College of Science RSS

History project exposes 'imposter' capital of Marlborough

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Massey technician Kerry Griffiths with his historical
book based around 19th century Picton politician
Arthur Seymour

An interest in finding out more about his family history five years ago has led to a Massey staff member producing a 600-page book.

Kerry Griffiths, a technician in the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology at Manawatū, says he has uncovered at least one little known fact about New Zealand's history in the process: That Picton rather than Blenheim is still officially the provincial capital of Marlborough.

His book, The Grand Old Man of Marlborough – the life and times of AP Seymour, is self-published and printed by the Massey Printery, with a first edition of 80 copies produced for interested family and friends.

It tells a story based around Mr Griffiths' great-great-grandfather, Arthur Penrose Seymour (1832-1923), who was the elected Superintendent of the Marlborough province in 1864 and again from 1870 until 1876 before the abolition of New Zealand's provinces as a form of sub-national government. Mr Seymour then represented various Marlborough electorates in the House of Representatives and the Legislative Chamber in Wellington.

Mr Griffiths reckons his story "defies belief". He has certainly found the Blenheim-based parts of the Marlborough news media unwilling to believe him. The Picton newspaper was happy to publish "the facts", he says, but the Marlborough Express and the Blenheim Sun declined to do so.

Picton, which has a population of about 3000 and is now part of the Marlborough District territorial authority, run from Blenheim (population about 30,000), became the provincial capital in 1859 when Marlborough split from the Nelson province.

Mr Griffiths says although the seat of Government changed from Picton to Blenheim in 1865, there was no accompanying law change or proclamation that Blenheim was now the capital of the province.

"Because a year earlier the capital of New Zealand had moved from Auckland to Wellington, and the title of capital was seen to follow that change, people presumed that the same must apply to Marlborough," he says. "The Mäori Wars were raging at the time and people’s attentions were elsewhere. No one ever challenged this wrong move of the title of capital. What’s more, the new newspaper, the Marlborough Express, started at the same time, and they announced publicly that they were setting up in 'Blenheim, the new capital of Marlborough'.

"Because Blenheim wrongly attained the title of capital, it has now just continued to be so throughout all the provincial, county council, regional council days that have come and gone. And believe me, they still use the title of 'capital' on and off even these days when it suits. I would like to see Picton have its rightful day in the sun!"
Mr Griffiths also wanted to thank Massey Printery staff. "I am truly thrilled with the quality and care taken in the making of my book."

Study to find answers in the fat-fit debate

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

James Stewart

A Massey University master’s student hopes to find out if obese but active people are better off than those who are slim but inactive.

James Stewart, based at the School of Sport and Exercise at the Wellington campus, is looking for male participants from the Wellington region for his study.

“We are comparing exercise economy between obese-fit and normal weight-unfit males,” Mr Stewart says. “Exercise economy is a measure of efficiency during exercise and a predictor of overall exercise performance.”

“It’s an exercise study that will require the participants to use a treadmill to test their fitness,” he says. “It will test them up to 85 per cent of capacity, so won’t be too difficult.”

As well as the exercise test, participants will also get a full analysis of their health history and an exercise assessment and prescription, for no cost.

“We work up a complete risk factor assessment for each participant that includes blood pressure, a cholesterol test, glucose levels and an electrocardiography assessment,” he says.

From the scientific health assessment an exercise programme could be developed for each participant, that they could then use to boost fitness, working at a level that suited their current fitness level.

Two groups are needed for the study, unfit-normal-weight males with a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.99 kg·m2 and fit-obese males between 30 and 39.99 kg·m2.

“Current research suggests those individuals who are overweight but active are of a higher level of fitness and have better health than those people who may be an ideal weight, but don’t exercise,” Mr Stewart says. “I want to test that theory further.

“We hope to find further evidence to support the importance of cardiovascular fitness and maintaining an active lifestyle.”

Anyone interested in taking part in the study can contact: J.A.Stewart@massey.ac.nz.

Graduation ceremonies celebrated half a world away

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Michaela Gallear with her family, husband Simon and children Megan and Jack. Her parents in Turkey watched live as she graduated last week through Massey’s Graduation Live initiative.

From their home in Turkey, two proud parents watched live as their daughter crossed the stage at a Palmerston North graduation ceremony.

Michaela Gallear, of Tauranga, graduated last Wednesday with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in social anthropology.

Through Massey University’s Graduation Live initiative, all graduation ceremonies were streamed live on its YouTube channel, and Mrs Gallear’s parents in Turkey witnessed her milestone moment.

Her husband Simon and children, Megan, 13, and Jack, 16, were in the audience but she said her parents had also supported her as a mature student through five years of extramural study. Having them watch her graduate, from half a world away, made her feel connected and that they too were part of the celebrations.

Her parents Sandra and Robert Stables said they were thankful to be able to join in the happy day.

“Being quite literally a world away from family is hard enough every day but to know we miss such important events only make’s the separation even harder,” Mrs Stables wrote to Massey University.

“To two parents, living in Turkey, sitting in their PJs watching a very proud moment in their daughter’s life, it means the world.”

So far, the graduation videos from last week’s Palmerston North ceremonies have had more than 7000 views in more than 100 countries.

Frozen fantasies tasted for NZ Ice Cream Awards

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

New Zealand Ice Cream Awards judges (from left) Michelle Sinclair, Craig Davis, Aaron Pooch, Kay McMath and Joanna Boese at Massey University’s Albany campus, tasting entries in the 2012 New Zealand Ice Cream Awards.

New Zealand Ice Cream Award 2012 judges doused their taste buds with 286 flavours of ice cream, gelato and sorbet this week.

Flavours ranged from conventional vanilla and chocolate to the more unusual and exotic – violet, japonica, and avocado and goat’s cheese.

The 16th annual awards have drawn a record number of entries this year, up from 248 last year, says chief judge Kay McMath.

She is a contract food technology and product development lecturer at Massey University’s Albany campus where the judging took place over two days.

She was one of five judges tasked with tasting spoonful after spoonful from tubs of frozen confection. Most entries are available to shoppers, produced by large companies to small boutique manufacturers.

Dressed in white lab coats, with the demeanour of serious scientists deep in concentration as they ingest and assess another mouthful – from classics to the likes of gingernut, blackcurrant with liquorice pieces, flat white coffee or blue cheese and pear – the judges (from food and ingredient supply companies) recorded their sensory verdicts.

Entries are scored out of 100 points, with 10 points for appearance, 30 for body and texture, 50 for flavour and 10 for texture in handling. Entries scoring between 95 and 100 receive Gold Awards, and Silver Awards are for those scoring between 90 and 94.9 points. Results will be announced next month.

“Figs have been the trend this year,” Mrs McMath says. “We’ve had fig and pistachio, fig and honey, caramelised fig, rewa rewa honey and crushed, dried figs, lemon butterscotch with fresh fig and ginger coulis.”

There are 12 categories in the awards this year, including a new category for ‘Best of’ with this year’s flavour, the iconic Hokey Pokey flavour.

In the Kids’ Choice category, children from Owairoa Primary School were recruited as judges to choose a winner from 19 entries, including bubblegum with gumdrops, candy floss, and liquorice allsorts.

The ‘New to Market’ award, for a new product launched in the past 12 months, attracted the highest number of entries with 86, followed by 56 in the gelato section, 55 in the premium ice cream and 50 in the sorbet category. Growing consumer interest in lower or no fat options in gelato and sorbet is behind the boom in entries in these categories, Mrs McMath says.

But the Open Ice Cream category is where lactic lateral thinking is in evidence. Inventive ice cream flavours include marmalade, plum and horopito, and a vanilla, soy and yeast combination.

While some of the flavours might sound unlikely to the average ice cream fan, Mrs McMath says a good guide on what works, or does not, is the compatibility of ingredients with milk or cream in sauces. ?Thus, a savoury duet like salmon and dill – appealing with a creamy sauce – is potentially a viable ice cream flavour, she says.

Winners will be announced at an awards dinner in Napier on June 7, in conjunction with the Annual Conference of the New Zealand Ice Cream Manufacturers’ Association.

Kay McMath is also organising judging of this year’s New Zealand Food Awards, run in association with Massey University. Entries open in June, with judging in August and winners announced in September.

Teaching Australia how Massey teaches agriculture

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Massey University College of Sciences head Professor Robert Anderson with Victorian
Member of Parliament David Southwick at the No.4 dairy farm

A delegation from the Parliament of Victoria, Australia visited the Manawatu campus this week to learn how Massey helps prepare young people for a career in agriculture.

The members of the Education and Training Committee visited the No.4 dairy farm and were also given presentations by a number of University academics and students.

Speakers included Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey, College of Sciences head Professor Robert Anderson, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Stuart Morriss, Agri-food strategy manager Mark Jeffries and Director of the Centre for Excellence in Farm Business Management Professor Nicola Shadbolt. They also met with a selection of agriculture students who spoke of their studies and future career plans.

Committee chair and Victorian Member of Parliament David Southwick said New Zealand was chosen because of the great reputation it has for training young people in agriculture.

“We have a huge issue back home with growing demand in the industry,” he says. “In New Zealand, the biggest thing I have seen so far is the collaboration between industry, education and government to really promote the success and opportunities in careers. Agriculture in New Zealand is like our mining industry in Australia; we have people jumping to pursue careers in mining, yet our agriculture is booming and people are not pursuing careers in it.”

One thing he has taken away from the trip is the incentives given to students. “We’ve heard today that Massey does really good things in supporting young people with industry awards, which we don’t have to the same extent in Australia.”

College of Sciences head Professor Robert Anderson says Massey University has a reputation for leadership in the agricultural sectors, especially in the agri-food context, and this is well known across the Tasman. “Given that it’s a matter of concern that there is decreased participation in agriculture in Australia, it makes sense for them to find out more about the sustained leadership that institutions such as Massey displays,” he says.

First vet tech class graduates

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Bachelor of Veterinary Technology graduates Julie Morris, Patrice Palleson,
Rachel Munn, Emily-Kate Kemp and Peta Rossiter

The first graduating class of Massey’s Bachelor of Veterinary Technology programme crossed the stage at Palmerston North’s Regent on Broadway today.

The programme was launched in 2009 to address the shortage of veterinary professionals in New Zealand. The three-year course includes basic physics, chemistry and biology, progressing to anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, diagnostic procedures, animal production, and advanced clinical studies.

Course director Hayley Squance says the technology class learns alongside veterinary science students and have many of the same skills. “Of the first graduating class, many have gone on to gain employment not only in veterinary practice, but in research, biosecurity and consultancy,” she says.

Graduate Emily Kemp is now working as a biosecurity officer for the Queensland state government in Gympie, Australia. Her work includes dealing with outbreaks of disease, quarantine, and animal welfare.

She says the veterinary technology degree has set her up well for the job. “At the beginning of the course I said I wanted a government job, and now I have one,” she says. “The course was great, it has equipped me with all the skills I need for my work.”

Peta Rossiter now works at Vet Plus in Rotorua as a large animal technician. “My roles include running the laboratory there and vaccinating stock,” she says. “I always wanted to work in the dairy industry so I did my work experience for my degree there. They remembered me and gave me a job when I finished.”

Other graduates, such as Sheila Ramsay, have gone on to further study. Ms Ramsay is now involved in a genomics project in conjunction with the University of California, Davis, looking at melanoma in horses. “I had done a diploma but wanted to up-skill that into a degree,” she says. “Now I’ve been able to springboard from there to this Graduate Diploma in Rural Studies, and I hope to continue in research.”

Pasifika scholars recognised

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Massey Pasifika Scholars, their sponsors and advisors. Back row: Paul Fitzmaurice (Careers Development Advisor), Rachael Leafe (Pasifika Learning Advisor), Kieran Stowers, Samantha Dennis, Deanna Riach (Campus Registrar), Tevita Ahoafi, Jessanah Betham, Colin Lewis (Nova Energy). Front row: Richard Wilson (National Bank), Parke Englebretsen, Sashi Meanger (Pacific Islands Education Foundation), Sereana Bebenisala, Kieran Williams (National Bank).

Six top Pasifika students were awarded scholarships at Massey University in Wellington last week.

Kieran Stowers and Samantha Dennis received Massey University E tu Pasifika scholarships, which go to students who are nearing completion of their degrees who have demonstrated a high level of commitment and success in their studies. Mr Stowers, who is Samoan from Palmerston North, is studying for a Bachelor of Design (Honours). Ms Dennis, who is Samoan/Maori from Wellington, is studying for a Bachelor of Nursing. Both are final year students.

E tu is a Cook Island term and is about rising up and standing tall. Massey University Pasifika Learning Advisor Rachel Leafe says the term “captures the progression of Pasifika students throughout their academic journey. It is an appropriate name, reflecting the pride we take into the achievement of our Pasifika students.”

Four students received Pacific Islands Polynesian Scholarships, which are awarded to Pasifika students based on academic merit and need. The scholarships are offered by Massey University in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, The Pacific Islands Education Foundation and corporate sponsors.

Bachelor of Design (Honours) students Sereana Bebenisala and Parke Englebretsen received National Bank Pacific Islands Polynesian Scholarships. Ms Bebenisala is Fijian from South Auckland, and in her final year of study. Mr Englebretsen is Cook Islands from Lower Hutt, and in his first year.

Meanwhile, Tevita Ahoafi and Jessanah Betham received Nova Energy Pacific Islands Polynesian Scholarships. Mr Ahoafi is in his second year of a Bachelor of Business Studies. He is Tongan from Auckland. Ms Betham is in her second year of a Bachelor of Communication. She is Samoan from Porirua.

Sisters celebrate graduation success

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Nicole Hammond, who graduated with a Bachelor of Agriscience, and sister Kirsty Hammond,
who was awarded a PhD at this morning’s graduation ceremony

She may be taking time out to graduate with a Massey University PhD today, but Dr Kirsty Hammond’s research into reducing methane emissions from livestock is continuing overseas.

She is one of 36 doctoral graduates from the College of Sciences being honoured at today’s two graduation ceremonies. Dr Hammond was joined at the ceremony by her sister Nicole, who was awarded a Bachelor of Agriscience.

Dr Hammond’s research, carried out in partnership with AgResearch, focused on a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand – methane from pasture digestion by sheep and cattle.

Dr Hammond (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) undertook trials where sheep were put into specialised chambers to measure the gas they emit. Her goal was to find whether changing an animal’s diet could affect the amount of methane emitted.

The research showed the energy loss to methane decreased as feed intakes increased.

“This provides an additional incentive for feeding well to achieve high productivity and lower quantities of methane per product,” she says.

This is a win-win situation for farmers as well as the environment. “It’s all about energy in the end,” she says. “Methane is a waste of energy for that animal, so trying to harness that and turn it into something more productive is the goal. Of course, climate change also makes it harder to farm due to the changing conditions, so there’s incentive there too.”

Dr Hammond, from Whakatane, is now taking this new knowledge to the world, with a post-doctoral position at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.

“I’m now focusing on their farming system, which is different from New Zealand’s,” she says. “Cows there are only out on pasture about six months a year, the rest of the time they are sheltered and fed conserved feeds.”

Dr Hammond is replicating the methane inventory she worked on in New Zealand in the United Kingdom. “New Zealand is ahead of the game there, we’ve got a well-established methane inventory that can be referred to, and current research objectives overseas are to achieve something similar.”

She is in constant contact with colleagues in New Zealand and has found being based in Europe has opened new doors. “Everything is so close here so it’s easy to travel to new places, meet scientists with similar goals and share that knowledge.”

Dr Hammond says she initially wanted to be a vet when she began at Massey, but wasn’t selected after her first year, so followed her farming roots into a Bachelor of Animal Science. “My family farms in Whakatane, so I’ve always been interested in animals.”

Solving the methane issue is one of the agriculture industry’s biggest challenges. “There’s no silver bullet, but everyone is working towards a solution,” she says. “The key is collaboration.”

Student city abuzz for graduation week

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

More than 1300 students will graduate at five ceremonies, followed by parades to The Square.

More than 1300 students will graduate at Palmerston North capping ceremonies this week.

The five ceremonies will be followed by parades along Broadway Ave to The Square.

Forty-two students will be conferred with a doctoral degree – the highest academic qualification. Another 112 will gain a master’s degree. Over the week a total of 1326 students will graduate.

Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey says graduation is a time to celebrate the hard work students put in to achieve their qualification and the support they receive from staff, student colleagues and their friends and family.

He says it is pleasing to see so many students achieving the academic pinnacle of a doctoral degree. “The research done by this group spans much of the broad range of expertise Massey offers – science, technology, psychology, business, education and arts – and I am sure they will all make outstanding contributions to their fields and communities.”

This year’s doctorates are in science, business, education, arts and two in clinical psychology. Thesis topics vary from disease control, reducing fertiliser input and greenhouse gases, to the commercial performance of New Zealand airport companies, among other subjects.

Two men with strong links to Manawatu will also be acknowledged with honorary doctorates for their lifetime achievements.

Professor Emeritus Ivan Snook, of Palmerston North, and Professor Rom Harre, who was born in Apiti but now lives in Washington D.C, will be recognised for their outstanding international contribution to education and social sciences respectively. Both will be keynote speakers at their Wednesday ceremonies.

While large audiences will watch as the graduates cross the stage at the Regent on Broadway Theatre, many of their family and friends will also be watching live around New Zealand and the world.

Massey’s Graduation Live initiative makes it the only university in the country to stream live all graduation ceremonies. Last month’s Albany ceremonies on Massey’s YouTube channel have so far been viewed more than 5400 times in 129 countries.

Graduation events will also be held next week to celebrate capping week. A Dean’s List Presentation and Function will be held at the Regent Theatre on Monday night, a Graduation Dinner Tuesday night at the graduation marquee in The Square, and a Business After 5 event in the marquee on Wednesday from 6pm, adding more buzz to a busy week in the student city.

Graduation and celebration ceremonies schedule:
Monday
College of Business at 1.30pm

Tuesday
College of Business and College of Sciences at 9.30am
College of Sciences at 2.30pm

Wednesday
College of Education, College of Creative Arts, New Zealand School of Music at 9.30am
College of Humanities and Social Sciences at 2.30pm

Thursday
Ceremony to Honour Maori graduates at 9.30am
Ceremony to Honour Paskifa graduates at 3pm

Spider guitar dazzles with style and sound

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Watch the YouTube video.

Professor Olaf Diegel

Massey University mechatronics professor Olaf Diegel made his dream come true when he created a series of colourful 3D-printed electric guitars with latticed bodies adorned with spiders and butterflies.

And when he posted images of the prototypes, explaining their origins before launching an online business, musicians and design buffs worldwide were dazzled by the aesthetics and a deluge of inquiries ensued.

Now, punters can hear the decorative, brightly coloured instruments, with a demo by Massey jazz guitar tutor and freelance rock guitarist Neil Watson, of the New Zealand School of Music. Mr Watson is based at the University’s Albany campus where Professor Diegel is a lecturer and researcher.

The clip is evidence that the custom-made instrument, which began as an experimental project, is not just a pretty gimmick. Not only does it sound as good as its mainstream counterparts, it symbolises a revolutionary era in manufacturing, says Professor Diegel.

Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing is the process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file using a printer that deposits layers of plastic or metal powder, with each layer fused by a precision laser beam.

The process, used for high-end customised products or medical parts such as artificial hips, hearing aids and dental fittings, as well as niche designer items, is the future for manufacturing specific types of goods, says Professor Diegel, who is based at the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology.

“The whole purpose is customisation and trying to avoid waste,” he says. “It’s the next big thing in manufacturing, because you can create to order and modify the design to suit specific individual requirements, whether it’s for a new set of teeth, a door handle or a piece of jewellery.”

And in a decade or so, he predicts many households will have 3D printers for replacing or updating personal and household items, reducing the need for mass production that can lead to stockpiles, over-supply and, ultimately, waste. “It’s the next industrial revolution and it’s going to completely change the way we do things,” says Professor Diegel.

“New Zealand, a country largely made up of small companies making high-value products, can benefit enormously from these technologies, as they will be able to go to market with products without the current prohibitive tooling costs that often prevent them from getting their ideas off the ground”.

So far he has printed several small guitar bodies – such as the shocking pink ‘rock chick’ model – in New Zealand, and two larger ones in the United States because of the size of the machine needed. His school has several desktop 3D printers, which students use for small-scale engineering prototype projects, and he hopes a larger-scale machine will be on campus later this year.

Once the guitar bodies are printed they are manually fitted with inner wooden cores, which can be made of different types of wood, such as mahogany or maple, to adjust the guitar’s tone. The necks are made of maple or mahogany, with traditional tuning keys and strings added. The guitars will be sold via his ODD online site (www.odd.org.nz), and can be adapted to suit design tastes, colour and quirks of the buyer.

“If someone wants geckos, or flowers, or parts that can move, it will eventually all be possible through the online design software we are working on.”

But even if the guitars are a smash hit, he doubts even the most hard-core rocker will want to smash one as a performance antic.

Caption: Professor Olaf Diegel with one of his 3D printed guitars.

Nutrition?s epic story revealed in new book

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Professor David Raubenheimer examines the gut contents of a New Zealand snapper for a nutrition study which could assist with conservation management of the species.

The Nature of Nutrition

Why we eat what we eat is a vastly complex subject. It’s something Massey University nutritional ecologist Professor David Raubenheimer has spent many years researching, doing nutritional analyses of the feeding habits of everything from snapper and snow leopards to gannets, gorillas and humans.

The epic story of what determines dietary behaviour is told in a new book he co-authored with Australian professor Stephen Simpson, titled The Nature of Nutrition: A Unifying Framework from Animal Adaptation to Human Obesity (Princeton University Press).

The book is the first to explore nutrition’s enormously complex role on biology, both at the level of individual organisms and in relation to their broader ecological interactions.

In it the authors explain a theoretical approach they devised in order to analyse nutrition across a vast array of species and environments. Called the Geometric Framework, the innovative tool is used in measuring, defining and understanding the links between nutrition and the biology of animals, including humans. This includes physiological mechanisms that drive the nutritional interactions of the animal with its environment, and the consequences for health, immune responses and lifespan.

The authors show how the Geometric Framework can be used to study and tackle a wide range of issues, from how to optimise the diets of livestock or endangered species to addressing the causes of human obesity and metabolic disease.

Professor Raubenheimer, featured in the New Zealand Herald, Dominion Post and Manawatu Standard this week as part of the University’s latest campaign highlighting its expertise in environmental science and marine research, is based at the Institute of Natural Sciences at Albany. He will be speaking at the Albany campus Open Day this Saturday.

A to Z of study options at Massey Open Day

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

From accounting to zoology, and everything in between – Massey University’s Albany campus Open Day on May 12 is a chance for prospective 2013 students to get their study and career dreams on track.

As well as a full programme of presentations by top academics from all five colleges – Business, Creative Arts, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Sciences – numerous activities, workshops and demonstrations will run throughout the day.

Aspiring engineers can find out more about mechatronics, construction and other courses at the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, and witness a fast-paced Vex robotics regional final game involving more than 20 teams and their rival robots. The game – launched in New Zealand by the University in 2008 – is popular among secondary school students keen on technology, sciences, maths and design. They can apply their knowledge to the challenges of the high-tech game while gaining insights into the skills needed to be an engineer. Several Massey-supported teams are world champions after competing in the United States.

If the idea of a career in food technology is appetising, demonstrations of food chemistry, new food products and taste testing techniques are on the menu. Science fiends can find out about new developments in biology at a talk by renowned nutritional ecologist Professor David Raubenheimer, who is programme director of Massey’s new Bachelor of Natural Sciences, launched this year. A shuttle service is operating to take visitors to the Exercise and Sport Science Lab, and the Speech and Language Therapy clinic at separate locations of the campus.

The New Zealand School of Music’s jazz school is holding workshops for guitar, piano, bass, drums and vocals, and jazz tutors will deliver a free concert at 1pm, and live cultural performances by kapa haka and Pasifika groups are all part of the day’s activities.

From nursing and nutrition to social work, social policy and social anthropology, chemistry to commerce, finance to flying, information technology to international business, Open Day will have staff on site to share information and answer questions about these programmes and many more.

Information for international student support, career and employment services, childcare on campus, as well as study support initiatives for Maori and Pasifika students will be available.

Campus tours hosted by student ambassadors will run throughout the day – a chance to check out the new Student Central building (pictured) which opened this year, as well as the state-of-the-art library which opened in 2010. A Red Bull truck will be on campus throughout the day.

An Apple iPad 3 prize will be drawn, with the winner chosen from registered entrants.
To pre-register for Open Day, go to masseyopendays.ac.nz

Massey PhD student inspired by Nobel scientists

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

PhD science researcher Paulina Hanson-Manful
in a science lab at the Albany campus.

Meeting Nobel prize-winning scientists at a forum in Japan has given Massey University PhD researcher Paulina Hanson-Manful added zest for her own work which she hopes will save lives.

She was selected for a New Zealand delegation of top science PhD researchers to attend the fourth HOPE meeting, held annually to provide the opportunity for high achieving graduate students to meet and talk to Nobel laureates and other distinguished scientists pioneering new knowledge.

Ms Hanson-Manful, who was born in Ghana, came to Massey’s Albany campus via Belgium and the UK on a doctoral scholarship in 2009. She says she is excited by her research on antibiotic resistance that could improve disease treatment in the age of superbugs. But after attending the HOPE meeting earlier this year, she feels even more inspired to do research with the potential to advance scientific knowledge and alleviate suffering.

“The main message I came away with from the HOPE meeting was the importance of doing something you love that will have some purpose, and seeing beyond personal ambition,” says Ms Hanson-Manful. “They [the Nobel scientists] talked to us about looking at science as a whole, and seeing where we could make a difference.”

The Nobel winners also impressed upon the emerging young scientists of the need to challenge scientific orthodoxy at times, and to be open to unexpected findings and phenomena that could lead to an important discovery, she says.

The HOPE meeting, held in Tsukuba, Japan, and themed on “Chemistry for Creating the Future”, brought together ten distinguished lecturers including eight Nobel laureates, and 100 graduate students from 17 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Among the science stars were Professor Dan Shechtman, awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Ei-ichi Negishi, a Japanese chemist awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Makoto Kobayashi, a Japanese physicist awarded one quarter of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics; Professor Robert McKinnon, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with Peter Agre in 2003; and Professor John Walker, an English chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997.

Ms Hanson-Manful completed a degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Durham, followed by a Masters in Biosciences at the University of Leeds (both in the UK). She worked as a research technician on a project investigating how epigenetics can be used to non-invasively diagnose Down’s syndrome. She is now completing her PhD in enzyme promiscuity and its role in the evolution of antibiotic resistance, under the supervision of molecular biologist Dr Wayne Patrick, who was named New Zealand’s Young Biotechnologist of the Year in 2010.

Massey University backs TV3?s new international news programme, Three60

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

A new style of television programme dedicated entirely to international news events launches this Sunday on TV3, in association with Massey University.

Called Three60, and fronted by TV3 news anchor Mike McRoberts, the half hour weekly programme will review the week’s key international news stories and feature a range of New Zealand based panellists, including a number of expert commentators from Massey University.

The programme will delve into the background of the major international stories and examine what that might mean for New Zealanders.

Assistant Vice-Chancellor (External Relations) Cas Carter says Massey’s new partnership with Three60 presents an excellent opportunity for the University to contribute strongly to these conversations.

“Massey’s focus is very much about the strength of our thought leadership and taking New Zealand’s ideas to the world. We have a lot of people with huge knowledge and skills worth sharing, and this is an ideal platform”.

TV3’s Director of News and Current Affairs, Mark Jennings, says the show will appeal to those who follow international events and appreciate the opportunity to have specialist commentators provide insights from a New Zealand perspective.

"It will be the place to go if you are interested in a deeper look at international news. We think there is a demand for a high-quality current affairs programme that looks at the big stories happening in the world."

Three60 screens every Sunday at 9am on TV3, from this Sunday.

Fellowship in applied learning awarded

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Associate Professor Andy Martin receiving the
academic fellowship in applied learning at an
event last week

Associate Professor Andy Martin of the School of Sport and Exercise has been awarded an academic fellowship in applied learning.

Applied learning often refers to a variety of practices including practicum, professional practice, clinical placement, internship and fieldwork.

But through the fellowship and a Special Interest Panel, what applied learning means for Massey students will be explored, with a much broader view of applied learning than others might use.

In the role, Dr Martin will develop a strategy that will ensure Massey produces not just work-ready graduates, but “career-ready, life-able graduates that are responsible and resilient”.

He will work with Student Engagement and Evaluations Unit manager Malcolm Rees, staff from across the academic colleges, and the National Centre for Teaching and Learning.

Dr Martin has been a leading researcher in the area, with research work and publications with Ako Aotearoa, contributions to the New Zealand Association of Cooperative Education, and a long-term role in co-ordinating the sport management practicum.

“These applied learning and networking opportunities, designed throughout a specific programme’s curriculum, often provide a point of difference for students in enhancing graduate employability,” he says.

This year, Massey celebrates 20 years of leading applied learning programmes in sport management.

Professor Tony Vitalis, who initiated the programme in 1992, says it “aimed to train individuals to manage the various sports organisations, which at the time was unique in the New Zealand tertiary sector”.

Recent graduate Hannah Dunn, who completed a Bachelor of Business Studies, says the practicum experience allowed her to increase her confidence and gain experience in the sports industry.

“It helped me create networks among the sports industry and gave me skills which will be transferable to a job,” she says.

For further information on applied learning please contact Associate Professor Andy Martin 06 369 9099 ext 81747.

NZ world champions at VEX Robotics in US

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

New Zealand high school robotics teams after winning the VEX Robotics World Championships in Los Angeles this week

New Zealand robotics teams mentored by Massey University engineers have won the VEX Robotics World Championships in the United States for the fourth time running.

Overall world champions are Onehunga High School, with other groups from the Kiwibots New Zealand team winning three of the four division championships. Otumoetai College, Tauranga, are the Mathematics Division Champions; Lynfield College, West Auckland, are the Science Division Champions; and Onehunga also took the top prize as Engineering Division Champions.

The championship – held this year in Los Angeles – involved more than 10,000 intermediate, high school and university students, teachers and mentors from 20 countries who competed at regional and national contests to qualify for the world championships. The competition requires teams to build customised robots with VEX Robotics design systems and deploy strategy, tactics, software skills and team cooperation to overthrow rivals in a fast-paced game. This year’s was called Gateway.

Massey University’s Associate Professor Johan Potgieter, a mechatronics senior lecturer from the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology at Albany, was inducted into the VEX Hall of Fame as a Volunteer of the Year, as was Massey University for winning the Excellence Award in 2011.

American-based Vex Robotics was launched in New Zealand in 2008 by Massey University. In 2009 the University held the first national Vex competition at its Albany campus, and has provided mentoring for participating schools ever since. It is now run by a charitable trust Kiwibots New Zealand, headed by national manager Chris Hamling.

He says the phenomenal effort this year by all the New Zealand teams has proved “that yet again we are the country to beat. It’s astounding how far above our weight we punch and how we are respected and liked by teams across the world”.

“All the judges I have spoken to have been very impressed with the quality of the teams from New Zealand and how much they help other teams. We should be proud of our teams and I know they are well respected,” Mr Hamling says.

Vex Robotics was developed in response to a worldwide shortage of engineers. It is a platform for high school pupils with an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths to participate in an exciting, challenging game requiring teamwork, leadership and problem solving.

Onehunga High School, 1st, World Champions
Otumoetai College, 1st, Mathematics Division
Lynfield College, 1st, Science Division Champions
Onehunga High School, 1s, Engineering Champions
Auckland University, 1st, Autodesk Inventor CAD Design Champions
Kristin School, 2nd, Website Design Challenge
Pinehurst School: Community Award
MAX Home School: Amaze Award
Massey University: Build Award
Free Range Robotics: Sportsmanship Award
Auckland University: College Championship

Local government vital for climate change reduction

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

Professor Ralph Sims

A Massey University energy expert says proposed local government reforms would be a step backwards for sustainability.

Professor Ralph Sims, of the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, is alarmed at the Government consultation document, which states greenhouse gas emission reductions should not be the responsibility of local councils.

Professor Sims says cities and towns have a vital role to play in mitigating climate change and improving resilience. He says many are already leading the way to a clean energy future.

“There is no evidence that climate change policy can be successfully implemented only at the national level,” he says.

His research shows local governments are vital players in engaging their communities to take on renewable energy projects.

“Cities are the right places to start the transition towards a low-carbon economy and they can act more rapidly and are more inclusive than national authorities,” he says. “They are far better equipped to confront the issues of energy, transport and water use, as they relate to their citizens, in a timely manner.”

There are hundreds of examples of cities providing leadership in sustainability, Professor Sims says. “In Barcelona, the city decided every new building should have a solar water heater. Now, some years later, that has been taken up across Spain. In England in 2003, the Merton Council decided all new buildings were required to use 10 per cent renewable energy integrated into the building. That policy has been taken up across Great Britain.”

It is initiatives like these that could be lost here in New Zealand under this local government reform, Professor Sims says.

These views were endorsed at a recent workshop on sustainable cities in Wellington, when international and local experts voiced concern at the reform. The workshop included addresses from Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown, Massey University’s Dr Allanah Ryan and world leading researchers from Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy in Germany and Curtin University in Australia.

The event was organised by the Wuppertal Institute together with Massey University and Wellington City Council and sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Professor Sims is a contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and a senior analyst for the International Energy Agency.

Massey names its top teachers

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

Professor Ingrid Day, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Dr Zoe Jordens,
Dr Elizabeth Gray, Associate Professor Andy Martin, Liz Norman, Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey
and Professor Mark Brown, Director, National Centre for Teaching and Learning at the
teaching excellence award ceremony

Massey names its top teachers

Four Massey University teachers, in fields as diverse as veterinary medicine, design, microbiology and communications, have won this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence.

Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey presented the awards for sustained commitment to teaching excellence at a ceremony at the Manawatu campus today.

Dr Elizabeth Gray, Liz Norman, Dr Zoe Jordens and Amanda Yates were recognised as the University’s top teachers for 2012.

Mr Maharey told the ceremony teachers transform lives. “All of us can look back during our lifetime and we meet some teacher at some time who switched the light on and made an impact on our lives.”

This year’s winners made lasting impressions on students but were also leaders in new ways of teaching. There is a shift in learning so students leave University “not only knowing things but how to do things”, Mr Maharey explained.

It was a sentiment shared by Dr Elizabeth Gray who says teaching is about change. “If we are effective teachers, we are teaching to effect change.”

Dr Gray is a senior lecturer in the School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing. She teaches internally and by distance, with students from as far as Tanzania, Dubai and China.

Her teaching is underpinned by her belief the words we use make a difference, whether in business or literary analysis. She says a good teacher has expertise and enthusiasm, loves to teach and loves what they teach. She also makes sure learning is relevant, innovative and when in a lecture theatre talks “to and not at” students.

For Liz Norman, a senior lecturer and director of the Master of Veterinary Medicine (MVM) programme, good teachers know what their students need to know and can help them connect theory and practice in their profession.

She joined Massey in 2001 and has developed the MVM, a distance learning programme for practicing veterinarians worldwide, which has grown from 13 enrolled students in 2004 to 92 this year.

Ms Norman strives to go “beyond the textbook” and has developed innovative strategies to engage with students, including online tools that mimic real steps in case investigation and “replay” exercises and tutorials to provide feedback. “It is one of my great joys to see students gain the confidence and practical insights from teaching that helps them no only to do their work but to enjoy their work more,” she says.

Dr Zoe Jordens is a lecturer at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences and sees her teaching role as facilitator, or “tour guide”. She uses a student-centred, inquiry-led approach to teaching.

Dr Jordens worked as a researcher in medical microbiology in the United Kingdom before coming to Massey in 2002 and believes students learn by doing. “By being treated as scientists in an authentic environment, students develop scientific ways of thinking, in addition to learning facts and practical skills.”

As well as having a BSc (Hons) and PhD in microbiology, Dr Jordens gained a postgraduate certificate in tertiary teaching in 2007 and a postgraduate diploma in Education in 2011. She is currently enrolled in a Masters in Education.

Amanda Yates has been at Massey since 2004 and is a senior lecturer at the Institute of Design for Industry and Environment, College of Creative Arts. She has a research-led project-based approach to learning. She believes giving students opportunities to work on “live” projects outside the classroom builds skills, confidence and passion.

To her, design is not just a field of study or a potential job – it is a passion, a way of thinking, and she loves seeing students succeed.

“I get emails from some of those students who were struggling – and they are now doing a Master of Design in New York or working with one of New Zealand’s leading architects. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that I helped them onto their life path.”

Ms Yates will receive her award in Wellington next month.

Associate Professor Andy Martin was also awarded the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Academic Fellowship at the ceremony today. He will work with staff to develop a comprehensive Applied Learning Strategy for the University.

Massey thanks its Rena responders

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey shows Prime Minister John Key around the
National Oiled Wildlife Response Centre in October.

Key players in the Rena clean-up operation are gathering to recognise the work of the Massey University-led National Oiled Wildlife Response Team tonight.

The team was led by Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences staff Kerri Morgan and Helen McConnell, with Associate Professor Brett Gartrell managing the oiled wildlife facility at Te Maunga, assisted by a number of Massey wildlife veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey says Massey's goal of providing innovative responses to environmental issues, and contributing to public understanding of those issues, was challenged by the scale of the environmental disaster.

"However, it is fair to say that our staff not only rose to the challenge, they provided a leadership role that helped harness the tremendous public support nationally and internationally for the oiled wildlife response,” he says. “They did Massey proud and they showed New Zealand is a world leader in this field."

Joining Mr Maharey at tonight’s event will be representatives from Maritime New Zealand and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Palmerston North mayor Jono Naylor, Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway, and members of the National Oiled Wildlife Response Team.

The team, which is contracted to provide the role by Maritime New Zealand, was on the ground in Tauranga within hours of the ship grounding, ready to deal with oiled wildlife.

At its peak the team cared for just over 400 birds, mainly consisting of little blue penguins but also including shags, petrels, shearwaters, and 60 rare dotterels that were pre-emptively caught.

Massey staff being recognised:

Dr Phil Battley, Pauline Conayne, Nicky Denning, Associate Professor Brett Gartrell, Bryan Gibson, Dr Stuart Hunter, Micah Jensen, Baukje Lenting, Helen McConnell, Sarah Michael, Kerri Morgan, Danielle Sijbranda, Janelle Ward, Bridey White.

Caption: Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey shows Prime Minister John Key around the National Oiled Wildlife Response Centre in October.

Children sought for exercise study

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

Dr Sarah Shultz

A Massey University sports scientist is seeking participants for a study to develop exercises for children tailored to different body types.

Dr Sarah Shultz of the School of Sport and Exercise is seeking Wellington region children between 8-12 years of age for a project to measure energy use and lower body movement during physical activity.

Dr Shultz’s research is focused on the orthopaedic complications associated with child and adolescent obesity, as it relates to exercise prescription.

“I’m interested in how obesity changes the way children move, and want to find exercises that diminish those changes and allow a child to exercise pain-free,” she says.

The study is aimed at finding the appropriate exercise prescription for a child depending on their weight and fitness. “What we want to be able to do is pick a mechanically and metabolically appropriate exercise for each participant, which will lead to better exercise prescription and adherence,” Dr Schultz says.

The study will monitor muscle activity patterns during three different exercises chosen because of their weight-bearing status.

“Treadmill walking is fully weight-bearing and loads the joints at a higher rate and can potentially cause pain or injury,” she says. “The second exercise, elliptical training (or cross-trainer), is partially weight-bearing, while the third, cycling, is non-weight bearing.”

Participants would perform each exercise at their own pace for five minutes and muscle activity in the lower leg would be monitored.

“This is important because if a certain muscle is working more than it should, it can lead to pain or fatigue. On the flipside, if a specific exercise produces similar movement patterns between obese and non-obese children, then it may indicate that this exercise is more appropriate, in terms of allowing normal motion to occur.”

Oxygen consumption would also be monitored to see how many calories are expended in each exercise.

For more information please contact Dr Sarah Shultz 04 801 5799 ext 62504 or email s.p.shultz@massey.ac.nz and ask about the Child Activity study.