Issue 112 – Monday 6 November 2023
Contents
HeadsUp
Last week at the Pacific Postgraduate Students Colloquium we were treated to the rich tapestries of three of our postgrad students’ lives. Crystal Fa’asolo, Tyler Flanagan and Talia Mather offered fascinating and inspiring narratives of how they ended up doing what they are doing as part of our School. Their childhood roots were significant. That resonated with me. Moments in my early story made me a geographer even though success at school proved somewhat elusive at times.
This occasion at the Fale was a reminder of the importance of the stories we all bring to our lives as academics: the influences, the doubts, the supportive family members, and the chance encounters that help us turn a corner. Perhaps we need to hear more of each other’s stories.
As fully-fledged academics, the ‘ordinary’ times of teaching get punctuated by moments that can be story-changing. So although exam-marking is still in full swing (thanks all!) and the full gear-shift into fieldwork and conferencing then annual leave hasn’t happened yet, some pretty interesting outward engagement is already underway. Two examples I know of this week are: Karen Fisher is off to speak at an APEC forum in San Francisco; and Paul Augustinus and Jon Tunnicliffe are heading to do field work in Antarctica. Safe travels everyone.
Meantime, big congratulations to Emma Sharp for her 5-year Rutherford Discovery Fellowship (wow!); and James Muirhead who, as a PI, gained a prestigious Marsden Fund grant (and Melanie K who was a successful AI). Well done! These are all hard-won and story-changing achievements.
Looking ahead to next year, as we can begin to do, how do we collectively want our story to differ in 2024? At last week’s staff meeting I posed the question “What one thing would you like to see done differently in 2024”?. Each table offered an interesting thought for us to ponder:
- A cake roster for Wednesday morning teas
- Decongest November from too many school-wide events
- Improve communications between Academic and Professional Staff.
- Re-think the format and timing or postgrad presentations (to maximise staff attendance)
- Optimise our Outreach Strategy
- Develop media-savvy capabilities across the School
- Encourage a School ‘anchor day’ when most meetings and a morning tea are scheduled
- Simply procedural processes.
We will reflect on these suggestions at the next Steering Group meeting but for now, if you have any follow-up thoughts please be in touch.
Meanwhile, if you have creative ideas, here’s a great opportunity from Ngā Ara Whetū (Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society): Reimagining Our World | Public Interest Media (thebigq.org)
And, for an inspiring bit of media-savviness (see # 6 above), here’s a great clip from one of our PhD students and PTFs, Salene Schloffel-Armstrong last week: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2018913415/exploring-public-libraries-through-a-geographical-lens
Every opportunity is a great opportunity. As a mentor repeatedly said to me many years ago when I had no grey hair, “say yes and worry about it later. Maybe is just a ‘no’ in disguise”.
Robin Kearns, Head of School
General Announcements
Purchasing End of Year Deadlines
| Funds Expiring End of 2023 |
| Purchase Order request deadline | Friday, 1 December 2023 |
| Expenses that need to be paid by University Credit Card | Friday, 1 December 2023 |
A big congratulations to PhD student Wendy Fan
Who was awarded the NZ Branch Clean Air Society Australia and New Zealand STUDENT AIR AND ENVIRONMENT AWARD for her oral presentation ‘Revealing hazardous mineral fibres in the ambient air: Understanding the nature of exposure’. She won a $100 restaurant voucher and has now been put forward for the $1,000 overall top CASANZ student prize across Australia and New Zealand.
Requests for software purchase or renewal in 2024
We are now seeking requests for software purchase or renewal in 2024. If there are software titles that you require for teaching or research purposes, please let us know using this form.
Please submit all titles that will require a contribution from the School’s software budget next year – regardless of whether they are new, existing or upgrades. If we do not receive a request for a particular title, we will assume that it is no longer required and reallocate the budget accordingly. Any questions please contact Blair Sowman.
Casual work available
We are currently seeking a few dedicated individuals to join our ENV Tech team on a casual basis. We have two openings available:
- Position 1 – Approximately four to six weeks of work, totalling 150-200 hours.
- Position 2 – Approximately three weeks of work, totalling around 100 hours.
Both roles will involve some tasks within our ENV labs, and we will provide comprehensive training.
If you are interested please don’t hesitate to reach out by sending an email or popping into my office (302.415) expressing your interest.
Blair Sowman
Technical Manager | School of Environment
Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities
Kia ora Colleagues
If you are feeling a bit ‘end-of-semesterish’ and need a short pause in your day, may I recommend a trip to the Art Gallery to see the ‘Threads of time: Travel, Trade & Textiles’ exhibition. (https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/whats-on/exhibition/threads-of-time)
There are three panel paintings on show which I was asked to assess for dendrochronological dating:
- Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) Portrait of a Lady with a dog. (unfortunately not suitable for dendro)
- Roelandts Savery (1576-1639) Noah’s Ark (measured the oak rings on the panel but could not date them)
- Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1564-1638) A Village Fair (successfully dated the oak panels, helping confirm provenance).
A Village Fair is a magnificent painting which conservator Genevieve Silvester has spent three years restoring. The dendro work was completed as part of her research into the painting. There is a nice display about her work in the Melville Display Case, and at some point a short film will be on show too.
Gretel
ENV Equity Awards Event (Wednesday, 8th November, 10:30am-11:30am, Level 6 Science Kitchen)
Kia ora koutou,
This Wednesday, we will be holding the ENV Equity Awards for 2023, at the level 6 Science Kitchen, from 10:30am-11:30am on Wednesday, 8th November.
All are welcome to attend, to help us congratulate the equity efforts of those within the school.
The awards to be given are:
- Equity Award for Teaching
- Equity Award for Research
- Equity Award for Service
- Equity Award in the School of Environment
If you are wanting to nominate someone for the Equity Awards, please fill in this form here (it should only take 1-2 minutes): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehpNHurTxVkxyyZQifEwfYUuWM41w182WpzOR3Rk98SjrOjw/viewform?usp=sf_link
Time for nominations have been extended, and will close at the end of Tuesday, 7th November.
All staff and students are welcome to nominate anybody within the school across these areas.
Some light nibbles will be provided 🙂
Have a lovely week in the meantime!
Ngā mihi nui,
Martin (on behalf of the ENV Equity Committee)
ENV Equity Games Morning Tea (Wednesday, 22nd November, 10:30am-11:30am, Level 6 Science Kitchen)
Kia ora koutou,
Are you feeling a bit hungry? Do you need a snack? And do you want to play some games, learn in the process, all while satiating your hunger?
If the answer is yes, then come along to the ENV Equity Games Morning Tea on Wednesday, 22nd November from 10:30am-11:30am at the level 6 Science Kitchen.
We will have a wide range of different Māori and Pasifika games (cards, puzzles, memory games, and more) for you to play with your friends and colleagues as you nibble on some food.
We hope to see you there if you can make it 🙂
Ngā mihi nui,
Martin (on behalf of the ENV Equity Committee)
Kia ora koutou, we are Scientific, a student-run and student-published magazine.
Volume 3 Edition 5 is open for submissions, and our end-of-year edition is perfect for those who’ve wanted to write but have been busy during the academic year. We are reachable anywhere you can think of (email or slide into our DMs on socials to ask us questions), we can’t wait to hear from you! Submissions are due December 10. Submit your abstract here: https://forms.gle/HQyDxsx9ZdsDi2ry8
R J Mowat Memorial Award in Earth Sciences
A $2,000 Award to support a Part IV BAdvSci(Hons), or BSc(Hons) or MSc student enrolled full-time in the School of Environment.
Application status: Apply now see R J Mowat Memorial Award in Earth Sciences – The University of Auckland
Applicable study: MSc or BSc (Hons) research in Earth Sciences or Part IV of BAdvSci(Hons) in Geology
Closing date: 30 November 2023
Tenure: One year
Value: $2,000
FUNDS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH HAPORI MAORI
School of Environment has a small budget for enabling engagement with Maori, particularly through koha or contributions that may be needed to initiate research relationships. In disbursing that putea, priority is given to academic staff working on behalf of groups of staff or students, pre/consultation activities for ethics approval and collaborations that are not readily funded through other mechanisms. As it is desirable to utilise the budget before the end of the academic year, however, all well-reasoned proposals will be considered. If interested, email a brief, one paragraph description of a proposed activity and a budget for how funds will be utilised to Brad (b.coombes@auckland.ac.nz). Although there are no prescribed maxima or minima for these grants, the limited scope of the overall budget will likely preclude grants in excess of $1000. Applicants should also be mindful of UoA guidelines or policies for gifting and koha.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR DOCTORAL CANDIDATES
Wondering what happens once you’ve finished your doctorate? Join a tailored programme of six 50-minute workshops to support all doctoral candidates in career management, hosted by CDES. The focus of the series is understanding and developing your unique career identity, and then honing and practising employability skills so you can confidently articulate your value. Workshops 1-5 will be offered twice each week, over the lunch break (either 12.00-1.00pm or 1.00-2.00pm). Attend the whole series or ‘pick and mix’ depending on what you need. Please register using the links below.
Post Graduate Wellbeing ….. where to go
If you are currently coordinating a PG course, could you please post the inforgraphic slide to your Canvas course page so students will know the resources that are available throughout the University.
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 katarzyna.sila-nowicka@auckalnd.ac.nz .
Rangahau – Research
Funding for Research Retreats
The Rangahau Committee has a small amount of funding set aside to sponsor Research retreats (e.g grant writing workshops, paper writing). This can be up to 2k per team, with a minimum 2 SoE participants.
If you have an idea that you would like considered, please submit a short paragraph explaining the intention and benefits of the retreat to katarzyna.sila-nowicka@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.
Funding
Funding Calls
| Near-miss funding round 2023 | |
| This fund aims to provide support to PIs, for applications from the University of Auckland, Faculty of Science for major grants (≥ $100,000), who successfully progressed to the second stage of a major external funding round but missed out at the final stage. The faculty envisage being able to fund up to 10 applications in the 2023 round (note: targeted funders are MBIE, HRC and Marsden) | |
| Value/Duration: | Deadline: |
| Grants up to $10,000 for research activity | Applications are due by 5pm, Tuesday 21st November 2023 |
| Further Information:
· Full details including guidelines and the application form are available on the research page of the staff intranet If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST (Kelly, Alex or Sophie) |
|
| Spencer Foundation: Small Research Grants on Education | |
| This fund is intended to support education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education. The research concept is “field-initiated” with the grant designed to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. | |
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline |
| · Value: up to USD50,000 (circa NZD82,000
· Duration: up to a maximum duration of 60 months |
· Full Proposal: 5pm, Monday, 27 November 2023. |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines website):
· Website If you are interested, please notify your FIRST (research support) of your intent to apply for this scheme to receive important information and updates in relation to this fund. |
|
Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships
The first details of the new Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships, developed as part of the Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways reform have been released. These new schemes replace the Rutherford Discovery, Rutherford Foundation and James Cook Fellowships, which will no longer be offered from 2024.
These fellowships will support early, mid, and senior researchers. For further details, please see MBIE’s web page which details eligibility, duration and value.
Funding calls will be publicised via P-cubed once they become available so please keep an eye on this space.
| MBIE 2024 Endeavour Fund (Smart Ideas) | |
| This fund aims to catalyse and rapidly tests promising, innovative research ideas with high potential for benefit to New Zealand, to refresh and enable diversity in the science portfolio.
For the 2024 investment round, the Science Board will aim to fund at least 49 Smart Ideas proposals. |
|
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline: |
| · Total funding pool: $18 million
· Value: $0.4 – $1 million over the term of the contract · Duration: 2 or 3 years |
· Registration: 12noon, Monday, 6 November 2023
· Concept Proposal: 12noon, Monday, 13 November 2023 · Full Proposal: TBD (selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal) |
| Pītau (MBIE’s New Portal) Launch
The 2024 Endeavour Fund round will be run through Pītau, which is replacing IMS. Invite codes for Pītau will be sent out to current users in IMS, during the week starting 6 November, using the email address attached to their IMS account. If you do not currently have an IMS account but, will be applying for the 2024 Endeavour Fund round, please contact the UniServices Funds Advisor Team at (submissions@auckland.ac.nz) or the research support team to get an account created in advance. |
|
| Further Information:
· Website If you are interested, please notify your FIRST (Kelly, Alex or Sophie) of your intent to apply for this scheme to receive important information and updates in relation to this fund. |
|
| MBIE 2024 Endeavour Fund (Research Programmes) | |
| This fund aims 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.
For the 2024 investment round, the Science Board will aim to fund at least 19 Research Programmes proposals. |
|
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline |
| · Total funding pool: $39 million
· Value: $0.5 million or more per year · Duration: 3, 4 or 5 years |
· Registration: 12noon, Monday, 27 November 2023
· Full Proposal: 12 noon, Monday, 26 February 2024 |
| Pītau (MBIE’s New Portal) Launch
The 2024 Endeavour Fund round will be run through Pītau, which is replacing IMS. Invite codes for Pītau will be sent out to current users in IMS, during the week starting 6 November, using the email address attached to their IMS account. If you do not currently have an IMS account but, will be applying for the 2024 Endeavour Fund round, please contact the UniServices Funds Advisor Team at (submissions@auckland.ac.nz) or the research support team to get an account created in advance. |
|
| Further Information:
· Website If you are interested, please notify your FIRST (Kelly, Alex or Sophie) of your intent to apply for this scheme to receive important information and updates in relation to this fund. |
|
| Seelye Fellowships 2024 | |
| This fund aims to attract eminent scholars to Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland to share their knowledge with a wide academic audience and the public. It provides for visiting fellowships in any Faculty or Large-Scale Research Institute of the University of Auckland. Visiting Seelye Fellowships may be awarded to outstanding academics and other leading authorities who:
· are eminent scholars in their chosen field · will use the grant to share their knowledge |
|
| Value/Duration: | Deadline: |
| · Value: Up to $10,000 to $20,000 for each award.
· Duration: Within the 12 months grant period (1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 |
· Applications open: 1 November 2023
· Deadline for applications: 30 November 2023 |
| Further Information:
· Form, Guidelines and FAQs can be accessed via the Research Hub · For enquires, please email: sharissa.naidoo@auckland.ac.nz, Donor Relations & Stewardship Senior Adviser. If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST (Kelly, Alex or Sophie) |
|
| Open Access Support Fund | |
| This fund aims to support the payment of Open Access fees for researchers publishing high-impact research. This fund is intended to support the following priority cohorts to be published openly and immediately in high-impact journals:
· Postgraduates · PhD candidates · Early career researchers (ECRs) · Indigenous researchers · Transdisciplinary researchers |
|
| Value/Duration: | Deadlines: |
| The Faculty of Science Research Committee has $125K to distribute in 2023 as part of this fund | This funding is available Q3-Q4 2023 |
| · Details on eligibility criteria can be found on the Research Hub and the Faculty of Science. Research intranet.
· To apply please complete the following open access fund Application Form. Please contact the FIRST team (Kelly or Alex or Sophie) for more information on how to apply for this funding. |
|
Announcements
| MBIE Endeavour Support Sessions 2024 | ||
| Support for the 2024 MBIE Endeavour round is currently underway.
· MBIE Expert Panel Sessions (Second Round): are an opportunity for applicants applying to MBIE Endeavour Research Programmes to informally test their project ideas against the key requirements of the grant, with a panel of experts to guide their thinking.
|
| Horizon Europe Proposal Writing Workshop |
| This event will include updates on Horizon Europe, a workshop on writing successful Horizon Europe proposals, and a discussion with our National Contact Points for each of the thematic Clusters. We will finish with a networking session for those attending in person. |
| Key Information:
· Date: Thursday, 9th of November · Time: 12:30pm – 6:30pm · Location: Sir Paul Reeves Building, City Campus, AUT (Level 4, WG Building, 2 Governor Fitzroy Place, Auckland 1010) and online via Zoom For further information, please refer to the attachment Registration is essential, please register via https://mbie.wufoo.com/forms/horizon-europe/ |
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
There are a series of short surveys taking place to put together couple of tools we think will make easier to draw the logistics of activities in Labs and in the Field. We will report as soon as we can. We need higher participation than the current one and Thank you to the people who participated in the quick internal survey.
Afterhours access to labs has been finalised and it will soon be found under technical services here in P-cubed.
Field activities are in the process of review in terms of check-ins, we will keep you updated.
We recommend the following training from OD:
- First Aid Certificate
- Risk Assessment
Send an email to a.arcila@auckland.ac.nz if you are interested and need help booking.
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