24 May 2005

Research scholarships boost Americas Cup chances

Education Minister Trevor Mallard today announced the 14 projects that have been approved in the latest round of Enterprise Scholarships.

Among the scholarships awarded is one which may boost Emirates Team New Zealand’s chances of winning back the America’s Cup – a $33,333 scholarship for doctoral level research into the biomechanics of grinding and training for performance enhancement.

“This is valuable research. For Team New Zealand to succeed it needs the best possible physical performance from its crew, as well as its boats. Anybody who has watched an America’s Cup race will know just how critical the grinders are,” Trevor Mallard said.

The May round of Enterprise Scholarships also includes a project into creating biodegradable packaging from dairy waste for Fonterra and another into reducing greenhouse gases from ruminants for Elanco Animal Health.

Enterprise Scholarships support New Zealand students to undertake a course of study involving a significant research component at a New Zealand tertiary education institution.

They are undertaken in partnership with private companies or public organisations such as city councils or crown research institutes, with half the funding for a student provided by the organisation, matched by the government contribution.

The scheme supports study and research (with a minimum of 20 per cent research) at PhD, Masters, Honours, post-graduate Diploma, post-graduate Certificate and level 7 National Qualifications Framework (3rd or 4th year under-graduate) levels.

Organisations benefit by having access to talent, technology, knowledge and training as they work with students and research teams from any discipline area to develop improved processes, business solutions, to train existing staff and identify potential future staff.

The 14 projects approved in this round have been awarded $30,906 in funding for 2004/2005 and $330,125 over the life of the projects.

Recipients

The full list of successful projects is: Scholar name, enterprise, host education organisation, degree level, research title, funding for 2004/05, total for scholarship: Scholar name to be advised, Fonterra Research Centre Limited, University of Auckland, PhD, Biodegradable packaging from waste stream proteins, $2083, $37,500.

Kieran Bryne, Marlborough Lines Ltd, University of Canterbury, Masters, Economic upgrading of existing power reticulation in low-populated regions of the Marlborough Sounds, $2500, $10,000.

Emily Hodgkinson, Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation, University of Canterbury, Masters, 'Women in construction' - Addressing the skills shortage in the New Zealand building and construction industry, $2500, $10,000.

David Monks, Meat & Wool New Zealand, Lincoln University, PhD, Growth and development of annual clovers for use in summer dry environments, $3125, $37,500.

Guang-Feng Rao, Canesis Network Ltd, Massey University, PhD, Effects of dietary keratins and its derived peptides on serum antioxidants and their benefits on health, $3125, $37,500.

Natasha Swainson, Elanco Animal Health, Massey University, PhD, Dietary manipulation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants, $3125, $28,125. Kimberley Severinsen, Chandler Macleod Group, Massey University, Masters, An investigation of the Humm Wadsworth Temperament Scale: development and application for 2005, $2500, $9,167.

Eloise Bartlett, Goode Industries Limited, Unitec New Zealand, Masters, Product strategy in SMEs in the New Zealand furniture industry, $2499, $3,333. Sam Brodie, Alt Group Limited, Unitec New Zealand, Masters, Towards a new design consultancy model in response to emerging contexts: The knowledge creating company, $2500, $9,167.

William Dickie, The National Heart Foundation of NZ, University of Canterbury, Level 7 NQF, Increase the effectiveness of The National Heart Foundation lottery programme, $2000, $2000.

Jenneke van Drunen, Protemix Corporation, University of Auckland, PhD, Trace metal homeostasis in diabetes and hypertension, $1041, $37,500. Scholar name to be advised, AgResearch Limited, Massey University, PhD, Identifying and exploiting genetic diversity in white clover (Trifolium repens L.), $0.00, $37,500.

Stephen Brown, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd, University of Canterbury, PhD, Ecology and enhancement of the oyster) Ostrea chilensis) in Tasman Bay, $781, $37,500.

Simon Pearson, Emirates Team New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, PhD, Biomechanics of grinding and training for performance enhancement, $3,125,$33,333.

ENDS

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