Dr Diane Fraser, Senior Lecturer – School of Environmental and Animal Sciences, recently attended the New Zealand Biosecurity Institute’s annual conference. The event wasn’t just about gaining expert knowledge, but was also an opportunity to present our students to the industry – future employers – profiling Unitec and our talent, and to network with potential industry partners. Diane’s conference report captured a number of key highlights from the conference, which we’ve outlined below.
From the left: Auckland Council Summer Studentship supervisor Liz Brooks, EAS student Laura de Castro, EAS student Tayla Furlong, Dr Diane Fraser and Auckland Council Summer Studentship supervisor and Unitec grad Chelsee Neverman
The 69th New Zealand Biosecurity NETS (National Education and Training Seminar) event was held at Trinity Wharf, Tauranga, 24-26 July 2019. The theme was He wake eke noa – All hands on deck, which was an apt title in the current conservation / biosecurity environment, focused on bringing a wider range of organisations together if the government’s ‘Predator Free 2050’ initiative is to be achieved.
Students from the School of Environmental and Animal Sciences (EAS), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSci) – Tayla Furlong and Laura de Castro – and supervised by Dr Diane Fraser were excellent ambassadors for Unitec. They both presented a poster on their 2018/19 Auckland Council Summer Studentship work they did at Queen’s Wharf, Auckland. The posters reported some preliminary findings and the practicalities of a survey of passengers travelling to Waiheke Island regarding their awareness of biosecurity in the Hauraki Gulf, kauri dieback and its spread. Both students also presented a three-minute oral presentation (GEM presentation) to the conference of about 250 people.
The students were delighted that their Auckland Council supervisors, who provided funding for these projects, were also able to attend the conference; Liz Brooks, Senior Regional Advisor – Hauraki Gulf Biosecuirty and Chelsee Neverman, Biosecurity Advisor – Engagement, Unitec BAppSci graduate.
Dr Diane Fraser and her poster presentation
Dr Diane Fraser presented two additional posters and three-minute oral presentations. The first was on behalf of her other Auckland Council Summer Students, Alix McKenzie and Graham Johns, on their findings from their work on the Biocontrol Programme at Auckland Council. This work was funded and supported by Emma Edney-Browne of Auckland Council. Diane also presented a poster and GEM presentation on her own work on the predicted suitability range of New Zealand for the house crow (Corvus splendens), for current climate conditions and increasing climate change trajectories for 2050 and 2070. This work was co-authored by EAS Senior Lecturer Dr Glenn Aguilar (who also features in this week’s Nest Get to know).
Diane then teamed up with Chelsee Neverman (Auckland Council Summer Studentship Supervisor), to deliver a 15-minute oral presentation on the EAS/Unitec student/industry research collaboration and the success that these students have had in gaining employment in conservation/biosecurity related industries, including Auckland Council, the Ministry of Primary Industries, environmental consultancy firms or further study. They received very positive feedback to their work and the outcomes for our students.
The conference had several positive outcomes for Diane, the School and Unitec. Delegates were exposed to the quality of our students and their work, and received very supportive and positive feedback, plus our Auckland Council research collaborations also got great exposure and attention. This conference, which includes a lot of practitioners, is an excellent forum for our third year undergraduate students to take their first foray into conference presentation, which resulted in a very positive profile and promotion of Unitec and the School of Environmental Sciences.