Issue 136 – Monday 25 November 2024
Contents
HeadsUp
We’re into to that ‘last of the year’ stage. Christmas/New Year and summer breaks await. Last chance soon to seek reimbursements and arrange expenditure (see earlier comms for dates). Last opportunities to do Lab work before the holiday close-down (also earlier comms). For some, a last chance to book annual leave before another niggly email reminder! And, on Wednesday, the last of the School’s end-of-year occasions with the annual party down the hill at the bowling club. I look forward to seeing many/most of you there. We invest in these expressions of School-as-community, so please do be beneficiaries of efforts at planning and come along.
The party is an opportunity to celebrate the year and all it brought us. But also, there will be a tinge of sadness with the opportunity to offer a farewell. Iliane has served us so well and enthusiastically as GSA and has decided to relocate to London. Her last day will be in December for the CoB for the year. Thanks for all the ways you’ve brought life to the School, Iliane!
Meanwhile, as we complete last things for 2024 space opens for activities that have otherwise been on hold or constrained by teaching schedules. Last week I joined a number of others at the truly wonderful NZ Geographical Society Conference in Tauranga Moana. It was a reminder of what great work we do and that we can cross the world at great expense of time, finance and carbon but sometimes the most rewarding conferences are only down the road.
Others have been doing great mahi further afield. Karin Bryan and Giovanni Coco have been at the launch of the China-NZ Catalyst strategic alliance project with Hohai University and East China Normal University. James Muirhead is preparing for two months in Antarctica. Just two examples. There’s a diaspora underway now that close-to-home obligations are complete.
We have the Hono system back on track to start in the new year and a close-down period ahead so there’s a flurry of activity getting contracts in place etc. Please don’t leave any administrative requests into December. And when opportunities for Hono training come your way, do sign in.
Before such challenges, however, I know we all will be grateful for a summer break. And I am very appreciative that George Perry’s Leave plans are such that he is willing to deputise, allowing me to tune out from HoS vigilance as much as is feasible for the first three weeks of January.
So, may attention to last things for 2024 proceed well for you all and do please plan to take the break you need over December/January.
Robin Kearns HoS
Announcements
Great news! We have had 3 funding successes in the 2024 Continent and Ocean Research & Education (CORE) Funding round, awarded by the Australia-New Zealand International Drilling Consortium (ANZIC). Our successful recipients were:
- PI Lorna Strachan ($25K) “Has the Hikurangi Subduction Margin undergone profound changes in accelerated Pacific Plate subduction during the last 1 Myrs?”
- AI Paul Agustinus (($20K Aus; PI Simon Haberle, ANU) “Geophysical Survey of Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea – a potential ICDP coring site”
- AI Lorna Strachan ($25K, PI Greer Gilmer, GNS) “Do Fiordland (NZ) sediment cores contain an untapped record of past earthquakes?”
These proposals support research from both legacy data of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) consortia, and development of new data sets to support future, often career-defining, proposals and expeditions. If you want to learn more about these and other funding opportunities (from undergrads to established researchers) check out the ANZIC and GeoDiscovery NZ websites.
For those who are unaware, the UoA is one of 5 member institutions in NZ (along with GNS, NIWA, VUW, UoO), which provides us full access to more than 60 years of legacy data, and allows us to lead and develop future global research proposals. There are many opportunities to get involved in one of the biggest science consortiums on the planet!
Supervisors of Honours and Masters (30 and 60 pt) dissertation students:
- After the examinations are complete, supervisors can request feedback from the reports. Please contact Melissa for this.
- There are no longer word limits for the 30 and 60 pt dissertations, only guidance, and the webpage has been revised to reflect that.
Outreach
Outreach opportunities for staff and students:
Highlighting your research
Have you recently published a blog piece/ generated any film footage/ given an interview/ written something for mainstream media, about your research? Could we give it a little mention on our School of Environment socials? See some recent examples here.
Please send your news to Emma el.sharp@auckland.ac.nz so we can share it more widely! Please also send a useful image (of yourself/ the thing being studied) and complete the following prompts:
[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/ see photo of [x]: [link]
Note: Academic articles are interesting but get less takeup from social media so if you have something in a ‘predigested’ form (e.g. a news link to the debate or problem, that’s helpful, and the article would have to be open access).
Graduates out in the world
For staff: If you have students who have completed their degree and moved onto new pursuits, and they might 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
Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities
Coastal and Marine Geoscience Group Meeting/Seminar
The next Coastal-Marine Geoscience Group seminar will be held on Wednesday 4th of December at 12:00pm to 1:00 pm in the Ontology Lab (302-551).
News will be shared and a talk given from Murray Ford, “Tropical storm variability in the western Pacific and impacts on atoll islands”
This will be the final seminar of the year, providing an ideal opportunity to reconnect with everyone!
All welcome to attend – please email Edouard Basquin at ebas390@aucklanduni.ac.nz if you wish to attend and don’t have the calendar invite already.
Celebrating Our Researchers – Research Awards
The Postgraduate Research Symposium and ENV Research Awards Ceremony were held last week. A huge thank you to all those who presented talks or posters (and those who won!) and those who came to celebrate our researchers.
We are pleased to congratulate the winners of the ENV awards:
School-wide awards
Hiroki Ogawa School Citizenship Award – Heather Paterson-Shallard
Early Career Research Award – Dr Joa Parades Marino
Engagement with Indigenous Knowledge and Values Award – Debbie Larkins
Transdisciplinary Research Award – Dr Tom Dowling
Research Communication Award (3 awards this year, sponsored by the Outreach Committee) – Annahlise Hall, Dr Salene Schloffel-Armstrong and The Politics, Economies and Place Research Group
Discipline awards – ENVSCI
Honours thesis award – Sophie Kolston
30 pt masters thesis award – Vanessa Castro
Masters thesis award – Nicole Whitelock
PhD thesis award – Nadia Dikareva
Postgrad paper award – Eduardo Gomez de la Pena
Discipline awards – EARTHSCI
Honours thesis award – Alex Gold
Masters thesis award – Natasha Ngadi
PhD thesis award – Jimmy Yang
Postgrad paper award – Janki Patel
Discipline awards – GEOG
Honours thesis award – Lianne Edwards-Maas
Masters thesis award (GIS) – Jaxon Ingold
PhD thesis award – Mike (Zheng) Chen
Postgrad paper award – Bethany Cox
Postgraduate Research Showcase 2024
This year’s Postgraduate Research Showcase attracted 20 entries (7 oral presentations and 13 posters) that highlighted the diverse research interests of the School. The quality of the oral presentations was uniformly high and the posters were engaging, interesting and informative. The oral presentations were judged by academics from different disciplines in the School and the posters were judged by attendees via an online poll. The Showcase was a celebration of the excellent work being undertaken by our research students and was a great occasion for everyone to experience a rich array of topics.
Oral Presentation- Winners
PhD Students- Awards
| Student | Title | |
| 1 | Nargiss Taleb | Compostable Products in Aotearoa New Zealand: The hidden additives and their implications. |
| 2 | Ellie Buttle | Slippery chemicals in (and out of) place |
| 3= | Jack Barrett | Uncovering diverse economies of kāinga housing |
| 3= | Wendy Fan | Revealing hazardous mineral fibres in ambient air: understanding the nature of exposure |
Masters and Honours Students- Awards
| Student | Title | |
| 1 | Richard Beauchamp | Estimating recreational fishing effort using smartphone location data |
| 2 | Zoe Armstrong | Oxygen fugacities of early arc magmas – insights from the Solander Islands and Mariana forearc |
| 3 | Kate Seth | The Effect of Plastic on the Radiative Properties of Sand and Water |
Poster Presentations- Winners
PhD Students- Awards
| Student | Title | |
| 1 | Laura McDonald | Not to be sneezed at: A case for pollen monitoring in Aotearoa |
| 2 | Siqi Yang | Using infrared spectroscopy to determine the chemical composition of kauri leaf litter in kauri forests affected by dieback |
| 3 | Elizabeth Williams | The spatial and temporal patterns of forest succession following landslide disturbance in the Aotea and Coromandel regions |
Masters and Honours Students- Awards
| Student | Title | |
| 1 | Debbie Larkins | Engagement Beyond Inclusion: Reframing Citizen Science in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| 2 | Dominique Stallard | Exploring the variability of trace element biosignatures as a function of textural sinter lithofacies throughout hot spring settings |
| 3 | Em Sharp | Reassessing the Potential of Podocarpus totara (tōtara) for Tree Ring Dating |
1 Bedroom Rental Available (Lease Takeover) 30 Beach Rd, Britomart 595$ per week
We are looking for someone to take over our lease (4 months remaining) from January 20th 2025. The lease is a fix term lease finishing 11/5/2025, and will roll over to periodic lease from that date unless you give written notice. Email Karin Bryan for further details.
Looking for a furnished flat/home in Auckland
Hi, I’m Itxaso (she/her), a Marie Slodowska Curie Fellow in the School of Environment of the UoA. My partner Raúl and I have just moved to Auckland for 1.5 years, and we’re looking for a friendly place to call home. We prefer a furnished private flat or home with 1-2 bedrooms. Our budget is up to $500/week. We’re tidy, respectful, and non-smokers. If you have or know of a suitable place, please reach out to iruizuri@gmail.com.
Industry and Research Commercialisation
Entrepreneurship beyond your studies
Stephen Lo from UniServices is running a panel discussion on 28 November on entrepreneurship as a career path. See the poster below. This is for Masters, PhD, Postgrads.
| Panel Discussion:
Exploring entrepreneurship as a career path beyond PhD |
| Join us on this panel discussion that explores the journey of those who went from completing their PhD to becoming an entrepreneur
If you are studying as a postgraduate student (Masters and PhD level) or doing research as a postdoctorate, this event is for you. This panel discussion brings in three PhD alumni from The University of Auckland who took on the entrepreneurial journey. This will provide you good insight about entrepreneurship as an option outside of academia. By attending this event, you will get to hear firsthand from our panel speakers about: · Why they chose that pathway · The impact they are producing for New Zealand and the world · The knowledge and skills developed through their PhD programme which translates to their success as entrepreneurs · The challenges they faced and how they overcame it Details of the Event: · Date: Thursday, 28th November · Time: 11am – 1pm (lunch will be catered at 12:15pm) · Location: 303-155 (Room 155, Level 1, Building 303, Faculty of Science) · This event is FREE to attend During lunch, there is an opportunity to talk our team at Auckland UniServices to find out more about the support that is offered to students and staff at The University of Auckland regarding entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialisation. We have limited spaces, so please register early! |
| Click here to register |
Deep/Clean Tech Lunch
There’s a special end of year event on 26 November that Faculty of Science is contributing to.
Date: Tuesday 26 November
Time: 16h30 to 19h00
Venue: Mezze at Durham Lane
RSVP essential, by return email to kevin.sheehy@vuw.ac.nz Please indicate any special dietary requirements in your RSVP.
We are teaming up to bring you an evening of mezze, drinks and excellent entrepreneurial company with our co-hosts for the evening:
- University of Auckland Faculty of Science
- Dodd Walls Centre for Quantum and Photonic Technologies
- Newmarket Innovation Precinct
- Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
Come along to catch up with deep tech and Cleantech entrepreneurs, and as usual for our final event of the year will be including investors and a wider range of support agencies to come along and discuss progress for the year and ambitions for 2025. With 2024 going down in history as the year that OpenStar achieved first plasma, CoP29 finally approved the ground rules for global trading of carbon credits, the cleantech industrial revolution is truly getting momentum.
We are still on the lookout for writers for our upcoming edition! Volume 4 Edition 5 will be showcasing indigenous science research and concepts that are being worked on within the faculty. If you or someone you know are working on related topics, or are unsure whether your work fits within this scope, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to DM us on social media if you have any questions, use the application form below, or send us an email!
Abstract applications close 15th of December 2024. https://forms.gle/WtKErUmX9dY9wk2w8
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.
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
Join us for a Morning Tea hosted by the Rangahau Committee to celebrate our collective research successes!
🗓 When: Wednesday 4, November
⏰ Time: 10:30
📍 Where: 6th floor
Come along to enjoy good company, delicious treats, and a chance to toast the achievements of our research community.
We look forward to seeing you there! 🌟
Katarzyna Sila-Nowicka, PhD (she/her)
Senior Lecturer in GIScience | School of Environment | Faculty of Science | The University of Auckland
Office 413, Building 302, 23 Symonds Street
Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Katarzyna.sila-nowicka@auckland.ac.nz
Funding
Funding Calls
| Spencer Foundation – Research Grants on Education: Large | |
| This fund aims 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: | Deadline: |
| · Value: between USD125,000 and USD500,000 (circa NZD205,000 -NZD821,000), depending on the funding tier selected.
· Duration: up to a maximum duration of 60 months |
· External Deadline for Intent to Apply: 5pm, Thursday, 30 January 2025
· Internal Deadline for Full Stage: 5pm, Tuesday,14 January 2025 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, website):
· Website If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST. |
|
| 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 NZD80,000
· Duration: up to a maximum duration of 60 months |
12pm, Thursday, 28 November 2024 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines website):
· 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 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 |
|
| 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
| Funding Application Process Changes for UoA Researchers |
| The UoA will be launching new research security processes. These are aimed at complying with NZ’s Export Control legislation as well as preventing espionage and foreign interference in our research activities within a shifting domestic and international security environment. Researchers will be expected to participate in the new screening process when submitting research proposals to funders and conduct associated risk management assessments post-award. These changes take effect from 01 January 2025.
The information sessions are open to all Faculties/LSRIs and will be held on multiple dates (To RSVP for sessions use this link). A recording of the information session will be made available online for those unable to attend in person. 1. Click on the link. You should see this image pop up:
2. Download the file then open it. 3. Accept the meeting and it should update in your calendar. If your teams have questions or concerns, please contact Ben Turley (researchrisk@auckland.ac.nz). |
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Updates from HSW
We are still searching for student Rep to the HSW SoE Committee, great experience possibility of training and great skill to have. Please contact Andres Arcila-Rivera ( a.arcila@auckland.ac.nz )
Keeping yourself safe during downtime
The silly season is here and the amounts of BBQ. Charcoal is the tastiest, but gas BBQ is very convenient. Some tips to help with the safe use of gas is:
- Store the bottles in well-ventilated area preferably outside.
- the propane gas cylinders storage (LPG cylinder storage) should always be kept away from high traffic areas to minimize any chance of accidental impacts.
- Indoor LPG-propane gas storage should always be avoided.
- The LPG-propane cylinder storage area should be flat and firm, such as a concrete slab and be in a location with good drainage, as propane gas cylinders should not be allowed to remain in standing water.
- The area around the LPG-propane gas cylinder storage area should be free from any ignition sources, including electrical componentry, and the surrounding area should also be free of any flammable materials.
- Propane cylinders should not be placed near any artificial heat source.
- Keep the bottles upright
- All bottles should be treated as if they were full, with the valve remaining closed when disconnected.
NZFS recommends the following about BBQs:
- BBQs are potentially dangerous when used carelessly or when consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Treat your BBQ the same way you would a stove: don’t drink and fry and avoid leaving cooking unattended.
- Ensure you regularly check and maintain any fittings and connections. Use the soap bubble test to make sure there are no leaks.
- Leave plenty of clear space around the BBQ. Make sure there is no nearby debris that could catch fire.
- Supervise children at all times when using the BBQ.
- Remove all excess fat from the BBQ after each use.
To check for gas leaks in the connections or along the hose do the soap bubble test:
Whenever you connect a gas cylinder to a BBQ, make sure it’s hand tight. You can do this by turning the gas cylinder on and then pouring a little soapy solution (1/4 cup of water and a squirt of liquid suds) over the valve.
If any bubbles are created, you may have a gas leak. Turn the valve off and replace the cylinder O-ring.
Publications | Articles
- Kalatehjari R., Najafi EM, Asadi A, Brook M. (2024). New Zealand pumicite as a precursor in producing alkaline cement with aluminate-based activators. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 21: e04008.