The Massey University Life Cycle Management Centre, which our paper  Life Cycle Thinking contributed to the discussion of, has launched four exciting funded PHD opportunities. This sees a more formal establishment of Life Cycle education in the post graduate environment in New Zealand.

 

People interested in these positions should contact Kate Saxton at the centre. The positions are sure to be hotly contested and sought after.

 

The only other course we have been aware of was conducted under Carol Boyle at the Auckland University Faculty of Engineering. Where a cohort of: Jeff Vickers (Actronic), A. Idil Gaziulusoy (Fisher and Paykel) and Gaya Gamage (Formway) went through doing some very interesting work.

 

Given New Zealand's unique brand leverage and symbiotic commercial relationship with our environment this is an essential first step in New Zealand developing a resilient and effective capability and capacity in Life Cycle Thinking something essential for our economic and environmental sustainability.

 

New Zealand has a unique potential to export these services to other countries, rather than being a net recipient of skilled migrants. We have been very fortunate to date have some highly skilled people that have emigrated to New Zealand and assisted with the growth of Life Cycle Assessment, Management and Practice.

 

The Life Cycle Management Centre was initially established with an overt focus on primary sector, but hopefully moves into a wider range of activity over the coming years. It already helps to provide a academic centre of excellence that can enable young people to look toward when thinking about their ongoing education.

 

It will be fasinating to see how these students get on under one the countries foremost educators and academics in the area; Sarah McLaren.