Rate My Professor Katherine van der Vliet

Katherine van der Vliet is the Department Administrator in the Department of Botany at the University of Otago, based in Dunedin. She manages the day-to-day running of the department and serves as the primary point of contact for administrative matters, student inquiries, and departmental operations. Her contact details include phone +64 3 479 7577, department email botany@otago.ac.nz, and direct email katherine.van-der-vliet@otago.ac.nz. She is listed in the university staff directory as Administrator - Sciences.

Katherine van der Vliet is the designated contact for numerous Botany seminars and events, including 'Managing sycamore in New Zealand' (March 2025), 'The endophytic microbiome of Chionochloa and its biotechnological potential' (August 2024), 'Links between cell size, genome size, habitat and function', 'Native seeds for ecological restoration in a changing climate' (March 2025), 'An unexpected journey into the sex determination of Aotearoa’s spectacular moko-moko' (August 2024), 'Geoff Baylis, fungi, symbiosis and the power of lichens' (September 2024), and 'Manaakitia te reo: Wānanga on te reo-inclusive environments' (April 2025). In 2023, as a member of the Department of Botany team, she contributed to efforts that earned the Award for Sustainable Practice by Staff (Team) in the University of Otago staff awards. The team was recognized for sustainable practices aligned with United Nations goals, including growing food for staff and students, composting food waste, donating vegetables to a local food bank, creating educational modules on sustainability, implementing a green roof, reducing emissions through a hybrid vehicle and tree planting, maintaining a 'Free Table' for goods, and promoting climate action via electric vehicles, bike parks, and participation in climate marches. The team's motto is 'Connecting plants and people for a sustainable future'.