Royal Society fellowships for Victoria researchers

Three of four available James Cook Research Fellowships were awarded to Victoria University researchers - including MSCS Prof Rod Downey.

The Royal Society of New ZealandVice-Chancellor Professor Pat Walsh says the Fellowships are the most prestigious awarded to cutting-edge scientific research. "This goes to show the value placed on Victoria University research by leading organisations such as the Royal Society, and is a success we look to build on under our new Investment Plan." Professor Walsh says.

Professors Paul Callaghan, Rod Downey and Kenneth McNatty are the latest recipients of the Fellowships that allow researchers to concentrate on their chosen study for two years.

Professor Downey's project will investigate the recent growth area in fundamental mathematics - the very nature of computation. Rod will be working in computational complexity theory and in algorithmic randomness. This further enhances VUW's reputation as a world class centre of logic and computation.

Professor Callaghan's project will focus on New Zealand leadership in magnetic resonance, a physical phenomenon that has numerous applications in medicine and chemistry; and Professor McNatty will look at the environmental and nutritional influences on reproductive health - a study that aims to pinpoint the role of environmental contaminants and lifestyle factors on New Zealanders' declining fertility rate.

The Fellows were selected by the James Cook Research Fellowship Selection Committee, chaired by Professor Marston Conder, President of the Academy Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand. For more information, see the Royal Society Website: http://www.rsnz.org/awards/james_cook/