| Communications and Development |  |
Published by Communications and Development
Associate Professor Emily Parker (Chemistry) has been recognised as one of New Zealand's emerging science leaders and appointed to a government advisory group.
Professor Parker is now a member of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology's (MoRST) Oxygen Group, which comprises 10 of the country's top young scientists from a range of disciplines. The group includes HIT Lab NZ Director Professor Mark Billinghurst, who was appointed to the group in 2005.
Professor Parker, a biological chemist, welcomed her new role.
“It suggests that I have a voice they want to hear and that they are interested in my opinion,” she said.
“But what's really wonderful is that I will gain a little bit more insight into the way the ministry operates and the way it sets scientific funding and policy, which is what we scientists are intimately concerned with.
“It's also an opportunity to interact with ministry advisors as well as scientists from other disciplines and discuss issues of a general relevance to New Zealand 's science community.”
Set up in 2005, the role of the Oxygen Group is to provide the ministry with a fresh perspective on science-related issues. Among its tasks is to advise the ministry on emerging scientific trends and the implications for science in New Zealand ; look at ways of encouraging young scientists to become more involved in charting the future of New Zealand science; and explore ways of improving links between different science disciplines.
Group members come from a range of disciplines — social science, bioscience, information technology, chemical and physical sciences, geosciences and Maori knowledge — and are mentored by two senior scientists. The current mentors are Neville Jordan, President of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and Professor Peter Hunter from Auckland University.
Members are appointed for up to three years and meet regularly throughout the year. Professor Parker attended her first group meeting in February and will attend another in April.
For further information please contact:
Communications Officer
University of Canterbury
Ph (03) 364 2987 ext 3809
stacey.doornenbal@canterbury.ac.nz