Research Bank
Not a member yet
5195 research outputs found
Sort by
Rethinking stuff: Toward an urban bio-regional materiality
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION
How can rethinking urban architectural materiality inform climate responsive architecture?
ABSTRACT
This design research project started with the problem of materials and their role in climate change. The research question “How can urban architectural materiality inform climate responsive architecture?” guided the investigation.
The research process progressively refined this large-scale problem into a design solution. It began by identifying a lack of urban buildings whose materials respond to climate change and considering the multiple harms of conventional building materials and practices. Authors such as Material Cultures, Bruce King and Chris Magwood identify materials made from plants as a solution to the harmful effects of conventional materials on the planet, local environment and people. Education and demonstration were key actions developed from the literature review and analysis of relevant buildings and organisational structures.
Through precedents and literature, options for producing urban bio-regional materials were interrogated. The project mostly swaps out conventional materials for bio-regional materials; however, scaling up handmaking is another option used minimally in the design. A prominent urban site was chosen for its opportunity to demonstrate bioregional materials in an urban context. Once the site was chosen, the Tāmaki Makaurau region was analysed for its available resources and technology. Resources were found to be abundant, but all needed appropriate management. Technology was underdeveloped; therefore, the design aspired to showcase and advance bio-regional technology in Tāmaki Makaurau.
The final project was designed to demonstrate the plausibility, sensory and material qualities of bio-regional materials in an urban context. Another function of the building was disseminating knowledge of bioregional materials to the widest audience possible. The hub building serves this process by revealing and drawing passersby into this plantbased material condition and holding a wide range of educational functions to advocate for the use of these materials in the region
Integrated energy systems modeling with multi-criteria decision analysis and stakeholder engagement for identifying a sustainable energy transition
No full textThe aim of this paper is to present a decision support system (DSS) to capture the complexity of the transition of a national energy system to net zero in the context of multiple sustainability themes. The paper proposes an integrated assessment framework that combines dynamic systems modeling, sustainability indicators, and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) with direct stakeholder involvement. To illustrate the use of the DSS, the paper compares bundles of climate change policies that aim to decarbonize the road transport sector in Iceland. Eighteen scenarios and alternative development trajectories are defined for the Icelandic energy system based on a combi nation of three main driving forces. These are, firstly, economic development (three cases); secondly, changes in energy efficiency (two cases); and finally, three climate policy bundles aimed at increas ing the share of electric vehicles. Based on the results from the integrated assessment framework, the performance scores of the climate policy bundles are compared across the following five sustainability themes: social impact; economic development; environmental impact; energy security; and technical aspects. The findings confirm that a different conclusion may be reached when multiple sustainability themes are applied in the selection of preferred policy bundles as compared to conventional techno-economic criteria. Banning the registration of fossil-fueled vehicles, combined with economic instruments, offers the best decarbonizing strategy to reach climate and energy policy goals simultaneously
New Zealand veterinary discharge processes
No full textDISCHARGE PROCESSES
• Code of Professional Conduct:
• Veterinarians should consider how to best communicate information to the client. It can be helpful to support verbal explanations with written information, use of white boards, anatomical atlas to illustrate procedures etc. This is especially important for post-operative home care information.
• No further guidelines or recommendations
Current processes of discharging patients from the clinic in New Zealand is unknown
Aim:
• To investigate small animal discharge processes in New Zealand veterinary clinics
• Who
• Where
• How
• Wha
Weaving space, knowledge and community together: Embracing equity, diversity and inclusion at Unitec Library
No full textTe Puna - The Hub
Co-located services & access for all
Sustainable design of our modern library
Māori & Pacific indigenous knowledge
Lessons learned for equitable outcomes
Te Puna is the central hub for ākonga (learners) and kaimahi (staff) at Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka - Unitec campus at Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. “Puna” means spring, and the student hub has been designed to celebrate the Wairaka stream and its spring – Te Wai Unuroa o Wairaka. The spring remains alive on campus to this day, serving not only as an important cultural landmark, but also as a metaphor for holistic wellbeing - physical, spiritual and mental nourishment for our ākonga. Te Puna as a space exemplifies a multi-purpose, co-located services model situated at the heart of the campus. It houses a plethora of services and resources, including the library and other “Student Success” services such as Māori, Pacific, disability services, Ask Me desk, counselling, support drop-in (IT helpdesk, career, security and learning advisors), enrolment, international, scholarships and student support. Additionally, it features collaborative learning classrooms, food vendors, events and student kitchen. Te Puna won the Auckland Architecture awards in 2018 for its innovative and modern development of a community hub. The building’s interior brings in the elements of sustainability and stunning architectural design that encompasses inclusive space for all akonga. Over the years, the resilient library and student services teams have partnered with the maintenance team to work through some new building concerns. The outcomes have been positive, resulting in an eco-friendlier environment with efficient use of space for a modern library and a functional community hub for the campus. Guided by Unitec’s Te Noho Kotahitanga values, Te Puna plays an important role in fostering cultural and social belonging, catering to the diverse community of kaimahi and ākonga. The uniqueness of our special collections, Te Kohinga Māori and Pacific Collection, the use of Māori subject headings (Ngā Upoko Tukutuku) and Māori and Pacific specialist staff are effective examples of sustainable practices that ensure we continue to embed indigenous knowledge into our services and delivery
Shaping of andragogy for an immigrant teacher educator in Aotearoa
No full text"Chole jae kuashai-tobu jani prithibir vire harabo na tare ami-she je achee amar e banglar tire" -Das (1934, as cited in Das, 2022)
A quote from a poem in Bangla by the author Jibonananda Das (The theme stands for someone's connection to the birth land to be paramount even when the world gets filled with crowds and mists)
Teaching is a complex process. The shaping of the process varies in individuals. One example of such is explained here which would demonstrate that beliefs and practice revolve around each other within the local and individual contexts. This retlextion narrates an early childhood teacher educator's journey of understanding and applying practices of adult teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand. I analyse and describe the factors that contribute to the philosophy and practices that characterise my understanding of teaching adults
Translating unseen truths through painting
Get PDFBeing fully present in the moment is arguably one of the most essential aspects of life. It is about experiencing each second, each breath, and each sensation as they unfold. In a world where distractions abound, focusing on the here and now becomes a powerful antidote to the noise that often fills our minds and lives. Consequently, my creative practice is devoted to capturing the essence of those precious fleeting moments of being that emerge as impressions of the surrounding world.
Through the creating of an abstract image, the use of colours and fluid, seamless forms in delicate layers of acrylic inks, I try to embody the elusive nature of the reality that slips away with each passing breath. The unprimed canvas and the translucent use of acrylic paint allow colours to merge naturally, capturing the essence of existence. The choice of materials is deliberate, as raw canvas facilitates acrylic paint to behave naturally, evoking associative connections to the depicted moment. Moreover, the visual simplicity in my paintings eliminates excess, emphasising only the core elements. Applying thin layers of acrylic inks and fluids one after another, seeing how they absorb into the raw canvas and dry with fading vividness, enables me to embrace fresh creative insights and personal revelations. While not telling the whole story, my minimalistic paintings are filled with various meanings, and the canvas is considered a contemplative space rather than merely a surface for pictorial representation. The paintings become panoramic snapshots of the sublime reality, ephemeral and transien
Embedding mātauranga Māori in computing courses: A case study
No full textThis paper discusses how to embed mātauranga Māori in computing courses to increase the awareness of ākonga (students) regarding Māori beliefs, language and practices. The study has been driven by the low scoring of the statement regarding embedding Māori beliefs, language and practices in the course survey conducted by Unitec for the School of Computing, Electrical and Applied Technology.
The paper considers different methods provided by Unitec to embed mātauranga Māori in teaching and learning, such Te Noho Kotahitanga, I See Me initiatives, and others. The paper then looks at how to apply these methods in computing through a case study of one of the courses in the New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 5) (NZDIS). The case study discusses the approaches that are currently used, then it moves to how these approaches can be improved, as well as applying new ones. The aim is to apply these proposed approaches through Semester 2 2023, to get the results in the course survey by the end of that semester. The expectation is that the applied approaches will increase the awareness of ākonga of how they feel that Māori beliefs, language and practices are embedded throughout their computing courses. The proposed approaches here can be considered as a reference to embed mātauranga Māori in other IT courses
Training load and technical performance
No full textPhysical training methods implemented by strength and conditioning coaches within team sport environments are becoming more methodical and advanced with the growth of sport. To better prepare their athletes, it is becoming increasingly important for practitioners to understand how these methods impact technical, tactical, and psychological components of team performance. The aim of this thesis was to identify and understand any patterns between physical and technical performance within the sport of football. A systematic review of current literature highlighted the common game-related statistics analysed in football (soccer) and the training load indicators collected alongside them. The review also identified the most relevant game-related statistics and training load indicators for sport scientists to utilise in football. The review revealed the lack of research on the relationship between physical and technical performance in team sports. The main study of this thesis was an observational study with the focus on the changes in team training load indicators and their influence on amateur adult football team technical performance. The results of this study demonstrated that there was no clear relationship between team training load indicators and team technical performance. It is suggested by the researcher for future investigations to incorporate individualised metrics of physical and technical performance when attempting to understand the relationship between these components. The results of this thesis reinforce the concept of performance in team sport being a complex system, with various influential factors on match outcomes. Further research is needed to understand the influences between training load and technical performance
Assessment validity in the era of AI generative tools
No full textAI Generative tools, a recent disruptive educational technology, are expected to change how education is delivered and administered. This study proposes a risk identification framework to support educators in identifying assessment integrity risks caused by AI Generative tools. The framework also suggests possible actions to mitigate these risks. The proposed framework uses four factors (Assessment Type, AI Knowledge, Course Level, and Cognitive Level Requirements) to identify the risks associated with an assessment resulting from AI Generative tools usage. It is critical to have such a framework to ensure the integrity of assessments while the education industry adapts to the AI Generative tools era
Siderophore production in fungi from asbestos biofilms: The first step towards bioremediation of a carcinogenic mineral
No full textAsbestos refers to six types of fibrous, silicate minerals, historically used for a wide range of household, commercial and industrial applications. Asbestos exposure is known to cause diseases such as asbestosis, pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer, and is responsible for around 220 deaths per year in Aotearoa / New Zealand. Asbestos is disposed of using a designated hazardous landfill facility, an expensive and unsustainable practice. As an alternative, research has focused on bioremediation to manage asbestos contamination. Bioremediation research has shown that asbestos fibres can be partially degraded, and surface reactivity decreased, by the activity of iron-chelating siderophores, produced by some fungi and bacteria. This paper presents initial results of siderophore-detecting chrome azurol S (CAS)-agar plate assays on mycobiota collected from biofilms from asbestos-containing building products in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland and natural asbestos mineral deposits in Kahurangi National Park, northwest of Whakatū / Nelson