UC Science has a very broad research base including spectroscopy applied to trace analysis (SIFT), New Zealand’s unique ecology, the human geography of exposure to environmental chemicals, protein biochemistry, molecular biology, risk and resilience, volcanology, the neurochemistry of psychological processes, bioactive compounds from marine fauna, Antarctica, and food chemistry and toxicology.
Explore our research
Our Research Areas
Biological Sciences is a vibrant community where research and learning can be fascinating and fun.
Our outlook on Biology spans all types of organisms, all scales of biological systems - from molecules to ecosystems - and all research perspectives - from energetics to evolution.
Research in the School of Earth and Environment | Te Kura Aronukurangi is focussed on issues of importance to society and on understanding fundamental earth and environmental processes. We think global, but also take advantage of our amazing backyard in South Island Aotearoa/New Zealand and our connections to Antarctica and the Pacific.
We have expertise and research in fields ranging from volcanism and tectonics to human wellbeing and governance. The School has intensive research around the Antarctic and Southern Ocean, water science and resource management, geology of an active plate margin, paleontology, climate change, environmental change, human impacts on the environment, remote sensing of both natural and human environments, geospatial data science, hazards, risk and resilience, coastal science, urban resilience, wellbeing and governance.
Researchers in the School are supported by a wide variety of funding agencies including MBIE and Marsden (NZ) and many staff collaborate on ARC, NERC and NSF projects internationally. Graduate student projects are supported through all these grant sources.
We have a range of research specialities inside our school and host the most research centres of any Science School Learn more below.
Earthquakes, Disasters and Resilience Research
Te Taiwhenua o te Hauora | GeoHealth Laboratory
The Te Kura Mātu | School of Physical and Chemical Sciences Te Kura Mātu is made up of over 80 staff and runs an exciting programme of teaching and research using state-of-the-art facilities.We collaborate nationally and internationally in our research and our staff work in Crown Research Institutes.
Our academic staff are all active researchers and very passionate. Dynamic teams are leading research in a wide range of disciplines, from molecular cloning to stellar astrophysics, from the design of new pharmaceuticals to nanotechnology devices.
We also have a graduate research programme that offers an exceptional opportunity to talented students who are preparing themselves for careers in
- Astronomy
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Medical Physics (including clinical).
Graduate training at Canterbury is aimed toward developing within each student the ability to do creative scientific research. The most important facet of the programme for a research student is his or her own original research project.
The opportunities for research are favourable and a research environment is encouraged by all staff, most of whom dedicate a large portion of their time to research and are concerned to ensure that the standing of the School is recognised in the international scientific community.
Te Kura Mahi ā-Hirikapo | School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing is home to the Psychology Centre, and Speech and Hearing Clinics, providing students with first-hand experience in real-world research and clinical environments.
With a burgeoning post-graduate programme and new doctoral-level faculty in diverse areas of psychology, communication disorders, audiology, swallowing rehabilitation and stroke recovery, the School's research profile is rapidly expanding.
