Otago Bulletin
ISSUE 13 15 July 2011 OTAGO BULLETIN FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER FOR UNIVERSITY STAFF AND POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS Photo: Sharron Bennett Photo: The winners of this year’s University of Otago Award for Exceptional Performance by General Staff, the Physics Mechanical Workshop team, Peter Stroud (left) and Richard Sparrow. General staff winners crucial to Physics’ success Without Peter Stroud and Richard Sparrow, Otago’s Not only are they extraordinarily capable and fast, Professor Department of Physics might not be performing so consistently Ballagh says, they are also a dream to work with. They are well on the world stage. invariably helpful, cheerful and inventive. Nothing is ever too Mr Stroud and Mr Sparrow, who make up the Department’s much trouble, and they get through an incredible amount of work. Mechanical Workshop team, have been named the winners of The two men say they are “rapt” to receive the award and the the University’s 2011 Award for Exceptional Performance by recognition for their work. General Staff. Mr Stroud, the Department’s Chief Technical Officer, has been The pair is responsible for manufacturing critical components with Physics for 26 years, while Mr Sparrow, the Department’s of the equipment required by the Department’s research groups Mechanical Technician, has been at the University 22 years and – equipment precise enough, for example, to manipulate and with Physics for five. photograph a single atom. “The work is always interesting,” Mr Sparrow says. Head of Department Professor Rob Ballagh, says they are “When you work with highly motivated researchers it makes invaluable. “The Physics Department has been very successful in you motivated to do your best,” adds Mr Stroud.
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