Women Contribute to Scientific Research

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26471, 27 May 1947, Page 2

Women Contribute to Scientific Research

That women hold a place of their own in scientific research in New Zealand and are contributing a valuable share to the findings made by Dominion scientists, was evidenced at the sixth science congress of the Royal Society of New Zealand, held in Wellington last week.

No fewer than 10 per cent, of the delegates were women who presented a varietty of papers at the congress.

A number of women speakers were entomologists or botanists. Miss Phyllis Robertson, an entomologist from the Cawthorn Institute, Nelson, has been working on aspects of the ravages of the diamond-back moth. With the white butterfly, this month is responsible for the damage done to cabbages. Because it is a less conspicuous insect than the white butterfly, the butterfly is generally believed to be the sole culprit.

Filmer. of the botany section of the Division of Scientific and Industrial Research in Wellington. The distressing symptoms of hay fever are caused by the action on the sensitive mucous membrane of eyes and nose of spores and pollens of certain plants. Mis's Filmer gave a paper on the plants producing these pollens. Another botanist, Miss R. Mason, who is a daughter of the Minister of Education, and Miss B. E. G. Molesworth, botanist at the Auckland Museum, also gave papers. The only woman vice-chairman of a setion at the congress was Mrs P. Moncrieff, a noted ornithologist. In her vice-chairman' address, she discussed bird ' illustrators, past and present, with reference to New Zealand. An authority on bird life, she is the author of that well-known work.

Another entomologist from the Cawthorn Institute, Miss Avice Hamilton, who has been working on insects that affect cocksfoot crops, discussed the life history of the cocksfoot stemborer, the midge, and other insects that damage the grass. A world authority on marine algae, Miss Lucy B. Moore, botanist, presented a paper on the areas around New Zealand where these flora may be found. During the war Miss Moore did valuable work on New Zealand seaweeds when the Japanese source of supply of agar was cut off. Several women lecturers from Victoria College, who are botanists, were among the speakers. Dr E. A. Flint, was one. She has been botanist to the Cotton Research Association in England, and came to New Zealand recently for family reasons. She is temporary lecturer in botany at the college. Miss D. A. Crawford, another botany lecturer from the college, and Miss M. J. Peebles, a demonstrator in botany there, also spoke. A botany student, Miss M. P. Ambler, of Auckland University College, dealt with factors affecting tide pools on Narrow Neck beach.

"Birds of New Zealand.” Mrs Moncrieff is a granddaughter of the famous painter Millais. The legend that the kernel of the karaka berry was poisonous had not hitherto been tested, said Dr Muriel Bell, who besides giving other papers spoke on the pharmacology of poison in these berries. Fluorine analysis of the enamel and dentine of New Zealand teeth suggested that the fluorine content was low, said Miss M. F. Harrison, a research worker and science graduate, who spoke on this subject. Two geneticists, Mr and Mrs S. W. Boyce, presented a joint paper on grain weight in wheat. The wife of the Dominion president of the Royal Society, Professor W. N. Benson, was formerly herself professor of home science at Otago University, and is a member of the senate of the University of New Zealand.

The pollens causing hay fever have been studied by a botanist, Miss D. W.