Fish into face cream and algae into paint – what is NIWA up to?
Dr Vicky Webb leads a team of scientists at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in the search for useful chemicals found in organisms living in the ocean. She is a molecular biologist, which she says means "I look at molecules, tiny little things. I look for useful things you can get from organisms from the sea".
In this video conference with students from Cobden Primary School, she talks about two of the chemicals they have discovered and found a use for.
Watch clips of Vicky talking about:
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
Fish waste and ways to reduce it
Changing fish waste into cosmetics
Cobden School is a primary pchool on the West Coast of the South Island.
Video clips
NIWA scientist Dr Vicky Webb
Molecular biologist, Dr Vicky Webb explains her job at NIWA to students at Cobden School during a video conference.
National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research
Dr Vicky Webb from NIWA describes the different types of work that are done by her organisation.
What is fish waste?
In a video conference with Cobden Primary School, NIWA scientist Dr Vicky Webb explains what fish waste is, and why scientists are exploring new ways to use it.
Changing fish waste into cosmetics
In a video conference with Cobden Primary School, Dr Vicky Webb of NIWA explains the process of changing fish waste into cosmetics.
Will I smell fishy?
During a video conference between Cobden Primary School and NIWA scientist Dr Vicky Webb, the facilitator David Copeland asked if using a face cream made with fish waste would make him smell fishy. Dr Webb answers his question.
Turn bad into good
Can the poisons produced by algal blooms be used for anything good? NIWA scientist Dr Vicky Webb talks with students from Cobden Primary School, via video conferencing, about how her team of scientists are investigating this, and where they get their ideas from.
Developing an anti-fouling compound for marine paint
Dr Vicky Webb from NIWA explains in a video conference with Cobden School students, why scientists are trying to develop a marine paint that stops sea-life attaching themselves to the bottom of boats.
Testing anti-fouling marine paints
After NIWA scientists decided to isolate the toxic chemical produced by algal blooms, they got a marine paint company to mix the compound with some of their paints. Dr Vicky Webb explains in a video conference with Cobden Primary School, the process the NIWA team then used to test the new paints.
What is biotechnology?
Dr Vicky Webb from NIWA discusses what biotechnology is with students from Cobden School.
