4 September 1995 Lincoln Names Live On In Research Scholarships

The memory of a number of past Lincoln staff members is perpetuated in scholarships carrying their names.

Two such scholarships have been awarded for the current period - those commemorating the lives and services of Lance McCaskill and Tony Rayner.

Dr Lance McCaskill was the founder of conservation education at Lincoln and an Associate Professor of Rural Education. The foundation director of the Tussock Grasslands and Mountain Lands Institute, he was  also a holder of Lincoln's Bledisloe Medal, awarded in 1944.

The McCaskill Scholarship this year has been awarded to Amanda Freeman, Ph.D student with the Department of Entomology and Animal Ecology, and Dean Walker, an M.Appl.Sci candidate in Resource Management.

Amanda's research concerns the Westland petrel, total population about 20,000. It is believed that the population has increased due to the availability of  food  from fishing boats. Research will clarify whether the birds are now dependent on offal and the potential impact of any change in fishing practices. Members of the University's scholarships committee were impressed with Amanda's depth of knowledge and dedication to her project.

Dean is investigating sustainability in indigenous forests in New Zealand. He is attempting to bring together financial, ecological and social aspects of forestry with the aim of providing forest owners with a sound philosophical and practical basis from which they can manage their forests.The scholarships committee appreciated the challenge Dean was facing and his total involvement in his work.

The AC Rayner Memorial Scholarship for excellence in "Finance, Economics and Marketing" has been awarded jointly to Richard Bururu and Chris Mauger. Both are doing masters degrees with the Department of Economics and Marketing, Richard in principles of economics and Chris in econometrics. The former is looking at the effect on farmers of "single desk sellers" as opposed to open markets, and the latter is investigating stock market fluctuations.

Professor AC (Tony) Rayner was Professor of Agricultural Economics and Pro Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University at the time of his sudden death in early 1990.