IIT Delhi India-New Zealand Centre Fellowship Awarded to University of Canterbury Researchers

IIT Delhi: Two academics from the University of Canterbury have secured two out of four IIT-Delhi India-New Zealand Centre Fellowships, marking a significant step towards fostering collaboration and creating joint opportunities between New Zealand universities. Get details here 

Academics from the University of Canterbury have been honoured with two of the four first-ever IIT-Delhi India-New Zealand Centre Fellowships. Professor Montelle, along with Professor Matthew Wilson, Director of the Geospatial Research Institute at the University of Canterbury, has been awarded the India-New Zealand Centre Fellowship.

The IIT-Delhi India-New Zealand Centre, a collaborative effort involving IIT-Delhi and eight New Zealand universities, seeks to enhance academic and cultural ties between India and New Zealand. This initiative focuses on joint research projects in critical areas such as climate change, disaster management, urban planning, and environmental monitoring, which are of mutual interest to both nations.

School of Mathematics and Statistics Head of Department Professor Clemency Montelle 

In collaboration with the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT-Delhi, Professor Montelle's research focuses on investigating the mathematical and astronomical traditions within Indian knowledge systems and examining their links to contemporary science and technology.

“The partnership is designed to build engagement between New Zealand universities and create opportunities for mutually beneficial research ties between our country and IIT-Delhi,” says University of Canterbury School of Mathematics and Statistics Head of Department Professor Clemency Montelle.

Drawing on her expertise in Sanskrit knowledge systems and her understanding of New Zealand's Indigenous knowledge systems, Professor Montelle believes the Fellowship lays the groundwork for enduring connections between the two countries.

“There is a commitment by the Indian Ministry of Education to incorporate the Indian knowledge system throughout education. This isn’t an alternative to modern science, but instead understanding how Indigenous knowledge systems can enrich our current approaches”, says Professor Montelle.

Professor Matthew Wilson 

University of Canterbury’s other Fellowship recipient, Professor Matthew Wilson will use geospatial data and analysis to quantify flood hazards and water resources in India and New Zealand.

Working alongside water resource researchers in the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT-Delhi, Professor Wilson’s research aims to contribute to the development of technologies for monitoring and mitigating water hazards.

“India’s co-leadership of the NISAR satellite mission, alongside NASA provides new opportunities for this collaboration. The satellite is planned to launch in late March from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in southern India. With all-weather and day-night capability, NISAR data will provide valuable information for assessing flood risk and water resources”, says Professor Wilson. 

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