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The community and research
4 November 2006
Quality of life on the Sunshine Coast, as elsewhere, is greatly influenced by research. This applies not only to the more obvious impacts of breakthroughs in medical science and, nowadays, issues such as energy and water, but also in matters such as superannuation policy where the research is much less visible. Changes and improvements in every aspect of life are driven to a surprising extent by new possibilities opened up through research.
Many different activities are captured under the rubric of research and lots of them are conducted on the Sunshine Coast – and not just by the University. In both the public and private sectors many people are involved in research and as the knowledge economy takes hold more and more jobs will entail elements of research. Throughout Australia the research workload is probably shared about half and half between universities and other workplaces.
Despite this, universities still play a special role in research. Not only are they the institutions with the longest history and deepest traditions in the disciplines and research in our civilization, but only universities conduct research training.
As in all walks of life, induction of the next generation of researchers is essential to the future of the enterprise. New researchers are the lifeblood of the profession and the quality of research training makes a major difference to the ability of researchers to solve the new and emerging problems that are shaping our collective future. Our quality of life depends on the imagination and creativity with which we tackle issues as diverse as coastal management, especially in a context of global warming and climate change; development of business models that deliver both efficiency and real service; and health and wellbeing for all as costs escalate and lifestyle problems and diseases grow in significance.
Researchers are trained in special ways through doctoral and masters programs. In these programs students are assigned experienced supervisors and are helped to define a real research problem, study current knowledge and understanding of the problem, frame a question to which the answers could constitute something new, and investigate and report their findings. Nowadays, as with all aspects of the university, research training takes place much more in the community, with professionals in the various fields, and on topics that present as real world problems.
On Wednesday next week the University of the Sunshine Coast will conduct its inaugural Annual Research Conference and the community is warmly invited to come and participate in this event. The conference is intended to achieve a variety of aims. First, it is a research training exercise. Research students will make succinct presentations on their work to increase their experience in the tough task of exposing their ideas to public scrutiny and argument – the communicative essence of the practice of research.
Second, the conference is a celebration of the increasing research achievements of the University. Experienced researchers in a variety of fields will also make brief presentations on their research.
Third, the conference provides another opportunity for interaction between staff, students and the community, and the chance to hear together from Dr David Falvey of the Australian Research Council, who will deliver the keynote address on how research can be both of international standard and significance, and highly relevant to local concerns. Further information about the Conference on Wednesday 8 November at Sippy Downs is available at www.usc.edu.au. Intending participants are requested to contact the Office of Research at the University on researchconference@usc.edu.au or 5459 4526.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast.