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Visiting scientists
Dr Alexander Scott
In September, fisheries scientists at NIWA in Hamilton hosted Dr Alexander (Sandy) Scott from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) in Weymouth, UK. Sandy is a world renowned fish endocrinologist who has pioneered techniques now widely used in the detection and identification of steroid pheromones in fish.
The work with Sandy has allowed us to identify two physiologically active sex pheromones produced by the female redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis), an exotic fish species in New Zealand waters. Long-term, we plan to use these compounds to attract and trap the species for population control.
For further information, contact: Dr Michael Stewart, 0-7-859 1830, [email protected] Dr Cindy Baker, 0-7-856 1774, [email protected]
Dr Charles Oliver Coleman
Dr Charles Oliver Coleman from the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, spent three very busy weeks in November at NIWA in Wellington. A leading international taxonomist, Oliver worked with NIWA scientists to sort and identify hundreds of amphipod specimens collected during Ocean Survey 20/20 expeditions to the Challenger Plateau and the Chatham Rise, as well as from the International Polar Year expedition to the Ross Sea. They encountered 20 different families and at least three species new to science.
Oliver also shared his great technical knowledge, providing seminars and workshops to NIWA staff, training them in a digital illustration method. This technique dramatically speeds up taxonomic descriptions and leads to species illustrations not possible with conventional methods. He also kindly provided NIWA with copies of his Amphipoda and Crustacea literature database.
For further information, contact: Dr Anne-Nina Lörz, 0-4-386 0900, [email protected]
Professor Dr Gunther Seckmeyer
Professor Dr Gunther Seckmeyer is working with NIWA scientists at Lauder until the end of March, using spaced all-sky cameras to observe cloud patterns. He is investigating the extent to which differences in cloud characteristics contribute to differences in radiation between Europe and New Zealand.
Gunther is visiting NIWA during his sabbatical from the Institute of Meteorology and Climate at the University of Hannover, Germany.
For further information, contact: Dr Richard McKenzie, 0-3-440 0429, [email protected]
Cross of the Order of Merit for Matthews
In November, former NIWA manager Dr Andrew Matthews was presented the ‘Cross of the Order of Merit with ribbon’ of the Federal Republic of Germany by the German Ambassador to New Zealand, the Hon. Jörg Zimmermann. The occasion was a special ceremony at the Ambassadorial Residence in Wellington and the 40 invited guests included several former colleagues from NIWA.
The citation by the German President, the Hon. Horst Köhler, states that the award was made “in recognition of his outstanding service to the Federal Republic of Germany”. This relates in particular to the six years from 1995 to 2000 when Andrew was Coordinator of the New Zealand / Germany Science and Technology Agreement (in addition to his work for NIWA at Lauder and Wellington). In this role, he helped facilitate scientific and technological contact between Germany and New Zealand across all fields of science and medicine and liaised with science funding agencies to develop support for new initiatives.
Since leaving NIWA at the end of 2006, Andrew has been appointed to New Zealand’s National Commission for UNESCO as the Natural Science Commissioner. He also continues his international work as the Co-Chair of the Scientific Planning Group of the Asia–Pacific Network for Global Change Research.