Science faculty announces six research centres through to 2028

The Faculty of Science has announced a refreshed set of Faculty Research Centres in areas ranging from synthetic biology and antimicrobial resistance to artificial intelligence and kaupapa Māori science.

Following a review and proposal process that began in February, six centres have been approved by Senate as the Faculty's designated research centres through to 2028:

• Auckland SynBio Research Centre – synthetic biology research at the interface of biology and engineering. Co-directors: Professor Anthony Poole and Associate Professor Wei-Qin Zhuang (Faculty of Engineering and Design)
  
  
• Centre for AMR Research – addresses the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Co-directors: Associate Professor Ghader Bashiri and Professor Colin Simpson (Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences)
  
  
• Centre for Computational Evolution – uses computational tools and evolutionary theory for health, linguistics, and conservation. Co-directors: Associate Professor Simon Greenhill, Dr Sarah Knight, Associate Professor Simone Linz and Associate Professor Anna Santure
  
  
• Centre of Machine Learning for Social Good – empowers researchers to solve societal problems. Co-directors: Professor Yun Sing Koh, Dr Daniel Wilson and Professor Gill Dobbie
  
  
• George Mason Centre for the Natural Environment – environmental restoration, conservation, and sustainability. Director: Professor Simon Thrush
  
  
• Te Pūtahi o Pūtaiao | Centre for Kaupapa Māori Science – Māori-led research underpinned by tikanga, māturanga, and te reo Māori. Co-directors: Professor Karen Fisher and Associate Professor Jade Le Grice

Associate Dean (Research) Professor Geoff Willmott said the centres "not only have a track record of research excellence, but also demonstrate a high degree of cohesion, leadership capability, and strategic alignment".

"It is very timely for our Faculty to have a clearly visible presence in areas such as synthetic biology, anti-microbial resistance research, and grappling with AI in society," he said.

The refreshed cohort will be in place until 2028, aligning with the current Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs) and University Research Centres (URCs).

Interim Dean of Science Professor Michael Kingsley acknowledged all those involved in developing and reviewing proposals, and supporting the process behind the scenes.