Recently several staff members within the Earth Science department participated in a workshop demonstrating how photography can enhance the students visual learning experience and add to teaching methods. This initiative, run by UTAS in collaboration with various universities, will provide […]

The Conversation 30th July 2015 This Occupy Toronto sign sums up the sentiment, but people are also moving on from capitalism in practice by such means as digitally enabled collaboration and the sharing economy. flickr/Eric Parker, CC BY-NC If the […]

We joined the large crowd at The Wollotuka Institute this morning, for a flag raising ceremony to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2015. The ceremony was followed by a morning tea where new students were welcomed and everyone gathered to celebrate!  

In August last year, Dr. Hannah Power and a team of researchers, undergraduate and RHD students from UON, the University of Sydney, and the University of Queensland, went to Pacific Palms (near Forster) and Gerroa (near Nowra) to conduct coastal […]

In the beginning of July, 12 students went on the GEOS3330 Metamorphic and Field Geology excursion to Broken Hill. This field trip provides students with the skills required for structural geology and metamorphic analysis by examining the complex terrains seen […]

Looking at this experience with an objective perspective, I think there are many great outcomes for the students involved and the people we connect with. Whether its learning to adapted to new and confronting situation and being able to work […]

  The above song lyrics were a driving force for me throughout the trip and a pre cursor to my predicted feelings upon returning home. Being back in the face of Western reality, I was reminded of the saying, “Be […]

Taking part in this culturally-rich, three week project in Cambodia has been a truly wonderful experience! Indeed, I was presented with opportunities of authentic cultural immersion, such as attending the sixth day of funeral for a person I did not […]

In previous blog posts I spoke about the problematic nature of short term volunteering and the importance of developing goals and establishing outcomes for ongoing sustainability. I also spoke about the near eradication of traditional Cambodian arts and myself and […]

I have just gotten back to Phnom Penh from Siem Reap and I keep comparing the two and seeing if I like one better. To be completely honest I would say I like Phnom Penh better. Siem Reap was very […]

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on The Giving Game and effective altruism, looking in particular at an article by Ware (2015), ‘Cosmopolitism, National Interest, Selfishness and Australian Aid.’ In reflection at the time, I wrote “I have […]

In the beginning of July, 12 students went on the GEOS3330 Metamorphic and Field Geology excursion to Broken Hill. This field trip provides students with the skills required for structural geology and metamorphic analysis by examining the complex terrains seen […]

In a previous post, I looked at working with a non-profit organisation and planning for a sustainable outcome, since short term placements can sometimes be problematic, in that they may be doing more harm than good. See also, Making it […]

For many Cambodian’s learning English and in some cases Chinese is now necessary in order to find work. This is a far cry from the Khmer Rouge regime when people were killed for speaking a foreign language (BBC News 2015). […]

  Literacy is a fundamental human right as well as a foundation for life-long learning and continued human capital development for inclusive and sustainable development Lemaistre 2013). During the Pol Pot Regime of 1975-1979 the aim was to become an […]

The room was filled with people. Important people. Businessmen, young entrepreneurs, government officials… all to see us. Hard to believe!? After 3 weeks in Cambodia, we had the opportunity to showcase some of what we had been doing with our […]

While in Siem Reap, I received a particularly exciting invitation from Dr Catherine Grant: working my ‘arts and sustainability’ blog post into a short media article and pitching it to ‘The Conversation.’ The pitch was accepted! After setting up an […]

“My hands are tied,” the policeman says. “I’ve got to follow orders, or I will lose my job, and be in poverty myself.” A modest fire burns on the pavement, and a family’s possessions go up in smoke. Simon Springer, […]

In previous blog posts, I spoke of the problematic nature of short term volunteering and the necessity of capacity building through establishing sustainable outcomes. Furthermore I discussed the difficulties in establishing arts based networks in Siem Reap and the proposal […]