Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland (UoA) research centre Ngā Ara Whetū: Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society has awarded its 2025 PhD scholarships to Sue Ira and Chenyang Yuan, as part of its commitment to furthering world-class transdisciplinary research that promotes just and ethical action on climate change and the environment.
Sue Ira
Title: Beyond Water: A Holistic Decision Support Framework for Evaluating Nature-Based Urban Stormwater Solutions.
Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) provide a sustainable approach to urban stormwater management, yet their full economic benefits are often overlooked in decision-making. Traditional cost assessments frequently ignore broader social and environmental advantages, leading to suboptimal outcomes. To address this gap, my research will use neural networks to explore economic sustainability indicators of NBS to maximize benefits and minimize long-term costs. By integrating economic valuation techniques and stakeholder insights with neural network outputs, the full economic value of NBS can be captured, thereby facilitating the development of a dynamic, evidence-based decision framework for policymakers, engineers, and planners to enhance sustainable stormwater management in Aotearoa. As part of this work I will also be engaging with Professor Briony Rogers from the Monash Sustainable Development Institute (Monash University, Australia) to seek guidance and insights relevant to my research.
Supervisors:
Dr Iresh Jayawardena, Lecturer Architecture and Planning
Dr Elizabeth Aitken Rose, Senior Lecturer Architecture and Planning
Professor Basil Sharp, Emeritus Professor Economics
Professor Briony Rogers, Director of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute – Water (Monash University, Australia)
PhD start date: June 2025
Chenyang Yuan
Title: How does biodiversity influence people’s perception of cultural ecosystem services in pocket parks in Auckland?
This project will delve into the intricate relationship between biodiversity and Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) in pocket parks—small but vital urban green spaces (<5000 m²) that serve as oases of nature within densely built environments. As cities become more compact, these parks offer a sanctuary for people and wildlife, providing residents with immersive natural experiences while fostering urban biodiversity.
The study aims to identify biodiversity features in pocket parks, build a biodiversity database, and analyze how biodiversity influences CES perceptions across different demographic groups. A systematic literature review will inform biodiversity assessments, followed by ecological surveys (e.g., vegetation and bird counts). The project will also employ online questionnaires and interviews to capture residents’ CES perceptions, emphasizing diverse cultural backgrounds beyond predominantly European-focused studies.
By bridging the gap between biodiversity conservation and human well-being, this research will provide insights into designing inclusive and ecologically rich urban green spaces that cater to diverse communities.
Supervisors:
Prof. Margaret Stanley School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science
Dr. Karly Burch School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts
PhD start date: June 2025
Recent Comments