University Of Canberra Research Articles

Material Metabolism: Reducing Risk through Flexible Formwork Substitution

For this special issue, sustainability and safety are discussed through the tropes of both material and work process substitution. As an architecture and industrial design team, we examine the potential of William McDonough’s and Michael Braungart’s “cradle to cradle” material methodology, and David Pye’s “the workmanship of certainty” as relevant to the construction industry. Locating and revisiting the tenets of Gottfried Semper’s Stoffwechseltheorie, alongside contemporary critiques, demonstrates that if historically, material and technique substitution led to architectural innovation, the same conditions exist today. To demonstrate a contemporary Stoffwechsel (material substitution) a formwork prototype was constructed at the University of Canberra’s Workshop 7, by substituting timber with plastic, and 3D-printing the formwork. This prototype demonstrates a type of “technical nutrient” that is both recyclable as plastic, and reusable as formwork. This reveals the potential of substituting materials and processes not only to achieve material recovery, but rather, aiming for material recycling, reuse, or upcycling, therefore reducing socio-environmental risks in construction.

Tri Hita Karana for environmental resilience: Enhancing coral reef conservation and sustainable practices in Mengiat Beach Bali

This collaborative international community service initiative applies the Tri Hita Karana philosophy to improve coral reef conservation at Bali''s Mengiat Beach. The collaboration between Universitas Ngurah Rai and the University of Canberra integrates traditional wisdom and innovative methods, promoting resilience, sustainable practices, and economic growth while adhering to Tri Hita Karana''s holistic principles. The initiative program combines Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the Mars Assisted Restoration System (MARRS) to safeguard coral ecosystems. Participatory Action Research (PAR) empowers communities, aligning with the holistic principles of Tri Hita Karana. The methodology encompasses preparation, education, hands-on training, beach clean-ups, and continuous evaluation, reinforcing coral preservation while promoting sustainable practices and ecological well-being. These strategies align with the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, promoting local engagement and resource management. The donation of Reef Stars by the universities to the Bali Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Foundation reflects a commitment to environmental well-being and long-term harmony. The Mengiat Beach collaboration by two universities and the Bali Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Foundation integrates traditional wisdom and modern methods within the Tri Hita Karana philosophy. Through education, training, and reef restoration, the initiative emphasizes community engagement and ecological resilience.

Very brief intervention for physical activity behaviour change in cardiac rehabilitation: protocol for the ‘Measure It!’ effectiveness–implementation hybrid trial

IntroductionPhysical inactivity is a risk factor for repeat cardiac events and all-cause mortality in coronary heart disease (CHD). Cardiac rehabilitation, a secondary prevention programme, aims to increase physical activity levels...

Mangrove Forest Preservation for Environmental Sustainability and Community Welfare Improvement in Suwung Kauh Village Denpasar : An International Community Service Program

This community service program aims to improve the preservation of mangrove forests by replanting mangrove seedlings to replace old damaged trees and expand the mangrove ecosystems. In addition, coastal cleaning activities were also carried out to reduce plastic waste that pollutes mangrove forest areas in Suwung Kauh Village, South Denpasar. By using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach method oriented towards community empowerment, the implementation of community service was carried out by a team of the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Economics and Business, Ngurah Rai University, in collaboration with Canberra University and KUB Simbar Segara. The evaluation was carried out by the managing team through direct interaction between the interviewer and the respondent using interview and observation techniques for the achievement values of the results of the implementation of community service activities and was analyzed descriptively. The results of the service program succeeded in reducing plastic waste around the area and increasing the area of mangrove areas by planting new seedlings.

Evaluation of a virtual, simulated international public health peer-to-peer exchange learning experience.

Public Health's (PH) global rise is accompanied by an increasing focus on training the new generation of PH graduates in interdisciplinary skills for multisectoral and cross-cultural engagement to develop an understanding of commonalities in health system issues and challenges in multi-cultural settings. Online teaching modalities provide an opportunity to enhance global health skill development through virtual engagement and peer exchange. However, current teaching pedagogy is limited in providing innovative modes of learning global health issues outside of traditional classroom settings with limited modalities of evidence-informed implementation models. This study designed, implemented, and evaluated a novel global health online synchronous module as proof of concept that incorporated elements of virtual Practice-based learning (PBL) using a case study approach offered to currently enrolled public health students at the University of Canberra (UC) and a partnering public health university from India, the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPH-G). Using constructive learning theory and the Social Determinants of Health framework, four online sessions were designed and implemented in August-September 2022. Formal process and outcome evaluation using a quantitative adapted survey of the validated International Student Experience survey (IES) at session end and findings provided. Over 100 participating public health students from Australia and India provided narrative feedback and quantitative responses from the adapted IES instrument across four key dimensions, namely "motivation," "personal development," intellectual development, and "international perspectives" reporting an overall high mean impact of 4.29 (out of 5) across all four themes seen together. In essence, the sessions supported students to explore global health issues from a different cultural perspective while developing intercultural communication skills and enhancing their global exposure in real-time. This innovation, implemented as a proof of concept, provided evidence, and demonstrated the implementation feasibility of a flexible virtual integrated practice-based module that can supplement classroom teaching. It provides participating students with the opportunity to develop intercultural understanding and communication competence as well as support global mindedness by engaging with international peers around focused global health case studies.

Design pedagogy in a time of change: Applying virtual flipped classroom in design higher education

This project reviewed the application of an innovative pedagogical approach, the virtual flipped classroom (VFC), in postgraduate design education. The VFC is an integration of the flipped classroom (FC) and virtual canvas. It enables teachers to proactively engage students in design thinking processes and activities to achieve active learning and better learning outcomes. To investigate the effect of VFC, the core research team implemented it to postgraduate programmes across three Australian universities, including a Master of Design Strategies course in the School of Design and the Built Environment at the Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra (UC), a Master of Design course in the School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University (ECU) and a Master of Design course in the Creative Unit, University of South Australia (UniSA). The core research team observed and reflected on students’ learning achievements and motivation during their design thinking process across three Australian universities in two states (South Australia and West Australia) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), between 2020 and 2022. This study also explored postgraduate design students’ perceptions towards the idea of studying design online via the Interface Student Experience Questionnaire (ISEQ) and student evaluation questionnaire. It helped to identify and verify whether VFC could provide a transitional middle ground to a fully online design course. This study provides insights into student and staff reservations about online delivery and identifies the barriers and opportunities to study design within an entirely virtual environment.

Indigenizing the IT Curriculum by Design

In the context of an institution-wide initiative of the University of Canberra (UC), Australia, to mandate the Indigenization of the curriculum in all its courses, this descriptive case study reports on a pilot project to redesign the syllabus of an Information Technology (IT) unit that is a mandatory capstone for all students undertaking IT degrees. The capstone previously included no Indigenous-related content or pedagogical approaches. Indigenizing of the unit was achieved by embedding and interconnecting Tyson Yunkaporta’s (2009) 8 Ways of Indigenous Learning with the unit's content, teaching methods, and assessments, along with the Indigenous collaborative learning method Yarning Circles, in a design that could be expressed and unified in the teaching delivery to inform continuous adjustment and improvement of the unit’s curriculum, and also potentially inform the Indigenization of other UC IT units over time. A Design Science Research (DSR) methodology was put into action to evaluate the previous curriculum (as expressed in the offering of the unit), to design its Indigenized replacement, to implement it with student cohorts over two semesters, to collect data on the experience, and to reflect on the successes and challenges that arise. This methodology can also be applied reflexively in future iterative cycles of continuous adjustment and improvement of the unit’s curriculum by its conveners and colleagues to inform Indigenized designs for other units that currently have no Indigenous-related content. The extensibility of DSR is proffered as a methodological contribution to the project.

New cicada fossils from Australia (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae) with remarkably detailed wing surface nanostructure

Australia hosts the richest diversity of extant cicadas in the world, but a scarcity of fossils means that little is known about their evolutionary history on the continent. Here we describe the first fossilized Cicadidae from Australia. Laopsaltria ferruginosa gen. et sp. nov., Burbungoides gulgongensis gen. et sp. nov. and Tithopsaltria titan gen. et sp. nov. were all found at McGraths Flat near Gulgong, New South Wales, a recently discovered Miocene Lagerstätte. These cicada fossils preserve remarkable detail, including setae and wing membrane surface structures. Wing size varies considerably between the three newly described species and, in T. titan sp. nov., reaches a maximum size beyond what is known from extant Australian cicadas (or any other known cicada fossil), indicating a disparate cicada fauna in Australia’s Miocene rainforests. Max Moulds [ msmoulds@gmail.com ], Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia. Michael Frese [ michael.frese@canberra.edu.au ], Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia; Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity, Black Mountain, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia. M. R. McCurry [ matthew.mccurry@australian.museum ], Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia; Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia 20560, USA.

Preliminary forensic assessment of the visualised fingerprints on nonporous substrates immersed in water using the green and optimised novel nanobio-based reagent

The discovery of forensic evidence (e.g. weapons) during forensic underwater investigations has seen an increasing trend. To date, small particle reagent (SPR) has been one of the routinely used methods for visualising fingerprints on wet, non-porous substrates. However, the long term use of SPR is detrimental to humans and environment due to the use of toxic chemicals. Although previously we have successfully developed and optimised a greener nanobio-based reagent (NBR), its suitable practical use in a more realistic scene (e.g. outdoor pond) was not evaluated. Therefore, this present research is aimed at (1) investigating the performance of NBR against the benchmark SPR in visualising fingerprints immersed in a natural outdoor pond and (2) evaluating the greenness of NBR against the analytical Eco-Scale. Results showed that the performance of the optimised NBR was mostly comparable (University of Canberra (UC) comparative scale: 0) with SPR at visualising fingerprints on three different non-porous substrates immersed in a natural outdoor pond. Observably, the NBR had higher preference towards aged fingerprints (up to 4 weeks of immersion). In addition, its greenness assessment revealed 76 points, indicating ‘excellent green analysis’. The findings gathered here further supported the practical use of the NBR in forensic investigations.

Australians’ shifting concerns about mis- and disinformation

ABSTRACT Prior to COVID-19, trust in news was low, and Australian audiences were most concerned about mis- and disinformation from Australian political actors, followed closely by news outlets. Twelve months on trust in news had risen, and concern about misinformation from journalists and politicians had fallen dramatically. This shift followed increased news consumption and high satisfaction with the way governments managed the pandemic – prior to the immunisation roll out. This paper draws on data from five national Australian surveys conducted by the News & Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra. The data show that changes in news consumption, trust in news, and concern about mis- and disinformation coincided with a rally-round-the-flag effect in politician approval, but this varied depending on the political orientation and age of audiences. The findings suggest that a range of media-related factors may be possible contributors to political rallying effects and warrant further investigation.

Towards best practice in the delivery of prescribed exercise via telehealth for individuals diagnosed with cancer: A randomised controlled trial protocol.

IntroductionThere is a plethora of evidence supporting the therapeutic effects of regular exercise for individuals diagnosed with cancer, particularly during active treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated delivery of face-to-face exercise programs for individuals with cancer, particularly as this cohort is at much higher risk of morbidity and mortality. The proposed randomised controlled trial explores best practice and assesses the feasibility of exercise programs delivered via Telehealth for individuals diagnosed with cancer. MethodsParticipants (n = 160) must have a current cancer diagnosis, must be undergoing active treatment, receive medical clearance, and have access to a smart device to participate in supervised exercise. Participants will be randomly assigned (two arms; 1:1) to supervised exercise delivered via Telehealth (Coviu) or usual care (receiving physical activity guidelines). Telehealth arm participants will receive an individualised program according to their health status, comorbidities, and exercise history, delivered weekly for eight weeks by an Accredited Exercise Physiologist in a group setting. Outcome measures will assess feasibility, psychological wellbeing, quality of life, symptom management, physical activity and fitness levels. A Telehealth arm participant sub-sample will have the opportunity to share their experience and feedback via an online interview at the intervention completion. Ethics and disseminationOutcomes from this study will create evidence to inform best practice for the safe delivery of exercise via Telehealth for individuals diagnosed with cancer. Evidence will be published in peer-reviewed journals and may be presented at national and international conferences. Ethics approval was obtained at the University of Canberra (Project ID: 4604. Version 2: 1st March 2022).Trial registration number: ANZCTR: ACTRN12620001054909. Universal Trial Number: U1111–1256-4083.

The song remains the same: Media regulation a decade after the Finkelstein inquiry

This commentary draws on a keynote panel held (virtually) at the Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia’s (JEERA) annual conference, hosted by the University of Canberra between 30 November and 3 December 2021. The panel comprised four people who had been involved in the last major attempt to reform media regulation in Australia, in 2011–12: Ray Finkelstein, who was appointed by the federal Labor government to inquire into the media and media regulation; Matthew Ricketson, then professor of journalism at the University of Canberra, who was appointed to assist Finkelstein; political scientist Rodney Tiffen who acted as a consultant to the inquiry, and Emma Dawson, who was the media policy adviser in the office of the Communications minister, Stephen Conroy. The government, which had already set up the Convergence Review, took the recommendations of both inquiries and introduced a package of bills to parliament in early 2013 that was strongly opposed by both the Liberal Party and the media industry. Most of the bills were withdrawn. The commentary summarizes the discussion and asks whether media regulation has improved in the intervening decade and if not, why not.

Coding for Critical Thinking: A Case Study in Embedding Complementary Skills in Legal Education

This article contributes to the debate over the place of skills in the law curriculum, offering observations from the author’s experience in scaffolding critical thinking skills and coding into an online legal philosophy class at the University of Canberra. It begins by justifying the selection of critical thinking and coding as skills that should be better integrated into the law curriculum in the 21st century. It then describes pedagogical models for improving students’ skills through scaffolding and other strategies. It proceeds to explain how these can be implemented to facilitate students’ critical thinking and coding skills and, in a complementary way, mastery of the subject matter. The article suggests how different types of skills can be integrated into law units and how the risks of over-crowding the curriculum can be managed. The conclusion reiterates the importance of critical thinking and coding skills and urges other educators to consider how these and other skills can be better integrated into their teaching.

Reflections on Reconfiguring Methods During COVID-19: Lessons in Trust, Partnership, and Care

This paper is a set of reflections from researchers in the Center for Sustainable Communities, University of Canberra, drawing out emerging lessons from the process of re-configuring research methods during COVID-19. The pandemic has presented new spaces of negotiation, struggle, and interdependence within research projects and research teams. It has left researchers often uncertain about how to do their work effectively. At the same time, it has opened up opportunities to re-think how researchers undertake the work of research. In this paper we reflect on several current research programs that have had to undergo rapid design shifts to adjust to new conditions under COVID-19. The rapid shift has afforded some surprisingly positive outcomes and raised important questions for the future. In our reflections we look at the impact of COVID-19 at different stages of designing research with partners, establishing new relationships with partners and distant field sites, and data collection and analysis. We draw on Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodological ideas and highlight ways in which we have adapted and experimented with PAR methods during the pandemic. We reflect on the aspects of PAR that have assisted us to continue in our work, in particular, how PAR foregrounds diverse ways of knowing, being and doing, and prioritizes local aspirations, concerns and world views to drive the research agenda and the processes of social or economic change that accompany it. PAR also helps us to reflect on methods for building relationships of mutual trust, having genuine and authentic collaborations, and open conversations. We reflect on the potential lessons for PAR and community engaged research more generally. Amidst the challenges, our experience reveals new pathways for research practice to rebalance power relationships and support local place-conscious capacity for action.

Proviviparus talbragarensis gen. et sp. nov., the first viviparid snail from the Late Jurassic of Australia

Extinct freshwater snails of the family Viviparidae can be found on all continents with the exception of Madagascar and Antarctica. These snails are usually thought to have evolved in the Early Jurassic of Laurasia. Our findings suggest that viviparids may have achieved an almost worldwide distribution by the Late Jurassic. Here we report viviparid snails from the Upper Jurassic Talbragar Fish Bed in New South Wales, Australia, and describe them as a new genus and species. This represents the first reliable record of the family Viviparidae from the Jurassic of Gondwana. One specimen shows a thin operculum and in another there is evidence of brooding. Michael Frese [ michael.frese@canberra.edu.au ], Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia and Australian Museum Research Institute, College Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Winston Ponder [wponder@bigpond.net.au ], Australian Museum Research Institute, College Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia.

Haiku for recovery: An immersive workshop

Haiku are grounded in the appreciation of nature and specific experiences. They lend themselves to being workshopped and to initiating, more broadly, editing strategies that may also be useful in other contexts. This essay, about an immersive teaching practice, focuses on the qualities of haiku for maximum engagement in a short period of time. The method has been developed by the author whilst acting as a creative writing mentor for the Australian Defence Force Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills program at the University of Canberra, a partnership with the Australian Defence Force. Participants have had little or no previous exposure to haiku. The workshop is in four stages: a discussion introducing examples of haiku for discussion; a haiku walk; an editing session conducted on a large white board; and a “haiku checklist” to take away and continue working with. This checklist offers a core of information on writing haiku, distilled from the discussion of guidelines, which will be useful for teachers. The inclusion of a selection of examples from participants demonstrates how an immersive teaching process can instil the essentials of the haiku form in a relatively short span of time.

Poetry and trauma: exercises for creating metaphors and using sensory detail

ABSTRACT This paper reports on the use of four poetry writing exercises in the Creative Writing stream of the four-week intensive residential programme, Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills (ARRTS), with Australian Defence Force participants diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety disorders. The programme is hosted twice annually by the University of Canberra. As a Creative Writing Mentor for the programme, I have developed these exercises, which have specific goals: metaphor creation, writing from the senses and using detail, and writing about movement and the body to assist engagement; these exercises are generative. These approaches are predicated on the idea that the therapeutic value of writing is assisted by trying to write well. They highlight the need to both restore and explore symbolic language, an ability which is sometimes lost following trauma; to use sensory detail; and the value of writing in embodied ways. After discussing each exercise, the paper reflects on their usefulness to participants.

A smartphone app for sedentary behaviour change in cardiac rehabilitation and the effect on hospital admissions: the ToDo-CR randomised controlled trial study protocol

IntroductionCardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and reducing the risk of repeat cardiac events. Physical activity is a core component of CR; however, studies show...

Building an Engaged Himalayan Sustainability Science

The Himalayan region is facing a new crisis under climate change, rapid economic transformation, and escalating geopolitical tensions. A large body of Himalayan sciences has endeavored to understand this challenge but has failed to engage meaningfully with the local people and policymakers. I argue for a new engaged Himalayan sustainability science that not only understands and interprets the emerging challenges but also strengthens societal capability.

Fire, forests and fauna (The 2020 Krebs Lecture)

This article discusses some of the key themes on wildfires in forests and their effects on fauna that I explored in the 2020 Krebs lecture at the University of Canberra. The lecture examined my personal perspectives on such topics as (1) climate change and fire, (2) the role of hazard reduction burning in mitigating house loss from wildfires, (3) how logging can elevate the risks of high-severity wildfire, (4) the ways in which the structure and age of a forest at the time it is burnt has marked impacts on post-fire recovery, (5) the ecological damage caused by post-fire (salvage) logging, and (6) aspects of post-fire species recovery. Perspectives on these topics are informed largely by long-term work in the wet forests of Victoria and the coastal forests and woodlands in the Jervis Bay Territory and neighbouring southern New South Wales. Some key policy and land management responses to wildfires are outlined, including (1) the urgent need to tackle climate change, (2) better targeting of hazard reduction burning close to human infrastructure, (3) the removal of conventional logging and post-fire (salvage) logging from native forests, (4) the substantial expansion of the old growth forest estate, and (5) the establishment of dedicated long-term monitoring to gather the empirical data needed to quantify responses to wildfires.