From left are Professor Hugh Campbell, Associate Professor Caroline Orchiston and Professor Janet Stephenson – the past and current Directors of the Centre for Sustainability Research - Kā Rakahau o Te Ao Tūroa outside the Centre’s premises at 563 Castle Street.
One of Otago’s premier research centres has taken on a new name that reflects its evolving response to local and global sustainability challenges since it was founded 25 years ago.
The new name is the Centre for Sustainability Research - Kā Rakahau o Te Ao Tūroa. The Centre remains part of the School of Geography - Te Iho Whenua, within the Division of Humanities - Te Kete Aronui.
Centre Director Associate Professor Caroline Orchiston says this new name (simply adding ‘Research’ to the end) reflects that the Centre’s primary purpose is interdisciplinary research.
“The Centre for Sustainability Research is focused on sustainability and being at the cutting edge of local, national and global challenges. The addition of ‘Research’ also aligns with our existing te reo name - Kā Rakahau o Te Ao Tūroa.”
“Our current research includes climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, community resilience, mātauranga, conservation ecology, regenerative agriculture, energy and other dimensions of sustainability,” Caroline says.
The Centre was established in the year 2000 as the Centre for the Study of Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CSAFE). Founding Director Professor Hugh Campbell mainly studied the social side of agricultural history and sustainable agriculture. In 2002, Hugh was joined by Professor Henrik Moller who bought research projects with an ecological and Indigenous focus with him.
Over time, the Centre expanded through securing external funding for large interdisciplinary projects including marine management, energy transitions and climate change. What began as a few small research projects evolved into the interdisciplinary, collaborative research centre it is today.
Hugh is now the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Humanities and remains closely connected to the Centre.
“It has been a real pleasure to see the Centre continue to evolve, and the kaupapa continue to build,” Hugh says.
In 2011, under Director Professor Janet Stephenson, the research hub was renamed the Centre for Sustainability - Kā Rakahau o Te Ao Tūroa. This reflected the wider range of research programmes and interests of staff and students. The Centre moved to its current premises in Castle Street in 2014.
Janet remains a researcher within the Centre, with a variety of research projects and PhD students exploring topics as varied as climate adaptation in Samoa, voluntary carbon markets, and how narratives shape behaviour.
Members of the team outside the Centre for Sustainability Research - Kā Rakahau o Te Ao Tūroa. This interdisciplinary research centre is focussed on sustainability and being at the cutting edge of local, national and global challenges.
Janet says the Centre’s mahi is fundamentally responding to the fact that human demands are exceeding environmental capacity at local and global scales, and the growing risks that this poses to humans and all living things. Additionally, its work responds to Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique characteristics including significant exposure to natural hazards (including earthquakes, Caroline’s specialty).
“We seek new understandings and solutions that can be implemented by communities, businesses, and local and central government. Tremendous insights can be gained by incorporating social research along with the technical and physical sciences, as well as mātauranga and local, experiential knowledge,” Janet says.
The Centre’s interdisciplinary research teams include researchers from a wide range of specialties within the University of Otago, and from other universities and research agencies in New Zealand and internationally. It is also growing research capability in sustainability by supervising and supporting postgraduate students.
Caroline says, “With the enormous challenges we face, it is immensely rewarding to be able to collaborate on finding solutions, including building resilience across communities.
“Relationships are crucial to our work, and we have extensive networks of research partners and stakeholders who appreciate our approach and seek to continue to work with us into the future.”
The name change has been well received by staff and partners so far. On a rather more specific level, Caroline says, “It also means less phone calls and emails intended for the University’s fantastic Sustainability Office - Toitū te Taiao, which has also been going from strength to strength.”
Nā Antonia Wallace, Communications Advisor - Kaiarataki Pārokoroko
Centre for Sustainability Research
We work on local and global sustainability challenges through our research, teaching and partnerships.
View