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Academic’s 20-year quest to restore rare African forest #WorldBiodiversityDay On a remote Nigerian plateau, in one of Africa’s rarest ecosystems, a kiwi scientist has created a model for biodiversity conservation that has created local jobs, accommodated PhD students, produced valuable research, discovered new species, and given hope to the community for a better future for…
UCx MicroMasters build skills for better workplaces Learning how to hone recruitment skills and create positive workplaces is just a click away, thanks to an innovative online MicroMasters programme. The Organizational Psychology MicroMasters programme is unique in Aotearoa New Zealand and already attracting a global following on UCx – the University of Canterbury’s online learning…
Pretty but invasive: stopping monkeyflower spread #WorldBiodiversityDay An invasive weed threatening to swamp our waterways is the focus of Aaron Millar, a master’s student at the University of Canterbury. UC master’s student Aaron Millar is researching ways to stop the spread of monkeyflower, an attractive North American plant that is invading pristine areas of Canterbury…
How NZ could become a world leader in decarbonisation using forestry and geothermal technology On The Conversation, Civil and Natural Resources Engineering lecturers Rebecca Peer and David Dempsey, and PhD student Karan Titus explain geothermal BECCS, a new method to capture electricity production emissions and trap them in geothermal fields. But what if we could…
Freshwater ecosystems under threat in a warming Aotearoa #WorldBiodiversity Day Nature is taking with one hand and giving with the other when it comes to Aotearoa New Zealand’s freshwater ecosystems. Professor Angus McIntosh is concerned about how climate change will affect native species such as this brown mudfish, from a South Westland tree tip-up pool….
Innovative tech could generate renewable energy and capture carbon University of Canterbury engineering researchers are investigating an innovative method that could solve two wicked problems of climate change – creating renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. UC Civil and Natural Resources Engineering Senior Lecturer Dr David Dempsey: “Basically, we have a way to suck huge…
Removing GST on food is back in the news, proving some bad ideas just never go away In a new article on The Conversation, Director Business Taught Masters Programme Stephen Hickson argues that removing GST on food is not the most efficient way to support New Zealand households. It’s an idea that voters like. A recent…
An international team, including University of Canterbury Associate Professor Wolfgang Rack and researchers from Cambridge and Newcastle universities, UK, have used a combination of historical satellite measurements, along with ocean and atmosphere records, to gain the most detailed understanding of how ice conditions are changing along the 1400km-long eastern Antarctic Peninsula. More at the source
A quadruple star system discovered in 2017 and recently observed at the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory could represent a new channel by which thermonuclear supernova explosions can occur in the Universe, according to results published in Nature Astronomy today (13 May NZ time) by an international team of astronomers. More at the source
Since large-scale production of plastics began in the 1950s, around 5 gigatons (Gt) of plastic waste has amassed in landfills or the natural environment. As they age, plastics become brittle through exposure to sunlight and break down to produce microplastics (and even smaller nanoplastics). It is a well-established fact that microplastics are in our oceans,…
Welcoming our international students back to NZ shores At the University of Canterbury (UC), we are delighted that the government is re-opening the visa system for international students. We are looking forward to supporting students who have persevered with online learning and welcoming them to campus, as well as welcoming new students to Canterbury. As…
Māori knowledge, customs and language at the centre of new teaching qualification A critical need for more reo Māori-speaking teachers will be addressed next year when a new training course launches at the University of Canterbury. A Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha |University of Canterbury team has helped create a new Mātauranga Māori teaching qualification…
Dancing to a new beat, making museums easier to navigate An international classical ballet dancer has pivoted to mastering how to make museums easier for everyone to navigate, including people who are neurodivergent. International ballet dancer turned University of Canterbury MBA student Kase Craig (left) with MBA coordinator Dr Christian Walsh and a display of…
We can generate green hydrogen, but how will we store it? The Aotearoa New Zealand goal of zero emissions by 2050 brings urgency and pressure to create enough green hydrogen and safely store it for the future. University of Canterbury Senior Lecturer Dr David Dempsey and Professor Andy Nicol Hydrogen is currently stored in tanks,…
Canterbury researchers in global effort to save Mekong Delta from drowning Vietnam’s Mekong Delta is a global agro-economic powerhouse, home to 17 million people, but rising sea levels and the unsustainable management of water and sediment could drown the delta by the end of the century. University of Canterbury Professor Tom Cochrane (far right) next…
Why you should start composting now Autumn is the perfect time to start composting food waste and lift your sustainability game, say University of Canterbury (UC) students Kaitlyn and Jess Lamb, who will share their love of composting on 14 May for the Ako Ōtautahi Learning City Christchurch. University of Canterbury (UC) Environmental Science students…
Revolutionising the construction industry one panel at a time New Zealand engineers aim to revolutionise the way we construct buildings with a modular building system that’s fast to assemble, recyclable and could be the answer to earthquake prone communities. University of Canterbury Engineering Professor Rajesh Dhakal (centre) and Professor Geoff Rodgers (right), along with Dr…
Prehistoric earthquakes and snail shells may give future insights New research led by University of Canterbury paleoseismologist Dr Tim Stahl is providing insights into prehistoric surface rupturing earthquakes in the Republic of Georgia to understand what future earthquakes could do. Co-authors Giorgi Boichenko and Professor Eric Cowgill work from the top bench of the trench…
Tackling climate change with ‘carbon negative’ green hydrogen Researchers at the University of Canterbury (UC) are developing a smart new way of making green hydrogen from woody biomass and capturing carbon in the process. University of Canterbury Chemical Processing Engineers Professor Shusheng Pang and Associate Professor Alex Yip UC Chemical and Process Engineers Professor Shusheng…
University of Canterbury enrolments hit record high last year Student enrolments at the University of Canterbury hit a record high in 2021 despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. The University achieved record student enrolments last year of 20,919 (or 16,237 equivalent full-time students). This is the highest total in the University’s history. The enrolments…
Plan to transform food processing waste would boost NZ economy and environment Micro-organisms found in bacteria and fungi could help change food waste into high-value products that would boost New Zealand’s economy by $1.6 billion a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. University of Canterbury Environmental Science Professor Brett Robinson is working on a research…
Biodiversity is everyone’s business Environmental Science students from the University of Canterbury will upskill the community on how everyone can contribute to improving local biodiversity. University of Canterbury students are helping out with water monitoring and pest control as part of UC’s on-campus biodiversity initiatives. “The key takeaway from the panel is that there are…
HIT Lab NZ celebrates 20 years of innovation This month, the University of Canterbury (UC)’s HIT Lab NZ is celebrating two decades at the forefront of human interface technology research. Since its establishment, HIT Lab NZ has grown into a multidisciplinary centre with a strong track record of excellence in using advanced technologies to solve…
Te Pūheke opens a pathway towards improved environmental stewardship If Aotearoa New Zealand is to successfully transition to a more sustainable, resilient future without sacrificing productivity, then the full impact of various land-use practices needs to be well-understood and appropriately managed. A powerful new model being developed by a multi-disciplinary team led by researchers at…
Technology teacher numbers boosted by new University of Canterbury entry system There has been a dramatic upswing in the number of students training to become technology teachers at the University of Canterbury after a new entry system launched this year. University of Canterbury students (back row from left) Gareth Wynne, Peter Le bon, Andrea Eves…
Discovering the Adulterer’s Guide: Aotearoa’s Wicked Bible In 1631, Robert Barker, printer to the English King Charles I, made one of the most serious blunders in publishing history. So much so, one contemporary labelled it “a ſcandalous miſtake in our Engliſh Bibles.” Barker’s error was indeed grave: his 1631 printing had rendered one of the…
Adaptive learning technologies puts students on path to success #KiaAngitu. Rosie Cameron is on a mission to ensure students are on the right path for success as they work towards a STEM degree. She uses adaptive learning technologies in a foundational mathematics course to meet the diverse learning needs of incoming students, helping them to…
Researchers tackle wicked problems in shipping industry An industry-academia research partnership could help offer solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of the freight transport industry. Swire Shipping’s Moana Chief With a commitment to achieving the COP21 Paris agreement imperative to limit the global temperature rise to less than 2°C, Swire Shipping’s aim is to reduce…
Peer-to-peer study sessions give UC students an academic boost The Peer Assisted Learning Sessions (PALS) programme continues to prove itself as a valuable initiative, helping over 250 first-year students adjust to tertiary education at the University of Canterbury this semester. Peer Assisted Learning Sessions (PALS) gives students the opportunity to learn from actual experiences of…
New system ‘aces’ giving students a helping hand An innovative system that identifies and contacts students who may need extra support has become an award-winning initiative at the University of Canterbury. The Analytics for Course Engagement (ACE) system combines technology with proactive outreach to identify and contact undergraduate students who may be at risk of…