Issue 20 – Tuesday 29th October 2019
Contents
HeadSup
Kia ora koutou
Two dates are coming up that should get fixed into staff agendas: the ENV wrap-up session and lunch (10.30-1.30pm, Thursday 7 November), and the ENV End-of-Year Staff Celebration (mid-afternoon onwards, 12 December) at…wait for it…Nick’s place! Given Nick’s recent demonstration of conviviality (Whose Lecture is it anyway?) and the fact that Sila is in charge of the organising committee, I’m picking this could set a new bar for the silly season. More details to follow. The Annual Doctoral Do is on the horizon – more about this in next fortnight’s p-cubed.
It was good to see a positive email from the VC last week outlining the report from the Special Working Group on the response to and prevention of discrimination at the University of Auckland. The working group was convened in June following a recommendation by AUSA in its report ‘The Path to Change’, which came out of the Zero Tolerance? Hui inviting students to speak about their experiences of bullying, harassment and discrimination held at the beginning of May. The text of the email is here. I was particularly pleased to see progress on development of a Code of Conduct that will apply to all members of the University, staff and students. The Code currently is going to University Council for approval and should be in place from the start fo 2020. More on this once it is through the approval process.
We have time to influence our QS World University rankings. I know there will be sighs all around about this but the QS number is an important international reputation marker. We need to maintain Geography at 28 and get Environmental Science and Earth & Marine Sciences into the top 100. Apparently, we can make a difference (see the post below) – let’s see if we can!
Recently I was asked about the academic staff per diem for field trips. Yes, there is a small sum that can be claimed in lieu of the employer providing relevant equipment and special clothing which shall remain the property of the employer – the details can be found in the academic staff collective contract (if you are on an individual contract you will need to check that). I think of this as ‘boot money’. Where fieldwork is undertaken as part of a research programme, that programme shall meet these costs. In other words, I won’t ask questions if this sum is claimed for teaching-related field work.
Big ups to Sonia, Mel, Karen and team for nailing a 2019 Learning Enhancement Grant with Mea’ofa: the gifts gained by sharing and Learning Māori and Pacific ways of being. This two-year project has potential to positively impact Ako within the School and wider University. Great mahi!
Ngā mihi
JR
Whakawhanaungatanga – communities
Welcome!
Thomas Mules will be joining the Technical Team on the 25th of November as a Geography Technician. Thomas will be providing technical support to the maintenance and ongoing development of the School of Environment’s Geographical Information Systems (GIS) platforms and associated spatial data management. He will also be supporting Human Geography research and teaching activities and providing general technical support to the School’s Geography facilities.
We will welcome Thomas to his new role at the ENV morning tea on Wednesday 27th November.
Help lift our QS rankings
The University Planning & Information office has identified our subjects as high priority subjects. Currently, Geography is ranked 28th and Environmental Sciences and Earth & Marine Sciences are ranked 101-150 in the QS Subject Rankings but, if we act strategically, we can improve that rank in future rounds.
The QS Global Academic Survey is used to determine ‘Academic Reputation’, which is the metric with the highest weighting for the QS World University Rankings (40%) as well as the Subject Rankings (40%-60%).
The survey asks academics from around the world to select and rank universities in the areas (subject and region) with which they are familiar. In the most recent survey, over 80,000 responses were collected from individuals in higher education. Given the 40% weighting, votes received in this survey are very important, especially for some subjects where a few more votes can make a big difference in the results.
Planning Office can supply QS with contact details of those we wish to invite to complete the next survey in March 2020 and they would like to ask for our assistance. Before the end of the month, please email Samantha Huang (s.huang@auckland.ac.nz) contact details (name, job title, institution, and email address) of colleagues outside of the University, with whom you have collaborated and built good relationships. For example, this can be an academic who has been a visitor, a colleague with associate or honorary roles, or a PhD student you have supervised who is working in an academic role in another institution. Planning and Information will then email them to seek permission to pass on their contact details to QS.
As the Global Academic Survey is conducted annually, this is likely to be a regular exercise. Additionally, you are more than welcome to provide contact details of employers (title, name, job title, company name, industry, location and email address) with whom you have close relationships. For example, this can be those you have set up internships or partnership programmes with. This is used to determine ‘Employer Reputation’ in the QS overall and subject rankings.
ILab Refresher
ILab Australian team are visiting us from 18 – 20th Nov 2019. We will be scheduling refresher course and face to face meetings.
There will be an iLab refresher course on the 18th Nov; it will be a day event including lunch. The face to face meetings will be 19th and 20th 8 am – 2 pm, please let Blair know if you want to have meeting with the team so that we can schedule a booking.
If you wish to attend either the refresher or have a meeting please let Blair know for catering and room booking purposes.
Dress for Success
With our students preparing to head out to summer work interviews and job interviews / placements, it is timely to remind them of the Dress for Success programme. This is a free service and the students get to keep the clothes.
https://auckland.dressforsuccess.org | www.facebook.com/dfsaklnewzealand |
Meetings, seminars and events
A korero on combatting white supremacy: ENV Equity Committee
We would like to invite you to pizza and korero on Wednesday 6th of November at 1-2pm in 302.551.
The ENV Equity Committee are in the planning stage for 2020 and would like to hear your thoughts about how we might ensure that white supremacy does not have a place in the School of Environment.
Kāinga Wāhine Lunch
The ENV Equity Committee invites all women (postgraduate and staff) within the School to join us for lunch on Thursday 31st October, 1-2pm in 302.551.
School of Environment Film Competition Results
The winners of the 2019 School of Environment Film Competition are:
Undergraduate Category
1st equal: Deja Kelly (A day in the life of an environmental science student)
1st equal: Arshia and Emilee (Sediment Best Friends)
Postgraduate Category
1st place: Gina Swanney and friends (Welcome to AUGA)
PhD Category
1st place: Mirja Heinrich (The Tongariro Project)
2nd place: Oliver Knebel (Coral reef impressions)
People’s choice award (as voted by viewers at the film showing)
Ben Simons, Kiara Daly and Geoff Lerner (Calibration)
Overall winner
Gina Swanney and friends (Welcome to AUGA)
A big thank you to everyone who contributed a film. We look forward to seeing even more entries next year.
Health, safety and wellbeing
Laboratory and Workshops Safety Inductions 2019
If you wish to join an induction session please email the Technician in Charge.
| November | Wed 13 November 2019 | General Safety Inductions | Neville(n.hudson@auckland.ac.nz) | 2:00 – 2:20 pm | 303-G15 |
| Mon 8 November 2019 | Chemistry +TF Lab Induction | Natalia (n.abrego@auckland.ac.nz) | 11:00 a.m -12:00 p.m | 301-411 | |
| 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 |
Rangahau – Research
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
The Data Incubator’s Winter 2020 Fellowship
Time is almost up to apply for The Data Incubator’s Winter 2020 Fellowship application.
If you know anyone who would benefit from intensive data science training, encourage them to apply for our Fellowship program today.
Time is running out. Help us find the data scientists of the future.
Regular Application Deadline: October 21, 2019
Challenge Dates: October 31, 2019 — November 04, 2019
Interview Dates: November 11, 2019 — November 22, 2019
Acceptance Notification: By December 06, 2019
Session Dates: January 13, 2020 — March 06, 2020
The Theme of Social Living: Managing the Challenges of Relationships
Inaugural lecture by Professor Nickola Overall
School of Psychology
Date: Wednesday 6 November
Time: 5.15pm Refreshments
Level 2 Reception Area, Building 302
Time: 6.00pm Lecture
Large Chemistry Lecture Theatre
Ground Floor, Building 301
23 Symonds Street
Please register at nickolaoverall.eventbrite.co.nz
for further details please click here
Tanya Amirapu
Date: 1st November 2019
Time: 12-2pm
Venue: 302-551 (Ontology Lab)
Light refreshment will be provided after the seminar.
Research and Funding Opportunities
MPI Postgraduate Science Scholarships – applications open
The Ministry for Primary Industry’s Postgraduate Science Scholarship opens for applications. Our aim is to build capability in primary industry science, particularly where there are skills and science gaps.
This scholarship is open to PhD and Masters candidates who are or will be engaged in primary industry relevant research at a New Zealand tertiary education institution. Each PhD scholarship is worth up to $50,000 and each Masters scholarship is worth up to $12,000. The successful recipients will also receive mentoring and career development support.
Visit our website for more information, including eligibility criteria and the application form.
2019 PS Science Scholarship poster A3 
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
Funded MSc Research Opportunities 2020: Auckland Faulting
Two $15,000 MSc scholarships will be available to ground truth previously mapped or hypothesised faulting highlighted in the initial project by:
1. Structurally mapping Auckland’s West Coast.
2. Structurally mapping Auckland’s East Coast
For more information contact Jennifer Eccles j.eccles@auckland.ac.nz. Julie Rowland, Jon Tunnicliffe and Martin Brook will also be involved in the supervision of these projects as appropriate. Entry to a research MSc requires BSc(Hons), PGDipSci or equivalent and the level of funding available is most appropriate to support candidates from New Zealand and Australia.
Australian Geoscience Travel Grant
Specific funding is available to provide Australian and New Zealand geoscientists in the early stages of their careers with opportunities to travel internationally to further their careers as geoscientists by, for example, undertaking field work in appropriate areas, visiting and working with appropriate international experts, inspecting appropriate mines or other geoscientific features such as type localities, contributing to professionally-organised geoscientific conferences or conventions, etc
Applications in the 2019 round are open and will close on 16 December 2019
See the AGC website for more details
Pacific Fund
The Fund for economic, social, cultural and scientific cooperation in the Pacific, is a tool for regional cooperation for France in the Pacific. New Zealand partners are invited to submit their applications for projects contributing to the regional insertion of French collectivities: New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna.
To be eligible, projects must fall under at least one of the following categories:
• Fight against climate change and risk management for natural disasters
• Economic and industrial projects (feasibility study, training actions, etc.)
• Health security and food security (fight against endemic diseases, fishery managements, etc.).
Projects must be submitted by the New Zealand partner and must involve at least one partner from New Caledonia, French Polynesia or Wallis and Futuna. Preference will be given to projects highlighting planned efforts for communication.
Closing date for applications: 20 November 2019 (midnight NZ time)
For more info, see the funding website
C-Prize
The C-Prize is a competition run by Callaghan Innovation that seeks to push the boundaries of what’s possible through technology. This year they are looking for teams with world-leading innovative solutions to environmental problems. The C-Prize teams will compete for exciting cash prize packages, access to expert R&D and business advice, and significant international market exposure.
More info can be found on the competition website.
New publications
- Fryirs, K.A., Brierley, G.J., Dixon, T. (2019) Engaging with research impact assessment for an environmental science case study. Nature Communications, 10(1), art. no. 4542.
- Schwendenmann L., Michalzik B. (2019) Dissolved and particulate carbon and nitrogen fluxes along a Phytophthora agathidicida infection gradient in a kauri (Agathis australis) dominated forest. Fungal Ecology 42, 100086. DOI:10.1016/j.funeco.2019.08.005 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2019.08.005
- Shane, P., Cocker, K., Coote, A., Stirling C., Reid, M. (2019) The prevalence of plagioclase antecrysts and xenocrysts in andesite magma, exemplified by lavas of the Tongariro volcanic complex, New Zealand. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 174: 89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-019-1626-y
Ako – Teaching and Learning
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.
Digital Course Outlines
Update on the Digital Course Outlines – introduced in the 14 October edition of P-Cubed: the timelines for this appear to have been pushed back.
At the 23 Oct Faculty of Science meeting the AD T&L advised that:
• Semester 1 courses will need to be completed by the end of this year.
• Semester 2 courses will need to be completed by the mid-semester break of Semester 1.
We are not advised when to expect these to open but advice will go to Course Directors directly. Our GSA, Alexandra Soudlenkova, will be your primary point of contact for queries on this.
Reference pages:
• Digital Course Outline Project
• BSc Graduate Profile – relevant for undergraduate courses and may be useful for Postgraduate courses, too.
R Workshop for 2019
The last Introductory R Workshop for 2019 is being run on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd November. This will be led by Daniel Barnett, Chris Triggs, and Avinesh Pillai, from the Statistical Consultancy Centre.
As per our previous Introductory R workshops, the cost is $300 for UoA students and staff; you can pay using your PRESS account, research grant, or other UoA account. You can also opt to use a debit/credit card (however we would have to also add GST, sorry). The payment authorisation form for UoA participants paying from a UoA account is here.
The cost for non-UoA attendees is $500 + GST, and if you contact me I will let you know re payment options. Card payment is preferred, however if an invoice is required this can be doable if your institution is able to provide a PO number and is registered in the Faculty of Science finance system (e.g. all DHBs are set up within this system).
Location: We will be in room 302.190. Building 302 is on the corner of Symonds St and Wellesley St. The room we will be using is on level 1, room 190.
Time and schedule: The approximate schedule for both days is here (since this is the schedule from our previous course, it may yet be altered very slightly). We will start at 9am and finish at 5pm. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. There are cafes handy nearby for lunch.
Computers: We will be using a Faculty of Science computer lab. You are also welcome to use your own laptop, however please make sure that you have downloaded R and RStudio onto your machine before the workshop (they are free to download). We will also include some instructions re how to do this in our pre-workshop information email.
Access to computers and internet:
– We will arrange access to the lab computers for all non-UoA participants.
– We will also have a guest wireless password for non-UoA participants who are bringing their own laptops.
– UoA staff and students will be able to access the FoS computers using their normal UoA upi and password.
Copy deadline for next edition of P-cubed: Friday 12:00 8 November, to Farnaz: f.sheikh@auckland.ac.nz