It’s graduation season for Massey
Years of study, assignments, exams and hard work are culminating in celebration for more than 1000 Massey University students graduating this week.
Among them is new doctor of philosophy in geography Simon Vale, who graduated on Monday afternoon. He researched river ‘‘sediment fingerprinting’’ techniques to investigate how they could be used by scientists to distinguish where suspended river sediment came from.
Making new findings for science as part of his research was satisfying, he said. ‘‘There’s a very steep learning curve in some of the techniques I used and applying them in New Zealand. It all adds incrementally to research.’’
The doctorate took ‘‘four years, and a year waiting for it to be reviewed and then to defend it,’’ he said, and had led to a job at Landcare Research.
‘‘Now, I can finally get the thing framed and officially use the word doctor.’’
Ceremonies are planned at The Regent on Broadway, morning and afternoon for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. A graduation parade is planned after each ceremony, for graduates to march from The Regent to marques in The Square for refreshments.
Celebratory events will also be held on Thursday morning to honour Maori graduates, and Thursday afternoon to honour Pasifika graduates.
Of the 1129 graduating students, 40 will be awarded doctorates and 146 master’s degrees.
Original research undertaken by doctoral students includes a study into how to increase the lactose content of New Zealand milk to meet international demand, the effects of different types of enclosures on piglet survival, and challenges in communication methods between pilots and maintenance engineers when aircraft are handed over.
The ceremonies are also being streamed on Youtube, so family and friends can view it live.