chiasma.org.nz

chiasma.org.nz Issue 1, May 2012

Industry Newsletter

CEO Introduction 1

Launch 2012 2

NZBIO Conference 3

Workshops 4

Mentorship Programme 5

Synapse 5

Meet the Team 6

Alumni 7

Contents

At the University of Auckland we have reached a stage where commercialisation is no longer a dirty word within the academic environment, with role models like Professor Colin Green – who raised more than $50 million to commercialise his research – showing that it is possible to be both a successful academic and entrepreneur. This movement of talented young science students wants to connect with you, and there are many opportunities for you to get involved throughout the year. For example, I encourage you to share your professional knowledge and experiences by mentoring a top student through our mentorship programme. You may also consider opening up your workplace for a site visit, or showcasing your company to students and industry members at Synapse. This year is an exciting year for Chiasma as we take our first steps towards spreading the Chiasma effect nationwide. This began in March with the launch of Chiasma Wellington. We had a

stunning response from members of the Wellington high-tech industry, and I am excited by the potential of connecting our diverse regional ecosystems and encouraging the flow of ideas and talent around the country. Dr Andrew Coy (CEO at Magritek) was one of the brilliant speakers at our Wellington launch. Andrew put forward the excellent analogy of academia and business being like oil and water, with Chiasma as a surfactant which lowers the interface tension and brings these two disparate groups together. How do you think we could do this better? If you have any ideas, get in touch with me – the valuable feedback we receive from our industry members continues to guide our programme. We look forward to continuing to lower the interface tension throughout 2012! Best regards James Daniell CEO, Chiasma

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chiasma.org.nz Issue 1, May 2012

Inside this issue

We now have a movement of over 2000 science students who are becoming commer-cially aware, innovative and professionally developed.

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Auckland Chiasma launched on 8th March at The University of Auckland. With 300 guests including industry members, academics and students, the event featured speakers Dr. Andrew Kelly (Executive Director, BioPacific Ventures) and Dr. Michelle Sullivan (CEO, NZBIO). Both speakers highlighted the attractive science-business opportunities for enhancing New Zealand’s economy, and Dr. Kelly made the compelling point that for science to have an impact on the world – arguably the primary motivator for many scientists – “business” is required.

Wellington Almost 200 people attended the inaugural Chiasma WGTN launch on 29th March. Dr. Helen Anderson (deputy chair of BRANZ and NIWA director) and Dr. Andrew Coy (CEO, Magritek) were inspirational speakers at this event. “Many highly-skilled students leave both Wellington and New Zealand immediately after completing their degrees, not because they dislike Wellington, but because they are simply not aware of the opportunities for interesting work in here,” says Ben Mallet, a Physics PhD student with the MacDiarmid

Institute as well as CEO of Chiasma WGTN. “Particularly in science and engineering, students are often groomed for academic jobs which simply don’t exist in abundance in New Zealand. So, on completion of their degree, most of them turn their sights overseas where the academic market is perceived to be much easier. On the other side of the coin, local technology companies often clamour for reliable, skilled employees. Chiasma simply connects these two groups together.”

Chiasma is New Zealand’s premier student-led organisation that seeks to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in science while creating

links between academia and the wider New Zealand science and technology industries. Chiasma addresses New Zealand’s need for business savvy, innovative and professionally developed scientists,

creating our knowledge-based economy’s next generation of leaders.

Chiasma Launch 2012

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Now in its eighth year, the stunning NZBIO conference is well established as the premier biotech industry showcase. The three-day event involved over 450 senior executives and delegates from across the world at the Langham Hotel in Auckland discussing the theme, “Changing the Game – with bioscience.” Once again, Chiasma students had a key role in supporting the conference. Speakers were as diverse as the topics. One vibrant theme was the convergence of biology and information technology as discussed by the Future Watch. Crown Research Institute research fueled further dialogue, while other sessions spanned New Zealand’s engagement with the changing pharmaceutical industry, nutrigenomics, innovation funding, future foods, intellectual property and agriculture. Chiasma students also had the valuable opportunity to participate in the conference itself. Conference speakers included Dr. Matthew Barnett, AgResearch, Dr. Andrea Grant, CEO of Living Cell Technologies and Nutrigenomics NZ, as well as John Shen from NIH in U.S. We raised awareness of the existence of such student initiatives as ours, helping better bridge the gap between talented science graduates and businesses actively seeking such emerging talent.

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Saturday 14 April 2012 The first in the Chiasma Career Catalyst series of workshops, this sold out workshop provided the opportunity for 50 science students to develop the ability to communicate science to a range of audiences — a hugely valuable but relatively rare skill. The workshop highlighted ways to simplify complex scientific information and tell stories with a target audience in mind, and was run by Elizabeth Connor, a professional science communicator who was awarded the inaugural Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize in 2010. In this valuable workshop Elizabeth ran through practical tools for communicating complex scientific ideas, including the use of simile, analogy and metaphor, and gave participants a chance to practise their skills.

Saturday 28 April 2012 Dr. Kerry Loomes took 60 participants through three case studies in an interactive session around the generation and commercialisation of innovative scientific ideas. This was followed with a session on protecting innovative scientific ideas, run by Tim Stirrup and Rachel McDonald from Baldwins. Participants gained knowledge on developing ideas and commercialisation challenges, while working in teams and practising these skills. A big thanks to Dr. Kerry Loomes and the team from Baldwins for running such an interesting and inspiring workshop.

Science Communication Workshop Review

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Science Innovation Workshop Review

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Mentorship Programme 2012 Chiasma’s mentorship programme will connect 15 top science students with mentors in the science industry. Beginning in July, it is a ten week programme. Benefits to mentors include the expansion of networks to include upcom-ing young professionals as well as the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the local science and technology industry. Areas to be discussed include networking, careers, profession-alism, skills, current issues and the status of the New Zealand science economy. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Sunny Park at sunny.park@chiasma.org.nz

In 2011 Synapse attracted over 100 industry members with more than 550 attendees including investors, government representa-tives, students and university staff. Excellent speakers from diverse hi-tech backgrounds including Sir Ray Avery (CEO Medicine Mondiale), Helen Anderson (Professional Director) and Michael Daniell (CEO Fisher & Paykel Healthcare) opened the evening. The event was a superb showcase of the latest developments in the industry. More than twenty organisations exhibited, including ViaLactia Biosciences, Alltech NZ, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, LanzaTech, Symansis, MSI and Plant and Food Re-search.

Wednesday 1 August 2012 This year Synapse will be bigger and better than ever. We will be accepting 40 exhibiting companies, and have an exciting line up of speakers planned. With room for 1000 guests there will be plenty of connections to be made! If you think your company would be interest-ed in exhibiting please contact Sebastian Liu at sebastian.liu@chiasma.org.nz for more information.

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SYNAPSE Science.Industry.Connect

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Meet The Team 2012 James Daniell

James has just embarked on an industry PhD with LanzaTech in the area of synthetic biology. This is his third year with Chiasma, and in his free time he enjoys performing music and tramping around New Zealand.

Vazishta Antia

Vazishta is currently completing her final year in the Masters of BioScience Enterprise Programme. While university does take up a large part of her time, she always remembers to take those crucial breaks to talk, laugh and go for a run.

Jyoti Chugh

Jyoti is studying a Masters in Science and a PGDip in Bioscience Enterprise. She has been with Chiasma for four years. In her spare time and during bus rides, she is often found with a good book.

Sebastian Liu

Seb joined the Chiasma family just

over a year ago. Having just started his

degree in Bioscience Enterprise this

year, he hopes to advance in industry

fields relating to nutrition and pharma-

ceuticals. Seb enjoys a spot of singing,

as well as the odd dip in the pool.

Vina Komari

Vina is a registered pharmacist com-pleting her Masters of Bioscience En-terprise. Being in Chiasma allows her to make a difference and play her role in strengthening NZ’s knowledge-based economy and prosperity. Besides, she gets to boss about these fantastic and diverse young talents in between her second or third cup of coffee.

Christine Deng

Christine is a flamboyant young lass who is at risk of irreversible enamel damage. In between mouthfuls of Chiasma's sweets stash, she enjoys a good cuppa, tethering in a few corporate partners over social niceties, whilst drafting clauses to keep her fellow members (somewhat) safe from suit.

Melissa D’Souza

Melissa has chosen to do her PhD in the microbial ecology of Antarctic soils. She has the opportunity to visit Antarctica, all expense paid! She is known to spend her free time in the gym.

Mikhail D’Souza

Mikhail joined the Chiasma organising team when he was only 18 years old and has developed from a schoolboy to a professional since then. He is currently studying software engineering and physics, and he enjoys playing the guitar and yo-yo-ing in his spare time.

Auckland team

Executive Wared Seger, Vina Komari, James Daniell, Melissa D’Souza Events Jyoti Chugh, Bonita Zhu, Lisa Zheng, Helen Li, Natalia Medvedeva Marketing Vazishta Antia, Jonathan Lawry, Siddharth Pulpa, Avantika Gupta, Taylor Leong, Chun Yuen Systems Mikhail D’Souza, Lawrence Liu Partnerships Christine Deng, Angela Lim, Finnebar Walker-Lamb, Luke Leybourne Industry Sebastian Liu, Sunny Park, Sanketh Gupta, Nalini Singh, Shin Park

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The team at Chiasma would love to hear from you! Any feedback on our newsletter and events would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to know more about us and how we can help your business reach thousands of

students at the University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington please do not hesitate to contact us any time at industry@chiasma.org.nz.

Alumni Showcase: Priv Bradoo Chiasma co-founder Privahini Bradoo was in Auckland recently to receive the University of Auckland Distinguished Young Alumna award. While here she presented “from Auckland to Silicon Valley” an inspirational story of her journey from completing her neuroscience PhD at The Liggins Institute to becoming the co-founding CEO of BioMine, a company that recycles valuable metals from e-waste. “Kill good ideas,” she said, “because they are the bottleneck to great ideas.” A Harvard Fulbright scholar, Priv was recently recognised as one of the top ten most influential business people by Unlimited Magazine, and named as one of Google’s top fifteen “supergeniuses” in the world. She has spoken at TEDx and recently attended the World Economic Forum.

Students from Chiasma had the privilege of hearing Priv speak about the obstacles she faced during her journey, and the revelations she has had. She advised students to “hold out, until you find something you really believe in. Do good…don’t just talk about what good you are doing.”