In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the University of Waikato hosted its first-ever TEDx event last night.
TEDxUniversity of Waikato brought together 100 guests at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts to hear from a range of academics speaking on some of the world’s most challenging issues.
The event featured speakers from various disciplines within the University community, ranging from emerging researchers to established experts. The identities and topics of the speakers were not revealed until the night of the event, allowing guests to be surprised, entertained and open to being tested with new ideas and fresh thinking.
L-R: Professor Gary Wilson, Professor Jason Mika, Dr Amanda Williamson, Professor Iain White, Dr Marie Magnusson, Dr Luke Harrington, Dr Jesse Whitehead
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Gary Wilson says the world around us is changing in a more visible way than ever, bringing with it complex challenges like climate change, social justice, biodiversity loss, and sustainability.
“Our unique perspectives and collaborative approach are connecting knowledge with communities and industry for a better world,” Professor Wilson says.
“Our research is global; it’s reaching international communities. We’re providing more direct access to the knowledge for the economy to build on and we’re connected to the wider changing demographic of the nation.”
Dr Jesse Whitehead
Opening the floor was Dr Jesse Whitehead, Senior Research Fellow at Te Ngira Institute for Population Research. His TED talk was on the integration of people and place in health research and how enhancing outcomes for citizens and re-contextualising past data can lead to transformative insights.
Dr Amanda Williamson
Senior Lecturer in Innovation and Strategy Dr Amanda Williamson’s research explores how artificial intelligence is poised to transform our work environments, examining both its potential and the challenges ahead.
Dr Luke Harrington
New Zealand – and the world – face increasing likelihood of severe climate events. Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sciences Dr Luke Harrington discussed how bridging the science of climate change with existing patterns of extreme weather can better prepare New Zealanders for ongoing challenges.
Professor Jason Mika
Professor Jason Mika (Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Kahungunu), Associate Dean of Māori in the Management Pro Vice-Chancellor’s office, spoke about the concept and practice of reciprocity, focusing on how Indigenous values can help change the way we achieve sustainability and wellbeing as a value and practice drawn from Māori ways of thinking and doing.
Dr Marie Magnusson
Seaweed is a unique form of life, with the potential to revolutionise global food production. Dr Marie Magnusson from the School of Science shared how New Zealand’s seaweed industry could boost plants’ natural defences against a variety of pathogens, protecting them from disease and the impacts of climate change.
Her research is supported by a $11.4m Endeavour Fund grant from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Professor Iain White
The evening concluded with Professor Iain White, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Impact, who explored the ongoing challenges faced by researchers today and the crucial interplay between policy, funding, and research.
With attendance capped at 100 due to TEDx licensing requirements, the University plans to use this inaugural event as a springboard for more frequent gatherings with larger audiences in the future.
This article will be updated with links to videos of the talks once they are made available on the TED platform.