Ira James Cunningham
Encyclopedia
Ira James Cunningham was a New Zealand researcher in trace element
nutrition and animal science
. He is best remembered as a past president of the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
in the Wairarapa
in New Zealand
on August 16, 1905. He was dux of Dannevirke High School and later took a position as a cadet in the chemical laboratory of the Department of Agriculture in Wellington. While at the Department, Cunningham studied part time at Victoria University College.
In 1928, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science
degree, and in 1929 with a Master's of Science
with first-class honours in Chemistry
.
In 1929, Cunningham attended the Rowett Research Institute at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and this marked the beginning of his lifelong interest in trace element nutrition. He returned to New Zealand with a PhD in copper metabolism to become a research officer in animal nutrition at Wallaceville Veterinary Laboratory in Upper Hutt.
Cunningham then attended the University of Sydney
and gained a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc).
In 1945, with the support of John Filmer, director of the Animal Research Division of the Department of Agriculture, Cunningham became superintendent of the Wallaceville station. He was in charge of Wallaceville from 1945 to 1958.
Cunningham became Assistant Director General of Agriculture in 1958 and his services to agriculture were recognised in 1959 when he was made a CBE. The degree of DSc was conferred upon Cunningham the same year by Victoria University of Wellington
for his research on copper metabolism, and he received an honorary DVSc from the University of Melbourne in 1967.
In 1962, Cunningham was appointed as foundation dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Massey Agricultural College in Christchurch
.
Cunningham was made a fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
in 1963 and was awarded the Society’s Hector Memorial Medal and Prize in 1971. Among elected offices Cunningham held were those of chairman of the Veterinary Surgeons' Board, president of the New Zealand Veterinary Association, and president of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
Trace element
In analytical chemistry, a trace element is an element in a sample that has an average concentration of less than 100 parts per million measured in atomic count, or less than 100 micrograms per gram....
nutrition and animal science
Animal science
Animal Science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of mankind". Historically, the animals studied were farm animals, including livestock and horses, but courses available now look at a far broader area to include companion animals, for example dogs, cats and...
. He is best remembered as a past president of the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
Early years
Cunningham was born at MangatainokaMangatainoka
Mangatainoka is a small settlement in northern Wairarapa Bush, New Zealand. It is located between Pahiatua to the south and Woodville to the north and is intersected by the Mangatainoka River. The 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings gave its population as 1,617, consisting of 858...
in the Wairarapa
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
on August 16, 1905. He was dux of Dannevirke High School and later took a position as a cadet in the chemical laboratory of the Department of Agriculture in Wellington. While at the Department, Cunningham studied part time at Victoria University College.
In 1928, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
degree, and in 1929 with a Master's of Science
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
with first-class honours in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
.
In 1929, Cunningham attended the Rowett Research Institute at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and this marked the beginning of his lifelong interest in trace element nutrition. He returned to New Zealand with a PhD in copper metabolism to become a research officer in animal nutrition at Wallaceville Veterinary Laboratory in Upper Hutt.
Cunningham then attended the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and gained a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc).
Career
Upon his return to Wallaceville, he was appointed chief biochemist and section leader and concentrated on his main work of improving livestock production.In 1945, with the support of John Filmer, director of the Animal Research Division of the Department of Agriculture, Cunningham became superintendent of the Wallaceville station. He was in charge of Wallaceville from 1945 to 1958.
Cunningham became Assistant Director General of Agriculture in 1958 and his services to agriculture were recognised in 1959 when he was made a CBE. The degree of DSc was conferred upon Cunningham the same year by Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
for his research on copper metabolism, and he received an honorary DVSc from the University of Melbourne in 1967.
In 1962, Cunningham was appointed as foundation dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Massey Agricultural College in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
.
Cunningham was made a fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Royal Society of New Zealand
The Royal Society of New Zealand , known as the New Zealand Institute before 1933, was established in 1867 to co-ordinate and assist the activities of a number of regional research societies including the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of...
in 1963 and was awarded the Society’s Hector Memorial Medal and Prize in 1971. Among elected offices Cunningham held were those of chairman of the Veterinary Surgeons' Board, president of the New Zealand Veterinary Association, and president of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.