4 January 2004 University Lives Up To Its Scientific Motto

Lincoln is a "science university", as emphasised in its motto – Scientia et industria cum probitate. Science and industry with uprightness, is the translation and it's a commitment that has made Lincoln synonymous with excellence in numerous fields of science and a major contributor to New Zealand becoming one of the world's top-performing land-based economies.

"To maintain our position and the momentum of our land-based economy in a highly commercial and aggressively competitive world we cannot afford to stand still scientifically," says the Director of the University's Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division, Professor Brian Jordan.

His division is one of Lincoln's scientific powerhouses, pulling together a range of disciplines which are at the heart of the New Zealand economy – soil science, plant science, ecology, entomology, plant pathology, viticulture and oenology.

Matching that division in scientific importance is the University's Animal and Food Sciences Division. It's headed by Professor Tony Bywater who, like Professor Jordan, emphasises the critical importance of science to a land-based economy like New Zealand's.

Professor Bywater's Division has responsibility for areas such as animal physiology and nutrition, animal molecular biology, food biochemistry and technology, and toxicology.

Lincoln University's role in science and the contribution it can make to the future interests of the country were acknowledged at the highest level when funding was awarded to establish a campus-based National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies.

It's one of seven such centres now established in New Zealand and the only one in the South Island. The centre will provide national leadership in four areas – biosecurity, biocontrol, agri-biotechnology and Matauranga Maori bio-protection.

In addition to Lincoln University researchers, the centre brings together scientists from 10 organisations throughout New Zealand – Crop and Food Research, AgResearch, HortResearch, Landcare Manaaki Whenua, Forest Research, Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand, Massey University, Auckland University, Canterbury University and Auckland University of Technology.

Director of the centre is Lincoln University's Professor of Plant Pathology Alison Stewart who says that research will be focused on cutting edge science that can be applied in the form of new technologies for protecting "New Zealand's greatest assets – its land and the land's sustainable economic productivity".