University Of Otago Research Articles

Self-perceived stressors of Bachelor of Oral Health students and implications for student support

Introduction: Despite a greater recent interest in students’ stressors in the dentistry learning environment, there is little research on oral health therapy students’ stressors. This study aimed to identify self-perceived stressors of Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) students in order to determine whether the learning support provided to them at the University of Otago, Faculty of Dentistry is meeting their needs and to make recommendations for future support strategies. Methods: All Bachelor of Oral Health students (n = 135) were invited to complete an online modified version of the Dental Environmental Stress Survey in 2016. The questionnaire included 31 items on potential sources of stress, which students were asked to rate on a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 “not at all stressful” to 5 “extremely stressful”. Results: About half of the respondents were first-year students, with the remainder equally distributed between second- and third-year students. The items “fear of being unable to catch up if behind” and “examinations and assessments” scored the highest, indicating that the students perceived these to be their greatest stressors. Although there were some individual high-scoring self-perceived personal stressors for students, overall, academic requirements were the highest scoring stressors, regardless of year group. Clinical environment stressors were rated highest for students in the second year, corresponding to when students start seeing patients. Conclusion: This study identified several self-perceived stressors for BOH students. The findings suggest that students require extra support at different stages of the program, for example, when they begin to treat patients. Future research should be directed at investigating what types of support programs would be of most benefit to students.

Traditional Medicine and Western Medicine, Coexisting Systems and Practices. A Perspective on the way forward

This article looks at Western Medicine and Traditional Medicine and explores the implications of these coexisting but very diverse systems of healthcare. We have sourced information from the World Health Organisations, Strategy and Guidelines in Traditional Medicine Use and, Guidelines for assessing quality of herbal medicines with reference to contaminates and residues and a Study on Traditional Medicine use in Dunedin by final year Otago University Medical students. We offer a perspective on the roles of academic institutions and Traditional Medicine/Traditional Healers in the provision of universal healthcare coverage in the Pacific.

Geochemical Sourcing of New Zealand Obsidians by Portable X-Ray Fluorescence from 2011 to 2018

This dataset includes 4,582 obsidian artefacts matched to their natural geological source from 45 archaeological sites in New Zealand (Aotearoa). It is a compilation of a number of independent projects conducted in the laboratories of the University of Auckland and University of Otago from 2011 to 2018 [1–13]. It combines previously published studies [3, 5–13], an MA thesis [1], a BA(Hons) dissertation [2], a site report [4], and other previously unpublished primary data. The dataset has high reuse potential for future non-destructive studies of artefacts and social network analyses. Funding statement: This database began as part of a project funded by Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Grant (UOA1619) and the support of Te Pūnaha Matatini.

Changing sex: it's a fishy thing.

Sex is a much more fluid affair for fishes than for terrestrial vertebrates. Many species (around 2%) show sequential hermaphroditism, switching from male to female (protandry), from female to male (protogyny) or - more rarely - from one to the other then back again. Such sexual plasticity likely confers an adaptive advantage during changes in the social milieu. Protogynous fishes, such as groupers and wrasses, were previously thought to remain as males after having made the switch once. However, Jiaxing Chen and colleagues from Sun Yet-Sen University (Guangzhou, China) show in the current issue of Journal of Fish Biology that, in the orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides, some males will make the reverse switch back to females when placed in male-only groups. Interestingly, it was the smaller males, likely lower in the pecking order, that tended to make this switch. As might be expected, plasma levels of 11-keto testosterone (11-KT; the main androgen in teleosts) fell significantly in those males that reversed sex, whilst there was a peak of 17β-estradiol (the major estrogen) at six weeks in the same fish. Expression of genes coding for other sex hormones, namely gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the hypothalamus, plus follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in the pituitary glands, of sex-reversed fish were similar to that of females, as were those of some other genes thought to be involved in gonadal sex-change (cyp191a1a, the gene coding for aromatase, for example). Intriguingly, however, this last example only became elevated after the sex-reversal was complete, raising doubts as to its involvement in the initiation of the process. The authors suggest that, in this species at least, FSH may be more important than LH in the regulation of sex-reversal, the latter more important in maintaining male gametes. Whilst the involvement of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in sex-change is beyond doubt, the precise details may be species or, as the current study suggests, context-dependent. As Mark Lokman (University of Otago, New Zealand), who works on sex-change in wrasse (but was not involved in the current study) comments, “The ability to change sexual phenotype is not uncommon in fishes..”. However, since the work of Chen et al. in groupers, and Kuwamura et al. (2007) in wrasse (also published in Journal of Fish Biology),, he continues, “…it is possible that sexual phenotype in fish is more plastic than generally accepted or appreciated.”

Developing a framework for teaching clinical reasoning skills to undergraduate physiotherapy students: A Delphi study

Students may find it confusing when methods and principles of clinical reasoning vary in different parts of a curriculum. A consistent framework between laboratory and clinical practice, and across the curriculum should be designed to facilitate student learning. The aim of this study was to identify key elements that academic and teaching staff consider to be important for teaching clinical reasoning to undergraduate physiotherapy students at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Educators (n = 41) involved in Year 2 to 4 teaching for at least one academic year across the School of Physiotherapy’s centres and hubs were invited to participate. A Delphi study was used to reach consensus about principles of clinical reasoning. There was consensus that clinical reasoning is an ongoing, complex and systematic process that is both collaborative and interactive. The World Health Organization International Classification of Function was the model considered most relevant for students to both gather and interpret information from the patient, and to plan and apply management. While students are expected to rely mainly on hypothetico-deductive reasoning systems, pattern recognition may develop with integration of theoretical knowledge and clinical practice. This project enabled physiotherapy educators to share information across their different geographical and contextual areas, and to reach consensus about elements considered important for teaching clinical reasoning to undergraduate students.

"I am a lefty in a right-handed world": Qualitative analysis of clinical learning experience of left-handed undergraduate dental students.

Left-handedness is the preferential use of the left hand in single-handed activities such as writing. There are many studies in the literature on left-handedness in relation to professional sports, medicine and surgery. Although dentistry largely depends on manual dexterity and hand skills, there has been little research to investigate the effect of left-handedness on clinical dentistry, particularly in Australasia. To gain an insight into the clinical learning experience of left-handed undergraduate dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand. Purposive sampling of left-handed students was done within the final-year class of undergraduate dental students, and they were invited to participate in a semi-structured group interview to discuss their clinical learning experience at the Faculty. Six participants agreed to participate, and the interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim. Collected data were analysed using a thematic inductive/interpretive analysis approach according to the constructivist grounded theory. All participants reported having clinical difficulties being left-handed students learning using right-handed equipment. There was a common theme of experiencing hand and wrist musculoskeletal problems as well as feeling of guilt causing patient discomfort during treatment. The majority of participants reported incidents where they were told by their supervisors to learn practising dentistry with their right hand and they felt that little guidance was given on how to operate as a left-handed clinician. All participants perceived that being a left-handed operator affected their efficiency and confidence level in their early clinical years. Left-handed students have a strong sense of adaptability. However, in order to improve the learning experience regardless of the difference in the operator's preference of dominant hand, students should be provided with appropriate equipment such as ambidextrous dental chairs and professional guidance, especially during their early career.

Carbohydrate quality and human health: a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses explaining the relationship between carbohydrate quality and health have usually examined a single marker and a limited number of clinical outcomes. We aimed to more precisely quantify the predictive potential of several markers, to determine which markers are most useful, and to establish an evidence base for quantitative recommendations for intakes of dietary fibre. We did a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of prospective studies published from database inception to April 30, 2017, and randomised controlled trials published from database inception to Feb 28, 2018, which reported on indicators of carbohydrate quality and non-communicable disease incidence, mortality, and risk factors. Studies were identified by searches in PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and by hand searching of previous publications. We excluded prospective studies and trials reporting on participants with a chronic disease, and weight loss trials or trials involving supplements. Searches, data extraction, and bias assessment were duplicated independently. Robustness of pooled estimates from random-effects models was considered with sensitivity analyses, meta-regression, dose-response testing, and subgroup analyses. The GRADE approach was used to assess quality of evidence. Just under 135 million person-years of data from 185 prospective studies and 58 clinical trials with 4635 adult participants were included in the analyses. Observational data suggest a 15-30% decrease in all-cause and cardiovascular related mortality, and incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke incidence and mortality, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer when comparing the highest dietary fibre consumers with the lowest consumers Clinical trials show significantly lower bodyweight, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol when comparing higher with lower intakes of dietary fibre. Risk reduction associated with a range of critical outcomes was greatest when daily intake of dietary fibre was between 25 g and 29 g. Dose-response curves suggested that higher intakes of dietary fibre could confer even greater benefit to protect against cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal and breast cancer. Similar findings for whole grain intake were observed. Smaller or no risk reductions were found with the observational data when comparing the effects of diets characterised by low rather than higher glycaemic index or load. The certainty of evidence for relationships between carbohydrate quality and critical outcomes was graded as moderate for dietary fibre, low to moderate for whole grains, and low to very low for dietary glycaemic index and glycaemic load. Data relating to other dietary exposures are scarce. Findings from prospective studies and clinical trials associated with relatively high intakes of dietary fibre and whole grains were complementary, and striking dose-response evidence indicates that the relationships to several non-communicable diseases could be causal. Implementation of recommendations to increase dietary fibre intake and to replace refined grains with whole grains is expected to benefit human health. A major strength of the study was the ability to examine key indicators of carbohydrate quality in relation to a range of non-communicable disease outcomes from cohort studies and randomised trials in a single study. Our findings are limited to risk reduction in the population at large rather than those with chronic disease. Health Research Council of New Zealand, WHO, Riddet Centre of Research Excellence, Healthier Lives National Science Challenge, University of Otago, and the Otago Southland Diabetes Research Trust.

Available time

Available time Robyn Maree Pickens (bio) I bring you off the line damp around the ears & elbows.Look at this face. What is enlightenment? I drink rooibos by lamplight—drying the cuffsof your purple shirt on the heater. These are my cells pawing with want. Listen to their yolk. I read wordsto draw you in close under this orange lamp, this oil heater— the smell of the day on your available skin. What do we dowith this now? Who are we beside each other? Enlightenment has done little for us. If I saw you on the street a strangerI could look through to your wild scent— smell you on the forest floor with the dank—gather pinecones & pass over past lives. [End Page 266] Robyn Maree Pickens Robyn Maree Pickens is a PhD candidate in ecological aesthetics at the University of Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand. Her poetry has appeared in SAND (2018), Cordite (2018), Plumwood Mountain (2018), Matador Review (2017), and Jacket 2 (2017) and at ARTSPACE, Auckland (2018). Her poetry criticism has appeared in Rain Taxi (2018) and Jacket 2 (2017). She was a finalist of the 2018 Sarah Broom Poetry Prize, judged by Eileen Myles, and the winner of the takahē Monica Taylor Poetry Prize 2018. This is her first appearance in Antipodes. Copyright © 2021 Wayne State University Press

Early Clearance of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: The Infect Case Contact Cohort Study in Indonesia

Introduction: Early clearance of M. tuberculosis is the eradication of infection before an adaptive immune response develops. We studied highly exposed Tuberculosis (TB) case contacts to identify host factors associated with early clearance. Methods: Indonesian household contacts of sputum smear positive TB cases were recruited. An Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) was performed at baseline and 14 weeks. Early clearance was defined as a persistently negative IGRA. Contacts were characterised with respect to demographic and clinical characteristics, index case exposure, and disease phenotype. Associations with a positive IGRA at each time point were estimated. Results: From 462 TB patients, 1347 households contacts (median age 27·9 years) were recruited. At baseline, 780 (57·9%) had a positive IGRA and 490 (36·3%) were IGRA negative. After 14 weeks, 116/445 (26·1%) initially IGRA negative contacts were IGRA converters and 317 (71·2%; 25·0% of all contacts) remained persistently IGRA negative. After accounting for measures of exposure and possible confounders, BCG vaccination was associated with reduced risk of a positive IGRA at baseline (relative risk [RR]=0·90; 95% CI 0·83 - 0.99; p=0·03), and a strongly reduced risk of IGRA conversion (RR=0·55; 95% CI 0·40 - 0·76; P<0·001). IGRA conversion was associated with diabetes mellitus (RR=1·90; 95% CI 1·02 - 3·51; p=0·04) and smoking (RR=1·66; 95% CI 1·10 - 2·49; p=0·02). Conclusions: Early clearance, defined as two negative IGRA tests 14 weeks apart, is found in a quarter of TB case contacts and is strongly associated with BCG vaccination. Further studies of the underlying immune mechanisms will inform strategies for enhanced protection against M. tuberculosis infection. Funding: AV was supported by a New Zealand Health Research Council Clinical Training Research Fellowship. Cohort recruitment was funded by the University of Otago and Mercy Hospital, Dunedin, New Zealand. Qiagen donated the QuantiFERON® test materials used in the study. Enrollment clinical management and laboratory examination of index cases was conducted in the TANDEM project, which is supported by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under Grant Agreement Number 305279. MGN was supported by a Spinoza grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. Declaration of Interest: The authors have no conflict of interests to declare Ethical Approval: The study was approved by the Health Research Ethics Committee Universitas Padjadjaran (14/UN6.C2.1.2/KEPK/PN/2014) and the Southern Health and Disability Ethics Committee New Zealand (13/STH/132).

Joan Mary Anderson 1932–2015

Joan Mary (Jan) Anderson pioneered the investigation of the molecular organisation of the plant thylakoid membrane, making seminal discoveries that laid the foundations for the current understanding of photosynthesis. She grew up in Queenstown, New Zealand, obtaining a BSc and MSc at the University of Otago in Dunedin. After completing her PhD at the University of California, she embarked on a glittering career at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and then Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. Not only a gifted experimentalist, Jan was a creative thinker, not afraid to put her insightful and prophetic hypotheses into the public domain. Her many notable achievements include establishing the details and the physiological significance of lateral heterogeneity in the distribution of the two photosystems between stacked and unstacked thylakoid membranes and the dynamic changes in the extent of stacking that occur in response to changes in the light environment. Her investigations brought her into collaboration with prominent researchers throughout the world. Recognised with many honours as a leading scientist in Australia, international recognition included Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society of Photosynthesis Research, and Honorary Fellowships at Universities in the UK and USA.

Investigation of Possible Shallow Gas Accumulations Associated with Pockmarks on the Otago Slope Southeast of New Zealand

High-resolution ‘boomer’ seismic data, together with an industrial 3D seismic dataset indicate the possible presence of shallow gas in the vicinity of the Waitaki Canyon, SE of New Zealand’s South Island. Crescent-shaped seafloor depressions are abundant on the marginal extent of the Otago canyon system in water depths between 500 and 1100 m. Fluids seeping through the seabed, potentially forming pockmarks, play a crucial role in seabed ecological systems and can be used to investigate the distribution of hydrocarbons in underlying geological units. Recently acquired 3D seismic data in the Canterbury frontier basin exhibit the first indications of shallow gas in the region. Two areas with shallow high-amplitude reversed phase reflections were identified and targeted for a high-resolution 2D seismic survey. The 2D data, acquired by the University of Otago in 2017, show reduced amplitudes beneath the bright spots (as also observed in the 3D data). Above the bright spots, bathymetry data show crescent-shaped seafloor depressions, which were most likely modified by northward flowing currents. Both recent and buried seafloor depressions along the shelf exhibit the same northward facing crescent form that we associate with water current modification. Water column imaging data reveal no evidence for present-day seepage of gas through the seabed. An ongoing programme of 2D seismic and bathymetry data collection is underway. High-density velocity analysis and amplitude variations with offset (AVO) will be assessed around the bright spots using several in- and crosslines from the 3D data.

First semester academic performance: The importance of early indicators of non-engagement

Success, progression and retention of students are goals of many university strategic directions and policies. For many decades it has been recognised that the greatest focus in any retention strategy should be on first-year students. University of Otago too has goals around student success. The Strategic Plan of the institution also identified that in the context of a fiscally constrained environment, all of our activities and processes need to be assessed for efficiency and effectiveness. To this end, a pilot was undertaken in one area of the university to identify possible indicators of first-year students’ non-engagement in the first semester and their possible impact on the first semester academic performance. The findings suggest that there are indeed some indicators that predict Grade Point Average at the end of the first semester.

REVIEW: Indonesian repression and betrayal in West Papua

Papua Blood: A Photographer’s Eyewitness Account of West Papua Over 30 Years, by Peter Bang. Copenhagen, Denmark: Remote Frontlines, 2018. 248 pages. ISBN 978-87-430-0101-0 See No Evil: New Zealand’s Betrayal of the People of West Papua, by Maire Leadbeater. Dunedin, NZ: Otago University Press, 2018. 310 pages. ISBN 978-1-98-853121-2&#x0D; TWO damning and contrasting books about Indonesian colonialism in the Pacific, both by activist participants in Europe and New Zealand, have recently been published. Overall, they are excellent exposés of the harsh repression of the Melanesian people of West Papua and a world that has largely turned a blind eye to to human rights violations.

Stressors in early-stage doctoral students

ABSTRACTStress during doctoral study is common; however, its presence is of concern to students as it has a deleterious impact on well-being and performance, and to the university which has a duty of care to students and the desire to promote a supportive research environment. This article reports on the qualitative findings from an online survey that sought to identify students’ experiences related to stress during the early-stage doctoral study. All newly enrolled PhD students at the University of Otago (New Zealand) received invitations to participate and respond to two questions related to stress during the early-stage doctoral study. In total, 152 survey responses were acquired from 352 first-year PhD students (response rate 43.2%). Nine main areas of concern were identified from an inductive thematic analysis of participants’ responses. Key stressors were time pressure, uncertainty about doctoral processes, sense of belonging in scholarly communities, and financial pressures. Some findings are contrary to previous research with novel perceptions on the student–supervisor relationship, different financial issues, and transition stresses contrary to previous research; this may reflect the changed academic landscape of doctoral studies. Findings provide insight into potential support strategies to better support early-stage PhD students.

Oral Health and Dental Students' Perceptions of Their Clinical Learning Environment: A Focus Group Study.

Creating an optimal clinical learning environment poses a challenge to health professions educators. To evaluate and improve the clinical learning environment, it is necessary to understand students' experiences of their environment and the factors they perceive as having an impact on their learning. The aim of this explorative qualitative study was to examine University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry students' perceptions of their clinical learning environment to gain insights into how learning outcomes could be enhanced. In 2015, all approximately 600 students at all levels of the Bachelor of Oral Health and Bachelor of Dental Surgery degrees at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, were invited to participate in focus groups. Focus groups facilitated by the faculty education research fellow and another researcher employed for the project were conducted during the second half of the academic year. Transcribed data were analyzed using a general inductive approach. Twenty-one students from all levels of the two programs attended one of six confidential focus groups. Three broad themes were evident in the results from all groups: feedback processes, assessments and grading, and tutor interactions. In the focus groups, students expressed dissatisfaction regarding current feedback practices, types of feedback to benefit learning, consistency in the grading system, and impact of different educators' teaching styles on learning. These results indicated a need for further research and curricular efforts to promote good student-teacher relationships in the clinical learning environment, which are paramount for creating an optimal teaching and learning environment and enhancing student outcomes.

The impact of living with type 2 diabetes: a descriptive qualitative case study with four Pacific participants

Introduction: Diabetes is a common among Pacific peoples. The personal cost of diabetes is substantial with the indirect costs shown to outweigh the direct costs in some instances. The aim of this case study was to identify and describe the personal cost to four Pacific people living with type 2 diabetes in New Zealand.&#x0D; Methods: Two Pacific men and two Pacific women with type 2 diabetes were recruited with the assistance of the Pacific Island Centre and the Pacific Research Student Support Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. The participants were interviewed (three in Samoan and one in English) using an open question approach. Appropriate cultural protocols were observed, and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Samoan interviews were translated into English. A thematic analysis was undertaken using an inductive approach.&#x0D; Findings: Participants’ ages ranged from the mid-30s to 75 years. The two retired participants had difficulty paying their prescription fees and three participants considered healthy food expensive. Other costs included time off work and family members moving towns to take care of participants and their diabetes. Pacific community members provided time, gifts and money at times when participants were less well. At the same time, participants considered they had a role in educating their community about diabetes prevention. A diagnosis of diabetes triggered healthful lifestyle changes for one participant.&#x0D; Conclusions: The personal cost associated with diabetes is broad and complex, with particular implications for roles and responsibilities among Pacific communities.

Peter George Reed Dawe

Peter George Reed Dawe was born in Bangalore, India, where his father was serving in the Indian Army. On his father’s retirement, the family moved to Tauranga, New Zealand. Peter...

News, Programs, Publications, and Awards

News, Programs, Publications, and Awards

Cyclone-driven marine rafting: storms drive rapid dispersal of buoyant kelp rafts

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 602:77-85 (2018) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12695 Cyclone-driven marine rafting: storms drive rapid dispersal of buoyant kelp rafts Jonathan M. Waters1,*, Dave Craw2 1Department of Zoology, and 2Department of Geology, University of Otago, 340 Great King St., Dunedin 9016, New Zealand *Corresponding author: jon.waters@otago.ac.nz ABSTRACT: Storm events can have strong effects on marine biological dispersal. Here, we used geological evidence to assess the speed of biological rafting driven by a major cyclonic storm (Cyclone Gita) in southern New Zealand during February 2018. We undertook a comparative analysis of coastal rock types to assign beach-cast macroalgal specimens to their geological source regions. Approximately 10% (23 of 250) of Lepas-encrusted beach-cast kelp (Durvillaea) specimens sampled from Dunedin beaches in the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Gita (21 and 23 February 2018) bore holdfast-clasts consistent with origins in the distant Fiordland region of southwestern South Island. Based on Lepas barnacle growth data, we estimated that this distinctive ‘pulse’ of rafted material achieved the 350 to 500 km journey from Fiordland to Dunedin in as little as 10 d, with many of these rafts thus inferred to have travelled 30 to 50 km d-1. These rapid rafting events were facilitated by westerly gales in Foveaux Strait (12 to 17 February), followed by cyclonic southeasterly winds off eastern South Island (19 to 21 February). The rafting-speed estimates from this study are substantially faster than mean current-flow estimates for the same coastal region (12 to 20 km d-1), and also exceed the speeds of previously documented kelp-rafting events in this region (estimated 10 to 15 km d-1) and elsewhere. Together, these data highlight the key role of storms in driving ‘wind slippage’ of buoyant material, facilitating pulses of dispersal at speeds far exceeding the predictions of oceanographic models. KEY WORDS: Dispersal · Geology · Oceanography · Rafting · Storm · Wind slippage Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Waters JM, Craw D (2018) Cyclone-driven marine rafting: storms drive rapid dispersal of buoyant kelp rafts. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 602:77-85. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12695 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 602. Online publication date: August 23, 2018 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2018 Inter-Research.

Joan Mary Anderson. 12 May 1932—28 August 2015

Joan Mary (Jan) Anderson pioneered the investigation of the molecular organization of the plant thylakoid membrane, making seminal discoveries that laid the foundations for the current understanding of photosynthesis. She grew up in Queenstown, New Zealand, obtaining a BSc and MSc at the University of Otago in Dunedin. After completing her PhD at the University of California, she embarked on a glittering career at CSIRO and then the Australian National University in Canberra. Not only a gifted experimentalist, Jan was a creative thinker, not afraid to put her insightful and prophetic hypotheses into the public domain. Her many notable achievements include establishing the details and the physiological significance of lateral heterogeneity in the distribution of the two photosystems between stacked and unstacked thylakoid membranes and the dynamic changes in the extent of stacking that occur in response to changes in the light environment. Her investigations brought her into collaboration with leading researchers throughout the world. Recognized with many honours as a leading scientist in Australia, international recognition included the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society of Photosynthesis Research and honorary fellowships at universities in the UK and USA.