increase font size
One of Europe's most celebrated scientific leaders is to deliver a public lecture in Auckland on Monday, November 19. The lecture is on "Translating science to build the knowledge economy – lessons from Europe".
Professor Patrick Cunningham is Professor of Animal Genetics at Trinity College, Dublin, and a leading world researcher on aspects of animal DNA. His five year term as chief science adviser to the Irish Government (2007-2012) ended on August 2012. During that time, he also led the Irish bid to host the Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) in Dublin http://www.dublinscience2012.ie/ - the most significant science event on Europe's calendar. Some 4500 scientists attended the 5-day-conference last July.
He is the recipient of the Boyle Medal, Ireland's premier award in science, and following Europe's BSE crisis he co-established IdentiGEN, a company providing DNA traceability for meat enabling source of origin to be identified. This company has since become integrally involved in establishing country of origin meat brands. Professor Cunningham has led major research programmes in Ireland and at the UN in Rome, and has twice featured on the cover of Nature (one of the world's leading science publications).
Professor Cunningham has been invited to New Zealand by the National Research Centre for Growth and Development (NRCGD), one of the New Zealand Government's seven Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs).
"During his visit he will take up a position as part of an international scientific advisory board to the NRCGD," says director of the NRCGD Professor Phil Baker. "Our global advisory board is being formed from the best scientific, medical and agricultural minds in the world to review, guide and comment on the research work we're undertaking. New Zealand already has a considerable reputation in scientific research around pregnancy in humans and animals. We are putting in place this board to raise the research bar even higher for our skilled and capable scientists."
Professor Cunningham's lecture will compare New Zealand and Ireland as small economies, and look at the need for commitment to science as part of economic development. He will:
• outline the rationale and results of Irish initiatives in science over the past decade
• make comparison with other countries in the 27 nation European Union and with New Zealand
• address the priorities for investing in national science, in times of recession
After the lecture, Professor Cunningham will attend the annual symposium of the NRCGD (November 20-23) in Palmerston North.
It's time to start talking up science again, especially as a career for young people. That's one of the key messages from the Prime Minister's new chief science advisor, Dr John Roche.
OPINION: Greenpeace claims that the appointment of Dr John Roche as the PM's Chief Science Advisor is handing the powers to polluters.
The primary sector is welcoming the appointment of Dr John Roche as the Prime Minister's new chief science advisor.
OPINION: People have criticised Christopher Luxon for the time he’s taken to appoint a new chief science advisor.
OPINION: With the Government applying some fiscal discipline to scientific research funding, this mutt thinks it might be timely to look at what's still being done in the ag-science space.
New Zealand milk production is off to a strong start, with the first month of the 2025/26 dairy season recording a whopping 17.8% jump in milk production, compared to the previous season.
With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.
Keep up with innovation and e-commerce in China or risk losing market share. That was the message delivered at the China Business Summit in Auckland this month.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy says getting meat processors involved has been a shot in the arm for the sector's key marketing initiative into China, Taste Pure Nature.
Listed carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Federated Farmers is vowing to keep the big banks accountable for their actions and to continue pushing for meaningful change in the rural lending sector.
OPINION: Bayer Crop Science closing its Hastings research site could be the tip of the iceberg.
OPINION: The image of regenerative farmers as kind, cuddly progressive types took a hit when one of their own took…
