RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO
11
How much to heat a home?
DIVING in the beautiful waters around the
Bay of Plenty may not seem like your average
research activity, but for a University of
Waikato masters student, it is an essential part
of a study that will forge new ground globally in
the field of marine chemotaxonomy.
Sam McCormack is investigating the bio-
chemical composition of sea sponges to classify
and identify the different varieties found
in the Bay of Plenty. This process is known
as taxonomy and Sam’s research will be the
first project to examine taxonomy linked to
ecology and chemistry, in order to look for new
methods of identifying sponges. Sea sponges
are becoming increasingly of interest because
of the anti-cancer properties that some possess.
“Marine species face constant attack from
bacteria and viruses in the marine environment,
and sea sponges in particular have evolved to
produce chemicals that ensure their survival,
says Sam. In fact, of all marine species,
sponges have developed the highest number
of toxic chemicals to protect themselves
from predators.”
It is these chemicals which can lead to
drug discoveries and which scientists are
keen to find out more about. “The similar
molecular structure of sea sponges and
humans means the chemicals produced
by sea sponges can also be used to treat
human viruses,” Sam says.
The chemical potential of sea sponges
In 1986 scientists found an ingredient,
Halichondrin B, in a deep-water sea sponge
off the Kaikoura Coast, which led to the
development of a drug released in 2010, to treat
metastatic late-stage breast cancer.
Sam’s research has the potential to make a
similar medical discovery, though the process
takes a long time.
Sam is working with the University’s
Chair in Coastal Science, Professor Chris
Battershill, who has led biodiscovery teams
in New Zealand and Australia, and was
instrumental in the development of the
Halichondrin B chemical found in sea sponges.
“Marine biodiscovery is a huge area
and Sam’s research is helping us to prepare
for more targeted programmes in the future,
most likely as part of larger partnerships.
"It’s also important that we prepare and
build capacity in our students so they are able to
do the chemical analysis and identify the array
of marine organisms,” says Professor Battershill.
“There are lots of species here in the
Bay yet to be identified and Sam is starting to
investigate potential future leads.
"In reality, the more immediate
opportunities open to us are likely to be targeted
at the agrichemicals and biofuels markets, and
using seaweed products for livestock feed.”
While the Bay of Plenty environment may
not yet have returned to its ‘pre-Rena state’,
the 460 page (plus 243 pages of appendices)
monitoring report released in December shows
few long-lasting impacts on maritime habitats
throughout the wider Bay of Plenty.
The report covers the first two years
of ongoing survey and research work
carried out by a collaborative tertiary
team after the Rena grounded in October
2011. The team included the University
of Waikato, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic,
Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi,
Manaaki Taha Moana, the University of
Canterbury
and
the
University
of
Bremen (Germany).
The University of Waikato’s Chair in
Coastal Science, Professor Chris Battershill,
who led the monitoring programme, says
while there is still some evidence from
time to time of heightened Rena-sourced
contaminant levels in kaimoana species
on
some
of
the
beaches,
and
northern
parts
of
Motiti
Island,
the vast majority of kaimoana and other
species have survived, and no evidence
has been found of any catastrophic die-off.
The report covered the immediate and
medium-term
environmental
response
to the incident, while longer-term effects
Few long-lasting effects from Rena
will be examined after at least another year
of monitoring areas that were heavily oiled.
Scientists are now focusing their
attention on Otaiti Reef, which was not
part of the original monitoring programme.
A team led by University of Waikato
Marine Ecologist Dr Phil Ross will examine
the type and extent of contamination on
and around Otaiti and Motiti Island in
collaboration with the Rena owner’s
technical group.
Data from reef surveys conducted
at six-monthly intervals for the next
couple of years will provide a clearer
picture of whether the contamination
present on Astrolabe Reef is stable or
radiating away from the wreck site.
NEW ZEALAND houses are often damp and
cold in winter but how likely are landlords to
improve heating and how willing are tenants
or even home owners to pay for improved
heating systems?
To answer this question, economists at
the University of Waikato surveyed Pasifika
immigrants in New Zealand; a high-risk group
for respiratory disease who often rent homes,
and who have been identified by Statistics
New Zealand as the group most likely to
report that their home is too cold.
Dr Halahingano Rohorua, who’s from
Tonga, and Professors John Gibson and
Riccardo Scarpa received financial support
from a Marsden Fund
grant to carry out
the research.
“We wanted to know
what forms of heating
people preferred and
how much they would
be prepared to pay for a
dwelling with improved
household heating,” says Dr Rohorua.
Average household size amongst the
249 respondents was 7.4 people with 2.4 to
the average bedroom. Average household
income was $21,500. The most common
form of heating was electric heater followed
by open fire. Less than 10% of respondents
had devices that either warmed or dried
the air, such as dehumidifiers, HRV systems
and heat pumps. More than half reported
issues around cold, damp, mould and the
cost of heating and more than half reported
that they’d had respiratory problems in
the past year.
Participants were given choices over
dwellings with different heating devices and
different rental costs. From these choices the
researchers were able to calculate how much
renters and homeowners alike would be
willing to pay. The highest willingness was for
HRV heat recovery ventilation systems.Wood
burners and heat pumps came in second and
third. People renting would pay $10.60 a
week more if that meant they’d get an HRV
system. They’d pay just under half that for a
wood burner and heat pump.
“Then we worked out how the willingness
to pay compared with the
costs of these devices. Would
the willingness to pay a higher
rent enable a landlord to pay
back the cost of one of these
devices without government
subsidies? The results suggest
that the HRV system and
dehumidifiers could be fully
paid back by tenants’ willingness to pay
higher rent, while for the heat pump and
woodburner, the willingness to pay added up
to between two thirds and three quarters of
capital cost,” says Dr Rohorua.
Professor Gibson says warmer, drier
homes are an important objective of public
policy, with co-operation between the
government and some opposition parties.
What has not been known to date was
whether renters themselves placed a high
value on such improvements.
CHEMICALWONDER: Sam McCormack is studying the chemical composition of sea sponges.
At the University of Waikato, the possibilities are endless.
Our research is changing the world
The University of Waikato is committed to research that tackles
national and global challenges.
Our six world-leading research institutes are offering scholarships to doctoral and masters
students keen to help shape the future. Scholarships are available from:
»
»
Environmental Research Institute
»
»
Institute for Business Research
»
»
Institute of Educational
and Professional Learning
and Development
»
»
National Institute of Demographic
and Economic Analysis
»
»
Te Kotahi Research Institute
»
»
Wilf Malcolm Institute
of Educational Research
Doctoral scholarships are worth up to $22,000 a year, and are open to New Zealand and
international students. Masters scholarships of $12,000 are available to New Zealand
students only.
For more information and to apply, visit
waikato.ac.nz
or talk to us on
0800 WAIKATO
.
Applications close 5pm, Monday 30 June 2014.
