Nutrition Teaching Plans At Otago

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30269, 23 October 1963, Page 15

Nutrition Teaching Plans At Otago

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, October 22. A statement intended to correct any misconception about the future of nutrition teaching and research in the University of Otago was made to the university council today by the vicechancellor, Dr. F. G. Soper, and the dean of the Medical School, Professor E. G. Sayers.

Professor Sayers explained that that for many years a nutrition research unit had been maintained at the Otago Medical School by the Medical Research Council. The honorary director of the unit had been Dr. Muriel Bell.

‘ Her services to the community have been outstanding and one can well understand the great regret with which the news of her retirement has been received." he said.

"It is important, however, that Dr. Bell's position should be made clear.” he said

"She has never been an employee of the Medical Research Council. Although honorary director of the unit, she has always been a salaried officer of the Depart-

ment of Health and it is in this capacity that she has g ven such outstanding service as nutritional adviser to the people of New Zealand.

including advice to many organisations such as the Plunket Society and to many individuals who have consulted her personally.

"Her ability as a consultant on nutrition was helped by the fact that she had a: her disposal a research staff »ho could undertake re-

i search on special problems I where the answers were not I readily available from cur- ' rent knowledge." Professor ‘Sayers said. "Dr. Bell retired from the i Health Department in the ■ normal way in February. 1963, but the Medical Research Council invited her !to carry on for one further 1 year as director of the nutrij tion unit,” he said. Professor Sayers said the Heal'-h Department had decided to appoint another ad- . viser in nutrition from its own staff and he understood that an officer of the department was new in England i being trained for this post. “This officer will presum- ■ ably be attached to the headquarters of the Health Department in Wellington. The Medical Research Council had decided not to continue i the unit in its present form, but the chairman of the council, Dr. H. B. Turbott. ! had already made it clear this did not mean that the council would discontinue nutritional research,’’ he said “The permanent members J the nutritional unit staff will still be employed and alI though final decisions on (future work have yet to be taken, it is expected that they will continue the projects on which they have i been engaged over recent I years.

' “Research on several aspects of nutrition will continue in the Medical School

The department of medicine, for example, has for long been working o n the question of diet fat and arteriosclerosis and this work will be continued and Expanded," Professor Sayers said. There seemed to be a general misconception in other parts of New Zealand about nutrition teaching and research in Otago University. Dr. Soper said.

For more than 40 years nutrition as a subject had been taught as part of the course for bachelor ot home science and it was one of the three options which could be taken for the master’s degree. Recently, .research grants had been made by the Nuffield Foundation to the School of Home Science to help in their nutrition research in particular in the establishment of a metabolic unit which dealt with basic nutrition. "‘Now there are active plans for developing the subject human nutrition as an hcncurs degree subject for the degree of B Sc. honours,” he said. “This is part of the plan for our next quinquennium and will provide training at a high level in human nutrition. “Plans for the forthcoming quinquennium also included the establishment of a second chair in the School of Home Science with the intention of appointing a professor with qualifications in human nutrition. “The association of the facilities of the Medical School, the School of Home Science and of the basic sciences departments, all .combine to provide a particularly favourable opportunity for developing this subject at high level,” he said. “I can see a great future for this honours school of human nutrition in the University of Otago. “I am sure the public has the impression that nutrition research was going to be dropped. In fact it is going to be stepped up.” the prochancellor. Mr T. K. S Sidey. said. Dr. John Fulton said it seemed to the public that Dr Bell had got "a raw deal" from the Health Department. The information given by Professor Layers and Dr. Soper showed that criticism of the department was not justified.