Author Archives: Moon Chen

Hawke’s Bay Branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand: 150th Anniversary Celebration

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Join us in celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Hawke’s Bay Branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand. We are excited to commemorate this milestone with a series of special events:

Friday, September 13, 2024:

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Casual “Meet and Mingle”

  • Venue: East Pier, 50 Nelson Quay, Ahuriri, Napier
  • Cash bar and food available for order

Saturday, September 14, 2024:

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: House of Science Expo

  • Venue: Small Exhibition Hall, Napier War Memorial Conference Centre, Marine Parade
  • An opportunity for primary and intermediate students, their teachers, and whanau to explore House of Science resource kits and participate in hands-on science activities.

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Short Science Talks and Panel Discussion

  • Venue: MTG Hawke’s Bay (to be confirmed)
  • Featuring local scientists discussing their work, a presentation on the history of the Society, and an exhibition of some of the Society’s artefacts held at MTG.

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM: 150th Anniversary Celebratory Dinner

  • Venue: Magdalinos Room, Havelock North Function Centre, 30 Te Mata Road, Havelock North
  • Guest Speaker: Julia Rotham, Director of Mahia Launch Site, Rocket Lab
  • Booking for this event will open soon. Stay tuned for details on how to reserve your place at this special evening.


More details will be updated in August.

Earth, a Cosmic Spectacle: A Unique Intersection of Art and Science

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Speaker: Louise Beer

Date: Thursday, 22 August 2024, 6pm

Venue: Napier Sailing Club, 63 West Quay, Ahuriri, Napier

Admission: Gold coin donation

Image source: Louise Beer
https://www.louisebeer.com/work#/gathering-light/

Join us for a fascinating lecture by Louise Beer as she delves into her artistic practice and discusses the philosophical and biological impacts of light pollution. Drawing from her British Council Connections Through Culture project, “Earth, a Cosmic Spectacle,” Louise will share insights from her collaboration with Dr. Ian Griffin from Tūhura Otago Museum. This event promises to blend art and science in an extraordinary way.

Supported by Royal Society Te Apārangi, the Hawke’s Bay Branch, and the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific, this lecture will highlight how Louise’s experience under varying night skies informs her work, examining our symbolic visual connection to the cosmos amidst increasing light pollution.

Image source: Louise Beer

Louise Beer is an artist and curator from Aotearoa New Zealand, currently working between London, Margate, and Aotearoa. Her multidisciplinary approach, which includes installation, moving image, photography, writing, participatory works, and sound, explores humanity’s evolving understanding of Earth’s environments and the cosmos. Sponsored by the British Council, this event will highlight how her experience under varying night skies informs her work, examining our symbolic visual connection to the cosmos amidst increasing light pollution.

Science, Shtick, and Segues: Reflections on 40+ Years as an Entomologist in NZ

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Speaker: Dr Dave Rogers, Scientist at Plant and Food Research

Date: Thursday, 25 July 2024, 6pm

Venue: Pacific Surf Club (26 Marine Parade, Bluff Hill, Napier ) 

Admission: Gold coin donation

Join us for an engaging lecture with Dr. Dave Rogers, a seasoned entomologist, as he shares captivating stories from his transformative journey in New Zealand’s apple industry. Dr. Rogers will take us from the silent, sterile apple orchards of the 1980s, dominated by broad-spectrum nerve poisons, to today’s vibrant ecosystems teeming with life. His pioneering work has been pivotal in making apple production more sustainable and eco-friendly, leading to higher quality apples while fostering healthier orchard environments. This talk will showcase how research and innovation have revolutionized fruit production, making it more sustainable and impactful.

Our speaker, Dr. Dave Rogers, is a senior scientist at Plant and Food Research, specializing in apple pest management within the Temperate Fruit Crops Entomology team in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. With a rich history of international work on fruit flies and other developmental projects, Dr. Rogers brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Notably, he served as the technical manager for a five-year MFAT-funded project in Vietnam, aimed at developing safe vegetable production systems for local farmers. This comprehensive project included agronomy, plant protection, postharvest and food safety, as well as marketing and branding. Dr. Rogers’ extensive expertise in pest management and the broader horticultural sector promises to offer invaluable insights. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a leading expert in the field and gain a deeper understanding of the advancements in sustainable horticulture.

Annual General Meeting of 2024

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Hawke’s Bay Branch of the Royal Society’s 2024 AGM will be held at 5.30pm on Tuesday, 25 June, at Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Dalton Street, Napier

This year is particularly special as we celebrate our 150th anniversary, and we are eager to share this milestone with you.Your participation is invaluable, and we look forward to hearing your insights and contributions during the meeting.

All members are welcome, and encouraged, to attend. An invitation and Agenda will be sent to all members prior to the meeting.

Storm Stories: The Impact of Ex-Tropical Cyclones on New Zealand

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Speaker: Dr Kathleen Kozyniak, Team Leader Air & Land Science of HBRC

Date: Tuesday, 25 June 2024, 6pm

Venue: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (159 Dalton Street, Napier)

Admission: Gold coin donation

Join us for an enlightening public talk, presented by Kathleen, an experienced meteorologist. This session explores the transformation of tropical cyclones into mid-latitude storms as they migrate into New Zealand’s waters, bringing with them extreme weather that has left a mark on the country. Kathleen will delve into the science of these storms’ evolution and the severe weather phenomena they spawn, highlighting their historical impacts on New Zealand.

Kathleen, a Napier native, returned to her hometown in 2010 after earning a PhD from Bristol University and serving as a meteorologist and forecaster at NZ Metservice. Currently, she is the Team Leader Air and Land Science at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, overseeing initiatives in air quality, climate, climate change, land science, and terrestrial biodiversity. This talk promises to offer valuable insights from Kathleen’s extensive research and professional experiences in meteorology.

Dancing with Viruses: Unravelling the Mysteries of Persistent Viral Infections and Their Aftermath

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Speaker: Dr Richard Meech

Date: Thursday, 23 May 2024, 6pm

Venue: Napier Sailing Club, 63 West Quay, Ahuriri, Napier

Admission: Gold coin donation

Join us for an enlightening lecture that explores the ongoing battle against viral infections and their long-lasting effects on human health. In “Dancing with Viruses,” Dr. Richard Meech will discuss the persistent challenges of diseases like long-COVID and HIV/AIDS, their global impact, and how medical science responds to these invisible enemies. This session will offer valuable insights into the mechanisms of viral persistence, the evolution of diseases like influenza, and the advances that have transformed deadly viruses into manageable conditions.

Our speaker, Dr. Richard Meech, is a distinguished figure in the field of infectious diseases with a career spanning several decades. Graduating from Otago University in 1969, he specialized in infectious diseases at St. George’s Hospital in London and later served as a Senior Lecturer in Medicine and a Consultant Physician. Dr. Meech has been a pivotal member of various health advisory committees, contributing significantly to HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis research and policy. Awarded the MNZN for his services to Public Health, Dr. Meech’s expertise and experiences provide profound insights into the challenges and successes in combating viral diseases.

Battling Plant Plagues: How epidemic models can help control outbreaks

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Speaker: Rebecca Campbell, Plant Pathology Scientist, Plant & Food Research

Date: Thursday, 9 May 2024, 6pm

Venue: Pacific Surf Club (26 Marine Parade, Bluff Hill, Napier )

Admission: Gold coin donation

Ever wonder how we fight the invisible enemies that threaten our crops and gardens? Enter into the Rebecca’s world of combating plant diseases with her case studies on two notorious culprits: the apple tree’s foe, European canker, and the native plant killer, myrtle rust. She will focus on the development and use of epidemic models to predict outbreaks and their spread to inform decisions on the nature, extent and timing of interventions.

Learn about the challenges of managing diseases in our changing environment and the innovative strategies used to outsmart them. Whether you’re a gardening enthusiast, a nature lover, or just curious about the science behind plant disease, there will be something in this talk for you.

Dr. Rebecca Campbell is a distinguished Plant Pathology Scientist at Plant and Food Research, Motueka, known for her pioneering work in protecting our ecosystems against plant diseases. Awarded the MBIE Science Whitinga Fellowship for her groundbreaking research in epidemiological models, she focuses on the challenges posed by diseases such as European canker, myrtle rust, and Xylella fastidiosa in New Zealand. With a rich background in ecology, entomology, and geospatial analytics, and a PhD from the University of Canterbury investigating stream ecosystem dynamics, Dr. Campbell’s career is dedicated to the intersection of science and nature, aiming to safeguard plant health and biodiversity.

Building a wind farm through Covid-19 and cyclones

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Speaker: James Mear, Project Manager for Meridian Energy’s Harapaki wind farm

Date: Tuesday, 9 April 2024, 6pm

Venue: Pacific Surf Club (26 Marine Parade, Bluff Hill, Napier )

Admission: Gold coin donation

Join us for an insightful session with James Mear, Project Manager for Meridian Energy’s Harapaki wind farm. Dive into the journey of constructing the second largest wind farm in Aotearoa, set to bolster Hawke’s Bay with unprecedented resiliency and security of supply. This 41-turbine project on the Maungaharuru Range showcases our commitment to renewable energy and a decarbonized economy. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the challenges and triumphs of building a greener future.

James Mear brings over two decades of expertise in managing significant capital projects globally, including the notable Watchman Road project. As a chartered civil engineer, his experience with Meridian Energy highlights a dedication to sustainable development. With Meridian’s portfolio of wind farms, hydro power stations, and solar arrays, James’s work exemplifies our journey towards a sustainable planet. Join him to explore the intricacies of developing renewable energy infrastructure that stands the test of time and nature.

Individual and Systemic Climate Action: Aotearoa New Zealand from an international perspective

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Speaker: Kai Greenlees, Watson Fellow

Date: Thursday, 14 March 2024, 6pm

Venue: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (159 Dalton Street, Napier)

Admission: Gold coin donation

Have you ever wondered if or how individual climate action makes any difference? What’s the relationship between your household composting and the international Paris Climate Agreement? In this conversation, we will explore how international climate commitments, national climate legislation, regional climate plans, and household action are all essential for enabling rapid and equitable climate mitigation.

Kai will present a framework to visualise how our daily individual actions and grassroots efforts enable systemic change at a large scale, and how system change, in turn, can reinforce localised efforts. While Kai comes with an international perspective, climate action will be framed within the current New Zealand and Hawke’s Bay Region context. This solutions-oriented conversation will aim to challenge the dominant framing of individual action, discuss what systems change means in practice, and explore what a sustainable transformation could look like locally.

Kai Greenlees is an interdisciplinary social scientist with a background in geography and social psychology based in the UK. Originally from the U.S., Kai graduated from Vassar College in 2020 and has been studying and working at the nexus of psychology, sustainability, and systems science. This year, Kai is supported by the Watson Fellowship to carry out a year-long independent passion project titled, ‘Individual and Systems Change: Exploring interconnected pathways to rapid climate mitigation’. Through the fellowship, Kai has been travelling to connect with grassroots organisations, businesses, and civil servants from different sectors and communities to explore how diverse actions across multiple scales contribute to the ecosystem of change needed to address the climate crisis. Prior to the Watson Fellowship, Kai received their Master of Research in Sustainable Futures from the University of Exeter and was a Policy Analyst for the Carbon Trust in London. Kai is also a member of the UK Youth Climate Coalition, supporting the Systems Change working group.