By 
I may be a little late with this post but one thing I like about the fruitbowl website is the commitment to build and celebrate successes that are grown and developed within the Hawkes Bay. It is for that reason I thought I would draw attention to and celebrate the belated success of local boy John Watt who late last month was named “2009 MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year”
John went to Napier Boys’ High School and is now a third year PhD student at Victoria University. His world-leading research involves the growth of infinitesimally tiny nanoparticles and is using his skills to work with a precious metal called palladium, which is used in a car’s exhaust system to remove toxic gases. Palladium is incredibly expensive and currently has limited use due to its price tag to $11,000 a kg.
John’s has developed a process to change and manipulate the size of palladium nanoparticles to achieve better performance than conventional palladium and at a fraction of the cost. He has received worldwide recognition from the scientific community as it is the first time anyone had shown such control over the growth of palladium nanoparticles, fully tracked the growth of palladium nanoparticles and learned how to change their structure.
John’s research is already in trials with a UK precious metals firm and by all accounts he hopes that the technology can be commercialised and on the market within five years.
John gave a fascinating interview on the Radio New Zealand earlier in the month and it is well worth listening to (http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/20090827). During the interview he pays tribute to his Napier Boy’s High School teacher Phil Berry who during his 7th form physics classes gave him the desire and drive and provided the foundation for what he is doing now. Good on ya Phil – I do appreciate the often thankless work you teachers do.
It’s great to see these type of people growing out of the Hawkes Bay and it’s great that we have a place where we can enjoy their successes together.
12:19, 24.09.2009
This is a fantastic success story, and well done to John (albeit that this research goes way above my head)! One of the key things in helping this region grow, funnily enough, is the exodus of people out into the broader world. This life experience plays a huge part in the new ideas that are injected into the region when people return home, migrate to Hawke’s Bay, or even simply retain their ties to others here.
We should celebrate more successes like this, and I agree with the sentiment regarding Phil Berry – keep up the good work in being the inspiration for the youth of today…
09:25, 03.10.2009
Fantastic story and it’s great to hear that there is such great encouragement in the schools of the area. I think Rohan is right in that leaving the Bay for young people is almost a must. When they return (and the pull of HB is an amazing thing) they bring world experience. Mix that with our No 8 wires and you’ve got a great mix for success.