Researchers to pitch ideas to public

University of Otago researchers (from left) Ian Chapman, Guy Jameson, Robert Thompson, Zoe Ashley, and Caroline Orchiston and 25 of their colleagues are taking part in the O-Zone research symposium at Dunedin Hospital tonight. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

With topics ranging from the rock star iconography of David Bowie, the physics of black holes and cloaking devices, through to leading-edge medical treatment techniques, the researchers have a four-minute time-frame to outline the benefits of their ideas.

University O-Zone group convener Jacob Edmond said the best speakers will be chosen to present their research projects to Parliament on June 21.

The O-Zone group was established last year to promote new research being done at the University by early-to-mid-career teaching fellows.

Last year's initial success - when six O-Zone members were chosen to visit Parliament and also highlight how research programmes benefited from government funding - had resulted in a 150% rise in teaching staff wanting to promote their projects this year, Mr Edmond said.

Researcher Caroline Orchiston, who is about to begin a postdoctoral fellowship studying recovery issues for the tourism sector following the Christchurch earthquakes, said the O-Zone presentations meant researchers had to communicate the "pure essence" of their projects.

"It is a challenge to distil your best ideas to a wider audience. You really need to nail the key concepts as best you can," she said.

Physiology fellow Zoe Ashley said it was good to have the public exposure, because it was important to demonstrate the benefits which were derived from university research.

The O-Zone presentation is free-of-charge and takes place in the Barnett Theatre on the first floor of the Dunedin Hospital from 5pm.