14 May 2004 Biotechnology Now Offered as a Named Science Degree 'Major' at Lincoln

Biotechnology – the marriage of biology and technology – has now joined seven existing specialist areas as a "major" within Lincoln University's Bachelor of Science degree.

"Biotechnology is one of the key technologies of the 21st century," says the University's Professor of Plant Biotechnology, Brian Jordan, "and our science graduates will enjoy a real career enhancing advantage in being able to say that they majored in this field.

"No advanced economy, and in particular no food-producing country such as New Zealand, can afford to ignore the benefits offered by recent developments in the biological sciences delivered through the new discipline of biotechnology," says Professor Jordan.

"The techniques of biotechnology are bringing many benefits to human and animal health and welfare through improved medicines, a safer environment and more nutritious food.

"Biotechnology is a powerful set of techniques and long-term it will have an enormous and positive impact on the economic growth of New Zealand's bio-­based industries, both those involving plants and those concerned with animals.

"Those majoring in Biotechnology will be well equipped to take up a wide variety of careers in an emerging field of immense importance."

Supporting the new major at Lincoln are some of the top scientists in New Zealand working in the biotechnology field – Professor Jordan, for example, is an expert adviser on genetic engineering to the Australia New Zealand Food Authority and has worked closely with the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. In recent times he has provided scientific and technical support to the New Zealand delegation attending OECD conference in Edinburgh on Scientific and Health Aspects of Genetically Modified Food, and he has served on the International Scientific Commission for the XXVI International Horticultural Congress in Canada, covering biotechnology and floriculture.

The University's Professor of Plant Pathology, Alison Stewart, Professorial Fellow Tony Conner a molecular biologist, and molecular biochemist Dr Jonathan Hickford are other eminent scientists involved with biotechnology teaching and research at Lincoln.

The University is also home to the $25 million Government-funded National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies, the only Centre of Research Excellence in the South Island, and it is a partner too in the multi-million dollar Marlborough Wine Research Centre in Blenheim, a state-of-the-art research facility for viticultural and wine science research.

"Such facilities and the environment of rigorous scientific research to which they contribute, provide a rich and exciting environment for undergraduates to study for their first science degree," says Professor Jordan. "And of course they are of immense value too for the University's postgraduate programmes."

The full eight majors available within Lincoln University's Bachelor of Science programme are – Animal Science, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Conservation and Ecology, Food Science, Environmental Science, Plant & Horticultural Sciences and Soil Science.

The basic degree involves the successful completion of 24 papers with various core or compulsory papers common to all the degrees irrespective of the major area of study.

For full details visit the University’s website at www.lincoln.ac.nz

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