Principal Investigators

Our people

Associate Professor Catherine Whitby

Associate Professor Catherine Whitby

Principal Investigator

Towards Zero Waste - Reconfigurable Systems

Phone:
+64 6 951 9007

Address:
Institute of Fundamental Sciences
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North 4442

Biography

Catherine is an Associate Professor in Chemistry at Massey University, appointed in late October 2014. Prior to this she was an ARC Future Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the Ian Wark Research Institute at the University of South Australia. She is a physical chemist with expertise in colloid and surface chemistry. Catherine is also the elected representative for MacDiarmid Institute Associate Investigators on the Science Executive.

Research interests

She uses nanomaterials to modify the chemistry of drop and bubble surfaces. This strategy enables her to control the structure, stability and flow of soft materials. Her findings have been applied in food and pharmaceutical products and in drilling fluids.

I use nanotechnology to understand and improve the properties of emulsions in food and cosmetics.

Associate Professor Catherine Whitby

In the news

Annual Report

Funding successes - Annual Report 2022

April 19, 2023

Funding successes for our investigators and their research programmes during 2022. This funding enables our researchers and collaborators to continue their breakthrough research in advanced materials and nanotechnology.

Read more about Funding successes - Annual Report 2022

News Article

Taking nano and quantum science education into Rotorua schools

February 24, 2023

FLEET and MacDiarmid Institute teamed up for AMN10 in Rotorua to conduct science outreach workshops for 320 school students.

Read more about Taking nano and quantum science education into Rotorua schools

Annual Report

Journal Covers - Annual Report 2021

June 2, 2022

This page lists the various scientific journal covers that featured MacDiarmid Institute Investigators work in 2021.

Read more about Journal Covers - Annual Report 2021

In The Media

Pandemic disruption to PhD research is bad for society and the economy – but there are solutions

January 19, 2022

Every year thousands of students enrol in PhD degrees at universities in New Zealand, and the government funds their degrees because the advanced knowledge and innovations they develop benefit our economy and society.

Read more about Pandemic disruption to PhD research is bad for society and the economy – but there are solutions

Annual Report

Funding successes - Annual Report 2020

March 24, 2021

Funding successes for our investigators and their research programmes during 2020. This funding enables our researchers and collaborators to continue their breakthrough research in advanced materials and nanotechnology.

Read more about Funding successes - Annual Report 2020

Annual Report

2018 funding successes - Annual Report 2018

April 8, 2019

Funding successes for our investigators and their research programmes during 2018. This funding enables our researchers and collaborators to continue their breakthrough research in advanced materials and nanotechnology.

Read more about 2018 funding successes - Annual Report 2018

Annual Report

Space and Science Festivals - Annual Report 2018

April 8, 2019

We had broad based and high profile MacDiarmid Institute engagement across the entire Space and Science Festival in the Wairarapa...

Read more about Space and Science Festivals - Annual Report 2018

Annual Report

DiscoveryCamp and NanoCamp - Annual Report 2018

April 8, 2019

The annual NanoCamp and DiscoveryCamp for Year 12 and 13 secondary school students are hugely popular and attract many more applications than there are places available.

Read more about DiscoveryCamp and NanoCamp - Annual Report 2018

Podcasts

Element of the Week - Copper (Cu)

Element of the Week - Copper (Cu)

June 21, 2019

Dr Catherine Whitby introduces the element Copper on RNZ Nights' Element of the Week.

Read more about Element of the Week - Copper (Cu)

Element of the Week - Titanium (Ti)

Element of the Week - Titanium (Ti)

December 2, 2019

Dr Catherine Whitby introduces the element Titanium on RNZ Nights' Element of the Week.

Read more about Element of the Week - Titanium (Ti)

Materials: Fact or Fiction - Ironman’s Suit

Materials: Fact or Fiction - Ironman’s Suit

June 9, 2021

Associate Professor Catherine Whitby, MacDiarmid Institute Associate Investigator gives us her scientific take on Ironman's Suit

Read more about Materials: Fact or Fiction - Ironman’s Suit

Materials: Fact or Fiction - Mandalorian Iron

Materials: Fact or Fiction - Mandalorian Iron

November 24, 2020

Dr Catherine Whitby, Associate Investigator gives us her scientific take on Mandalorian Iron from Star Wars.

Read more about Materials: Fact or Fiction - Mandalorian Iron

Sci Fi/Sci Fact - Marvel: Ironman's Suit

Sci Fi/Sci Fact - Marvel: Ironman's Suit

January 7, 2022

Dr Catherine Whitby, said self-repairing materials like the Ironman Suit are kind of the "holy grail" for scientists.

Read more about Sci Fi/Sci Fact - Marvel: Ironman's Suit