Principal forest science researcher, Dr Mike Watt, took the Individual/Lifetime Achievement for his leadership in forest science, at the recent Science New Zealand Awards celebrating Scion’s leadership in forestry science, bioplastics research and biotechnology.
Scientists from all seven Crown Research Institutes and Callaghan Innovation were represented at the ceremony held in Parliament. The awards are in three categories - Early Career Researcher, Lifetime Achievement, and Team. Each Science New Zealand member names a recipient in each category and a panel of independent judges chooses a Supreme Award winner from the 24 awardees.
Along with Dr Watt, Scion’s awardee for Early Career Researcher was biopolymer scientist Dr Angelique Greene; and the awardee for the Team Award was the biotechnology team that collaborated with a company in 2021 to support work that explored an experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
Scion Chief Executive, Dr Julian Elder, says the awards showed the depth and breadth of talent across Crown scientists, including Scion, and lifted the profile of their impactful research for New Zealand.
“Most scientists quietly work behind the scenes, but this is a chance to celebrate their achievements and recognise their extraordinary contributions to various industries and New Zealand’s economy.
“For Scion, it’s fantastic to see Mike’s expertise recognised, and the creativity and problem-solving ability that Angelique brings to her work every day at Scion. What’s more, this year’s Scion Team award recipients showcase our capabilities in biotechnology, a cutting-edge research area at Scion where we are making our mark and delivering wonderful results.”
Scion Principal Researcher, Dr Mike Watt, received one of eight Individual/Lifetime Achievement Awards for his distinguished scientific career spanning more than two decades. During this time, he has made significant contributions to several research areas, with notable influence within the areas of forest science, weed management, forest growth modelling and, most recently, remote sensing.
He has produced 173 peer-reviewed publications across a range of topics connected to forestry, making him one of New Zealand’s most prolific and trusted forest researchers. His scientific explorations have advanced knowledge of our nation’s forest estates, providing opportunities for industry to translate his research into practice – adding enormously to the health and economic value of plantation forests across the country, says Dr Elder.
A globally recognised expert in his field, Dr Watt’s expertise and research leadership will continue to be sought-after by forest managers needing a competitive edge, he adds.
