Graham McBride (Awarded 2008)

For his sustained and distinguished contributions over 30 years to pollutant transport modeling, statistical analysis and design of water quality monitoring networks, and human health issues related to waterborne pathogens. Graham’s focus has been on applying mathematical modeling methods to water-related issues to improve understanding of key environmental processes and provide technical support for development and implementation of public policy. At first this involved pollutant transport and transformation process in rivers, lakes and coasts, often concerning dissolved gasses (particularly dissolved oxygen) and, in later years, microbial pollutants. After encouragement from central government agencies, especially the National Water and Soil Conservation Organisation, he moved into monitoring network design with an emphasis on statistical aspects. In that regard he was a key player in setting up the on-going National Rivers Water Quality Network. This kindled a strong interest in environmental statistical methods and, pleasingly, a proposal to continue this line of work was funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. This work is ongoing, and has resulted in publication of an invited text (McBride, G.B. Using Statistical Methods for Water Quality Management: Issues, Problems and Solutions, Wiley, New York). He has now moved into a third major area, applying risk analysis methodology to water-related human health issues, which has now become a major focus, including new work in the USA. He enjoys both the mathematical approach to issues, and seeing their influence on the development of public policy. For example, his results have been used by the Ministries of Health and the Environment in the promulgation of new Drinking-water Standards and Microbiological Water Quality Guidelines for Marine and Freshwater Recreational Areas. Graham is recognised internationally as a specialist in the philosophy and procedures of water quality management, and has been a tireless teacher and statistical advisor to generations of New Zealand water quality scientists.

Mr Ian Jowett (Awarded 2007)

For his outstanding contribution to the field of eco-hydraulics and his work in understanding the relationships between the distribution, abundance and response of fish populations to flow regime, hydrology, and physical habitat. His key studies have included the “100 rivers study”, which led to a model of brown trout abundance, and long-term studies of fish populations in a number of rivers to determine factors that control populations of brown trout and native fish. With others in NIWA, Ian has contributed greatly to our knowledge of habitat use by fish and benthic invertebrates, and has developed methods and computer programmes that allow this information to be used to assess the potential effects of flow changes. With over 30 years of experience in engineering hydrology and environmental flow requirements, and a very practical focus, Ian has provided advice to a wide variety of clients on the biological implications of flow regime alteration and environmental flow requirements, including in-stream habitat, water temperature, flushing flows, seasonal flow variations, and flow fluctuations below hydro-peaking stations. This experience has been used to formulate methods for assessing flow regime requirements in rivers by many regional councils in New Zealand.