Issue 81 – Monday 18 July 2022
Contents
HeadsUp
Last week I attended the (usually annual, but covid-postponed) ‘VC Recognition Dinner’. At first, I wondered why I didn’t recognise more people. As the evening unfolded, it became apparent why. Rather than an occasion dominated by accolades for recipients of research medals and mega grants most awards were presented to teams of professional staff working behind the scenes to enhance the innovative edge of the university.
Many of these initiatives were new to me. For instance, Stanley Jones was acknowledged for cataloguing all 8,000+ significant botanical specimens on the various university campuses; Jodi Salinsky, the university’s Animal Welfare Officer was recognised for championing enhancements in how animals are managed in teaching and research, leading to NZ becoming the first country outside of Europe to adopt an Openness Agreement on the use of Animals in Research and Teaching; and Josephina Ah Sam and Katalina Ma were applauded for developing the South Auckland Mathematics Challenge: an easy-to-access opportunity for Years 9 and 10 students to build numeracy skills and confidence. This is but a sample of the diversity, creativity and innovation by professional staff. All seemed to echo, in some way, the theme of the VC’s mihi that evening: that even difficult times can be replete with signs of hope.
Closer to home in our School, I see signs of hope too: staff across all job descriptions who remain cheerful; colleagues who say yes without hesitation to requests; committee members who beam in to critical meetings from different time zone if they are travelling; and those who soldiered on marking exams when they felt under the weather (when they should have been resting up!).
I even had one colleague contact me on the last day of their Research and Study Leave asking what service role I would like them to take up on return. I’m glad I was working from home that day with a good soft carpet beneath me; I was at risk of falling off my seat in delight and surprise. But such is the goodwill I note. And such are the signs of hope that we continue to be part of a team (and not a collection of lone rangers). May hope and goodwill continue to prevail and we sail on into Semester 2!
Robin Kearns
General Announcements
ENV PhD and Staff Morning Tea – Including welcome/introductions of new PhDs
A variety of new PhD students started during the Delta and Omicron lockdowns and haven’t really had a chance to get to know staff and other PhDs at the school so we will have a catered morning tea Wednesday 20th July at 10.30 am in the Building 302 6th floor tearoom to welcome them to the community.
See you there!
Carolyn Lundquist was nominated by New Zealand and selected as a member of the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This is recognition of Carolyn’s long term contributions to IPBES, including serving as cochair of the task force on scenarios and models of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body established by States to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development. She also presented the Nature Futures Framework which was welcomed by IPBES governments last week at the 9th Plenary session. The NFF is a novel framework for developing transformative scenarios to reduce declines in biodiversity and ecosystem services, and its development was initiated at a stakeholder workshop hosted by the University of Auckland in 2017.
NEW! Library Drop-In Sessions for Science Staff, Doctoral Researchers, & Postgrads
Berit Anderson and Alissa Hackett from Research Services (Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries & Learning Services) will be starting a monthly drop-in Q&A session for Science faculty staff, doctoral researchers, and postgrads on July 21 from 12-1:30 in the Level 6 Staff Breakout Lounge. They will be there to help answer any questions you may have about search strategies, databases, researcher profiles & IDs, metrics, and open access. These sessions will recur monthly on the third Thursday of the month, from 12-1:30 in the L6 Staff Breakout Lounge. Session dates for the rest of 2022 are:
Thursday 21 July, 12-1:30p
Thursday 18 August, 12-1:30p
Thursday 15 September, 12-1:30p
Thursday 12 October, 12-1:30p
Thursday 17 November, 12-1:30p
Thursday 15 December, 12-1:30p
If you have any questions about these drop-in sessions please contact Berit on – berit.anderson@auckland.ac.nz
Some news on UoA Doctoral Scholarships
UEC has considered an options paper on the number and value of Doctoral Scholarships we are
able to offer. This has been in response to the acknowledged pressure on costs of living for
students, particularly in Auckland and the more strategic use of these scholarships. They are
recognised as an important component in addressing our research ambitions as a University, in
addressing equity considerations in our research workforce and working towards our objectives in
size, shape and composition. UEC have determined:
- That the stipend of the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship will increase to
$33,000 from 1 January 2023. - That from 1 January 2024 an annual CPI based adjustment is made to the stipend of the
University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship. - That the number of new University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships is increased from the
current 200 to 225 a year. - That new funding is secured for a University of Auckland Doctoral Bridging Scholarship.
This last bullet recognises the opportunity to assist students, particularly from equity groups, who
might lack the research component necessary to qualify for Doctoral programs and would benefit
from assistance while this is undertaken.
Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities
Pūatatangi Te Mana Whititua – Te Reo Māori weekly workshops. Please come join us!
Tēnā tatou katoa e te whanau,
For those interested in beginning their Te Reo journey, the school is running an initiative Te Manu Whititua. As part of that we are offering beginner lessons in the Māori language.
Even if you have not joined us in semester 1, there is still time to join us in semester 2. We have three offerings of the same workshop each week. This will allow you to find a time and a mode of delivery which suits you best and you are welcome to switch between them.
Weekly academic and professional staff zoom workshop:
Tuesday 10-11
https://auckland.zoom.us/j/97478439371?pwd=M09uQW81TkYrc2w1NzZWNTZNcnY3Zz09
Weekly staff and postgraduate student in-person workshop:
Friday 11-12 (followed by pizza)
Room: 302-130
Weekly postgraduate student zoom workshop:
Friday 2-3
https://auckland.zoom.us/j/93207635221?pwd=UEUydUhBczMzYTYrcjRucit5NXExQT09
Please contact Kimoro if you have any questions, kimoro.taiepa@auckland.ac.nz
Academic Consulting Winter Webinar Series
The Academic Consulting 2022 Winter Webinar series is open to all interested researchers – there is no charge to attend the sessions.
Can’t make the date and time? Register anyway, and you’ll be sent a copy of the recording. Register at: https://www.academic-consulting.co.nz/winterwebinars.
Keep Calm and Carry On Researching
Date: Tuesday 19 July 2022, 11am–12noon NZST
For many people, research plans for 2022 haven’t quite turned out as expected. You might be behind on project timeframes, needing to rethink your research design, feeling disorganised or even a bit unmotivated (which is all perfectly understandable!). This session will discuss strategies to help you get back on track, stay organised and put your best foot forward for the remainder of 2022. We’ll discuss research planning, creating workflows, tips for finding your research “mojo”, technology tools to help stay on top of your research and more!
NVivo from Start to Finish
Date: Friday 29 July 2022, 11am–12noon NZST
NVivo has such a wide range of tools it’s easy to lose track of them all, and the bigger picture context of your research project can get lost in some of the detail. While there’s no such thing as a ‘typical’ NVivo project, this webinar aims to demonstrate a possible sequence of steps that you might follow if you’re using NVivo for qualitative data analysis. We’ll briefly touch on preparing and importing data, developing a coding framework and conducting basic coding, exploration via queries/visualizations, and moving from NVivo to a written product. This webinar will be perfect for both NVivo novices and experienced users of the software.
Organising Research Ideas and Information
Date: Tuesday 9 August 2022, 11am–12noon NZST
Dealing with the ever-increasing volume of information we deal with as researchers can be overwhelming. This webinar will cover some tips and tricks for dealing with information overload and introduces some of our favourite tools for managing tasks, ideas and information. We’ll demonstrate Trello for task-management, Evernote for information management, XMind for managing ideas and Zotero for reference management.
Making the Most of NVivo
Date: Wednesday 24 August, 11am–12noon NZST
Unsure if you’re making the most of NVivo for your qualitative data analysis? This webinar will discuss some strategies for project set-up and coding which will ensure you maximise your use of the software. We’ll also cover the NVivo functionality that will help you avoid using the software as merely a tool for coding and retrieving. While this webinar is aimed at those with some experience of NVivo, those who are new to the software are welcome to attend.
To register for any of the above webinars visit: https://www.academic-consulting.co.nz/winterwebinars
Enquiries about the webinars can be directed to:
Academic Consulting
info@academic-consulting.co.nz
http://www.academic-consulting.co.nz
MBIE Endeavor Proposal: Responsiveness 2 Māori Session- Vision Mātauranga
Jaylene Wehipeihana (ORSI) will host a webinar providing an overview for Responsiveness to Māori and responding to VM for MBIE Endeavour.
| Session Name: | Responsiveness 2 Māori Session: Vision Mātauranga and Your MBIE Endeavour Proposal |
| Session description | REGISTRATION OF INTEREST: Please register your interest and we will send the details and calendar invite once they have been confirmed. This webinar aims to raise awareness about ways to demonstrate how your MBIE Endeavour funding application is responding to the Vision Mātauranga policy. Research Manager Vision Mātauranga, Jaylene Wehipeihana will be hosting the hour-long webinar. AUDIENCE: Open to UoA research staff and research support staff (FIRST). |
| Date & time: | 20-Jul-22 |
| Run Time: | 11 to 12pm (1 hour) |
| Location: | Online |
| EventBrite Link: | https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/responsiveness-2-maori-workshop-vision-matauranga-mbie-endeavour-tickets-309081790957 |
| Recorded: | Yes |
| Speakers: | Jaylene Wehipeihana |
| Confirmation of speaker: | Yes |
| Audience: | AUDIENCE: Open to UoA research staff and research support staff (FIRST). |
MBIE Writing Workshops
| Date & Time: | August (1st, 8th & 22nd) | |
| Run Time: | 1 hour per session | |
| Location: | Online | |
| Link of session (if online): | https://auckland.zoom.us/j/99229703314?pwd=RElyeHVTZ0I1SDFSWm85aFh2aVZBQT09 | |
| https://auckland.zoom.us/j/99364977466?pwd=ZVlJUHlmWjQvdGhlMEFBT2x4Q29ndz09 | ||
| https://auckland.zoom.us/j/98903279547?pwd=QlBydDlmSXZUaERWcEF4a1M1bExoQT09 | ||
| EventBrite Link: | https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/mbie-writing-workshops-registration-308438898047 | |
| Recorded: | No | |
| Speakers: | Write Ltd | |
| Confirmation of speaker: | Yes | |
| Speaker Rates: | ||
| Internal Facilitator: | ||
| Audience: | AUDIENCE: Open to UoA research staff only | |
| Brief Overview Decription: | ||
| Session description: | General Description: Write Limited is a plain language consultancy. Their writing and editing services connect you with your audience and get your messages across clearly. They work with a wide variety of material from across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.In these workshops, Write Limited will share tips and techniques to help you to make your writing more effective and engaging for your readers. They’ll deliver short, focused sessions to the group, mostly focussing on clarity of messaging and quality writing but there will be additional funder specific sessions and advice to enhance your proposal development. Feel free to register for all 3 or just the 1 or 2 topics of your choice. Participation is limited so don’t delay- secure your spot! |
|
| Notes: | Potentially split into three sessions | |
| Will need 3 tickets as there will be 3 webinars and they can sign up to each one | ||
| We will limit the tickets to 25 and put a waiting list. | ||
| Writing Webinar #1: Monday August 1, 3pm-4pm | ||
| Top five things you can do to improve your writing | ||
| Description: Based on insights we’ve gained from working on academic papers and proposals. • Start with your reader • Be clear about your purpose • Write informative, compelling titles and headings where possible • Create short, straightforward sentences • Choose precise words and explain technical terms |
||
| Writing Webinar #2: Monday August 8, 3pm-4pm | ||
| Engaging your readers, explaining the science | ||
| You’re all subject matter experts, but your readers might not be. How do you explain complex science information in a meaningful and engaging way? • Shape your opening to hook the reader • Bring the science alive • Prefer active voice • Create a compelling story by bringing it all together |
||
| Writing Webinar #3: Monday August 22, 3pm-4pm | ||
| 8 tips on emphasising the impact of your research | ||
| It’s easy to focus so much on the science that the impact is lost. We give you 8 quick tips for making sure you emphasise the impact your research will have. | ||
MBIE Smart Ideas Webinar Link
This webinar (https://youtu.be/9YDCUxNwObc) was for last year’s talking through the sections of the Smart Idea Concept, explaining how they relate to one another and identify some of the critical points for writing a good Concept document.
Dr Jane Shearer brought her broad experience as a writer of research proposals, developed through her work in the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, establishing and running the University of Canterbury Research Office, and twenty years as an independent consultant assisting hundreds of researchers.
Honours Research Projects and sub-90 points Masters dissertations
Dear colleagues,
Thank you to everyone who supervised and/or examined Honours Research projects and sub-90-point Masters projects/dissertations in 2021. Your time and effort in supervising students and/or examining projects in what was a disrupted year, protracted by deadline extensions, is greatly appreciated. The 2021 cohort should now be all finished and moving onto new things.
In 2022, we have students completing Honours and MENVSCI 30-point research projects, and Bachelor of Advanced Science 60-point dissertations, with submissions in Semester 1 (Monday 27 June) and Semester 2 (Monday 14 November).
For your diary:
S2 Honours, MENVSCI and BAdvSci Oral Presentations – Wednesday 26 October. Time and venue to be confirmed.
These are on the same day as Masters presentations and every effort will be made to avoid clashes.
Finally, if you are supervising Honours/MENVSCI/BAdvSci students this year, please ensure their project is achievable within the one- or two-semester timeframe and that it can be completed under pandemic conditions. Please encourage your student(s) to meet the end-of-semester submission date too, even if Covid-19 extensions are again offered by the Faculty; it is helpful to the students, for getting grades back in time to go on to further study or work, and to those involved in the examination process if we can all stick to the schedule.
Kind regards
Gretel Boswijk, (Honours coordinator)
Funding
MPI Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research Fund 2022
The Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research Fund supports the reporting of emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use by funding continuous research. This informs policy decisions and helps the agriculture and forestry sectors manage their greenhouse gas emissions.
Eligibility: Applications must align with one of the key priorities as outlined. They may either be original projects or one of the suggested projects from the list.
Submission process: . To receive an application template, register your intent to apply with the submissions@auckland.ac.nz
Contact your local support (FIRST) team and create a record in the Research Funding Module (RFM) uploading all application documents and submit for faculty sign off by the 5pm, Wednesday 3rd August 2022.
Submit your application to submissions@auckland.ac.nz no later than 5pm, Wednesday 3rd August 2022 to allow sufficient time for the Funds Advisor team to submit your application to MPI by the external deadline.
Guidelines: View the GHGIR 2022 Priorities paper here
View website here.
2022 Contestable Research Development Fund Main Round
Deadline: 5pm, 7 September 2022
There are three award types offered in the 2022 contestable round in the Faculty of Science
| Award type | Duration | Minimum and maximum funding available per application |
| Research Fellowship Award | Up to 3 years | $100,000 – $200,000 |
| Staff Research Award | Up to 2 years | $10,000 – $40,000 |
| Aronui Pūtaiao Award | Up to 2 years | $10,000 – $40,000 |
Do let your school/department Research Programme Coordinator know if you intend applying for any of these awards.
Full details including guidelines and the application form are available on the research page of the staff intranet.
For general queries please contact your Research Programme Coordinator (RPC), or Dee Nolan Fos-researchadmin@auckland.ac.nz.
Queries about the Aronui Pūtaiao Award can be directed to Te Taura Here Pūtaiao, and/or the Associate Dean Māori, Jade Le Grice j.legrice@auckland.ac.nz.
Post-doctoral Research Award Opportunity
Applications are now open, closing date: 19 August 2022
The Kate Edger Educational Charitable Trust offers Post Doctoral Research Awards (Dame Joan Metge & Emeritus Professor Dame Charmian J O’Connor Post-Doctoral Research Awards) of $16,000 each to assist women who have qualified to graduate with a doctoral degree within the last two years to carry out research on a specified, independent project at an approved Institute in the Auckland area.
Eligibility Criteria: NZ Citizens or Permanent Residents for a specified, independent, limited term research project.
The successful awardee should not undertake more than 20 hours per week paid employment during tenure of the award.
For further details see: www.academicdresshire.co.nz /Academic Awards. Any enquiries, please email awards@kateedgertrust.org.nz
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Unlocking Curious Minds Contestable Fund
For the Fund’s 2023 investment round, approximately $1.6 million (excluding GST).The funding available per project is between $50,000 (minimum) and $150,000 (maximum).
- Registration: 12 noon, Friday 22 July 2022.
- Full Proposal:12 noon, Monday 22 August 2022.
Duration: Projects will run for up to 11 months from 1 February 2023 until 31 December 2023
All registration and proposal submissions should be made through the MBIE IMS Portal with existing login details. New applicants Contact submissions@auckland.ac.nz
For more information regarding this fund, please visit here. For help developing your application, please contact your local support (FIRST) team. If you have any funder specific queries or require funder portal help, please contact the UniServices Funds Advisor Team via submissions@auckland.ac.nz
Rutherford Foundation Fellowships and Scholarships
Internal Deadline: 5pm Tuesday 26 July 2022
These fellowships aim to build human capability in research, science and technology, including social sciences and the humanities, by providing early career support for New Zealand’s brightest and most promising researchers.
Cambridge-Rutherford Memorial PhD Scholarship: These scholarships are intended to provide full support to enable completion of a PhD at the University of Cambridge in pure or applied science and the social sciences.
Application: Please discuss your intention to apply with Academic Head, Robin Kearns first, once approved, please proceed with the following:
- Email the following information to the Funds Advisor Team via submissions@auckland.ac.nzfor portal access: title, full name, email address, faculty and department.
- Contact your local support (FIRST) team for research support assistance for your application.
- Complete the application on the Portal and submit it to the Funds Advisor Team by 5pm Tuesday 26 July 2022.
GUIDELINES
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Doctoral Scholarship
NZ Association of Scientists 2022 Science Medals
Closing date is 31 July 2022
- Applications are invited for the following NZAS Science Medals: Marsden Medal, Shortland Medal, Hill Tinsley Medal and Cranwell Medal.
- Further details can be found in the attached document and the email below. A link to these awards can also be found on the ResearchHub in the National Prizes and Awards Calendar. Please consult the Full Guidelines at: www.scientists.org.nz/awards . How to apply https://scientists.org.nz/how-to-apply . Please consult the Full Guidelines at: www.scientists.org.nz/awards and submit your application using the electronic form.
- Please address any enquiries to: awards@scientists.org.nz
Funding for class meet and greets
The Student Experience Committee has limited funding available for class related activities. If you want to run a class event, online or otherwise (challenging given the current restrictions), and would benefit from some funds, please contact Joe (j.fagan@auckland.ac.nz). The Committee would prefer to fund several small events rather than one big one (but we are open to suggestions).
TE PŪNAHA HIHIKO VISION MATAURANGA CAPABILITY FUND (VMCF) 2023 – Scoping and Support on offer
UniServices and ORSI are planning a support programme for the upcoming MBIE 2023 Te Pūnaha Hihiko: Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund (VMCF). Applications will open mid- September and close mid-November (exact dates TBC by MBIE).
This fund invests in activities that strengthen capability, capacity, skills and networks between Māori organisations and the science and innovation system, to deliver benefit to Aotearoa.
For researchers who have previously been unsuccessful, or have well-formed relationships with Māori organisations, there is a more targeted package that takes a researcher-centric approach focused on providing support that researchers identify. This more targeted package is in addition to the webinars and application templates, and provides panel reviews of proposal, writing support, business development support, and funding for a facilitator or catering for Hui with established partners.
UniServices would like to identify potential interest – if this applies to you please get in touch with Kelly Kilpin asap.
Rangahau Committee Funding
The Rangahau Committee has a small amount of funds set aside ($5,000 total) to help with proposal development (e.g. writing support, support to scope proposals etc). If you have an idea that fits within this scope please get in touch with Kelly Kilpin to discuss further.
Scholarships for students to undertake research at the SoE
The Rangahau Committee coordinates the distribution of three new scholarships to support students in undertaking research in our School. If you know potential applicants or if you are a potential applicant, make sure you contact the people below. There is no strict deadline at this stage, but the earlier we hear from you, the better. Note that these scholarships are also advertised via other channels.
- Moana PG Research Scholarship: NZ$500-1000 (5-10 awards available) to support Pacific students to do research at the SoE at the post-grad level (Master or Hons). Contact Sonia Fonua s.fonua@auckland.ac.nz
- Māori PG Research Scholarship: NZ$500-1000 (5-10 awards available) to support Māori students to do research at the SoE at the post-grad level (Master or Hons). Contact Kimoro Taiepa kimoro.taiepa@auckland.ac.nz
- Undergrad Research Experience: NZ$800 (up to 10 awards available) for undergraduate students to shadow a researcher (Master/PhD student, research fellow etc.) for a period equivalent to 2 weeks (as a block or spread over a longer period that suits the research). Contact Melanie Kah melanie.kah@auckland.ac.nz
The Research Committee Funding available
This is for activities to benefit Postdocs and RFs and allow them to connect. To all those who fall into the following categories, we invite you to contact the new RF rep in the Rangahau/Research committee Joa Paredes-Mariño (for RFs/postdocs) joa.paredes.marino@auckland.ac.nz, for further information.
- Postdocs/Research Fellows
- People conducting research on non-permanent contracts at the post-doctoral level
3k writing grant available for students
Funds are available to support students writing up their thesis as publication(s). Each grant is worth $3000 (120 hours at 25$ all included). There is no deadline to apply. Applications are evaluated as they come by members of Rangahau (2 weeks turn over max.), until we use all the funds available.
Do you have a good candidate in mind? Please complete this form and submit to melanie.kah@auckland.ac.nz.
2023 MBIE Endeavour Fund Support Sessions
Details on the support for MBIE Endeavour Fund 2023 is available on the Research Hub. There are a number of other events and workshops on offer, details of which can be found on the Research Hub.
Rangahau – Research
PhD Seminar – Exploring Institutional Arrangements to Improve Catchment Management
Heather Paterson-Shallard
The rise of complex socio-environmental challenges in Aotearoa NZ and globally prompts dynamic freshwater governance changes. Resource managers are experiencing increasing environmental challenges in conjunction with the need to manage evolving legislative requirements and the multiple values and priorities of stakeholders. In response, we are experiencing shifts to innovative forms of governance and management regimes. This project explores the regional policy and planning processes in the Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay regions. Specifically, it focuses on the ways that regional government are responding to the multi-level demands that they face from government and non-government actors.
To hear more, please join my PhD seminar on Monday 18th July at 2pm via Zoom:
https://auckland.zoom.us/j/97009918423?pwd=ZE9PQks0V0NNSDNHZkpnVUIvWVVuUT09
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Health & Safety Tip
Publications
2022 SERJEANT, E., COLEMAN, T and KEARNS, R. How tenants in New Zealand respond to winter weather indoors: A qualitative investigation. Health and Place. 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102810
2022 MADDEN, L and KEARNS R . Performing encounters (and encountering performance) at Auckland Zoo. New Zealand Geographer https://doi.org/10.1111/nzg.12338
2022 EAGAR, E. and KEARNS, R. Contemplative practices: The body as a site linking health and place. Health & Place 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102826
Cohen-Smith, H., Bickler, S. H., Jones, B., Larsen, B., & Apfel, A. (2022). New Tech for Old Jobs: Handheld LiDAR for Feature Recording. Archaeology, 14. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/SimonBickler/publication/361732720_New_Tech_for_Old_Jobs_Handheld_LiDAR_for_Feature_Recording_AINZ/links/62c252da0bf6950edea93e09/New-Tech-for-Old-Jobs-Handheld-LiDAR-for-Feature-Recording-AINZ.pdf