Otago is celebrating the success of its researchers in the latest Endeavour Fund investment round.
Four Otago Research Programmes each received about $10 million, over five years, the Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment announced today.
The Endeavour Fund, New Zealand's largest contestable research fund, invests in excellent science with the potential to positively impact Aotearoa New Zealand's economy, environment and society.
The programmes will focus on mariculture, space weather, climate monitoring, and antiviral drugs, respectively.
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Dr Martin Gagnon is thrilled such fantastic projects have secured funding.
"This is significant for the University, but also the public, as this research will improve outcomes for all New Zealanders.
"It is particularly pleasing to have two programmes out of the Department of Physics – it is an absolute testament to the groundbreaking work they do."
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti says all the successful projects highlight the power of science to deliver practical solutions.
"Past projects have led to world-first health technologies, advanced clean energy solutions, and innovations that strengthen our primary industries. The programmes announced today will continue that track record – creating new knowledge, growing the economy, and building a more resilient future.
"It's also great to see many projects with a clear path to commercialisation, which means more ideas making it out of the lab and into the real world."
The recipients
Professor Chris Hepburn, Department of Marine Science
Rebuilding productive coastal economies through regenerative mariculture
$10,000,000
Professor Chris Hepburn
This programme builds the foundations of regenerative mariculture in Aotearoa New Zealand by supporting the development of profitable businesses, that also provide food security, new products, ecosystem services and bioremediation.
Development of a mosaic of mariculture arrays (Whata Kaimoana) that mimic natural ecosystems will boost profitability while ensuring the existing values of our coastal seas are enhanced. These arrays will be based around the native ecosystem engineer Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp, kōauau) grown alongside the iconic flat oyster (tio) and mussels (kutai). We will focus on the highly productive coastal seas of southern New Zealand where mariculture is almost absent.
We will add value to existing mussel mariculture operations, unlock potential from emerging products (bioactives) and rekindle the high-value flat oyster mariculture industry to maximise profitability per hectare. This transition to a new way of operating will be decoupled from industry to allow true innovation and data sharing, maximising value to New Zealand.
New players, new products, open access to data and pathways into new and emerging markets are required to grow, diversify and futureproof New Zealand's mariculture sector. Whata Kaimoana provide the pathway to rebuild productive coastal ecosystems and restore economies and ways of life inherently connected to our coastal seas.
Professor Craig Rodger, Department of Physics
Solar tsunamis: Next-generation space weather prediction and response for New Zealand
$10,902,308
Professor Craig Rodger
Space weather research unveils how solar events impact human activities and technologies. The fundamental source of space weather is explosions on the Sun driving changes in the near-Earth environment.
There is emerging global recognition of the hazard posed by extreme space weather events due to modern societies' reliance on advanced technology. Critical risks include:
- Disruption to satellite systems using our ionosphere for radio communications; and
- Blackouts of electrical power networks.
Without sufficient advance warning, and well considered and communicated response plans, extreme space weather events will lead to potentially critical disruptions to satellite systems impacting communications, information technology, navigation, power blackouts, and electricity infrastructure damage that could take years to rectify, causing significant economic and social hardship.
Our programme is focused on the prediction and now-casting of extreme space weather events; this will produce the knowledge and tools needed for government disaster managers and sectors such as aerospace and electricity to prepare, respond, and lead recovery efforts.
We will leverage measurements from New Zealand-based dense monitoring networks to understand how solar explosions drive ionospheric and electrical grid impacts. These direct space weather impact measurements will be used to create predictive models driven by solar inputs. In parallel, we will use the tools developed in that workstream to provide now-casting, allowing industry and disaster managers to have real-time situational awareness. We will also implement, in partnership with industry, technological mitigations to extreme space weather events.
It is vital that all New Zealanders understand the hazards posed by space weather to build a resilient and prosperous society; our dedicated science engagement work packages will cultivate this understanding from the bottom up, fostering a cooperative relationship between emergency managers and New Zealand communities.
Professor Harald Schwefel, Department of Physics
Building critical capability for space-based climate monitoring with next generation photonics
$10,525,544.70
Antarctica rarely conjures images of the tropics, and yet to atmospheric scientists, the connection is critical – what happens in the atmosphere over Antarctica can have dramatic effects on weather systems here in New Zealand, such as the landfall of powerful tropical storms.
And we are about to lose a vital tool in our predictive arsenal.
Currently, we measure changes in atmospheric gases in Antarctica using a NASA satellite with a special instrument that can detect the faint thermal glow of climate gases. It doesn't require daylight so it can detect these gases at night – which lasts up to six months in Antarctica.
But this satellite will burn up in 2026 and NASA cannot fund a replacement – the loss of this data will reduce the accuracy of global weather forecasts, causing significant financial, infrastructure, and human losses. Imagine the effects of Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle without the warnings we received.
Our research programme provides an alternative to this satellite. Integrating New Zealand's capabilities in quantum technology and atmospheric science with innovations in the New Zealand aerospace industry, our device will cost less, be more compact, more energy-efficient, and detect a wide range of atmospheric gases.
With basic principles proven through MBIE's Smart Ideas fund, our development and design are examples of Kiwi ingenuity at the cutting-edge. This programme will also use the information on atmospheric gases to improve forecasts of extreme weather events, create opportunities for a new commercial enterprise, new precision engineering outputs, and establish a robust transfer programme to weather forecasters and other users which will ensure those most affected by extreme weather to reap the benefits. We will also engage with young people to inspire the next generation of Kiwi innovation.
Professor Vernon Ward, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Broad-spectrum antivirals: combating human and animal viral diseases
$9,994,226
Professor Vernon Ward
This programme will establish a pipeline for antiviral drugs from New Zealand. There are no effective antiviral treatments to combat most viral infections in humans or animals. We also face the constant threat of antiviral resistance arising in those viruses for which we do have clinical therapies.
Additional threats include the emergence of novel viruses, and climate change enabling the spread of disease-carrying vectors.
We are a multidisciplinary research team operating as the Aotearoa New Zealand Antiviral Research Network (ANZARN). We have discovered multiple classes of small molecule compounds through our research that are effective against a broad array of viruses infecting humans and other animals that are ready to proceed along the discovery pipeline into lead optimisation and preclinical testing as antiviral drugs. We have also identified novel classes of antiviral drug and new ways to deliver drugs more effectively.
Viruses affecting human health cause substantial morbidity, mortality, societal disruptions, economic impacts and a burden on our healthcare system. Viruses of production and companion animals cause serious harm and pose significant threats to New Zealand or our international partners. The global movement of people and products and an ageing population will only increase the impact of viral diseases.
The lack of treatment options for viruses can have a significant impact as evidenced during the recent coronavirus pandemic.
There is a clear need for antiviral drugs that prevent or limit viral infection to provide rapid control during disease outbreaks or even cure viral diseases. Developing drugs that have broad activity against multiple viruses maximises their potential and provides rapid responses in the event of a new virus emergence.
