Three new professors announced

University of WaikatoVice-Chancellor, Professor Neil Quigley today shared the appointment of some distinguished academic staff to the role of Professor, including Sandy Morrison.

"As we continue work to weave mātauranga Māori into the heart of our research and teaching, I am confident our new Professors will help provide the vision and leadership we need to maintain momentum," Professor Quigley says.

Professor Sandy Morrison (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rarua, Te Arawa) centres her research on climate change, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, adult education and Indigenous development.

She leads Te Tai Uka a Pia (iwi relationships with the Southern and Antarctic Oceans), a project in the Vision Mātauranga programme of The Deep South National Science Challenge, and was also part of the Culture and Climate Change project. She is the Vision Mātauranga lead for the Deep South Challenge: Changing with our climate, and is a steering group member of the Antarctic Science Platform.

She has also held global roles in adult education, advocating for the right of all adults to education and lifelong learning, and was inducted into the International Adult and Community Education Hall of Fame by the University of Oklahoma in 2009.

Professor Morrison will also continue in her role as Acting Dean of Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao.

Read the full announcement and how mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) can improve our understanding of pressing issues facing the Antarctica.