Marine Science PhD candidates, from left, Vahid Sepahvand, Eleanor Kelly, Ian Dixon-Anderson and Elli Leinikki are settling into their new office in the Geology Building.
A whakawātea ceremony has been held to prepare for Department of Marine Science staff and students to co-locate with the Department of Geology on the central Dunedin campus.
Eleven academics and several support staff are moving from 310 Castle Street into the Geology Building.
Aside from Castle Street, most other Marine Science staff remain at the University’s Marine Laboratory in Portobello.
Sciences Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Barker says co-locating departments that have strong collaborations is a priority for the Division.
"In this case it helps build critical mass in the Earth and Ocean Sciences, which have been a particular strength of the University with access to the world’s best natural laboratories.”
Dr Bridie Allan is still moving into her new, spacious office in the Geology Building.
Marine Science Head of Department Professor Miles Lamare says Geology is a beautiful old building and a wonderful job has been done making it ready for everyone to move in.
“It’s nice to be moving into the new building and being more centralised on campus, which is going to be a good move in the long-term and we’re looking forward to it.
“It’s great to be with Geology who we already collaborate with a lot in research and teaching. This will help very much with team building,” he says.
In addition to Marine Science staff about 25 Master of Science students and about a dozen PhD students are also making the move to the building from Castle St.
Geology Head of Department Professor Andrew Gorman says the reorganisation has taken some time, but it has been a good chance to tidy up.
“We’ve spent a lot of time over the last few months moving rocks, but we’re looking forward to working more closely with Marine Science. We already do a lot of co-teaching together and this will be a chance for further collaboration.”
One of the new Marine Science student spaces which is still getting the finishing touches.
University Director of Property and Campus Development Tanya Syddall says the move has gone well.
The move is part of the University’s wider Sciences Division Space Strategy and allows the University to move other staff into 310 Castle St and vacate leased space, saving space and money.
“These moves align with the University’s Pae Tata Strategy, looking to achieve a greater efficiency in space utilisation across our campuses.
“This is a great example of where Geology have worked with our Space Planning team to identify space savings in the building and as a result make a co-location with Marine Science a really positive move,” Tanya says.
Kōrero by Kerry Dohig, Communications Adviser (Projects)