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Staff Bulletin
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RESEARCH & RESEARCH TRAINING OFFICE REPORTSummer Scholarships – some outcomesLast year saw the implementation of the inaugural Rector-funded Summer Scholarships Scheme. From all accounts these scholarships have been an outstanding success. Mr Liam Prince, summer school student from UWA worked on a paper about the role of the Internet and 'weblogging' in the transformation of public discourse in post-Soeharto Indonesia. Liam undertook his scholarship in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and recently presented as seminar titled "Building Blogs" of a new Public Discourse?: Weblogging in Indonesia.Abstract:Under New Order rule Indonesia's media was strictly controlled by a system of government licensing and censorship. Within the ideological framework of demokrasi pancasila with its anti-liberal, corporatist leanings and its emphasis on consensus and social harmony over competition and political conflict, the media was co-opted into Suharto's nation-building project, charged with the function of promoting social stability rather than stimulating critical debate. By the early 1990's, under pressure from an educated middle-class with a growing appetite for political discourse and from crony capitalists with commercial designs on a lucrative domestic media market, cracks had begun to show in the regime's system of media control. It was in this environment of already waning control over public discourse that the Internet was introduced to Indonesia. In 1998 the student-led reformasi movement forced Suharto from office and brought to a close 32 years of New Order rule. In post-Suharto Indonesia, against the backdrop of reformasi and the process of democratisation, a new discourse has cropped up around the media and its social function, invoking liberal notions of civil society and a critical free press. As a society then Indonesia is currently renegotiating the norms and ethics of public discourse and redefining the parameters of acceptable public expression. This paper intends to examine Indonesia's emerging weblog community and to discuss its significance in the context of Indonesia's evolving public sphere. Particular effort will be made to situate the weblog phenomenon within broader national narratives of democratisation and media liberalisation. Finally, this paper will attempt to offer a theoretical framework
for understanding the relationship between conventional mass media
and new 'participatory' online media such as weblogs, suggesting
ways in which this relationship might assist in the creation of
a mass media that is both responsive and accountable to the society
it serves. Faculty Seminar Tuesday 7 March: 'The Global Democratic Revolution': Professor David LovellThe first Seminar in the 2006 Faculty Seminar series will be presented by Professor David Lovell from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in the tea room adjacent to the Research Hub in Building 21 on Tuesday 7 March. Refreshments will be available from 3:15pm and the seminar commences at 3:40pm. After the 20 minute seminar there will be a short time available for questions. Researchers and research students are encouraged to attend. Faculty Seminars have provided a great opportunity for networking across all Schools at UNSW@ADFA. For catering purposes please RSVP to Elvira Berra at e.berra@adfa.edu.au or on 02 6268 8112 by 3 March. Abstract : In 1972, there were 44 democracies in the world; in 1980 there were 56; and by 2004 there were 119 'electoral democracies', of which 89 were characterised by Freedom House as 'free'. Over the last 30 years, in short, more than 70 countries have become democracies of some kind. This phenomenon has been called the 'third wave' of democratisation. US President George W. Bush has spoken approvingly of a 'global democratic revolution', and many countries and organisations are committed to supporting and extending it. My current research project explores virtually every aspect of this so-called 'revolution', including why democracy has become the only legitimate form of government on the planet, whether liberal democracy as currently practised deserves to be a model of democracy for others, and what sorts of barriers confront the continued extension and consolidation of democracy around the globe. My presentation, however, will focus on the activities that established liberal democracies undertake to promote democracy elsewhere: their justification, implementation, and success. For promoting democracy elsewhere forms a central element of the foreign policies of the United States and the European Union, and is used to justify a wide range of actions, from the creation of electoral systems to election observation, and from the recasting of political and legal institutions to the education of public officials, but including also the controversial 2003 US invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq. Even apart from the costs of that military action, billions of dollars every year are spent in this quest for democracy. My presentation will address whether these actions are effectual or misconceived. …and then there are the ‘Shock Waves'…...and they don't refer to a permanent wave gone wrong!! Nor the state in which Research and Research Training Office (RRTO) staff find their hair after a week of reading Australian Research Council applications. Rather, Shock Waves is an international journal on Shock Waves, Detonations and Explosions. Volume 14 of Shock Waves has just arrived in the RRTO and contains no fewer than four papers by UNSW@ADFA staff from the School of Aerospace , Civil and Mechanical Engineering! The cover of this edition is also emblazoned with one of Dr Harald Kleine's spectacular photographs, and for the aficionado there are many more examples of high-speed time-resolved color schlieren visualization of shock wave phenomena. And believe us when we say one doesn't have to understand the technology to appreciate the beauty of the photography! Postscript: While Dr Kleine at last has his high-speed camera (well, a million frames per second is somewhat fast!), he was heard mentioning a colour prototype of this astonishing piece of technology which is currently being developed. At that stage, a member of the RRTO was sensed departing the building at Mach 10……) |
Staff BulletinThe Newsletter will now be published on a fortnightly basis. If you have something you would like to contribute, please download and complete the submission form and email the information to newsletter@adfa.edu.au by 12 noon on the Wednesday prior. The website will be changed to reflect Fortnightly news rather than weekly as show above. NEXT PUBLISHED CAMPUS NEWSLETTER THURS 8 MAR 06.
First Attack Fire Fighting and Workplace Evacuation Training - 28 FebruaryFirst Attack Fire Fighting and Workplace Evacuation Training will be conducted on Tuesday 28th February commencing at 9.30 am in LT8. This is a 4 hour training session and will cover: Evacuation and assembly principles and procedures Types of emergencies and their effects on the workplace and the types of fire panels and fire fighting equipment including demonstrations on the correct use of fire extinguishers and correct fire fighting methodologies. This course is essential for all building wardens however all staff will benefit from increased knowledge of fire fighting techniques in particular it is recommended for workshop and laboratory staff. Please advise Anne Green a.green@adfa.edu.au as soon as possible of your expression of interest in attending this course. Suzanna Holmes Manager, OHS & Facilities Launch of Academic Language and Learning Unit - 27 FebruaryAll ADFA staff are invited to attend the launch of the Academic Language and Learning (ALL) Unit. The Rector, Professor John Baird, will be officiating. Date: Monday 27 February 2006 Time: 2.00 to 3.00 pm including afternoon tea Location: LT10, Lecture Theatre North RSVP: Friday 24 February 2006 to Kathryn Eden, Acting School Administrator HASS k.eden@adfa.edu.au or 62688845. Important WebCT updateA. Imminent system changes 1. WebCT course IDs will become visible inside the MyWebCT page from next week. Most IDs utilise the NSS course code. This will help students recognise their course and will also make it easier for lecturers to identify their course to a support person when requesting assistance or changes, and also help lecturers using the backup tool and/or Webdav funtions. 2. The Global Calendar, available from many points inside WebCT, will be updated with organisation wide semester 1 dates for at the start of semester. Lecturers making the calendar tool available in their courses should consider adding course specific dates from inside their course. B. Lecturer support options 1. A Guided Tour of WebCT will be operating this Friday morning, 9.30-11am. This session introduces lecturers to the capbilities of WebCT and provides a conceptual understanding of its potential for adding value to your courses. Bookings can be made with Anne Green on a.green@adfa.edu.au 2. A WebCT drop in centre will operate from 9am to 12 noon on Monday, 27th February , in the ICTS computer laboratory (AKA, the staff training lab). Lecturers needing last minute assistance with setting up their WebCT courses for Semester 1 are invited to 'drop in' during this period and someone will be on hand to help out. 3. Step by step online demonstrations of some WebCT tasks can be viewed from http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/ets/flexed/Lecturers/OnlineCourses/practical.html C. Call for expressions of interest from lecturers interested in forming a WebCT Users' Group. It is proposed to hold a meeting to discuss the formation of a UNSW @ ADFA group on Tuesday morning 28 February. If you are interested in participating please email flt@adfa.edu.au enclosing your name and details of availability before close of business Friday. Final details of time and place will be circulated (to those who reply) on Monday afternoon after an appropriate venue has been arranged for the numbers who respond. Attendees are invited to formulate ideas ahead of the event on: - how they would like the group to operate - what they would like to see the group achieve - what role/s they are willing to take to help that happen D. Adding students to courses The two easiest ways to add students to your WebCT courses are: 1. Use SAMS yourself (accessed from the link on the right hand side in MyWebCT) 2. Request the Flexible Learning Team to configure SAMS for you using the electronic form at http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/ets/flexed/Lecturers/OnlineCourses/online_adfa.html The more time consuming ways include: 1. Adding students one by one from a class list 2. Synchronising with the global database from inside the course (which will need to be regularly repeated) 3. Uploading a bulk file from inside the coruse (NOT RECOMMENDED for system reasons) NOTE: Many distance mode students are expecting to access their courses from Monday 27th February to be prepared for first semester. SAMS requests received in ETS will be actioned on Monday 27th February and Friday 3rd March to cater for both on campus and off campus student expectations. TIP: To ensure ONLY students in one mode of study are added to your course via SAMS, enter one of the following codes in the "Class Section" box (remembering that the 0 is a zero): On campus DM02 Distance 0001 Intensive IDM3 back to top
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Classifieds
The Newsletter is published each Thursday fortnight. If you have something you would like to contribute, please download and complete the submission form and email the information to newsletter@adfa.edu.au by 12 noon on Wednesdays.
For Sale
Scarpa Trek Pro Hiking Boots , size 45 worn twice – too small. Cost $299. Sell for $150. Contact Marilyn 6268 8938, 62881667 or m.anderson-smith@adfa.edu.au
Upcoming Events
| DATE | TITLE | VENUE |
| 4 March | 9.30am ADFA Parade Ground |
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| 14 March | UniSuper - Contribution Splitting | 1.45-2.45 LT 9 |
| 12 April | UniSuper - Transition to Retirement | 1.45-2.45 LT 9 |
| 27 June | UniSuper - Contribution Flexibility | 12.30-1.30 LT 3 |
FREE COMMUNITY LECTURES
Responsibilities and Accountabilities for commercial activities and University paid outside work
New requirements for commercial and paid outside work responsibilities have resulted in a review of how commercial business is conducted. Come and hear about these changes from representatives of Business Services and Financial Services.
This session will be of benefit to administrators, executive officers and academics involved in short courses, consulting and commercial activities.
Date: Wednesday 1 March
Venue: SR101
Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Morning tea provided
Please forward your expressions of interest to attend the workshop to a.green@adfa.edu.au - Staff Development and Equity Units.
UNISUPER SEMINAR DURING SESSION 1, 2006
Tuesday 14 March 2006
Lecture Theatre 9
1.45 pm – 2.45 pm
Topic: Contribution Splitting (1 hour)
Wednesday 12 April 2006
Lecture Theatre 9
1.45 pm – 2.45 pm
Topic: Transition to Retirement (i.e. the new rules allowing members to take some super and continue to work)
Tuesday 27 June 2006
Lecture Theatre 3
12.30 – 1.30 pm
Topic: Contribution Flexibility (where members
will be able to vary contribution levels, from 1 July 2006, within
certain limits)
Got a Story?
If you have something you would like to contribute, please download and complete the submission form and email the information to: Email: newsletter@adfa.edu.au
Contact Us
Office of the Rector
Phone: 02 6268 8701
Email: newsletter@adfa.edu.au
Do you have a story you would like to contribute?