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School of Optometry and Vision Science

Keep up to date with all the latest news and information from the School of Optometry and Vision Science.

End of year message from Head of School

As we come to the end of another challenging year that has seen us having to adjust to the disruptions of COVID circulating in the community, I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all the staff, academic and professional, that make up our School, and wider clinical and research communities for having responded to these challenges with dedication and commitment to ensuring the best possible outcomes across all our endeavours.

 

The recent graduation of the 2022 Bachelor of Optometry class and PhD students at the usual time in early December, is an excellent example of how the staff of the School and Clinic have worked together to achieve great outcomes despite the frequent challenges faced during the year.  The School has also seen the development of notable research initiatives and outcomes during the year, with one highlight being the launch and operation of the Vision Bus Aotearoa which addresses the three main activities of the School in teaching, research and clinical care.

 

Finally, I hope that you all take the opportunity of the upcoming holiday period to rest and make time for yourself and your friends and families, and enjoy the season.

 

Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai – nurture the seed and it will bloom.

 

Noho ora mai
Dr Andrew Collins
Head, School of Optometry and Vision Science

U21 Health Science Group challenge

U21 Health Science Group challenge

Recently students from the University of Auckland and four other universities – the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, the University of Hong Kong, and the University of Melbourne and Queensland in Australia – took part in a challenge from the Universitas...

Funded PhD in data infrastructure available now

Funded PhD in data infrastructure available now

A fully-funded PhD in the area of ‘Data infrastructure for eye health in Aotearoa New Zealand’ is available for suitably qualified candidates to apply for now. The PhD will be co-supervised by Associate Professor Jacqueline Ramke and Dr Katrina Poppe at the Faculty of...

Staffing update – 3rd quarter

Staffing update – 3rd quarter

In July 2021 we said farewell to Jane Williams, who filled the role of Group Services Administrator (GSA) with aplomb and was the first staff member to say goodbye by writing and performing an original song. Taylar Henwood joined us as a temporary GSA while...

Staff news

Staff news

Marvin Wu is moving into a new and exciting position as Research Programme Manager with the Liggins Institute from 12 July. Marvin came to SOVS early in 2020, shortly before the Level 4 Covid-19 lockdown, and worked hard to assist researchers in the school with all...

Te Whe visit 2021

Te Whe visit 2021

Photo: Kaiāwhina Renata Watene speaks with rangatahi about optometry as a career The annual Te Whe programme took place in June this year. The event is aimed at Year 11 Māori rangatahi and is part of the faculty’s Vision 20:20 initiatives to raise students’...

Graduation

Graduation

Tuesday 1 June 2021 was a very special day for our Part V BOptom Class of 2020: after a somewhat disrupted year, graduands finally were able to come together to celebrate their achievements with fellow classmates, family and SOVS staff at a pre-graduation function...

Invited talk – Sam Schwarzkopf

Invited talk – Sam Schwarzkopf

In September 2020, Associate Professor Sam Schwarzkopf gave an invited talk entitled "Neural signatures of visual perception – successes, failures, and potential disasters” via Zoom at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) in Cardiff, Wales,...

Te Akoranga Kairangi course

Te Akoranga Kairangi course

Professor Alison Jones of the Faculty of Education and Social Work and Vikki Demant, a specialist kapa haka Kaiako in schools across Tāmaki Makaurau, have been teaching Te Akoranga Kairangi: an 8-week course which introduces participants to Māori language...

Grant awarded for National Eye Health Survey pilot study

Grant awarded for National Eye Health Survey pilot study

In November 2020 SOVS was the recipient of one of only four Seed Grants awarded by the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences in 2020. The $50,000 grant will support a pilot study of the National Eye Health Survey (NEHS) to be conducted in 2021. The NEHS will provide...

Raising the Bar

Raising the Bar

Each year the University participates in Raising the Bar, an international event in which universities give back to their communities by offering free talks in local bars on a wide range of topics. On 20 April 2021 Professor Steven Dakin was one of two presenters from...

Staff news

Staff news

During late 2020 and the beginning of 2021, staff movements have included: Evellen Powell replacing Rowena Knight-Brown as GSC, with the significant responsibility of supporting Steven as Head of School, and supporting the school’s operations across the board Jane...