PDF of this article (104 KB)
Kudos for NIWA scientists
Anti-inflammatory compound
The notable Journal of Natural Products has selected an article by the scientists of TerraMarine for the Arthur E. Schwarting award for best paper for 2007.
TerraMarine is a joint venture partnership between NIWA, the Malaghan Institute, and Crop & Food Research, with the University of Auckland providing significant expertise in marine natural products chemistry. A multidisciplinary team of marine and cell biologists and chemists was assembled with the aim of discovering and developing new anti-inflammatory drugs from New Zealand’s biota.
The award-winning paper describes the isolation, description, synthesis, and evaluation of a novel compound with anti-inflammatory properties from a New Zealand ascidian (or sea squirt). TerraMarine was supported by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology from 2002 to 2007. Duringthat period, the team isolated a number of novel compounds, including some with anti-inflammatory activity against gout. They are looking into licensing options for the lead compounds. The NIWA scientists on the project were Dr Els Maas and Dr Vicky Webb.
Pearce, A.N.; Chia, E.W.; Berridge, M.V.; Clark, G.R.; Harper, J.L.; Larsen, L.; Maas, E.W.; Page, M.J.; Perry, N.B.; Webb, V.L.; Copp, B.R. (2007). Anti-inflammatory thiazine alkaloids isolated from the New Zealand ascidian Aplidium sp.: inhibitors of the neutrophil respiratory burst in a model of gouty arthritis. Journal of Natural Products 70: 936–940.
Water resources
Ned Norton was awarded the Ted Hromadka Prize for Water Resources at the Second International Conference on Sustainable Irrigation 2008, held in June in Alicante, Spain. Ned was lead author on the paper entitled ‘Predicting environmental sustainability for proposed irrigation schemes’. His co-authorswere S. Dawson (Boffa Miskell), B. Ellwood (Meridian Energy), and L. Mead (Meridian Energy).
The proceedings of the conference are published by Wessex Institute of Technology as WIT Transactions on Ecology and Environment, vol. 112. The proceedings are also available online under ‘Ecology and the Environment’ at: library.witpress.com
Sediment dynamics
Dr Malcolm Green has been recognised by science publisher Elsevier for an article in Continental Shelf Research in 2004; itranked as one of the 20 most-cited articles published during the 5-year period 2003–2007. His co-authors are colleagues from the University of East Anglia, UK, and the University of Delaware, USA. Malcolm was recognised for a similar achievement for a paper published in Marine Geology in 2001.
Green, M.O.; Vincent, C.E.; Trembanis, A.C. (2004). Suspension of coarse and fine sand on a wave-dominated shoreface, with implications for the development of rippled scour depressions. Continental Shelf Research 24(3): 317–335.
Marine Sciences Award
Dr Malcolm Francis has been awarded the prestigious New Zealand Marine Sciences Society Award in recognition of his “continued outstanding contribution to marine science in New Zealand”.
A fisheries scientist and fish biologist at NIWA, Malcolm is also New Zealand’s foremost shark researcher. He has been an active and highly productive scientist, diver, and underwater photographer for more than 30 years.
“I’m very lucky to get paid to do what I enjoy,” says Malcolm. “Having the opportunity to discover things no-one else knew before keeps me highly motivated.”
His remarkable career has included providing scientificadvice for fisheries management in New Zealand, promoting international shark conservation as a representative to the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, and studies on sharks and estuarine fishes nationwide. Malcolm counts his roles in establishing the Kermadec Islands Marine Reserve and tracking great white sharks to the tropics as two of his greatest achievements.
Malcolm shares his knowledge widely through numerous public talks, media interviews, award-winning underwater photography, articles, and books (including The Living Reef, and Coastal Fishes of New Zealand).
“I regard [the award] as a big honour,” he says. “I also think it’s recognition of the importance of fisheries research.”
The award will be officially presented at the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Science Honours Dinner on 11 November.
For further information, contact: Dr Alison MacDiarmid, 0-4-386 0370, [email protected]