ESR carries out research in the major areas of Environmental Health and Forensic Science. Many of our scientists are acknowledged as national and international leaders in their respective fields.
Our research encompass a broad range of projects that are funded by a number of different organisations.
Environmental Health research
This research covers activities related to Communicable Disease, Population and Environmental Health, Food Safety and Water Quality.
Some examples include:
- Drinking water database development and support (MoH)
- Development of an Environmental Health Action Plan (MoH)
- Promoting the benefits of NZ food through science (FRST)
- Sustainable development - the human dimension (FRST)
- Investigation of childhood infections and asthma risk (HRC)
- Investigation of the health of our environment (MfE)
Forensic Science research
A lot of our Forensic Science research focuses on the rapidly advancing area of molecular biology. Other areas of research include improving techniques in physical evidence analysis.
Examples of projects include:
- New methods for extraction of DNA from biological samples
- Assessment of Y chromosome analysis
- Development of systems to measure social and economic benefits of forensic DNA analysis
- Investigation of ethical issues relating to forensic DNA profiling in New Zealand.
As part of our development programme, ESR interacts with the University of Auckland through the Forensic Science Programme within the Department of Chemistry. Students in this programme undertake forensic research projects at ESR with support from our forensic scientists.