On Nov 8, we met at Space Place and online to plant seeds for Te Wānanga o Hina, a gathering for lunar futures across Aotearoa, Australia, Vanuatu, Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. An event in collaboration with Taipōrutu (Māhia), AELA, Te Herenga Waka–VUW & @astroecologies.bsky.social. hinawananga.nz 1/12

I'm late to this - not unexpected but baffled by the reasoning which seems to disregard cost of inaction. "In its formal reasons for rejecting the commission's advice, the government said it had weighed the benefits of climate action against the economic costs. share.google/xpGmoYeggZtP...

Exciting day today. Not only is it Halloween, but my crowdfunding campaign is also live! Please support me by making a pledge and/or sharing on all your socials and with your friends, family, and colleagues. Thanks to everyone offering rewards. You rock! www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...

To replace the self-fulfilling prophecy that space is “congested, contested and competitive”, we need a new mantra, one that offers solutions: “Communication, cooperation and collaboration”. Check out my Substack this week and say the mantra with me. open.substack.com/pub/spacecit...

Reading this with my 7-month-old 🚀 Told him the astronaut growing plants in space was @sakessans.bsky.social 👩🏼‍🚀

Hey folks - if you missed it at the Writer's Festival #TheCovidResponse is heading back to Auckland. Join Toby Manhire, @siouxsiew.bsky.social and me to hear about the book and what the future holds at Auckland Uni on August 25 from 6pm (doors open at 5.30) www.bwb.co.nz/events/the-c...

Happy International Moon Day! 🌕👩🏼‍🚀 📸 taken with my 🔭

Spaceportopia now officially has a Wikipedia page! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacepo... P.s. If you haven't read "Astrotopia" by Mary-Jane Rubenstein, I highly recommend it.

Their comments arise from our latest findings on Aotearoa NZ's aerospace sector and sustainability with @sarahhbickerton.bsky.social & team: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Our members @drpriaero.bsky.social and @catherineq.bsky.social quoted in @thespinoff.bsky.social on NZ's MethaneSat involvement: thespinoff.co.nz/the-bulletin...

Read the latest paper on successful launch site planning co-authored by our lead @drpriaero.bsky.social 🗞 csps.aerospace.org/papers/space...

1/ Successful spaceports need to work not just for rockets — but for people and places, too. 🚀🌏 Excited to share our latest paper on spaceport site selection, co-authored with the brilliant Karen L. Jones & Dr. Lindsay DeMarchi @ Aerospace Corporation + expert contributors from across the sector. 🧵👇

New paper day! In 'Near-future rocket launches could slow ozone recovery', we show that scaling up use of launch vehicles 🚀 has a point where the healing of the ozone layer is affected 🧪🛰️ Open access, free to read & share

Exclusive: New Zealand government sued over ‘dangerously inadequate’ emissions reduction plan www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

This was such an interesting project to supervise and I got to work with the best student 😊 Can't wait to see this work published soon. 🛰🚀🌏

Why should NZ care about space sustainability? Our research lead @drpriaero.bsky.social introduces our work in this research impact video commissioned by Uni of Auckland. youtu.be/gnI8x2UUR1Q?...

The start of a new adventure! With our newest crew member of Spaceship Earth, William, who landed on 28th January 2025 🥳

From Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa's powerful Waitangi speech: 'When there’s an absence of true leadership, voices that represent comparatively simpler and shallower viewpoints, begin to shine through.' ngaitahu.iwi.nz/connect-2/co...

Powerful oral submissions opposing the Treaty Principles Bill this morning - listen live: www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic... (Don’t want to share the photo of Seymour feat. on the RNZ link... so here's a 2017 kōrero w. Moana Jackson on constitutional transformation www.converge.org.nz/pma/mjdec201...)

Spotlight on our recent analysis: "The intersection of space and sustainability: the need for a transdisciplinary and bi-cultural approach" Space sustainability is a complex issue, & as we watch burning rocket bodies light up the sky, space debris mitigation tends to dominate the discussion. [1/9]

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Comfort watching Contact 🌌🛸

'In 1956, the National Science Foundation even published an article with the title: “Women are NOT for Engineering.” 🧪

Welcome to the Sustainable Space Initiative! We are a multidisciplinary research initiative, formed in 2022, hosted by the University of Auckland. Our work takes a holistic approach to space sustainability across four main areas: systems thinking, policy, public engagement and technical solutions.

Submissions for the Regulatory Standards Bill close at 11.59pm TONIGHT, friends. Have you made a submission? Here are some tips / useful resources - the @etangata.bsky.social article below is a great start too #kikorangi

This is a long, in-depth read into the troubling issues that have emerged in an extreme environment here on Earth: Antarctica. Issues that require resolution, and a huge shift in behaviours/cultures. Imagine wanting to send people to Mars (even for exploration) without resolving these issues. 🔭🧪

Good piece by @natureportfolio.bsky.social. The erosion of thinking time—driven by admin, bureaucracy, industry agendas, and unrealistic output targets—stifles curiosity-led science. These pressures undermine innovation and the intellectual freedom vital for real progress. 🧪🌱🌍 #ScienceIsNotBusiness

Merry Christmas if you celebrate and ngā mihi o te wā! Painting practice this holiday based on a gouache artist's work I really love (Sharon Shock)

What if space junk could tell its own story? 📚💙🪐🧪

Helpful explanation for types of “disciplinary” research. How difficult has it been for anyone to publish their -inter or -trans disciplinary research #academicsky #booksky #psychology

The Vancouver Recommendations on Space Mining: to help ensure that space mining, wherever and whenever it takes place, does so in a safe and sustainable manner. 🧪🪐

Final push to finish one last research paper for 2024! Note to self, work with co-authors who are actually willing to write and finish sections on time, not just leave unfinished thoughts all over the manuscript 🙃 Wish me strength 🙏🏽

Obviously I come at this from the science perspective foremost and in that light this analysis is so on point - there is huge opportunity to build lasting alliances in the face of everything happening...if we can avoid the temptation to see science/research as special or unfairly targeted.

New: The Government’s new climate plan relies on unproven methane-busting technology and partially disproven carbon capture schemes for as much as half of its promised greenhouse emissions reductions. newsroom.co.nz/2024/12/11/g...

I want men in science to think about this. Think about the biases you have grown up with so much you're probably not even aware you have them. 🧪 #WomenInSTEM

"...they’re cutting funding to the very disciplines where Māori and Pasifika researchers are most strongly represented. This isn’t just about disciplines – it’s about who gets to research, whose knowledge counts, whose stories matter": Selina Tusitala Marsh newsroom.co.nz/2024/12/09/a...

"This decision defunds Māori research and researchers by stealth" Tahu Kukutai in my latest for @science.org on cuts to the Marsden Fund, NZ's only fund for "blue-sky" research; features Paul Spoonley, @nicgaston.bsky.social et al www.science.org/content/arti...

Initial analysis of the impact on Marsden Fund changes on success rates for Māori researchers, with a link through to modelled data based on the 2024 funding round here: www.maramatanga.ac.nz/publication/...

This thread from @nicgaston.bsky.social on the gutting of humanities, social science, and blue skies research in New Zealand is a must-read.

This government is not interested in real impact; they are interested in short-term economic gains at the expense of long-term societal benefit. Cutting funding for humanities and social sciences risks stifling the interdisciplinary innovation and critical thinking needed to drive true impact.

Incredibly short-sighted decision-making. Dare I say, they should have consulted some *social scientists* on the ramifications of such a decision, and the economic risks (which they value so much) of reduced capabilities in the humanities.

Bodies like the Royal Society are made up of scientists & researchers. What does it mean when Fellows or members leave? Or don’t ever join? Do we need new representative bodies or - what next?

Come do a PhD with some amazing people in important research areas! 🟢 with A/Prof Kelly Blincoe & me in inclusive engineering (engclusion.nz) 🟢 with A/Prof Annika Seppälä & me on ozone modelling to understand effects of satellite reentry (SSI.org.nz/current-opportunities)

In 1963, as the space race was taking off, the influential political philosopher Hannah Arrendt challenged scientists over their shift away from a humanistic focus to worlds beyond. 🧪

Excellent thread by @ijayas.bsky.social

A sad day for STEM in NZ - wishing the Nanogirl team the best with their next steps 💔 www.stuff.co.nz/business/360...

2019 really does now show when launch rates began to accelerate. We quantify the world's rocket emissions for 2019 in this new paper 🚀🧪

What a day. 40,000+ people marching together, in opposition to our racist right-wing government. The atmosphere around the city was incredible. I won't forget this for as long as I live. #toitutetiriti