HeadSup

Kia ora koutou

Lots of great activities have been happening in ENV whilst I have been galavanting around Chile. The ‘Whose Lecture is it Anyway’ and Quizz night events sounded brilliant – it’s fantastic to see these sorts of events taking place. Thank you to all the organisers.

You may have noticed the new monitors up in the Level 4 and 5 common spaces. Please feel free to utilise these spaces for ad hoc presentations/ research group meetings or other social activities. Let’s try using the whiteboards in the spaces to indicate casual bookings. If it turns out we need something more formal we will sort this out for 2020. Please avoid making bookings for Level 5 from 12.30-1.30 pm so that all users of the floor can access the space for lunch.

Have a great couple of weeks and if you are winding up your BSc dissertations …E PAO TOREA! (Seize the day)

Ngā mihi
JR

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Whakawhanaungatanga – communities

Meetings, seminars and events

Media Savvy workshop

There is one spot available on the Media Savvy workshop, offered by the Aroha atu, aroha mai: Science in society research theme, on Wednesday 30 October from 9:30-2:00pm following a cancellation. Please contact Kathryn (Kathryn.howard@auckland.ac.nz) if you would like to attend.

ANZIC MASTERCLASS 2019, SYDNEY 2- 10 December, 2019

ANZIC is pleased to announce its 2019 Masterclass in Sydney, hosted by University of Sydney (USYD) and Macquarie University (MQ), 2-10 December 2019. For further information please click here.

Academics, please advertise among Year 2 and 3 students.  Deadline was 7 October but we are still considering applicants.

Any interested students should contact Ingo (i.pecher@auckland.ac.nz) or Lorna (l.strachan@auckland.ac.nz) ASAP.  This is a great opportunity for any student interested in the Marine Geosciences.

End of the Course Poster Session (EARTHSCI305)

The EARTHSCI305 2019 course will be showing their posters at Level 7 of 302 on the 25th of October from 11 am to 1pm. The posters cover topics of Tectonics and Geodynamics on Earth and beyond. It would be great to see people of the School of Environment visiting if you have some spare time.

Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries and Learning Services

Workshop and Seminar Series on Commercialising New Knowledge for Doctoral candidates

Presenting a seminar series by Peter Lee, former CEO of UniServices, on partnering with external stakeholders, principles of entrepreneurism and building business models. This series will discuss commercialisation techniques and show you how to integrate academic and commercial interests while you pursue your doctorate.

Three sessions

1.     Commercialising new knowledge – partnering with external stakeholders

Thursday 14 November 10 am-1 pm

2.     Commercialising new knowledge – an introduction to entrepreneurism

Thursday 21 November 1-4 pm

3.     Commercialising new knowledge – building the business model

Thursday 28 November 1-4 pm

Book online to attend a session and for More Information

Volcanology, Geochemistry, & Petrology Research Group

The volcanology, geochemistry, & petrology research group (VGP) meets during the semester.
We will have our final meeting for the year this Thursday at 12 in our normal spot (yay!) 302-130. PhD candidate Alec Wild will be presenting a talk titled “AVF evacuation clearance time modelling; ” PhD candidate Kate Cocker will also be giving a talk. Her title is “Crystals in andesite magmas; where do they come from?” We’d love to have you join us.
As always, everyone is welcome to attend our meetings. For more information, please see our website: vgp.blogs.auckland.ac.nz See you soon!

Earth Sciences Bickie Briefing

Earth Sciences Bickie briefing is  every Thursday morning at 10.30am in the Level 6 break out space. All post grads and staff welcome.

GIS Careers Symposium

Emerging Spatial Professionals is excited to announce the return of the Auckland Geospatial Careers Symposium for 2019.
Date: Sat 16th Nov 2019

Location: It will be held at the Ellen Melville Centre – Auckland CBD.
About this Event:

Anastasia Papadakis, Development Manager, Alumni Relations and Development gave a great presentation on philanthropic funding opportunities and how to shape research funding proposals at last month’s Research Forum. Here is a copy of her presentation and tips on “Finding your True Love Match: philanthropic trusts and foundations”.

For further information please click here

School of Environment Quiz

Great turn out for the School of Environment Quiz last week, congrats to our champions Pridelord who won the prized, one of a kind, signed, Bruce Hayward book! Shout out to Geospatial that had the lowest class average score of 3.3/10!

Health, safety and wellbeing:

Laboratory and Workshops Safety Inductions 2019

If you wish to join an induction session please email the Technician in Charge.

Month	Date	What	Technician in Charge	When	where
November	Wed 13 November 2019	General Safety Inductions	Neville(n.hudson@auckland.ac.nz)	2:00 – 2:20 pm	303-G15
	Wed 13 November 2019	Chemistry +TF Lab Induction	Natalia (n.abrego@auckland.ac.nz)	2:20 p.m -3:30 p.m	303-G15
	Thurs 14  November 2019	X-ray Labs Induction	Ilyas (ilyas.qasim@auckland.ac.nz)	11:30 am – 12:00 pm	301-411
December	Wed 11  December  2019	General Safety Inductions	Natalia (n.abrego@auckland.ac.nz)	2:00 – 2:20 pm	303-G15
	Wed 11 December 2019	Chemistry +TF Lab Induction	Natalia (n.abrego@auckland.ac.nz)	2:20 p.m -3:30 p.m	303-G15
	Thurs 12 December 2019	X-ray Labs Induction	Ilyas (ilyas.qasim@auckland.ac.nz)	11:30 am – 12:00 pm	301-411

ENV Postgraduate Wellbeing Week

The Wellbeing Week was held mid-September and involved various activities to raise awareness of wellbeing within the School. The nibbles on Monday was well attended with students taking a break from their work to spend time with their peers. Numerous people got involved with the Tuesday challenges – especially the Geospatial Honours students who completed all five tasks. A small but enthusiastic group boogied on down to the gym on Wednesday for an hour of Dance-Fit – congrats to Aidan and Catriona for their prize-winning performances. The raffle held on Thursday raised $156 for the Mental Health Foundation – Meghna was the lucky winner of the wellbeing gift pack. To wrap up the week Friday afternoon was spent enjoying pizza and board games, and catching up on the events of the day.
Special thanks to Alexandra who helped with ordering supplies for the week, and Joe, JC and Michæla for their support in getting this initiative off the ground.

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Rangahau – Research

News

Carbon Research Study at CUE Haven

As more reforestation occurs in New Zealand, it will likely have positive effects on soil characteristics as well as carbon storage, the extent of which has not yet been established within a New Zealand context. This research will quantify the organic layer and soil carbon stocks (to 30cm), examine the relationship between soil carbon and soil characteristics (pH, particle size), and test the effect of planting age on soil carbon stocks and soil characteristics. The spatial distribution of soil carbon, soil texture and pH will be mapped using GIS. By examining the spatial variability of soil carbon and other soil characteristics, with regard to planting age, insight can be gained into the trajectory restoration soils are following after land-use change and the interactions that are occurring between these characteristics. For further information please click here.

Meetings, seminars and events

Save the date: ENV Seminar: 6th of November 2pm-3pm, OGH – Federation Room.
Join us on Wednesday the 6th of November from 2pm to 3pm to learn about the fantastic research your colleagues do. All staff members and students from the School of Environment are warmly invited to attend this second School of Environment Seminar. We will run the seminars every three months and every time we will have three presenters from different disciplines from the School of Environment.
In the upcoming ENV Seminar, we will have three presenters giving talks centred around a concept of “water”:
1. Jon Tunnicliffe
2. Karen Fisher
3. David Fryxell
Please check the next P-Cubed for the titles and abstracts.

ASSEMBLING BLUE ECONOMIES

Date:     Tuesday 22 October

Time:     4.00pm to 5.30pm

Place:    Building 302, Room 551 (Ontology Lab)

Who:     Nick Lewis and Richard Heron

For further information please click here

MBIE Writing Workshop:

UniServices invites you to attend a presentation from Dr. Jane Shearer of resolutionz consulting ltd.

·         Learn about how to approach applying for Smart Ideas and Research Programmes.

·         Gain an improved understanding about how to frame your proposal in MBIE’s terms.

·         Improve your chances of success with suggestions for next steps and recommendations for success.

Spaces are limited so please register now.  

When: 8:45am-11am October 31, 2019

Where: Old Government House (Federation Room)

Contact: j.cluff@auckland.ac.nz if you have any questions

Marsden Ideas Workshop:

Are you thinking of submitting a new project or a rebid to Marsden this year? 

Come and discuss your idea with peers and advisors who are experienced with Marsden to help you shape your project.  You’ll also benefit from hearing key tips on developing your application and budget to start you on your way.

When:  23 October, 2pm – 4pm

Where:  303-G15

Please RSVP to Cheryl Yang indicating the panel you’re thinking of applying to and sending a brief overview of your project idea and/or an existing EOI.

Public Lecture: Enough of experts: does Brexit spell the slow death of British science and evidence-informed decision-making?

Professor James Wilsdon
(Professor of Research Policy, University of Sheffield)
Date: Tuesday 12 November
Time: 12-1pm
Venue: Pat Hannan Room (207-501)

For further information please click here.

Biogeochemistry from Hilltop to Ocean

Julia Jakobsson
(PhD Proposal)

Thursday, 17th October 2019· 2:00 pm · Ontology lab 302-551

For further information please click here

 

Research and Funding Opportunities

2020 CapEx funding

Hello,

We are accepting a second round of applications for the Schools 2020 CapEx funding.
If you have already submitted in the first round earlier this year then you do not need to do so again.
Applications can be submitted through the link below; the link will remain open until the end of October.
https://forms.gle/mgamgEAgQwjxb7Jo8

Regards

Blair Sowman
Technical Manager | School of Environment

MBIE Endeavour Fund – 2020 Investment Round

•  Smart Ideas

Intended to catalyse and rapidly test promising, innovative research ideas with high potential for benefit to New Zealand, to enable refresh and diversity in the science portfolio Value:  $0.4 – $1 million

Duration: 2 or 3 years

Registration deadline:  12pm, Tues 29 Oct 2019

Concept proposal: 12pm, Mon 18 Nov 2019

Full proposal (for those invited):  12pm, Mon 18 May 2020

• Research Programs

Intended to support ambitious excellent and well-defined research ideas which have credible and high potential to positively transform New Zealand’s future in areas of future value, growth or critical needs. Applications can be made under two categories: 1) Protect and Add Value or 2) Transform.

Value:  $0.5 million or more per year

Duration: 3, 4 or 5 years

Registration deadline: 12pm, Mon 2 Dec 2019

Full proposal:  12pm, Mon 24 Feb 2020

 Guidelines and Resources:  Please contact either Kathryn Howard or Kelly Kilpin if you are interested in applying as there are a number of support offerings that are available to help you prepare your bid (see also the Research Gateway).  The call for proposals can be found here.

 UniServices are also offering an MBIE Writing Workshop (31 October), Vision Mātauranga workshops (5 December), and Commercialisation Workshops (22 November)

Strategic Call for Proposals for New Zealand-China joint research projects

MBIE is calling for proposals for joint research collaborations between New Zealand and the People’s Republic of China. Catalyst: Strategic will fund three joint New Zealand-China research projects, one each in the areas of Food Science, Environmental Science, and Health and Biomedical Sciences to support the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance. Priority investment areas:
• Clean and renewable energy
• Climate change
• Biodiversity
• Water research (including ocean research)
• Natural hazards
• Pollution on land and sea
Successful projects are expected to start in the first half of 2020, with New Zealand project teams in the areas of Food Science and Environmental Science receiving up to $300,000 (excluding GST) over 36 months, to be administered by MBIE.
• Applications portal opens: 11 October 2019
• Registration deadline: noon, 29 October 2019
• Full proposal deadline: noon, 2 December 2019

More information on the fund and application process, including the Call for Proposals document, is available on the MBIE website

2020 Seelye Fellowships

 The University is calling for applications for the Ralph and Eve Seelye Fellowships.

Seelye Fellowships aim to attract outstanding overseas and local academics and other leading international authorities to work with colleagues in the University of Auckland and to present public lectures. The fellowship will entail the sharing information and knowledge with a wide academic audience and, if applicable, the wider public community. 

Value:  Grants are expected to be in the range of $10,000 to $20,000,

Duration: Normally for a period of/from between two weeks to three months

All Applications must be submitted electronically through the Research Funding Module (RFM) – contact your RPC Kelly Kilpin or Ivana Mlinac if you wish to apply. 

Applications close: 15^nd November 2019 for 2020 grants. 

More details on the Seelye Fellowships are available on http://www.uoafoundation.org.nz/seelye.html

 2020 SCOR Visiting Scholars Program – Deadline Correction

The application period is now open for the 2020 SCOR Visiting Scholars Program. Applications are due by 1 December 2019 and selections will be made by the SCOR Committee on Capacity Building by 1 January 2020.

Application forms and instructions can be found here.

Recovery of Species on the Brink of Extinction

National Geographic funding for the recovery of species listed as threatened by IUCN anywhere in the world: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/funding-opportunities/grants/what-we-fund/species-recovery/
Deadlines October and April each year.
Must be endorsed by the relevant IUCN Species specialist group chair. they “.. encourage applications from underrepresented taxa such as plants, fungi, lichens, fish, and invertebrates.”

New publications

1. Bates, L., Kearns, R., Witten, K., Carroll, P. (2019) ‘‘A level playing field’: Young people’s experiences of wheelchair basketball as an enabling place’, Health and Place, 60, art. no. 102192.

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Ako – Teaching and Learning

Faculty of Science Teaching & Learning Symposium 2019

Tuesday 29th October, 9.30-3.00pm (Food provided. No registration necessary)
23 Symonds Street, 302.G20

Te reo ākonga ki te arotahi: Student voice in teaching and learning
The focus for the 2019 Faculty of Science Teaching & Learning Symposium is ako, the two-way learning relationship between students and staff. To enable ako in our practice, we must create opportunities and spaces to empower student voice. The symposium is a mix of papers and workshops with the collective goal to improve pedagogies to enhance learning interactions for staff and students.

School of Environment Teaching and Learning Showcase and Inaugural Ako Awards

15 November, 11-1 pm, 302-551

Please book your calendar to attend the School of Environment Teaching and Learning Showcase. The event will include short presentations from staff on innovative teaching and learning. The Showcase will also include the Inaugural Ako Awards which acknowledges teaching excellence within the School. The event will include lunch!

School of Environment Ako Teaching Excellence Awards

Overview

The School of Environment’s Ako Innovation Committee are proud to invite applications for the Ako Teaching Excellence Awards which celebrate and promote excellence in teaching.  Up to three Ako Excellence Awards worth $300 each will be awarded annually.  The awards celebrate teaching initiatives that display teaching excellence undertaken in the School’s courses either by individual teachers or by teaching teams.

Criteria
The Ako Committee will be looking for evidence that applicants have engaged in teaching practice that:

• exemplifies excellence
• is student-centred
• meets stated learning outcomes
• provides recorded evidence of having achieved learning outcomes or displays a critical reflection on why the learning outcomes may not have been fully met

While the awards encourage and reward successful initiatives they also cater for and encourage applications from teachers who are experimenting with innovative initiatives, even if they did not always fully achieve a desired outcome. The awards will also consider initiatives which encourage inclusive teaching and learning.

Eligibility

• Individual academic staff who engage in ENV course teaching
• Teaching Teams from ENV courses,  (if appropriate these can include tutors).

Applications

Submit up to a maximum of TWO A4 pages of typed text that explain the activity and evidence of outcomes by 10/11/19 to m.wall@auckland.ac.nz.

Applications may also provide relevant collated appendixes that illustrate the activity and provide supporting evidence of learning outcomes.

Prizes

3 awards worth $300 each.

Award Notification and Obligation of Awardees

Successful awardees will be notified of their award by 12/11/19 and will be presented this at the Ako Teaching Excellence Awards Event to be held in 15/11/19 at 11am.  Staff who receive awards will be expected to present a short 5-minute quick-fire presentation of their initiative at the awards event.

Examiners’ Meetings – Semester 2

Examiners’ Meetings for Semester 2 courses are scheduled for 22 and 26 November. Academic staff: could you please check the schedule online and note the relevant one(s) in your diaries?

Digital Course Outlines

Course Outlines are going digital, online and available to prospective students – not just those already enrolled.

Academic staff: yes – this is yet another system, and it’s coming your way very (very) soon. However

1.       It’s not too taxing – but see notes below;

2.       It will provide prospective students with important information on your course before they enrol; and

3.       It will integrate with Canvas and so details will be pre-loaded to your course.

Summer School courses have already been loaded as part of the pilot project. A request (demand, really) for Semester 1 and 2 courses is expected in November – with the intention of having all 2020 courses online before the end of the year. Please note:

a)       Course Coordinators/Course Directors will be given editing access for their courses. The editor has a number of boxes and many are pre-populated with information from the UoA Calendar; however, there are fields for your to add additional information about the course, why students should take it, etc; and there are fields for the Learning Outcomes and the Assessments. These latter two need to map onto the appropriate attributes (1-6) in relevant Graduate Profile.

b)      You may recall being asked for this information by Science Faculty last year. Please dig up your notes from last year and use these.

Reference pages:

·         Digital Course Outline Project

·         BSc Graduate Profile – relevant for undergraduate courses and may be useful for Postgraduate courses, too.

Inspiring action for the common good

In democratic societies like Aotearoa NZ, it is not possible to solve major social and environmental problems in a wholly top-down manner. Change happens when a social mandate develops to do things differently. Such a mandate is greatly helped by a shared sense of ‘what matters most’. This is supported by both my own and others’ research into core human values and how, when people believe their values are shared, they become increasingly willing to take action for the common good. The current social environment however, encourages people and groups to find and adhere to ‘our’ values, with the underlying assumption that these are unlike those of other individuals, organisations, nations or cultures. In this talk I will discuss how we can create a shared vision for Aotearoa NZ that inspires people to imagine sustainable, inclusive and creative ways of living well together.
Wednesday 30 October
5.15pm Refreshments
Level 2 Reception Area, Building 302
6pm Lecture
Large Chemistry Lecture Theatre
Ground Floor Building 301
23 Symonds Street
Register at nikiharre.eventbrite.co.nz

 

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Copy deadline for next edition of P-cubed: Friday 12:00 25 October, to Farnaz: f.sheikh@auckland.ac.nz