Three distinguished University of Canterbury (UC) researchers have been elected as 2026 Fellows of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, a prestigious honour recognising the global impact and excellence of their work. Professors Natalia Chaban, Paul Millar, and Andy Nicol have been selected for their outstanding contributions across international relations, digital humanities, and geoscience.
The fellowship is one of the highest accolades for researchers in Aotearoa New Zealand, reserved for scholars who have achieved international distinction in their fields. The trio will be formally inducted into the Academy at a ceremony in Wellington on 30 April.
University of Canterbury Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Innovation, Professor Lucy Johnston, says the appointments highlight both the individual brilliance of the academics and the broader, real-world impact of the university’s research culture.
A recognition of research excellence
Founded in 1867, the Royal Society Te Apārangi is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing and promoting science, technology, and the humanities in New Zealand. Election to its Academy as a Fellow is a significant honour, signalling that a researcher's work is not only world-class but has also made a material contribution to their discipline.
The election of our academics as Fellows of the Royal Society Te Apārangi reflects the real-world difference our researchers are making. From global diplomacy to cultural heritage and natural hazard resilience, their work is helping shape a better future. We’re incredibly proud to see their contributions recognised at the highest national level.
For the University of Canterbury, having three academics recognised in a single year reinforces its position as a leading research institution. This achievement aligns with its history of fostering ground-breaking thinkers since its establishment as Canterbury College in 1873. The university has been home to notable figures such as Nobel Prize winner Ernest Rutherford and Sir Apirana Ngata, the first Māori to graduate from a New Zealand university.
Pioneering work in international relations
Professor Natalia Chaban has been recognised as a world leader in the study of political communication and public diplomacy. She is considered a foundational expert in the systematic study of global perceptions of the European Union, challenging traditional Eurocentric views of its foreign policy.
Her work involves a novel "perceptual approach" to foreign policy, which examines how perceptions and narratives shape international relations and diplomacy. This interdisciplinary approach, drawing from strategic communication, has informed her recent analysis of the war against Ukraine. Professor Chaban’s findings on crisis communication, public diplomacy, and cultural heritage have been influential for policymakers and diplomats in New Zealand and around the world, underscoring the importance of global partnerships, such as the recent agreement signed between the University of Canterbury and the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras.
Championing New Zealand's literary and digital heritage
A professor of English literature and digital humanities, Professor Paul Millar is a leading expert on the celebrated New Zealand poet and playwright James K. Baxter. His scholarly work includes the publication of a significant collection of Baxter's formerly unpublished letters and poems, offering new insights into the writer's formative years.
Professor Millar has also been a key figure in the field of digital humanities, which uses technology to preserve and provide open access to literary and historical texts. He was instrumental in establishing nationally significant digital archives, including the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre and the CEISMIC Canterbury Earthquake Digital Archive. The latter, now part of UC’s Art Lab, provides a vital resource for understanding the social and cultural aftermath of the devastating earthquakes, a topic of immense importance for the Christchurch community. He has also served as president of the Australasian Association for Digital Humanities, championing post-disaster research through a humanities lens, contributing to the city's rich academic fabric, which is a key consideration for families exploring schooling and education options in Christchurch.
Advancing understanding of geological hazards
As an internationally recognised expert in tectonic faults and geohazards, Professor Andy Nicol’s work is critically important for Aotearoa New Zealand. His extensive research has focused on the geometry, growth, and interaction of active faults, using data from across the country and around the globe.
As an internationally recognised expert in tectonic faults and geohazards, Professor Andy Nicol’s work is critically important for Aotearoa New Zealand. His extensive research has focused on the geometry, growth, and interaction of active faults, using data from across the country and around the globe.
Professor Nicol has made significant contributions to the national understanding of seismic risk. He was a key researcher analysing the 2016 M7.8 Kaikōura earthquake and has contributed to two editions of New Zealand’s National Seismic Hazard Model, a tool that is fundamental to infrastructure planning and public safety. His research on the New Zealand plate boundary over long timeframes has reshaped scientific understanding of our geological environment. Beyond tectonics, his expertise has been applied to the pressing global challenges of carbon dioxide and hydrogen storage, demonstrating the wide-ranging applications of his geological insights. This kind of hands-on environmental research is a growing focus for universities across the country, with the University of Otago recently launching a BioBlitz to map campus biodiversity.
A legacy of academic distinction
The selection of three new Fellows adds to the University of Canterbury’s long history of academic achievement. Founded on the Oxbridge model, it distinguished itself early by admitting women from its inception in 1873. One of its first graduates, Helen Connon, was the first woman in the British Empire to earn an honours degree.
After nearly a century in what is now the Christchurch Arts Centre, the university moved to its current 76-hectare Ilam campus in 1975. This purpose-built site, with its blend of modern facilities, expansive green spaces, and renowned Ilam Gardens, has provided the backdrop for decades of academic innovation.
The latest appointments underscore the university's ongoing commitment to fostering research that not only achieves global recognition but also addresses critical issues at home and abroad. The induction of Professors Chaban, Millar, and Nicol into the Royal Society Te Apārangi on 30 April will formally celebrate their contributions and mark another significant chapter in the university's history.
