About the PSNZ

The Physiological Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) was initiated in 1972 by Professor John Hubbard (University of Otago) and Professor Jack Sinclair (University of Auckland). The purpose of the Society was to provide a forum for New Zealand-wide communication on research being carried out nationally in the physiological sciences. This was achieved mainly through annual scientific conferences and then, as now, particular emphasis was placed on the participation of young scientists in these meetings.

In 2001, the Society hosted the 34th World Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS2001) in Christchurch. Since 2004, our annual meeting has been held within the MedSciNZ Conference which is also attended by biomedical and clinical scientists working in other closely related disciplines.

The Society currently has around 100 members. They work across research fields that range from functional genomics to computational physiology and they make important contributions in the trend toward multi-disciplinary research that is now increasingly important in the medical and biomedical sciences.

See the PSNZ Constitution for more details.

PSNZ aim to enhance the quality of physiological and related research in New Zealand by providing an annual conference to optimise exchange of information between scientists and nurture the research abilities of postgraduates — the research scientists of the future
PSNZ aim to enhance the quality of physiological and related research in New Zealand by providing an annual conference to optimise exchange of information between scientists and nurture the research abilities of postgraduates — the research scientists of the future

Aims of the PSNZ

  • to enhance the quality of physiological and related research in New Zealand by providing an annual conference to optimise exchange of information between scientists and nurture the research abilities of postgraduates — the research scientists of the future;
  • to establish links with similar research societies throughout the world;
  • to enhance the effectiveness of tertiary education in the physiological and related sciences by the sharing of teaching aids and strategies at a national level and by advocating responsible attitudes to ethical issues related to the acquisition of biomedical and animal-based physiological knowledge and skills;
  • to maintain and encourage the responsible teaching of biological sciences in secondary and primary education by acting as source of information for current school teachers and by providing effective tertiary training of science graduates likely to become school teachers of the future;
  • to provide advice on career opportunities for those with graduate qualifications and to advertise, promote and foster career opportunities for those with postgraduate qualifications in physiology and related disciplines;
  • to be a national body active in the provision to the government and the community of advice and information in areas of deliberation relevant to the physiological sciences.