HeadsUp

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I’ve been thinking about vulnerability a bit lately. It’s not exactly a theme that runs rampant in discussions about science and within members of a science faculty. But it’s intrinsic to the human condition. And it’s a dimension I’ve been aware if in myself and some of you lately. Let me elaborate.

First, since my last Heads-up, news did the rounds that I’ve been confirmed as Head of School. When you’re no longer behind the prefix ‘Acting’, there’s nowhere to hide. I felt both honoured and vulnerable seeing the Dean’s email two Fridays ago. Yet somewhere in between those feelings is a resolute sense of rightness in availing myself. Over the last three decades, this place and you people, as well as many others who have moved on (institutionally and mortally) have been good to me. I have been offered a platform to thrive as a teacher and researcher. At this late career stage, it’s become apparent to me that it’s too easy to duck and dive and bury oneself in one’s own pursuits. Better be vulnerable and live with the occasional wave of imposter syndrome than miss an opportunity to serve, facilitate and keep immersed in lifelong learning.

Second, moving through annual performance review conversations, dimensions of vulnerability have become apparent time and again. It’s rarely been named as such, but it’s been there in flashing lights. The feeling among some of you that you’ve underperformed over the last two years, lost confidence, missed opportunities, and/or need to rediscover confidence. Each is a variant – subtle or declared – of the ways these strange recent times have affected us. The best I can say is please know that you are not alone. We are all finding our feet again in new and different ways. And from those I have met with, notwithstanding all the disruptions, I have been impressed at people’s achievements – in innovative teaching, tenacity in research, and the stepping up into service.

Third, I’ve been particularly impressed when people take on more than they need to in various ways. For some it’s been in service. You know who you are! For others, it’s in extra study. Either way, it’s another dimension of making oneself vulnerable – accepting that possibility of not being up to the challenge and a staring down the barrel of new beginnings in the face of ongoing regular duties. Particular respect, then, to Mel Wall and Joe Fagan who have both launched into mid-career Ed.D doctorates….and to Gretel Boswijk who, in July, quietly completed a  Master of Arts in Archaeology and Heritage with Distinction, from the University of Leicester. Big congratulations!

Fourth, we are all vulnerable when we take an eye off the ball, so to speak. Last week there was a phishing attack with some predatory person in cyberspace mocking up a Gmail address in my name and asking some of you to buy vouchers on my behalf. My plea is this: if a request seems odd, check the source. If its anything but the university email address: ignore, report and delete. There are vultures circling out there!

Fifth, you’ll see below a notice about First Aid certification. Please consider doing a course. This is not a set of skills that have work-only relevance. My own motive for getting credentialled many years ago is that I sometimes go tramping in places far from clinics. Who knows when you might encounter someone injured? But even close to home. Who knows when we might encounter someone – on a city street, even at home – in cardiac arrest? Its surely better to have some imperfect knowledge than be a shocked bystander.  So please consider the offer of free on paid work-time First Aid training as a way to address our own and others potential vulnerability in unexpected times and places. Its simply to easy to say “another year, I’m too busy…..”.  

 So let us acknowledge and own, but not be held back by, the vulnerabilities we all carry and experience.

You will also see a reminder below that information is being sought on our outreach and social media presence as well as there being a 2nd call for outreach-related contestable funds. Please read and respond to these worthy initiatives.

Last but not least very big thanks to Nick Richards and team for organising and staffing our School’s presence at  Mānawa Mai Open Day last Saturday.

And, for those immersed in teaching this semester, enjoy the breather if the break!

 

 Robin Kearns

(no longer acting 😊) Head of School

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General Announcements

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R Workshop

An introductory R Workshop is being run on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd of September. This will be led by Daniel Walsh and Jessica McLay, from the Statistical Consulting Centre, in the Department of Statistics.

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 will have to also add GST for this type of payment and payment can only be made at the Student Resource Centre on main campus).

The payment authorisation form form for UoA participants paying from a UoA account is attached. The cost for non-UoA attendees is $500 + GST. Please contact Joei Mudaliar (j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz) for payment instructions.

We will be sending out a pre-workshop information email the week prior to the course, however here are some of the details:

• 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 attached (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 and 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.

 

I hope you can make it on the 1^st and 2^nd September, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Kind regards,

Joei Mudaliar | Group Services Coordinator

Department of Statistics | Faculty of Science

The University of Auckland | Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau

 

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Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities 

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Welcome morning tea for offshore candidates

The School of Graduate Studies has organised a celebratory morning tea (31st of August, 10:00AM) to provide an opportunity for doctoral candidates who began their doctoral journeys offshore, but have now joined us on campus, to connect with one another and to develop their networks. This is for doctoral candidates who have not previously attended a “Welcome morning/afternoon tea for offshore candidates” and is a fantastic opportunity to connect with your fellow doctoral candidates in person.

To register: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/welcome-morning-tea-for-offshore-candidates-tickets-390182174387

 

He Vaka Moana Talatalanoa Series

Next month we are restarting the He Vaka Moana Talatalanoa series that has been run since 2018.

If you haven’t already been, you are very welcome to come (7th Sept 10:30am) – it’s focused on Māori student and Moana Pacific student success and is offered in the form of a talatalanoa – a continued open discussion – about this topic.

There will be a light lunch provided from 12, so please rsvp to Sonia. Any questions, please contact Sonia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coastal and Marine Geoscience Group Meeting/Seminar       

The next Coastal-Marine Geoscience Group seminar will be held on Monday September 12th at 12:00 to 1:00 pm in the Ontology Lab (302-551).

News will be shared and a talk given from PhD candidate Zheng Chen (Mike) on the “Retention and Dispersion of buoyant plastics in the Waitemata Harbour” and Dr Emma Ryan on “80 years of shoreline change in Aotearoa”.

All welcome to attend – please email Emma Ryan at e.ryan@auckland.ac.nz if you wish to attend and don’t have the calendar invite already.

 

Do you have a social media and/or outreach presence?

The Outreach Committee is compiling data on your outreach efforts and social media presence! Please take one minute to fill two questions in this form: 

• Do you have a webpage where the target audience is the community, iwi and/or schools/kura? [please provide the http link]
• Are you active on social media? [please provide you twitter or facebook handle]
• Do you have a research webpage? [please provide the http link]

 

Call for the 2nd round of contestable funds for ENV outreach activities

The ENV Outreach Committee has a 2nd call for contestable funds for School of Environment staff members (including research and teaching fellows) to support outreach projects. The project can be of any nature to promote SoE rangahau/research or the fun science in our majors to the community and schools. Activities could involve kura/schools, the public and whakawhanaungatanga. The funds can cover travel, materials, RA time, venue hire, etc. Initially the funds are capped at NZD 1000 per project, but if the call is undersubscribed, we can raise this limit. 

To apply, please fill the application form and email it to Mila Adam (l.adam@auckland.ac.nz) by September 10th. Funds need to be used by the end of October 2022 but activities can be run after that time if funds have been used. 

 

3rd International Virtual Workshop on Global Seismology & Tectonics held by the Geoscience & Technology Division, North East Institute of Science & Technology (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) from Jorhat, Assam, India 

The unprecedented situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted academic and research activities, including research exchange and collaborations across the globe. In course with this, the Geoscience & Technology Division (GSTD) of CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat had started an annual INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL WORKSHOP, on “Global Seismology & Tectonics” (IVWGST),  targeting the undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and PhD students, besides academicians and scientists of geosciences and allied branches of science & engineering (Physics/Geology/Geophysics/Seismology/Environmental Science/Geography/ Civil Engineering/Earthquake Engineering etc). The first two editions of IVWGST (2020 & 2021) were conducted during the month of September, which was attended by more than 1000 (thousand) participants from 25 countries. This year also, IVWGST – 2022 shall be conducted during 20-30th September 2022, featuring resource persons from diverse forums as per the schedule mentioned in the Brochure.

Here are some important Information regarding IVWGST-2022:

(1) The registration for the Workshop is free.

(2) Registration timing: 5th  August to 20 August, 2022. (No requests for late registration shall be entertained)

(3)The Registration Link for Indian Participants is: Registration Link for Indian Participants

 The Registration Link for International Participants is: Registration Link for International Participants

(4) The virtual workshop will be held via Microsoft Teams (MS Teams). The participants are requested to download and install Microsoft (MS) Teams software in their desktop or mobile devices. (https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/download-app)

(5) The MS Teams links for the respective sessions will be provided to the registered participants through email. We request not to share the link(s) with anybody who is not registered for the Workshop.

(6) E-certificate shall be provided to registered participants upon request, if they have attended at least 80% of the virtual workshop.

(7) Interested participants are encouraged to submit an abstract of their research (however not mandatory), neatly written within a page, in Microsoft (MS) Word template (Title of the Paper, Full Name of Author(s), Affiliation with complete address, Abstract,  Keywords) to the email address of the organizer, i.e. santanuivwgst@neist.res.in, on or before 15th September 2022. The selected abstracts shall be published in the e-abstract volume of the workshop. The decision of the organizing committee shall be considered final in case of any disputes, if any.

 (8) For Official Notification and more information please visit https://neist.res.in/home/IVWGST-2022.pdf

 

Postgraduate Science Research Showcase

Are you enrolled in postgraduate research? Are you keen to learn how to communicate your project effectively to a wide range of audiences? Enter the Faculty of Science Research Showcase and participate in the poster competition!

The Science Research Showcase will feature postgraduate posters displayed in the Faculty of Science, Building 302, Ground Floor (Foyer) during the week of Monday, September 26^th to Friday, September 30^th. The Science Research Showcase provides an excellent opportunity for research students to present their research to the University of Auckland staff and student community. 

The poster competition awards that will be given is our Judges’ Choice awards that will be deliberated by the judging panel made of academics across the faculty, and our People’s Choice awards that will be voted for by university staff and students! The twenty top-ranked posters from the Science Research Showcase will be automatically entered into School of Graduate Studies Research Showcase 2022. 

Registration and submission of digitals poster closes on Friday, September 16^th at 4PM.  Submission of poster size A1 hardcopy of the digital posters closes on Wednesday, September 21^st at 2:00PM.

Please find the registration link, full competition details, and eligibility on the Science research showcase webpage.

 

GSNZ Auckland Hochstetter Lecture(s) 2022 20th September

This years Hochstetter Lecture will be given by Professor Dave Prior (University of Otago) on “The shear zones that hold back the ice sheets”. This talk will be held 7.30 pm on Tuesday 20^th September at the Auditorium at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the domain.

Please register at https://myaccount.aucklandmuseum.com/146192/146193?premove=Y&promo=GEOSCIENCE to RSVP. I registered as “Adult Special Promotion” with a guest checkout, a comment re GSNZ in the comment box and a selecting “pick up ticket in person” which seems to have gone through the museum system fine.  

In addition Dave is giving a second lecture at noon on the 20^th September “Quantitative microstructural analysis in Earth Sciences”. This will be held at the University of Auckland in the Owen G Glenn Business School Room 260-223.

 

Professor Jennifer Salmond Inaugural Lecture

On September 22nd Professor Jennifer Salmond will examine the impact of this period of rapid change on the discipline of geography and explore her own
academic journey in this context, find details below, please register at Eventbrite https://jennifersalmond.eventbrite.co.nz

22 September 2022
5.30pm Refreshments
Building 303, Basement Foyer,
(303-B00L2), 38 Princes Street
6.30pm Lecture
Physics Lecture Theatre 1 (PLT1/303-G20),
Building 303, 38 Princes Street

 

My thesis in 5 minutes video competition

A 5-minute video thesis competition that emphasises relationships between France and NZ. To enter the competition, you need to create a short video (between 3 and 5 minutes) explaining your research project and how it connects France and Aotearoa New Zealand. Closing date 14th of October 2022.

For more information: https://www.francenzst.org/what-we-do/5min/

 

The School of Environment Outreach Committee is looking at hiring 2-3 students to help with our social media and graphic design tasks.

The job would involve flexible 2-3  hours per week with the goal of promoting SoE research, public lectures and outreach opportunities to the community and schools.  If interested please email Mila Adam l.adam@auckland.ac.nz

 

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)

 

The next ENV Research Seminar Series is coming up! Please SAVE THE DATE in your calendars:

What: Please join us for the ENV Research Seminar Series where you will hear interesting research updates from three ENV staff members – Giovanni Coco, Mila Adam and Sam Trowsdale. More details will be provided closer to the time.

When: 27 October 2-3 pm, drinks and nibbles from 3-4pm

Where: Federation Room, Level 1, Old Government House, followed by drinks in the Members Lounge (ground floor)

Queries: Emma Ryan, e.ryan@auckland.ac.nz 

 

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Funding

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AINSE Scholar Gold Medals (nominations received until 31 August 2022).

The AINSE Scholar Gold Medal is awarded for impact and excellence in research on the basis of publications that acknowledge AINSE support. At the presentation of the medals, the newly-awarded Gold Medallists are invited to deliver an address on their research.

To nominate an early career researcher or postgraduate student for a Scholar Gold Medal, please complete the Scholar Gold Medal Nomination form 2022 (available online as well at this link) and return via email to enquiries@ainse.edu.au prior to the close of nominations at 11:59 pm AEST Wednesday 31^st August 2022.

For more information please visit the AINSE Scholar Gold Medal page or contact AINSE.

 

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.

 

DOC post-graduate research scholarships – 2023 applications now open

August 2022

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is offering the opportunity for eight post-graduate students to get a scholarship of $15,000 each for conservation-related research in the natural or social sciences. 

Applications are now open for the 2023 scholarship round. DOC introduced the scholarship programme in 2020, with past recipients receiving scholarships for a wide range of topics including Kauri health, climate change impacts on marine environments and Covid tourism planning.

This year DOC is excited to announce it is partnering with the Environmental Protection Authority and Tiakina Kauri | Kauri Protection Programme (part of MPI) who will both fund one scholarship each focusing on conservation research in areas of significance for them.

DOC’s scholarship recipients will play an invaluable role in Aotearoa New Zealand’s conservation efforts, including the mahi to restore our thriving biodiversity. DOC is looking for applications with innovative approaches to natural and social science research.

To qualify for this year’s scholarship round, students will need to align their research to the research priorities of DOC or its funding partners.

Applications for the scholarship are open to fulltime or part time Masters students enrolled at a New Zealand university or NZQA accredited tertiary institution, who plan to do research on a relevant topic in the 2023 academic year.

For application information, visit www.doc.govt.nz/postgraduate-scholarships. Applications close 12 September 2022.

 

2022 Scholarship AINSE ANSTO French Embassies (SAAFE): applications now open (applications close 30 September 2022)

AINSE, in partnership with ANSTO, the Embassy of France in Australia and the Embassy of France in New Zealand, are delighted to announce that applications for the next round of the 2022 SAAFE Program are now open, for international travel in the period 1^st January 2023 – 31^st December 2023.

The Scholarship AINSE ANSTO French Embassies (SAAFE) Program is an exciting international exchange opportunity open to Early Career Researchers at the PhD and postdoctoral level. Up to $7,500 AUD is provided to each successful applicant towards supporting travel and/or accommodation expenses associated with a visit from:

• Australia/New Zealand to France, or
• France to Australia.

The SAAFE Program supports Early Career Researchers to expand research and innovation activities with Human Health, Environment and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, and to initiate sustainable research networks and linkages to support Australia, New Zealand and France in research and innovation.

Eligible applicants must be a PhD student in, or hold a postdoctoral appointment at, a French university or AINSE-member university.

The research internship is required to take place between 1^st January 2023 and 31^st December 2023.

Applications close 30^th September 2022.

For more information, including the application form and terms & conditions, please visit the SAAFE website or contact AINSE on +61 2 9717 3376 / enquiries@ainse.edu.au.

 

AINSE Postgraduate Orientation Week – Expressions of Interest now received from future scholarship applicants
(applications close 30 September 2022)

Coinciding with the international celebrations of Nuclear Science Week in the third week of October, the annual AINSE Postgraduate Orientation Week welcomes new postgraduate scholars in the AINSE PGRA, AINSE RSS, and ANSTO Future Now programs, and provides all postgraduate students with the opportunity to establish enduring networks with like-minded colleagues across Australia and New Zealand. This year’s O’Week event will run from 17th – 19th October 2022 as an online event via Zoom.

Alongside our new scholarship recipients, AINSE are now accepting Expressions of Interest directly from interested Honours and postgraduate students from AINSE-member institutions who are looking to apply for an AINSE postgraduate award in 2023.

These interested students can learn about the broad range of research supported by ANSTO’s landmark facilities, engage in a virtual tour of ANSTO, and participate in social activities as part of the worldwide Nuclear Science Week celebrations. On the morning of Wednesday 19^th, the program will be differentiated and these interested students will attend a specialised workshop focused on the application process for 2023 AINSE scholarships.

Expressions of Interest close Friday 30^th September.

Interested students should submit a short Expression of Interest Form directly to applications@ainse.edu.au, outlining their intent to apply for a 2023 AINSE scholarship.

For more information, please see our Postgraduate O’Week website.

 

6^th AINSE Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE) School – Expressions of Interest now received
(applications close 30 September 2022).

(flyer attached and available online)

AINSE is now accepting Expressions of Interest directly from students for the 6th AINSE Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE) School, to be held Monday 28^th November to Friday 2^nd December 2022.

Expressions of Interest close Friday 30^th September 2022.

This school is targeted at female students in STEM degrees who are about to complete their first year of full-time undergraduate study (or part-time equivalent).

A key component of the WISE School is an ongoing mentorship program in which students are allocated mentors from across site at ANSTO. AINSE will be coordinating mentor and student meetings in 2023 to provide additional networking and educational opportunities for the students.

The 2022 WISE School will run as a 5 day online event, with the possibility of a small number of students being invited to ANSTO’s Lucas Heights campus for the final 2 days of the program (Thursday 1^st – Friday 2^nd December) if circumstances permit.

Interested students should submit a short Expression of Interest Form directly to applications@ainse.edu.au, and a brief letter to their AINSE Member Representative per the details in the form.

For more information, please see our WISE website.

 

ANSTO FutureNow and FutureNow [Plus] scholarships – applications are open (applications close 27 November 2022)

With the support of NSW Government, ANSTO offers FutureNow and FutureNow Plus scholarships to graduates or early career researchers working on industry-focused research projects that support developments in health, defence, aerospace engineering and nuclear technologies.

The FutureNow Scholarships are made possible through the generous support of the NSW government funding scheme as part of our ANSTO Innovation Precinct development. These scholarships are for graduate students or early career researchers working on industry-focused research projects aligned with ANSTO’s strategic objectives. The scholarships are open to Australian and New Zealand students.

Scholarship recipients will have access to the expertise and technology needed to facilitate cutting edge discoveries in advanced manufacturing, health, environment and the nuclear fuel cycle.

FutureNow [Plus] scholarships offer a stipend of up to $35,000 and more. FutureNow scholarships offer a $10,000 top-up stipend and more.

For further information, please visit:

FutureNow Scholarships | ANSTO

 

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).

 

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.

 

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Rangahau – Research

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Webinar hosted by Sustainable Seas

Protect our future: perspectives from the UN Oceans conference

11:00am, Wednesday 30 August 

Click here to Register.

If you can’t make the webinar, all of our webinars are recorded and the recordings made available on our YouTube playlist within 24 hours. If you are registered, you will receive a link to the recording.

 

The George Mason Centre for Natural Environment Call for Proposals 2022
Types of Grant	Seed Projects   Up to $10,000 to cover research expenses for one year (including travel, equipment etc. but not salary or buyout) PhD Scholarships   $33,000 per annum for 3 years plus fees  ($126,000.00 total) MSc Fees     $10,000 Post-Doctoral fellowships   $95,075 (1 year of L/RF1 including ACC and Superannuation) – up to 2 years available  Workshop   $5,000
Purpose	The GMCNE is a multi-disciplinary research centre in the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland with a focus on environmental restoration, conservation and sustainability.   This Call for Proposals is looking to support projects that enhance the aims of the George Mason Centre and focus on environmental solutions.   The Expert Advisory Panel will be looking to foster connections between projects that lead to thematic research and to expanded funding opportunities for research and application. This is an opportunity to extend and link your research. The GMCNE is looking to foster capacity and capability in finding solutions to environmental problems.   The underlying theme for all proposals should align with supporting a diverse range of research projects to address questions within and across different natural ecosystems that demonstrate a direct impact on issues of environmental restoration, conservation and/or sustainability   Please find more in-depth information in the 2022 guidelines attached.
Grant Value and Duration	A total of $750,000 is available in this round, with that sum in total spread over up to 3 years.   Successful projects will be funded from 1 January 2023 at the earliest and run for the appropriate time period from your chosen start date.
Information/Q&A Session	We will be holding an Information/Q&A Session via Zoom on 23 August 11.00 – 12.00. The format of this session will be a 15 minute presentation from the Director, Simon Thrush followed by questions and answers.   https://auckland.zoom.us/j/95072246463
Submission Deadline	12 Noon, Monday 5 September 2022
Submission Process	The completed application form is submitted to gmcne@auckland.ac.nz. Please put the PI name in the email subject. You will receive a confirmation email upon submission.

 

Pacific Development Conservation Trust (Round one)

The Trust provides grants for a range of conservation, cultural heritage, development and goodwill projects and activities in the Pacific. It supports sustainable development where communities join in and work together with iwi (tribes), hapū (sub-tribe), aiga or whanau (family grouping).

There is no longer an Expression of Interest process when requesting funding from the Trust.

Internal Deadline: 5pm, Monday 12 September 2022. Do not submit your application directly.

Budget: Grants range from $2,000 to $50,000

Portal Registration Process

To log straight into the online grants management system, follow the link below:
Log into the grants management system.

1. If you have not previously registered for access to the portal, you will need to set up a RealMe account. You will be prompted to do this when you log in to the grants and client system for the first time. 
2. If you registered previously but not with your @auckland.ac.nz address, please notify the submissions@auckland.ac.nz so you can be provided with the organisation ID to link your account to the UoA profile.
3. Once you are registered, you will be able to login and select and apply for the ‘Pacific Development Conservation Trust’.

Organisation details for your application:

• Primary Contact: Kate Meere
• Signature 1: Lani McNamara
• Signature 2: Elham Alami-Milani

*For more information about setting up a RealMe account, follow the link below:
Information about RealMe

We recommend that you allow plenty

Submission Process

1. Once your application is complete and ready for a Quality Assurance check, save your application in the portal and notify the submissons@auckland.ac.nz by 5pm, Monday 12 September 2022. Do not submit your application directly.
2. Your FIRST assist you to create a record in the Research Funding Module (RFM), upload a copy of your application and submit for faculty sign off by 5pm, Monday 12 September 2022. Submission to the funder is conditional on approved RFM record in InfoEd. 

Please note: Applications are required to be received on or before the above-mentioned deadline to allow sufficient time for our Quality Assurance (QA) process and any associated rework/revision of the application by the Principal Investigator.

3. Following on from the QA, the Funds Advisor Team will submit the application on your behalf to the Funder before the deadline.

 

MBIE 2023 Te Pūnaha Hihiko: Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund

• 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.

Funding is available through two schemes, each in support of the Fund’s aims: 

• 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

Work programme term for both Connect and Placement schemes is up to 2 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

Key Changes from last year:

• Co- funding is not a requirement for your project. However, if co-funding is provided (by either organisation), please tell us: Co-funding can be in the form of both cash and in-kind contributions. The organisation name, Whether the co-funding is cash or in-kind, The value per year (excluding GST).

Eligibility:

• Be made by a New Zealand based single legal entity that is a Māori organisation, Research organisation or individual researcher.
• Include both a Research organisation or individual researcher and a Māori organisation
• Be for activities that fit one of the two schemes, 
• Not be for activities for the same purpose already funded by any government agency.
• Not include any full-time tertiary or school students.
• Address one or more Vision Mātauranga themes, and not solely address hauora/health.
• Be for activities the majority of which are to be undertaken in New Zealand, unless MBIE considers there are compelling reasons to consider the proposal.
• Not benefit a Russian state institution 
• Be submitted via MBIE’s Investment Management System (IMS) 

Internal Deadline: This year’s investment round opens 17 August 2022 and internal deadline is on Monday 12 noon, 3 October 2022.

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.

Proposal support:

This scheme has been designated as a ‘High Value Bid‘ based on the close strategic alignment with University priorities. Additional proposal development support will be available, in the form of a webinar/Q&A session, assessment panel, and potential bid-writing support. Please register your interest (button above) in this funding scheme for further information. 

MBIE IMS submission portal:

VMCF applications must be submitted via the MBIE IMS Portal

To access the Portal:
Returning applicants – log in using your existing log in details
New applicants – contact the Funds Advisor Team submissions@auckland.ac.nz as soon as possible to create your User Profile, and leave plenty of time to familiarise with the requirements of the portal. 

Submission steps: 

1. Register your intent to apply (button above) to receive templates and updates for this fund  
2. Submit your completed VMCF Proposal for Quality Assurance in the MBIE
   Portal by Monday 12 noon, 3 October 2022.
3. Create a record in the Research Funding Module (RFM) uploading all application documents and submit for faculty sign off by Monday 12 noon, 3 October 2022.

Please note: Applications are required to be received on or before the abovementioned Funds Advisor Team deadline to allow time for our Quality Assurance process and any associated rework/revision of the application by the Principal Investigator. Only Faculty approved applications can be submitted by the Funds Advisor Team to MBIE.

4. Once your application is deemed fit for submission, the Funds Advisor Team
   will submit the application on your behalf in time to meet the Funder’s
   deadline.

Submission to the funder is conditional on approved RFM record in InfoEd

Guidelines and Links

• 2022 VMCF Call for Proposals document 
• Vision Mātauranga policy document 
• MBIE VMCF Investment Plan
• MBIE VMCF Website

 

2023 MBIE Endeavour Support Sessions

If you are thinking of applying for either a MBIE Smart Idea or Research Program this year, please get in touch with your RPC (Franca, Dianne or Kelly) to register your interest.  The round will open in October, however there are a number of support initiatives underway across the Faculty and University, and we can talk you through these.

Details on the central support for MBIE Endeavour Fund 2023 is available on the Research Hub (including recordings of past events).  The upcoming workshops (registration is required to get a ZOOM link):

MBIE Endeavour 2023 Registration (October, date TBC)

Thinking of applying to the MBIE Endeavour fund this year? Not sure if your application should be a Smart Idea or a Programme application? Not clear on what is required in the Registration (due 22 October for Smart Ideas and 30 November for Programmes). Wonder how the Registration affects what you write in your application? And what to do once you have registered to get your Concept (for Smart Ideas) or Application (for Programmes) moving forward? This webinar will give you a steer and help answer your questions.

MBIE Endeavour 2023 Smart Ideas Concepts (October, date TBC)

You’ve submitted your Smart Idea registration document and have just over a month to write your Concept. What is required in all those sections of the document? Where do you start and how do you make it all hang together? This webinar will talk through the sections of the Smart Idea Concept, explain how they relate to one another and identify some of the critical points for writing a good Concept document.

 

NZ – Japan Joint Research Projects: Funding for research exchanges, research activities, and expenses related to hosting meetings in collaboration with Japanese researchers

              Value: Up to $30,000 (excl. GST) per annum for up to two years.

Guidelines and further info can be found here.

Internal Deadline for both funding schemes is: 5pm Tuesday 11 October 2022.

If you are interested, please get in touch with your RPC and we will pass on the details on how to register in the portal.

 

Catalyst Leaders (Round 3, July 2022)

HOPE Meetings are held for excellent graduate students and young researchers selected from countries/areas around the Asia-Pacific and Africa region. These meetings give an opportunity for the participants to engage in interdisciplinary discussions with Nobel Laureates and other distinguished scientists pioneering the frontiers of knowledge.

Grant Value: Supports excellent PhD students and/or young researchers to attend the HOPE meetings with Nobel Laureates for 5 days including flights, accommodation, and meeting registration.

Guidelines and eligibility criteria can be found here.  If you are interested, please get in touch with your RPC and we will pass on the details on how to register in the portal.

Internal Deadline: 5pm Tuesday 11 October 2022

 

Transdisciplinary Ideation Fund 2022 – Call for Proposals and Workshops (Internal Funds)

The purpose of the TIF is to cultivate cross-faculty and transdisciplinary collaborations and generate new projects that respond to the four priority areas identified within Taumata Teitei : sustainability, health and well-being, social justice, and innovating secure knowledge systems.  The fund encourages research staff from across the University to develop cross-faculty research partnerships, aspiring toward high-quality Transdisciplinary Research outputs, research learning initiatives, and successful applications to external research funders.

• Applications must include researchers from at least two Faculties / LSRIs, and evidence the transdisciplinary aspects of the research.
• Application Teams must be a diverse mix of early career researchers, as well as established researchers where possible.
• Applicants must be members of the academic staff, employed by the University of Auckland, and have an employment contract that specifies that they must undertake research.
• Staff members employed on fixed-term or part-time contracts are eligible to apply as a PI provided that:

– the duration remaining of their contract is sufficient to complete the project or initiative;

– their appointment is 0.5 FTE or greater.

Grant Value: Applicants may apply for small grants ($10,000–$20,000) or large grants ($20,000–$60,000)

Internal Deadline: 5pm, 14 November 2022

Enquiries should be directed to ORSI via internalawards@auckland.ac.nz.

Application Form, Guidelines and FAQs can be accessed via the Research Hub at the link:  Transdisciplinary Ideation Fund.  Please get in touch with your RPC if you intend to apply as we can help with the submission process.

Transdisciplinary Ideation Workshops – The University will deliver five 2-hour thematic Transdisciplinary Ideation Workshops on the 8th and 9th September, focused on Taumata Teitei’s four impact priorities: sustainability, health and well-being, social justice, and innovating secure knowledge systems.  These will support staff to apply for a Small Grant ($10,000–$20,000) or Large Grant ($20,000–$60,000) from the Transdisciplinary Ideation Fund. 

The Transdisciplinary Ideation Workshops will gather academic staff from across all Faculties and Large-Scale Research Institutes, attracting a diverse mix of attendees spanning early, mid to senior career researchers.  The workshops are designed to cultivate cross-faculty, transdisciplinary collaborations and generate new project teams that respond to government priorities and major policy issues facing Aotearoa New Zealand. You will be encouraged to delve into problems, uncover innovative solutions, identify research projects and initiate new collaborative working partnerships. Each workshop will be hosted by facilitators who will be multidisciplinary and will include the Associate Deans Research. 

To participate in these workshops and extend your collaborative networks, please register here: Transdisciplinary Ideation Workshops.  It is not a requirement to attend the workshops to submit an application for funding, however, attendance is encouraged as an opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the University.

Applications for the Transdisciplinary Ideation Fund are due by November 14. Funding decisions will be announced in December 2022 for a 1^st March 2023 start with an 18 month funding window. The Transdisciplinary Ideation Fund and Transdisciplinary Ideation Workshops have emerged from a collaboration between the Associate Deans Research, the Office of Research Strategy & Integrity and UniServices.

 

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.

 

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Health, Safety and Wellbeing

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Field trips & First Aid training

There is a requirement to have first aid trained staff on field trips. Finding someone with this qualification is often difficult and can jeopardise the trip proceeding if you can’t fulfil the appropriate first aider to student ratios.  As such we are encouraging staff to get their first aid certificate or renew their existing one.  There a few options available to you

• Attend a Uni Organised full course
• Attend a Uni organised refresher
• Attend an external course- Group Services can organise a PO in advance, or you can claim the expense

• A1 First Aid – First for First Aid Training
• First Aid NZ Courses
• St John New Zealand – Book first aid courses
• Book Course | New Zealand Red Cross

 

Fire Warden training

With staff sickness and working from home the Faculty struggles to find enough staff to fulfil the role of floor warden during an evacuation.  If you able to attend the fire warden training it would be a big help. 

 

Changes in the ENV Tech Team

On September 1^st Natalia is moving to her seconded role in central HSW.  Natalia will be taking over the role of Chemical Safety Advisor for the University and will return to us in September 2023.  We wish her all the best!

Amruta Desai, who has been on site for the last month, will move to a full-time role on September 1st as our Environmental Chemistry Technologist and will look after our chemistry labs.  Amruta has a Master’s in Biotechnology and has worked at Mumbai university as an Associate Professor in the Biotechnology department.  She moved to New Zealand and started working on a dairy farm, where she developed a great understanding of the dairy lifestyle and kiwi culture in New Zealand.  Her journey in the field of Science and Laboratory begins with Ballance Agri Nutrients, Taranaki, where she gained a wealth of knowledge about various areas around the lab, participation in audits, working closing with the operators, Implementation of LIMS- software, approval for the wastewater release as per the Taranaki district council, testing of Factory gases in lockdowns and making PIDs for the engineering team.  She then worked in a Fonterra Cooperative manufacturing plant, Taranaki, performing testing and reports for clients.   She moved to Hamilton last year and worked at Analytica Laboratories as a Data analyst, working and maintaining the GCMS and Shimadzu instruments.  Amruta and her family have recently moved to Auckland and are settling in well.  We are very excited to have her as part of the team.

 

Masks in the labs

Within the School of Environment, as with the Faculty and University at large, we have a responsibility to keep ourselves and others safe in these times when Covid transmission is still a reality.  In this respect, and in line with University guidance for shared indoor spaces, mask-wearing in our laboratories and workshops is expected. It is also expected that masks are worn properly, such that they cover both mouth and nose.  This is all the more important given the likelihood that any one of your fellow students or a member of staff could be immunocompromised. We also have to bear in mind that there may be people who, for specific reasons, cannot wear a mask. Within this context, we cannot expect Lab Managers and Supervisors to police behaviour. I therefore urge mutual respect and (unless there are specific reasons not to be doing so) compliance through mask-wearing in shared research spaces so that we can all feel and be safe.

Mask use on campus – The University of Auckland

Thanks for your patience with this note in response to concerns raised by Lab users.

 

Minutes from the recent Health, Safety, and Wellbeing meeting (22/08/2022):

• No major incidents and two minor incidents

Field Forms

• Revamp of health and safety field forms
• Field Friendly trial under way
• Please keep an eye out on pcubed for changes, including not needing to create a field forms for certain activities, simplification and specification of field forms for certain activities, additional documentation regarding liability and behavior within the field, and soon supervisors will be able to sign off on certain field work projects (more updated to come on this).
• Cultural and Mental health Safety within the field is being reviewed.

First Aid

• First Aid kits within SoE have been restocked
• Finding it hard to get onto a first aid course? More updates to come on this including options for booking a personal course and either processing a purchase order through the school or being reimbursed.

Other

• Test and Tag of outlets around the school and within laboratories has been successful
• New additions to the PG guide will be coming soon to include more helpful information when beginning a Masters or a PhD. If you have ideas of what you would like to see outlined within this document please email Gina (gina.swanney@auckland.ac.nz).

 

Health & Safety Tip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Publications 

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Cohen, D., Rosenman, E. and Baker, T. (2022) Income Share Agreements: Predatory inclusion into a deeply unequal education system. Student Borrower Protection Center, 23 August.

Hewitt, J.E. Lundquist, C.J. Pilditch, C.A., Thrush, S.F., Urlich, S.C. Barriers to coastal planning and policy use of environmental research in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Frontiers in Marine Science, special issue on Contemporary Marine Science, its Utility and Influence on Regulation and Government Policy 9:898109  https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.898109