title: Bonamia Response 2015: Report from the Technical Advisory Group on Resilience Breeding in Flat Oysters

authors: Ross, Philip M.

abstract: Bonamia ostreae is an unwanted and notifiable organism that was first detected in New Zealand in flat oysters (Ostrea chilensis) collected in 2014 from the Marlborough Sounds. It is not known how B. ostreae entered New Zealand. Evidence indicates that it is a recent introduction. A Controlled Area Notice was issued as a measure to prevent the spread of B. ostreae from the known infected area to valuable wild oyster populations and farmed oysters in Big Glory Bay (Stewart Island). In May 2017, MPI’s surveillance programme detected B. ostreae in farmed oysters from Big Glory Bay. The decision was made to depopulate all oyster farms in Big Glory Bay and the Marlborough Sounds to protect the wild flat oyster population in Foveaux Strait and contain the spread of infection to other areas. The aquaculture industry requested that MPI consider retaining some stock from the Marlborough Sounds farms for the purpose of breeding B. ostreae resilient oysters. The oysters to be retained were stock that had survived B. ostreae mortality events and were considered by some oyster farmers and Cawthron scientists to be B. ostreae resilient. The premise for the proposal was that a “selective breeding programme could potentially future-proof and rebuild wild oyster fisheries by increasing the resilience of the populations even in the absence of the parasite, so that in the event of future incursions flat oysters would be more able to survive infections”. The proposed programme was also put forward as a way to future-proof and support the reestablishment of O. chilensis aquaculture.
In response to this proposal a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was assembled by MPI to provide independent, expert scientific and technical advice on Bonamia spp. resilience breeding in flat oysters. The TAGs discussions were conducted in the context of Bonamia ostreae being an unwanted organism in New Zealand, with a distribution of infection that is highly localised. The understanding of the TAG was that the highest priorities were the ongoing containment of B. ostreae and the protection of wild populations of O. chilensis from B. ostreae infection.

text: Bonamia Response 2015: Report from the Technical Advisory Group on Resilience Breeding in Flat Oysters Bonamia ostreae is an unwanted and notifiable organism that was first detected in New Zealand in flat oysters (Ostrea chilensis) collected in 2014 from the Marlborough Sounds. It is not known how B. ostreae entered New Zealand. Evidence indicates that it is a recent introduction. A Controlled Area Notice was issued as a measure to prevent the spread of B. ostreae from the known infected area to valuable wild oyster populations and farmed oysters in Big Glory Bay (Stewart Island). In May 2017, MPI’s surveillance programme detected B. ostreae in farmed oysters from Big Glory Bay. The decision was made to depopulate all oyster farms in Big Glory Bay and the Marlborough Sounds to protect the wild flat oyster population in Foveaux Strait and contain the spread of infection to other areas. The aquaculture industry requested that MPI consider retaining some stock from the Marlborough Sounds farms for the purpose of breeding B. ostreae resilient oysters. The oysters to be retained were stock that had survived B. ostreae mortality events and were considered by some oyster farmers and Cawthron scientists to be B. ostreae resilient. The premise for the proposal was that a “selective breeding programme could potentially future-proof and rebuild wild oyster fisheries by increasing the resilience of the populations even in the absence of the parasite, so that in the event of future incursions flat oysters would be more able to survive infections”. The proposed programme was also put forward as a way to future-proof and support the reestablishment of O. chilensis aquaculture.
In response to this proposal a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was assembled by MPI to provide independent, expert scientific and technical advice on Bonamia spp. resilience breeding in flat oysters. The TAGs discussions were conducted in the context of Bonamia ostreae being an unwanted organism in New Zealand, with a distribution of infection that is highly localised. The understanding of the TAG was that the highest priorities were the ongoing containment of B. ostreae and the protection of wild populations of O. chilensis from B. ostreae infection.

year: 2017

title: Employer and academic staff perceptions of science and engineering graduate competencies

authors: Khoo, Elaine G.L.

subjects: Science and engineering graduate competencies

abstract: This paper reports on the findings from a study investigating science and engineering employ- ers and university academic teaching staff perceptions of the competencies science and engineering recent graduates require in the workplace. Data were collected through surveys and focus group interviews of science and engineering employers and academic teaching staff. Participants rated 26 graduate competencies on how important they are for graduates entering the science and engineering workplace across three aspects: important today, important in 10 years’ time, and, the perceived competency performance level of recent graduates that have entered the workplace. The findings revealed that employers thought teamwork, written communication, problem solving, oral communication, and interpersonal relationships were particularly important for today while academic teaching staff, however, viewed problem solving, written communication, critical thinking, conceptual thinking, and oral communication to be important today. The findings offer insights into the extent current preparation of science and engineering students are meeting employer expectations and highlight shifts in perceived future competencies to enhance support for student learning and employability outcomes. Implications are offered for strengthening curriculum, pedagogy and assessment approaches for workplace preparation. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the present study and how future research might resolve those limitations.

text: Employer and academic staff perceptions of science and engineering graduate competencies This paper reports on the findings from a study investigating science and engineering employ- ers and university academic teaching staff perceptions of the competencies science and engineering recent graduates require in the workplace. Data were collected through surveys and focus group interviews of science and engineering employers and academic teaching staff. Participants rated 26 graduate competencies on how important they are for graduates entering the science and engineering workplace across three aspects: important today, important in 10 years’ time, and, the perceived competency performance level of recent graduates that have entered the workplace. The findings revealed that employers thought teamwork, written communication, problem solving, oral communication, and interpersonal relationships were particularly important for today while academic teaching staff, however, viewed problem solving, written communication, critical thinking, conceptual thinking, and oral communication to be important today. The findings offer insights into the extent current preparation of science and engineering students are meeting employer expectations and highlight shifts in perceived future competencies to enhance support for student learning and employability outcomes. Implications are offered for strengthening curriculum, pedagogy and assessment approaches for workplace preparation. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the present study and how future research might resolve those limitations.

year: 2020

title: Examining the potential of critical and Kaupapa Māori approaches to leading education reform in New Zealand’s English-medium secondary schools

authors: Berryman, Mere

abstract: This paper discusses expectations, policies and practices that currently underpin education within the New Zealand context. It acknowledges the ongoing failure of this policy framework to positively influence reform for Indigenous Māori students in regular, state-funded schools and highlights the need for extensive change in the positioning and expectations of educators if Māori learners are to realize their true potential. The paper then considers leadership models to reimagine and lead a transformative educational reform that aims to include the aspirations and contributions of all members of the school’s communities, especially those who have historically been marginalized. Finally it considers the implications of this model for international application.

text: Examining the potential of critical and Kaupapa Māori approaches to leading education reform in New Zealand’s English-medium secondary schools This paper discusses expectations, policies and practices that currently underpin education within the New Zealand context. It acknowledges the ongoing failure of this policy framework to positively influence reform for Indigenous Māori students in regular, state-funded schools and highlights the need for extensive change in the positioning and expectations of educators if Māori learners are to realize their true potential. The paper then considers leadership models to reimagine and lead a transformative educational reform that aims to include the aspirations and contributions of all members of the school’s communities, especially those who have historically been marginalized. Finally it considers the implications of this model for international application.

year: 2016