What is Geology?
Geology is the study of Earth; it explores the earth building processes of our planet and its natural hazards. Understanding Earth’s history informs our response to climate change, helps us plan land developments and infrastructure, and ensures we make the best use of our precious natural resources. Geoscientists additionally search for the natural resources which sustain our society, including water. The construction of buildings, bridges, roads, dams and reservoirs requires geological expertise in the investigation of foundations. For those with a passion for understanding our planet, the broader field of Earth and Space Science, or who have a commitment to environmental sustainability may find geological sciences a rewarding path.
Geoscience Education
In the School of Earth & Environment, we are focused on two main geoscience education objectives: a) investigating better ways to teach, learn and communicate Earth Science information and b) to develop new and innovative classroom activities/resources to enhance the teaching of geoscience (years 5-13) in New Ƶappschools. We also offer students the opportunity to actively research and test new methods for learning and communicating through collaborations with the Ƶapp’s Academic Development Group, the Human Interface Technology Lab, the College of Education and Secondary Schools all over New Zealand. Our schools programme not only provides background support to High School teachers (via UC’s Science Outreach Programme) but at the same time is involved with the design and delivery of curriculum-based initiatives that both empower teachers of science and engage their pupils. Each year our staff contribute to a number of initiatives organised by UC Science Outreach. These include general school visits to UC, topic-specific laboratory sessions, interactive plays, field-trip support and school visits by our staff and post-graduate students. The emphasis of this component of Earth & Environment'sOutreach effort is to improve the delivery of Level 9-13 Science especially and to increase the awareness of the relevance of science. We have ongoing collaborations with industry and government supported programs, such as House of Science, Science learning hub, GNS Science, Seequent, Core education,
Areas of interest include:
- Volcano education research
- Bicultural card and computer games
- Place based education
- Fieldwork education research
- Simulation research
- Interactive classrooms
- Virtual fieldtrips
- Digital laboratory research
- Blended and flipped classrooms
- Digital tools for spatial awareness
- Geoscience gardens
Ben Kennedy, Alex Nichols, Kate Pedley, Tim Stahl
1. Geohazards
Earthquakes, landslides, tsunami, floods, and volcanic eruptions can threaten people, property, and communities. They also shed light on the connections between Earth surface and plate boundary processes. Our research explores multi hazard interactions. For example, major disturbances like earthquakes can cause or increase the intensity of other perils, such as volcanic eruptions and landslides. Human land use and climate change can further exacerbate the effects of these natural hazards and increase society’s exposure to their impacts. UC Geology researchers investigate these connections and develop models to characterise geohazards in various plate boundary settings globally.
- Earthquake and landslide multi-hazards (Tim Stahl, Tom Robinson [Disaster Risk Resilience], Andy Howell)
- Volcanism and volcano-tectonic interactions (Ben Kennedy, Darren Gravely, Heather Craig [Disaster Risk Resilience], Andy Nicol, Tim Stahl)
- Multi-fault earthquakes and seismic hazard analysis (Camilla Penney, Andy Howell, Andy Nicol, Tim Stahl)
- Paleoseismology and fault displacement hazard (Andy Nicol, Kate Pedley, Tim Stahl)
- Tsunami and coastal inundation (Andy Howell, James Williams [Disaster Risk Resilience], Heather Craig [Disaster Risk Resilience] and Andy Nicol)
2. Volcanology
Volcanology research at UC reaches from deep in the crust to the surface where volcanoes interact with human lives. We focus on applied volcano research within New Ƶappworking closely with GNS Science and Iwi but also have lots of exciting projects at volcanoes all over the world. Our research group uses geochemical analysis to understand the magmatic histories of volcanoes above and below the ocean, particularly our local extinct volcanoes of Banks Peninsula, and our active volcanoes in North Island, Pacific, Italy, Chile, Japan, Iceland and Hawaii. We study processes associated with volcanic hazards through laboratory experiments, numerical models and fieldwork. We strive to monitor and understand volcanoes better and improve volcanic hazard communication and education.
- Volatile content of magma
- Geochemical modelling of magmatic processes
- Field mapping of volcanic deposits
- Textural analysis of volcanic rocks
- High and low temperature experiments of magmatic processes
- Hazard communication research involving iwi, schools and museums
- Numerical modelling of physical processes
- Development of novel volcano monitoring techniques
- Multi-volcanic hazard impact assessments (infrastructure, agriculture and communities)
- Understanding volcanic risk to inform the co-development of mitigation strategies
Alex Nichols, Ben Kennedy, Darren Gravely, Sarah Smithies, Thomas Wilson, Heather Craig
