ProfessorIan Wright
Principal Researcher
School of Earth and Environment
Orcid identifier0000-0002-6660-0493 (opens in a new tab)
- Principal ResearcherSchool of Earth and Environment
BIO
I'm currently a senior Principal Researcher within the School of Earth and Environment (Faculty of Science).
I have an extensive background in personal research, and research management and governance over a 35+ year long career, including senior management and executive roles at the National Institute of Water & Atmosperhic Research (New Zealand), National Oceanography Centre (UK), and the University of Canterbury. I currently sit on the board of a number of social enterprise and spin-out geospatial companies.
My current interests include research and post-graduate research student supervision in:
- submarine volcanism
- carbon capture and storage monitoring
- hydrogen storage
- hydrogen generation & production
- use autonomous of technologies for environmental monitoring
I also support the Head of School around academic mentoring, PhD supervision, and progressing initiatives around relevant international subject rankings.
I have an extensive background in personal research, and research management and governance over a 35+ year long career, including senior management and executive roles at the National Institute of Water & Atmosperhic Research (New Zealand), National Oceanography Centre (UK), and the University of Canterbury. I currently sit on the board of a number of social enterprise and spin-out geospatial companies.
My current interests include research and post-graduate research student supervision in:
- submarine volcanism
- carbon capture and storage monitoring
- hydrogen storage
- hydrogen generation & production
- use autonomous of technologies for environmental monitoring
I also support the Head of School around academic mentoring, PhD supervision, and progressing initiatives around relevant international subject rankings.
TE WHARE WĀNANGA O WAITAHA - UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY APPOINTMENTS
- Principal ResearcherUniversity of Canterbury, School of Earth and Environment, Faculty of Science1 Jul 2024 - present
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation)University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Director of Science & TechnologyNational Oceanography Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Deputy Director of Science & TechnologyNational Oceanography Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Professor of Marine GeoscienceUniversity of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Principal ScientistNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand
- Research ScientistNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand
- Research ScientistNew Zealand Oceanographic Institute, DSIR, Wellington, New Zealand
- Junior LecturerVictoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- Chair of BoardMap AI, Melbourne, Australia2024 - present
- International Judging PanelQS Reimagine Education Awards, United Kingdom2024 - 2024
- Board MemberFrontierSI, Melbourne, Australia2023 - present
- Advisory Board MemberGeospatial Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand2022 - 2024
- Advisory Board MemberNew Zealand Centre at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India2021 - 2023
- Member, Council of InstitutionsUniversities Space Research Association, Columbia, United States2021 - 2023
- Shareholding RepresentativeNew Zealand Synchrotron Group Limited, New Zealand2021 - 2024
- Advisory Board MemberQuakeCORE, Christchurch, New Zealand2021 - 2024
- Advisory Board MemberMacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Kelburn, New Zealand2021 - 2024
- MemberChristchurch City Aerospace & Future Transport Advisory Group2020 - 2024
- Chair of TrusteesNational Energy Research Institute, New Zealand2020 - 2024
- Advisory Board MemberBrain Research New Zealand CORE2017 - 2021
- Advisory Board MemberMedical Technologies CoRE2017 - 2021
- TrusteeCanterbury Medical Research Foundation, Christchurch, New Zealand2016 - 2023
- TusteeNew Zealand Brain Research Institute2016 - 2023
- MemberNERC Marine Facilities Advisory Panel, Southampton, United Kingdom2013 - 2016
- MemberNERC Science & Innovation Board2011 - 2015
- MemberResearch Council (RCUK) Energy Programme Scientific Advisory Committee2013 - 2016
- Honorary Adjunct ProfessorshipVictoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand2006 - 2008
- Member, Steering CommitteeCenSEAM - International Census of Marine Life2004 - 2010
DEGREES
- BSc, Geology and GeographyVictoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandDec 1980
- BSc (Hons), GeologyVictoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandDec 1981
- PhD, GeologyVictoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandJan 1982 - Jul 1986
FACULTY
- Faculty of Science
GRADUATE RESEARCH SUPERVISION
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
- 13 Climate Action
- 14 Life Below Water
- 7 Affordable and Clean Energy