Scion

🔥 Where there’s fire, there’s smoke and Scion modelling can show you where it might go. Scion conducts automatic and manual smoke forecast modelling using satellites to inform health authorities and the public and help Fire and Emergency NZ. New Zealand’s wildfire season runs from October to May with the highest risk from January to March. https://lnkd.in/gTUPwqtg

Congratulations to Marc Gaugler who has been appointed a board member of the Bioresource Processing Alliance (BPA), succeeding Florian Graichen who served for 3 years. Marc was previously a member of the Science Leadership Group and is replaced on the group by Christophe Collet. The BPA, made up of Scion, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, AgResearch and Callaghan Innovation along with universities and it oversees a #research and development programme. Congratulations also to Max Kennedy who has been appointed the new board chair. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gA_7KbMS #innovation #partnership #bioeconomy #collaboration

Scion's 2024 Annual Report has now been presented to Parliament. As New Zealand’s leading institute in #forestry, industrial #biotechnology and advanced manufacturing we are working alongside our partners in government and industry to drive innovation and growth to create economic value and contribute to beneficial environmental and social outcomes for New Zealand. Our Annual report includes stories highlighting great examples of impact, outlines our financial position and reflects on Scion's achievements. We look forward to a science, innovation and technology system that is able to deliver greater benefit to New Zealand. It is essential our #science, #innovation and #technology sector is aligned to deliver on great opportunities to accelerate transformation and deliver greater benefits to NZ. https://lnkd.in/gMvxahkj Todd McClay Hon Judith Collins KC MP Julian Elder Tania Tapsell Hon. Simon Watts

Last chance for early bird registration for ForestTECH2024 on from November 20-21 in Rotorua. Scion's proud to be a conference sponsor, which includes a pre-conference remote sensing meeting with Michael Watt. This conference covers UAVs, mechanisation, precision forestry, aerial monitoring and more. Register by Friday, Oct 18. Details at https://lnkd.in/gFgxA9Tx #conference #remotesensing #forestry #ForestTECH #LIDAR #innovation #silviculture

#Watch Florian Graichen spoke with GO!PHA in part one of a two-part webinar exploring the latest solutions for reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable alternatives. The two parts are now available to watch covering everything from composting to recycling. Hear from: 📌 Henk Vooijs (Netherlands) – Designing systems for effective composting. 📌 Florian Graichen (New Zealand) – Exploring end-of-life options for biopolymers. 📌 Corinne van Noordenne - Bos (Netherlands) – Sorting and recycling biodegradable plastics like PHA. 📌 Marco Versari (Italy) – Italy's approach to recycling food waste with compostable plastics. 📌 Katrina Knauer, Ph.D. (USA) – Innovations in mixed (bio)polyester recycling.   https://lnkd.in/ggFKe4NM #sustainable #bioplastics #plastics #biomaterials #innovation #research #biodegrade #waste #compost #webinar

#watch It is a privilege for Scion to be part of the InnCoCells Stakeholder group. InnCoCells is an amazing project focused on developing #innovative and #sustainable plant-based production processes to commercialise scientifically validated cosmetic ingredients based on underutilised plant resources. It has been a great experience to interact with the 17 partners, from 11 different countries, involved in this project and learn about the process. InnCoCells project serves as a template for other similar projects. Kudos to all involved led by Principal Investigator Dr Kirsi-Marja Oksman-Caldentey from VTT. Scion has already initiated the development of plant cellular agriculture and made initial progress  https://lnkd.in/g-ZPpV_j. The success of InnCoCells provides us confidence in our endeavour to develop a plant cellular agriculture approach for the extraction of high-value bioactive compounds. https://lnkd.in/gZfJEAMS #collaboration #partnership #innovation

At a recent laser scanning technologies (LiDAR) workshop, Scion transferred knowledge and hands-on experience in the planning, capture, and application of LiDAR in indigenous forests to our Iwi partner, Te Roroa.    While LiDAR technology is widely used in commercial pine forests, implementation pathways for its use by Māori, particularly in indigenous forests, are still emerging. The workshop aimed to address this and represented an early step in the journey to assist Iwi in taking control of indigenous forest health, preventing disease, and ensuring future preservation with knowledge of this tool.     Topics covered over the three days included:  👉 The regulatory environment for operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)  👉 UAV flight planning   👉 Aerial and mobile laser scanning sensors  👉 Data collection and processing demonstrations   👉 Presentations from Scion scientists about their LiDAR research and its applications    The workshop was a cross-collaboration between the MBIE Endeavour project Transforming Tree Phenotyping (TTP), and the data harnessed from the now-completed BioHeritage Ngā Rākau Taketake (NRT) programme of work.  The NRT project funded LiDAR captures in Waipoua Forest, providing an invaluable baseline dataset, and developed methods to characterise forest structural changes. The TTP project is developing methods and tools, using remote sensing technologies, that help forest managers accurately measure and monitor important tree traits from UAV platforms. These data, methods and tools can collectively be used to study ecosystem changes over time.     Te Roroa enjoyed their experience and appreciated the opportunities that this science, research, and technology present now and into the future. After the workshop Te Roroa, an active member of the TTP programme’s Ropu Mahi, will continue to advise on implementation pathways for LiDAR technology in indigenous forests. A wānanga, where Te Roroa will share their learnings, is planned for 2025.    #LiDAR #Scion #TeRoroa #TechnologyTransfer  Taoho Patuawa Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment MBIE Science and Innovation  

🚲 New Zealand’s association to #HorizonEurope has meant Kiwi researchers at Scion are involved in developing, among many things, biodegradable sports clothing from a range of natural materials. Scion is one of 15 partners from seven countries participating in INRAE, France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment’s UPWEARS research programme. The €7.5 million (NZD$13.25m), 4-year project uses cork, hemp, flax and paper byproducts to develop a sustainable e-textile (an electrically conductive textile) and develop ways to recycle and reuse textile waste. The outcome will unlock the potential of bio-based and hybrid fabrics and contribute to a sustainable economy. Scion is contributing approximately NZD$3m worth of research to the programme. Sion’s expertise is being used to demonstrate the e-textile by creating high-performance cycling clothing that anyone would love: clothing that’s abrasion and tear-resistant, waterproof/repellent, as well as stretchable, and breathable. Sion’s biodegradation facility will test the clothing for biodegradability. Scion is also creating flexible sensors from biomaterials for integration into the clothing, sending air pollutants data to a user’s device. They are also leading in turning recovered textile waste into filament or pellets for 3D printing - meaning the clothing will be recyclable and a zero-waste product. To reduce waste, increase zero-defect products and maximise the production process, they will also use AI/machine learning to optimise the manufacturing process and material properties. The project officially commenced on 1 September, with around 10 Scion staff involved. The Scion lead, Yi Chen is heading to France in November for the first kick-off workshop, which will bring together all the consortium partners. ➡ https://lnkd.in/grseHWtu 📷 credit Scion 1. Sion’s team (L-R): Dr Alec Foster, Bioproducts and Packaging Portfolio Leader; Dr Yi Chen, project lead; Dr Marie Joo Le Guen, General Manager Science Services 2. UPWEARS methodology diagram EURAXESS Australia & New Zealand European Union in Aotearoa New Zealand

#watch Thomas Carlin Joined the Wilding Pine Network for the second in their 2024 Wilding Webinar series to talk about invasive mammals as seed predators of wilding conifers. His research explores whether the enemy of our enemy, could be a friend. #incaseyoumissedit Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) #wilding #invasive #conifer #pests https://lnkd.in/gv-ngfTz

#incaseyoumissedit Scion is launching a podcast that delves into the world of indigenous forestry in Aotearoa. 🎙 "Branching Out: Reflections on Indigenous Forestry" is a captivating new podcast series exploring the vast knowledge and experiences of researchers who have spent their careers studying indigenous trees. 🌱 Hosted by Early Career Researcher Ki-Taurangi Bradford from Scion’s Te Ao Māori team it will delve into #propagation, establishment, transition #forestry, and more. #listen to this sneak peek ahead of the launch of episode one later this month. Jonathan Kilgour Taiawhio Waipoua-bryers #indigenousforestry #podcast #bioeconomy #research #BranchingOut