Welcome
Welcome from the Head of the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Te Wānanga Matū.
Welcome to the School of Chemical & Physical Sciences.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to our School. Our vibrant academic unit houses three distinct areas of the natural sciences, chemistry, physics, and we are proud to say, New Zealand’s first space science programme. We are renowned nationally and internationally for our high-quality teaching and research across all three disciplines.
Our School offers an exciting array of teaching programmes and opportunities in chemistry, physics, and space science where you will explore cutting-edge topics that shape our understanding of the world around us.
In chemistry, delve into the fascinating realms of natural products, organic synthesis, and carbohydrates, or explore the transformative power of catalysis, main group chemistry, and development of innovative new materials for light harvesting within solar cells and 3D molecular scaffolds for energy storage. Underpinning all physical experimentation is a deep understanding of scientific theory, which is the subject of modern computational approaches—an important and growing part of the School’s interests.
In physics, immerse yourself in the world of condensed matter physics, NMR rheology, astrophysics, and quantum mechanics. You'll engage with groundbreaking ideas that push the boundaries of our knowledge of the universe, from probing the smallest components of matter in nanotechnology to large megastructures within the universe through studying gravity and geomagnetism.
Space science goes beyond astrophysics. We have proudly introduced New Zealand's first space science programme, where you'll have the unique opportunity to study the science of space near Earth and contribute to our understanding of the cosmos. As well as astrophysics, space science also involves ethical and legal matters about who owns space and the resources beyond our atmosphere, how Māori and Pasifika peoples use celestial navigation to travel the Pacific Ocean, and practical challenges such as how to safely put a satellite into orbit. With the significant growth of the space sector, this programme opens up exciting career opportunities in a rapidly expanding field.
All our programmes are taught by a team of enthusiastic teachers and researchers active in these fields of science, many of whom also collaborate widely with our sister schools within VUW, such as biology, psychology, engineering, and computer science, and beyond our university with partners both nationally and overseas. We encourage you to explore, innovate, and collaborate across disciplines as you embark on an exciting journey of discovery in the natural and physical sciences. Welcome to a vibrant and dynamic community of thinkers, creators, and explorers. Let’s make great things happen together. I look forward to meeting with you and watching your educational journey unfold in your chosen field.