Outstanding scientists from the Greater Waikato Region and the Bay of Plenty were honored at the 15th Annual Kudos Awards Showcase.

With last year’s awards postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, organizers Kudos Science Trust celebrated the 2021 finalists at the Claudelands Event Center earlier this month.

The event also launched the Hall of Fame, spotlighting past Kudos scientists who have elevated the region and New Zealand to the international stage. The appointee is Dr. Patrick Shannon QSM, awarded posthumously in recognition of his work with his Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), a Newstead-based herd improvement and agricultural technology cooperative. . For over 64 years, he has led the science of improving the genetics of New Zealand dairy cows and making the dairy sector more productive and profitable.

Kudos Science Trust CEO Soteria Ieremia said:

“Looking at some of New Zealand’s top performing sectors, science is what underpins these breakthrough innovations, and the research pioneered by Dr Patrick Shannon QSM proves it.”

This year’s winners included the Scion/AgriSea team, which recently received a $750,000 loan from the government’s Regional Strategic Partnership Fund to support Paeroa’s world’s first commercial seaweed nanocellulose facility. rice field.

Dr. Stephen Hill, High Value Biorefinery Portfolio Leader at Psion, said it was truly special to attend with the team and AgriSea CEO Claire Bradley.

Seaweed nanocellulose has unique properties not found in tree-derived nanocellulose. This technology has been licensed to AgriSea to continue hydrogel development.

Paeroa will be home to the world’s first commercial seaweed nanocellulose facility at AgriSea, creating nine new full-time roles in the $1.5 million project. Scion created a concept design for the biorefinery and is currently working with Callahan Innovation to develop the final design prior to construction.

If operations take off, leftovers from manufacturing seaweed-based agricultural and horticultural products will be used to diversify and produce commercial quantities of nanocellulose hydrogels. This ensures that maximum value is extracted from this sustainable resource.

New Zealand and offshore have robust markets for hydrogel products, including high performance biocomposites, cosmetics, wound care and tissue engineering.

Fellow awardee Dr Shen Him Lim’s world-leading robotic asparagus harvesting technology is also attracting significant investment, while Dr Megan Grainger’s research supports New Zealand’s multi-million dollar manuka honey industry. .

Educator Chris Duggan was recognized for his bilingual science kit for elementary schools, and Dr. Charles Lee received an environmental award for his expertise in Antarctic terrestrial ecology and climate change.

Professor Kula Paul Burke is credited with fusing Western science with the Matauranga Maori to help coastal communities manage their marine taonga, and Associate Professor Bridget Masters Awater shares knowledge of the Matauranga Maori. received an award for communicating medical best practices using

Professor Alan Hogg was honored with this year’s Kudos Lifetime Achievement Award. Director of the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory at the University of Waikato since 1985, Professor Hogg is an international authority on radiocarbon dendrochronology, whose work has helped determine when and how the Maori arrived in New Zealand. established.

Past influential and award-winning scientists include Dr. Martin Stiles, Prof. Johan Verbeek, and ESP Medical.

Ieremia says the laureates’ capabilities are world-class and the work they are doing is critical to the continued growth of science and innovation in Waikato, the Bay of Plenty and beyond. .

“These amazing thinkers combine cutting-edge science and innovative thinking to tackle real-world problems. We look forward to receiving further investment and support to transform and extend the value and impact of their work.”

Recognition Award Winners:

● First inductee: Dr. Patrick Shannon QSM, awarded posthumously.
● Kudos Lifetime Achievement Award: Professor Alan Hogg of UoW.
● WINTEC Secondary Science Teacher/Educator Award: Chris Duggan.
● Hamilton City Council Emerging Scientist Award: Dr. Megan Grainger.
● Datamars Engineering Science Award: Dr. Shen Hing Lim.
● Waikato Regional Council Environmental Award: Dr. Charles Lee
● Te Whatu Ora Waikato Award for Medical Sciences: Associate Professor Bridgette Masters-Awatere
● Hill Laboratories Primary Industry Award: Seaweed Team Scion/AgriSea Nanocellulose
● Waikato University Vision Matauranga Science Prize: Prof. Kula Paul Burke