University of Otago

04/09/2026

A remarkable achievement for a remarkable leader 🦷🏆

Professor Paul Cooper has been awarded the Pierre Fauchard Academy’s (PFA) Elmer S. Best Memorial Award in recognition of his eminent and global contribution to dentistry. Ngā mihi nui Paul 👏👏

Read more about Paul's mahi https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/international-award-a-fitting-tribute-and-exciting-beginning

04/09/2026

Welcome back, Professor William Levack 💙💛

William, the current Wellington Dean and Head of Region, is moving back to Ōtepoti as the Head of the Faculty of Dentistry. It’s a full-circle moment for William, who is returning to the campus where his Otago journey began as an undergraduate tauira more than thirty years ago 🎓

Read about William’s time as Wellington Dean and Head of Region here ⬇️

As Wellington Dean and Head of Region Professor William Levack prepares to leave for a new role as Head of the Faculty of Dentistry in Dunedin, he looks back on the highs and lows and says he’d definitely do it all again.

03/09/2026

“We wanted to create an environment where students could feel a genuine sense of belonging." 🤝

This was the goal of the Otago team behind Aoroa, the new learning management system that was awarded the Excellence Award at the recent Tertiary ICT Conference 🏆

A focus on inclusivity and accessibility helped the team beat ten other entries from across Aotearoa. ✨

“Aoroa gives students greater choice in how they access and engage with learning materials,” Digital Learning Environment Programme Manager Alice La Rooy says.

Read more here ⬇️
https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/inclusive-approach-wins-aoroa-team-top-honours

03/09/2026

For those who said, “okay but where’s ___?" 👀

02/09/2026

Kā mihi nui ki our winners in the 3MT™ challenge 💙💛

Check out our amazing tauira below ⬇️
⭐️ PhD winner – Jim Davies, Sciences, Psychology: Of Mice and Men: Modelling Alzheimer’s
⭐️ PhD runner up – Yuki Teh, Health sci, Physiology: When Breast Cancer Cells Run Red Lights and Speed Away
⭐️ Masters winner – Krystle Mikaere, Humanities, Te Tumu: Mā wai rā? Who gets to define success?
⭐️ Peoples’ choice – Jenna Gawn, Sciences (Christchurch), Psychology: Every health behaviour counts: lifestyle behaviours and youth mental well-being

Otago Graduate Research School

02/09/2026

A marine science discovery 250 years in the making 🤯

Scientists believed there were only two species of hornerid bryozoans in Aotearoa, but new Otago research shows several more have been secretly evolving and thriving in the nation’s southern waters.

Hornerid bryozoans are small, usually hidden, invertebrate marine creatures that have existed for more than 250 million years and create habitats for other organisms in the deep waters around Aotearoa 🧬🌊

Lead author Emeritus Professor Abby Smith, from the Department of Marine Science, says the discovery has important implications for conservation.

“You can’t conserve, manage, study or understand a species if you don’t know it’s there,” she says.

Read more about the discovery here ⬇️

Scientists believed there were only two species of hornerid bryozoans in Aotearoa New Zealand, but new research shows several more have been secretly evolving and thriving in the nation’s southern waters.

01/09/2026

What happens if you swap your desk for the Otago Peninsula? 🏞️💚

Otago kaimahi and tauira are invited to experience sustainability in action through volunteer field trips to the Portobello Marine Centre on the Otago Peninsula.

“Through volunteer field trips, we are creating restorative environments that support both environmental sustainability and staff wellbeing,” Otago Manager Staff Wellbeing Suzie Bartlett says.

Read about the most recent Sustainability in Action team day ⬇️ https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/from-campus-to-coast-staff-experience-sustainability-in-action

30/08/2026

Otago innovation is heading to the world stage 🧠

Professor John Reynold is heading to Silicon Valley, where he will have two minutes to pitch his research to a panel of judges and international investors in the hopes of reaching the grand final of the Startup World Cup in November ✨🏆

His company, Neumic Therapeutics Ltd, researches the restoration of brain function for people affected by brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, brain tumours and tinnitus.

“We are developing a platform technology incorporating a wearable ultrasound headset, software for planning and monitoring treatment, and nanoscale drug-delivery packages that deliver drugs where and when needed in the brain,” John says.

Ngā mihi nui and good luck, John!

Read more about his amazing mahi here ⬇️https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/opportunity-to-pitch-work-a-milestone-for-researcher

30/08/2026

What does responsible use of AI in tertiary education look like?✨📱

Educators hope to answer this question and more next week at the New Zealand AI in Higher Education Symposium hosted by Otago 🤝

This symposium will be an opportunity for tertiary educators, researchers and technologists from across the motu to gather and explore the transformative potential of AI in higher education 📖

“Across teaching, assessment, simulation, student support and institutional work, practitioners are not waiting for a future version of AI. They are building, testing and improving systems now, then making the work available for others to learn from,” Head of Academic Teaching Development Russell Butson says.

The New Zealand AI in Higher Education Symposium takes place on 2 September – registrations are open.

Read more about the symposium here ⬇️
https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/symposium-explores-transformative-potential-of-ai

29/08/2026

An honourable gift for a world-class scholar 📚

Professor Paul Trebilco from Mātai Whakapono Karaitiana - Theology at Otago has been honoured with a Festschrift, a book that pays tribute to a respected academic ✨

This incredible collection of academic essays, written and compiled in honour of his research, was presented to Paul at a Society of New Testament Studies conference in Durham, England, where he was also appointed President of this prestigious academic society🤝

Read more about Paul’s mahi here ⬇️
https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/book-honours-world-class-scholar-and-wonderful-human