Scientist's award puts thesis to work

By PAULA OLIVER

Years of laboratory work on detecting potentially devastating toxic algal blooms will soon bear fruit for Nelson-based marine scientist Allison Haywood.

Ms Haywood, aged 34, this week became the only New Zealand winner of a $US10,000 ($24,360) international scholarship for female scientists. She says the award, sponsored by L'Oreal and Unesco, will help her put the findings of her thesis to practical effect.

Her work towards early detection and identification of toxic algal blooms is immensely valuable for the multimillion-dollar local shellfish industry, which had a major scare last year when an algal bloom crept down the North Island coast.

"The species I'm working on kill tonnes of fish at a time," Ms Haywood said. "They can also make shellfish consumers sick if they are taken up in shellfish."

Ms Haywood's present work was triggered by a massive bloom outbreak in 1993 - which came as she was studying for her Master of Science degree focusing on coastal water quality.

"We just couldn't identify some of the species at the time - they didn't fit any known described organisms and there seemed to be several species," Ms Haywood said.

She is now based at Nelson's Cawthron Institute, a private research centre with areas dedicated to marine science. Working closely with fellow scientist Dr Lesley Rhodes, Ms Haywood is using DNA probes to detect species of algae.

Using the cash from her scholarship, she will spend a year in two US universities putting the probes into swimming buoys in the Gulf of Mexico. If all goes according to plan, the buoys will detect any algae and send the information via a radio signal back to a computer on land.

"The species I'm working on occur naturally and frequently in the Gulf of Mexico, so it's a good place to be based," Ms Haywood said. "Ultimately, the aim is to get some of these things back to New Zealand - so we might be a few links down the chain."

Despite her valuable work, recognition and support had not always been forthcoming, so the scholarship was doubly important, she said.

"What was interesting for me was that when I went through university, it was pretty much 50:50 in terms of male-to-female ratio. But there's a drop-off point when it comes to actually getting employment. I think it's definitely very true that men promote men and look after the interests of men."

But, having said that, Ms Haywood is quick to encourage women to chase a career in science.

"I think women, and men for that matter, should just have confidence and persevere, even if negative things are said about their ability," she said. "Science can be exciting and proactive - not reactive, as it is often seen to be."

She thought the lack of financial support for scientists could become crucial for the country.

The costs of studying science subjects often left students with hefty loans, and then they had to constantly fight for research funding.

"Why would you become a scientist when you can do one degree and earn a lot more in law? It really concerns me, because New Zealand is going to end up with no scientists," she said. "At the moment it's not too bad, but I think it's going to get worse."

But she does concede that a lack of cash often leads New Zealand scientists to think outside the square - often with dazzling results.

While cash might not roll into her office on a regular basis, Ms Haywood said one of the redeeming features of her work was the relationship between industry, research, and regulators.

Unlike some of their counterparts, the three marine groups meet regularly to discuss progress and what is needed.

"The fact we have these meetings is great and it works well for us," she said.

Ms Haywood intends to continue her studies, and may look at extending the possible uses of probes. The scholarship taking her overseas encourages its winners to return to their home country to pursue their career - which may prevent her from becoming part of the local brain drain.

"There are certainly a lot of opportunities overseas, and it's hard to stay in New Zealand from that point of view for me," she said.

"I can see why people are attracted overseas and don't come back, because they have the resources and the facilities that a lot of New Zealand scientists really struggle with.

"But we do have a lot of scientists that produce great results in the conditions they're given - even compared to overseas researchers."