Synapse 2012 
(Other University events)
1 August 2012
5.30pm
Venue: Level 0, Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Road
Contact info: Vazishta Antia
Contact email: vazishta.antia@chiasma.org.nz
It’s back - and better than ever! Chiasma’s biggest event of the year, Synapse, is set to inspire and empower students. Amidst the bright lights, balloons, flashes from professional photographers, and the energised vibe of the audience, hundreds of eager students will listen to the insights of some of today’s most influential leaders in the scientific, research, and high-tech sectors. Then, the crowd will explore company exhibition stands, while happily networking over drinks and nibbles. Students will have the opportunity to make contacts that will help them in their careers - possibly even meeting their future employer.
Synapse is the biggest careers expo and symposium in New Zealand. Last year, the popular expo trended on Twitter. Record-setting numbers of students and industry members turned out to hear from renowned speakers Sir Ray Avery, the 2010 New Zealander of the year, Dr. Helen Anderson (Director DairyNZ), and, Michael Daniell (CEO Fisher and Paykel Healthcare). This year the engaging and edifying event promises to be even bigger.
While biotechnology and the life sciences have been the focus in the past, Synapse is now expanded to serve more students from other disciplines. From business students to chemistry students to engineers, many students can benefit from opportunities in the high-tech sector presented at Synapse.
This year, Synapse will host five world-class speakers who represent many facets of the diverse science and technology world:
Professor Bob Elliott, who was Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at The University of Auckland, is the founder and Medical Director of Living Cell Technologies (LCT). LCT is developing therapeutics for diabetics and other applications, using a revolutionary live cell implant technology. Professor Elliott has also been involved in other start-ups.
Shaun Coffey is CEO of Industrial Research Limited, one of New Zealand’s most prominent Crown Research Institutions. He trained as an agricultural scientist, and is now leading the CRI which has strong capabilities in chemistry, biology, and physics. He was recognised for his success by Stanford’s Who’s Who last year.
Dr Di McCarthy is CEO of the Royal Society of New Zealand, the premier scientific organisation that influences significant funding of fundamental research. Part of the Royal Society’s mission is also to advance society’s technology, which involves connecting academia, industry, and society.
Dr Sean Simpson is co-founder & Chief Scientific Officer of LanzaTech, New Zealand’s most promising biofuels company. LanzaTech has been signing-up big deals with industrial companies in China and India, as well as Sir Richard Branson’s airline, Virgin Atlantic.
Brent Robinso n, the CEO of Rakon, was inducted into the New Zealand Hi-Tech Hall of Fame in 2011. He has grown the business from $1m in revenue to $189m. Rakon now employs 2300 staff, and has shipped 72 million units of their product. Rakon produces world-leading frequency control solutions which enable connectivity between electronic devices. This will appeal to engineering, physics, and IT students.
Besides the stellar speakers, the diverse employer stands and networking opportunities, Synapse enables students to get exposure to opportunities in the world outside of university. Networking at Synapse not only expands students’ awareness, but also helps them kick-start their careers.
For those who want to do more with their career, who want to do something exciting and rewarding - Synapse is one event not to miss!
Chiasma’s mission is to connect academic science community to the wider high-tech industries and create a generation of young scientists who are innovative, professionally developed, commercially aware, and industry-connected.
