Allen Heath appointed companion to Royal Society

 
10 September 2009
 
Royal Society of New Zealand marks election of AgResearch’s Dr Allen Heath as a Companion
 
The Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand has presented Dr Allen Heath of AgResearch with a certificate marking his election as a Companion for dedication to communicating science over many decades.
 
The title of Companion is an honour recognising outstanding leadership in science, and contributions to the promotion and advancement of science and technology in New Zealand.
 
The Companion Honour bestowed on Dr Heath recognises work in promotion and encouragement of science and technology aimed at advancing awareness and understanding of scientific issues. 
 
Dr Heath’s career has spanned over 40 years and has included slots on Radio NZ, creation of AgFacts on parasite control in agriculture, a school programme called ‘Flytrack’ and technology transfer initiative for farmers on ectoparasite control.
 
Dr Heath says he is humbled by the honour but sees communicating as a critical part of science, ‘I don’t see science as being much use unless you can get the information out to the public and end users. I hope the honour will allow me to increase the promotion of science within the Royal Society and the New Zealand scientific community.’
 
AgResearch Chief Executive, Dr Andrew West, has welcomed the award and says communicating science is vital in today’s environment, ‘Dr Allen Heath is an example of how knowledge and passion can be used to explain to lay people the importance of science to us all.  In the current funding and media environment we need more advocates like Allen and on behalf of all his colleagues at AgResearch I congratulate him.’
 
The Award of the Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand was introduced in 1999 and there are now 27 Companions.

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