Clean, green and clever

Ray Avery was NZer of the Year last year. He’s a scientist which makes that unusal. And as a scientist, he has been able to look at the world through a scientist – and an entreprener’s eyes.

He believes the award highlights the role scientists play in NZ. He champions the motto – ‘clean, green and clever New Zealand’. Highlighting the clever is something we could easily take further. It’s true. But it needs some further marketing, perhaps first to ourselves who need to believe it most.

I am talking to him today at 9.05 on Planet FM, (104.6FM) my weekly radio show. On it he discusses how he has turned his science to work in developing countries. Moving on from his invention of cheap lens for those suffering from cateracts, he has also invented a $6 device which regulates the flow of drips into patients – replacing the highly inaccurate system that kills thousands each year.

And despite the low price tag, he argues that a few cents royalty on a product that will be produced in its billions for the third world, can also be profitable.

Another fascinating, “clever” New Zealander.