Meeting commenced at 1:02pm (NZDT)
Present: Sherry Tseng (Otago), Leanne Morrison (Tasmania), Carla Pascoe Leahy (Tasmania), Gillian Lewis (Auckland), Sal Lampkin (Chair; Massey), Charlie Potter (Admin; Massey), Robert McLachlan (Massey), Anita Wreford (Lincoln), Jan Evans-Freeman (Canterbury)
Apologies: Brendan Moyle (Massey), Lynda Johnstone (Waikato), Susanne Becken (Griffith), Tim Ryley (Griffith), Sarah Boddington (ANU), Alessandra Capezio (ANU), James Higham (Otago)
Karakia
Introductions
Professor Anita Wreford from Lincoln University was welcomed.
NZ funding bodies meetings
Three members updated the Consortium with key take-aways from the funding bodies online meetings in mid-December 2022. All four Agencies (MBIE, TEC, RSTA, HRC) are keen to work with the Consortium and a range of soft and hard solutions was discussed.
AUATC members discussed the next steps:
- A second meeting mid 2023
- Impact of current Agencies policies on academic air travel and the option of communicating points to the Agencies to guide their thinking, incl. connecting with ARC
- Consider reaching out to other tertiary sector stakeholders such as Professional Bodies/ Associations.
AUATC Symposium 2023
For the Symposium to proceed in August/September 2023, an organizing committee from 3 or 4 institutions is required. Viability will be confirmed to members within the next three weeks.
Members discussed the Symposium aims, confirming the event will be solutions-focused, aimed at a broad audience, and focus on lower carbon transport and energy alternatives widely.
System Elements Table
Work to extend this Table continues, initially by being distributed and populated by members.
Survey Template
Development of a staff travel survey template continues, aiming to be available on the AUATC website later this year.
AOB
The Consortium needs a member to update the air travel related work activities document.
A Deputy Chair is still required, and the Terms of Reference are to be updated in April.
A reminder to update the contact details on the shared list.
Update on the ‘Is academic air travel affecting career development in the post-COVID-19 era? Assessing the impact of perception of climate change’ research project. This project is led by Massey’s School of Aviation, with two member universities in the research team.
The use of nudges for behavioural change was discussed.
A new initiative from EAUC Scotland, et al. was mentioned, Plane Talk. A platform where people can ask questions and exchange know-how about sustainable academic travel and research.
Members were invited to sign an open letter about the proposed airport at Tarras, Otago.
University funded vs. externally funded air travel was discussed, and the limited influence universities currently have with regards to externally funded travel.
The need to include carbon data within department financial budgets was discussed, helping university staff understand how much carbon activities produce.
Date of next meeting
Wednesday 5 April 2023, 1pm – 2pm (NZDT)
Meeting closed at 1:59pm (NZDT)