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Issue 40 – Monday 31st August 2020

August 31, 2020 • bzai791

Contents

COVID-19: work from home if you can

Say yes to the test

HeadSup

Kia ora koutou

Thanks very much to everyone who contributed feedback on the ENV 2021-2023 Strategic Plan: in total I received >8000 words of feedback, and not just from one author! There’s a little bit (and in some cases rather a lot) of each contribution woven into the final plan – hopefully you can see your part in it. Unfortunately the shift to Alert Level 3 cut short some of my engagement plans around this document. My apologies to PG students, who did not have opportunity to feed in this year. However, I would be very interested in receiving your input ahead of our budgeting exercise at the end of the year. Please feel free to send comments directly to me.

Now that our School plan is done, I’m turning my attention to the UOA 10-year strategic planning exercise. There have been various town-halls and feedback sessions underway over the past couple of weeks and I know many of us have taken advantage of these to put our points of view. I would like to create some additional opportunities to consider how we could/should shape the University over the next 10 years. Please feel free to join the following sessions (academic and professional staff should have received email invites, including one accidentally timetabled for today…oops, sorry for the spam).

I will build an ENV submission based on the feedback in these sessions.

I’m delighted to see the Taiao Tutor community of practice initiative underway, with Sophia, Jack and Anthony presenting at the first gathering this coming Friday. The topics look fantastic: my 700-level class will be wanting me to attend! There’s lots of fantastic stuff in p-cubed today – please keep the date free for our replacement Bartrum-Hay-Cumberland forum.

Good luck getting through to the mid-Semester break!

JR

Whakawhanaungatanga – communities

ENV 2021-2023 Strategic Plan Update

You can find the final version of the ENV 2021-2023 Strategic Plan here.  This plan guides the work and resourcing of our platforms, committees and teaching programmes. Toward the end of the year, once our budget for 2021 is set, each platform/committee will propose a budget to bring effect to this plan. Budgets will be considered and approved by the ENV Steering Group in November. As a reminder, each platform reports on their year’s work at the annual ENV Roundup, which takes place in the week or so after teaching finishes, Semester 2.

Health and Safety Incident Reporting System launching soon

Reporting health and safety incidents on paper will be replaced by a smart, quick, and easy to use online tool from 1 September 2020. This was one of the main objectives of Phase One of the Health and Safety Project. It is our health and safety responsibility to report incidents. If you see an incident or something unsafe then resolve it if you can to prevent an incident from happening to someone else and then report it. It is the right thing to do and it helps to keep everyone safe. Watch this 60 seconds video for details.

What does this mean for you?

Before we go live, learn how to report incidents in this 15-minute online training module called ‘Creating Health & Safety Awareness’ which is now available on Career tools.

For further information please visit the Improving Health and Safety’s project page on the staff intranet and the Health, Safety & Wellbeing webpage.

L2 Lab and fieldwork Access Requests

The School Technical Team will be working through access requests for staff and students to use School facilities. Applications will be assessed and access will be given where possible. The technical team will make sure spaces are suitable for the type of work being requested and that all covid-19 H&S measures are in place.

Please note that this is subject to change and access may be changed with short notice.

Supervisors you will need to submit on behalf of your students. This is the same form that we used under L2 earlier this year. https://forms.gle/TfnVaYBN1G4546rn8

Any questions please email Blair (b.sowman@auckland.ac.nz)

Transitional Facility – Charges for Delays in Biosecurity Processing

Historically, Biosecurity NZ officers have been following up on consignments of risk goods without cost recovering for this work effectively. From this point forward, officers’ time spent following up risk good consignments will be fully cost recovered. Examples of when you will be charged for delays in biosecurity processing include:

  • Not booking inspections for risk goods in a timely manner
  • Unauthorised release of goods
  • TF has not informed Biosecurity NZ of risk goods sitting in their warehouse unactioned/abandoned
  • Parcels requiring a retroactive BACC (paperwork not correctly done in the first place)
  • Incorrect paperwork provided with consignment (e.g. wrong material type, incorrect volume etc)

If the importer or agent is deemed to be at fault for the delay in processing of biosecurity risk goods, this will be recovered against the consignment.

When the TF is deemed to be at fault, the normal cost recovery process for charging for TF compliance will be followed (under the Biosecurity (costs) Regulations 2010, Schedule item 23).

Any questions ask Blair Sowman

ENV Laboratory Inductions – Reminder

Now is a good time for you or your students to complete induction courses.  All of our induction courses are run through Canvas.  To request access to the induction course, please send an email to, b.sowman@auckland.ac.nz, with your UPI.

Inductions for General Facilities, Chemistry and Geochemical Laboratories, Earth Science Processing (ESP), Electron microprobe (EPMA), X-Ray Laboratories (XRF, Prep, and Itrax)  and the Transitional Facility can be found  in the Schools induction course; https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/16362

Joint Graduate School in Coastal and Marine Science – Future NIWA Co-Appointees

We will have a short discussion for academic staff about future co-appointees in the Joint Graduate School in Coastal and Marine Science between NIWA and the University of Auckland. We have the potential to invite NIWA scientists to join the School of Environment and we would like to hear thoughts on collaborations or initiatives you have. We will do the discussion over zoom 1-1.30pm, Wednesday, 9th September.

https://auckland.zoom.us/j/98403602221

Alternatively, you can email Melissa with comments (m.bowen@auckland.ac.nz).

ENV IT Committee

Important changes and early deadline for software in computer labs. in 2021

Please send information to Ingo Pecher by Fri. 25 September, 2020, COB.

“Same as last year” is no longer an option. We were informed that installation of software for teaching in computer labs and/or on FlexIT will start with a clean slate. The Digital Workplace Platform Team (DWP) need to have this information by the end of September. DWP need the following (with example answers – this is from an IT spreadsheet).

Requester Name [EXAMPLE] Peter Smith
Requester Username psmi123
Faculty FMHS
Software Vendor Google
Software Name Chrome
Software Version 42.123
Course Name STATS101, STATS102, GOG101
Lab Location(s) 260-012, 303-279
Teaching Week Required Weeks 8-10
Comments\Customisations\Modules etc None
Tester Installation John Smith
Source Files Location www.google.com\chrome
*FlexIT No
License Owned Yes

*FlexIT: Would you consider having your application made available in FlexIT? Strongly recommend ticking “yes”!

I was told “Anything not specifically requested may not be included for 2021.”

For enquiries please email Ingo

Geoscience Society of New Zealand Awards

REMINDER: the Geoscience Society of New Zealand is now calling for applications and nominations for our annual awards. Please encourage your students  and ECRs to apply for our student and young researcher awards, including the Wellman Research Award, Jim Ansell Geophysics Scholarship, John Beavan Geodetic Fieldwork Grant & Werner F. Giggenbach Prize for Geochemistry. Please consider nominating yourselves or your colleagues (including students and ECRs) for our Premier geoscience awards, such as the Hochstetter Lecturer and McKay Hammer and GSNZ Honorary Member, and our Special Awards, including the Pullar-Vucetich Prize for tephrochronology, the Kingma Award for the outstanding Earth Science technician , the NZ Geophysics Prize, the Harold Wellman Prize, and the Alan Mason Historical Studies Fund. We also welcome a new award this year, the Hayward Communication Award for the most meritorious contribution to geocommunication in the previous 3 calendar years.

For more information and application forms, please visit https://www.gsnz.org.nz/awards-and-recognition/award-applications-and-nominations/

The deadline for applications is 18 September 2020”

EnViral

Green bonds a small step in a dual crisis

To view an opinion piece by Dr. Tom Baker and Dr. Ryan Jones please click on the link below,

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/ideasroom/green-bonds-a-small-step-in-a-dual-crisis

Meetings, Seminars and Events

GSNZ Conference Update

The Geoscience Society of New Zealand Annual Conference 2020 is being hosted by the Canterbury branch and will be held 22-25th November 2020. At this time GSNZ, along with Conferences & Events, are reviewing the current COVID-19 situation and restrictions in order to determine the best way to proceed with the conference.  We will be going ahead, as we believe there is the need for our members and the Geoscience community to remain connected and engaged.  As a result, the society and organising committee are highly committed to delivering this event, whether it be as a face-to face, hybrid (live + virtual attendance) or all virtual meeting.

Please see the conference website at https://confer.eventsair.com/gsnz2020/. As soon as details are finalised, we will share this information with you.

Important Dates:

Abstract Deadline 15th September 2020

Early Bird Registration Deadline 12th October 2020

SOE “PUB” QUIZ

For Quiz sign up form, please click on this link  https://forms.gle/5ayZZ4zBhAwq3uVw9

Ako – Teaching and Learning

Libraries and Learning Services – Te Tumu Herenga

Teaching’s online until 21 September but so are we!

Folks at the library are here to help.

The Library AskUs form is the fastest way to get a response, particularly for a quick query, as it is monitored regularly by staff, but they also will triage any more complex queries through to discipline and topic specialists. So if you have a citation or publication you can’t find or access, this is the best place to start out.

The Te Tumu Herenga advisers for Science are available for 1:1 consultations by Zoom. This means even when we can’t be on campus, we can provide more specialized advice, or help working with systems like Research Outputs and other databases.

(Dr Alissa Hackett, Dr Jo Simons, Ms Justene McNeice, Dr Donna MacColl, Te Tumu Herenga advisers for Science)

Te Tumu Herenga Physical Spaces open

Along with the Kate Edger commons, the General Library, Davis, Philson, Tai Tonga, and Epsom libraries and spaces, will all open from Monday 31st of August for click and collect, access to collections, and provision of study spaces with appropriate physical distancing and attendance recording in place.

Learning Essentials Resources

You may have seen our new Te Tumu Herenga Learning Essentials online resources, please do promote them to your students. They cover a wide range of useful skills from time-management and note-taking, to critical reading skills and presenting your work. They can be found on the library website but are also linked in the help section in Canvas for Semester 2 courses.

Inaugural Lecture

By Professor Renate Meyer, Department of Statistics, Hosted by the Faculty of Science

Date & Time: Thursday 15th October, 6:30pm

Venue:  Physics Lecture Theatre 1 (303-G20), Science Centre, 23 Symonds Street

Refreshments will be served in the basement foyer of building 303 (303-B00L2) from 5:45pm, prior to the lecture.

Please register at: https://renatemeyer.eventbrite.co.nz

A Survey

The School’s  Ako Innovation Committee would like staff to complete a short survey to assess the software / apps that school staff have access to for teaching, or wish to have access to for teaching, beyond the standard University software.   Could you please complete our very short survey.  The survey is a google form and can be found here:  https://forms.gle/FTqma2WvpUY49GvA9

Meetings, Seminars and Events

Ako Health Check: Covid, Coffee, and a Catch up

Wednesday 2nd September 9.30-10

For those staff active in teaching this semester, the Ako Committee would like to invite you to a virtual coffee and a catch up on all things teaching. Come along with any questions you might have or any stories you may have. See you then!

Join Zoom Meeting: https://auckland.zoom.us/j/94011674568

Taiao Tutor Community of Practice

The Taiao Tutor Community of Practice is a fortnightly meeting of School of Environment tutors (alongside staff and interested others) to facilitate best practice teaching and learning amongst tutors. We will showcase tips in a series of short presentations designed to improve tutoring and provide opportunities for conversation, advice and support. Come along if you can make it!

Date: Friday 4th September 10.30-11.30

Zoom link: https://auckland.zoom.us/j/96350162076

Title: Growing relationships through interactions in large settings

Presenter: Sophia Tsang

It can be difficult to encourage interactions in large settings, including in this new Zoom age. This talk presents a few simple tools that can be employed in a face-to-face or virtual setting to facilitate the beginnings of relationships.

Title: Creating an online presence and maintaining engagement while remote learning

Presenter: Jack Barrett

Maintaining online engagement whilst remote learning poses many challenges. This talk will explore the use of online ‘guidance’ videos as a resource to create engagement, consistency and build relationships with a class. I’ll touch on our experience of using these videos and a proactive outreach approach with GEOG102 students in semester 1 2020.

Title: Physically distanced not socially distanced: Fostering students’ active learning through collaborative Zoom and Mural interactions

Presenter: Anthony Gampell

This presentation will explore the opportunities provided by Zoom whiteboards and Mural to retain student interactions while live streaming Zoom tutorials. Collaborative interactions, with students and their tutors, in a remote environment can not only contribute toward actively engaging students in their learning but can also serve as a method to foster ‘tutorial culture’ while physically distanced.

Rangahau – Research

A Guide to Vision Mātauranga

Recently a Guide to Vision Mātauranga (lessons from Māori voices in the New Zealand Science Sector) was prepared by the Rauika Māngai – an assembly of representative Māori scientists, research leaders and programme managers from the 11 National Science Challenges and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. Please contact Melanie Kah for details.

Scalar Relationships of the Sponge City Initiative

To join this Seminar Please click on the link below and use passcode 809619

https://auckland.zoom.us/j/92381974766?pwd=L0pwL3B1blhzQmRjZGxMaFFFd1hrQT09

For enquiries, please contact Chris Struthers

AINSE Statement regarding COVID-19: Friday 21 August 2020

The health and wellbeing of our scholars, staff and collaborators is our highest priority. The AINSE team is working to assist all of our members during this time. In developing this precautionary approach, AINSE has consulted widely with stakeholders and taken the national and state guidelines, as well as equity of access, into account. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the AINSE Board reviewed the impacts of COVID-19 on AINSE operations in the Board meeting held on 21 August. Activities for the September – December 2020 period were discussed.

AINSE continues to offer events and scholarships throughout 2020. Our annual PhD Orientation Week and Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship School have both moved to an online format and we will work continuously with the research community to explore how AINSE programs can best adapt to support their needs.

Please see the full list of current changes to upcoming AINSE events and programs below.

AINSE continues to support the research community and monitor the ongoing situation.

Research and Funding Opportunities

Catalyst Fund – Seeding

Seeding facilitates new small and medium pre-research strategic partnerships with international collaborators that cannot be supported through other means.

General Programme:

  • Funding is for research exchanges, research activities, and expenses related to hosting workshops for new strategic research partnerships with international collaborators.
  • A maximum of NZ $80,000 (excl. GST) in total is available per proposal for projects lasting up to two years.

NZ – Japan Joint Research Projects:

  • Funding for research exchanges, research activities, and expenses related to hosting meetings in collaboration with Japanese researchers. Up to 3 joint research projects may be funded in the current round.
  • Up to $30,000 per annum for up to two years.

Deadline:  5pm, Tuesday 6 October 2020.

For further information, see the Catalyst Seeding website, or contact your RPC.

Catalyst Fund – Leaders

Leaders supports incoming and outgoing targeted international fellowships for exceptional individuals that cannot be supported through other means.

Julius von Haast Fellowship:

  • Supports an internationally recognised researcher from Germany to undertake research in New Zealand for a minimum of 4 weeks per year for up to 3 years.
  • Up to one (1) Fellow will be awarded in the 2020 funding round
  • Up to $50,000 per annum for up to three years comprising of $20,000 stipend, $20,000 research and travel allowance, $10,000 host institution administration allowance

JSPS HOPE Meeting:

  • Supports excellent PhD students and/or young researchers to attend the HOPE meetings with Nobel Laureates in Japan for 5 days, providing Flights, accommodation, and meeting registration.
  • Up to one (1) award in the 2020 funding round, comprising: Return economy flight to Japan, Insurance, Accommodation and meals, Meeting registration

Deadline: 5pm Tuesday, 6 October 2020.

For further information, see the Catalyst – Leaders website or contact your RPC

2021 Te Pūnaha Hihiko: Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund

Fund Purpose:

  • Strengthen capability, capacity, skills and networks between Māori and the science and innovation system, and
  • Increase understanding of how research can contribute to the aspirations of Māori organisations and deliver benefit for Aotearoa.

Key Features:

  • Proposal must be co-developed with a Māori organisation
  • Proposal must include co-funding at a minimum of 10% of requested amount
  • Research must support the themes and outcomes of MBIE’s Vision Mātauranga policy
  • Fund includes 2 schemes: ‘connect’ and placement’ – Connect Scheme: Build new connections between Māori organisations and the science and innovation system; Placement scheme: Enhance the development of an individual(s) through placement in a Partner organisation

Grant Value: 

The work programme term for both Connect and Placement schemes is up to two years.

  • $150,000 (ex GST) – max funding per proposal for projects up to 1 year in length
  • $250,000 (ex GST) – max funding per proposal between 1-2 years in length

Internal Deadline:  12 noon Monday 2 November 2020

For further information, including details on eligibility, please visit the MBIE website or contact your RPC

WUN Research Development Fund

Each year, the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) awards small grants of matched seed funding to establish new collaborative projects among members via its Research Development Fund (RDF). Researchers may submit proposals for Auckland-led projects or join partner-led projects initiated by researchers at other WUN institutions.

Research groups typically receive GBP 20-40,000 in total from WUN and university contributions. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis taking into account the selection criteria listed in the guidelines.

This year’s research theme focuses on ‘Sustainable Recovery’ from the COVID-19 pandemic with proposals encouraged addressing one or more of the following UN SDGs; 3 Good Health & Wellbeing, 4 Quality Education, 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, 10 reduced Inequalities, 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, 13 Climate Action.

As usual, there will be a two-stage selection process (internal and external). The internal process will select two proposals to develop into full bids from Auckland. Further information can be found on the networks-related funding page; or by contacting  Deborah McAllister (International Networks Manager)

Closing date for proposals: 12noon, Tuesday 2 September 2020

Pacific Development and Conservation Trust

Purpose: Promote sustainable development in the Pacific and New Zealand, while conserving the natural environment and cultural heritage of its people.

Grant Value:  The Trust has about $250,000 to give as grants each year. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount. Grants generally range from $2,000 to $50,000 NZD.

Internal Deadline: 5pm, Monday 14 September 2020

For further guidelines, please visit the Trust website

National Geographic – AI for Earth Innovation

The National Geographic Society and Microsoft’s AI for Earth program are partnering to support novel projects that create and deploy AI tools to improve the way we monitor, model, understand, and ultimately manage Earth’s natural resources for a more sustainable future. The programme is open to applicants from all scientific disciplines

Value: Grants of up to USD 100,000 are available.   

Project Duration: 12 months.

Internal Deadline: Monday 12 October, 5pm

Guidelines and resources can be found on the funders website, or contact your RPC for more information.

Meetings, Seminars and Events

School of Environment Research Forum

2020 Bartrum/Cumberland/Hay Lecture Series

River Futures in Aotearoa

Thursday September 24th 2020, 5-6.30 pm

Old Government House, University of Auckland

This will also be a Zoom Livestream event

The Research Committee in the School of Environment at the University of Auckland is delighted to announce the details of this year’s research forum.

River health is a long-standing issue of significant societal concern in New Zealand. As the Resource Management Act is under review, and expressions of River Rights create new societal and institutional relations to rivers, there is genuine prospect for generative encounters in shaping ‘River Futures in Aotearoa’. This panel discussion will focus on constructive discussions and contemplations regarding River Futures in Aotearoa – what could this look like, how will it work, what do we have to do to get there, should this be an incremental transition or a radical transformation?

Five key speakers have been tasked to present short provocative, constructive and positive perspectives on this topic:

  • Gerrard Albert: Chair of Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui, the post-settlement governance body for Whanganui Iwi for the purpose of the Whanganui River Settlement
  • Anne Salmond: Professor of Māori Studies, The University of Auckland
  • Colleen Brent: Healthy Waterways Team, Auckland Council
  • Trish Kirkland-Smith: Head of Environmental Partnerships, Fonterra
  • Mike Joy: Senior Research Fellow, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington

This will be followed by a discussion session and informal drinks and nibbles.

MBIE Endeavour Fund Roadshows 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Endeavour Fund Roadshows for 2021 will be presented virtually.

At the roadshows, MBIE will review the 2020 round and cover the different investment mechanisms, available funding, application process, key dates, eligibility, investment signals and impact categories, assessment criteria, and key documents.

The roadshows are an opportunity for researchers to engage with the Endeavour Team. The first hour will be the webinar presentation and the second hour will be available for Q&A.

Each roadshow will take place via a Zoom webinar. There are 3 time options:

  • Roadshow – Session 1: Monday 12 October: 10.00am – 12.00pm
    Roadshow – Session 2: Tuesday 13 October: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
    Roadshow – Session 3: Monday 19 October: 10.00am – 12.00pm

Register for attendance via the MBIE website

Postgraduate Research Showcase: 22 September – Update

In-person or virtual – the Postgraduate Research Showcase PRS 2020 is taking place on Tue 22 September. Awards for best oral, poster and photo/video presentations. ​Want to be part of this fantastic event?

Submit the title of your presentation and your format to env-PSC@auckland.ac.nz. Also, you can submit a lab/field photo or a 2-minute video that highlights your research and the great people that make it happen. These events are significant because of you and your research! So, do your part to spread the science and present or attend the PRS 2020. For further information please contact,

Luitgard Schwendenmann (Chair Postgraduate Research Committee)

Carlos Carvajal (Co-chair PhD student committee)

MBIE 2021 Endeavour Seminar Series

This series is designed to connect you to critical strategic & practical information, informed by MBIE requirement and insights, which if critically applied to your proposal will strengthen your capability to engage successfully in this increasingly competitive science and innovation funding pool.

Session 1 – Responsiveness to Māori (25 August, 1 – 2:30 pm)

Session 2 – Government Themes (1 September, 1 – 2:30 pm)

Session 3 – Industry Insights (8 September, 1 – 2:30 pm)

Session 4 – Contracts (15 September, 1 – 2: 30 pm)

Session 5 – Research Impact (22 September, 1 – 2:30 pm)

Register for the MBIE Endeavour Online Seminar Series HERE.

New Publications

1. Population mobility modelling for mobility data simulation Smolak, K., Rohm, W., Knop, K., Siła-Nowicka, K. 2020 Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 84, art. no. 101526.
2. Volcanic unrest scenarios and impact assessment at Campi Flegrei caldera, Southern Italy Charlton, D., Kilburn, C., Edwards, S. 2020 Journal of Applied Volcanology, 9(1), art. no. 7.
3. Using historical sources to supplement climate site histories: A case study of Auckland’s Albert Park Fowler, A.M. 2020 New Zealand Geographer.

Please email content to Bizza for next edition of P-cubed by Friday 11th September 

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