16 November 1994 Special Achievement Awards for Lincoln Staff

Four Lincoln academics have been honoured by their university with special achievement awards for teaching and research.

Mike Clemes of the Department of Economics and Marketing and Clare Simpson of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism have received awards for Excellence in Teaching and Professor Kuan Goh of the Department of Soil Science and Dr Ravi Gooneratne of the Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity.

The citation for Mr Clemes describes him as a gifted teacher respected by students and colleagues. He has been at the forefront of developing the curriculum in marketing at Lincoln and his initiative led to the development of a Services Marketing paper, one of the most successful senior marketing papers at the University and one of the first such papers in New Zealand. He has also written two editions of a marketing case study textbook widely adopted in marketing courses throughout Australasia.

Ms Simpson's citation says she epitomizes excellence in teaching and has achieved consistently high student evaluations over a number of years across a range of class sizes and levels. Her teaching programmes show originality and leadership and she has produced excellent resource books to support her lectures.

Ms Simpson's rapport with students enlivens class debate and she willingly shares her quest for innovation with other academic staff.

Professor Kuan Goh's citation for Excellence in Research noted his international reputation for research advances in the chemistry of soil organic matter and nutrient cycling dynamics in the soil/plant system. He has developed techniques for measuring nitrogen fixation in soils and for radiocarbon dating of soils and his work on plant nutrition, nutrient cycling and fertiliser use has been of considerable significance to primary production in New Zealand.

His depth and breadth of knowledge has been recognised through invitations to lecture overseas and chair meetings at international conferences.

In addition to substantial contributions to the national and international literature in his field, he has trained a large number of research scientists, many of whom now have a significant influence in the future direction of soil science. Professor Goh holds personal chair in soil science at Lincoln.

Dr Ravi Gooneratne's citation for Excellence in Research notes his work in developing and establishing new directions in toxicology research of strategic importance to New Zealand. He developed new techniques and innovative approaches to research on facial eczema in sheep, the molecular biology of possum, the use of a fish liver enzyme as a biomarker for water pollution, the persistence of 1080 poison in the tissues of sheep, goats and rabbits, and the evaluation of the risk to humans of secondary poisoning with 1080.

Dr Gooneratne's expertise has been recognised in invitations to act as a referee for the Australian Research Council and Agricultural Compounds Unit for animal remedies and pesticide submissions in New Zealand.  He is also one of five toxicologists in New Zealand appointed by the Department of Health to review OECD toxicity guidelines.

Lincoln University's Special Achievement Awards were instituted in 1990 to acknowledge individual excellence among staff members.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.