Academic Royal Society Fellow elected

Prof Richie Poulton, who heads the University of Otago's world-acclaimed Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Society academic officials said as director of the Unit, Prof Poulton leads one of the most successful and highly cited longitudinal studies of health and development in the world.

The Dunedin study follows the progress of more than 1000 children born in 1972 and 1973, from birth to adulthood.

Age 38 assessments are taking place, which involves bringing study members back to Dunedin from wherever they are living in the world to have almost all aspects of their physical and mental health assessed.

Since its inception, the Dunedin study has generated more than 1100 publications, with findings influencing family, child and public health policies overseas and in New Zealand.

Academy chairman Prof Keith Hunter, who is also the pro-vice chancellor of Sciences at Otago University, said the high calibre of the nominees for Fellowship made the selection process challenging.

"Being elected as a Fellow is an honour given to our top researchers for showing distinction in research or in the advancement of science, technology or the humanities."

The other fellows elected were: Prof Estate Khmaladze, Prof William Manhire, both of Victoria University; Assoc Prof Andre Nies, Prof Michael Clout, Prof John Hosking, all of The University of Auckland; Prof David Lowe, University of Waikato; Prof Barry Scott, Prof Peter Derrick, both of Massey University; Dr Wendy Nelson, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA); Prof Geoff Chase, University of Canterbury; Dr Steven Fischer, Institute of Polynesian Languages, Auckland.

Prof John Gamble, who is working at the Department of Geology, University College, Cork in Ireland, was elected an honorary Fellow for his contributions to the understanding of deep-seated volcanic processes.