Our TEAM

Executive Team

Te Ao Mārama is headed by a fantastic team of ground breaking leaders in a diverse range of fields.
PROFESSOR KATHY CAMPBELL

PROFESSOR KATHY CAMPBELL

School of Environment, Faculty of Science

PROFESSOR RICHARD EASTHER

PROFESSOR RICHARD EASTHER

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science

DR DANIEL HIKUROA

DR DANIEL HIKUROA

Māori Studies, Faculty of Arts

DR NICHOLAS RATTENBURY

DR NICHOLAS RATTENBURY

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science

DR EMILY PARKE

DR EMILY PARKE

School of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts

We are explorers

We are a team of educators interested in questions that promise to transcend disciplinary boundaries: what is the origin of life? Is our own universe part of a much larger multiverse? What types of planets circle other stars in our galaxy?

Other Team Members

DR MICHAEL ROWE

DR MICHAEL ROWE

School of Environment, Faculty of Science

DR JOHN CATER

DR JOHN CATER

Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering

DR MATTHEW EGBERT

DR MATTHEW EGBERT

Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science

DR KIM HANDLEY

DR KIM HANDLEY

School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science

PROFESSOR ANTHONY POOLE

PROFESSOR ANTHONY POOLE

School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science

Associate PROFESSOR Jan Eldridge

Associate PROFESSOR Jan Eldridge

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science

Dr Nobuto Takeuchi

Dr Nobuto Takeuchi

School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science

PETER WILLS

PETER WILLS

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science

Associate Professor Christine Woods

Associate Professor Christine Woods

Faculty of Business and Economics

Professor David Noone

Professor David Noone

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science

Associate Professor Kerry Loomes

Associate Professor Kerry Loomes

Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science

Our Students

Postgraduate

  • Michaela Dobson, PhD Geology, works with Director Kathy Campbell and Dr. Michael Rowe, Geology/ Astrobiology. Michaela studies the Earliest Evidence of Life on land and possible life on other planets. 
  • Kitty Sriaporn, PhD Microbiology, works with Dr Kim Handley and Director Kathy Campbell, Microbiology/ Astrobiology/ Extreme Life. Kitty looks at hot spring microbiology and their genetic adaptations to temperature, and how this relates to the origin of life.
  • Isabella Kite, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science, works with Dr. Matthew Egbert, Computer Science/ Neuroscience. Isabella uses a VR environment to perform common psychology experiments used for studying cognitive control and to create a testing ground for the collection of data on the manual dynamics of the body.
  • Amelia Cordwell, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics, works with Dr. Nick Rattenbury, Physics/Astrophysics. Amelia applies data from a microlensing survey telescope to identify the physical properties of asteroids in our solar system.
  • Ema Nersezova, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Earth Science, working with Director Kathy Campbell and Dr. Michael Rowe. Ema studies the textural and mechanical properties of hot spring digitate sinters with a broader context of sampling possible digitate sinter samples at Columbia Hills, Mars

Undergradute

  • Samantha Abbott, Summer Research Student, works with Director Kathy Campbell, Geology/ Extreme Life. Samantha participated in a Summer Research Scholarship mapping Hot Spring deposits at Hells Gate/ Tikitere and relating this possible Hot Spring deposits on Mars.
  • Stevie Katavich-Barton, Summer Research Student, works with Director Kathy Campbell and Dr Nick Rattenbury, Outreach/ Geology/ Physics.  Stevie articipated in a Summer Research Scholarship creating Astrobiology Outreach material for school students. She is also very passonate about Astrophysics.
  • Lalita Garg, Reseach Assistant, works with Director Kathy Campbell, Geology. Lalita developes 3D models of Astrobiology realated outcrops for Outreach and teaching purposes.

Past Students

  • Ayrton Hamilton, PhD in Geology, works with Director Kathy Campbell, Geology/ Minerology. Ayrton evaluates the link between siliceous sinters and mineralisation at depth.