John Gibb

An event aimed at raising community awareness about the practice of shark finning went swimmingly at Dunedin's Moana Pool yesterday.

Have you heard the yarn about the University of Otago medical students who switched from hypodermic needles to knitting needles and donated a mass of bootees to Dunedin Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit?

A new research study led by the University of Otago has highlighted a ''major mismatch'' between a huge overdiagnosis of malaria in some African countries and the actual causes of the non-malarial fever often involved.

Despite rape and other sexual assaults having low conviction rates, a London-based historian is optimistic this situation can be changed and offending reduced.

As the Otago Museum remains under financial pressure and keeps drawing on its reserves, director Dr Ian Griffin says the underlying issues must be addressed as a ''matter of urgency''.

University of Otago plans to build a $6.25 million child-care centre in Castle St, Dunedin, are moving closer to reality as demolition work continues.

University of Otago scientist Linda Gulliver has joined an international research initiative that aims to clarify whether long-term exposure to mixtures of commonly encountered chemicals can trigger cancer.

Promising research involving drug therapy to improve limb function after strokes is among several University of Otago projects boosted by nearly $390,000 in the latest Neurological Foundation grant round.

Drug cheats in sport could soon find themselves caught out by a much more sensitive test being developed by University of Otago researchers for abuse of a key performance-enhancing hormone.

A restored coastal defence gun on the Otago Peninsula has gained a rare international heritage award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the United Kingdom.

A strong response to a conference marking the 150th anniversary of the Dunedin gasworks also highlights the Gasworks Museum's potential to boost heritage tourism, Ann Barsby says.

A long and sometimes emotional journey ended yesterday when a full-size reproduction of Rain, a triptych by the late Ralph Hotere, was welcomed to the University of Otago Richardson Building.

The $1.6 million redevelopment of the former Dunedin North post office as an Otago Museum exhibition area is nearing completion, and the first display is expected to open next month.

Office workers who get up regularly from their desks and walk briskly during short breaks are likely to live longer, healthier lives, as well as avoiding occupational overuse syndrome.

An impressive research output and a growing international reputation have helped University of Otago scientist Dr Shinichi Nakagawa gain the university's Carl Smith Medal and Rowheath Trust Award.

A revolutionary new era of personalised cancer care, using advanced genetic analysis of individual tumours, has already begun, an Australian-based pathologist, Dr Andrew Fellowes, says.

Maintaining the integrity of New Zealand's food exports and our reputation as a high-quality exporter is ''critical'' for New Zealand's future, Russell Frew says.

The Otago Museum and Toitu Otago Settlers Museum are not planning to open earlier to cater for overseas visitors during the cruise ship season, despite being asked to consider the idea.

Otago Museum's recently-appointed director, Dr Ian Griffin, is experiencing ''frustrating'' delays in gaining a visa covering some of his family members.