Scientists counting down to MethaneSAT satellite launch
NIWA scientists leading New Zealand’s MethaneSAT agricultural emissions science programme are gearing up for the launch of its satellite.
One of Europe's most celebrated scientific leaders is to deliver a public lecture in Auckland on Monday, November 19. The lecture is on "Translating science to build the knowledge economy – lessons from Europe".
Professor Patrick Cunningham is Professor of Animal Genetics at Trinity College, Dublin, and a leading world researcher on aspects of animal DNA. His five year term as chief science adviser to the Irish Government (2007-2012) ended on August 2012. During that time, he also led the Irish bid to host the Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) in Dublin http://www.dublinscience2012.ie/ - the most significant science event on Europe's calendar. Some 4500 scientists attended the 5-day-conference last July.
He is the recipient of the Boyle Medal, Ireland's premier award in science, and following Europe's BSE crisis he co-established IdentiGEN, a company providing DNA traceability for meat enabling source of origin to be identified. This company has since become integrally involved in establishing country of origin meat brands. Professor Cunningham has led major research programmes in Ireland and at the UN in Rome, and has twice featured on the cover of Nature (one of the world's leading science publications).
Professor Cunningham has been invited to New Zealand by the National Research Centre for Growth and Development (NRCGD), one of the New Zealand Government's seven Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs).
"During his visit he will take up a position as part of an international scientific advisory board to the NRCGD," says director of the NRCGD Professor Phil Baker. "Our global advisory board is being formed from the best scientific, medical and agricultural minds in the world to review, guide and comment on the research work we're undertaking. New Zealand already has a considerable reputation in scientific research around pregnancy in humans and animals. We are putting in place this board to raise the research bar even higher for our skilled and capable scientists."
Professor Cunningham's lecture will compare New Zealand and Ireland as small economies, and look at the need for commitment to science as part of economic development. He will:
• outline the rationale and results of Irish initiatives in science over the past decade
• make comparison with other countries in the 27 nation European Union and with New Zealand
• address the priorities for investing in national science, in times of recession
After the lecture, Professor Cunningham will attend the annual symposium of the NRCGD (November 20-23) in Palmerston North.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
OPINION: This old mutt well remembers the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth by former West Coast MP and Labour…
OPINION: Your canine crusader gets a little fed up with the some in media, union hacks, opposition politicians and hard-core…