Victoria and Staff Events

Making Wellington the National Capital: Cats, rats and other predators

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:11:16 +1200

Gareth Morgan will speak about the controversial 'Cats to Go' campaign, the vision for a Predator Free New Zealand, and how we can all start to make a difference right here in Wellington by working together on ‘Enhancing the Halo'.

For more information

Visit http://igps.victoria.ac.nz

The appeal for a New Zealand risk assessment

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:10:33 +1200

In early March 2013, 100 distinguished New Zealanders launched an appeal for the New Zealand Parliament to undertake a national risk assessment. Such an assessment, it was argued, should explore the country’s economic security, energy and climate change security, the risk exposure of business and ecological security. This seminar will provide an opportunity to discuss the logic for a national risk assessment and what it might achieve.

For more information

Visit http://igps.victoria.ac.nz/

Environmental policy-making in New Zealand, 1981–2014

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:10:09 +1200

The presentation will focus on environmental policy-making in New Zealand during the period spanning the 1980s to the present day. He will examine how key policy decisions have been made including the major environmental reforms of the late 1980s and the introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991. Gary will then trace the changes in environmental policy decision-making since the RMA was enacted.

For more information

Visit http://igps.victoria.ac.nz/

Issues in Crime and Justice Conference

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:02:11 +1200

This is an opportunity to hear academics, policy-makers, practitioners and community group members discuss contemporary crime and justice issues. The plenary paper on reducing crime and reoffending will be given by Kim Workman, an Adjunct Research Fellow to the Institute of Criminology. Confirmed papers explore: Stereotypes and moral panic; alcohol and violence; drug testing; national and international responses to sexual violence and human rights violations; private security, policing and imprisonment issues.

Booking and ticketing

Spaces for this free event are limited and will be allocated on a first come-first served basis. To secure a place, please email elizabeth.stanley@vuw.ac.nz before 5 June 2013.

Considering the counterfactual in predation cases—by Kay E. Winkler

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:01:45 +1200

In order to distinguish predatory pricing from competition on the merits, the courts in the United States and in the European Union have established cost-based tests. In contrast, Australia and New Zealand make use of a counterfactual analysis—which has proved controversial when applied in New Zealand case law. The new European effects-based approach advocated by the European Commission entails a counterfactual analysis which is related to the profitability of the conduct.

Booking and ticketing

RSVP to iscr@vuw.ac.nz

Biology matters: the necessity to incorporate relevant data into models predicting the effects of predators on their prey—by Dr Heiko Wittmer

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:01:22 +1200

Dr Heiko Wittmer from Victoria's School of Biological Sciences will present results from two recent projects highlighting the necessity to incorporate biologically relevant data into models predicting the effects of predators on their prey. Using data from three studies, Dr Wittmer will show that current bioenergetic models based on basal metabolic rates (BMR) and energetic costs associated with activity fail to predict observed kill rates of pumas (Puma concolor). Dr Wittmer proposes that the discrepancy between predicted and observed kill rates is due to effects currently not considered in bioenergetic models

For more information

Contact Dr Heiko Wittmer on (04) 463 7432 or visit http://www.victoria.ac.nz/sbs

Liverpool as a Trading Port, 1700–1850: an online relational database project—by Steve Behrendt

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:59 +1200

'Liverpool as a Trading Port', a three-year Marsden-funded project, will provide large samples of historical maritime data and genealogical information online to help scholars study Liverpool’s past. As the number and diversity of sources and amount of historical information increases, so do the benefits of designing a relational database. This seminar will discuss the sources available to study Liverpool’s past and present some basic information about database design.

For more information

Contact Adrian Muckle, History Seminar Convenor, on adrian.muckel@vuw.ac.nz or 04-463 6773

Digitising fieldwork: videos and films in ethnographic researches in rural North China—by Dr Zhifang Song, Lecturer at University of Canterbury

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:31 +1200

Digital video cameras are available to any fieldworker today. Small sizes of cameras and storage media make it easy to use video cameras in fieldwork. Footage can be processed using computer softwares in and off the field. As a result, video recordings and films can be used as important tools for information collection and anthropological representation. Yet, there are still many challenges against use of digital video technology in ethnographic research. From his own experiences Zhifang Song will share with colleagues and students benefits and challenges in using digital technology in ethnographic research.

For more information

Contact Suzanne Weaver on (04) 463 5317 or email suzanne.weaver@vuw.ac.nz

An experimental approach to English resumption—Professor Maria Polinsky, Harvard University

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:14:06 +1200

It has been suggested that English resumptive pronouns (RPs) rescue island violations, as in this is the person that she was responsible for the incident. Evidence, however, shows that English RPs do not ameliorate island violations; nor do they significantly improve long-distance filler-gap dependencies. Professor Maria Polinsky shows that RPs are inserted by the speaker to maintain the coreferential relationship between the head noun and gap position. This predicts that resumption in the subject position should be more acceptable—a result which is confirmed experimentally.

For more information

Visit http://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/

Inaugural Lecture by Professor Uli Zuelicke—Miracle materials and mystery particles

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:05:07 +1200

We know the elementary particles that make up our universe, but modern materials science is pushing into unchartered territory by creating matter where unusual particles can live. Professor Zuelicke will discuss his research into exotic elementary particles that appear in semiconductors. He will show some of the counter-intuitive properties these particles possess, and how newly discovered materials like graphene could revolutionise electronic devices in the future.

Booking and ticketing

RSVP by Friday 7 June. Phone 04-472 1000 or email rsvp@vuw.ac.nz with ‘Zuelicke’ in the subject line.

The social cognition of Eurasian Jays: Gaining insight into cognitive evolution in corvids

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:25:57 +1200

Interactions between food storers and potential thieves have been used as a powerful means of testing social cognition in semi-social corvid (crow family) species. Sociality has previously been hypothesised to play a vital role in cognitive evolution; Rachel Shaw's research explores the factors influencing cognitive evolution in corvids by testing social cognition in a territorial corvid, the Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius). In this talk, Rachel Shaw will demonstrate that jays suppress acoustic information in the presence of a competitor, indicating that they may be capable.

For more information

Contact Mary Murray on 04-463 5339

VASA Seminar Series: Misa Emma Kesha

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:29:23 +1200

Weaving our Pacific identities in Aotearoa New Zealand. There is a responsibility on the older Pacific generation to ensure that their young have access to their traditional knowledge’s. The art of traditional Pacific weaving is dying. Today few get excited about becoming a weaver; or about learning the art of weaving.

For more information

Phone Sylvyetta Hanipale on (04) 463 5830

Research Symposium: Teaching and Learning Mathematics and Statistics in New Zealand Primary and Secondary Classrooms

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:47:45 +1200

A fantastic one-day event for anyone involved in mathematics and statistics education research, professional development provision and in teaching in primary and secondary schools. Presentation topics include: Building a 'can do' attitude to learning mathematics, Foundation content knowledge for preservice teachers, School leavers and numeracy competence, Online help and secondary school mathematics students, Achieving educational success as Maori.

For more information

Email pam.ritchie@vuw.ac.nz or robin.averill@vuw.ac.nz

Interactive media and public engagement: some Scandinavian experiences

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:10:50 +1200

We have in recent years witnessed an upsurge in innovative use of new social media and other forms of interactive media within the realm of governments. While we can discuss the actual value of social media for public engagement, no one can doubt that they matter. Karl Löfgren will present innovative examples of successful use of new information and communication technologies in public engagement from some of the Scandinavian countries, based on both his own research and research of other scholars.

For more information

Visit www.e-government.vuw.ac.nz

Education Research Seminar

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:49:30 +1200

This presentation uses intersectionality as an analytical tool (Grant & Zwier, 2011) to re-analyse research findings from a case study of collaborative work between Māori and non-Māori teachers within two mainstream schools in Aotearoa New Zealand (Hynds, 2007). In an attempt to redress the damaging and ongoing effects of colonization and institutional racism, recent government supported initiatives have focused on improving school/classroom practice and outcomes for Māori learners.