Issue 73 – Monday 28th March, 2022
HeadsUp
To quote the recipient of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature, ‘the times they are a changin’. In our case, from after the mid semester break, “subject to any Government requirements in place at that time and with limited exceptions” activity will return to campus and the focus will be on “balancing the health and safety of staff and students with creating a lively and dynamic campus experience and the need to revitalise the campus community” (VC’s email, 24/03/22).
Some of you are already beginning to re-establish on-campus routines; others haven’t darkened the doors of their offices in a while. For now, both situations are fine. What will a more widespread return mean for our School? How can our School contribute to “a lively and dynamic campus experience”? Will students actually and eagerly return? Where do we all find ourselves on a continuum between anxiety and eagerness?
These past 2+ years have seen the most significant ever disruption in our academic careers and in our lives in general. There will be adjustment needed coming out of our Covid-imposed routines just as there was adjustment entering them. Please be easy on each other. Not everyone may be feeling as ready as you to be “back in the fray”.
We need to reconnect, however, and not just get back to business. We had neither an end of year gathering nor any welcome back ones this year. How might we celebrate a return? Any suggestions of School-wide catch-up-with-each other activities and occasions welcome. We may even have a budget for such things….
Meantime in the lead-up to early May, if you are on campus and in our buildings please remember that mask use is required unless you are alone in your office or eating/drinking.
Many of you will also be aware that the University’s travel policy has recently changed. Always be familiar with this site in the first instance: https://www.staff.auckland.ac.nz/en/covid-19/travel-and-travel-insurance/travel-restrictions.html#84eae04d4f981087f9d04024bf91a183
If you have an urgent international personal travel requirement, contact me directly and I will attempt to expedite clearance from HR with haste. If you are planning a research-based trip, complete an FS-94 and submit to Patricia in the first instance for my and then the Dean’s consideration and signoff. Only then can you contact Orbit for bookings.
Understandably there is a high degree of interest in international travel at present. With this interest to get away and use unspent funds, there is the potential later in the year for teaching and service disruption with multiple absences at any time. We need to balance eagerness to be away with the need to keep the waka moving at home base. So, just as we are asked to signal in advance intentions to apply for RSL, please signal to your Subject Head if you intend to apply via a FS-94 to be away later in the year, when and for how long. You may be asked to adjust your dates.
Congratulations
Giovanni Coco for his part in a newly-funded ARC Discovery grant The Great Barrier Reef in 2100 led by University of Sydney.
Paul Oluwunmi who leaves us end of this month for a new position at GNS
Robin Kearns
Whakawhanaungatanga – Communities
Congrats to Paul Oluwunmi
Many congratulations to Paul Oluwunmi. Paul has accepted a position as Scientist in GNS Science’s Groundwater Modelling group, starting in April. Paul has received his PhD from the University of Auckland in 2020 before starting as post-doctoral Research Fellow focusing on gas hydrate modelling. While we will miss Paul, this permanent position will be a fantastic opportunity to develop his expertise in a new research field
Social media
Don’t forget to share your research stories for diffusion on our social media! The School of Environment is active on both Facebook and Twitter:
- facebook.com/envuoa
- twitter.com/envuoa
Whether it be a new paper, workshop, seminar, appearance in the media, field trip, student success, new project, impact story etc… Just send a couple of lines to ENV Communications env-comms@auckland.ac.nz and we will take care of the rest!
Careers Roadshow (online) Enabling a Sustainable Future – AusIMM-NZ Tuesday 29 March 6pm to 7pm
Engage with recent graduates across range of disciplines (e.g. Env Science, Earth Science, Engineering, GIS, Commerce, Social Science) who have started challenging and fun careers in the minerals industry. How they got there,
and how they are making a difference. Hear about AusIMM-NZ scholarships, as well as career pathways and opportunities. Please register for this event here:
Honours Research Projects and sub-90 points Masters dissertations
Dear colleagues,
Thank you to everyone who supervised and/or examined Honours Research projects and sub-90-point Masters projects/dissertations in 2021. Your time and effort in supervising students and/or examining projects in what was a disrupted year, protracted by deadline extensions, is greatly appreciated. The 2021 cohort should now be all finished and moving onto new things.
In 2022, we have students completing Honours and MENVSCI 30-point research projects, and Bachelor of Advanced Science 60-point dissertations, with submissions in Semester 1 (Monday 27 June) and Semester 2 (Monday 14 November).
For your diary:
- S1 Honours and MENVSCI Oral presentations– Wednesday 8 June. Time and venue to be confirmed.
- S2 Honours, MENVSCI and BAdvSci Oral Presentations – Wednesday 26 October. Time and venue to be confirmed.
These are on the same day as Masters presentations and every effort will be made to avoid clashes.
Finally, if you are supervising Honours/MENVSCI/BAdvSci students this year, please ensure their project is achievable within the one- or two-semester timeframe and that it can be completed under pandemic conditions. Please encourage your student(s) to meet the end-of-semester submission date too, even if Covid-19 extensions are again offered by the Faculty; it is helpful to the students, for getting grades back in time to go on to further study or work, and to those involved in the examination process if we can all stick to the schedule.
Kind regards
Gretel Boswijk
(Honours coordinator)
ENV Health, Safety, and Wellbeing committee
Hello All!
The ENV Health, Safety, and Wellbeing committee meet for the first time this year to discuss outcomes for 2022.
An outline of the meeting minutes are available within the Health, Safety, and Wellbeing tab of pqubed.
The committee welcomed Gina Swanney in replacement for Blair Sowman as a technician representative.
Major projects outlined within the meeting:
- Mental wellness within the field project
- Discussion regarding the possibility of including cultural safety as part of the committees objectives.
If you have information that can help aid these projects into the committee scope we would love to hear from you. Please email Andres (a.arcila@auckland.ac.nz) or Gina (gina.swanney@auckland.ac.nz ) any information or input you would like to have.
SouthSci and WeSTEM – STEM Partner Role Description
Participatory science platforms (PSP) connect STEM experts with school and community groups, to explore a research or design question and engage youth in STEM. Please see for more information: SouthSci WeSTEM STEM partner role – 2022.
3k writing grant available for students
Funds are available to support students writing up their thesis as publication(s). Each grant is worth $3000 (120 hours at 25$ all included). There is no deadline to apply. Applications are evaluated as they come by members of Rangahau (2 weeks turn over max.), until we use all the funds available.
Do you have a good candidate in mind? Please complete this form and submit to melanie.kah@auckland.ac.nz.
Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries and Learning Services – What Is it Good for?
Heard about what we offer at the library? Many PhD students are not aware of all the help that is easily available to them. Join us for a chat about what Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries and Learning Services can offer science PhD students.
This session will give a brief overview of the library’s various services and support teams, and then touch on some research skills that science PhD students might find useful for their thesis and beyond. Feel free to come with any questions you may have!
Look forward to seeing you there!
- Place: Join Zoom Meeting
- Date: Thurs 7 April
- 4:00pm Overview of services and support that the library offers
- 4:10pm Science Research Advisers share some tips for science PhD students and introduce some of their workshops and services
- 4:30pm Q&A
Seminar on the Proper Role of Science in Liberal Democracy
The University of Auckland – Critical Theory Network is hosting a seminar with Prof. Klemens Kappel (University of Copenhagen), who will speak on “THE PROPER ROLE OF SCIENCE IN LIBERAL DEMOCRACY.” The seminar is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday 6 April 2022 and will be held over zoom via the link
https://auckland.zoom.us/j/98045023756
Link to pdf for more information: On the Proper Role of Science
Masters Research Seminars 8 June 2022 — Rm 302-G20
Students who started in S2, 2021 will present their preliminary results. These are 10 minute oral talks followed by 5 minutes of questions. They are designed to assist students with the direction that their project is going in. Supervisors should support their students and all staff should support the research culture in our school.. This is an on-campus seminar series. However, we may revert to Zoom if campus access is not possible. Below is a preliminary schedule.
Cheers,
Phil Shane (coordinator)
| Time | Name | Topic | |
| 9.00 | KoKo | Lat | rock mass quality from seismic refraction surveying |
| 9.15 | Adi | Levy | Engineering Geological and Liquefaction Assessment |
| 9.30 | James | Wilson | Rock Characteristics on foreshore morphology |
| 9.45 | Amber | Peek | Environmental Education and Data Generation |
| 10.00 | Kenzi | Yee | Insects as food (for who?) |
| 10.15 | Elliot | Stevens | ‘Voice of the River’ in catchment management |
| 10.30 | Jaynie | Yang | Root production and root exudations in kauri forests |
Employment Opportunities
Research Assistant casual contract available:
Are you good at preparing figures using drawing packages like illustrator, photoshop of corel draw? If you would like up 30+ hours work drafting figures for publication please get in touch with JR j.rowland@auckland.ac.nz
Professor in Geography, Earth Science or Atmospheric Science (Women Only)
Salary: Level E, Professor – $204,320 p.a (Pro Rata for part time)
Superannuation: Employer Contribution of 17%
Working Hours: Full time 1.0 FTE
Basis of Employment: Continuing
Opportunity
The newly formed School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences wishes to appoint a Professor in Geography, Earth Science or Atmospheric Science. The appointee will contribute to teaching excellence at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in one of the School’s disciplines and/or across the disciplines. They will also make major contributions to research, academic leadership and professional development including mentoring, and contribute to the School’s governance (e.g., committees, strategic planning, etc.).
The Professor will engage in high impact research collaborations and maintain a significant international profile through publications, presentations and other outputs. They will raise funding for their research and lead major projects as appropriate and engage with external communities and stakeholders.
About You
You will be an outstanding academic woman with expertise in Geography, Earth Science, or Atmospheric Science or a multidisciplinary area that encompasses those disciplines or any of its sub-disciplines
You will possess;
- A PhD in any area of geography, earth science, atmospheric science or a closely related discipline.
- An established research career of international standing in geography, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, or multidisciplinary research that encompasses those disciplines, ideally complementing our existing strengths.
- Demonstrated leadership and strategic perspective in research and scholarship within their discipline area.
- Strong track record of collaboration with other researchers and relevant stakeholders.
The Faculty of Science is deeply committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment that welcomes and values all people. We firmly believe that diversity, including in senior leadership, is essential to our Faculty’s continued success. https://science.unimelb.edu.au/
Funding
The Research Committee has funding available for activities to benefit Postdocs and RFs and allow them to connect.
To all those who fall into the following categories:
– Postdocs/Research Fellows;
– People conducting research on non-permanent contracts at the post-doctoral level,
We invite you to contact the new RF rep in the Rangahau/Research committee Joa Paredes-Mariño (for RFs/postdocs) joa.paredes.marino@auckland.ac.nz, for further information
A critique of Maori inclusion:
Professor Alison Jones, from Te Puna Wānanga, School of Māori and Indigenous Education in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, will bring new insights to the popular ideas of ‘diversity’, ‘equity’ and ‘Māori inclusion’ in the University. Monday 4 April, 11am-12pm on Zoom. Register here to attend online.
Teaching & Learning Research Initiative (TLRI)
The TLRI funding call seeks to support research addressing themes of strategic importance to education in New Zealand that will lead to an improvement in outcomes for learners. Partnerships between researchers and practitioners are central to the TLRI. You can read more about this opportunity in the TLRI Expression of Interest 2022 Guidance document. EOI Internal Deadline is 21 April 2022. Register interest to the Funds Advisor Team via submissions@auckland.ac.nz
James Cook Research Fellowships
The James Cook Research Fellowships are awarded to researchers who have achieved national and international recognition in their area of scientific research. Funding is for Senior Researcher Fellowships in Biological, Engineering and Physical Sciences for up to $110,000 for two years.
Internal Deadline: 5pm, Tuesday 03 May 2022. Email the following information to the Funds Advisor Team via submissions@auckland.ac.nz for James Cook Fellowship portal access: title (e.g. Dr, A/P, Professor), full name, email address, faculty, and department. Guidelines available here.
2023 CapEx applications now open
https://auckland.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Rew1VYtLrpvkGO
Applications will close 5pm Friday April 29th.
Any questions can be directed to Blair Sowman.
Funding for class meet and greets
The Student Experience Committee has limited funding available for class related activities. If you want to run a class event, online or otherwise (challenging given the current restrictions), and would benefit from some funds, please contact Joe (j.fagan@auckland.ac.nz). The Committee would prefer to fund several small events rather than one big one (but we are open to suggestions).
Rutherford Discovery Fellowships
Rutherford Discovery Fellowships (RDF) are to support the development of future research leaders, and to assist with the retention and repatriation of New Zealand’s talented early-to mid-career researchers. 10 Fellowships, up to $160,000 p.a. each for 5 years in length will be awarded in 2022. Internal Deadline: 9am Wednesday 20 April 2022. Applications are to be submitted on the RDF Portal by the deadline. Email the following information to the Funds Advisor Team via submissions@auckland.ac.nz for RDF portal access: title (e.g. Dr, A/P, Professor), full name, email address, faculty, department and years post PhD Experience. Further information is available on guidelines and the RDF Roadshow.
Covid-19 Hardship Fund
Applications due 31 March 2022
The University has launched the University C19 Hardship Fund to support externally funded research projects critically impacted by Covid-19 during Q3 and Q4 2021 and which incurred ongoing expenses and are now experiencing a shortfall. Applicants must be a Principal Investigator of an externally funded research project ending before 31 Dec 2022, with a recorded COVID-19 Impact of Amber or Red. Please contact your RPC if your project has been impacted by Covid-19 to ensure its been assessed correctly. Please see the COVID-19 Hardship Fund Guidelines for more information and to determine what costs you can apply. Please contact your RPC if you wish to apply and to obtain the financial transaction details for the Q3 – Q4 period for your project. Please review the information that is sent to you and when you’re ready – apply online.
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
Publications
Wardlow Friesen (2022): Isaac Qölöni: Personal Reflections on an Important Actor in Post-Colonial Solomon Islands, The Journal of Pacific History, DOI: 10.1080/00223344.2021.2016055, 1-18.
Sharp EL, Brierley B., and Salmond J and Lewis, N. (2022) Geoethical Futures: A Call for More-Than-Human Physical Geography. Environment and Planning F: Philosophy, Theory, Models, Methods and Practice
Sharp EL, Petersen I, Mclellan G, Cavadino A and Lewis N (2022) Diverse values of surplus for a community economy of fish(eries). Asia Pacific Viewpoint.
Cook M, Brook MS, Tunnicliffe J, Cave M., Gulick N (2022). Preliminary investigation of emerging suburban landsliding in Gisborne, New Zealand. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2021-087
Garrill R, Grieve S, George A, Richards N, Brook M. (2021). Monitoring slope instability during reinstatement of State Highway 11 at Lemon’s Hill (35 degrees S), Northland, New Zealand. Australian Geomechanics 56(4): 159-168.
Brierley, G., & Fryirs, K. (2022). Truths of the Riverscape: Moving beyond command-and-control to geomorphologically informed nature-based river management. Geoscience Letters, 9(1), 1-26.
Brierley, G., Li, X., Fryirs, K., Gao, J., Shi, Y., Perry, G. L., & Cullum, C. (2022). Development of place-based catenal models for grassland ecosystems of the Upper Yellow River, Western China. Catena, 213, 106193.
Sonam, Jain, V., Fryirs, K., & Brierley, G. (2022). Geomorphic characterization of a seasonal river network in semi-arid western India using the River Styles Framework. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences: X, 7, 100077.
Tolentino, P. L. M., Perez, J. E. G., Guardian, E. L., Boothroyd, R. J., Hoey, T. B., Williams, R. D., Fryirs, K. A., Brierley, G. J., & David, C. P. C. (2022). River Styles and stream power analysis reveal the diversity of fluvial morphology in a Philippine tropical catchment. Geoscience Letters, 9(1), 1-18.
Shi, Y., Gao, J., Li, X., Li, J., & Brierley, G. (2022). Effects of disturbances on aboveground biomass of alpine meadow in the Yellow River Source Zone, Western China. Ecology and Evolution, 12(3), e8640.
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