Speakers: Professor Parry Guilford and Associate Professor Karyn Paringatai, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago

Date: Tuesday, October 22, 6:00 pm

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

Admission: Gold coin donation

This event, hosted by the Royal Society Te Apārangi in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes Secretariat and the Hawke’s Bay Branch, will present a unique opportunity to delve into a groundbreaking achievement in stomach cancer genetics.

In May of this year, Professor Parry Guilford and Associate Professor Karyn Paringatai received the Prime Minister’s Science Prize in recognition of their innovative partnership with the McLeod whānau, community members, cancer geneticists from the University of Otago, and clinicians from Tauranga Hospital. Their work led to the identification of a life-threatening genetic mutation in the CDH1 gene, responsible for premature deaths from stomach cancer within the McLeod whānau. Through their research, they developed a genetic test that allows whānau members to assess their cancer risk and take preventive measures. This breakthrough has also been crucial for other families in New Zealand and around the world, helping them to detect similar CDH1 gene mutations and take life-saving actions. As a result, hundreds of lives in Aotearoa New Zealand and thousands worldwide have been saved. This inspiring story of scientific collaboration and community impact continues to make a significant difference.

The event will not be a traditional lecture but rather an engaging interview and discussion. Professor Parry Guilford and Associate Professor Karyn Paringatai will talk about their research and its far-reaching implications. This interactive format will provide an in-depth look at their work and the profound effects it has had on families and communities. The event is open to everyone, and booking is recommended to secure your spot at this insightful discussion.

Speaker: Dave Barrell

Date: Tuesday, 24 September 2024, 6pm

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

Admission: Gold coin donation

The 2024 Hochstetter Lecturer is David Barrell of GNS Science. This talk will delve into the dynamic relationship between Aotearoa New Zealand’s land and sea, exploring the ongoing battle between tectonic forces that raise the land and the ocean waves that relentlessly erode it. With a focus on Zealandia’s geological, tectonic, and landscape evolution, David will provide a ‘whole system’ perspective on how these powerful natural forces have shaped our diverse coastline over millennia and will continue to do so in the future, particularly in light of climate change.

David Barrell is a highly respected scientist at GNS Science, with extensive experience in studying the geological and tectonic processes of Aotearoa New Zealand. As the 2024 Hochstetter Lecturer, he brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for understanding the complexities of our landscape. Through his research and years of rigorous observations, David has contributed significantly to the scientific community’s understanding of Zealandia’s evolution. His lecture promises to be both thought-provoking and enlightening, offering valuable insights into the forces that have shaped, and continue to shape, our environment.

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 (free to the public)

• Venue: Small Exhibition Hall, Napier War Memorial Conference Centre, Marine Parade
• For primary and intermediate students, their teachers and whanau. Meet the staff involved in the local Branch; activities from several kits (including rocket science) for the students; meet our guest scientist from Rocket Lab.

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Short Science Talks and Panel Discussion (free to the public)

• Venue: Education Room, MTG Hawke’s Bay (1 Tennyson Street, Napier)
• 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.
• Guest Speakers:
• Rachel Haydon, General Manager, National Aquarium of New Zealand
• Bruce Ngataierua, Director, Hawke’s Bay Holt Planetarium
• James Simmonds, Co-Founder, Webfox
• Moon Chen, Phd Student Researcher, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited
• Dr Elizabeth Pishief, Heritage Consultant

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
• Please reserve your place for the Hawke’s Bay Royal Society’s 150th Anniversary Dinner using this Link.

This event is proudly supported by the Napier City Council and the Royal Society Te Apārangi national office.

Speaker: Louise Beer

Date: Thursday, 22 August 2024, 6pm

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

Admission: Gold coin donation

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.