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Peter Barrowclough awarded Life Membership of IRANZ
October 2024: The IRANZ Board has recently announced that Peter Barrowclough has been awarded Life Membership in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the science and research community, particularly during his tenure as CEO of Lincoln Agritech Ltd. In making the award, IRANZ Chair Dr John McDermott said Peter's leadership has left a substantial legacy, both within the organisation and across the wider New Zealand research landscape.
Presenting the life membership, IRANZ Executive Officer Dr Rob Whitney commended Peter's exceptional leadership as CEO of Lincoln Agritech Ltd, noting his ability to foster a thriving research environment despite the challenges faced by independent research institutes without core funding.
Peter served as CEO of Lincoln Agritech Ltd, an R&D company and Independent Research Organisation fully owned by Lincoln University, from 2009 to December 2023. Over his 14-year tenure as CEO, Peter transformed the company from 35 staff with a turnover of $5.5 million to 85 staff with a turnover of $15 million, establishing Lincoln Agritech as one of Aotearoa's leading research and development organisations for the primary and food processing sectors.
Peter Barrowclough.
Aqualinc: Shallow groundwater - a threat and an opportunity
October 2024: Cantabrians are acutely aware of the damage caused by liquefaction during the 2010/11 earthquakes. While most of this damage occurred in urban areas, rural areas were also affected, depending on groundwater depth and soil properties.
Despite these risks, data on shallow groundwater is limited, especially outside Christchurch's central city. However, Christchurch City Council now routinely collects groundwater depth data, a crucial step for city planners and engineers to mitigate risks such as liquefaction and other threats to property and health posed by shallow groundwater.
What is less known is that shallow groundwater can also be beneficial as a source of irrigation water. This largely unrecognised resource can support primary production in some areas, either through drainage water use or in-situ use of shallow groundwater. Drainage water has been utilised for irrigation on parts of the lower Canterbury Plains for decades.
Photo: Aqualinc.
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Welcome to the Independent Research Association of New Zealand
IRANZ is an association of independent research organisations. IRANZ represents the collective interests of members by undertaking activities aimed at creating a positive operating environment for Independent Research Organisations in New Zealand.
IRANZ member organisations make vital contributions to a broad range of scientific fields, and offer an important complement to university-based and Crown Research Institute research. Our smaller sizes and greater flexibility provide an environment that is particularly conducive to innovation and end-user engagement.
IRANZ member organisations:
- Are ‘independent’ (non-government owned);
- Carry out high-quality scientific research, development or technology transfer;
- Have strong linkages with end-users;
- Work in a diverse range of settings and subject specialities;
- Derive a significant portion of their work from Government research contracts;
- Collaborate with universities, Crown Research Institutes and research departments of industrial organisations; and
- Having varying governance and ownership arrangements.
Find out more about IRANZ and our members by checking out our News page.