Ara Institute of Canterbury - Research week - Session 5

 The last session for research week included a panel, followed by kaiako sharing their research towards completed a thesis (PhD or Masters).

Panel discussion: Making the most of your research allocation

With - Joanna Cobley, Peter Olsen, Emma Fairs, Bruce Russell, Allen Hill

How can researchers develop and sustain a meaningful research portfolio while balancing teaching, leadership, service, community engagement, publishing, and knowledge translation? The panel explored practical strategies for maintaining coherence across projects, adapting to changing opportunities, and generating impactful research outputs amid competing professional demands.

Panel was moderated by Jonny Lynch. After introductions, each shared their strategies, approaches and provided examples. Considering that most are pressed for time, passion for research underpins a clear purpose, structured/planned process, setting goals across time, to maximise time, minimise time input, and maximising outputs. Working in teams is one way to build capability, spread the load, and incorporate skills and strengths of the teaching/research team. Discussion also included the challenge presented by AI, when, how and why to use it and not to use it. 

The Inaugural Ara Three-Minute Thesis Competition

Five of our kaiako, enrolled in completing post-graduate qualifications provided brief overviews of their research.

Sundeep Daggubati - Rebuilding Belonging: What A River Reveals About Value

Vimesh Paudel - From Shaky to Steady: The Timber Transformation in Building Design

Kim Lowe - Interconnection through Disconnection: From Te Wā to The Dao in a Visual Arts Practice PhD

Kim Wood - Performing with Place: Putting the Performer in the Spotlight

Andrew Hercus - Minimising the Impact of Match Manipulation by Technical Officials at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games

Each provided a succinct summary of their key research question, the methodology (where relevant) and where available, findings or results. A good collection of the types of academic, applied and creative research our kaiako undertake.