Research themes

We aim to excel in research, teaching and learning that enhances understanding and applications relating to society, place, Earth systems and environment, especially in New Zealand and the Asia Pacific.

The research and teaching interests of the school fall into six broad themes. These are listed below.

This theme seeks to understand earth system processes that drive change in and on the Earth to advance our fundamental knowledge of the earth’s surface and crust, the localisation of mineral deposits, energy resources, geo-fluids and geohazards.

• Tree Ring Laboratory
• Karst

For more information on the Earth Systems and Resources theme please contact:

Dr Jeff Mauk
Email: j.mauk@auckland.ac.nz

Dr Julie Rowland
Email: j.rowland@auckland.ac.nz

Earth Systems Seminars for 2012

Seminars relating to this research theme are held every Wednesday during semester at 12noon in Room 301-1060 - bring your lunch.

• Feb-29  Phil Shane - Volcanic v. plutonic: what's going on under Tarawera
• Mar-07  Lucy McGee- Dissection of a monogenetic volcano
• Mar-14  Kathy Campbell - Hot springs in Patagonia and Taupo
• Mar-21  Mary Anne Thompson- Modeling volcanic hazard & risk at Okataina
• Mar-28  Julie Rowland- Magmatic rifts from Afar to nearby
• Apr-04  Drew Downs- Evolution of the Taupo-Reporoa basin
• Apr-25  ANZAC Day
• May-02 Chrissie Fildes- Flow Heterogeneity within the Andrew Megabed, North Sea
• May-09 Marc-André Brideau- Deep-seated slope deformation features in NZ
• May-16 Ingo Pecher- Estimates of heatflow on the Hikurangi Margin
• May-23 Lorna Strachan- Turbidity current flow processes, Alpine Fault & Fiordland
• May-30 Ian Smith- Monogenetic volcanoes in northern NZ

Research emphases includes resource management and conservation, restoration and ecosystem services, coastal, catchment and water resources management and the role of place formation, environmental communication, indigenous rights and citizen participation in shaping the legitimacy of decision-making and environmental management.

For more information on contested environments theme please contact:

Professor Gary Brierley
Email: g.brierley@auckland.ac.nz

Dr Brad Coombes
Email: b.coombes@auckland.ac.nz

Research in this theme includes globalising economic relations, transnational mobilities, emerging indigenous knowledge networks, global scale hazards, and interpretations and experiences of climate change.

For more information on globalising processes theme please contact:

Professor Richard Le Heron
Email: r.leheron@auckland.ac.nz

Dr Nick Lewis
Email: n.lewis@auckland.ac.nz

Knowledge and tools that are needed to make informed choices about the future, especially planning for and dealing with the consequences of environmental change. This includes using the record of past environmental change and hazardous natural events to help inform the future.

• Tree Ring Laboratory

For more information on the living with environmental change theme please contact:

Associate Professor Paul Augustinus
Email: p.augustinus@auckland.ac.nz

Dr Jan Lindsay
Email: j.lindsay@auckland.ac.nz

Research in this theme explores the challenges to the traditional patterns of ‘life’ in small island Pacific nations, including sovereignty and territoriality, transformations in governance, the challenges of development and sustainable livelihoods, and the pressures of migration and urban expansion.

For more information on the Pacific futures theme please contact:

Associate Professor Paul Kench
Email: p.kench@auckland.ac.nz

Dr Ward Friesen
Email: w.friesen@auckland.ac.nz

Research perspectives employed in this theme include social geographies of the city, urban political economy, the interplay of environmental and social practices and spatially informed analysis of aspects of sustainability.

For more information on the Pacific futures theme please contact:

Professor Robin Kearns
Email: r.kearns@auckland.ac.nz

The School of Environment is well resourced in terms of teaching and support staff with over 40 teaching and research staff, including a range of biophysical, ecological, and social science staff, as well as 20 technical and general staff, including computer consultants, field and laboratory technicians, cartographers and administrative and secretarial staff to assist with postgraduate studies and research.

The School of Environment occupies its own wing of the Human Sciences Building 201, 10 Symonds Street in the central city as well as Level 1 of Building 301 in the Science Centre on the City Campus. These spaces contain well equipped research and teaching laboratories, computing resources, workspaces and a range of facilities for students.

Find out more about the teaching and research facilities offered in the School in our Facilities and resources section.