University of Canterbury

Portable gas analyser

University of Canterbury is planning to purchase a Portable Gas Analyser (PGA).
Denitrification is an important indicator of ecosystem process in soils and wetlands. The opportunities on conducting research (both externally funded or as a part of student projects) have been diminished by;
- The high need of consumables and high cost of analysis of N2O by laboratories, and
- The need for a significant amount of sample points to be able to quantify a very variable process.
Research on reducing GHG emissions from agriculture, including N2O, and research on the reduction, management and treatment of effluents and waste (circular economy) are priority areas of environmental research in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The lack of an affordable and efficient capability on N2O analysis reduces UC competitiveness in those research areas and decreases the impact of UC research for not including important natural processes. This investment proposal aligns to UC’s Strategic Vision High Impact Research in a Changing World; Increase and diversify funding sources by increasing competitiveness in funding applications and research negotiations with contestable and negotiated research funds. It also contributes to an Accessible, Flexible, Future Focused Education; Provide a learning environment that uses effective pedagogies, facilities by expanding the research offer to our environmental students.

Department/Business Unit: Planning, Finance & ITS