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Dr Christine Liang
Programme Manager, Environmental Management
Dr Christine Liang

Christine holds a PhD from the University of Auckland investigating coastal geomorphology under rising sea levels, and a Masters from the University of Toronto (the city where she is from) investigating lacustrine sediments and microbiology. She is a Certified Environmental Professional in Canada and has industry experience in the geospatial field. Her current research interests are citizen science and environmental education, in which she leads a Microplastics Citizen Science project called Micro-Investigators that received the Environmental Action in Education Award at the 2021 Environment Southland Community Awards. Her current role at SIT involves managing the Bachelor’s Degree and Graduate Diploma programmes, as well as research and supervision, and lecturing in earth science and environmental science courses. 

Qualifications

2019: New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching, Southern Institute of Technology 

2017: PhD Environmental Science, University of Auckland 

2011: Master of Environmental Science, University of Toronto, Canada 

2010: Bachelor of Science (Hons), Ecology and Environmental Science, University of Toronto, Canada 

Position

Programme Manager, Environmental Management

Teaching

Bachelor of Environmental Management 

Graduate Diploma of Environmental Management

Location

Invercargill Main Campus, G2-226

External Profiles
Selected Research
  • Christine Yiqing Liang. (2021). Micro-Investigators: lessons learned from the implementation of a waterway microplastics citizen science programme in Southland, New Zealand. 11th Annual International Wetlands Conference (INTECOL): Virtual / Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • Christine Yiqing Liang. (2021). The maternal wall bias and why children are scary. Te Ira Tangata: Women, Equity and Activism in Aotearoa, 1:18.
  • Christine Yiqing Liang, Kench, P.S., Ford, M.R., and East, H.K. (2020). Evidence of Resilience in Lagoonal Platform Islands in Response to Rising Sea Level on Huvadhoo Atoll, Maldives. Coastal Engineering Proceedings.
  • Edginton, N., Christine Yiqing Liang, Palliser, A., and Gonnelli, C. (2020). Presence of Microplastics in Invercargill City Waterways. SITJAR.
  • Holly East, Chris Perry, Eddie Beetham, Paul Kench, and Yiqing Liang. (2020). Modelling reef hydrodynamics and sediment mobility under sea-level rise scenarios in atoll reef island systems. Global and Planetary Change, 103196. doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2020.103196
External Funding
  • 2021: Environmental Action in Education Award: Environment Southland Community Award sponsored by DOC, associated with prize money to go towards furthering the SIT Microplastics Project
  • 2021: Lottery Environment and Heritage Grant: Research funding for Microplastics Citizen Science project
Distinctions/Honours/Awards
  • 2021: Finalist, Women of Influence Awards
  • 2021: Environmental Action in Education Award, Environment Southland Community Awards
  • 2019: SIT Award for Excellence in Tertiary Teaching
  • 2011: University of Toronto Research Fellowship
Outreach/Engagement/Impact

Outreach and Engagement: Community engagement with Enviroschools through Micro-Investigators citizen science project (https://enviroschools.org.nz/creating-change/stories/understanding-our-awa-developing-a-collaborative-approach-to-monitoring-microplastics/. A Micro-Investigators hui is held annually to raise awareness of microplastic pollution in Southland. In 2021, there were over 100 attendees: all participating citizen scientists (primary school, high school, tertiary students), council representatives (Environment Southland, Invercargill City Council, WasteNet Southland, Te Ao Marama Inc), MP Penny Simmonds, Waste Free Wanda, Southland Community Nursery, Tūrama Charitable Trust (https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/schools%E2%80%99-plastic-study-data-shared). Collaboration with Otago Polytechnic to create a citizen science database for microplastics data as part of the Micro-Investigators project (https://microinvestigators.nz/). 


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