Inaugural Professorial Lecture – Professor Inga Smith
Concerning changes in Antarctic sea ice
About Professor Inga Smith
Inga is a physicist whose research, lecturing, and service encompasses climate change impacts and solutions.
Changes to Antarctic sea ice’s formation and decay processes in a warming world are the foundation of her current research. Inga and her team investigate Southern Ocean interactions with fresh water from ice shelves and ice sheets using methods ranging from global-scale climate modelling to in-situ observations in Antarctica.
She also maintains an internationally recognised profile in two other interdisciplinary research topics: International transport greenhouse gas emissions, and energy use in buildings.
Inga has led research funded by the Marsden Fund, Deep South National Science Challenge, and Catalyst Strategic Fund, and plays key roles in Antarctic Science Platform research. She values working with new/emerging researchers alongside her established international collaborators.
Inga’s previous multi and interdisciplinary leadership roles include:
- Co-Director of He Kaupapa Hononga – Otago’s Climate Change Network
- Co-Chair of the CLIVAR/CliC/SCAR Southern Ocean Region Panel
- Membership of the CLIVAR Scientific Steering Group
This lecture will be followed with light refreshments, tea, coffee and juice.
Streaming information
This event will be livestreamed from 5:25pm, Wednesday 16 September 2026.