Scholarship-winning research students challenged to make a difference

Certificates were awarded to this year's Manawatu and Wellington campus doctoral and masterate research scholarships recipients at a ceremony at Wharerata yesterday, and to those from the Albany campus today.

In total there were 10 Vice-Chancellors doctoral scholarships, 41 Massey doctoral scholarships, 25 masterate scholarships, two Mäori scholarships – doctoral and one masterate, two Lovell and Berys Clark scholarships and an Alumni doctoral completion bursary.

Dean of the Graduate Research School Professor Margaret Tennant said research scholarships were highly contested every year and those selected were among the "crème de la crème" of Massey's student researchers.

Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Professor Brigid Heywood challenged the graduates to succeed and make a difference. Professor Heywood recalled her own doctoral studies and the "exciting" opportunities around the world that opened up. She urged the students take advantage of the resources and support available from the Graduate Research School to get them through the inevitable challenges each would face.

"Our ambition is to see all of you at graduation and for all of you to succeed.

Details of the Manawatu and Wellington campus recipients, based on the photo from left to right, are:

Barbara Binnie, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences (IVABS), Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching the evolution of campylobacter in New Zealand.

Peter Lee, Institute of Natural Resources (INR), Manawatu, masterate scholarship, researching an economic impact assessment of New Zealand's conservation estate.

Mohamed Abdalla, IVABS, Manawatu, masterate scholarship, researching sheep disease resistance.

Sui Mei Wee, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health (IFNHH), Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching the properties of mamaku fern extract.

Nagender Suryadevara, School of Engineering and Advanced Technology (SEAT), Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching activity recognition of the elderly living in a smart home.

Munazza Saeed, IFNHH, Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching pears.
Rebecca Green, Institute of Fundamental Science, Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching statistical forecasting of eruption hazards of Mt Taranaki.

Philippa Butler, School of People, Environment and Planning (SPEP), Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching young people's conceptions of ethnic identity.

Axel Malecki, SPEP, Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching how expatriate populations might assist the economy of their home country, with a focus on Chile.

Ann De Silva, SEAT, Manawatu, masterate scholarship, researching a new way to compress photo data more efficiently and direct to hardware.

Timothy Upperton, School of English and Media Studies, Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching the lyric "I" in contemporary poetry, with particular reference to the work of Frederick Seidel, and, as part of his creative writing doctorate, producing a book of poetry.

Eva Mengwasser, School of Psychology, Wellington, Vice-Chancellor's doctoral scholarship, researching the social and cultural meanings of food and nutritional practices in young people's lives.

David Littlewood , School of History, Philosophy and Classics (SHPC), Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching military conscription and the systems of appeal in Britain and New Zealand.

Eleanor Kahu, School of Psychology, Wellington, doctoral scholarship, researching the study methods of students particularly distance learners.

Amber Wells, IVABS, Manawatu, Lovell and Berys Clark masterate scholarship, researching tail docking of dogs.

Joy Davidson, SPEP, Manawatu, masterate scholarship, researching young Solomon Islanders as agents of change.

Megan Allardice, SPEP, Manawatu, masterate scholarhsip, researching the role of the arts, particularly contemporary dance, in international development.

Lydia Cave, IVABS, Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching a potential alternative to perennial ryegrass.

Eva McVitty, SHPC, Wellington, masterate scholarship, researching the phenomenon of treason in late medieval England from a cultural perspective.

Alice Taylor, INR, Manawatu, doctoral scholarship, researching ways to incorporate ecological habitus into urban planning and design.

Stephanie Denne, School of Psychology, Manawatu, Vice-Chancellor's doctoral scholarship, researching community responses to domestic violence.