In the News
(for the period May 2008 to July 2008)
(compiled with the assistance of CSU Media. Latest CSU News.)
Frogs
PhD student Elisa Tack in her current role with the Murray Catchment Management Authority appeared in a Border Mail article entiled “Chance to see frogs up close” on May 2.
New position
Prof Margaret Alston's move in July to Monash University for a year-long position was reported in ABC News online, ABC Radio Riverina, May 6; Daily Advertiser , May 7
Agribusiness index
The director of the Western Research Institute Tom Murphy received his usual extensive media coverage with the release of the March 2008 Agribusiness Index with interviews in some 26 electronic and print media hits during May with similar exposure (26 media hits) after the June Index and the Reliance Report were released.
Transport woes
The Blayney Chronicle reported on the results of a CSU pilot study into aged care services with a story “Transport key gripe for Blayney seniors” on May 16.
Wombat research
PhD student Alison Matthews who is researching wombats as part of a project to do with the effects of climate change in the Australian Alps was:
• on ABC Radio Riverina on May 20
• mentioned in the NSW Biodiversity Research Network newsletter Biodiversity Research in its June issue
• in a story “Long Distance Runners-Wombats in Australia 's Alps in the August issue of the Snowy Times
• in the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's newsletter Resort RoundUp winter issue
Media release
Trees for biofuels
Institute adjunct Barney Foran and his call for large scale plantings of trees for biofuel was covered:
• on ABC Goulburn Murray, May 23
• on ABC Rural and ABC Victorian Country Wide on May 26
• on ABC Riverina on May 27
• in an article “ Plantation trees fit full carbon cycle fuel future” in the Australian Farm Journal , June issue
• in a story “Plan to turn trees to fuel” in The Weekly Times on June 4
• in a story “Fuel answer in Wood” in The Countryman , June 5
And his views on small scale energy courses around the country were in ABC Science online on July 25
Media Release
Water buyback
Dr Ben Wilson's views on the proposed Federal buyback of irrigation water were aired on Prime TV, May 23.
Peak oil
Prof Ian Gray spoke to ABC Statewide's Kathy Bedford on the Institute's peak oil forum (held in March) which looked at the social impacts of oil depletion/rising prices in rural Australia, and the prospects for bio-fuel production on May 29.
Nature's services
A/Prof Gary Luck's views on Nature's Services appeared in Science Alert on June 3.
Plains wanderer
PhD student Kylie Eklom's and her work on Plains wanderers featured in the June/July issue of R.M. Williams Outback magazine. For an excerpt of the article go to http://www.outbackmag.com.au/stories/article-view?341
Hungry poor & Carbon Emissions Trading
Prof Kevin Parton's opinion piece on the effect of high food prices in many parts of the developing world featured in the ABCs Unleashed website on June 23 with a story in the Western Advocate on July 11. Following a CSU media release on ‘The brave new world of carbon emissions trading' on July 18 he did a series of interviews with ABC Central West, ABC Riverina, 2BS, ABC Goulburn Murray and the Central Western Daily . His comments on the Federal Government's proposed carbon emissions trading scheme were also on the ABC Country Hour on July 17. An article on his project examining the economic, social and health aspects of climate change in rural Australia also appeared in The Land in May
Grasslands
A/Prof Ian Lunt was quoted in a story in The Age “More loss than gain as urban sprawl encroaches on open plains grasslands' on May 31.
Wetland issues
Institute director Prof Max Finlayson's interview with presenter Bronwen Wade from ABC Riverland Today (SA) on the importance of looking after the health of wetlands as well as our own, went to air on May 22. His views in response to problems in the Murray 's Lower Lakes heard on Prime TV Albury on June 18.
His opinion piece 'Ending Murray Politics' featured on the ABC's Unleashed website on July 15.
His views on the long-term ecological value of the COAG agreement for the Murray-Darling Basin were heard on:
• Prime TV Albury, July 3
• Radio 2AY, 2BS, ABC Riverina, Star FM Albury, and 2MCE news on July 7
• ABC Riverina, July 9
and appeared in an article for in the web news service crikey.com.au on July 4 at http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20080704-Murray-Darling-deal-leaves-too-many-unanswered-questions.html
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)
Development proposal
Yalmambirra commented on a development proposal for the Murrumbidgee River precinct on crown land in Wagga on Win TV news on June 12
Concrete poetry exhibition
Stories on A/Prof Andrew Keen's Concrete Poetry exhibition ran in the Daily Advertiser on June 16 and the Daily Advertiser supplement on June 27. He was also interviewed for the ABC Riverina morning show on July 30.
Energy research
Dr Rosemary Black was interviewed by ABC Central West re energy saving research with students at the Wagga campus on June 18.
Plantation forestry
Dr Digby Race and his views on the value of plantation forestry featured in the Border Mail in an article “Rural timber jobs vital” on June 19.
Water Shortage
As the result of a media briefing organised by the Australian Science Media Centre, Prof Allan Curtis's views on Australia's water shortage were on ABC News online, ABC PM on June 25; 2TM
Tamworth (story syndicated to 12 radio stations) and in the Canberra Times and West Australian , June 25.
Livestock production
A profile story on Dr Joanne Millar's ‘Extension Approaches for Scaling Out Livestock Production in Northern Lao PDR' research project (written by research officer Anne Stelling) appeared in the June issue of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research newsletter.
Australia 's water shortage & treechangers
Prof Allan Curtis was involved in a media briefing organised by the Australian Science Media Centre to discuss Australia 's water shortage. His views were heard on 2TM Tamworth (story syndicated to 12 radio stations) and appeared in the Canberra Times and West Australian on June 25. Also Prof Curtis's research on tree changers continues to be in the media with an interview on ABC Goulburn Murray on July 8 and ABC Radio National's Bush Telegraph on July 18.
ARC Grants
A/Prof Ben Wilson comments on a new ARC in The Australian's Higher Education supplement on July 23.
Water bans
Institute adjunct Daryl McGregor made the front page news of the Border Mail on July 24 with his comments on why water bans don't work.
AGED CARE services
As a result of a workshop on an aged care services research project and the formation of a new peak body for aged care services in the Bathurst region, Prof Mark Morrison was interviewed by:
• Radio 2BS Morning Wireless Program and Prime News Orange July 29
• WIN TV Orange for a story which ran on July 31
• Janice Gilchrist for ABC Central West's morning program on August 1.
Media Release
Cypress pines
A/Prof Ian Lunt's research on black cypress pines featured in an article “Drought and fire shape our future” in the Winter issue of the Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management magazine.
Bird flu risk
Dr Iain Taylor's views on relocating Ettamogah Sanctuary were in the Border Mail on July 30.
Stubble burning
Spatial science expert Dr Remy Dehaan and his research on stubble burning was featured in the ABC Riverina's Rural Report on July 31.
Link to In the News February 2008 to April 2008