Issue 69 – Monday 22nd November, 2021

November 22, 2021 • ijor070

HeadsUp

Lately I’ve been pondering what it will be like to be back on campus. What will I most appreciate in being there in person? I’ve concluded its the opportunistic encounters I miss most. Life becomes a very choreographed performance by zoom. You need to book a time and a virtual room in which to meet. And you simply don’t meet those you don’t arrange to see. Some of the joy of being on campus is just randomly encountering people and taking time to talk. That’s part of what makes a community.

I was reminded of the gift of opportunist conversations when news came last week that Emeritus Professor Michael Corballis in Psychology had died. In the very early ‘80s when I was an MA student, I’d sometimes have conversations with him. I don’t recall why I’d be conversing with a professor in another discipline, but maybe it was as simple as Geography sharing a stairwell in HSB with Psychology. I recall feeling slightly in awe that a professor outside my own Department would bother saying hello and talking. My then-supervisor, Warren Moran, was mates with Mike and Don Smith in English, all having Canada in their backstories. So, when I returned from grad school at McMaster in the late 80s, that was a point of connection to further conversations.

In Psychology’s tribute to him, Mike Corballis was described as having an ‘unfailing generosity’. This extended well beyond the realm of advice or being task-oriented. I reckon it stretched to just making time for people and helping make campus a more convivial place. It seems to me he cultivated a disposition we can all emulate. I didn’t agree with all his views but that’s not the point; he helped ‘humanize’ campus. Once we’re back in person, I hope we can all be part of that effort to take time and make time for others.

There was another bit of news that moved me deeply this week: a welcome rather than a farewell. A while back I supported a case advanced by Rochelle Constantine in SBS for Ramari Stewart, a tohunga taiao and expert on Mātauranga Māori to be granted an honorary DSc. That honour has now been offered by the VC. I look forward to introducing Ramari to you one day: a humble and keenly perceptive investigator and interpreter of the marine and coastal world. She has been a staunch supporter of efforts to protect Pūtiki Bay here on Waiheke and is globally the only indigenous woman to have a species of whale named after her.

So, these are two people with a generosity of spirit, who respectively, have brought and will bring a deeper human touch to our academic environment. We are richer for them and all who comprise the constellation of people who are generous with their time and insight.

Other matters

Very big congratulations to Melanie Kah on the arrival of their baby Anna!
Thanks to all who have put in the long hours lately exam marking…
Thanks too to Sila and Marta for being ‘event planners’ for the School Research Awards two Tuesdays ago
End of year event. You will have seen the VC’s comment “Given the uncertainty about restrictions on hospitality throughout December, many of you may be reconsidering the timing of your staff Christmas events….” We have therefore sadly decided to postpone a gathering until February and hold an off-campus “welcome back event” with a suitable degree of cheer and largesse then. Stay tund.
Congratulations also to Emma Sharp who has been awarded a FRDF grant titled Soilsafe Kids & Dustsafe Aotearoa

It is probably stating the obvious to say we are ready for a break. The promised relaxation of the Auckland border for a month from 15^th December offers some possibilities of going places and so we do not necessarily need to holiday at home. So now (as in this week!) is an excellent time to pause and consider what weeks you will take as Annual Leave. Please then go into People Soft and request those days, remembering that Christmas Eve (Dec 24^th) and the non-Stat holiday days between Christmas and New Year(29, 30, 31 Dec) are automatically treated as Leave days. If you are unfamiliar with how to request leave days, please contact Patricia for instructions. Please note that if you have not requested and had Annual Leave days approved, it is expected you are contactable and working.

– Robin Kearns

Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities

Gisborne / Tairāwhiti state of emergency landslide response

PhD student Matt Cook and Martin Brook were given Essential Worker status by Gisborne District Council, who urgently requested that the University assist with the rainfall-triggered landslide state of emergency in Gisborne two weeks ago. Michael Groom, David Jenkinson et al. efficiently managed the provision of Business Travel Documents so that Matt and Martin could travel to Gisborne to provide assistance. David Wackrow retrieved field equipment from 302. Of particular concern was the Te Arai landslide, which had reached within meters of the water pipeline that supplies Gisborne with drinking water. In the city, the 24 houses affected by the landslides were triaged into 3 tiers of severity, and Matt and Martin undertook risk assessments at their designated properties. Matt then presented an integration of hazard mapping, UAV and satellite data to the Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM), as well as the EQC. A big thank you to all who contributed. Building swimming pools at the top of steep slopes on anthropogenic fill seems problematic.

Work-Integrated Learning NZ

Prompted by Martin Brook the University of Auckland very soon (Bridget Kool has actioned this) will be members of Work-Integrated Learning NZ:

https://www.wilnz.nz/

As you will see in the Members section, many of our peers (AUT, Massey, Waikato, VuW, UC, and some polytec’s) have already been involved as Institutional and Corporate Partners, but until now, not UoA. WILNZ have a really interesting annual conference too, which gets good participation from the different tertiary institutions. The next conference is at AUT in April 2022, and the 2021 WILNZ online proceedings make for interesting reading.

It’s a good networking opportunity, to learn from others and see what best practice, pitfalls etc are out there.

IT Committee – “Big Data”

We may have additional end-of-year funding of up to ~$10k for “Big Data” purchases. Please contact Michael Martin (Michael.Martin@auckland.ac.nz) if you are interested. We encourage specifically purchases of data for research and/or teaching from which several ENV members will benefit, ideally across disciplines.

Please let us know by Tue., 23 Nov. evening.

Thank you, Michael and Ingo

Access to School Facilities

Blair has been working on increasing the size of our work zones to allow more staff and students on site after the traffic light system commences

Three points to note:
1. Work still needs to be considered priority – but the rules will be a little more relaxed
2. We are still required to have an academic lab manager or technician to supervise on site at all times in each zone.
a. This has been expanded to include postdocs and capable PhDs (commensurate with risk).
3. In regards to computational access we just need to make a clear case that it is more than “desk-based research” which will remain off-site at Level 3 and Red.
Blair can be contacted directly to apply for access with the following details:

• Name of person wanting access
• UPI
• End date
• Which lab(s)
• Justification

Student Support

If students are struggling support is available:

Te Papa Manaaki | Campus Care https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/student-support/te-papa-manaaki-campus-care.html

Financial Support https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/fees-and-money-matters/financial-support.html

Covid will have likely have impacted progress for many so there are Postgraduate Extensions and Fee Waivers programmes. Note International students will need to consider visas!

Honours and Masters (as you know who will have been impacted please don’t wait for the last few days before the submission deadline to apply!)

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/fees-and-money-matters/tuition-fees/postgraduate-research-fees-free-extension.html

Doctoral

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/postgraduate-students/school-of-graduate-studies/covid-19-doctoral-extension-fee-waiver.html

If any doctoral students are ‘twiddling their thumbs’ because they can’t get into labs or do fieldwork it may be a good time for them to generally upskill:

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/postgraduate-students/school-of-graduate-studies/doctoral-opportunities.html

Note to supervisors: Domestic PhD Admissions of those eligible for the guaranteed University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships are up so it has become even more competitive for international applicants. Please manage expectations around this as you communicate with international enquiries.

Upcoming Events

ResBaz Aotearoa/NZ 2021, 22-26 November

We, the Centre for eResearch, LOVE the usual ResBaz 3-day cohort event that is full of digital research skills workshops, social activities, and amazing food. However, like last year, we find ourselves having to imagine chatting over donuts or nachos.

Join us for any of the 42⁺ FREE & ONLINE digital research skills workshops – https://resbaz.auckland.ac.nz
Shorts sessions offer a brief practical introduction to a broad selection of topics and tools related to digital research practice relevant across disciplines – research data management, using Jupyter Notebooks, Linux commandline, open access, writing in LaTeX, research compute, Tidy Data, Open Refine, creating surveys with Qualtrics, qualitative analysis with NVivo, GLAM workbench, working with social media data, managing genomics data, Māori and Pacific research using digital tools, etc.
Longer sessions provide a hands-on learning experience delivered by research staff and postgraduate students in a range of topics – Google Earth Engine, version control of documents and code, R and RStudio, Python, producing publication ready figures, building personal websites, .. and much more.

We welcome ALL Aotearoa /NZ researchers and postgraduate students from ANY discipline to look at the schedule and book for individual sessions. Research technologists, librarians and those who support researchers should also come along!

Environment Examiners’ Meetings for Semester 2 on Zoom

Tuesday 23 November

Earth Sciences: 0900-1030
Environmental Science: 1100-1230
Geography: 1400-1600

The deadline for completing exam marking and submitting them on canvas is Friday 19 November, 9 am.

The zoom link will send by email when it is close to the meeting date.

Geography Auckland: Monthly Dialogues with Wine – Tues, 23 November, 12 – 1pm

Topic: World Views in decision-making relating to Ecosystem Based Management: evidence from consenting processes

Presenters: Erena Le Heron, Richard Le Heron and team (Perceptions of Risk and Uncertainty in the Marine Area – an Our Seas project)

When: Tuesday 23rd November, 12pm to 1pm

Zoom Link: https://auckland.zoom.us/j/96550837417

–

‘Event Poster’ attached below, please refer to Page 2 to read the event abstract!

NZGS Auckland newsletter November 2021

Submission of Final Grade Deadline – Thu 25 November, 3 pm

The final grades are submitted electronically through Canvas only after the Examiners’ meeting
For guidance on submitting final grades from Canvas, see the Canvas final grades submission process on the Examinations webpage
From this semester, there is no need for submitting the Grade Approval Sheets, and we will replace them with our Final Grade Submission Notification
Once completed, it will automatically generate an email and send it to the Results, Course director, Examiners/Assessors.

AKO

Zoom Meeting Link: https://auckland.zoom.us/j/97867058650

Note: To get the most out of the workshop, please watch this video in advance of our session

https://auckland.au.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=ce4e11d5-9ecc-4808-835c-ade20057d287

New programme: Master of Environmental Management

We will soon be offering a new 180 point taught masters degree in Environmental Management. This has just been given the go-ahead from the Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP) and will be available from Semester 1, 2022. It builds upon the long-established PGDipSci and MSc options, and the existing foundations of critical social science will be augmented with new courses with a more applied focus. The fairly tight programme and the core course (701) will ensure that all students get a coherent and well-rounded experience, but with space to include courses from related subjects, as well.

With our recently-appointed new colleagues we will be able to roll out a full programme in 2022:

Semester 1

ENVMGT 741: Social Change for Sustainability (Georgia Pigott)
ENVMGT 744: Resource Management (Karen Fisher)
ENVMGT 749: Environmental Sociotechnologies (Emma Sharp)
ENVMGT 751: River Management (Gary Brierley)

Semester 2

ENVMGT 701: Environmental Management in Practice (Brad Coombes + other staff)
ENVMGT 742: Social Dimensions of Global Environmental Change (Meg Parson)
ENVMGT 746: Collaborative Environmental Management (Brad Coombes)
ENVMGT: 748: Coastal Management (Emma Ryan)

Brad Coombes is the Environmental Management programme adviser.

Rangahau – Research

Gary Brierley, Presentations at the NZ-China Tripartite Agreement Webinar

As an extension to his role on the UoA International Committee, Gary Brierley made two presentations at a New Zealand-China Tripartite Agreement Webinar hosted by Education New Zealand and the University of Auckland on Tuesday 16^th November. The UoA-Tsinghua-Qinghua University case study included presentations by Xilai Li (PhD supervised by George Perry), Xiaoqing Li (PhD supervised by Luitgard Schwendenmann) and Meiqin Han (PhD supervised by Gary Brierley). Presentations were really well received, with this case study considered the primary exemplar for the Tripartite agreement. In his individual keynote address, Gary highlighted ‘key rooms and moments’ and ’Blood, sweat and tears’ in such international deliberations.

In a separate Invited Keynote address, Gary presented the evening lecture at the 13^th SINAGEO Conference in Brazil on Wednesday 17^th November. Although desperately missing his ‘caiparinha in-hand’, his talk on ‘Truth of the Riverscape’ seemed to be well received (it’s never easy to tell under prevailing online circumstances).

In both instances, logistical support for zoom related translation services was exemplary … clearly this is a growth sector right now, probably setting precedents for future international engagements.

Marsden – bid writing support

Please contact Kathryn or Franca if you’re going to apply for a Marsden grant this year and would like to request bid writing support. Three levels of support is available (general proof reading; editorial review; or full bid development) Please submit your request by mid December at the latest. Note funding is limited, and not all requests will be able to be supported.

Research Projects impacted by Covid-19

Please advise your RPC if any of your research projects have been impacted by Covid-19 so we can discuss options to resolve impacts. Note, key information on research continuity through COVID-19 is being updated regularly via COVID-19: Researcher continuity support and information.

Antarctica field work

Any one preparing funding bids that involve fieldwork in Antarctica is encouraged to contact Esme Robinson (e.robinson@antarcticanz.govt.nz) Science Programme Advisor, at Antarctica New Zealand early in the development of their research plan so that they can support the preparation of a logistically feasible application.

Research Assistant position available

The Sustainability Practices for a Future-focussed Faculty Initiative is concerned with finding gaps and opportunities for the Faculty of Science (FoS) to achieve a higher degree of sustainability. The research team is examining potential pathways for transitioning to new ways of doing things regarding our carbon emissions, lab-based teaching and research, and our sustainability mindset. The team is seeking input from the Faculty of Science’s staff and postgraduate students, which will help inform the University’s sustainability strategy. Engagement will include interviews and surveys. The data will be collected and coded in NVivo with the support of three Research Assistants (RAs), and the analysis and insights will be informed by transition theory frameworks. The initiative is led by Robin Kearns, Gillian Lewis (Associate Dean Sustainability), and Caroline Roughneen (FoS Strategic Projects Manager). The initiative leaders have appointed a Research Fellow (RF), Dr Barbara Ribeiro, to act as Project Lead (designing the research structure, providing a theoretical grounding, and day to day project management). We are seeking a further suitably qualified RA experienced in conducting interviews and undertaking qualitative research. Theis researcher would start at the primary data collection phase (mid-October) and continue until the project is completed by December 17th. Pay rate to be assessed by experience and qualifications by HR. For further information and /or to apply, please contact Barbara at b.ribeiro@auckland.ac.nz.

Funding Call

Plastics Innovation Fund

***Application Deadline 20 June 2022***

The purpose of the Plastics Innovation Fund is to support projects that will minimise plastic waste and its harm on the environment. The fund is seeking to fund projects that find ways to use less plastic and make what we do use reusable or recyclable. It is targeted at projects that: minimise plastic waste; support circular solutions; protect the environment from harm; support the reduction of imported plastic; and improve the behaviour of people and businesses (up the waste hierarchy). For further information visit the funder website or refer the Funder guidelines. You can also view a One-hour webinar about the fund

Funding Call

Near-Miss Fund

***Application Deadline 22 November***

The purpose is to provide support to PIs who successfully progressed to the second stage of a major external funding round but missed out at the final stage. The fund will provide up to $10,000 for research activity that will improve the chances of the project’s success in a future round. We envisage being able to fund up to 10 applications in the 2021 round. Note – targeted funders are MBIE, HRC and Marsden or similar (the deadline has been set so that unsuccessful Marsden applicants will have time to submit an application if they wish). The Near Miss Fund Guidelines and Application form can be found on the staff intranet.

Fostering Collaborations fund

***Application Deadline 22 November***

This fund is to provide support to clusters of staff wishing to develop and deepen collaborations across the Faculty and beyond. The fund will provide up to $20,000 for research-related activity that will support initiatives that may:

a) Lead to the development of a School/Department, Faculty, or University level Research Centre under the new Research Centres policy
b) Continue and enhance the activities facilitated by those existing Faculty Research Themes that are still active
c) Enhance existing or seed new transdisciplinary research collaborations
d) Lead to the submission of a collaborative bid to an external research funding agency

We envisage being able to support up to 15 applications in the 2021 round. The Fostering Collaborations Fund Guidelines and Application form can be found on the staff intranet.

Transport Research Scholarships

***Application Deadline 12 November***

Te Manatū Waka–Ministry of Transport and Waka Kotahi, NZ Transport Agency have established, and jointly fund, new Transport Research Scholarships. The scholarships were established to support students undertaking postgraduate research focusing on transport and its role and impact on Aotearoa New Zealand society. Many of the suggested topics are Engineering/Science related but there are also topics relating to sustainability, wellbeing, supply chains, data governance, economic productivity, equity, infrastructure, compliance. You can find all the details using these links:

Transport Research Scholarships | Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara (universitiesnz.ac.nz)

Transport Research Scholarships Regulations.pdf (universitiesnz.ac.nz)

MBIE 2022 Endeavour Fund: transforming New Zealand’s future

***Smart Ideas Registration Deadline 22 October***

The Fund aims too:
• support research science or technology, or related activities that have high potential to positively transform Aotearoa New Zealand’s economic, environmental, and societal outcomes, and give effect to the Vision Mātauranga policy; and
• drive an increasing focus on: excellent research; and, the potential for impact in areas of future value, growth or critical need for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Smart Ideas are intended to catalyse and rapidly test promising, innovative research ideas with high potential for benefit to New Zealand, to enable refresh and diversity in the science portfolio.
• Value: $0.4 – $1 million over the term of the contract
• Duration: 2 or 3 years
• Registration Deadline – Friday 22 October 2021
• Concepts Deadline – Tuesday 16 November 2021

Research Programmes are intended to support ambitious, excellent, and well-defined research ideas which will have credible and high potential to positively transform New Zealand’s future in areas of future value, growth, or critical need (as set out in the Investment Signals).
• Value: $0.5 million or more per year
• Duration: 3, 4 or 5 years
• Registration deadline: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
• Full proposal: Friday 18 February 2022

Guidelines and other important documents are available from your RPC or via the MBIE Endeavour Fund Website.

Support initiatives: There are a number of support initiatives running for both Smart Idea and Research Programmes. If you intend to apply and haven’t yet made contact with your RPC please do so asap.

Publications

Pelling M, Biesbroek R, Caretta MA, Cissé G, Costello MJ, Ebi KL, Gunn EL, Kerr RB, Parmesan C. Schuster-Wallace C, van Aalst MK, Woodward A, 2021. Synergies between COVID-19 and climate change impacts and responses. Journal of Extreme Events, online. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2345737621310023

Fryirs, K., & Brierley, G. (2021). How far have management practices come in ‘working with the river’?. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5279

More Information

Need to store and share research data? Request Research storage or UoA Dropbox for research

Queries about virtual machines? Virtual machine consult or Nectar Research Cloud?

ResearchHub: connects people, resources, and services -research-hub.auckland.ac.nz

Remote working issues: Please refer to the remote working page. If you do not find the answers to your questions, please log a call on the IT Portal for any IT-related issues or contact the Staff Service Centre for other queries.

Two-factor Authentication : Authy

h ttps://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/about-the-university/identity-and-access-management/two-factor-authentication/download-authy-for-desktops.html

YubiKeys work but of course require a USB port.

VPN: Instructions on how to install

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/postgraduate-students/postgraduate-support-and-services/vpn-service.html

VPN, Linux: FortiClient is running fine on Linux. Check the VPN link listed above.

VPN, Mac desktops: (information from April, may be outdated). Students may need IT to make their machines mobile and install FortiClient directly from the website. They will also need to set-up two-factor authentication by downloading an app like “Authy” on their phones and then setting up their University of Auckland account. I suggest people do this part before IT gets to them to make the process faster. To do that, they can use the instructions on this page:

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/about-the-university/identity-and-access-management/two-factor-authentication/download-authy-for-desktops.html

To get a mobile account set up, log a service request or go to one of the service kiosks. It is unclear how this is being done remotely but I am sure this can be done. Please let me Ingo (i.pecher@auckland.ac.nz) know if you have managed to install FortiClient on their macs remotely.

FlexIT and Remote Access

FlexIT is straight-forward for remote access to computing power and programs. Alternatively, check if your project/group or so has a virtual machine. Remote desktop access to specific machines can be set up by IT but may note be reliable. Check the Staff Service Center https://uoaprod.service-now.com/sp.

Remote access is possible to some workstations in the geocomputational lab for research, and on a needs basis. This may be a viable solution for specialized data analysis. Please look into alternatives: It is unclear however, if/how on-site desktops can be maintained, if needed..

FlexIT access and requests: Use the FlexIT form in the IT Portal to request access as a staff member, to ask for an application be added, or to report any issues or faults.

FlexIT, Linux: Please check FlexIT link: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/my-tools/flex-it.html. It does not have any information on Linux but should be useful for “translation”.

Depending on your browser (in particular, Firefox), you also need to do the following, from https://communities.vmware.com/thread/595554.

“…tested with the Horizon 4.8.x and 4.10.x clients and Firefox v64.0. Both are 64bit versions, running on Ubuntu 18.04.1

Download the client from the VMWare Horizon Client for 64-bit Linux
In Firefox, open about:config and click through the warning.
Add a new boolean entry called network.protocol-handler.expose.vmware-view and set the value to false
Create a file called `test.html` somewhere on your computer and put the following in it: test
Open the file in Firefox and click on the link, which should prompt you for a path to open the link.
Select /usr/bin/vmware-view and it should work for future uses! “

(1) was provided by UoA but I think it works with generic software from VMWare as well.

Check with Ingo (i.pecher@auckland.ac.nz) if you run into problems.

Software licenses: Software vendors have relaxed their licensing to allow students to install software at home, rather than relying on Flex IT. There is a running list here https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/my-tools/flex-it/install-software.html

Please email content to Isabella for next edition of P-cubed by Friday

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Issue 68 – Monday 8th November, 2021

November 8, 2021 • ijor070

HeadsUp

The final comment in an email from a workmate last week read: “I think I hit the motivational low point today”. Two aspects struck me. First, the candid admission itself, and second the implied fatigue.

I’m not sure I would have encountered that sort of frank postscript from other than a close colleague in previous years. On the upside, for all the slog of this lockdown year it’s brought many of us closer in solidarity. Just as lockdowns have led to a more porous landscape of work (being party to passing kids and cats on zoom etc), so too there’s been a growing porosity of emotional terrain. We are increasingly giving voice to feelings as well as considered thoughts. All positive in my books.

“Being professional” is all very well but a veneer of efficiency can at times mask how we really are doing. I wouldn’t want to see a zoom meeting become a group therapy session. Nonetheless admissions of how we are doing that reach deeper than a passing courtesy offer opportunities for words of solidarity. Or, if deeper revelations of difficulty emerge, perhaps practical offers of assistance. This, of all times, is a time to be real.

The second aspect of that comment about hitting a motivational low point is this: so many of us (the majority even) are deeply tired. Tired of, among other things: confinement, 2-D work-life, living according to Covid-related regulations, being harnessed to our laptops, not being able to make plans and, for some, a sense of exile from family and close friends.

I see it as no coincidence that this comment about motivation was offered the day after our all-staff Wrap-up session and from someone I regard as one of my more highly motivated workmates. In a sense it can feel like a bitter pill that with the External Review and the Curriculum Transformation Project we are presented with the challenge for change at the very time we hunger for elusive ‘normality’ and stability.

I suspect we all deeply crave and need a break and I sincerely hope you’re all planning on one, as much as we can plan in these times. I also suspect we need to catch breath and see that, on balance, the Review affirmed at least as much as it nudged and challenged. But along the way towards a School-wide response, I’d just ask we ‘do a Jacinda’ and be kind to each other, giving others the benefit of the doubt.

And, be kind to ourselves. Unplug when we can (and I’m writing an exhortation to myself as much as others here) to find those deep breaths, quiet moments and restorative places that can offer a little ascent out of the times of motivational lows.

It’s not new year yet but never too early for resolutions. A realisation I’ve had is I can no longer keep up the necessary work-week gusto if I work on weekends, as I did most of the year till now. So, feel free to email me on a weekend, but I’m off-air until Monday morning. In emergencies there’s always the phone. At this weary end of the year, and as the weather improves, I encourage others to do the same….

One of the gifts of being in this Acting Head role is having a bird’s eye perspective (or, in light of Bird of the Year result, is that a bat’s radar understanding?) of how incredibly passionate people in our School are about their research and engagement with the world. While the Wrap-up session didn’t literally wrap up the year I hope it’s been a prompt to look ahead to the summer (in all its uncertainties). I hope we can all see ways to re-find motivation. And I hope we can all reflect on how we can move forward in a time when environmental change (university-based, nationally covid-driven, and at large on Earth) is both the present and future rolled into one.

A few other matters

Reiterated congratulations to Marden Grant recipients: Tara Coleman (‘Lived experience and geography of young-onset Parkinson’s disease’) and Nick Lewis, with Tom Baker and Emma Sharp (‘Global management consultancies, extra statecraft, and the great reset’)
Thanks to Platform and Committee leads who have prepared budget bids for 2022. The School Finance committee is meeting this week to consider these against our allocation.

As many of you will know as part of our budget bid in the 3 Year plan we were granted a Lectureship in Environmental Science. The position description has now been drafted and approved by Steering Group and we hope it’s out in the world soon.

Finally, the opportunity the opportunity to gather as a School off-zoom to mark the end of the year seems to be slipping away, so as a reminder of the delight of being together here is a pic from the all-staff ‘Retreat’ back in June:

Robin Kearns 08/11/21

Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities

A new arrival

Brendon Blue would like to let everyone know that he and Octavia’s wee boy arrived on Labour Day morning. “Marius (Alexander Salvatore Calder-Dawe) Blue – yes he isn’t short of middle names – is small (born 2.6kg) but well-formed. Inheriting his dad’s appetite is serving him well, and he has already regained and now surpassed his birth weight. After being in and out of hospital a bit over the last week, for Mum rather than him, we are now settling into a rather different kind home life down here in Wellington”

Congratulations to the proud parents in Wellington …and to Lyndsay here.

Media Release from the Marsden Project,

PhD student Anthony Shorrock joins a large team of international scientists, led by Dr Lorna Strachan from University of Auckland, investigating whether long-term sea-level rise associated with climate change, impacts the frequency of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Click here to access the media release article

Half-Earth Day 2021, online conference

Prof. Costello was an invited speaker at the “Half-Earth Day 2021” online conference on 22^nd October with over 3,000 registrations and in the eminent company of David Attenborough, E O Wilson, Johan Rockström and others.

IT Committee – “Big Data”

We may have additional end-of-year funding for “Big Data” purchases. Please contact Michael Martin (Michael.Martin@auckland.ac.nz) if you are interested. We encourage specifically purchases of data for research and/or teaching from which several ENV members will benefit, ideally across disciplines.

Please let us know by Wed., 10 Nov. evening.

We should also have more information on the potential level of funding by then.

Thank you, Michael and Ingo

Student Support

If students are struggling support is available:

Te Papa Manaaki | Campus Care https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/student-support/te-papa-manaaki-campus-care.html

Financial Support https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/fees-and-money-matters/financial-support.html

Covid will have likely have impacted progress for many so there are Postgraduate Extensions and Fee Waivers programmes. Note International students will need to consider visas!

Honours and Masters (as you know who will have been impacted please don’t wait for the last few days before the submission deadline to apply!)

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/fees-and-money-matters/tuition-fees/postgraduate-research-fees-free-extension.html

Doctoral

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/postgraduate-students/school-of-graduate-studies/covid-19-doctoral-extension-fee-waiver.html

If any doctoral students are ‘twiddling their thumbs’ because they can’t get into labs or do fieldwork it may be a good time for them to generally upskill:

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/postgraduate-students/school-of-graduate-studies/doctoral-opportunities.html

Note to supervisors: Domestic PhD Admissions of those eligible for the guaranteed University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships are up so it has become even more competitive for international applicants. Please manage expectations around this as you communicate with international enquiries.

Upcoming Events

School of Environment Research Awards Function

Please join us at School of Environment Research Awards Function which will take place on the 9th of November from 11:00 – 12:30 on Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://auckland.zoom.us/j/8698433089

ESP Mini Conference 2021: Save the Date!

The Auckland Emerging Spatial Professionals are excited to announce this year’s mini conference (covid permitting). More information to follow but for now – keep Saturday 13th November 2021 free in your calendars!

Register here: https://fb.me/e/HS2t88dX\

Erionite Webinar with Dr Jasmine Rita Petriglieri, Tues 16 Nov 2021, 6:00pm

Dr Jasmine Rita Petriglieri will be presenting about ‘Natural Occurrences of Asbestos in New Caledonia.
Development of new tools for risk evaluation in natural sites’. Please click the link below for more information and the zoom link.

Attachment for more info + Zoom Meeting

NEW DATE: School of Environment Online Seminar, 19 Nov 2021, 1-3pm

Friday 19th November 1-3PM : School of Environment online Seminar: Engaging in the changing environmental policy and legislative landscape

Join us for an interactive afternoon discussion on Aotearoa New Zealand’s much anticipated new resource management legislation. Find out about ways that your research might help inform policy and practice in an interactive discussion with Dr Alison Collins, the Chief Science Advisor of the Ministry for the Environment and Professor Ken Hughey, the Chief Science Advisor of the Department of Conservation.

The School of Environment teams up with Koi Tu Centre for Informed Futures for this special online seminar.

Register now: Engaging in the changing environmental policy and legislative landscape Tickets, Fri 19/11/2021 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite

ResBaz Aotearoa/NZ 2021, 22-26 November

We, the Centre for eResearch, LOVE the usual ResBaz 3-day cohort event that is full of digital research skills workshops, social activities, and amazing food. However, like last year, we find ourselves having to imagine chatting over donuts or nachos.

Join us for any of the 42⁺ FREE & ONLINE digital research skills workshops – https://resbaz.auckland.ac.nz
Shorts sessions offer a brief practical introduction to a broad selection of topics and tools related to digital research practice relevant across disciplines – research data management, using Jupyter Notebooks, Linux commandline, open access, writing in LaTeX, research compute, Tidy Data, Open Refine, creating surveys with Qualtrics, qualitative analysis with NVivo, GLAM workbench, working with social media data, managing genomics data, Māori and Pacific research using digital tools, etc.
Longer sessions provide a hands-on learning experience delivered by research staff and postgraduate students in a range of topics – Google Earth Engine, version control of documents and code, R and RStudio, Python, producing publication ready figures, building personal websites, .. and much more.

We welcome ALL Aotearoa /NZ researchers and postgraduate students from ANY discipline to look at the schedule and book for individual sessions. Research technologists, librarians and those who support researchers should also come along!

Environment Examiners’ Meetings for Semester 2 on Zoom

Tuesday 23 November

Earth Sciences: 0900-1030
Environmental Science: 1100-1230
Geography: 1400-1600

The deadline for completing exam marking and submitting them on canvas is Friday 19 November, 9 am.

The zoom link will send by email when it is close to the meeting date.

Submission of Final Grade Deadline – Thu 25 November, 3 pm

The final grades are submitted electronically through Canvas only after the Examiners’ meeting
For guidance on submitting final grades from Canvas, see the Canvas final grades submission process on the Examinations webpage
From this semester, there is no need for submitting the Grade Approval Sheets, and we will replace them with our Final Grade Submission Notification
Once completed, it will automatically generate an email and send it to the Results, Course director, Examiners/Assessors.

AKO

FOS: Teaching and Learning Symposium 2021 – Tuesday 16^th November 10-3pm

Click here to access the Programme Schedule

New programme: Master of Environmental Management

We will soon be offering a new 180 point taught masters degree in Environmental Management. This has just been given the go-ahead from the Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP) and will be available from Semester 1, 2022. It builds upon the long-established PGDipSci and MSc options, and the existing foundations of critical social science will be augmented with new courses with a more applied focus. The fairly tight programme and the core course (701) will ensure that all students get a coherent and well-rounded experience, but with space to include courses from related subjects, as well.

With our recently-appointed new colleagues we will be able to roll out a full programme in 2022:

Semester 1

ENVMGT 741: Social Change for Sustainability (Georgia Pigott)
ENVMGT 744: Resource Management (Karen Fisher)
ENVMGT 749: Environmental Sociotechnologies (Emma Sharp)
ENVMGT 751: River Management (Gary Brierley)

Semester 2

ENVMGT 701: Environmental Management in Practice (Brad Coombes + other staff)
ENVMGT 742: Social Dimensions of Global Environmental Change (Meg Parson)
ENVMGT 746: Collaborative Environmental Management (Brad Coombes)
ENVMGT: 748: Coastal Management (Emma Ryan)

Brad Coombes is the Environmental Management programme adviser.

Rangahau – Research

Marsden – bid writing support

Please contact Kathryn or Franca if you’re going to apply for a Marsden grant this year and would like to request bid writing support. Three levels of support is available (general proof reading; editorial review; or full bid development) Please submit your request by mid December at the latest. Note funding is limited, and not all requests will be able to be supported.

Research Projects impacted by Covid-19

Please advise your RPC if any of your research projects have been impacted by Covid-19 so we can discuss options to resolve impacts. Note, key information on research continuity through COVID-19 is being updated regularly via COVID-19: Researcher continuity support and information.

Antarctica field work

Any one preparing funding bids that involve fieldwork in Antarctica is encouraged to contact Esme Robinson (e.robinson@antarcticanz.govt.nz) Science Programme Advisor, at Antarctica New Zealand early in the development of their research plan so that they can support the preparation of a logistically feasible application.

Student Sustainability Research Awards
We welcome applications for the Faculty of Science Student Sustainability Research Awards. Awards of up to $2,000 each are available to students within the Faculty of Science to support the student’s living costs. $2,000 will be awarded for a full year project that is located within a formal qualification, for example an Honours dissertation, or a Masters or PhD project. For shorter projects up to $500 will be awarded.

The awards are open to applications from postgraduate students who are undertaking a research project and are enrolled (or have recently completed) in the Faculty of Science (or whose primary discipline is administered through the FoS). Supervisors with a project can identify a suitable student and encourage them to apply. Applications for small projects that are not a formal part of the student’s degree or diploma programme will be considered. Preference will be given to non-doctoral students and those without an existing stipend.

Please note that projects can be supervised by any University of Auckland staff member.

This round of awards is suitable for current or recently completed Masters or PhD students, or students who would like to undertake a project over the summer. For students intending to begin their Honours or Masters projects next year we ask that you instead wait to apply in our first 2022 round, which will open in April 2022.

Applications for this round will close at 5pm on Thursday 4 November

For more details, including application forms, please check this link.

Research Assistant position available

The Sustainability Practices for a Future-focussed Faculty Initiative is concerned with finding gaps and opportunities for the Faculty of Science (FoS) to achieve a higher degree of sustainability. The research team is examining potential pathways for transitioning to new ways of doing things regarding our carbon emissions, lab-based teaching and research, and our sustainability mindset. The team is seeking input from the Faculty of Science’s staff and postgraduate students, which will help inform the University’s sustainability strategy. Engagement will include interviews and surveys. The data will be collected and coded in NVivo with the support of three Research Assistants (RAs), and the analysis and insights will be informed by transition theory frameworks. The initiative is led by Robin Kearns, Gillian Lewis (Associate Dean Sustainability), and Caroline Roughneen (FoS Strategic Projects Manager). The initiative leaders have appointed a Research Fellow (RF), Dr Barbara Ribeiro, to act as Project Lead (designing the research structure, providing a theoretical grounding, and day to day project management). We are seeking a further suitably qualified RA experienced in conducting interviews and undertaking qualitative research. Theis researcher would start at the primary data collection phase (mid-October) and continue until the project is completed by December 17th. Pay rate to be assessed by experience and qualifications by HR. For further information and /or to apply, please contact Barbara at b.ribeiro@auckland.ac.nz.

Funding Call

Plastics Innovation Fund

***Application Deadline 20 June 2022***

The purpose of the Plastics Innovation Fund is to support projects that will minimise plastic waste and its harm on the environment. The fund is seeking to fund projects that find ways to use less plastic and make what we do use reusable or recyclable. It is targeted at projects that: minimise plastic waste; support circular solutions; protect the environment from harm; support the reduction of imported plastic; and improve the behaviour of people and businesses (up the waste hierarchy). For further information visit the funder website or refer the Funder guidelines. You can also view a One-hour webinar about the fund

Funding Call

Near-Miss Fund

***Application Deadline 22 November***

The purpose is to provide support to PIs who successfully progressed to the second stage of a major external funding round but missed out at the final stage. The fund will provide up to $10,000 for research activity that will improve the chances of the project’s success in a future round. We envisage being able to fund up to 10 applications in the 2021 round. Note – targeted funders are MBIE, HRC and Marsden or similar (the deadline has been set so that unsuccessful Marsden applicants will have time to submit an application if they wish). The Near Miss Fund Guidelines and Application form can be found on the staff intranet.

Fostering Collaborations fund

***Application Deadline 22 November***

This fund is to provide support to clusters of staff wishing to develop and deepen collaborations across the Faculty and beyond. The fund will provide up to $20,000 for research-related activity that will support initiatives that may:

a) Lead to the development of a School/Department, Faculty, or University level Research Centre under the new Research Centres policy
b) Continue and enhance the activities facilitated by those existing Faculty Research Themes that are still active
c) Enhance existing or seed new transdisciplinary research collaborations
d) Lead to the submission of a collaborative bid to an external research funding agency

We envisage being able to support up to 15 applications in the 2021 round. The Fostering Collaborations Fund Guidelines and Application form can be found on the staff intranet.

Transport Research Scholarships

***Application Deadline 12 November***

Te Manatū Waka–Ministry of Transport and Waka Kotahi, NZ Transport Agency have established, and jointly fund, new Transport Research Scholarships. The scholarships were established to support students undertaking postgraduate research focusing on transport and its role and impact on Aotearoa New Zealand society. Many of the suggested topics are Engineering/Science related but there are also topics relating to sustainability, wellbeing, supply chains, data governance, economic productivity, equity, infrastructure, compliance. You can find all the details using these links:

Transport Research Scholarships | Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara (universitiesnz.ac.nz)

Transport Research Scholarships Regulations.pdf (universitiesnz.ac.nz)

MBIE 2022 Endeavour Fund: transforming New Zealand’s future

***Smart Ideas Registration Deadline 22 October***

The Fund aims too:
• support research science or technology, or related activities that have high potential to positively transform Aotearoa New Zealand’s economic, environmental, and societal outcomes, and give effect to the Vision Mātauranga policy; and
• drive an increasing focus on: excellent research; and, the potential for impact in areas of future value, growth or critical need for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Smart Ideas are intended to catalyse and rapidly test promising, innovative research ideas with high potential for benefit to New Zealand, to enable refresh and diversity in the science portfolio.
• Value: $0.4 – $1 million over the term of the contract
• Duration: 2 or 3 years
• Registration Deadline – Friday 22 October 2021
• Concepts Deadline – Tuesday 16 November 2021

Research Programmes are intended to support ambitious, excellent, and well-defined research ideas which will have credible and high potential to positively transform New Zealand’s future in areas of future value, growth, or critical need (as set out in the Investment Signals).
• Value: $0.5 million or more per year
• Duration: 3, 4 or 5 years
• Registration deadline: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
• Full proposal: Friday 18 February 2022

Guidelines and other important documents are available from your RPC or via the MBIE Endeavour Fund Website.

Support initiatives: There are a number of support initiatives running for both Smart Idea and Research Programmes. If you intend to apply and haven’t yet made contact with your RPC please do so asap.

MBIE 2022 Te Pūnaha Hihiko: Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund

The Fund aims to:

strengthen capability, capacity, skills and networks between Māori and the science and innovation system, and
increase understanding of how research can contribute to the aspirations of Māori organisations and deliver benefit for Aotearoa

Funding is available through two schemes, each in support of the Fund’s aims:

Connect Scheme: Build new connections between Māori organisations and the science and innovation system
Placement scheme: Enhance the development of an individual(s) through placement in a Partner organisation

The work programme term for both Connect and Placement schemes is up to 2 years.

$150,000 (ex GST) – max funding per proposal for projects up to 1 year in length
$250,000 (ex GST) – max funding per proposal between 1-2 years in length

Key elements (see Call for Proposals for full eligibility requirements):

Proposals must be co-developed with a Māori organisation (with either UoA or Māori organisation as lead contractor, and the other as the partner organisation)
Proposals must include co-funding at a minimum of 10% of requested amount
Proposals must not include any full-time tertiary or school students
For the placement scheme, the proposal must name the placement individual(s)
Funding must not be for activities for the same purpose already funded by any government agency
Research project must directly strive to achieve the Fund’s aims and support the themes and outcomes of MBIE’s Vision Mātauranga policy (Indigenous Innovation, Taiao, Hauora/Oranga, Mātauranga (and not solely address hauora/health

For further information, please visit the funders website

Internal Deadline: 12 noon, Tuesday 2 November 2021

Publications

Montaño, J., Coco, G., Chataigner, T., Yates, M., Le Dantec, N., Suanez, S., Cagigal, L., Floc’h, F. and Townend, I., 2021. Time‐scales of a Dune‐Beach System and Implications for Shoreline Modelling. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, p.e2021JF006169.

Jefferson T., Costello MJ, Zhao Q, Lundquist C. 2021. Conserving threatened marine species and biodiversity requires 40% ocean protection. Biological Conservation 264, 109368.

Costello MJ, Dekeyzer S, Galil BS, Hutchings P, Katsanevakis S, Pagad S, Robinson TB, Turon X, Vandepitte L, Vanhoorne B, Verfaille K, Willan RC, Rius M. 2021. Introducing the World Register of Introduced Marine Species (WRiMS). Management of Biological Invasions, in press.

Manes S, Grey, K-A, Debnath A, Costello MJ, Vale MM. 2021. Imperiled by climate change: global biodiversity rich-spots. In: Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Elsevier, 2021, ISBN 9780124095489, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821139-7.00162-8

Costello MJ. 2021. Biodiversity conservation through protected areas supports healthy ecosystems and resilience to climate change and other disturbances. In: Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Elsevier, ISBN 9780124095489.