Issue 91 – Monday 5th December 2022
Contents
HeadsUp
‘When it rains, it pours’ is a saying with metaphorical as much as meteorological resonance around the School over the last couple of weeks. Unlike the gloomy weather, the metaphorical downpour of staff and student accolades and achievements is entirely welcome toward the end of a long year.
Lorna Strachan won the prestigious Geoscience Society of NZ Hochstetter Lecturer Award for 2023, which involves a national public speaking tour of the NZ branches of the society. The talk will be entitled: ‘Kaikōura Earthquake – Tales from the seafloor”. A wonderful platform for showcasing Lorna’s recent work.
Andres Arcila-Rivera received a 2022 Professional Staff Excellence award for Sustained Contribution to the Faculty. Well deserved indeed.
Emma Sharp was recently awarded the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence. If there was an award for academic service, Emma could have gotten the Academic Standards Trifecta, having just received the UoA Early Career Research Excellence Award.
Joe Fagan and Monica welcomed their second early-career geographer into the world, with the birth of Luca Forest Fagan on 23 November. The name was met with hearty support from arboreal experts and enthusiasts across the School.
As one arrives, another leaves: we wished Georgia Piggot farewell last Thursday, as she returns to the US. She’ll be missed.
November and December is NZ conference season it seems. I hear the ecologists and geologists have been conferring, and there was a great turn-out of Auckland geographers at the recent NZGS conference in Ōtautahi (see photo). The postgrads stole the show, as usual.
That’s all from me, as I channel my inner Robin during a stint as Acting HoS.
– Tom
General Announcements
Congrats to Andres for receiving a 2022 Professional Staff Excellence award for Sustained Contribution to the Faculty.
The School of Environment has been well represented at the recent New Zealand Coastal Society Conference on Waiheke Island with PhD students Lovleen Acharya-Chowdhury and Charline Dalinghaus the winner and runner-up respectively for ‘Best Student Presentation’, Ben Jones winning the NZCS Student Research Scholarship, and former PhD student Dr. Laura Robichaux winning ‘Best Overall Presentation’. Mark Dickson and Paul Kench gave keynote addresses at the start and end of the conference respectively and several of us managed to pick up covid to round off an otherwise excellent conference.
X-Ray Technologist – Hiring now!
We are seeking an experienced and organised Technologist to operate and maintain the School of Environment X-ray analytical Research Laboratories in our Microcharacterisation Facility.
In this role, you will providing expert input to research project planning, working with academic stakeholders to codevelop experimental designs to best apply the facility’s capability to the research question; Identify opportunities to develop entirely new approaches or bespoke methods to address academic stakeholders research questions, and work independently to develop and test these; provide operational and analytical support for primarily X-ray based equipment and facilities managed by the School of Environment.
Chemistry Technician – new role, hiring now.
https://www.seek.co.nz/job/59398016?type=standout#sol=d33b4740e79ed213da1e5d09aec88e8a4ec18689
This role is responsible for providing technical support for the activities, equipment and infrastructure of chemistry research laboratories housed within the School of Environment. Ensuring the efficient operation and day to day functionality of these spaces, as well as equitable technical support to a wide range of academic staff and postgraduate students primarily from the School of Environment, but also the wider University.
The appointed candidate will be primarily responsible for Provide technical support for activities conducted in this lab which would typically utilise the following equipment: Elemental CNS analyser, MP-AES, TOC/N, UV/VIS Spectrophotometer, Flow Injection Analyser, Ion Chromatograph.
Any questions can also be directed to me.
Regards,
Blair Sowman
Technical Manager | School of Environment
Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities
Final School of Environment Morning Tea and Awarding of the 2022 Equity Awards
We are hosting one final School of Environment morning tea for the year, and there we’ll be celebrating the inaugural School of Environment Equity Awards (thank you everyone for your generous nominations!).
Please join us Wednesday 7th Dec, at 10:30am, in the 6th floor common space to thank our awardees for their energy and time in prioritising equity for people in our School, and wider University community.
Ngā mihi,
Emma (on behalf of the Equity Committee)
Funding
Marsden Insights Q&A panel
This will be an informal ‘question and answer’ session. It is open to anyone interested in submitting a Marsden application in 2023 and is a chance to get advice, answers, and clarification on proposal development and submission, and to hear some recent awardees’ and experts’ experience of the application process.
The panellists are:
- Mohi Rua
- Alex Mowday
- Justin Fernandez
- Chris Larsen
- Steve Matthewman
Date: Tuesday 13th December. 11am – 12noon.
Location: The session will be entirely remote. https://auckland.zoom.us/j/91567500036?pwd=V3A0TDdRaFppL1VVU0hXcmo0enFBQT09 -Passcode: 209428
Marsden-specific Vision Mātauranga advice
This session is to clarify some of the instructions, expectations, and best-practice for approaching Vision Mātauranga specifically for Marsden Fund applications. This is open to applicants and FIRST.
Time: Dec 12, 2022 03:00 PM Auckland, Wellington
Join Zoom Meeting
https://auckland.zoom.us/j/99192655909?pwd=dW1IU3UwQ0ZaSVFBamNPVnpta0RqZz09
Marsden 2023 Writing Support
In advance of the funding call for Marsden EOI’s being released, UniServices are asking for requests for writing support.
The following info will be required:
- Standard/Fast Start/Council
- Project Title or Description (this is to provide the writer with an understanding of what the proposal will be about)
- Level of support required
- Tier A – Bid development, proposal ideation
- Tier B – Editorial review, including restructuring and reworking for clarity and alignment to funder guidelines
- Tier C – General proof reading for typographical, formatting and grammatical errors
Deadline for writing support requests: Thursday, 8th December 2022.
Contact FIRST support to make your request (Dianne, Kelly, Franca)
Ngā Ara Whetū 2023 Doctoral Scholarships
Ngā Ara Whetū is delighted to announce that we have three UoA doctoral stipends to award in 2023. The purpose is to support the mission of our centre, particularly fostering transdisciplinary research. Therefore, the supervisors must be affiliated to Ngā Ara Whetū and come from at least two different Faculties/large scale research institutes. It’s easy to become an affiliate, UoA academics just need to email ngaarawhetu@auckland.ac.nz and you will be added to our list. We invite students to apply for the scholarships by 1 March 2023.
More information, including the application form, can be found on the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships page in the Faculty/LSRI/USC Doctoral Scholarship Strategies and Opportunities section:
If you have any questions, please email ngaarawhetu@auckland.ac.nz.
| Royal Society New Zealand – Marsden Fund | |
| The Marsden Fund invests in excellent, investigator-led research aimed at generating new knowledge, with long-term benefit to New Zealand.
Three types of awards are offered: • Fast-Start: for emerging researchers – to give an impetus to their careers by promoting them as sole Principal Investigators (PI) in their own research programme • Standard: for established and emerging researchers • Council Award: for projects that are interdisciplinary in nature, with larger teams |
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| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadlines: |
All grants are for a maximum of three years and are GST exclusive.
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Due to Funds Advisor Team by 12 noon, Tuesday 7 February 2023.
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| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
If you are interested in applying, please follow instructions in the UoA funding call to register your interest and inform FIRST (Kelly, Dianne, or Franca). |
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| Ministry for the Environment – Plastics Innovation Fund Round 2 – Te Tahua Pūtea mō te Kirihou Auaha | |
| The Plastics Innovation Fund supports projects that will minimise plastic waste and its harm on the environment. They are seeking to fund projects that find ways to use less plastic and make what we do use reusable or recyclable. It should be noted that applicants are required to secure at least 50% co-funding. | |
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadlines: |
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· EOI deadline from 1 November 2022 to 30 June 2023
· The Funds Advisor team will accept EOIs at any time during this period for a QA check provided that you allow at least 7 working days before final submission to the funder. |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
Please register or make contact with FIRST (Kelly, Dianne, Franca) if you wish to make a submission. |
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| Lloyds Register Foundation – World Risk Poll 2021: A Resilient World? Understanding vulnerability in a changing climate | |
| Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF) is inviting proposals for impactful research and interventions that will increase the utility and influence of data generated by the 2021 World Risk Poll, focusing on global perceptions and experiences of disaster preparedness. Possible outcomes for projects may practically apply the Poll findings through the development of new interventions or by strengthening existing ones.
Two-stage submission process: 1. Compulsory registration EOI 2. Full Application |
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| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadlines: |
| · up to a maximum of GBP250,000 (circa NZD 490,000) are available
· Duration: 12- 18 months |
· Registration: EOI – no internal deadline is set, but we recommend applicants complete the brief content requested as early as possible to gain access to the full proposal online, as it can take up to 2 weeks for the funder to grant access.
• Full Application – 5PM, Friday 16 December 2022 |
| Further Important Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info ):
Please register or make contact with FIRST (Kelly, Dianne, Franca) if you wish to make a submission. |
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| 2023 MBIE Endeavour Fund – Research Programmes | |
| The Endeavour Fund supports excellent research with the potential to positively transform New Zealand’s economy, environment and society
Research Programmes are intended to support ambitious, excellent and well-defined research ideas which have credible and high potential to positively transform New Zealand’s future in areas of future value, growth, or critical need |
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| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadlines: |
| · Value: $0.5 million or more per year
· Duration: 3, 4 or 5 years |
· Registration: 12 noon, Friday 25 November 2022
· Full proposal: 12 noon, Monday 20 February 2023 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
Please register with FIRST (Kelly, Dianne, Franca) if you wish to make a submission. |
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| Toka Tū Ake EQC University Research Programme (URP 2024-26) | |
Since the 1990s, Toka Tū Ake EQC has provided funding to tertiary institutions across New Zealand. This funding has helped to support research capability in natural disaster risk reduction. From 2020, Toka Tū Ake EQC funding introduced a three-year University Research Programme for tertiary institutions focused on:
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| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadlines: |
| · Projects can be up to a maximum duration of 36 months
· The award is up to NZD150,000/annum |
· EOI Deadline: 5pm Wednesday 2 November 2022.
· Full Proposal Deadline: Wednesday 22 March 2023 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
Please register with FIRST (Kelly, Dianne, Franca) if you wish to make a submission. |
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Rangahau – Research
FoS Vision Mātauranga Hui
As part of the Vision Mātauranga support for researchers within Te Whare Pūtaiao Faculty of Science, the Māori advisors’ team will be running a two hour Vision Mātauranga Hui on Tuesday 24 January 2023 from 2:00 – 4:00pm (Building 119-130).
So we have an idea of the numbers attending, could you please complete the registration form.
In advance of the session, please see the Rresponsiveness to Māori tool to map out your proposal ideas and how they connect with Māori aspirations, build Māori capability and capacity, and look at how you can ensure your research is reaching Māori communities. Although we will not be focused on this document, it may help you as you look to see how your research can be responsive to Māori, and you are welcome to bring it with you to the session
DRDF Call for proposals
We are opening the call for DRDF proposals (former PBRF) early this year to allow as many people to apply as possible.
The guidelines are available here and the application form, here.
In addition to the usual activities, we are keen to see applications from groups with shared research interests and who would like to support engagement activities within our school, throughout the year and involving PG research students (seminar series, reading/writing groups, retreat, workshops etc.)
Please email the form (or your questions) to melanie.kah@auckland.ac.nz by 15th February 2023.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee
You can find the agenda for the 7th of December meeting here. Also find the latest E-Update here
Health & Safety Tip
Publications
Janki Patel, Martin Brook, Melanie Kah and Ayrton Hamilton. Global geological occurrence and character of the carcinogenic zeolite mineral, erionite: A review. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2022.1066565
McGuirk, P., Sisson, A., Baker, T., Dowling, R. and Maalsen, S. (2022) Beyond roads, rates and rubbish: innovating city governance around the world. The Policymaker.
Fernandez, D., Bowen, M., & Sutton, P. (2022). South Pacific Ocean dynamics redistribute ocean heat content and modulate heat exchange with the atmosphere. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2022GL100965. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL100965
Bruce Hayward’s latest book “Mountains, volcanoes, caves and karst – origins of Aotearoa New Zealand’s natural wonders has just been released by Auckland University Press, just in time for Christmas.