Veterinarian honoured by Royal Society

New Zealand Veterinary Association
Media Release

24 November 2008.

Veterinarian honoured by Royal Society

Veterinarian Bryce Buddle has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, in recognition of his important contributions to science.

New Zealand Veterinary Association president, Richard Wild, says Dr Buddle's recognition by the Royal Society is a tribute to an outstanding research career.

"Dr Buddle's research has involved just about every currently significant disease of New Zealand livestock.”

Dr Wild says the long list of Dr Buddle’s publications in prestigious journals demonstrates the range of his contributions.

"Currently much of his work involves tuberculosis in wildlife and cattle, an ongoing challenge for New Zealand pastoral farming. He is also leading a new research programme to develop a vaccine that could reduce methane emissions by cattle and sheep."

Dr Buddle works at the new AgResearch Hopkirk Research Institute in Palmerston North and was previously based in Wallaceville, having joined the Animal Research Centre there in 1980. His research has focused on understanding infectious diseases of livestock and developing diagnostic tests and vaccines to control them.

Dr Wild says the Royal Society acknowledgment is also an honour for the veterinary profession.

"This is the first time a veterinary graduate from Massey University has been elected to Fellowship and Dr Buddle is only the sixth veterinary scientist to receive the honour. The NZVA is very proud that one of our NZVA members has joined the esteemed ranks of the country's top scientists.”

Research in animal health is vitally important to New Zealand as so much of the country's export income comes directly from the livestock industries. Dr Wild says preventing and controlling animal diseases improves efficiencies and benefits animal welfare.

"Veterinarians in research play a significant, though little-known, role in assisting the agricultural industries to lift their productivity," said Dr Wild.

"Dr Buddle's Fellowship highlights this area of work and also demonstrates that the science itself is of a calibre recognised by the Academy of Fellows of the Royal Society."

Fellowship of the Royal Society is an honour conferred for distinction in research or advancement of science or technology. Fellows are involved in providing expert advice, promoting scientific best practice and disseminating scientific information. The Royal Society has 344 Fellows and 51 Honorary Fellows.

ENDS

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