John Gibb

The Forsyth Barr Stadium proved a ''superb'' venue for Dunedin's latest Relay for Life event at the weekend, and about $200,000 has already been raised for the Cancer Society, organisers said.

Valuable lessons in assessing scientific evidence have emerged from a major report on mad cow disease, retired British senior judge Lord Nicholas Phillips says.

Health researchers at the University of Otago's Wellington campus have developed a free online educational resource covering addiction issues.

The University of Otago has appointed Rachel Scott as the new publisher to head its flagship publishing house, Otago University Press.

University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne yesterday emphasised the importance of the arts and of ''giving back'' to the university and the wider community.

Today will be special for Hannah Sinclair, when she graduates from Otago Polytechnic with a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy. She will be one of about 690 graduands in a wide range of subjects who will graduate in person or in absentia at a ceremony at the Regent Theatre, Dunedin.

The Toitu Otago Settlers Museum's $37.5 million redevelopment is adding to Dunedin's growing reputation as a nationally significant culture and heritage visitor destination, museum director Linda Wigley says.

Otago Polytechnic is likely to become New Zealand's first fair trade polytechnic, after its governing body voted to adopt fair trade policies for the institution.

England international spin bowler Monty Panesar, who is also a postgraduate student, caused quite a stir yesterday afternoon when he sat a two-hour examination at the University of Otago, in Dunedin.

In a positive development for Dunedin's tertiary education industry, Otago Polytechnic predicts higher student numbers later this year, bucking an earlier trend of falling enrolments and cuts at other New Zealand polytechnics.