Student to showcase work in Europe

Katikati College student Pippa Grierson, 16, has been selected by the Royal Society of NZ to participate in the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in Copenhagen, Belgium from 19th-26th September.

Thirty-seven countries already participate in EUCYS but this is the first time NZ has been invited to select a student to attend.

In December 2007, Pippa won the DairyNZ Premier Award at Genesis Energy Realise the Dream, an event which celebrates students who have carried out excellent research, for her project entitled ‘fighting facial eczema’.

Facial eczema effects mainly cattle and sheep and is caused by a toxin (sporidesmin) produced by fungal spores in the pasture when humid conditions exist. The toxins are ingested and cause severe liver damage resulting in facial eczema. It can be so severe that many animals have to be euthanised.

Pippa’s research focused on the treatment of pasture with super-phosphate or lime and its effect on fungal spores. Her results show that the use of Lime appears to be an effective mechanism for controlling facial eczema spores.

At EUCYS Pippa will present a 10 page paper on her research to a judging panel and also present her research in poster format for display to the public.

“I am so excited about being selected to attend EUCYS and meeting all the other students who have been selected,” she said.

Pippa is also making the most of the opportunity to visit some relatives in the UK after the contest has finished.