Sciences Lectures

Professor Professor Mark Stirling's inauguaral lecture: 14 March 2017

The talk describes David's personal journey as a pilot and psychologist to understand the role of decision making in aviation safety.

Prof Abby Smith has been fascinated by shells and how they are formed since she was a child. She takes us on a journey with her, and we learn that shells have a lot to tell us!

Professor Lisette Burrows of the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences gave her Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 19th of April, 2016. She talks about her research into teh demonising or larger body shapes and how effective - or not - the current educational campaigns are in providing balanced information about healthy eating and exercise, and whether in fact there is an obesity epidemic. It was very thought provoking and engaging - have a listen!

Professor Cliff Law delivered his Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 16th of February. Professor Law holds a joint appointment between Otago and NIWA, exploring the chemical interactions at the interface between the sea and the sky.

Professor David Hutchinson delivered his IPL on the 15th of December, exploring theories of light as wave and particle, explaining that the description of something is not necessarily its reality, and talking about how his theoretical work builds into the exciting research taking place the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonics and Quantum Technologies.

Professor David Larsen delivered his IPL on the 17th of November in 2015. He described his work in synthesising organic molecules . This work is in collaboration with biologists primarily, developing therapeutic molecules - PIMs - aimed at reducing asthma, and also looking at molecules designed to slowly release carbon monoxide to support organ transport. This very practical work has required entirely new methodologies and many years' dedication.

Professor David Bowman discusses the complex interactions between fire and food webs, and the part humans have played in manipulating that system; how fire impacts on biodiversity, and how some animal species impact on the severity of landscape fires.

The Geoff Baylis lectures are a joint initiative between the Otago Botanical Society and the Department of Botany, University of Otago. Steve higgins talks about how impressive plants really are - the biggest, tallest, oldest and most dangerous living oprganisms on teh planet. He discusses how grasses evolved and changed the face of the planet, and how leaf phenology can help us map changes in atmosphere and climate. This lecture was given on the 9th of September 2015

Sir Geoffrey Palmer reflects on regulatory efforts to deal with Climate Change, both in New Zealand and internationally. He describes climate change as a slow motion tragedy, and discusses mitigation of the effects of anthropogenic climate change. This lecture was given at University of Otago on Monday 5th of October 2015.

Professor Nancy Longnecker delivered her Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 15th of September 2015. Nancy's journey from Biologist to communicator to researcher in Sciecne communication has been a fascinating one, and her current work in evaluation of science communication experiences is vital in validating, fine-tuning and and sometimes revolutionising the field.

Janice Lord won this year's Leonard Cockayne prize from the New Zealand Royal Society. This is her commemorative lecture, outlining cutting edge work on the pollination of sub-antarctic plants. There's a number of large, brightly coloured flowering plants in the sub-antactic, which is a sharp contrast with NZ alpine plants with thei predominantly white flowers. Janice explores the reasons for both of these phenomena. The talk was given on the 3rd of September 2015.

Professor Christina Hulbe gave her Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 1st of September 2015. She talked about her work on mapping deformations in West Antarctica, and how GPS technology has changed her work. Satellite imagery of meltwater ponds has led to a clearer understanding of the creation of deep crevasses and shattering of icesheets.

The Physics Department celebrated the International Year of Light with its luminescence festival. Here is one of the talks, from Jorg Frauendiener. Jorg explains how black holes happen, what they do to light and why.

The Physics Department celebrated the International Year of Light with its luminescence festival. Here is one of the talks, from Niels Kjaergaard who works in the Centre for Quantum Science. Niels talks about manipulating groups of atoms, dividing them, the patterns they make etc.

The Physics Department celebrated the International Year of Light with its luminescence festival. Here is one of the talks, from Eyal Schwartz. Eyal talks about discovering other planets and just how hard that can be; the techniques and tools scientists use to track down exo-planets.

Professor David Bryant delivered his Inaugural Professorial lecture on July 21st 2015. He gave an overview of his work, modelling genetic information to assist with tracing points of origin for plants or animal species.

Professor Liz Slooten delivered her Inaugural Professorial Lecture to a packed theatre on Tuesday 24th of August. The lecture gave an overview of Professor Slooten's work documenting populations of Hector's and Maui dolphones aorund New Zealand's coast as well as tracking and documenting bahaviour of sperm whales and right whalee. Professor Slooten's work highlights the dangers of gill-net fishing and the impact it has on endangered species of marine mammals.

1997 Nobel Laureate Professor Stephen Chu talks about his role as Secretary for energy in the Obama administration, whether peak oil is the real problem, and what will make a difference in the uptake of sustainable energy technologies. This lecture was delivered on December 17th 2014

Professor Phil Seddon discusses the pros and cons of re-introducing species that have become extinct; the possibilities of reviving populations by translocation; the need to re-aquaint ourselves with the wildlife on our doorstep, in an increasingly urbanised world.

Professor Phil Bishop talks about his lifelong fascination with amphibians in general and frogs in particular. He discusses the importance of frogs as an indicator species for the wellbeing of our environment, and delivers lessons in acoustic identification - as each species of frog has a unique sound. The inaugural professorial lecture was delivered on May the 5th 2015.

Professor Steve Wing's research explores the interconnectedness of ocean ecosystems - the physical and chemical processes and how they impact on the food webs, how spatial factors impact on population resilience and so on. This work has been applied with considerable success in the Fiordland area where marine reserves have led to stronger populations across the ecosystem.

Professor Rod Jackson talks about the current debate over saturated fats,and the evidence some writers choose to ignore.He highlights the direct relationship between the drop in saturated fats in our diet and the drop of cardiovascular heart disease.This talk was delivered on the 19th of March.

Professor Lyall Hanton is both HOD Chemistry and the Mellor Professor at University of Otago. In this talk he outlines the amazing life of Joseph Mellor - a man who overcame his circumstances to become one of Otago's brightest stars.

The 2014 Baylis lecture was delivers by Dr peter Johnson from Landcare's Dunedin Office. Peter talked about the work of Geoff Baylis who was head of the Botany Department for many years. His lecture looked at the functionality and curiosity of long leaved plants, and those with fat roots also - a wealth of fascinating details, all delivered as part of the Botany Department's 90th anniversary celebrations on the 10th of September

Drs Andy Reisinger and Judy Lawrence discuss the latest IPCC report, with a particular focus on the chapters based on Australia and New Zealand. The talk was sponsored by OERC, CSAFE and the Otago Climate Change Network

Professor Xungai Wang presents a special lecture, made possible by the Confucius Institute. He talks about the special properties of wild silk as well as the claims made about bamboo fibres, and why those claims aren't always as straightforward as they seem.

Professor Blair Blakie's Inaugural Professorial Lecture was delivered on the 6th of May 2014. Blair talked about ultra-cold atoms, superfluids and superconductors, how useful quantum physics can be to explain other complex and unpredictable systems in nature, and techniques for cooling atoms down to a billionth of a kelvin above absolute zero. Seriously cool...

Professor Steve Higgins delivered his Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 3rd of June 2014. Steve talked about the challenges of forecasting ecological developments, due to the many and varied factors that come into play. Humboldt's descriptive empirical work is contrasted with MacArthur's theoretical work, and the usefulness of modeling, in spite of its contingencies and complexities, is outlined.

Professor Craig Rodger delivers his IPL in energetic style - outlining the nature of radiation belts and his research into solar wind, the ionisation of the ozone. The lecture was delivered on the 18th of March

Professor Halberstadt discusses the way that morphing faces makes them more attractive. he discusses te idea of fluency, or the ease of processing for the brain that makes something more appealing to us, simply because it s easier to figure out. Professor Halberstadt gave his Inaugural Professorial Lecture in the 19th of November 2013

Pascal Sirguey form surveying and Nicolas Cullen from Geography talk about their work in measuring the height of Aoraki/Mt Cook after the avalanche that reshaped the mountain.

Don Eigler, winner of the 2010 Kavli prize, talks about hsi work using Scanning Tunnelling Microscopes for surface scanning and atomic manipulation.

Professors Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson delivered a special lecture outlining the impact of financial inequality within a society : its impact on a range of health and well-being indicators as well as its impact on sustainability. The lecture was given on the 26th May 2014

Ross Bicknell from Plant and Food Research delivered the 2013 John Smaillie Tennant Lecture on 9th October. He focussed on the seed-production methods of Hieracium, a plant that plagued Mendel himself.

Damien Bailey delivered this special lecture while he was a visiting researcher at otago's School of Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Science. The talk was delivered on April 29th 2014

Dr Ted Scambos was at Otago in March of 2014, working wtih Prof Christina Hulbe on a research project funded by the NZ Antartic Research institute. He gave this special lecture outlining the special characteristics of various parts of the icesheet, how their topography had been mapped, and which areas were most susceptible to melting due to shifts in ocean temperature.

Dr Guy Jameson and professor Richard Blaikie introduce the presentations by the Ozone group. The Ozone presentations took place September 2013, in St David's theatre

yu-Chieh Tzeng talks about the importance of controlling Blood pressure variability,to minimise brain injury after stroke. The Ozone presentations took place September 2013, in St David's theatre

Dr Simone Celine Marshall discusses medieval imagery in the Modernist writers' aesthetic. The Ozone presentations took place September 2013, in St David's theatre

Bill Hawkins talks about the importance of synthesizing bioactive substances - particularly in developing therapies. The Ozone presentations took place September 2013, in St David's theatre

Professor Janet Hoek talks about the Aspire 2025 campaign, which aims to make New Zealand smoke-free by 2025 Ozone presentations took place September 2013, in St David's theatre

Professor Lisa Matisoo-Smith talks about work on ancient DNA, and the light thrown on migration across East Polynesia.The Ozone presentations took place September 2013, in St David's theatre

Professor Mark Heneghan talks about working on hte Human Genome project and the ethical questions raised. The Ozone presentations took place September 2013, in St David's theatre

Dr Helen Lenskyj was a William Evans Fellow with teh School of physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciecne in 2013. This public lecture addresses the persistent feminisation of women athletes in olympic sport.

Professor Rachel Spronken-Smith's Inaugural Professorial Lecture on 3rd of December 2013. Rachel discusses the value of engaging undergraduate students in research. She explores the graduate attributes that are developed in this way, and other ways of reinforcing this learning, such as reflective and evaluative practice.

Professor Dame Carol Robinson is based at Oxford University. Se has been involved in the field of Mass spectrometry for many years, pioneering work on proteins and complex molecules and trying new things. She talks about her science and her work life balance.

Dr AnnMarie Oien completed her PhD in physics at Otago in 1996. after that things got really interesting.... AnnMarie talks about her journey, working in the US. AnnMarie is currently President of the Alumni of University of Otago in Amercia, Inc

Professor Shaun Hendy gives a tour of the book he wrote with the late Professor Sir Paul Callaghan,looking at the economics of developing a more innovative economy, and the relationship between science and innovation.

Jim Salinger delivered this summary lecture as part of a tour to promote his book, Living in a Warmer World. The lecture covered the broader topics of human-generated climate change and the specific impacts we could expect in our part of the world. The lecture was given at Otago on the 31st of October

Professor Robert Poulin from the Zoology Department, talks about the intricacies of parasitic evolution and behaviour. He delivered this Distinguished Research Medal address on the 23rd of October, 2013