Job title: Lecturer
Phone: 64 9 3737599 ext 83034
Office: Rm 556, Human Sciences Building,10 Symonds Street, Auckland
Postal: School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland
Email: b.bray@auckland.ac.nz

PhD (Toxicology) University of Otago
MSc (Toxicology) University of Otago
BSc (Pharmacology) University of Otago

 

My research interests are in museums and science centres and about making the most of the opportunities that they present. This includes looking at the value to society, the value to schools and how they can improve. I do have a strong interest in education and education programmes but am starting to look wider at the general learning that happens in museum-type situations and how it can be improved. Organisations such as councils spend a lot of money on museums so there is a need to figure out how to account and justify this expense. A lot of this responsibility lies with the museum and being able to prove an impact, so I focus on helping them do this better by developing an understanding of the value that they provide to their visitors and to the city. This incorporates theory from the fields of edcuation, communication, visitor studies and business.

However, I trained as a Toxicologist looking at the role of drug metabolising enzymes in the liver. This incorporated studies on Vitamin A toxicity, Paracetamol, St Johns Wort and Breast Cancer. After completing a PhD I undertook post-doctoral work in toxicology followed by a lectureship. I then felt the need to explore my interests in science communication and worked as a manager for Techniquest@NEWI in Wales. This was followed by a range of outreach based jobs at the University of Manchester before I relocated back to New Zealand. I have recently rejoined the university academic system and am in the process of establishing my new research career in science communication.

I am also the Women in Science officer and as such act to promote recruitment and retention of female students in some areas of science. Within this role I work mainly within the computational science disciplines such as maths, computer science, physics and chemistry. For more information on the activities supported by the University please see the women in science webpage (www.science.auckland.ac.nz/women-in-science).

 

 

Book Chapters
Rosengren, R. J. and Bray, B. J. Chapter 5 Dietary Retinol as a Toxic Substance In: Annual Reviews in Food and Nutrition Toxicity (Preedy, V.R. & Watson, R.R. Ed.) Taylor and Francis, London, p 88-120, 2003

Refereed Journal Articles
Goodin, M. G., Bray, B. J., and Rosengren, R. J. (2006) Sex- and strain-dependant effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) in the mouse. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 44(9) 1496-504.

Chisholm, K., Bray, B. J., and Rosengren, R. J. (2004) Tamoxifen and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are synergistically cytotoxic to MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Anti-cancer drugs, 15, 889-897.

Bray, B. J., Perry, N. B., Menkes, D. B. and Rosengren, R. J. (2002) St. Johns' Wort extract induces CYP3A and CYP2E1 in the Swiss Webster mouse. Toxicological Sciences, 66, 27-33.

Bray, B. J., Perry, N., Brennan, N. J., Menkes, D. B., and Rosengren, R.J. (2002) Short term dosing with St Johns' Wort, Hypericin or Hyperforin does not induce CYP450 isoforms in the Swiss Webster Mouse. Life Sciences, 70, 1325-35.

Bray, B. J. and Rosengren, R. J. (2001) Retinol potentiates acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in the mouse: Mechanistic studies. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 173, 129-136.

Bray, B. J., Goodin, M. G., Inder, R. E., Rosengren, R. J. (2001) Retinol's effect on hepatic and renal drug metabolising enzymes. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 39, 1-9.

Bray, B. J., Inder, R. E., and Rosengren, R. J. (2000) Retinol-mediated effects on the activation and detoxification pathways of paracetamol. Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology, 6(2) 75-80.

Hargreaves, P. T., Bray, B. J., Hooser, S. B., and Rosengren, R. J. (2000) Nodularin-induced fatalities result from necrosis, not apoptosis, in the male Swiss Webster mouse, Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology, 6(1), 65-70.

Inder, R. E., Bray, B. J., Sipes, I. G. and Rosengren, R. J. (1999) Role of P4502E1 in retinol's attenuation of carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity in the Swiss Webster mouse. Toxicological Sciences, 52, 130-139.

 

I am always interested to hear from potential students who have an interest in the science communication field.

Funding in the area is limited but I am happy to look at ways of exploring the interests of students who are particularly keen to pursue study in this discipline.