HeadsUp

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Last week I was at the Institute of Australian Geographers conference in Newcastle. I came away with three impressions. First, our current and past postgrads are among our best ambassadors as a School: sharp, engaging and enthusiastic. Outreach at its best. Second, if there was physical geography on the programme, I blinked and missed it. Such a pity. The integrated physical and social perspectives embedded across our School are to be celebrated and one of our strengths. Third, I talked with senior staff from one Australian university who had taken early retirement to save the positions of their younger colleagues. Grim stuff. Let us never take our viability as a School and the prudent management of this university for granted.

And in the airport en route home I talked to a colleague already scheming a Newsroom article as an outcome of the conference. Excellent. Let us keep being present in the media. All the more so in these times when the social license of the academic and universities is being called into question (see eg Distinguished Professor Anne Salmond’s commentary https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/23/anne-salmond-victim-of-the-day/).

Looking ahead, the university’s Kaimahi/Staff Survey will run again this year. It will be more comprehensive than earlier iterations and is an opportunity to share your views on your work experiences. All permanent and fixed-term staff, including GTAs, employed for at least three months as of the survey date will receive an invitation to participate in early August. The results from these surveys matter to me as Head of School. They provide a barometer on how things are going that is more fine-tuned than feedback via ADPRs or comments in the corridors can ever be. Last time one of these surveys was held, we were just out of Covid-times and there were comments about a lack of a sense of community in the School. That led to my commitment to a catered lunch at each staff meeting as one of a number of small ways to encourage conversation and catching up in a more sustained manner a few times a year. So, when the invitation comes, please participate. Your input matters.

Have a great week.

Robin

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Announcements, Seminars & Events

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For GIS students:

Eagle Technology is currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Summer Internships. These are hosted in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, and students in their penultimate and final years of university are being considered. Feel free to let your students know about this as it’s a great way to get GIS experience in the field – but also potentially become a graduate at Eagle Technology in the future. Applications are open until the 18th of July. Here is the link for the application portal: https://www.eagle.co.nz/graduates/summer-interns

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Small class-related catering activities

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

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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

 

 

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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:

• Talis the basics 
• Talis Q & A 

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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

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Research Scholarship Information Sheet 2025/26

 

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority have established this scholarship as a product of the

Tūpuna Maunga Education Strategy.

The scholarship applies to research that aligns with the Tūpuna Maunga Values,
enhancing and protecting the mauri and wairua of the Tūpuna Maunga.

All details about the scholarship, including an overview of the Tūpuna Maunga Values
can be found in the application portal.

Who is eligible?

• You must be a member of a research or education institution.
• You must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• Research must align with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority Research Policy and
  
  approved project list (refer to maunga.nz/research/ for details)
• Applications are open to research from a range of fields including
  conservation, archaeology, creative arts, urban-planning, and design, applied
  sciences, social sciences, cultural heritage, business, and commercial studies.

How much funding is available?

• A funding pool of $10,000 available annually to support research projects
  across the Tūpuna Maunga.

Application details
This year’s scholarship application round is open on 30 June and closes 10pm, 31
August 2025. A decision about the applications will be made by 6 October 2025, with
the funding becoming available as early as November 2025.

Applications are submitted via SmartyGrants

Timeframe & Expectations

• Open to both new and on-going research projects.
• Monthly check-ins required with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority research
  scholarship lead.
• Final report submitted to the Tūpuna Maunga Authority Board Members in
  June 2026.

About the Tūpuna Maunga Authority
The Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) hold a paramount place in the historical,
spiritual, ancestral, and cultural identity of the thirteen iwi and hapū of Ngā Mana
Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau (the Māori tribes of Auckland).
The Tūpuna Maunga Authority is the statutory authority established under the Ngā
Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act 2014 to govern the
fourteen Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) of Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland.
Head to www.maunga.nz to find our more. 

FINAL Research Scholarship Information Sheet_25-26

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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!

 

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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

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Early Career Researcher Career Planning Workshop Series

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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!

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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

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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/

 

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Health Safety & Wellbeing

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Update to UoA Alert:
UoA Alert 

Android users cannot download the app at present; however IT is working to fix this ASAP.

Please exercise caution plugging and unplugging items from live power points.

 

Winter Respiratory Hygiene: Key Practices for Staying Healthy

Winter is peak season for respiratory infections like the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and the common cold. Practicing good respiratory hygiene helps prevent the spread of these illnesses and keeps your lungs healthier. Here’s a practical guide:

🧼 1. Hand Hygiene

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) if soap and water aren’t available.
• Especially after coughing, sneezing, touching your face, or public surfaces.

😷 2. Mask When Needed

• Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces, especially during high transmission periods or if you’re feeling sick.
• Choose well-fitted masks (like KN95 or surgical masks) for better protection.

🤧 3. Cough and Sneeze Etiquette

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
• Dispose of used tissues immediately and wash hands.

🏡 4. Stay Home When Sick

• Stay home if you’re experiencing symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat, or fatigue.
• Avoid close contact with others until you’re fever-free (without medication) for at least 24 hours.

💨 5. Ventilation

• Keep indoor spaces well-ventilated by opening windows or using HEPA filters and air purifiers.
• Fresh air dilutes airborne viruses and reduces transmission.

💉 6. Vaccination

• Stay up to date with flu, COVID-19, and RSV (if eligible) vaccines.
• Vaccines are one of the most effective tools for preventing serious respiratory illness.

🫁 7. Support Lung Health

• Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.
• Use a humidifier if your home is very dry—dry air can irritate the respiratory tract.
• Stay hydrated and maintain a nutritious diet to support immune function.

👨‍👩‍👧 8. Protect Vulnerable Populations

• Be extra cautious around the elderly, infants, and those with chronic illnesses.
• Consider testing before gatherings if you’ve been exposed or have mild symptoms.

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Funding Calls

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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.

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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?

1. 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.
2. Research Development Account (RDA) balances may not be correct, particularly if fixed-term or casual staff are being paid from the RDA account. 
3. 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. 
4. 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.

 

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2025 Research Development Fund (RDF)

The Faculty of Science is pleased to announce that the 2025 funding round of the Contestable Research Development Fund (RDF) is now open for applications.

Three award types are being offered by the Faculty of Science in the 2025 contestable round, as outlined below. The total funding amount is yet to be confirmed; however, based on previous years, we anticipate allocating approximately $1 million, with expenditures distributed across 2026, 2027, and 2028.

 

Award type	Duration	Minimum and maximum funding available per application	Estimated Number of Awards
Research Fellowship Award	Up to 3 years	$100,000 – $200,000	4
Staff Research Award	Up to 2 years	$10,000 – $40,000	9
Aronui Pūtaiao Award	Up to 2 years	$10,000 – $40,000	2

 

Key Dates

Date	Funding allocation process step
1st July 2025	Application Forms and Guidelines are available on the FoS Staff Intranet.
1st September 2025	Applications must be submitted via RFM/InfoEd by 4:00 PM.
Early October 2025	RDF Panel meets to review applications and make funding recommendations
Late October 2025	Results announced
1st January 2026	Awards begin

 

• Full details, including guidelines and the application form, are available on the research page of the staff intranet.
• For general queries, in the first instance, please contact your School/Department Research Programme Coordinator (RPC), or Fos-researchadmin@auckland.ac.nz.
• For an overview of the Research Development Fund, visit the Research Hub RDF page.
• Queries about the Aronui Pūtaiao Award can be directed to Te Taura Here Pūtaiao, and the Associate Dean Māori via FoS-researchadmin@auckland.ac.nz.
• Applications are due by 4:00 PM on Monday, 1^st September 2025.

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Funding Calls

Horizon Europe, Pillar 2, Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society	Key topics  Destination 1: Better protect the EU and its citizens against Crime and Terrorism (FCT) Destination 2: Effective management of EU external borders (BM) Destination 3: Resilient infrastructure (INFRA) Destination 4: Disaster-Resilient society for Europe (DRS) Destination 5: Strengthened Security Research and Innovation (SSRI) Destination 6: Increased Cybersecurity	Single-stage calls in cluster 3 have various closing dates in November 2025   GUIDELINES Cluster 3 – Work programme 2025
Horizon Europe, Pillar 2, Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space	Key topics Destination 1: Climate neutral, circular and digitised production Destination 2: Increased Autonomy in Key Strategic Value Chains for Resilient Industry Destination 3: World-leading Data and Computing Technologies Destination 4: Digital & Emerging Technologies for Competitiveness and Fit for the Green Deal Destination 5: Open Strategic Autonomy in Developing, Deploying and Using Global Space-Based Infrastructures, Services, Applications and Data Destination 6: A human-centred and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies	Deadline: Single-stage calls in cluster 4 have various closing dates in September/October 2025   GUIDELINES Cluster 4 – Work programme 2025
Horizon Europe, Pillar 2, Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility	Key topics Destination 1: Climate sciences and responses for the transformation towards climate neutrality  Destination 2: Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition Destination 3: Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply Destination 4: Efficient, sustainable and inclusive energy use Destination 5: Clean and competitive solutions for all transport modes Destination 6: Safe, Resilient Transport and Smart Mobility services for passengers and goods	Single-stage calls in cluster 5 have various closing dates in September 2025   GUIDELINES Cluster 5 – Work programme 2025
Horizon Europe, Pillar 2, Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment	Key topics Destination 1 – Biodiversity and ecosystem services Destination 2 – Fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food systems from primary production to consumption Destination 3 – Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors Destination 4 – Clean environment and zero pollution Destination 5 – Land, oceans and water for climate action Destination 6 – Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities Destination 7 – Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal	Single-stage calls in cluster 6 have various closing dates in September 2025.   GUIDELINES Cluster 6 – Work programme 2025
Horizon Europe, Pillar 2, Missions	For the Horizon Europe 2025–2027 funding period, there are five Missions under “Pillar 2: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness”  of which New Zealand is an associated country enabling organizations to be a funded entity in consortium projects. The 5 Missions are: 1. Adaptation to Climate Change 2. Cancer 3. Restore Our Ocean and Waters 4. Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities 5. A Soil Deal for Europe	All the 2025 calls for Missions have closing dates in September 2025 onwards GUIDELINES Missions – Work Programme 2025 WEBSITE EU Funding & Tenders Portal- portal to find topics EU Funding & Tenders Portal- setting up your own account SUPPORT ResearchHub Resources here
Value: from NZD110,000 to NZD3,000,000 exclusive of the MBIE top-up Duration: 3-4 years WEBSITE EU Funding & Tenders Portal- portal to find topics EU Funding & Tenders Portal- setting up your own account SUPPORT ResearchHub Resources here If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST.

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2025 WUN Research Development Fund
WUN RDF grants are intended to help stimulate larger collaborative projects that will strengthen research relationships across WUN. Proposals must address the following issues to be considered: Social justice and human rights; inequality Sustainable world: cities and urbanization; energy transitions; water, and food security Mental health; child and maternal health; ageing Responsible and ethical applications of Artificial Intelligence The application must involve at least three WUN member universities from at least two continents. Researchers may submit proposals for projects led by the University of Auckland or may be named as co-investigators on projects led by researchers at other WUN member universities.
Value/Duration:	Internal Deadline
·         Value: up to £10,000 (around NZ$22,000) ·         Duration: 12 months	Monday 15 September 2025, 9am
Further Information (funding call, guidelines website): Funding Call Guidelines Most recent awards WUN member university If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST for internal application form, budget template, and other details.