Fortnightly newsletter for University staff | Volume 40 | Issue 17 | 17 September 2010

Assessing damage, locating risk Key events Acquired tastes Oysters and opera, we are told, are “acquired tastes”. Sometimes we know on good evidence that something is good, and yet we don’t like it: we can’t properly appreciate what’s good about it. How do we get from not liking something which we know is good to liking it because it’s good? The strategy that Professor Peter Goldie from Manchester University recommends in the 2010 Robert C. Solomon Lecture is what is known as “bootstrapping”, where you in effect get to like something by pretending to like it. The lecture, entitled “Oysters and opera: How to acquire an ‘acquired taste’”, will take place in the Library Theatre B15 on Tuesday 21 September at 6pm. Spring graduation Left to right are Dr Swarna Gamage with Dr Genevieve Evans and Dr Shaun Lott, who are collaborating on the Four graduation ceremonies will take place on “Chemical validation of a drug target in M. Tuberculosis.” Photographed by Warren Jones 28 September at the Aotea Centre: at 10.30am Business and Economics; at 1.30pm Education, Engineering, Law; at 4.30pm, Science, Medical and Health Sciences; and at 7.30pm, Arts, Creative Arts and Industries. Photo by Professor Michael Pender The Graduation Procession for all faculties Faculty of Engineering staff were among the has been to in the last 12 months. He was in will leave from the Alumni Marquee, Old teams of specialists checking quake-ravaged Indonesia in late 2009 following their earthquake Government House grounds, at 9.15am and buildings and scouring Christchurch’s damaged in Sumatra, inspecting schools and medical will cross Princes Street to enter Bowen Avenue landscape in the days following the 7.1 facilities, and was in Chile in May this year at 9.30am. magnitude earthquake. presenting seminars to engineers and architects Professor Michael Pender, Associate Professor on how to seismically strengthen buildings. World Habitat Day Jason Ingham, Associate Professor Charles Clifton, Inspecting buildings on the Sunday was a The , as a partner of lecturer Quincy Ma and six postgraduate students different experience to the Monday because UN-HABITAT, will mark World Habitat Day (4 from the Department of Civil and Environmental people had returned to work, he says. October) with a range of events and activities Engineering arrived in the South Island city the “It is a very different experience placing a across the campuses and the wider community morning after the quake. placard on a closed building, versus having to tell from 29 September to 6 October. This year’s The engineering staff assessed damaged the people in the building that they must close up theme of “Better city, better life” highlights the buildings and conducted research while in the city. their business and not return until the building has vision of a sustainable urban world. It will For the assessments, they were divided into been made safe to occupy.” involve departments, disciplines, students and teams of five; each team had two engineers, two Jason says only one person was reluctant to staff across The University of Auckland as well council staff and a member from the Urban Search leave an unsafe building he inspected. “The man, as other interested stakeholders in various key And Rescue group. who ran a lawnmower business, asked me, ‘If I activities including seminars, workshops, an Each team was assigned a task of either ignore you will I be prosecuted?’” “urban survivor” installation and a photo evaluating a city block to locate at-risk buildings, Meanwhile a few doors down, when he had to competition. (See story, page 5) or doing a detailed inspection of a single building. tell workers at a post office their building was This is the third earthquake-affected area Jason unsafe, they calmly packed up their belongings

story continues on page 2

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 World Habitat Day Editor Judy Wilford 6 Future Research Leaders Programme Photography Godfrey Boehnke, Kathryn Robinson 3 Three-minute thesis competition Design AND PRODUCTION The University of Auckland From the Vice-Chancellor Enthusiasm from visitors

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) After attending recently unveiled a new website which purports Engineering, Law and to provide the public with comparative data on Medical and Heath the performance of students at tertiary Sciences lectures, a young institutions. In one sense, The University of woman from Central Auckland can be well pleased with this – we Otago decided to plump rank first or second among the universities in all for first-year Medicine four performance indicators. Unfortunately, the (Biomedical Sciences) with institutions also know – and have pointed out a general education repeatedly to the TEC and the Minister – that paper in Law and Society. the data are not statistically robust and are “It was amazing to see therefore likely to mislead rather than inform the campus,” she wrote in the public. an email, “as I now know The fundamental problem is that the TEC that I would be able to uses unadjusted institutional average immerse myself in the performance measures in its presentation. In student lifestyle, and to reality, the performance measures are know that I would feel influenced by a great many factors, including Feedback from visitors to the recent Courses safe in its environment — I've never lived in a the socio-economic backgrounds of the and Careers Day could hardly have been city before. institution’s students, student ethnicity, more positive. “Visiting the halls was exciting too. The guides part-time versus full-time status, subject area Twitter abounded with such superlatives as were welcoming and enthusiastic and made an and whether the students are internal or “wicked”, “amazing” and “awesome”. “So well effort to interact with everyone, so that no extramural. It is highly likely that the organised and executed!” declared a grateful questions were left unanswered.” comparison of institutions based on unadjusted attendee. An increase in musical, cultural and sporting averages simply reflects these underlying One Twitterer commented on the “unbelievable” performances, the opening of the Recreation differences, rather than true differences in the student life while another, referring to participating Centre for a popular Zumba class and various teaching and learning environment, which is staff and students, remarked that “everyone looked competitions, and the Arts Faculty’s shift to the what is implied by the inter-institutional ranking really motivated”. Fale Pasifika were “all very positive changes”, of “performance indicators”. While the TEC The hundred visitors from schools in the lower said Ken Rapson, Director of the Schools website includes pie charts showing some North Island and the South Island hosted at a Partnership Office. aspects of the make-up of each institution’s special “travellers’ breakfast” where they met the “The favourable responses from prospective student body, it is impossible for readers to use Vice-Chancellor were especially appreciative. students was a tribute to everyone involved, says this information to “adjust” for these underlying The careers adviser at Palmerston North Boys’ Ken “This is a whole university event with everyone parameters. High School who escorted a nine-strong party to coming together to show all aspects of university A second issue is that, even if they were Auckland called it “a fantastic day”, adding: “We life in the best possible way.” robust, the data would be difficult to interpret. will definitely do that again.” For example, is a high course completion rate a good thing because it reflects an institution that has excellent teaching and a high level of student support, or a bad thing because it story continued from page 1 reflects an institution that has low standards But given the level of devastation in some areas, and makes it easy for students to pass? and left. he had been impressed with the attitude of the Third, the website gives no indication of what “Generally speaking most of the time people Canterburians he had met. are statistically significant differences between understood. They would say, “’I was kind of worried “I spoke to quite a few people in one area, and institutions, many of which are within a few about that myself, or I could see the risk.’” they had no running water, no sewage and they percentage points of each other. Nor is there Michael, who grew up in Christchurch, is a were really quite calm about it all, they kept any international context for the data. three-earthquake veteran. He led the saying, 'no-one died.'” International students are even less likely than Society for Earthquake Engineering Jason says what happened to the buildings domestic students to understand how the Reconnaissance during the 1987 Edgecombe when the quake struck was for the most part highly make-up of an institution’s student body is likely earthquake and was on sabbatical in California predictable. to affect its performance, yet they rely heavily when the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake struck. About 85 percent of the buildings were on league tables of this kind to make decisions A geotechnical specialist, Michael is very unaffected by the quake - the most damaged were about where to study. Thus, despite the familiar with liquefaction. the older unreinforced brick buildings. laudable aims of this exercise, it is likely to be Liquefaction is when sandy soil is shaken Jason and his team of postgraduate students misleading to both domestic and violently, causing water to rise through the sand. have taken five gigabytes of photographs which international students. The result is unstable ground which resembles mud pools. will help with their research. Jason is leading an “Liquefaction was very extensive over large extensive Civil and Environmental Engineering areas of the city and had affected mainly project which is investigating seismic retrofit of residential properties. We did not have time to structures. A major aspect of the project is look at all the affected areas but what we did see strengthening earthquake risk buildings made of indicates that this is a major liquefaction event. brick masonry. In the town of Kaiapoi, the effects of liquefaction As we went to print some of Jason’s had been “devastating,” says Michael. postgraduate students were still in Christchurch “One relatively new subdivision had been very and geotechnical engineering staff were badly affected by liquefaction and lateral about to depart for Christchurch to conduct spreading effects, several houses having been further research. broken apart,” he says.

2 17 September | 2010 Enthusiasm from visitors Highlighting achievements in equityIn brief... excellence in gender equity” • Mark Thomson for “Exam support for students with disabilities” • Tanya Heti, Rennie Douglas, Sam Manuela, Jonaan McLeod and Puni Robertson for “Mentoring by Tanya Heti and the MATES team” • Dr Elana Taipapaki Curtis for “Vision 20:20 and the MAPAS Admissions Process” • Pikihuia Pomare and Dr Virginia Braun for “Psychology Māori and Pasifika Research Group” • Dr Airini, Dr Deidre Brown, Dr Te Oti Rakena, Dr Elana Curtis, Tanya Savage, Sonia Townsend, Angie Smith, Fred Luatua, Gillian Reynolds, Mona O’Shea, Matt Tarawa, with former University of Auckland colleagues, Odie Johnson, Pale Sauni, To’aiga Su’a Huirua, Meryl Ulugia-Pua and Sofi Ulugia-Pua for “Success for all: Improving Māori and Pasifika success in degree-level studies at The University of Auckland” • Dr Marewa Glover (“Special commendation”) Members of the MATES team, from left to right, are Sam Manuela, Tanya Heti, Puni Robertson and Jonaan McLeod, for the Centre for Tobacco Control Research with Professor Stuart McCutcheon (second from right). (CTRC) When Dr Airini, in her acceptance speech, linked The large lounge of Old Government House was The film clips, as Trudie said “cannot convey the the personal dimension of her team’s work with the packed with supporters for one of the highlights complexity of the work but do give tantalising wider society, her words held resonance not only of the University year: the celebration of equity glimpses of its excellence”. for her own group but also for all the others who achievements across the University and the Trudie said the equity awards have two clear are working in different ways and with different presentation of the Excellence in Equity Awards. purposes: to celebrate the achievements of those groups to achieve equity for all staff and students The ceremony this year offered a new dimension whose work helps advance the University’s equity across the University. that added to the enjoyment of those who goals for staff and students, and to inspire others “At the bottom of all the tributes to equity in this attended. This was in the form of a series of by sharing good practice and good ideas. The research is that one student after another, walked pre-recorded clips (filmed by Richard Smith and awards, she said, are now presented two-yearly to into one interview after another, sharing one story Graeme Henderson from the Centre for Academic allow for enhanced quality of entries and more after another of what good our teaching does, or Development) in which each individual award- evidence of impact and sustainability. “This has not, and how. No amount of rhetoric or list of winner or a representative from each winning been achieved, with a record number of entries adjectives can diminish the importance of the point group speaks briefly of their work, its purpose, and this year.” and how important the Māori and Pasifika students what it has accomplished. Trudie thanked all those involved in the awards, saw it was to have their voice heard. In an entertaining and fast-moving ceremony with special thanks to Prue Toft and Margaret “How we teach in our small groups with Māori - comprising a lively introduction to each winner or Freeman from the Equity Office “who have put an and Pasifika, in our University, is our future as a team from Pro Vice-Chancellor (Equity) Trudie enormous effort into these awards over many nation, in miniature. Thank you for this award. We McNaughton, followed by the showing of the clip, months”. receive it humbly; mindful of the support of many; the award presentation by Vice-Chancellor The function, she emphasised, is held not only to and mindful too of the need to continue to Professor Stuart McCutcheon, and a brief honour the winners but to celebrate all the other research for improved equity outcomes and acceptance speech - the audience gained a entries as well. All entrants are listed in the Equity success for all. surprisingly broad and quick insight into the scope Awards booklet and on the Equity website. “Kia ora koutou. Fa’afetai tele lava.” and diversity of the University’s equity Winners of the awards are: achievements. • Professor Raewyn Dalziel for “Sustained New look for Leigh Leigh Marine Laboratory now has a new Science Pictured on an external stairwell of the new Centre building, housing custom-designed building are (from left to right) Professor John laboratories and offices for staff and students. Montgomery, Director of the Leigh Marine Its completion marks the end of the second Laboratory; John Morgan, CEO of NIWA; Chris phase of the construction project at Leigh. The first Mace, Chair of the South Pacific Centre for Marine phase was construction of a new bunkhouse for Science Strategy Group; Professor Grant Guilford, students studying and working at Leigh. The next Dean of Science; and Her Worship Penny Webster, phase will see construction of a new Interpretive Mayor of Rodney District Council. Centre giving the thousands of people who visit Goat Island Marine Reserve every year the opportunity to learn more about the marine environment and the work of our scientists. The Science Centre building was opened on Thursday 26 August at a low-key celebration event to thank the Mayor for her support throughout the redevelopment process.

The University of Auckland News 3 Research news Better city, better life

Health Research Council Funding Round Registration for Project, Programme extensions, Feasibility Study and Emerging Researcher First Grant will be open on the HRC portal 23–29 September. The Research Office deadline for “Expressions of Interest” aligned to one of four Research Investment Streams is 12 noon, 6 October. For further information, contact Carmella Lee, Fund Specialist carmella.lee@ auckland.ac.nz, ext 83562. National Heart Foundation Limited Budget Grant (Round 2) To fund a wide variety of research-related activities which support the aims of the National Heart Foundation, awards are made in three areas: small project, grant-in-aid and travel grants. The Research Office closing date is 24 September. For further details contact Ira Iskandar in Germany Carmella Lee, HRC Funding Specialist, [email protected] ext 83562. What Ira Iskandar has noticed so far in her brief Ira is coordinating the working group, time at The University of Auckland is that it comprising students and staff from across the Te Tipu Pūtaiao Postgraduate Fellowships offers a vibrant, multicultural environment which University, with a particularly strong These provide FRST funding for masters, rewards and encourages creativity. representation from Architecture and Planning. doctoral and postdoctoral research aligned to Ira is a second-year masters student in The series of events, intended to raise awareness one of four Vision Mātauranga themes. The Environmental Governance from the University of of the UN-HABITAT worldwide campaign on Research Office closing date is 12 noon, 6 Freiburg in Germany, one of our partner urbanisation and its related issues and to October 2010. For further details contact institutions. She is here in as an intern to showcase the University’s initiatives in urban Mandy Brown, Research Administrator, mandy. co-ordinate the activities being planned and sustainability, will include a seminar series and [email protected] ext 82735. organised by staff and students from across the panel discussions; workshops on gardening and Royal Society International Mobility Fund University to mark the UN-HABITAT’s World composting held in the University grounds; a photo This replaces ISAT, for mobility funding to work Habitat Day. competition designed to encourage participation on joint international research projects, in Since UN-HABITAT is the United Nations’ and creativity in interpretation of urbanisation particular with , Canada, China, Human Settlements Programme, with a mandate issues; and an interactive Urban Survivor Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America and to promote socially and environmentally Installation led by students of Architecture and the United States. The Research Office closing sustainable towns and cities, this accords well with Planning. date is 28 September. For further details Ira’s scholastic interests and her intention to write The photography competition - What does contact Chris Tews, Fund Specialist, c.tews@ a thesis on urban sustainability and the “Better city, better life” mean to you? – will focus on auckland.ac.nz ext 88301. institutional changes required to advance it. UN-HABITAT’s three “pillars of sustainability” The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation The University of Auckland is the first New equity, ecology and economy. Entries close 29 “Grand Challenges Explorations” are initial Zealand partner in UN-HABITAT’s innovative September, 12noon. grants of up to $100,000 USD with opportunity Habitat Partner University Network. This year’s Staff and students are invited to participate in for further funding up to $1m USD. For World Habitat Day, with its theme of “Better city, the Urban Survivor Installation, which will be in the “innovative and unconventional” global health better life,” has particular resonance now in Quad in the City Campus from 29 September to 6 solutions. Research Office closing date is 19 Auckland with the imminent transformation to a October. October. For further information please contact “Super City”. The University is set to mark the day For further details and updates to the David Saunders, International Fund Specialist, (4 October) with a range of events and activities programme, inquire from Ira Iskandar on [email protected] ext 84886. from 29 September to 6 October. [email protected] Ako Aotearoa Good Practice Publication Grants (Round 2) to enable groups or individuals to share their ‘Vital’ programme earns praise proven good practice (ie, of benefit to learners) The Future Research Leaders Programme, seen across the tertiary education sector in as vital to the future of the University by Aotearoa-New Zealand for publication on the Professor Jane Harding, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Ako Aotearoa website. The Research Office (Research) and Kath Clarke, Human Resources closing date is 22 October. For further details Director, is now earning high praise from the contact Chris Tews, Fund Specialist, staff who have participated. [email protected]. The programme, which has passed with great Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade success through its pilot stage and has been Historical Research Grants customised to the New Zealand research context, These provide a maximum of $5000 (non- is being offered to early-to-mid career staff salary) for historical research on “New members who aspire to or are about to take on Zealand's place in the world”. The Research research leadership roles. Office closing date is 22 October. For further “I just loved it,” says Dr Barbara Kensington- details contact Mandy Brown, Research Miller from the Centre for Academic Development. Administrator, [email protected] “For me, the greatest benefit was how much I ext 82735. Barbara Kensington-Miller learned about how research is done in the For full list: [email protected]

4 17 September | 2010 Making of a thesis idol

three metres, causing the supports to tip towards this hole and bring the entire bridge down. “Existing bridge scour equations only apply to specific bridge designs and water depths, but prove wildly inaccurate for many common configurations. My research involves physical modelling of several different types of bridges, creating a scale real-life scour profile for each. These profiles are then analysed to modify the existing equations to include a more diverse range of bridge types. “The final result of my thesis will improve the accuracy and scope of the existing design methods, to include cases such as schohaire. With this information designers can determine whether the scour depth will be critical, then optimise bridge designs by changing the bridge support configuration, the shape of the supports or even consider armouring the effected area. This will Lena Kelly delivers her winning presentation. lead to more efficient designs, cheaper bridges and “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, my The entire bridge plunged into the river below ultimately fewer failures.” name is Lena and I am a Civil Engineer.” severing the highway and killing ten people. “So next time you are stuck in traffic driving The speaker was PhD student Lena Kelly, “So my question for you is, Why? Why did this across the harbour bridge, looking for cracks, introducing what proved to be the winning entry bridge collapse? Maybe the structure simply wasn’t feeling it sway, remember it’s whats underneath for the three-minute thesis competition – also strong enough. Could it be that the bridge hadn’t that counts. known as ”Thesis Idol” - which now features in been regularly maintained? Could the water have “The prediction of scour depths by use of universities worldwide and was held for the first eroded the concrete? Perhaps the supports weren’t empirical formula is not currently accurate for time this year at The University of Auckland, well-connected to the bridge? structures that are wide compared to the hosted by the School of Graduate Studies. “The actual answer is something you can’t see surrounding water depth. The empirical formulas With its panel of three “renowned judges”, its at first glance. Its all the way down at the base of tend to overpredict the amount of scour, and over large and responsive audience, and the high the supports. The answer is bridge scour, which is the last decade there have been many attempts to quality of its contestants, the event succeeded in the topic of my thesis. I aim to improve the method fix his problem. creating an atmosphere every bit as lively as that of predicting the amount of bridge scour so that “Most local scour equations give the scour depth of the popular TV show, while also providing a incidents like this one don’t happen to people like as a multiple of the pier typically between 1.5 to training for researchers in the very useful skill of you. Think back to the last time you were at the 2.4 times the pier width. When dealing with wide how to present their findings in an accessible way beach. You’re standing in the shallows gazing out piers which can be ten metres wide the effect of to a general audience. to sea and a wave breaks across your ankles. The overpredicating the scour is critical.” “And this,” continued Lena as she pointed to the next thing you feel is the water rushing back past Lena will fly to Queensland for the Trans-Tasman single slide allowable to each contestant as part of your feet towards the ocean. You will notice that finals on 21 September. Second and third the presentation, “is why you should care about the sand behind your feet is washed out by placegetters were Lyndon Burford (Political Science) my thesis. “scouring” and your heels are left unsupported and and Ashley Young (Chemical and Materials “This is the Schohaire bridge, a concrete and sink into the sand. Engineering). All three finalists received a watch steel bridge built in the 1950s which is part of the “Bridge scour is exactly the same thing, it’s the from Citizen Watches and a Short Course at the highway linking New York City and Buffalo. process by which part of the sand surrounding the Business School. Warm congratulations to the Thirty-five years after it was built, witnesses heard bridge’s supports erodes away. Below the organisers and their sponsors for an entertaining what they described as an explosion of thunder. schohaire bridge, the depth of the scour reached and successful inaugural event.

University and what is available to researchers in managing and leading people in a research well-organised, with high-quality speakers (“Some relation to finance, grants and funding. context, and project closeout. Each module were sensational”), drawn from among the “I learned about difficulties that can arise from comprises three components: three to four hours of University’s own research leaders, as well as from collaborations, which could be personal on-line learning, a half or full-day face-to-face UniServices, the Research Office, HR and some of differences, issues of financial management or workshop, and a guided conversation of 40 to 60 the funding agencies. She thoroughly recommends intellectual property, or even just the problems minutes with a senior researcher. the programme to researchers across all the imposed by geographical distances. Barbara says the whole strategy of the eight faculties of the University. “I also learned a lot about how to manage and modules is to “lead you right through from For inquiries or applications please contact Amy lead a team, taking responsibility for the input of planning research to project closeout”, though she Hopper from the Staff and Organisational others and being responsive to their needs.” adds that each module also stands alone. Development Unit on [email protected] Developed by the Australian Group of Eight The programme is now being presented twice a or ext 87227. Preference will be given to staff who Universities and customised to the New Zealand year with three modules completed last month, wish to complete all modules, but the programme environment by this university, the FRLP is a another two to be offered in November and will also be open to those who wish to “pick and structured modular training programme designed December, and three more early next year. The choose”. to develop capabilities in research strategy and whole programme will begin again in May. Jane Harding and Kath Clarke – the planning, commencement and collaboration, The University of Auckland holds the New programme's sponsors – would like to thank all governance and compliance, intellectual property Zealand licence for the FRLP, with the right to who have contibuted their time and expertise: and commercialisation, financial resource and risk sub-licence to other New Zealand universities. facilitators, presenters, reviewers, panellists and management, grant and contract administration, Barbara says the programme was very IT support.

The University of Auckland News 5 Top qualifiers for $100k Challenge businesses,” said guest speaker Greg Cross, • PhotoPURE Environment Purification – air and Chairperson of business growth centre, The water purifier ICEHOUSE. • Vigilance – device for detecting drowsiness Greg Cross is more than familiar with the Spark • The G.I. Joes – medical device for detecting programme – he is the co-founder and Executive gastric dysrhythmias through electrical activity Chair of PowerByProxi which was a runner-up in the • Pluen – technology to develop weight-reducing inaugural Spark $40k Challenge. magnesium alloy metal Each qualifying team now has a place in the • Mind Epos – device for interpreting Spark Launch Pad Programme, providing $5,000 psychological states based on brain activity worth of business development workshops and • Health Touch – facilitating data collection using The vigilance team, one of 13 top qualifiers. mentorship. touch screen technology at GP practices The teams will also now compete for the • ZaroaNZ – specialty meat centre operating On 20 August 13 teams stepped closer to ultimate prize of $20,000 seed capital and through retail branch turning their business ideas to reality with the incubation at The ICEHOUSE – with a total prize • OneBeep – connecting computers using radio announcement of the 2010 Spark $100k value of $30,000. waves Challenge Qualifiers. Spark is a student-led initiative established in • MyMix – venture for integrating healthy eating The qualifying teams, which must consist of at 2003 with the aim of encouraging New Zealanders habits within schools least one staff member or current student, were who strive to be innovative and entrepreneurial. It • Vital Link – facilitating fair trade through social selected from 65 entries. Business ideas ranged has given rise to 65 start-up ventures to date. networks from medical devices and a weight-reducing alloy All teams who entered the competition will • Origin Egg Nog – a unique egg nog, where you metal to ventures that would seek to bring about receive feedback and advice that will motivate can trace the ingredients to its origin social change, such as improving the diets of them to continue with their business ventures. • P3 Foundation – business helping to eradicate school children or advancing the retailing of fair The grand winners will be announced on 20 youth poverty. trade products. October. “Even though only a few could be chosen as The 2010 Spark $100k Challenge qualifiers are: qualifiers, each of the ideas submitted for this • Healthy Memory Company Ltd – reducing contest could easily be developed into successful memory loss in baby boomers Talking Science There wasn’t a seat to spare at the inaugural the data are invalid due to “adjustment”. is damaging marine species that use carbon Talking Science event, with all 200 places physicist Professor Rodger Davies spoke compounds in seawater to build their skeletons. reserved weeks in advance. about the critical role of water vapour and clouds Many of these organisms, such as plankton and Hosted by the Faculty of Science and External – which the audience was surprised to learn have coral, play key roles in marine ecosystems and the Relations, the panel discussion on “Global a greater greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide - effects will be wide-ranging. warming: why can’t scientists agree?” was an and the dilemmas scientists face trying to Responding to questions from the audience the opportunity for alumni and the public to hear from incorporate them into climate models. His own panellists said that the arguments against leading environmental scientists. work with NASA observing and modelling clouds is human-induced seemed constantly An introduction to the greenhouse effect and part of international efforts to address this. to shift, being replaced as fast as they were factors contributing to climate change was Climatologist Dr Anthony Fowler explained how disproven by science and derailing international provided by Professor Glenn McGregor, Director of “proxies” like tree rings can be used to reconstruct work toward a solution. Some expressed frustration the School of Environment. He pointed out that the ancient climate, and the possible reasons for with the time and effort scientists spent addressing while natural factors such as solar variability and discrepancies between such reconstructions and these arguments and with the suggestion that volcanic eruptions play a role, they are insufficient events in human history such as the “little ice age”. scientists sought anything but the truth. to explain the increases in temperature that have Using the kauri record he is learning about how El Talking Science will be held twice per year as an been observed. Niño-La Niña oscillations in the southern informal forum for discussion of controversial and Honorary Research Associate Dr Jim Salinger, hemisphere influence global climate patterns. topical scientific issues. Last week’s topic was so formerly of NIWA, described the New Zealand Marine biologist Dr Mary Sewell talked about popular that the next event will look at the social climate record, which documents a steady increase her research on acidification of the oceans – science of climate change – how what we know in temperatures, and rebutted recent claims that known as “the other CO2 problem” – and how this about people can help in developing a response. University of Auckland top in NZ In the subject rankings of Life Sciences and The University of Auckland has once more been the top 100 but we will struggle to maintain parity Medicine and Social Sciences and Management, ranked as the top university in New Zealand with our international peers if the underinvestment the University was placed in the top 50 in the following the publication of the 2010 QS World in New Zealand universities continues,” said world - 41st and 38th respectively. It was placed University Rankings. Vice- Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon. 51st in Arts and Humanities; 55th in Engineering This is in line with its place in the Shanghai Jiao “New Zealand’s direct public investment in and Technology and 68th in Natural Sciences. In Tong (2010) rankings where the University was tertiary institutions is 58 percent out of the total the important ranking of “employer reputation”, ranked top among New Zealand universities. expenditure on tertiary education; this compares the University was placed 39th. In the latest QS World University Rankings the with an OECD average of 81 percent, and just Two other New Zealand universities - University’s position is 68th; last year it was placed under 70 percent in Australia for tertiary Otago (135) and Canterbury (189) - were placed 61st in the rankings QS devised with the Times institutions. As other countries increase their in the top 200 in the 2010 QS World Higher, and 65th in 2008. per student expenditure, the gap is only going University Rankings. “We are pleased to have retained our position in to widen.”

6 17 September | 2010 From the collection Arts

Unlike with many of Alex Monteith’s other video by Auckland artist Alex Monteith. Facing in minutes uniquely documents an important piece of projects, the critically slow pace of the event that opposite directions, one camera recorded material New Zealand political history objectively, and forms the subject of her video work, 1020 metres as it came towards the vehicle while the other one, allows it to be revisited and re-experienced much in 26 minutes Waitangi Day Auckland Harbour mounted to the rear of the vehicle, tracked as it unfolded second by second. Content aside, Bridge Protest, grounds the viewer in familiar material as it was left behind. however, the work is also visually appealing as it territory, allowing the location and the subject of Screened concurrently as a dual-channel video rolls and eddies past the viewer. the video to be immediately unravelled. installation, the resultant footage has the potential Born in Belfast in Northern Ireland, Monteith Simultaneously however, the viewer is also to be completely disorientating and bewildering. immigrated to New Zealand in 1987. She later drawn into the curious and somewhat dizzying However, Monteith avoids this by her pacing of the completed a Fine Arts degree majoring in landscape that is formed where the adjacent work which, rather than confusing the viewer, helps Photography at Elam School of Fine Arts before screens meet. Passages of the Harbour Bridge, to create an oddly calm and syncopated rhythm moving to the Intermedia Department of Elam to segments of land, sky, clouds, sea and automobiles between the adjacent frames. complete both a masters degree and a doctorate. roll across two disparate yet intimately connected Monteith is renowned for her penchant for 1020 metres in 26 minutes is set to feature in fields of vision. extreme sports, dizzying speeds and dare-devil the comprehensive exhibition of Monteith’s work Filmed in 2008, 1020 metres in 26 minutes antics; 1020 metres in 26 minutes is definitely one opening at the Govett-Brewster Gallery in New details in real time the Waitangi Day go-slow of her more serene works in terms of tempo. The Plymouth on 25 September. Monteith is also one of vehicle protest that was staged on the Auckland central dividing line acts almost like a magnetic four finalists for this year’s prestigious Walters Harbour Bridge that year. In 2008, Transit New vortex as streams of traffic merge and the Harbour Prize at the Auckland Art Gallery, nominated for Zealand decided that only the New Zealand flag Bridge’s iron pylons seemingly dissolve into one her piece Passing Manoeuvre with Two Motorcycles would be flown from the Auckland harbour bridge another. In contrast to this melting band, the right and 584 Vehicles for Two-Channel Video. The and not the Tino Rangitiratanga flag, which screen details cars inching slowly forward while winner of the Walters Prize will be announced on sparked considerable outrage. As a result, a more cars, complete with billowing flags, mark out 8 October. convoy of vehicles, many with the Tino the road ahead on the left screen. Jemma Field Rangitiratanga flag flapping from their windows, Supremely clever in its simplicity, the footage 1020 metres in 26 minutes Waitangi Day Auckland occupied two lanes of the Auckland Harbour offers an enchanting lyricism because of the wealth Harbour Bridge Protest 2008 Bridge in protest and drove over it at walking of visual interest that the piece contains. A key Two-Channel Video pace. A red landrover that was part of the facet of the work is that it is filmed in real time with motorcade was saddled with two bullet-cameras no cuts or editing. As a result 1020 metres in 26 7 metres x 3 metres, 26min looping cycle Clown directs Hamlet for a night There is still time (as long as tickets are still New Zealand, first touring, teaching and Hamlet and the adaptations of Hamlet show that available) to spend an evening of laughs with a performing here in 1981. He has written his own Shakespeare can still be fresh after 400 years.” dash of catharsis at this year’s University of adaptations of Shakespearean plays including A Night with Hamlet began Thursday 16 Auckland annual Drama production A Night with Hamlet, helped to establish Australia’s national September and continues until Sunday the 19th, Hamlet – a production of two scenes from Bell Shakespeare Company and his own Quantum with performances on Friday 17 September at Hamlet and six adaptations. Theatre: Slapstick to Shakespeare. 8pm, Saturday the 18th at 4pm and 8pm, and It is not surprising that a performance based on Ira says: “In Hamlet’s famed image he holds Sunday the 19th at 6pm. Shakespeare’s famous tragedy should take a feisty the skull of the jester Yorick. In this production we All performances are held in the Drama Studio, twist – it is directed by a clown! hope to release both the soul of Yorick and the Level 3 of the Arts 1 Building, 14a Symonds St. Over two weeks the internationally acclaimed humour of Hamlet.” Tickets are $10 for students, $15 full price. For actor, director, playwright, mime, clown and jester The show includes the comical Green Eggs and bookings, please call 09 373 7599 ext. 84226. Dr Ira Seidenstein has been working with students Hamlet, Richard Curtis’ Skinhead Hamlet, and For further information, please contact Dr. Rina to generate and develop ideas while imparting Murray Edmond’s new Noh version of Hamlet. Kim on 373 7599 ext. 87348, or email some of his wealth of accumulated knowledge Dr Rina Kim, a lecturer in Drama at the [email protected]. and skill. Department of English, says: “Ira’s direction has Ira, who is in New Zealand to teach workshops added an extra dimension to an already fun and in master-clowning, has had a long association with rewarding course. Ira’s innovative approach to

The University of Auckland News 7 Holden and Yona Lee: and and and... TUESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER Cost $15/$10/$5. Phone 308 2383. What’s on 5.30pm George Fraser Gallery, 25a Graduation THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBER Princes St. Exhibition runs until 25 Sept. The Graduation Procession for all Postgraduate Study Information Friday 17 SEPTEMBER Future Proof Lecture 2010 faculties leaves from Alumni Marquee, Evening Steve Poletti: Future energy issues in NZ. Lunchtime concert Old Government House grounds at 6-8.30pm NICAI Student Centre, 26 6-7pm Design Lecture Theatre, NICAI Featuring School of Music students from 9.15am and crosses Princes Street Symonds St. An opportunity to find out the strings and flute departments. 1.05- Conference Centre, 22 Symonds St. about postgraduate study and research 2010 Robert C Solomon Philosophy to enter Bowen Avenue at 9.30am. 1.55pm Music Theatre, School of Music. Ceremony times at the Aotea Centre: in Architecture, Planning and Urban Dept of Philosophy research seminar lecture Design, Dance Studies, Fine Arts, Music Prof Peter Goldie, Hood Fellow: Oysters 10.30am: Business and Economics Ralph Wedgwood, University of Oxford: 1.30pm: Education, Engineering, Law and Sonic Arts. The right thing to believe. 3-5pm Patrick and opera: How to acquire an ‘acquired Queries to [email protected] taste’. 6pm Library Lecture Theatre B15. 4.30pm: Science, Medical and Health Hanan Room 501, Arts 2. Sciences Japanese film screening 2010 NZ Aronui Lecture 7.30pm: Arts, Creative Arts and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve, past WEDNESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER Industries. 7.30pm Lecture Theatre B15, General president of the British Academy, Visit www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/pid/ Library Bldg. Animated film directed Professor of Philosophy, Cambridge Dept of Applied Language Studies uoa-home/current-students/cs-academic- by Mamoru Hosoda. 2006, 98 University: Grasping freedom of speech. and Linguistics seminar information/cs-graduation-information minutes, rated PG. Admission free. 6pm Lecture Theatre, OGH. Dr Sun Hee Ok Kim, , Sydney: From myths to the Window 7 upgrade workshop reality: Perceptions of settlement and 10am-12noon CAD, 4th Floor, 76 Classifieds saturday 18 SEPTEMBER language learning among adult Symonds St. Phone 923 7951 to enrol. ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE Portfolio workshop at Elam immigrants in Australia. 12noon Rm School of Music seminar 10am-12noon projectspace B431, Main 103, Fisher Bldg, 18 Waterloo Quad. Kevin Field: Techniques and Art Deco apartment available for Fine Arts Bldg, 20 Whitaker Pl. Email Dept of Psychology seminar interpretation for contemporary jazz short term rental. Quintessential [email protected] Suzanne Barker-Collo, UoA: Prevalence compositions within a piano trio context. 1930s apartment, faithfully restored Sean Kerr: Film screening of neuropsychological deficits in five-year 1.05-1.55pm Music Theatre. Free. with a superb blend of Art Deco Sean Kerr introduces an exclusive stroke survivors and their impact on Bioengineering research seminar furnishings and modern conveniences. screening of his film and video works. functional outcomes: Results from the Kenneth Tran, Auckland Bioengineering Ideally situated in historic Westminster 1-2pm Gus Fisher Gallery. ASTRO population-based study. 12noon Institute: Simulation of cardiac Court, on Parliament St across from Medical School Music Fundraiser II HSB 604. energetics. 4-5pm Level 5 Seminar Rm, OGH. Building is fully secure with 7.30pm Music Theatre, School of Music, Inaugural lecture UniServices House, 70 Symonds St. swimming pool and recreational 6 Symonds St. Door sales $15. Featuring Prof Michele Leggott, Dept of English: Exhibition opening facility. In short, a lovely environment. students from the Medical and Health Good eyes: Poetry, people and new Leonard Kai Fung So and Shahriar The apartment comprises one bdrm + Sciences. Come and listen to delightful media. 6.30pm Conference Centre, 22 Asdollah-zadeh: The Revolution has library/dining rm, large lounge, fully classical music concert. Limited seating. Symonds St. not yet succeeded: New China/Middle equipped kitchen with all mod cons and All funds raised will go towards the NZ Fast Forward Lecture series East 5.30pm, George Fraser Gallery, 25 tiled bthrm and laundry. Perfect retreat Heart Foundation. Thom Craig, Thom Craig Architects, Princes St. Exhibition runs until 2 Oct. for a busy academic. Carpark optional. Christchurch. 6.30pm Rm 1.439, School Future Proof Lecture 2010 Contact Dawn Judge, ph (021) 528 223 of Engineering, 20 Symonds St. Kit Cuttle: Turning the criteria for or email [email protected] MONDAY 20 SEPTEMBER lighting design upside down. 6-7pm House-sitter wanted: Responsible, mature professional couple or individual Dept of Political Studies seminar THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER Design Lecture Theatre, NICAI Prof Peter Davis and Assoc Prof Michael Conference Centre, 22 Symonds St. required to house-sit Ponsonby, Ak villa from 24 December 2010 to 15 January Mintrom: Teaching quantitative methods Dept of Mathematics colloquium in social science: Stories from the front Prof Ben Green, Cambridge University: 2011. Very handy to shops and cafes. No kids, no pets, n/s. In return for line! 12noon Meeting Rm, 16 Symonds Arithmetic progressions of primes. 3pm WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER security and garden watering only cost Street. MLT1, Maths/Physics Bldg. Department of Mechanical will be $100 towards power. Reference School of European Languages and Department of History seminar required. Phone (09) 378 8883 or (021) Literatures seminars Clive Stone, Royal Society of NZ Engineering research seminar 637-887. Email [email protected] Dealing with the past: Historical Teachers Fellow 2010: The making, Dr Fiona Zhao, National Institute of Modern three bedroom, two memory and human rights in Latin meaning and migration of NZ war art Standards and Technology (NIST), USA: Research trends in interoperable bathroom townhouse in Epsom. America and Spain. 2-3pm Rm 107, Old produced in the Pacific in WW Two. 4pm Dble internal garage. Private sunny Choral Hall. Room 59, History Department. manufacturing. 12noon Lecture Theatre 3.401, School of Engineering. courtyard. Newly renovated. Dble 1) Prof José Colmeiro: Beyond the Film and Media Studies Employer Grammar zone, ENPS, ANI. Handy to nation: Memory, forgetting and justice in Panel and Expo School of Environment seminar Dr David Conradson: Thinking shops, schools, parks, transport. No post-Franco Spain. 5-7pm venue tba. University Careers smokers/pets please. $700pw. Available 2) Dr Walescka Pino-Ojeda: Collective Service event. Register at www.auckland. geographically about well-being. 1-2pm HSB 429. now. Contact Anna on (021) 125 9927 memory and transitional democracy: ac.nz/careerhub Queries to ext 88727 or [email protected] Latin America in the post-authoritarian or [email protected] Peer tutors: The teaching tools staring you in the face One bedroom flat available in neoliberal era. Department of English lecture Chatswood, Birkenhead. Open plan 1-2pm Rm 420, Level 4, Kate Edger Bioengineering and Physiology Prof Tiffany Stern, Professor of Early lounge with kitchen area, separate bdrm Information Commons, 9 Symonds St. research seminar Modern Drama, Oxford University: and bthrm, morning sun, OSP, own Dr Daryl Schwenke, University of Shakespeare on page and stage. 6pm Find out how employing a dedicated entrance in quiet residential street, walk Otago: Role of Rho-kinase signalling in Lecture Theatre, OGH. band of peer tutors has improved to cafes, shops and bus. N/s. Suit single modulating blood flow distribution in student performance in a large stage professional person. $285 pw, includes pulmonary hypertension. 4-5pm Seminar Two physiology course. For further power and water. Contact Margaret on Rm 505, Faculty of Medical and Health friday 24 SEPTEMBER details go to www.cad.auckland.ac.nz/ 480 9242. Sciences. School of Music lunchtime concert workshops, email CAD reception Sabbatical or holiday retreat in Featuring students from the brass and [email protected] or phone Greek fully-furnished apartment ext 88140. TUESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER woodwind departments. 1.05-1.55pm in East Peloponnese close to beach, Music Theatre, 6 Symonds St. Free. Department of Psychology seminar overlooking the Aegean, pristine village, Dept of Mechanical Engineering Dr Adam Brown, Dept of Psychiatry, orange groves. Email t.fookes@auckland. research seminar NYU School of Medicine: Refocusing the ac.nz or visit www.tyrosapartment.com Prof Carsten Werner, Dresden, saturday 25 SEPTEMBER trauma lens: From the past to the future. Two bedroom townhouse. Two bus Germany: Biofunctional polymer Academy of Music Piano Workshop 4pm HSB 604. zones from downtown, in Mt Eden/ materials for regenerative therapies. 9.30am-4pm Music Theatre, School Oticon Foundation Hearing Mt Roskill area. Private garden. $350 12noon-1pm Lecture Theatre 3.401, of Music, 6 Symonds St. Cost $20. Education Centre research seminar pw. Available for 6-12 months. Ph 620 School of Engineering. Registration required. With Rae de Lisle Dr Grant Searchfiel, UoA: A downunder 8988. School of Music seminar and Stephen De Pledge. view of bottom-up top-down tinnitus. Dr James Cuskelly: Music education and processing. 5pm Rm 730.220, School of ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED older beginners: Adapting the model. Population Health, Tamaki Campus. House-sit/apartment-sit/flat-sit 1.05-1.55pm Music Theatre. Free. MONDAY 27 SEPTEMBER Auckland branch of Society for Legal wanted in central Ak (Parnell, Mt Bioengineering research seminar and Social Philosophy seminar Eden, CBD etc), beginning of Oct until Annalisa Swan, ABI: Using models to Women to watch seminar Assoc Prof Karen Grylls, School of Music. Dr Michael Littlewood: Tax avoidance Christmas. Male librarian, mature gain insights into gas exchange in the and the rule of law. 6pm Small Lecture N/S, currently working at Parliament lungs. 4-5pm Level 5 Seminar Room, 5pm Main Dining Rm, OGH. Presented by the Kate Edger Educational Theatre, Bldg 803, School of Law. in Wellington. Will happily take care UniServices House, 70 Symonds St. Songwriter of the Year 2010 Final of garden. No car-parking required. Exhibition opening Charitable Trust. Drinks and nibbles to follow. RSVP to [email protected] 7.30pm Maidment Theatre, 8 Alfred St. References available. Email Master of Fine Arts students Nicola [email protected]

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 17 September | 2010