Meeting commenced at 1:03pm (NZDT)
Present: Robert McLachlan (Massey), Sal Lampkin (Chair; Massey), Sherry Tseng (Otago), Charlie Potter (Admin; Massey), Sylvia Nissen (Lincoln), Bronwyn Hayward (Canterbury) Carla Pascoe Leahy (University of Tasmania), James Higham (Otago University), Leanne Morrison (University of Tasmania), Lynda Johnston (Waikato University)
Apologies: Brendan Moyle (Massey), Jan Evans-Freeman (Canterbury), Tim Ryley (Griffith), Susanne Becken (Griffith), Sarah Boddington (Australian National University), Alessandra Capezio (Australian National University), Simon McCallum (Victoria)
Karakia
Chair Welcome and Update
The Chair welcomed Leanne Morrison and Carla Pascoe Leahy from the University of Tasmania.
The Chair Update included the role of the actions/contact lists, meeting recordings, updated website URL (now auatc.org), plans to track changes in the Member University Activities document six-monthly, and a request for a logo design for AUATC.
Letter to Funding Bodies
Members read through a draft letter inviting New Zealand funding bodies to a meeting with the Consortium about current academic air travel practices. The letter outlines who the AUATC is, what its goals are, and the desire to discuss future actions with them. The group agreed to focus on New Zealand funders first, with a view to extending to Australian funding bodies afterwards. It was noted that the Australian Research Council is currently reforming, so there could be opportunity to influence that process. The Consortium discussed the need for a wide demographic presence in meetings with funders; an Australian representative would also be preferable.
Key contacts/ agencies
Members agreed that the diagram showing the aero mobility system model needs to be completed.
Updates re letter to political parties
There were no updates regarding a letter to political parties on behalf of AUATC.
AUATC into 2023
The Consortium discussed the role of AUATC into 2023. This included:
- Building on the general guidelines for travel in order to create specific international air travel guidelines with practical advice.
- Focusing on solutions rather than problems and the inequity issues within academic international air travel.
- Integrating individual institutional travel policy guidelines within the Consortium.
- Developing guidance specifically at department and faculty level.
- Ensuring future AUATC travel guidelines are informed and strengthened by academic research and university internal surveys.
- Exploring the ‘paradox’ of wanting to lower carbon emissions and adhere to government goals, whilst being encouraged by the business sector to hold conferences and attract visitors from overseas.
AUATC 2023 online event
The Consortium discussed the proposed event, including:
- The audience/speakers (Australasia or further afield; academic and/or other sectors).
- Finalising a date asap, to communicate with funding bodies at proposed meeting.
- Hosting a panel of experts and transcribing their discussions for subsequent dissemination and dialogue.
AOB
A few members attended the online Stockholm Insitute workshop ‘Exploring Low Flying Academia’.
The Consortium extended thanks to Sherry Tseng, who has just submitted her PhD and another member is required to take over the role of updating the Member University Activities document from 2023.
The possibility was raised of member institutions working in a partnership with an external software consultant on the introduction of a product to manage travel data.
A member has contacted the New Zealand universities from which academics travel to Antarctica, about the emissions related to that travel.
A member has been awarded funding to develop a new conference scheduling tool, over the next four months.
Date of next meeting
Mon 5 December, 1pm – 2pm (NZDT)
Meeting closed at 2:00pm (NZDT)