Message from the Dean What a year 2011 has been! We have

witnessed in New Zealand, and further afield,

natural hazards on an unprecedented scale,

earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and floods

all reminding us of the awesome power of

nature and the challenge this represents for

the next generation of Engineers.

I am extremely proud of the fact that as a

Faculty we have been at the frontline of some

of these events, offering support and expertise

and a willingness to find ways to improve and

enhance.

As a discipline, Engineering continues to grow

in both breadth and depth and I would like to

make a special mention of a project

undertaken by our fourth year students early in

Semester two. The “Systems thinking week”

was the result of a lot of hard work and

innovation by a small team of Faculty staff and

a visiting academic, Professor Keith Robinson,

from University College London.

The program was created in recognition of the

increased need for Engineers to be more

capable and more confident when operating in

today’s advanced multifaceted business

environment. The group hoped to see

engineering lifted to another level, exploring

how different disciplines can be integrated and

managed together to form robust, complex

solutions which meet the needs of today’s

society.

The Faculty has seen several new programs

introduced in 2011, notably the Master of

Energy and the Master of Engineering Studies

in Medical Devices and Technologies. Next

year we are introducing the Master of

Engineering studies in Food Process

Engineering and a Master of Engineering

Studies in Yacht Engineering.

Next year will see changes to the heads of two

departments. Professor Gordon Mallinson will

be stepping down as Head of Mechanical

Engineering after seven years and Professor

Neil Broom from Chemical and Material

Engineering after three years. I am

tremendously grateful for their contributions to

their respective departments and the wider

Faculty. Gordon and Neil will be succeeded by

Professor Brian Mace and Professor Brent

Young respectively.

We have also had the retirement this year of

two of the Faculty’s notable academics,

Professor Ian Collins and Professor Andrew

Pullan, both from the Department of

Engineering Science.

More broadly I am pleased to note that the

Faculty continues to perform well at an

International level. We have maintained

strong links with our Group of Eight (GO8)

Universities colleagues in Australia and were

very pleased to be able to host their meeting

at the Faculty earlier in the year. We continue

to be the only New Zealand University invited

to be an associate member of the GO8 Dean

of Engineering Group. We have also

performed strongly in the QS World University

Rankings and as a Faculty are ranked 62nd in

the world, the only New Zealand Engineering

Faculty to make the top 100.

2011 has been a good year for prizes in the

Faculty and I would like to pay particular

tribute to Professor David Ryan who stepped

down from the position of Deputy Dean

midyear. David was recently awarded the

Pickering Medal which recognises excellence

and innovation in the practical application of

technology.

The Faculty is also proud to acknowledge the

work of Professor Neil Broom, Associate

Professor Margaret Hyland and Dr Ashvin

Thambyah in receiving two prestigious

Marsden grants.

It has also been a very successful year for

some of our recent graduates. Jeffrey Hawke

and Karishma Sharma have been awarded

Fulbright-Ministry of Science and Innovation

Graduate awards. The scholarships are worth

more than US$25,000 and are awarded to

promising New Zealand graduate students to

undertake postgraduate study or research at

United States institutions.

Perhaps the most significant event in the

Faculty, and indeed The University, this year is

the multimillion dollar deal that Qualcomm, a

major US research and development company

specialising in wireless communications,

undertook with the University to acquire

exclusive rights in and to certain wireless

electrical vehicle charging technology

pioneered by Professor John Boys and

Associate Professors Grant Covic and Udaya

Madawala from the Faculty of Electrical and

Computer Engineering.

I am also pleased to note that thanks to an

endowment from Mighty River Power we will

be establishing a Chair in Geothermal

Reservoir Engineering. This will support the

rebirth of the University’s internationally

renowned geothermal institute which is a

cross-faculty centre with a focus on research

and education related to the exploration and

utilisation of geothermal energy resources.

Finally I would like to say thank you to all our

alumni who turned out in support of our

Annual Alumni Dinner. We were very pleased

with the turn out during one of the most

important months in New Zealand’s sporting

calendar. It was a fitting way to start the

weekend which saw the All Blacks defeat

France (and Wales overthrow Namibia!). As

those of you, who were there will recall, I

almost had my dream of a Wales vs. New

Zealand final come true!

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a

safe and happy New Year.

Engineering Alumni NewsDecember 2011 | A Newsletter for Engineering Alumni | Number 26

Professor Michael C.R. Davies

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 2

Two new Chairs appointed in Food ProcessingThe Faculty has appointed two new

Chairs in Food Processing. Professor

Brent Young (Industrial Information

and Control Centre) has been

appointed to the first Chair and

earlier this year in July, the Faculty

welcomed Professor Murat Balaban.

These appointments are part of the

new Food and Health Programme at

The University.

Murat Balaban joined the Faculty in July from

the University of Alaska where he was

Professor and Director of the Fisheries

Industrial Technology Center. He has extensive

experience of food processing techniques.

Recent research projects to automate the

objective evaluation of food quality include the

visual, textural and odour characteristics of

foods, measured and evaluated with

instruments. Previously Murat was Codirector

of the Juice and Beverage Center at the

University of Florida (2005-08). Some examples

of the commercial application of his research

include: the reduction of yield loss during

shrimp cooking, application of modified

atmospheric gases to improve fish shelf life,

and improving the quality of coffee beans

through enzymes.

Professor Young has been with the Faculty

since 2006, where he is the Director of the

Industrial Information and Control Centre

(I2C2).

In February 2011 he was appointed Professor

of Food Process Engineering. Previously at the

University of Calgary and the University of

Technology, Sydney, his research focuses on the

use of mathematical modelling to help

companies design and optimise their

manufacturing processes. His research has

particular application for food processing and

energy conservation and his work on process

simulation and control has been used by food

and energy companies to improve their

production processes. He has co-authored over

200 refereed publications including the book

“A Real-time Approach to Process Control”,

published by John Wiley (2nd Edition, 2006).

Professor David Ryan awarded top Royal Society award Professor David Ryan FRSNZ received one of the top awards at the 2011 New Zealand Research Honours Dinner in Wellington. Hosted by the Royal Society of New Zealand, the dinner celebrates achievements by top New Zealand researchers.

Professor Ryan was awarded the Pickering

Medal which recognises excellence and

innovation in the practical application of

technology.

He is New Zealand’s leading authority on

operations research and this country’s most

influential contributor to the field. Professor

Ryan is best known for developing the

innovative ‘Ryan-Foster constraint branching’

technology which is now a fundamental

component of optimisation software used

worldwide for solving complex logistics

problems. This technology revolutionised the

optimisation landscape by dramatically

increasing the range and size of problems to

which optimisation could be applied.

In New Zealand, Professor Ryan’s methods

have allowed a new range of practical

real-world problems to be solved.

For example, he has collaborated with Air New

Zealand for more than 20 years to

commercially exploit his technology. He

developed pioneering optimisation software

that is now used by the airline to optimally

schedule flight crews. The savings from these

optimisers were estimated in 2000 as being

more than NZ$15 million per year.

He has recently worked with Air New Zealand

to develop robust solutions that can reduce the

impact of disruptions, work which is regarded

as ground-breaking and possibly the first

airline implementation of this new technology.

Professor David Ryan

Professor Brent Young

Professor Murat Balaban

Faculty News

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 3

At the forefront of global electric vehicle technology In by far the most significant technology transfer deal ever achieved by a New Zealand university, car travel worldwide is set to be transformed by revolutionary technology developed by the Faculty.

Qualcomm, a major US research and

development company specialising in wireless

communications, has acquired exclusive rights

to wireless electric vehicle charging technology

developed by The Faculty of Engineering.

Electric vehicles are predicted to begin an

accelerated penetration into the automotive

market by 2015.

Inductive Power Technology (IPT) was pioneered

by the Faculty’s Professor John Boys and

Associate Professors Grant Covic and Udaya

Madawala from the Power Electronics Group.

They have led the world in developing systems

to transmit electric power efficiently across air

gaps without using wires.

Qualcomm also acquired the assets and

technology of spinout company HaloIPT. The

company was set up in a partnership with

international engineering firm Arup, the

TransTasman Commercialisation Fund and the

New Zealand Venture Investment Fund’s SCIF

program to develop IPT technology

commercially for cars by building prototypes,

establishing standards and making the

technology reliable. In the deal HaloIPT’s staff

joined the Qualcomm company.

The Faculty of Engineering and Auckland

UniServices Ltd, the University’s commercial

arm, will use the funds generated from the

transaction to invest in further research and

commercialisation, as well as sharing a portion

with the inventors in line with the University’s

intellectual property policy.

Qualcomm was impressed by the quality of

research at the University and through

UniServices will provide ongoing support for

IPT research at the University.

University Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the

UniServices Board, Professor Stuart

McCutcheon, said IPT technology, now set to

reduce the cost and environmental impact of

motoring on a massive scale, had started out

as fundamental research. “Merely tinkering

with plug-in cars, for example, would never

have led to Professors Boys and Covic

unearthing this fundamentally different

technology.

“It is an outstanding example of how

fundamental curiosity-driven research,

developed through painstaking investigation

and testing, was brought to market through

the region’s leading technology transfer

company, UniServices. This development path

can exist only in a research intensive globally-

connected University. It demonstrates the

ability of universities to influence the future in

a radical and positive manner, and to bring

global benefits.

“The scientific brilliance and diligence of

Professor Boys and his colleagues, plus the

commercial savviness of UniServices make for

an unbeatable combination,” said Professor

McCutcheon.

“IPT will become the standard technology for

electric-powered vehicles. Vehicles fitted with

our technology will be able to charge overnight

using electricity generated by renewable

sources such as wind. Because there is a low

demand for electricity at night, little or no extra

installed generating capacity will be required

to power our fleet of electric vehicles,” said Dr

Peter Lee, Chief Executive of UniServices.

“We dealt with Qualcomm because of its track

record in establishing the universal global

standard for other technologies like mobile

phones. The likelihood of the technology being

successful or reaching global market is now

more likely with Qualcomm.

“This deal is fantastic news for New Zealand

– we are providing access to technology in

exchange for payments that will help ensure

future investment in New Zealand research.

There will be ample opportunity for New

Zealand-based companies to become a part of

the high technology manufacturing required

for these systems.

“These local companies will have the

advantage of being close to the source of the

technology and access to many generations of

engineers who have graduated from our

University with an in-depth knowledge of the

underlying technology. We are already in

discussions with some of them to make sure

they are well positioned to capture benefit

from this development.

“We will generate financial benefits to further

advance IPT technology here in New Zealand

and at the University.”

Andrew Gilbert, executive vice president of

European Innovation Development at

Qualcomm, said, “we can look back with pride

and pleasure at how our two organisations

worked diligently to achieve a wireless power

solution.

“In the future I am greatly looking forward to

helping develop a long lasting and successful

collaboration with The University of Auckland

and Auckland UniServices.”

Associate Professor Grant Covic and Professor John Boys

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 4

Faculty News CONTINUED

Michael Daniell

Professor Ian Collins celebrates retirement after more than 40 years of teachingIn August the Faculty paid tribute to Professor

Ian Collins. Professor Collins first joined the

Faculty in 1981, taking on the role of Head of

Department for Engineering Science until

1991.

Professor Collins career has been filled with

highlights. He has received three major

medals, in consecutive years, from The UK

Institute of Civil Engineers. In addition to this

he has been elected a Fellow of the Royal

Society of New Zealand and has published a

paper jointly with Professor Houlsby, Oxford in

1997, which has well over 100 citations.

He has been awarded a number of overseas

Visiting Fellowships and Professorships at

Clare Hall Cambridge, Churchill College

Cambridge, Christchurch College, Oxford; and

Professorships at Kyushu University, Japan,

Tsinghua University, China, Johns Hopkins

University and the University of Minnesota in

the USA and Sydney, Australia.

In his retirement he aims to contribute to the

work of the NZ Association of Rationalists and

Humanists, grow orchids, catch up on a lot of

reading, keep “deadlines” to a minimum and

spend more time with his four daughters and

two grandchildren.

Ian also has interests in understanding modern

‘Theories of the Universe’; not with a view of

contributing to the research, instead by writing

a review and issues paper.

Head of Department for Engineering Science,

Professor Mathias Ehrgott says “it is hard to

imagine the department without Ian.”

Professor Collins was born in England and

studied Mathematics at Cambridge University.

After a stint working for the Admiralty

Research Laboratory in London’s Hampton

Court with engineers, Ian went back to

Cambridge to complete a PhD.

Once he attained his PhD he began teaching

at Manchester University. During his time

there he went on sabbatical in the United

States working at the US Steel Company in

Pennsylvania. When he returned to

Manchester he attended the Annual

Mechanical Conference, where he met Cecil

Segedin and Ian Medlan from The University

of Auckland. Segedin caught Professor Collins

attention as he discussed the Department of

Engineering Science, a balance of maths and

engineering, which Professor Collins had been

interested in.

Once Segedin announced his retirement

Professor Collins applied for the position. He

was successful and moved to Auckland with his

wife and daughters.

Professor Collins says his students showed him

genuine affection when he announced his

retirement.

“Helping students, both with their academic

studies and deciding on career goals, has

always been a priority. I will miss the

interactions with the students very much, but

in the end I decided it was time to move on.”

Professor Andrew Pullan retires from the Department of Engineering Science

Andrew holds a BSc (Hons) degree in

Mathematics from the University of Auckland.

He completed a PhD in the Department of

Engineering Science in 1988 under the

supervision of Professor Ian Collins. In 1989, at

age 24, Andrew joined the Department of

Engineering Science as a lecturer on a term

appointment, after a short stint as a financial

analyst at Winston’s/Fletcher Challenge.

Andrew became a prolific researcher with

research interests on the mathematical

modelling of biomedical structures including

the electrical function of the heart, skeletal and

smooth muscle with a major specific focus on

the gastrointestinal system in recent years.He

describes his very productive research group

as “being like family to him”. In 2010 Andrew

and his team were responsible for two patents,

13 journal articles and 24 conferences papers/

presentations. Andrew has many strong

international linkages including an adjunct

position in the Department of Surgery at

Vanderbuilt University, and visiting

appointments at Oxford, University of

California, University of the Utah and Duke

University.

The impact and importance of Andrew’s work

was recognised in 2003 when he was awarded

a James Cook Research Fellowship – an award

which is widely regarded as New Zealand’s

most prestigious science and technology

award. Andrew’s cardiac modelling work is

documented in his 2005 book,

“Mathematically modelling electrical activity of

the heart - From Cell to Body Surface and Back

Again”. Andrew was promoted to the rank of

Professor in 2006 and elected as a Fellow of

the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2009.

Andrew became Head of the Department of

Engineering Science in 2008. He was a

dedicated Head of Department who edited a

beautiful book, “TAM to DES and Beyond in 45

Years: The Story of Engineering Science at The

University of Auckland” to celebrate the 40th

anniversary of students graduating from the

Department in 2008. Among his many other

initiatives Andrew also founded a contest for

high school students entitled “NZ’s Next Top

Engineering Scientist”.

Andrew’s retirement from the Department of

Engineering Science is on medical grounds and

will allow him to focus on his health and his

family after being diagnosed in June with

metastatic melanoma. Andrew’s ground

breaking research is continued by a team of 11

graduate students, post-doctoral researchers

and research assistants at The University of

Auckland.

Professor Andrew Pullan

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 5

Launch of Food Process Engineering Research MastersThe introduction of a new specialisation in the Master of Engineering Studies in Food Process Engineering supports the goals of the Food and Health Programme and will attract new graduate students to The University of Auckland.

The Food and Health Programme, a major

interdisciplinary research and teaching

initiative of The University of Auckland, was

launched in May 2010.

The programme draws on specialist expertise

in food science, process engineering, nutrition,

health, social sciences, business and

commercialisation from across The University

of Auckland to improve health outcomes,

enhance innovation and growth in the New

Zealand food and beverage sector, discover

fundamental knowledge for future application

and provide high quality university-trained

graduates to the sector.

The Departments of Chemical and Materials

Engineering and Chemistry are already active

in this area, and recent appointments of two

Professors in Food Process Engineering and,

one Associate Professor in Food Science

strengthen expertise in these areas, where

strong collaboration already exists. Companies,

such as NZ Food Innovation Manukau and

Fonterra, have indicated their willingness to

assist with this specialisation.

The specialisation is primarily aimed at

engineers and food science professionals and

will provide them with the necessary

information covering the various topics that

underpin food manufacturing processes. It will

also provide advanced knowledge in food

process engineering practice and food product

development and innovation.

To best meet the needs of students with

different backgrounds, including those coming

from industry, the programme format is

provided as both a Research Masters and a

Taught Masters, with the latter including a

variety of engineering and food science

courses from a schedule that students can

draw upon to best address their own area of

interest. Through the appropriate choice of

core and elective papers, as well as research

topics, a food process development orientation

is envisaged for BE students and a food

product development direction is foreseen for

BSc or BTech or Food Science PG Diploma

students.

To ensure that students are exposed to the

rigours and challenges of applied research,

and that the degree satisfies the CUAP

Masters requirements, both options contain a

research component, which will involve working

with a research group or secondment to

industry. Both the research and taught

masters build upon two core courses,

described in the course prescriptions section,

that provide a coherent base for the

programme. These courses will have the

breadth to ensure students gain a wide

understanding of the range of skills needed to

successfully apply the outcomes of their

research and study in a commercial

environment.

For further information on the new Masters of

Engineering Studies in Food Process

Engineering visit:

www.engineering.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/

mengst-food-process

Leading the World; The Yacht Research UnitThe Yacht Research Unit (YRU) was established in 1987 with the primary function of coordinating and promoting yacht research and engineering within the University of Auckland.

Since that time the impact of the Yacht

Research Unit and the Faculty has been

phenomenal. Some world firsts include:

Obtaining successful computational

solutions for the coupled structural/

aerodynamic behaviour of sails.

The application of computational fluid

dynamics to the flow around spinnakers.

Construction of a wind tunnel with twisted

flow for testing sails; including advanced

optimisation methods into a Velocity

prediction program.

Development of a real- time velocity

prediction program.

Development of a visual sail position and rig

shape system.

Building on recent successes and leveraging

existing world-class R&D, The University of

Auckland and partners are planning to build

an integrated, first-of-its-kind, Centre of

Excellence combining aerodynamic and yacht

facilities under one roof. The Yacht Research

Centre will house the world-leading Twisted

Flow Wind Tunnel, a large Boundary Layer

Wind Tunnel, a Towing Tank, a Computational

Fluid Dynamics Centre, a Design Centre for

industry, as well as meeting, lecture and

break-out rooms.

Synergies with research into power boats,

wind, vehicle aerodynamics, sports (e.g.

cycling, rowing, sailing) and energy (wave,

tidal, wind) will provide multidisciplinary study

yielding novel research outcomes and

programmatic solutions.

The launch of the Masters of

Engineering Studies in Yacht

Engineering

The University of Auckland is offering a new

one year master’s degree in Yacht Engineering

in 2012. 

Students will be able to join the programme

either in March or July of each year.  The

programme will emphasise the aerodynamics

and hydrodynamics of both powered and

sailing craft, the consequent loads, stress

analysis, structural materials, design and the

associated manufacturing processes. 

Graduates will be expected to seek

employment as design and/or research

engineers within the yacht design sector.  For further information on the new Masters of

Yacht Research visit:

www.engineering.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/

mengst-yacht

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 6

Two lecturers awarded doctorates at Spring GraduationRick Henry, a lecturer in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and Mehdi Shahbazpour, a lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering received doctorates at Spring Graduation.

The Faculty awarded 201 qualifications during

the graduation ceremony held at the Auckland

Town Hall on 22 September. Rick and Mehdi

were among the 124 graduates from across

the University to receive PhDs.

Rick’s PhD research on self-centering precast

concrete walls could, in the future, mean

buildings are more likely to withstand

earthquakes with minimal structural damage,

reducing economic costs and heartache for

home and business owners.

“The current seismic design philosophy is

focused on life-safety and we allow controllable

damage of structures during an earthquake.

That works really well but it means the

economic costs are really high, and that is

what the people of Christchurch are suffering

from at the moment with all the demolitions

and rebuilding.

“It’s going from life-safety and collapse

prevention to more performance-based design

where we can also ensure that a structure

suffers minimal damage and can be

immediately reoccupied following a large

earthquake.”

Mehdi’s Shahbazpour PhD, which involved him

being imbedded in a manufacturing company,

investigated the dynamics of system and

process innovation in small and medium sized

manufacturing companies. Mehdi developed a

practical framework for initiating and

implementing strategic innovation for

manufacturing companies.

“My thesis was about developing a tool or

framework for New Zealand manufacturing

companies to help them come up with new

products and new processes,” he says. At

Mehdi’s graduation was his wife Zahra, their

three-year-old daughter Leyla, one year-old son

Daniel, his mother Mahin and father Nosrat.

Mehdi, who was born and partly schooled in

Iran, spent his high school years in Australia,

where his family moved so his father could

complete a PhD.

“It was my father’s dream that one of us would

do a PhD. My other siblings have bachelor

degrees and are very successful in their

careers as well. I had the opportunity to do

both so I took it.”

Rick, who spent several weeks in Christchurch

following the February earthquake working on

his reinforced concrete building design

research, says he hopes that self-centering

precast concrete walls will be used in the city’s

rebuild.

Between them, University Chancellor Roger

France and Pro-Chancellor Dr Ian Parton

personally conferred 1880 degrees and

diplomas, bestowing the rest (828) “in

absentia” on those who could not attend.

Speakers at the ceremonies included the

Auckland Museum’s new director Roy Clare,

Epsom Girls Grammar School principal

Madeline Gunn, and Counties Manukau

District Health Board CEO Geraint Martin.

Pink Ribbon Day forBreast Cancer awareness The Women In Engineering Network (WEN) proudly supported this year’s annual Pink Ribbon Day for The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation on 14 October.

The foundation provides breast health and

breast cancer education and awareness

programmes, research and medical grants,

community outreach grants and advocacy to

help the one in nine New Zealand women

diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Students and employees in the Faculty got to

show their support by wearing pink and

donating to the Women in Engineering

Network stand, set up in the Faculty atrium

foyer.

This year, in exchange for donations, there was

all the usual Pink Ribbon merchandise with

some special extras:

Hot chocolate with mini marshmallows

Pink cupcakes

A performance by The University of

Auckland Acappella Chorus

After a successful day and the support of the

students and Faculty this year the WEN

volunteers successfully collected around

$2,000 to contribute to the New Zealand

Breast Cancer Foundation.

Dr Rick Henry

Dr Mehdi Shahbazpour

WEN members Ying Yang, Imee Tribo,

and Lily Feng

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 7

ResearchEngineering has success in Marsden Fund roundTwo research teams from the Faculty were successful in the 2011 Marsden Fund round, winning more than $1.24 million between them.

Professor Neil Broom and Dr Ashvin Thambyah

(joint investigator) from the Department of

Chemical and Materials Engineering, have

been awarded $415,000 for a mechanobiology

and joint tissue degeneration research project.

Associate Professor Margaret Hyland, also

from the Department of Chemical and

Materials Engineering, received $830,000 to

explore the chemistry of interfaces to enhance

adhesion.

Margaret was thankful to the Faculty in

helping prepare for the proposal. “The support

I received from the Research Office and the

Faculty in preparing both the preliminary and

full proposals was invaluable. The mock panel

helped me clarify the novelty of the idea. The

editorial assistance was critical in helping me

sharpen the writing and fit the essential points

into a limited space.“

Margaret, Neil and Ashvin are part of the

nineteen research teams from across The

University of Auckland that were awarded a

total of $12.5 million over three years.

Applications to the Marsden Fund are

extremely competitive. Of the 1,078

preliminary proposals submitted from across

New Zealand, only 88 were ultimately funded.

“The Marsden Fund supports leading-edge

research, which creates economic growth and

increases our understanding of issues, from

medical advancements to social change and

development,” said Marsden Fund Council

chairman Professor Peter Hunter in announcing

the results. “Most breakthroughs around the

world come from this basic science end of the

research spectrum, which is what makes the

Marsden Fund both exciting to be part of, and

vital for New Zealand to invest in.”

Dr Ashvin Thambyah, Professor Neil Broom and Associate Professor Margaret Hyland

Chair in Geothermal Reservoir Engineering announcedMighty River Power is investing in the continued development of New Zealand’s expertise and research into geothermal power generation by entering into an agreement with The University of Auckland to sponsor a newly established Chair in Geothermal Reservoir Engineering.

Mighty River Power’s General Manager

Development, Mark Trigg, said the Company’s

sponsorship would provide funding of

$1 million over a five year period to the role –

known as the Mighty River Power Chair in

Geothermal Reservoir Engineering - supporting

the rebirth of The University’s internationally

renowned Geothermal Institute.

“The University of Auckland is among the top

Universities in the world for geothermal

engineering research and education – an area

of high importance to our business. The

reestablishment of the Geothermal Institute

will provide vital impetus to the building of

New Zealand’s geothermal capacity, both in

terms of a greater number of graduates with

the skills sought by Mighty River Power, and

also in building a greater depth of geothermal

knowledge in New Zealand,” said Mr Trigg.

Professor Michael Davies, Dean of the Faculty

of Engineering, said the Geothermal Institute is

a cross-faculty centre with a focus on research

and education related to the exploration and

utilisation of geothermal energy resources.

“Since 1978, more than 850 students from over

50 countries have graduated from the

Geothermal Institute with a world recognised

qualification in geothermal energy – with many

graduates going on to become leaders in the

industry. We recognise the important role the

University has to play in the Government’s

plan for geothermal development and are very

pleased that Mighty River Power’s support and

expertise will take us closer to fulfilling that

role,” he said.

Mighty River Power is recognised as one of the

world’s leading geothermal developers,

investing over $1 billion over the past five

years in domestic geothermal developments

and deploying a further $466 million to

construct the new Ngatamariki power station

near Taupo. The Company also has projects in

the US, Chile and Germany through its

investment in the GeoGlobal Energy (GGE)

Fund - the first of which, Hudson Ranch Power I

in the Imperial Valley of Southern California,

will come to market in 2012.

A search panel, including a representative

from Mighty River Power, will be established to

appoint the Chair, with applications expected

from all over the world. It is anticipated the

new professor will be appointed during the first

half of 2012.

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 8

Testing for tsunami damageAre our buildings safe if a tsunami hits? That’s the question Associate Professor Asaad Shamseldin from the Faculty is trying to answer.

Assad’s long term goal is to develop a national

facility at The University to inform decision

makers about what they need to do to design

buildings that are resilient to tsunamis. His

tsunami research is inspired by the 2004

Indian Ocean earthquake and subsequent

tsunami that devastated fourteen countries in

South East Asia. “The Boxing Day tsunami

happened in the past but we have since seen a

number of Tsunami events.”

Asaad, along with supervisor Professor Bruce

Melville and PHD student Reza Shafiel, are

investigating tsunami induced forces and the

impact of debri on buildings. The research is a

four stage process; stage one is the

construction of a model to show a typical New

Zealand residential dwelling and its installation

in a flume or chute, where water is released

simulating the effect of an actual tsunami

wave in order to measure the force induced by

the wave along with applied pressure

distributions. Stage three is about quantifying

the impact of the floating debris on buildings,

while stage four will involve up scaling the

experimental results to full structural scale so

they can be used for design purposes.

New Zealand has a large coastline that makes

us vulnerable to tsunami damage. And there is

a lot of uncertainty about magnitude or force.

Once that is determined, the knowledge from

Asaad and his research can be applied to the

design of structures and infrastructure in

general. Another aspect of the research is to

look at low impact design or green proofing, to

see “how we can re-engineer the landscape to

mitigate some of the likely effects of a

tsunami”.

The current research on tsunamis interaction

with infrastructure is a joint research initiative

between the Department of Civil and

Environmental Engineering at The University of

Auckland and Gegar Prasetya from Geological

and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) Limited. There are

also plans to have a joint workshop with Japan

to learn from their experience.

Japan has a specialised laboratory for tsunami

research, and Asaad and his colleagues are

working on a much smaller scale but it is the

first such lab in New Zealand.

3D Models of the futureResearchers at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) are working on computer software that in the future could allow surgeons to accurately predict the success of an operation prior to surgery.

ABI’s musculoskeletal modelling research

group has received seed funding to create the

software from the National Centre for

Simulation in Rehabilitation Research (NCSRR)

based at Stanford University. The Centre is

funded by the US National Institutes of Health

and it’s a rarity for it to fund researchers

outside of the US.

Dr Thor Besier, a Principal Investigator who is

leading the project, says the new software will

give researchers, and eventually clinicians, a

tool to rapidly generate detailed and accurate

anatomical models of an individual’s

musculoskeletal system – their bones, muscles,

cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

“One of the biggest challenges that we face is

that it takes an enormous amount of time and

effort to create subject-specific models from

medical imaging data. The current

modelling software available is unable to take

into account the subtle differences, for instance

in joint and muscle size. These are critical

factors in estimating the forces and function of

a person’s musculoskeletal system,” he says.

Researchers can perform 3D simulations of

musculoskeletal systems using OpenSim,

open-source modelling software that is used in

hundreds of biomechanics laboratories around

the world.

OpenSim was developed at Stanford

University and is used in studies of

musculoskeletal injury and disease, sports

performance, in the design of medical devices,

in simulations of surgical procedures and in

animal and human animation.

The proposed software Dr Beiser and his team

are working on, will boost OpenSim’s

capabilities and allow researchers to generate

accurate models of a person’s musculoskeletal

system.

“The new modelling framework will bring us

one step closer to predicting medical outcomes

and remove the subjectivity that currently

exists in the treatment of musculoskeletal

injury and disease,” Dr Besier says.

The long term implication of this work could

mean that “virtual” treatment plans could be

tailored to the individual based upon an

accurate physics-based simulation, rather than

a subjective clinical assessment.

“A patient with knee osteoarthritis, for

example, who might otherwise have undergone

expensive joint replacement surgery could be

found to be an excellent candidate for gait

(walking) retraining or a knee stabilising

brace”, says Dr Besier.

Research CONTINUED

Reza Shafiei and Associate Professor

Asaad Shamseldin

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 9

Getting the beat with a cardiac myometerWe tend to take our hearts for granted as they pump away, beat by beat. As one of our most vital organs, medical science is continually seeking new knowledge on how our hearts work and what causes them to malfunction.

We know that each heart beat is triggered by a

brief pulse of calcium from within its cells. This

signal causes the heart muscles to contract and

its cells to shorten. The heart changes pressure

and expels blood before it relaxes back to its

starting point. The process uses energy,

releases heat and consumes oxygen. By

measuring these events within heat tissues,

researchers gain an insight into the underlying

ionic, mechanical and energetic processes.

Our current knowledge is largely based on

experiments in which only some elements of

the process are tracked at once, using different

instruments and often under unrealistic

conditions. We need a way to measure force,

construction, heat production, oxygen

consumption, and intracellular calcium ion

concentration all at the same time.

Aided by the Marsden Fund grant, Dr Andrew

Taberner from ABI proposes to achieve this

challenging objective by constructing an

innovative miniaturised testing device, a

cardiac myometer. With just one instrument,

Dr Taberner and his team will be able to

simultaneously analyse all five measurements,

beat by beat, in heart tissues under both

normal and diseased conditions.

The new information will increase our

understanding of heart muscle behaviour, and

thereby improve our ability to treat common

heart diseases.

Dr Taberner said their success could be

attributed to having a strong research team

with outstanding engineering and physiological

expertise. Working on the project are Associate

Professors Poul Nielsen and Denis Loiselle, and

Dr Marie Ward.

They were “delighted” their research was being

supported by the Marsden Fund, he says.

“We are extremely grateful to the Marsden

Fund for supporting our work and to the

University of Auckland Faculty Research

Development Fund and Vice Chancellor’s

Strategic Development Fund for seeding

projects that have helped to make this

application successful.

“We’re also very grateful for the continued

support of ABI’s principal Investigators, and

the Department of Engineering Science.”

“The grant was an immediate boost to the

talented post-graduate and post-doctoral

engineers who work in the lab, the

physiologists who make measurements using

their instruments, and the mathematical

modellers who tease new knowledge from the

data gathered”, he says.

“We hope that clinicians will be able to apply

the insight that will arise from this project to

the benefit of the community.”

In total, 88 research projects have shared

$53.8 million of funding in this year’s Marsden

Fund grants. More than 1,000 applications

were received from researchers at New

Zealand universities and Crown Research

Institutes.

Dr Andrew Taberner

ABI diabetic heart project awarded$1 million HRC GrantAmong the 20 projects funded in the latest HRC round is a project led by Associate professor Denis Loiselle from Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) and Department of Physiology that aims to increase the understanding of heart failure among diabetics.

Associate Professor Loiselle and his project

team, which includes senior lecturer Andrew

Taberner from the ABI and the Department of

Engineering Science, senior lecturer Tony

Hickey from the School of Biological Sciences

(SBS) and ABI postgraduate candidate

June-Chiew Han, have received a grant of just

over $1 million for the three year project.

The team will test the hypothesis that diabetic

heart failure reflects progressively declining

efficiency of both the cardiac pump and its

energy- generating mitochondrial machinery

– the powerhouse parts of human cells.

“We are looking at the efficiency with which

the heart converts oxygen and glucose into

mechanical energy under different workloads.

We think the reason a diabetic heart can no

longer pump as much blood as a normal heart,

even in the face of adequate energy supply, is

because its efficiency of converting metabolic

energy to pressure-volume work is impaired,”

says associate Professor Loiselle.

The project which starts in November, will

compare the energetics of a diabetic heart

with that of a healthy heart. A diabetic heart is

larger in size but less able to pump blood

around the body compared to a healthy heart.

The project aims to increase our understanding

of the diabetic heart across the complete

spectrum from whole organ to cellular and

sub-cellular components.

The University of Auckland received nearly $26

million of HRC funding, including almost $10

million for two new long-term programmes

investigating neurological and cardiovascular

diseases.

Associate Professor Denis Loiselle

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 10

Research CONTINUED

Large-scale robotic project launched at SelwynThe Faculty and a cluster of South Korean companies are officially launching the world’s first large-scale multi-robotic study at an Auckland retirement village.

Researchers are conducting six separate

robotics studies involving 31 robots sourced

from South Korea and Japan, as well as 100

staff and 100 residents from Selwyn Village in

Auckland.

The Healthbots project is an international

collaboration between UniServices, South

Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications

Research Institute, and South Korean

companies, ED Corporation, Yujin Robot and

Isan Solutions.

Head of the Healthbots project, Associate

Professor Bruce MacDonald from the Faculty

says, the aim of the Healthbots project is to

make robots that are helpful assistants for

older people and for their caregivers.

“We want to help older people to be more

independent where they want to be and to be

happier and more socially interactive using the

robot as a kind of conduit for interaction. We

want to help staff by doing simple tasks and

give them more time to spend on the more

human and more caring things that both staff

and older people prefer to do together.”

Bruce has put together a multidisciplinary

team that includes engineers and computer

scientists as well as the human touch with

medical specialists Dr Liz Broadbent, a Senior

Lecturer in Psychological Medicine and Ngaire

Kerse, Professor of General Practice and

Primary HealthCare.

The large-scale study will evaluate five different

types of robots: Friend, Guide, Paro, iRobiQ

and Cafero robots. They can perform tasks

such as recording the residents’ heart rate or

blood pressure, providing entertainment in the

form of music videos, and reminding residents

to take their medication and alert staff if

someone falls.

The residents can Skype from some of the

robots, find out what daily activities are on at

the village and play games to help their mental

fitness.

The robots are being placed around Selwyn

Village’s Pt Chevalier premises including in its

cafe, medical centre, hospital and in residents’

rooms and in the communal spaces.

Some of the robotics studies being carried out

include medication reminder trials, activity

trials and companion trials.

The medication trials use robots to remind

residents to take their medication. If residents

fail to do so then the robot alerts the on-site

staff. The robots, which can monitor their

users’ blood pressure and heart rate, can also

send regular reports to the on-site doctor.

The activity trials involve residents wearing

wrist or waist bands which monitor their

whereabouts. If they have a fall then the

monitor bands send an alert to the nurses

station.

Another trial involves the Paro robot pet, based

on a Canadian harp seal which has tactile

sensors and responds to being patted by

moving its tail and opening and closing its

eyes. The robot, which produces sounds similar

to a baby seal, is being trialled with dementia

patients to see if it has a positive psychological

effect. According to overseas studies the

therapeutic robot can reduce patient stress

and improve motivation and relaxation.

Ngaire Kerse says the studies

are important because the

enhancement of the

environment with stimulating

and interactive activities can

improve the quality of life

and relieve loneliness for

older people.

“Robots may provide an

interesting option and may

also be an aide to

communication and health

monitoring.”

Storehouse of expertise to benefit manufacturersThe University of Auckland is making it easier for the manufacturing and materials sector to tap into its expertise with the creation of a one-stop shop.

The Innovative Manufacturing and Materials

Programme was launched by the University’s

Vice-Chancellor, Stuart McCutcheon, at the

City Campus on the 18th August.

Manufacturing Chair Professor Xun Xu says the

programme, which has three strands - idea

generation and discovery, technology

development and innovation implementation

– will bring together expert researchers from

science, technology, engineering, management

and other parts of The University.

“Our specialists and cross-disciplinary teams

can help manufacturers in a number of ways,

from innovation in new materials, to new

product development, renewal of

manufacturing systems, enhancement of

supply-chain processes, through to business

growth strategies and the redesign of work

systems.”

Professor Xu says The University wants to make

it easier for manufacturers to access its

research and development capabilities and

specialist management advice as well as

ensuring it is meeting the needs of the

manufacturing businesses.

“We want industry to come to us and tell us

what they need. In the past we have been

more inclined to push our ideas onto industry

rather than invite them to come to us.”

The manufacturing sector is important for New

Zealand’s economic well-being as one in every

nine workers is employed by the sector and it is

responsible for 14 percent of the country’s

GDP and 65 percent of all exported goods.

“High-tech, niche-based manufacturing was an

area The University was most likely to have the

greatest impact”, he says.

The programme was launched at The Faculty

of Engineering, and included a research

showcase event sponsored by UniServices.

Speakers at the event included Business New

Zealand Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly,

Employers and Manufacturers Association

Acting Chief Executive Bruce Goldsworthy, and

Professor Xun Xu from the Faculty.

Noel with Associate Professor Bruce Macdonald

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 11

Engineering StudentsBig support for first humanitarian engineering conferenceIn July this year Engineers Without Borders hosted Engineering Change 2011 which attracted more than 200 representatives from the engineering and development sectors.

The sell-out conference was centred on three

core themes; sustainable development,

disaster preparation and relief and

engineering practice.

It was an opportunity for experienced

professionals from industry, development and

the academic sectors to network and share

ideas for the future. Its goal was to increase

awareness of the role of engineers in

community development, and to build

knowledge and capacity in humanitarian

engineering. Tony Woods, of Sustainable

Energy Services Afghanistan SESA, was keynote

speaker. Mr Woods has more than 15 years

experience in the fields of rural energy and

infrastructure development in a range of

developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.

He specialises in the design and installation of

community scale infrastructure projects, using

wind, solar and micro-hydro energy resources

and the community service and support

structures needed to sustain them.

Most recently Mr Woods built up a company in

Afghanistan which is financially self-sustaining

and, at the same time, brings much-needed

development to rural Afghanistan. New

Zealand punches well above its weight in terms

of the number of home-grown, internationally

renowned engineering and development

experts. The conference’s success was due in

part to their leadership and expertise, say

organisers.

“Engineering Change 2011 enabled a diverse

group of Kiwi experts, engineers and non-

engineers alike to talk about how we can

address issues not only those facing the world

but facing our communities here in New

Zealand and the South Pacific”, says Kai

Graylee from Engineering Without Borders. “As

well as helping to see the framework for the

future, they are inspirational role models for

many student engineers who will also work in

the development sector”.

Oxfam head Barry Coates stressed the need

for engineers to tackle some of the biggest

challenges facing the planet; water, sanitation

and climate change. Paul Roughan has

conducted significant research and policy

analysis in corruption and post-conflict peace

building, as well as environmental issues such

as bioprospecting and biosafety. He told

delegates that technology was quickly

changing development priorities and the

communities’ strengths, values and personal

aspirations were vital when creating future

solutions for Pacific people. Sponsors of the

conference included Parsons Brinckerhoff, SKM,

Hilti, the University of Auckland and IPENZ.

Engineers Without Borders

Part I Mentor Ceremony On Tuesday 11 October Professor Michael Davies, Dean of Engineering held a brief formal ceremony to honour the Faculty’s Part I Mentors.

The Part I mentors are a group of second and

third year students employed to support

first-year students with their steps in the

degree.

These students make up what is known as the

Faculty’s Part I Assistance Centre, providing

academic mentoring on a drop-in clinic basis in

the Leech Study Area every weekday

afternoon, 12-4pm during semester. The Part I

Mentors help new first-year students across a

range of areas, such as reviewing weekly

worksheets and practice problems, preparing

for tests and even helping with assignments by

working through similar problems or tasks in

the students’ course handbooks.  The Mentors

also help the first-year students to review their

learning strategies and develop new

approaches for working through problems or

preparing for tests, as well as providing

general advice on what to expect in the rest of

their degree.

At the ceremony Professor Davies and Martin

Shepherd, Director Undergraduate both paid

tribute to the team’s high-level of

professionalism and commitment.  The Dean

commented that, “The part played by our Part

I Assistance Mentors to our first-year students’

successful completion of their Part I studies

and their retention into Part II of the BE(Hons)

degree cannot be underestimated.”

Professor Michael Davies, Dean of

Engineering and Elizabeth Morgan-Coakle

Professor Michael Davies, Dean of

Engineering and Owen Miller

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 12

University’s first poetry slam won by engineering student Moody HikmetAs part of the University of Auckland’s sponsorship of the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival, Campus Life staged a Poetry Slam featuring international guest slam poet champion Rives.

Poetry slam is the literary equivalent of

American Idol. Poets are judged on the

quality of both their writing and their delivery.

A poetry slam is a lively competition in which

poets perform their original work. Judges are

selected from the audience.

Ten students and staff were put head to head

in the battle for the ultimate champion.

Moody Hikmet a Part IV Computer Systems

Engineering student won the competition with

his poem “An apology to various insects that I

have wronged throughout my childhood (or, I

was a dictator too)”.

“I’d never been to a poetry slam before, and

this was my first time being exposed to the

competition aspect of it. I’ve seen a lot of slam

poetry on YouTube but never in real life.”

 Moody came away with the grand prize of a

$250 UBS voucher, a $100 Shadows bar tab,

and a hoodie from the University’s new

apparel range. He was also invited to perform

one of his poems at Galatos that night at a

Literati/South Auckland Poets Collective show.

Then Rives invited him to perform at his show

on Saturday night in the ASB Theatre.

BA (Hons) student Maddy King came second

and received a $100 UBS voucher, and

Henrietta Bollinger came third and received a

$50 UBS voucher. Henrietta is a high school

student who is taking one Arts paper at the

University, making her success in the

competition all the more remarkable.

Acting, comedic stand-up and theatre sports

are old-hat to Moody who performed in

musicals at school, is a member of a theatre

sports company called Conartists, and who

used to do stand up. Moody is also a part of

the Engineering Revue.

On track for successEngineering Undergraduate student Yi Chung Lim who completed his Bachelor of Engineering(Hons) in 2010 is the perfect example of how students can fast track their university career.

Yi Chung Lim took the accelerated

pathway programme, studying Biomedical

Engineering, which allowed him to study in his

specialisation straight away and compete the

full 480 points requirements for the BE(Hons)

degree in just three years, instead of the

standard four years.

In June 2010 Dr David Long, a lecturer in the

Engineering Science Department and Principal

Investigator in the Auckland Bioengineering

Institute, was awarded the “The Fast Start

Master of Engineering” award. This award is

presented to academics to assist emerging

researchers establish an independent research

program by providing support for a

postgraduate student. This award funded Yi

Chung’s Master of Engineering studies and

The Bioengineering Institute who provided

support for his summer studentship.

During the Summer of November 2009 –

February 2010, Yi Chung’s work in the summer

studentship meant a fulltime summer research

project with Dr David Long as his mentor.

“Doing the summer studentship was a great

opportunity to sample the total postgraduate

experience in the space of a few weeks. This

confirmed the direction of my career. The

studentship enabled me to meet different

academic staff and identify their research

interests. This gave me confidence that this

was the best environment to develop my

research topic” said Yi Chung Lim.

Yi Chung completed his Master in Engineering

in Engineering Science with First Class Honours

in July 2011. In June 2011, the Department of

Engineering Science provided travel support

for Yi Chung to present his research

“Aortic Heamodynamics and Endothelial Gene

Expression: An Animal Specific Approach” at

the American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Summer Bioengineering Conference in

Pennsylvania, USA.

In August Yi Chung also presented his research

“An Animal Specific Approach to Quantifying

the Effect of Local Heamodynamics on Aortic

Endothelial Cell Phenotype” at the Medical

Sciences Congress, held in Queenstown with

the travel support provided by the Physiological

Society of New Zealand.

A University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship

was awarded to Yi Chung recently which

allows him to start his PhD Degree in

December. The focus of his PhD research will

be “Biomechanics of Endothelial Primary

Cilium.” The long term objective of his research

is to better understand how ciliary mechanics

is involved in Endothelial cell mechanosensing.

Engineering Students CONTINUED

Moody Hikmet

Yi Chung Lim

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 13

Netballer honoured a second timeKirsten Hurley is the first player to win back-to-back Counties Manukau Netballer of the year awards.

The win capped a sterling year for the

19-year-old. The 1.81 metre centre/wing

defence who played for the Counties Manukau

under-21s and the Counties Manukau

premiers, made the Silver Ferns Under 21

Squad and was drafted into the Mystics squad

as a training partner.

Hurley says she was shocked when she was

named at the Netball Counties Manukau prize

giving in Papakura. “It’s quite an honour to be

honest,” the engineering student says. “It’s an

honour because this year especially we’ve had

a lot of girls from Counties Manukau get into

tournament teams and representative

squads….girls like Nadia Loveday who make

the New Zealand Emerging Talent squad.

“Because of those achievements it was an

honour to win this year and to win it for the

second time in a row is special.”

Hurley believes her performances for Counties

Manukau at the national netball

championships swayed the judges. Her season

highlights include playing in the Counties

Manukau under-21s that beat Waikato at the

nationals in Porirua and getting back into the

New Zealand Under 21 Squad again.

Hurley’s biggest let-down was Papatoetoe

Rangers losing their Counties Manukau

Regional Netball League title to Aztec. Hurley

is glad to catch her breath after a hectic

season of club and representative netball.

Kirsten is determined to get back into the New

Zealand Under 21 Squad again. She also

wants to get a contract with the Mystics for

2013.

“The Mystics have contracted their players for

next season. I’m looking at a contract for the

season after.” The player she wants to emulate

is Silver Fern Laura Langman. “Laura plays the

kind of style I’d like to achieve.” Like many high

achievers in sport, Hurley juggles sport and

studies. The former St Kentigern College pupil

is studying engineering at the Faculty.

Netball New Zealand president Sheryl, Lady

Wells and Netball New Zealand board

member Carole Maddix were the guests of

honour at the packed awards dinner.

Kirsten Hurley second from right

Team OneBeep and OneBuzz updateTeam OneBuzz won the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Exceptional Student Humanitarian Prize in April at the 2011 IEEE Presidents’ Change the World competition.

Team OneBuzz’s winning concept harnesses

technology to inhibit the spread of Malaria.

The team is developing a collaborative

platform that helps visualise the extent of the

disease by mapping information aggregated

from a range of sources, including satellite

images and mobile phones. The approach is

designed to help coordinate and improve the

effectiveness of government and health agency

responses to malaria outbreaks.

The OneBuzz team is made up of members

Vinny Lohan, Kayo Lakadia, Edward Peek and

Steven King. Vinny and Kayo were also part of

Team OneBeep, which won last year’s New

Zealand final of Microsoft Imagine Cup with a

project to improve access to education in Third

World countries: www.onebeep.org

Currently team OneBeep are raising

investment to develop the project further with

the help of University of Canterbury, Wireless

Research Centre. They have started their

incubation at the ICEHOUSE that Onebeep

won through SPARK Business challenge last

year. Vinny Lohan was also awarded one of

two scholarships to attend MORGO New

Zealand’s top entrepreneurship conference

which he attended in Taupo. 

The team was invited to give a presentation to

20,000+ people in the US. The event was

organised by Microsoft and they were the only

external speakers invited to make a

presentation.

Going from strength to strength the Faculty

wish the team the best of luck in their

endeavours.

Steven Ward, Edward Peek, Vinny Lohan

and Kayo Lakadia

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 14

Scholarships and Awards

BECA ScholarshipsNine students from The Faculty have received major recognition, winning Beca’s engineering scholarships, worth a combined value of $27,000.

A panel of judges from consultants Beca and

the Faculty selected the winners based on a

range of factors including academic ability,

impact on the community and potential to

contribute to the engineering profession in the

future.

David Carter, Executive Director at Beca, says,

“We are delighted to be able to assist New

Zealand’s talented future engineers in

progressing their careers. Standards were very

high this year, and we believe all the winners

will make excellent ambassadors for their

profession in future years.”

Professor Michael Davies, highlighted the

value of an education in engineering, saying “It

is an opportunity to play a leading role in

society. Graduates from this faculty have

underpinned New Zealand’s technological,

social and economic development for 100

years.”

The Beca Rotary Club of Auckland

Scholarship ($5,500), which is awarded to the

most outstanding all-round fourth-year

engineering student, went to 21-year-old

chemical and materials engineering specialist,

Niancen Miao.

The former Macleans College student has

received multiple accolades while

completing his degree. He has been nominated

to the Dean’s Honour List twice and has been

awarded a number of scholarships, including

the Energy Education Trust Undergraduate and

Honours Scholarship in 2010 and the

Freemasons Charity University Scholarship

earlier this year.

“Working as a green process engineer and

industrial ecologist has always been an

aspiration of mine. I feel that a career in this

area will provide me with a platform to benefit

society, using my technical knowledge and

passion for the environment,” says Niancen.

Niancen is one of nine Beca scholarship

winners this year. Other winners include fourth

year students Michelle Brock (Mechanical

Engineering), Sarah Mitchell (Mechanical

Engineering) and Sarah Milsom (Biomedical

Engineering) who were each presented with

$3000 Beca Engineering Scholarships. Second

year students Victoria Shrimpton, Hannah

Sheahan, Alice Bates, Mengbin Ye and Sara

Bailey were recognised for their academic

performance, communication skills,

personality, and their drive to make a

difference to the profession, all winning $2,500

Beca Engineering in Society Scholarships.

Beca, one of Asia-Pacific’s leading engineering

consultancies, has been recognising aspiring

engineers since 1990 through scholarships

with Canterbury, Auckland and recently

Waikato Universities.

Jacqui Bensemann(President of Rotary Club Auckland Inc), Professor Michael Davies,

Niancen Miao, Sarah Mitchell, Michelle Brock, Sarah Milsom, Beca Executive Director

David Carter, Alice Bates, Victoria Shrimpton, Sara Bailey, Hannah Sheahan and Mengbin Ye

Mission to AntarcticaPure Advantage, the organisation advocating a shift for green growth in New Zealand, announced in September that Sarah Hall, an environmental engineering student at the Faculty will be joining Rob Swan’s 2041 team to explore the Antarctic Peninsula in February 2012.

Polar explorer and environmental leader Rob

Swan judged the competition that awarded

one young person the chance of a life time.

Mr Swan was very impressed by those who

entered stating “What we’ve got out of this

competition is the next generation of leaders

who will inspire all New Zealanders to commit

to a more sustainable and prosperous New

Zealand through green growth.”

“Our dream over the next three years is to end

up with an alumnus of five or more youth

champions that have experienced what is

going on in Antarctica and can share that not

only with, New Zealand but the World”.

Sarah says “When I was told I was going to

Antarctica I was left speechless! It’s such an

exciting opportunity. New Zealand has strong

ties to Antarctica and a history of helping

preserve and protect its environment. What I

learn from the Antarctica experience I will

apply in this country to help create a clean

green economy, and support Pure Advantage

in its quest to turn our natural advantages into

greater wealth for all New Zealand.”

Sarah Hall

Photo: Ben Campbell/Auckland City Harbour News

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 15

Associate Professor Poul Nielsen

Prestigious international scholarship awardedChemical and Materials Engineering student, Samuel Cheng has been awarded the Society of Petroleum Engineers Southern Asia Pacific Region Star Scholarship worth $1,666 per year for each year of undergraduate study.

Samuel is one of three students to receive the

scholarship from the Asia Pacific Region, and is

the only New Zealander to be awarded the

international scholarship this year.

“I felt over the moon to have won the

scholarship. When applying for the scholarship,

it dawned on me that my application would be

considered alongside those from other

countries in the Southern Asia Pacific Region.

As an applicant from New Zealand, where the

industry is relatively small, and Petroleum

Engineering is not offered as a taught

specialisation in universities, I thought my

chances of winning were rather slim. The fact

that I was actually hand-picked to receive this

scholarship has really motivated me to keep

working hard for what I want,” he says.

The committee considered many aspects

including academic records, leadership and

communication skills, interest in petroleum

engineering as a profession, and contributions

to the Society of Petroleum Engineers in order

to award the scholarship.

Samuel says when the SPE New Zealand

Student Chapter (a university based group of

SPE student members) was created in 2009, at

The University of Auckland, he joined straight

away. In 2010 he became Secretary and this

year is President.

“I believe our Chapter has put SPE on the map

at the University by hosting several events,

from young professional speakers to the 2010

Global President visit in April this year.”

“While working in Taranaki over the summer of

2010-2011 and the April break with Origin

Energy’s Subsurface Petroleum Engineering

Team, I spent a portion of time with the SPE

New Zealand section, enhancing relations

between the Student Chapter and the

professional sector.”

Samuel began studying a Bachelor of Science

at The University of Auckland but decided to

change to a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)

after one year of study.

“Engineering is more focused on problem

solving using more hands-on, applied

approaches. Teaching methods in engineering

played a significant part in my decision to

switch degrees. Classes in engineering have

been much more enjoyable and valuable with

like-minded people.

“I guess I always wanted to be an engineer, but

never realised it until I started a Bachelor of

Science degree and weighed up the differences

between the degrees with friends who were

studying engineering.”

Samuel Cheng

Engineering Scholarships Annual Function 2011Every year The Faculty of Engineering provides the opportunity for its students to apply for academic scholarships. These scholarships are generously gifted from prestigious engineering companies and sponsors throughout New Zealand.

This year’s annual scholarship function was

held on 19 October and provided not only an

opportunity for sponsors, staff and awardees

to meet but was also a celebration of the

Faculty’s strong ties with the engineering

industry.

A total of 85 undergraduate scholarships were

awarded to students from the Faculty.

Scholarships not only provide support but can

also introduce students to first-hand work

experience in their specialist engineering field.

Second year Civil and Environmental

Scholarship awardee Sam Granger expresses

his gratitude at being awarded the HEB

scholarships, “I had never thought I would be

awarded anything, especially anything this

huge, and it has been a massive boost for me

during the long slog of the year”. Sam who has

recently accepted work with HEB says “I look

forward to working with the brilliant team”.

Aubrey Bullen a third year Civil and

Environmental Engineering student who was

awarded the Deutsche Bank Engineering

Scholarship reflects on this, “It has given me a

much broader view of my career path by

helping me realise that studying Engineering

does not necessarily limit you to only a job

within the engineering industry”

Sarah Mitchell, Amanda Slater and

Lauren Anderson

Ming Chan and Philip Johnson

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 16

Mark Sagar

Postgraduate students receive prestigious Chinese Government AwardTwo University of Auckland PhD students have received the prestigious “2010 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad”.

Jie Han and Weiwei Chen are both from the

Department of Chemical and Materials

Engineering and are supervised by Professor

Wei Gao.

The prize-giving ceremony was held in the

Chinese Embassy in Wellington on 6 May

2011. More than 70 guests attended, including

the Chinese Ambassador, representatives from

the Ministry of Education, university

representatives and supervisor representatives.

Jie Han and Wei Gao attended the ceremony

and gave talks as recipient representative and

supervisor representative. Weiwei Chen was

overseas on a research trip and was unable to

attend.

This annual award was established in 2003 to

recognise the academic merit and research

accomplishments of self-financed Chinese

students abroad. Recipients are selected after

three rounds of judging by invited eminent

experts from their field in China as well as their

host countries. There were 506 Chinese

students from around the world granted the

2010 award, which includes a USD$5,000

prize and a certificate. This year four of these

recipients are from New Zealand, with two

from the Faculty of Engineering.

Scholarships and Awards CONTINUED

Pictured (from right) Professor Wei Gao, Jie Han, Mr Jianguo Xu, Jingjing Yang, Mr Yanchu

Hu in the Chinese Embassy, Wellington.

Two engineering graduates awarded Fulbright ScholarshipsEngineering graduates Jeffrey Hawke and Karishma Sharma have been awarded Fulbright-Ministry of Science and Innovation Graduate Awards.

The scholarships, worth more than US$25,000

each, are awarded to promising New Zealand

graduate students to undertake postgraduate

study or research at United States institutions

in fields which support growth and innovation

in New Zealand.

The University of Auckland received ten

Fulbright scholarships for 2011, seven going to

graduates and three to academics.

The scholarships were awarded at an event

hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the

Hon Murray McCully, at Parliament.

Jeffrey will complete a Master of Science

degree in mechanical engineering, specialising

in mechatronics engineering for control of

autonomous vehicles and robots, at Georgia

Institute of Technology in Atlanta. He

graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering

(Honours) in Mechatronics and a Bachelor of

Science in 2010.

Karishma, a current commerce student at The

University of Auckland, will complete a Master

of Business Administration degree, specialising

in strategy, general management and finance,

at the University of Chicago. She graduated

with a BE(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, in

2008.

 

Karisha Sharma

Jeffery Hawke

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 17

Spoilt for Choice at the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards 2011Six outstanding young pacific people were chosen to be recipients of the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards 2011 in Wellington.

A wealth of talent amongst applicants for the

Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards 2011

saw six awards presented by the Hon John Key

at a moving ceremony in the Beehive Banquet

Hall in August. Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs

staff brought a uniquely Pacific feel to the

venue, decorating the stage and lecterns with

fine mats, and gifting specially created lei to

the Prime Minister, hosting minister Hon Judith

Collins and the winners.

This year’s awards were in four categories; The

University of Auckland Leadership Award, The

Weta Workshop Creativity Award, The Air New

Zealand innovation Award and The Cogita

Business Systems Inspiration Award. Cogitas

founder Ula Aiano, however, was so impressed

with what he saw at the selection stage that he

decided he would give three awards instead of

the one originally on offer.

The Inspiration Award winners were Jessica

Papals-Curtin, 25, originally from Wellington

but now studying medicine in Auckland, Joyce

Tolefoa, 19, of Auckland and Brendon Jackson,

22, of Auckland. All are studying at The

University of Auckland. Joyce is working

towards a Bachelor of Arts in education and

Brandon is completing his Bachelor of Human

Studies and wants to major in youth work. All

will get an inspirational overseas trip to a

destination agreed with Ulu, worth up to

$5000.

The University of Auckland Leadership Award

went to Nadeen Papali. Nadeen who described

herself as a Samoan girl from Otara, is aiming

for a doctorate in wastewater engineering,

which she hopes to put to use working in

Samoa on water quality and availability issues.

In common with all the winners, she credits her

family and her faith with helping her realise

her potential. Helping her turn her dreams into

reality will be the $6,000 study award

presented by Mr Key.

The Creative Award went to Aucklander Mark

Dewes, sponsored by Weta Workshop. The

youngest winner was Christchurch’s Cameron

Hoare, 17. Of Niuean descent, Cameron took

out the Innovation Award which gains him a

place at sponsor Air New Zealand’s Aviation

Institute, where he will do a 32-week course in

aircraft maintenance.

Both Mr Key and Ministry of Pacific Island

Affairs Chief Executive Dr Colin Tukuitonga

spoke about the importance of young Pacific

people fulfilling their potential.

“The winners embody the community spirit and

determination all New Zealanders admire,” Mr

Key said “They are high achievers in their fields

and are inspirational to their peers. They all

have bright futures ahead of them”.

Dr Tukuitonga said those who selected the

winners had been spoilt for choice with many

high-calibre entrants. “The wealth of talent

amongst our young Pacific people has to be a

good thing, not only for these young people,

but for our communities and indeed for all

New Zealand”, he said.

Archer wins inaugural Society of Petroleum Engineers awardAssociate Professor Rosalind Archer was chosen as the first person to be awarded the Society of Petroleum Engineering’s new SPE Regional Distinguished Achievement Award for Petroleum Engineering Faculty.

The award recognises “superiority in classroom

teaching, excellence in research, significant

contributions to the petroleum engineering

profession and/or special effectiveness in

advising and guiding students”.

The award was to have been presented at the

2011 Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and

Exhibition in Jakarta, however Rosalind was

unable to attend due to teaching

commitments. The presentation was instead

made by the Dean of Engineering,

appropriately enough at a student event

promoting female participation in petroleum

engineering.

Hosted by the Women in Engineering Network,

the event was aimed at first year engineering

students. Rosalind spoke to the students about

her work as an academic and a consultant to

the petroleum industry, and was one of three

speakers. The other two were Jessica Green

(Process Engineer at Origin Energy Resources

NZ), and Reneke van Soest (Staff Petroleum

Engineer at Origin Energy Resources NZ).

Associate Professor Rosalind Archer

Nadeen Papdi

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 18

‘1’ Reunion Weekend and AUEA Alumni DinnerThe Annual AUEA Alumni Dinner and Reunion weekend continues to be a popular alumni function, keeping alumni spanning more than 60 years in touch with each other, the Faculty and the University at large.

This year we celebrated alumni who graduated

in a year ending in 1; 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981,

1991, 2001, 2011. The Alumni Dinner took

place on 23 September and was held at the

Pullman Hotel Auckland.

Over 500 alumni, friends of the Faculty,

industry and staff attended. On Friday tours of

the Faculty campus and buildings were held.

The weekend’s activities concluded with the

popular tour of Ardmore.

This year the MC was Matthew Thomson, a

member of the AUEA Committee, who

welcomed the guests and acknowledged the

Goldie Estate wine used at the dinner and the

generous gift of the Goldie Vineyard Estate

donated by Kim and Jeanette Goldwater, to the

University’s Wine Science Programme.

The Dean of Engineering Professor Michael

Davies welcomed the guests who were

celebrating the decade of their graduation.

The Dean acknowledged graduates who

completed their degree studies in 1951, Alec

Aitken, Bain McGlashen, Bruce Cato, Sir Colin

Maiden, and Noel Carter, along with Terry

Batten, Kim Goldwater and Ian Stewart from

1961. Acknowledgements of the other

graduates were made and the Dean thanked

the ongoing support the Faculty receives each

year from its many graduates and AUEA.

AUEA president Dean Kimpton also spoke at

the event, along with the evening’s guest

speaker Emeritus Professor Dick Bellamy,

formerly Dean of Science, who recalled

humorous events of his career with the

university including stories of the unruly

engineers at Ardmore and their outrageous

activities. He then spoke about how

developments in technology had supported

research in genetic engineering.

A great night was had by all.

Alumni

Professor Michael Davies

Dean of Engineering

Emeritus Professor Dick Bellamy

Sir Colin and Lady Jenefor MaidenNoel and Caroline Carter John Smith and Joyce Irving

1991 Graduates, Tony Wallis, Richard Smedley, Marcel Bear, Matt Thomson and John McNeil

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 19

Dr Ian and Sue Parton AECOM

Colin and Takako Martin with Des Mataga Watercare Table Roger and Alison Cotter

Roger and Alison Cotter with Kim and Jeanette Goldwater

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 20

Alumni CONTINUED

US bound for doctoral graduandAuckland Bioengineering Institute doctoral graduand Zoar Engelman has scored a prestigious position with US company Coridea.

Coridea is an idea generator, technology

incubator and consulting firm focused on the

cardio-renal and cardio-pulmonary fields. The

venture was founded in 1998 by cardiologist

Dr Howard Levin and Mark Gelfand, a

biomedical engineer, who met at Johns

Hopkins University in the late 1980s.

Zoar has been employed as a Senior

Biomedical Systems Engineer at the company’s

New York offices. “I will be involved with the

development and validation of novel therapies

for the treatment of hypertension and heart

failure. Specifically, I will manage systems for

use in clinical and experimental studies,

oversee these studies, and use the results to

drive future studies and the therapy forward.”

Zoar received a Bachelor of Science and

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

from the University of Utah in 2003 and 2005,

respectively. He began studying for a PhD at

the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) in

2006 and defended his thesis in 2011.

“I was already familiar with work from the ABI

and came to New Zealand to do a PhD with

Professor Bruce Smaill and the cardiac group.”

Zoar’s research focused on cardiac

electrophysiology. “My research looks at

arrhythmic substrates associated with

structural heart disease, for example the

mechanisms of cardiac death associated with

a chronic myocardial infarction (i.e., what can

go wrong electrically long-term after surviving

a heart attack). I’ve also used biophysically

based computational models to advance

cardiac rhythm theory.”

His long term professional goal is to use his

integrated knowledge of engineering and

physiology together with his passion for

medical science in the identification and

development of new technologies that improve

patient care. “My work at Coridea will certainly

progress this objective.”

Zoar is moving back to the US with his wife,

Katrina, whom he met in New Zealand through

another ABI PhD student. “I plan to continue

my associations with the ABI and hope to visit

often. I would certainly move back to New

Zealand in the future if the opportunity

presents itself.”

Zoar said he would like to thank his supervisors

Professor Bruce Smaill and Dr Mark Trew for

their ongoing support and encouragement. “I

count myself very fortunate to have found such

an intelligent, inviting and amicable

environment in which to pursue a PhD.

I regard the ABI as my second family and

Auckland my second home. I will sincerely miss

my time here.”

Lasting legacyDr William (Bill) Henry Robinson QSO, FRSNZ, a world-renowned earthquake engineer whose ingenuity has saved countless lives, passed away in August this year.

Bill started his tertiary education at The

University of Auckland where he earned a

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering in and a

Master’s degree in Aeronautics. He also had a

PhD in physical metallurgy from the University

of Illinois in the US and spent two years at the

University of Sussex in the UK where he worked

as research fellow in the area of solid state

physics.

Bill is best known for inventing the lead rubber

bearing (LRB) a seismic isolation device, which

is used in buildings located in some of the

world’s most earthquake-prone cities. He

designed the LRB, which enables buildings to

better withstand earthquakes, allowing lives to

be saved, in 1974 while working as a scientist

for the Department of Scientific and Industrial

Research (DSIR). The first building in the world

to be base-isolated with the lead bearing

technology was the William Clayton building in

Wellington.

Bill’s technology can be found underneath Te

Papa, the new Wellington Hospital, Victoria

University Library and the Beehive. Overseas,

the technology can also be found in thousands

of buildings including the Bhuj Hospital in India

and the C-1 building in Tokyo - the largest

building in the world protected by Bill’s

invention.

During the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake the

LRB-protected University of Southern California

Teaching Hospital remained open while ten

other hospitals in the area, which didn’t have

the seismic technology, could not be used due

to earthquake damage. Another testament to

Bill’s work is The Christchurch Women’s

Hospital, which was undamaged during the

recent earthquakes.

Bill, is the recipient of numerous awards,

including the Rutherford Medal (1999) and The

Royal Society of New Zealand’s E.R.Cooper

Memorial Medal (1994). He was made a

Companion of the Queens Service Order (QSO)

for services to engineering in 2007.

Bill founded the Robinson Seismic Ltd, a global

leader in seismic development and innovation,

in 1995. Among some of the other seismic

isolation devices Bill has invented are the

RoGlider and the Lead Extrusion Damper.

A beloved family man, Bill was known for his

wit, intellect and determination. At the age of

52 he suffered from a near-fatal stroke and

spent four and a half months in hospital. He

had to re-learn how to walk, write and drive.

Within six months of the stroke he was back

working.

Although he continued to work on his

inventions and lecture up until he passed away,

Bill semi-retired during his 60s.

Zoar Engleman

Dr Bill Robinson

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 21

Alumnus presented with the Queen’s AwardEngineering alumnus, Dr Bruce Menzies accepted the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category on behalf of Global Digital Systems Ltd (GDS) in June 2011.

The University of Auckland graduate is the

founder and president of GDS and was

presented with an engraved crystal chalice and

appointment scroll by Her Majesty the Queen’s

Representative, Lord Lieutenant of the County

of Hampshire Dame Mary Fagan, at the

company’s premises. This is the most

prestigious corporate award in the United

Kingdom and was presented to only 100

companies “in recognition of their outstanding

achievements in international trade”.

Bruce graduated from The University of

Auckland with a Bachelor of Engineering in

1962, a Master of Engineering in 1963 and a

Doctor of Science in 1991. He was also

president of the Auckland University

Engineering Society in 1962.

The Deputy Lord Lieutenant Khalid Aziz who

presented at the award ceremony says, “as a

designer, developer and manufacturer of

hardware and software for testing the

mechanical properties of soils and rocks, GDS

has grown steadily since its formation in 1979.

“GDS is now an acknowledged world leader in

its field and continues to innovate and develop

leading edge products that are a key element

in infrastructure development around the

world. GDS’s products have been used in many

world renowned developments including the

Three Gorges Dam in China, Millau Viaduct in

France, Vasco da Gama Bridge in Portugal,

Terminal Five at London Heathrow Airport, and

the new London Crossrail links.

“In 2002, GDS moved to larger premises as

part of a strategy for growth based on an

assessment of the potential worldwide,

increasing demand for infrastructure

development. The strategy included a

combination of continuous product

development, building market share through

extending regional coverage and

understanding customers requirements plus,

importantly, a company-wide dedication to

customer support. This is continuing to be a

successful strategy - overseas earnings have

increased by 190% over six years of continuous

sustained growth, and over 85% of GDS

production was to overseas sales.”

The award was announced on the Queen’s

birthday this year. The Queen makes the

award on the advice of the Prime Minister, who

is assisted by an advisory committee that

includes representatives of government,

industry and commerce, and trade unions.

Dr Bruce Menzies and the team at Global Digital Systems Ltd (GDS)

Dame Mary Fagan presenting Dr Bruce

Menzies with the Queen’s award for

Enterprise in International Trade

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 22

Major Gift To Wine SciencePioneering Waiheke winemakers Kim and Jeanette Goldwater have made a $4 million gift to The University of Auckland as part of a development that will see their iconic vineyard and winemaking operation become a new centre for the University’s Wine Science Programme.

The gift will allow students and researchers to

be immersed in a world-class commercial wine

making environment.

“This is an unprecedented and extremely

generous donation that will benefit both the

University and the wine industry,” says Vice

Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon. “We

believe that winemakers will benefit from the

supply of high quality graduates as well as the

University’s ongoing research on everything

from native wine yeasts to the aroma profiles

of New Zealand wines.”

In 2009 the Goldwater family sold their

world-famous brand, which had grown to

include operations in Hawke’s Bay and

Marlborough, to a US wine investor. However

they kept their original Waiheke vineyard and

their daughter Gretchen and her husband Ken

Christie set up a small commercial wine

company called Goldie Wines. At the same

time the family, which has strong ties to the

University – three generations have studied

(and taught) here, with the fourth generation

now in his first year at The Faculty of

Engineering – were looking to the future.

“We wanted to preserve the vineyard’s history

and do something that would work for the

local community”, says Kim, who graduated

from the University in 1961 with a BE in Civil

Engineering. “We thought about the University

and felt the vineyard would be the perfect size

for their wine science operation. “Our hope is

that this will become the premium wine

education facility in the whole of the Southern

Hemisphere.” The University has acquired the

Waiheke property partly through a commercial

transition, and partly through the $4m

philanthropic gift. The total land area being

transferred is 13.9 hectares. This includes

winery buildings, a café and function room,

two residences and seven hectares of vine in

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc,

Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier. These are

bottled in the premium Goldie, and more

accessibly-priced Island brands, producing a

total of about 2,000 to 3,000 cases per year.

The vineyard and winery will operate two

parallel streams. An established team will

continue to produce wines commercially under

the Goldie and Island brands while Wine

Science students will keep producing their own

wines for teaching purposes under the

University’s lngenio label. Students will also

work as interns in the commercial operation,

and have access to the fruit and data for

research.

“The new arrangement means that we will be

hardwired into the industry and able to fine

tune our teaching to what the industry needs,”

explains Wine Science Director, Randy Weaver.

“Teaching for the first half of our year-long

Postgraduate Diploma in Wine Science will be

onsite at the Waiheke estate and students will

continue to work there several days a week for

the remainder of their studies. They will be

exposed to everything from vineyard and

winemaking operations to interacting with the

public in the tasting room.

“We are expanding the curriculum for the

course and anticipate that the number of

students will double to around 30. The scale of

the estate is perfect for teaching purposes and

its proximity to the city, the historic value of the

winery and the natural beauty of the site all

will be major draw cards for local and

international students.”

Kim and Jeanette Goldwater’s success as

leading New Zealand vintners and founders of

Waiheke winemaking industry is the stuff of

legend. It all began in the mid 1960s when

they developed a love of wine while living in

Alumni CONTINUED

Jeanette and Kim Goldwater and Randy Weaver, Director of the Wine Science programme

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 23

Spain where Kim worked as a civil engineer on

Spain’s first motorway system from Burgos to

Santander. Back in New Zealand, when

attempts to persuade local vintners to produce

European-style wine failed, they decided to do

it themselves.

“I know New Zealand lay geographically in the

same latitudes as all of the wine-growing

regions of the Northern Hemisphere so there

was no reason why we couldn’t grow good

wine here,” says Kim, “and I had a hunch that

Waiheke would be a good place because I’d

sailed around there so much. Often it’d be

raining in Auckland and fine on the island. The

Weather Office had quite good temperature

and rainfall records and from those I deduced

that the island’s summer rainfall was a lot less

than Auckland’s and temperature were higher.”

So the couple bought the sloping seaside

property in Putiki Bay and began sailing back

and forth at weekends on their 32-foot

Townson sloop to prepare the soil and plant

the first two acres of grapes. “We jumped in

the water and swam like crazy,” remembers

Jeanette of those early days.

No one else had tried to grow European

grapes on the Island at the time and all they

had to go on initially was California writer AJ.

Winker’s book, ‘General Viticulture’, and Kim’s

meticulous research methodology. This

included things like plotting heat summation

curves to determine how well his grapes would

ripen compared with those in Bordeaux.

In 1982 family and friends helped harvest their

first Cabernet Sauvignon, making two 300-litre

puncheons of wine. In 1985 Goldwater Estate

branding started and Merlot was introduced to

the Cabernet Sauvignon blend. The rest is

history. Goldwater wine has since been sold in

26 countries around the world, won dozens of

medals, and the Bordeaux-style 2004 Goldie

Cabernet Merlot Franc features in the newly

released book ‘1,001 wines you must try before

you die: A global guide to the finest wines’. For

Kim, the overall quality of New Zealand wine is

now better than anywhere else in the world,

“and that’s because our winemakers are

properly trained,” he says.

“That’s why it’s my quiet dream that this

vineyard becomes an important centre for

wine education and research.”

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 24

Pioneer of Geotechnical Earthquake EngineeringEmeritus Professor Peter Whitaker Taylor was born in 1925 and died in July this year.

Peter obtained BSc from the University of New

Zealand in 1944 and a BE (Hons) degree from

the University of New Zealand in 1945, having

studied for three years at Auckland University

College and completed the final year at

Canterbury University College.

After graduation he was employed for a couple

of years by the Auckland City Council and then

took up a position with the Anglo-Iranian oil

company. While in Iran he had a terrible car

accident which necessitated withdrawal to

England and several bouts of plastic surgery,

with an extended period of recuperation.

While recovering he spent time as a

Demonstrator in soil mechanics at Cambridge

University. Subsequently he worked for the

then London County Council.

In 1953 Peter returned to New Zealand and

took up a lecturing position with the School of

Engineering at Ardmore. He was promoted to

Associate Professor in 1971 and full Professor

in 1977. From 1977 to 1985 he was Head of

the Department of Civil Engineering. He

retired a few years before the then mandatory

age of 65 to pursue consulting interests.

Peter was a gifted teacher. He had the knack

of being able to use just the right amount of

simplification and yet preserve the core

concepts of the material at hand. As a Head

of Department he was extremely successful

and respected by all for his sense of fair play

and correct procedures and, consequently, is

remembered with great affection by his past

colleagues. These achievements were set in the

midst of a life that had several significant

challenges; the car accident in Iran, the suicide

of both his parents (at different times), and

losing his first wife at a relatively young age.

That he overcame these hurdles while

maintaining balance, poise and a positive

outlook is a testament to the emotional

strength of the man.

Alongside his teaching stands his legacy to the

geotechnical profession in New Zealand. In

1964 there were two significant earthquakes,

one in Japan at Niigata and the other in

Alaska at Anchorage. These events initiated a

flurry of research activity around the Pacific

Rim and out of which has grown the discipline

of Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering. Peter

Taylor was in the thick of this development. He

supervised a number of graduate students

measuring the cyclic stress-strain response of

soils. This data, combined with those from

other university laboratories, contributed to the

rapid development of new understandings of

soil behaviour under earthquake excitation. As

well as supervising graduate students, several

of whom worked with ingenious devices of his

design, he completed a staff PhD.

During the late 1950s and 1960s laboratory

cyclic load testing at earthquake frequencies

was a challenging undertaking. Peter had a

flair for the development of the mechanical

devices needed for this research; on more than

one occasion he remarked that to do

experimental work in soil mechanics one

needed to be as much a mechanical engineer

as a civil engineer. His research frequently

broke new ground and yet was always of

interest to the engineering profession. In the

early 1980s he supervised two masters

students doing experimental work on rocking

foundations. Today, rocking foundations is a

“hot” topic and his papers published more than

30 years ago are still cited.

The combination of Peter’s teaching prowess

and the applicability of his research work

resulted in New Zealand-wide recognition that

his geotechnical group was the best in the

country.

Alumni CONTINUED

Emeritus Professor Peter Whitaker

Engineering graduates reconnect in Sydney After more than 60 years since graduating from The University of Auckland, a group of former classmates reunited in Sydney.

Wilton Trembath, Gordon Lee, David Sullivan,

Colin Putt and Clive Nettleton, who all

graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering,

were among those in attendance at the 1949

engineering reunion lunch at the Automobile

Club of Australia in Sydney on 5 May 2011.

The event has become a tradition for the group

and gives them an opportunity to fondly

remember the camaraderie they shared at

Ardmore.

Wilton, who specialised in Civil

Engineering, regularly meets up with Alumni

living in Sydney and travels to New Zealand to

attend reunions including those held at the

primary school he once attended in Hamilton

and at The University of Auckland.

Gordon Lee, David Sullivan, Wilton Trembath, Colin Putt and Clive Nettleton

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 25

Alumni ProfileRon MayesEngineering alumnus Ron Mayes has made his mark in the US both in the field of earthquake engineering and in the sporting arena.

The award winning structural engineer is

well-known for importing a pioneering New

Zealand earthquake-proofing technique to his

adopted country.

In the early 1980s, Ron founded Dynamic

Isolation Systems (DIS), a company, which

introduced to the US market base isolation

technology developed by Bill Robinson and

refined by Ian Buckle, which enables buildings

to better withstand earthquakes.

He also coached the Eagles, the national US

rugby side from 1982 to 1987.

Ron, who was born and raised in Henderson in

Auckland, studied engineering at The

University of Auckland during the late 1960s

and early 1970s, when the main campus was

situated at Ardmore.

“It was an unforgettable experience filled with

great camaraderie as well as hard work,” he

says.

His father, Lloyd, was the one who first

suggested that engineering would be a worthy

career.

“From an early age he encouraged me to think

about becoming a structural engineer, says

Ron.

“My father was a building contractor and was

always in awe of the structural engineers that

designed the structures he built.”

Ron graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering

specialising in Civil Engineering in 1968 and a

postgraduate PhD degree in engineering in

1972.

A Fulbright Scholarship awarded in his final

year of study saw him move to the US to

further his postgraduate studies with the

Earthquake Engineering Research Center

(EERC) based at Berkeley, the University of

California.

“Berkeley was a good place to be in the early

1970s because there was a lot of investment

going into earthquake research.”

They were the first University in the world to

develop a “shaking table” a device which

simulates the ground movements of an

earthquake in order to test the seismic

performance of structures such as buildings

and bridges.

Ron’s original plan was to stay a couple of

years at Berkeley before heading home to

pursue an academic career. But his “carefully

planned career path was shattered,” when he

was told that there were no lecturing positions

available at The University of Auckland or at

Canterbury University.

“I was terribly disappointed to learn that

neither school envisioned having an opening

for another four to five years,” he says.

The change of plan made him rethink his

career path which resulted in him working

part-time as an engineering consultant while

working part-time as a researcher at Berkeley.

From there he co-founded his first company

Computech Engineering Services before going

on to form the company Dynamic Isolation

Systems (DIS). Ron’s business partner in both

companies was Lindsay Jones, another New

Zealander who is from Timaru. Ron, who is an

award winning structural engineer, has also

been the Technical Director and Executive

Director of the Applied Technology Council, a

non-for-profit organisation established by the

Structural Engineers Association of California.

Dynamic Isolation Systems (DIS) has installed

base isolation technology, aimed at preserving

buildings and saving lives, in many private and

public buildings in the US including landmarks

such as the Los Angeles and San Francisco City

Halls.

“The nice thing is that a lot of the old iconic

buildings, you know the real old masonry

buildings you would never build again today,

have all been retrofitted,” says Ron.

Ron’s company was also responsible for

installing the base isolation engineering

technique in hundreds of bridges in the US,

including the approach spans to San

Francisco’s famous Golden Gate Bridge.

He and his business partner sold DIS, which

they had built into a multi-million dollar

company, in 1997. He currently works for

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, a structural

engineering firm with offices in Boston, San

Francisco, New York and Los Angeles.

Ron’s rugby coaching career, like his

engineering career, also had its beginnings at

The University of Auckland.

A talented rugby player Ron was permanently

relegated to the side lines after he suffered a

serious knee injury while studying at Auckland.

His focus turned to coaching and his first

assignment was with The University’s third

grade team.

Then, at Berkeley, he was asked if he would

coach the University’s alumni team. “We were

really successful as a club team and won the

first five National Club Championships.

I became the US coach in 1982. “It was a

great experience. We did a tour of Australia in

‘83’, and we almost beat NSW and

Queensland and we thought we were doing

pretty well but then we played Australia and

they just thrashed us. That was the year of the

Ellis brothers.”

Ron coached the US team during the 1987

Rugby World Cup. They were in the same pool

as Australia, England and Japan. “We beat

Japan. We played England pretty tough but

Australia, they kicked our butts pretty good.”

Ron and his wife Pamela, a New Zealander, live

in San Francisco. The couple have maintained

close ties with the place where they grew-up.

They own a house in Auckland and now

regularly visit each New Zealand summer.

Ron’s last visit to New Zealand was fortuitous

for the engineering community because he

was in the South Island when the February

earthquake struck.

“I had organised a group of twenty US golfing

friends and we were on a golfing tour of the

South Island. We had left Christchurch four

days before the earthquake so I was down

there at the time and I got a call to see if I

would help with the US reconnaissance team,”

says Ron.

“In the first two or three weeks the City Council

were trying to assess what they should do with

the buildings damaged six stories up, whether

they should repair them, pull them down or

Ron Mayes

| The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering 26

From the AUEA PresidentThe AUEA continues to grow and strengthen,

thanks to all alumni support and interest. The

challenge remains; bringing the benefits of

being connected to each other, in supporting

the Faculty, and promoting engineering as a

career of choice.

In 2011 we saw the continuation of the

Associates. Special thanks to AECOM, Beca,

Electrix, Fletchers, Fulton Hogan, Watercare,

McConnell Dowell, Opus, SKM, Synergine, and

Tonkin and Taylor.

The Champion Programme continues, as does

an expanded range of events in Auckland,

Hamilton, Wellington and Tauranga, and the

launch of our alumni website. I encourage you

to visit our website. Use this site as a place to

learn about what is happening amongst the

alumni and for upcoming events.

www.engineering.auckland.ac.nz/auea

Now to celebrate some of the events we

enjoyed together over 2011.

The Annual Luncheon was again held at

Beaufords (Totara Park) in April. It was another

capacity event enjoyed by alumni, partners

and friends. Ian Parton did a great job as our

guest speaker. If you are interested in the 2012

Luncheon, planning has started (it’s on 21

March 2012). Remember it is on a first-come-

first-served basis and usually sells out within

days of tickets being on sale. To secure a ticket

please contact Des Mataga on

desmat@ihug.co.nz.

The Annual General Meeting was held on 12

July 2011 at the Faculty of Engineering. New

appointments to the Committee included,

myself (re-confirmed as President), along with

David Carter as Vice President, and Raveen

Jaduram as Secretary. A special thanks goes to

the Committee who give generously of their

time. Should you wish to serve on the

committee, please contact me at

dean.kimpton@aecom.com.

We are also looking for alumni that wish to

serve as regional representatives outside of

Auckland and overseas. If you are interested

then please contact me.

The 2011 Annual AUEA Dinner was an

absolute highlight. A little competition from the

Rugby World Cup challenged a few, but having

said that we had over 500 attending. Be sure

to check out the rest of the photos on our

website. If you weren’t able to join us this year

then mark 22 September 2012 in your

diary for next year. More information on the

dinner is on the next page. This is a prestigious

black tie dinner and tables are keenly sought.

Membership of AUEA is free to all graduates

of the Faculty, Faculty staff and friends. If you

know of alumni who might not receive a copy

of this issue of the Alumni News, please

encourage them to register their email

address with AUEA Membership Secretary

Matt Thomson at

matthew.thomson@opus.co.nz or with Sharon

Andersen at s.andersen@auckland.ac.nz

Our vision remains to support the alumni, the

Faculty (to achieve leadership in engineering

on the international stage) and grow this

profession as one of first choice. Your

contribution financially or with your time is

always appreciated. On this note, in 2012, we

will be coming to the alumni with a variety of

options for regular annual giving, project

specific fundraising events for some exciting

projects supporting the aspirations of the

Faculty and our opportunity within the

community as engineering alumni, and of

course another series of events to bring us

together.

To alumni who wish to support AUEA and the

Faculty, please see the Foundations for the

Future section on the last page of the Alumni

News or feel free to contact me directly

dean.kimpton@aecom.com. Please make your

donation to AUEA Charitable Trust or the

AUEA Endowment Fund to ensure full tax

deductibility.

We look forward to seeing you in the future at

one of our many upcoming events.

Dean Kimpton, President AUEA

give them back to the owner.

“There were about 30 buildings, six stories and

above that were in that category so I was

helping on a second party assessment of those

buildings.”

Ron spent two and half weeks helping in

Christchurch, an experience which has left an

impact. “It was devastating and it still is. It’s

just awful.”

He continues to be involved with the

Christchurch rebuild as Simpson Gumpertz &

Heger has an ongoing relationship with an

engineering company working in Christchurch.

“They are just really short on staff so we’ve got

one or two people in Christchurch and then

they send work back so we are doing work for

them in the US.”

Ron has been connecting earthquake

engineering experts in New Zealand with their

US counterparts.

“What I’ve tried to do is get some of the key

New Zealanders connected with some of the

key technical committee members up here so

we can learn as much as we can from

Christchurch, because you know for every

earthquake, wherever it occurs, there are

lessons for everyone in the world, not just for

the home country.”

Alumni Profile CONTINUED

www.engineering.auckland.ac.nz/auea

The University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering | 27

Alumni EventsWhangarei Alumni and Friends

Reception

Date: Friday 2 March 2012

Time: 5.30pm to 8.30pm

Venue: Forum North

Speaker: Professor Charles Royal, Director of

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. Professor Royal is

a researcher and composer/musician whose

research interest lies with the ‘creative

potential’ of mātauranga Māori/indigenous

knowledge.

Registrations open in late January.

Auckland Live! Mana, mettle and magic Date: Thursday 8 March 2012

Pre-event drinks: 6.00pm – 6.30pm

Event: 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Venue: Maidment Theatre

An evening with our 2012 Distinguished

Alumni Award winners, including Engineering

graduate Dr Mark Sagar. Hosted by Qantas

Media Award winner and Sunday Star Times

columnist Finlay MacDonald.

Registrations open in late January.

If you would like to attend any of these

events please contact Sharon Andersen at

s.andersen@auckland.ac.nz

2012 Alumni DinnerThe next annual Alumni Dinner will be held on

Saturday 22 September at the Pullman Hotel

Auckland, corner of Princes St and Waterloo

Quadrant near the University Campus. The

formal black tie affair will take place from

6.30pm to midnight.

The annual dinner is a unique opportunity for

members of Faculty, University and old friends

to reconnect and share experiences. This year

we will be celebrating all alumni who

graduated in a year ending in ‘2’, i.e. 1952,

1962, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002.

We encourage you all to attend the 2012

Annual Alumni Dinner. All Alumni are welcome

from any graduating year.

To attend this event, look out for your

registration form in the next Alumni News.

If you would like to reserve your table now

please contact Sharon Andersen at:

s.andersen@auckland.ac.nz or phone

+64 9 373 7599 ext 88225.

For information on any of our alumni events

please visit: www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz/events

Upcoming Events

YES, I would like to support THE ARDMORE FUND UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

THE CECIL SEGEDIN ENDOWMENT FUND

COLOMBO PLAN SCHOLARSHIPS

THE ENGINEERING ENDOWMENT FUND

NAME:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE: EMAIL:

YOUR DONATION: $

CHEQUE made payable to The University of Auckland Foundationor

CREDIT CARD Card Type: VISA MASTERCARD AMEX (CIRCLE ONE)

Card Number:

Expiry Date: Name on Card: Signature:

Please complete form and return to Sharon Andersen. Thank you for your generosity. You can be proud of your commitment to making a

difference in our young students’ lives.

When you provide a gift to the Faculty of

Engineering, you are supporting New

Zealand’s leading research university.

Thanks to the generosity and commitment of

distinguished alumni, industry partners and

friends. The impact of the Faculty is felt around

the world – through ground-breaking research,

and graduates who become leaders in their

professions and communities. The Faculty of

Engineering requires their loyal support and

financial involvement to reach our goals.

Monetary assistance helps to ease the

financial burden of countless engineering

students. It also empowers us to continue our

tradition of excellence in research innovation

and assists us in providing students’ with a

world-class education, thus building bridges to

a better future for us all.

With our students and your generous support

you can be proud that you are making an

investment in the future of Engineering. Your

contribution will be channelled directly into

that fund. Donations can be made by

completing the form below or if you if would

like to talk to us about other ways in which you

would like to assist, please contact our External

Relations Manager Sharon Andersen,

s.andersen@auckland.ac.nz

AUEA Cecil Segedin Endowment Fund Was established to recognise the significant

contribution to Cecil Segedin’s work in the

fields of Engineering Science and Applied

Mathematics. The fund will provide financial

support for undergraduate students.

AUEA Ardmore Fund Was established by students from the School

of Engineering in Ardmore, class of 1957-59,

after their successful reunion in April 2000.

The awards are made to students who have

excelled academically and who exemplify

the camaraderie, school spirit and values

representative of “The Ardmore Years”. Special

consideration is given to students experiencing

financial hardship.

Colombo Plan Scholarships The Colombo Plan was formed in 1950 to

assist economic development in South and

Southeast Asia. It enabled students from the

region to train in more developed countries

in areas such as dentistry, agriculture, food

processing and engineering. We have had over

220 Colombo Plan students join the Faculty

between 1950-1970, many of whom have gone

to become international leaders in industry

and research making significant economic and

social contribution in their home countries and

throughout the world. These Scholarships will

go to assisting applications from participating

countries in the Colombo plan. In 2012 the

Faculty will be awarding the first Colombo

Scholarships.

The Engineering Endowment FundHas been established with the specific purpose

of helping fund much of the specialised

equipment needed for research purposes. For

the Faculty to be at the forefront of

engineering we need to invest heavily in our

future, research projects, upgrading and

expansions of our physical facilities and

support for selected academic positions. This

fund will help us to achieve our goals in these

competitive times, and see us continue to

maintain our position as a worldwide leader in

engineering.

AUEA Endowment Fund Has been established by AUEA, a committed

funding partner of the Faculty of Engineering,

to support the need to attract and retain the

most talented staff and students possible. The

Fund’s main focus is on providing

undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral

scholarships. The significant and projected

growth of the Faculty is in need of your

generous support.

Foundations for the future

Contact

Sharon Andersen

External Relations Manager

Faculty of Engineering

Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 88225

Email: s.andersen@auckland.ac.nz

www.engineering.auckland.ac.nz

Postal Address:Faculty of Engineering

The University of Auckland

Private Bag 92019

Auckland

New Zealand

If you are making a donation from the United States, please make

cheque payable to Friends of The University of Auckland and send to:

Friends of The University of Auckland, c/- Gift Processing,

External Relations, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019,

Auckland 1142, New Zealand.