4 September 2002 Patagonian Pablo's PhD benefits his people and New Zealand

Social responsibility rates highly with new Lincoln plant science PhD graduate Pablo Peri of Patagonia, Argentina.

"Everyone at home has in some way paid for me to come to New Zealand to earn this qualification. Now I must return and repay them," he says.

"To be an individualist is easy. It is a challenge to look after your people.

"After almost four years away in New Zealand I must go home now to make contact again with my friends, my family, and my culture."

Pablo, a forestry engineer who now has a postgraduate qualification in agroforestry, has been one of more than 800 international students at Lincoln who contribute to making the campus one of the most international in the country. His native Argentina is among the 54 different countries represented at the University.

Two reasons brought him to Lincoln University, he says – "To do the best for my career as a researcher and lecturer and to be able to offer something to my people."

His doctoral research was focussed on the University's agroforestry trial where he investigated leaf and canopy photosynthesis in relation to the cocksfoot pasture underneath the trees.

This trial, based on a six-hectare block close to the University, was begun in 1993 and is a landmark study in combining pastoral and tree-growing regimes.

Pablo was a prodigious worker, toiling long hours on his research but it paid dividends and he achieved the remarkable record of having 16 significant research papers published while doing his postgraduate work.

Wife-to-be Adriana came out from Patagonia in Pablo's second year in New Zealand and they were married in an outdoor ceremony in the Port Hills above Christchurch.

As well as throwing himself energetically into his research work, Pablo also threw himself into getting to know New Zealand and New Zealanders.

"To go back home with the only thing I know being my thesis would have been stupid. I also wanted to learn about New Zealand and its people. I went to the rugby, I drank with farmers, I listened to the people and I travelled all over the country hitchhiking with my pack. I like to see different cultures."

While Pablo has taken home a good understanding and appreciation of New Zealand, this country has also benefited scientifically from his time here.

Plant scientist Dick Lucas says his research contribution has added significantly to the growing body of knowledge about mixing pastoralism with forestry.

"Postgraduates like Pablo make a real contribution to New Zealand during the course of their studies and we enjoyed his presence at Lincoln very much," he says.