Australian supermarkets phasing out single-use plastic bags is just one example of how retailers are fiercely engaged in a race to be “green”. Other examples are dumping plastic straws, buying back used products and reducing unnecessary packaging. Rather than competing on price or time, green credentials offer a way for retailers to differentiate themselves. Encouraging […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
Green is the new black: why retailers want you to know about their green credentials
“Russian bots” spreading fear at University? (No)
Me: “I’m sure the Russians did that.” –I grade many hundreds of tests at a time now, and make mistakes simply because of the volume. When a student complains, the above is my “go to” excuse for the alleged error. I correct my error, of course, because I wouldn’t want the Russians to meddle in […] … learn more→
Weakened code risks Australia’s reputation for research integrity
In 2018, Australia still does not have appropriate measures in place to maintain research integrity. And recent changes to our code of research conduct have weakened our already inadequate position. In contrast, China’s recent move to crack down on academic misconductmoves it into line with more than twenty European countries, the UK, USA, Canada and others that have national offices for research integrity. […] … learn more→
What you should know about the latest Senate Perkins Reauthorization Bill
With only a few shortcomings, the Senate’s bipartisan Perkins CTE bill could provide better data on outcomes while improving coordination between workforce investments. In a rare showing of bipartisanship, this week the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee voted unanimously to advance a bill that would reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and […] … learn more→
“Connected pathways”: supporting teacher training in digital transformation
The project “Connected Courses” in which my thesis is written is among the 22 winners of the e-FRAN call for projects (spaces for training, research and digital animation). E-FRAN aims to support School transformation projects and the creation of “digital innovation educational territories” by building on research. This call for projects was launched as part […] … learn more→
With great metrics comes great responsibility
The real challenge around “responsible metrics” is only partly about the metrics themselves; it is also, and perhaps more, about how people use them. First, I must repeat a mantra that I have used widely: we mean indicators, not metrics. A metric is something like a citation count; it doesn’t tell you a great deal, and […] … learn more→
The value of real relationships in research development
Research support professionals are always on the lookout for good practice. I should know, I’m one of them. A common way to do this is to attend relevant conferences, and one of the largest of these – INORMS – took place in Edinburgh in early June. INORMS brings together well over one thousand people who work in […] … learn more→
How to be the ‘star PhD student’ – when you are an introvert
I wrote this post in response to a comment on a previous post called Why you are not the star student (and how to become one). The gist of the article was that to be a ‘star’, you needed to extend yourself beyond your research and make connections. A comment was made that ‘academia: just another […] … learn more→
Searching for credible heretics: a new addition to academic research selection
Nowadays, research outside the mainstream, that based on unfashionable ideas and with no obvious chance of satisfying a perceived need, stands little chance of winning support. Such research, with its unpredictable outcomes, was probably always rare, but it once inspired enormous growth and led to increased prosperity. Research selection focuses on projects. Another way is […] … learn more→
The internet is terrible at answering most tough questions. Our ‘wisdom of the crowd’ tool can help
When making tough decisions, humans have long sought advice from a higher power. In ancient times, it was oracles such as Pythia at Delphi. Then the enlightenment and the industrial revolution gave rise to disciplinary experts. In the digital age, algorithms and computers have become trusted advisors. But the role of experts has recently come under […] … learn more→
