Issue 113 – Monday 20 November 2023
Contents
HeadsUp
After busy weeks of having heads-down, I hope everyone is beginning to see a period of ‘heads-up’ on the horizon. It’s the season of last-of-the-year meetings and end of year gatherings, and I especially look forward to seeing many if not most of you at our ENV end of year party at the bowling club this Thursday. Hidden talents are about to be revealed perhaps?
The Research Awards hui last Thursday was a particular pleasure to attend and thanks to the organisers. Some engaging presentations by our talented postgrads were interspersed among the various awards. While scholarly success (as well as excellent teaching) is what the reputation of a School stands on, citizenship is the glue that holds a diverse enterprise together. It takes goodwill, ‘rolled-up sleeves’ and good humour. It was therefore pleasing to not only see the Hiroki Ogawa Citizenship Award presented to Martin Joe, but also to hear Joe Fagan keep Hiroki’s memory alive with humorous tales of a full-of-life super-generous personality lost too soon a decade ago.
And while celebrating research at home, one of team was on the world stage, speaking from her platform of experience and expertise. Karen Fisher had been invited to the APEC University Leaders Forum which drew over 130 university presidents, researchers, and politicians from APEC’s 21 member countries to San Francisco last week. Karen was quoted in a write-up on Fox news (!) in an article on climate change. Maybe the times are actually a-changin’ as Dylan sang. And, if so, just in time too. As another speaker is quoted as saying “science moves fast and governments move slow”. The key thing is that times can’t change for the good if we keep our science, whatever it looks like, to ourselves and within our own circles. Let’s us never feel whakama about agreeing to giving voice to what we know and to what we know the world needs to know. It may at times feel like mission impossible, but it needs to be part of our mission given that the Education Act, underlying our employment, requires us to be ‘critics and conscience of society’.
Have a good fortnight. And if any information needs to be in Env-circles, the next issue of p-cubed will be the last of the year, so do please submit material for circulation …before we’re all in dispersed circulation for the summer break (with lots of annual leave booked of course 😊)
Robin Kearns, Head of School
General Announcements
From the NZCS;
Recording of Igor’s Celebration of Life
The Zoom broadcast was recorded for those unable to be with us on Friday (or if you would like to watch it again). The video is now published online at https://cartography.org.nz/igordrecki. We will leave the submission form open for continued sharing of memories, stories, condolences, and other thoughts. These will be forwarded to Igor and Iwona’s daughters and published on the upcoming memorial webpage.
Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities
Greetings from Event KO15-2324, Scott Base, Antarctica 18/11/2023. Augustinus, Tunnicliffe & Rand
After many flight scheduling changes (aka cancellations) we unexpectedly managed to catch a ride on an Italian Airforce C-130 (Hercules) from Christchurch to Williams “Field” (WF) McMurdo Sound (irony, it is an ice runway) – flight funded by the NSF Office for Polar Programs (OPP). We had been led to believe that we would have a “hot” landing at WF, offload people and cargo, load our Antarctica New Zealand event KO15-2324 gear in storage at Scott Base (SB), then we hop back on the Hercules which would then fly us up to the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS), land on the sea-ice infront of MZS, offload us and our gear and then fly onto Christchurch. Despite the complexity, it was an elegant solution to how we would get to MZS and thence to our Helliwell Hills field area (71°55′S 161°30′E). The plan had the approval and support of the Italian and NZ authorities by was evidently not run past the higher-level managers at OPP who promptly “canned” it. Consequently, we are in SB for a few days waiting for an NSF-OPP Basler (MD DC3) aircraft which will then take the our event gear and personal up to MZS whence we will then transfer to an Italian Antarctic Program funded Basler to get to our field site….nothing can go wrong with that plan.
Our day 1 has been spend doing the necessary inductions/meetings, finding our gear, starting the compulsory field training process and working out how to get onto the Starlink mediated SB wifi. Today is also Polar Pride Day and we had the ceremonial lowering of the NZ flag and raising of the Rainbow flag. Paddy Gower is down here as a media (aka publicity) guest of Antarctica NZ, is doing a presentation for us in the bar tomorrow nite (Paddy has….?). Our full field training starts Monday and hopefully we fly to MZS on Wednesday…it might just work.
We will try to send updates from the field if our Starlink satellite wifi works as it should.
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):
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. |
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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.
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Health, Safety and Wellbeing
There have been few developments to report in the way we do things in the School and the Health and Safety Committee.
- As we mentioned during the School meeting some changes are underway to Check-ins for fieldtrips
Defining Check-In Requirements
Our goal is to establish clear criteria for when a check-in is necessary. Per policy, check-ins are required in high-risk situations, i.e. trips near water, trips involving only one or two individuals, or when there is a lack of communication. In pursuit of this clarity, we also plan to seek additional guidance from the central Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) team.
Check-In Personnel List
We will be assembling and maintaining a list of staff who will be available to serve as check-in persons. This list will be regularly updated, and each person may be assigned a yet-to-be decided maximum number of trips per year. Any staff member currently teaching or researching in field situations will be added to the list and may be asked to act as a check-in person when necessary, with an opt out by request via communication with the Head of School. In addition, Principal Investigators (PIs) or supervisors should take on the role of check-in person for their students if they themselves are not on the trip. Similarly, course coordinators or directors are expected to fulfil this role for teaching trips if not on the trip themselves.
Centralized Field Plans
To enhance accessibility and emergency response, all field plans will be centrally stored on a platform (Teams). This repository will be accessible to all ENV Senior Leaders who may require it during emergency situations. Furthermore, we recognize the need for improved storage of Field Activity Plans (FAPs) and are considering interim solutions before transitioning to more advanced field planning software.
Failure to Check-In
We will initiate an incident report if an individual fails to complete their check-in.
No Field Trips on Public Holidays
We will not schedule field trips on public holidays if possible to ensure the convenience of all involved parties.
- The technical manager has secured funding and for a long overdue overhaul of the vehicle booking system. This will finally reduce the need to submit lengthy field activity plans for no field work related activities. Thanks to the faculty for making these funds available.
- Remember we are here to help if you are interested in a First Aid Course.
- The silly season is approaching and with that increased chance to consume alcohol, a reminder to take this into account when planning your time. Working in labs and driving University vehicles cannot be undertaken under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, remember to check your medicine labels for warnings against operating vehicles and machinery.
- Reporting of incidents in Damstra must be done before 24 hours after happening, it is very important for claims with ACC to have this done immediately.
- The School after hours access to labs and research spaces has been reviewed and it is now live
Publications | Articles
Xie, D., Schwarz, C., Kleinhans, M.G., Bryan, K.R., Hunt, S., Coco, G., Van Maanen, B., 2023. Mangrove removal exacerbates estuarine infilling through landscape-scale bio-morphodynamic feedback. Nature Communications 14, 7310. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42733-1
Gomez-de la Pena, E., Coco, G., Whittaker, C. and Montano, J., 2023. On the use of Convolutional Deep Learning to predict shoreline change. Earth Surface Dynamics, 11, 1145–1160, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1145-2023