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UNIVERSITY OF MAGAZINEOtago ISSUE 7: FEBRUARY 2004 ALUMNI BATTLE THE NEWEST BUGS ON THE BLOCK UNIVERSITY FAREWELLS CHANCELLOR 100 YEARS OF THE PORTOBELLO MARINE LABORATORY TOUCHING DOWN IN MIDDLE-EARTH UNIVERSIT Y o f OTAGO S A P E R E AUDE Te Whare Wänanga o Otägo 2 UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO m a g a z i n e CONTENTS 12 4 Germ Warfare Vice-Chancellor’s comment Otago graduates do battle with the newest bugs on the block. 5 17 New Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor for Otago Balancing Energy and the Environment 6 Energy demand management needed now, Inbrief says Professor Gerry Carrington. Otago’s academic highlights 18 29 University Farewells Chancellor Hocken Legacy After 23 years of service, Eion Edgar leaves the bluestone towers. 33 20 Books Krill-seekers and Sunburnt Sea Urchins 100 years of the 34 UniNews Portobello Marine Laboratory. 24 36 Forty Years of Economics at Otago UniClippings Paul Wooding talks on the New Zealand economy, students and the University. 38 Advancement 26 Alumni Profile: Fran Cohen 40 How did a history grad become the only Alumni woman in NZ licensed to buy 1080. News and resources 30 43 Touching Down in Middle-earth Whatever happened to... Of hobbits, elves and wizards. The Mothras 2 3 UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO m a g a z i n e A magazine for alumni and friends of the University of Otago University of Otago Magazine Issue 7 February 2004 ISSN - 1175-8147 Managing Editor Gillian Thomas VC’s COMMENT Editor Karen Trebilcock [email protected] BEING ABLE TO ANNOUNCE, EACH YEAR, THE PROMOTION Designer Peter Scott of outstanding staff to the position of personal professor has been, for me, one of the most rewarding tasks during my time Contributing Writers Simon Ancell as Vice-Chancellor. Simon Cunliffe Claire Finlayson Achieving a “Personal Chair” at Otago is a true mark of Sean Flaherty academic distinction. It is not a title which is easily acquired. Karen Hogg Our assessment procedures are rigorous; they involve input Suze Jones Laura Mills from Division Promotion Committees, the Staffing Advisory Nicola Mutch Committee, international referees and independent external Vivien Pullar assessors. All this information is then evaluated by an Advisory Darryn Russell Jill Rutherford Committee to the Vice-Chancellor of six or seven senior Ainslie Talbot academic staff members who consider the merits of each Karin Warnaar individual case. Nigel Zega This year 10 of our staff have been promoted to Personal Photography Ross Coombes Chairs and during the process we received comments such as Alan Dove the following: New Line Productions Bill Nichol “Among the top five in the world”, “Thought he/she Otago Daily Times was already a Professor; would qualify for a Chair at a top Elizabeth Passuello international University”. Spontaneous independent comments Nicholas Scaturro such as these verify that our top academic staff are truly Illustrations Murray Webb outstanding and that we have, at Otago, academic leaders who will ensure that the University’s contribution to teaching Advertising Ruth Mackenzie-White excellence, research performance and significant community Circulation Alumni Office service will be maintained. [email protected] Recently the University announced that Mr Lindsay Contact Details Brown will be Chancellor for 2004 and that Professor David University of Otago Magazine Skegg will succeed me as Vice-Chancellor in the second half Marketing and Communications of the year. I look forward to working with both men to effect PO Box 56 Dunedin a successful transition to new leadership for the University New Zealand during 2004. Successful University leadership requires a strong Tel 64 3 479 8515 working relationship between Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor Fax 64 3 479 5417 Email [email protected] and during my time at Otago I believe we have achieved this; Web www.otago.ac.nz/otagomagazine it has been both a privilege and a pleasure to work with two Cover Image: outstanding Chancellors, Judith Medlicott and Eion Edgar. Corona virus particles, responsible for diseases such as the common cold, gastroenteritis and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). They take their name from the crown of surface proteins which attach to and penetrate host cells. Once inside, the particles use the cells’ machinery to replicate. Submissions Contributed articles and letters should be addressed to: The Editor, University of Otago Magazine, at the above address or email [email protected] Copyright You are welcome to reproduce material from the magazine after gaining permission from the editor. Dr Graeme Fogelberg Vice-Chancellor – University of Otago The University of Otago Magazine is published by the Marketing and Communications Division of the University. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University. 4 UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO WELCOMES NEW CHANCELLOR AND VICE-CHANCELLOR NEW APPOINTMENTS TO THE UNIVERSITY’S MOST SENIOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS SIGNAL BOTH CONTINUITY AND CHANGE AT OTAGO. LINDSAY BROWN, A COMPANY DIRECTOR other countries, we can expect an increasing and accountant with strong local links and a differentiation between a small number of long-time association with the University of research-led universities and other institutes Otago, is the University’s new Chancellor. He of tertiary education. My aim is to ensure that replaces Eion Edgar, who retired at the end of Otago emerges as one of the institutions of last year. Meanwhile, internationally-renowned truly international stature.” cancer researcher Professor David Skegg, Born in 1947 in Auckland, Professor currently the Head of Preventive and Social Skegg gained a BMedSc, MBChB with Medicine within the Dunedin School of distinction at Otago and was awarded a Medicine, has been appointed as the next Vice- Rhodes Scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford. Chancellor. He takes over from Dr Graeme After graduating with a DPhil, he continued Fogelberg upon his retirement at the end of July. at Oxford as a lecturer in Epidemiology from The Chancellor’s role is to chair the University 1976 to 1979, and, in 1980, he returned to Council, while the Vice-Chancellor is the academic Otago to take up the Chair of Preventive and and administrative head of the University. Social Medicine. Commenting on Mr Brown’s appointment, Professor Skegg is probably best known Mr Edgar described him as “a true gentleman, a Chancellor Lindsay Brown. outside the University as a leading expert on man of intelligence, tact and integrity”. breast and cervical cancer, contraceptive and Mr Brown, a former partner of the highly drug safety and on reproductive health. In regarded accounting firm Deloitte, has been 2002, he was a co-investigator in a major Pro-Chancellor (Deputy Chair of Council) for study which debunked claims that vasectomy the University for the past five years and a is linked to prostate cancer, research which member of Council for over 10. He’s served as received world wide attention. convenor of the Finance and Budget Committee He currently chairs an international since 1999, a member of the Standing breast cancer research group centred Committee, and also as Council Representative at Oxford and advises a World Health on the Risk Management Committee. Organisation programme in human A 1965 Otago BCom graduate, Mr Brown reproduction. He has also played a lead says that his governance, finance and role with several New Zealand government accounting skills will complement the “really agencies and committees, having chaired exciting leadership qualities” of the University’s the Public Health Commission, the Health next Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Skegg. Research Council and the BSE Expert Science Professor Skegg was selected from a Panel. “highly competitive and very impressive” list of His outstanding record both as a top national and international candidates for researcher – with over 140 publications in the position, says Mr Edgar. academic journals – and as a strong advocate “He has all the qualities we were seeking of improved public health, has earned him in a leader: impeccable international academic Vice-Chancellor from August, several of this nation’s most prestigious reputation, sound strategic thinking, strong Professor David Skegg. honours. They include: the New Zealand administrative capabilities, and excellent 1990 Commemoration Medal, an OBE (1990) communication and people skills. In summary, for services to medicine, a Fellowship of the he is an outstanding New Zealander.” Royal Society of New Zealand (1992) and the “I am tremendously honoured by the Sir Charles Hercus Medal (Royal Society of prospect of leading the University of Otago New Zealand, 1999). And in August last year, as its Vice-Chancellor,” Professor Skegg says. Professor Skegg also received the University “All over the world, the roles of universities of Otago’s top honour, the Distinguished are changing rapidly. In New Zealand, as in Research Medal. 5 INBRIEF BIG BUZZ FOR BEE INDUSTRY? The honeybee (Apis mellifera) is a Mercer says bears a striking highly social insect. Each bee plays resemblance to dopamine. A an important role in the survival biogenic amine, dopamine can be of the colony, with all activity found in the nervous systems of all coordinated by the sole queen bee. animals (including humans) and Using pheromonal signals, she is is vital in modulating nerve cell able to control both the behaviour function, enabling animals to adapt and physiology of worker bees, to the world around them. altering their normal patterns She suspects that this of behaviour in response to the pheromonal component is acting needs of the colony. For example, a via dopamine receptors, altering shortage of foragers induces young functions within the worker bees’ bees to begin foraging at a much brain cells, and allowing the queen earlier age, whereas a shortage to manipulate their behaviour. of nurses induces forager bees to “Until now we have not had revert to duties within the hive.