Appointments
Stratospheric appointment for UC chemist, 1 August 2024
We are thrilled to announce that UC Associate Professor Laura Revell has been elected to the International Ozone Commission (IO3C) for the 2024-2028 term, one of only 30 scientists to be chosen globally.
An atmospheric scientist in the School of Physical & Chemical Sciences at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), Dr Revell is renowned for her expertise in chemistry-climate interactions and has made significant strides in understanding how the ozone layer is impacted by human activities, including from greenhouse gas emissions and an increased frequency of rocket launches.
Her appointment to the IO3C for the 2024-2028 term, announced at the Quadrennial Ozone Symposium in Boulder, Colorado, marks a notable achievement for Aotearoa New Zealand’s wider scientific community. Dr Revell is the only New Zealand representative on the IO3C for this term, underscoring her prominence in the field.
Founded in 1948, the IO3C is a key organisation in coordinating global efforts to study the ozone layer through ground-based and satellite measurements. This role is vital for protecting Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation and understanding its effects on the climate system.
“Despite the success of the Montreal Protocol in banning ozone-depleting chemicals such as CFCs, we’re entering an unusual era in which lots of factors could act to slow down ozone recovery,” Dr Revell says.
“Recently we’ve seen massive wildfires in Australia contribute to depletion of the ozone layer over the Southern Hemisphere, along with effects from volcanic eruptions. Together with the ways in which humans are changing the composition of the atmosphere - such as greenhouse gas emissions, rocket launches and global discussion of ‘geoengineering’ methods to offset climate change - it is still critical that we pay attention to protection of the ozone layer.
“In the last four years alone we’ve seen unusual behaviour in the Antarctic ozone hole, with it closing much later in the year than normal, and potentially impacting Antarctic ecosystems. I’m honoured to be elected to the International Ozone Commission and to contribute to stewardship efforts for this vital planetary boundary.”
Ozone plays an important role in protecting the Earth from harmful levels of ultraviolet solar radiation and has a role as a greenhouse gas in the Earth's climate system. The ozone layer is protected by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987), which is considered one of the most successful environmental agreements of all time.
For more on her influential research see:
Longer-lasting ozone holes over Antarctica expose seal pups and penguin chicks to much more UV
Source: Stratospheric appointment for UC chemist | University of Canterbury
Congratulations to the following PhD students
Nuusiku Nakwafila successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled, “Biowastes to augment soil organic carbon in cropping systems”. Nuusiku passed without required emendations. Nuusiku was supervised by Professor Brett Robinson and co-supervised by Adjunct Professor David Whitehead (Manaaki Whenua), Dr Sam McNally (Manaaki Whenua) and Professor Sally Gaw.
Claudia Daniela Garcés-Hernández successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled, “Biosolids to enhance the establishment of New Zealand-native vegetation”. Claudia was supervised by Professor Brett Robinson and was co-supervised by Dr Maria Jesus Gutierrez-Gines (SEE) and Dr Claudio Bravo-Linares (Universidad Austral de Chile).
Helena Ruffell successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled, “Inputs and impacts of microplastics on productive soil systems in Aotearea New Zealand”, supervised by Professor Sally Gaw (UC), Dr Olga Pantos (ESR) and Professor Brett Robinson (UC). She was examined by Professor Frederic Leusch from the University of Griffith, Queensland (with additional input from her other examiner Dr Laura Carter from Leeds University, UK), in a wide-ranging discussion that highlighted the vast quantity and deep quality of work Helena completed during her PhD studies, ending with a broader discussion on the impacts of scientific research on informing and impacting human and societal behaviour, towards a more environmentally sustainable future.
Canterbury-Westland Science Fair
This event was held in the Earnest Rutherford Building at the University of Canterbury on 21 September 2024. There was a tremendous turnout, with NZIC Canterbury branch committee members and a UC chemistry lecturer making up the judging panel. Although this year there were no chemistry-related entries from senior school pupils, there were many in the younger age groups. In the chemistry category there was considerable overlap with some senior entries in the technology section.
Prize winners were:
Year 8
Years 9 & 10
Special prize for chemistry in the technology section
A demonstration of making of ice cream using liquid nitrogen (and the sampling of) was enthusiastically received by the participants at the end of the event. The Science and Technology Fair is such a good opportunity to highlight the fun and relevance of chemistry that the committee will be looking at other demonstrations for future such events.
