Nicola Mary Grimmond

Nicola Mary Grimmond

 

1936-2003

 

A SRARNZ life member, and pioneer of eco-physiological studies on reptiles

 

Nicola Grimmond was a founding member and honorary life member of SRARNZ. She spent much of her professional career in the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago, where she was an academic staff member from 1958 until 1997.

 

Nicola was one of the first environmental physiologists to take a research interest in New Zealand reptiles. Her research focussed on the metabolism and energetics of skinks, geckos and tuatara. She was described as a fast-paced and innovative teacher, and played a large part in training the next generation of New Zealand herpetologists.

 

Nicola was an important figure in SRARNZ, being a Council member almost continuously from the Society’s inception in 1987/1988 until 2001. She organised the society’s first biennial conference in Middlemarch in 1988, and was President from 1990 until 1993. Nicola also initiated the funding for the Student Prize, which began in 2001, and was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the society in early 2003. In both SRARNZ and elsewhere, Nicola provided valuable guidance towards implementing the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in research activities. Nicola is remembered by her SRARNZ colleagues with respect and gratitude.