Professor Richard Falloon has been appointed Interim Director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre, a role which involves overseeing  the Centre's strategic direction, science leadership and research management. He has been a Deputy Director of the Centre since 2005.

Prof Falloon, who is also employed by Plant and Food Research, has held several research management positions in New Zealand government research institutions. He is the Immediate Past President of the International Society for Plant Pathology, and Past President of both the NZ Plant Protection Societ

Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Johanna Steyaert has received one of four 2011 Lincoln University Early Career Researcher Awards. These awards recognise research excellence by scientists who are within five years of commencing their research careers. 

Dr Steyaert receives a grant of $5,000 which she will use to fund technical support for her Marsden Fast-Start project, Geomagnetic Calendars: Biological Regulation at the Planetary Level, which commences early in 2012.

Biologically based products are the future of pest and disease management, says Prof Alison Stewart, Director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre and organiser of an international Symposium, Managing pests: the future for biocontrol. 

"Biopesticides offer the solution to a number of problems faced by producers, marketers and consumers. First, there are all the issues around biodiversity and environmental protection. Biological products are less environmentally damaging than their synthetic counterparts.

Congratulations to the 2010/11 cohort of Bio-Protection Research Centre Summer Scholars who have been announced this week.

Nine students have been awarded scholarships which provide them with the opportunity to earn money and work with some of New Zealand's top bioprotection researchers over the summer break.

This year's projects cover topics ranging from biodiesel to biosecurity and the students will be based at Lincoln, Massey and Auckland Universities.

Scholarships have been awarded to:

Dry matter and seed yields in Canterbury from five potential biod

The most comprehensive guide to New Zealand pasture diseases is now available from the Bio-Protection Research Centre.

The 144 page book, Pasture Diseases in New Zealand, commissioned by the Centre and written and illustrated by Ian and Ben Harvey, was published in November.

The Bio-Protection Research Centre is pleased to welcome 10 Summer Scholars. 

The students will be based at Lincoln, Massey and Auckland Universities and will begin their projects in mid-November. 

Summer Scholarships provide talented students with the opportunity to spend time in a research environment contributing to on-going projects and to get paid doing it! Each 10-week scholarship is valued at $5000 (tax free).

Professor Alison Stewart, Director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to biology, in particular plant pathology at an investiture ceremony at Larnach Castle on 8 September. She received her medal from the Governor General, the Hon Sir Anand Satyanand.

The award recognises her work in developing microbial technologies that reduce plant disease and stimulate plant growth and the discovery of new genetic pathways in Trichoderma biocontrol agents.

The Bio-Protection Research Centre is offering 15 Summer Scholarships for research to be conducted during the 2009/2010 summer. These scholarships, worth $5,000 each, cover a range of bioprotection science topics from biological control to biodiesel, and provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn as they learn.

Programme co-ordinator Professor Phil Hulme says the Bio-Protection Research Centre is a firm believer in the transfer of skills to students and in building future research capacity for New Zealand's land-based industries. 

New Zealand scientists are part of an international research group which has gained U.S. Department of Energy funding to sequence the genome of Dothistroma, the fungus that causes red band pine needle disease.

Bio-Protection Research Centre scientist Dr Rosie Bradshaw from Massey University is part of the team which also includes researchers from North America and Europe. She says sequencing the Dothistroma genome will provide researchers with an increased understanding of the disease.

Bio-Protection Research Centre Deputy Director Prof Steve Wratten has won the PGG Wrightson Seeds 2009 Significant Achievement Award in Agriculture/ Horticulture for his work on the Greening Waipara project.

The judges were impressed by the combination of research, technology development, technology transfer, marketing and community involvement in the project, which now includes around 50 Waipara properties, three biodiversity trails and formal links with Hurunui District Council.