The role of research is as important as ever, as the Otago Medical School Research Society gears up to celebrate over a century of contributions to health-related research.
For more than 100 years, the Otago Medical School and its Research Society have shone a light on the importance of research.
This key role of fostering and furthering health-related research will be celebrated at a commemorative event held in the Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum on 4 October.
The President of the Otago Medical School Research Society, Associate Professor Shyamal Das, says it has a “rich history” of promoting research across a wide range of topics involving many different academics and students over the years.
In 1922, Professor Carmalt Jones, then Chair of Medicine at Otago, began publishing a collection of papers produced by Medical School staff. These became formally known as the Proceedings of the University of Otago Medical School, a yearly collation of papers by Medical School staff published in national and international journals. In 1951, the Research Society was formed and took over the Proceedings, but in a new format.
Over the past 25 years, the Society’s purpose has shifted from promoting medical and related research to health-related research more broadly. It now covers all Schools in the Division of Health Sciences as well as research from other schools including the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences and the Department of Psychology.
Current President Associate Professor Shyamal Das is looking forward to celebrating the Society’s achievements.
Instead of promoting only the research of established researchers, it now focuses on student and early career researchers. Associate Professor Das says this move has been well received and the Society provides excellent mentoring opportunities for those starting out in research.
“We want to help prepare them for their academic careers.”
The Society holds five meetings a year – four include presentations from postgraduate students, who compete for prizes, and there are more than 100 entries annually for these events. One meeting features a guest speaker. The Society also runs an annual science writing competition for students carrying out health-related research at Otago. Associate Professor Das says this attracts about 30 entries every year, with the winning piece featuring in the Otago Daily Times.
The Society’s research papers were published by the New Zealand Medical Journal until last year and are now published on OUR Archive (Otago University Research Archive).
The Proceedings reached its centenary last year and the event to commemorate this is being held next month.
Associate Professor Das says there will be a wide range of speakers at the October event, including Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Nicholson, and Deans and representatives from across the Division of Health Sciences and Sciences. More than 20 past presidents and editors of the Society will also take part.
University staff and students, and members of the public, are welcome to attend and must register by 5pm, 26 September.
- Kōrero by Andrea Jones, Team Leader, Divisional Communications