AUT researchers recognised at VC awards
Professor Elaine Rush was the big winner at the 2011 Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Awards at the City Campus on Wednesday 7 December.
The Professor of Nutrition from the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition was presented with the Individual Research Excellence award for her work with Project Energize.
Project Energize
Project Energize, which currently involves 44,000 students in 244 primary schools throughout the Waikato, has demonstrably improved the health and well being of thousands of primary age
Professor Rush received the accolade at an event to celebrate outstanding research at AUT and to announce the Vice-Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarships for 2012.
AUT Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack told the audience that due to the high standard of nominees, the selection panel’s decision was not easy.
“We can all be very proud of the university’s development in terms of research and look forward to its progress continuing at an advancing rate.It’s a very exciting time for research at AUT”
Three emerging researchers
Individual Emerging Researcher awards went to Dr Jiamou Liu for his work in computer science and maths; Nicola Kayes who specialises in client-centred approaches to rehabilitation, specifically engagement in physical activity for people with multiple schlerosis; and BeomCheol (Peter) Kim who supervises Masters and PhD students as part of his mission to raise the research profile of the hospitality department.
Dr Liu drew a parrellel between his award and AUT. “In the way that I am an emerging talent in research, AUT is also an emerging talent in research.”
Professor John Bitchener from Applied Humanities was awarded the Excellence in Postgraduate Supervision Award.
Outstanding team research award winners
The two winners of the Established Research Team for 2011 were the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition (CPAN) co-ordinated by Professor Grant Schofield and the Institute of Biomedical Technologies (IBTec) led by Professor Ahmed Al-Jumaily.
The Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition was conceived in 2004 with the objective of enhancing the health and wellbeing of our communities through high quality and innovative research.
Professor Grant Schofield thanked Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Research Professor Richard Bedford for their role in the Vice Chancellor Research awards. “The awards are a very important part of the research journey."
Based in the Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies, IBTec specialises in both fundamental and applied research that has a focus on biomedical applications. The long-term goal of the research is development of technologies that are non-invasive, non-pharmacological and non-traditional.
The Emerging Research Team award went to the Gender and Diversity Research Group based in the Faculty of Business and Law.
Royal Society of New Zealand recognises AUT researcher
The event also saw the presentation of Professor Stephen Henry with the prestigious RJ Scott medal by Michael Corballis from the Royal Society of New Zealand. He received the award for engineering science and technology in recognition for his novel biotechnology KODE technology.
Twelve students received Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarshipsfor for 2012. That number was increased said Professor Bedford due to the high standard of applicants.
The following students received scholarships for 2012.
Health and Environmental Sciences
Gardette Valmonte
Ka Lai Clara Wong
Joseph Ding
Felicity Anna Bright
Te Ara Poutama
Elisa Duder
Alexandra Hata
Norman Albert Anaru
Business & Law
Wee Hock Quik
(SMEs)
Design and Creative Technologies
Ar Kar Kyaw
Arash Jenab
Applied Humanities
Christian Wittlich
Ximena Flores Palacios
The Vice Chancellor’s Awards 2011
a) Individual Awards
1. Research Excellence: Professor Elaine Rush (Health and Environmental Sciences)
2. Emerging Researcher (3 awards)
i. Nicola Kayes (Health and Environmental Sciences)
ii. Dr. Jiamou Liu (Design and Creative Technologies) and
iii. Dr. Peter Kim (Applied Humanities)
3. Excellence in Postgraduate Supervision: Professor John Bitchener (Applied Humanities)
b) Team awards: ($10,000 each)
1. Established Research Team (2 awards)
i. Institute of Biomedical Technologies (IBTec) (Design and Creative Technologies)
ii. Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition (CPAN) (Health and Environmental Sciences)
2. Emerging Research Team: The Gender and Diversity Group (Business and Law)