EXPERIENCE
Since completing my PhD
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST (GNS SCIENCE)
January 2023 - present
My role at GNS Science is to connect communities, including schools, with GNS Science's research, data, and researchers. This includes running and supporting public events, developing and running educational engagement workshops, creating teaching resources, and working with hapū and stakeholders to ensure our research is useful and useable for them. Most of my time is spent working with scientists from RCET, Soilsafe, and the Te Riu-a-Maui and Hazard and Risk Management Strategic Science Investment Funds.
CO-LEAD, SOILSAFE KIDS (UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND)
January 2022 - December 2022
Soilsafe Kids is the outreach branch of Soilsafe Aotearoa. We offer two hour workshops to early childhood centres and lower primary school classrooms and three day workshops to New Zealand Curriculum Level 2 classrooms. We are also developing a suite of resources for teachers who want to implement lesson plans about soil in their own classrooms. We love working outside of the box, so please reach out if you want to discuss ideas.
SCIENCE TO PRACTICE LEAD, RAPID CHARACTERISATION OF EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMIS (GNS SCIENCE CONTRACTOR)
Rapid Characterisation of Earthquakes & Tsunamis has three primary research aims related to earthquake and tsunami resilience. The third is titled "Science to Practice" and includes our school outreach, community, iwi, and stakeholder engagement, curriculum development, and end-user tool development.
January 2021 - December 2022
COURSE COORDINATOR, SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT (UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND)
I course coordinated the School of Environment's Tertiary Foundation Certificate program. This two semester program covers both human and physical geography, environmental science, earth science, and mātauranga Māori related to te taiao (the environment).
February 2022 - December 2022
RESEARCH FELLOW, DEVORA (UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND/UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY)
I continued to conduct research about lava flow hazard in the Auckland Volcanic Field. This mahi (work) was financially supported by DEtermining VOlcanic Risk in Auckland (DEVORA), Transpower New Zealand, and the Royal Society Te Apārangi. My current research focuses on how to calculate the duration of lava flows after they have solidified and mapping lava flow hazards in the Auckland Volcanic Field.
July 2021 - December 2022
TUTOR/LABORATORY COORDINATOR/COURSE COORDINATOR SUPPORT/LECTURER, SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT (UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND)
I have contributed to a variety of courses in the School of Environment including in earth science, environmental science, and human geography at both an undergraduate and postgraduate level. At the moment, I am working on the School of Environment's Tertiary Foundation Certificate program.
February 2017 - February 2022
RESEARCH FELLOW, SOILSAFE AOTEAROA (UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND)
Soilsafe Aotearoa focuses on learning about Aotearoa's soil chemistry and determining Kiwis' soil values. I contributed to Soilsafe Kids (our outreach program) and support our soil values research.
June 2021 - December 2021
PROJECT MANAGER, DEVORA (UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND)
July 2020 - June 2021
In this position, I supported the DEtermining VOlcanic Risk in Auckland co-leaders to run the DEVORA work plan which spans multiple New Zealand (and international) universities with local and national stakeholders. I also acted as a DEVORA Outreach Coordinator, tertiary curriculum developer, and webmaster.
EDUCATION
GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN SECONDARY TEACHING, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
Graduated (in absentia): May 2023
Teaching focuses: mathematics & physics
PHD, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
Graduated: November 2020
Thesis title: Modelling the Hazard Footprint and Consequences of Lava Flows in an Urban Environment
SINGLE COURSE ENROLLMENT, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, USA
Autumn 2015
Course: Risk Assessment & Business Continuity
BACHELORS OF SCIENCE, BROWN UNIVERSITY, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, USA
Graduated: May 2015
Majored in: Geology
Thesis title: A Geochemical Study of the Eastern Vents of Akaroa Volcano, New Zealand
Two study abroad semesters at the University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand; enrolled via Frontiers Abroad & direct enrollment)
RESEARCH GRANTS
GNS STRATEGIC SCIENCE INVESTMENT FUND
101,173 NZD
January 2023-June2024
MBIE- UNLOCKING CURIOUS MINDS
150,000 NZD
February 2023-December 2023
Soilsafe Kids: Connecting school children and community through diverse soil knowledges
Co-Principal Investigator
MBIE- ENDEAVOUR RESEARCH PROGRAMME
15,180,000 NZD
October 2020-September 2025
Rapid Characterisation of Earthquakes and Tsunami: Fewer Deaths and Faster Recovery
Principal Investigator
DETERMINING VOLCANIC RISK IN AUCKLAND
10,000 NZD
July 2022- June 2023: Analysing past lava flow dimensions in the Auckland Volcanic Field & volcanic hazard messaging in newspapers during volcanic eruptions
Principal Investigator
MBIE- UNLOCKING CURIOUS MINDS
149,382 NZD
February 2022-February 2023:
Soilsafe Kids: Engaging school children and their families in soil science
Co-Principal Investigator
TE PŪNAHA MATATINI- CONTESTABLE FUND
47,510 NZD
January 2022-August 2022: Soilsafe Kids
Co-Principal Investigator
DETERMINING VOLCANIC RISK IN AUCKLAND
10,000 NZD
July 2021- June 2022: Quasi-probabilistic modelling of lava flows in the Auckland Volcanic Field
Principal Investigator
TRANSPOWER NEW ZEALAND, LTD
January 2023 - June 2025
Named Investigator
SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT CONTESTABLE FUND
4,312 NZD
2021
Principal Investigator
FACULTY OF SCIENCE CONTESTABLE FUND
800 NZD
2021
Principal Investigator
ROYAL SOCIETY TE APĀRANGI: HUTTON FUND
1,000 NZD
2020-2021: Using paleo-temperature profiles under lava flows to estimate their durations
Principal Investigator
DETERMINING VOLCANIC RISK IN AUCKLAND (DEVORA) & EARTHQUAKE COMMISSION DOCTORAL GRANT
165,000 NZD
2016-2020
PhD Student funding
TRAVEL GRANTS & SUMMER FUNDING
CITIES ON VOLCANOES 11: ECS TRAVEL GRANT
625 euro
Spring 2021
AGU- NATURAL HAZARDS SECTION: STUDENT TRAVEL GRANT
500 USD
Winter 2018
CITIES ON VOLCANOES 10: STUDENT TRAVEL GRANT
500 euro
Autumn 2018
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA- CORDILLERAN SECTION: STUDENT TRAVEL GRANT
460 USD
Spring 2017
NASA- SPACE GRANT: SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH GRANT
3,000 USD
Summer 2012
NASA- INSPIRE: PRE-COLLEGE INTERN GRANT
5,000 USD
Summer 2011
AWARDS
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND- SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT: EARLY CAREER RESEARCH AWARD
2022
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND- SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT: POSTGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH AWARD
2020
in Earth Science
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND- SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT: AKO GTA EXCEPTIONAL TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD
2020
for work on EARTHSCI 105(G), ENVSCI 101(G), and EARTHSCI 705
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND- FACULTY OF SCIENCE: 3 MINUTE THESIS
2018
first place
COMMITTEES
Since beginning graduate school
GNS'S KIA TOIPOTO | PAY EQUITY WORKING GROUP
2023-present
GNS'S HUMAN PARTICIPANTS' RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE
2023-present
AGU- EDUCATION SECTION: INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT WORKING GROUP CO-CHAIR
2023-present
AGU- EDUCATION SECTION: BRIGHT STARS STUDENT PRESENTATION (COORDINATOR)
2022-present
AGU- EDUCATION SECTION: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (MEMBER)
2022-present
GNS'S RESEARCH ETHICS WORKING GROUP
2023-present
PLATE BOUNDARY NETWORK (MEMBER)
2020-present
AGU- EDUCATION SECTION: OUTSTANDING STUDENT PRESENTATION AWARD (CO-COORDINATOR)
2022
AGU- NATURAL HAZARDS SECTION: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (MEMBER)
2020-2022
AGU-NATURAL HAZARDS SECTION: EARLY CAREER & STUDENT COMMITTEE
(member) 2019-June 2020; (chair) June 2020-December 2022
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND: SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT- TAIAO TUTOR COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE (ORGANIZING COMMITTE & CO-FOUNDER)
2020-2021
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND: VOLCANOLOGY, GEOCHEMISTRY, & PETROLOGY RESEARCH GROUP (ORGANIZER)
2018-2020
LETTERS TO A PRE-SCIENTIST: SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD (MEMBER)
2018-2019
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND: FACULTY OF SCIENCE- FACULTY MEETINGS (INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS REPRESENTATIVE)
2018-2019
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND: FACULTY OF SCIENCE- POSTGRADUATE COMMITTEE (RESEARCH STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE)
2018-2019
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND: FACULTY OF SCIENCE- POSTGRADUATE STUDENT STAFF CONSULTIVE COMMITTEE (SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE)
2017-2019
CONFERENCE CONVENOR
TOWN HALL CONVENOR: BUILDING EDUCATION CAPACITY
(upcoming) American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2023
with K. St John, B. Murray, S. Schneider, M. LaVigne, J. SIgley, M. Holzer, D. Ibarra, L. Lukes, E. Johnson, & A. Goswami
LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE: VOLCANOFEST- TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT & OUTREACH FAIR
International Assocation of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior's Scientific Assembly 2023
with B. Kennedy
TOWN HALL CONVENOR: EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER AS AN IDENTITY- UNIFYING OUR UNDERSTANDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS OF DOING SO
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2022
with N. Jackson
SESSION CONVENOR: CITIZEN SCIENCE, COMMUNITY CO-DESIGN, AND MULTI-SECTORAL PARTICIPATION FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Biennial New Zealand Geographical Society Conference
with E. Sharp, M. Kah, and V. Egli
ORGANISING COMMITTEE: TŪHONO TAIAO
online symposium
with A. Gilbert, H. Lyndon, J. Sadler, T. Henare, E. Heremaia, & R. Totoro
PANEL CO-CONVENOR: NATURAL HAZARDS RESEARCH USAGE IN INDUSTRY
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2021
with N. Jackson
ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Determining Volcanic Risk in Auckland Forum 2020
with E. Smid
PEER REVIEWER
JOURNALS
Volcanica, International Journal for Disaster Risk Reduction
FUNDING BODIES
(invited) Icelandic Research Council
PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS
AAPIIG
2021-present
AGU
2018-present
AUGEN
2020-present
WOMEESA
2018-present