2021 COVID-19 Masterclass Op-Ed series
We are delighted to present the COVID-19 Masterclass Op-Ed series, in partnership with Newsroom. Experts across multiple disciplines have produced Op-Eds for New Zealand and wider audiences, each on one particular aspect of the pandemic. Drawing on evidence from around the world, the Op-Eds provide expert perspectives that help the New Zealand public understand the pandemic.
COVID-19 Masterclass Op-Eds, originally published on Newsroom, are also available here:
- 12 January Is there a role for Vitamin C in Covid?Associate Professor Anitra Carr, University of Otago
- 7 January Making vaccination programmes workDr Susan Heydon (University of Otago)
- 7 January A Covid future free from stigmaDr Christina Ergler (University of Otago), Associate Professor Robert Huish (Dalhousie University) and Associate Professor Nichole Georgeou (Western Sydney University)
- 3 January Urgent funding needed for Long CovidDr Sarah Rhodes and Dr Margot Skinner (University of Otago)
- 30 December Is Covid still a risk from foods or packaging?Professor Phil Bremer (University of Otago), Dr Catherine McLeod (New Zealand Food Safety Science Research Centre), Dr Joanne Kingsbury and Dr Rob Lake (ESR)
- 26 December Time to consider effective, easy-to-deliver treatments for Covid-19Tushar Saha, Professor Miguel Quiñones-Mateu and Associate Professor Shyamal Das (University of Otago)
- 5 December The Covid-19 endgame in NZ: Altering our pandemic destinyProfessor Michael Baker, Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Professor Nick Wilson (University of Otago, Wellington)
- 4 December Eliminating Māori inequities in Covid-19 outcomesProfessor Sue Crengle (University of Otago)
- 3 December Covid-19 drugs: NZ's state of playProfessor Kurt Krause (University of Otago)
- 2 December Vaccine equity must be a global priorityAssociate Professor James Ussher (University of Otago)
- 1 December Covid-19: Modelling for the future Dr Matthew Parry (University of Otago)
- 30 November We need to be one step ahead of the next coronavirus outbreakProfessor Miguel Quiñones-Mateu (University of Otago)
- 29 November Why we should adopt a village model Covid-19 responseLemalu Silao Vaisola-Sefo, Dr Debbie Ryan, Dr Teuila Percival (South Seas Healthcare) and Professor Philip Hill (University of Otago)
- 28 November What Covid-19 testing should look likeAssociate Professor James Ussher, Professor Philip Hill (University of Otago)
- 27 November Covid-19 and a new world orderProfessor Robert Patman (University of Otago)
- 26 November Why vaccine mandates are ethical Dr Elizabeth Fenton (University of Otago)
- 25 November Genomics: coming of age in the shadow of a pandemicDr Jemma Geoghegan (University of Otago), Dr David Winter, Dr. Joep de Ligt, Professor Mike Bunce (ESR)
- 24 November Beyond Covid, economy needs tech, scienceDr Murat Üngör (University of Otago)
- 23 November Safety the priority in vaccinating childrenAssociate Professor Tony Walls (University of Otago, Christchurch)
- 22 November Examining Covid: How did we get here?Professor Philip Hill, Associate Professor Patrick Vakaoti, Professor John Crump (University of Otago)
2020 COVID-19 Masterclass webinar recorded series
Recordings of the Masterclass webinars, delivered by a range of Otago and international experts, are available below. Listings are alphabetical by the presenters name.
Professor Michael Baker
Infectious diseases epidemiologist with an extensive publication record on pandemics and related research
The COVID-19 elimination strategy: Why it was the best choice for New Zealand.(MP4 231MB)
Associate Professor Angela Ballantyne
Medical ethicist
Balancing utility and equity considerations in ICU triage. (MP4 148MB)
Professor Joanne Baxter
Associate Dean (Māori) at the Kōhatu Centre for Hauora Māori at the University of Otago
Understanding key issues for Māori in the COVID-19 policy and health response. (MP4 190MB)
Dr Ashley Bloomfield
Director-General of Health of New Zealand
Communicating with the Public about COVID-19. (MP4 267MB)
Associate Professor Brian Cox
Director of the Hugh Adam Cancer Epidemiology Unit at University of Otago
What is the R value and why is it relevant to understanding COVID-19? (MP4 294MB)
Dr Shyamal Das
Senior lecturer in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Otago
The Otago hand sanitiser solution for COVID-19. (MP4 64MB)
Professor Philip Hill
McAuley Chair in International Health and Co-Director of the Otago Global Health Institute and the Centre for International Health at the University of Otago
Understanding Global COVID-19 health statistics. (MP4 183MB)
Associate Professor Bob Huish
Associate Professor of International Development Studies at Dalhousie University
Fighting COVID-19 - Cuba's important contribution. (MP4 344 MB)
Dr Noelyn Hung
Anatomical pathologist with subspecialist interest in perinatal pathology
The performance and pathological findings of COVID-19-positive autopsy.(MP4 353MB)
Dr Sarah Jefferies
Public Health Physician in the Intelligence Group at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR)
National outbreak epidemiology in New Zealand. (MP4 330MB)
Dr Marissa Kaloga
Lecturer in the University of Otago's Social and Community Work programme
Economic Justice, Social Determinants of Health, and New Zealand's Post COVID Recovery. (MP4 100MB)
Professor Stephen Knowles
Department of Economics at the University of Otago
The relative costs of intervening against COVID-19 across the world. (MP4 91MB)
Dr Kaaren Mathias
Public health physician with a research focus on global mental health
COVID-19 and implications for global mental health. (MP4 63MB)
Dr Matthew Parry
Statistician in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Otago
How to understand modelling of COVID-19 spread. (MP4 49MB)
Professor Robert Patman
Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chair with research interests in international relations, global security, US foreign policy, great powers, and the Horn of Africa
How has COVID-19 affected the global geo-political situation? (MP4 260MB)
Associate Professor Patricia Priest
Head of the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago
What is New Zealand's strategy for surveillance of COVID-19 going forward? (MP4 296MB)
Professor Miguel Quiῆones-Mateu
Webster Family Chair in Viral Pathogenesis in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Otago
What has been going on in the Otago COVID-19 laboratory? (MP4 175MB)
Dr Aalisha Sahukhan
Acting Head of Health Protection in the Fiji Ministry of Health
How did Fiji beat COVID-19? (MP4 77MB)
Associate Professor James Ussher
Immunologist and clinical microbiologist in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Otago and Southern Community Laboratories
How is a COVID-19 vaccine constructed and evaluated? (MP4 475MB)
How is COVID-19 diagnosed and what are the future diagnostic possibilities? (MP4 150MB)
Dr Ayesha Verrall, Dr Susan Jack, and Dr Andrew Chen
Dr Ayesha Verrall, infectious disease physician and epidemiologist at the Department of Pathology at the University of Otago, Wellington. Dr Susan Jack, public health specialist and epidemiologist, and is a Medical Officer of Health, Southern District Health Board. Dr Andrew Chen, Research Fellow with Koi Tū - the Centre for Informed Futures at the University of Auckland.
Rapid case contact management: what is it and why is it important, how does it work in practice, and what is the role of technology to enhance it? (MP4 251MB)
Associate Professor Tony Walls
Paediatric infectious disease specialist in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Otago, Christchurch campus:
Children and COVID-19. (MP4 68MB)