9.30am – 1.20am (Intro to UC will run first at all sessions from 9.30-10)
Uni101: With so many options to choose from and different terminology used it’s not surprising that university can seem like a big leap from high school, with you asking questions such as: - How is a degree structured? What’s the difference between a double degree and a double major? What support is available to me? Students, parents and whānau are invited to this session given by the UC Liaison team who will answer these questions and many more.
Exciting Electrons! Energy and Entertainment: Electrons: A Haiku, Electrons move fast, They orbit the nucleus, Negatively charged. There is much more to electrons than this though! All the properties of the elements that we observe, all the chemical reactions that take place, all the observations we can make about chemistry really comes back to where the electrons are relative to each other and the nucleus. We exist because of electrostatic interactions (between the positively charged nucleus and the negatively charged electrons), and there are specific energy changes that take place when we move these electrons about. Come along and find out more about what happens when we excite electrons and how this relates to your smartphones!
Adventures of chocolate: Have you ever wondered where a chocolate bar comes from? Explore the supply chain of the world’s most favourite treat with the Professor Diane Mollenkopf who will help you understand the exciting global journey of your favourite chocolate bar.
Moving Forward, Rolling Back: How Shifts in Transport can Shift Climate Change: Transport is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand. What can we do to reduce transport emissions, while ensuring people (and goods…) can still get around? We’ll examine this issue with a particular focus on ’future’ transport and the ways that Geographers help find solutions that make cities more sustainable and liveable.
How can civil engineers help Aotearoa achieve its 2050 net-zero goal?: It is important for our economy to transition to net-zero. Quickly. We, as Civil and Natural Resources Engineers, play a fundamental role in designing and implementing that shift. We design green buildings and cities, renewable energy systems, sustainable transportation, and clean water for Earth and soon, Mars. This talk will explore some of the recent research works undertaken by Civil and Natural Resources Engineers so we can become a greener Aotearoa.
The truth about fake news: All users of social media face a challenge in sifting out untrustworthy, poor-quality information. Professional journalists have a particular challenge, because of their power to shape the public. How do they judge quality and verify information? This session introduces you to some of the questions and tools journalists ask of some of those stories and quotes that are too good to be true.
What if Nutrition Could Treat Mental Illness?: Over the last decade, scientists have been uncovering an uncomfortable truth: what we eat is affecting our mental health. Professor Rucklidge will discuss the data that shows how food choices serve as risk factors to all kinds of psychiatric problems and will introduce the recent paradigm shift of using nutrients to treat these challenges, reviewing the evidence to date.
The converging Industries of Game and Film: As long as the video games and film industries have co-existed, games and movies have gone hand in hand. From the 1982 "Raiders of the Lost Ark" video game adaptation of the Indiana Jones movie, through to the Tetris movie due to be released in 2023, characters, stories, and worlds have long been shared between the two forms of media. More recently, these two industries are becoming increasingly intertwined: in December 2021, video game development platform Unity purchased Weta Digital for US$1.625 billion, and the Unreal game platform has been increasing used in creating TV shows and movies, including Disney's "The Mandalorian" and the 2022 film "The Batman". In this talk, we will be looking at how these industries have converged, and what it may mean for the future of entertainment media.
UCE Tour
At the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE) we connect, challenge, and support our students and staff as they build capabilities in entrepreneurship and innovation.
10.30am – 11.50am
Motion in Action: Discovering the World: Ever wondered how the motions of the natural world can be harnessed for human benefit? From the lift of wings that allow airplanes to soar, to the flow of lava that shapes the earth and everyday human activities. Motion is all around us! Join us to explore the vast and fascinating world of motion, delving into how mechanical and mechatronics engineers measure, analyse and control the mechanics and dynamics of real-world systems. Learn how this understanding of motion leads to the development of new technologies and innovations that improve our lives, from space travel to state-of-the-art medical innovations. So, come discover the world of motion with us. Let's get things moving!
Killer robots and Killer Hackers: With the advent of Chat GPT, Alpha Go, and self-piloting delivery drones, the technologies of artificial intelligence and robotics are rapidly coming of age. They are poised to completely transform how the world works. This lecture focuses on the potential these technologies have to put enormous destructive power in the hands of ‘lone wolf’ hackers and terrorists. What can society do to stop this from happening?
How history shapes the present’: Interested in learning more about history and how it has impacted society today? Come along to explore these ideas.
Musical Sculpture: Ever wanted to compose your own music but don’t know how to start? This session is for you!
The F-word: How to scientifically mix stuff!: Every day we use a huge range of products that all have one thing in common: the “f-word”! These products include personal care, agricultural products, paints and adhesives and more. In this session you will get an overview of how we use science, design and engineering to mix ingredients to create these products.
Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery: Medicinal chemistry is the link between lab-based synthetic chemistry and the real world of health care, prescription medicines and pharmaceuticals. As a medicinal chemistry student, you will be equipped for a career in pharmaceutical science, a field that ranges from fighting infectious diseases to solving antibiotic resistance and biotechnology.
Time for a health check!: Health is becoming more about wellness and prevention, with a stronger focus on community. From health education to physical activity and public health, learn how healthcare professionals are taking action to solve real-world issues in society.
Amazing Asia - China, Japan & their languages: Come along and learn some intriguing facts about China, Japan and their languages
UC Māori: UC Māori offers support, advice and guidance for all ākonga Māori studying at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC).
'Bloomberg Trading + Court Moot Room tour
A tour of the Bloom Trading room as well as the Moot room
11.10am – 11.30am
Fast Fashion to Fast Trash: the Environmental Impact of Clothing Waste: Rethinking your wardrobe is an action everyone can take towards reducing adverse environmental outcomes. In this session I will outline how clothing waste contributes to climate change and chemical contamination.
'Exploring the Unexpected: Economics + Decision making: Discover how economics challenges the assumption of rationality through the lens of behavioural economics, revealing the surprising nature of our decision-making processes.
Bad grammar is just laziness: debunking language myths and linguistics: Bad grammar is just laziness, everyone sounds American because they watch American TV shows and I don’t have an accent – these are all examples of language myths and associated language attitudes. In this class we’ll explore some of these popular ideas about language, debunking the myths and raising your awareness of your own covert language attitudes.
"It's alive! It's alive!": In this session we look at the legacy of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. What can we learn from her literary representation of monstrosity? How has her work influenced modern day monsters?
Would It Stop a Bullet? - A closer look at modern day body armour: Modern Day body armour has come a long way since the armoured suits championed by our ancestors. The evolution of armour is driven not just by the demands of warfare, but by the additional dynamics in technological and material advances, with environmental challenges and usability requirements heavily factored in. This session looks at the composition and design of modern-day body armour which aims to balance out all of these variables, but when the chips are down, is it truly reliable?
Data Science Forecasting our Future: The world is changing rapidly – from our climate, to our health, to the way we interact with one another. Further, technological advances have meant that we now have access to vast quantities of data which tell us huge amounts about almost every aspect of our lives – how climate is changing, how our genomes are changing and responding to our environments, how our daily interactions with each other shape us. This lecture covers why we need data scientists in order to understand how these changes might impact on our futures and help us predict how these changes will impact us, our communities and our global population.
How will Chemical Engineers Save the World: There are many challenges facing our world today, such as climate change, pollution, and resource depletion. Come find out how Chemical Engineers can help save the world from these crises, by efficiently and sustainably turning raw materials into fuels, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and energy.
The Golem revolution: living in the age of AI: In ancient time, it is believed that Golems could be animated from rituals and godly verses. Nowadays, "intelligent" devices can give access to a whole world of possibilities. But how far are we from creating actual intelligent software or machines? What are the ethical implications of using AI tools for our everyday (home) work?
UC Pasifika: Join us for an interactive session where you’ll find out what belonging to our Pasifika UC community looks like, play games, meet current Pasifika students and learn more about the support that is available at UC to ensure that our students are successful!
Fine arts tour: Passionate about visual arts, multimedia, and design? See our purpose-built studios and hear information about the Bachelor of Fine Arts.
11.40am – 12.00pm
Do you see yourself as a social justice advocate?: Criminal Justice draws together people from the Police, psychologists, courts and legal services, and the community, while overseeing areas such as criminal law and procedure, sentencing and the treatment of offenders and victims. Learn about applying a sense of justice and basic principles of fairness, understanding the causes and correlations of crime, and how criminal law systems operate in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Counting everything: Spilling the beans and dispelling a myth: Have you ever counted beans? Nor have most accountants. Why would they when there is so much more rich and exciting things to do? Come along to discover why accountants are really full of beans and are involved in everything - which makes for great courses, exciting prospects, and happy people!
Astronomy on Ice: A Polar window to the high-energy Universe
The secret lives of trees: Trees are among the oldest and largest organisms on the planet. They can live for thousands of years and grow taller than a 25 storey building. Come find out what other secrets they keep and how they contribute to human well-being
The EU Explained and why you should care: What is the place of Europe in the changing world? Will Europe’s actions regarding Ukraine have an impact? What is the future of the European Union after Brexit? What impact will Europe and the EU have on New Zealand and the Indo Pacific? Is there a benefit for New Zealand to work with Europe and the EU? Come to our session to find out!
Global Climate Change - electrifying hope: In a worldwide effort to address climate change, sustainable energy systems have a crucial role to play. This talk looks at what electrical engineers are doing to help create a brighter future.
How can we get more children playing sport?: Sport changes lives and, for many of us, provides some incredibly rewarding experiences. Yet, over-training, early adoption, and a focus on ‘winning at all costs’ is turning children away from sports. In this session, we will look at the motivations and barriers to the involvement of children in sport, and what some are doing to find enjoyment in non-traditional alternatives.
The Social Science of Sociology: Studying people and society while gaining the intellectual tools to better understand the world
Key information session for International Students taking NCEA: Come and learn about what types of exciting majors are offered at UC and the key points of how to gain entry to UC through NCEA.
Fine arts tour continued
1.00pm – 1.20pm
Law is all around us!: Through the study of Law, you learn how to think critically, analyse complex facts and issues, and persuade by logical argument. Law provides a comprehensive grounding in working with statutes, cases and other legal material. Learn about the Law in its wider social, political and historical contexts.
Is the 100% Pure NZ brand fact or fiction:
Inspire young minds through play: Your teaching journey begins with you thinking about who you are as a learner, the type of teacher you want to be, and the unique talents you bring to teaching. How will you inspire and excite the children you work with? In this session you will discover some of your hidden talents and how you can use these to get the most out of any learning experience.
Solving Big Problems Through Biochemistry: Biochemistry is at the cutting edge of contemporary science, research, and industry. Biochemical innovation is critical in adding value to Aotearoa New Zealand's agricultural production, advancing medicine, and understanding the fundamentals of the biological world around us. It brings together chemistry, physics and molecular biology with a view to understanding the chemistry of life and provides basic insight into biological processes such as enzyme action, drug discovery and design, the molecular basis for disease, gene expression and control, and food biochemistry.
'A Day in the Life of an Impact Biologist': Biologists here at UC pride themselves on conducting biological research that has impact, from biodiversity to biomedicine. Today, one of these ‘impact biologists’ will show how research makes a difference and helps support conservation efforts in Aotearoa.
Oceania is Us: We shouldn’t be defined by the smallness of our Islands…we sweat and cry saltwater tears…we are not drowning, we are surviving… Why we should flip the script!
Why so serious? Media and Mental Health: Joaquin Phoenix’s 2019 portrayal of the Joker was award-winning, but also contentious. Critics have claimed it perpetuates prejudice toward those with mental illnesses. Is there anything to that claim? Statistics provides the tools to investigate further.
Sustainability: How we can make a difference: Our world is facing tough issues including growing poverty and climate change, how can we make a difference?
Inequality and Child Poverty in New Zealand: Aotearoa New Zealand suffers from one of the highest rates of child poverty among western nations. One in nine children are living without adequate food, stable housing, and opportunities that are necessary to build a secure future. Meanwhile, the wealthiest 10% of New Zealand’s population own nearly 60% of the nation's wealth.
Is poverty a form of violence? Are there possible solutions for child poverty?
Witchcraft, magic and the dead: WitchCraft, Magic and the Dead? In this session we will challenge what you know about witch craft, magic and the dead!
1.30pm – 1.50pm
Explore and Preserve our Changing Planet: Volcanoes and more: Aotearoa/NZ has epic volcanic landscapes, rocks, fossils and resources. Studying geology will help you get a career with potential for working outdoors and travelling and that looks after our planet and the future of our society.
Data driven: How Technology is Revolutionizing Health and Criminology: Are you ready to explore a world of endless possibilities where data and technology are the keys to making a real impact on society? From saving lives to catching criminals, the power of Information Systems and Data Analytics knows no bounds. With this rapidly growing field, you can be at the forefront of innovation and play a crucial role in shaping the future. Join us to discover how you can use technology and data to make a difference in the world and unlock a rewarding career in Information Systems and Data Analytics
Young leaders will navigate our waka to new horizons: How do you prepare for a world that is rapidly changing? Issues such as climate change, pandemics, sustainability, equitable access and representation are modern challenges that have global and local consequences. Addressing them requires collaborative and participatory models of leadership – we explore how and why youth and community leaders play a significant role in shaping and guiding this process.
Speech-Language Therapy: The Importance of Human Communication: Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you were unable to speak? How does speech and language develop? What happens when speech and language development is interrupted for some reason? What if adults lose their ability to speak? These are just some of the questions Speech and Language Therapists work on as they help people with difficulties learn how to speak or regain abilities lost.
The Oscar for best picture: On May 16, 1929 the first Academy Awards were presented at a banquet held in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Did they get it right?
Fakes and Forgeries in Art History: This short lecture looks at some interesting stories of fakes and forgery in the history of art, and asks: Does originality matter? Are fakes or forgeries necessarily bad?
Social Work: Interested in working with people? Come along and find out how social work can create change for individuals, families, communities and society.
A taste of Political Science and International Relations: Political Science is the study of power and society and how decisions are made by who, and for what purpose. To understand politics is to be able to understand how to impact our world, our nations, and our local communities.
From text messages to hieroglyphs: Classical Studies in the 21st Century: It’s in our nature as humans to communicate with each other. Today we take reading, writing and instant communication for granted, but this result was millennia in the making. This session looks at the way we have communicated for the past 2000 years, using real objects from the Logie Collection.
'Storytelling for the Digital Screen: An introduction to narrative design, storytelling and building fictional worlds across different forms of media, including game and film. We’ll look at the role of narrative designers on modern screen productions and share some of the creative work done by UC students exploring different forms of interactive storytelling.
