Fortnightly newsletter for University staff | Volume 40 | Issue 16 | 3 September 2010 Seminar series exploits diversity Key events Parenting The Equity Office, in response to staff requests, has organised an informal workshop entitled “Are you thinking of combining parenting and a career at the University?” This will be held from 1-3pm on Thursday 9 September in the Presentation Room (204), Level 2, ClockTower. For more information see “In brief” on page 3. Health HealtheX 2010 will see more than 100 entrants in the fields of biomedicine, population health and medicine competing for $8,000 worth of prizes. The student-organised conference is in its third year and the 2010 event is shaping up to be the best yet. The aim of HealtheX is to promote research activity Left to right are Dr Swarna Gamage with Dr Genevieve Evans and Dr Shaun Lott, who are collaborating on the and presentation among both undergraduate “Chemical validation of a drug target in M. Tuberculosis.” Photographed by Warren Jones and postgraduate students associated with the wider Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. What do you get when you gather a roomful of and drug creators from inside and outside the HealtheX 2010 will be held on 10 September eminent researchers in diverse but related University. Their questions and comments made us at the Grafton Campus, FMHS. For more disciplines and invite one group to present to the think in complex ways and from new perspectives.” information, see www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/ others on their current investigations? One direct outcome for the team has been two faculty/healthex What you get is a rich environment for valued contacts. During the discussion there was generating knowledge, inspiring discussion mention of an Auckland District Health Board Innovation and laying the base for future contacts group involved in tuberculosis testing and a Dr Rick Boven, Director of the New Zealand and collaborations. researcher from Harvard University (already Institute, and Professor Cris Shore from the This is the highly successful format of an known to Shaun by repute) who is also Department of Anthropology will speak on ongoing seminar series introduced by Biopharma investigating enzymes implicated in the disease. Wednesday 15 September on “New Zealand’s Thematic Research Initiative, one of three Shaun and his team have since made contact untapped potential: The innovation agenda”. University of Auckland TRIs officially launched by with both. This will be the third in a series of free public Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon Presenting the second seminar in the series, lectures entitled “New Zealand: Realising our at the Celebration of Research Excellence held held on 13 August at the Medical School in potential”. Associate Professor Michael in May. Grafton, were Professor Jillian Cornish, Professor Mintrom (Political Studies), coordinator of the As confirmed by participants, the format works Ian Reid and Associate Professor Andrew Grey Master of Public Policy Programme, says: extremely well. (School of Medicine) and Professor Bill Denny “Auckland, New Zealand’s soon-to-be Super Dr Shaun Lott (School of Biological Sciences), (Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre), City, has the opportunity to become the who presented at the first seminar, said he found speaking on “Milk-derived fatty acids as potential powerhouse where New Zealand’s most the exchanges intellectually challenging and bone resorption inhibitors – a novel class of significant policy thinking occurs. This ongoing extremely valuable in “sparking new thoughts” in anti-osteoporotic drugs?” seminar series reflects the University’s role as relation to the team’s work on possible new The subsequent discussion, stimulating, lively conscience and critic of society and highlights therapeutic approaches to TB. and robustly in tune with the aims of the series, its place as a centre for non-partisan, “The seminar brought together a huge range of included not only agreements but disagreements, big-thinking, agenda-setting policy meetings.” expertise,” said Shaun. “Among those attending requests for clarification or qualification, The seminar will take place from 12.30-2pm were eminent chemists, microbiologists, clinicians competing hypotheses and questioning of logic. in the Women’s Federation Room at Old Government House. 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 Mayoral candidates EDITOR Judy Wilford 3 Equity in Engineering PHOTOGRapHY Godfrey Boehnke, Kathryn Robinson 6 Tribute to Sir Graham Liggins DeSIGN AND PRODUCTION The University of Auckland From the Vice-Chancellor Capacity crowd for candidates Although our Strategic Plan objective of doubling external research income to $270 million per annum over the period 2005 to 2012 is extremely challenging, we have done very well in making progress towards that target. As reported recently to Council and Senate, we anticipate reaching $210 million this year, despite the difficult environment for public and private expenditure created by the global financial crisis. A further impediment to reaching that goal – which is not really about money, but about our ability to grow our research capability and outputs to those of the leading universities internationally – has been the policies of Left to right are Andrew Williams, Simon Prast, Len Brown and John Banks. successive governments which have continued to shrink the pool of truly contestable funding. Four key Super City mayoral candidates John Prast looked for access to the waterfront, This has made it much more difficult for the Banks, Len Brown, Andrew Williams and Simon reliability of public transport and a desire to make excellent research delivered by our staff and Prast presented to a capacity crowd in the recent Auckland the Cannes of the Southern Hemisphere. students to compete on the basis of quality Towards a new Auckland debate hosted by the His mantra was one of striking a balance between and relevance. School of Architecture and Planning. the four well-beings: social, economic, cultural Thus, if we are to continue to grow the scale Tabled for discussion were questions on the and environmental. and quality of our research endeavour, we will retention of talented people, plans for Auckland’s Williams touted repeated examples of practical need to engage more actively with international waterfront and Queens Wharf, the place of rapid initiatives quietly rolled out over the Shore, private and public research users. We have transport, affordable housing, heritage and considered the whole of Auckland’s coastline and already had some success in this area – our culture, and management of an ethnically and harbours, not merely the CDB, and called for annual offshore research income is about $33 economically polarised city. smarter thinking – pointing out misguided million per annum and growing – but we must Amongst the quips, jibes and political banter the priorities such as “Auckland council spent millions also be aware that building relationships with debate proved an entertaining evening for the on sand while sewage still spills out on the international agencies is very different from audience, which was quick to respond with Eastern beaches.” operating in our traditional domestic scene. applause and jeers. Brown promoted Auckland as the largest Pacific Generally speaking, offshore institutions will Leading candidates Banks and Brown at times city in the world, a cosmopolitan city of fusion, and only fund “outside their comfort zones” (their deferred questions on spatial development to Banks held steady to a mantra of measured own countries or countries in which they do possible future appointments: “I am exploring the affordability, dialogue and ambition. business) if we are able to offer them a unique concept of a city architect – charged with advising Questions from the floor included concern over research capability. the Mayor on architecture and design,” says Banks the continuation of eco-city initiatives under the For that reason, I was very pleased to – while Brown says: “I will have a housing adviser Super City amalgamation, tree protection rules, announce on 25 August the winners of in the Mayoral Office.” and the place of events in Auckland. International Research Team Development All candidates were unanimous on the Jenny Dixon, Dean of the National Institute of Awards following an open call for applications importance of an integrated transport system, Creative Arts and Industries, says: “The event was earlier in the year. These awards, which are though promises were cast under the shadow of a a wonderful opportunity to host and direct debate intended to support teams in developing their financially constrained future and cautious public on the future of Auckland’s built environment in a capability to enhance international spending. Sewage, storm-water, an increased focus public forum. It allowed the candidates some collaborations and attract offshore research on tourism and a reduced focus on commercial scope for good old-fashioned campaigning and funding, represent an investment by the shipping were all discussed. was a fascinating evening.” University of $1.6 million over the next three years. Covering such diverse areas of research as advanced composite materials, industrial optimisation, robotics, human nutrition, health story continued from page