UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO MAGAZINE 27OCTOBER 2010 INSIDE: Digital danger Are you safe? PLUS: 100 years of the “home” sciences Viral threats … and opportunities The seabed and foreshore CONTENTS ISSUE NUMBER 5 Vice-Chancellor’s comment 27 6 Bringing it home Celebrating 100 years of home, consumer and applied sciences at Otago 10 Digital danger Staying safe in the unsafe world of electronic communications 13 Going viral Otago’s inaugural Professor of Viral Pathogenesis Andrew Mercer 16 Opinion The seabed and foreshore: a vexed issue 18 Plastic fantastic Plastic reconstructive surgeon Andrew Greensmith discusses his role in the separation of Bangladeshi conjoined twins 21 Excellent conduct International conductor Tecwyn Evans returns to work with his Otago mentor 24 Healthy perspectives Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman’s research is making a real difference to thousands of New Zealanders 34 Being and belonging Alumna Miriam Frank’s Innocent Absence 28 InBrief 46 Hocken legacy Research highlights 48 Books 37 UniNews 50 Whatever happened to ... 40 Alumni news … the Colin McCahon mural in the Central Library? 3 University of Otago Magazine A magazine for alumni and friends of the University of Otago Issue 27 October 2010 ISSN - 1175-8147 Editor Karen Hogg Designer Peter Scott Writers Simon Ancell Nicola Mutch Jacinta Ruru Ainslie Talbot Rebecca Tansley Kim Thomas Mark Wright Nigel Zega Photographers Alan Dove Ken George David Hamilton Bill Nichol Bert di Paolo Mike Stone Graham Warman Advertising Ryan Helliwell Cover Michael Crawford Printing APN Print Circulation Office of Development and Alumni Relations To update or change delivery address Tel 0800 80 80 98 Email [email protected] Web www.alumni.otago.ac.nz/update Editorial contact details University of Otago Magazine Marketing and Communications PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand Tel 64 3 479 8679 Fax 64 3 479 5417 Email [email protected] Web www.otago.ac.nz/otagomagazine Copyright You are welcome to reproduce material from the magazine after gaining permission from the editor. All reproduced material must be appropriately acknowledged. 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 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S COMMENT In November delegates from this While recognising the value of University will be attending a workshop bilateral links with a wide variety of on Renewable Energy and Society, to be universities in many countries, we held at Queen’s University in Canada. have also been attracted by the idea of This will be the first scholarly meeting developing a deeper relationship with a organised by a new group of select small group of universities with which activities. One of our objectives is to institutions, including the University of we have a great deal in common. The collaborate in projects that will promote Otago, known as the Matariki Network seven founding partners of the Matariki international development. of Universities. Network of Universities are Dartmouth There are now several groupings of One of Otago’s declared priorities is College (established in 1769) in the USA; world universities, and some are so large to contribute to international progress, Durham University (1832) in England; that their gatherings resemble meetings and we aim to foster an international Queen’s University (1841) in Canada; of the United Nations! While a few perspective in all research and teaching University of Otago (1869); University of more members may be invited to join programmes. Last year we were proud Tübingen (1477) in Germany; University our network in the future, it is intended to host students from 98 different of Western Australia (1911); and Uppsala to keep the number small – so that countries, with the largest numbers University (1477) in Sweden. we can enjoy the benefits of very close coming from the USA, Malaysia, China These universities are among the and trusting relationships. Naturally I and Germany, respectively. We also oldest and foremost places of learning was delighted that the seven founding encourage our New Zealand students in their respective countries. They are partners decided to adopt a Mäori name to spend one or two semesters of their scholarly communities where excellence for the consortium. “Matariki” is the undergraduate education at an overseas in research and education are valued Mäori name for the group of stars called university. Having done this myself equally. The scale of the historic the Pleiades, which are also known as the as a medical student, I know what a university cities or towns in which most Seven Sisters. It is fitting that “Matariki” wonderful experience it can be. Otago are embedded enables their staff and is also the word for the Mäori New Year, sends a higher proportion of its students students to live and work together in an symbolising a new beginning. on international exchange than any other academic community. While all of the New Zealand university. universities are research-intensive, they Such activities are underpinned by also aim to provide a rounded education the partnerships we have developed and a high-quality student experience. with nearly 100 universities around the Over the next few years, the group world. Our international agreements aims to promote a wide range of are regularly reviewed. Recently we have initiatives. These include enhanced been delighted to strengthen our links student exchange, development of with several of the leading universities joint postgraduate programmes, in China, including Tsinghua University, social responsibility projects, research Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao collaboration, visiting fellowships, Tong University. We are also a partner staff exchange and secondments, in the New Zealand Centre at Peking benchmarking and sharing of best Professor David Skegg University. practice, and cultural and sporting Vice-Chancellor, University of Otago 5 FEATURE Bringing it home 100 years ago Lieutenant-Colonel John Studholme recognised the need for university-based study in home science. His legacy lives on with an interdisciplinary applied sciences programme that continues to meet the changing needs of society. We live in the age of science: a time the University an annual donation of Enrolments quickly grew, from five when the food we eat, the clothes we £200 to fund a chair. degree or diploma candidates in the wear and the objects we use in day- “To my mind woman’s education will inaugural year, to 60 by 1918. Along with to-day life all result from ingenious never be placed on a proper footing in this growth came more subjects and modification of the physical materials this country so long as that knowledge facilities. that comprise them. which enables a woman to be an efficient In addition to classes in cookery, This modification is achieved by wife and mother and to make the very clothing and household and social applying knowledge gained from science best out of her home surroundings is economics, students attended chemistry, about those materials’ behaviour. In made to take a lower position in our anatomy, physics and physiology lectures other words, from applied science. University to nearly all other and less alongside medical and mining students. While the idea of applying scientific essential subjects,” he argued. This afforded them an unprecedented knowledge to improving anything as Studholme saw the home breadth of education which stood the basic as our home environment may not environment as the crucible of society. women in excellent stead for future strike modern readers as revolutionary, Support for this institution, and for professions as teachers and dieticians, in 1909 when Lieutenant-Colonel the dissemination of advances in its although the prevailing trend at the John Studholme broached the idea of management made possible by science time was for alumnae to marry soon establishing a school of home science and technology, were, he believed, vital after graduation and so retire from paid at the University of Otago - a place of to the process of social development. employment. legitimate academic pursuit for women, “What is the use of all the scientific Alumna Dawn Ibbotson went on to no less - the matter warranted serious knowledge that we have been collecting teach at a girls’ school after graduating civic debate. for so many years if we do not apply it in 1937, but recalls she was “expected” A century on, Studholme’s vision can so as to make our homes more beautiful to give up her job when she married the be fully appreciated for what it was: a and more healthy, unless it eases the following year. far-sighted, highly-practical response to burden and drudgery of everyday life?” “It [then] so happened that the Home changing social needs. he asked. Science School was short of staff and Studholme had witnessed first-hand As well as effectively providing the I was asked if I would fill in for a few the success of land-based, degree-level country with its first applied science months. That was when I received an university programmes in domestic department at a time when modern anonymous letter accusing me of taking science in America. Deeply interested in science was still in its infancy, the a job that should go to a single woman,” social progress, he recognised a need in establishment of the school in 1911 she would later write. his home country for similar educational provided a socially-acceptable avenue Current Consumer and Applied opportunities for women, and offered for university education for women. Science programme director Dr Cheryl 6 Studholme saw the home environment as the crucible of society. Support for this institution, and for the dissemination of advances in its management made possible by science and technology, were, he believed, vital to the process of social development. Back left: Mrs Strong (Dean of Home Science 1924-1940) as a young woman, with classmates.