HeadsUp

Last week I was at a Senior Leadership Team (SLT1) retreat for two days. I’d never heard of a place called the Generator but it worked well as a venue for generating better understanding of each other’s perspectives and a collective vision of how we might move forward together as a team.

For the uninitiated there are two leadership teams in the Faculty. SLT1 comprises the Dean, her Deputy and the Heads of the academic ten units plus the Directors of Finance, Special Projects, and Operations and two Associate Deans: Academic and Research. A wider SLT2 group includes other key players in the Faculty such as Assistant Deans the Technical Services Manager.

Last week one fascinating process at the two ‘away days’ was each participant being asked to tell our story in 7 minutes: something of our childhood and the ways it’s influenced us, what gives us most enjoyment in the workplace, what our non-work interests are, who and what has had most impacted on our career. A lot to touch on in in a few minutes. And such diversity yet common threads. Why take the time? Working as a team is more effective when there is mutual understanding and empathy for vantage points.

While the retreat’s timing did not anticipate the change, since it was planned our Dean Sarah Young has been appointed as DVC (Educations). With Mike Kingsley in Exercise Science seconded to be Acting Dean for the next year, all the more prompt for a collective approach to leadership and shared vision for the Faculty. While Mike is quick to dismiss any potential for an acting career, he will be an excellent Acting Dean with his measured, insightful, and good-humoured manner. I will ensure he visits us as a School in the coming weeks.

The two days left a sense of moving ahead as a Faculty with a confidence borne of steadily better enrolments and strong research performance, notwithstanding uncertainties and gaps such as social science funding. We will benefit from the visioning exercise that completed the retreat and the collective identification of four key areas we want to take forward as Faculty leaders. More soon on that. For now, as the third largest School in the university largest faculty (Science at Auckland is about the size if University of Waikato) , we as Te Kura Mātai Taiao /School of Environment can likewise take heart from our improved enrolments, solid research profile, excellent teaching and – I hope! – leadership.

As ever, input and suggestions are welcome as we move forward.

Research

This week, you will have seen the DVC (Research) announced the forthcoming development of Signature Research Areas (SRAs) which will offer opportunities for members of the School, Faculty, University as a whole. Stay tuned for updates both from the DVC’s office as well as locally from our Rangahau co-Chairs Emma and James.

Staff Engagement Survey

As mentioned last P-cubed, Kōrero Mai, the 2025 staff engagement survey will “go live” from Monday 4 August until Monday 18 August. This is an excellent opportunity for all staff to offer input on what aspects are going well, areas we can do better and provide input of ideas and suggestions as we plan. Yesterday, I attended a briefing on the format and it looks to be an efficient and accessible process which will offer easier access to key findings at a School level in due course. Please be on standby to participate. When I look through all the SET results from students I think of the time they have put into completing these. We too should be generous with a short time of input that may, ultimately, lead to consequential change in our working lives.

Speaking of SETs…

A reminder that it is university policy that all participating classes be thanked and offered some feedback after completing SET assessments to “close the loop”. If you haven’t done so already , now is the time.

Mānawa Mai Open Day

Planning for Mānawa Mai Open Day is well underway – please note Saturday 30 August in your calendar. Big thanks for Nick Richards for his annual coordination of activity. This is a grand chance to showcase our School’s offerings and even if you are not on the planning team, I’m sure those staffing the day will welcome seeing you there as will any prospective students and their parents you might speak with.

Health and Safety

As you may have noticed in the Faculty newsletter, there is a new emphasis on “See something, say something”. The idea is that if you see something that has a potential for leading to an incident or injury, you should report it at once. In other words we should all be aware of our work environment, notice potential risks, and don’t hesitate to report them.

There are three ways to report a safety concern:

• Report it online as an observation via the HSW website
• Report it via the mobile UoA Alert app (available on the App Store or Google Play)
• Notify your supervisor, manager, or Health and Safety Representative

Development Manager

Kate Thompson returns the Development Manager role in the Faculty soon. Any opportunities for postgrad students (eg scholarships) and generally promoting what we do can be discussed with her. Kate’s email is: kate.thompson@auckland.ac.nz

Jody Clarke, who has been filling Kate’s role, returns to being Alumni Relations Faculty Manager. She works to strengthen our engagement with alumni by recruiting mentors, celebrating success, and ensuring they’re our best advocates. If you have any ideas about how our alumni can help us, please feel free to reach out to Jody: jody.clarke@auckland.ac.nz for a catch-up.

Congratulations

To Salene Schloffel-Armstrong (currently a PT post-doc in our School) who is the recipient New Zealand Geographical Society 2025 President’s Award for Best Doctoral Thesis in Geography.

In the media

Well done Phil Shane – another Newsroom contribution from our School: https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/09/theres-still-time-to-get-off-this-energy-hungry-train/

So….

A rather full Heads-up this week. And, as campus as well as teaching schedules are busy again, may everyone stay heads-up, happy and enjoying the sun.

 

Robin Kearns

Head of School.

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Announcements, Seminars & Events

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Small class-related catering activities

Our budget towards small class-related catering activities for semester 2 has been undersubscribed. We have $500.00 still to be allocated. 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 and applications are due by the 1^st of August. Selection will be made by the committee shortly afterwards. Application must be submitted through the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/s7bvNAcFAP

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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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Fulbright New Zealand Scholar Awards: Online information session 

Fulbright NZ Scholar Awards are for New Zealand academics, artists or professionals to lecture and/or conduct research at US institutions. 

To be eligible, applicants must: 

1. have a PhD or the equivalent professional or artistic training or experience 

1. show professional distinction, leadership skills, and strong ambassadorial qualities  

1. plan to undertake full-time lecturing or research at a US institution for a period of three to five months. 

If you want to know more, register for an online information session here 

Date: Thursday 29 July, 5:30-6:30pm  

For inquiries, please contact international.research@auckland.ac.nz 

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Early Career Researcher Career Planning Workshop Series 

This two-part, in-person ECR Career workshop series is a structured, interactive programme designed for postdocs, research fellows, PhD candidates, and other early career researchers who want to take a strategic approach to their career development. 

Over two half-day sessions, participants will explore career options both inside and beyond academia, reflect on their professional identity, and develop an action plan for the next steps in their career journey. 
 
Workshop Dates 

Participants must attend both sessions. 

• Session 1: Monday 11 August, 9:30 – 12:30 

• Session 2: Monday 18 August, 9:30 – 12:30

Venue: 

Building 201 – Arts & Education, Auckland City Campus 

Before the Workshop 
Confirmed participants will receive a short pre-workshop digital workbook (~1–2 hours to complete) to help you prepare and make the most of the sessions. 
 
Register your interest here 

Any questions can be sent to: researcherdevelopment@auckland.ac.nz 

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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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Zero Waste Aotearoa National Hui 2025

For those of you interested in improving and reducing waste, the Zero Waste Aotearoa National Hui will be held at the University of Auckland over 8-10 September this year. More details here and to come: Zero Waste Aotearoa National Hui 2025 | Zero Waste Network New Zealand

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Repair Café: Call for Volunteers!

The Faculty of Engineering and Design Sustainability Committee, CIRCUIT Centre, Ngā Ara Whetū, and Sustainability Hub and other faculties are collaborating with Repair Network Aotearoa to host our own Repair Café at the University for our staff and students!

Repair Cafés are pop up events where expert repairers help visitors fix their broken household items for free. It’s all about bringing communities together, sharing skills between generations, keeping repair skills alive, and saving stuff from going to landfill, instead expanding the lifespan of your belongings, and learning how to maintain them.

We are looking for volunteers for the following areas: sewing, electrical (must be qualified electrician), electronics assessment, general (such as bike repairs, chairs, woodwork etc), jewellery and any other skills!

The event will likely be hosted one afternoon either the 14^th or 15^th October at the City Campus. Final details TBC.

 

If you are interested in finding out more information and to volunteer, please send an email to foed-sustainability@auckland.ac.nz and the team will send through details.

Download the Repair Café Handbook here: Repair-Café-Handbook- May 2023

 

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Health Safety & Wellbeing

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Update to UoA Alert:
UoA Alert https://uoa.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16370/~/uoa-alert
Android users can download the app here.
Apple users, please download in the App store.

July 28 World Hepatitis Day 2025 – Let’s Break It Down

Lets celebrate: July 30 International Day of Friendship | United Nations

 

Electrical safety:

Please exercise caution plugging and unplugging items from your desk’s power points, the multiplugs do not have individual switches and there is a small risk of making contact with the exposed prongs.

Be well – The University of Auckland has a whole raft of resources to help you with your well being

Wellbeing is a broad concept that encompasses various aspects of physical, mental, emotional, and social health. While different models may emphasize different elements, here are five widely recognized pillars of wellbeing:

1. Physical Wellbeing

• Involves maintaining a healthy body through:
  • Regular exercise
  • Balanced nutrition
  • Adequate sleep
  • Preventive healthcare
  • Avoidance of harmful habits (e.g., smoking, excessive alcohol)

2. Mental & Emotional Wellbeing

• Focuses on psychological health and emotional resilience:
  • Managing stress effectively
  • Practicing mindfulness or meditation
  • Seeking therapy or counselling when needed
  • Cultivating positive emotions and self-esteem

3. Social Wellbeing

• Relates to the quality of relationships and social connections:
  • Building strong, supportive relationships
  • Engaging in community or group activities
  • Feeling a sense of belonging and inclusion
  • Effective communication and empathy

4. Spiritual Wellbeing

• Involves a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection:
  • Practicing gratitude and reflection
  • Engaging in spiritual or religious practices (if applicable)
  • Aligning actions with personal values
  • Feeling connected to something greater than oneself

5. Occupational & Financial Wellbeing

• Pertains to satisfaction and stability in work and finances:
  • Finding fulfilment in work or daily activities
  • Maintaining financial security and planning
  • Work-life balance
  • Opportunities for growth and development

6. Environmental Wellbeing

• Harmony with the Earth and creating surroundings that support your health and happiness. It includes both your natural environment and your personal spaces.
  • Connection to Nature: Spending time outdoors, appreciating natural beauty, and engaging in activities like hiking, gardening, or simply walking in a park.
  • Sustainable Living: Reducing waste, recycling, conserving energy and water, and making eco-friendly choices (e.g., using public transport, supporting local produce).
  • Healthy Surroundings: Keeping your home and workspace clean, organized, and free from clutter or toxins.
  • Community Engagement: Participating in environmental causes or local clean-up efforts to improve shared spaces.

7. Intellectual Wellbeing

• Involves engaging in mentally stimulating activities that expand your knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking.
  • Lifelong Learning: Pursuing education, reading, taking courses, or learning new skills.
  • Creative Expression: Engaging in art, music, writing, or other creative outlets.
  • Curiosity & Exploration: Asking questions, exploring new ideas, and staying open-minded.
  • Problem Solving: Challenging your brain with puzzles, games, or strategic thinking

Would you like help applying these pillars to your own life or creating a wellbeing plan?

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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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2026 Kupe Leadership Scholarships

There are 16 scholarships available and along with a $22,000 stipend (or $10,000 + on campus studio accommodation) and tuition fees for the academic year, scholars also receive mentoring and a unique leadership development programme alongside a cohort of diverse, passionate future leaders. The cross disciplinary nature of the programme provides a rich learning environment for the scholars, and they gain a tremendous amount of insight from their peers.

We have an online session coming up for potential applicants to attend if they want to learn a bit more about Scholarship, please see link below.

Wednesday 23 July, 12-12.45pm (lunchtime): Online Session

For more information go to Kupe Leadership Scholarships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Transdisciplinary Ideation Fund
The Waipapa Taumata Rau Transdisciplinary Ideation Fund (TIF)is a fund that encourages research staff from across the University to develop cross-disciplinary research partnerships, aspiring toward high-quality Transdisciplinary research outputs, research learning initiatives, and successful applications to external research funders. The Applicant Team must include researchers from at least two disciplines, and evidence the transdisciplinary aspects of the research.
Value/Duration:	Deadline
Value: NZ$20,000 Duration: 18 months	5pm Monday 29 September 2025
APPLICATION FORM AND GUIDELINES View the documents hereIf you are interested, please get in touch with your FIRST.

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Researcher Skills & Development Fund 2026
The RSD Fund has been established to help enhance and expand researcher development offerings across the University to supplement existing funding sources for the design, development, and delivery of researcher development offerings. Please note this fund is distinct from the Research Development Fund (RDF), also known as FRDF – Faculty Research Development Fund, which provides internal funding for research.
Value/Duration:	Deadline
Value: There is no minimum or maximum amount of funding that can be sought per request. The total amount of the fund available is $500k for 2026. Duration: 12 months	Friday 29th August 2025
Further Information (funding call, guidelines website): Funding Call Guidelines  If you are interested, please get in touch with your FIRST.

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KU Leuven Global Seed Fund (GSF) 2026
The GSF aims to initiate or deepen collaborations with researchers from a select group of priority partner institutions, with the goal of developing high-quality proposals for European or other international competitive funding.  Eligible Activities Include:  Organising joint workshops  Reciprocal travel between institutions  Other activities that support the proposed research and strengthen the partnership (to be approved by both institutions)
Value/Duration:	Deadline
Value: Up to €30,000 per project (KU Leuven), plus $25,000 NZD (University of Auckland, matching fund from Global Research Engagement Fund – see below).   Duration: 12 months	9 October 2025 (exact time TBC)
Further Information (funding call, guidelines website): Funding Call Guidelines If you are interested, please contact international.research@auckland.ac.nz and further guidance will be provided.

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Global Research Engagement Fund (GREF) – Round 4 & 5
The Global Research Engagement Fund (GREF) is available to UoA researchers and professional research staff to foster the development of new and emerging research partnerships with international collaborators.
Value/Duration:	Deadline
Value: Networking & Engagement Grants (up to $10,000) Project Planning Grants: Up to $12,000 if the University of Auckland is a Partner, or up to $25,000 if the University of Auckland leads the project. Duration: 18 months	2025 Funding Rounds: Round 4: Notify of Intention to Submit: 22nd August 2025 Final Application Submission Date: 29th August 2025 Round 5: Notify of Intention to Submit: 24th October 2025 Final Application Submission Date: 31st October 2025
Further Information (funding call, guidelines website): Funding Call Applicant Information, Guidance & Evaluation Criteria If you are interested, please get in touch with your FIRST.

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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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

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Publications

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New database and paper on Auckland’s faults: 

Over the past year and a half several researchers from the School have been collaborating with external researcher Jill Kenny on a new GIS database of obscured faults in Auckland. After several successful writing retreats (see photo!), the database and associated paper are now published if you are interested in having a look:
 
Kenny, JA Lindsay, JM, Muirhead JD, Eccles JD, Luthfian A, Ingold J, van Wijk K, Miller C, Howe TM, Kirk P (2025) Identifying concealed faults in urban areas: Insights from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysical Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288306.2025.2519722
 
The database: https://auckland.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Auckland_Faults_QGIS_database/29067632

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Shane, Phil 2025. “There’s still time to get off this energy-hungry train”. Opinion piece on the limits to growth in Newsroom.com  https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/09/theres-still-time-to-get-off-this-energy-hungry-train/

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Bulmer, R.; Palacios, M.M.; Masqué, P.; Lundquist, C.J.; Schwendenmann, L.; Trevathan-Tackett, S.M.; Waryszak, P.; Kettles, H.; Macreadie, P. I. (2025). Carbon capture by expanding temperate mangrove forests. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science: 109415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109415

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.

HeadsUp

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I hope everyone was able to take at least a few moments to appreciate the sun and other mid-winter pleasures such as the night sky over Matariki weekend. A time for looking back and forward. Lengthening days from now. So much more of a logical time for a new year in this land, in my view.

Good to catch breath and appreciate the here and now – not just on long weekends but whenever we can, as the world becomes more fraught. And we are all affected in unanticipated ways. I spent much of Sunday afternoon talking through options and levels of risk when one of us due to transit through the Middle East to a fieldwork destination contacted me. New territory for myself, the Dean, the Risk Office, others. Now, three staff and students in the School have been rerouted via China to avoid an area of at least potential disruption. Contacting me out of hours with that sort of concern is entirely appropriate. ‘Better safe than stranded’ is my baseline position.

On a happier note I’d like to fulsomely thank George Perry as he approaches a July start to RSL and, as is generally our convention, an end to a key service role. He has offered stellar work as Depurty Head (Academic Programmes) and I will greatly miss his good humour, wise counsel and appreciation of the bigger picture in the teaching space.

As mentioned in the staff meeting, and evident in the slides that guided my comments (View here or download here: 2025 June Staff Meeting), I am working on an a slight expansion of the governance structure of the School to better align with that of the Faculty. Please expect some requests to consider participating more fully in an expanded engine room of the School very soon.

For now, with the break between semesters coming up, do catch breath and – for those who are travelling – enjoy reconnecting at conferences or making field work gains. And keep a disposition of nimbleness in this, at times, edgy world.

Robin Kearns, Head of School

 

A thesis in 3 minutes! – an update from JC

Our Kura held its first heats for the international 3-Minute Thesis competition on 3 June. The principle is simple: summarise a 100,000-word thesis in 3 minutes with only one slide… A very challenging but exciting task! Few of our doctoral candidates joined our heats but the quality of presentations was very impressive. Anne-Fleur van Leeuwen did particularly well and clinched the first spot. Katie Gilchrist came second and Hang Thai third. All of them received a Prezzy card as a reward for their effort. Noteworthy is that Anne-Fleur eventually represented us at the Faculty 3MT heats and did very well too.

Congratulations to all candidates and special thanks to Luitgard, Inka and Joe who judged the competition.

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Announcements, Seminars & Events

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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 

---

From the OUTREACH COMMITTEE:

Share Your Latest Academic and Career Achievements with Us!

Share your latest research, conference presentations, fieldwork, and career updates with us! Your achievements could be featured on the School of Environment’s social media to showcase the amazing work happening in our community. Fill out the survey and include photos, titles of papers or theses, and anything else you’d like to share!

https://forms.gle/QAEkcndygHNazXr2A

---

COMPASS Morning Tea 

COMPASS PG is dedicated to creating a vibrant and supportive community for postgraduate students at all levels in the School of Environment. We host regular events designed to foster collaboration, networking, and a sense of community. 

All staff and postgrad students are invited to come along, to participate or just to enjoy some home baked goods!

 

---

Te Akoranga Kairangi

The free staff programme, Te Akoranga Kairangi (TAK) is an introduction to Māori language, culture and the treaty. Details about the programme are appended. The programme runs over 8 weeks, 2 hours per weekly session, on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Fourteen 8-week cohorts are offered throughout the year, including an on-line option. Details about the schedule are appended and ALSO on Hono Learning (see instructions below). 

Here are links to the details of the programme: TAK Programme  and 2025 TAK times available

In addition, a free 2.5 hour Colonial History Walk around the university area is led by Assoc Prof Avril Bell. This is a unique opportunity for all staff keen to learn more about the role of central Auckland in the history of colonisation.

To enrol in TAK or the Colonial History Walk:

EITHER by emailing  (we can enrol you directly) Assoc Prof Avril Bell a.bell@auckland.ac.nz (Tuesday classes) or Prof Alison Jones a.jones@auckland.ac.nz (Thursdays classes)  

OR  by going to University of Auckland staff intranet webpage, search for Hono Learning. On the Hono page, type Te Akoranga Kairangi into the search bar at the top. Then click on the Te Akoranga Kairangi or Colonial History Walk link. Then click on Select Offering. There you should see a list of cohort dates for the year’s classes or walks. Select the cohort dates that suit you. Then click on Submit. You should then get an email to confirm your enrolment.

Feel free to contact Alison or Avril with any questions! 😊

Ngā mihi, thanks a lot

Alison and Avril

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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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Introductions to R Workshop

An introductory R Workshop is being run on Wednesday 2^nd and Thursday 3^rd of July 2025. The course will be run by the Statistical Consulting Centre (SCC) in the Department of Statistics.

What’s covered in the workshop?

• Introduction
  Getting familiar with R
  Using R Studio and loading projects/scripts
  Basic functions using R
  Reading in Data Files (.csv, .xls/.xlsx)
  Introduction to R Objects. How R thinks (vectors, matrices, basic data formats)
• Working with data(sets)
  Cleaning and subsetting
  Merging datasets and reformatting
  Grouping variables and summarising
• R graphics
  Starting with plots in R (boxplots, histograms, bar graphs)
  Graphics in R with ggplot2 (customising plots)
• Data analysis
  Introduction to performing t-tests, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and general linear models

The cost is $400 for UoA students and staff.
You can pay using your PRESS account, research grant, or other UoA account.
You can also opt to use a debit/credit card (however we will have to also add GST for this type of payment – please contact Joei Mudaliar j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz for further instructions).

The payment authorisation form for UoA participants paying from a UoA account is here.
The cost for non-UoA attendees is $650 + GST. Please contact Joei Mudaliar (j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz) for payment instructions.

We will be sending out a pre-workshop information email the week prior to the course, however here are some of the details:

Location
We will be in room 302.190. Building 302 is on the corner of Symonds St and Wellesley St. The room we will be using is on level 1, room 160.

Time and schedule
The approximate schedule for both days is here (since this is the schedule from our previous course, it may yet be altered very slightly).
We will start at 9am and finish at 5pm.
Morning and afternoon tea will be provided, and there are cafes nearby for lunch. 

Computers
We will be using a Faculty of Science computer lab.
You are also welcome to use your own laptop. However, please make sure that you have downloaded R and RStudio onto your machine before the workshop (they are free to download).
We will also include some instructions on how to do this in our pre-workshop information email.

Access to computers and the internet
We will arrange access to the lab computers for all non-UoA participants.
We will also have a guest wireless password for non-UoA participants who are bringing their own laptops.
UoA staff and students will be able to access the FoS computers using their normal UoA upi and password.
I hope you can make it on the 2^nd and 3^rd July 2025, and we look forward to seeing you there.

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The 2025 ANZIC Marine Geoscience Masterclass

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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

---

TestnTel will be doing the test and tag this week, please allow the contractors access to your offices and electric equipment.

 

Remember to get your free flu vaccine available at Unichem Campus Pharmacy, this will help you prepare for winter.

Location: Kate Edger Information Commons 9 Symonds Street (corner of Symonds Street and Alfred Street) Level 1, next to UBIQ and Esports Arena

You also might be eligible to a free MMR vaccine. The measles (MMR) vaccine is free for all children under 18 years in New Zealand, and all adults over the age of 18 who are eligible for free NZ healthcare.
Measles – The University of Auckland
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine

Message from AT for this winter

 

To Report Incidents:

• Students
  Students should report incidents, injuries and observations to the Student Contact Centre or via their academic supervisor.
• Staff
  https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/health-safety-wellbeing/report-concerns-hazards/injury-incidents-observations-reporting.html

Consider downloading

• UoA Alert: UoA Alert
• Auckland Uni app:
  The “AucklandUni app” is actually called UoA Kāhu, and it’s designed to provide University of Auckland students with easy access to essential information and tools. It’s available for download on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store.

Tips for winter:

Maintaining Health:

• Boost your immune system: Eat immune-boosting foods, consume fish or fish oil, and ensure adequate Vitamin D intake.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water, even when you don’t feel thirsty.
• Manage dry skin: Use moisturizers, lip balm, and consider using a humidifier to combat dry air.
• Prioritize sleep: Getting enough sleep (7-9 hours) is crucial for your immune system and overall health.
• Exercise regularly: Even light exercise indoors can help you stay active and healthy.
• Get vaccinated: Get your flu shot and stay up-to-date on other vaccinations.
• Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs.

 

These are the awareness days for this fortnight:

June 19 – 25: National Volunteer Week
Jun 26: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

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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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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: Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships

Please note that this funding called is related to the Tāwhia Te Mana Fellowship webinar Roadshow webinar under the Announcements, Seminars & Events section.

These Fellowships will support researchers at different career stages to produce excellent and impactful research and to develop into leaders in their fields, their respective host organisations and across the whole of the Aotearoa New Zealand ST&I system. The Fellowships consist of three schemes, targeted at early, mid- and established career researchers, respectively. The three schemes are:

• New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
• New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
• New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

Value/Duration:

New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader
Fellowship

• Value: $820,000
• Duration: 4 years or up to 8 years part-time

New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader
Fellowship

• Value: $1,160,000
• Duration: 4 years or up to 8 years part-time

New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished
Researcher Fellowship

• Value: $220,000
• Duration: 1-2 years

 

Internal Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday, 1st July 2025

Guidelines:

•  New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

Application templates

•  New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

Website
ResearchHub resources

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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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
•                     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.

HeadsUp

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I write from home, rain pelting down, under the weather both literally and metaphorically. Thankfully, one of the downstream effects of the Covid years for workplace culture has been an acknowledgement that being at the office with even a moderate winter cold is not a great idea for all parties. Do please use good judgement if you succumb to an unwelcome winter virus and take sick leave to completely unplug if you can (and please log the time as sick leave on Hono). And do think about ways to keep well through winter. Clearly, I need a refresh of strategies as I’ve had bad luck despite all the raw garlic and dips in the sea…

Some updates:

• Thanks to those who got along to the morning tea reception for Amelia Linzey, Geography graduate and honoured as FoS Distinguished Alumnus.
• The four new ENV courses are an important new direction for the School, so many thanks to those of who have attended the meetings where their development has been discussed. The information presented at these sessions will be made available to all. We will be holding a specific examiners’ meeting to review the courses since they transcend the individual disciplinary programmes, and these will happen each semester they run. It is also expected that the courses will be reviewed more extensively at the end of Semester 2 this year once they have run twice and some of the teething issues have been resolved.
• A reminder: our 2nd (yes, only second) all-staff meeting is next Wednesday 18th, 11am-1pm (with the usual first hour for deliberations, 2nd hour for kai). Be there please.
• Congratulations to Murray Ford whose been appointed as Acting Associate Dean Academic.
• Congrats also to JR, Sila and Melissa who are leading Endeavour bids that have made it to the next stage of consideration. A great showing for the School!
• With RSLs for some in Sem 2, there are a few changes in service role responsibilities: effective July. Here are the first:
  • Meg Parsons assumes Environmental Management Programme Director from Brad Coombes;
  • Kathy Campbell assumes Chair of Equity Committee from Sonia Fonua.
  • Hyesop Shin chairs the Stage 3 and postgraduate SSCCs.
• And a forthcoming acknowledgement/farewell: On account of a range of commitments overseas as well as the Faculty’s quest to reduce air travel, Giovanni Coco will be physically leaving us at the end of August, two months’ earlier than his actual date of ending his time with us. Please mark your diaries for an opportunity to share a drink and offer him thanks and good wishes on Wed 13th August, 4.30pm.

A reminder:
Please remember there are two steps prior to any travel: first obtain a quote from Orbit and complete a Faculty Travel approval form (https://www.forms.auckland.ac.nz/en/staff/science/fos-staff-travel-approval-request-form.html); second, once approved by your academic manager (ie me, via Patricia p.yip@auckland.ac.nz) request that Orbit moves from a quote to a purchase. The second and online form they send you doesn’t replace the Faculty one; it is a purchase order not a travel approval form. The latter is your undertaking that your responsibilities are covered while you are  away, appraising me of your itinerary and length of absence, and an assurance of where the cost will be billed to (an if you plan on being away > 1 month, the Dean’s approval is needed).  Further details can be found in the How to do Stuff guide – there’s a link to this on the p-cubed header (As Sarah our Dean reminded us today, all staff need to complete an Approval Form including her; she needs to seek approval from her manager , the VC). Please don’t leave me wondering where in the world you are, why and for how long.   

All best for these winter days leading up to Matariki.

Robin Kearns, Head of School

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Announcements, Seminars & Events

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School of Environment / IMS Equity Morning Tea

 

Kia ora everyone,

This month, SoE and IMS Equity is holding our morning tea to mark World Refugee Day. Please join us for some kai, connecting with others, and our usual light competitive quiz spirit!

When: Wednesday, 18th June, 10:30am – 11:00am
Where: 302 Level 6 Kitchen

We’ll be running our monthly quiz with a focus on World Refugee Day (with prizes to be won!), alongside the highly anticipated Round 2 of the Whittaker’s Chocolate Tournament to help decide the School’s favourite Whittaker’s chocolate flavour.

All are welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2025 GSNZ President’s Lecture Auckland

GSNZ President Sam McColl will be in Auckland on the 17^th June 2025. He will be giving his (same) lecture twice that day – once at 1 pm in Rm 302-130 (1^st floor) of the University of Auckland Science Centre at 23 Symonds St https://gsnz.org.nz/gsnz-events/ViewEvent/398  and again at 7.30 pm at the Epsom Community Centre, 200 Gillies Ave, Epsom https://gsnz.org.nz/gsnz-events/ViewEvent/401

2025 GSNZ President Tour: Martian monsters, giant landslides, and recipes for disaster: Landslide curiosities, hazards, and a slippery future

Come along to briefly hear of the latest developments of the GSNZ, including new training and funding opportunities. You will have the opportunity to provide feedback or suggestions to the President.

Sam will then take you on a foray through the fascinating world of landslides, from the unbelievably large landslides on Mars to common problems in your back yard. The talk will explore why New Zealand has so many landslides and why they cost more than any other natural hazard. Some thoughts will be given to the big questions in landslide science and projections for landslides in a warming world. 

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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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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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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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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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Introductions to R Workshop

An introductory R Workshop is being run on Wednesday 2^nd and Thursday 3^rd of July 2025. The course will be run by the Statistical Consulting Centre (SCC) in the Department of Statistics.

What’s covered in the workshop?

• Introduction
  Getting familiar with R
  Using R Studio and loading projects/scripts
  Basic functions using R
  Reading in Data Files (.csv, .xls/.xlsx)
  Introduction to R Objects. How R thinks (vectors, matrices, basic data formats)
• Working with data(sets)
  Cleaning and subsetting
  Merging datasets and reformatting
  Grouping variables and summarising
• R graphics
  Starting with plots in R (boxplots, histograms, bar graphs)
  Graphics in R with ggplot2 (customising plots)
• Data analysis
  Introduction to performing t-tests, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and general linear models

The cost is $400 for UoA students and staff.
You can pay using your PRESS account, research grant, or other UoA account.
You can also opt to use a debit/credit card (however we will have to also add GST for this type of payment – please contact Joei Mudaliar j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz for further instructions).

The payment authorisation form for UoA participants paying from a UoA account is here.
The cost for non-UoA attendees is $650 + GST. Please contact Joei Mudaliar (j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz) for payment instructions.

We will be sending out a pre-workshop information email the week prior to the course, however here are some of the details:

Location
We will be in room 302.190. Building 302 is on the corner of Symonds St and Wellesley St. The room we will be using is on level 1, room 160.

Time and schedule
The approximate schedule for both days is here (since this is the schedule from our previous course, it may yet be altered very slightly).
We will start at 9am and finish at 5pm.
Morning and afternoon tea will be provided, and there are cafes nearby for lunch. 

Computers
We will be using a Faculty of Science computer lab.
You are also welcome to use your own laptop. However, please make sure that you have downloaded R and RStudio onto your machine before the workshop (they are free to download).
We will also include some instructions on how to do this in our pre-workshop information email.

Access to computers and the internet
We will arrange access to the lab computers for all non-UoA participants.
We will also have a guest wireless password for non-UoA participants who are bringing their own laptops.
UoA staff and students will be able to access the FoS computers using their normal UoA upi and password.
I hope you can make it on the 2^nd and 3^rd July 2025, and we look forward to seeing you there.

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The 2025 ANZIC Marine Geoscience Masterclass

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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
You also might be eligible to a free MMR vaccine. The measles (MMR) vaccine is free for all children under 18 years in New Zealand, and all adults over the age of 18 who are eligible for free NZ healthcare.
Measles – The University of Auckland
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine

Men’s Health Week

 

“Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.”

 

That’s the message to Kiwi guys from Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey as Men’s Health Week cranks up for 2025.

The Minister reiterated the message that MHW has been getting out through its ambassadors – talking to a mate can be the first step on your path back to great again.

“Whether it’s men’s health week or any other day, talking to your mates, family or a mental health practitioner, I would encourage you to have the conversation about how you’re really doing.”

What You Can Do This Men’s Health Week:

• Book a check-up with your GP
• Join in with a class or session that best suits you
• Encourage a mate to book their appointment too
• Share your journey using #SeeYourGP and #MensHealthWeek2025

Message from AT for this Winter:

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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.

---

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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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: Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships

Please note that this funding called is related to the Tāwhia Te Mana Fellowship webinar Roadshow webinar under the Announcements, Seminars & Events section.

These Fellowships will support researchers at different career stages to produce excellent and impactful research and to develop into leaders in their fields, their respective host organisations and across the whole of the Aotearoa New Zealand ST&I system. The Fellowships consist of three schemes, targeted at early, mid- and established career researchers, respectively. The three schemes are:

• New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
• New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
• New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

Value/Duration:

New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader
Fellowship

• Value: $820,000
• Duration: 4 years or up to 8 years part-time

New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader
Fellowship

• Value: $1,160,000
• Duration: 4 years or up to 8 years part-time

New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished
Researcher Fellowship

• Value: $220,000
• Duration: 1-2 years

 

Internal Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday, 1st July 2025

Guidelines:

•  New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

Application templates

•  New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

Website
ResearchHub resources

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

---

Royal Society Te Apārangi Catalyst Seeding (Round 2)

Catalyst Seeding facilitates new small and medium pre-research strategic partnerships that cannot be supported through other means, and with a view to developing full collaborations that could be supported through Catalyst: Strategic over time. Funding is for research exchanges, research activities, and expenses related to hosting workshops for new strategic research partnerships with international collaborators.

The Catalyst Fund investment plan identifies six priority research areas, which are:

• Quantum technology
• Health and biomedicine
• Biotechnologies
• Artificial Intelligence
• Antarctic research
• Space and Earth observations

Details:

• Value: up to $80,000 (Exc. GST)
• Duration: 2 years
• Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday, 8 July 2025

Further Information (funding call, guidelines website):

• Funding Call
• Guidelines

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

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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
•                     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.

HeadsUp

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One of the traps of science is excessive reductionism. To an extent, of course, it’s necessary. The crystals in a rock specimen, for instance, might not be seen without the tunnel-vision of the microscope. The trick is achieving balance: to focus on the detail and but acknowledge the wider context in which a specimen was formed and embedded.

I’ve been thinking about how reductionism can plague our teaching: for instance, seeing SET scores as the sole measure of performance and student satisfaction. Now is the time of course to encourage your classes to engage with SET and this remains an important tool for reflecting on our engagement in courses and the way we are regarded as educators.

But there’s a shift across the university towards embracing wider performance metrics. In career assessment processes, such as continuation and promotion, SET scores are a necessary but not sufficient indicator of satisfactory performance or, even better, excellence. There is now an expectation applicant for advancement will engage with the Teach Well framework. Quality cannot be only measured by looking down a metaphorical microscope at SET-based student feedback. Rather, we are expected to be educational as well as research innovators. The challenge is to be creative in demonstrating just that. Ideas? Ask a peer to sit-in on one of your classes and jot some observations. Ask students to offer narrative feedback part-way through a course. Describe how you have maintained an engaged attendance though the semester. Show you are running a course not a curse!

This week we begin a series of deliberative reflections on the four new stage 1 courses. Big thanks to Ako Innovation Committee for the organising and to those who will present on these occasions. Four 90-minute sessions could be seen as a big commitment, but how quickly the same duration passes writing a paper or in a lab. Please attend and offer feedback.

More broadly, this is a time to -paradoxically perhaps – both take teaching seriously and make it fun; a time to collectively “up our game”. As framed in the title of Parker Palmer’s book, it takes ‘courage to teach’. It’s exposing, requires engagement, takes enthusiasm. We have been appointed to lecture and profess. Let’s do it with gusto.

—

Thanks to all colleagues who graced the stage in their finery for graduation. A big congratulations to all of our students who crossed that same stage. Its all-too easy for us who’ve been on the marking/supervision side of the equation to lose touch with the grunt, tenacity and sacrifice involved to graduate, so big respect to you all. Here’s a great write up on the university website about one of our PhD graduates: Herbalist cooks up a witchy brew of a PhD – The University of Auckland

Congratulations also to Tara Coleman, a qualitative methodologist and part of the School since her award-winning MA thesis in 2008. Tara has just finished her three- year Marsden grant and, among other outputs, is publishing a book of poetry crafted from her interviewee’s transcripts. In these time when the tap being turned off for some categories of Marsden applicants, such pathbreaking work at the nexus of social science and the humanities is to be honoured all the more ( You can read an introduction to her Placing Unheard Voices here.)

Other outstanding achievements, awards, new opportunities I /we should know about and profile? Don’t be whakama – send them in.

Have a good week.

Robin Kearns, Head of School

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Announcements, Seminars & Events

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Tāwhia Te Mana Fellowship webinar Roadshow

The Royal Society Te Apārangi will hold an online Zoom webinar Tāwhia Te Mana Fellowship roadshow on Thursday 29 May, 2025.

The roadshows will explain the application process and provide potential applicants with an opportunity to ask questions. The roadshows will primarily focus on the Mana Tūāpapa Future Leaders and Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships, but the funder will answer questions on Mana Tūārangi as well if requested.

We would appreciate it if you could help us circulating these events

Please note that participants need to pre-register for these events by following the respective link in the table below.

Date	Time	About	To register, please go to:
Thursday 29 May	10 AM	Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship	Register here
Thursday 29 May	11 AM	Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship	Register here

Recordings from these roadshows will become available for viewing here after the roadshows.

Please reach out to submissions@auckland.ac.nz if you have any questions and/or concerns.

Please note this webinar is related the Royal Society Te Apārangi: Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships funding call under the Funding Calls section.

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Three Minute Thesis – School of Environment Heats

• Date: Tuesday 3rd of June
• Location: 302-551 Ontology Lab

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Hang Thai PhD Proposal Seminar

• • When: Tuesday 10 June | 11:00am  |  302-551 (Ontology Lab)
  • Zoom: https://auckland.zoom.us/j/93386936143

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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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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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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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Ngā Motu Whakahī Summer Scholar

Kia ora Researchers,

We are now receiving summer research project details if you are interested in having a Ngā Motu Whakahī Summer Scholar. If you are interested in submitting a project, please add your project details to the template here and send it to nga-motu-whakahi@auckland.ac.nz (and/or k.ridings@auckland.ac.nz) by 5:00 pm Thursday 29th May.

For these scholarships, the primary supervisor MUST be a current UoA employee within the Faculty of Science. We also require that a project has a co-supervisor — this can be a postgraduate student. At least one of the supervision team members (preferably both) MUST be Māori or Pacific.

Ngā Motu Whakahī summer research studentships are designed to promote the early interest of Māori and Pacific undergraduates in research. We aim to support our scholars through a unique supervision structure and regular activities for scholars throughout the summer with the Ngā Motu Whakahī team. Additionally, we also provide support for postgraduate supervisors.

Things to note:

• Supervision teams should consist of two supervisors, at least one of whom is Māori or Pacific (a postgraduate student can be a contributing supervisor)
• The stipend amount per scholar is $6750 for approximately 10 weeks of research. There are at least 10 summer scholarships available.
• Projects will be advertised centrally and on https://ngamotuwhakahi.blogs.auckland.ac.nz/. During this time, students may contact you to discuss your project. Answer any queries they may have, but please do not promise your project to a student. The allocation of projects and or students is done after all applications have been received and eligibility has been confirmed.
• Ngā Motu Whakahī summer scholars are required to attend fortnightly hui throughout their summer.
• Ngā Motu Whakahī scholars must complete their studentship with a final presentation at the end of summer, date TBD. Any written work or deliverables associated with the research project are to be agreed upon with the student and the supervision team at the beginning of the summer.
• Students who have previously been awarded a centrally funded, faculty funded, externally funded or Ngā Motu Whakahī Summer Research Scholarship will be eligible to hold a second or subsequent Ngā Motu Whakahī Summer Research Scholarship. This Scholarship cannot be held at the same time as another equivalent Scholarship.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact nga-motu-whakahi@auckland.ac.nz.

Ngā mihi,

Ngā Motu Whakahī team

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Introductions to R Workshop

An introductory R Workshop is being run on Wednesday 2^nd and Thursday 3^rd of July 2025. The course will be run by the Statistical Consulting Centre (SCC) in the Department of Statistics.

What’s covered in the workshop?

• Introduction
  Getting familiar with R
  Using R Studio and loading projects/scripts
  Basic functions using R
  Reading in Data Files (.csv, .xls/.xlsx)
  Introduction to R Objects. How R thinks (vectors, matrices, basic data formats)
• Working with data(sets)
  Cleaning and subsetting
  Merging datasets and reformatting
  Grouping variables and summarising
• R graphics
  Starting with plots in R (boxplots, histograms, bar graphs)
  Graphics in R with ggplot2 (customising plots)
• Data analysis
  Introduction to performing t-tests, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and general linear models

The cost is $400 for UoA students and staff.
You can pay using your PRESS account, research grant, or other UoA account.
You can also opt to use a debit/credit card (however we will have to also add GST for this type of payment – please contact Joei Mudaliar j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz for further instructions).

The payment authorisation form for UoA participants paying from a UoA account is here.
The cost for non-UoA attendees is $650 + GST. Please contact Joei Mudaliar (j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz) for payment instructions.

We will be sending out a pre-workshop information email the week prior to the course, however here are some of the details:

Location
We will be in room 302.190. Building 302 is on the corner of Symonds St and Wellesley St. The room we will be using is on level 1, room 160.

Time and schedule
The approximate schedule for both days is here (since this is the schedule from our previous course, it may yet be altered very slightly).
We will start at 9am and finish at 5pm.
Morning and afternoon tea will be provided, and there are cafes nearby for lunch. 

Computers
We will be using a Faculty of Science computer lab.
You are also welcome to use your own laptop. However, please make sure that you have downloaded R and RStudio onto your machine before the workshop (they are free to download).
We will also include some instructions on how to do this in our pre-workshop information email.

Access to computers and the internet
We will arrange access to the lab computers for all non-UoA participants.
We will also have a guest wireless password for non-UoA participants who are bringing their own laptops.
UoA staff and students will be able to access the FoS computers using their normal UoA upi and password.
I hope you can make it on the 2^nd and 3^rd July 2025, and we look forward to seeing you there.

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Managing Sensitive Research Data Workshop

The Centre for eResearch is piloting a new ‘Managing sensitive research data’ workshop to support doctoral candidates and researchers to comply with policies around ethics, data management, and Māori data sovereignty by pointing to relevant University services and support.

Managing sensitive research data (Wed 4 June, 1-2pm, online)

This 1 hour online workshop builds on existing research data management skills to support you in managing sensitive research data. Through the lens of international and national frameworks, attendees will learn about best practices, considerations, and University-approved tools for managing sensitive research data responsibly and securely. 

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The 2025 ANZIC Marine Geoscience Masterclass

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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

You also might be eligible to a free MMR vaccine. The measles (MMR) vaccine is free for all children under 18 years in New Zealand, and all adults over the age of 18 who are eligible for free NZ healthcare. Measles – The University of Auckland Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine

Measles – The University of Auckland

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine

Food Safety at Home:

Food safety at home is especially important during the winter months, when warm, comforting meals such as soups, casseroles, and roasts are commonly prepared. These dishes often involve slow cooking and the use of various ingredients, which increases the need for proper food handling to avoid cross-contamination. In winter, people also tend to cook in larger quantities and store leftovers, making it crucial to cool and refrigerate food promptly. To reduce the risk of foodborne illness, hot foods should be cooled quickly and stored in a refrigerator at or below 4°C, while frozen items should be kept at -18°C or colder.

Treat your leftovers right | NZ Government mpi.govt.nz

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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.

---

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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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: Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships

Please note that this funding called is related to the Tāwhia Te Mana Fellowship webinar Roadshow webinar under the Announcements, Seminars & Events section.

These Fellowships will support researchers at different career stages to produce excellent and impactful research and to develop into leaders in their fields, their respective host organisations and across the whole of the Aotearoa New Zealand ST&I system. The Fellowships consist of three schemes, targeted at early, mid- and established career researchers, respectively. The three schemes are:

• New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
• New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
• New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

Value/Duration:

New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader
Fellowship

• Value: $820,000
• Duration: 4 years or up to 8 years part-time

New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader
Fellowship

• Value: $1,160,000
• Duration: 4 years or up to 8 years part-time

New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished
Researcher Fellowship

• Value: $220,000
• Duration: 1-2 years

 

Internal Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday, 1st July 2025

Guidelines:

•  New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

Application templates

•  New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
•  New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

Website
ResearchHub resources

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

---

Royal Society Te Apārangi Catalyst Seeding (Round 2)

Catalyst Seeding facilitates new small and medium pre-research strategic partnerships that cannot be supported through other means, and with a view to developing full collaborations that could be supported through Catalyst: Strategic over time. Funding is for research exchanges, research activities, and expenses related to hosting workshops for new strategic research partnerships with international collaborators.

The Catalyst Fund investment plan identifies six priority research areas, which are:

• Quantum technology
• Health and biomedicine
• Biotechnologies
• Artificial Intelligence
• Antarctic research
• Space and Earth observations

Details:

• Value: up to $80,000 (Exc. GST)
• Duration: 2 years
• Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday, 8 July 2025

Further Information (funding call, guidelines website):

• 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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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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HeadsUp

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So soon after the Easter/Anzac/Mid-semester break, it’s a case of heads-down rather than heads-up as we move into the business-half of the semester. I hope you all were able to take at least part of the break as a bona fide break.

Some rough weather may have modified leave plans, however. And when you lead field courses, being nimble in choppy weather is the key.  So all credit to George and Kevin whose PG class of 30 students had two days more on Aotea/Great Barrier than was planned for….

When I asked DHoS Tom if there were any issues I should mention but had forgotten, his reply was “no news is good news”. Indeed after a year of too much turbulence, would it be jixing things to say we are generally moving along quietly, confidently and happily? That’s certainly the impression I get as I talk to people in the corridors, at Wednesday morning tea and in ADPR conversations. Long may it last.

Its not all quiet though. At the Faculty level, Sarah Young our new Dean is working with us Heads and other senior leaders to craft a new organisational structure, with leadership and portfolios better aligned with the pou of Taumata Teitei. Those at the recent Faculty meeting would have had a foretaste of this change. Stay tuned for more. 

School Initiative – The Manaaki Project Kaupapa

Sonia, Nick R and Rachel have developed a succinct statement outlining the kaupapa of the   Manaaki Project. I paste it in below to underline (well, italicise!) its importance as a School-based initiative and ensure it is recognised and understood.   

“The Manaaki Project (TMP) is a programme of support in the School of Environment that enables course coordinators to work with Tuākana coordinators and tutors to ensure the best outcomes for Māori and Pacific students.

TMP works to triage situations and find the best solutions so that students do not have to share their personal situations to multiple staff, and can instead focus on their coursework in a manner that suits their context. The overall aim is to support students to do their best, while recognising that some students have complex lives, and need flexibility in their assessments’ due dates, timelines, and participation on occasion.

By choosing to participate in TMP course coordinators agree to trust the process of student support which includes various check points with the Tuākana discipline coordinators, and if necessary, the Tuākana coordinator, Head of School/Deputy Academic or AD Teaching and Learning.

For the most part, this means that details of the students’ situations will not be shared with course coordinators. Therefore, it is imperative that TMP functions as a high-trust model with the student’s success as the central taumata.

This ensures our students can maintain their privacy and dignity with respect to their personal circumstances.

In practice, TMP may result in a Tuākana discipline coordinator contacting a course coordinator to ask for flexibility with respect to assessment and/or participation for a student. Ideally, the course coordinator will work with the Tuakana discipline coordinator to find a solution or outcome that supports the student’s success in the course, within the bounds of UoA assessment policy.

————–

To close, some congratulations and an opportunities

• Congratulations to Nick Lewis who has been invited to speak among a line up of other prominent thinkers in the Cook Islands next week. This aligns with his career-long commitment to the relations between education, knowledge, and nation. He sees this as “a chance to take part in an important conversation among old friends…and make a small repayment on the many benefits I’ve derived from my relationships with the Cooks”.
• Congrats too to Karen Fisher for recently being invited to join a very large and well-funded Canadian-based project titled “Transforming Chemical Risk Management with Indigenous Expertise”, which seeks to address the urgent need to reduce emissions of climate-changing gases and pollutants through innovative approaches to chemical risk management. Karen will contribute the application of Indigenous research methods to this challenge “to profoundly transform chemical risk management in Indigenous community-based practice, university labs and classes, regulatory practices, and policy development”.

Opportunities

• In case Easter treats were a bit lean this year, on Wed 14^th May we have Round 1 of the Chocolate competition for 2025 sponsored by our new combined Institute of Marine Science and the School of Environment equity committee!
• As communicated in an email to all staff on 23/4/25 and on the University intranet, Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries and Learning Services is conducting an in-depth review of our electronic collections. The focus is on maintaining access to high-use and high-value resources, ensuring that the most critical materials for teaching and research remain available. Please consider providing feedback.
• Many staff have already participated in and appreciated the free staff Te Akoranga Kairangi (TAK) programme, an introduction to Māori language, culture and the Treaty. Details about the programme appear later in this addition of p-cubed. 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. [We increase and deepen our collective capacity to encounter our own place and people with integrity through engaging in opportunities like this so if you have yet to take this course, please consider doing so].
• Finally, a reminder that our colleague Phil Shane’s inaugural professorial lecture is coming up on Monday 19^th I recently went to one of these occasions  in FMHS for a geography colleague in that Faculty. I was amazed at the immense turnout and festive atmosphere. Let’s match that at our inaugurals this year.

So, lots actually happening, beneath the overall relief of “no news is good news” !

Robin Kearns, Head of School

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Announcements, Seminars & Events

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Disaster Prevention and Management Seminar Series

When: Friday 2 May, 2pm | Where: Ontology Lab 302.551

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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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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

---

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!

---

The Great SoE Bake Off

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

---

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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Hono Help

For any Hono issues, please contact Michael Groom

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Rangahau

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Undergraduate–Postgraduate Pairing Scholarship

This $800 scholarship supports undergraduate students to gain hands-on research experience by shadowing a postgraduate student. Undergraduates will assist with tasks like literature reviews, data analysis, and mapping, while learning valuable research skills and contributing to real projects.

Applications should include a copy of the undergraduate student’s academic transcript and a short paragraph justifying the proposed project and pairing. This is a great opportunity for collaboration, skill-building, and mentoring across levels of study.

Please email Sila (katarzyna.sila-nowicka@auckland.ac.nz) for details or with ready applications.  

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Health Safety & Wellbeing

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As we head into winter, it is important to prepare to deal with the winter blues

Preparing yourself mentally for winter is like gently setting the stage for a slower, more inward season. It’s less about fighting the cold and more about embracing the quiet. Here’s a soulful guide to ease into it:

❄️ 1. Shift Your Expectations

• Understand that it’s okay to slow down.
• You don’t need to be at peak productivity—winter is nature’s rest season too.

🧣 2. Make Peace with Darkness

• Reframe the longer nights as time for rest, reflection, and coziness.
• Create evening rituals: reading, journaling, or listening to soft music.

🌲 3. Nourish Your Space

• Make your home feel like a sanctuary—warm lighting, calming scents, soft textures.
• Surround yourself with things that bring peace and comfort.

🫖 4. Lean into Simple Joys

• Enjoy quiet pleasures: hot drinks, winter walks, baking, old movies.
• Keep a small list of winter things you genuinely like—revisit it when days feel heavy.

🤍 5. Tend to Your Mind

• Stay aware of your emotional landscape. It’s normal to feel more introspective or low.
• Practice self-kindness. You don’t need to “fix” your mood—just care for it.

🧘 6. Anchor with Routine

• A gentle daily rhythm brings a sense of steadiness when the season feels still.
• Start and end your days with intention, even if it’s just lighting a candle or stretching.

🤝 7. Stay Connected

• Reach out, even when you feel like withdrawing. A little human warmth goes a long way.
• Make winter traditions with friends or family—even simple ones.

We would like to acknowledge the following dates:

• April 28 – World Day of Safety and Health at Work
• May 1-31 – World Smokefree May
• May 2 – World Asthma Day
• May 5 – World Hand Hygiene Day
• May 6-12 – New Zealand Sign Language Week
• May 8 – World Ovarian Cancer Day

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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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ECR Career Exploration Workshops

 We are excited to open applications for Early Career Researchers (ECR) to join ECR Career Exploration Workshops, a dedicated space for early career researchers (including final year PhD candidates) to reimagine their career paths and explore opportunities within and beyond academia. 

This two-part workshop is designed to help you reflect on your values, strengths, and career possibilities while providing practical guidance on researching and navigating diverse career paths. 

Workshop Details: 

Dates: Tuesday, May 6 & Tuesday, May 13 (participants must attend both sessions) | Location: Building 201- Room 317 (Arts and Education, City Campus)  
Two Cohort Options: 

• Morning Group: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 
• Afternoon Group: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 

Pre-Workshop Commitment: 

Participants will receive a digital pre-workshop workbook, requiring approximately four hours to complete. While not mandatory, this prework is highly recommended as it will help you reflect on your skills, aspirations, and career context before the sessions. 

How to Apply: 

To ensure a meaningful and engaged group, we ask applicants to submit the following via this link https://forms.office.com/r/0bGLSECf6P before the 28th of April.

• A short paragraph explaining what you hope to gain from this workshop 
• A link to your up-to-date LinkedIn profile or Discovery page 

Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to apply early. Please direct any questions to researcherdevelopment@auckland.ac.nz

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Faculty of Science Commercial Seed Funding – Call for Applications

The Faculty of Science announces our next funding round for development of commercially-focused research and capability. Projects of up to $10k may be funded, and must be completed during 2025.

The aim is to support early-stage work that will make a difference to the tech development pathway. A range of commercial R&D or skill development activities could be supported, including experiments to determine whether a particular idea is commercially feasible, development of initial proof-of-concept results for commercial funding applications, IP and Freedom to Operate searches, or market research. Researchers may also apply for this funding to support their personal development (commercial and entrepreneurial skills).

The application should be well thought-out and indicate why the project is promising, but:

• Very early-stage projects can be funded;
• Emerging researchers are particularly encouraged to apply; and
• There is low administrative overhead, with the application limited to 2 pages in length.

Projects which involve collaborative research with industry, rather than development of in-house IP, should instead consider the new NZ Product Accelerator Industry Collaboration funding, which accepts applications on an ongoing basis.

Application process and deadline: Applicants should submit a proposal via email to FoS-researchadmin@auckland.ac.nz. The application deadline is Friday, 9th May 2025, at 12 noon. The application (max. 2 pages including references) should address the topics on the application form (downloaded from the webpage below).

 Webpage: Commercialisation Seed Funding – The University of Auckland

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2025 Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships Support Package: Q&A Insights Session

Please join us for the 2025 Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships Q&A Insights session on Monday, 12 May 2025 from 11:00am to 12:15pm.

The Domestic Portfolio in the Research Funding team will be hosting a 1-hour session with past Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships winners and previous panellists to share their insights and advice on applying for the Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships.

Questions are encouraged and can be sent in advance to: submissions@auckland.ac.nz.

AUDIENCE: Open to UoA research staff applying for the 2025 Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships round, and research support staff (FIRST).

Key information:

• Date: Monday, 12 May 2025
• Time: 11:00am – 12:15pm
• Location: Building 260, Seminar room 310 (Decima Glen), 12 Grafton Road, City Campus

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/tawhia-te-mana-fellowships-qa-insights-session-12-may-2025-tickets-1310870070669?aff=oddtdtcreator

A Calendar Event invitation will be sent out to participants when the registration has been completed.

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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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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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Oliver, P., Kearns, R., & Wills, P.  (2025). ‘Waiheke is a community not a commodity’: Residents’ right and kaitiakitanga in tourism ‘hot spots’. In Justice in Tourism Destinations : Avenues for Destination Governance and Management. Eds Torabian, P and Albrecht, J.N.. Routledge, London & New York. pp 35-65

Castree, N., Barnes, T. & Salmond, J. (eds) (2025) Making Geography Matter: The past and present of a changing discipline (London: Routledge) https://www.routledge.com/Making-Geography-Matter-The-Past-and-Present-of-a-Changing-Discipline/Castree-Barnes-Salmond/p/book/9781032380513?srsltid=AfmBOoo3mep8Uwuu2zoD78ltxcbU4v8iOj4VnCv4PuV_sSj92juo7GyA

Agnew, J., Yeung, H., Salmond, J.A., Cox, K.R. 2024 Can Arguing for a Unified Geography Strengthen the Divisions It Seeks to Dissolve? Book review forum: Geography Indivisible (2023) Environment and Planning F 10.1177/26349825241276579

Salmond, J and Brierly, G (2025) Embracing and enacting critical and constructive approaches to teaching critical physical geography (Invited chapter). In Lane, S. and Lave, R (ed.) Field guide to mixing social and biophysical methods in environmental research (open access) https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0418

Ma, X., Zou, B., Gao, J., Deng, J., Wang, X., Wu, H., Xu, X., Wang, Y., Tan, Z., Jiang, N., Shen, Y., Li, D., Gao, J., Fan, Y., Salmond, J.A., Morawska, L. 2025 ‘Towards Compliance with the 2021 WHO Air Quality Guidelines: A Comparative Analysis of PM2.5 Trends in Australia and China’ Environment International, Volume 198, 2025,10937 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109378.

Rindelaub, J., Salmond, J.A., Fan, W., Miskelly, G., Dirks, K., Henning, S., Conrath, T., Stratmann, F., Coulson, G., 2025 ‘Aerosol mass concentrations of microplastics at a remote coastal location in New Zealand’ Environmental Pollution Volume 372, 2025, 126034, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126034.

HeadsUp

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I can almost feel the collective catching of breath with the mid-semester break upon us. As we take stock at the semester’s halfway point, there is much to be thankful for – we’ve had no interruptions of the scale of epidemics and floods as in recent years; we have healthy enrolments in many courses; and there is a vibrancy on a campus well-populated by students. Perhaps the completion of construction projects helps the latter? Fewer detours and orange cones!

Looking ahead, first to the longer term:

• if you are considering applying for academic promotion this year, please let me know. The longer the runways the smoother the lift-off. It will be good to discuss building you case early.

Second the shorter term:  

• Tuesday next week (April 22^nd) is a university holiday and mandatory annual leave day. Please be aware that there is a programme of work scheduled that day to test the smoke detection and suppression systems in building 302 which will also affect building 301. As this will significantly affect egress through the building (including elevators) the buildings will be closed for the day.

And third, to the medium term (ie next month):

• On Science graduation day (15^th May, 7.30am-9.00am) the  Autumn Graduation Morning Tea will be held in the 302-G80 and 302-G60 Foyer. This is a major event in our year with current and former students and their whanau coming along and deserving a welcome and conversation. The quality of our manaakitanga contributes to the reputation of our School. Whatever your role is – academic, professional, technical staff – please register and come along in a spirit of hospitality and celebration. Registration link: https://ScienceAutumnGraduationMorningTea.eventbrite.co.nz 

 

• Phil Shane was recently promoted to Professor and, in the spirit of celebration, will present his inaugural lecture titled From volcanic hazards to the global meta-crisis a geologist’s journey on Monday May 19^th. Venue:: Physics Lecture Theatre 1 PLT1/303-G20, 5.30pm with refreshments prior. Registration at Eventbrite From volcanic hazards to the global meta-crisis Tickets, Mon, May 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite

Engagement with the media pleasingly continues apace, with Jenny and Karin recently sharing their research:

https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/04/01/how-many-beautiful-kitchens-have-come-at-the-expense-of-workers-lives/

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557935/new-zealand-s-estuaries-in-hot-water

Let’s keep up this momentum of outward facing messaging.

Finally, on a note of sadness (but excitement for new opportunities) our enthusiastic and dedicated Research Programme Manager, Kelly Kilpin, is leaving us for a new opportunity within the university. On behalf of us all I thank her for all her dedication and friendly assistance over recent years.

For now, may everyone catch breath and enjoy some safe and rejuvenating time off their laptops and away from teaching spaces over the coming days.

Robin Kearns,  Head of School

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Announcements, Seminars & Events

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Disaster Prevention and Management Seminar Series

When: Friday 2 May, 2pm | Where: Ontology Lab 302.551

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Phil Shane Inaugural Lecture

When: Monday 19 May  Where: Physics Lecture Theatre 1, PLT1/303-G20

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Free Flu Jab

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Hono Help

If anyone have any Hono issues, please contact Michael Groom

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Understanding how labs can better engage Pacific science learners

Sonia Fonua has received a Faculty of Science SOTL grant (1 year, 5k) to explore how labs can better engage Pacific science learners. If you teach labs and would like to be involved or learn more about it, please email Sonia s.fonua@auckland.ac.nz

Exploring how arts-based creative practices can engage Pacific science learners and upskill science educators

Sonia has also received a University of Auckland TeachWell Grant (two years, 20k) to explore how arts-based creative practices can engage Pacific science learners and upskill science educators. This builds on the FoS SOTL grant which she received last year, so if you were involved in that you are welcome join in again. If you would like to know more information please let Sonia know, really happy to have a chat!

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Rangahau

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Undergraduate–Postgraduate Pairing Scholarship

This $800 scholarship supports undergraduate students to gain hands-on research experience by shadowing a postgraduate student. Undergraduates will assist with tasks like literature reviews, data analysis, and mapping, while learning valuable research skills and contributing to real projects.

Applications should include a copy of the undergraduate student’s academic transcript and a short paragraph justifying the proposed project and pairing. This is a great opportunity for collaboration, skill-building, and mentoring across levels of study.

Please email Sila (katarzyna.sila-nowicka@auckland.ac.nz) for details or with ready applications.  

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Health Safety & Wellbeing

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Having a healthy autumn is all about embracing the season’s changes and finding balance. Here are a few ways to keep your physical and mental well-being in check during fall:

1. Boost Your Immunity

As the weather gets cooler, your body might need some extra support to fend off seasonal colds and flu.

• Eat Seasonal Produce: Autumn is the perfect time for nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables like squash, sweet potatoes, apples, pears, and root veggies. These foods are full of vitamins and antioxidants.
• Vitamin D: Shorter days and less sunlight can make it harder to get enough vitamin D. Consider a supplement if needed, or try to soak up some sun when you can.
• Hydration: Even though it’s cooler, don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Herbal teas or warm lemon water are a cozy option too.

2. Stay Active

Cooler weather can make it tempting to stay indoors, but it’s important to stay active for both your body and mind.

• Outdoor Activities: Go for a walk in the crisp air, hike to enjoy the fall foliage, or take up cycling or jogging. Fresh air and movement are great for your health.
• Yoga or Stretching: The transition into fall can bring some stiffness with it. Yoga is fantastic for flexibility and mental calm.
• Home Workouts: If you’d rather stay inside, bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, and push-ups can keep you moving.

3. Mental Health Care

Autumn’s shorter days and the changing season can sometimes impact your mood. To keep your mental health in check:

• Natural Light Exposure: Try to get outside during daylight hours to combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If it’s dark by the time you’re awake, light therapy lamps can help.
• Mindfulness or Meditation: Autumn is a great time to reflect and slow down. Take 5-10 minutes each day to practice mindfulness or meditation to help manage stress.
• Journaling: Writing about your thoughts can be a grounding practice, helping to clarify your goals and give thanks for the season’s bounty.

4. Rest and Rejuvenation

The fall season is a great reminder to take care of your body by prioritizing rest.

• Sleep Hygiene: As the nights get longer, adjust your sleep schedule to ensure you’re getting enough rest. Aim for 7-9 hours a night.
• Create a Cozy Space: Light some candles, make your favorite cozy drink, and create a peaceful, inviting space for rest and relaxation.

5. Fall-Inspired Self-Care

Autumn is all about coziness, so indulge in a little self-care that feels seasonal:

• Healthy Comfort Food: Get creative with comfort foods like soups, stews, and baked goods. Make healthy versions of classic fall dishes by using whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of veggies.
• Skin Care: The cooler air can be drying, so hydrate your skin with rich moisturizers or oils, especially if you’re prone to dry skin.
• Aromatherapy: Scents like cinnamon, clove, and pumpkin spice can uplift your mood. Use essential oils or candles to bring fall vibes into your home.

6. Connection and Community

The autumn season invites connection, whether with nature or loved ones.

• Enjoy the Outdoors: Visit a pumpkin patch, orchard, or enjoy a scenic drive. Being in nature can help you feel grounded and relaxed.
• Socialize: Autumn is often a time for gatherings. Whether it’s a cozy dinner with friends or a family game night, connecting with loved ones boosts mental health.

How do you usually spend your autumn? Any favorite activities or habits you like to bring into the season?

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Funding Calls

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Global Research Engagement Fund (GREF)

The Global Research Engagement Fund (GREF) is available to UoA researchers and professional research staff to foster the development of new and emerging research partnerships with international collaborators.

The next application deadline is 28^th April.

Applicants must connect with international.research@auckland.ac.nz to inform their intention to submit no later than 18^th April. Further funding application rounds are available throughout the year.

For enquiries, please contact international.research@auckland.ac.nz

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ECR Career Exploration Workshops

 We are excited to open applications for Early Career Researchers (ECR) to join ECR Career Exploration Workshops, a dedicated space for early career researchers (including final year PhD candidates) to reimagine their career paths and explore opportunities within and beyond academia. 

This two-part workshop is designed to help you reflect on your values, strengths, and career possibilities while providing practical guidance on researching and navigating diverse career paths. 

Workshop Details: 

Dates: Tuesday, May 6 & Tuesday, May 13 (participants must attend both sessions) | Location: Building 201- Room 317 (Arts and Education, City Campus)  
Two Cohort Options: 

• Morning Group: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 
• Afternoon Group: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 

Pre-Workshop Commitment: 

Participants will receive a digital pre-workshop workbook, requiring approximately four hours to complete. While not mandatory, this prework is highly recommended as it will help you reflect on your skills, aspirations, and career context before the sessions. 

How to Apply: 

To ensure a meaningful and engaged group, we ask applicants to submit the following via this link https://forms.office.com/r/0bGLSECf6P before the 28th of April.

• A short paragraph explaining what you hope to gain from this workshop 
• A link to your up-to-date LinkedIn profile or Discovery page 

Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to apply early. Please direct any questions to researcherdevelopment@auckland.ac.nz

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Faculty of Science Commercial Seed Funding – Call for Applications

The Faculty of Science announces our next funding round for development of commercially-focused research and capability. Projects of up to $10k may be funded, and must be completed during 2025.

The aim is to support early-stage work that will make a difference to the tech development pathway. A range of commercial R&D or skill development activities could be supported, including experiments to determine whether a particular idea is commercially feasible, development of initial proof-of-concept results for commercial funding applications, IP and Freedom to Operate searches, or market research. Researchers may also apply for this funding to support their personal development (commercial and entrepreneurial skills).

The application should be well thought-out and indicate why the project is promising, but:

• Very early-stage projects can be funded;
• Emerging researchers are particularly encouraged to apply; and
• There is low administrative overhead, with the application limited to 2 pages in length.

Projects which involve collaborative research with industry, rather than development of in-house IP, should instead consider the new NZ Product Accelerator Industry Collaboration funding, which accepts applications on an ongoing basis.

Application process and deadline: Applicants should submit a proposal via email to FoS-researchadmin@auckland.ac.nz. The application deadline is Friday, 9th May 2025, at 12 noon. The application (max. 2 pages including references) should address the topics on the application form (downloaded from the webpage below).

 Webpage: Commercialisation Seed Funding – The University of Auckland

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2025 Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships Support Package: Q&A Insights Session

Please join us for the 2025 Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships Q&A Insights session on Monday, 12 May 2025 from 11:00am to 12:15pm.

The Domestic Portfolio in the Research Funding team will be hosting a 1-hour session with past Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships winners and previous panellists to share their insights and advice on applying for the Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships.

Questions are encouraged and can be sent in advance to: submissions@auckland.ac.nz.

AUDIENCE: Open to UoA research staff applying for the 2025 Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships round, and research support staff (FIRST).

Key information:

• Date: Monday, 12 May 2025
• Time: 11:00am – 12:15pm
• Location: Building 260, Seminar room 310 (Decima Glen), 12 Grafton Road, City Campus

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/tawhia-te-mana-fellowships-qa-insights-session-12-may-2025-tickets-1310870070669?aff=oddtdtcreator

A Calendar Event invitation will be sent out to participants when the registration has been completed.

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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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Publications

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Matt T. Illing, Lorna J. Strachan, Christopher M. Moy, Christina R. Riesselman, Vincent Rigalleau, Helge W. Arz, Frank Lamy (2025) Millennial-scale along-slope and down-slope marine flow processes over the last 160,000 years at the Chilean margin, Quaternary Science Reviews, 356, 109280.

HeadsUp

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I’ve been having annual performance review discussions with senior colleagues earlier this year, ahead of the salary review process in late April. It’s been a pleasure to meet  and have a sustained korero about how things are going and what the year holds for goals and objectives.

It’s also helped provide an ‘ear to the ground’ for the new (well, not-so-new) semester. Not only are student numbers up in many courses, but I also hear of widespread student enthusiasm and their sustained presence in lectures. That is very welcome, given recent years. In return let’s offer strong doses of enthusiasm and engagement.

As I’ve said before, one pair of words I’d love to banish is ‘teaching load’. Do we ever speak of ‘research load’? Whether intended or not there is an implication of burden and a need to endure in that pairing of words. We need to find joy in teaching if we don’t know it already. With very few exceptions, we are contracted to teach 40% (lecturing staff) or 80% (PTFs) of our time. If enthusiastically teaching really feels burdensome and a ‘load’, then we are probably in the wrong profession.  

Our new Dean has two strong messages filtering through to Heads of Schools: we must strive for teaching quality and be vigilant to maintaining a safe working environment.  With respect to the latter, a refreshed School Health & Safety Committee met for the first time last week ahead of the monthly FoS HSW meeting to which all Heads attend. A key message is being observant: if you see something that could be a hazard, report it.   It’s as much what could be as what is a risk.  

Looking ahead, we have graduation on May 15^th.  Please plan on being there and register now to be on stage. We owe it to our students and their families to take time out and affirm their efforts. With over 70% of our revenue coming from enrolments, a response of ‘nah I’m too busy with my research’ really isn’t acceptable when graduation is only twice a year. Being present at a ceremony sits firmly at the intersection of teaching and academic citizenship and speaks to values of excellence, affirmation and collegiality.

Oh, and congratulations to Shane, Mark and Karin – all of whom I have heard on RNZ recently speaking to their research on vulcanism, sand dynamics and estuarine processes respectively. If I have missed other instances of media engagement, please let me know.

As the clocks change, enjoy these autumn days and may the enthusiasm of students be matched by yours.

Robin

Head of School

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Announcements, Seminars & Events

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Coastal and Marine Geoscience Group Meeting / Seminar

When: Wednesday 2 April,12-1pm | Where: Ontology Lab 302.551

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School of Environment Seminar Series

When: Wednesday 9 April, 12-1pm | Where: Ontology Lab 302.551

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Earth Observation Lab Quarterly Event

• Join us on 10th April for this quarter’s EO Lab event 🎉 With exciting speakers from research and industry lined up, we will be in person and live-streaming from Auckland so you can join us in person or online! Join us to hear about some of the latest earth observation projects from across the country and connect with fellow EO Lab members. Sign up for your spot https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/earth-observation-lab-meet-up-tickets-1303805931639?aff=oddtdtcreator. 

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Horizon Europe Workshop

The EU’s flagship research and innovation program, promoting collaboration among research, industry, communities, and policymakers to address global challenges.

As interest in Horizon Europe continues to grow and funding calls for 2025 begin to emerge, we are offering support and a series of practical workshops focused on key aspects of networking with potential collaboration partners, developing your profile in Horizon Europe, project development as well as application process. These workshops are designed for researchers and research teams preparing to submit funding proposals for the upcoming 2025 calls.

Online Seminar: What to do if you’re invited to join a Horizon Europe consortium | Thursday, 10 April 2025, 10:00am – 11:00am via zoom.  

There will be a series of short presentations, including from Andrew Sporle – National Contact Point Māori, followed by a 30min live panel discussion answering your questions. Please contact us at international.research@auckland.ac.nz to receive details on how to register and obtain the zoom link. 

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Oceanum Datamesh Demo

Seminar and Demonstration 15th April. 1300-1400, 302.586: The team at Oceanum have created a powerful environmental data science platform that accelerates work flows across various disciplines, from oceanography and coastal ecology to climate change adaptation. The OCEANUM.IO platform streamlines data discovery, access, and wrangling for all levels of expertise, overcoming many of the limitations and points of friction in existing data infrastructures. 

By addressing issues like file format incompatibilities and data volumes, OCEANUM.IO enables users to focus on their analysis tasks rather than the underlying data engineering – thereby promoting more effective use of their time. With more than 5000 national and international datasets already registered, and the ability for users to upload their own data, the cloud-based application is actively promoting data democratisation and reducing knowledge disparities.

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Easter Tuesday closure of Building 301/302 and fire systems testing

There is a programme of work being scheduled to test the smoke detection and suppression systems in building 302 which will also affect building 301.

Sunday 6^th April – access to the building will be available as normal for those with weekend access however there will be some disruption over much of the day (4+ hours) caused by:

• Smoke detector testing which will initiate the alarm sounder in short bursts
• Fire curtain testing (on levels G to 6) – this will be mainly silent but will affect building egress

Tuesday 22^nd April (Easter Tuesday) – Given the level of disruption, this has been scheduled on the University holiday and the building will be closed for the day.

Access will only be provided to those maintaining critical infrastructure. Please contact David Jenkinson (Technical Services Manager) – d.jenkinson@auckland.ac.nz to arrange special approval.

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Understanding how labs can better engage Pacific science learners

Sonia Fonua has received a Faculty of Science SOTL grant (1 year, 5k) to explore how labs can better engage Pacific science learners. If you teach labs and would like to be involved or learn more about it, please email Sonia s.fonua@auckland.ac.nz

Exploring how arts-based creative practices can engage Pacific science learners and upskill science educators

Sonia has also received a University of Auckland TeachWell Grant (two years, 20k) to explore how arts-based creative practices can engage Pacific science learners and upskill science educators. This builds on the FoS SOTL grant which she received last year, so if you were involved in that you are welcome join in again. If you would like to know more information please let Sonia know, really happy to have a chat!

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Media contribution by Thomas Dowling

Radar reflectors in the news again! Successful field trials in the sub-Antarctic islands: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/life-saving-reflector-tested-successfully.

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Introductory R Workshop

An introductory R Workshop is being run on Monday 14^th and Tuesday 15^th of April 2025. The course will be run by the Statistical Consulting Centre (SCC) in the Department of Statistics. Below are the details of the workshop and attachments: R Workshop Registration Form April 2025     Introduction to R schedule

• Introduction
  • Getting familiar with R
  • Using R Studio and loading projects/scripts
  • Basic functions using R
  • Reading in Data Files (.csv, .xls/.xlsx)
  • Introduction to R Objects. How R thinks (vectors, matrices, basic data formats)
• Working with data(sets)
  • Cleaning and subsetting
  • Merging datasets and reformatting
  • Grouping variables and summarising
• R graphics
  • Starting with plots in R (boxplots, histograms, bar graphs)
  • Graphics in R with ggplot2 (customising plots)
• Data analysis
  • Introduction to performing t-tests, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and general linear models
• Cost
  • The cost is $400 for UoA students and staff.
  • You can pay using your PRESS account, research grant, or other UoA account.
  • You can also opt to use a debit/credit card, however we will have to also add GST for this type of payment: please contact Joei Mudaliar j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz for further instructions.
  • The payment authorisation form for UoA participants paying from a UoA account is attached.
  • The cost for non-UoA attendees is $650 + GST. Please contact Joei Mudaliar (j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz) for payment instructions.

We will be sending out a pre-workshop information email the week prior to the course, however here are some of the details:

• Location: We will be in room 302.190. Building 302 is on the corner of Symonds St and Wellesley St. The room we will be using is on level 1, room 160.
• Time and schedule: We will start at 9am and finish at 5pm. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided, and there are cafes nearby for lunch.
• Computers: We will be using a Faculty of Science computer lab. You are also welcome to use your own laptop. However, please make sure that you have downloaded R and RStudio onto your machine before the workshop (they are free to download). We will also include some instructions on how to do this in our pre-workshop information email.
• Access to computers and the internet: We will arrange access to the lab computers for all non-UoA participants. We will also have a guest wireless password for non-UoA participants who are bringing their own laptops. UoA staff and students will be able to access the FoS computers using their normal UoA upi and password.

For any further queries please contact Joei Mudaliar j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz

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Health Safety & Wellbeing

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The new dean is introducing big changes to how the Faculty and the Schools are going to operate and a big part of it is an overhaul to HSW. There are changes in progress to Faculty and School committees. Compliance is being looked at in detail and all the processes to identify and manage risks are being refreshed. This is a process that will take a while, and we can expect few bumps in the road but the end result is going to be a safer environment that we all can be proud of.

FLU VACCINE

Flu vaccine campaign kick starts on April, please see the information in this link: 2025 influenza vaccination for staff and students – The University of Auckland

Reporting incidents

There is systemic underreporting of HSW matters in the School and Faculty. Please follow the link to familiarise yourself with incident reporting. We must not only report incidents with injuries. There are three categories to report:

• Observation, report an observation when you notice an unsafe condition or a positive comment about facilities, systems or people.
• Incident: Any mishap that did not involved injury but could have potentially caused harm
• Injury: Report any injury to an employee, student, contractor or visitor during a work activity. This is also required to be done when working from home. ACC claims will depend on the report. There is not such a thing as a small report.

Spotlight

We want to put the spotlight on two important dates coming up:

2 April is World Autism Awareness Day: please visit the website  Home – Autism NZ to learn more about autism

7 April is World Health Day

 

 

 

 

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Funding Calls

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Spencer Foundation: Small Research Grants

This fund is intended to support education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education.  This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, method, or location. 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: up to USD50,000 (circa NZD85,600
• Duration: up to a maximum duration of 60 months
• Internal Deadline: 12pm, Monday 7th April
• Further Information (funding call, guidelines website). 
  • Funding Call
  •  Website
  • Guidelines

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

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RSNZ: Catalyst: Seeding (Round1)

Catalyst seeding fund aims to supports activities that initiate, develop and foster collaborations leveraging international science and innovation for New Zealand’s benefit.

Notable eligibility changes for the 2025 funding opportunities: the Catalyst Fund investment plan (released in December 2024) identifies six priority research areas, which are:

• Quantum technology
• Health and biomedicine
• Biotechnologies
• Artificial Intelligence
• Antarctic research
• Space and Earth observations

 *Note that 75% of the awarded Catalyst: Seeding contracts will be expected to be made up of proposals that align with the priority research areas. The remaining 25% of awarded contracts can be in any field of research including social sciences and the humanities.

• Value: Seeding General: up to $80,000 (excl. GST)
• Duration: for up to two years
• Internal Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday 08 April 2025
• Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info). 
  • Funding Call
  • Guidelines
  • Website

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

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RSNZ: Catalyst Leaders (Round 1)

This fund aims to supports incoming and outgoing targeted international fellowships for exceptional individuals that cannot be supported through other means. The following funding schemes are open in Round 1

• International Leader Fellowships (up to 3 awards): Supports exceptional individuals from any country outside New Zealand to catalyse science and innovation capability and capacity development in New Zealand for a minimum of 4 weeks per year for up to 3 years.
• Julius von Haast Fellowship Award (up to 1 award): Supports an internationally recognised researcher from Germany to undertake research in New Zealand for a minimum of 4 weeks per year for 3 years.
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowships (up to 4 awards): Supports excellent New Zealand post-doctoral researchers to do research in Japan for 12-24 months.
• New Zealand – China Scientist Exchange Programme (up to 10 Awards): Supports the development of research linkages with China by enabling New Zealand researchers to visit Chinese research organisations for 2-6 weeks.

• Value:
  • International Leader Fellowships: up to $50,000 per annum.
  • JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship: Flights, insurance and living allowance.
  • Julius von Haast Fellowship Award: up to $50,000 per annum.
  • New Zealand-China Scientist Exchange Programme: Flights, insurance and living allowance.
• Internal Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday 08 April 2025
• Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info). 
  • Funding Call
  • Website
  • Guidelines

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

HeadsUp

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Along with Tom Baker, over recent months I’ve had the pleasure of participating in a leadership programme named Puhoro. One of its brilliant aspects is that the kaleidoscope of senior university staffing has been given a shake and cohorts are mixed in together from across the range of roles and expertise. Quite aside from the valuable input, it’s offered rich insight into how the university operates through exposure to a diversity people often invisible to most of us who keep the engine room of the organisation ticking over.

Names are invariable chosen carefully. In te reo ‘Puhoro’ means “a type of tattoo design, often found on the thighs and buttocks, which symbolizes strength, resilience, and the interconnectedness of life, often representing the wake left by a waka”.  I wasn’t left with a souvenir tattoo, but a sense that resilience and strength in any large institution like ours is aided by strong relationships and a culture that acknowledges interconnectedness.

The waka reference in the definition was built into the programme with a day devoted to paddling as teams on the harbour. Sadly my participation was ruled out by the recency of surgery but the powerful image of a waka remains as I reflect on more local interconnectedness in our School. A waka’s clear trajectory through the water is reliant on a unified commitment by paddlers with few instructions needed by a navigator.

Once again, I have been struck by how this work ethic prevails as a modus operandi in the School. It’s a gift when, as Head, one needs to step back for a while and reminded that the team keeps paddling with few instructions needed from the sidelines. I am very grateful for that. Certainly, there are ocean swells and the wakes of other vessels to navigate and so always issues to grapple with. That’s organisational life. But as I look back on the last month  I am both grateful for Tom being Acting Head and, more recently, for the ease of being a Head-at-a-distance as I get on my feet again.

To be part of a team in which there is a collective recognition that we all do our bit without being asked or reminded is a gift indeed. As my poet friend Gregory O’Brien expresses it metaphorically “If we all carry each other, no one will have to walk”.

Ngā mihi mahana

Robin

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Events & Announcements

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All are invited to the School BBQ on Friday 21st March @ 12 noon

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Community of Interest: Communicating Research to the Media and the Public (In-person forum 2)

The second in-person gathering is being held for academics interested in joining a network to share experience and advice on communicating research to media and the public.

When: Thursday 27 March, 12-1pm | Where: LG002 Seminar Room, 28 Park Ave, Grafton

Hear from guest speaker Nicola Gaston on her experience with media. Learn how to distil key messages and we can share news on storytelling workshops. The Community of Interest has been developed by academics for academics to offer an open and safe space to talk about communicating with the public and the media about research. Light refreshments will be served. For enquiries, please contact gilbert.wong@auckland.ac.nz

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CAPEX 2025

Proposals for CAPEX purchases in the upcoming round are now being solicited.  Please fill out the following form by 31 March.  https://auckland.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4Og4JcE5R8VQlPo

Please provide realistic cost and use estimates and only list people who have been consulted and who support the application.  We’ll be arranging to have a member of the CAPEX committee to have a quick chat with applicants so the committee fully understands the proposal.  If you have questions contact Kevin (k.simon@auckland.ac.nz).

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Understanding how labs can better engage Pacific science learners

Sonia Fonua has received a Faculty of Science SOTL grant (1 year, 5k) to explore how labs can better engage Pacific science learners. If you teach labs and would like to be involved or learn more about it, please email Sonia s.fonua@auckland.ac.nz

Exploring how arts-based creative practices can engage Pacific science learners and upskill science educators

Sonia has also received a University of Auckland TeachWell Grant (two years, 20k) to explore how arts-based creative practices can engage Pacific science learners and upskill science educators. This builds on the FoS SOTL grant which she received last year, so if you were involved in that you are welcome join in again. If you would like to know more information please let Sonia know, really happy to have a chat!

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ANZIC Prize for Best Student Publication

Attention Post-Grad Students! Do you have a great publication relating to scientific drilling?

ANZIC – The Australian & New Zealand International Scientific Drilling Consortium – is proud to announce their new Prize for Best Student Publication in scientific drilling! As an ANZIC member, students from <<YOUR INSTITUTION>> are eligible to nominate! This award aims to foster community, celebrate excellence, and recognise outstanding contributions to scientific drilling research. This is your chance to gain recognition, connect with leading scientists, and win an all-expenses-paid trip to present at the 2025 ANZIC Forum in Auckland!

Learn more: https://www.iodp.org.au/anzic-prize-for-best-student-publication/

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Horizon Europe Workshop

The EU’s flagship research and innovation program, promoting collaboration among research, industry, communities, and policymakers to address global challenges.

As interest in Horizon Europe continues to grow and funding calls for 2025 begin to emerge, we are offering support and a series of practical workshops focused on key aspects of networking with potential collaboration partners, developing your profile in Horizon Europe, project development as well as application process. These workshops are designed for researchers and research teams preparing to submit funding proposals for the upcoming 2025 calls.

Online Seminar: What to do if you’re invited to join a Horizon Europe consortium | Thursday, 10 April 2025, 10:00am – 11:00am via zoom.  

There will be a series of short presentations, including from Andrew Sporle – National Contact Point Māori, followed by a 30min live panel discussion answering your questions. Please contact us at international.research@auckland.ac.nz to receive details on how to register and obtain the zoom link. 

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Media contribution by Salene Schloffel-Armstrong and Robin Kearns

DarkSky designation can mitigate ‘privatisation of celestial sphere’

The expansion of satellite activity has, in part, led to the increased push by certain communities to seek DarkSky certification by Salene Schloffel-Armstrong and Robin Kearns 13/4/2025 https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/03/13/darksky-designation-can-mitigate-privatisation-of-celestial-sphere/

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Introductory R Workshop

An introductory R Workshop is being run on Monday 14^th and Tuesday 15^th of April 2025. The course will be run by the Statistical Consulting Centre (SCC) in the Department of Statistics. Below are the details of the workshop and attachments: R Workshop Registration Form April 2025     Introduction to R schedule

• Introduction
  • Getting familiar with R
  • Using R Studio and loading projects/scripts
  • Basic functions using R
  • Reading in Data Files (.csv, .xls/.xlsx)
  • Introduction to R Objects. How R thinks (vectors, matrices, basic data formats)
• Working with data(sets)
  • Cleaning and subsetting
  • Merging datasets and reformatting
  • Grouping variables and summarising
• R graphics
  • Starting with plots in R (boxplots, histograms, bar graphs)
  • Graphics in R with ggplot2 (customising plots)
• Data analysis
  • Introduction to performing t-tests, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and general linear models
• Cost
  • The cost is $400 for UoA students and staff.
  • You can pay using your PRESS account, research grant, or other UoA account.
  • You can also opt to use a debit/credit card, however we will have to also add GST for this type of payment: please contact Joei Mudaliar j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz for further instructions.
  • The payment authorisation form for UoA participants paying from a UoA account is attached.
  • The cost for non-UoA attendees is $650 + GST. Please contact Joei Mudaliar (j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz) for payment instructions.

We will be sending out a pre-workshop information email the week prior to the course, however here are some of the details:

• Location: We will be in room 302.190. Building 302 is on the corner of Symonds St and Wellesley St. The room we will be using is on level 1, room 160.
• Time and schedule: We will start at 9am and finish at 5pm. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided, and there are cafes nearby for lunch.
• Computers: We will be using a Faculty of Science computer lab. You are also welcome to use your own laptop. However, please make sure that you have downloaded R and RStudio onto your machine before the workshop (they are free to download). We will also include some instructions on how to do this in our pre-workshop information email.
• Access to computers and the internet: We will arrange access to the lab computers for all non-UoA participants. We will also have a guest wireless password for non-UoA participants who are bringing their own laptops. UoA staff and students will be able to access the FoS computers using their normal UoA upi and password.

For any further queries please contact Joei Mudaliar j.mudaliar@auckland.ac.nz

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Health Safety & Wellbeing

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As autumn begins, it’s important to adjust your health routine to stay well during the changing season. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy:

1. Get Your Flu Shot: Autumn marks the start of flu season, so getting vaccinated can help protect you from the flu. Vaccination for flu virus becomes available on 1 April 2025.
2. Boost Your Immune System: Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep to keep your immune system strong.
3. Stay Active: Even as the weather cools, try to maintain regular physical activity. Outdoor activities like walking or hiking can be enjoyable in the crisp autumn air.
4. Dress in Layers: The weather can be unpredictable, so dressing in layers helps you stay comfortable throughout the day.
5. Prepare for Allergies: Fall allergies can be bothersome. Keep windows closed on high pollen days and consider using an air purifier.
6. Stay Hydrated: It’s easy to forget to drink water when it’s cooler, but staying hydrated is just as important in autumn as in summer.
7. Plan for Daylight Savings: Gradually adjust your sleep schedule to prepare for the time change and ensure you get enough rest
8. Mental Health: As days get shorter, some people may experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Light therapy and staying active can help manage symptoms.

These tips can help you enjoy a healthy and vibrant autumn. Do you have any specific concerns or questions about staying healthy this season?

There is also a response in place to fight the current pertussis epidemic, ask the pharmacist if you are eligible for boosters.

Funded vaccines for special groups from 1 July 2024 – Factsheets – Immunisation Advisory Centre

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Funding Calls

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Spencer Foundation: Small Research Grants

This fund is intended to support education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education.  This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, method, or location. 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: up to USD50,000 (circa NZD85,600
• Duration: up to a maximum duration of 60 months
• Internal Deadline: 12pm, Monday 7th April
• Further Information (funding call, guidelines website). 
  • Funding Call
  •  Website
  • Guidelines

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

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RSNZ: Catalyst: Seeding (Round1)

Catalyst seeding fund aims to supports activities that initiate, develop and foster collaborations leveraging international science and innovation for New Zealand’s benefit.

Notable eligibility changes for the 2025 funding opportunities: the Catalyst Fund investment plan (released in December 2024) identifies six priority research areas, which are:

• Quantum technology
• Health and biomedicine
• Biotechnologies
• Artificial Intelligence
• Antarctic research
• Space and Earth observations

 *Note that 75% of the awarded Catalyst: Seeding contracts will be expected to be made up of proposals that align with the priority research areas. The remaining 25% of awarded contracts can be in any field of research including social sciences and the humanities.

• Value: Seeding General: up to $80,000 (excl. GST)
• Duration: for up to two years
• Internal Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday 08 April 2025
• Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info). 
  • Funding Call
  • Guidelines
  • Website

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

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RSNZ: Catalyst Leaders (Round 1)

This fund aims to supports incoming and outgoing targeted international fellowships for exceptional individuals that cannot be supported through other means. The following funding schemes are open in Round 1

• International Leader Fellowships (up to 3 awards): Supports exceptional individuals from any country outside New Zealand to catalyse science and innovation capability and capacity development in New Zealand for a minimum of 4 weeks per year for up to 3 years.
• Julius von Haast Fellowship Award (up to 1 award): Supports an internationally recognised researcher from Germany to undertake research in New Zealand for a minimum of 4 weeks per year for 3 years.
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowships (up to 4 awards): Supports excellent New Zealand post-doctoral researchers to do research in Japan for 12-24 months.
• New Zealand – China Scientist Exchange Programme (up to 10 Awards): Supports the development of research linkages with China by enabling New Zealand researchers to visit Chinese research organisations for 2-6 weeks.

• Value:
  • International Leader Fellowships: up to $50,000 per annum.
  • JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship: Flights, insurance and living allowance.
  • Julius von Haast Fellowship Award: up to $50,000 per annum.
  • New Zealand-China Scientist Exchange Programme: Flights, insurance and living allowance.
• Internal Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday 08 April 2025
• Further Information (funding call, guidelines, registration info). 
  • Funding Call
  • Website
  • Guidelines

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