Reach high, take on challenges and dig deep to overcome fear. Never let anyone or any experience bring you down.
Beacons and black holes: The new 10-year mental health plan Kia Manawanui, a new 10-year plan for mental health unveiled this week, is welcome reading for University of Canterbury community mental health expert Dr Kaaren Mathias, but not comprehensive enough Dr Kaaren Mathias For further information please contact: UC Communications team, media@canterbury.ac.nz, Ph: (03) 369…
German election: the race to replace Angela Merkel and why it matters to New Zealand Angela Merkel’s long era of 16 years is nearing an end with elections in Germany on 26 September. Senior lecturer Serena Kelly and senior research fellow Mathew Doidge look into Germany’s leading parties and explain the impacts they could have…
Beyond Zoom, Teams and video lectures — what do university students really want from online learning? In corporation with academics from other universities around Aotearoa, Associate Professor Cheryl Brown stresses the lack of consideration of students voices on online learning and introduces their Student Online Learning Experiences survey to rectify this issue in an article…
Two UC scientific researchers recognised with early career awards Two University of Canterbury academics from the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences will receive the UC Early & Emerging Career Researcher Award this year – one is a pioneer in airborne microplastics research and the other has an asteroid named in her honour. “Laura and…
Earthquakes don’t kill people; buildings do. And those lovely decorative bits are the first to fall In an article on The Conversation, Associate Professor Ann L Brower shares her own experiences of the Christchurch Earthquakes, which led her to put pressure on the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. The Ministry listened to her advice…
University of Canterbury’s Adjunct Associate Professor Sonja Macfarlane was awarded this year’s New Zealand Psychological Society Dame Marie Clay Award, while her husband Professor Angus Macfarlane was named a Fellow of the Society, it was announced this week. More at the source
Canterbury PhD student using audio to lure predators Aotearoa’s brightest young minds are setting out to revolutionise pest management, helping efforts to eradicate possums, stoats and rats from New Zealand by 2050, including a University of Canterbury doctoral student using audio lures for predators. Supported by Predator Free 2050 Limited (PF2050 Ltd) and $2.4million in…
Calling the latest gene technologies ‘natural’ is a semantic distraction — they must still be regulated Professor Jack Heinemann, technician Brigitta Kurenbach, Master candidate Deborah Paull, and guest lecturer Sophie Walker explain the risks that come with not regulating gene technologies that have similarities with what occurs naturally in an article on The Conversation. Plants…
Who are my parents? Why New Zealand’s ‘creaky’ surrogacy laws are overdue for major reform Associate Professor Debra Wilson, Professor Annick Masselot, and researcher Martha Ceballos explain why Aotearoa New Zealand’s surrogacy laws are due for a major reform in a recent article published on The Conversation. This is because of the way several separate…
Plastic cutlery can be recycled into home-insulating foam – new NZ research Biodegradable plastics are supposed to be good for the environment but, rather paradoxically, because they are designed to degrade quickly, they can’t be recycled. Offering a potential solution, New Zealand researchers have found that compostable plastic can be turned into a foam that…
Trio of awards for University of Canterbury Japanese programme New Zealand’s “most innovative lecturer” in Japanese has his heart and soul in the Japanese community and is a great role model, according to the judges for a national award. David Wells outstanding dedication to his Japanese studies at UC has earned him a national award….
Special Margaret Stoddart exhibition in Kate Sheppard’s house Opening in Women’s Suffrage week, a special exhibition titled ‘Margaret Stoddart, Garden Scene’ is highlighting the connection between Canterbury artist Margaret Stoddart and famous suffragist Kate Sheppard. Margaret Stoddart, The Old Almond Tree, Diamond Harbour, watercolour and gouache, UC Art Collection, UC-MacG-117 School of Art Roll, MB…
On the money: Kate Sheppard and the making of a New Zealand feminist icon In a new article on The Conversation, University of Canterbury’s Professor Katie Pickles explores the legacy of Kate Sheppard and those who paved the way for women’s rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. A detail from Margriet Windhausen’s Kate Sheppard National Memorial,…
New Zealand government takes a calculated risk to relax Auckland’s lockdown while new cases continue to appear In an article on The Conversation UC Professor Michael Plank and Professor Shaun Hendy from the University of Auckland assess the risks that come with moving Auckland to Alert Level 3 and describe the potential worst case scenario,…
Traditional Fijian female tattooing marked out in new exhibition An upcoming exhibition exploring the ancient art of female tattooing in Fiji is being presented by the University of Canterbury’s new Pacific artist in residence. Luisa Tora is this year’s Creative New Zealand Macmillan Brown Pacific Artist in Residence at the University of Canterbury. Tora, who…
New peer-to-peer programme improves student grades at UC After a semester of piloting a new peer-to-peer learning programme at the University of Canterbury, results have shown that on average students who attended at least two sessions achieved a whole grade point higher than other students in the class. Results showed that students who participated in…
One size does not fit all in Antarctica: climate change to impact seal species differently A University of Canterbury-led international study, published today in Global Change Biology, reveals how climate change may impact seals in one of the world’s most remote ocean regions, Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. A young Weddell seal, photographed in Antarctica by the…
Ten University of Canterbury research projects gain MBIE funding Ten University of Canterbury research projects tackling the big issues have been green-lit with funding worth $23 million. UC Engineering researchers, (pictured left to right) Professor Richard Green, Professor Dan Zhao and Kelvin Barnsdale, have gained MBIE Endeavour funding of $9,837,002 over 5 years for their…
With lockdowns easing for the rest of New Zealand, Auckland becomes the elimination frontline In an article on The Conversation, University of Canterbury Professor Michael Plank and University of Auckland Professor Shaun Hendy take a look on the latest Covid-19 community case numbers and the related R number, and explain what it takes to move…
Study sessions help boost academic results for Pasifika students A growing number of Pacific students from Canterbury high schools are signing up for a free tutoring programme giving them extra support with NCEA. The University of Canterbury’s UCMeXL outreach programme offers Pacific high school students support with NCEA subjects. It has been running for over…
Online courses take off as world embraces flexible learning Free, online courses offered by the University of Canterbury are proving popular, with more than 19,000 enrolments so far for a paper exploring mental health and nutrition. Nearly a year later, there have been about 38,000 enrolments in MOOCs, including over 19,000 for a Mental Health…
No-one left behind: Kiwis sign Aotearoa sustainability declaration Aotearoa SDG Summit co-hosts, the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University, have led the way in committing to action on the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals by signing the Aotearoa SDG Declaration yesterday. A word cloud created during the Aotearoa Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit yesterday…
Not another COVID eviction story – contested spaces in Christchurch Central City University of Canterbury’s School of Earth and Environment lecturer Lindsey Conrow discusses the Tarāpuka | Black-billed gulls and their contention with urban developers over an Armagh Street site in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Tarāpuka pair contemplating the continued suitability of the Armagh Street site While…
New Pacific-NZ partnership to research climate crisis action The University of Canterbury and University of the South Pacific, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, are partnering on a unique research project to help Pacific countries and the global community understand how climate change will impact the Pacific, and how indigenous knowledge…
A different Middle Ages, Polynesian style A new book by University of Canterbury historian Madi Williams offers a fresh perspective on the history of Polynesia during the medieval period, focusing on Aotearoa New Zealand, Chatham Islands (Rēkohu) and Easter Island (Rapanui). University of Canterbury lecturer and historian Madi Williams wrote Polynesia, 900–1600 in response to…
Lockdown pivot makes SDG summit more accessible 2021 Aotearoa Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit organisers have taken the event online and offered free access, in one of many pivots happening around the country during the current Covid-19 lockdown. Organisers say the need to pivot to online was not unexpected, and that responding to sudden developments…
Famous Canterbury graduate Ernest Rutherford turns 150 The University of Canterbury is commemorating 150 years since the birth of one of its most famous scientists, academics and alumni, despite the postponement of some of the planned celebratory events due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Ernest Rutherford was awarded the 1908 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his…
Auckland is likely to remain in strict lockdown for several more weeks to stamp out NZ’s Delta outbreak In a new article on The Conversation, UC’s Professor Michael Plank, UoA’s Professor Shaun Hendy, Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles and Manaaki Whenua researcher Rachelle Binny explain we must stay the course to ensure we can eliminate the…
Canterbury students tackle career options as interns for the Crusaders Students at the University of Canterbury are getting valuable, real-life experience working for one of the country’s leading rugby teams, the Crusaders. University of Canterbury student Cameron Clement (second from left) with other Crusaders interns and members of the Crusaders franchise, including Chief Executive Colin…
UC third in New Zealand in Academic Ranking Recently released, the 2021 ShanghaiRanking (AWRU) have ranked the University of Canterbury in the 401-500 ranking group. The University has retained its ranking group this year placing it third equal in Aotearoa New Zealand. ShanghaiRanking started publishing Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and Global Ranking of…