About us
MacDiarmid Institute Investigator Agreement
Tangata whakawhanake - to improve people’s lives.
We are a network of leading researchers united in a common goal: to create and explore innovative, sustainable materials that will improve the lives of people in Aotearoa and around the world. We work together and partner with industry and government to address global challenges such as clean water, renewable energy and climate change.
As an Institute we operate from a set of core values that direct our research and underpin who we are and the way we do things. We will, on an ongoing basis, work together to refine and further develop these core values and in so doing, grow a meaningful future together.
It is our intention -
- To use materials science to treasure the taonga that is our planet Papatūānuku and to use her resources wisely, through new discovery, and to create climate mitigation technologies.
- To create an equitable, diverse and inclusive future for humanity on this planet, through new discovery of technology for abundant renewable energy, carbon capture and conversion, energy efficiency, and the sustainable and responsible use and reuse of materials.
As Investigators we all have a shared responsibility to deliver on our contract as a CoRE with TEC.
This includes:
Delivery on
- Science objectives as specified in the research plan (Principal Investigators only)
- Emerging Science Plan (as funded through contestable funds)
- Graduate outcomes through PhD training and human capital development
- Equity objectives, including greater inclusion and diversity
- Mātauranga Māori research and work with Māori communities to deliver on Vision Mātauranga
- Education and Outreach goals, and to deliver on Ka Hikitia and the Pacific Education Action Plan
- Commercialisation and Industry engagement for economic impact
In order to enable all Investigators to help us to deliver, we set out expectations in our Investigator Agreement so that these are clear and transparent, and so that you know what you can expect of us.
Expectations
All Investigators will adhere to the following polices:
Our Mātauranga Māori research policy
Our Supervision Policy
Our Equity Policy (including the Code of Conduct for Institute events and the Sponsorship Policy referred therein, as well as our Childcare Policy)
The Royal Society Te Apārangi Code of Professional Standards and Ethics.
- Principal Investigators (PIs) will contribute to the MacDiarmid Institute Science Programmes as specified in our Plan supplied to TEC, and report against milestones annually.
- Associate Investigators (AIs) will contribute to the MacDiarmid Institute network and build connectivity using their discretionary funds.
- Principal Investigators and Associate Investigators are entitled to a set amount of discretionary funds per annum which will be paid to them via their institutions. All Investigators will be responsible for budget management with regard to their discretionary funds.
- All research students, assistants, and postdoctoral fellows supervised by Institute Investigators are considered members of the Institute and eligible for all forms of MacDiarmid Institute support, subject to support specific participation criteria. The available support includes membership of MESA, and alumni opportunities including internships for PhD students. To enable this, all Investigators are expected to provide up to date student, assistant and postdoctoral fellow details on an ongoing basis.
- All investigators will encourage their students, assistants and postdoctoral fellows to participate in outreach activities when opportunities arise.
- All Investigators will use the MacDiarmid Institute affiliation in publications and presentations.
- All Investigators will use their best efforts to engage with the Institute regarding media attention to relevant research, including where possible, working alongside MI comms. This may include projects to tell story behind the research by identifying key discovery/news steps as projects approach significant dates; sharing upcoming award or funding announcements; and including commercialisation news where relevant and where commercial confidentiality can be appropriately maintained.
- To enable successful scientific collaborations, industry engagement and commercial activities there is a need to at times share confidential information. All Investigators will respect the confidentiality required to enable these activities and take all reasonable steps to prevent disclosure or misuse of the confidential information shared between parties, even in the absence of a formal non-disclosure agreement being in place.
Delivery on these expectations will form part of the Investigator Review Processes. These will occur at regular intervals, starting in year 3 of the contract (to enable our mid-term review). Any sustained breach of these expectations may also be referred to the Directors in advance of the Review, and if issues continue, Investigator status may be revoked.
All aforementioned Policies can be downloaded as PDFs.
Mātauranga Māori Research Policy
Adobe Acrobat PDF file, 146 KB
Published Jul 1, 2021
The MacDiarmid Institute supports Māori and Pasifika capability within the Institute at all levels, through targeted strategies of representation and inclusion, and through improving the cultural competency of all Institute members. Our equity objective for students is that Māori and Pasifika students participate and achieve and are retained on par with other students at all levels; we are committed to redressing the stark underrepresentation of Māori and Pasifika in the academic workforce in our fields of research.
Supervision Policy
Adobe Acrobat PDF file, 84 KB
Published Jul 1, 2021
We expect Supervisors and Students to adhere to all their University policies and guidelines. A good research experience should base itself in good faith and trust that the supervision journey is premised around mutual respect, responsibility and that there is open communication to raise any issues safely and without judgement should they arise.
Supervision Expectations
Adobe Acrobat PDF file, 99 KB
Published Jul 1, 2021
The Supervisory Expectations document is to be used in addition to existing University policies around supervision, but is a useful document to either follow or use as a guideline for discussions around supervision expectations and responsibilities between a student and their supervisor/s. While broad, this document may be used as a starting point to determine finer details.
Equity Policy
Adobe Acrobat PDF file, 80 KB
Published Jul 1, 2021
The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology is a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence. We are committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and recognizing the distinct status of Māori as tangata whenua, with whom we look to partner to achieve greater diversity and inclusion within the scientific community.
Code of Conduct
Adobe Acrobat PDF file, 79 KB
Published Jul 1, 2021
As a Centre of Research Excellence, we value the free exchange of ideas and respectful debate, and we understand our responsibilities in ensuring that our community supports these values. The MacDiarmid Institute is therefore committed to providing a harassment-free experience for participants at our hosted and sponsored events.
Sponsorship Policy
Adobe Acrobat PDF file, 71 KB
Published Jul 1, 2021
The MacDiarmid institute is committed to increasing diversity in science, and as such, our expectation when sponsoring events is that event organisers will have a documented plan to achieve balanced gender and cultural representation in keynote and invited speakers, and on panels, as well as processes to ensure representative diversity amongst general event attendees. We note that gender is not binary.
Childcare Policy
Adobe Acrobat PDF file, 35 KB
Published Jul 1, 2021
The MacDiarmid institute recognizes that many of our events require people to take time away from their family responsibilities, and that this can be an additional burden and barrier to inclusion of people at particular points in their career. We also recognize the other caring responsibilities that all people have, at different times.- Follow us on:
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