Sister-city opens itsheart to UC studentsUC students on exchange atthe <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Adelaide thissemester are being looked afterlike family in our sister city.Currently 168 first and second-year UCstudents are studying at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Adelaide after opting for the exchangeprogramme <strong>of</strong>fered in the wake <strong>of</strong> the 22February earthquake.Under the programme, students enrolledinto existing academic programmes for onesemester with the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Adelaidenot charging additional tuition fees. Theyhave been housed in halls <strong>of</strong> residence orbilleted by local residents.The students have been busy jugglingstudies with a wide variety <strong>of</strong> socialactivities including attending the AdelaideRugby Sevens where they met fellowCantabrian and former Crusaders coach andcurrent Wallabies coach Robbie Deans,watching the V8 Supercars ChampionshipClipsal 500, supporting local AFL team theAdelaide Crows, and enjoying aperformance by the Adelaide YouthOrchestra.10
Shaky visit for platetectonics expertAlthough far from home, the studentsobserved New Zealand’s Memorial Day on18 March with a special service in St Peter’sCathedral and a UC student was invited tolay a memorial wreath at the Anzac DayDawn Service.Mike Mettrick, a second year BComstudent, said he put his hand up for theexchange as a cost-free chance to see theworld while studying.“I’m loving all aspects <strong>of</strong> the trip, it’sbeen a great experience.”He said there were only a few differencesbetween studying in pre-quakeChristchurch and Adelaide, “mostly aroundAdelaide <strong>University</strong>’s love <strong>of</strong> group work/assignments”.Mike said Adelaide had a vibrantatmosphere and the people were friendly.“I describe Adelaide as Christchurch inshape with Auckland numbers <strong>of</strong> people,but it still has that small town courtesyand friendliness.”Pr<strong>of</strong>essor James McWha, Vice-Chancellorand President <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Adelaide,said the South Australian community hadwarmly welcomed the students.“The students have settled in very wellto their academic programme and life inAdelaide, especially considering so manyare just starting their first year <strong>of</strong> university.“The exchange has certainlystrengthened the already strong tiesbetween our university communities. Asmany <strong>of</strong> the students prepare to return toChristchurch following their exams in June,I am sure they will take with them manyfond memories and lasting friendshipsfrom their time here in Adelaide.”Pictured left: UC students join in the partyatmosphere at the Adelaide Rugby Sevens withformer Crusaders coach and current Wallabiescoach Robbie Deans.No matter how much you know aboutplate tectonics and earthquakes, they canstill give you a bit <strong>of</strong> a shock.For Visiting Erskine Fellow, Pr<strong>of</strong>essorThomas Gardner (Trinity <strong>University</strong>, SanAntonio, US), a plate tectonics expert fromTexas, the 22 February earthquake was asurprise. He now sleeps with a cellphone,torch and water alongside his bed as hedoesn’t want to be caught out again.“It has been amazing being here at<strong>Canterbury</strong>. I study and research tectonicprocesses and plates, yet never thoughtI’d experience an earthquake on this scale,”he said.The earthquake altered Pr<strong>of</strong>essorGardner’s initial plans <strong>of</strong> investigating themarine terraces near Kaikoura with Dr MarkQuigley (Geological Sciences). He wasinvited to UC to look at the terraces tocollect stratigraphic observation data toinvestigate the deforming plate boundary,the Hope Fault, a “splay” <strong>of</strong> the main AlpineFault that occurs in the region.“There’s great data to work with there.The terraces around Kaikoura developedfrom earthquakes that have occurred overthe last several million years. They are agreat example <strong>of</strong> how mountains arecreated,” Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Gardner said.“Mark has been rather busy since theFebruary earthquake, for obvious reasons,so we haven’t been able to spend as muchtime together as first anticipated. I havespent a lot <strong>of</strong> time gathering data on myown, but in some very beautiful places.”Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Gardner’s main researchinterest is in geological aspects in theQuaternary period, 2.6 million years agoto the present.He looks at the tectonic and climaticcontrols on long-term landscape evolution,as well as sedimentology and stratigraphy,which is the layering or deposits <strong>of</strong>sediments and sedimentary rocksover time.Visiting Erskine FellowPr<strong>of</strong>essor Thomas GardnerBetween collecting data Pr<strong>of</strong>essorGardner has also been teaching studentson field trips.He said that it had been an unusualtime. He has taken some time to travelthroughout the South Island with hiswife and, although he has enjoyed histime at UC, he was looking forward togetting home.“There’s a lot <strong>of</strong> anxiety involved withthe aftershocks, so I’m looking forward tojust being home.“Before coming here I felt deprived bynot experiencing an earthquake – I live incentral America where earthquakes dooccur, I study tectonics yet I have to travelto New Zealand before I experience one.My wife warned me about coming here.”CHRONICLE 46, May 201111
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