Otago and UK researchers have developed a world-first weight-loss device to help fight the global obesity epidemic: an intra-oral device that restricts a person to a liquid diet. Read more: otago.ac.nz/news/news/rele
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The University of Otago, founded in 1869, provides a research-led learning environment that is second to none, with a richly deserved reputation for excellence.
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Tonight California University's Irvine Chancellor’s Professor Jeffrey Wasserstrom will give a public talk focusing on patterns of protest and the tightening of political controls in Hong Kong. Read more: otago.ac.nz/humanities/new
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To clarify, the intention of the device is not intended as a quick or long-term weight-loss tool; rather it is aimed to assist people who need to undergo surgery and who cannot have the surgery until they have lost weight.
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After two or three weeks they can have the magnets disengaged and device removed. They could then have a period with a less restricted diet and then go back into treatment. This would allow for a phased approach to weight loss supported by advice from a dietician.
The University of Otago will adopt a new brand from May 2024. Our name - University of Otago - will sit alongside a new tohu (symbol) and a new Māori name, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
For more info, please visit: tuakiritaka.otago.ac.nz
The University has collaborated with mana whenua to create a proposed new visual identity including a new Māori name and tohu (symbol), to sit along the official University of Otago name, which we believe represent where we have come from and where we’re going.
🎉 We're thrilled to share that Professor Suzanne Pitama has been appointed the new Dean and Head of Campus of the University of Otago, Christchurch! She becomes the first Māori female Dean of any Otago Medical School.
Otago is set to graduate its largest number of Māori health professionals, with the graduating cohort hitting triple digits for the first time! 🎓
The University of Otago has created a new tradition – inviting Doctoral students to ring the University bell when they submit the soft copy of their PhD. ow.ly/cEMo50v2pFC
Thousands of people from our extended University community came together in a silent march to the Civic Vigil, held to show support and solidarity for our Muslim community following the tragic attacks in Christchurch. #TheyAreUs ❤️💛💙 instagram.com/universityofot
Ever wondered what a day in the life of a penguin is like? New research at Otago tracking the foraging behaviour of hoiho around Stewart Island has built a detailed picture of critical marine habitats for the endangered penguin🙌💯 Read more about it here:
otago.ac.nz/news/news/otag
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Huge congratulations to Professor Michael Baker and Professor Hallie Buckley for being awarded the Callaghan Medal and Mason Durie Medal, respectively, by 👏 The duo received their medals at a ceremony in Wellington this evening.
In a heart-warming gesture, seven-year-old girl from the US donated her savings to an Otago cancer research group 😍 ow.ly/htHz30ga2lQ
Otago University academic Associate Professor Suzanne Pitama has been appointed as the first chair of the Australian Medical Council’s Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Committee aimed at improving health and social outcomes. Full story:
Peter Sese is the first Samoan and just the second Pacific student to be accepted into the highly competitive Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry in Oral Surgery programme 💪 His inspiring story was our most-read on Te Pānui Taura in 2022!
⚠️ COVID-19 Update - Semester 1 Lectures ⚠️
Today, the University has proposed that all lectures for the remainder of the academic year take place outdoors. This was driven by the desire to reduce barriers surrounding indoor teaching under the COVID-19 Protection Framework.
We are absolutely delighted to announce we have received the most significant single donation in the University’s almost 150 year history! $10 million has been gifted by renowned businessman and philanthropist Graeme Hart and his wife Robyn! Thank you so much! 😍👏🏫
⚠️UPDATE! ⚠️ Overnight, the University installed new rubber tar seal made from 100% recycled tyres. The rubber road will provide a softer surface for glass bottles when impacted on the ground. It is hoped this will greatly reduce the amount of broken glass in Castle St 👏
The creator of New Zealand’s bubble concept, introduced early on in the COVID-19 response to ensure Kiwis maintained social distancing, has been surprised and delighted by the take up of his idea. Read more: ow.ly/yp2C50Amusy
We’re excited and extremely grateful to announce Emeritus Professor Sir Alan Mark and Lady Patricia Mark QSO have donated $150,000 to the University Ecology fund to help ensure students have the means to support their research in this vital area. 😱👏🦎
Some of you might have noticed our beautiful magnolia tree in the quad is now in bloom — indicating the arrival of Spring! 🌸 The tree was first planted in 1965 by Dr Geoff Baylis, and is now dedicated to his memory. Have you seen it? 😍
What do you reckon? We’re trial grazing heifers on the lawn in front of the Clocktower at our Dunedin Campus! The cows are to replace our petrol-powered lawnmowers and chemical based fertilisers. The first herd of heifers will remain until they are moo-ved on at 12pm! 🐮😍♻️🏫
Otago will be the first University in New Zealand to go disposable cup-free when every café on the Dunedin campus stops stocking takeaway cups from next year onwards. Read more:
It's been a while since we have shared a photo of the beloved campus cat Rosie (although she technically belongs to St. Margaret's College). Let us know if you see her wandering about campus. 😻🏫
A massive congratulations to Emeritus Professor Carolyn Burns, who has been named a Dame in the Queen's Birthday Honours, from everyone at Otago! 🎉
Due to the tragic events that unfolded in Christchurch this afternoon, we are postponing our 150th anniversary street parade originally scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday 16th March). Our thoughts are with everyone in Christchurch and their friends and family at this time.
Have you been past the clocktower today? In order to move into the modern age, the University has replaced the old analog clock of yester-millenia and improved it with a modern digital clock. What do you think of the new clock? 🏫😍🕘 #OnlyOtago #NewYearNewMe #Transformation
Meet Holly - Aotearoa's first native frog-certified dog from the Dogs Programme!
She's been training at with her owner Debbie Bishop to detect native frogs to improve population monitoring and conservation management plans.
Congrats to Distinguished Professor Hamish Spencer (Otago Zoology) for being awarded the Royal Society of New Zealand James Cook Research Fellowship and receiving a funding package of $220,000 over two years to undertake research in evolutionary biology
Health minister announced our exciting news today. We are building a new $28.2m dental teaching facility in South Auckland. Read more at
Otago University’s Professor Michael Baker has won the 2020 Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize! 👏🏆 Professor Baker has been New Zealand’s ‘go-to’ science expert on COVID-19 - racking up more than 2,000 media interviews since the early days of the pandemic.
Introducing the world's largest penguin: Kumimanu fordycei. Named in honour of Emeritus Professor Ewan Fordyce, the whopping 150kg penguin is a new species discovered in 57-million-year-old beach boulders in the North Otago region. otago.ac.nz/otagobulletin/
The creator of New Zealand’s bubble concept, introduced early on in the COVID-19 response to ensure Kiwis maintained social distancing, has been surprised and delighted by the take up of his idea. Check out the full story: ow.ly/mXD950AljKt
Otago University's Professor Michael Baker from our Department of Public Health says New Zealand might be looking like the only Western country with a chance of eradicating COVID-19 via
Shoutout to OUSA for their amazing food + care packs. We were delighted to be able to help fund these. Here they are prepping the packs and, alongside Uni staff, delivering these to students who are facing hardship and unable to acquire their own groceries 🙌💯
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Today, the University has announced the launch of a $1.5 million Putea Tautoko hardship fund to support students facing financial hardship due to the COVID-10 global pandemic.
How's this for a clean operation? 😏 Senior Lecturer Dr Shyamal Das and his students in the School of Pharmacy spent three long days volunteering their time to produce 100 litres of hand sanitiser, with the last of it completed just in time for the nationwide shutdown #OnlyOtago
Our Magnolia tree yielding its first, single bloom. I guess it’s as excited for Friday as much as us. 😍👏🌸
❄️SNOW! ❄️Our Dunedin Campus at the University remains open today, Tuesday 29 September. Please use caution when travelling via car or on foot today and allow extra time to get to your destination.
Ahhh.... Morena! Check out what our Staff Club captured shortly after
haeata this morning! #OnlyOtago
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! Celebrated Scottish novelist Val McDermid is travelling to the University of Otago to take up a three-year visiting professor role in the Division of Humanities 😍👏😲🏫
MASSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT: We’re proud to announce that have teamed up with the University to offer four brand new Performing Arts scholarships here at Otago each worth $10,000 per year!
Social experiment: if you come across this tweet please comment what you studied or would like to study at Otago University (if you had to/could) WITHOUT looking at the replies ☺️
Our Dunedin campus has been looking especially gorgeous recently! #DunnerStunner
Leading specialists in addiction treatment, public health, health promotion and epidemiology from and are calling on New Zealanders to vote for cannabis law reform in the current referendum. Read the full release: ow.ly/lAAH50BNPgQ
A group of Māori academics from Otago University have released a poster profiling ten easily accessible Māori authored non-fiction books to encourage the public to engage with "the voices and experiences of Māori". Read more: ow.ly/puUH50Bxl9f
Professor David Murdoch starts as Vice-Chancellor today! Due to COVID-19 restrictions, formal welcomes with the University community have been put on hold. However, a very small welcome took place. Tēnā koe David. The University community is looking forward to working with you.
From now on, Otago will be the first University in New Zealand to go disposable cup-free when every café on the Dunedin campus stops stocking takeaway cups! Read more:
Genetics Masters student Anežka Hoskin has been named a Fulbright New Zealand scholar and will start her PhD in genetics at next year. Read her incredible story: ow.ly/ObVy50Bagd7
We’re at the opening of our new Dentistry clinical services building, getting a first-hand look!
We're grateful to for dedicating some of the funds raised from his upcoming tour to our Department of Biochemistry, which researched the rare cancer-causing gene mutation which killed more than 25 members of his family 🙇🙏😓🏫
Dr. Charles Radclyffe, a Solomon Islands-born kaimahi of I-Kiribati & British descent, becomes the first Pacific lecturer in Otago's Archaeology programme. He aims to incorporate Pacific practices into teaching and inspire more to enter archaeology careers
The iconic Leith running through the University. Aren’t we lucky to have such a beautiful and great campus? ☺️ #DunnerStunner #Dunedin #OtagoUni #OnlyOtago
Distinguished Professor Neil Gemmell has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. He joins 26 New Zealand scholars being made Fellows or Honorary Fellows. Read his story: buff.ly/3moGBZo
Otago’s new University Librarian didn’t expect to still be stuck in the U.K. a year after he first accepted the role, but he finally made it to our Dunedin campus last month. Read his story: buff.ly/3g22qwM
Today we launched a “reverse vending machine”! The reverse vending machine is used to recycle cans and plastic bottles and in return dispenses discount vouchers to be used on our Dunedin campus, in a joint campaign with drinks smanufacturer Frucor Suntory.
39 Otago academics are being promoted to the position of professor this year! The promotions acknowledge the talent & dedication of the group, with new professors taking up their titles across all areas of the University.
Today is the shortest day here at Otago! How are you spending the midwinter solstice?
A leading Otago University lecturer has been praised in one of the world’s most prestigious academic journals as someone who is “winning at science” and noted for their "inclusive nature" otago.ac.nz/otagobulletin/
Professor Ewan Fordyce joined Otago’s Department of Geology in 1982. Just shy of 40 years later he has called time on his teaching career. Farewell Professor Fordyce! Get to know him:
Otago Wellington PhD candidate Helena Abolins-Thompson is one of three researchers to win $160,000 at the inaugural Māori Early Career Development in Cancer Research Awards!🤩🎉 Her PhD project will look at ovarian and breast cancer tumours in Māori women.
otago.ac.nz/otagobulletin/
With 25 trips to Antarctica, and countless research articles and lectures under her belt, Professor Pat Langhorne has officially retired. We took the time to speak to her about her life and career. Read her story: ow.ly/z2yW50AVUbR
Six rising research stars at the University of Otago have been recognised through the University’s annual Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research. Read the full story:
We are thrilled to share the Dunedin Study has been awarded this year's prestigious Royal Society of New Zealand Rutherford Medal! The Study celebrated 50 years of world-renowned multidisciplinary health and development research earlier this year. 👏
Graduation was even more special for one mother and daughter last weekend, when they both walked across the stage to receive their doctorates. 👏😍🎓🏫 otago.ac.nz/otagobulletin/
It's a very cold, pretty and slightly eerie early spring night on campus #OnlyOtago
Otago University and our Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies . has teamed up with Twitter as part of the #DataForGood programme. The shared goal is to use Twitter data to study the ways online conversations can be used to promote tolerance and inclusion 🕊️☮️👏
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Today we’re announcing our partnership with the University of @Otago and the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies @NCPACS in New Zealand through our #DataforGood program: blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/c
The University is proud to announce has been named as the new Dean of the School of #BiomedicalSciences. After making global headlines in his search for the #LochNessmonster, we hope he is ready for his next adventure🔍🐉Read more:
It was only a “few” years ago Dr Susan Wardell was watching her supervisor be awarded the OUSA Supervisor of the Year - and now she has received that same title ow.ly/dQAN50vszaN
For the past 20 years Pearl Matahiki has been helping tauira Māori journey through tertiary study, and now her own journey is coming to an end as she leaves the University later this month. 💔 Read her story: buff.ly/3a6hqX5
The Children’s Holocaust Memorial uses 1.5 million buttons to demonstrate the scale of the loss of children’s lives and is being hosted by the University. Read more: ow.ly/xyfE50x0Nua
Fumiaki Tanaka from The Highlanders popped in to speak to a group of Otago Japanese international students:
Otago University graduate Dr Ricky Bell became our first Maori student to gain a PhD in physiotherapy and says current approaches to countering obesity are "simply not working" in this country. Read more via
Postdoctoral research fellow Dr Gianna Leoni is another Otago woman doing great things. She is trying to find better ways of using the Māori language to express Māori economic aspirations. Check it out! #InternationalWomensDay #OnlyOtago 👏🏫👩 otago.ac.nz/hekitenga/2017
Six Otago researchers working in areas ranging from the prevention and treatment of heart attacks to the social effects of religion have had their efforts recognised with Early Career Researcher Awards! Learn about the awardees here:
We're getting a new building in Christchurch! We’re delighted to announce full funding has been approved for a $178 million project located in the heart of Te Papa Hauora/Christchurch health precinct enabling the growth of our health science research and education programmes!
I mean, we are world class. Now Buzzfeed reckons our central library is one you ABSOLUTELY must visit. We are proud of our library. Have you been lately? #OnlyOtago 💁😍🏫🎓buzzfeed.com/ambili/25-libr
Congratulations to all the researchers and their projects and programmes that received a share of the HRC funding announced for today. We look forward to watching all of your hard mahi come to fruition!
THIS JUST IN! Two of Otago's outstanding researchers have been named joint winners of one of the University’s highest research honours - the 2020 University of Otago Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Medal. Check out the full story:
Air NZ has kindly informed the University that for those students (and families of students) due to graduate tomorrow (12/12/20), it will waive their usual condition requiring cancellations to be made no later than the day before travel.
Thousands of nondescript bone fragments have turned out to be a genetic treasure trove casting light on the diversity of animals in NZ before humans arrived 750 years ago - thanks to research by Otago University via
These ducks might be used to swimming in the Leith but today it seems a bit too fowl even for them 🦆 💦
The exemplary teaching skills of Otago University's Dr David McMorran have been recognised with a National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award by Ako Aotearoa. Read more:
ANNOUNCEMENT: It is with deep regret the University announces it is postponing today’s graduation ceremonies and associated events due to a security threat. The University received a threat to its upcoming graduation ceremonies.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed celebrating our 150th anniversary with us in 2019, and look forward to sharing in another year at Otago with you. 🎉🎆
Today is our on-campus open day! It’s great to see so many school students on campus checking out what Otago has to offer and finding out more about their potential future studies!
Wishing everyone a good start to semester 1 as formal lectures get underway today! Ka pai te rā - have a good day!
