Topics as diverse as dietary fat and stress, the world of high fashion and women’s magazines, and managing acid sulfate soils will be a part of a postgraduate research conference in Lismore from October 27 to 29 – highlighting Southern Cross University’s varied and cutting edge research work.
SCU Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Peter Baverstock said research and research training at SCU, for a small regional university, were very strong in quality and extent.
“Whether it’s in the arts, business, health or science – SCU research is contributing to human understanding in the national and international arena, and importantly enhancing research and teaching here at SCU, and our links and input with the region,” Professor Baverstock said.
Postgraduate researchers will come to the conference from areas including the NSW Mid North Coast, Sydney and Queensland. Conference participants from the Northern Rivers include:
* Joy Bowles (Lismore, President of SCU postgraduate association and conference co-ordinator) studying aromatherapy in aged care, especially dementia patients, and researching through North Coast aged care facilities.
* Joanne Bradbury (Ocean Shores), looking at a link between dietary fat and stress, and investigating whether omega-3 fatty acids decrease perceived stress.
* Jan Backhouse (Alstonville) is researching grandchildren raised by grandparents – an increasing international phenomenon due to changes in family and society.
* Scott Henderson (Coraki)is studying acid sulfate soil management, and is presenting material via poster format.
* Diana Sweeney (Byron Bay) examines the practices of women’s magazines in Australia and representation of non-white and Aboriginal faces, following recent fashion features with Cathy Freeman.
The conference, with keynote speaker SCU Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Clark, has been organised by SCU’s postgraduate association known as CRUX, Latin for the Southern Cross constellation. The conference offers postgraduates, many mid-way through three-year research programs, an opportunity to share aspects of their research and gain support in areas such as IT, dealing with the media and life after research.
Posters illustrating SCU research in areas such as whales and dolphins, genetics, rainforests and soils will also be on display at the conference. The poster display will be expanded, exhibited at SCU in February 2005 and later shown at other venues.
