iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Great day out of the office collecting soil for our biostimulant research, and grass grub for our biological control work.

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

I’m pretty sure this is a phishing email, the biggest red flag being that it claims my work is “appreciated.” I’ll be especially annoyed if it’s from IT as one of those fake phishing‑test “security training” traps. How dare IT exploit my basic human desire to feel appreciated as bait!

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Christmas week, the most magical time on campus! No classes, no exams, hardly any colleagues, and none of that classic Dunedin weather ;-)

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

At the Wanaka A&O Show! Lucy and Leonore were fantastic ambassadors at our Ag@Otago stand. Proud to be showcasing Otago Uni's contributions to sustainable farming practices. Big thanks to everyone who visited! #AgInnovation #UniversityOfOtago #WanakaShow #SustainableFarming

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

When not distracted by the view it hiking on Saturday I did occasionally look down; mostly to avoid matagouri thorns, try to remember if matagouri berries are edible (decided to not try my luck), and have a little snack on tātarāmoa/bush lawyer berries (I do know they are edible and yummy)

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Saturday's view after a little 1000m walk up from the hut :-)

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Hike up the Jollie River last Friday

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Grear time this morning with a group of science academy students visiting the Jim Dunkley Heritage apple orchard; Aaron spoke about his master research sequencing the 200 varities, from Vinny we learnt about phages, and back in the lab some soil analysis. Thanks Leonore for the great pics!

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 09/07/2024

Moved office last week. With a view like this, the only thing missing from the hand in the foreground is a glass of whiskey!

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 17/06/2024

WFH today. Where's my usual WFH buddy? At the other end of the house in the lounge, on the sofa, with the fire going, those half huskie genes aren't kicking in today I notice

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 17/06/2024

I've sent some whalebone to my aunt, who's having something carved for her brother. Now I have the urge to carve something myself. This urge hits me about once every five years—mostly because I tend to avoid sawing off a section by hand, takes forever!

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 22/04/2024

My job offers the heart-pounding thrill of... watching grass grow. In real-time. Blade by blade.

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 10/04/2024

Spent the morning collecting heritage apples for a post-harvest processing class later this semester

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 09/04/2024

Visited a farm this morning growing 14 different crops, I think I'll make the jar of seeds the farmer has into a class assessment later this year. Sadly, it's a bad season for grass grub, I did my part taking away an ice cream container full for a bacterial insecticide bioassay I need to run ;-)

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 28/03/2024

I've set up a couple of email rules for student and external emails into two sub-inboxes; zero unread emails students cause it's semester time. Considering adding a third for emails that say 'Thanks' as if they want me to know they got my email, would love a fourth for "You didn't need to reply-all"

Screen grab of email inbox indicating unread emails

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 25/03/2024

Visited my cousin on Sunday, asked how long the 19th-century whaling harpoon/hooks had been lying in the hallway. "Years," he replied. Typical when your ancestors are the whalers Geordie Thoms and William Keenan. Best part this was a work trip, could feel 200 years of history behind every meeting

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 14/03/2024

This morning, Agriculture Production and Food Security class field trip to The Jim Dunckley Heritage apple orchard. Despite the chilly weather at 300m and dampness from last night's rain, it was an incredible experience! It's remarkable to have such a resource just a 30-minute drive from uni

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 13/03/2024

Always look forward to a lecture when I manage to pop in this photo. Most stressful 20m I've rowed in my life; you really don't want three bothers (my dad and uncles) that grew up in the sounds commenting on your (lack of) rowing technique.

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 31/01/2024

WFH office buddy, literally under my feet!

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 04/01/2024

Exact same situation here today, 4 years free of it. Have had to cancel work fieldtrip with kaumātua to Malbrough Sounds :-(

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 04/12/2023

Now that I'm at the University of Otago I've noticed the quality of farm related accessories I've been given has significantly improved (compared to when at Lincoln Uni). Cashmere for really bad Dunedin weather, Merino for regular Dunedin weather.

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 04/12/2023

Last Friday, after a four-year hiatus, Ag@Otago hosted an astounding "Hot Topics in Agriculture" symposium. Over two-thirds of the 120+ attendees were professionals and farmers from the agricultural sector. Looking forward to posting recordings of the talks in 2024!

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 29/11/2023

Fieldtrip today. Looking at pasture species, look at all that green (no added urea)

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 22/11/2023

In class today looked at accuracy of various plant id apps. One app suggested birds, rabbit, sheep, stoat..... anything but just plan of grass. Don't think the AI overlords are quite ready to take over yet, or is that what they want us to think?

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 08/11/2023

This semester class fieldtrips: cashmere goats, regen dairy, heritage apple orchard, deer genetics.

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 07/11/2023

2024 Times Higher Education subject rankings came out recently. Agriculture and Forestry ranking of NZ universities makes me continue questioning why MPI has launched a scholarship that only Lincoln and Massey students can apply for.

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 06/11/2023

Ag Symposium discussing Hot Topics in Agriculture Programme attached. When: Friday 1 Dec 2023 from 9am to 6pm, NZ In-person: Room 2.13, 47 Union St West, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ Online: details upon registration Free Registration events.otago.ac.nz/agotago/regi...

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 04/11/2023

Normally Georgia doesn't pay any attention to the weather, but the thunder and lightening rolling across Ōtepoti this afternoon sure did!

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 03/11/2023

The ride home tells a very different story, thinking there might be something to this ebike craze ;-)

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 02/11/2023

Bike to work: 18 mins Bike home: ????? Why did I think biking to work today would be preferable to the bus?

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 31/10/2023

Somebody's telling me it's afternoon walkies time!

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 31/10/2023

Some days, I sit back and watch the grass grow. Studying the effects of nitrogen uptake-enhancing bacteria when applied to soil or seeds.

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 30/10/2023

Agreed. We recently visited the exact sort of farm you describe, which has reduced its herd and eliminated the use of urea. It's clear that Otago University's agricultural students understand these sustainable practices, so why don't our politicians grasp this as well.

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 27/10/2023

Norwegian waffles for breakfast today; sour cream, raspberry jam, brown cheese 😀

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 18/10/2023

With weather like this it can only mean one thing, exam time!

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 09/10/2023

Field trip a couple of months ago, cashmere goats. Or "next year's student intake" as I like to think of them ;-)

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 09/10/2023

The class biostimulant/biofert experiment's going well. But most happy with the kamokamo seedlings that somehow "feel" into pots of seed mix, I guess I'll have to take them home, so they don't compromise the class results ;-)

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Craig Bunt @profaginn.bsky.social · 09/10/2023

Saturday agri class fieldtrip to a regenerative dairy farm (reduced stock numbers, no urea, once a day milking, in-field fruit/nut trees, high pasture residuals). We can talk about this in class, even show a video, but to be actually in the field is better than a week of lectures!

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