NZMS Public Health SIG to focus on "burning issues"

by Bert Ricacho

The NZ Microbiological Society's Public Health (Food Microbiology, Water and Foodbourne Diseases) Special Interest Group has met twice already, first at the September 2003 NZMS Conference in Hamilton. The meetings, convened by Norberto Ricacho, Lecturer in Microbiology at Unitec NZ and formerly of UP and ESR, were well attended and saw the presence of our eminent Public Health and Food Microbiologists in the country.

The September meeting was a good opportunity to foster closer and more dynamic interaction among the members. NZMS President Andrew Hudson and Treasurer Phil Bremer, who also are members of this SIG, expressed optimism for a greater relevance of the group's activities not only to the scientific community but to the community-at-large.

The meeting ended with a commitment to "keep the ember burning" for this SIG by organising local area meetings and a mid-year general SIG meeting.

The May 2004 SIG meeting along with the DIANZ-NZIFST COnference in Hamilton was attended by the ex-SIG COnvenor Sally Hassell, Graham, Shanti, Sajith, John Brooks, Irene, John Mills, George, Shane, Steve, Phil and Norberto.

Steve Flint from Fonterra apprised the group on the forthcoming NZMS Scientific Conference at Palmerston North and extended invitation to attend the pre-Con workshops. Dr Sally Hassell from NZ Milk, formerly of ANZA and ESR, encouraged the group to focus on burning issues that would exert a more significant impact on public health and food & water microbiology research in the country, and that the SIG, being composed of recognised food scientists in the country, should spearhead on this initiative.

The Convenor, Norberto Ricacho, thanked everyone for their continued enthusiasm for the area and promised to expand if not manifest among the SIG members and looked forward to meeting with them again in November 2004 at the Annual Scientific Conference.

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