Addressing a university capping ceremony at the Regent Theatre, Dunedin, Prof Tate offered advice to about 320 graduates, mainly in science and biomedical science, about pursuing their ''emerging'' careers.
And he warned ''tsunamis of distracting social culture constantly wash over us'', in his talk to graduates attending the second of two Saturday ceremonies, at 4pm.
He emphasised the positive side of new technology such as smart phones and social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, which were ''brilliant for communication and networking''. But these were ''potentially all-consuming just for social purposes alone''.
''Don't abandon the avenues where you can be highly informed of the New Zealand and global contexts - like the print media - when you are implementing your vision,''he said.
It was important for graduates ''to be at a place where you can be the very best in your chosen field''.
This meant ''being beside an outstanding mentor, being at a leading edge company, or practice, or institute''.
A fellow biochemist, George Petersen, who was Otago University's first Rutherford medallist in 2003, had proved to be such an ''outstanding mentor'' for Prof Tate at Otago in the late 1960s. Prof Tate became the second Otago Rutherford medal recipient seven years later.
He said he smiled when students near graduation became worried ''that everything of significance has already been discovered''.
In fact, ''we do not yet have cures for most diseases'' or did not even yet know ''what dark matter is''.
Graduates should not only develop a vision for their future, but also focus on ''respecting and valuing the people around you'', including the people they worked with, as well as customers and clients, he said.
Addressing about 370 graduands, including in applied science and consumer and applied sciences, at an earlier capping ceremony, at 1pm, Canadian-born Steve Jackson said Otago University had for him ''opened up doors I never knew existed: academically, culturally, and socially''.
''While some may think that living in New Zealand is a disadvantage, due to its remote location and small population, I think it offers some amazing advantages and opportunities.''
Prof Jackson, of the Otago Otago School of Physical Education, said Otago University had a ''global reputation for excellence in teaching and research''.
He urged graduates to develop ''a powerful, yet compassionate microscope and telescope'' in order to both ''zoom in on the little things in life'' and to see how such things ''form part of our larger, more complex universe''.
He urged them to use both approaches to help tell the difference between ''existing and living'', between ''getting what you want'' and ''wanting what you've got'' and between ''individual rights'' and ''collective responsibilities''.
