UC freshwater research inspires MP's visit
25 October 2011
Green Party co-leader Dr Russel Norman and Green MP candidate Eugenie Sage visited the School of Biological Sciences recently to find out more about the research being carried out by the Freshwater Ecology group on the effects of pollution in streams and rivers.
Associate Professor Jon Harding and Green Party co-leader Dr Russel Norman.
Green Party co-leader Dr Russel Norman and Green MP candidate Eugenie Sage visited the School of Biological Sciences recently to find out more about the research being carried out by the Freshwater Ecology group on the effects of pollution in streams and rivers.
Dr Norman was given a tour of the school’s new research facilities by freshwater ecologist Associate Professor Jon Harding (Biological Sciences).
Dr Norman was particularly interested in research on agricultural streams and Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Jonathan O’Brien (Biological Sciences) explained research being funded by the Mackenzie Charitable Foundation which is supporting a major programme investigating the effects of riparian management on stream health.
Dr Norman said water quality issues were one of the top environmental problems in New Zealand and, as UC had a number of experts in the area, he wanted to find out more about their work.
Dr Norman said it was important for policymakers to learn about the research being undertaken in New Zealand’s universities so they could make informed decisions.
Dr Norman also heard about work being done on the effects of coal mining on river ecosystems and about Professor Harding’s research on the catastrophic effect of recent earthquakes on the ecology of Christchurch streams.
Professor Harding said the widespread liquefaction in the north and west of the city had devastated many of Christchurch’s smaller streams that feed into the Avon and Heathcote rivers.
He said nearly 60km of streams and rivers in Christchurch had become clogged with silt and several streams had become fishless biological deserts.
Professor Harding said it had been a “wonderful” opportunity to be able to talk about the school’s research to a member of parliament and such a strong advocate for environmental issues.
For more information please contact:
comms@canterbury.ac.nz.
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