Environmental projects, Indigenous cultures and values, international partnerships, and student engagement were at the centre of the delegation鈥檚 visit to Aotearoa New Zealand with听particular interest in climate change and partnerships between Aotearoa New Zealand and NASA on climate research.
UC Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey spoke about the University鈥檚 resilience and ability to respond and innovate in the face of challenges, and our connection to our community through our relationship with mana whenua Ng膩i T奴膩huriri and 艑tautahi Christchurch. Professor De la Rey went on to say, 鈥渢he investment of new digital innovation is well poised to take partnerships forward and look forward to the opportunities of how we can work together.鈥
UC鈥檚 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Professor Ian Wright听spoke of the capacity of our students with UC postgraduate student听Leah Albrow being awarded the听NASA JPL with NZ Space Scholarship, and Jennifer Berry being the first New Zealand university and non-US undergraduate听recipient of the USRA Distinguished Undergraduate Award. He highlighted UC鈥檚 engagement with NASA and听Rocket Lab听and the relevance of UC students in the field of space.
Building on the university鈥檚 150 years of engagement with local, regional and global communities, UC postgraduate students and academics spoke of the collaborations and partnerships they have with NASA and the way the work done in space helps to support UC research. Senior Lecturer Michele Bannister and her team spoke about interstellar objects and work on the听DART mission. Associate Professor听Michelle LaRue听highlighted the importance of space in research in Antarctica and the importance of satellite imagery to help understand predation and environmental impacts and predict what this means for the future.听The first global survey of听Earth鈥檚 surface water and how it flows听is underway, Director of Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management James Brasington听said. Senior Lecturer听Sarah Kessans听closed by speaking about her microgravity research and protein crystallisation on the听Axiom Space听station.
Minister Verrall and the NASA delegation had an opportunity to view a听demonstration of adaptive optics used in NASA CAPSTONE mission tracking听by听Associate Professor Steve Weddell and the team. Before meeting the fully听UC听student-led aerospace club听Spaceport America Cup team.
A robust discussion on how UC research can contribute to NASA鈥檚 objectives continued throughout the visit.
