Scientific Snippets

Fascinated by science and the way our world works? Like variety? Then this course is for you. Speakers from quite different backgrounds will give us insights into their specialist subjects.

15 Feb - Sustainable groundwater management in NZ with Professor Bob Bower
New Zealand is at a crossroads, both technically and politically, in developing innovative approaches to water management. In this talk we will look locally and globally for examples of where the proactive management of groundwater has provided a transformative shift in maintaining critical water supply and tackling environmental resilience issues.

22 Feb - Microbes and climate change with Paul Broady
Microbes have roles in the production and absorption of three important greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.How might their activities help reduce climate change or, in contrast, amplify warming? How important are these microbes in the context of New Zealand?

1 Mar - Impacts of a Future Alpine Fault Earthquake with Daniel Blake PhD
Planning for an Alpine Fault earthquake is based on scientific research to establish what will happen to our communities and infrastructure. Project AF8 is a Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM)-led response planning initiative for a future maximum credible Alpine Fault earthquake event in the South Island. Research from Project AF8 is presented here, including an overview of the ‘hazard scenario’ and the potential impacts on the built and social environments.

8 Mar - MedSalv: Tackling single use plastic dependency in our healthcare system with Oliver Hunt
Hospitals and other medical facilities produce millions of tons of plastic and other waste each year from an increasing dependency on single use items. Oliver Hunt, 23, won the $100,000 Dream Believe Succeed Foundation award for his startup company MedSalv which works with hospitals to reduce their costs as well as their environmental impact. Oliver will talk about the scale of the problem and the possible solutions that MedSalv is working on.