Geography News and Events
Geographies of Media Convergence Graduate Scholarships
We are currently seeking applicants for graduate scholarships in Geography or Cultural Studies for a Marsden-funded project entitled: Geographies of Media Convergence: Spaces of Democracy, Connectivity and the Reconfiguration of Cultural Citizenship. There are two scholarships available, one at Masters level (one EFT) and one at PhD (three EFTs); both degrees may be taken in either human geography or cultural studies. We welcome applicants who wish to develop their research interests within the overall project theme. We welcome applications from indigenous scholars and Latin American(ist) scholars and scholars working at the intersection of human geography and media studies. Further information
Dr Julie Cupples (Geography) and Associate Professor Kevin Glynn (Humanities)
have been awarded $800,000 in funding in this year’s Marsden Fund round. (6 Oct 2011)
Govt challenges report on New Zealand's 'bad' air (30 Sept 2011)
Funding secured and student work opportunity. C. Gomez (UC, Geography), C. Moran and M. Mc Auliffe (UC, Communication Disorders) have secured a CEISMIC Research Fund for the appraisal of the impacts of the Canterbury Earthquake on Elderly Communities, which have been uprooted from their usual environment. The research is interested in the access to information and the communication of impacted elderly with their de-structured network. We invite students to express their interest, should they like to join the project. Email: C. Gomez. (posted 28/11/11)
Masters in Geographic Information Science 
(MGIS) and PGDipGIS students undertake a full aerial photography data capture mission as part of GISC413 (4 Nov 2011)
OBE for Professor Ron Johnston (Geographer extraordinaire).
Ron was an academic member of staff at UC Geography from 1967-74, and his daughter is currently UC Dean of Postgraduate Research. (25 Oct 2011)
Dr Julie Cupples (Geography) and Associate Professor Kevin Glynn (Humanities) have been awarded $800,000 in funding in this year’s Marsden Fund round. (6 Oct 2011)
Govt challenges report on New Zealand's 'bad' air (30 Sept 2011)
Earthquake-Recovery PhD Scholarship (30 Sept 2011)
Scholarships are available in 2012 to support PhD research in pre-approved projects that are earthquake-related.
Dune Restoration Trust of NZ/Quinovic Property Management Post Graduate Study Award - Application details (26 Sept 2011)
Geographers feature in UC Community Engagement Awards (23 Sept 2011)
A number of geography students were recipients of Community Engagement Awards presented today by the Prime Minister, John Key. The awards are presented “in recognition of outstanding effort in assisting the Christchurch community following the earthquakes of September 2010, February 2011 and June 2011”. Also present at the ceremony were Gerry Brownlee, Minister for Earthquake Recovery, Bob Parker, Mayor of Christchurch and Roger Sutton, head of CERA.
Honours students Chris Duncan and Sam Gifford won Gold awards for their effort in being key leaders of the student army, while third year student Andrew Chalmers and fourth year double major student Hamish Drake both collected silver awards for their role in leading teams of 300 students going out and clearing silt. Other occasional geographers who won awards included former GEOG107 students Sam Johnson and Thomas Nation. Good job all.
Along with the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, a selection of Pro-Vice Chancellors and other members of senior management, was Geography Head of department, Simon Kingham, respendent in a jacket. More details of the awards
George Jobberns Prize in Geography (20 Sept 2011)
Congratulations to Kirsty Huxford, who has been awarded the George Jobberns Prize in Geography for the most outstanding research submitted by masters candidates in Geography in 2010.
R.W. Morris Prize for Coastal and Ocean Engineering (20 Sept 2011)
Congratulations to Michael Fifield and Melissa Fletcher, who have been awarded R.W. Morris Prizes for Coastal and Ocean Engineering, for academic achievement in coastal research within Geography for 2010.
$1.28m for top talent to try out high-tech jobs (14 Sept 2011)
About 200 of our best scientific, engineering and technology undergraduate students will get a taste of working for innovative high-tech businesses this summer, announced Science and Innovation Minister Wayne Mapp today.
New Zealand Coastal Society 19th Annual Conference (14 Sept 2011)
Life’s a beach: enjoying coastal resources today and into the future 6th to 9th November 2011, Tahuna Beach Holiday Park, Nelson
Geography retains the Geography Geology Rugby Trophy (14 Sept 2011)
Geography took an easy win (29-5) in the annual Geog-Geol rugby match. A big turn up of players (geol looked to have two full teams) and supporters made for a great spectacle.
The 2011 ISI International Statistics Literacy Project Best Cooperative Initiative Award
goes to...Greg Breetzke! (posted 8/9/11)
Geography Related Vacancy
Landcare Research is seeking social scientist to join a multidisciplinary research team. Further information on their website
Applications close 23 September (posted 8/9/11)
Spectrum Programme on National Radio
Effect of the Earthquakes on entertainment in Christchurch (entertaining shakytown) was produced and presented by one of Geog/Cult students Kris Vavasour.
(posted 8/9/11)
Jamie Pearce gains chair in Health Geography
Jamie Pearce (former head of the GeoHealth Lab in UC Geography dept.) has been awarded a personal chair in health geography at the University of Edinburgh. (posted 8/9/11)
UCSA Lecturer of the year
Geography lecturers did very well this year with Julie Cupples runner up in the College of Science and
David Conradson, Greg Breetzke, Chris Gomez, Peyman Zawar-Reza and Simon Kingham all being nominated. (posted 8/9/11)
UoC becomes CRCSI Essential Participant (NZ Geospatial Strategy website)
The University of Canterbury has been formally accepted as an Essential Participant in the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information.
UCAN campaign in support of Christchurch (Mar 2011)
The face of a geographer leads the new UCAN campaign launched to demonstrate UC's commitment to the city of Christchurch. The face belongs to Chris Duncan, who is one of our 400 students. Chris is also one of the leaders of the Student army.