Bay Of Plenty Student Selected To Showcase Work In Europe
Katikati College student Pippa Grierson, 16, has been selected by the Royal Society of New Zealand to participate in the
European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in Copenhagen, Denmark from 19 – 26 September.
37 countries already participate in EUCYS but this is the first time New Zealand has been invited to select a student to
attend.
In December 2007, Pippa won the DairyNZ Premier Award at Genesis Energy Realise the Dream, an event which celebrates
students who have carried out excellent research, for her project entitled ‘fighting facial eczema’. Facial eczema
effects mainly cattle and sheep and is caused by a toxin (sporidesmin) produced by fungal spores in the pasture when
humid conditions exist. The toxins are ingested and cause severe liver damage resulting in facial eczema. It can be so
severe that many animals have to be euthanized.
Pippa’s research focused on the treatment of pasture with super-phosphate or lime and its effect on fungal spores. Her
results show that the use of Lime appears to be an effective mechanism for controlling facial eczema spores.
At EUCYS Pippa will present a 10 page paper on her research to a judging panel and also present her research in poster
format for display to the public.
“I am so excited about being selected to attend EUCYS and meeting all the other students who have been selected” she
said. Pippa is also making the most of the opportunity to visit some relatives in the UK after the contest has finished.
ENDS