Latest News
Last updated: 26 Jul 2010
The MacDiarmid Building opening
The Alan MacDiarmid Building was opened by the Prime Minister John Key on Wednesday 21 July. Also attending were Steven Joyce (Tertiary Education), Wayne Mapp (Science and Innovation) and Kerry Prendergast Wellington Mayor...
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Visit to the MacDiarmid Institute by Don Eigler
On his recent visit to the Institute at Victoria University Don gave a presentation and toured the laboratories. Members of the Institute were pleased to be able to congratulate Don personally for his being awarded the 2010 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience...
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Discovery Awards for Maori and Pacific Pupils 2010
The aim of the project is to brings year 12 or 13 Maori and Pacific pupils who are interested
in science into research laboratories to work in the groups of leading scientists with the intention
of nurturing an interest in science and exposing pupils to possible career options.
Images of Nanotechnology Competition
We are running a competition to find the best NZ images from nanotechnology research. The best images will be displayed at a special exhibition in Christchurch in August / September. $2000 in prizes.
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Top Teachers
A meeting, supported by the MacDiarmid Institute, was held on 18 May at Victoria University for students interested in teaching careers. There were 60 participants.
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NZ-Taiwan Symposium
A joint New Zealand-Taiwan Symposium on Bio-nanotechnologies and our annual BioNanoNetwork (BNN) meeting is taking place in Wellington for two days, Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 of April.
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Tools for Transformation
According to the well-known adage “a poor worker always blames his or her tools”, but do you see a good, professional worker with old and outdated equipment...
Prestigious award for Sir Paul
Prestigious international Günther Laukien prize for eminent Professor Sir Paul Callaghan, founding Director of the MacDiarmid Institute...
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Martin Lord Rees Visit
Martin Lord Rees, President of the Royal Society of London, made visits to
two of the Institute sites (UC and VUW) during his whirlwind tour of New
Zealand...
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Martin Lord Rees Lecture
The MacDiarmid Institute is sponsoring the Royal Society of New Zealand Rutherford Lectures by Martin Lord Rees,
well known to many of you as an eminent cosmologist, President of the Royal Society of London, UK's Astronomer Royal
and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. Lord Rees will be speaking in Wellington and Christchurch during his visit
to New Zealand.
Safety, nanomaterial research in university
laboratories
Only certain nanotechnologies will pose new health and/or safety hazards. The health
and safety hazards that have been identified to date are for unbound or free
nanomaterials. The limited information available on the toxicity of nanomaterials
indicates that their toxicity depends on their physico-chemical characteristics including
size, shape, composition and surface area.
Asian Science Camp 2009
The MacDiarmid Institute sponsored two students to attend the Asian Science Camp held in Tsukuba in August this year, they are Georgia Stewart, Wellington East Girls' College and Hugh McHugh, Lindisfarne College, Hawkes Bay.....
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AMN-5
The 5th International Conference on Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology will be hosted by the MacDiarmid Institute in Wellington 7-11 February....
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Discovery Awards for Maori and Pacific Pupils 2009
The aim of the project is to brings year 12 or 13 Maori and Pacific pupils who are interested in science into research laboratories to work in the groups of leading scientists with the intention of nurturing an interest in science and exposing pupils to possible career options.
MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year 2009
John Watt was awarded MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year at a ceremony in Auckland on Friday 27 August. John's work has been focused on using palladium particles to remove toxic gases...
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Minister visits Institute
Minister for Research Science and Technology Dr Wayne Mapp visited the MacDiarmid Institute...
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Sir Paul Callaghan gets knighted
Professor Sir Paul Callaghan was knighted at a ceremony held at Old St Paul's in Wellington on Friday 14 August...
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Hon Gerry Brownlee opens refurbished laboratories
Gerry Brownlee, Member for Ilam whose portfolios include, Economic Development, Energy and Resources and the Rugby World Cup, visited the MacDiarmid Institute at Canterbury University
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MacDiarmid sponsors aspiring scientists
The MacDiarmid Institute is pleased to sponsor two pupils who will attended the the 2009 Asian Science Camp in August in Tsukuba in Japan. Georgia Stewart, Wellington East Girls’ College and Hugh McHugh, Lindisfarne College, Hawkes Bay.
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Call for new Principal Investigators
The MacDiarmid Institute calls for expressions of interest from individuals who wish to be considered for Principal Investigator status. Such status not only confers Institute membership, and so access to our extensive network of materials science infrastructure, but also comes with a direct funding stream for Institute- related research.
Student Prizes from AMN4
And the winners are...
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Discovery Awards pupils at AMN4
Awardees with Prof Sir Harry Kroto.
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Wool to Weta launch
"Wool to Weta" - by Professor Paul Callaghan was launched in the Grand Hall at Parliament on Tuesday 10 February. Tackling difficult issues, Professor Callaghan finds a vision for the future.
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New Director for the Institute
Professor Richard Blaikie was appointed Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for a three year term on Friday 29 August.
Richard, who is based at Canterbury, has been Acting Director for the past six weeks and so brings a weight of knowledge and understanding of the functioning of the Institute.
Richard is seen in this photo in front of a bank of flashing cameras with Ritchie McCaw.
Congratulations Richard!
Discovery Awards for Maori and Pacific Pupils
REVISED DEADLINE
The aim of the project is to brings year 12 or 13 Maori and Pacific pupils who are interested in science into research laboratories to work in the groups of leading scientists with the intention of nurturing an interest in science and exposing pupils to possible career options.
Ritchie McCaw and Richard Blaikie talk nanotechnology
Fibre imprinting nanotechnology developed at the MacDiarmid Institute and Nanotechnology at University of Canterbury is going to get rugby fans closer than ever to the All Blacks. See the article on the back page of Interface issue 12.
New Zealand Materials Research Society
Currently, there is no materials research society in existence within New Zealand that caters for and links the community of researchers working in the various research fields of materials science and engineering. More...
Reception for Paul Callaghan
A reception was held on 04 June to mark Paul's leaving the post of Director at the MacDiarmid Institute. Paul's friends and colleagues gathered to wish him well and to express their gratitude for his unstinting efforts on behalf of the Institute. More...
The Paul Callaghan Interviews
During the travel undertaken as part of the "Beyond the Farm and the Theme Park" lecture series, Paul interviewed a number of New Zealanders involved in wealth generation through science-based business, in economic thinking and leadership, in investment and in education and philanthropy. More...
The MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards
The MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards are presented annually by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology to celebrate the achievements of the country’s top emerging researchers and scientists and raise the profile of science nationally. More...
Jim Johnston awarded NZIC Prize for Applied and Industrial Chemistry
Congratulations to Jim Johnston, who has been awarded the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry Prize for Excellence in Industrial and Applied Chemistry; a significant national honour awarded for meritorious achievement in the field of industrial or applied chemistry. More...
The 2007 Student and Post Doc Symposium
The MacDiarmid Institute held its Annual Postdoc and Student Symposium at Massey University on 26-27 November. Around 50 researchers gathered to present their work, socialise and, among other things, discuss the merits of interdisciplinary research. More...
Roger Reeves Awarded the T. K. Sidey Medal
MacDiarmid Institute researcher Associate Professor Roger Reeves, has been awarded the T. K Sidey Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to research intrinsically associated with electromagnetic radiation. More...
Kate McGrath Receives NZAS Research Medal
Associate Professor Kate McGrath received the NZ Association of Scientists (NZAS) Research Medal, for outstanding research by a young scientist, at the Science Honours Dinner held in Dunedin on Tuesday 20th November. The citation made reference to Kate's work in soft matter science and noted her many achievements spanning a range of physical techniques. More...
Sally Brooker Elected FRSNZ
The Royal Society has announced the 13 Fellows elected for 2007. The list includes MacDiarmid Institute Principal Investigator, Professor Sally Brooker of the University of Otago. Sally is well known for her research in transition metal and macrocycle chemistry. More...
Prestigious James Cook Fellowship 2007
Prof Paul Callaghan PCNZM FRS FRSNZ has been awarded one New Zealand's most prestigious research Fellowships by The Royal Society of New Zealand. More...
Paul Callaghan: 2007 RSNZ Distinguished Speaker
Paul will be giving a public lecture in Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, and Wellington entitled: Beyond the farm and the theme park. These lectures will be held from 13-26 November 2007, and will be filmed for a documentary. More...
The Macdiarmid Institute And Nanotechnology Research In New Zealand
by Paul T. Callaghan and Richard J. Blaikie
An overview of nanotechnology research in New Zealand is given, with particular emphasis on the work of the MacDiarmid Institute, a multi-university and government laboratory partnership. More...
SuperPlasticsMan: The Alan MacDiarmid Story
The MacDiarmid institute is pleased to make available this documentary celebrating the life and work of Professor Alan MacDiarmid, the international man of science who, together with Alan Heeger and Hideki Shirakawa, won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2000. More...
The 2007 Blake Medalist: Professor Paul Callaghan
Professor Paul Callaghan, director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, has been awarded the Blake Medal for Leadership. More...
MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year
Congratulations to Simon Rogers and Conrad Lendrum who were recognised in the prestigious MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year Awards. There was really tough competition as always and their success recognises their ability not only in science quality but in science communication as well. More...
Re-funded through to 2014
The MacDiarmid Institute is pleased to advise that we have been re-funded through to 2014. Both the MacDiarmid Institute and the National Centre for Growth and Development were singled out as exemplary CoREs. More...
The New Zealand Materials Research Society Incorporated
The New Zealand Materials Research Society, New Zealand's newest technical society, was incorporated on 19 December 2006. It was founded with several goals, including the promotion and advancement of materials science and engineering within New Zealand. More...
Nanotechnology: Ethical and Social Issues
"Despite the prospects for benefits, given public controversy over the use of genetic modification (GM), it cannot be entirely ruled out that nanotechnology will have problems with public acceptance. Debate about the issue of nanotechnology can be informed by an understanding of public reactions." More...
Alan MacDiarmid 14 April 1927 - 07 February 2007
It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Professor Alan MacDiarmid ONZ, FRS, FRSNZ.
Alan won the 2000 Nobel prize for Chemistry jointly with Hideki Shirakawa and Alan Heeger, for their discovery of conducting polymers, unique 'plastic' materials that can conduct electricity. He was an International Advisory Board Member of the Institute, and was scheduled to speak at the AMN-3 International Conference for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, organised by the Institute, and to be held in Wellington from 11-16 February. More...
Breaking the Mold: Can New Zealand increase its wealth via the high technology route?
New Zealand, having converted most of its forest into greenhouse gas, is thereby blessed with an abundance of grass, and yet, notwithstanding attempts to subdue it, sufficient residual natural environment to claim the label "clean and green". More...
A New Science Collaboration
In recent years it has become increasingly common for social scientists to work alongside scientists as part of the `ELSI-fication' of research (understanding the ethical, legal and social implications of scientific research). With this in mind, the MacDiarmid Institute commissioned two social science research projects in 2004 to be conducted by independent researchers. More...
A Nanotechnology Initiative for NZ
MoRST is developing a Nanotechnology Roadmap and FRST is looking at how to implement an investment increase in nanotechnology. More...
Student Symposium 2006
The 2006 MacDiarmid Institute Student and Postdoc Symposium focussed on the potential impacts and consequences of our research, including economic impacts, commercialisation potential, social impacts, potential environmental impacts, and communication of research and its impacts on a public audience. More...
