University News

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR
Our last seminar on Ageing was a wonderful example of what we try to do in Integrated Human Studies: combine the wisdom of academia with cultural insights and practical knowledge. It was a fitting end to a series which has given us much to think about.  Next year the seminars will focus on some of the large global challenges facing humans this century. 

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

We’re nearly at the end of our seminar series and I think you’ll agree we have had some fascinating topics and excellent speakers. It’s good to see many “regulars” attending and enjoying the opportunity to learn from the different perspectives on the topics, and participating in the discussions afterwards.  The final seminar – “Caring for an ageing population” – will be of interest to many who may be looking after aged parents or grandparents, or planning for their own old age.

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

Postgraduate courses in Integrated Human Studies have been available at The University of Western Australia for a couple of years, and have now been remodelled into six-point units, with a new Certificate option included. We’re excited to announce that our postgraduate courses have gone online in preparation for blended delivery mode (UWA campus) and fully online (distance learning), in 2010. 

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOROne of the aims of Integrated Human Studies is to understand what it means to be human, and here at the School of Anatomy and Human Biology at UWA a great deal of research is carried out into what humans are and what they do. Increasingly the research takes into account not just scientific aspects but also social and cultural considerations. A recently completed doctorate by Susan Clifford looked into the effects of Fly In Fly Out (FIFO) work practices in the mining industry

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

The UWA campus seems to be the place to go for information and action. In the past fortnight we have had an excellent talk about an NGO working to improve health outcomes in Timor-Leste

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR 

Our first seminar on music was a wonderful example of the breadth of knowledge and interest that speakers can impart. The topic of music was one that probably everyone in the audience could personally relate to, and our speakers gave us new insights into its evolutionary history and relevance to human wellbeing.  The Centre has been very busy while students had their mid-year break.  We have created a Certificate course that comprises the first four units of the existing Graduate Diploma in Integrated Human Studies. 

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

Our Centre’s Education for World Futures initiative was launched on May 26.This initiative grew from our attendance at the World Universities Forum in Mumbai in January, where our papers on integrated human studies courses and delivery attracted great interest.

 We’re nearly at the end of our first semester seminar series and again have been treated to fascinating insights and ideas from a range of speakers.  The last seminar on humans and animals on May 20 promises to be equally interesting. 

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

Recently Steve Johnson and I presented a short (four week) course through University Extension, Human Wellbeing in the 21st Century. We examined evolutionary, physiological and psychosocial perspectives of human wellbeing and considered how our worldview is affected

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

It was good to meet some regular seminar attendees and some new faces at the Sun Fair on April 5.

Thank you to everyone who has completed the Family Meals questionnaire for Cleeve Calder’s study.  Cleeve still needs more data

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

Our 2009 Semester 1 seminar series, “Being Human” began on March 11

 NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

The 2008 Integrated Human Studies seminars were a great success with growing audiences, and this year’s seminars promise even more nourishing food for thought.

NOTES FROM THE LAST SEMINAR, Poverty and affluence, material and spiritual

Professor Graeme Martin opened the seminar with some remarks about Integrated Human Studies. Graeme is on the Centre’s Policy and Management Committee and has a longstanding enthusiasm for the ideology of integration of disciplines.

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

The big news from UWA is the completion and release of its Review of Course Structures Report: “Education for Tomorrow’s World: Courses of Action” http://www.coursestructuresreview.uwa.edu.au/?a=84109.

NOTES FROM THE LAST SEMINAR, THE HUMAN SPIRIT

Our last seminar, The Human Spirit, was chaired by Professor Dennis Haskell.

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

At each seminar I stand up and say something about Integrated Human Studies because it’s a new field and we want people to understand how we are different from other interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches.

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

Events at the Centre for Integrated Human Studies are moving fast. With the beginning of second semester we welcomed our first enrolled postgraduate student, San Wong, and a new staff member, Steve Johnson. San will be researching the interface between relaxation methods and physical and mental wellbeing; Steve is working on curriculum development. I am also pleased to be working with the new Director of University Extension, Susan Marie. Together we’ll be looking for ways to bring Integrated Human Studies to a wider audience in 2009.

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR

The Centre for Integrated Human Studies was officially established in February this year. We aim to offer undergraduate courses in Integrated Human Studies as soon as possible – we believe that the decision makers of the future need a broad tertiary education to grasp the complexities of the problems facing human beings in the 21st century and formulate socially equitable, environmentally sustainable solutions. An interdisciplinary approach is essential.

NOTES FROM THE LAST SEMINAR, FROM INFORMATION TO WISDOM
As promised, Veronica Brady revisited her topic from our first seminar in the “Seeking Wisdom” series, “What is wisdom?”

NOTES FROM THE LAST SEMINAR: HUMAN ALTRUISM, LOCAL AND GLOBAL, IN THEORY AND PRACTICE

Our recent seminar on altruism was well attended despite the rainy weather. Emeritus Professor David Allbrook opened his talk with a recommendation that we read a book “The Altruism Equation: Seven Scientists Search for the Origins of Goodness” (Lee Alan Dugatkin, Princeton University Press, 2006), which attempts to answer the question of how altruism can be explained in light of the evolutionary principle that we are in competition by examining the lives and theories of seven seminal intellectuals.

Eternal/infernal economic growth

Our last seminar, on May 14 and chaired by A/Prof Peter Morgan, began with some
Powerpoint comedy, perhaps underlining A/Prof Neville Bruce’s observation that technology is not going to provide the whole answer to the challenges facing human beings in the 21st century (in fact some of us find it THE challenge).

“Keeping the arts and culture alive in an economically booming Australia” 30 April 2008

The second seminar in our Semester 1 “Seeking wisdom” series gave the audience some food for thought indeed.

Our first seminar "Seeking a wisdom for the 21st century" 16 April 2008

Around 80 people came to the first seminar in our Semester 1 "Seeking wisdom" series, and enjoyed presentations from Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Don Markwell, Associate Professor Neville Bruce, Associate Professor Veronica Brady, and Professor Graeme Martin.