Dr Finch is retiring after 42 years at Massey University.
Staff at the Manawatū campus yesterday said farewell to a long-serving colleague, Dr Brian Finch.
Dr Finch, the director of ethics since 2015, joined the former Palmerston North Teachers’ College in 1976 as a lecturer in English and was later a senior lecturer. The college amalgamated with Massey in 1996.
Before that he graduated with a Master of Arts from the University of Auckland and taught in primary schools in Mangere, Otara, and Towai (Northland).
He graduated with a Doctor of Education at Massey in 2008. His research project explored the understanding of nine- and 10-year-old children after repeated viewings of a feature film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
As ethics director he oversees the Human Ethics Committee, the Animal Ethics Committee and the Genetic Technology Committee. That role will shortly be advertised.
Dr Finch said his involvement with research ethics has been challenging and very satisfying. He has enjoyed contact with researchers from across the University and is impressed with the diversity and quality of the research.
Plans for “retirement” include harvesting a pine forest he planted 26 years ago and building a house in Palmerston North.