Sessions 

Click on each title to view a more detailed session description.  Please note some detailed descriptions may be the same as shown below. 

On the precipice: the future of Geoscience education in Aotearoa New Zealand

This session aims to create a forum for open discussion about what we as a geoscience community can do to improve the uptake of geoscience education at all levels in Aotearoa New Zealand. We invite oral and poster presentations which relate to all aspects of geoscience education, including new tools and techniques, removing barriers to access, tales of success (and failure), and so on.  The session will also include a panel discussion & open forum where we hope to collectively devise a national strategy for promoting geoscience as an exciting and enticing study option.

Session Convenors: Kat Holt, President of the Geoscience Society of NZ; Jenny Stein, Secretary of the Geoscience Society of NZ, GEOID Convenor; and the wider Geoscience Society of NZ National Committee 

Towards culturally inclusive and responsive geoscience   

This session will present geoscience research that is aligned with or follows mātauranga Māori best-practice, with case studies and approaches to ensure culturally responsive and inclusive protocols.

Geoscience for future energy: Navigating the path to a low-emissions future

In the pursuit of a sustainable future, the energy industry faces an unprecedented challenge: meeting the world's growing energy demands while mitigating environmental impact and reducing emissions. This session brings together diverse topics across renewable and hydrocarbon energy sectors, with a particular emphasis on emerging technologies (offshore wind, low temperature geothermal, carbon sequestration etc). This session will include discussion of new discoveries, regional case studies, the application of novel technology, and much more. We also welcome submissions on understanding the critical intersection of geoscience and energy policy, where geoscientific data and assessments inform sustainable energy decision-making.

Session Convenors: Jess Hillman, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Andrew La Croix, University of Waikato 

To honour a Time Lord: geological time, Earth history and paleontology in memory of Alan Beu

Alan Beu made major contributions to New Zealand Cenozoic paleontology and development of the New Zealand geological time scale. In honour of his contributions, this session will explore biological, environmental, and Earth system histories, as documented in the wonderful fossil records preserved on Zealandia and elsewhere. All time scales will be considered, from the ancient extremes of the Paleozoic or older, to the immediacy of the Anthropocene.  

Session Convenors: James Crampton, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington; Mike Hannah, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington

The active volcanoes of Aotearoa – past, present, and future

Aotearoa hosts a myriad of active volcanoes, each with a distinct eruptive behaviour, patterns of unrest, and level of understanding. Improving knowledge of these volcanoes is crucial to enhancing the resilience of local communities, and the country as a whole, to volcanic risk. This session accepts contributions from the full range of disciplines that improve our scientific understanding of magmatic and volcanic processes. This includes, but is not limited to, geophysics, igneous petrology, geochemistry, remote sensing, physical volcanology, and future scenario modelling.

Session Convenors: Finnigan Illsley-Kemp, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington; Simon J. Barker, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington; Ery Hughes, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Eleanor Mestel, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington; Shane Rooyakkers, Te Pū Ao GNS Science

Advances in Active Faulting and Earthquake Hazards

This session explores recent advances in our understanding of active faulting and earthquake physics with an emphasis on novel research and techniques that improve our understanding of processes that generate earthquake hazards.

Session Convenors: Carolyn Boulton, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington; Genevieve Coffey, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Carmen Juarez Garfias, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington

Early Earthquake Warning and Rapid Response Science 

Earthquake Early Warning Systems (EEWS) are an important part of any Earthquake Resilience toolkit, due to their potential to save lives and reduce injuries. Similarly, rapid earthquake science information helps emergency responders best direct resources to people in need, supporting the response and recovery. Despite global advances in operational EEW, New Zealand does not yet operate a national EEWS. However, foundational research has explored its benefits and potential capability.

This session will explore key aspects of EEWS and rapid earthquake science for New Zealand: seismology (source characterization, ground shaking and earthquake forecasting), social science, communication engineering and earthquake engineering.

Session Convenors: Dr Caroline Holden SeismoCity Ltd; Dr Anna Kaiser Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Dr Raj Prasanna, Dr Marion Tan, Dr Julia Becker, Massey University; Dr Quincy Ma, University of Auckland

Community Resilience in the face of tsunami: Insights from social science

Tsunamis present considerable risks to coastal communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. In addition to the advances that continue to be made in understanding the physical and geological aspects of tsunami hazards and risk, integrating social science research is vital to enhancing resilience and community preparedness. This conference session focuses on the significance of social science research in understanding and addressing the social, cultural, and psychological dimensions of tsunamis. 

This session brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in exploring the multidimensional impacts of tsunamis. Presentations cover topics such as community engagement; risk perception; forecasts, warnings and risk communication; social vulnerability; preparedness and resilience; cultural perspectives; psychosocial impacts; and policy and governance . By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, this session aims to advance our understanding of the social dynamics associated with tsunamis and promote collaboration between geoscientists, social scientists, emergency management professionals, and community stakeholders.  

Session Convenors: Sara Harrison, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Danielle Charlton, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Lauren Vinnell, Joint Centre for Disaster Research Massey University, 

High-energy coastal hazard events in Aotearoa/New Zealand: records, processes and preparedness

This session will represent a great opportunity to discuss the different high-energy hazard coastal events having occurred in New Zealand, from the most recent ones to very ancient signatures preserved within sedimentological records. It aims to gather people from different areas of research with the objective to help developing future interdisciplinary projects to better understand the phenomena and protect the population from their impact. Expected presentations will deal with numerical modelling, mapping, sedimentological/geological investigations, database construction and real-time monitoring. This session is linked to the session “Community Resilience in the face of tsunami: Insights from social science”.

Session Convenors: Jean Roger, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Catherine Chagué, UNSW Sydney; Emily Lane, NIWA; Jonathan Hanson, GEONET, Te Pū Ao GNS Science

Geoscience in the Built Environment

Many components of the built environment of Aotearoa New Zealand depend for their safe functioning and resilience on geoscientific information. This session aims to gain insights to the nature and breadth of geoscientific enquiry, geotechnical or engineering geological applications and achievements in relation any aspect of the built environment, including buildings, residential or industrial developments, and any type of infrastructure. Submissions are invited on topics ranging from fundamental geological knowledge through the many tools of site investigation and analysis, to geotechnical applications and engineering design.

Session Convenors: David Barrell, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Andrea Wolter, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Katie Jones, Te Pū Ao GNS Science

Our changing landscapes; surface process dynamics, evolution, and impacts

If you research any aspect of landscape dynamics or landscape evolution, or the impacts of Earth surface processes, then this session will be a great place to present your work. The session aims to showcase measurements and observations of the changing surface of Earth or beyond, over contemporary to geological timescales, and contribute new understanding to what drives these changes, and the environmental and hazard impacts that they impart.

Session Convenors: Sam McColl, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Katie Jones, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Kevin Norton, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington; Anya Leenman, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington

Understanding climate and environmental change

This session explores climate and environmental change with data and models. It provides context for changes we are observing and anticipating with examples from the geological past.

Session Convenors: Peter Almond, Lincoln University; David Barrell, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Shaun Eaves, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington; Kat Holt, Massey University

Underwater Geosciences 

This interdisciplinary session aims to examine geological processes that occur underwater, from our inland lakes to the coast and the deep ocean. This session will bring together scientists from a range of disciplines to interact and learn from each other and facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration within this dynamic field of research. We encourage contributions to this session that are comprehensive and interdisciplinary within the broad field of geology, from coastal areas such as beaches and estuaries, lakes and rivers, shallower shelves and slope down to the deep ocean floor.

Session Convenors: Sally Watson, NIWA/IMS UoA; Jess Hillman, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; Marta Ribó, AUT; Suzanne Bull, Te Pū Ao GNS Science

Geochemical tools and applications to reconstruct environmental and climate change, human impact and Earth history in New Zealand, Australia and Antarctica

This session highlights innovative research of the New Zealand and overseas geochemistry community about environmental and climate change. It discusses technological developments and applications of new indicators on topics such as reconstructing productivity, nutrient cycling and water quality in aquatic environments, and metal tracers and non-traditional isotope systems to quantify processes on land and at sea. Selected topics discuss pollution and human impact or new research into global geochemical cycles across time that link the earth, ocean and atmosphere. Multiproxy reconstructions of life evolution and bioheritage, high-resolution paleorecords and dating of environmental archives are also presented.

Session Convenors: Dr Sebastian Naeher, Te Pū Ao GNS Science; A/Prof James Scott, University of Otago; Dr Dan Sinclair, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington

Geoscience communication for influence, education and impact

Whether you engage with the media, the general public, students or stakeholders, or anyone in between, you’re communicating geoscience! As such, you are encouraged to attend and contribute to this session focused on practical tips and tools to help us all become better geoscience communicators. The focus of this session will be on what you learned from your initiative(s); what worked well, what didn't, and what would you do differently next time? Share your experiences to help others more effectively, and inclusively, get their geoscience out to those who want and need it.

Session Convenors: Jenny Stein, GSNZ; Ben Kennedy, University of Canterbury



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Conference Organisers

Conferences & Events Ltd
Conference Manager: Ali Howard
 +64 4 384 1511 

This event is organised by Conferences & Events Ltd, Wellington, Auckland, Nelson & Nationwide.  We are a New Zealand business.