Issue 98 – Monday 24 April 2023
Contents
HeadsUp
I trust everyone managed a bit of a ‘breather’ over the Easter break as well as perhaps catching up on fieldwork and teaching prep, marking etc. Somehow over the last two days I managed to write a book chapter and now am about to head for the hills for three days before the busy-ness begins again. Small victories and necessary get-aways. We can tire of the exhortations about wellbeing, but the need is real
The absence of students and the quietness of walkways across campus has certainly been very noticeable over the break. And its sobering to recall that next week it will be a year since our School’s May 1st back-into-our-buildings celebration. Time flies when you’re (mostly) having fun.
As we head into the second half of the semester, may there be neither interruptions that keep us from campus nor significant declines in student attendance in lectures.
Staff meeting
We were scheduled to have a staff meeting last week but with a range of absences due to fieldwork, annual leave/school holidays and a professional staff forum, we decided to reschedule this to the end of semester. In keeping with a collectively expressed wish as the last such meeting, this will include a catered lunch. The next meeting will therefore be in 302-140 on Wednesday, 07 Jun, 11am-1 pm.
The irregularity of our all-school meetings is all the more reason to ensure that Discipline Group meetings are well-attended and that this newsletter is read!.
Congratulations!
Big congratulations to Murray Ford, Mark Dickson, Emma Ryan and Megan Tuck on funding success for a quick-to-be formulated project titled “Mapping cyclone-driven erosion of North Island’s east coast beaches”. This was ‘kick-started’ with ENV’s Rangahau contributing some seed funding within days of Gabrielle’s devastating touch-down and led to MBIE encouraging further development as an extension of the National Science Challenge work. This is a great example of both being nimble with a project idea and the way internal funding can set the ball rolling so to speak.
Annual Leave
Please look at what leave you will have accumulated by year’s end and book leave for suitable times later this year. I know I sound like a proverbial squeaky wheel on this ..but at last look, a whole 27 of us have over 100 hours un-booked and a couple of people have significantly higher accumulations that have prompted messaging from HR to me.
Internships
Do you have a project in which a talented student could assist you as well as gain some experience at no cost to you? I’ve been contacted by Bob Alagh bob@internnzoz.com who’s organisation has two 4th year students in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University who are seeking full time, unpaid work for a few months. Please email Bob directly if interested.
Graduation
Autumn graduation comes around again soon (on Thurs 4th May). Congratulations are due in the first instance to completers of degrees and diplomas…but given the challenges of these times, in this forum I would like to congratulate all in our teaching teams who have shown such tenacity and adaptability over the duration of study for those graduating this year.
Robin Kearns, HoS
General Announcements
Ontology lab key
To the person who picked up the Ontology lab key 302-551 and log book from facilities 302 – level 6
Please return ASAP.
Thank you. Lynette Carter |Facilities Coordinator| Faculty of Science
Ethics Applications
The Ethics and Integrity Team invites researchers intending to submit an ethics application to training sessions ( held fortnightly) exploring the process for creating and submitting applications at the University of Auckland.
Training sessions discuss core ethical concepts and policies which should be considered during an application’s creation, as well as provide an in-depth review of the online Infonetica Ethics RM platform used during submission.
Please see the links below for information and to sign up to a session:
https://research-hub-preview.auckland.ac.nz/event/research-ethics-workshop
https://uoa.csod.com/ui/lms-learning-details/app/event/266d7c0e-2db1-4c98-a933-25423d26e847
Training_Sessions_timetable_2023.pdf (ctfassets.net)
Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities
Coastal and Marine Geoscience Seminar Series
Join us for our fortnightly seminars where we hear from researchers about their work in the Coastal and Marine Geosciences.
We will have a mix of students, staff, and visitors to the School of Environment speaking throughout the year.
When: 12 pm, fortnightly on Mondays (beginning on the 24th of April)
Where: Ontology Lab (302.551)
The School of Environment teamed up with DEVORA at the MOTAT STEM fair on Sunday 2 April. It was a busy day, with more than 1000 people through the gates! Thanks to all those who helped out!
The Equity Commitee is sponsoring a special morning tea for staff and PG students on Wednesday 26 April at 10.30am.
So, you are all invited to come along to eat some delicious cakes (gluten-free and vegan options catered for too). The Equity Committee will be to explain the purpose of the Quiet Room and their plans to improve its facilities. Plus, they will update everyone on their forthcoming Equity Committee-sponsored morning teas and other events. And if you don’t know what the Equity Committee does, then come along to find out and ask any questions you have.
The Quiet Room is now available for those PG students seeking a quiet place to study. There are rules for the Quiet Room designed to make it a peaceful place to work for students needing a low-sensory environment. You can find more information here.
Sponsored by the Outreach Committee, the School of Environment is partnering with the Community Engagement Team at Kaituitui Kaupapa Taiao (Auckland Council) to do some community tree planting (they need people to get trees in the ground, we all need oxygen and birds, urban greening, flood resilience, the list goes on!) 🙂
We already have a date and time booked – if you’re keen, get this in your calendars!
Date: Thursday 6th July
Timing: 9:15am – Bus departs UoA campus,
10am to 1pm – On site for a welcome, introduction to place, planting and kai
1:45pm – Arrive back at campus
Please email Emma on el.sharp@auckland.ac.nz if you’re interested in taking part in this (more-than) community building activity. All School participants welcome!
Sign up and join the student association RTEA and the Compass programme
1/ Please do encourage your students to join our student association RTEA. The new roster of officers is planning exciting activities for this year and they welcome support and contribution from fellow students. To encourage students to join just use the QR codes for the Facebook page and a Google form to formally sign up: https://rtea.auckland.ac.nz/
2/ Do encourage your PG students to also join our Compass programme. Larissa and her team of captains have planned regular activities to foster students’ wellbeing throughout the year.
3/ The Student Experience Committee (SEC) offers a small budget to course coordinators who would like to order some kai to share with their class. Reach out to JC should you be interested.
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.
Proposal development support
The Rangahau Committee has a small fund set aside 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.
Undergrad research experience
We are now recruiting undergrads who would like to gain a research experience with a post-grad student in our School (30-40 hours, they get paid $800). The aim is to promote research and increase enrolment in our research programmes. Feel free to make an announcement in your courses and collect nominations. We have 10 places. We are hoping to match students by the end of the month.
If you would like to nominate an undergrad student who could be part of this programme, please email their name and research interest to melanie.kah@auckland.ac.nz
ENV Masters research seminars 6 June 2023 (rm 302-140)
The seminars are an opportunity for students to present their research and for members of our school to give feedback. To help develop a school culture, staff and students are encouraged to attend. The sessions are grouped loosely by topic.
Phil Shane (DGA)
| (6 June) | Chair Nick Richards | |
| 9.00 | Ema | Nersezova |
| 9.15 | Kerensa | Jennings |
| 9.30 | Amy | Barclay |
| 9.45 | Shreya | Gounder |
| 10.00 | Fei | Guo |
| 10.15 | Niamh | Galligan |
| 10.30 | Kaiqi | Li |
| 10.45 | Sophie | Mansell |
| 11.00 | Saima | Sakik |
| 11.15 | Laurence Lorenza | Suarez |
| 11.30 | Georgia | Woodside |
| 11.45 | Samuel | Scott |
| Chair: George Perry | ||
| 1.00 | Olivia | Avery |
| 1.15 | Hannah | Sussex |
| 1.30 | Charlotte | Ko |
| 1.45 | Grace | May |
Funding
| HFSP – Postdoctoral Fellowships | |
| The HFSP fellowship program supports proposals for frontier, potentially transformative research in the life sciences. Applications for high-risk projects are particularly encouraged. The projects should be interdisciplinary in nature and should challenge existing paradigms by using novel approaches and techniques. Scientifically, they should address an important problem or a barrier to progress in the field. HFSP postdoctoral fellowships encourage early career scientists to broaden their research skills by moving into new areas of study. | |
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadlines: |
| Duration: 3 years
Value: For NZ there is a Living Allowance of NZD90,564 for Y1, NZD92.064 for Y2, and NZD93,576 for Y3. There is a Research and Training Allowance to support the project of NZD10,932 per year. |
For the Letter of Intent – 5pm Wednesday, 3 May, 2023 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
· Website Email your title, full name, email address, faculty/department and the funder/scheme to the Funds Advisor Team via submissions@auckland.ac.nz to receive the instructions on how to initiate the letter of intent and the application template for the letter of intent. Please also inform your FIRST team (Franca, Dianne or Kelly). |
|
| Internet Society Foundation – Research Grant Program | |
| This scheme supports global research collaborations that advance understanding of the Internet and its value for all. Statements of interest and subsequent proposals should address topics related to one of the following thematic areas:
1. Greening the internet: The Internet both affects and is affected by the environment and climate change. Having a critical awareness of this impact is key to the Internet’s resilience and ensures its sustainability for generations to come. 2. The Internet Economy 3. A Trustworthy Internet 4. Decolonizing the Internet: We acknowledge that the Internet’s development depended on industrial societies that, by their nature, used resources from lands dispossessed from Indigenous people and communities throughout the world. Research on Decolonizing the Internet should explore practices and other methods toward an Internet for everyone. |
|
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadlines: |
| Duration: 24 Months
Value: Each individual project from the university may be capped at US$500,000(circa NZ$790,000). |
5pm, Monday 22 May 2023 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
· Funding Call · Website To register to apply, please email the following information to the Funds Advisor Team via submissions@auckland.ac.nz: title (e.g. Dr, A/P, Professor), full name, email address, faculty and department. Also inform your FIRST team (Franca, Dianne or Kelly). |
|
| James Cook Research Fellowships | |
| The James Cook Research Fellowships are awarded to researchers who have achieved national and international recognition in their area of scientific research. The fellowships allow them to concentrate on their chosen research for two years without the additional burden of administrative and teaching duties. | |
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadlines: |
| Grant Value: Up to $110,000 (plus GST) per year up to two years.
The Fellowships consist of: − $100,000 (plus GST) contribution toward researcher’s salary; and − $10,000 (plus GST) contribution towards relevant expenses. |
5pm Tuesday 9 May 2023 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
If interested, please also inform your FIRST team (Franca, Dianne or Kelly) |
|
The Kate Edger Educational Charitable Trust has a new award: Women in Science Award in Memory of Sylvia Tredwell of $2000.
“This award in memory of Sylvia Tredwell was made possible by a generous donation from her family, who wish to pay tribute to her determination in pursuing her career despite the barriers she faced, and to support other women to pursue the qualifications and career of their choice. The Award is intended to help support a woman studying towards an undergraduate or postgraduate science degree at a tertiary institute in the Auckland or Northland regions. The funding may be used for fees or living costs.”
Further details are at: https://www.academicdresshire.co.nz/Academic%20Awards/Discipline%20Specific%20and%20Other%20Awards?mv_pc=3238.
| 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: |
|
· 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. |
|
Rangahau – Research
Python for Research Science
The Rangahau/Research Committee has organized “Python for Research Science course”.
Dr. Irene Wallis will be delivering the course, which will run for five consecutives Mondays and it will be divided in two parts:
- Five lectures that include discussion and code-along components
- Five tutorials.
The dates are the following:
1st Monday: 27/March
2nd Monday: 03/April
BREAK-Eastern April 10/April
3rd Monday: 17/April
4th Monday: 24/April
5th Monday: 01/May
There are 5 sessions. Each session starts with a lecture/discussion/code-along (1.5 – 2 hrs) followed by a tutorial during which participants can work on their own data or specific issues they are having. The lecture can be hybrid (in person and with video conference for remote attendees). However, Tutorials will ideally be in-person only because it allows for a more fluid setting focused on the participants’ interest (unless our covid levels change).
The room is booked from 9:00 to 13:00 h. Not every session will take this long, but it allows for flexibility.
It is open to postdoc, staff, and also last-year PhD students.
If you are interested, send me an email and a short motivation letter at joa.paredes.marino@auckland.ac.nz. There are few spots left and they will assigned on a first-come, first-served basis
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
HSW committee meeting minutes
- No major incidents and two minor incidents
- Safety inductions, the faculty is going to roll out the use of Canvas for safety inductions following the model already used by the SoE.
- University is considering deploying GPS tracking/dash cams to further reduce traffic incidents, they are also rolling out driver assessment following the current standard at the school. Victoria University is also adopting this measure.
- Undergrad students can apply for access to research facilities/postgrad labs as long as there is a PI supporting their application, this will be subjected to supervision. Time delays for obtaining access must be considered.
- People requiring vaccinations to undertake research could access PD, or RD accounts. PhD candidates could access PrESS accounts.
- Get First Aid certified, it is a lifesaving skill.
- Test and tag in labs will be undertaken in May/June
Publications
Cornwall, C., Carlot, J., Branson, O., Courtney, T., Harvey, B., Perry, C., Andersson, A., Diaz-Pulido, G., Johnson, M., Kennedy, E., Krieger, E., Mallela, J., McCoy, S., Nugues, M., Quinter, E., Ross, C., Ryan, E., Saderne, V. and Comeau, S. 2023 Crustose coralline algae can contribute more than corals to coral reef carbonate production, Communications Earth and Environment, 4:105. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00766-w