Blue sky lecture series for regional SA
Blue Sky 2006, a regional public lecture series, is the first event of its kind to be offered in regional SA by UniSA’s Centre for Regional Engagement (CRE).
The series, which is free and open to the public, will combine all three core UniSA values: academic, research and community engagement. It is aimed at bringing the University further into regional communities and is currently being run at both Whyalla and Mount Gambier.
The focus of the series is on three issues pertinent to regional audiences: health and weight management, industrial relations and the WorkChoices legislation, and strengthening rural communities.
Top researchers and academics are presenting cutting edge research and scholarly opinions to provide engaging, entertaining and informative sessions at both centres.
Four senior UniSA researchers/academics are involved: Associate Professor Jon Buckley (Division of Health Sciences), Professor Peter Howe (Division of Health Sciences), Professor Gerry Griffin (Division of Business) and Professor Brian Cheers (from the CRE).
Manager of UniSA’s Mount Gambier Regional Centre, Cathy Hughes says the lecture series will help create greater engagement opportunities for UniSA with regional communities.
"We’ve had a really positive response from both the Whyalla and Mount Gambier public to the Blue Sky initiative and this augurs well for future series. But it has also helped the CRE to build stronger and more diverse relationships with each respective region," she says.
"One of the notable elements of the series has been the diverse range of people it has attracted in both regional cities, with retirees, CEOs, alumni, employees and students alike expressing gratitude at having the opportunity to gain first-hand insights into some of the University’s research and academic pursuits."
The series is expected to become an annual event.
Further details available at www.unisa.edu.au/cre