RSNZ Waikato Branch - Talk Series

Submitted by sanjayw on Mon, 17/05/2010 - 12:18

Facing the Future

Past events

Title: A New Way of Using Our Land

 
Speaker: Dr Rod McDonald
NZ Institute for Plant & Food Research
Ruakura
 
Abstract:
Could we use our land in a radically different way? A way that would help us meet the challenges and opportunities in world population growth, resource depletion, climate change, food shortages and crop and animal disease threats?
Our temperate climate supports production of large quantities of protein-rich leafy plant material, most of which goes into maintaining the animals we use to convert it to milk and meat. This system has worked well for us, but it generates problems, and it is inefficient in terms of food production per hectare. With world food production under increasing strain, that inefficiency may justify looking at another approach.
 
 
Personal Profile :
Rod McDonald is a bio-engineer. 
 
Tuesday December 6, 2011
7.30 p.m.
Room SG.01,
Gate 8
University of Waikato.
Room S.G.01 is in S block. Entry is easiest through either Gate 1 on Knighton Rd or Gate 8 on Hillcrest Rd.
A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf.
There is no charge for this event.

Title: The Dilemma of Biofuels

 
Speaker: Professor Hugh Morgan
Dept of Biological Sciences
University of Waikato
 
Abstract:
Biofuels, particularly bioethanol, have long been touted as the future for a renewable alternative to oil-based petroleum. While bioethanol is certainly a renewable fuel, doubts are now expressed over the sustainability of the biomass feedstock for conversion. In this presentation I will outline the rationale for using lignocellulose feedstocks for biofuel production and the difficulties inherent in using this feedstock. I will briefly discuss some current research on the Huhu grub aimed at more easily degrading lignocelluloses, as well as alternative means of utilising lignocelluloses, which might displace our use of biofuels.
 
 
Personal Profile :
Hugh Morgan is on the staff of the Biological Sciences Department at the University of Waikato. His area of expertise includes the ecology and physiology of extremely thermophilic bacteria, and fermentations of glycolytic anaerobes; the phylogeny of thermophilic bacteria and their enzymes; and lignocellulose conversion by thermophilic and non-thermphilic microorganisms. 
 
Tuesday November 8, 2011
7.30 p.m.
Room SG.01,
Gate 8
University of Waikato.
Room S.G.01 is in S block. Entry is easiest through either Gate 1 on Knighton Rd or Gate 8 on Hillcrest Rd.
A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf.
There is no charge for this event.

Title: Waves in estuaries

 
Speaker: Dr Malcolm Green
Principal Scientist
Coastal & Estuarine Physical Processes
NIWA, Hamilton
 
Abstract:
The rise and fall of the tide is the most obvious physical feature of any estuary, and you would be right in concluding from that that the tide is the prime mover of water, salt, heat, nutrients and the like. But that is not necessarily the case for sediments; in most of our North Island estuaries, waves move sediments and the often-nasty things that are attached to them. In this talk I will show how we know that, and I will describe some interesting features of waves in estuaries, not the least of which is that they are usually very small, but still capable of stirring things up. Our interest in waves has real application, which I will demonstrate by way of a brief history of attempts to predict the fate of urban contaminants (heavy metals) in Auckland estuaries. We have reached the point where waves are represented in predictive models in nearly as much detail as the tide. The talk will be illustrated with nice pictures of waves and field experiments to keep you interested.
 
 
Personal Profile :
Malcolm Green is Principal Scientist for Coastal and Estuarine Physical Processes at NIWA, based in Hamilton. He has a BSc from the University of Sydney and a PhD from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. He leads an MSI-funded research programme investigating the effects of contaminants on aquatic ecosystems, and was the winner of the 2009 Kudos Award for Environmental Science. 
 
Wednesday October 5, 2011
7.30 p.m.
Room SG.01,
Gate 8
University of Waikato.
Room S.G.01 is in S block. Entry is easiest through either Gate 1 on Knighton Rd or Gate 8 on Hillcrest Rd.
A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf.
There is no charge for this event.
 

Title: Coastal zone management: putting the ecology in ecosystem-based management

 
Speaker: Dr Simon Thrush
Principal Scientist
NIWA, Hamilton
 
Abstract:
The mix of values, perspectives, data, scientific understanding and greed that are involved in decision-making complicates the effective management of marine ecosystems. Shifts to more ecosystem-based approaches to management seek to reframe these conflicts by increasing the scope of ecosystem assessments and recognising the feedbacks in social-ecological interactions. Nevertheless, decisions that seek to manage threats to the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem function invariably involve balancing short-term and definite economic benefits with long-term and more diverse values. These decisions are especially difficult for coastal and estuarine ecosystems because of their high and diverse use. The potential for ecology to contribute to these management processes are significant, through raising the profile of ecosystem functions that deliver important goods and services, understanding the risks of cumulative effects and habitat fragmentation and highlighting the potential for threshold responses that should profoundly influence resource management. Progress is being made in these profound challenges. Nevertheless, if we are to move forward from documenting past ecological disasters and designing indicators to document future disasters we need effective communication through the development of more open and inclusive ecosystem management frameworks.
 
 
Personal Profile :
Simon Thrush obtained a BSc (Hons) from the University of Otago, New Zealand and a PhD from the University of East Anglia, England. In New Zealand, he is the Principal Scientist in Benthic Ecology at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. He has over 20 years of experience in the development and implementation of strategic research to influence resource management and improved societal valuation of marine ecosystems. His research interests include coastal and estuarine marine ecology; scale dependent processes in heterogeneous environments; the influence of disturbance events on populations and communities and their implications for recovery and resilience; ecological impact assessment, particularly of diffuse source and/or broad-scale effects; the design and implementation of ecological monitoring programmes; the environmental effects of fishing; organism-sediment interactions; organism-hydrodynamic interactions; functional biodiversity and biocomplexity. He has contributed to over 170 publications in the peer reviewed scientific literature and 100 consultancy reports and enjoys extensive international collaboration with colleagues in USA, Canada, Britain, Norway, Finland, Spain, Netherlands and Italy. 
 
Tuesday 9 November, 2010
7.30 p.m.
Room SG.01,
Gate 8
University of Waikato.
Room S.G.01 is in S block, immediately below the School of Maori & Pacific Development.
A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf.
There is no charge for this event.
 
Title: Human Capital and Economic Development in New Zealand: Squandering Our Demographic Dividend
 
Speaker: Ian Pool, Emeritus Professor, University Of Waikato
 
Abstract:
For the last three decades, New Zealand has looked at development through the wrong end of the telescope. It has failed to realise on a once-off window of opportunity coming from its demographic dividend (high labour force support ratios; low dependency ratios) which will come to an end circa 2016. Instead, we have chased strategies that depend on overseas borrowing, and on migration for human capital. The tail of the dog (migration) has been used to wag the dog (population and development). We have viewed migration in “cargo cult” ways — especially its impact on the “economy” operating through the housing market, and its supposed role in population replacement, and as a buffer against ageing — as the solution for our self-imposed woes.
 
Above all, we are grossly negligent about the potential human capital already in our midst, and in whom we have invested, often for 20+ years — young resident New Zealanders. This is not new: throughout the life-span of the demographic dividend (circa 1975–today). We have pursued policies that have profligately squandered it. To remain as a First world country we need to invest in educating and training our future human capital, and in pro-active employment strategies that create the work environment of an advanced industrialised state — the savings will flow on from that. In doing it we might even keep many of our young here; we could even start to challenge Australia. The role of these young will be in highly skilled industries, and in industries to service the Baby Boomers as they age.
 
Personal Profile :
Ian Pool is an elected member of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), between 2004–2006 he was a James Cook Fellow (RSNZ) and worked on the project, A Demographic History of NZ. He has held positions at The University of Waikato from 1978 until retiring in 2009: from 1978–1992 — Professor of Sociology, and then of Sociology and Anthropology; from 1992–2009 — Professor of Demography. Ian has had numerous short-term consulting missions for the UN Population Fund, USAID and other agencies, mainly in Africa, but also in the Asia-Pacific region. He has authored/co-authored, edited/co-edited 150+ books, monographs and papers. 
 
Tuesday 14 September, 2010
7.30 p.m.
Room SG.01,
Gate 8
University of Waikato.
Room S.G.01 is in S block, immediately below the School of Maori & Pacific Development.
A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf.
There is no charge for this event.

Download audio

 

Title: The nitrogen cascade: past and future directions

Speaker: Associate Professor Louis Schipper

Abstract: Nitrogen is critical to life and has greatly increased food production supporting population growth and has helped develop the New Zealand economy. However, the excess of nitrogen has recently been suggested to be one of three planetary boundaries that have been exceeded along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity. A major concern about excess nitrogen is that it can be highly mobile and once it leaves the soil, enters other ecosystems where nitrogen acts as an unwanted fertiliser. The "Nitrogen Cascade" is a term developed to describe the multiple impacts that nitrogen has moving from upland systems (often agriculture) through ground water to surface waters (including streams, rivers, lakes) and onto the ocean. This talk will describe the effects of the nitrogen cascade and the size of the issue in New Zealand currently and examine future scenarios and briefly discuss potential solutions.

Personal profile:

Louis Schipper teaches soil science at the University of Waikato and conducts research into long-term changes in soil carbon and nitrogen. He is focused on trying to develop strategies that improve environmental performance while maintaining productive uses of land. He works closely with a range of CRIs and in the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre on soil related research. In the last two years, he was elected a fellow of the New Zealand and US Soil Science Societies.

 

 

Tuesday 10 August, 2010
7.30 p.m.
Room SG.01,
Gate 8
Waikato University

University of Waikato.

Room S.G.01 is in S block, immediately below the School of Maori & Pacific Development.

A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf.

There is no charge for this event.

 

Title: Using stem cells in regenerative medicine - are we making progress?

Speaker: Professor Katherine Crosier
University of Auckland.

Abstract:

Stem cells are the foundation cells for every tissue and organ in the body. Under the right conditions, they become programmed to develop into specialized cells such as blood cells or insulin secreting pancreatic cells. There are two main types of stem cells.  Embryonic stem cells exist only at the earliest stages of development, but are capable of generating all of the cells in the body.   Human embryonic stem cells were isolated a decade ago, and while offering considerable potential for regenerative medicine they have also been a source of controversy. Tissue specific (sometimes called “adult”) stem cells are already somewhat specialized and produce a more limited range of cell types.
 
Stem cell research is providing fundamental understanding of normal development and disease processes, with this knowledge now being applied to develop new therapies.  For stem cells to be useful in treating a broad range of diseases in many patients, some big challenges lie ahead.  To date, the field of stem cell therapy has been characterized by considerable hope, but also a degree of hype. This talk will provide an overview of achievements in stem cell research and prospects for the future.

 

Tuesday 6 July, 2010 
7.30 p.m.
Room SG.01,
Gate 8
Waikato University

A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf.

There is no charge for this event.

 

 

Title: Recipe for Economic Survival

Speaker: Dr Andrew West

CEO AgResearch

Abstract:
New Zealand’s comparative economic performance is deteriorating.  This talk examines the rate of decline and the underlying reasons for it, with an especial focus on investment in science and technology.  It then recommends a series of measures that the New Zealand Government could take to reverse the decline.  These recommendations cover taxation, investment, regulation, R&D and education.  The paper concludes that if such changes are not made by the medium-term then no-one over the age of 25 should be allowed to manage New Zealand and its industries.

 

Personal profile:
Dr West has been a CEO or Executive Chairman for fourteen years.  For the past six years he has led AgResearch.  He previously led Geological and Nuclear Sciences, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the Tertiary Education Commission.  Dr West chaired the board of Innovation Waikato Ltd for five years and in that time was instrumental in orchestrating the Waikato’s bid to host a Food Innovation Network hub.

 
Tuesday 8 June
7.30 p.m.
Room AG.30,
Gate 8
Waikato University

Room AG.30 is within the School of Maori & Pacific Development. A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf.

There is no charge for this event.

Download Audio

 

Title: Coping with climate change interactions – the role of UV radiation

Speaker: Professor Janet F. Bornman

International Global Change Centre (IGCC), University of Waikato, Hamilton

Abstract:
Climate change has always been happening. However, today we are faced with a faster rate of change with increasingly stronger climate events coupled with greater frequency of extremes. Far from being straight-forward, climate change is complex with many feedback interactions which can lead to some unexpected outcomes. One example are the interactive effects of ozone depletion, resulting increase in UV-B (280-315 nm) radiation and climate change. Furthermore, increasing greenhouse gas concentrations could delay ozone recovery. Even apart from ozone depletion, exposure to UV radiation is increasing in some areas as a result of changes in cloud cover, decreased pollution levels, deforestation, and subsequent landuse change. These changes are having effects on a wide range of systems including climate patterns, human health, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and biogeochemical cycling (the movement of chemical elements between living systems and the atmosphere, water bodies and soils). Of concern is that an increasing UV-B radiation can change carbon and nutrient cycling in plant and aquatic ecosystems, and enhance the biological availability and toxicity of metals for living organisms including humans.

While exposure to UV radiation is well correlated with skin cancer incidence and eye damage, this needs to be balanced for the beneficial effects of UV radiation such as the resultant production of Vitamin D. Exposure to UV has been implicated in reducing risk of some internal cancers, autoimmune disease and bone fractures. There also appears to be a link  between protection against the internal cancers and Vitamin D production. Interactions between several climate change factors and exposure to UV-B radiation can occur with increased temperature and humidity, which have negative effects on skin cancer and infectious diseases.

The key climate change factors such as increasing greenhouse gas emissions, rising temperatures in mid-latitudes, frequent droughts and flooding result in a wide range of consequences for plants and animals, among them shifts in seasons, spreading of vector-borne diseases into new areas, altered herbivory and pathogen attack, changes in species composition and abundance. An intriguing suite of indirect effects from UV exposure on ecosystem processes below soil surfaces also adds to the complexity of response and adaptation. Thus the intricacies of climate change impacts and feedback processes coupled with the interactive effects of UV-B radiation are likely to modify adaptation response in many unforeseen ways which may have both positive and negative outcomes. 

Personal profile:
Professor Janet Bornman is director of the International Global Change Centre (IGCC) within the University of Waikato.  Professor Bornman has served as Secretary, chapter author and as of 2004, co-chair of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP), one of three panels of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. As Co-chair Prof. Bornman represents the Panel at the Meetings of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. In 2007, Prof Bornman received the the European Society for Photobiology (ESP) medal: “For outstanding internationally acknowledged contribution in the field of Photobiology” and in 2009, Janet received the Ozone Layer Protection Award for “Scientific expertise and leadership in protecting the ozone layer”, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Professor Bornman is a member of the Royal Society of New Zealand Climate Committee. For a more extensive bio, see http://www.waikato.ac.nz/igci/people/bornman.htm

See also http://www.waikato.ac.nz/news/archive.shtml?article=955 


Tuesday 11 May
7.30 p.m.
Room AG.30,
Gate 8
Waikato University

Room AG.30 is within the School of Maori & Pacific Development. A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf.

There is no charge for this event.

Download Audio

 

 

Title: The Role of Science in International Environmental Law and Policy

Speaker: Alexander Gillespie

Abstract:
Environmental problems of an international magnitude can only be dealt with collectively. The key to success in all of these processes is science. Whilst a robust scientific consensus is not a guarantee of success in international law, the failure of a robust scientific consensus is a guarantee of failure. To illustrate the options in this area, Professor Gillespie will show the different ways science have been approached within the three different regimes of whaling, air pollution and climate change to show what works, what does not, and what needs to be done.

Personal profile: Al Gillespie is professor on the staff at the Waikato University Law School. For a more extensive bio see http://www.waikato.ac.nz/law/faculty/staff/academic/alexander_gillespie
 

Wednesday 17 March
7.30 p.m.
Room AG.30,
Gate 8
Waikato University

Room AG.30 is within the School of Maori & Pacific Development. A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf.

There is no charge for this event.

 Download Audio