NEW ZEALAND MARINE SCIENCES SOCIETY AWARD

The New Zealand Marine Sciences Society (NZMSS) Award is presented to a person who, in the opinion of the NZMSS Council has been instrumental in achieving the objective of the Society to advance knowledge and understanding of marine science in New Zealand. The award recognises “a person’s continued outstanding contribution to marine science in New Zealand”, as well as their role in encouraging young marine scientists, communicating marine science and supporting the values and visions of the Society.

The recipients of the NZMSS award in its inaugural year were considered “founders of marine science in New Zealand” and recognised for their contribution to ocean physics, marine geology and marine ecology. Subsequent recipients of the award have made contributions across a broad spectrum of marine science endeavour.

The award is a bronze sculpture in the form of the internal spire of a gastropod shell (designed and manufactured by Wellington artist Nick Dryden) that comes with an engraved plaque normally presented at the NZMSS annual conference. It carries with it lifetime membership of the Society. Any NZMSS member can make a nomination to the Secretary. Nominations are considered annually, but the Council need not present an award each year. The recipient is expected to give a plenary presentation at an upcoming NZMSS conference. This highly prestigious award was inaugurated in 1985.

NZMSS AWARD NOMINATION FORM

All nominations must be made using the 2024 nomination form. In order to produce comparable citations, we ask nominators to summarize the case for the nominee under the following headings:
  • Contribution to the advancement of marine science, both in New Zealand and on the International Stage
  • Encouragement and assistance of marine research by nurturing science students and young scientists
  • Communication of marine science to the community
  • Contribution to NZMSS
Nominators should aim to write concisely and highlight the main arguments in favour of the candidate. Please include a brief 2-page CV (e.g. Marsden style). The Council can make additional enquiries, via referees, as it sees fit. The nominee must be a current or previous member of NZMSS. A list of past award recipients is available on the NZMSS website.

Nominations must be sent electronically to the Secretary (secretary@nzmss.org)

Please insert ‘NZMSS Award’ in the subject line and the name of the nominee in the file name when sending the completed form.

Current Recipient

2023

Prof Chris Battershill

 

Prof Chris Battershill is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s top marine scientists, of both national and international stature. Chris’ achievements and contributions to marine science span biodiscovery, development of anti-cancer drugs, leading international programmes, oil spill responses, and important work with iwi in issues of development and sustainability of ocean resources. 

Chris is internationally recognised for his work on biodiversity and biodiscovery of important medicinal compounds sourced from sponges and seaweeds. One of his career highlights includes the discovery of a rare sponge (Halichondria) off the coast of Kaikōura that led to the creation of the late phase breast cancer drug Halaven®. During his 12 years spent at the Australian Institute of Marine Science he led a large research team in studies on biodiversity and biodiscovery of chemical structures useful in medicine and agriculture. 

Chris was a senior marine ecologist at DoC, a programme leader at NIWA and has published 87 research articles and 23 book chapters. He has also achieved national recognition for his work with the Maritime Response Team on responding to the Rena Oil spill where he he gave over 200 media interviews, spoke at marae up and down the Bay of Plenty, coordinated the response monitoring, and prevented the use large-scale use of dispersants which he knew to be disastrous on marine birds. 

Chris supervises and mentors many post-graduate students while also lecturing in undergraduate. He is passionate about providing opportunity for all students, from securing funding through to countless hours dedicated to guiding them through the research process. He has supervised over 60 post-graduate students in his career, across biotechnology, sponge taxonomy, biodiversity, monitoring, biotechnology, and Mātauranga-informed restoration of Tauranga Harbour. Chris he has been a very positive influence on hundreds of students, all of whom remember him fondly. 

Chris is a longstanding and true supporter of NZMSS and the ideals of communication, support of students, and collegiality.

Recent Recipients

2022

Dr Kim Currie – chemical oceanography and ocean acidification

Dr Kim Currie has had an outstanding career working in the field of chemical oceanography, ocean acidification (OA) and the uptake of anthropogenic carbon. As part of her PhD under Prof. Keith Hunter, Kim started the “Munida Time Series” in 1998 in the waters of offshore Dunedin. This world renowned timeseries, used to understand oceanic uptake of CO2, has now been running for 22 years (144 voyages) under Kim’s leadership and guidance. This is the only long, marine CO2 time series in the Southern Hemisphere and one of only seven in the world. For this work, Kim was part of the Oceans team that was awarded the Prime Minister’s Science Prize (2011). The Munida time series is now part of the New Zealand State of the Environment report, where is it used to report on quantitative evidence of climate change in the oceans.

In 2015, Kim substantially extended this work by establishing the New Zealand OA Network. Through NZOA-ON, Kim has partnered with communities, iwi, aquaculture industry, DOC, and regional councils to extend OA monitoring to 30 sites around New Zealand.

Kim’s ocean carbon lab is highly regarded internationally and has been involved in many inter-laboratory intercalibration exercises through the global quality assurance network. She serves on a Working Group to ensure on-going international supply and access to certified reference materials for marine carbon measurements.

Kim has been at the forefront of OA research, evidenced from her international leadership roles. She is on the executive council of Global Ocean Acidification Network, the advisory board of the Ocean Acidification – International Coordination Centre, and several working groups. She also contributed to development of UN SDG 14.3 methodology and is the co-chair of the Working Group 1 of the UN Ocean Decade Programme – Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability.

2021

Prof. Andrew Jeffs – aquaculture, lobster biology, and the biological role of underwater sound

In 2021 the NZMSS award was presented to Professor Andrew Jeffs in recognition of the role that he has played in advancing the knowledge and understanding of marine science in New Zealand. While mostly focused on lobsters and bivalves, his published research covers a plethora of other species, including barnacles, crabs, sea cucumbers, reef fish, sea urchins, and octopus. His research also covers a range of habitats, encompassing open oceans, coastal waters, and freshwater, and has been carried out in numerous countries.

Whilst working for the Department of Conservation in the late 1980s he developed a public awareness campaign for marine conservation, especially marine reserves. Whilst working as Principal Scientist, and then General Manager of Aquaculture and Marine Biotechnology at NIWA (1998-2007) he helped to initiate the Bream Bay Aquaculture Park, which remains the largest aquaculture research facility in New Zealand. As Chief Scientist for Darden Inc. (2007-2012), which is one of the largest private buyers of seafood in the world, he pushed seafood sustainability research, including advancing lobster aquaculture towards commercialisation.

Prof. Jeffs has supervised more than 50 post-graduate students, who now contribute to marine teaching, research, environmental management, and commercial and social enterprises in New Zealand and overseas. As a qualified journalist, Prof Jeffs has in the past worked as a science and environment reporter for the New Zealand Herald, where he reported extensively on marine and environmental science. He continues to work closely with the community on marine matters.

Overall, Prof. Jeffs’ contribution to the discipline of marine science has been broad and continuous throughout his career.

2019

Dr. Barb Hayden – marine biosecurity and the environmental sustainability of aquaculture

In 2019 the NZMSS award was presented to Dr. Barb Hayden for her substantial contribution to marine science in New Zealand over a long and distinguished career that has included setting strategic research directions, leading major research programs, and mentoring emerging researchers.

Dr. Hayden is considered a scientific pioneer in the mussel aquaculture industry and in biosecurity. As a Group Leader, Principal Scientist, and Chief Scientist of NIWA, she raised awareness of the need to protect biodiversity and established and chaired the first Ballast Water Working Group that was the genesis of marine biosecurity in NZ.

Dr. Hayden leads NIWA’s coasts and oceans research, which is New Zealand’s largest team of marine science researchers working on large multidisciplinary applied and strategic research projects. Through her leadership roles at NIWA she has played a considerable role in shaping the careers of many marine scientists in New Zealand and setting the strategic direction for oceanic and coastal research.

Barb is a champion for increasing the value of marine research and science conducted in New Zealand by making science more accessible for resource managers and others who implement science outputs.

2018

Prof. Conrad Pilditch – benthic ecology, marine ecosystems, intertidal ecology and deep sea ecosystems

The 2018 NZMSS award was presented to Professor Conrad Pilditch in recognition of his research achievements in marine ecology and the instrumental role he plays in developing the careers of his students.

Prof. Pilditch has worked on a diverse range of topics, traversing intertidal flats to the deep ocean. Collaborating with national and international colleagues, he has 115 peer reviewed publications, and is a respected advisor on environmental issues. As a passionate science communicator, he never tires of talking to the public about scientific issues and promoting marine science throughout New Zealand.

Prof. Pilditch is a well-liked and respected teacher, chief supervisor and mentor. He enthusiastically supports his students in the field, has co-authored at least 20 of his publications in the last three years with students and provides support and encouragement for his students to present at NZMSS conferences.

2017

Dr. Mark Costello – extinction patterns, global biogeography and biodiversity conservation

The 2017 NZMSS award was presented to Dr. Mark Costello in recognition of the instrumental role his research played in providing new insights into patterns of extinction, biogeography of evolution of species on a global scale, and conservation needs in relation to biodiversity.

Dr. Costello has led key global initiatives that brought research data into the public domain for the benefit of science and society. As an internationally respected ecologist, specialising in marine ecosystems, nature conservation, parasites, and invasive species, he was a pioneer in the field of ‘ocean biodiversity informatics’ by leading the establishment of world databases that are now core resources in marine biology.

Dr. Costello has over 150 peer-reviewed publications, held a variety of senior roles in his field of science and has encouraged and supported students as a lecturer and supervisor.

Additionally, Dr. Costello encouraged and supported Dr. Bill Ballantine over the last years of his life to publish his important work, thus contributing to the preservation of Dr. Ballantine’s knowledge.

2016

Dr. Judi Hewitt – marine ecosystem health and ecological scaling

Dr. Hewitt is an internationally-recognised marine ecologist, best known for her significant contribution to the understanding of the role of scale in ecology and using advanced statistics to address challenging ecological questions.

Judi has published more than 130 peer-reviewed journal articles and is an editor for two international journals. Her seminal publication on ecological scaling, published in American Naturalist in 2007, is regarded as one of the most important papers in marine ecology. Another paper, published in Ecology and subsequently cited 112 times, revealed the role of shell debris patches in driving biodiversity in what are frequently viewed as featureless mud plains.

In addition to science leadership roles at NIWA and with the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge, hosted by NIWA, Dr. Hewitt is a professor of Marine Biology at the University of Helsinki. She is also an excellent communicator and an outstanding role model and mentor for young women in science.

Judi’s reputation and solutions-focused research have led to her being in demand with many regional and national resource management agencies. “She has developed models of ecosystem health for harbours and estuaries and designed impact assessment surveys for deep-sea ecosystems associated with fishing and mining, which demonstrate her ability to translate practical research experience into effective advice,” the judges said.

2015

Dr. Rob Murdoch – oceanography, natural resource, and environmental science

Through his oceanography research, Dr. Murdoch has had a major influence on the extent and direction of marine and natural resource science in New Zealand. He plays a key role in ensuring that New Zealand’s oceanographic research capability is world-class, and provides the sophisticated state-of-the-art platforms New Zealand needs to enhance the benefits of our vast marine environment.

Dr. Murdoch is widely regarded as a guiding hand in forging the careers of many marine scientists and has made many valuable contributions to the science community. Not only within his senior roles at NIWA, but also on numerous advisory boards and panels, including WWF New Zealand and the Antarctic Research Institute.

Dr. Murdoch has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2011 Prime Minister’s Science Prize, which was jointly awarded to NIWA and University of Otago colleagues for their work on iron fertilisation as a process for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. He was also awarded The Royal Society’s Thomson Medal in 2014 for his leadership and contribution to the development of environmental science in New Zealand.

2014

Dr. Keith Probert – benthic ecology, effects of fishing on benthic communities

Dr. Keith Probert is an expert on benthic ecology and has had a long and illustrious career, both as a marine scientist and mentor for future marine scientists in New Zealand. He began his research in 1973 at the New Zealand Oceanographic Institute (now NIWA), but then accepted a role at Otago University. Although originally a staff member at the University’s Portobello Marine Laboratory, he is now based in the Department of Marine Science in Dunedin city.

Keith’s research was foremost in expanding the state of knowledge of benthic communities on New Zealand’s continental shelf and slopes, to encompass process as well as description. His research demonstrating and predicting the likely impact of bottom fishing on seamount benthic communities was world-leading and the first to present a clear argument for deep-sea conservation worldwide. This work was a precursor to a national seamount research programme, which studied the effects of fishing on seamounts and saw New Zealand establish the first seamount-specific fishing closures in the world.

Keith has authored many publications, mostly concerning marine biology and ecology of the New Zealand region from shallow, intertidal to deep-sea environments. He is an excellent communicator, having given many public lectures, taught university extension courses, and written books such as “Seas around New Zealand”. He has been instrumental in developing marine science courses and programmes at Otago University and has supervised, mentored, and shared his extensive knowledge with numerous students, many of which have gone on to be successful marine scientists.

2013

Dr. Alison MacDiarmid – behavioural ecology, marine ecosystem services, policy, and management

Dr. MacDiarmid, of NIWA, has an extensive history of supporting NZMSS and working on the Council as President and Secretary. In her early scientific career, she made substantial progress on expanding knowledge of the biology of rock lobster. Currently, she is extremely active in contributing her time and expertise to the uptake of marine science into management and policy, particularly with respect to marine ecosystem services and how they can be monitored to meet legislative obligations under the RMA Act.

Most recently, Dr. MacDiarmid has been leading a major international project on the History of Marine Animal Populations (HMAP), an interdisciplinary approach to explore changes in New Zealand marine shelf ecosystems over the past 1000 years. She has corralled a wide range of specialists for this work– marine biologists, ecologists, archaeologists, social scientists, historians, climatologists, oceanographers, geologists, Maori, and modellers. Overall, Dr. MacDiarmid is an outstanding example of what working at the interface really means for marine science today.

Past Recipients

2000-2012

2012: John Booth

2011: Malcolm Clark

2010: Simon Thrush

2009: Pamela Mace

2008: Malcolm Francis

2007: Wendy Nelson

2005: Dennis Gordon

2003: Dave Schiel

2002: Bill Ballantine

2001: Bruce Hayward

1990-2000

2000: Bob Creese

1999: Lionel Carter

1997: John Jillett

1996: Chris Francis

1995: Vivienne Cassie-Cooper

1994: Janet Grieve

1991: Ron Heath

1990: Pat Bergquist

1985-1989

1988: John Morton

1986: Howard Choat

1985: Jim Brodie, George Knox, & Norm Barber

The NZMSS is grateful for the long-standing support from the Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum who have sponsored the NZMSS award for many years