Research Close to Home
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Fortnightly newsletter for University staff | Volume 40 | issue 6 | 16 April 2010 Research close to home Key events Illustrious alumnus exhibits opening on 23 April at the gus Fisher gallery and remaining on display until 29 May is an exhibition celebrating the achievements of sir Miles Warren, one of the school of Architecture’s most illustrious alumni. the show reveals his substantial contribution to modernism in architecture and his prowess as a painter. on 24 April at 1pm sir Miles will be in conversation with exhibition curator dr rodney Wilson and after the event will sign copies of his 2008 autobiography. on 1 May at 1pm architectural historian dr Jessica halliday will speak on Miles Warren and brutalism. PBRF essentials take note of the dates and venues for the PBrF information seminars for staff this month. the City Campus seminar will take place 22 April 11am-12noon at the Foundation room in old government house. the second will take place at tamaki Campus, also on 22 April, on 22 April 3.30-4.30pm in room 733-201. the grafton Campus seminar will be on 28 April from 1-2pm in the seminar room on Level 5. Achieving our PBrF goals is important in strengthening our reputation as new Zealand’s Summer scholar Samantha hoffmann reports on her project leading university and in helping ensure the “talbot park: evaluating a community renewal project". best possible levels of research funding for the six years following the assessment. on a personal level, a positive PBrF score is a “As a university we have great international skills, enhance their CVs and strengthen their powerful validation of research achievements. aspirations and a vibrant global research networks of scholarly contacts. culture,” said professor Michael Davies, head of For ten talented and fortunate summer scholars, Youth Declaration Day the tamaki Campus. selected this year to conduct research in youth declaration day will take place in the “however, we also have the need to marry this conjunction with a large urban renewal initiative owen g glenn Building on 1 and 2 May. with research that serves our local community.” called the “tamaki transformation Programme”, it sponsored by the United nations youth Michael was speaking at a function held at also gave the opportunity to engage with the Association of new Zealand, this is a gathering tamaki Campus on 23 March to mark the members of the local communities – inviting their of school students. For two days the young culmination of a novel and unique summer comments, involving them in discussion and people will discuss important issues. the scholarships project that has indeed succeeded in canvassing their opinions about community needs outcome of their discussions will be published in strengthening ties between the campus and its and future developments. a document which will then be supplied to the surrounding communities. the students’ enthusiasm about their research Prime Minister and other politicians. the University’s summer scholarship and the extra understanding they gained through Programme, greatly expanded this year to their endeavours were evident when they presented accommodate a record 729 participants, offers their findings - and displayed the posters created to students the opportunity to advance their research continued to page 2 UnIversity newS is publisheD By Communications and Marketing, Fisher Building In this issue 18 Waterloo Quadrant, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 email [email protected] www.auckland.ac.nz/universitynews 2 Supreme winner of Kea Awards Editor Judy Wilford 3 Record crowds at Brain Day Photography godfrey Boehnke, Kathryn robinson 7 Calling future research leaders DesignEr Mustika Mcgrath From the Vice-Chancellor Brilliance and generosity the University Council has recently approved our 2009 Annual report, which will be published affirmed shortly. the report, one of our most important professor Richard Faull (Anatomy with public accountability documents, records a year of Radiology) has been named Supreme winner at considerable achievement by staff and students the 2010 world Class new Zealand Kea Awards. against a background of continuing severe this is presented annually by Kea new Zealand resource constraints imposed by the policies of and trade and enterprise new Zealand to successive governments. recognise outstanding individuals who have the 2009 year was, of course, the first full year made major contributions to this country’s affected by the global financial crisis.n ot success on the world stage. surprisingly, total Equivalent Full time student the news has delighted his colleagues in the (EFTS) numbers were increased (at 31,689 vs Centre for Brain research, which he directs, and in 30,172 the previous year) as students sought to the wider university community. maximise the employment benefits of a university “richard is indeed world class,” says Vice- education. this increase was seen across the Chancellor Professor stuart McCutcheon, ”not only board, with the proportions of research and taught in his research and teaching, but also in the postgraduate students being maintained at seven generosity with which he gives his time to roles in and 13 percent respectively. Although our University governance, leadership and mentoring proportion of postgraduate students continues to of others. his own scholarship, and the influence increase more slowly than would be ideal, we he has on others around the world means that he enrolled 425 new doctoral candidates in 2009 has done much to bring new Zealand to the against a target of 380 and the previous year’s forefront on international scientific endeavour.” figure of 349, which bodes well for the future. “it is a privilege to count richard as a Perhaps the most surprising result of 2009 was colleague”, says Professor iain Martin, dean of the the marked increase in external research income. he is perhaps best known for research showing Faculty of Medical and health sciences. “this that the adult brain contains stem cells. this Anticipating the impact of the recession on award is just recognition of his skills not only as an businesses, we had budgeted on a figure of $193 groundbreaking work countered the long-held outstanding researcher, but also as a scientific belief that adults have a finite supply of brain cells million, only $2 million up on the previous year. As leader and an advocate for patients and families it turned out, we achieved revenues of $206 that cannot be replaced, and offers hope to people of those suffering with some of the most with neurodegenerative disease or brain injury. million, with both Uniservices and research office debilitating neurological diseases. activities contributing to the increase. of course, it richard founded the neurological Foundation of “his passion and enthusiasm for science and new Zealand human Brain Bank, which houses is not the money per se that is important, but science education have done much to encourage rather the way it reflects the confidence external brain tissue donated by peopl e with neurological the next generations of researchers both in and disorders, and their families. it is a crucial resource organisations have in our research capability and beyond neuroscience.” the support it provides for research being for neuroscientists and an example of the strong richard is an internationally recognised expert links richard has forged with the community. undertaken by our staff and graduate students. on neurodegenerative disorders. during his Against that, revenue from philanthropy was down richard adds this latest award to many honours, 35-year career he has made major contributions including the royal society of new Zealand’s by about $2 million, though many prospective to scientists’ understanding of changes that occur donors retain an interest in the University as they rutherford Medal in 2007 and the health in the brains of people with diseases such as research Council’s Liley Medal in 2005. he was await the recovery of the new Zealand and Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, huntington’s and international economies. made an officer of the new Zealand order of epilepsy, opening the way for the development of Merit in 2005. the many achievements of the University, as new treatments. documented in the Annual report, came about despite continued financial constraints imposed by government policy. As the Chancellor commented in his introduction to the report: “now, as the country comes out of recession, it needs more from page 1 than ever a high quality education system and showcase their work – to an audience comprising “it is important,” he said, “that we see this as a purposeful investment in research if it is going to students and staff of the University, including long partnership, extending far beyond a single achieve significant long-term economic growth and Vice-Chancellor Professor stuart McCutcheon, summer.” close the gap with Australia”. along with members of the local communities and Jim Peters, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Mäori) who was As the government’s 2010 Budget approaches, representatives of local government. a selector for this innovative summer scholarship we must hope that this message has been listened the ten students, drawn from four faculties scheme, said the great lesson to be drawn from the to. – Engineering, science, Creative Arts and presentations was the value of understanding the industries, and Medical and health sciences – needs of the local communities, of maintaining conducted investigations ranging from how to continuing communication,