In the News
(for the period August to October 2009)
(compiled with the assistance of CSU Media. Latest CSU News.)
Next Step
Dr Helen Masterman-Smith from CSU’s NTEU spoke on the next step in industrial action on ABC Goulburn Murray News on August 3 and about an NTEU strike on Prime News, Wagga Wagga, Sept 9 and with ABC Goulburn Murray News, Sept 11.
Emission Trading Scheme & Green Jobs
Professor Kevin Parton discussed the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme on Prime News on August 4; on its implications for agriculture on ABC Central West Rural; ABC NSW Country Hour; 2BS and ABC Western Plains/Dubbo on August 5.
Institute adjunct Barney Foran spoke on the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme and implications for energy production and the environment on ABC Western Plains on August 6.
Dr Helen Masterman-Smith also spoke on ‘green jobs’ and lower paid workers on 3CR afternoon on August 5; on ABC Western Plains, August 7; and on the Emissions Trading Scheme and ‘green jobs’ on ABC 702 Sydney on August 10.
Science@CSU
Prof Nick Klomp, Dean of the Faculty of Science, was interviewed re the Science@CSU roadshow on 2BS, August 5; on Prime News Albury, August 6; and was in the Western Advocate, August 12.
Flour Mills
A/Prof Bruce Pennay’s views on the proposed demolition of Albury’s flour mills were in the Border Mail on August 8.
Pre-hospital Care
A/Prof Peter O’Meara was featured in the Western Advocate August 15 and interviewed by ABC South East/Bega re his appointment as the first non UK Visitor professor of Pre-hospital Care on August 17.
Supply and demand in Agricultural Markets
Prof Kevin Parton spoke on ABC Riverina on August 18 in response to the oversupply of grapes and
consequent cuts to contracts by major wineries. Kevin discussed on the issue of supply/demand in agricultural markets and the conflict over the responsible use of water.
Indigenous research
Yalmambirra was interviewed by ABC Riverina and Central West’s on Morning Show about his research on August 18.
Stern warning about beef competition from South America
Institute adjunct Barney Foran, says producers can be optimistic there will be strong demand for beef in Indonesia for at least the next two generations on ABC Rural online on August 19.
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200908/s2660874.htm
Apartments option for Allied mills
A/Prof Dirk Spennemann proposed the old Allied Mill silos in Albury to be redeveloped as 'funky' new apartments in the Border Mail, August 18 and 22.
Birds, Cultures and Language
Comments from A/Prof Dave Watson about why birds, culture and language are relevant and interesting in the Business Spectactor, August 23.
Macquarie Marshes
Professor Max Finlayson views on the water buyback embargo hindering revival of Macquarie Marshes and the possibility of it loses its Ramsar status were on ABC On line , on ABC Rural (ABC Western Plains Rural Report), and ABC NSW Country Hour August 24 and followed up by the Daily Liberal, Dubbo on August 31.
Gippsland Seminar
Institute adjunct and futurist Barney Foran was interviewed on a seminar being held in Gippsland on ABC Gippsland, August 26.
Living low paid
A story on Dr Helen Masterman-Smith’s research on the low paid in Australia featured in a major story in the Border Mail titled “ Slip, Slide, Away” on August 29.
Environmental Initiatives
Barney Foran was interviewed by ABC Riverina’s Anne Delaney as part of a series regarding environmental initiatives on Sept 1,2, 3 & 4.
Technology Blackspots
A/Prof Geoff Bamberry featured in a story in the Daily Liberal titled “Business deprived unless services improved – Blackspots hindering regional development” on Sept 3.
Shifting Baselines Confound River Restoration
Dr Paul Humphries and Kirk Winemiller of Texas A & M University, in a paper argue that as a result of historical records neglect, watershed planning is often based on estimates that are much lower than actual past abundances. Picked up by EurekeaAlert.com on Sept 1; by UPI.com Science Sept 3; by Wildlife Gardeners, Sept 7; Science Letter, Sep 15.
Adapting Dryland Practices
Institute adjunct Dr John Williams in a story titled “Call for farmers to adapt dryland practices” in The Age, September 7. http://www.theage.com.au/business/call-for-farmers-to-adapt-dryland-practices-20090906-fcte.html
Wetlands and Rivers Experts Conference
Prof Max Finlayson, who attended the Global Wetland and Rivers Expert Conference in Goolwa, SA, along with A/Prof Robyn Watts, the week September 7 to 11, was interviewed by Channel 10 Adelaide News, Sept 7; featured on ABC Radio’s AM program on September 10; and was in a photograph of the group of scientists at the conference at the Coorong
that appeared in the Adelaide Advertiser on September 10.
Winton Wetlands
Institute director Prof Max Finlayson was featured in a front page story on the $20 million Winton Wetlands project in the Benalla Ensign, September 9. Max and ILWS visitor Dr Nick Davidson, deputy secretary general of the Ramsar Convention for Wetlands, had a meeting with the wetlands’ restoration committee at Lake Mokoan which is to be decommissioned at the end of this year and restored over the next eight years.
Fish Stock Numbers
Dr Paul Humphries was featured in Science Alert in a story ‘Water plans ignore fish decline’ on Sept 7; and was interviewed on underestimation of fish stock numbers in restoration of freshwater systems such as Murray Darling Basin, and the importance of historical records in estimating freshwater populations on Prime News Albury, Sept 3; ABC Riverland mornings, Sept 7 and ABC Radio ‘The Big Fish’ Sept 12.
City Saved the Country
Dr Angela Ragusa said smaller towns with nothing left to lose are often more welcoming and reports of the death of small rural towns are greatly exaggerated in an article in the Australian Financial Review, 'How the city saved the country' on Sept 12. This followed other interviews earlier in September when she was interviewed by Prime News and 3CCC David O’Meara’s program “Beyond the quarter acre block”.
Peter Andrews
The former governor general’s efforts to support the work of Peter Andrews featured commentary by Prof David Mitchell in a story in The Land, Sept 17.
Careers
Dr Helen Masterman-Smith appeared in the Careers section of the Sydney Morning Herald on Sept 19.
Exhibitions
A/Prof Dirk Spennemann was interviewed on ABC Radio Riverinaon September 22 about his exhibition “Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Future” at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery with a story in the Daily Advertiser, Sept 26.
Shift to Biofuel
Institute adjunct Barney Foran’s views on the shift to a biofuel economy appeared online at Science Alert on Sept 21 ad in Rural Press publications including The Land (NSW); Stock and Land (VIC); Farm Weekly (WA); Stock Journal (SA); Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register, on Sept 25.
ARC Futures Fellowship
Ecologist A/Prof Gary Luck featured in the Border Mail on about his ARC Futures Fellowship on Sept 23.
Housing Name
A/Prof Bruce Pennay featured in the Border Mail in a story “Uni names housing to honour
trio” on Sept 23.
International ILWS PhD students
Five ILWS PhD students, Bugi Sumirat, Karolina Petrovic, Lukas Wibowo, Yustana Murdingrum and Viengxay Photakoun featured in lovely story about life as an international student in Albury Wodonga in the Border Mail on September 26.
Southern Bell Frog
Dr Skye Wassens’ research into the threatened southern bell frog got a great run on the ABC when
journalist Sarah Clarke made a visit to Yanga National Park in the ABC helicopter. The story featured
on ABC Riverina news, ABC Radio’s AM program http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2009/s2697957.htm, ABC TV Midday
and 7pm News and News Radio on Sept 28.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
A/Prof Dirk Spennemann praised the CNMI Humanities Council for being the only group in the Pacific that seriously promotes local culture and history in the Saipan Tribune, Sept 30.
Long Term Study Plan
Prof Allan Curtis was featured in a story in the Border Mail re a plan to start a long-term environmental study on a property near Wangaratta on Oct 8.
Photo Exhibitions in Saipan and Albury
A/Prof Dirk Spennemann’s photographic exhibition in Saipan titled ‘Tantalising and Troubling Visions’ was reported in the Marianas Variety, Oct 2; Saipan Tribune, Oct 3, 6 & 8. Radio interviews re the exhibition were KZMI/KCNMI (Saipan) Morning Show, Oct 6 and TV interviews were KSPN2 Local News (Saipan), Oct 2 and 5. A/Prof Spennemann’s latest exhibition of eyes and hands was featured in the Border Mail on Oct 24.
Spiders Around Wagga
PhD student Cathy Car appeared on Prime TV (Wagga) talking about the spiders to look out for around Wagga on October 9.
Bacteria in Water Tanks
The findings of a study by Dr Andrea Crampton on rural drinking water supplies was featured in the Daily Advertiser on Oct 15. Dr Crampton was then interviewed on ABC Riverina on Oct 19.
Powerful Choices
Institute adjunct Barney Foran was quoted re his report Powerful Choices in an article in The Land titled “Farmers told-grab a biomass energy future” on October 22.
Link to In the News for May 2009 to July 2009