Fortnightly newsletter for University staff | Volume 40 | Issue 14 | 6 August 2010

Protecting our future Key events Chapman lecture Fifty years ago Robert Chapman, later to become foundation professor of Political Studies, delivered a Winter Lecture entitled “No land is an island: Twentieth century politics”. In the 2010 Professor Robert Chapman Lecture, Emeritus Professor Barry Gustafson will look at the continuing development and transformation of ’s political culture before considering whether Chapman’s thesis is still relevant today. The lecture takes place at 6.30pm on 9 August at the Maidment Theatre. Boundaries of compassion Theories of competition and individualism lie at the heart of the neo-liberal economic agenda. In the annual School of Theology Lecture, Professor Kevin Clements from Otago University will argue that these theories are An endangered Mexican Muscovy duck has taken up residence on the campus of Tecnologico de Monterrey, nests in based on a profound misunderstanding of the hollow trees and has up to 17 chicks at a time. Staff and students are proud that these members of an endangered key drivers of human behaviour. species have settled in and appear to be thriving. A 6.45pm reception will precede the lecture, to be held at 7.30pm on 18 August in the Imagine a campus with its own farm, terrain and location of the campuses. Library Lecture Theatre B15. composting units and vegetable gardens, Lesley had the opportunity on a Universitas 21 supplying healthy food not only to staff and Fellowship of visiting all three campuses students but also to an adjacent student-run mentioned above: the University of British Talking science café that sells delicious organic vegetable pies Columbia in Canada, Tecnologico de Monterrey in The Faculty of Science invites you to the and muffins. Mexico, and McGill University in Canada (in order inaugural Talking Science event on “Global Imagine another campus on the edge of a large of mention). warming: Why can’t scientists agree?” city, fenced to protect its wildlife, including She came home overflowing with ideas for the These informal evenings will feature endangered species. continuing development of sustainability at The entertaining debate with the country's And a third campus, tightly-squeezed into the University of Auckland. foremost authorities on topical scientific issues. heritage district of a city of four million people, The University of British Columbia, widely In the first session the University's leading with its staff and students working to achieve recognised as a role model for sustainability environmental scientists present their sustainability within the constraints of a traditional internationally, has created an impressively perspectives on the most contentious issue of approach to building and conservation. “green” campus, with buildings, for example, our generation. Panel moderator is Professor Different universities around the world follow constructed of recycled bricks, with no mechanical Grant Guilford, Dean, Faculty of Science. similar trajectories in their journey towards heating or cooling. The university has its own Panellists are Professor Glenn McGregor, Dr achieving sustainability on campus, says Dr Lesley energy plant, from which steam is piped through Anthony Fowler and Dr Jim Salinger from Stone, The University of Auckland’s Sustainability the buildings, and its newer buildings are designed School of Environment. This free event takes and Environmental Coordinator. However, the around “the natural movement of air, with heat place at Strata Postgraduate Lounge, Level 4, specific activities and the means they use to reach rising and cool air falling”. Kate Edger Information Commons, 6pm-9pm their goals differ according to the size, shape, One initiative Lesley admired provides for on 19 August. RSVP by 5pm, 17 August, to Liz Atkinson on [email protected] or story continues on page 1 ext 85266.

University news is published by Communications and Marketing, Fisher Building In this issue 18 Waterloo Quadrant, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 email [email protected] www.auckland.ac.nz/universitynews 2 New teaching scholarships Editor Judy Wilford 3 Intranet makeover Photography Godfrey Boehnke, Kathryn Robinson 6 Prestigious psychology prize Design AND PRODUCTION The University of Auckland From the Vice-Chancellor New teaching scholarships

The recent suggestion by Minister for Tertiary from low socioeconomic communities pose one of Education Steven Joyce that some tertiary the greatest challenges to this country’s future,” funding should be tagged to students’ success says Professor Stuart McNaughton, Director of the in finding jobs is interesting in the context of our Woolf Fisher Research Centre. “It is vital that more strategic objective to create “a student teachers are trained to deliver research-based environment…… [that encourages] students to programmes that have been proven to raise reach their full potential in a of achievement in schools in order to turn this academic excellence”. Responding to the situation around.” Minister’s suggestion, some commentators drew Over the next five years the scholarships will what they saw as an obvious contrast between fund the release of four suitably qualified and the vocational (“practical”) focus of the outstanding teachers each year for one year’s polytechnics and the academic (“theoretical”) Hon Anne Tolley with Professor Stuart McNaughton at full-time study in the Woolf Fisher Research Centre. the launch of the scholarships. approach of the universities. Such an analysis is The Centre has spent 12 years developing a flawed, for two reasons. New scholarships worth more than $1 million model to raise and extend student achievement, First, many university graduates are trained for are being offered to teachers to complete working in more than 50 schools and with more vocations – as doctors, nurses, teachers, high-level research in the Faculty of Education. than 10,000 children. It has successfully raised architects, engineers, lawyers, artists, historians, The Woolf Fisher Lead Teacher Masters literacy levels in urban decile 1 schools to within accountants and scientists. All of these – and the Scholarships were launched by the Minister of the national average, and has improved results in many other careers our graduates enter – are Education the Hon Anne Tolley on 22 July. a range of other schools including rural and small practical and useful applications of knowledge The Woolf Fisher Trust has generously donated town schools. acquired at university. It is no coincidence that $1.25 million to fund the scholarships for existing It is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most their advanced knowledge and skills lead to our teachers in Auckland and Northland to obtain successful projects to improve educational results graduates being valued more highly; ie paid more masters degrees. Scholarship recipients will learn for Māori, Pacific and children from low by employers than holders of other qualifications. how to use evidence from their schools to design socioeconomic communities. Thus, for example, masters and doctoral more effective teaching to lift and extend student “These scholarships are just the start. We hope graduates can expect salaries three years after achievement in their schools. a national training programme can be established graduation that are respectively 16 percent and “New Zealand has one of the largest differences so that every school can benefit from the Woolf 46 percent higher than those of bachelors in educational equity in the western world. Low Fisher model,” Stuart McNaughton says. graduates, whose salaries are in turn 50 percent literacy levels among Māori, Pacific and children higher than those of people holding level 1-4 certificates and diplomas. Second, and more important than salaries story continued from page 1 immediately after graduation, is the fact that the third- or fourth-year students across the university because, as the highest-rated university in its job market is not static. Today’s graduates will, to complete research projects on sustainability country, it has something in common with The with increased lifespan and activity (itself largely a which give them credits towards their University of Auckland. And in fact, its progress in consequence of university research), likely retire in qualifications. This programme, called SEEDS sustainability is following a similar path, though about 2060 – as far in the future as the 1960s (Social, Environmental and Economic Development (because of its heritage buildings) its building and were in the past. Many of the jobs that existed in Studies), encourages staff to come up with an idea refurbishment programme necessarily takes a the past do not exist today – who remembers car – for example, using compostible utensils in the traditional approach. It has an Architecture assemblers, wharfies, milliners? Meanwhile, new cafeteria – and take it to a “SEEDS” coordinator, Advisory Committee on refurbishment, which helps careers have emerged – for example, almost who then finds an academic supervisor and a balance heritage requirements with every role today associated with the vast student to conduct the baseline research needed environmentally sound decisions. electronics industry (computers, cell phones, to bring the idea to fruition. McGill is building a reputation for engaging its electronic transactions, gaming) has been created “UBC does about 90 of these projects a year, students in sustainability issues, and in fact a in the lifetime of a 1960s graduate. elevating awareness among students and student initiative – as Lesley explains – raised And so the issue is not how well we train contributing to the pool of knowledge on C$400,000 for sustainability research over the graduates for the jobs of today, though that is sustainability,” says Lesley. next three years. important. Rather, it is how we prepare them for At Tecnologico de Monterrey in Monterrey (the “A student set up a referendum asking if careers not yet imagined, far less invented. And it central campus of a private university with 33 students would be willing to contribute 50 cents is the skills we impart to our students, in “a campuses spread across Mexico), Lesley was per credit (amounting to around $20 for an climate of academic excellence” – the ability to impressed by the focus on conservation of, and undergraduate student). The students supported it. imagine, to strategise, to plan, to adapt, to write, education about, flora and fauna in the university The university is matching it dollar for dollar, and to manipulate numbers, and to work with others grounds. The university publishes a map showing the money is to be used for contestable – that will most effectively equip them for where the trees are located and which species of sustainability projects to be carried out by the future. animals, birds and insects are attracted to students, staff, or teams comprising both.” particular areas. Another source of funding for McGill’s Another strength of Monterrey is in its work on sustainability initiatives comes from its alumni. It social sustainability in local communities. Each has sustainability included in its endowment programme at each level must include a paper on programme. ethics and social responsibility, with at least three “People in the universities were generous with courses in every programme devoted to their time and took me everywhere,” says Lesley. “I sustainability issues. got a really broad sense of what was happening, “Monterrey has a policy of educating the and came back confirmed in my belief that the key educators,” Lesley explains, “through workshops to advancing sustainability is about elevating for academics on how to create ethics and people’s consciousness in a variety of ways and sustainability courses relevant to their building a culture where excellence and programmes.” sustainability are inextricably linked.” Lesley was keen to visit McGill University partly

2 6 August | 2010 Intranet makeover In brief... Research on the run In a new competition to be hosted in September by the School of Graduate Studies, masters students doing 90-point theses and PhD students will be given just three minutes each to explain their research. The Three Minute Thesis Competition — also known as “Thesis Idol” – is run in universities worldwide. Competitors must explain the gist of their thesis within this limited time, with one single PowerPoint slide permitted as a visual aid. The University of Auckland competition is structured in heats with a University final. The heats will be held on 1 and 2 September, and the finals will be held at OGGB from 4pm on Friday 3 September, and will be followed by a prize-giving, pizza and drinks. The finals are free and open to everyone to attend. They promise to deliver a fun afternoon of humour, competition, celebrity judges, networking and spectacle. The winner, first runner-up and second runner-up will each receive a watch from Citizen watches. The winner will also receive $1000. Each finalist will receive a $20 University Bookshop voucher. The University of Auckland winner will be flown to Queensland to compete in the Trans-Tasman competition, which will be held on 21 September 2010. Any current University of Auckland student studying towards a 90-point masters thesis or a PhD (apart from PhD candidates who sit their oral examination prior to 1 September) can enter by accessing the website www.auckland. The front page of the new staff intranet. ac.nz/3minutethesis

Exciting changes are on the way for the central “There was a variety of quality in content,” he Winning works staff intranet. says, “with some of it well-written and up-to-date, The best “works on paper” prize presently The new intranet will have a more inviting look, and some needing a fair amount of work, perhaps available in New Zealand has been shared by as you see above, with a more dynamic and because staff members had passed on to other three students from Elam School of Fine Arts. compelling way to share the University’s news. But duties or different positions. Toby Raine, Heidi Brickell and Amelia in addition you will notice differences in both “All content is now up-to-date and reliable, and Hitchcock have been jointly awarded the Lola content and structure. has a staff member responsible for looking after Anne Tunbridge Scholarship, a $10,000 prize Gabriella Davila, Communications Manager, it,” he adds. given annually to an Elam artist who excels who has overall responsibility for the intranet’s In addition there is a new calendar listing in the exploration of contemporary themes content, says the new intranet will provide events, key dates and training courses, and a new in watercolour. information in a much more intuitive way. One of section which brings together resources for heads the main aims of the changes is to make it easier of departments and general staff managers. This for staff to do what they want to do and find the includes profiles of HODs and managers, speaking information they need.” of their roles and their concepts of leadership. to a new content management system (CMS). “Staff come to the intranet with a purpose,” says Service divisions are now reviewing the revised Instead of ShadoMX, the intranet will now be Frazer Orr, web content publisher in the intranet, and the launch of the new site is planned using Jahia, which is used for the University’s Communications team. “They want to check their for 9 September. According to Project Manager external website and is “user-friendly” for staff leave balances, look up an extension number, enrol Antoinette Kesha, feedback has been positive and updating content. for a staff development session or find and fill in an people are happy with how it looks, making The intranet project is now in a major technical application form. information much easier to find. “It’s a very phase, with ITS staff working hard to make sure “We have tried to make it as easy as possible for satisfying stage because you can see the it will all be running smoothly by the date of staff to complete those tasks, and to take a more manifestations of the planning and work over the the launch. direct route to wherever they want to go.” last six months. Now we can see the intranet And even after the launch staff will be Frazer has played a strong role in restructuring growing in front of us.” constantly refining and improving the intranet, the content and is happy with the result. Over the A large number of people have been working which will need to be well-looked after to make the last few months he and his team have refreshed all very hard, with staff from all service divisions most of all the hard work up to this point. content on the intranet, rewriting and contributing content, and a team from Information Read more about the staff intranet upgrade at: standardising style, checking for accuracy and Technology Services (ITS) building the site. https://wiki.auckland.ac.nz/display/ITPRO/ updating links. At the core of the transformation is the change Staff+Intranet+Migration

The University of Auckland News 3 Mobile access to Library Want to renew one of your library books while To access the Library Catalogue on your phone you’re sitting on the bus going home? Or you just start typing in the first couple of letters perhaps check out the University Library’s and watch results return as you continue typing. Catalogue and place a request for something Boopsie makes use of the Smart Prefix system to out on loan? reduce keystrokes and re-indexes the Library As long as you’ve got an internet-enabled database to improve response times. mobile phone or wireless device such as iPhone, “We’ve already had good feedback from users iPod Touch or iPad, then you can now access the both on and off-campus. There is also the University Library’s Catalogue from anywhere, at convenience of using a phone around different any time. floors of the Library to search for a book,” says Working with US mobile applications company Brian. “With the Library mobile application they Boopsie, the Library has recently launched its don’t need to write down call numbers on pieces custom-built, free mobile phone application. of paper and then check back with a Library PC if Mobile users can go to the Library’s Mobile web the call number has been written down incorrectly page www.library.auckland.ac.nz/mobile/ for – it’s all there on the phone!” instructions on how to download for iPhone, As well as accessing the catalogue and your Android and other phones. library account, you can use your phone to “Staff and students are using a range of devices discover items recently added to the Library to access information resources now,” says Brian collections, book a Library course, or find out the Flaherty, Assistant University Librarian for IT who latest news through blogs and the University’s has worked on the project with the Digital Services Twitter and Facebook accounts. team, Peter Jansen and Yanan Zhao. “We believe Contact information and opening hours for each we have to deliver Library services across multiple library location are also included and a Library platforms, and to whichever device staff and locator button lets you locate each of the Brian Flaherty checks out the University Library's students are using”, whether a phone, iPad, or University’s 13 libraries through Google Maps. catalogue. desktop machine. See: www.library.auckland.ac.nz/mobile New micromachining at the cutting edge researchers to monitor chemical and physical reactions produced by light as they occur. With so many reactions occurring in response to light – from chemical decay to solar energy conversion – the applications are vast. The micromachining stage means the lasers can be used to carve materials from glass to metals on the micron scale (one thousandth of a millimetre) and to build components on the same scale by solidifying polymers. Just two of its current applications are manufacturing cutting-edge optics for physics research and helping make solar roofing tiles a reality. The custom-built stage is unique in New Zealand and can be used for industry-standard work, or finer-scale research applications. Also shown at the celebration event were the new cleanroom-based Microfabrication Facility, an X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory, and major upgrades to the University’s NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) Centre and Free Radical Dr Charles Rohde, postdoctoral researcher and user coordinator at the Photon Factory. Research Facility. The Microfabrication Facility offers services such A certificate of appreciation much smaller than Stuart received the certificate at a celebration as micro-scale lithography; characterisation and the head of a pin was presented to Vice- event hosted by the Department of Chemistry to testing of the tiny devices constructed; imaging; Chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon last showcase new and improved major research and metal evaporation. month, proving that good things really can come facilities housed in its basement. Operating at This fine-scale work must be done in a in tiny packages. the intersection of chemistry, physics, biology, cleanroom – a controlled environment with Printed on a light-sensitive plastic coated on and engineering, these facilities are available reduced airborne pollutants and carefully glass, the certificate demonstrated the laser to students and researchers from across the regulated temperature, humidity and light. Two of micromachining capability recently acquired by the University as well as external academics the facility’s current projects include developing University, with support from the Vice-Chancellor and industry. micro-devices for the controlled release of drugs, through Major Items of Research Equipment The new micromachining stage is part of the and studying the metabolism of single cells. (MIRE) funding and a Strategic Development Photon Factory – a laser facility for basic and With the assistance of MIRE funding, the NMR Grant; and with the assistance of the Faculty of applied research. The factory produces extremely Centre has recently acquired several new Science and Department of Chemistry. short, high-energy laser pulses that allow

4 6 August | 2010 Viewpoint instruments, including a new robotic sample changer that allows the facility to be used around What do New Zealand children find stressful and the clock. NMR spectroscopy is used to determine the composition and purity of a sample or its how do they cope? molecular structure. This is an essential tool for In an era where time is increasingly precious, and divorce” is well documented, children today, organic chemists, structural biologists, forensic “stress” is a word used frequently to describe the “informed” by the media and the commonality of scientists and other researchers. cause and effect of life’s challenges. Even though the experience amongst peers, experience another X-ray diffraction is another method of it may not be part of children’s everyday lexicon, common stressor – “whether parental conflict may determining molecular and crystalline structures, they can define it with clarity. lead to separation and/or divorce”. and the University’s facilities for examining crystals and powders have been extended with a donation “Sometimes you get stressed when you’re in fights “Sometimes I would just try to show that I am not and work too hard and when you’re going through worried and try to be calm. I just hide myself from Rio Tinto Alcan of a second powder x-ray bad things with your family or friends. It’s when inside myself…the worries I mean. Later I think, diffractometer. The single crystal facility is used by you’re tired and worn out and sometimes when my parents…they haven’t divorced, they are still chemists to determine the structure of small you’re sad. It’s just when you can’t be bothered together, but it is just a worry. I’m just worrying molecules whereas the powder facility is dedicated doing things you can’t do and trying out new that they may get divorced and then I have to to materials science applications, such as things.” (10-year-old) choose which parent I have to go with” examining novel catalysts for the aluminium Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, children’s (11-year-old) industry. stressor check-lists were based largely on the Children provide insightful commentary about The Free Radical Research Facility looks at how opinions of adults and included items, such as their environments and based on the number and exposure to free radicals affects samples. It can “family conflict” and “death in the family”, still depth of their views on “living with parents who evaluate the effects of exposure to radiation and is relevant today. Increased consultation with are stressed”, it stands out as a major stressor. used for applications ranging from food science to children during the 90s revealed new stressors, drug development, such as examining the activity “Usually she is a happy cheery lady, and she’s all perhaps analogous to the growth of electronic of antioxidants. just down now, I don’t know, she’s just different mass media communications, including “war and Professor Jim Metson, HOD of Chemistry, says and it stresses me out. I just go up to her and terrorism’” “natural disasters”, and “strangers”. the facilities represent “a major advance in our hug her. I just try and talk about things to distract During the first decade of the 2000s, emergent her.” (11-year-old) research capabilities and support programmes, stressors reflected experiences of “time paucity”, with wide impact across the University and with Many are acutely aware of parental stressors, the for example “too many things to do” and national and international collaborators”. signs and the impact within the family. accelerated pseudo maturity –“liking someone”, or They are already being used by local industries, Importantly, the observer, protector and caregiver “boyfriend/girlfriend problems”. as well as in collaborative projects with the roles that children adopt are palpable. By 2010, in results from a University of Auckland Departments of Physics and Mechanical “You can see it in her eyes, she is tired and she study undertaken around New Zealand with Engineering, the School of Biological Sciences, the doesn’t look as happy as she used to look. It children (eight to 12 years) not in known stressful Auckland Bioengineering Institute and the Light makes me sad because mum is so tired, she situations, contemporary stressors included Metals Research Centre. doesn’t concentrate. Sometimes I just want to children’s “concerns about their own future”. grab her and take the stress away” (10-year-old) “Sometimes I worry about my future. I’d like to Children’s stress can be directly linked to the worry less about the disasters and just get on with inability of adults to shield them from their own my life” (10 years) and: “I worry about the future, if Conflictz personal relationship challenges and stressors. I have children, would there be a future for them?” While life stressors can be seen as unavoidable The first electronic database of New Zealand (10-year-old). scholarship on conflict of laws has been and the ability to cope a significant life skill, the The stress of “worrying about what’s going on in established at the Auckland Law School. importance of adults modelling effective coping the world’”, was also evident. Conflictz, as it is known, provides a strategies and maintaining awareness of what comprehensive, systematic and up-to-date “I’m scared of global warming cause they say children find stressful is critical to wellbeing. repository for lawyers, academics and students. It Antarctica is melting and that means the water is Creating an environment where children learn to lists publications dealing with New Zealand conflict going to rise and all the land is going to be buried talk about their stressors, seek support and of laws/private international law in the areas of by water and I’m going to drown.” (10 years) experience the benefits of these connections jurisdiction, choice of law, and recognition and While the 29 stressors identified were divided into and communications establishes patterns for enforcement of judgments in international four categories – family, school, interpersonal, a lifetime. cross-border litigation. intrapersonal – the highest number was recorded “While you have still got your children, just spend Drawing on the work of 45 authors it spans over within the family. Stressors associated with a lot of time with your children, so you know them 700 key words ranging from "Abandonment of parents included children’s concerns about and so you can easily tell when something is domicile of choice: intention" to "Workmen's “fighting and arguing”. wrong with them and quickly help them before it compensation statutes". “Sometimes I can’t do anything cause I get little gets too big to solve. While they are young, get to The database is the work of senior lecturer Dr panic attacks. It scares me cause my dad is bigger know them better and keep in close contact with Elsabe Schoeman who spent several years bringing than my mum and when they are both in the room them when they are older”. (10-year-old) the project to fruition. arguing I get all hot and I can’t breathe properly. I She was assisted by staff of the Digital Services worry that my dad might hurt my mum. Department at the University Library, who Sometimes I feel dizzy.” (10-year-old) designed the database, and received generous While children could articulate that discord in sponsorship from the New Zealand Law families is normal, those living in homes where Foundation. conflict is common appeared on the alert in their Two criteria determined Conflictz's content: environment. whether the publication was produced by a New “It’s what might happen, that’s what usually gets Fiona Pienaar Zealand researcher, and/or whether it addresses me stressed with what might happen” (aged 10). School of Population Health issues relevant to New Zealand private While stress associated with “parental separation international law.

The University of Auckland News 5 Gus Fisher will be greatly missed provide exhibitions of the visual arts and to foster Gus Fisher’s enrichment of the research culture research and creative work of the highest national of the University went even further when he and international standards. Gus was passionate became a founding donor to the Hood Fellowships about art and believed that good cultural Fund, a programme which supports international understanding was important for a healthy society; academic exchange through hosting eminent he was proud to support what was to become an scholars from offshore institutions and funding established feature of the Auckland art scene. outstanding academics of our own to travel to the Ten years later, in April 2010, the gallery world’s most prestigious places of learning. He and provided the ideal venue for a presentation to Gus other family members were among guests at a and Irene Fisher as recipients of the fifth annual celebration of the Fellowships at the University in Arts Foundation of New Zealand Award for June, when former Vice-Chancellor Dr John Hood Irene and Gus Fisher Patronage. Fittingly, it was also home to a recent visited Auckland. exhibition that told the story of the House of El Jay, In 2005 Mr Fisher was conferred with an Gus Fisher ONZM, friend and generous the top-end women’s fashion company founded by honorary Doctor of Laws degree from The benefactor to The University of Auckland and a Gus, who was a pioneer of the New Zealand University of Auckland for his contribution to the regular participant in the University community fashion industry and held a licence to make development of academic programmes, the over the past decade, died on 20 July aged 89. Christian Dior garments in New Zealand for Fisher Parkinson’s Fellowship, research and “Gus has been a wonderful friend and supporter 33 years. infrastructure at the University and his key role in of the University in so many different, valuable In 2004 Mr Fisher’s generosity and family establishing the Gus Fisher Gallery at the Kenneth ways, and he will be greatly missed. We extend our history led to the creation of the Gus Fisher Myers Centre. deepest sympathy to Rene, Michael and Dianne Postdoctoral Fellowship, specialising in Mr Fisher also gave significant support to a and their family,” said the Vice-Chancellor, neurodegenerative diseases and the quest for a number of organisations including the Auckland Professor Stuart McCutcheon. cure for Parkinson’s disease. This was the first War Memorial Museum and community drug Gus Fisher’s outstanding support of the fellowship related to Parkinson’s research offered education and rehabilitation programmes. He was University is best known through his remarkable in New Zealand. Mr Fisher’s hope was that a cure awarded a Mayor’s Living Legend Award in 2007 gift of the exhibition gallery at 74 Shortland Street might be found for the disease from which his and in June 2009 became an Officer of the NZ that is named in his honour: the Gus Fisher mother died, and that this fellowship would benefit Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to Gallery. Established in 2001, it was set up to not just the University, but the world. philanthropy. Evolution, Literature and Film Early this year Dissanayake, the first to write at length about contained reader for teachers and students Stanford English evolution and the arts (What Are the Arts For?, interested in evolutionary approaches to literature Department’s Terry 1988) and University of Canterbury philosopher of and film, with contributions not just from those Castle commented art Denis Dutton. already mentioned but from a certain Charles in the New York Since then, they have published On the Origin Darwin, and from recent Auckland visitors, Times: “The of Stories: Evolution, Cognition, and Fiction (Boyd, biologist Richard Dawkins, biologist and smartest literary Harvard, 2009: described as “subversive,” anthropologist David Sloan Wilson (coming here scholars right now “thought-provoking,” “path-breaking,” “masterful,” again this October as a Hood Fellow to further are interested in “entrancing,” “amazing”), The Art Instinct (Dutton, evolutionary studies across at least three faculties), evolutionary Bloomsbury/Oxford, 2009), The Rape of Troy: psychologist and Robb Lecturer Steven Pinker, and psychology and Evolution, Violence, and the World of Homer film scholar and Hood Fellow David Bordwell, brain science.” (Gottschall, Cambridge, 2008), and Literature, among many others. Brian Boyd, Science, and a New Humanities (Gottschall, Texts under the microscope include folk and University Palgrave, 2008). fairy-tales; Homer’s Iliad; Shakespeare’s plays; Distinguished Professor of English, organised In addition, Joseph Carroll has founded the works by Wordsworth, Dickens, Emily Bronte, and the world’s first Literature and Evolution highly successful The Evolutionary Review – and Zora Neale Hurston; sci-fi, comics, and slash conference, held at the University of Auckland in the three literary scholars have another four fiction; and films from Europe, America, Asia, and December 2006. evolutionary books in the pipeline. Africa. Each of the critical essays explains how and He brought here Joseph Carroll, the founder of Evolution, Literature, and Film: A Reader, edited why evolution contributes to a study of human evolutionary literary studies, and Jonathan by Brian Boyd, Joseph Carroll and Jonathan minds, behaviour, cultures, and arts. Gottschall, the most productive younger scholar in Gottschall and published in New York by Columbia the field, along with anthropologist Ellen University Press, 2010, offers the first self- High accolades for psychologist Once every three years the New Zealand It also strongly confirms his place in the company psychological treatments for persons with Psychological Society presents the Sir Thomas of New Zealand’s most eminent psychologists. schizophrenia”. Hunter Award for distinction in research. This The committee, in its citation, refers to John’s The award was presented at the New Zealand year the honoured recipient of this prestigious influential journal articles, chapters and books in psychological Society's annual conference prize is Associate Professor John Read from the this field; his addressing of the issue of the in Rotorua. Department of Psychology. stigmatisation of people with mental health John is invited to present the “Sir Thomas The award acknowledges his “major problems; his work on the evaluation of mental Hunter Address” at the 2011 NZPS conference. contribution to research on the effects of health services; and “the significance of his efforts For more information see the News section of psychosocial life events, including childhood to translate research into practice through his the staff intranet. trauma, on the development of psychopathology”. national and international presentations on

6 6 August | 2010 From the collection Arts In late 2009 three video works fantasy scenes of Broadway choreographer were purchased. These are by Busby Berkley. Walters Prize finalist and Elam BLACKNOISE was included in the 2008 Gus lecturer Alex Monteith, Fisher Gallery exhibition The Swarm, which looked Australian-based expatriate at group dynamics and collective intelligence in Daniel Von Sturmer and art. Many of the works explored the way individual alumnus Gregory Bennett. elements could combine to create a group Bennett completed a infrastructure that wields more power than the Bachelor of Fine Arts at Elam sum of its parts. in 1989, winning the Senior Unlike the previous floating repetitions Prize in Fine Arts in 1988 and BLACKNOISE starts to group figures into a tableau. the Annual Prize in 1989. He Hordes gather in more unruly bunches but become went on to work in the even more faceless amidst larger groupings. They University’s Audiovisual are also placed in different arenas, creating a At the beginning of the 21st century, Library and then as tutor and senior technician for more complex ecosystem of settings populated by photography was fighting hard for equal the Department of Film, Television and Media a variety of characters tirelessly performing their representation in art galleries and collections. Studies. He returned to Elam in 2003 to undertake respective routines in service of a mysterious Unlike with painting, there is a perception that a Master of Fine Arts degree, which he completed greater purpose. anyone can take a photograph (most people have the following year with first class honours. Bennett’s futuristic visions are those of science at some stage), and that reproducibility Bennett has special interests in 3D animation, fiction, particularly the dystopias of George Orwell, undermines the unique status of a photograph. digital media and animation theory, and his digital not to forget William S. Burroughs’ Wild Boys or To help remedy this perception, works are sold prints and animations explore the ergonomics of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, in which as unique, editioned or numbered prints, and in the human body through the rhythms of independent will struggles in the face of larger specialised formats such as large-scale movement and the idiosyncrasies of computer social forces and group mentality. There are cibachromes. At about this same time, The rendering. By keeping his work stripped back to advantages to losing yourself in a gang – safety in University of Auckland Art Collection, which the barest essentials, he not only presents a numbers – and it is difficult to resist the pull of already owned a small number of photographs, bustling study of bodily motion reminiscent of the group. These are the strange dynamics of including an Anne Noble purchased in 1983, Eadweard Muybridge’s early photographic studies Bennett’s metropolis, where the citizens are cogs established a particular focus on collecting or Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, but also the in a giant machine. contemporary photographic works and we now quirky malfunctions that result from translating have more than 100. human ergonomics into computer programming. Andrew Clifford Before the decade was over, it was also decided In Bennett’s earlier works, rows of automatons that the collection should also take an interest in would move in unison to establish patterns and Gregory Bennett (b.1965), BLACKNOISE, 2008, Single- video art (which, as a collectable commodity, faces rhythms. Using computer animation, impossibly screen digital video, screen and DVD player, dur 19 a similar dilemma to photography). This was quite tight configurations of figures would generate new, mins 52 secs looped, unique edition, possibly the first New Zealand university to do so. oscillating forms, reminiscent of the flamboyant The University of Auckland Art Collection

Confucius delegates converge on Auckland between the 70 interview within days of the meeting, that learning delegates from about Mandarin is important for New Zealanders. 20 Confucius Institutes For three consecutive years, the Auckland from right across Confucius Institute has won the Confucius Institute Oceania and south and of the Year award, from among all the institutes west Asia. world-wide, which now number 316. Among the guests Nora reports that the conference brought a were members of a great deal of publicity for the Auckland Confucius delegation from Institute (and for the University), not only through Hanban in China, local media such as the New Zealand Herald, but which provides funds also through the work of overseas journalists who for Confucius Institutes attended the meeting. across the world, and a further delegation from Fudan University in Shanghai, the Auckland Confucius Institute’s partner in China. The Oceania Regional Meeting of Confucius The meeting focused on sharing between Institutes, hosted by Auckland Confucius institutes about their programmes; on teacher Institute from 12-15 July, proved to be the ideal training; on developing local teaching materials; size for successful sharing of ideas, information and on advancing programmes in schools. Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart McCutchen with and approaches. The Confucius Institutes aim to support learning Asian Studies student Alannah Manson, and Mr Nora Yao, Director of the Auckland Confucius of Chinese language and culture around the world. Zhao, Deputy Director-General of HANBAN. The Institute, was delighted to see the excellent Nora and her colleagues therefore welcomed the Vice-Chancellor opened the exhibition of Mandarin communication and fruitful exchange of ideas words of Prime Minister John Key, in a media language teaching materials, sent by HANBAN.

The University of Auckland News 7 Art and mind You still have a chance to see an exciting the project, with practices ranging from organic perspective; and Metro magazine illustrator science-art collaboration, featuring innovative sculpture to contemporary watercolours and from Henrietta Harris. The 15 partner scientists are artwork inspired by the cutting-edge science sound production to oil paintings. Under the members of the University’s Centre for Brain under way in the Centre for Brain Research. curatorship of Auckland arts management Research, and range from postgraduate students to Participating artists have created striking new company The Busy Nice, the artists were paired early-career neuroscientists. By translating science art and sound installations, on display until 7 up with early-career brain researchers. Among the into unusual media the aim is to communicate August in an exhibition called “Do You Mind?” at artists taking part is Alexander Hoyles, whose neuroscience to new audiences. the Ironbank complex in Auckland’s works centre round reinterpretation of scientific The Royal Society of New Zealand kindly Karangahape Road. and theological theories; photo-based artist Rita supported this exciting project, along with venue Fifteen up and coming artists are taking part in Godlevskis, who takes a research-based support from Samson Corporation.

Mother Tongue policy implementation TUESDAY 17 august What’s on in multilingual and multiethnic Kenyan Classifieds schools: The case of the Sabaot. 12noon Fifth 2010 Winter Lecture Friday 6 August Rm 103, Fisher Bldg. Dr Joe Atkinson, Dept of Political ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE Studies, UoA: The end(s) of journalism: Department of Psychology seminar Department of Psychology seminar A one-bdrm apartment is available Politics as comedy. 1-2pm Maidment Assoc Prof Jie W. Weiss, Dept of Health Dr Audrey McKinlay, University of in The Aucklander, Rutland St, City, Theatre, 8 Alfred St. Science, California State University, Canterbury: Mild head injury in just behind the Public Library. Fully Chair: James Griffin. Free. All welcome. Fullerton: A descriptive utility model for childhood: Not just a bang on the head: furnished, immaculate, everything For further information please phone lifestyle choices. 1pm HSB 604. Evidence from a birth cohort. 4pm HSB included. North-facing, sunny and warm. 373 7599 ext 87698. Queries to [email protected] 604. Queries to [email protected] No smokers. $300 pw. Contact Bryan Visit www.auckland.ac.nz/winter Composition workshop Fast Forward lecture series on 480 5857. Bioengineering research seminar Dr Eve de Castro-Robinson: A search Hitoshi Abe, Atelier Hitoshi Abe, Los Apartments for rent. Call us for Assoc-Prof Georgy Gimel’farb, Dept of for unity. 4pm Music Theatre, School of Angeles. 6.30pm Engineering Lecture your rental requirements; we offer city Computer Science, UoA: Accurate image Music, 6 Symonds St. Theatre 1.439, Bldg 401, School of apartments furnished/unfurnished, all Engineering, 20 Symonds St. modelling for computer-assisted medical sizes and prices; great rental deals for diagnostics. 4-5pm Level 5 Seminar Rm, long-term leases; call Shirlene Brebner saturday 7 August UniServices House, 70 Symonds St. on 09 303 0601 at City Sales or email Hood Lecture Professional Practice: exhibition [email protected] or log on to THURSDAY 12 August Michael F D Young, University of response www.citysales.co.nz/rentals London: A curriculum for a knowledge Jim Barr talks of his long association Dept of History seminar Pet sitters required for three weeks in society: Lessons from the sociology of with Julian Dashper as both a collector Rob Whitbourne, UoA. The kūmara trail: October. We have two cats, two small education. 6.30pm J1 Lecture Theatre, and collaborator. 1pm Gus Fisher From the East Cape to Cusco. 4pm Rm dogs (who think they are cats ) and Gallery, 74 Shortland St. 59, History Dept. Faculty of Education, Epsom Campus, 74 Epsom Ave. Reception to follow. RSVP to two tame laying hens all who enjoy the [email protected] company of humans. Ideally one of the pet sitters would work from home. The MONDAY 9 August friday 13 August house is large and comfortable, right Planning and designing for Sound performance: Gate and in the village of Mt Eden and one bus Rachel Shearer WEDNESDAY 18 august eLearning stage from University. Phone 630-6111 7pm Gus Fisher Gallery, 74 Shortland 10am-1pm CAD, Level 5, 76 Symonds Dept of Computer Science seminar Katherine or Brendan (answer phone) or St. A live performance in the gallery’s St. This session introduces participants Fuad Tabba, The University of Auckland. email [email protected] Grand Foyer. Gate’s first LP in over a to principles of educational design for Adding concurrency in Python using Ponsonby housemate. Ponsonby villa decade, A Republic of Sadness, has just blended and online learning. transactional memory. 12-1pm close to shops. House has three bthrms. Enrol at www.cad.auckland.ac.nz/ been released on US label Ba Da Bing. Computer Science Rm 279, Bldg 303S. On the link bus route to University. workshops or phone CAD reception at $10, no bookings. Phone 923 6646. Introducing learning journals into Fully-furnished, quiet. Suits visiting ext 88140 for assistance. your courses researcher or PhD student. N/S. $180 2010 Professor Robert Chapman 2-4pm CAD, Level 5, 76 Symonds Street. pw + expenses. Phone 360 2202 or Lecture saturday 14 August Use learning journals to help students 0274368836. Emeritus Professor Barry Gustafson: No Artist talk clarify their thinking and strengthen land is an Island: Twenty-first century 1pm Gus Fisher Gallery, 74 Shortland St. their writing. Enrol at www.cad. politics. 6.30pm Maidment Theatre, 8 Artist and musician Michael Morley auckland.ac.nz/workshops or phone ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED Alfred St. responds to Professional Practice CAD reception at 88140 for assistance. exhibition with a talk about the use Faculty of Education open evening Room wanted in established flat/ of records in his own practice, his house for University staff member. tuesday 10 August 4 -7.30pm Faculty of Education, Epsom connections to Julian Dashper’s record- Campus, 74 Epsom Ave, Epsom. Furnished preferred, close to University Fourth 2010 Winter Lecture making, and relationships between Come and see what’s on offer for 2011. City Campus. Reliable, tidy and Dr Luke Goode, Dept of Film, Television painting and music, image and sound. School of Critical Studies in dependable with impeccible references. and Media Studies, UoA: The end(s) of Education lecture Can pay up to $200 pw. Contact Sabine journalism: Citizens as gatekeepers. Prof Michael F D Young, University of on [email protected] or phone 1-2pm Maidment Theatre, 8 Alfred St. sUNDAY 15 August London, Hood Fellow: Knowledge and 0226923486. Chair: Russell Brown. Free. All welcome. Chopin/Schumann extravaganza Education: From the new sociology of For further information please phone 1-4.30pm Music Theatre, School of education to social realism. 4.30pm 373 7599 ext 87698. Music, 6 Symonds St. Owen Gilmore Lecture Theatre N303, MISCELLANEOUS Visit www.auckland.ac.nz/winter Piano students present piano sonatas N block, Faculty of Education, 60 Epsom Carpenter/builder available. Over 30 ILA/NZIIA/Faculty of Law lecture and variations to commemorate the Ave. years experience. Lots of renovations and His Excellency the Rt Hon Sir Kenneth work of Frédéric Chopin and Robert Fast Forward lecture series historic places. References. Phone Chris Keith, Judge of the International Court Schumann. Twenty performances will Leigh Auton, Manukau City Council. on 270 0745 or (027) 293 2279. of Justice: Judging at home and abroad: take place and audience are welcome at 6.30pm Engineering Lecture Theatre Travel. I have 12 years experience in Similarities and differences. 6pm Stone any stage during the event. Free. 1.439, Bldg 401, School of Engineering, booking all aspects of personal travel Lecture Theatre, Bldg 801, 9 Eden Cres. 20 Symonds St. for university staff and lecturers. I pride RSVP to ext 85971. School of Theology lecture myself in ensuring that your travel monday 16 August Prof Kevin Clements, Foundation Chair plans are sourced at the lowest possible WEDNESDAY 11 August Department of Classics and Ancient of Peace and Conflict Studies, Previous costs and are tailor-made to your History seminar Director, NZ Centre for Peace and requirements. Contact Karen on Dept of Applied Language Studies Conflict Studies, : and Linguistics seminar Dr Ralph Covino, University of Karen.embleton@ mondotravel.co.nz or Tennessee - Chattanooga: When history Enlarging boundaries of compassion. 940 0064 (wk) or (021) 188 7781. Dr Jenny Jones, UoA: Complexities of 7.30pm Library B15. failed the Romans. 6pm Lecture Theatre 029, ClockTower, 22 Princes St.

For a full list of The University of Auckland events see: Please email classified ads to [email protected] nine days before www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/home/events publication. Cost $20 (incl GST).

8 6 August | 2010