Download nancy-bertler-october-2016 - Goethe Society Wellington

New Zealand/Germany Scientific Relationships,
including Associate Professor Nancy Bertler’s work
in Antarctica.
Part 1: Potential collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet – Implications for
Global Sea Level Rapid deglaciation of West Antarctica remains a primary uncertainty
in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Predictions for 21 st Century sea level
rise. The recent and unpredicted collapse of multiple ice shelves, rapid acceleration of Antarctic
ice discharge, and large scale changes in atmospheric circulation and ocean currents suggest
that dynamical responses to warming play a more significant role than is currently understood
and captured in coupled climate-ice sheet models. New results from current research projects
(i.e. RICE, ANDRILL, WAIS) indicate a higher climate sensitivity of the Antarctic ice sheets than
previously thought.
Bio: Associate Professor Nancy Bertler is a New Zealand Rutherford Discovery Fellow and is
jointly appointed by Victoria University of Wellington and GNS Science. She is the leader of the
National Ice Core Research Programme and manages the NZ Ice Core Research Facility. Nancy
chairs the new SCAR Research Programme “Antarctic Climate 21” and has contributed to the
US-led ITASE project for the past decade. Principle investigator for 13 field seasons in
Antarctica, she has also worked in Greenland and Iceland. Nancy is the Chief Scientist of the
9-nation Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) project which focuses on the stability of the
West Antarctic Ice Sheet in a warming world.
Part 2: New Zealand and Germany’s science relationship – recent history and
future prospects. Rick Petersen, Senior Advisor, International Science Partnerships Team,
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, will discuss highlights from the past couple of
years in the New Zealand/Germany bilateral science relationship, identify some of the events
that are likely to take place in 2017 to mark the 40th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral
Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement and give a flavour of where the relationship
might develop over the next few years.
Bio: After several years working for environmental organisations as an
administrator, editor and submission writer, Rick joined the public sector in
1993.
In 1994 Rick was appointed as International Science Officer in the Ministry of
Research, Science and Technology, and was promoted to a Senior Advisor
(International) in 2002.
Rick has remained working in New Zealand Science Ministries over the past twelve years and is
currently a Senior Advisor (International Science Partnerships) in the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment’s Science Innovation and International Branch.
One of Rick’s main areas of responsibility is New Zealand’s Science and Innovation (S&I)
relationship with Europe, working particularly on connections with the European Commission,
Germany, the United Kingdom and France.
Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: MYLT 101, Murphy Building, Kelburn Parade, Victoria University of Wellington
Refreshments provided.
Organised by the Goethe Society in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut New Zealand.