Scion Successes
Scion is proud of the talented and committed people who make up our staff. We support them to apply their skills and knowledge for the benefit of New Zealand, and are pleased when their contribution is recognised by others.
Recent awards received by Scion staff include:
New Ze
aland Plant Protection Society Medal 2012
The New Zealand Plant Protection Society gave its highest honour to scientist Margaret Dick at its 2012 conference in Nelson.
Margaret was presented with the Plant Protection Society medal to honour herextensive contribution to disease management and biosecurity in the forestry sector. Just some of Margaret's career highlights include helping nursery and forest managers to
decrease the costs and risks associated with major forest diseases. Margaret also contributes to the protection of urban and native trees through her work on technical advisory groups for Dutch elm disease and kauri dieback.
Future Forest Research Awards 2012 
The FFR Award for Communication and Sector Engagement went to Senior Scientist Graham West. Graham has championed the development of FFR Forecaster as a planning and modelling tool for forest planners and managers to evaluate the best forest management regimes and predict future yields, quality and value.
Wood Quality Scientist Mark Riddell received the FFR award for Science of International Quality for the development of a new method of assessing spiral grain in trees. The judges said Mark’s prototype system, which uses a converted flat-bed scanner, can provide information on spiral grain at a much higher resolution than previous techniques.
The FFR Award for Contribution to a Science Team went to Charlie Low who is Task Leader for Cypress Breeding and for Genetic Resources. In his time at Scion, Charlie has developed an encyclopaedic knowledge on a range of exotic forestry species on a range of sites.
International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) Distinguished Service Award 2012
Senior scientist Dave Cown received the IUFRO Distinguished Service Award again in 2012.
Dave was also named a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry at the 2012 Conference and AGM.
Future Forests Research awards 2011
Michael Watt and Carol Rolando received the inaugural Future Forests Research award for 'Enhancing Sector Value', which was based around their work on weed control in newly planted forests with chemicals that have been widely used. Their research enables commercial plantation forestry to thrive in many areas of the country.
Mark Kimberley received the award recognising 'Science of International Quality' for his ground-breaking research on developing new techniques for modelling the growth of forests. More specifically, this research examines a new growth index that predicts the productivity of radiata pine across New Zealand.
Future Forests Research, established in 2007, is a partnership between forest industry organisations and Scion to fund, organise and circulate forestry research for the benefit of the wider New Zealand forestry sector.
The two other award recipients were Rien Visser of the University of Canterbury for 'Communication and Sector Engagement', and Dave Lowry of Hancock Forest Management for Research Participation and Uptake'.
Dumont d'Urville Science and Technology Programme 2011
Cathy Hargreaves, a scientist in Scion's tree breeding and propagation team, received a funding award through the Dumont d'Urville programme.
The award has enabled her to advance research focusing on novel technologies to propogate conifers through international collaborations with researchers at two French forest research organisations. The funding will facilitate the reciprocal visits of two Scion scientists and one from each of the French institutes.
International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) Distinguished Service Award 2011
Senior scientist Dave Cown received the prestigious IUFRO award in 2011 for his contribution to forestry sciences spanning over 40 years.
Appita Oertel Nadelbaum Distinguished Service Award, December 2010
Fibre processing scientist Dr Ian Suckling was recognised for his outstanding ongoing contribution to Appita - the technical association that represents the Australian and New Zealand Pulp and Paper Industry.
Small World photomicrography, January 2010
Dr Lloyd Donaldson was placed eighth out of 137 winners in the Nikon “Small World” photographic competition. His image featured in the 2010 Nikon Small World promotional calendar.
Small World is regarded as the leading forum for showcasing the beauty and complexity of life as seen through the light microscope. The competition, which Nikon has been running for 30 years, is aimed at rewarding the world's best photomicrographers who make critically important scientific contributions to life sciences, bio-research and materials science.
Packaging award, September 2009
Scion won a special award at the 2009 Packaging Awards Dinner, organised by the Packaging Council of New Zealand. The dinner was attended by the Minister for the Environment Dr Nick Smith and other industry leaders. Scion’s award was for the Biopolymer Network polylactic acid foam technology as a technology that minimises the environmental impact of packaging and increases packaging recovery rates.
Forester of the Year, June 2009
Scion scientist Dr David Bergin was co-awarded* 2009 Forester of the Year by the New Zealand Institute of Forestry. This prestigious award recognises his long contribution to advocating the use of native tree species for commercial, environmental and cultural benefits.
As a site management specialist in ecological restoration and native planting programmes, David’s research has covered a range of ecosystems including coastal sand dunes, riparian areas, regenerating indigenous forest and plantations.
* 2009 Forester of the Year was awarded jointly to David Bergin and George Asher, CEO of the Lake Taupo Forest Trust and General Manager of the Lake Rotoaira Trust in the Central North Island.