THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND ALUMNI MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2006 IN BUSINESS TACKLING OBESITY ALUMNUS A FAMILY OF ALEX FALA PHILANTHROPISTS INSIDE 95bFM Autumn 2006 – INGENIO THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND ALUMNI MAGAZINE In this issue . Ingenio – The University of Auckland alumni magazine Autumn 2006 ISSN 1176-211X Editor Tess Redgrave Photography Godfrey Boehnke Design/production Ingrid Atvars 4 20 23 37 Publication management and proof reading Bill Williams UNIVERSITY NEWS Advertising manager Don Wilson 4 Graduation, new institute, targeting tobacco Editorial contact details 5 Vintage winemaker, herbal medicines Ingenio Communications and Marketing RESEARCH The University of Auckland Private Bag 92 019 Auckland 6 Researchers tackle obesity epidemic University House 19A Princes Street Auckland 12 Hands off – pioneering robotics Telephone 64 9 373 7599 Research in brief – new anti-cancer drug ext 84149 14 Facsimile 64 9 373 7047 email [email protected] OpINION www.auckland.ac.nz/ingenio 17 Stem cells and brain disease Advertising enquiries Telephone 64 9 373 7599 ALUMNI ext 84149 Facsimile 64 9 373 7047 18 Alex Fala – The road less travelled email [email protected] 20 Summer Celebration How alumni keep in touch Distinguished alumni To ensure that you continue to 22 receive Ingenio, and to subscribe 24 Louise Chunn – From Craccum to the world to @auckland, the University’s email newsletter for alumni and friends, 26 News and Noticeboard please update your details at: Snapshots www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz/update 28 Alumni Relations Office The University of Auckland PHILANTHROPHY 19A Princes Street Private Bag 92019 Auckland 29 News New Zealand A tradition of giving Telephone 64 9 373 7599 30 ext 82246 email [email protected] REGULAR COLUMNS www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz 32 Obituary – The Rt Hon David Russell Lange Copyright odfrey Boehnke Articles reflect personal opinions G 34 Sport – and are not those of The University of Auckland. No parts of this GE 35 Books A publication may be reproduced without M I prior consent of The University of 36 Art Auckland. All rights reserved. ©The University of Auckland 2006 37 Student Life COVER 2 INGENIO AUTUMN/2006 From the Vice-Chancellor Welcome to this, the first issue of the new lookIngenio, which resulted from a review of our publications that we undertook in my first year asV ice-Chancellor. The review identified that we could be doing more to tailorIngenio to the needs of our alumni and friends, and so we set about addressing that issue. This new version is the result and I hope it will come to be regarded as a “must read” by all of you. During my first year at The University of AucklandI have been particularly struck by the sheer breadth of what it accomplishes. We are, for example, the only university in New Zealand with both Medical and Engineering faculties – along with faculties of Law, Arts, Science, Education, Business and Economics, and the National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries. This creates unique and exciting opportunities for teaching and research across traditional discipline boundaries. We are also a very international university, with many students joining us from overseas and many graduates living outside New Zealand. This produces a highly diverse group of alumni with a range of affiliations and interests. While it may be difficult to meet the needs of everyone, such diversity is a great strength. And of course all alumni share one thing in common – they have a degree or diploma from The University of Auckland and the reputation of the University has a direct bearing on the “standing” of that qualification.I t is thus in the interests of all alumni and friends to ensure that the University continues to go from strength to strength. The achievements of our alumni, and the support of our friends, are in turn important drivers of the success of the University. It is thus incumbent on us to keep in touch with you, and that is what we attempt to do through Ingenio and through a variety of other means such as the Alumni and Friends website, @auckland – our email newsletter, local committees and the various events we invite you to. As it happens, I am writing this editorial on a flight toL ondon as we begin the first of our annual excursions to meet alumni and friends overseas, as well as in New Zealand, and strengthen our relationship with them. This year we expect to meet with hundreds of alumni and friends in about 15 cities around the world. I hope that you may be among them, and that you will continue to tell us about how we can best stay in touch with you and inform you of the many successes of your University. From the next issue of Ingenio we will publish a “Letters to the Editor” page so I invite you to write to us with your comments on the content of this issue and other matters concerning the University. Letters can be posted to the editor, Tess Redgrave, Communications and Marketing, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, or emailed to: [email protected] StuaRT McCutCHEON THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND 3 UNIVERSITY NEWS Capping ceremonies reach record high 454 in Engineering, 428 in Creative Arts and Industries, 225 in Law and 32 in Theology. A total of 84 PhDs were awarded (including seven to staff) as well as six Doctor of Clinical Psychology degrees, seven Doctors of Education, one Doctor of Medicine and one Doctor of Science. Allan Adair, a retired GP and Doctor of Medicine, who runs the Teaching of General Practice at the Faculty of Medical Health Sciences, was the first person to gain distinction for hisE dD. Other firsts this year include the first DPh in Nursing awarded to Dr Thomas Harding for his thesis on “Being a man and a nurse” and the first SM c in Speech Science awarded to Russian immigrant, Elena Antipova, for her research into stuttering. Autumn Graduation broke new records this year with The first honours graduates in MedicinalC hemistry 5890 students capped during 13 ceremonies and the and the first graduates of the Master of UrbanD esign, youngest graduate by three years, 16-year-old Jesse Wu, were also capped this year. awarded a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science. Chancellor Hugh Fletcher personally conferred In time-honoured tradition, graduands and staff 5045 degrees and diplomas with the rest (1465) processed through the city in colourful academic regalia bestowed “in absentia”; one was also awarded during a record four days of ceremonies. posthumously. The Faculty of Business and Economics had the most Speakers at the 13 ceremonies included writer, graduates with 1428 followed by Education (1134), actor and television host Oscar Kightley, former Silver Science (1124) and Arts (1106). Ferns captain Bernice Mene, John Haigh QC, and Dr Above: Jesse Wu. There were 580 in Medical and Health Sciences, Judy McGregor from the Human Rights Commission. Institute tackles energy and infrastructure problems A seismic evaluation of the Northland petroleum basin, infrastructure and energy,” says Vice-Chancellor, and geotechnical and catchment studies of Auckland’s Professor Stuart McCutcheon. “We need to ensure urban area. that our construction is safe and efficient, that our These are two projects currently being pursued infrastructure lifelines are adequately protected from by the University’s new Institute of Earth Science and natural hazards, and that the growing demand for Engineering. energy is properly managed.” Launched late last year as a joint initiative between The University has committed $600,000 over the the faculties of Engineering and Science, the Institute next two years to the Institute which will work closely has absorbed the work of a former, smaller geo- with other agencies, including the Government, local thermal institute. Its aim is to tackle key geological authorities, Crown Research Institutes, the private and engineering problems facing the country, with sector and overseas research bodies. a particular focus on Auckland’s urban infrastructure It will be managed by a governance board and an and national energy supplies. internationally recruited advisory board of industry “In New Zealand, and in particular Auckland professionals; appointment of the first director is due as its largest city, we face critical issues relating to to be announced soon. Targeting tobacco usage New Zealand’s first research centre dedicated to Social and Community Health, and former chair of the reducing tobacco usage has been established at the National Tobacco Control Research Strategy steering School of Population Health. group, the Centre’s membership includes researchers Initiated by Dr Marewa Glover, a senior lecturer in from across the University as well as representatives 4 INGENIO autumN/2006 from ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), the National Public Health Commission, and did her PhD on Maori Heart Foundation, Auckland Regional Public Health and smoking cessation behaviour, believes strongly that the Auckland University of Technology (AUT). smoking cessation programmes need to be targeted “Our aim is to network and co-ordinate research differently than in the past. activities as well as build research capacity,” says Marewa. Traditionally these programmes have targeted 18-30 The Centre is already involved in developing the year-olds, because smoking is most prevalent in that tobacco module of the Health Behaviours Survey for group. However, this group is also the most resistant the Ministry of Health and in July will begin a major to quitting. project in collaboration with the Clinical Trials Research Marewa contends that priority should be given to Unit, and funded by the Health Research Council, the people most likely to respond: first to pregnant called Keeping Kids Smoke Free. This incorporates women, second to parents of young children, and third a large trial of a community-based intervention to people who are already suffering health symptoms designed to reduce the uptake of smoking among from smoking.