch scientists are investigating so-called ‘smart foods’ to help create value-added opportunities for New Zealand’s dairy and meat industries.
R&D critical to farmer’s success
New Zealand dairying can be profitable and environmentally attractive to world’s consumers, says AgResearch.
Crucial role for AgResearch in world first animal welfare centre
The ability of AgResearch to scientifically measure and help improve animal welfare on farms is why it will be a major player in a new international centre focusing on the welfare of animals.
Benchtop RS&T increases
Budget 2009 delivers some welcome increases to benchtop RS&T, says Science New Zealand.
Prime Minister’s Chief Science Adviser valued
Science New Zealand chair John Morgan says the role and the person will enhance the mana of science in government and across the nation.
CRI Supplier Group Forum
Download the presentation to the CRI Procurement Group Supplier Forum in May 2009.
AgResearch welcomes the appointment of Chief Science Advisor
AgResearch's Chief Executive, Dr Andrew West, today celebrated the appointment of Professor Peter Gluckman as the Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister.
Research looks at natural predators for bee threat
Plant and Food Research scientists are investigating ways to control the destructive varroa mite, a cause of major devastation to honey bees.
More R&D needed to sustain farming success
Agriculture Minister Carter says New Zealand’s farming success has been built on RS&T – but adds: “For 20 years, we as a nation haven’t spent enough on research and development. And many of the productivity increases we have achieved on-farm are as a result of research done 30 years ago.”
Bee sweet tooth used to help agriculture
Feeding sugar to bees encourages them to collect pollen, rather than nectar, increasing the level of crop pollination vital for agricultural success.
Smarter bee management needed
Smarter management of beehives may be one way for New Zealand agriculture to counter a downturn in bee populations.
Collaboration between AgResearch and Liggins
In a move to optimise the nutritional and health-giving qualities of foods from pastoral-based sources for human consumption, AgResearch has put the official seal on a collaboration with The University of Auckland’s Liggins Institute.
Biology can be our trump card
New Zealand is lucky to be in the business of biology, in the century of biology. And with that luck, with talent and with investment, other countries may yet envy our success, says Dr Andrew West (AgResearch).
Biotech still critical to NZ
AgResearch chief scientist Stephen Goldson says nanotechnology could confer massive benefit to New Zealand’s biological based industries by contributing technologies.
Marriage made in heaven... or hell?
While the recent Government approval for due diligence to be undertaken between Lincoln and AgResearch has been greeted positively by most stakeholders, there are clearly some strongly held, even emotional, opinions on both sides.
Local expert downplays solar threat
The remote threat of a catastrophic "solar super-storm" killing hundreds of thousands of people and plunging the Earth into chaos has been met with caution by NIWA upper atmosphere scientist Bill Allan.
ANZAC ceremony to be held at Ruakura
ANZAC celebrations will this year have a special meaning for AgResearch when it hosts its own formal military commemoration ceremony at its Ruakura Campus in Hamilton.
NIWA combing archives for old weather records
Ever wondered what the weather was like the day your grandmother was born, or the day New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup?
New Science
Feathers help reconstruct moa
Researchers from the University of Adelaide and Landcare Research in New Zealand have identified four different moa species after retrieving ancient DNA from moa feathers believed to be at least 2500 years old.
New research highlights sports recovery potential in blackcurrants
A preliminary study by Plant & Food Research suggests that natural chemicals found in blackcurrants may help balance the impacts exercise can have on the body.
Trouble runs off the farm
A 20-year study by Niwa found waterways flowing through farmland have higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorous than those that flow through unfarmed land.
Software accesses farms' greenhouse gas emissions
Software that enables farmers to estimate their on-farm emissions of greenhouse gases and assists their business in balancing profit and environmental impact was among the technology showcased by AgResearch during National Fieldays.
Automation technology set to boost productivity in meat processing
Industrial Research Limited (IRL) and Millers Mechanical will provide the R&D expertise for the project that is expected to provide significant productivity gains in lamb processing.
New test can tell organic eggs apart
A New Zealand researcher has developed a scientific technique to identify the difference between eggs from caged hens and those from free-range and organically raised hens.
Scientists to drill for ice cores in Southern Alps glaciers
Scientists from three countries will camp out high in Mt Cook National Park for the next three weeks collecting ice cores from glaciers for climate research.
Kiwi connection to green racing car
Scientists at Plant & Food Research had a part in developing the world’s first racing car from sustainable and renewable resources.
Kapiti Coast hosts Fungal Foray
Fungal Forays have two main aims - to better understand the diversity and distribution of New Zealand's native fungi, and to increase public understanding and appreciation of them, says Landcare Research.
GNS scientists capture video of erupting undersea volcano
Two New Zealand scientists, who have just returned from witnessing an erupting undersea volcano near the Island of Guam in the Mariana Arc, say the volcano is supporting a thriving community of marine life in spite of the eruptions.
Special honey halts bacteria
Researchers at Plant and Food Research have identified what makes manuka honey good for treating and preventing bacterial infections.
"Tamiflu" resistance in flu viruses
ESR virologists at the WHO National Influenza Centre have identifed seasonal influenza A viruses resistant to oseltamivir, the active ingredient in "Tamiflu".
NZ-assisted cow genome holds hope for medicine
Crown Research Institute scientists are part of an international team that has sequenced the cow genome – which holds hope for both animal and human health.
Get ready for red kiwifruit
Plant and Food Research and Zespri are developing a red- centered kiwifruit that suits New Zealand conditions and can be exported.
Release of bovine genome
AgResearch scientists have played a key role in genetic research that will transform the future selection and breeding of cattle worldwide.
Turmeric relieves symptoms in some cases of inflammatory bowel disease
Researchers have found that curcumin, the major yellow constituent of turmeric spice, reduces inflammation in model systems of Crohn’s disease.
Antioxidant lycopene not released during digestion.
Eating a raw tomato may not be the best way to release all its healthy antioxidants into the body.
NZ joins world's largest geoscience programme
With our participation led by GNS Science, New Zealand has joined a major international scientific drilling programme that will collect sediment cores from beneath the seabed in New Zealand waters later this year.
Cyclone Bola still making its mark after 21 years
The effects of Cyclone Bola are still with the East Coast of the North Island, according to NIWA scientists
Tarakihi tagged: where will they go?
West Coast tarakihi may start their life in Tasman and Golden Bays. Scientists on-board NIWA’s coastal research vessel Kaharoa are trying to find out for sure.
