15 June 1995 A Day In The Life Of ... A University Scientist

Areas of activity – a starter list of things that might contribute (in total or in part) to a university scientist's day:

Lecturing: Preparing lecture notes and teaching material; delivering lectures; marking student assignments; setting examinations and marking exams; counselling and advising students on academic matters. Attending departmental meetings on courses, curriculum­ setting, timetabling etc. Taking laboratory classes. Taking field trips. Keeping up with subjects. Keeping up with teaching technology.

Research: Carrying out own research projects. Conducting contract research. Supervising postgraduates on research they're involved with. Everything involved with research – planning, funding applications, equipment purchase, organising person­ power/staff backup, monitoring experiments (often over 24 hours a day, seven days a week), collecting data, analyzing data, writing reports, writing and presenting papers, publishing findings, helping students with theses.

Administration: Sitting on various university committees e.g. Environmental Policy Committee. Sitting on academic bodies. Hosting visiting academics and VIPs.

Extra-curricular activities: Organising university-related activities e.g. the successful series of EnviroSchools. Campus activities. Talking to prospective students about courses and university life e.g. at Information Evenings. School liaison visit activities. Maintaining links with colleagues and universities elsewhere in New Zealand and overseas. Going on study leave and academic exchanges. Helping schools with curriculum/course development.

Links with professional bodies: Attending meetings of learned societies. Holding office in associations related to discipline area.