Professor Charles Brennan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Sciences.
Kia ora, me haere mai ki Te Rohe a Ahikāroa
I am delighted to welcome you to the Division of Sciences.
Science is an essential cornerstone of the University of Otago and has been since the establishment of the University in 1869. The disciplines represented by three of the four founding professors at the University remain represented in the Division of Sciences today – our predecessors understood the importance of science to fulfil the University’s vision of educational excellence.
Today the Division remains internationally recognised for its strong emphasis on research, and research-led teaching which is centred on the collective skills of our people and our connection to our community and location. Being uniquely positioned on coastal Otago, our natural laboratories are unsurpassed, spanning research locations from Fiordland National Park within Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, stretching south to the Antarctic, and north throughout the South Pacific region.
We also have some of the latest high-end built or upgraded laboratories on campus allowing us to remain at the forefront of scientific endeavour. Our academic and teaching staff demonstrate expertise, dedication and innovation that reverberates through the University and into our communities, both local and global.
I am proud that we offer a diverse range of subjects at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Our touchstone BSc (Bachelor of Science) and BSc(Hons) degrees embrace flexible learning opportunities allowing students to choose from a large assortment of majors, professional degrees, and inter-departmental programmes. This transdisciplinary approach to education means that as an Otago graduate our students are sought after by employers across the world.
As a student in the Division of Sciences you will be taught by leading experts, providing you with the opportunity to gain a world-class qualification and grow skills to help prepare you to contribute to the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time.
My commitment, as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Sciences, is to both uphold Otago’s incredible legacy of research excellence, and to build upon our enviable global reputation.
In striving for this, I am committed to strengthening industry partnerships, accelerating innovation, and driving research that delivers tangible benefits for communities, businesses, and Aotearoa New Zealand’s future prosperity.
I look forward to welcoming you to our extraordinary whānau and applauding your academic success at your graduation. Your journey starts here at the University of Otago and your destiny is wherever your ambition will take you.
Professor Charles Brennan
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Sciences