Professor Patricia Hunt, Dr James Berghan, and Dr William Holmes-Hewett have been recognised in the inaugural Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships.

The fellowships are awarded by the Royal Society Te Apārangi to support researchers at different career stages.

Professor Hunt has received a New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship. The fellowship is worth $220,000 and will support her work investigating ionic liquid propulsion systems for mini satellites.

The Royal Society describes Professor Hunt as a globally recognised expert on ionic liquids. She currently leads the Hunt research group in the University’s School of Chemical and Physical Sciences.

Dr Berghan (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri) and Dr Holmes-Hewett both receive New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships. Each fellowship is worth $820,000 over four years.

Dr Berghan’s award will support his research on bridging the gap between evidence-based urban design and community understanding of its benefits. Dr Berghan is a senior lecturer in Māori Designed Environments at the School of Architecture.

Dr Holmes-Hewett will use his award to study new materials for advanced components in quantum computers. Dr Holmes-Hewett is a scientist at the University’s Robinson Research Institute.

Additional details about the 2024 Tāwhia te Mana Fellowships are available on the Royal Society’s website.