Events

Dr Vanessa Beanland, Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia Abstract Collisions at rail level crossings account for more than one-third of all rail-related fatalities in New Zealand. A major challenge for reducing trauma at level crossings is that many existing countermeasures are either cost-prohibitive or are not evidence-based, so there is a lack of low-cost effective treatments. This talk will describe outcomes from a multi-year research program designed to understand road users’ behaviour and decision-making at rail level crossings. These findings revealed factors that contribute to driver error and risk-taking at level crossings, providing a foundation for developing new evidence-based interventions. More information.

Marianne Uhlig There is an interest in reliable information on the development of weather and climate up to a decade ahead since this time frame falls within the planning horizon of politics and societies. Such predictions are the prerequisite for improvements in adaptation for industry and society to the future climate. Decadal predictions have progressed from being a fringe enterprise to being in the scientific mainstream: the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) now includes a large ensemble of initialised decadal hindcasts. The potential to predict the climate on decadal timescales arises from the study of decadal to multidecadal variability exhibited by climate systems. One subsystem of climate that exhibits variability over long timescales is the ocean. Only in the last few years, hindcasts over a few decades have become feasible due to the availability of large observational data sets and advancements in climate modeling. Before decadal predictions, climate predictions have mostly considered two timescales: seasonal and centennial. While a seasonal prediction is an initial value problem, centennial climate projections are regarded as a boundary value problem, i.e. the development of the climate is primarily dependent on external forcings. Prediction of climate for a decade ahead is a problem dependent on both initial and boundary conditions. Within a decade the global trend can become a large fraction of explainable variance: While the linear trend in European temperature for the last century was about 0.88 K, the estimated warming for the 21st century is between 4 – 6 K, making it a change in temperature of about 0.5 degree per decade. We can assume that certain aspects of the climate can be predicted, e.g. greenhouse gas concentrations that influence the development of the temperature trend, and external or internal variability. Internal variability stems from instabilities naturally occurring in the climate system. If such variabilities include extensive long-lived anomalies (e.g. of the upper ocean) they can influence the atmosphere locally as well as globally through teleconnections. My talk will give an overview of the motivations behind advancing decadal climate prediction, how those are implemented in practice, and existing simulations More information.

Professor Regan Potangaroa’s research has been disastrous—because it looks at post-disaster reconstruction and the relationship between technical demands and social considerations. Based on his research overseas and his extensive experience working with Māori in New Zealand, Professor Potangaroa argues that engineering has enormous potential to address intractable social issues. Professor Potangaroa will describe the complex role played by technology in post-disaster recovery and how his insights have shaped other areas of his research. This is Professor Potangaroa’s inaugural lecture as Professor of Architectural Science at Victoria University of Wellington. Our public lecture series gives you the opportunity to engage with the latest thinking on the world’s major issues. Our inaugural lectures are very popular. RSVP as spaces are limited. More information and RSVP.

In an upcoming UC Connect public lecture, Who speaks for the trees? The possible futures of conservation, University of Canterbury law academic David Round considers the choices ahead for the public conservation estate, native species, the Department of Conservation and environmental law itself in an age of increasingly desperate resource exploitation, environmental degradation and international uncertainty. A barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, David Round lectures in Environmental Law and in Jurisprudence at the University of Canterbury’s School of Law. A keen tramper, he is a former national president of Federated Mountain Clubs and former member of the Canterbury/ Aoraki Conservation Board. He is currently a trustee of the Maurice White Conservation Trust and the Canterbury Te Araroa Trust. More information and register.

Speaker: Associate Professor Yvonne Te Ruki Rangi o Tangaroa Underhill-Sem, School of Social Sciences, University of Auckland After about four generations of migration to Aotearoa-New Zealand, there is a growing diversity among people with Pacific ancestry. Thanks to the combined effects of social, cultural, economic and political transformations, this diversity is most obviously seen in the naming of Pacific national sports teams, music groups, artists and other public figures. In this lecture I reflect upon how this diversity came about and how hyphenated identities, cosmopolitan sensitivities and multi-cultural practices will continue to be transformative of Pacific communities and homes in Aotearoa, and the many other places Pacific peoples call home. This is particularly evident in the last three decades as different policies have shaped the nature of population mobility from both the East and West Pacific. Intertwined with stories of diverse Pacific ancestry, I will examine some of the key processes that have produced this diversity (intermarriage, social mobility, globalization and discrimination) and ask what it means for the next generation of people with Pacific ancestry in Aotearoa-New Zealand. The Winter Lecture series: This lecture is the fourth in a series of six lectures on consecutive Wednesdays - Nation Transformed: the place of migration in 21st century Aotearoa-New Zealand More information.

Maclaurin Winter Lectures This is the third in the Maclaurin Winter Lectures, a series exploring space between science and faith, given by leading scientists, theologians and an historian of science. Refreshments from 5:30pm. Speaker: Dr Graeme John Finlay is a senior lecturer in scientific pathology at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, and is the author of Human Evolution (CUP, 2013). More information.

Howard League Canterbury, Anglican Advocacy and UC Law invite you to come and hear representatives from major political parties share their views on the future of criminal justice in Aotearoa: Confirmed speakers for the panel are: Matt Doocey (National) Duncan Webb (Labour) Peter Richardson (Greens) Susan Cullen (Māori Party) Denis O’Rourke (NZ First) Nicky Snoyink (TOP) The format of the event will be a panel discussion facilitated by Crime and Justice expert and UC Lecturer Dr Jarrod Gilbert, followed by audience Q+A. This is a free event and light refreshments will be provided. Please register by Friday 18 August. More information and register.

Panellists: Prof. Jonathan Boston (Victoria University of Wellington), Prof. Hugh Campbell (Dept. of Sociology, Gender and Social Work), Prof. Janine Hayward (Dept. of Politics) A discussion on public issues in relation to the upcoming election. What are the issues that need more attention? More information.

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Marie Russell and Hera Cook are researching firearms policy in Aotearoa/ New Zealand from a public health point of view. The research draws on a range of sources, including media reports, coroners’ reports, and interviews with stakeholders (in progress). Although deaths and injuries from firearms do not constitute a major public health problem (compared to, say, tobacco or road crashes) gun control issues concern a wide range of citizens. Interviewees include representatives of shooters’ and farmers’ organisations, government agencies, and non-government organisations including anti-violence, animal and environmental groups. More information.

Jonathan Boston, Professor of Public Policy at Victoria University of Wellington is giving a talk to the ENVI312 class on Ethics and Climate Change. All are welcome to attend this guest lecture. More information.

Anthony Powell has just spent his tenth winter over in Antarctica. He worked for many years as a telecommunications engineer before becoming a full-time filmmaker and photographer. He had to design and build a lot of his own camera equipment to withstand the harsh conditions of the deep Antarctic winters. He made the international award winning film "Antarctica: A Year on Ice" and has contributed footage to numerous films, TV shows, and exhibitions. These include National Geographic, Discovery, US Natural History Museum, and the Emmy Award winning BBC series Frozen Planet. He is the New Zealand Antarctic Society's 2017 Speaker of the Year. Anthony will talk about his experiences living in Antarctica, how the bases have evolved over time, and his own personal journey to becoming a full time filmmaker. More information.

A conversation on climate change to explore the challenges facing communities and the churches. The conversation will include a presentation by Prof Jonathan Boston (Victoria University of Wellington), which will address the need to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. More information.

Theme: The science & art of psychology in Aotearoa NZ More info

Speaker: Emeritus Professor Manying Ip, School of Asian Studies, University of Auckland This lecture argues that the changing place of the Chinese in this country’s cultural mosaic is one of the most salient features marking New Zealand’s transformation over the last three decades and into the 21st century. As a visible minority, the Chinese have faced formidable hurdles to ‘fit in’, to find suitable employment, and to meaningfully engage with mainstream New Zealanders. Indeed, the rather bitter joke circulating among the Chinese is that any ills of New Zealand society could be blamed on them: from house prices, milk powder, jobs, health and education or their own mobility, the accusing finger is often directed at the Chinese. After thirty years, some substantial transformation is visible and there are various ‘Chinese success stories’, many of these partly facilitated by the spectacular rise of China as an economic power. While the Chinese in New Zealand are widely seen as a useful link to the country’s second largest trading partner, and an increasingly formidable political power in the Pacific, genuine integration is yet to be achieved. Ultimately, the story of Chinese New Zealanders is that of a diasporic population, with various links to a distant sending country. With their considerable personal strengths, how can they contribute further to a better future for themselves and for their country of adoption? The Winter Lecture series: This lecture is the fifth in a series of six lectures on consecutive Wednesdays - Nation Transformed: the place of migration in 21st century Aotearoa-New Zealand More information.