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This thesis draws on concepts of post-politics in an analysis of the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013. A short-term means for improving housing affordability by facilitating an increase in land and housing supply, the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 had implications for the planning and development of select cities and districts in New Zealand. Introduced by a National-led Government, the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 was enacted in sympathy with existing neo-liberal political and planning norms. The application of a post-political lens facilitates identification of the democratic limitations of the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013. Analysis of submissions to the select committee addressing the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 and debates in the House of Representatives provides evidence of both limitations of the debates that shaped the enactment of the legislation and challenges to the content of the legislation. The ways in which debates were narrowed align with post-political themes of the acceptance of the neoliberal consensus, the erosion of democracy, the status of knowledge, scope of possible outcomes, and empty signifiers. The consensus that characterises post-political conditions is open to challenge, with scholars reporting on the potential of agonistic pluralism to facilitate democratic participatory planning.

This study explores what determines engineering students’ evaluations of interactive learning tools (ILTs). Engineering students (n = 323) from large U.S. universities who had used McGraw-Hill’s SmartBook and Connect participated in the study. This study confirms that grit and gender are important factors in opinions and attitudes toward such tools. Specifically, among males, those with higher grit found ILTs as more useful and usable. Moreover, higher levels of grit were related to favorable attitudes toward ILTs. Interesting to note was that females reported more favorable evaluations on ILTs overall. These findings suggest strategies for the use of interactive learning tools for engineering students to succeed. Implications and recommendations for future research will also discussed.

This study explores what determines engineering students’ evaluations of interactive learning tools (ILTs). Engineering students (n = 323) from large U.S. universities who had used McGraw-Hill’s SmartBook and Connect participated in the study. This study confirms that grit and gender are important factors in opinions and attitudes toward such tools. Specifically, among males, those with higher grit found ILTs as more useful and usable. Moreover, higher levels of grit were related to favorable attitudes toward ILTs. Interesting to note was that females reported more favorable evaluations on ILTs overall. These findings suggest strategies for the use of interactive learning tools for engineering students to succeed. Implications and recommendations for future research will also discussed.

The continuing development of catalysts for hydrogen oxidation in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) requires a greater understanding of the catalyst structure and how this relates to the performance, as well as knowledge of the mechanism taking place. The electrocatalytic activity of a series of carbon supported PtMo and PtW anode catalysts towards the electro-oxidation of CO and oxidation of methanol was studied. An in-situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) mini cell was used in order to obtain data using fluorescence detection. It was found that catalysts prepared by the co-deposited method were the most well-mixed, although not at all alloyed, with the samples consisting of Pt-rich cores with oxides of the secondary metal being prominent at the surface. Operating conditions were seen to be significant, with the co-deposited PtMo samples capable of being oxidised with potential in both half cell and mini cell conditions. A PtMo catalyst with a 2: 1 ratio had the highest activity for hydrogen oxidation when operating with reformate fuel streams. Preparation of a surface modified PtMo/C catalyst was achieved using an organometallic precursor and found to offer good control of the deposition of the Mo. Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) studies were carried out on Pt and PtMo-based electrocatalysts to investigate the interactions of the H2 molecule and hydrogen and carbon monoxide modified surfaces. For the Pt/C catalyst it was found that the hydrogen atoms are located predominantly in hollow (three-fold) sites on Pt(111), with some contribution from hydrogen on multi-fold adsorption sites on a Pt(110) plane. Dihydrogen molecules were seen to interact strongly with the H/Pt surface for the Pt and PtMo based catalysts, while only a weak interaction was observed with the carbon monoxide-modified surface.

The continuing development of catalysts for hydrogen oxidation in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) requires a greater understanding of the catalyst structure and how this relates to the performance, as well as knowledge of the mechanism taking place. The electrocatalytic activity of a series of carbon supported PtMo and PtW anode catalysts towards the electro-oxidation of CO and oxidation of methanol was studied. An in-situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) mini cell was used in order to obtain data using fluorescence detection. It was found that catalysts prepared by the co-deposited method were the most well-mixed, although not at all alloyed, with the samples consisting of Pt-rich cores with oxides of the secondary metal being prominent at the surface. Operating conditions were seen to be significant, with the co-deposited PtMo samples capable of being oxidised with potential in both half cell and mini cell conditions. A PtMo catalyst with a 2: 1 ratio had the highest activity for hydrogen oxidation when operating with reformate fuel streams. Preparation of a surface modified PtMo/C catalyst was achieved using an organometallic precursor and found to offer good control of the deposition of the Mo. Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) studies were carried out on Pt and PtMo-based electrocatalysts to investigate the interactions of the H2 molecule and hydrogen and carbon monoxide modified surfaces. For the Pt/C catalyst it was found that the hydrogen atoms are located predominantly in hollow (three-fold) sites on Pt(111), with some contribution from hydrogen on multi-fold adsorption sites on a Pt(110) plane. Dihydrogen molecules were seen to interact strongly with the H/Pt surface for the Pt and PtMo based catalysts, while only a weak interaction was observed with the carbon monoxide-modified surface.