Academics share research with the community

Academics share research with the community

- 3 August 2011

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic's Taiorangahau Pacific Coast Applied Research Centre is hosting a one day Research Expo on Friday, 5 August to showcase staff research projects. The Curiosity Breaking Out Research Expo is a free community event and the public are warmly invited to come along.

Manager of the Taiorangahau Pacific Coast Applied Research Centre, Dr. Heather Hamerton, is very excited. "This is the second time we have run an event to showcase our staff research," says Dr. Hamerton. "We have another excellent programme of speakers again and guests will be exposed to some interesting and thought provoking research."

Keynote speaker for the Research Expo is Associate Professor Welby Ings from Auckland University of Technology. Associate Professor Ings will be presenting 'Arias in the Ivory Tower' focusing on some unusual theses in design that push the borders of conventional academic paradigms. He considers the uncomfortable nature of creative innovative thought and its often awkward accommodation in tertiary education.

Associate Professor Ings is an international advisor on education, graphic design and technology. He has over thirty years teaching experience in primary, secondary and tertiary education and in 2002 was awarded the Supreme Award for Tertiary Teaching Excellence. He has supervised over 40 postgraduate theses to completion in Art & Design and is an international examiner in the same discipline.

Associate Professor Ings' own work as a graphic designer, illustrator and filmmaker have won numerous international awards. His 2004 film 'Boy' was short listed for the 2006 Academy awards, after official selection for over 50 other international film festivals. His new film 'Munted' was this year selected for Cannes.

Other academic staff presenting their research include:

* Sam Goundar (School of Business) presents his research on Cloud Computing: Opportunities and Issues for Developing Countries;

* Multi-award winning author and academic Debra Laraman and Anne Shirley (School of Design &Humanities) discuss a Snapshot of the New Zealand Apparel Consumer;

* Cath Fraser and Pam Simpson (Kahurangi Student Services) discuss Offshore - Onshore International Students' Expectations versus Experience;

* Robyn Tucker (School of Business) presents Legitimacy Theory and a Compliance Analysis of Tesco's 2008 Business Review;

* Gloria Abernethy (School of Applied Technology) and Gemma Piercy (University of Waikato) present Growing Truck Drivers: New Recruits for a Highly Regulated Industry ;

* Mike Dudson (School of Applied Science) and Greg Cummings (Sport Bay of Plenty) present Sport: Connecting with Youth;

* Lindsay Skyner (School of Applied Science) discusses All the Glitters is Not Gold;

* Dr Simon Muncaster (School of Applied Science) presents Aquaculture at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic: Possibilities to Push New Frontiers in a Growing Industry; and

* Dr Andrew Morgan (School of Applied Science) presents Where Aquaculture and Environment Science Meet: The Future of Sustainable Seafood Production in a Changing Global Climate.

The day also includes a panel discussion entitled 'What counts as Research'. The panel members include Dr Alan Hampton (Bay of Plenty Polytechnic), Dr Chris Battershill (University of Waikato), Associate Professor Welby Ings (Auckland University of Technology) and Dr Christine Mercer (Waiariki Institute of Technology).

The Research Expo concludes with a fascinating tour of the Polytechnic's Aquaculture Centre showcasing their current research projects.

If you would like to attend this event please register with Dr Heather Hamerton heather.hamerton@boppoly.ac.nz

When: Friday 5th August 2011, 8.30am - 4.30pm

Where: Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Windermere Campus, 70 Windermere Drive, in room A3

Ends.

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