Of the twelve postgraduate presentations throughout the year, Plouviez was selected as the winner. His talk earlier in May summarised the mechanisms and significance of nitrous oxide synthesis by microalgae – an important area of research for understanding and mitigating climate change. He has been awarded $500 from sponsor, Merck Millipore, for his efforts.

The other finalists were Jay Jayaraman and Toby Newman from Massey’s Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Mareike Knaebel from University of Auckland’s Biological Sciences and Plant and Food Research. Knaebel was awarded the runner-up prize of $50.

Also at this month’s final meeting for the year were Dr Roberta Carnevali from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the Institute of Agriculture and Environment, speaking about physiological changes of grasses under different light and shade regimes and Dr Nick Albert from Plant and Food Research speaking about regulation of sunscreens in the liverwort Marchantia.

The plant biology seminar series was instigated by the late Professor Michael McManus and has been running since 2007. The monthly seminar series is jointly organised by Massey University, Plant and Food Research and AgResearch.

The series aims to support cross-institution engagement around the plant sciences for staff, postgraduates, postdoctoral and research fellows as well as visitors. It promotes sharing of expertise and provides presentation and networking opportunities for everyone involved in plant research in Palmerston North.

Photo: Nigel Flockhart from Merck Millipore with winner of the best student talk Max Plouviez, runner-up Mareike Knaebel and Palmerston North Plant Biology Seminar committee members Dr Nick Albert from Plant and Food Research, Dr Huub Kerckhoffs from Massey University, Dr Toshi Foster from Plant and Food Research and Dr Robyn Johnston from AgResearch.