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Further information about Professor David J. Lowe University of Waikato, Hamilton,
New Zealand [email protected] April 2019
Recent and earlier research and contributions
David has published widely in a range of disciplines centred on the study of tephra (volcanic ash) and its
derivatives and weathering products, his main focus being on (1) tephrochronology and (2) pedology
and paleopedology (study of paleosols).
His advances in these disciplines have led to multi- and cross-disciplinary research outputs involving clay
mineralogy, geochronology, mass movement (landsliding), and Quaternary science, in which he has used
tephras as chronostratigraphic dating and synchronizing tools (isochrons) in reconstructions of past
environments and climates (using lake-sediment and peat-bog archives), and in geoarchaeology.
In addition, David’s work on tephras and cryptoehras has led to advances in volcanic eruption histories
and evaluations of volcanic impacts. He has more than 190 refereed publications in scientific journals or
books (including 25 book chapters) to his name.
He has undertaken research in New Zealand, Antarctica, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the U.K., and also
has field experience in Taiwan, France, Germany, Ireland, Romania, Santorini (Greece), Switzerland,
western U.S.A. (eight states including Alaska and Hawaii), and Fiji.
David has recently published research with student Remedy Loame on the application of
tephrochronology to enable movement on a fault near Rotorua to be reconstructed since c. 40 ka
(paleoseismology) as well as dating fossil hydrothermal sinter deposits of the same age. This paper
(Loame et al. 2019) was selected for a special issue of Quaternary International (volume 500). David has
also used tephrochronology along with a soil-stratigraphic approach to re-evaluate the origin,
composition, and classification of extensive weathered tephra-derived soils and paleosols in the
northern Hamilton Basin. This paper (Lowe 2019) is an invited ‘feature paper’ in the journal Quaternary.
David has also worked with colleagues on re-dating the Taupo eruption in response to an article that
challenged the date for the eruption that had been published in 2012 (Hogg et al. 2019). The response
has been submitted to Nature Communications.
In 2017, David published with colleagues an edited volume of the journal Quaternary Geochronology
(Lane et al. 2017) specifically on tephras entitled “Advancing tephrochronology as a global dating tool:
applications in volcanology, archaeology, and palaeoclimatic research” (vol. 40, pp. 1-146). The papers
are grouped into two themes reflecting (1) advances in methodologies (4 papers) and (2) building regional
tephrostratigraphic frameworks (7 papers). These 11 papers, together with an introductory article (Lane
et al.) and obituary, showcase some of the recent advances in tephrochronology arising from research by
members of the International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism (INTAV) and the
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EXTending TephRAS (EXTRAS) project being led by David. Similarly, an invited review paper entitled
“Correlating tephras and cryptotephras using glass compositional analyses and numerical and statistical
methods: review and evaluation” by Lowe et al. (2107) published in Quaternary Science Reviews (vol. 175,
pp. 1-44) is another output of EXTRAS. Methodological advances in the analysis of glass shards and how,
using glass or crystal-based analyses, a range of statistical methods can be applied to enable tephras and
cryptotephra deposits to be correlated to source volcanoes and from one place to the next, are presented
and discussed in the paper. The paper also includes a quick guide to analytical problems and how they
might be identified and overcome, and a simplified framework (flow-chart) for the process of undertaking
tephra correlation.
Since 2016, David, with students and colleagues, has been leading a project examining volcanic hazards
in the Waikato region by studying ‘hidden ash’ deposits, called ‘cryptotephras’, in lake sediments and
peats as part of a project funded by EQC and the Waikato Regional Council (WRC). He has also been
working with colleagues in New Zealand, Germany (Bremen Univ,.), and the UK (Swansea Univ.) on
liquefied tephra layers in lake sediments that are thought to relate to past earthquake activity on newly-
discovered geological faults in the Hamilton area.
Another area of research recently completed has been on the discovery of a new morphological form,
namely ‘books’ and ‘mushroom-cap-shaped’ (MCS) spheroids, of the clay mineral halloysite that arose
indirectly from work with Vicki Moon and graduate students, including Dr Max Kluger (Bremen Univ.)
investigating geotechnical properties and landsliding in the Tauranga area. Previously, book-forms had
been associated exclusively with kaolinite. The charge characteristics of the MCS spheroids helped explain
the flow-sliding at Omokoroa through a new ‘attraction-detachment’ model published in Geology. New
work on the structure of halloysite, partly derived from research undertaken in the Mt Gambier-Mt
Schank area of Holocene volcanics in South Australia during leave at CSIRO in Adelaide in 1991-92, has
also been completed with Jock Churchman and others.
From 2011, David led a Marsden-funded project “New views from old soils” (now completed) that
examined research questions (1) how allophane sequesters and protects carbon in allophanic soils
and paleosols, and (2) how ancient DNA (aDNA) i s stored and protected in such materials and how
such aDNA could be extracted and used to inform past environmental reconstructions (see
publications). This work involved collaboration with Prof Alan Cooper, Dr Jock Churchman, and Dr Jennifer
Young (University of Adelaide), Dr Nic Rawlence (University of Otago), and Dr Jamie Wood (Landcare
Research, Lincoln). The Waikato group included former student Dr Yu-Tuan (Doreen) Huang (now a
postdoc in Umea, Sweden), Dr Ray Cursons, and Heng Zhang (just completed PhD). The group used
synchrotron facilities at the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre (NSRRC), Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Late in 2015, the second edition of the award-winning book “A Continent on the Move: New Zealand
Geoscience Revealed” was published by the Geoscience Society of New Zealand together with GNS
Science. This edition contained numerous updates and considerable new material. As well as contributing
two articles, David was the editor responsible for 10 articles in Chapter 11 “Climate Swings and
Roundabouts” (pp. 262-295). He also contributed a chapter to a new book “The Drama of Conservation
The History of Pureora Forest, New Zealand” that was published by Springer, Berlin, and the New
Zealand Department of Conservation, Wellington.
In August, 2013, the final volume of the AUSTALASIAN INTIMATE project was published as Vol. 74 of
Quaternary Science Reviews (pp. 1-280) “Linking Southern Hemisphere records and past circulation
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patterns: the AUS-INTIMATE project” (edited by J. Reeves, B. Alloway, T. Barrows). David contributed
or co-authored three papers for this volume (2013), two earlier papers towards the project (2007,
2008), and contributed to a poster and bulletin published by GNS Science (2005).
David (with others) convened the fourth Waikato-Bay of Plenty regional soils meeting, Wai-BoP Soils
2017, on 5 Dec, 2017, at the University of Waikato on behalf of the NZ Society of Soil Science. David
and others co-convened the first and second Wai-BoP Soils meetings in December 2011 and 2013.
In July 2011, David co-convened a session on tephrochronology at the Inqua Congress in Bern,
Switzerland, and represented New Zealand on the International Council. He and colleagues convened
two symposia at the Inqua Congress in Nagoya, Japan, in July-August 2015.
In May 2010, David gave a public lecture in Kirishima, Kyushu Island, Japan, as part of the “Active
Tephra" conference. He also presented a series of seminars at 4 universities during a JSPS- sponsored
tour of Japan after the conference.
In 2009, David was invited by the Queensland Branch of the Australian Society of Soil Science to give
the Ron McDonald Memorial Lecture in Brisbane, the first New Zealander to be given the award. His
lecture was entitled "Where pedology meets geology - insights into Andisols in Australasia".
In November 2007, David was a key-note plenary speaker at an international symposium on Quaternary
environmental change that was held in Tsukuba, Japan, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Japan
Quaternary Association (JAQUA). David also gave a seminar at the National Taiwan University (NTU) in
Taipei, Taiwan, in November, 2007. Earlier David gave two keynote talks at the INQUA congress held in
Cairns in July-August 2007. In March 2006 David was an invited speaker at a conference on Andisols in
the Mt Fuji area of central Japan. David also worked for several months in 2006 at both the Waikato
Radiocarbon Dating Lab in Hamilton and at Scion Research in Rotorua.
In 2005, David attended an international tephra conference in the Yukon Territory (Canada) and visited
colleagues in Saskatchewan and central Alaska as part of his sabbatical leave. Earlier, David spent eight
months undertaking palaeoenvironmental and tephrochronological research in universities in Northern
Ireland and Great Britain during sabbatical leave in 1998-99, and ten months undertaking pedological
and volcanological research on Quaternary volcanic eruptives and associated soils in southeast South
Australia whilst at CSIRO (Division of Soils) in Adelaide
1991-92.
David's early professional experience includes soil survey-related work for the Soil Bureau of DSIR,
Hamilton, and benzene synthesis in the liquid-scintillation based Waikato Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory.
In Antarctica during the 1978-79 field season, David's four-man field party (led by the late Professor
Michael Selby) manhauled a sledge whilst undertaking geological, geomorphological and pedological
mapping in the Transantarctic Mountains. The party also discovered unique iron meteorites, one of
which is displayed in the Canterbury Museum (Antarctic Wing), Christchurch.
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Recently completed research projects
Recently completed research undertaken with colleagues from New Zealand and overseas, and with
postgraduate students, includes:
1. Developing new age models for key tephra marker beds for New Zealand since 30,000 years ago using
Bayesian modelling techniques including revising the age of Kawakawa/Oruanui tephra (published in 2008
and 2013).
2. Critically reviewing the methods for analysing glass shards from tephras and cryptotephras and
presenting and evaluating the numerical and statistical methods that may be applied to
tephra/cryptotephra correlation.
3. Contributing to the development of the New Zealand climate event stratigraphy (NZCES) as part of the
NZ-INTIMATE project (published in the AUS-INTIMATE issue of Quaternary Science Reviews Vol. 74, 2013).
Previously contributed to the preliminary NZCES in 2007.
4. Comprehensive review of the discipline of tephrochronology and its application from a global
perspective.
5. Evaluating the likelihood of the “bipolar seesaw” mechanism operating in the New Zealand region since
30 cal ka.
6. Determining the timing and impacts of early Polynesian settlement in New Zealand, and assessing the
impacts of volcanism on early Maori in New Zealand.
7. Developing a comprehensive model relating tephras to archaeology in New Zealand, and determining
the calendar age of the Kaharoa eruption of Mt Tarawera at AD 1314 ±12 using dendrochronological
wiggle-match dating and radiocarbon dating.
8. Using tephrochronology with palynology and other palaeoenvironmental proxies to compare the
synchroneity or otherwise of abrupt climate change during the transition from marine isotope Stage (MIS)
2 to Stage 1 (Last Termination), including identification of a cooling event from ca. 13,800- 12,600 cal yr
BP.
9. Reviewing the Andisols of the world and of New Zealand and Australia.
10. Determining climatic and vegetational change from MIS 5e (Last Interglacial) through to MIS 1
(Holocene) in Northland using analyses of cores from Lake Omapere near Kaikohe.
11. Developing new models of upbuilding pedogenesis in tephra and loess deposits in New Zealand.
12. Developing soil-landscape modelling techniques to map target soil properties in plantation forests in
Southland, central volcanic plateau and Northland regions, and assessing the affects of forest harvesting
on the efficacy of such modelling.
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13. Testing the sustainability of plantation forestry on Mamaku Plateau, central North Island, using soil
and foliar phosphorus measurements associated with two rotations of Pinus radiata.
14. Contributing to two joint papers defining the climate event stratigraphy of New Zealand as part of the
Australasian INTIMATE project (in 2007 and 2013).
15. Contributing to a chapter on tephrostratigraphy and tephrochronology for Elsevier’s Encyclopaedia of
Quaternary Science (including a revised 2nd edition published in 2013), and contributed a chapter on
tephrochronology to Encyclopaedia of Scientific Dating Methods in
2014.
16. Determining the paleoclimate of the Auckland region during MIS 2 using tephropalynological analysis
of cores from Kohuora Crater, Auckland Volcanic Field, and of Adelaide Tarn, NW Nelson, since c. 16,000
years ago.
17. Reviewing the alteration, formation and occurrence of minerals in soils.
18. Developing improved tephra correlation techniques using electron microprobe analysis of glass shards
in bi-modal Rotorua Tephra, and of melt inclusions in strongly weathered tephra deposits.
19. Reviewing the use of palaeoenvironmental ancient DNA in Quaternary research.
20. Evaluating carbon sequestration by allophanic soils and mechanisms for DNA binding to allophanic
materials using synchrotron radiation.
21. Assessing drivers of plantation forest productivity on eroded and non-eroded soils in hilly and steep
land in eastern North Island.
22. Documenting the occurrence of new morphologies of halloysite (‘books’, ‘mushroom-cap-shaped
spheroids’) and the structure of halloysite, especially the way in which H2O is incorporated into the
sheets. Also, contributed to the new ‘attraction-detachment’ model built around the charge
characteristics and abundance of the mushroom-cap-shaped spheroids in a very sensitive layer at
Omokoroa in the Tauranga region that helped enable flow sliding to occur.
23. Discovery of accelerated weathering of glass in Andisols in North Island because of the use of
fertilizers for the past ~50 years (with Matthew Taylor and colleagues).
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International speakers in Japan (Meiji Univ) 2006 Ultisol landscape, Mahurangi Forest, Northland
World tephra specialists, Dawson City, Yukon Territory, 2005
Pedology students in Whakarewarewa Forest Rotorua, 2013
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Publications
Tephrochronology, Quaternary science and environmental change
Hogg, A.G., Wilson, C.J.N., Lowe, D.J., Turney, C.S.M., White, P., Lorrey, A.M., Manning, S.W., Palmer, J.G.,
Bury, S., Brown, J., Southon, J., Petchey, F. 2019. Correspondence: The Taupo eruption occurred in 232
± 10 CE, and not later. Nature Communications (submitted 28 Dec 2018, NCOMMS-18-7769176) –
available as open access non-peer-reviewed preprint published at EarthArXiv (DOI:
10.31223/osf.io/7r5jp) (or https://eartharxiv.org/7r5jp/)
Loame, R.C., Villamor, P., Lowe, D.J., Milicich, S.D., Pittari, A., Barker, S.L.L., Rae, A., Gómez-Vasconcelos,
M.G., Martinez-Martos, M., Ries, W.F. 2019. Using paleoseismology and tephrochronology to
reconstruct fault rupturing and hydrothermal activity since c. 40 ka in Taupo Rift, New Zealand.
Quaternary International 500 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2019.02.031
Newnham, R.M., Lowe, D.J., Gehrels, M.J., Augustinus, P. 2018. Two-step human−environmental impact
history for northern New Zealand linked to late-Holocene climate change. The Holocene 28, 1093-1106.
Lowe, D.J. 2018. Quaternary science in New Zealand: report to the Catlyst Fund. Quaternary Australasia 35
(1), 10-14, with Appendix A “Summary of Quaternary-related research in New Zealand and relationship
to International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) (17 pp.)
Jara, I.A., Newnham, R.M., Vandergoes, M.J., Foster, C.R., Lowe, D.J., Wilmshurst, J.M., Moreno, P.I.,
Renwick, J.A., Homes, A. 2015. Pollen-climate reconstruction from northern South Island, New Zealand
(41°S), reveals high- and low-latitude teleconnections over the last 16 000 years. Journal of
Quaternary Science 30, 817-829.
Moriwaki, H., Nakamura, N., Nagasako, T., Lowe, D.J., Sangawa, T. 2015. The role of tephras in developing
a high-precision chronostratigraphy for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and archaeology in
southern Kyushu, Japan, since 30 cal. BP: an integration. Quaternary International 397, 79-
92.
Lowe, D.J., Alloway, B.V. 2015. Tephrochronology. In: Rink, W.J., Thompson, J.W. (eds). “Encyclopaedia
of Scientific Dating Methods”. Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 783-799.
Lowe, D.J. (subeditor) 2015. Climate swings and roundabouts paleoclimatic fluctuations across
Zealandia. [Chapter11] In: Graham, I.J. (chief editor) “A Continent on the Move: New Zealand
Geoscience Revealed, 2nd Edition”. Geoscience Society of New Zealand with GNS Science,
Wellington, pp. 263-295.
Lowe, D.J., Tonkin, P.J., Palmer, J., Lanigan, K., Palmer, A.S. 2015. Dusty horizons. In: Graham, I.J.
(chief editor) “A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience Revealed, Second Edition”.
Geoscience Society of New Zealand with GNS Science, Wellington, pp. 286-289.
Lowe, D.J., Alloway, B.V., Shane, P.A.R. 2015. Far-flown markers. In: Graham, I.J. (chief editor) “A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience Revealed, Second Edition”. Geoscience Society of New Zealand with GNS Science, Wellington, pp. 172-175.
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Lowe, D.J., King, C.M. 2015. A dramatic landscape. [Chapter 1] In: King, C.M., Gaukrodger, D.J., Ritchie,
N.A. (eds), The Drama of Conservation The History of Pureora Forest, New Zealand. Springer,
Berlin, and New Zealand Dept. of Conservation, Wellington, pp. 1-17.
Lowe, D.J. 2014. How Lake Rotoroa was formed: influence of the ancestral Waikato River. In: Taylor, J.
Hamilton Lake City Playground. Published by Jeff Taylor, Hamilton, pp. 6-13.
Rawlence, N.J., Lowe, D.J., Wood, J.R., Young, J., Churchman, G.J., Huang, Y.-T., Cooper, A. 2014. Using
palaeoenvironmental DNA to reconstruct past environments: progress and prospects. Journal of Quaternary Science 29, 610-626 [open access].
Lowe, D.J. 2014. Marine tephrochronology: a personal perspective. In: Austin, W.E.N., Abbott, P.M.,
Davies, S.M., Pearce, N.J.G., Wastegård, S. (editors), “Marine Tephrochronology”. Geological Society (London) Special Publication 398, 7-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP398.11
Alloway, B.V., Lowe, D.J., Larsen, G., Shane, P.A.R., Westgate, J.A. 2013. Tephrochronology. In: Elias,
S.A., Mock, C.J. (editors) The Encyclopaedia of Quaternary Science, 2nd edition, Vol. 4, pp. 277-304.
Elsevier, Amsterdam. Barrell, D.J.A., Almond, P.C., Vandergoes, M.J., Lowe, D.J., Newnham, R.M., NZ-INTIMATE members 2013.
A composite pollen-based stratotype for inter-regional evaluation of climatic events in New Zealand over the past 30,000 years (NZ-INTIMATE project). Quaternary Science Reviews 74, 4-20.
Vandergoes, M.J., Hogg, A.G., Lowe, D.J., Newnham, R.M., Denton, G.H., Southon, J., Barrell, D.J.A., Wilson,
C.J.N., McGlone, M.S., Allan, A.S.R., Almond, P.C., Petchey, F., Dalbell, K., Dieffenbacher- Krall, A.C.,
Blaauw, M. 2013. A revised age for the Kawakawa/Oruanui tephra, a key marker for the Last Glacial
Maximum in New Zealand. Quaternary Science Reviews 74, 195-201.
Lowe, D.J., Blaauw, M., Hogg, A.G., Newnham, R.M. 2013. Ages of 24 widespread tephras erupted since
30,000 years ago in New Zealand, with re-evaluation of the timing and palaeoclimatic implications of
the late-glacial cool episode recorded at Kaipo bog. Quaternary Science Reviews 74, 170-194.
Newnham, R.M.; Vandergoes, M.; Sikes, E.; Carter, L.; Wilmshurst, J.; Lowe, D.J.; McGlone, M.S.; Sandiford,
A. 2012. Does the bipolar seesaw extend to the terrestrial southern mid-latitudes? Quaternary
Science Reviews 36, 214-222.
Hogg, A.G.; Lowe, D.J.; Palmer, J.G.; Boswijk, G.; Bronk Ramsey, C.J. 2012. Revised calendar date for the
Taupo eruption derived by 14C wiggle-matching using a New Zealand kauri 14C calibration data set.
The Holocene 22, 439-449.
Lowe, D.J.; Moriwaki, H.; Davies, S.M., Suzuki, T.; Pearce, N.J. (Editors) 2011. “Enhancing tephrochronology
and its application (INTREPID project): Hiroshi Machida commemorative volume”. Quaternary
International 246, pp.1-396.
Lowe, D.J.; Davies, S.M.; Moriwaki, H.; Pearce, N.J.; Suzuki, T. 2011. [Preface] Enhancing tephrochronology
and its application (INTREPID project): Hiroshi Machida commemorative volume. Quaternary
International 246, 1-5.
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Holt, K.A.; Lowe, D.J.; Hogg, A.G.; Wallace, R.C. 2011. Distal occurrence of mid-Holocene Whakatane
Tephra on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, and potential for cryptotephra studies.
Quaternary International 246, 344-351.
Moriwaki, H.; Suzuki, T.; Murata, M.; Ikehara, M.; Machida, H.; Oba, T.; Lowe, D.J. 2011. Sakurajima-
Satsuma (Sz-S) and Noike-Yumugi (N-Ym) tephras: new tephrochronological marker beds for the last
deglaciation, southern Kyushu, Japan. Quaternary International 246, 203-212.
Lowe, D.J. 2011. Tephrochronology and its application: a review. Quaternary Geochronology 6 107-
153.
Holt, K.; Wallace, R.C.; Neall, V.E.; Kohn, B.P.; Lowe, D.J. 2010. Quaternary tephra marker beds and their
potential for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction on Chatham Islands east of New Zealand, southwest
Pacific Ocean. Journal of Quaternary Science 25, 1169-1178.
Lowe, D.J.; Wilson, C.J.N.; Newnham, R.M.; Hogg, A.G. 2010. Dating the Kawakawa/Oruanui eruption:
comment on “Optical luminescence dating of a loess section containing a critical tephra marker
horizon, SW North Island of New Zealand” by R. Grapes et al. Quaternary Geochronology 5, 493-496.
Walker, M.; Johnsen, S.; Rasmussen, S.O.; Popp, T.; Steffensen, J.-P.; Gibbard, P.; Hoek, W.; Lowe, J.J.;
Andrews, J.; Björck, S.; Cwynar, L.; Hughen, K.; Kershaw, P.; Kromer, B.; Litt, T.; Lowe, D.J.; Nakagawa,
T.; Newnham, R.M.; Schwander, J. 2009. Formal definition and dating of the GSSP (Global Stratotype
Section and Point) for the base of the Holocene using the Greenland NGRIP ice core, and selected
auxiliary records. Journal of Quaternary Science 29, 3-17.
Lowe, D.J. 2008. Globalization of tephrochronology: new views from Australasia. Progress in
Physical Geography 32, 311-335.
Lowe, D.J.; Alloway, B.V.; Shane, P.A.R. 2008. Far-flung markers [Tephras] In: Graham, I.J. (chief
editor) “A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century”. Geological
Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 124, 170-173.
Lowe, D.J.; Shane, P.A.R.; Alloway, B.V.; Newnham, R.M. 2008. Fingerprints and age models for widespread
New Zealand tephra marker beds erupted since 30,000 years ago: a framework for NZ-INTIMATE.
Quaternary Science Reviews 27, 95-126.
Froese, D.G.; Slate, J.L.; Lowe, D.J.; Knott, J. (editors) 2008. "Global Tephra Studies: John Westgate and
Andrei Sarna-Wojcicki Commemorative Volume". Quaternary International 178, 1-320.
Froese, D.G.; Alloway, B.V.; Lowe, D.J. 2008. John A. Westgate - Global tephrochronologist, stratigrapher,
mentor. Quaternary International 178, 4-9.
Lowe, D.J.; Tonkin, P.J.; Neall, V.E.; Palmer, A.S.; Alloway, B.V.; Froggatt, P.C. 2008. Colin George Vucetich (1918-2007) - pioneering New Zealand tephrochronologist. Quaternary International
178, 11-15.
Gehrels, M.J.; Newnham, R.M.; Lowe, D.J.; Wynne, S.; Hazell, Z.J.; Caseldine, C. 2008. Towards rapid assay
of cryptotephra in peat cores: review and evaluation of selected methods. Quaternary International
178, 68-84.
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Leonard, G.; Lowe, D.J.; McSaveney, E.; Smith, R.T.; Stewart, C.; Wright, I. 2007. Living on the ring of fire -
volcanoes. In: Te Ara team (editors), "Life on the Edge - New Zealand's Natural Hazards and Disasters".
David Bateman, Auckland, pp. 76-115.
Newnham, R.M.; Lowe, D.J.; Giles, T.M., Alloway, B.V. 2007. Vegetation and climate of Auckland, New
Zealand, since ca. 32 000 cal. yr ago: support for an extended LGM. Journal of Quaternary Science 22,
517-534.
Newnham, R.M.; Vandergoes, M.J.; Hendy, C.H.; Lowe, D.J.; Preusser, F. 2007. A terrrestrial palynological
record for the last two glacial cycles from southwestern New Zealand. Quaternary Science Reviews 26,
517-535.
Alloway, B.V.; Lowe, D.J.; Barrell, D.J.A.; Newnham, R.M..; Almond, P.C.; Augustinus, P.C.; Bertler, N.A.;
Carter, L.; Litchfield, N.J.; McGlone, M.S.; Shulmeister, J.; Vandergoes, M.J.; Williams, P.W. and NZ-
INTIMATE members 2007. Towards a climate event stratigraphy for New Zealand over the past
30,000 years (NZ-INTIMATE project). Journal of Quaternary Science 22, 9-35.
Newnham, R.M.; Vandergoes, M.J.; Garnett, M.H.; Lowe, D.J.; Prior, C.; Almond, P.CJ. 2007. Test of AMS 14C dating of pollen concentrates using tephrochronology. Journal of Quaternary Science 22, 37-51.
Alloway, B.V.; Larsen, G.; Lowe, D.J.; Shane. P.A.R.; Westgate, J.A. 2007. Tephrochronology. In: Elias, S.A. (editor-in-chief) Encyclopaedia of Quaternary Science. Elsevier, London, pp. 2869-2898.
Smith, R.T.; Lowe, D.J.; Wright, I.C. 2006. “Volcanoes.” Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
[Online]. Updated 9 June 2006. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington. URL:
http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/NaturalHazardsAndDisasters/Volcanoes/en Briggs, R.M.; Lowe, D.J.; Esler, W.R.; Smith, R.T.; Henry, M.A.C.; Wehrmann, H.; Manning, D.A. 2006.
Geology of the Maketu area, Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand. Sheet V14 1:50 000. Department of
Earth Sciences, University of Waikato, Occasional Report 26. 44 pp + map. [Published in collaboration
with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Whakatane.]
Gehrels, M.J.; Lowe, D.J.; Hazell, Z.J.; Newnham, R.M. 2006. A continuous 5300-yr Holocene
cryptotephrostratigraphic record from northern New Zealand and implications for tephrochronology
and volcanic-hazard assessment. The Holocene 16, 173-187.
Hajdas, I.; Lowe, D.J.; Newnham, R.M.; Bonani, G. 2006. Timing of the late-glacial climate reversal in the
Southern Hemisphere using high-resolution radiocarbon chronology for Kaipo bog, New Zealand.
Quaternary Research 65, 340-345.
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Participants on ‘Ashes & Issues’ field trip Nov 2008 Tephra section and Prof Masami Nanzyo
near Mt Tarawera Nov 2008
Participants on ‘Hot Volcanic Soils’ field trip 2 December, 2014, part of NZSSS conference, Hamil
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Pedology and soil and land evaluation and management, clay mineralogy, geohazards including
landsliding
Lowe, D.J. 2019. Using soil stratigraphy and tephrochronology to understand the origin, age, and
classification of a unique Late Quaternary tephra-derived Ultisol in Aotearoa New Zealand. Quaternary
2 (1), 9 (34 pp.); https://doi.org/10.3390/quat2010009 (open access).
Lowe, D.J., Balks, M.R. 2018. Pedological and some other soil-related activities within the Earth sciences
discipline at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand − the first 50 years (1969-2018). New
Zealand Soil News 66 (2), 27-60.
Robertson, T., Moon, V.G., Lowe, D.J. 2017. Is there a potassium-based solution to sensitive soil slipping
within the Bay of Plenty? In: Alexander, G.J., Chin, C.Y. (eds), Proceedings 20th New Zealand
Geotechnical Society Symposium NZGS2017, 24-26 November 2017, Napier (8 pp.).
McKay, A.M., Lowe, D.J., Moon, V.G. 2017. Evaluating soil and landscape models to predict liquefaction
susceptibility in the Hinuera Formation, Hamilton Basin. In: Alexander, G.J., Chin, C.Y. (eds),
Proceedings 20th New Zealand Geotechnical Society Symposium NZGS2017, 24-26 November 2017,
Napier (8 pp.).
Moon, V.G., Mills, P.R., Kluger, M.O., Lowe, D.J., Churchman, G.J., de Lange, W.P., Hepp, D.A., Kreiter, S.,
Mörz, T., 2017. Sensitive pyroclastic soils in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand: microstructure to failure
mechanisms. In: Alexander, G.J., Chin, C.Y. (eds), Proceedings 20th New Zealand Geotechnical Society
Symposium NZGS2017, 24-26 November 2017, Napier (8 pp.).
Lowe, D.J. 2017. Review of “Guano and the Opening of the Pacific World: a Global Ecological History” by
G.T. Cushman (Cambridge University Press, 2013). Journal of New Zealand and Pacific Studies 5 (2) 208-
210.
Taylor, M.D., Lowe, D.J., Hardi, P., Smidt, G., Schnug, E. 2016. Comparing volcanic glass shards in
unfertilised and fertilised Andisols derived from rhyolitic tephras, New Zealand: evidence for
accelerated weathering and implications for land management. Geoderma 271, 91-98.
Cunningham, M.J., Lowe, D.J., Wyatt, J., Moon, V.G., Churchman, G.J. 2016. Discovery of halloysite books
in altered silicic Quaternary tephras, northern New Zealand. Clay Minerals 51, 351-372.
Churchman, G.J., Pasbakhsh, P., Lowe, D.J., Theng, B.K.G. 2016. Unique but diverse: some observations
on the formation, structure, and morphology of halloysite. Clay Minerals 51, 395-416.
Huang, Y-T., Lowe, D.J., Zhang, H., Cursons, R., Young, J.M., Churchman, G.J., Schipper, L.A., Rawlence,
N.J., Wood, J.R., Cooper, A. 2016. A new method to extract and purify DNA from allophanic soils
and paleosols, and potential for paleoenvironmental reconstruction and other applications.
Geoderma 247, 114-125.
Huang, Y.-T., Lowe, D.J., Churchman, G.J., Schipper, L.A., Cursons, R., Zhang, H., Chen, T.-Y., Cooper, A.
2016. DNA adsorption by nanocrystalline allophane spherules and nanoaggregates, and
implications for carbon sequestration in Andisols. Applied Clay Science 120, 40-50.
13
Noyes, A.M., Balks, M.R., Moon, V.G., Lowe, D.J. 2016. Soil recovery following landsliding at
Whatawhata Research Station, Waikato, New Zealand: preliminary results. Proceedings of Hill
Country Symposium 2016 (New Zealand Grassland Association, New Zealand Society of Animal
Production, and New Zealand Grassland Trust, 12-13 April 2016, Rotorua), pp. 83-88.
Moon, V.G., Lowe, D.J., Cunningham, M.J., Wyatt, J., Churchman, G.J., de Lange, W.P., Mörz, T., Kreiter,
S., Kluger, M.O., Jorat, M.E. 2015. Sensitive pyroclastic-derived halloysitic soils in northern New
Zealand: interplay of microstructure, minerals, and geomechanics. In: Rotonda, T., Cecconi, M.,
Silvestri, F., Tommasi, P. (eds), Volcanic Rocks and Soils. Proceedings of the International
Workshop on Volcanic Rocks and Soils, Lacco Ameno, Ischia Island, Italy, 24-25
September, 2015. Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 3-21.
Kleyburg, M.A., Moon, V.G., Lowe, D.J., Nelson, C.S. 2015. Paleoliquefaction in Late Pleistocene
alluvial sediments in Hauraki and Hamilton basins, and implications for paleoseismicity.
Proceedings, 12th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics (ANZ 2015), 22-25
February, 2015, Wellington, pp. 524-531.
Heaphy, M.J., Lowe, D.J., Palmer, D.J., Jones, H.S., Gielen, G.J.H.P., Oliver, G.R., Pearce, S., 2014.
Assessing drivers of plantation forest productivity on eroded and non-eroded soils in hilly land,
eastern North Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 44: 24 (pp.1-10) [open
access] (doi: 10.1186/s40490-014-0024-5).
Churchman, G.J., Lowe, D.J. 2014. Clay minerals in South Australian Holocene basaltic volcanogenic soils
and implications for halloysite genesis and structure. In: Gilkes, R. (editor), Proceedings of the 23rd
Biennial Australian Clay Minerals Society Conference, University of Western Australia, Perth, 3-4 Feb,
2014, pp. 3-6.
Huang, Y-T., Lowe, D.J., Churchman, G.J., Schipper, L., Rawlence, N.J., Cooper, A. 2014. Carbon
storage and DNA adsorption in allophanic soils and paleosols. In: Hartemink, A.E.; McSweeney, K.
(eds). “Soil Carbon”. Progress in Soil Science Series, Springer, New York pp. 163-172.
Hartemink, A.E., Balks, M.R., Chen, Z-S., Drohan, P., Field, D.J., Krasilnikov, P., Lowe, D.J.,
Rabenhorst, M., van Rees, K., Schad, P., Schipper, L.A., Sonneveld, M., Walter, C. 2014. The joy of
teaching soil science. Geoderma 217-218, 1-9
Moon, V.G., Cunningham, M.J., Wyatt, J.B., Lowe, D.J., Mörz, T., Jorat, M.E. 2013. Landslides in
sensitive soils, Tauranga, New Zealand. In: Chin, T.Y. (Ed.), “Hanging by a thread – lifelines,
infrastructure, and natural disasters”. Proc 19th NZ Geotechnical Society (NZGS) Geotechnical
Symposium, Queenstown (20-23 November 2013), Vol 38, Issue 1 (GM), pp. 537-544.
Lowe, D.J., Lanigan, K.M., Palmer, D.J. 2012. Where geology meets pedology: Late Quaternary
tephras, loess, and paleosols in the Mamaku Plateau and Lake Rerewhakaaitu areas. In: Pittari, A.
(compiler). Field Trip Guides, Geosciences 2012 Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 134B, pp. 2.1−2.45.
Churchman, G.J.; Lowe, D.J. 2012. Alteration, formation, and
occurrence of minerals in soils. In: Huang, P.M.; Li, Y; Sumner, M.E. (eds-in-chief) “Handbook of Soil
Sciences. 2nd edition. Vol. 1: Properties and Processes”. CRC Press (Taylor & Francis), Boca Raton,
FL, pp.20.1-20.72.
14
McDaniel, P.A.; Lowe, D.J.; Arnalds, O.; Ping, C.-L. 2012. Andisols. In: Huang, P.M.; Li, Y; Sumner,
M.E. (eds-in-chief) “Handbook of Soil Sciences. 2nd edition. Vol. 1: Properties and Processes”. CRC
Press (Taylor & Francis), Boca Raton, FL, pp.33.29-33.48.
Lowe, D.J.; Neall, V.E., Hedley, M; Clothier, B.; Mackay, A. 2010. Guidebook for pre-conference
North Island, New Zealand ‘Volcanoes to Ocean’ field tour (27-30 July, 2010). 19th World Soils
Congress, International Union of Soil Sciences, Brisbane. Soil and Earth Sciences Occasional
Publication No. 3, Massey University, Palmerston North, 239pp. ISSN No. 1175-4966.
Lowe, D.J.; Tonkin, P.J. 2010. Unravelling upbuilding pedogenesis in tephra and loess sequences in New
Zealand using tephrochronology. In: Gilkes, R.J.; Prakongkep, N. (eds), Proceedings 19th World
Congress of Soil Science (1-6 Aug., 2010, Brisbane), Symposium 1.3.2 Geochronological
techniques and soil formation, pp. 34-37. Published at http://www.iuss.org.
Takesako, H.; Lowe, D.J.; Churchman, G.J.; Chittleborough, D. 2010. Holocene volcanic soils in the Mt
Gambier region, South Australia. In: Gilkes, R.J.; Prakongkep, N. (eds), Proceedings 19th World
Congress of Soil Science (1-6 Aug., 2010, Brisbane,), Symposium 1.3.1 Pedogenesis: ratio and range of
influence, pp. 47-50. Published at http://www.iuss.org.
Watt, M.J.; Palmer, D.J.; Kimberley, M.O.; Höck, B.K.; Payn, T.; Lowe, D.J. 2010. Development of models
to predict Pinus radiata productivity throughout New Zealand. Canadian Journal of Forest
Research 40, 488-499.
Palmer, D.J.; Hock, B.K.; Kimberley, M.O.; Lowe, D.J.; Payn, T.W. 2009. Comparison of spatial prediction
techniques for developing Pinus radiata productivity surfaces across New Zealand. Forest Ecology and
Management 258, 2046-2055.
Inoue, Y.; Baasansuren, J.; Watanabe, M.; Kamei, H.; Lowe, D.J. 2009. Interpretation of pre-AD 472
Roman soils from physicochemical and mineralogical properties of buried tephric paleosols at
Somma Vesuviana ruin, southwest Italy. Geoderma 152, 243-251.
Palmer, D.J.; Watt, M.S.; Höck, B.K.; Lowe, D.J.; Payn, T.W. 2009. A dynamic framework for spatial
modelling Pinus radiata soil-water balance (SWatBal) across New Zealand. Forest Research
Bulletin No. 234, 1-93.
Palmer, D.J.; Höck, B.K.; Lowe, D.J.; Dunningham, A.G.; Payn, T.W. 2009. Developing national-scale
terrain attributes for New Zealand (TANZ). Forest Research Bulletin No. 232, 1-81
Lowe, D.J.; Tonkin, P.J.; Palmer, A.S.; Palmer, J. 2008. Dusty horizons [Loess] In: Graham, I.J. (chief
editor) “A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century”. Geological
Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 124, 270-273.
Lowe, D.J. (Editor) 2008. Guidebook for Pre-conference North Island Field Trip A1 ‘Ashes and
Issues’, 28-30 November, 2008. Australian and New Zealand 4th Joint Soils Conference, Massey
University, Palmerston North (1-5 Dec.). New Zealand Society of Soil Science, 1-194. ISBN 978-0-
473-14476-0
15
Lowe, D.J. (editor) 2006. Guidebook for ‘Land and Lakes’ field trip, New Zealand Society of Soil
Science Biennial Conference, Rotorua. New Zealand Society of Soil Science, Lincoln. 63pp.
Claessens, L.; Lowe, D.J.; Hayward, B.W.; Schoorl, J.M.; Veldkamp, A. 2006. Reconstructing high-
magnitude/low-frequency landslide events based on soil redistribution modelling and a Late-
Holocene sediment record from New Zealand. Geomorphology 74, 29-49
Lowe, D.J.; Palmer, D.J. 2005. Andisols of New Zealand and Australia. Journal of Integrated Field
Science 2, 39-65.
Palmer, D.J.; Lowe, D.J.; Payn, T.W.; Höck, B.K.; McLay, C.D.A.; Kimberley, M.O. 2005. Soil and foliar
phosphorus as indicators of sustainability for Pinus radiata plantation forestry in New Zealand.
Forest Ecology and Management 220, 140-154.
Shallow peat at Waihi Beach, North Island;, Kaharoa tephra (erupted c. 1314 AD from Mt Tarawera) showing prominently (from Lowe 2011)
Ancient Maori village site (kainga) at Papamoa, North Island, on sand dune with white Kaharoa tephra forming the pre-village datum
16
Geoarchaeology and tephrochronology; science policy, Anthropocene, obituaries, historical geology (etc) Lowe, D.J., Pittari, A. 2019. Pyroclastic flow deposits, Hinuera Valley, central North Island, and note on
usage of ignimbrite as building material. Geoscience Society of New Zealand Journal of the Historical
Studies Group 61, 6-15.
Bostock, H.C., Lowe, D.J. 2018. Update on the formalisation of the Anthropocene. Quaternary Australasia
35 (1), 14-16.
Lowe, D.J., Nelson, C.S., Kamp, P.J.J. 2018. [Obituaries] Michael J. Selby (1936-2018) ONZM, BA(Hons), MA,
DipEd, DPhil, DSc and David A. Burns (1953-2018) BSc, MSc, CMEngNZ(PEngGeol). Geoscience Society
of New Zealand Newsletter 24, 48-53.
Lowe, D.J., Tonkin, P.J., Leslie, D.M., Cotching, W.E. 2017. Obituary – Willem ‘Wim’ Cornelis Rijkse (1936-
2017). New Zealand Soil News 65 (4), 10-20.
Nelson, C.S., Lowe, D.J., Tonkin, P.J. 2015. The working life of John McCraw (1925-2014): a remarkable
New Zealand pedologist and Earth scientist. Journal of the Historical Studies Group (Geoscience Society
of New Zealand) 50, 2-29.
Tonkin, P.J., Lowe, D.J., Nelson, C.S. 2015. Obituary − Emeritus Professor Dr John Davidson McCraw
(1925−2014) MBE, MSc NZ, DSc Well, CRSNZ, FNZSSS. New Zealand Soil News 66, 14-35.
Bostock, H.C., Lowe, D.J., Gillespie, R., Priestley, R., Newnham, R.M., Mooney, S.D. 2015. The advent of
the Anthropocene in Australasia. Quaternary Australasia 32, 7-16.
Lowe, D.J., Bostock, H.C. 2015. The Anthropocene: an Australasian perspective and survey. New
Zealand Soil News 67, 115-120; and Geoscience Society of New Zealand Newsletter 16, 29-36.
Lowe, D.J., Pittari, A. 2014. An ashy septingentenarian: the Kaharoa tephra turns 700 (with notes on its
volcanological, archaeological, and historical importance). Geoscience Society of New Zealand
Newsletter 13, 35-46. Bryan, K.R., Lowe, D.J. 2014. How the Marsden Fund has failed to achieve its potential in the ESA
panel: evidence of limitations in scope, biased outcomes, and futile applications. New Zealand
Science Review 71 (1), 3-9.
Lowe, D.J. 2008. Polynesian settlement of New Zealand and the impacts of volcanism on early
Maori society: an update. In: Lowe, D.J. (ed), Guidebook for Pre-conference North Island Field
Trip A1 ‘Ashes and Issues’, 28-30 November, 2008. Australian and New Zealand 4th Joint Soils
Conference, Massey University, Palmerston North (1-5 Dec.). New Zealand Society of Soil
Science. Pp.142-147.
Lowe, D.J.; Newnham, R.M. 2004. Role of tephra in dating Polynesian settlement and impact, New
Zealand. Past Global Changes 12 (No. 3), 5-7 + 3 pages full references at www.pages-
igbp.org/products/newsletters/ref2004_3.html
17
Participants in INTAV’s “Active Tephra” conference in Japan 12 May, 2010. Sakurajima volcano in
background erupted later that day. Photo: Koji Okumura.
18
Recognition
Honours and distinctions
David is currently Acting Dean of the School of Science in the newly formed Division of Heath,
Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, and Science (HECS) (from 1 April 2019). Previously,
he was Chair of the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Waikato, from July,
2012, until April, 2014, when the department was merged with several others to form the
new School of Science in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Waikato.
Prior to that role, he was programme convenor and postgraduate coordinator for the Earth
sciences group within the school from 2010-2014 and then from 2014-2015.
David has held, and holds, elected office in both international and national geoscience
organizations and is the Immediate Past-President (2015-2019) of the International Focus Group
on Tephrochronology and Volcanism (INTAV) within the International Union for Quaternary
Research (INQUA). Previously he was Secretary 2007-2011 and President 2011-2015. David
convened an international Inter-INQUA field conference on tephra, loess and paleosols in
New Zealand in 1994 during an earlier stint (1991-1995) as Secretary of the Commission of
Tephrochronology of INQUA (predecessor to INTAV). He helped to organise the INTAV
conference "Crossing New Frontiers: Tephra Hunt in Transylvania" that was held in Moiecui de
Sus in Romania, June 2018. He also helped organise INTAV's “Active Tephra" conference in
Kirishima, Japan, in May 2010.
David has been involved for more than four decades in organizing and leading conference and
society activities, thereby helping facilitate science communication for professional scientist
and students from New Zealand and overseas. He convened the annual conference of the
Geological Society of New Zealand in Hamilton in 2001. David has been on the organising
committees of three further Geosciences Society of New Zealand annual conferences including
most recently in November 2012 when the conference was hosted at the University of Waikato
in Hamilton. He has also organized and led field trips through the North Island in association with
international conferences including in 1993, 1994, 2008, and 2010, and for national conferences
in 1981, 1982, 1985, 2006, 2012, 2014, and 2017. Most recently, David led trips associated with
the Australasian Quaternary Association (AQUA) conference in Auckland in December, 2016, and
for the Geoscience Society of NZ annual conference held in Auckland in late November, 2017.
In addition, David has hosted and supported dozens of visiting academics and young scientists,
including 16 long-term visitors, from the USA, Canada, Australia, The Netherlands, Norway,
England, Ireland, and Japan.
Currently David is a member of the editorial panels (boards/advisors) for six international
journals: Journal of Quaternary Science, Quaternary Geochronology, Quaternary
International, Quaternary, Journal of New Zealand and Pacific Studies, and Frontiers in Earth
Sciences (Volcanology). He was an associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal
for 6 years from 2006 to 2011 and a member of the editorial advisory panel of New Zealand
Journal of Geology and Geophysics for 6 years from 2004 to 2009.
19
David’s contributions to research and lecturing have been recognised by awards and honours
both internationally and in New Zealand.
2018
- Elected an Honorary Life Member of INTAV at the international tephra conference "Crossing New
Frontiers: Tephra Hunt in Transylvania", Romania, June 2018 (David is only the second New
Zealander to receive this INTAV honour)
- Member of organising committee of the INTAV international field conference on tephrochronology,
“Crossing New Frontiers: Tephra Hunt in Transylvania”, Moeicui de Sus, Romania, 24 June-1 July,
2018
2017
- Co-leader Geoscience Society of NZ annual conference (Auckland) field trip “Rangitoto Island”, Nov
2017
- Co-guest editor for a special issue on tephrochronology “Advancing tephrochronology as a global
dating tool: applications in volcanology, archaeology, and palaeoclimatic research”, publishedin
Quaternary Geochronology 40, 2017
- Member of Fellowship Selection Panel for Earth Sciences panel of Royal Society of NZ, 2017
2016 - David has been working with colleagues as a guest editor for a special issue on tephrochronology
(mainly papers presented in tephra symposia at the INQUA congress in Nagoya, Japan, in 2015) to
be published in Quaternary Geochronology in early 2017
- Invited chapter by D.J. Lowe and B.V. Alloway (2105) “Tephrochronology” was published in the
“Encyclopaedia of Scientific Dating Methods” (Springer), which won the Geoscience Information
Society’s “Best Geoscience Reference Work Award”, 2016
- Member of the Hutton Fund Committee (Royal Society of NZ) for research grants for NZ zoology,
botany and geology
2015
- Proposer and leader of an international tephra project , EXTRAS “Extending tephras as a global
geoscientific research tool stratigraphically, spatially, analytically, and temporally within the
Quaternary” as a core part of the activities of the International focus group on tephrochronology
and volcanism (INTAV) within INQUA, 2015-2023 (Dec 2015)
- Elected an Honorary Life Fellow of the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) at
Nagoya Congress, Japan, an award for “prominent internationally recognized Quaternary
scientists for meritorious service to Quaternary science” (July 2015)
- Elected Immediate Past President, International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism
(INTAV) of INQUA, 2015-2019
- Member of ‘Continent on the Move’ Revision Committee of the Geoscience Society of
New Zealand, and editor of chapter 11 “Climate Swings and Roundabouts” of revised 2nd
edition (March 2014-September 2015)
2014 - Invited to write a preface for volume “Marine Tephrochronology” in November 2013 for Geological Society (London) Special Publications (Lowe 2014) - Member of 2014 Hatherton Award Committee of the Royal Society of New Zealand
20
2011 - Awarded the McKay Hammer Award by the Geoscience Society of New Zealand “for the most
meritorious contribution to New Zealand geology published in the years 2008-2010”
- Lead co-guest editor of volume 246 of set of papers "Enhancing tephrochronology (INTREPID
project): Hiroshi Machida commemorative volume" for journal Quaternary International
- Elected President, International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism (INTAV) of
INQUA, 2011-2015.
- New Zealand delegate (Royal Society of New Zealand) to International Council, 18th
International INQUA Congress, Bern, and current New Zealand representative 2011-2015
- Co-convenor of tephrochronology symposium at 18th International INQUA Congress, BERN
- Participated in a Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) television documentary in episode
“Western Pacific Rim” for series “Geologic Journey II”
- Awarded “Citation of Excellence for Associate Editors for 2010” by Soil Science Society of
Americal Journal
2010
- Elected Fellow of Royal Society of New Zealand
- Awarded Marsden Fund funding for 3-year project on ancient DNA and paleosols in the
North Island
- Awarded Fellowship of Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science for lecture tour of
Japan in May
- “Outstanding reviewer” award for papers handled 2008-9 from Quaternary Science Reviews
2009
- Ron McDonald Memorial Lecture award, Queensland branch, Australian Society of Soil Science.
- Leader of INTREPID project of INTAV "Enhancing tephrochronology as a global research tool" and
INTREPID II (ongoing project supported by INQUA) (completed July 2015)
- The book "A continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century",
published in 2008 by the Geological Society of NZ, and of which David was one of 3
technical/scientific editors, was awarded "best book in environment" category at Montana
NZ Book Awards.
2008
- Appointed to a personal chair (professorship) at Waikato University 1 February
- Presented inaugural professional lecture "A date with tephra" 16 December
- Invited participant at international consortium workshop "Studying uncertainty in
palaeo- environmental reconstruction - a net" (SUPRAnet) in U.K.
- Co-guest editor of volume (vol. 178) of papers "Global Tephra Studies - John Westgate and Andrei Sarna-Wojcicki Commemorative Volume" for journal Quaternary International
2007
- Invited plenary keynote speaker at international symposium "Quaternary Environmental
Change in Asia and the Western Pacific", Tsukuba, Japan, November.
- Invited keynote speaker in two sessions 'Recent advances in tephrochronology' (S. Davies/K. Aoki,
convenors) and 'Abrupt environmental and archaeologic changes' (J. Lowe/C. Turney, convenors)
at 17th International INQUA Congress, Cairns, Australia, 28 July- August.
21
- Elected Full Voting Member, International Union for Quaternary Research Commission on
Stratigraphy and Chronology (INQUA-SACCOM), 2007-2011
- Appointed Secretary, International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism
(INTAV) of INQUA, 2007 - 2011.
- Official New Zealand delegate (Royal Society of NZ) to International Council, 17th
International INQUA Congress, Cairns.
2006
- Invited key-note speaker at international field conference on "Volcanic-ash Soils", Mt Fuji area,
Japan (March)
- Associate investigator in team (lead by Professor Rewi Newnham) awarded funding by the
Nature Environment Research Council (NERC), UK, for research on cryptotephra studies in
northern New Zealand
2005
- Invited co-author of chapters in international and national encyclopaedias ( Encyclopaedia of
Quaternary Science, Encyclopaedia of New Zealand )
- Invited speaker at international inter-INQUA tephra conference "Tephra Rush" in Dawson City,
Yukon Territory, Canada
2004
- Invited key-note speaker at the 2nd International Workshop on Andisols in Sendai, northeast
Japan
- Invited by the Vice-Chancellor to speak at the 40th Anniversary Celebration Winter Lecture
Series at University of Waikato
2003
- Associate investigator in team (led by Dr Alan Hogg) awarded Marsden funding for
palaeoclimatic analysis and radiocarbon calibration of marine isotope stage 3 using
australis (kauri).
2002
- Awarded the N.H. Taylor Memorial Lecture Award of the New Zealand Society of Soil
Science
- Awarded Fellowship of the New Zealand Society of Soil Science 2000
- Invitation Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, undertaking a lecture tour of five universities and carrying out pedological and tephrostratigraphic field work on Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu islands, Japan.
1999
- Participated in a Television New Zealand documentary on the origins and timing of
settlement of early Polynesians in New Zealand
- Associate investigator in team (led by Professor Rewi Newnham) awarded funding by the Natural
Environment Research Council (NERC), U.K., for research on interhemispheric synchrony of global
climate change
22
1998
- Distinguished Scholar Award, Queen's University of Belfast, U.K.
1996
- Sole guest editor of volumes 34-36 "Tephra, Loess, and Paleosols - An Integration" for journal
Quaternary International
1995
- Awarded a Higher Education 'Link' Award by the British Council to facilitate joint research with
Plymouth University, England.
Earlier
- Academic Merit Award of the University of Waikato (1992)
- Visiting scientist award, CSIRO Division of Soils, Adelaide (1991-1992)
- W.A. Pullar Prize of the Geological Society of New Zealand (1986) (inaugural prize winner)
- Sir Theodore Rigg Award of the New Zealand Society of Soil Science (inaugural Waikato University prize
winner, 1982.
23
In Taiwan with an Andisol near Taipei (Prof I n s i d e t h e N a t i o n a l S y n c h r o t r o n Takesako [Meiji Univ] at back left, Dist Prof Chen f a c i l i t y i n H s i n c h u , T a i w a n [NTU] at back right)
External Involvement
Membership of professional and learned societies
Immediate Past President of International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism (INTAV) 2015-2019
Co-organiser of INTAV "Tephra Hunt" conference in Moieciu de Sus, Romania, 2018 President of International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism (INTAV)
2011–2015; previously Secretary 2007-2011 and 1991-1995
Co-leader NZ Society of Soil Science biennial conference (Hamilton) field trip “Hot
volcanic soils”, Dec 2014
Leader Geoscience Society of NZ annual conference (Hamilton) field trip “Where
geology meets pedology”, Nov 2012
Lead convenor of three Waikato-Bay of Plenty regional soil science meetings, “Wai BoP
Soils”, at Waikato University (Dec 2011, 2013, 2017) on behalf of NZ Society of Soil
Science
New Zealand Quaternary representative of RSNZ for INQUA from 2007-2019
Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand since 2010
Co-leader of North Island field trip "Volcanoes to Ocean" for 19th World Soil Congress
in Brisbane 2010.
Co-organiser of INTAV "Active Tephra" conference in Kirishima, Japan, 2010
Leader North Island field trip "Ashes to Issues" for 4th joint international soils
conference of Australian and NZ soil science societies in Palmerston North 2008
Co-scientific/technical editor of Geological Society of NZ book "A Continent on the
Move" (2008), winner of 'environment' award of Montana NZ Book Awards, 2009
Visited national soil museums in Taichung, Taiwan, and Tsukuba, Japan, 2007;
Co-leader of field trip “Land and Lakes” for biennial conference of society in Rotorua
2006; Fellow of New Zealand Society of Soil Science (FNZSSS) since 2002; N.H. Taylor
Memorial Lecturer in 2002; member of society since 1975
Member of Royal Society of New Zealand (MRSNZ) from 1994 to 2010
Member of Geological Society of New Zealand since 1975 (foundation member Waikato
Branch); on National Committee GSNZ two terms 2000-2003; convenor of annual
conference "Advances in Geosciences", Hamilton, 2001
Foundation member of Australasian Quaternary Association (AQUA) since 1979
24
Executive Secretary of Commission on Tephrochronology (COT) of International Union
for Quaternary Research (INQUA) 1991-1995; Convenor international inter-INQUA field
conference "Tephras, Loess, Paleosols", Hamilton, 1994
Co-leader New Zealand field trip, 10th International Clay Conference, Adelaide, in 1993
Editorial Advisory Panel, New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics for 7
years 2004-2010
Editorial Board, Quaternary Geochronology since 2015
Editorial Board (Review Editor), Frontiers in Earth Sciences since 2014
Editorial Board, Quaternary International since 2005
Editorial Board, Journal of Quaternay Science since 2008
Associate Editor, Soil Science Society of America Journal (Pedology Division) for 6
years from 2006 to 2011.
Rangitoto Island field trip, Dec 2017 (Geoscience Society of NZ)
Main organising committee (minus Ulrich Hambach, Siwan Davies) for the “Tephra Hunt”
conference in Romania, June 2018; and (right) David at Dracula’s Castle, Bran, Transylvania
25
North Island soils tour, World Soils Congress July 2010
Prof Mike Hedley explains management of Horotiu soils, North Is. soils tour, WSC July 2010
With Meiji University staff and grad students, Participants on ‘Geology meets pedology’ field trip
exchange visit to New Zealand, Nov 2012 for Geociences Society of NZ conference, Nov 2012
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