Faculty history

Auckland University College opens, offering scholarships in Botany, Zoology, Chemistry and Physics.

Of the four professors teaching at the time, three teach science subjects.

The Departments of Physics and Chemistry are officially established.

Psychology becomes its own department when it separates from mental science in Philosophy.

The Leigh Marine Laboratory is founded and later goes on to play a major role in the development of New Zealand’s first marine reserve, established in 1975.

The Queen Mother officially opens the University's new science building.

A Department of Computer Science is founded; it is the only department in the University without a computer.

Department of Mathematics alumnus Vaughan Jones wins the Fields Medal, one of the highest honours a mathematician can receive.

The Department of Statistics creates the R project. R goes on to be one of the world's most widely used statistical analysis software packages.

To help attract and retain Māori and Pacific students in science, the faculty establishes the Tuākana Programme.

The University opens the Department of Sport and Exercise Science.

Environmental Science amalgamates with the Department of Geography to become the School of Environmental.

Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre opens to the public. The Centre now receives around 11,000 visitors a year.

The faculty launches a Gender Equity Platform to ensure a positive, inclusive and equitable university experience for all women.

The George Mason Centre for the Natural Environment is founded.

The University officially opens the brand-new Science Centre.

The Department of Computer Science becomes the School of Computer Science.