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Partnership PhDs Will Deliver Solutions For Communities
Partnership PhDs Will Deliver Solutions For Communities

Scoop

time4 days ago

  • Science
  • Scoop

Partnership PhDs Will Deliver Solutions For Communities

Press Release – University of Canterbury Businesses and community organisations are backing UC Connect Doctoral scholarships to tackle real-world challenges and deliver sustainable solutions for communities. Twelve UC Connect Doctoral scholarships have been launched to address gaps in knowledge across economic, social and environmental sustainability – from wastewater treatment and improving health policy, to designing better buildings for Pacific communities. Co-funded by Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) and local partners, each scholarship is tailored to meet specific sector needs, ensuring that postgraduate research outcomes translate into meaningful, real-world impact. 'This is a win-win partnership,' UC Tumu Tuarua Rangahau | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation Professor Lucy Johnston says. 'Our PhD candidates gain hands-on experience while conducting research that addresses urgent, practical challenges and makes a difference for communities. At the same time, our partners benefit from robust, evidence-based solutions.' The partnership model is the future of research, Professor Johnston believes. 'By working together, we are supporting the next generation of experts to complete their qualifications and get a jumpstart on their careers, while helping our communities and industries to thrive.' UC Connect Doctoral scholarship recipients will conduct their research on current sustainability challenges in a real-world environment, while developing transferable industry skills and professional networks. Each scholarship includes full tuition, and an annual stipend for three years jointly funded by UC and the partner organisation. UC is committed to undertaking research that has a positive impact locally and globally and to working with local partners. Organisations that are interested in discussing a UC Connect Doctoral scholarship partnership or other research opportunities at UC are welcome to contact the team to discuss research ideas and needs – email dvcresearchinnovation@ Ranked in the top 100 universities worldwide for sustainability, UC has embedded sustainability into qualifications across all disciplines and offers a range of sustainability-focused degrees including the Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability and the Bachelor of Environmental Science. UC Connect Doctoral scholarships: Exploring the benefits of cultural immersion in environmental and experiential education UC school: School of Earth & Environmental Sciences Partner: Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Performance of Waste-sourced Treatment Media for Enhancing Stormwater Treatment Outcomes UC school: Civil and Environmental Engineering Partner: Christchurch City Council Modelling sludge accumulation, degradation and distribution processes in highly loaded wastewater treatment ponds and associated impacts on greenhouse gas emissions and midge control. UC school: Civil and Environmental Engineering Partner: Christchurch City Council Development and Validation of a Novel Cored Mass Timber Panel for Resilient Construction in the Pacific UC school: School of Forestry Partner: Adhesive Technologies NZ Ltd Climate-Proof Energy System Planning and Operation UC school: Civil and Environmental Engineering Partner: Open Energy Transition Assessment of biodiverse vegetation cover options to future-proof stopbanks in Aotearoa New Zealand UC school: Civil and Environmental Engineering Partner: Christchurch City Council High capacity cryocooler UC school: Mechanical Engineering Partner: Fabrum Sustainable isolation of integral membrane proteins using 3D-printed monolith columns. UC school: School of Biological Sciences Partner: Precision Chromatography Limited (PCL) Nature-based solutions for Marae onsite wastewater treatment: process resilience and cultural integration of the Wairewa system. UC school: Civil and Environmental Engineering Partner: Ngāi Tahu Investigating Earthquake-Induced Pressure Transients in Hydropower Penstocks and Pressure Tunnels UC school: Mechanical Engineering Partner: ReGenerateNZ Ltd. (Re-Generate) Designing Embodied Virtual Agents to Enable Equitable Access to Therapeutic Exercises and Enhanced Wellbeing UC school: School of Product Design Partner: JIX Limited (JIX) Towards Smarter Health Policy: A Data-Driven Framework for Health Modelling in Aotearoa New Zealand UC school: School of Mathematics and Statistics

Eyes In The Sky: Using Drones To Safeguard Our Forests
Eyes In The Sky: Using Drones To Safeguard Our Forests

Scoop

time5 days ago

  • Science
  • Scoop

Eyes In The Sky: Using Drones To Safeguard Our Forests

Press Release – University of Canterbury Using drone-mounted light detection and ranging (LiDAR) & multispectral sensors, and high-resolution satellite imagery from trial sites across Marlborough & North Canterbury, he is developing a new model to detect & quantify the spatial extent, … UC researchers are using drones and satellite remote sensing to track the health of eucalyptus trees from above and protect the future of New Zealand's plantation forests. Originally from Nepal, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) PhD candidate Shiva Pariyar is breaking new ground with remote sensing research that could help reduce economic and environmental losses caused by pest damage in non-native eucalyptus species. 'In New Zealand, plantation forestry is dominated by Pinus radiata (pine), which needs chemical treatment to make the timber durable,' Pariyar explains. 'To avoid the environmental risks of chemicals leaching into the soil and water, New Zealand Dryland Forest Innovation (NZDFI) has introduced naturally durable eucalyptus species as a more sustainable alternative.' However, these eucalyptus trees, imported from Australia, are vulnerable to paropsine beetles, also known as leaf-chewing beetles, and other pests. 'Leaves are the most important part of the tree. Damage or defoliation significantly reduces the tree's ability to photosynthesise, affecting their growth and forest productivity.' One of his supervisors, Associate Professor Steve Pawson, says New Zealand cultivates over 15,000 hectares of eucalyptus, with the impact of paropsine beetles varying widely depending on the severity of the attack and the type of eucalypt production system. 'Potential yield loss is estimated at $10 million per year, with control costs currently estimated at $1 to $2.6 million,' he says. Using drone-mounted light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and multispectral sensors, and high-resolution satellite imagery from trial sites across Marlborough and North Canterbury, he is developing a new model to detect and quantify the spatial extent, intensity, frequency and timing of eucalyptus defoliation both at the individual tree-level and across entire landscapes. 'Human eyes can't always pick up subtle changes in canopy greenness or stress levels, but the technology we use can. Ground-based measurements are costly, time-consuming, labour intensive and often impractical in remote or dangerous environments. 'Without timely and accurate information, forest managers are unable to respond to insect outbreaks effectively that may cause long-term ecological and economic damage. My research outcome supports forest managers and policy makers to take both proactive and reactive measures to improve forest health and vitality of eucalyptus plantation.' His research supports the expansion of targeted plantations of 100,000 hectares of naturally durable eucalyptus in New Zealand by 2050. 'If the trial is successful,' says Pariyar, 'this model could be used not just here but globally—wherever eucalyptus is planted as a sustainable alternative to chemically treated pine. 'I wanted to build on my skills in the field of remote sensing and technology. And luckily, I found this opportunity at UC to explore and expand my theoretical knowledge and practical understanding including recent technologies. 'UC has given me all the facilities that I need, including learning how to operate drones. Now I can prepare flight plans, fly drones and analyse data for future use.' Pariyar is currently participating in the Research Student Showcase, an annual event for postgraduate students that offers valuable training workshops, great prizes, and the opportunity to present their research to a broader audience. His project is supported by the UC Doctoral Scholarship, NZDFI, and the School of Forestry, with supervision from Dr Vega Xu, Associate Professor Steve Pawson, Professor Justin Morgenroth, and Dr Ning Ye at UC's School of Forestry.

Eyes In The Sky: Using Drones To Safeguard Our Forests
Eyes In The Sky: Using Drones To Safeguard Our Forests

Scoop

time6 days ago

  • Science
  • Scoop

Eyes In The Sky: Using Drones To Safeguard Our Forests

Press Release – University of Canterbury Using drone-mounted light detection and ranging (LiDAR) & multispectral sensors, and high-resolution satellite imagery from trial sites across Marlborough & North Canterbury, he is developing a new model to detect & quantify the spatial extent, … UC researchers are using drones and satellite remote sensing to track the health of eucalyptus trees from above and protect the future of New Zealand's plantation forests. Originally from Nepal, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) PhD candidate Shiva Pariyar is breaking new ground with remote sensing research that could help reduce economic and environmental losses caused by pest damage in non-native eucalyptus species. 'In New Zealand, plantation forestry is dominated by Pinus radiata (pine), which needs chemical treatment to make the timber durable,' Pariyar explains. 'To avoid the environmental risks of chemicals leaching into the soil and water, New Zealand Dryland Forest Innovation (NZDFI) has introduced naturally durable eucalyptus species as a more sustainable alternative.' However, these eucalyptus trees, imported from Australia, are vulnerable to paropsine beetles, also known as leaf-chewing beetles, and other pests. 'Leaves are the most important part of the tree. Damage or defoliation significantly reduces the tree's ability to photosynthesise, affecting their growth and forest productivity.' One of his supervisors, Associate Professor Steve Pawson, says New Zealand cultivates over 15,000 hectares of eucalyptus, with the impact of paropsine beetles varying widely depending on the severity of the attack and the type of eucalypt production system. 'Potential yield loss is estimated at $10 million per year, with control costs currently estimated at $1 to $2.6 million,' he says. Using drone-mounted light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and multispectral sensors, and high-resolution satellite imagery from trial sites across Marlborough and North Canterbury, he is developing a new model to detect and quantify the spatial extent, intensity, frequency and timing of eucalyptus defoliation both at the individual tree-level and across entire landscapes. 'Human eyes can't always pick up subtle changes in canopy greenness or stress levels, but the technology we use can. Ground-based measurements are costly, time-consuming, labour intensive and often impractical in remote or dangerous environments. 'Without timely and accurate information, forest managers are unable to respond to insect outbreaks effectively that may cause long-term ecological and economic damage. My research outcome supports forest managers and policy makers to take both proactive and reactive measures to improve forest health and vitality of eucalyptus plantation.' His research supports the expansion of targeted plantations of 100,000 hectares of naturally durable eucalyptus in New Zealand by 2050. 'If the trial is successful,' says Pariyar, 'this model could be used not just here but globally—wherever eucalyptus is planted as a sustainable alternative to chemically treated pine. 'I wanted to build on my skills in the field of remote sensing and technology. And luckily, I found this opportunity at UC to explore and expand my theoretical knowledge and practical understanding including recent technologies. 'UC has given me all the facilities that I need, including learning how to operate drones. Now I can prepare flight plans, fly drones and analyse data for future use.' Pariyar is currently participating in the Research Student Showcase, an annual event for postgraduate students that offers valuable training workshops, great prizes, and the opportunity to present their research to a broader audience. His project is supported by the UC Doctoral Scholarship, NZDFI, and the School of Forestry, with supervision from Dr Vega Xu, Associate Professor Steve Pawson, Professor Justin Morgenroth, and Dr Ning Ye at UC's School of Forestry.

Eyes In The Sky: Using Drones To Safeguard Our Forests
Eyes In The Sky: Using Drones To Safeguard Our Forests

Scoop

time6 days ago

  • Science
  • Scoop

Eyes In The Sky: Using Drones To Safeguard Our Forests

UC researchers are using drones and satellite remote sensing to track the health of eucalyptus trees from above and protect the future of New Zealand's plantation forests. Originally from Nepal, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) PhD candidate Shiva Pariyar is breaking new ground with remote sensing research that could help reduce economic and environmental losses caused by pest damage in non-native eucalyptus species. 'In New Zealand, plantation forestry is dominated by Pinus radiata (pine), which needs chemical treatment to make the timber durable,' Pariyar explains. 'To avoid the environmental risks of chemicals leaching into the soil and water, New Zealand Dryland Forest Innovation (NZDFI) has introduced naturally durable eucalyptus species as a more sustainable alternative.' However, these eucalyptus trees, imported from Australia, are vulnerable to paropsine beetles, also known as leaf-chewing beetles, and other pests. 'Leaves are the most important part of the tree. Damage or defoliation significantly reduces the tree's ability to photosynthesise, affecting their growth and forest productivity.' One of his supervisors, Associate Professor Steve Pawson, says New Zealand cultivates over 15,000 hectares of eucalyptus, with the impact of paropsine beetles varying widely depending on the severity of the attack and the type of eucalypt production system. 'Potential yield loss is estimated at $10 million per year, with control costs currently estimated at $1 to $2.6 million,' he says. Using drone-mounted light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and multispectral sensors, and high-resolution satellite imagery from trial sites across Marlborough and North Canterbury, he is developing a new model to detect and quantify the spatial extent, intensity, frequency and timing of eucalyptus defoliation both at the individual tree-level and across entire landscapes. 'Human eyes can't always pick up subtle changes in canopy greenness or stress levels, but the technology we use can. Ground-based measurements are costly, time-consuming, labour intensive and often impractical in remote or dangerous environments. 'Without timely and accurate information, forest managers are unable to respond to insect outbreaks effectively that may cause long-term ecological and economic damage. My research outcome supports forest managers and policy makers to take both proactive and reactive measures to improve forest health and vitality of eucalyptus plantation.' His research supports the expansion of targeted plantations of 100,000 hectares of naturally durable eucalyptus in New Zealand by 2050. 'If the trial is successful,' says Pariyar, 'this model could be used not just here but globally—wherever eucalyptus is planted as a sustainable alternative to chemically treated pine. 'I wanted to build on my skills in the field of remote sensing and technology. And luckily, I found this opportunity at UC to explore and expand my theoretical knowledge and practical understanding including recent technologies. 'UC has given me all the facilities that I need, including learning how to operate drones. Now I can prepare flight plans, fly drones and analyse data for future use.' Pariyar is currently participating in the Research Student Showcase, an annual event for postgraduate students that offers valuable training workshops, great prizes, and the opportunity to present their research to a broader audience. His project is supported by the UC Doctoral Scholarship, NZDFI, and the School of Forestry, with supervision from Dr Vega Xu, Associate Professor Steve Pawson, Professor Justin Morgenroth, and Dr Ning Ye at UC's School of Forestry.

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