In the News

(for the period Feb 2008 to April 2008)

(compiled with the assistance of CSU Media office. Latest CSU News.)

Man on the moon

A/Prof Dirk Spennemann's views on preserving man's first footprints on the moon are featured in an article ‘Digs Space Race II' in the June 2008 issue of the leading US educational magazine Smithsonian. page 1 (PDF) and page 2 (PDF)

Science alert

A number of Institute researchers are expressing their opinions via the on-line ScienceAlert web page. They include:

Bat conference

The 13 th Australasian Bat Society Conference at the University's campus hosted by ILWS at Thurgoona from March 26 to 28 received excellent media coverage including:

Radio interviews with Craig Grabham, former manager of Johnstone Centre Environmental Consulting on ABC Goulburn-Murray; on ABC Riverina morning show on March 26; with the Society's president Rob Gration on 2AY's afternoon show on March 25 and again on March 28; and with Lindy Lumsden from the Society for ABC's Bush Telegraph on April 1 TV coverage from both Win TV Albury and Prime TV Albury on March 26.

A story in the Border Mail featuring Craig Grabham titled “Conference goes into bat for the little creatures of the night” on March 26.

Talks in Alaska

While in Alaska earlier this year, A/Prof Dirk Spennemann gave two public lectures on Conserving the Japanese Word War II guns of Kiska, on Feb 5 at the US National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, Anchorage, Alaska and on Feb 6 at the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Homer, AK. The lectures were the focus of radio talk show from 9am to 10am on KBBI public radio, Homer, AK on Feb 6 and Anchorage Daily News on Feb 13.

Dirk also was interviewed by Tim Fischer on his Hurricane Gulch Trip and Kiska issues on the ABC Great Train Show on March 25.

Photo exhibition

A story on A/Prof David Watson “Eye for Detail” and his photographic exhibition as a result of research work undertaken in Central America featured in the Border Mail on Feb 2. Follow-up interviews, as a prelude to his public talk, were with WIN TV news on Feb 5, 2AYs afternoon program on Feb 7, and ABC Goulburn Murray's breakfast show on Feb 8.

GLOBALISATION

The launch of PK Basu's co-authored book ‘Engagement and Change' was covered in the article “Globalisation: no choice but to engage” which appeared in the Western Advocate on Feb 21.

Rail infrastructure

Prof Ian Gray continues to be sought by the media for his expertise on rail infrastructure. He was on ABC Radio NSW Country hour on Feb 19, in the Daily Advertiser on Feb 21, and on National Radio News on Feb 22.

Water buyback

Dr Ben Wilson commented on the Federal Government's proposed $50m for water buyback for the Murray Darling Basin on National Radio News on Feb 27.

Climate change and health

Prof Kevin Parton's study on health effects caused by climate change featured in South Africa 's Financial Mail on Feb 29 who also commented on Dubbo's severe thunderstorm in the Daily Liberal on Feb 1 and again on March 14.

Agriculture businesses

The results of the December quarter Westpac CSU Agribusiness Index were well covered by the media with Dr Tom Murphy, director of the Western Research Institute, called on to do some 40 media interviews in February.

Midwives survey

Prof Marg Alston discussed the CSU midwives survey and the travel time to hospital for mothers in labor on ABC Country Hour, NSW and Victoria, and on ABC Rural on-line on Feb 13.

UN appointment

Prof Marg Alston's appointment to the Australian delegation at the UN Commission for the Status of Women was reported on in the Daily Advertiser on Feb 12, and after her visit, on the ABC Riverina morning show on March 13 and on National Radio News and Radio 2BS on March 27; and then in the Border Mail on March 29.

Max Finlayson Profile

A profile piece on Prof Max Finlayson, the new ILWS director, titled “Land ahoy!” appeared in the Border Mail on Feb 16.

Mistletoe research

A/Prof David Watson's research on mistletoe and his large project near Wagga was featured in the ABC Riverina morning show on March 6.

Bird flu

Dr Iain Taylor warned of bird flu risk in the Border Mail on March 11

Welfare payments for farmers

Prof Allan Curtis' views on welfare payments for farmers, as part of a panel to discuss drought policy, were heard on ABC National Australia Talks on March 12.

Peak oil

The peak oil and biofuels workshop and public forum held at Wagga March 12 to 13, attracted plenty of media interest with reports:

Chinese wetland experts

A ILWS/Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre organised visit of Chinese wetland experts to the Border region featured in a radio interview with Prof Max Finlayson on the ABC Riverina morning show on March 14; and in the Border Mail, March 15.

Tough decisions

Prof Max Finlayson and his views on environmental river flows and the need to maintain irrigated agriculture were in a story “Tough Decision Await” in the Border Mail on March 28.

REGIONAL AGEING

The article “Same old problem for our elderly” which discussed the results of research conducted by Dr Jennifer Sappy, Zelma Bone, and Dr Rod Duncan appeared on the front page of the Western Advocate on March 28. The editorial in this edition of the Advocate also discussed issues arising from the study looking at the Aged care industry and Ageing issues in the Bathurst region.

People power

ILWS adjunct Barney Foran featured in a Border Mail article on March 29 re a new sustainability group forming in Beechworth.

Soil and farmers

Honors student Brendan Kelly and a story on his research on how farmers make soil management decision under Dr Catherine Allan and Dr Ben Wilson was in the Autumn issue of Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management.

Tree changers

The Noosa Journal picked up on Prof Allan Curtis's research on tree-changers on March 27 and a CSU Media feature story on the topic appeared in 50 Something Extra in its April/May issue.

Elaine Dietsch

A profile piece on Dr Elaine Dietsch appeared in 50 Something Extra' s April/May issue.

Pines study

A report on A/Prof Ian Lunt's on-going research project into the recovery of black cypress pines at Mt Pilot, near Beechworth in Victoria featured in the Border Mail , Pines Emerge from Blackened Forests' on April 1.

Heritage

A/Prof Bruce Pennay and his views supporting changes to the NSW heritage protection system were in the Border Mail in a story “Heritage Items At Risk” on April 12.

Laos visitors

A month-long visit by Laos extension officers to study the beef industry in Australia organised by Dr Joanne Millar featured in the Border Mail on April 11; on a radio interview with ABC Goulburn Murray's rural report broadcast and on WIN TV on April 23.

Grains research

Dr Pat Hamilton and her research on women in the grains industry featured in the industry's recent Partners in Grain magazine.

Plains-wanderer research

The 25th edition (April) of the NSW Biodiversity Research Network newsletter ran a brief story on the research conducted by PhD student Kylie Eklom on Plains-wanderers at Oolambeyan National Park.

Howard Memorial Research Fellowship

PhD student Sonia Graham who won a $15,000 AW Howard Memorial Research Fellowship featured in the Adeliade Advertiser on April 15, and in the Moorabal Leader , April 29.

Political Funding

Dr Roderick Duncan views at a seminar in Papua New Guinea on the increase of funding to political parties was reported in the PNG Post Courier on April 18.

2020 Summit

Comments from Prof Marg Alston about going to the 2020 Summit in Canberra were in the on-line Trading Markets, April 18, and in the Border Mail, April 19.