2020 Research Honours Aotearoa

Early career research awards

• The Cooper Award, was presented to Dr Mallory Crookenden, AgResearch, for her work on supporting immune function to improve animal health.
• The Early Career Research Excellence Award for Humanities was awarded to Associate Professor Ngarino Ellis, University of Auckland, for her outstanding work on Indigenous art history in Aotearoa.
• The 2020 Early Career Research Excellence Award for Social Sciences went to Dr David Moreau, University of Auckland, whose research shows the benefits of high-intensity exercise for the brain, including benefits for alleviating neurological diseases.
• The Hatherton Award has gone to Dr Georgia Grant, GNS Science, for her work developing a break-through method for determining past sea-level rise.
• Dr Nick Albert, Plant & Food Research, won the Hamilton Award for his outstanding contributions to understanding the compounds responsible for different colours in plants.
• Te Kōpunui Māori Research Award, was presented to Dr Michael Stevens (Ngāi Tahu) for his mahi developing fresh perspectives on indigenous histories.

Communication and leadership

• The Callaghan Medal, was presented to Professor Rangi Mātāmua, University of Waikato, for his outstanding mahi engaging the public in the interface between western science and mātauranga Māori.
• Dr John Caradus FRSNZ, Grasslanz, won the Thomson Medal for his work improving the value of grasslands for New Zealand farmers.

Physical and biological sciences

• The Hector Medal, was awarded to Professor Eamonn O’Brien, University of Auckland, for his world-leading contributions to the mathematical theory of groups.
• The Hutton Medal, one of the Society's oldest medals, has gone to geneticist Distinguished Professor Neil Gemmell, University of Otago, whose research is driving the development of new approaches for conservation and management of the world’s rarest species.

Humanities and social sciences

• The Humanities Aronui Medal has been awarded to Distinguished Professor Jack Copeland FRSNZ, University of Canterbury, a leading philosopher of artificial intelligence, computing and information technology.
• The Metge Medal has been awarded to social scientist Professor Steven Ratuva, University of Canterbury, who leads many multidisciplinary projects, including the largest ethnicity project in the world.
• The Pou Aronui Award was won by Professor Rawinia Higgins, Victoria University of Wellington, who has made esteemed and far-reaching advances in Māori language revitalisation. 

Technology and applied sciences

• The Pickering Medal, has gone to Rocket Lab’s research and development team, led by Peter Beck, whose work has allowed Rocket Lab to become the world’s leading dedicated-launch-provider for small satellites.
• Professor David Tipene-Leach, Eastern Institute of Technology, won the Tahunui-a-Rangi Award for inventing the wahakura - an ingenious bassinet-like device designed to decrease sudden infant death syndrome whilst supporting bedsharing.

Our finest honours

• Associate Professor Maria Bargh, Victoria University of Wellington, won Te Puāwaitanga Award for her exceptional contribution to the discipline of political science in collaboration with Māori communities.
• Distinguished Professor Brian Boyd FRSNZ, University of Auckland, has won the Rutherford Medal for his exceptional contributions to literary studies. Brian has provided a new framework for studying arts, informed by evolutionary theory.