Engineering research boosted by $1.9m in new funding

Researchers from the Faculty of Engineering are using artificial intelligence (AI) to study the dangers of ‘forever chemicals’ – persistent compounds found in everyday items like non-stick cookware, paint and dental floss.

These chemicals, known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), contain strong bonds that make them extremely hard to break down, causing them to build up in the environment, food and even our bodies. Exposure to forever chemicals has been linked to health issues, but scientists still don’t fully understand how they cause harm.

Dr Shan Yi from the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering and her team will use AI to predict how PFAS molecules interact with proteins in the human body. By analysing protein structures, they aim to identify which ones bind to PFAS and what that could mean for our health.

The project has been awarded a Marsden Fund grant of $960,000 over three years.

This research will help experts better understand the health risks of forever chemicals, inform safer chemical management and identify safer alternatives, says Yi.

“We envision our research contributing to a safer, more sustainable future where all chemicals, both new and existing, are rigorously evaluated for potential risks before they enter the global market and our daily lives.”

Tracing the evolution of the New Zealand accent

A new study is set to challenge established ideas about how New Zealand English (NZE) developed its distinct accent.

Led by Professor Catherine Watson, an expert in phonetics and speech science, the research draws on a rediscovered 1921 thesis by phonetician G.E. Thompson. His work, unusually detailed for its time, suggests that NZE’s sound changes may have followed more typical patterns than previously believed, challenging the view that the accent evolved in unique or rare ways.

Supported by a $660,000 Marsden Fund grant, the project will test Thompson’s findings by analysing both historic and recent recordings of Auckland speakers. Unlike prior research, which often focused on less populated areas, this study will centre on Auckland, New Zealand’s largest and most diverse urban area – a likely origin point for major sound shifts due to its social diversity and population density.

“Our goal is to trace how the New Zealand accent has changed over time. By doing so, we will contribute to an important part of our national and cultural identity,” says Watson.

In addition to tracing the evolution of the accent, the project will shed light on broader mechanisms of sound change and explore how long social diversity has influenced NZE’s development.

Preparing for rising sea levels

Dr Ruanui (Ru) Nicholson from the Department of Engineering Science and Biomedical Engineering along with his associate investigators are developing methods to improve how we predict glacier and ice sheet movement. This work aims to help experts prepare for rising sea levels and the risks of coastal flooding.

Ice flow from glaciers and ice sheets into the ocean is a major driver of sea level rise. Predicting this accurately, along with the associated uncertainties, is challenging due to the computational models involved and because current data is mostly made up of noisy measurements from satellite or aircraft images of the top of the ice only. Important details, and key drivers of the ice flow, like the shape of the rock beneath the ice, are often unknown, making predictions less accurate.

The project has been awarded a Marsden Fund Fast-Start grant worth $360,000 over three years to create models that can efficiently estimate the conditions beneath the ice and how they affect ice flow. These models will also consider factors like heat flow and ice properties, as well as acknowledging and accommodating for various sources of uncertainty, making them more accurate, reliable and robust.

For countries with low-lying coastal areas like New Zealand, precise predictions of sea-level rise will help communities plan for the future and protect investments in tourism, fisheries and more, says Nicholson.

“This research should allow us to estimate ice flow rates and the associated uncertainties more accurately and more efficiently, allowing for better, more informed decisions to be made.”