Bayer names students to represent NZ

08 March 2007

Bayer names students to represent New Zealand at Eco-Minds Youth Forum

Three New Zealand students with a passion for the environment and sustainable development have been selected to join like-minded students at the Eco-Minds Youth Forum in Bangkok.
The three winning students will join representatives from eight other Asia-Pacific countries to work together to develop creative and practical solutions for addressing the challenge of sustainable development.

Eco-Minds activities include a tour of Bangkok, a river cruise, attending sustainability forums, team case study assignments, an ‘eco-walk’ and tours of provincial sustainability sites.

The forum is part of a global partnership between Bayer and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from May 31 to June 3.

In New Zealand, the Eco-Minds challenge is an official project of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, run in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The students selected to represent New Zealand are Chelsea Giles-Hansen from the University of Canterbury, Ben Hutchison graduating at Unitec and Lucy Forgie from the University of Otago.
Bayer New Zealand Corporate Communications Manager William Malpass said Bayer is committed to supporting the development of New Zealand’s youth, particularly in the fields of science and technology.

“We’re thrilled to be sending these three young New Zealand students to such an important forum where they will not only share their ideas with other students, but also learn from world-renowned sustainable development speakers,” Mr Malpass said.

The competition to attend the Eco-Minds Youth Forum is open to university and polytechnic students aged 18-24, studying in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, technology, social sciences, commerce, management and law.

The winners were selected on a range of factors including activities, studies and projects they had undertaken that related to sustainable development. Entrants were also required to write a 1000-word essay on “ensuring a sustainable river basin”.

“Identifying our national treasures or taonga and making sure they are sustainable is fundamental to the decade in New Zealand,” says UNESCO Secretary General Elizabeth Rose.

“Eco-Minds is a fantastic initiative that will enable three remarkable young New Zealanders to take part in a regional summit dedicated to the sustainability of our planet and the treasures it holds.”

Chelsea Giles-Hansen is a University of Canterbury student studying for a Bachelor of Engineering (honours) in natural resources with the underlying theme of the course being sustainability and holistic thinking. She is currently the president of the Women in Engineering Society at the University of Canterbury. Since starting her course Chelsea has undertaken a number of environment-related projects including monitoring and reporting on the ecological health of Okeover Stream, a restored waterway at the University of Canterbury campus; and a major research project exploring environmental, social, economic, political, cultural and technical issues associated with proposed tidal turbine power generation from Cook Straight.

Ben Hutchsion is graduating in environmental engineering at Unitec. Ben has been involved in a number of environment-related projects over the last year including a research project with Exxon Mobil to examine remediation and development options for a bulk fuel site. He also co-organised and ran the first New Zealand Complementary Education Course for student engineers on sustainable development. In addition he was the first New Zealand student to attend the Board of European Students of Technology (BEST) Compulsory Education Course in Paris which focuses on sustainable energy.

Lucy Forgie is a University of Otago student studying a double degree - a Bachelor of Science in ecology and statistics and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, politics and economics. She is committed to environmental issues and recently won a $9000 Linklater Memorial Bursary awarded to students in the field of environmental study. On top of her study she holds a part-time job at the University of Otago’s zoology department, working as an assistant on a PhD project.

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About Bayer
Bayer is a research-based, growth orientated global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. The company’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, Bayer wants to create value through innovation, growth and improved earning power.

In New Zealand, Bayer aims to make a positive contribution to the community, not only by providing innovative solutions, but also through our educational partnerships. For example, Bayer supports ongoing clinical research and educational initiatives in the treatment of haemophilia. On a broader scale, we believe social commitment also extends to the environment. We support initiatives to preserve and protect New Zealand’s native flora and fauna, such as the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre.

Bayer has had a presence in Australia and New Zealand for more than 75 years. For more information on Bayer visit www.bayer.co.nz or contact:

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