P-cubed Newsletters

Contents HeadsUp Like the weather of late, it’s a turbulent time. A waiting until things are clearer, perhaps. We await the release of the University Advisory Group on the future of NZ universities. We await a new Dean’s tenure and understanding of her priorities for...

Contents HeadsUp It has been a fortnight of firsts in some unsettling ways. The hottest days ever (global average) was recorded on 22 July, with 21 and 23 July also exceeding the previous record. At the same time and unseasonally warm weather in Antarctica is driving...

Contents HeadsUp Well, Semester 2 has begun. That came on fast.  Thanks to everyone for making our roughly 47 Semester 2 courses happen.  It’s a changing-of-the-guard kind of semester. We welcome the pilot versions of some new courses (SCIGEN 102 Waipapa Taumata...

Contents HeadsUp Many will be having a welcome return to focusing on research during these weeks between semesters. I’ve found a few days to tidy up a collection of papers and, apropos this activity, an article about academic journals and publishing took my attention....

Contents HeadsUp Kia ora koutou ‘Tis the season of in-betweenness: marking exams, finalising grades, and attending examiners’ meetings for Semester 1, while making plans for Semester 2. Thanks to all the teaching and administrative staff involved in...

Contents HeadsUp Last week, I had the pleasure of Chairing postgraduate student presentations. I was immensely impressed with the standard of presentations, the fulsome attendance, the energy in the room and excellent questions. Our numbers at PG level may be down but...

Contents HeadsUp Last week, with the encouragement of Dean, I got away to write and think about research. My best writing time is when I’m alone, and my best thinking time while walking. How about you? We’re all a bit different. I have a Dutch colleague who writes...

Contents HeadsUp I write from home base, caught in the claws of a head cold. Possibly exacerbated by extended periods sitting out in the clear cold night of Saturday past. Wasn’t seeing the aurora amazing? I hope at least some of you saw it. Some environmental...

Contents HeadsUp This week we welcome Professor Karin Bryan, who comes to us from Waikato University via our university’s Strategic Recruitment Programme. This programme enables the employment of staff who have been identified as “having the capacity to elevate the...

Contents HeadsUp I hope the teaching break has been good to you all! I’ve been thinking about gratitude of late. I am grateful to be in a School where people do things above and beyond what their job descriptions require of them.  Last Thursday’s Sustainability...