Contents
HeadsUp
I hope everyone was able to take at least a few moments to appreciate the sun and other mid-winter pleasures such as the night sky over Matariki weekend. A time for looking back and forward. Lengthening days from now. So much more of a logical time for a new year in this land, in my view.
Good to catch breath and appreciate the here and now – not just on long weekends but whenever we can, as the world becomes more fraught. And we are all affected in unanticipated ways. I spent much of Sunday afternoon talking through options and levels of risk when one of us due to transit through the Middle East to a fieldwork destination contacted me. New territory for myself, the Dean, the Risk Office, others. Now, three staff and students in the School have been rerouted via China to avoid an area of at least potential disruption. Contacting me out of hours with that sort of concern is entirely appropriate. ‘Better safe than stranded’ is my baseline position.
On a happier note I’d like to fulsomely thank George Perry as he approaches a July start to RSL and, as is generally our convention, an end to a key service role. He has offered stellar work as Depurty Head (Academic Programmes) and I will greatly miss his good humour, wise counsel and appreciation of the bigger picture in the teaching space.
As mentioned in the staff meeting, and evident in the slides that guided my comments (View here or download here: 2025 June Staff Meeting), I am working on an a slight expansion of the governance structure of the School to better align with that of the Faculty. Please expect some requests to consider participating more fully in an expanded engine room of the School very soon.
For now, with the break between semesters coming up, do catch breath and – for those who are travelling – enjoy reconnecting at conferences or making field work gains. And keep a disposition of nimbleness in this, at times, edgy world.
Robin Kearns, Head of School
A thesis in 3 minutes! – an update from JC
Our Kura held its first heats for the international 3-Minute Thesis competition on 3 June. The principle is simple: summarise a 100,000-word thesis in 3 minutes with only one slide… A very challenging but exciting task! Few of our doctoral candidates joined our heats but the quality of presentations was very impressive. Anne-Fleur van Leeuwen did particularly well and clinched the first spot. Katie Gilchrist came second and Hang Thai third. All of them received a Prezzy card as a reward for their effort. Noteworthy is that Anne-Fleur eventually represented us at the Faculty 3MT heats and did very well too.
Congratulations to all candidates and special thanks to Luitgard, Inka and Joe who judged the competition.
Announcements, Seminars & Events
This year, the Student Experience Committee had a budget of $2500.00 towards small class-related catering activities. There is $1250.00 available for semester 2. To maximise this budget and make its distribution as fair as possible, we have created an online form where all interested course coordinators can declare their interest and submit a very brief proposal (100 words) outlining how much they need and for which purpose. The cap for each course is set at $150.00 per semester and applications for semester 2 should be submitted by the 18th of July. Selection will be made by the committee shortly afterwards. Ad-hoc applications throughout the semesters may be considered depending on budget availability. Application must be submitted through the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/s7bvNAcFAP
Student Experience Committee
Visiting Researcher Seminar
Wednesday 16 July, 2 pm, Ontology Lab (Room 302-551)
Dating volcanic eruptions to a calendar year with tree-rings, radiocarbon and the sun
Dr Charlotte Pearson, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, The University of Arizona
The behaviour of the sun through time impacts the abundance of high-energy protons in Earth’s atmosphere. These collide with nitrogen to create the radioactive isotope, carbon-14. Carbon-14 is taken up by trees and locked away in tree-rings which can be calendar dated by the techniques of dendrochronology. By measuring how much carbon-14 is present year by year in dated tree-ring sequences, we produce patterns reflecting the behaviour of the sun through time. These pattens replicate in trees growing at the same time all around the world and can be used in a variety of ways to help with dating a wide range of past events and human and environmental interactions. Here we look at two examples of how they have been used to arrive at a calendar date for the eruption of Mt. Mazama, which formed ‘Crater Lake’ in Oregon, USA c.7000 years ago and how, combined with ice-core and archaeological evidence, they can be used to home in on the date of the Thera eruption at Santorini in Greece, c.3500 years ago.
Dr Charlotte Pearson is a geoarchaeologist and dendrochronologist based at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, at The University of Arizona.
Her research focuses on new applications for analysis of carbon-14 in single tree-rings, dendrochronological approaches to the chronology of the Ancient Mediterranean and dendrochemical approaches to dating the onset of environmental disturbances, in particular volcanic eruptions.
https://ltrr.arizona.edu/node/4548
New to Talis Reading Lists, or need a quick refresher?
Join us for Talis: The Basics and informal Talis Q&A sessions this June and July. These are one-hour sessions run back-to-back, so come to both or just one, whatever suits you best.
City Campus: 24 June & 9 July
Grafton Campus: 26 June
For more details and to book, head to Hono:
From the OUTREACH COMMITTEE:
Share Your Latest Academic and Career Achievements with Us!
Share your latest research, conference presentations, fieldwork, and career updates with us! Your achievements could be featured on the School of Environment’s social media to showcase the amazing work happening in our community. Fill out the survey and include photos, titles of papers or theses, and anything else you’d like to share!
https://forms.gle/QAEkcndygHNazXr2A
COMPASS Morning Tea
COMPASS PG is dedicated to creating a vibrant and supportive community for postgraduate students at all levels in the School of Environment. We host regular events designed to foster collaboration, networking, and a sense of community.
All staff and postgrad students are invited to come along, to participate or just to enjoy some home baked goods!
Te Akoranga Kairangi
The free staff programme, Te Akoranga Kairangi (TAK) is an introduction to Māori language, culture and the treaty. Details about the programme are appended. The programme runs over 8 weeks, 2 hours per weekly session, on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Fourteen 8-week cohorts are offered throughout the year, including an on-line option. Details about the schedule are appended and ALSO on Hono Learning (see instructions below).
Here are links to the details of the programme: TAK Programme and 2025 TAK times available
In addition, a free 2.5 hour Colonial History Walk around the university area is led by Assoc Prof Avril Bell. This is a unique opportunity for all staff keen to learn more about the role of central Auckland in the history of colonisation.
To enrol in TAK or the Colonial History Walk:
EITHER by emailing (we can enrol you directly) Assoc Prof Avril Bell a.bell@auckland.ac.nz (Tuesday classes) or Prof Alison Jones a.jones@auckland.ac.nz (Thursdays classes)
OR by going to University of Auckland staff intranet webpage, search for Hono Learning. On the Hono page, type Te Akoranga Kairangi into the search bar at the top. Then click on the Te Akoranga Kairangi or Colonial History Walk link. Then click on Select Offering. There you should see a list of cohort dates for the year’s classes or walks. Select the cohort dates that suit you. Then click on Submit. You should then get an email to confirm your enrolment.
Feel free to contact Alison or Avril with any questions! 😊
Ngā mihi, thanks a lot
Alison and Avril
Geoscience Society of New Zealand Student Activity Support
Thanks to the bequest to the Geoscience Society of New Zealand by Jack Grant-Mackie, former faculty (and a Head of Department etc) of the University of Auckland Geology Department who specialised in paleontology and stratigraphy, there are funds to support student activities at branch level to the value of $500 in the coming year.
If you have a proposal about a student Geoscience trip or event (outside of our normal university activities) please contact GSNZ branch rep Jennifer Eccles j.eccles@auckland.ac.nz so we can get a short budget/proposal together. Student led initiatives particularly welcomed!
Introductions to R Workshop
An introductory R Workshop is being run on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd of July 2025. 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 here.
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 302.190. 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 here (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 2nd and 3rd July 2025, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Ngā mihi,
Joei
The 2025 ANZIC Marine Geoscience Masterclass
An unforgettable field and lab experience in Fiordland!
Applications are now open for ANZIC‘s new Marine Geoscience Masterclass!
This unique 12-day learning opportunity combines fieldwork in Doubtful Sound with cutting-edge lab analysis at the University of Otago. From examining the depths of the dramatic fjords on RV Polaris II to state-of-the-art analysis of the sediment cores you’ll collect, this Masterclass immerses you in the tools and techniques behind global scientific drilling to prepare you for future opportunities.
The Masterclass focuses on climate and environmental influences on carbon cycling and your findings will form part of the Fjords as Archives of Climate and Environmental Transitions (FACET) initiative, an active ICDP proposal.
Designed for undergraduates (with a few spots for postgrads), this fully funded opportunity connects you with leading scientists, hands-on learning, and fellow Earth science enthusiasts from across the region.
The Masterclass runs from December 1-12, hosted by the University of Otago. Applications close 30 June.
If you’re passionate about climate, or carbon cycling, or just ready for a big adventure with a huge impact on your future, click here to learn more.
NIWA Auckland Science Fair
Would you like to join the Judging Team for the NIWA Auckland Science Fair. More information is available at: www.scifair.org.nz.
Location: Auditorium, Michael Park School, 55 Amy Street, Ellerslie
Date: Friday, August 29th
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
There is plenty of parking available, and the venue is within walking distance of the Ellerslie train station. Morning tea will be provided 😊. Please contact Aliona Valyashko alionav@michaelpark.school.nz
ANZIC calls for funding proposals
Funding of up to NZ$25,000 is now available for projects that will advance the field of scientific drilling. ANZIC invites proposals from scientists in Australian & New Zealand Member Institutions – including the University o – for their Continent & Ocean Research & Education (CORE) Funding.
ANZIC CORE funding supports research using previously-collected scientific drilling samples, cores and data; activities that aid future drilling proposals; and educational projects in the sphere of scientific drilling. ANZIC is looking for innovative proposals that align with their science priorities.
Submit your proposal by 8 September!
LEARN MORE: www.iodp.org.au/legacy-funding/
Health Safety & Wellbeing
TestnTel will be doing the test and tag this week, please allow the contractors access to your offices and electric equipment.
Remember to get your free flu vaccine available at Unichem Campus Pharmacy, this will help you prepare for winter.
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons 9 Symonds Street (corner of Symonds Street and Alfred Street) Level 1, next to UBIQ and Esports Arena
You also might be eligible to a free MMR vaccine. The measles (MMR) vaccine is free for all children under 18 years in New Zealand, and all adults over the age of 18 who are eligible for free NZ healthcare.
Measles – The University of Auckland
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine
Message from AT for this winter
To Report Incidents:
- Students
Students should report incidents, injuries and observations to the Student Contact Centre or via their academic supervisor. - Staff
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/health-safety-wellbeing/report-concerns-hazards/injury-incidents-observations-reporting.html
Consider downloading
- UoA Alert: UoA Alert
- Auckland Uni app:
The “AucklandUni app” is actually called UoA Kāhu, and it’s designed to provide University of Auckland students with easy access to essential information and tools. It’s available for download on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store.
Tips for winter:
Maintaining Health:
- Boost your immune system: Eat immune-boosting foods, consume fish or fish oil, and ensure adequate Vitamin D intake.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water, even when you don’t feel thirsty.
- Manage dry skin: Use moisturizers, lip balm, and consider using a humidifier to combat dry air.
- Prioritize sleep: Getting enough sleep (7-9 hours) is crucial for your immune system and overall health.
- Exercise regularly: Even light exercise indoors can help you stay active and healthy.
- Get vaccinated: Get your flu shot and stay up-to-date on other vaccinations.
- Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs.
These are the awareness days for this fortnight:
June 19 – 25: National Volunteer Week
Jun 26: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Funding Calls
Open Access Fund
A reminder about the Open access support fund for high-impact publications (research articles) within the Faculty of Science.
The distribution of funds will be based on a first-come, first-served basis through a Faculty Open Access (OA) working group. Funds will be allocated to cover OA fees for eligible researchers.
To find out more about Open Access publishing as well as Green Access publishing go to: https://research-hub.auckland.ac.nz/subhub/open-access
Please apply here.
Hono data integration are impacting research projects
Do you have research grants? Do you, or a member of your research team, use EIP dashboards to monitor your research funds or Research Development Account (RDA)? If so, please read on.
Recent challenges with Hono data integration are impacting research projects. As a result, EIP dashboards are not correctly reflecting actual salary costs from 20 February, casual staff payments, or future-dated salary commitments. All other actual transactions are correct, however, the left-to-spend balances may not be correct.
What does this mean?
- EIP reports should not be used to confirm a project’s financial status until further notice, as salary details in EIP reports for pay runs after 20 Feb 2025 are not yet available.
- Research Development Account (RDA) balances may not be correct, particularly if fixed-term or casual staff are being paid from the RDA account.
- Surpluses or deficits on research grants cannot be resolved until the balances can be confirmed, so projects ending after 20 Feb 2025 cannot be closed.
- Surpluses or deficits will not be distributed to, or recovered from, RDA accounts (or returned to funders) for projects ending after 20 Feb 2025 until accurate balances can be confirmed.
Resolutions and Timeframes
A Solution Oversight Co-ordination (SOC) Team has been formed and includes a range of experts who understand the issues and the impacts. Members have been drawn from Research Services, OneFinance, HR, Integration Specialists, Vendors, the Risk Team, and the Planning and Information Office to find solutions to the identified issues. Alongside the SOC Team, several continuity groups (including a research continuity group) are working on specific outcomes, the teams meet daily and report to SOC. The Solution Oversight Coordination Team are in the process of identifying and quantifying the risks around these and implementing mitigation strategies.
Please be assured we’ll be providing regular progress updates to the Faculties and Institutes. In the meantime, if you have an urgent query related to your project financials, please contact your Faculty or Institute Research Services Team in the first instance.
Hood Fellowships
The Hood Fellowships are University of Auckland Foundation awards for the distinguished scholars to visit the University (Incoming Hood fellows) or our distinguished scholars to travel outside New Zealand (Outgoing Hood fellows) to build stronger networks, maintain and enhance the international standing and performance of Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland as New Zealand’s premier research-led university. The Hood Fellowship Fund aims to help the University meet this challenge by:
- Attracting distinguished overseas academics who are leaders in their field
- Developing and retaining the University’s best academic staff
- Hosting recognised international experts for guest lectures and seminars
- Building stronger international networks among its community of scholars
One of the key expectations of inbound Hood fellows is that they should give at least one public lecture during their time in Auckland.
- Value: up to $25,000 each award
- Duration: 12 months 2026 (Jan-Dec 2026)
- Applications open 1 June 2025 and close 30 June 2025
Further Information
If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST.
Royal Society Te Apārangi: Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships
Please note that this funding called is related to the Tāwhia Te Mana Fellowship webinar Roadshow webinar under the Announcements, Seminars & Events section.
These Fellowships will support researchers at different career stages to produce excellent and impactful research and to develop into leaders in their fields, their respective host organisations and across the whole of the Aotearoa New Zealand ST&I system. The Fellowships consist of three schemes, targeted at early, mid- and established career researchers, respectively. The three schemes are:
- New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
- New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
- New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship
Value/Duration:
New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader
Fellowship
- Value: $820,000
- Duration: 4 years or up to 8 years part-time
New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader
Fellowship
- Value: $1,160,000
- Duration: 4 years or up to 8 years part-time
New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished
Researcher Fellowship
- Value: $220,000
- Duration: 1-2 years
Internal Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday, 1st July 2025
Guidelines:
- New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
- New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
- New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship
Application templates
- New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
- New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
- New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship
If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST.
Royal Society Te Apārangi Catalyst Seeding (Round 2)
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.
The Catalyst Fund investment plan identifies six priority research areas, which are:
- Quantum technology
- Health and biomedicine
- Biotechnologies
- Artificial Intelligence
- Antarctic research
- Space and Earth observations
Details:
- Value: up to $80,000 (Exc. GST)
- Duration: 2 years
- Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Further Information (funding call, guidelines website):
If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST.
Funding Calls
| Horizon Europe, Pillar 2, Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society | Key topics
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Single-stage calls in cluster 3 have various closing dates in November 2025
GUIDELINES |
| Horizon Europe, Pillar 2, Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space | Key topics
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Deadline: Single-stage calls in cluster 4 have various closing dates in September/October 2025
GUIDELINES Cluster 4 – Work programme 2025
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| Horizon Europe, Pillar 2, Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility
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Key topics
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Single-stage calls in cluster 5 have various closing dates in September 2025
GUIDELINES Cluster 5 – Work programme 2025
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| Horizon Europe, Pillar 2, Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment | Key topics
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Single-stage calls in cluster 6 have various closing dates in September 2025.
GUIDELINES |
| • Value: from NZD110,000 to NZD3,000,000 exclusive of the MBIE top-up
• Duration: 3-4 years |
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WEBSITE
SUPPORT ResearchHub Resources here If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST. |
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