HeadsUp

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An impending farewell

It’s with mixed feelings that I open with the news that some of you be aware of: our friend and colleague Giovanni Coco will be leaving ‘Team Environment’ to return to the Northern Hemisphere from the end of October. Giovanni has been a huge contributor to the School since his appointment a decade ago. His international collaborations, engaging teaching, numerous supervisions and wide array of grants and contracts in the coastal research area have been truly impressive. He has also cheerfully taken on various service roles to help keep the engine of the School running. Giovanni will leave a wide gap but we have a six-month runway before he takes off. Over that time we can continue to appreciate the warmth and stellar commitment he brings. Closer to his departure we will have a more focussed opportunity to offer thoughts of appreciation and toast his contributions the School.

Congratulations

Blair has let me know that he and his partner Melanie are expecting baby #3 in October. He reports “It’s a boy this time, so I’ll be slightly less outnumbered at home. We’re excited (and slightly terrified), but mostly excited.” Well done and may excitement prevail!

And on the research front, two ENV-led Marsden EOIs have been invited to the next stage. Well done again. And commiserations to those not invited to proceed , but hoping that you can reconsider, tweak, update and recycle next year.

A colourful week ahead

I doubt reminders are needed but…its graduation this week. I look forward to being on a stage well-populated by Environment people. I especially look forward to seeing two of our recent PhD students who have made great teaching contributions as limited-term PTFs graduate: Alice McSherry and Salene Schloffel-Armstrong.

A reminder that even if you are not ascending to the stage in your finery, please do come along to the reception 730am on Tuesday in the 302 atrium and introduce yourself to some parents and supporters. Its our opportunity for manaakitanga.

And next week, celebrations continue..

…with Phil Shane’s inaugural lecture on Monday 19th May. (refreshments and conversation from 5pm – PLT1 hallway on 303 Ground Floor).

Health and Safety

Thanks to all those associated with our labs who have cleared out surplus materials and generally tidied up in response to last week’s call by Blair and Tom as well as the associated Faculty-driven ‘health check’ on labs. The general message is our labs are workspaces not storage spaces for long-term or redundant materials. As my wise Scots grandmother used to say (not in reference to Labs I should add) “if in doubt, toss it out”.

Leave

Remember that all types of Leave are now to be applied for via Hono. Please remember also that any research or conference-related leave over two weeks in duration may need Dean’s approval (but still apply to me as HoS in the first instance). Recall also that any travel needs a completed FoS Travel Approval Form so we know where costs are coming from, where you will be and how your duties are being managed during you absence. A further requirement is that any travel arrangements being made for you by another agency still needs a Travel Approval Form and you need to submit your itinerary to the Risk Office. Please don’t leave me and others wondering where you are, what you are doing and when you will be back.

All for now. Have a great week

Robin Kearns, Head of School

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Announcements, Seminars & Events

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Phil Shane Inaugural Lecture

• When: Monday 19 May | Link to register: https://PhilShane.eventbrite.co.nz
• 5pm Refreshments: Building 303, Ground Floor PLT1 Hallway, 36 Princes Street
• 5:30pm Lecture: Physics Lecture Theatre 1 PLT1/303-G20, Science Centre, 38 Princes Street

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Sanne Vaassen PhD Proposal Seminar

• When: Monday 19 May | 12:00pm  |  302-586
• Zoom: https://auckland.zoom.us/j/98859215511?pwd=XChpQ8G8TeH38XJ00MRQNt3zpNafhp.1
  Meeting ID: 988 5921 5511 Passcode: 020440

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Edouard Basquin PhD Proposal Seminar

• When: Monday 19 May | 3:00pm  |  302-586
• Zoom: https://auckland.zoom.us/j/94621178362?pwd=VjyC6B1BQtQSKA7hpyIqbnk497r4R9.1

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ENV Research Seminar Series

You are cordially invited to attend the next round of the School of Environment Seminar Series presentations, which will include presentations by:

Dr Itxaso Ruiz – Does land management affect grapevine water resources?

Dr Maurizio D’Anna – Reshaping the understanding of beach response to sea-level rise for shoreline models

When: Tuesday 20 May, 12-1pm | Where: 302.140 | Please RSVP for catering

 

 

 

 

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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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The Great SoE Bake Off

When: 13 – 16 May, 10am everyday | Where: 5th Floor Kitchen

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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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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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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

Pink Shirt Day is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about bullying and promoting kindness and inclusion. It originated in Canada in 2007 when two students, David Shepherd and Travis Price, distributed pink shirts to support a fellow student who was bullied for wearing a pink shirt 

In New Zealand, Pink Shirt Day is observed on the third Friday of May each year. This year, it will be held on Friday, 16 May 2025

Supporting Pink Shirt Day is a wonderful way to stand against bullying and promote kindness. Here are some meaningful ways you can get involved:

1. Wear Pink: The simplest way to show your support is by wearing a pink shirt on Pink Shirt Day. This sends a powerful message that you stand against bullying 
2. Educate and Raise Awareness: Host events or activities at your school, workplace, or community to educate others about the impact of bullying and the importance of kindness 
3. Support Anti-Bullying Organizations: Donate to or volunteer with organizations that work to prevent bullying and support victims 
4. Social Media Campaigns: Use your social media platforms to spread the message. Share posts, stories, and information about Pink Shirt Day to raise awareness 
5. Reflect and Act: Take time to reflect on your own behaviour and how you can contribute to a kinder, more inclusive environment. Stand up for others if you see bullying happening

 

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Funding Calls

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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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Spencer Foundation – Research Grants on Education: Large

 The Large Grant supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from US $125,000 to $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years.

This program is “field-initiated,” meaning that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, or method. Goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.

• Value:  between US$125,000 and US$500,000 (circa NZ$ 220,000 -880,000)
• Duration:   12 – 60 months
• Deadlines:  Intent to apply.  External Deadline – Wednesday 14 May 2025;  Internal Deadline – Monday 9 June, 2025 (12 Noon)
• Funder webpage:

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Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake 2026 Biennial Research Funding Programme

NHC Toka Tū Ake invites researchers and practitioners to submit proposals for Biennial grants that align with their updated Research Strategy and Research Investment Priorities Statement 2025.

There have been a number of changes since the last round, so please take some time to familiarise yourself with these.  Please visit the funders website for links to the relevant documents, guidelines and application templates.

• Value: $50,000 – $100,000
• Duration: maximum 2 years
• EOI Internal Deadline:  12pm, Tuesday 20 May 2025

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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

• Funding Call
• Guidelines

If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST.

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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):

• Funding Call
• Guidelines

If you are interested, please also get in touch with your FIRST.

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2025 New Zealand – China Strategic Research Alliance

The New Zealand – China Strategic Research Alliance (SRA) is an annual joint funding programme funded by New Zealand and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST).  Chinese partners must apply for their own funding through MoST. 

For 2025, proposals must align with the priority area of Environmental Technologies. The specific research areas for this priority are:

• Clean and renewable energy technologies
• Climate change adaptation technologies
• Climate change mitigation technologies
• Carbon dioxide capture and conversion technologies
• Novel technologies for biodegradation or elimination of emerging pollutants in vivo
• Grant value:  Up to NZ $300,000
• Duration: Up to 3 years
• Internal Deadline: 12 noon, Monday, 23 June 2025

Guidelines and resources can be found on the MBIE website

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Publications

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