Massey University offers world-leading and unique programmes across our specialities. Our agriculture programme is no.1 in New Zealand according to global rankings and we offer the only veterinary programme in New Zealand ranked in the top 25 in the world.
Massey University demands excellence in our sciences-related research. The College of Sciences brings together experts from several disciplines to further knowledge and make a difference in New Zealand and the world.
Our programmes are ranked as some of the best in the world, and we are accredited by major industry bodies internationally. Below is a selection of accreditations for sciences at Massey.
Massey is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 50 universities for agriculture. QS is an organisation that ranks universities worldwide in various topics.
The Bachelor of Engineering with Honours programme has provisional accreditation by Engineering NZ as a professional engineering degree under the Washington Accord. This allows our graduates to work internationally.
The Massey veterinary programme is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as 29th in the world. QS is an organisation that ranks universities worldwide in various topics.
Massey is ranked in the world's top 200 universities for built environment in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.
The Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours programme is approved by the US-based Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
Massey University is an accredited veterinary college by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Accreditation is achieved through a review process conducted by an external review panel of practitioners and academics that verifies that the program meets the Requirements of an Accredited College of Veterinary Medicine.
Professor Geor is an internationally-recognised veterinary and agricultural science specialist, with expertise in equine medicine, nutrition and sport science. After spending nearly 30 years teaching and researching in America, he returned to New Zealand to take up the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor College of Sciences in 2015.
Professor Hall is the Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) for the College of Sciences. His expertise is in chemistry. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry he was a founding principal investigator in the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.
Distinguished Professor Gaven Martin is the head of the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study, the former president of the New Zealand Mathematical Society, and the editor-in-chief of the New Zealand Journal of Mathematics.
Professor Brunton is the head of School of Natural and Computational Sciences
Her research expertise is in social behaviour and the evolution and ecology of animal communication with her main research interest in the evolution of song.
Professor Hazelton, head of the School of Fundamental Sciences, is a professor of statistics. His research interests are in smoothing methods, biostatistics,spatial statistics and statistical modelling.
A professor of postharvest technology, Professor Heyes' research background is in cell physiology, with more recent research focusing on connecting science to growth of the horticulture sector based on novel, high-value niche products.
Professor Huxley joined Massey University in May 2018, from the University of Nottingham. His research expertise is in dairy cow health and endemic diseases of dairy cattle, particularly lameness and the impact of the housed environment on animal health and welfare.
Professor Kemp is head of the School of Agriculture and Environment, one of the largest departments in the College. His areas of expertise lie in evaluation of herb pastures and agroforestry.
Professor Sutrisna has an extensive body of academic research as well as university leadership and practical experience as a leader in the construction industry in the UK, Australia and Indonesia.
Completing my studies in plant science has opened up a wealth of opportunities, both in New Zealand and abroad.
Rowan Dickson - Secondary School Teacher
Bachelor of Science (Plant Science and Genetics)
I loved my experience at Massey University, keeping busy with sport, study and Massey Young Farmer’s Club. My time at Massey University gave me friendships and skills that will last the rest of my life.
Courtney Hill - FutureMe Graduate Programme, ASB Bank
Bachelor of Agriscience
The degree has been a constant challenge but what I have learnt is invaluable and I will always be thankful that I chose to get a degree that set me up for the industry.
Laura Brebner - IRT
Bachelor of AgriScience (Equine)
My Massey study experience was excellent. I loved the interaction with the lecturers - especially in the smaller classes. Good lecturers along with interactive classes, field-trips and applicable assignments made for a great learning environment.
Luke Posthuma - Trainee Technical Adviser with Farmlands Horticulture in Pukekohe
Bachelor of AgriScience (Agriculture)
I would not be able to do this without having a fundamental understanding of the ecological science behind conservation, acquired during my tertiary studies at Massey.
Ciaran Campbell - Freshwater Ranger – Department of Conservation
Bachelor of Science (Zoology)
My degrees at Massey gave me a good understanding the main components agricultural science – climate, soils, plants and animals – and how they interact
Todd White - Business Manager, Lower North Island, FarmIQ Systems Limited
Bachelor of AgriScience
Networks formed at Massey have endured throughout my career and opened doors that otherwise would have been locked.
Ben Dingle - Founder and CEO of Nuchev Proprietory Ltd
Bachelor of Agriculture (Agricultural Management)
I already had an overview of the business but my study has meant I’ve gained a much deeper understanding of what we are doing and why we are doing it.
Dean Tangiora - Shift Co-ordinator - Te Kuiti Meats
Diploma of Meat Technology
I’ve always had a keen interest in technology so when it came time to choose a university, Massey in Auckland appealed to me for a number of reasons.
Georgia Barnett - Developer at Xero
Bachelor of Information Sciences (Software Engineering)
My time at Massey was really worthwhile and I picked up a number of life skills including time management, people skills, research techniques and study skills, all of which are still useful to me in my everyday work.
David Lasike
Bachelor of Information Sciences (Double major in Computer Science and Information Technology)
This degree was a great mixture of theory and practical experience, with majority of my time at university spent in the labs.
Shanna Hickling - Deputy Laboratory Manager, Linnaeus Laboratory
Bachelor of Science (Microbiology) (Genetics)
During my second year, I came across the genetic counselling profession and knew straight away this was the career I wanted to pursue.
Kirsty Mann - Genetic counsellor - Royal Melbourne Hospital
Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences)
I love detail and complexity. I love pulling apart systems and the underlying logic to see what really makes them tick. I find it absolutely exciting to develop models which emulate real-world behaviours.
Jay Ta'ala - Grade Simulation Specialist - BHP Billiton
Bachelor of Science (Mathematics)
I have always been passionate about numbers so choosing to study a BSc that was numbers-related was an easy decision for me.
Emily Hendy - Insights Analyst - Lotto NZ
Bachelor of Science (Statistics)
I loved the course, and this passion enabled me to get good grades and create great relationships with my peers and teachers.
Brad Coley - Quantity Surveyor, Rider Levett Bucknall
Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying)
The academy, set up by Massey University with Te Puni Kōkiri and Our Land and Water National Science Challenge support, fosters young Maori school pupils from Year 11 on their journey through to university, and ultimately the workforce. The programme works to engage with teachers and whanau to support the students’ science study in the Manawatū and Bay of Plenty and to build a wider community of Pūhoro students who share their passion for science.
The 6th International Palaeoflood Conference is being held at Massey University in Palmerston North in January 2020.
The need for robust reconstructions of flood histories is ever more pressing in an era of rapid global change. Improved understanding of past river behaviour and flood series extension are required to properly inform and prepare river managers, and society as a whole.
Massey University’s chemistry department in Auckland are running free workshops for schools, providing level 2 and level 3 students with a hands-on experience in an undergraduate laboratory. The workshops include ‘Chemical Cluedo’ and ‘Synthesis, purification and analysis of a medicinal compound’. These workshops can be booked by teachers for groups of students. The content directly relates to NCEA achievement standards (AS 91391, 91388 and 91164).
Come and hear from some of the leading minds in science today. Massey University Auckland scientists take you into the fascinating world of scientific discoveries.
Massey University is holding practical science days for Year 12 and Year 13 high school students on our Auckland and Manawatū campuses.
The day will give students a unique hands-on experience with the molecular biology techniques that underpin DNA sequencing of environmental samples.
This conference is for honours, master's or PhD students at any New Zealand University. It provides you with a supportive and fun academic environment to present your research as well as to practise presenting your work to an audience.
The International Symposium of Integrative Zoology is an annual conference sponsored by the International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS) and the journal Integrative Zoology. In 2019 the conference is hosted by Massey in Auckland, New Zealand with the theme of 'Zoological studies for animal conservation'.
Some examples of the funding and recognition for College of Sciences staff and their work.
A new model for studying cancer biology and regenerative medicine has been awarded a $150,000 Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) Explorer Grant.
Dr Tracy Hale, Associate Professor Vyacheslav Filichev and Professor Geoff Jameson
Health Research Council
A project led by Dr Jennifer Tate received $929,000 for a project to determine if there are genomic "rules" to successful polyploid speciation.
Dr Jennifer Tate
Royal Society Te Apārangi
A project to undertake a nationwide case-control study of the disease leptospirosis was awarded $1,199,841 from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) in 2018. Massey's Associate Professor Jackie Benschop is Principal Investigator on this multi-university project.
Associate Professor Jackie Benschop
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Associate Professor Georg Zellmer was awarded $832,000 from the Royal Society's Marsden Fund for the project 'Water in spinel: a robust hygrometer for the Earth and Planetary Sciences'.
Associate Professor Georg Zellmer
Royal Society Te Apārangi
Associate Professor Jens Dietrich received funding for his research into closing the gaps in Static Program Analysis. This project will look at new ways of detecting bugs and vulnerabilities in computer software that can be exploited for malicious activities.
Associate Professor Jens Dietrich
National Science Challenge Science for Technological Innovation
Associate Professor Jens Dietrich was awarded a US$44,000 grant by Oracle to find better ways of detecting bugs in the Java programming language.
Associate Professor Jens Dietrich
Oracle
Associate Professor Karen Stockin was appointed to the role of strandings coordinator within the Strandings Initiative at the International Whaling Commission.
Dr Karen Stockin
International Whaling Commission
Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh was the the first New Zealander to receive the 2018 American Dairy Science Association Distinguished Service Award. The award recognises unusually outstanding and consistent contributions to the welfare of the dairy industry.
Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh
American Dairy Science Association
Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan has been honoured with a Supreme Silver Medal from Wageningen University and Research Centre, one of the Netherlands' top universities. Professor Moughan, a Fellow Laureate of the Riddet Institute, has a long and distinguished career in protein science both at Massey and at Wageningen, where he spends time working and teaching every year.
Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan
Wageningen University
Distinguished Professor Peter Schwerdtfeger and Dr Elke Pahl were awarded $910,000 from the Royal Society's of New Zealand's Marsden Fund to explore and extend the periodic table of elements towards the super-heavy region.
Distinguished Professor Peter Schwerdtfeger and Dr Elke Pahl
Royal Society Te Apārangi
Dr Carl Mesarich was awarded $300,000 from the Royal Society's Marsden Fund for the research project 'Making the switch: cell surface modifications that enable plant-pathogenic fungi to differentiate and maintain infection-related cellular morphotypes during host colonization'
Dr Carl Mesarich
Royal Society Te Apārangi
Dr David Simpson, along with Professor Paul Glendinning of the University of Manchester, received $500,000 for the project 'Organised chaos: Using geometry to explain robust chaotic dynamics in switched dynamical systems'.
Dr David Simpson
Royal Society Te Apārangi
Dr David Winter received $300,000 funding for the project 'Treasure from the junk pile: Do transposable elements drive the evolution of gene expression?'
Dr Gabor Kereszturi was awarded $999,000 from the 2018 Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Endeavour Fund for his project 'Assessing New Zealand’s environmental and mineral indicators using air- and spaceborne hyperspectral imaging'.
Dr Gabor Kereszturi
Dr Gaven Martin has been awarded $671,000 for a project to advance nonlinear analysis and low dimensional topology and geometry.
Distinguished Professor Gaven Martin
Royal Society Te Apārangi - 2018
The College of Sciences has developed close relationships with industry across our areas of expertise.
We work with our partners on industry-relevant research and professional development and match final year students in some areas with companies to work on real world projects. Talk to us to find out how you can work with the College.
Massey University’s Auckland campus is in Albany on the North Shore of Auckland. College of Sciences are based on the main campus in the Mathematical Sciences building, with food technology, engineering and much of natural sciences on the nearby Otehe Rohe campus.
Massey University’s Manawatū campus is in Palmerston North. The College of Sciences is based in the Science Towers off the central concourse, Aghort buildings, Riddet Complex and other buildings around campus.
