Life at the School of Environment

Research seminars involving academic visitors, staff and PhD students are held regularly in the School of Environment. Students of all levels are welcome to attend these seminars where staff, postgraduate students and visitors present their research findings or discuss current issues. Postgraduate students are strongly encouraged to attend these seminars which are held most weeks on Thursdays 1pm-2pm usually in HSB 429.

Geology also runs a lunchtime talk and a research seminar programme with at least one speaker each week. Many of the speakers are visitors from overseas or other New Zealand organisations. Graduate students and staff also present their current research interests in the research seminars. All seminars and lectures are held in the Geology Lecture Theatre in room 1060, and the speakers and their topics are advertised on the seminars page. These talks are educational as well as giving you contact with other members of the academic, professional and wider community.

Upcoming seminars can be found by visiting Events.

The School of Environment has two well established student clubs, the Geography Associate (GA) and the University Students’ Auckland Geological Society. All School of Environment students are welcome to join these clubs.

The GA is one of the oldest and largest clubs on campus. It provides all School of Environment students, staff and friends with opportunities to meet and interact away from the formality of lectures. Low membership fees make the GA one of the best value clubs on campus. To join the GA see the student representatives during the first weeks of Semester One or look out for details on the electronic boards in the School of Environment.

The University Students’ Auckland Geological Society is an on campus club run by the geology postgraduate students. For a small membership fee you can attend barbeques, video and pub nights and the occasional fieldtrip, perhaps the most famous of which was the trip to White Island.

At the beginning of each academic year, all staff and postgraduate students are invited to attend an orientation day. This is an information session and social occasion, offering postgraduate students and staff the opportunity to get to know each other.

To assist in maintaining a positive relationship, we support a staff-student undergraduate liaison group, which meets at regular intervals. All of our courses are covered by a student representative and we also undertake student evaluations of each course.

The School of Environment attempts to ensure good avenues for communication between graduate students and the staff. This is provided for through the Postgraduate Advisers, through the Postgraduate Staff/Student Consultative Committee (PGSSCC), and through students’ supervisors.

The Postgraduate Student Committee comprises members of staff and student representatives. The PGSSCC meets regularly throughout the year, to discuss matters of concern regarding the graduate programme. An Environment Postgraduate Committee also meets to discuss policy relating to the graduate programme. Other less formal avenues for communication are also available.

The School of Environment provides students with a number of research, study and meeting facilities at the City Campus. View these facilities by visiting Facilities and resources.

The School of Environment publishes a newsletter. This ‘magazine’ style newsletter contains information on staff research and interesting events and issues in the School of Environment. It is published on the School of Environment’s website and also distributed in a PDF format to staff and graduate students.

View the latest edition of the newsletter

The School of Environment is committed to encouraging the participation and success of all students who have the desire and potential to achieve academically, and welcomes students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Several initiatives aim to support students from groups under-represented at University.

• Our Punanga Huihuinga Wānanga
  Located in Room HSB553f, this is a retreat and study space for Māori students
• Our Kaiawhina
  Located in Room HSB553f, Kaiawhina welcomes and mentors Māori students.
• Pacific Student Adviser
  Located in Room HSB550 the student adviser offers assistance to Pacific Island students.
• Equal Educational Opportunity Adviser
  Open for contact and advise for students with disabilities.
• Adviser for Asian Students
  Asian students wanting advice and support are invited to contact our Adviser for Asian Students.
• Faculty's Women in Science and Engineering Adviser
  The Women in Science and Engineering Adviser is available to women students interested in science or engineering and seeking advice.

Students may also like to contact The University of Auckland's Equal Educational Opportunity Team, who assist and advise students regarding entry to The University of Auckland as well as providing a variety of on campus support. For more information check out their website by visiting Equity at the University.