News
Verum Group, with its diverse set of science and engineering skills, are involved in a range of projects across the science spectrum. Read our latest news.
SpectraChem now fully IANZ accredited
November 2023: SpectraChem is now fully IANZ accredited. IANZ accreditation means our results are trusted not only in New Zealand, but around the world. The lab is also now operating at full noise, with the analysis of major oxides, semiquantitative multi-elements, trace elements, and metal alloys; with the capacity for even more sample numbers than before. Congratulations to our Laboratory Analysts Khurram Malik and Gareth Salt who have put things in order and are now also both qualified as IANZ KTPs (Key Technical People).
The cost of dust
August 2023: The science around workplace dust is always evolving, but without doubt repeated exposure to certain types of dust can be deadly. “Part of the problem,” says Verum Group’s Industrial & Workplace Monitoring Manager William Porter, “is that impacts aren’t necessarily instantaneous.”
“Disease caused by workplace exposure to dust is more common in New Zealand than workplace accidents. Hundreds of people still die each year here, essentially from dust exposure, and more are crippled with illness.”
Upgrade to Verum's National Lab
May 2023: Verum Group’s National Laboratory has something new and glowing. Mike Young, Verum Group’s National Laboratory Manager, has recently overseen the installation of a LECO 828 Series Combustion Analyser for detecting carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, with an S832 add-on for independent sulfur determination.
Mike says the new equipment replaces an old instrument that needed continual maintenance.
New addition to Atarau Sanctuary
April 2023: Meet the newest addition to the Verum Group-sponsored Atarau Wildlife Sanctuary. Last Wednesday, Verum Group Director Luc Bohyn took delivery of very precious cargo – a great spotted kiwi/ roroa chick hatched at the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve.
Willowbank Wildlife Kiwi Team Keeper Bethany Brett and Luc gave the provisionally-named Xanthe a final weigh to make sure it had gained weight before carefully crating the chick for its journey across the Southern Alps to join other great spotted kiwi youngsters at Atarau.
Changes at the helm for Verum Group
March 2023: After over a decade, Verum Group has farewelled Dr James Pope as CEO of Verum Group. Throughout his tenure, James was involved in research in mining environmental management, treatment of contaminated water from mining and agriculture, and geothermal geochemistry.
Andy Englefield, who formally coordinated the Air Quality team in Christchurch, has taken over the helm, and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in December 2022.
Dr Laura Molles – listening to birds
February 2023: To mark the 'International Day of Women And Girls In Science' on 11 February, Verum Group is profiling one of our brilliant women in science - Dr Laura Molles.
Laura is a behavioural ecologist with a particular interest in animal communication. She has worked on several field-based projects around the US and in Costa Rica before moving to New Zealand in 2000. Here in New Zealand she has studied kōkako, kakapo, little blue penguins, bellbirds, tūī, and great spotted kiwi, including working on reintroductions and other projects.
Verum Group welcomes Zingara McDougall
January 2023: Zingara McDougall has recently joined the Verum Group team as the Financial Administrator for Verum Group. Zingara is currently a CAANZ Provisional Accounting Technician, nearing completion of her Diploma in Business Management through Te Pūkenga. As well as accounts, she is responsible for delivering effective financial reporting to support the success of the company.
Outside of work, Zingara enjoys keeping active through walking, gym classes and netball, and spending time with friends, family, and her two dogs.
Verum Group looking after the littlest kiwi
November 2022: Among other philanthropic activities, for some years Verum Group has been the proud sponsor of the Atarau Sanctuary in Christchurch. Atarau is a predator-free sanctuary for Paparoa Wildlife Trust’s roroa / great spotted kiwi chicks. While they are in our care, Verum Group researchers observe and listen to them through passive bioacoustic monitoring. Verum Group's work in bioacoustic monitoring of wildlife is gaining attention around the world.
Verum Group tackles Occupational Hygiene
November 2022: Too many people in Aotearoa New Zealand die or suffer from work-related ill-health and disease. Estimates from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) show 600 to 900 people in New Zealand die each year from work-related diseases, with thousands more suffering serious ill health.
Verum Group’s Occupational Hygienist William (Billy) Porter says the problem is often insidious.
Verum Group sponsors the 8th hole
November 2022: It's a long par 4, a straight shot with a few tree obstacles to a green with a few subtle turns. Named "Mountain View", it's a hole that suits the nature of Verum Group, so it was a no-brainer to offer our sponsorship for the hole at the stunning Tai Tapu Golf Course near Christchurch on the Akaroa Highway - a course voted the most favourite 9 hole course in New Zealand in a survey conducted by New Zealand Golf.
Verum Group work presented to Cornell University
September 2022: In August, Research Scientist Dr Carol Bedoya had the pleasure of presenting Verum Group’s bioacoustic research to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which manages the global eBird site. Carol presented about deep clustering approaches for the individual identification and censusing of birds by their calls, a type of passive acoustic monitoring, that he and Behavioural Ecologist Dr Laura Molles have been developing.
Verum Group now Education Partner for the Christchurch Art Gallery
August 2022: Verum Group is now the proud education partner of the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. Chairman Luc Bohyn says the Christchurch Art Gallery is a good fit for Verum Group sponsorship, with a rich overlap between the arts and sciences. "Without art, we would struggle to communicate science. And without science, art would be the poorer."