Farmer-driven innovation in agriculture: creating opportunities for sustainability

This research highlights the experiences of a selection of farmers in New South Wales in implementing innovative land management practices and processes. It shows the prevalence of independent testing and trialling, the time and resources needed to implement change, and the important ability of observing and responding to the landscape, whether this is through property redesign or management adaptations. This is no small task for farmers working at the interface of production and conservation, trying to balance the demands of both. The implementation of new practices and processes requires an ongoing process of innovation and change – something which is too often ignored when the focus is on the point of ‘adoption’. If researchers and policy makers could contribute to this effort through the creation of new opportunities, not only would an enabling environment for innovation be created, but also opportunities for sustainability. The importance of fostering ongoing innovation that enhances both agricultural productivity and sustainability cannot be overemphasised. With about seven billion people alive today, projections of population increases until approximately 2050, and growing concerns about the amount of, and quality of, land available for agriculture on earth, farmer driven innovation that promotes sustainability is crucial. This thesis is one small step in this critical endeavour

Teachers Perceptions of Female Student Aggression at an All-Girls School

There has been limited research into how teachers view and respond to relational aggression in girls. The existing research is largely quantitative and questionnaire based and has indicated that gender stereotypes may influence teachers’ perceptions of female aggression. The present study adopted a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews to explore how seven teachers (six females and one male) working in a single sex (all girls) school, experienced and perceived female student aggression. The results were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and three themes were identified: the physicality of female aggression, aggression as the presence or absence of control, and community: aggression as a means of expressing belonging. These themes were discussed in the context of the need for a new language of female aggression, which promoted a genuine language of assertion for girls and women

e-Research and libraries: a perfect partnership?

Libraries have had long histories with many of the challenges facing e-research including interoperability, metadata creation, sustainability and ensuring that systems meet the needs of client communities.[1] By earmarking academic and research libraries as potential collaborators for e-research projects, both researchers and libraries can maximise limited budgets and draw from the complementary expertise of both sectors. This includes capitalising on existing librarianship knowledge bases such as classification, metadata schemas, ontologies, taxonomies and thesauri. Many of the demands of data management and respository services are similar to the demands of information management, the heartland of librarianship. However, potential benefits increase as other departments within an academic or research library are involved, allowing libraries to capitalise on existing relationships with researchers and exploit the library\u27s interdisciplinary focus and knowledge of projects, policies and networks across the university

The International Librarians Network

The International Librarians Network (ILN) peer-mentoring program is a facilitated program aimed at helping librarians develop international networks. We believe that innovation and inspiration can cross borders, and that spreading our networks beyond our home countries can make us better at what we do. Participants are matched with others outside their country and are supported by regular contact and discussion topics. The ILN is open to anyone working in the library and information industry around the world. The program remains free and the only requirements to participate are an Internet connection, half an hour each week and a desire to build professional connections and learn from colleagues. This poster describes the results of a participant survey conducted during the pilot phase of the program in the first half of 2013

Digital Dexterity: A Sustainable Model for Building Essential Skills for the Future Workforce

The importance of digital dexterity in achieving institutional and business missions led the Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) to establish a Digital Dexterity Program in 2018. The aim of the CAUL Program was to ascertain the current state of play of digital literacies at member institutions and to establish best practice principles for developing the skills and understandings necessary for staff and students to become effective global citizens and lifelong learners. The Program consisted of three project teams tasked with developing resources that would provide: a framework for the development of digital dexterity skills, tools to assist CAUL members to improve their capability in digital dexterity, and a strategy and means to engage with stakeholders and advocate on digital dexterity. CAUL’s approach with the Digital Dexterity Program is unique in that it was practitioner-led, and involved industry engagement, particularly around the sustainability of the model. Each team consisted of CAUL member library staff with a passion for enabling and empowering staff and students through the development of digital dexterity skills. Team members were drawn from 14 institutions across six Australian states and territories and this collaborative work has enabled the development of a truly national approach. The grass-roots engagement included consultation with industry stakeholders outside of CAUL, including the Australian Academic and Research Network (AARNet), CAVAL and the Australian Research Data Commons. The Digital Dexterity Program, (launched in February 2019) included a Digital Dexterity Framework, and the establishment of a Community of Practice, which will ensure the continued development and sustainability of the program

Building professional relationships with the International Librarians Network

What we\u27re going to talk about: 1. Why international professional networks are valuable 2. The International Librarians Network - what it is and how it works 3. How to build your own international professional networ

The International Librarians Network

The International Librarians Network (ILN) peer-mentoring program is a facilitated program aimed at helping librarians develop international networks. We believe that innovation and inspiration can cross borders, and that spreading our networks beyond our home countries can make us better at what we do. Participants are matched with others outside their country and are supported by regular contact and discussion topics. The ILN is open to anyone working in the library and information industry around the world. The program remains free and the only requirements to participate are an Internet connection, half an hour each week and a desire to build professional connections and learn from colleagues. This poster describes the results of a participant survey conducted during the pilot phase of the program in the first half of 2013

Screening prisoners for intellectual disabilities in three English prisons

Background Prisoners with intellectual disabilities are known to be disadvantaged in prisons and to be more susceptible to bullying, segregation, depression and anxiety than other prisoners. Method In this study, nearly 3000 new prisoners entering three English prisons were offered screening for intellectual disabilities, using the LDSQ. Results On average, 75% of all new prisoners entering prison were offered screening, and only 14% refused screening. Overall, just less than 7% were screened positive on the LDSQ and prisons made some reasonable adjustments as a result. Conclusions It is argued that it is feasible to screen for intellectual disabilities in prisons and, given the inequalities to which prisoners with intellectual disabilities are subject in prison, it is time for such screening to be rolled out to all prisons

Classical sickle beta-globin haplotypes exhibit a high degree of long-range haplotype similarity in African and Afro-Caribbean populations

Background: The sickle (βs) mutation in the beta-globin gene (HBB) occurs on five "classical" βs haplotype backgrounds in ethnic groups of African ancestry. Strong selection in favour of the βs allele - a consequence of protection from severe malarial infection afforded by heterozygotes - has been associated with a high degree of extended haplotype similarity. The relationship between classical βs haplotypes and long-range haplotype similarity may have both anthropological and clinical implications, but to date has not been explored. Here we evaluate the haplotype similarity of classical βs haplotypes over 400 kb in population samples from Jamaica, The Gambia, and among the Yoruba of Nigeria (Hapmap YRI). Results: The most common βs sub-haplotype among Jamaicans and the Yoruba was the Benin haplotype, while in The Gambia the Senegal haplotype was observed most commonly. Both subtypes exhibited a high degree of long-range haplotype similarity extending across approximately 400 kb in all three populations. This long-range similarity was significantly greater than that seen for other haplotypes sampled in these populations (P < 0.001), and was independent of marker choice and marker density. Among the Yoruba, Benin haplotypes were highly conserved, with very strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) extending a megabase across the βs mutation. Conclusion: Two different classical βs haplotypes, sampled from different populations, exhibit comparable and extensive long-range haplotype similarity and strong LD. This LD extends across the adjacent recombination hotspot, and is discernable at distances in excess if 400 kb. Although the multicentric geographic distribution of βs haplotypes indicates strong subdivision among early Holocene sub-Saharan populations, we find no evidence that selective pressures imposed by falciparum malaria varied in intensity or timing between these subpopulations. Our observations also suggest that cis-acting loci, which may influence outcomes in sickle cell disease, could lie considerable distances away from β-globin

Health and social care staff responses to working with people with a learning disability who display sexual offending type behaviours

This study found that 59% of social care staff were currently supporting a client with a learning disability who had offended or displayed an offending type behaviour. The range of behaviours was similar to that displayed by clients in a secure health facility and included rape, sexual assault and exposure. Only 22.9% of social care staff had received training in this area, while none of the health stuff had. Both groups expressed low levels of confidence in supporting this client group. The areas of difficulty were common to both groups and included personal attitudes and attitudes of others to the behaviour, and concern over risk, responsibility and safety. In respect of attitudes, social care staff were found to be significantly more likely to hold negative attitudes towards the person's behaviour, while health staff were significantly more likely to feel negatively towards the person. Health staff were significantly more likely to identify training as a means of further support, while social care staff identified professional input. Both groups identified the need for theoretical training about working with this client group. Despite this no significant differences were found between those who had and had not received training and confidence, attitudes and the need for further support