Student showcase

Jared Broad

Jared has been involved in RSNZ Programmes; the Genesis Science Forum, and was a NZRM member invited to speak about Microbiology in Highs Schools in (2001, Wellington) and co-author of a NZRMS paper publication and poster called Webcam Microscopy (Dunedin, 1997)

Jared started A.S.T.R.O. Ltd 'Advanced Scientific and Theoretic Research Organisation Limited' (ASTRO.org.nz) in his final year of high school and did a research and development contract for the New Zealand Taekwondo Federation to develop a wireless scoring system.

Since then Jared has been growing ASTRO and doing design consultancy and software development contracts by organising a global network of 150 members. In the long run he hopes it will fund non-profit research for humanitarian projects founded on the principles of "freedom, peace, democracy, sustainability and human rights".

Over summer ASTRO was consulting with 'Telemetry Research' to develop a system to wirelessly power 'LVADs' or heart pumps. LVADs bypass the heart and buy time for patients on the transplant waiting list but have a high death rate from infections. Wireless power will cut these infections (therefore death rate) in half by replacing the power wire that passes through the skin with a wireless one. The system is still under development and hopes to be ready for animal trials in September.

ASTRO members recently spearheaded a project to install water supply systems to outlying Vanuatu Islands. The project went well with the team fixing up a number of the village facilities while they were there.

Jared has one more semester left on his Biomedical Engineering Degree (BE) and then will be seeking work in research and development preferably overseas, and continue developing ASTRO.

ASTRO is accepting membership applications (and consulting opportunities) and will keep its members informed of opportunities as it grows.