SEPTEMBER 2016 The University of Auckland News for Staff Vol 45/ Issue 07 /September 2016 ITALIAN IMMERSION ■PAGE PAGE 5 5 INSIDE MENTOR RECOGNISED CARING FOR TREASURES VALUE OF REBELLION A one-man social network and a tireless Stephen Innes is the Special Collections Rebellion is a way of thinking that challenges champion for entrepreneurism, highly Manager in the University’s Libraries and the status quo, pushes boundaries and respected by the students he helped and Learning Services. Stephen joined the staff generates new ideas. It is one of the key encouraged, Geoff Whitcher has been awarded in 1989 as the New Zealand and Pacific elements for a successful entrepreneurial a Rhodes Trust Inspirational Educator Award. Collections Librarian, after having gained system and is also a key concept in creative Geoff is one of only 18 people globally to have considerable experience in other university arts education. Professor Diane Brand, Dean won this award, launched this year to highlight libraries in New Zealand. His change of role to of Creative Arts and Industries emphasises incredible teaching around the world. Geoff his present position in 2002 reflected a new the importance of encouraging students founded Velocity, originally called Spark focus on rare books and archives within the to be creatively rebellious and to practise and also backed the launch of student-led University Library. Read more about Stephen’s synthesising or combining various areas of initiative, Chiasma. life and work in “My story”. knowledge to solve problems. PAGE 3 PAGE 6 PAGE 12 SNAPSHOT CONTENTS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH INGENIO WHAT’S NEW ............................ 3 As a result of a story in the Autumn 2016 issue of IN BRIEF .................................... 4 the alumni magazine, Ingenio, the three schools COVER STORY ............................. 5 on Waiheke Island extended a joint invitation to Karen Willcox, Distinguished Alumna of the DID YOU KNOW? ......................... 7 University and visiting professor in Engineering Science, to visit the island and meet their WHAT’S ON CAMPUS .................. 7 students. Karen gave a rocket-building workshop WHAT AM I DISCOVERING? .......... 8 for a group of students and spoke to the pupils from all three schools about her training and her RESEARCH IN FOCUS .................. 8 work in engineering. Her visit was the focus of a feature in the Gulf News. (Photo by Mark Peters.) IN THE SPOTLIGHT ...................... 9 FROM THE COLLECTION ............ 10 WELCOME BACK THE BUDGIE MEAL WHAT’S COMING OUT ................ 11 Nutritious and good value meals on campus MARAMATANGA ....................... 12 are very important when you’re working and studying. Staff from Campus Life have brought back the “Budgie Meal”, a concept used at the University in the early 1990s, giving students and staff a chance to buy a substantial meal from an array of cuisines. And now, the Budgie Meal is back! The majority of retailers will offer a nice lunch for $6.50 or less, consisting of protein, vegetables and carbohydrate. Look for the little image of a budgie, and for more information, email [email protected] FOND FAREWELL TO TESS The University’s Communications and Marketing COVER PHOTO: Students from the course Italy on team last month bid a fond farewell to Tess Screen, taught for the first time in Italy this year Redgrave, who has at various times during by Professor Bernadette Luciano, enjoy a lunch in her 11 years at the University edited its key Chioggia. publications such as Uninews, Ingenio, Auckland Now and the University’s annual reports and profiles, as well as guiding the growth and development of the Staff Intranet from its early beginnings to its present success and high readership. Tess is now devoting time to her own writing projects. OPERA SCENES Travel back in time to the 1950s as young singers EDITOR: Judy Wilford from the School of Music voice class present a PHOTOGRAPHY: Godfrey Boehnke series of opera scenes set in a classic American DESIGN: Student Information and Marketing Services diner. Come and hear operatic favourites by PRODUCTION: The University of Auckland composers ranging from Mozart to Prokofiev, appreciated anew in this fun and unusual setting. Published by: 7.30pm, 16-17 September at the Music Theatre, The University of Auckland School of Music, 6 Symonds Street. Communications, Book tickets at www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/ Fisher Building, 18 Waterloo Quadrant, opera-scenes-tickets-20741923652. Queries to Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 [email protected]. Generously supported by the Wallace Opera Training Programme. www.auckland.ac.nz/universitynews 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND NEWS FOR STAFF WHAT’S NEW MENTOR HONOURED Geoff Whitcher is one of only 18 people magazine last year named him as one of Auckland’s globally to have won an inaugural Rhodes Trust most influential business figures. Inspirational Educator Award. Rhodes Scholar Alice Wang, who gained a This award from the Rhodes Trust (which also Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford, awards the annual Rhodes Scholarships to Oxford) nominated Geoff for the award. aims to highlight “the ncredible teaching which “Geoff had a vision of building a better New occurs throughout the world” and to celebrate Zealand through developing the potential of young “educators who have demonstrated an exceptional people, and has touched the lives of many young aptitude for helping young students realise their entrepreneurs and students through his energy and potential”.. dedication to student organisations like Spark and A one-man social network and tireless champion Chiasma,” she wrote in her letter of nomination. for entrepreneurism, Geoff founded Velocity “It’s difficult to describe ... the way that he has (originally called Spark); and the Centre for inspired and encouraged me in my studies, but to Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Business name a few - he gave me opportunities (and the School. He also backed the launch of Chiasma, a occasional nudge) to extend myself intellectually student-led organisation creating links between and personally through Spark, he took a genuine academia and thee science and technology interest in what I wanted to achieve and supported industries. He’s mentored dozens of students over me in reaching those dreams (including aspirations the years, among them five whom he helped gain for the Rhodes Scholarship), and he showed me Fulbright Scholarships for MBA studies. He’s known what a single person can do to build a whole affectionately as the “grey ghost”, quietly nurturing, community of thinkers, doers and learners, all extending and connecting behind the scenes. Metro striving to make New Zealand a better place.” DISTINGUISHED of a suite of postgraduate masters programmes; OUR OLYMPIANS promoting advances in teaching and learning, Physiology student Eliza McCartney pole vaulted CONTRIBUTION including the appointment of a Director of her way into the hearts and minds of many Warm congratulations from staff of the Teaching and Learning; fostering research of high New Zealanders after winning Bronze at the Business School and from the University as a relevance by allocating significant amounts of Rio Olympics. She was one of seven University whole to Professor Greg Whittred, who has strategic funding to the School’s four strategic of Auckland students who represented New received an award which recognises the great research themes; fostering a Māori development Zealand at the Olympics, combining their value of his services to the school. agenda; driving the school’s innovation and rigorous training schedules with their studies. Greg has been awarded the Business School’s entrepreneurship goals; and raising significant Also giving an outstanding performance, Distinguished Contribution Award for 2016 external funding - for example, for completion Commerce student Dylan Schmidt (19) came in for his years of outstanding and distinguished of the matching funding for the $20 million seventh in the trampoline, achieving his goal of leadership. endowment fund and for endowed chairs. coming in the top eight at the games and edging Hs contribution started nearly 14 years closer to his dream to “aim for the podium” at ago when the school made its case for a $25 his next Olympics. Theresa Fitzpatrick (Medicine) million matching grant from the Clark Labour took time off from medical studies to compete Government under what became known as in the rugby sevens as a member of the women’s the Partnerships for Excellence programme. team that won silver and Sione Molia (Science), Greg, then Dean of the Faculty of Business and who is finishing an applied maths degree, was Economics at the University of NSW, was asked part of the men’s sevens that came in fifth. to serve as an external academic reviewer for the Black Sticks team members Pippa Hayward required business plan. (Law/Arts) and Stacey Michelsen (Law/Business) In the middle of 2008, Greg became Dean achieved fourth place in women’s hockey of the Business School and has, since then, and Football Fern vice-captain Katie Duncan provided continuing support and encouragement (Education and Social Work), was exited at to the academic and professional staff of the the preliminaries as a member of the national school, as well leading the ongoing refreshing of women’s team. the school’s purpose and strategies, expressed In addition we had nine Olympian alumni in the document Shaping the Future 2014- who competed in hockey, the rugby sevens, 2020, which he wrote. Greg has contributed in golf, canoe and rowing, including medallist a multitude of ways, including setting up the Mahe Drysdale (Business) and Shakira Baker Graduate School of Management as a separate (Education and Social Work) who won silver for academic department; leading the development her part in the rugby sevens. UNINEWS 3 WHAT’S NEW IN BRIEF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP UNIQUE DISCOVERY This programme provides opportunities for Visiting Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai women to develop their leadership skills.