Gareth Jones (anatomist)


David Gareth Jones is a New Zealand academic, and is an emeritus professor at the University of Otago, specialising in neuroscience, bioethics and anatomical education. He has published a number of books, including a textbook on medical ethics, and several books on medicine and theology. In 2004 Jones was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to science and education.

Early life and education

Jones has a Bachelor of Science with Honours and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, both from University College London. He also holds a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Western Australia, and an MD from the University of Otago.

Academic career

Jones taught and studied at the University of Western Australia before joining the faculty of the University of Otago in 1983, as head of the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology. He served four consecutive five-year terms in the role, ending in 2003. During his tenure he broadened the focus of the department from medical and dental students to include a greater proportion of science students, and strengthened the biomedical research focus of the department. Jones served as Deputy Vice Chancellor for five years from the beginning of 2005, and was succeeded by Professor Vernon Squires. In 2008 he chaired the university's gender equity working party, which recommended the appointment of a gender equity leader.
Jones was Professor of Anatomy and Structural Biology. He was Director of the University of Otago Bioethics Centre. Jones specialises in neuroscience, bioethics and anatomical education, including topics such as stem cell research, genetic testing, the use of body parts in medical education, and abortion. He describes his research as "try to bridge the gap between science, research and policy issues." With two other Otago academics, Grant Gillett and Alastair Campbell, Jones wrote a widely-used textbook on medical ethics, which ran to four editions. Jones has also written on the relationship between science and faith. After his book Brave New People: Ethical issues at the commencement of life was published in 1984 there was considerable controversy, leading Jones to explore Christian approaches to dealing with controversial issues.
Jones was appointed emeritus professor at the University of Otago in 2012. He writes often for the Otago Daily Times on ethical and university issues.
One of Jones's notable doctoral students is Hallie Buckley.

Recognition

In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, Jones was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to science and education.

Selected works

Books

  • Gareth Jones, R. John Elford A Glass Darkly: Medicine and theology in further dialogue. Peter Lang, Oxford, Bern.
  • R. John Elford, Gareth Jones. A Tangled Web: Medicine and theology in dialogue. Peter Lang, Oxford, New York.
  • Alastair Campbell, Gareth Jones and Grant Gillett. Medical Ethics. Oxford University Press.
  • Gareth Jones. Bioethics: when the challenges of life become too difficult. ATF Press, Hindmarsh, South Australia.
  • Gareth Jones. Designers of the Future: Who should make the decisions? Monarch Books, Oxford.

    Scholarly articles

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