Environmental projects, Indigenous cultures and values, international partnerships, and student engagement were at the centre of the delegations visit to Aotearoa New 厙ぴ勛圖with泭particular interest in climate change and partnerships between Aotearoa New 厙ぴ勛圖and NASA on climate research.
UC Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey spoke about the Universitys resilience and ability to respond and innovate in the face of challenges, and our connection to our community through our relationship with mana whenua Ngi T贖huriri and tautahi Christchurch. Professor De la Rey went on to say, the investment of new digital innovation is well poised to take partnerships forward and look forward to the opportunities of how we can work together.
UCs Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Professor Ian Wright泭spoke of the capacity of our students with UC postgraduate student泭Leah Albrow being awarded the泭NASA JPL with NZ Space Scholarship, and Jennifer Berry being the first New 厙ぴ勛圖university and non-US undergraduate泭recipient of the USRA Distinguished Undergraduate Award. He highlighted UCs engagement with NASA and泭Rocket Lab泭and the relevance of UC students in the field of space.
Building on the universitys 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泭DART mission. Associate Professor泭Michelle LaRue泭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.泭The first global survey of泭Earths surface water and how it flows泭is underway, Director of Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management James Brasington泭said. Senior Lecturer泭Sarah Kessans泭closed by speaking about her microgravity research and protein crystallisation on the泭Axiom Space泭station.
Minister Verrall and the NASA delegation had an opportunity to view a泭demonstration of adaptive optics used in NASA CAPSTONE mission tracking泭by泭Associate Professor Steve Weddell and the team. Before meeting the fully泭UC泭student-led aerospace club泭Spaceport America Cup team.
A robust discussion on how UC research can contribute to NASAs objectives continued throughout the visit.
