Inaugural Professorial Lectures

Professor Colin Brown's Inaugural Professorial Lecture. Tuesday, 4 October 2016.

The talk describes David's personal journey as a pilot and psychologist to understand the role of decision making in aviation safety.

As an environmental planner, Claire Freeman’s research focuses on the intersection of the natural and built environment. She examines how environmental relationships can be enhanced through more effective planning policy, design and practice. In particular, she looks at how planning can help create urban environments that work better for children and young people, and for nature. It links across three major disciplinary fields; the social sciences, biological science and planning. Some current and recent projects she is involved with are: “Natural neighbourhoods for city children”, a Marsden-funded study exploring how children in Dunedin, Auckland and Wellington connect with nature in their daily lives; “the Dunedin Garden Study,” which investigates householders’ relationships with native biodiversity in their gardens; “Children and young people’s experiences following the Christchurch earthquake”; and a study of “Children’s experiences of neighbourhood” in New Zealand, Fiji and Kiribati. 20 September 2016

In this Inaugural Professorial Lecture, Professor Jacinta Ruru anchors her research journey within this Māori proverb to help bring alive the endurance and 'foreverness' of the Māori world in Aotearoa. Professor Ruru shares the ways in which she has sought to contribute towards challenging the law to more respectfully recognise and embrace Indigenous peoples’ authority, laws, values, rights and responsibilities to own, govern and manage land and water. 12 September 2016

Professor Karl Lyons' Inaugural Professorial Lecture. Tuesday, 6 September 2016.

Professor Sally McCormick's Inaugural Professorial Lecture. Tuesday, 28 June 2016.

Prof Abby Smith has been fascinated by shells and how they are formed since she was a child. She takes us on a journey with her, and we learn that shells have a lot to tell us!

Professor Etienne Nel of the Department of Geography, delivers his Inaugural Professorial Lecture: “Dealing with Difference: Responses to uneven geographical development”. Etienne has authored, co-authored or edited 10 books, and has written nearly 30 book chapters and more than 100 articles, primarily on economic development in Africa. 2 August 2016

Professor Poia Rewi of Te Tumu - School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies, delivers his Inaugural Professorial Lecture, "Hoka: Motivators of Time". Professor Rewi (Tūhoe, Ngāti Manawa, Te Arawa) works on a regional and national level in multiple areas of Te Reo promotion, teaching and research. 14 July 2016.

Professor Darryl Tong's Inaugural Professorial Lecture. Tuesday, 17 May 2016.

Professor Lisette Burrows of the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences gave her Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 19th of April, 2016. She talks about her research into teh demonising or larger body shapes and how effective - or not - the current educational campaigns are in providing balanced information about healthy eating and exercise, and whether in fact there is an obesity epidemic. It was very thought provoking and engaging - have a listen!

Professor Cliff Law delivered his Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 16th of February. Professor Law holds a joint appointment between Otago and NIWA, exploring the chemical interactions at the interface between the sea and the sky.

Professor David Hutchinson delivered his IPL on the 15th of December, exploring theories of light as wave and particle, explaining that the description of something is not necessarily its reality, and talking about how his theoretical work builds into the exciting research taking place the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonics and Quantum Technologies.

Professor Paul Brunton's Inaugural Professorial Lecture. Tuesday, 12 April 2016.

Professor Jon Hall, Head of the Department of Classics, delivers his Inaugural Professorial Lecture: “Murderous Politeness in Ancient Rome”. Jon's research focuses on Cicero – in particular, Cicero's letters and speeches. Recently Jon completed a book on Cicero’s use of showmanship in the Roman law courts. 3 May 2016

Professor David Larsen delivered his IPL on the 17th of November in 2015. He described his work in synthesising organic molecules . This work is in collaboration with biologists primarily, developing therapeutic molecules - PIMs - aimed at reducing asthma, and also looking at molecules designed to slowly release carbon monoxide to support organ transport. This very practical work has required entirely new methodologies and many years' dedication.

Professor Stuart Young's Inaugural Professorial Lecture is entitled "We need new forms": Playful Adventures from Chekhov to Verbatim Theatre. Professor Stuart Young is currently Head of the Department of Music (which incorporates the Theatre Studies programme and the Bachelor of Peforming Arts programme). His research interests include Documentary/Verbatim Theatre; Russian drama, in particular Chekhov, and its reception abroad; Translation Studies and translation for the theatre; Modern British drama and theatre; New Zealand drama and theatre; Gay and queer drama. 8 March 2016

Professor Kate Scott's Inaugural Professorial Lecture. Tuesday, 3 November 2015.

Professor Leigh Hale's Inaugural Professorial Lecture. Tuesday, 19 May 2015.

Professor Nancy Longnecker delivered her Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 15th of September 2015. Nancy's journey from Biologist to communicator to researcher in Sciecne communication has been a fascinating one, and her current work in evaluation of science communication experiences is vital in validating, fine-tuning and and sometimes revolutionising the field.