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Science news
Science
16 Feb, 2021
Such undead tree stumps have been observed for almost 200 years, but the evolutionary and physiological processes leading to their existence remain a myste
Climate Science 2020 – 10 New Insights
Science
02 Feb, 2021
Professor Sebastian Leuzinger outlines some of 2020's significant findings within the field of climate science.
Beyond labs and lecture theatres
Science
29 Jan, 2021
Research opportunities and field trips to estuaries, zoos, marine parks and intertidal shores are key components of AUT’s marine science programmes.
Science
15 Dec, 2020
Marine ecology staff have raised $4000 toward a new primary school in the Solomon Islands.
AUT success with Marsden funding
12 Nov, 2020
Two AUT academics have won 2020 Marsden funding for research projects.
David Towns awarded professor emeritus
Science
04 Nov, 2020
One of NZ’s most influential conservation scientists, Professor David Towns, has been awarded the title of professor emeritus.
5 questions: Prof. Sebastian Leuzinger
Science
30 Oct, 2020
We asked Professor Sebastian Leuzinger five questions about his research ahead of his Inaugural Professorial Address.
Indigenous names valuable to science
Science
27 Oct, 2020
Professor Len Gillman says indigenous names for plants and animals should be restored within the scientific naming system.
Sheep and beef farms near carbon neutral
Science
09 Oct, 2020
AUT research has found New Zealand’s sheep and beef farms are already close to being carbon neutral.
$2.7m for offshore aquaculture
Science
29 Sep, 2020
AUT ecologist Dr Kay Vopel is leading a project to develop new protocols for offshore fish farming.
Five questions with Professor Jun Lu
Science
29 Sep, 2020
We asked Professor Jun Lu five questions about his research ahead of his Inaugural Professorial Address.
Swimming with whales know the risks
Science
23 Sep, 2020
Swimming with whales: you must know the risks and when it’s best to keep your distance
AUT launches new advertising campaign
04 Sep, 2020
AUT graduates are telling the story in their own words of how their AUT experience inspired them and shaped their lives and futures.
Thousands set to ‘explore’ Antarctica through VR
30 Jul, 2020
Step inside Sir Edmund Hillary’s Hut in Antarctica with a new virtual reality experience developed by AUT scientists and digital designers
Q&A with Assoc Professor Bollard: Collecting data in Antarctica
30 Jul, 2020
Q&A with Associate Professor Bollard about collecting data in Antarctica.
AUT and Ocean Beach: Bluff aquaculture
Science
27 Jul, 2020
The owners of the former Ocean Beach freezing works have partnered with AUT to turn its Southland site into a centre of excellence for aquaculture.
Scientists dissect squid named by alum
Science
24 Jul, 2020
For his PhD, AUT alumnus Dr Jesse Kelly described and named a rare genus of deep-sea squid; a specimen of which was recently dissected by NZ scientists.
Switching farm animals for crops?
Science
21 Jul, 2020
Climate Explained: What if we took all farm animals off the land and planted crops and trees instead? Professor Sebastian Leuzinger investigates.
Study - Non-crop vegetation helps farms
Science
17 Jun, 2020
Non-productive vegetation on farms can increase ecosystem services such as decomposition and nitrogen mineralisation, according to a recent study.
AUT research guides Blue Economy project
Science
12 Jun, 2020
AUT has commenced work on five studies which will guide international research on using the ocean for aquaculture and energy production.
Professor helps on Covid testing
Science
22 May, 2020
AUT’s Professor Fabrice Merien has been seconded to assist Roche Diagnostics New Zealand increase capacity for COVID-19 testing in New Zealand.
AUT offers medicinal cannabis course
Science
18 May, 2020
AUT is the first university in New Zealand to offer a comprehensive postgraduate paper on medicinal cannabis from semester 2 (starting July 20).
AUT team joins global Antarctic project
Science
06 May, 2020
The Australian Government has awarded AUD $36 million to a research program, Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF).
Science
10 Mar, 2020
AUT Science project Living Labs, is researching the best ways to reintroduce native forest to marginal land across New Zealand.
PhD student makes the cut with big squid
Science
26 Feb, 2020
Being hauled from his sleep to dissect a just-caught giant squid was a dream come true for AUT PhD student Ryan Howard.
AUT a 5-star university across all categories
13 Nov, 2019
AUT has received the maximum five stars for the first time in every category according to the global education analysts QS in their recent results.
New Professors and Associate Professors
07 Nov, 2019
AUT has announced the promotion of 12 leading academics to the position of Professor. A further 15 academics have been appointed as Associate Professors.
Royal Society Award for AUT Professor
Science
24 Sep, 2019
AUT’s Professor Dave Towns has been awarded the 2019 Charles Fleming Award for Environmental Achievement by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
23 Sep, 2019
AUT Living Laboratories, a project to restore native forest, will be presented at the UN Climate Action Assembly in New York.
AUT moves up 50 places in world rankings
12 Sep, 2019
AUT is now in the top 1% of world universities and in the top 50 for research citations.
19 first in family scholarships awarded
05 Sep, 2019
19 AUT students were awarded Woolf Fisher First-in-Family AUT Scholarships at a celebration event at the AUT South Campus on Thursday 29 August.
Climate change article makes cover of Nature
Science
23 Aug, 2019
AUT applied ecologist Dr Nicola Day has published paper on climate change in Nature which features on the cover. 
A scholarship to help existing students
Science
20 Aug, 2019
Applications for The Freemasons Scholarship are now open. For Nadine Tupp, the scholarship allowed them to continue pursuing their passion for learning.
Scholarships for today and tomorrow
Science
13 Aug, 2019
AUT student Hamideh Gholizadeh, has received not one, but two scholarships. Read her inspiring story.
Quest for the most boring chemical element not so boring
Science
09 Aug, 2019
Quest for the most boring chemical element not so boring
AUT to work with Bream Head Conservation Trust’
Science
29 Jul, 2019
AUT’s School of Science will work with the Bream Head Conservation Trust to rid Bream Head Reserve of pests.
Younger trees keep nearby ‘grandpa’ kauri alive
Science
26 Jul, 2019
AUT scientists conduct study of how a kauri stump is keeping itself alive by holding onto the roots of neighbouring trees.
Tongan whales affected by tourism
Science
18 Jul, 2019
AUT research shows that the intensive swim-with-whale tourism in Tonga is disturbing natural behaviour patterns.
The future of NZ’s marine environment
Science
15 Jul, 2019
Two AUT researchers, Dr Rebecca Jarvis and Dr Tim Young, surveyed New Zealand’s marine scientists to discover the key areas where more research is needed.
Science
11 Jul, 2019
The AUT-Roche Diagnostics Laboratory is creating exceptional learning experiences and fostering industry connections.
Study: safe altitude for flying drones over marine animals
Science
10 Jul, 2019
Researchers from the Auckland University of Technology have found the safest distance to fly drones over marine mammals.
Science
17 Jun, 2019
An AUT PhD student is working to convert avocado waste into compostable packaging in response to the large amount of waste sent to landfill every year.
AUT joins Australian research programme to utilise ocean resources
Science
16 May, 2019
AUT has joined 45 national and international partners on a 10-year research programme on ways to utilise the ocean for aquaculture and energy production.
Driven to discover new treatments
Science
14 May, 2019
Breast cancer research is close to her heart, says Khine Thida was awarded a $96,000 scholarship by the Cancer Research Trust New Zealand to pursue a PhD.
62% increase in AUT researchers
30 Apr, 2019
Growing expertise to help New Zealand and the world
15 Mar, 2019
The tragic event in Christchurch today devastates us. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their friends and families.
AUT research to find life on Mars
Science
14 Mar, 2019
AUT microbiologists are working with NASA to find signs of life on Mars.
AUT scientists join MacDiarmid Institute
Science
11 Mar, 2019
Dr Marcus Jones and Dr Jack Chen have been made Associate Investigators at the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.
Make waves at a beach clean-up
28 Feb, 2019
Student led sustainability group the Future Proofers want AUT staff and students to help clean up our beaches at Taumanu Reserve on Saturday 9 March.
New podcast celebrates Periodic Table
Science
21 Feb, 2019
Professor Allan Blackman from the School of Science joins Radio New Zealand’s Alison Balance for Elemental – a podcast exploring the elements.
Celebrating AUT through the years
21 Jan, 2019
Over 50 of our oldest alumni came together for the 2018 Seddon Memorial Technical College reunion hosted by the alumni office.
Gaining skills for the workplace
14 Dec, 2018
Auckland Council are proud to sponsor the overall achievement prize for the AUT Edge Award, an extra-curricular employability award at AUT.
08 Nov, 2018
Five projects led by AUT researchers have been granted funding totalling $3.58 million in new research for the university, in this Marsden Fund round.
Minister launches sustainable blueprint
24 Oct, 2018
The Minister for Climate Change, the Hon James Shaw officially launched AUT’s Sustainability Roadmap on Friday 19 October.
THE rankings place AUT in NZ top three
27 Sep, 2018
AUT has significantly improved in global university rankings published today by the Times Higher Education.
AUT 2019 domestic and international fees
13 Sep, 2018
Tuition fees for new domestic students, and for domestic and international students currently enrolled in a programme will increase in 2019.
PhD grad takes eco message to the world
Science
08 Aug, 2018
Environmental science and marine biology PhD graduate Stephanie Borrelle is taking on one of the world’s big problems – plastic pollution in the oceans.
nztrees app puts natives on the map
Science
07 Jun, 2018
Do you know your mānuka from your kānuka, your pōhutukawa from your rātā or ever wonder which trees are native?
UK science journal publishes in te reo
Science
30 May, 2018
NZ academics have taken a major step forward in encouraging the scientific community to recognise the importance of non-Western indigenous languages.
5 questions with Professor Michael Petterson
Science
03 May, 2018
We asked Professor Michael Petterson 5 questions about his research at the time of his Inaugural Professorial Address.
28 Feb, 2018
Pacific youth leader in ocean conservation
Science
07 Jul, 2017
AUT Marine Biology student, Antony Vavia, was selected by the Aotearoa Youth Leadership Institute to attend the first United Nations Ocean Conference in New York last month.
AUT alumni receives seafood industry honour
Science
11 Nov, 2016
Seafood New Zealand has named AUT aquaculture alumni, Te Tane Trinick, as one of the seafood industry’s rising stars.
Science
13 Oct, 2016
New Zealanders increasingly live, work and play in human-built environments. Over 80% of our population lives in urban areas. For most of us, our food comes via supermarkets instead of growing our own, and we spend increasing amounts of time indoors – at home and at work. Conversely, we are seeing growing rates of mental health issues in our people. More and more of us seem to be struggling to live healthy and fulfilling lives, content with who we are and how we are living.
AUT students explore Life Below Water for Cook Islands Language Week
Science
02 Aug, 2016
This year, AUT is honouring our Pacific Language Weeks through a series of short videos.
Each provides a platform for Pacific students to share their thoughts on one of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, which aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.
Drone records rare whale footage in the Hauraki Gulf
Science
10 Jun, 2016
Unique footage of a Bryde’s Whale has been released by Auckland University of Technology. The footage shows an adult whale feeding, briefly joined by a young calf, and was filmed from a drone off the coast of Auckland. It is thought to be the first time the feeding behaviour of a Bryde’s Whale has been recorded by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Pilot study hones in on major fisheries opportunity
Science
10 May, 2016
An AUT research team is embarking on a unique pilot study, using remote sensing techniques to assess the impacts of surf clam dredging.
New Zealand surf clams consist of seven commercially harvested shellfish species, and together they represent a huge growth opportunity for the country’s fishery sector. With great international demand for surf clams and projected potential to sustainably harvest over 30,000 tonnes annually, New Zealand stands to benefit from widespread job creation and export earnings valued at around $300 million per annum.
National Spectral Library opens
Science
17 Jul, 2015
AUT University and Auckland Museum have launched a National Spectral Library, to support remote identification of plants and large-scale mapping of plant species.
Professor Andrea Alfaro: Aquanaut, Mussel Lady and inspiring teacher
19 May, 2015
“My life has been one adventure after another and most of them have to do with the sea,” Professor Andrea Alfaro told the audience at her inaugural professorial address on Friday. She went on to regale her experiences of living under the sea, encountering purple sea urchins, winning the nickname ‘the mussel lady’, and carrying out vital aquaculture research.
Public invited to help plan Hauraki Gulf future
Science
01 Mar, 2014
People are being asked what they do on the Hauraki Gulf in an online survey developed by AUT University PhD student Rebecca Jarvis.
Professor Marilyn Waring honoured with Science and Innovation Award
Science
25 Oct, 2013
AUT University’s Professor Marilyn Waring has been named as the winner of the Science and Innovation Award at the inaugural New Zealand Women of Influence Awards.
Scientists to tackle traumatic brain injury
Science
14 Oct, 2013
AUT University researchers have joined an international team of 38 scientific institutes and 60 European hospitals aiming to create better and more targeted treatments for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Big brother keeps an eye on NZ environment
10 Jul, 2012
Threatened species in New Zealand like the Maui Dolphin will receive a helping hand thanks to state-of-the-art reconnaissance technology better known for its military intelligence use.
Export windfall for seaweed harvest
13 Jan, 2012
Undaria pinnatifida is known as a highly invasive and unwanted organism under New Zealand biosecurity laws, yet AUT University researchers are touting it as the aquaculture sector’s next big thing.
Importance of sea and coasts needs to be recognised
30 Dec, 2011
As we move into the summer months, our interaction with the sea and coasts will become an even more central part of our lives so it is worthwhile to reflect on the importance of our seas as part of our nation and culture according to an AUT professor.
Giant Squid at Auckland Museum
Science
20 Dec, 2011
Auckland Museum is the scene of the crime this summer.
Cutting edge scientist receives RJ Scott medal
11 Nov, 2011
Professor Stephen Henry has been awarded the Royal Society of New Zealand’s prestigious RJ Scott medal for engineering science and technology in recognition for his novel biotechnology research.
Giant squid gets radical plastic surgery
Science
17 Mar, 2010
AUT University is set to display the world's first plastinated squid
Evolution faster in the tropics
Science
29 Jun, 2009
Kiwi research overturns international theories on evolution - Mammal species living in the tropics are evolving faster than their counterparts living in cooler environments, according to research carried out by New Zealand researchers.
It had previously been assumed that rates of genetic change in warm-blooded animals were independent of climate.
The new study demonstrates that DNA evolution occurs substantially faster in mammal species living in warmer environments relative to those living in cooler environments.
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