Leading researchers announced as Fellows of the Royal Society
Thu Nov 16 2017 13:00:00 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Leading researchers announced as Fellows of the Royal Society
16 November 2017
Six leading researchers from the University of Auckland were among 16 New Zealanders announced as Fellows of the Royal Society Te Apārangi today.
The honours, recognising international distinction in scholarship and research, resulted in a diverse range of new Fellows at the University.
“The number of new Fellows and the diversity of their disciplines underlines the calibre and breadth of world-class research carried out by this University. We congratulate our new Fellows for this well-deserved recognition of their standing on the international stage,” says Professor Jim Metson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
The new Fellows are:
Professor Michael Parekowhai, Fine Arts. An artist who explores perceptions of place and nationhood through sculpture, installation and photography. His research investigates the ambiguities of identity, the sensitivities of historical memory, the role of appropriation and assimilation in the artistic canon, and the significance of biculturalism.
Professor Margaret Wetherell, Psychology, is internationally known for her work developing discourse theory and methods for social psychology for studying how the things people say and do affect society and how society influences people. She has also developed a new theoretical approach to affect and emotion for social research.
Professor Margaret Mutu, Māori Studies, has advanced scholarship with her cutting-edge analysis of Māori language texts relating to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori claims against the Crown, oral histories and traditions, and Treaty settlements.
Professor Jadranka Travas-Sejdic, Chemical Sciences, has made significant contributions to the research field of biosensing. She has developed hand-held, in-field detection systems using conducting polymers for fast sensing of biological molecules and small molecular targets of biological interest.
Professor Michele Leggott, English, Drama, and Writing Studies, is a renowned poet and poetry scholar who seeks to open up poetry to as many audiences as possible. She was appointed New Zealand Poet Laureate in 2007-2009. Her first book of poetry, Like This?, won the International PEN First Book of Poetry and in 1995 DIA won the New Zealand Book Award for Poetry.
Distinguished Professor Viviane Robinson, Education, has shown through her research the importance of educational leadership in student outcomes. She has designed and evaluated interventions to increase school leader’s skills and has developed resources for leadership development that are trademarked and used internationally.
Fellowships are awarded by the Society to recognise individual contributions to the advancement of science, technology and the humanities. Collectively, the Fellows comprise the Academy of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Fellows of the Royal Society Te Apārangi
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