$l000 prize to Chch men

Press, 17 June 1976, Page 1

$l000 prize to Chch men

PA Wellington Three University of Canterbury scientists have been awarded the 1975 U.D.C. Finance inventors’ prize of SIOOO for their invention of a filter ozone spectrophotometer. The three men are Drs R. E. Basher. G. J. Fraser, and W. A. Matthews, the first two of whom are at present overseas. A cheque was presented to Dr Matthews by the Minister of Science (Mr Gandar) at a function in Wellington last evening. The machine, for which there are world marketing prospects, is designed to measure the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. There is now considerable concern about the level of this gas above the world’s surface, and the spectrophotometer determines the level of atmospheric ozone by measuring bounds of ultra-violet sunlight. This basic technique has been known for many years, but the originality of the filter zone spectrophotometer lies in its use of narrow-band interference filters to select the required ultra-violet radiation. These filters enable the construction of a more compact, rugged. and cheaper instrument than available previously. Work began on the

development of a spectrophotometer in 1968. In recent years, increasing concern has been felt that man may be reducing the atmospheric ozone levels and thus could be decreas ing the protection afforded against damaging solar radiation. The spectrophotometer might, therefore, play an important part in the defence of the ozone levels on a world scale. The Meteorological Office and the Inventions Development Authority have both backed the machine’s development. In Addition the International Ozone Commission, which advises the World Meteoro logical Organisation on ozone research, has fully supported its development Dr Matthews is now one of the 30 members of the International Ozone Commission. The spectrophotometer is undergoing final evalua tion in Invercargill and the United States to compare its performance with the original device for measuring ozone levels. Once tested, the Christ church firm. Industrial Trade Associates, will begin world marketing of the machine. The requirements of the 1975 U.D.C. Finance inventors’ award were that the New Zealand invention must contribute towards the environment and also have significant export sales potential.