Issue 130 – Monday 2 September 2024
Contents
HeadsUp
Two Saturdays ago I witnessed a number of ‘under-sung’ heroes of our School in action. Over the course of a very full day of thousands of visitors to campus, I observed those who staffed Environment’s stand at Open Day engaging with prospective students and their parents with focus, enthusiasm and conviviality.
In the first instance I want to thank the ‘white shirt brigade’ – Joe, Nick, Anthony and Salene. They were such passionate promoters of all we have to offer, with Nick and Anthony giving wonderfully wide-ranging and unscripted talks to full lecture theatres.
Second, I want to thank all the student helpers: Inka Pleiss, Aven Zhuang, Adele Gao, Aimee Harsant, Martin Joe, Tyler Flanagan, Madalen Guibert-Soehadi, Dhvani Mistry, Samantha Street, Jock McCallum, Nargiss Taleb, Tejas Lamb, Maike Gatzlaff, Jacon Ingold and Said Al Sulaimi. As a parent of a prospective student remarked to me that day, our student ambassadors were welcoming, motivated and knowledgeable.
Third, I want to acknowledge those who contributed behind the scenes as well as Professional Staff who directed traffic. Here I’m at serious risk of not mentioning key contributors, so forgive me if you are not named. But I need to acknowledge Tom Dowling who assisted with organising the thermal imagery activity, Emma Sharp who organised the Soil Safe activity and Brendan Hall who offered all-round technical support.
Lastly I want to offer gratitude to Thomas Mules who came up with a genius idea. As a clue, it reminded me of the Paul Kelly song ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’. This celebrates the Gurindji people’s claim to their traditional lands which sparked the Indigenous land rights movement in Australia. I’m referring to the idea of having give-away packets of wildflower seeds, stamped with our School name. They went like proverbial hotcakes, and no wonder with Spring planting upon us. Significantly perhaps I offered the last packet to my colleague Allen Rodrigo, Head of Biological Sciences, who was particularly impressed with our marketing effort. Apparently a large bag of seed is currently being decanted into more tiny packets for the next outreach event and Thomas and Rachael of the Outreach Committee are looking for helpers for the production line.
Why am I so impressed over and above the eye-catching videos and hand-on displays on the day? I’m impressed because the idea is novel, it speaks to the environments that concern us, it’s something that brings beauty to the world, it’s 100% sustainable and biodegradable, it’s thought provoking, and it offers a follow-up to the day’s events (watching plants grow).
Most importantly, this initiative mimics the essence of events like Open Day. Little things, as in Kelly’s song, can activate. Small conversations can mobilise into high school students choosing us over tertiary education opportunities elsewhere. Big things can grow from the affirmative smiles and encouraging words of our representatives. And, at a metaphorical level, who knows what enrolments in our new stage one courses this collective effort sowing of seeds of possibility might bring. That is why all those who engaged with Open Day effort are heroes in my view.
Robin Kearns, Head of School
Announcements
ENV Technical Services Survey 2024
The School Technical Team is again running our annual survey of experiences working in the our laboratories. This year we’ve expanded the survey to include a section on fieldwork.
Invitations will be sent this week to postgraduate students and academic staff. Please check your email for further instructions on how to complete the survey.
International recruitment of PhD students
The Faculty is encouraging a more coordinated approach to international recruitment of PhD students, particularly through externally-funded doctoral scholarships offered by countries like China, Indonesia, and various Latin American nations. These scholarships provide at least 130 opportunities each year for students to study at the University of Auckland (UoA). However, the Faculty of Science is often underrepresented in these scholarship schemes.
To increase the success rate in securing scholarships, the Faculty is advising research groups to collaborate and propose broad research themes. These themes will be made available to potential students, making it easier for international recruitment teams to promote them effectively. If you are part of a research group and have ideas for a research theme, you are encouraged to share them with Sila and Larry. They can assist in creating a summary that will support UoA’s international recruitment efforts.
We will be mentioning it during the all-staff meeting and then asking individual groups for contributions.
Outreach
Outreach opportunities for staff and students:
Highlighting your research
Have you recently published an article in an academic journal or done an interview/ written something for mainstream media? Could we give it a little mention on our School of Environment socials? See some recent examples here from Salene and Melissa. It’s not arduous (just ask them) 🙂 Please send your news to Emma el.sharp@auckland.ac.nz so we can share it more widely! We’ll edit them a bit more, but if you could also send a useful image (of yourself/ the thing being studied) and complete the following prompts that would be helpful:
[Researcher name/s] from the School of Environment investigated [the problem] and found [this finding]. This helps us know [what?] and is relevant to [recent event/ issue/context]. Read more here: [link]
Graduates out in the world
If you have completed students who you are in contact with who have moved onto new pursuits and they’d like to do a ’10 minutes with [name]’ written interview that we might post on social media to show what our graduates get up to, then put them in touch with Emma el.sharp@auckland.ac.nz
Seminars at Auckland Rotary Clubs
The Rotary Clubs of Auckland have expressed a strong interest in organizing seminars in collaboration with our department. They are eager to engage with our academic staff and would welcome your expertise. We will be compiling a list of topics to pass on to the presidents of the clubs. This is a great opportunity to share your research, connect with the community, and contribute to public discourse on important issues. Please email Giovanni (g.coco@auckland.ac.nz) if you would like to be involved.
Earthfest
GSNZ is planning Earthfest – a national Earth and Space Science Hui in Dunedin on November 23 and 24 (weekend prior to the GSNZ conference). It’s for high school teachers and university geoscientists to get together, develop relationships, and workshop getting more students into geoscience. Mila Adams and Giovanni Coco will be attending and it would be great to have others there too. Sponsorship from Industry and NZGeolS.
Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities
Coastal and Marine Geoscience Group Meeting/Seminar
The next Coastal-Marine Geoscience Group seminar will be held on Wednesday 11th September at 12:00 to 1:00 pm in the Ontology Lab (302-551).
News will be shared and a talk given from Anne-Fleur van Leeuwen – “Kaipara Moana Blues: uncovering the mysteries of eth estuary’s muddy water”
and Edouard Basquin – “Understanding the impact of changing sea level on estuarine morpho-dynamics using an equilibrium model’
All welcome to attend – please email Megan Tuck at megan.tuck@auckland.ac.nz if you wish to attend and don’t have the calendar invite already.
Collecting and managing research data for SoE researchers
Centre for eResearch and Rangahau are inviting you (staff and MSc/PhD students) to participate in a very interesting and relevant seminar.
Join us for an overview and for an opportunity to ask about:
- University policies impacting research data management
- Best practises for managing data, including Data Management Planning for sensitive data
- Selecting appropriate and approved data collection and transcription tools and storage options
- Finding guidance, services, and support from across the University
- Summary of compute services available to researchers
Date: Wednesday 25th of September 12-1pm – 302-G20
Workshop – Writing for non-academic audiences: October 1, 10am-12pm, Ontology Lab
How can we better highlight the range of interesting and societally relevant research that we conduct at the School of Environment? Please join our team of panellists as we discuss strategies for how you can get your research into the public eye, and hear recent experiences from our staff publishing in non-academic publications (e.g., The Conversation).
Where and When? October 1, 10am-12pm in the Ontology Lab 302-551
Seminar by Visiting Researcher Dr Holly East
Please join us to hear Holly talk about her research activities on the topic “Can Seagrass Save the Maldives?”
When: 9 September 12 – 1 pm in the Ontology Lab
RSVP to Emma Ryan if you plan to come along
UoA Scientific Review: 2025 Executive Applications Now Open!!
💫 We are recruiting exec members for 2025 💫
UoA Scientific has several positions open for 2025! Are you a people person who likes making connections? A visual person with great aesthetic taste? A logical person with an eye for detail? Any skills or experiences can fit one of the roles on offer. We recruit executives in all stages of study, from first-year to postgraduate. Come join a vibrant, rewarding team that engages with all corners of Science at the University of Auckland.
To learn more about how the club runs and apply for an interview, visit the link below:
https://forms.gle/RfhmcyBor71xqBm39
ENVIRONMENT – CHEMISTRY – COMPUTER SCIENCE Research Networking Event
Tuesday 10 September, 2.00 – 5.00 pm, Level 6 Breakout space
This is an opportunity for academics from the Schools of Environment, Chemistry, and Computer Science to network around their research interests and/or plans.
The event will be informal, after a short introduction, exchange of ideas will take place in small groups in a “Speed dating” format. This will be followed by an informal mixing session (catering provided).
For catering purposes, please RSVP to Kelly Kilpin. Any questions, please reach out to either me or Sila.
Organised by Rangahau, and our sister committees in Chemical Sciences and Computer Sciences
David Barrell from GNS Dunedin is the 2024 Geoscience Society of New Zealand Hochstetter Lecturer.
He will be giving his main lecture “THE SEA VERSUS THE LAND – WILL THERE BE A WINNER? “ at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 17th September at the Auditorium at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Flyer attached. Please reserve your spot at https://myaccount.aucklandmuseum.com/176312?premove=Y&promo=GEOSCIENCE24. If you are able to donate anything to help contribute to the costs incurred by the museum to host this it would be appreciated but do not feel obliged. Free parking is available in the domain.
Abstract: Aotearoa New Zealand is the largest emergent part of the mainly submerged Zealandia continent. Plate-boundary tectonic deformation is responsible for Aotearoa’s ongoing emergence, and its margins are constantly under attack by waves in the vast surrounding ocean. Aotearoa’s landscape reflects an interplay between the rock foundations, the climate which gives precipitation to drive erosion and the river transport of sediment, and wave energy in the coastal zone which distributes the sediment once it reaches the sea. Perspectives of ‘whole system’ processes and mass/energy budgets, coupled with eustatic ebb and flow of the sea across the continental shelf through glacial/interglacial climate cycles, provide an integrated approach for explaining the form of Aotearoa’s landscape and behaviour of its river systems. This talk will explore the battle between sea and land, from the deep geological past through to modern times, and interpret the richly varied form of our coastline, from the long sweeping cliffs of some places, and indented bays and estuaries of others. Whole-system perspectives will be used to discuss likely coastal changes in coming decades to centuries under changing climate.
There will also be a more technical supporting/complementary lecture given on the 17th September at 1 pm on campus at the Owen G Glenn Building, University of Auckland (12 Grafton Road) in Rm 260-005 (Case room 1 in the basement).
Tūpuna Maunga Authority announces annual research scholarship opportunity
The Tūpuna Maunga Authority is excited to announce the opening of applications for its annual Tūpuna Maunga research scholarship from 1 August 2024. This scholarship, established as part of the education strategy, offers up to $10,000 to support students conducting research on the Tūpuna Maunga.
The education strategy was developed from the Authority’s founding document, the Integrated Management Plan (IMP). “The key driver for this scholarship is to encourage students from all areas of study and empower them to increase their learning about Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau,” says Paul Majurey, Authority Chair.
The scholarship is open to research that aligns with the Tūpuna Maunga values, focusing on enhancing and protecting the mauri (life force) and wairua (spiritual essence) of the Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains). Detailed information about the scholarship, including an overview of the Tūpuna Maunga Values, is available on the Authority website www.maunga.nz/research/.
Majurey emphasizes the broader impact of the scholarship, stating, “We believe that this scholarship will not only benefit the students but also the wider community. Innovative research projects have the potential to bring new ideas and solutions that can significantly enhance the sustainability and preservation of the Tūpuna Maunga.”
Applicants have until 10pm, 25 September 2024 to apply via SmartyGrants, with funding to successful candidates as early as December 2024 (based on processing requirements). As part of the selection process, the $10,000 may be split across different applicants.
AINSE Postgraduate Orientation Week – Expressions of Interest now received from future scholarship applicants (applications close 30 September 2024) (flyer available online)
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, RSS, and Pathway scholarships, 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 Monday 21st – Friday 25th October 2024 as an online event via Zoom, commencing with a full-day program on Monday 21st, followed by afternoon and early evening sessions from Tuesday 22nd – Friday 25th.
Alongside our new scholarship recipients, AINSE are now accepting Expressions of Interest directly from interested students from AINSE-member institutions who are looking to apply for an AINSE postgraduate award in 2025.
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. The program will be differentiated, with these interested students able to attend a specialised workshop focused on the application process for 2025 AINSE scholarships.
Expressions of Interest close 11.59 pm AEST Monday 30th September 2024.
For more information, and a link to the online application portal, please see our Postgraduate O’Week website.
8th AINSE Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE) School – Expressions of Interest now received
(applications close 30 September 2024). (flyer available online)
AINSE is now accepting Expressions of Interest directly from students for the 8th AINSE Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE) School, to be held Monday 2nd to Friday 6th December 2024.
Expressions of Interest close Monday 30th September 2024.
This school is targeted at female students 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 2025 to provide additional networking and educational opportunities for the students.
The 2024 WISE School will run as a 5 day hybrid 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 5th – Friday 6th December) if circumstances permit.
For more information, and a link to the online application portal, please see our WISE website.
E-bike offers
Check out the e-bike deals for University staff.
Electric bike team
Electric Bike Team has a great deal for staff wishing to purchase one of their bikes. Look now: Electric bike team
Big Street Bikers
Looking to buy an e-bike? Big Street Bikers has discounts and some freebies for University staff. Check it out: Big Street Bikers
Doctoral Development Offerings
An overview of the many UoA Doctoral Development offerings that candidates and supervisors may want to consider has been compiled here.
Co-funded University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships
Guidelines have now been drafted for the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship scheme to co-fund scholarships with industry or philanthropic partners to seed new collaborations. If you are making connections where some money to support a student may be possible please come and chat to Jennifer Eccles asap about whether this could be an option.
An introductory R Workshop is being run on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th of October 2024. The course will be run by the Statistical Consulting Centre (SCC) in the Department of Statistics.
What’s covered in the workshop?
Introduction
Getting familiar with R
Using R Studio and loading projects/scripts
Basic functions using R
Reading in Data Files (.csv, .xls/.xlsx)
Introduction to R Objects. How R thinks (vectors, matrices, basic data formats)
Working with data(sets)
Cleaning and subsetting
Merging datasets and reformatting
Grouping variables and summarising
R graphics
Starting with plots in R (boxplots, histograms, bar graphs)
Graphics in R with ggplot2 (customising plots)
Data analysis
Introduction to performing t-tests, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and general linear models
The cost is $400 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 – please contact Joei Mudaliar j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz for further instructions).
The payment authorisation form for UoA participants paying from a UoA account is attached.
The cost for non-UoA attendees is $650 + 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 302.160. Building 302 is on the corner of Symonds St and Wellesley St. The room we will be using is on level 1, room 160.
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 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 on how to do this in our pre-workshop information email.
Access to computers and the 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 24th and 25th October 2024, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Ngā mihi (Kind regards),
Joei Mudaliar | Kairuruku Ratonga ā-Rōpū (Group Services Coordinator)
Department of Statistics | Faculty of Science
The University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau
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.
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.
Rangahau – Research
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
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
| MBIE: Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund | |
| This fund aims to invest in the development of skilled people and organisations that plan to undertake, or are undertaking, research that supports the themes and outcomes of the Vision Mātauranga policy. Funding is available through two schemes:
(i) The Connect Scheme seeks to build new connections between Māori organisations and the science and innovation system. (ii) The Placement Scheme seeks to enhance the development of an individual(s) through placement in a partner organisation. |
|
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline |
| Value:
· $150,000 (ex GST) – max funding per proposal for projects up to 1 year · $250,000 (ex GST) – max funding per proposal between 1-2 years Duration: up to 2 years |
12 noon, Monday, 7 October 2024 |
| *MBIE will also host a 1-hour webinar to talk through the application process and answer any questions at 10am, Wednesday 18 September 2024. If interested, please register for the webinar here. | |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
· Website If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST. |
|
| MBIE 2025 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 17 Research Programmes. |
|
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline |
| · Total funding pool: $38 million
· Value: $0.5 million or more per year · Duration: 3, 4 or 5 years |
· Registration: 12 noon, Monday 25 November 2024.
· Full Proposal: 12 noon, Monday 24 February 2025. |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info, templates):
· Website * The funder will be holding virtual endeavour fund roadshows on 2, 3 and 7 October 2024. It is highly recommended to attend to at least one of the sessions and you can do it by following the links.
· Roadshow #3 – Monday 7 October 2024: 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm 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 |
|
| Spencer Foundation – Research-Practice Partnerships: Collaborative research for educational change | |
| This fund aims to support education research projects that engage in collaborative and participatory partnerships | |
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline: |
| · Value: up to USD400,000 (circa NZD 660,000
· Duration: up to 3 years |
· Intent to apply: 5pm, Friday, 13 September 2024
· Full proposal: 12pm, Monday, 21 October 2024 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
· Website If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST. |
|
| 2024 MBIE Catalyst: Strategic – New Zealand-Japan Joint Research Programme | |
| The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is calling for proposals for joint research collaborations between New Zealand and Japan. MBIE will fund up to three joint New Zealand-Japan research projects in the field of disaster mitigation, response and recovery. | |
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline |
| · Value: NZ$300,000 (excluding GST)
· Duration: 3 years |
12 noon, Monday 23 September 2024. |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
· Website If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST. |
|
| Global Research Engagement Fund (GREF) | |
| This fund aims to support applicants working towards a pre-identified collaboration or funding opportunity to develop new and emerging research partnerships with international collaborators. | |
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline |
| · Networking & Engagement Grants: up to $10,000
· Project Planning Grants: Up to $12,000 |
27 September 2024 |
| Further Information:
· Full details including guidelines and the application form are available on Research Hub · For enquiries, please contact international.research@auckland.ac.nz If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST. |
|
| The Transdisciplinary Ideation Fund (TIF) | |
| The Waipapa Taumata Rau (TIF) is a fund that 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. | |
| Value/Duration: | Deadline |
|
· Grants of $20,000. Up to 15 projects will be funded. |
5pm, Thursday 31 October 2024 |
| TIF workshop: encourages new cross-disciplinary research collaborations and is designed for academic staff who are intending to pursue transdisciplinary research. (Please register bid via registration link provided)
Date and Time: Friday 13 September 2024, 9am to 12pm (morning tea provided) Location: B201-342, 10 Symonds Street |
|
| Further Information:
· Full details including guidelines and the application form are available on Research Hub If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST. |
|
| Catalyst: Seeding (Round3) | |
| Catalyst seeding facilitates new small and medium pre-research strategic partnerships that cannot be supported through other means, and with a view to developing full collaborations that could be supported through Catalyst: Strategic over time. Funding is for research exchanges, research activities, and expenses related to hosting workshops for new strategic research partnerships with international collaborators | |
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline |
| Seeding General: up to $80,000 (excl. GST) in total for up to two years
· NZ – Japan Joint Research Projects: up to $30,000 (excl. GST) per annum for up to two years |
12pm, Tuesday 08 October 2024 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
· Website If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST. |
|
| Catalyst: Leaders (Round3) | |
| 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. | |
| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline |
| 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. | 12pm, Tuesday 08 October 2024 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info):
· Website If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST. |
|
| The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes | |
| The New Zealand Government introduced The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes in 2009 as a way of raising the profile and prestige of science among New Zealanders, in Aotearoa and internationally.
· Te Puiaki Pūtaiao Matua a Te Pirimia: is for a transformative scientific advance, which has had a significant economic, health, social, political, cultural and/or environmental impact on New Zealand or internationally · Te Puiaki Kaipūtaiao Maea: will be awarded to an outstanding emerging scientist who has had their PhD conferred within the past eight (8) years. · Te Puiaki Whakapā Pūtaiao: will be awarded to either a practising scientist who can demonstrate an interest, passion and aptitude for science communication and public engagement, or to a person who has developed expertise in public engagement or communication of complex scientific or technological information to the public. |
|
| Value: | Deadline: |
| There are five prizes in total with a combined value of $975,000 NZ Dollars. | Applications open 13 May 2024 and close 1pm, 30 September 2024 |
| Further Information:
· Form, Guidelines and FAQs can be accessed via the Research Hub · For enquiries, please contact pmscienceprizes@royalsociety.org.nz If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST. |
|
| New Horizon Europe Calls |
| In mid-April, the European Commission announced a new selection of funding calls covering the remainder of 2024. The funding call details here Horizon Europe Funding Call List on the Horizon Europe Support Materials page on ResearchHub.
New Zealand can participate in these calls on equal terms as our European counterparts. However, the targeted nature of most of these calls means that it is highly likely that it will be more appropriate for us to partner on these projects, joining European-led bids as a collaborator rather than developing a proposal as a lead. Anybody exploring these opportunities should contact International.Research@Auckland.ac.nz to arrange a discussion and explore additional support available. |
Announcements
| MBIE Endeavour Support Sessions 2025 | ||
| Support for the 2025 MBIE Endeavour round is currently underway.
· Research Impact Workshop: Research Impact Manager, Dr Cherie Lacey, will be hosting a practical workshop to walk you through the process of planning your MBIE Endeavour application to achieve maximum impact.
Please reach out if you have any questions: submissions@auckland.ac.nz |
| Webinar: Building your Knowledge in Responsiveness to Māori within your Research | |||||||||||||
| The webinars will provide a general overview of the Treaty of Waitangi as it relates to research. The content focuses on why it was written, what it says, what went wrong, where we are today, and how it applies to research.
(i) Workshop 1/2 – Making Sense of the Treaty in a Research Context: will provide a brief overview of the Treaty of Waitangi as it relates to research. (ii) Workshop 2/2 – Putting the Treaty into Practice in a Research Context: Christine, founding member of Auckland Project Waitangi, explores application of the main Treaty concepts to the major stages of research.
If you have any questions, please email: researcherdevelopment@auckland.ac.nz |
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Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Updates from HSW
Few changes are being considered to make working in the Labs easier for visitors.
Remember Covid and Flu vaccines are free at Unichem Pharmacy.
Spring brings a wider possibility of fresh veggies and fruits at affordable prices. Check what is in season.
Publications | Articles
- Chen, Z and Bowen, M. (2024). The episodic dynamics of salt transport in the Waitematā Estuary, a well-mixed estuary in New Zealand. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 108924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108924