Milly Grant-Mackie Identified as Notable Figure
Milly Grant-Mackie: A Coastal Geomorphologist Driving Innovation in Climate Change Research
Milly Grant-Mackie, a coastal geomorphologist of Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa, Ngāpuhi descent, is making significant strides in climate change research, with a particular focus on sea-level rise. Her work, conducted at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, a Crown research institute, involves the use of Western science and kaupapa Māori approaches.
Grant-Mackie's research is multifaceted, encompassing various topics such as Climate change, climate connections, climate change and impacts on biodiversity, Earth systems and climate change, and Climate change - a wicked problem for classroom inquiry. She collaborates with educational institutions like the Science Learning Hub and Te Kura o Manunui to create engaging educational resources for students, including activities like Investigating sea level rise and Listening to the land.
One of Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research's national projects is the annual survey of garden birds, Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra o Aotearoa | New Zealand Garden Bird Survey. This survey's data, collected by citizen scientists, helps researchers and practitioners understand how birds are coping with environmental challenges.
Grant-Mackie's research methodologies are innovative, incorporating the creation of digital 3D elevation models to study sea-level rise scenarios. Her work has revealed alarming findings, such as the loss of 54 meters of land from one area between 1942 and the present day.
In addition to her climate change work, Grant-Mackie conducts whānau-level research. She sees her research as a way of resisting the colonial system and advocating for the preservation of Māori culture and heritage, which are deeply connected to the land and sea.
However, while there is a wealth of information about Grant-Mackie's research and collaborations, there is a lack of widely accessible sources or documented research explicitly linking her work to the impact of sea-level rise on Māori communities. It may require consulting specialized academic publications, New Zealand environmental agencies, or Māori organizations directly to find detailed information about this aspect of her work.
Despite this, Grant-Mackie's contributions to climate change research and her commitment to incorporating kaupapa Māori approaches make her an influential figure in the field. Her work is driving innovation in the management of terrestrial biodiversity and land resources, with the potential to provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by Māori communities due to sea-level rise.
Science is a crucial part of Grant-Mackie's work, as she conducts research focusing on climate change and sea-level rise at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. Moreover, the learning and education-and-self-development sectors are significant as she collaborates with various institutions, such as the Science Learning Hub and Te Kura o Manunui, to create engaging educational resources about climate change and environmental science for students.
