Kia ora - this is a quick update with a few items of interest coming up.

The oral submissions on the HCC Representation Review were held yesterday, and given that ECB is playing a significant role in this network the outcome could have an impact on future activities. There is overwhelming local support for Community Boards and ECB in particular (Community Board representation dominated the whole day), but it would appear that the primary focus for the council is saving money, despite this not being part of the review panel's terms of reference. It also would appear that the rhetoric around equity or equality is also tenuous with talk of a targeted rate linked to having a community board - i.e. democratic representation would be for sale.

I can recommend the Royal Society Falling Walls event, last year was fascinating, and the VUW Matira Showcase will undoubtedly also be of interest.

Mean while, there may be something useful below - as always, thanks also to the Glean Report!

Ngā mihi nui.

The Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington Branch, in association with the Royal Society Te Apārangi, presents a free public lecture.

Bird flu: will it arrive in Aotearoa and what do we need to do to minimize its impact?

Distinguished Professor Nigel French, Tuesday 3 September 2024, 6.00 - 7.00 pm at the Royal Society Te Apārangi premises, 11 Turnbull St, Thorndon, Wellington

Abstract

The world is currently experiencing the alarming spread of a strain of bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1) that has resulted in the deaths of millions of wild birds and wild mammals across all continents, except Oceania. The strain has also resulted in the deaths of millions of poultry and a sub-lineage has emerged and spread in cattle in the United States. Humans have also been affected, with severe infections, including several fatalities.

In addition to the ‘panzootic’ strain, other highly pathogenic bird flu strains continue to emerge from low pathogenic strains through evolutionary ‘conversion’ events, most recently in Australia. New Zealand has never had a case of highly pathogenic bird flu, but this could change and we need to be prepared. This talk will summarise the current global bird flu situation and the potential pandemic threat, and outline what needs to be done to protect global health and the health of New Zealanders, our rare and endangered wildlife, and our farming industries.

We hope to see you there. If you wish to attend this lecture and other interesting lectures and discussions about important issues, please join the Wellington Branch.

You can join though our website and you will be very welcome.

David Lillis

Royal Society Te Apārangi Wellington Branch

https://www.royalsocietyofnewzealandwellingtonbranch.org/

Biography of Nigel French

Nigel is Distinguished Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Public Health at Tāwharau Ora | School of Veterinary Science, Massey University. He was elected as Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2014 and made Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2023 for services to epidemiology. Nigel is also an Honorary Professor in the Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science at the University of Otago and was a member of the Ministry of Health COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group.

Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand 2024

Attend Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand 2024 on 11 September in person or watch the livestream. Falling Walls Lab is an interdisciplinary pitch competition to showcase the next generation of students and early career researchers.

Royal Society Te Apārangi with support from the German Embassy in Wellington, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and EURAXESS Australia & New Zealand would like to invite you to Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand 2024.

Participants will have 3 minutes to showcase their innovative research, scientific idea, or evidence-based initiative, and how it could make a difference for society.

The event is inspired by the world-changing event of the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989, with the question at every Falling Walls gathering: Which walls will fall next?

19 participants from Aotearoa and the Pacific Island Nations have been selected to pitch their innovative breakthrough idea to the Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand Jury for the chance to represent the region and compete at the Falling Walls Lab Global Finale in Berlin.

Attend this FREE event to hear the 19 participants pitch their breakthrough ideas to the Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand Jury and be inspired by these students and early-career professionals!

Morning Session - Hōtaka Programme

• 11.30am Mihi welcome and introductory remarks
• 11.45am Pitch presentations (participants 1-10)
• 12.45pm Kai a te Rānui Lunch

Afternoon Session - Hōtaka Programme

• 1.45pm Pitch presentations (participants 11-19)
• 2.45pm  Networking break / Kaiwhakawā Jury evaluation session
• 3.45pm Award ceremony / Group photo and closing remarks
• 4.15–6.00pm Networking and connecting reception

View more on the participant's topics.

Register now! Bookings are essential for in-person attendance for catering purposes. 

The event will also be livestreamed. Register for livestream to receive the livestream link.

Matira—research showcase

Join us for a showcase of the work of our researchers, followed by a panel discussion.

On Wednesday 4 September, Matira will showcase the work of our researchers across diverse fields, including climate resilience and adaptation, future energy sources, sustainability, public health and wellbeing, politics and society, and the application of Indigenous knowledge.

The showcase will be followed by a panel discussion, From Ideas to Impact, that will explore what sustained and engaged research looks like, using real-world examples. Our Vice-Chancellor Professor Nic Smith will moderate the panel, which will include researchers and their external research partners.

As a university that is proud of its research culture, we place great emphasis on ensuring our research has real-world impact. Our researchers are investigating solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems and increasing understanding of the human condition. This showcase is an opportunity to interact with our diverse researchers.

Overview of Matira—Research showcase

Climate change, sustainability, and conservation

The showcase will highlight our work on understanding and responding to climate change, biodiversity loss, natural hazards, sea-level rise accelerating the electrification revolution and kauri dieback.

Health

Our work improving the health and wellbeing of all our communities will be highlighted in the showcase, including research related to improving outcomes for Māori women, developing life-saving vaccines, understanding rare diseases, and exploring the role of digital tools to support mental health.

Society and politics

Our researchers work across diverse topics that affect our everyday lives. The showcase will highlight work being undertaken to improve the criminal justice system, support families of autistic children, and transform education.

Science and technology

The showcase highlights our expertise and research across the sciences, engineering, and technology that has the potential to transform our futures. Topics include space exploration, how physics is awesome, and the application of technology to solve problems in health, conservation, and other areas.

Panel discussion

From ideas to impact - How can research be truly ‘engaged’ to create wider societal, environmental, and economic benefits?

Moderated by Professor Nic Smith, Vice-Chancellor, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Related news items from Radio NZ

Carbon dioxide levels reach another new record at NIWA’s monitoring site on Wellington’s coast

There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than ever previously recorded, new data from a New Zealand monitoring station shows.

Finalised 2023 data from NIWA's Baring Head clean air monitoring site on Wellington's coast showed an annual average of 416 parts per million (ppm) of CO2 in the atmosphere, up from an average 414ppm the previous year.

Baring Head is part of a global network of stations contributing to our overall understanding of how much CO2, methane and nitrous oxide is in the global atmosphere.

Last month, the world recorded its hottest day - just one of many climate records tumbling on a regular basis now.

Former climate change commissioner and long-time climate change scientist James Renwick echoed Brailsford's comments.

"It's frustrating but it's also extremely worrying from a human point of view," he said.

"There's the Paris Agreement and there's all the talk at high levels about taking action, but it's obvious that we're not taking action."

New Zealand is currently projected to miss its emissions targets from 2030, a new draft emissions reduction plan released by the government shows.

New Zealand isn't adapting to climate change fast enough - commission

• The Climate Change Commission has delivered its first national adaptation plan progress assessment
• The report looks at the effectiveness and implementation of the country's first national adaptation plan
• The report's key finding is that adaptation is not happening on the scale or at the pace that is needed
• The report has nine recommendations

Curated events - see Glean Report for full list of events.

Tue 27 August 18:30 - 19:30  Active land talk: weaving mātauranga Māori with resilience planning for a stronger Aotearoa New Zealand. A talk by Christine Kenney, Jon Procter and Suzanne Phibbs *IN PERSON*  at Te Marae, Rongomaraeroa, Level 4, Te Papa,  More infomation 

Wed 28 August 10:30 - 12:00 Building well for a changing environment: the updated green star rating tool. A seminar by Brad Crowley *IN PERSON or ONLINE* | at Location TBC, Wellington | More information 

Wed 28 August 12:30 - 13:15 Author talk: Ultrawild: an audacious plan to rewild every city on Earth. A talk by Stephen Mushin *IN PERSON* | More information

Wed 4 September 16:30 - 19:00 Matira: a research showcase *IN PERSON* | at Mezzanine Floor, Rutherford House, VUW | More information

Mon 9 September - Tue 10 September 8:30 - 17:00 Climate change and business: leading climate action. A conference *ONLINE*  More information 

Wed 11 September 11:30 - 18:00 Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand 2024. A showcase *IN PERSON or ONLINE* | at Royal Society of New Zealand | More information

For a consolidated diary of all previously announced events go to the Glean Report website.

Eastern Bays Climate Response Network on Facebook. Feel free to comment or post on topics related to the goals of this group on the Facebook page.

EBCRN is focussed on the need to act now to both mitigate the causes of accelerating climate change as well as prepare for the impact on our community. You can find out more about Eastbourne and the Network here. If you have climate related events, resources, requests, suggestions or any other information you would like to share please send it to us.

 Note: we create this newsletter "on the fly" as information and events come to our attention. Sometimes short notice of event dates mean the event passes before we send this out, so each email may be triggered but an upcoming event rather than a reasonable interval since the last release. Please feel free to give feedback on content and frequency of news, and send through items you might feel are of interest to the group.

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