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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nNow firmly established as a highlight on the school\u2019s calendar, the symposium has grown each year since its inception in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2025 programme featured plenary talks, staff and student research presentations, industry networking sessions, and poster displays covering a wide range of topics\u2014from environmental conservation and biodiversity to veterinary nursing, animal health, and human behaviour change in environmental contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It drew a diverse mix of participants, including undergraduate and postgraduate students, early-career researchers, and established academics, alongside \u0101konga from AUT, University of Waikato, and University of Auckland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The symposium also featured presentations from Auckland Zoo and Auckland Council, which reflected the school\u2019s strong commitment to collaboration with industry stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thenest.unitec.ac.nz\/TheNestWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/zDr-Sarah-Killick--300x225.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThis year\u2019s keynote speaker Dr Sarah Killick, Principal Biosecurity Advisor at Auckland Council and a Bachelor of Applied Science graduate, shared insights into the challenges and rewards of biosecurity work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Killick reflected on her journey from student to industry leader, underscoring the value of research partnerships and real-world learning opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to see our graduates returning as industry leaders and collaborators,\u201d says Assoc. Prof. Harvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHaving several undergraduate students present alongside their lecturers and industry partners is something we\u2019re incredibly proud of\u2014they held their own and represented Unitec with confidence and professionalism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Assoc. Prof. Harvey noted that the symposium captures what makes EAS unique\u2014its culture of inquiry, inclusiveness, and collaboration across disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhether your work focuses on ecology, conservation, veterinary nursing, animal behaviour, taxonomy, or genetics, today is about sharing ideas and building bridges. Every voice\u2014student, researcher, or industry partner\u2014adds to the richness of our scientific community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For \u0101konga, the benefits were many: the networking opportunities through building connections with researchers and industry professionals, the visibility and recognition gained from presenting research, receiving constructive feedback, and engaging with thought-provoking ideas that spark new directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assoc. Prof. Harvey extended her thanks to Caralyn Kemp and the organising team, session chairs, and all presenters for their dedication also acknowledging the continued support of Tuapapa Rangahau \u2013 the Unitec Research Office, whose partnership helps sustain the school\u2019s vibrant research culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n School of Environmental and Animal Sciences (EAS) brought together researchers, \u0101konga, and industry partners for its third annual Research Symposium held in B115 on Thursday. Head of School, Associate Professor Laura Harvey, described the symposium as \u201ca celebration of curiosity,… Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":3575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[371],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environmental-and-animal-sciences"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3574"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3574\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3576,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3574\/revisions\/3576"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitec.ac.nz\/UnitecResearchBlog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thenest.unitec.ac.nz\/TheNestWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/zIMG_4388-720x480.jpg\")
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