A New Zealand scientist has won a top award in the United States.
Professor Velmurugu “Ravi” Ravindran, a New Zealand animal scientist who specialises in poultry nutrition, has become the first non-US researcher to win the American Feed Industry Association’s, Poultry Nutrition Research Award.
The award, which has been given to a scientist from outside North America for the first time in its 36-year history, recognises decades of distinctive work by the Sri Lankan-born Professor Ravindran, who is the head of Poultry Science at the Institute of Food Nutrition and Human Health at Massey University.
Professor Ravindran, who received the award last week at the American Poultry Science conference in St Louis, Missouri, is a key member of the World Poultry Science Association (WSPA) which has a small but active branch in New Zealand.
Alan Gibbins, the New Zealand based president of the Asian Pacific Federation of WPSA Branches said the award recognised the leading edge research in the field of poultry nutrition carried out by Professor Ravindran.
“Ravi’s work is recognised internationally and he is a frequent guest speaker or presenter at national and international poultry industry conferences. He has been published in more than 400 research publications, written three books and contributed more than 30 book chapters,” said Mr Gibbins.
“He also serves on several highly respected editorial boards for publications in the fields of animal nutrition, animal science and research in the poultry and feed industries and has been a member of the UN/FAO Expert Committee on New Feed Resources in Animal Nutrition since 1983.”
Before moving to New Zealand in 1988 Professor Ravindran held academic and research posts in Sri Lanka, Canada, the United States and Australia.
New Zealand Poultry Industry Association Executive Director Michael Brooks said New Zealand was fortunate to have a researcher of the calibre of Professor Ravindran working for the benefit of the industry in New Zealand and internationally.
“Ravi is at the head of a group of very good researchers and specialists who work in the poultry and feed industries in New Zealand and this award is recognition of his and New Zealand’s contribution to the pool of international knowledge.”