Royal Society of NZ recognises achievements of researchers

Royal Society of New Zealand recognises achievements of researchers

Outstanding New Zealand researchers have been awarded prestigious medals at the Royal Society of New Zealand 2014 Research Honours event, held in Wellington on Wednesday night.

The Rutherford Medal, the top medal awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand, was presented to Distinguished Professor Peter Schwerdtfeger FRSNZ of Massey University for his world-leading contribution to fundamental aspects of chemical and physical phenomena in atoms, molecules and condensed matter.

Eleven other medals were presented by the Royal Society of New Zealand to researchers in disciplines including archaeology, literature, mathematics, education theory, genetics, biomedical research and environmental research.

President of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Sir David Skegg FRSNZ, said the medals recognise the country’s top researchers and scholars for their outstanding contributions to knowledge but also for their leadership and public service in their disciplines. “New Zealand and, in many cases, the world has benefited greatly from the endeavours of these researchers and we salute their achievements on behalf of the research community and the general public.

“One of the statutory functions of the Royal Society of New Zealand is to encourage, promote and recognise excellence in science, technology and the humanities, and we take great pleasure in awarding these medals.”

Distinguished Professor Schwerdtfeger said he was overwhelmed and deeply honoured to be receiving the Rutherford Medal, even more so as it is named after physicist Sir Ernest Rutherford. “I have always admired Rutherford’s work. For me he is a true giant of science.

“I am in excellent company looking at the names of all the previous Rutherford Medal winners,” he said.

In addition to the medal, Distinguished Professor Schwerdtfeger received $100,000 from the Government, presented by Minister of Science and Innovation Honourable Steven Joyce.

Dr Rob Murdoch, General Manager of Research at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) won the Thomson Medal awarded for science and technology leadership and organisation. The medal recognises his contribution to the development of environmental science in New Zealand as a science leader.

The Callaghan Medal for science communication was awarded to University of Otago geneticist Associate Professor Peter Dearden for the outreach activities of Genetics Otago that he helped form and his involvement in communicating his genetics research on honey bees with the beekeeping industry and the public.

The MacDiarmid Medal for research with potential for human benefit was awarded to clinician scientist Professor Alistair Gunn FRSNZ, University of Auckland, for his pioneering research on using brain cooling to prevent brain injury in babies who experience low oxygen at birth. This treatment is now the standard of care around the world and can prevent disability in all but the most affected newborns.

The Pickering Medal for application of technology was awarded to Professor Simon Malpas, who has developed and commercialised implantable wireless sensors that can monitor physiological processes such as heart activity or lung function in the body. Professor Malpas is both a Professor of Physiology at the University of Auckland and head of research for Millar Inc, a company which formed from a merger with his previous company (Telemetry Research), to sell these devices worldwide, including to all the major pharmaceutical companies for drug testing.

Archaeologist Professor Charles Higham FRSNZ from the University of Otago was awarded the Mason Durie Medal for social sciences for his work to understand social change in Southeast Asia over three millennia. His work identified a series of social changes that ultimately led to the establishment of the rise of the Angkor state in modern-day Thailand.

Two literature academics were awarded medals. Distinguished Professor Brian Boyd FRSNZ from the University of Auckland was presented with the Humanities Aronui Medal for his wide-ranging contribution to the humanities. Recognised as the leading world scholar on novelist Vladimir Nabokov, Distinguished Professor Boyd has written on a wide range of literature from Homer to Shakespeare and more recently has been exploring whether our minds and behaviour can be reshaped by art and literature.

Professor Lydia Wevers, Director of the Stout Research Centre at Victoria University of Wellington, has been awarded the Pou Aronui Award for her dedication to promoting New Zealand studies, literature and art. A literary critic, historian, editor and reviewer, Professor Wevers has researched New Zealand’s writing and print culture, edited and collated many collections of Australasian literature, has served on numerous arts bodies and has played key roles in academic administration of the humanities in New Zealand.

Two mathematicians were awarded medals. Emeritus Professor David Vere-Jones FRSNZ from Victoria University of Wellington was awarded the Jones Medal to recognise his lifetime achievement in statistics, both for his novel work on forecasting earthquakes and earthquake risk and for his contribution to the teaching of statistics and mathematics in New Zealand.

Distinguished Professor Marston Conder FRSNZ from the University of Auckland was awarded the Hector Medal for his outstanding contribution to mathematics. His main interest is in group theory and its applications, especially to the study of symmetry. He is considered a world authority on discrete objects with maximum possible symmetry in their class. He is also renowned for pioneering the application of an array of algebraic, combinatorial and computational techniques to find answers to open questions in a wide range of fields.

Professor Alison Jones has been awarded the Dame Joan Metge Medal for the significant impact she has made on New Zealand educational research and practice, particularly on Māori-Pakeha educational relationships and women’s education at tertiary level. In addition to her research, she has mentored many early-career researchers and teaches academic writing. Her collaboration with Professor Kuni Jenkins on the setting up of New Zealand’s first school in 1816 has resulted in an award-winning book, a travelling exhibition and the development of teaching resources.

The Sir Charles Hercus Medal for excellence in biomedical and health sciences was awarded to Professor Parry Guilford of the University of Otago. Professor Guilford is internationally recognised for his work that established the gene mutation that can lead to hereditary stomach cancer in families. Since the discovery of the gene, approximately 350 families have been diagnosed worldwide, leading to dramatic improvements in clinical management and cancer prevention. Professor Guilford is also chief scientist for Pacific Edge, a cancer diagnostics company which has developed various products including a urine test for bladder cancer.

The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) awarded the Liley Medal to Professor Edward Gane from Auckland City Hospital and the Auckland District Health Board for his work on an improved treatment for hepatitis C – a major cause of liver failure in New Zealand and worldwide.

About the Royal Society of New Zealand
The Royal Society of New Zealand offers expert advice to government and the public, recognises excellence in research and scholarship in science, technology and humanities, promotes science and technology education, publishes peer-reviewed journals, administers funds for research and fosters international scientific contact and cooperation.

www.royalsociety.org.nz

ENDS

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