Geology expert becomes Emeritus Professor
Professor Tim Little from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Geography, Environment, and Earth Sciences has been appointed Emeritus Professor.
Professor Little began his work in geology as an undergraduate student at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks completing a Bachelor of Science. He then went on to complete his Master’s and PhD at Stanford University, graduating in 1988.
While at Stanford, Professor Little worked part-time as a geologist for the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. After graduating from Stanford, he spent some time as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Queensland before joining Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in March 1992.
Professor Little is a structural geologist who evaluates rock deformation in the field. He has published extensively on the tectonic deformation of the Southern Alps and on rates of fault slip and earthquake occurrence on the major active faults in northeastern South Island and southern North Island—including the Wellington and Wairarapa faults. He has also spent many field seasons in Papua New Guinea, where he studied how (and at what rate) the world’s youngest known ultra-deep metamorphic rocks have reached the Earth’s surface.
Professor Little says his field-based research into the plate boundary “natural laboratories” in Papua New Guinea and New Zealand has been both a challenge and highlight of his research career. Most recently, he was involved in post-event field investigations into the fault surface rupturing caused by the 2016 magnitude 7.8 Kaikoura earthquake, an exciting opportunity that he did not expect to have in his career.
Working with students and colleagues has been another longstanding highlight.
“I have greatly enjoyed supervising postgraduate students, and teaching both lab- and field-based structural geology to undergraduates,” he says. “I’ve also valued the opportunity I’ve had to collaborate with many talented colleagues at the University, at GNS Science, and elsewhere.”
Professor Little will continue his work with the School of Geology, Environment, and Earth Sciences.
“I look forward to continuing my research in the field, as well as continuing to supervise postgraduate students,” Professor Little says.