USC to hold first research conference
Former British Geological Survey executive director Dr David Falvey will be the keynote speaker at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s inaugural Annual Research Conference on Wednesday 8 November 2006.
Dr Falvey, who has been the Executive Director of Physics, Chemistry and Geoscience at the Australian Research Council since July this year, will encourage USC academics and PhD students to undertake research which is clearly marketable.
He said the correct marketing of research projects was essential in attracting funding and producing outcomes that would benefit customers and the community.
Building on his eight years experience leading the British Geological Survey – which had an annual budget of A$135 million, half of which was won competitively – Dr Falvey's keynote address will be on “The Winning Formula: Research Combining Excellence and Relevance”.
“In attracting external partners, collaborators and especially co-funders, it is important that the proposed research should strive to really address governments' priorities and industries' needs,’’ he said.
“This involves a lot of talking, even more listening, and a willingness, most time, to change direction to meet co-funders’ goals.”
Dr Falvey has a Bachelor of Science (Honours, Class 1) from The University of Sydney and a PhD in marine geophysics from The University of New South Wales. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London and has received an honorary science doctorate from Nottingham Trent University for his contribution to Earth science.
Under Dr Falvey’s stewardship, the British Geological Survey moved from traditional, 2D (map-based) geological survey, into 3D digital modelling, hazard research, groundwater research, soils and contaminated land research, the urban environment, and “e-science”.
It routinely wins international contracts from the World Bank, European Commission and the Department for International Development to provide services and surveys in several developing nations in Africa and Asia. It has also won competitive service and survey contracts from many national governments worldwide.
USC Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said the one-day conference was open to the public and would showcase and celebrate the University's research and its research training activities.
Professor Hill said the conference would allow research students to gain experience in presenting research in a supportive environment and promote the quality and impact of the University's research.
Eleven projects will be presented by USC lecturers and research students. The projects are:
- Dr Gary Crew, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing – Taking Responsibility for Extinction
- Gillian Cowden, Associate Lecturer in Journalism – How and why the Internet changes the way people gather and consume news
- Dr John Whiteoak, Lecturer in Human Resource Management – The Relationship among Group Process Perceptions, Goal Commitment and Turnover Intention in Small Committee Groups
- Sheila Peake, PhD student – Communication of conservation messages in an Ecotourism setting
- Wendy Spinks, PhD student – Baby boomers and beyond: The changing mature market's evaluation of services
- Graham Lumley, Business Administration doctorate student – Improving Operator Support and Selection Processes
- Dr Jennifer Carter, Lecturer in Environment and Planning Studies – Making “sense” of “place”
- Dr Ann Parkinson, Lecturer in Physiology – Getting active with active learning: an interactive demonstration of neural concepts using the 'Mexican wave'
- Kenneth Wasmund, PhD student – Microbial communities associated with a shallow hydrocarbon seep in the tropical Timor Sea, Australia
- Jack Tucker, PhD student – Molecular methods for the detection of virulent bacteria in environmental and clinical samples
- Sacha Fulton, PhD student – Measuring the Kick in Freestyle Swimming
About 100 people are expected to attend the conference at USC Lecture Theatre 3, including representatives from the Department of Primary Industries, the CSIRO and from small businesses.
Places are still available for the public to attend this conference. To book, phone USC research training officer Brooke Toon on (07) 5459 4526 or email researchconference@usc.edu.au.