Public speakers can sometimes experience such a severe case
of nerves they wish they could just disappear.
However, that is an outcome seven researchers from the
University of Otago, who are representing the cream of the
institute's best research programmes, say is unlikely to
happen when they speak at Parliament today.
Dr Robert Thompson would like to be able to disappear when it
is his turn to speak to MPs - the science of invisibility and
cloaking devices is his area of expertise and such a trick
would certainly make the most compelling example of his
research.
"I always get a taste of the nerves. But I'm not expecting
any more than normal," he said at the university's centre of
innovation, yesterday.
Dr Thompson is among a group of seven researchers chosen to
pitch their topics to MPs today, as part of the university's
O-Zone programme.
The O-Zone Group represents the top work from the
university's mid-career research fellows, selected from more
than 30 programmes, convener Dr Jacob Edmond said.
Dr Thompson, who obtained a Phd in theoretical physics after
studying the quantum fluctuations of black holes, is part of
a collaborative research effort into the emerging field of
transformation optics, the mathematics behind cloaking and
invisibility devices.
He will be joined by human nutrition senior lecturer Dr
Anne-Louise Heath, dental school researcher Dr Jonathan
Broadbent, and tourism and geology postdoctoral researcher Dr
Caroline Orchiston.
Also presenting their research are psychology senior lecturer
Dr Dione Healey, newly appointed physiology lecturer Dr Peter
Jones and anatomy lecturer Dr Elspeth Gold.
Dr Edmond said today's presentation at Parliament would
illustrate the value of taxpayer-funded research projects
being developed at the university.
The researchers were leaders in their fields and their
projects could "be worth millions of dollars" to New Zealand
if they were developed further.
"These ideas have the potential to save lives and also
increase the quality of life for New Zealanders." The
research findings could have big implications for future
developments in the areas of public policy and private
commercialisation, Dr Edmond said.
