Current Award Winners

Dr Megan Grainger is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato. She has dedicated a large portion of her research career to helping the Apiculture industry by providing robust, outcome orientated research to solve the complex problems that the industry faces, and unlocking new scientific knowledge on bees and bee products. Her biggest contributions to-date are in manuka honey. Mānuka honey produced in New Zealand from nectar of the mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) tree is a highly sought-after product throughout the world due to the unique non-peroxide antibacterial (NPA) activity.

In addition to developing strong relationships with industry and collaborators, Dr Grainger has shared her work with wide audiences through public talks for community groups, being a guest speaker on podcasts, and producing articles and resources for interest groups. Dr Grainger has been recognised for her contributions with a number of other awards including a Hamilton City Council Emerging Scientist Kudos Award and an Early Career Excellence Award from the University of Waikato. She received a Marsden Fast-Start grant for bee research.