Issue 137 – Tuesday 10 December 2024
HeadsUp
The email traffic has slowed. Many of our ENV team are on annual leave, away at conferences, doing fieldwork, or attending to late-in the year to-do lists. But there remains both a last and first on Wednesday 11th this week: the last Faculty meeting of the year and the first for our new Dean, Professor Sarah Young. As you will have seen in FoS invite, Sarah requests that all staff attend to hear her update and plans. I hope – or should I risk saying expect? – to see a good turnout from Environment.
What should have been mentioned first in this year’s last Heads-up, however, is some hearty congratulations. We have three academic promotions in the School including two new Associate Professors. James Muirhead received a significant move up the Senior Lecturer scale and both Lorna Strachan and Brad Coombes are now A/P. A hearty well-done for these well-earned accolades and career achievements.
Also, not a promotion per se, but congrats to Mel Wall for being invited to take on a 0.04 Māori Academic Lead role reporting to the DVC Education. The talent pool in the School is deep!
I’d also like to take this opportunity to offer reiterated thanks and best wishes to Iliane Gomez, our Group Services Administrator, who is leaving us for the other hemisphere. Thanks for all you’ve done for us, Iliane and your constant cheery smile!
On a more sombre note, even in a quiet time of year there can be a few ‘curved balls’ as they say in baseball. I refer to the announcement by Minister Collins of the disestablishment of the Marsden humanities and social science funding panels and eligibility for grants applications in those domains. This news strikes at the heart of a vibrant and internationally high-ranking part of our School. Suffice to say the email traffic among us social science Fellows of Te Apārangi/Royal Society and wider networks has been intense. Commendably Tom Baker added to the series of well-crafted commentaries: https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/12/06/marsden-fund-cuts-a-win-for-convenient-evidence/ A point of consensus among commentators from across the spectrum of scholarship is that we will all be diminished by a narrowing of the gate to research funding in Aotearoa.
A plea before the great summer diaspora. In these times when we more-than-ever value every prospective or current student, we cannot afford to leave any of them wondering when we will be next available to reply or meet and talk. So, for anyone with a student-facing portfolio in the School, please find a proxy to be available to offer advice if you will be away beyond Monday 6th January. The time we may be away may also be the very time a prospective student is looking for guidance. Between 5 and 17th January, George Perry will be Acting HoS and may well be open to being named on your e-signature as a contact for advice. Regardless, I ask that all in the School set an auto-reply with a date of return so any enquirer isn’t met with a bewildering silence by way of reply. Students and other enquirers should be able to know when you will return to regular duties.
Finally, I acknowledge that it’s been a big year for us as a School as we’ve been caught up in the churn of change. I hardly need to list them, but “stage1 course-build, optimisation, WTR and CFT” will all be code for processes with which we’ve engaged in the quest to refresh our offerings and potentially boost enrolments. I would like to say 2025 might offer respite from change, but that would be a foolish undertaking. I acknowledge I haven’t got everything right within this churn of change and suggestions for 2025 are always gratefully received. However, bumpy though the years been at times, I’d like to think the good ship Environment is heading in a promising direction with “all hands-on deck”. Thank you all for your contributions to the collective efforts and may you all have a safe and restful break. If you find your way to Waiheke over the next month or so, do be in touch. My dog and I are always on for an extra-curricular catch up with both “annual leave” and “optimisation” firmly banished from the conversation!
Have a great break and, if not before, see you in 2025.
Robin
Announcements
Interactions with School of Graduate Studies and PhD examination timeline expectations
UoA is revisiting its way of managing doctoral processes (recruitment, application, admission, candidature, development, examination etc) including the disestablishment of the “Dean of Graduate Studies” position as of 31st December. While the future direction is decided SGS continue to be understaffed which will inevitably cause delays, particularly with the processing of exams. Delays are frustrating, but emailing SGS to ask why there are delays with particular students mostly just slows everything down for everyone. Please funnel any questions/enquiries through the Doctoral Advisor (Jennifer Eccles – j.eccles@auckland.ac.nz).
SGS are currently prioritising the receipt and distribution of theses for examination; to speed things up please ensure the intention to submit and nomination of examiners had already been made at the time of submission. Arguing conflict of interest will also cause long delays. If you can see the thesis has not been dispatched to examiners within four weeks (after the student and supervisors have done what they need to) let the Doctoral Advisor know to escalate through back channels. SGS will aim to process theses received on or before 10th December prior to Christmas. Theses received after this are likely to be reviewed when the team is back after Jan 6th. If the thesis has been out for examination for longer than 12 weeks let the Doctoral Advisor know. If Wahapu shows examination reports have been returned but there has been no decision, please wait for two weeks before flagging this with the Doctoral Advisor.
Notice: End-of-Year Lab Closures, Clean-Up, and Reopening Schedule
As we approach the end of the year, the lab closure dates for 2024 have now been confirmed. The last day for lab access will be Tuesday, 17 December, with closures beginning on Wednesday, 18 December. If you need access beyond this then please discuss this with me and the Technician in charge first. Labs are scheduled to reopen on Monday, 6 January.
All users are expected to assist with cleaning up their workspaces before the labs close. Any unattended samples or materials left in shared spaces without prior arrangement will be disposed of. It is essential that everyone contributes to ensure the labs are properly packed down for the holiday period.
Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the labs are clean and ready to resume operations in the new year.
Regards,
Blair
Technical Manager, School of Environment
Software purchases or renewals in 2025
This is the final call for software purchase or renewal requests due in 2025. If there are software titles that you require for teaching or research purposes, please let us know using this form.
Please submit all titles that will require a contribution from the School’s software budget next year – regardless of whether they are new, existing or upgrades. If we do not receive a request for a particular title, we will assume that it is no longer required and reallocate the budget accordingly.
Emma, Mark, Megan, Murray won the Terry Healy Coastal Project Award from the New Zealand Coastal Society for their work on developing a national historic coastal change dataset for Aotearoa New Zealand
‘Learning Auckland’ through teaching:
Reflection on my first year as an Aucklander
Hyesop Shin
Landed in the last week of March 2024, right in the middle of a supremely busy semester 1, felt like jumping into another world of wonder. Coming from the stormy Scottish Highlands, the sight of the Sky Tower piercing the skyline and the stunning Pacific Ocean rolling in was…well, surreal. It was easy to grasp why Auckland was being the most liveable city in the world 2021 (I know it dropped to 9th this year). As a geographer, I was curious to know more about the city than what the internet told me.
It didn’t take long to notice a hot topic around here: traffic. Like the British’s endless conversations about the weather, traffic seemed to be the common topic for everyone (at least from the conversations I had!). Lucky for me, I got to dive right into this topic by supervising some student projects focused on Auckland and transport. Narrowing down our group focus on public transport, the group and I investigated some fascinating subtopics that revealed some insights about the city.
One of the projects asked, “Can Aucklanders easily reach greenspaces and community amenities using public transport?”. A quick online survey with 60 participants came out with a mixed bag. Only about a quarter of people used public transport or walked to get to greenspaces; most just hopped in their cars. West Aucklanders particularly struggled with access, as supermarkets such as Costco and Pak’n Save tend to be larger and located in areas less suited for walking or public transport. On the flip side, respondents located in central Auckland enjoyed corner shops within a 15-minute walk. Additionally, some mentioned that the liquor ban in West Auckland triggered them to travel to the North or Central, which they found challenging using public transport (Public transport? Nope, that’s car territory). Another interesting finding was that those greenspaces near main roads such as Cornwall Park were more frequently visited and enjoyed by the public.
Another group of students turned their attention to Waiheke Island’s transport scene. One project examined the effects of Fullers360’s pricing policies on residents’ affordability using 90 questionnaire responses. Surprisingly, affordability wasn’t the biggest concern. 60% of people spent less than 5% of their monthly income on ferry rides, and the following 28% spent around 5-10%. Then what did annoy people? Service quality, with complaints about cleanliness and punctuality. Another project tackled how seasonal tourism impacts bus use on the island. Using 2.5 years of bus ridership data, it turns out that ridership shoots up during summer months while punctuality takes a noticeable drop. We also found that residents from the west of the island (Fullers’ ferry terminal) to the central hub including the library and eateries enjoyed better accessibility to bus stops. However, residents in the far eastern and southern areas of the island often had to walk over 1km to the nearest bus stop, likely contributing to higher car dependency in these regions.
Phew, what a year! I’ve learnt so much about Auckland’s transport system through these projects and more, and it’s clear there’s so much more to discover. From its traffic problems to its dreams of becoming a green and sustainable city, Auckland has become my living, breathing classroom. Looking ahead, I am eager to learn more about this city not only through my GIS software, but also through the lens of the people, their environment and more.
Outreach
The Outreach Committee thanks all members of our School in their efforts to communicate the work we do this year. This includes all those who have taught, presented, written about, had conversations about, been involved in Outreach events on, and have been enthusiastic about, our diverse mahi!
Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities
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.
Funding
Funding Calls
| Marsden Fund 2025 | |
| The Marsden Fund aims to invest in excellent, investigator-led research aimed at generating new knowledge, with long-term benefit to New Zealand.
Three types of awards are offered: • Fast-Start: for emerging researchers to give an impetus to their careers by promoting them as sole Principal Investigators (PI) in their own research programme. • Standard: for established and emerging researchers. • Council Award: for projects that are interdisciplinary in nature, with larger teams. |
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| Value/Duration: | Internal Deadline |
| All grants are for a maximum of three years and are GST exclusive.
• Fast-Start: up to $120K p.a. • Standard: up to $220-$320K p.a. (varies by panel) • Council Award: up to $1M p.a. |
12pm, Monday 17 February 2025 |
| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, website):
· Website · Guidelines (Fast-Start, Standard) If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST (Kelly or Sophie) |
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| Spencer Foundation–Vision Grant | |
| This fund aims to fund the collaborative planning of innovative, methodologically diverse, interdisciplinary research on education that contributes to transforming education systems for equity. | |
| Value/Duration: | Deadline: |
| · Value: USD75,000 (circa NZD 120,000)
· Duration: up to a maximum duration of 12 months |
Two-stage Submission deadlines:
· EXTERNAL DEADLINE for Intent to Apply: Thursday, February 11, 2025 (12 Noon CT) · INTERNAL DEADLINE for Full Proposal: Monday, March 3, 2025 (12 Noon CT)
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| Further Information (funding call, guidelines, website):
If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST (Kelly or Sophie) |
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| Marsden 2025 Updates |
| The Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology announced that the Marsden fund will be changing ahead of the 2025 round. Along with the announcement of the changes, a new Investment Plan (2025-2027) and Terms of Reference have been released by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
Due to the changes announced by the Minister, the Royal Society have advised that the Marsden 2025 round will be delayed. At this stage, no new timeline has been provided and we are unsure of the extent of the delay. The most notable changes that have been announced are as follows:
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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 |
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| 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
December 10th is the international day of Human Rights, and we want to mention it in this space, Because the United Nations Human Rights Council also adopted a resolution in 2021 recognizing the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right and we want to extend it to the place where you study too.
December 10th commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948. This day underscores the importance of fundamental rights and freedoms that every individual is entitled to, regardless of nationality, gender, ethnicity, or religion. Health and safety are integral components of these rights. Ensuring safe and healthy working conditions is a fundamental human right, as it directly impacts an individual’s well-being and dignity. we highlight the critical role that health and safety play in upholding human rights, emphasizing that a safe and healthy environment is essential for everyone to live with dignity and respect. This celebration serves as a reminder that protecting human rights includes safeguarding the physical and mental health of all individuals.
Following with Human rights, Decembre 18th is International Migrants Day. The school with its diverse population has a strong representation in this category. This day celebrates the contributions and resilience of migrants worldwide. In a diverse environment like the School of environment; this day holds special significance as it highlights the rich cultural tapestry woven by people from different backgrounds. It is an opportunity to recognize the positive impact of migration on communities, economies, and societies. Celebrating this day in a diverse setting foster understanding and appreciation of different cultures, promotes inclusivity, and encourages dialogue about the challenges and opportunities that migration brings. By acknowledging the experiences and contributions of migrants, we can build more cohesive and supportive communities that value diversity and human rights.
Christmas Safety
The Christmas period in New Zealand is a time of joy and celebration, but it’s also important to stay safe during this festive season. With summer in full swing, many people head outdoors to enjoy the warm weather, so it’s crucial to practice sun safety by wearing sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses. If you’re traveling, ensure your vehicle is well-maintained and take regular breaks to avoid fatigue. Be mindful of water safety when swimming at beaches or pools, and always supervise children around water. Additionally, with the increase in social gatherings, it’s important to drink responsibly and never drink and drive. By taking these precautions, you can enjoy a fun and safe Christmas period with your loved ones.
Whooping Cough Alert
Aotearoa New Zealand is in the early stages of a whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic, and it’s expected to stick around for up to a year. Babies, especially Māori and Pacific, are most at risk of getting seriously ill.
Spread – highly contagious
Whooping cough spreads easily and can be dangerous for babies. Sadly, last year three babies lost their lives to it, and about half of babies under 12 months who catch it need hospital care.
Risk Review for those working with high-risk groups.
Te Whatu Ora encourage all staff—especially those in healthcare, maternity care, or frontline roles—to keep their vaccinations up to date for whooping cough, flu, and measles.
How you can help:
Vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself, your whānau, and others in our community.
Those eligible for free vaccine:
- Pregnant people: Free from 13 weeks (ideally between 16–26 weeks).
- Babies: Vaccinations at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 5 months, with boosters at 4 and 11 years.
- Kids under 18: All children can get a free vaccine.
- Adults aged 45 and 65: Free booster at these ages if eligible.
- Unimmunised or partially immunised adults (or no record of vaccines) A funded primary course of 3 doses of Tdap vaccines (at a minimum of 4-week intervals).
Vaccinations are available at City Campus Pharmacy they will be able to provide free advice, or you can attend your local health provider.
For those not eligible for free vaccination City Campus Pharmacy can offer vaccination for $55.00.
Publications | Articles
- Baker, T. (2024) Marsden Fund cuts a win for ‘convenient’ evidence. Newsroom. 6 December.
- Scarfi S, Almonti V, Mirata S, Passalacqua M, Vernazza S, Patel JP, Brook M, Hamilton A, Kah M, Gualtieri AF. (2025). In vitro cyto- and geno-toxicity of asbestiform erionite from New Zealand. Environmental Research 265: 120415.
- Shane, P., Augustinus, P. (2024) Comment on “First detection in Australia of cryptotephra likely to be derived from the 25.6 ka Oruanui supereruption in New Zealand” by Hopkins et al. Quaternary Science Reviews 346, 109051, doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.109051
- Sharp EL, Tsang S and Egli V (2024) Children’s food gardening: Valuing experiential, intergenerational and multi-cultural learning. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online
- Sharp EL, Yee K, Makey L and Fisher K (2024) Diverse methodologies of care: Thinking with and practising (soil) in situated, affective and enactive ways. Asia Pacific Viewpoint
- Sharp EL, Kah M, Tsang S, Martin A, Turnbull R. (2024) Committing to diversity in participants, participation and knowledge production: Place-based insights from the community science of Soilsafe Aotearoa. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
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. 
November is always a busy month for School ‘happenings’. Last week we had the new Dean’s visit, the New Stage 1 course workshop, the year’s last staff meeting and Nick Lewis’ Professorial Inaugural. Next up we have the Ako-sponsored ‘The Teaching Year’s Over’ and Research Showcase events on Tuesday and Thursday this week The list goes on. These opportunities remind us that we are a School that values a sense of community, celebrating success, and the importance of reconnecting after busy weeks and months. While there are always opportunities to be elsewhere on such occasions, please take advantage of coming along to these events.
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.
Seminar by Visiting Researcher Dr Holly East
We’re excited to share that all laboratories and workshops in the School of Environment have achieved GREEN status under the My Green Lab Certification. This is a fantastic milestone that highlights our strong commitment to sustainable practices.
It is often said that knowledge is power. Yet environmental monitoring (and by association, the knowledge of river ecosystems, contaminants and health) is often prohibitive to access for most people. Equipment is expensive and proprietary, data storage is complex and requires training, and calibrations often require laboratory access. Improving access to technology is key to providing good environmental data.
