UConnect UC Alumni and Friends Newsletter, July 2013 In this edition: Campus developments UC QS Five Star ranking Innovation and Research Alumni benefits UC Careers Kit Events and more UC campus developments The University of Canterbury, like the rest of Christchurch, is in full recovery mode and is steaming ahead with a range of exciting and significant developments that will place the University in a strong position for the future. We have launched a new marketing campaign, “UC More, Feel More, Do More”, established an innovation hub for students, developed a careers kit to help students envisage their career pathways, and launched a Quake Centre to work with industry on earthquake engineering projects. We’ve seen a record number of PhD students enrol at UC this year and we have retained our QS Five Star ranking. You can read about all of these developments – and more – in this newsletter. The University has also released draft plans for the possible development of the perimeter of the UC campus. There is no guarantee these developments will go ahead as they need to be funded from external sources. However, we are excited by these plans, which could include a UC Research and Industry Zone, an archives facility and a boost to student accommodation at Bishop Julius Hall. The briefing document can be found here. For those of you who have been on campus recently, you will have noticed the extensive refurbishment of the area under the James Hight building. Known as the Undercroft, this area is now a vibrant, sophisticated student lounge with a selection of cafés and retail outlets as well as areas to relax in. Elsewhere on campus, the History, Law, ICTS and Registry buildings are being strengthened and refurbished, with scheduled re-openings throughout late 2013 and 2014. We’ll keep you posted on further developments. Page 1 of 7 We’re always happy to welcome alumni and friends to campus. If you do visit, the Shilling Club in the Undercroft is a great place to have a meal or coffee, and the recently reopened Staff Club in the Ilam Homestead offers membership to alumni. We hope to see you soon. Innovation and Research $1 million in funding for UC researchers A University of Canterbury health researcher has received more than $650,000 in Health Research Council funding to help critically ill patients breathe more easily. UC mechanical engineer Professor Geoff Chase will research how to better support intensive care patients who require breathing support via mechanical ventilation to survive and recover. Read more UC research to help Antarctic seals and penguins Earlier this year, the University of Canterbury announced the launch of a new research project to help seals and penguins in the Antarctic. Read more Page 2 of 7 Business app seeks temporary employees A University of Canterbury PhD student has created an app for businesses seeking temporary employees. Jess Templeton has produced the phone app tempME, which increases flexibility and accessibility of recruiting temporary staff. The app is for firms seeking professional temporary staff of all levels and disciplines within any sector. TempME is a web-based application developed as part of the annual $75,000 Entré business competition. Entré is a student ideas competition that sees young hopefuls put their business ideas to the test with the help of mentors and business connections. Guest judges include Icebreaker innovator Brian Brackenridge. Read more UC Merit At the University of Canterbury we’re all about recognizing results! UC is offering unlimited Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships valued at up to $3000. If you know a Year 13 student who will get merit or excellence endorsement in NCEA Level 3 (or equivalent), we will reward them. When they enroll at UC for 2014, the undergraduate entrance scholarships will be automatically awarded – it’s that simple! Visit www.ucmerit.ac.nz to view more information and terms and conditions, or call 0800 VARSITY. Page 3 of 7 Good to Know UC Careers Kit An ambitious student employability UC Innovators initiative, the UC Careers Kit provides detailed information on UC’s 72 undergraduate major subjects and possible career pathways. The guides are designed to help secondary school students, current UC students and recent This new initiative is designed to create an graduates envisage how tertiary study “entrepreneurial ecosystem” to could enhance their employability. The encourage and develop our students’ guides were put together with input from innovative ideas and provide an academics and industry. inspirational environment for bright sparks to flourish. UC More, Feel More, Do More “This is all about students and their ideas. We offer experiential learning through workshops, competitions and the like, and fast-track the setting up of new student ventures through The Hatchery,” said Executive Director Dr Chris Kirk. “We’re filling in the gaps so students can experience first-hand any or all aspects of innovation while they are at UC,” he said. Canterbury-based alumni may have The project harnesses student talent, noticed UC’s recent student recruitment providing an environment where ideas activity featuring striking imagery on can flourish and students are assisted in billboards, buses, internet and television generating new ventures. The project is adverts. Feedback has been fantastic with connected to experts and mentors around the ads reflecting the vibrant student the city who are keen to support and body and range of activities available assist. locally. We have also had an amazing response to PhD student numbers at an the UC Explorer programme, with just under 700 secondary school students all time record high at UC applying for the opportunity to come to A record number of Christchurch and enjoy an exclusive two- 886 PhD students are currently enrolled at day campus experience that involves UC. The all-time high staying in the halls, meeting current is a record when students and staff, seeing the facilities, compared to experiencing our labs, attending a student enrolments in April in gig and m previous years. Read more Page 4 of 7 UC Foundation 2013 QS STARS: 5* UC UC has retained a five and Alumni news star ranking from the international Earthquake stories go live university ranking on UC CEISMIC archive research company QS, and is ranked in the top three per cent of the world’s The first release of Christchurch residents’ universities. UC has a proven track record earthquake stories collected by the of producing industry leaders with University of Canterbury’s QuakeBox graduates going on to hold key recording studio are now available on the international positions, conduct research CEISMIC Canterbury Earthquake Digital in world famous universities and gain Archive. recognition the world over. UC graduates The UC QuakeBox team has recorded include: more than 700 members of the public John Key, Prime Minister of New talking about their experiences during the Zealand 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, and the Craig Nevill-Manning, Director of rebuild of Christchurch’s central city. Google Engineering Video and transcripts of the first Rosemary Banks, Ambassador to interviews are available to the public at the United Nations www.ceismic.org.nz. Updates and Christopher Luxon, CEO of Air New highlighted stories will be available on the Zealand UC QuakeBox Facebook page. The QuakeBox is a shipping container converted into a high-tech recording studio. In 2012, it was moved around Christchurch, recording stories at nine different locations across the city. Earlier this year the CEISMIC archive won the inaugural international Digital Humanities Award for the best project for public audiences. Page 5 of 7 UCQC launch UC Shop The University of Canterbury has launched UC Shop is the home of all University of its Quake Centre, which will work with Canterbury merchandise, from Graduation industry on joint venture earthquake teddy bears, to UCan t-shirts. You can engineering research projects. The centre purchase these gifts online and at will build on New Zealand’s established Graduation ceremonies. Other merchandise includes: reputation for excellence and innovation UC class rings in earthquake engineering and has been Degree frames developed in partnership with many Graduation portrait and on-stage leading New Zealand companies. Read photography more Lyttelton Port Company Upcoming events Scholarship Events in July Singapore Alumni and Friends Cocktail Reception Friday 12 July, 6-7.30pm New Zealand High Commissioner's Residence Register now! Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC) has Wellington Alumni and Friends Cocktail recently set up an annual scholarship of Reception $10,000 to assist LPC staff members and Friday 19 July, 6-8pm their immediate family. Waterfront Room, Mac's Function Centre, Wellington Pictured: the first recipient of the LPC Register now! Directors' – University of Canterbury Scholarship for 2013, Brooke Hand, along Events in August with UC Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr (left) Parents as Career Educators and LPC Director and LPC Chairman, Thursday 8 August, 15 August, 7-8pm Rodger Fisher. NZi3 Building, 69 Creyke Road, Christchurch Best of luck to Brooke as she begins her Register now! first year of study towards a BCom, majoring in marketing. More events Page 6 of 7 Alumni achievements Alumni benefits Alumni are welcome to UC’s Professor Gerry Gilmore Congratulations to free public lectures alumnus Gerry Gilmore, who has followed in Ernest Rutherford’s footsteps to become a Fellow of the Royal The University of Canterbury holds free Society. Professor Gilmore, who was the public lectures on campus every first University of Canterbury student to Wednesday night from 6.30pm. receive a PhD in astronomy in 1979, is Find out about upcoming lectures here. leading work at Cambridge University to Join our mailing list understand the structure and origin of the If you are interested in being notified of galaxy.