No 11 July 18 2002 - Communications - University of Canterbury

Photo by Duncan Shaw-Brown, C&D
Colloquium for school students a success
“Globalisation: A contested
idea in a contested world”
was the topic of a colloquium
for academically talented year
13 (seventh form) students at
the University last week.
Nearly 90 students gave up a day
of their holidays to take part in
the colloquium on July 11. The
day was organised by the
University chapter of the Golden
Key Honour Society and hosted
by the University.
Secondary schools throughout
Canterbury were asked to
nominate up to three
outstanding students to attend
but the criteria for selection
were left to each school.
Students took part in a series of
workshops presented by
University staff from 11
departments. They were
challenged to stretch their
thinking outside the square
about globilisation and related
issues.
Jessica Thorn from Marian
College took part in the
workshop on globalisation and
sport. She concluded it was not
just the sporting participants
who had a responsibility to
society, it was sporting
organisations and organisers as
well.
“It was good to meet lots of other
people. We experienced so
many ideas and it’s important to
realise what is going on around
us. As young people, we need
to take responsibility for our
actions.”
Sixteen University of
Canterbury students, who are
members of the Golden Key
Honour Society, facilitated
discussion in the workshops.
University students in the top
15% of their year are invited to
join the society, which
recognises and encourages
scholastic achievement and
community involvement.
Golden Key co-ordinator Tracy
Murdoch, in the third year of a
psychology degree, said the day
had been very successful.
“The students came in a bit
intimidated. Our job was to
spark discussion. They walked
away forming their own views
on globilisation.”
Tracy said University staff
seemed impressed by the way
students processed the
information presented in the
workshops and the way they
presented their conclusions
back to the whole group.
The colloquium was the first
held by the society at the
University and another is
planned for next year.
More information about the
Golden Key Honour Society is
available at http:/
goldenkey.gsu.edu
Lynette Hartley
Comment sought on greater health
sciences role for University
The University of
Canterbury has the
potential to play an increasing
teaching and research role in
the health sciences and
comment is being sought on a
paper proposing the
establishment of a health
sciences centre at the
University to co-ordinate and
nurture this field.
Historically, health education and
health care have been equated
with medical schools and
hospitals but there is increasing
recognition that health care
comprises more than just
hospital-based services, and
education for health-related
careers can come from a variety
of institutions.
The discussion paper, compiled
by Professor Andrew Hornblow
(above), former dean of the
Christchurch School of Medicine
and Health Sciences and an
adjunct professor at the
University, looks at the future
direction of health sciences in the
The School of Forestry is
presenting a series of six
lectures on New Zealand
forestry history, starting this
week.
Topics to be covered include the
“History of Sand Dune Forestry”,
the “Evolution of Radiata Pine
“Silviculture”, the “Development of
Protection Forestry”, the
region. The paper highlights the
needs for inter-departmental cooperation
and strategic planning,
and for tertiary institutions to
work together.
The University already offers a
wide range of undergraduate and
postgraduate papers, either
directly or indirectly relevant to a
career in the health field. Health
research and teaching within the
University currently includes
health policy, information
technology, environmental
health, medical physics and
bioengineering.
More than 100 postgraduate
students are doing theses in
health-related areas and more
than 60 academic staff are
involved in the delivery of healthrelated
courses or have
significant research
collaborations with colleagues in
other health institutions.
Professor Hornblow concludes
the paper with four proposals
which would build on existing
strengths and lead the University
forward as a health education
provider. One is the
establishment of a Canterbury
health sciences centre that would
operate in a similar way to
Gateway Antarctica, providing
core health sciences courses,
fostering inter-departmental
research and encouraging
strategic development.
Copies of the discussion paper
are available for comment by the
end of July from Kathy Watkins
on level six of the Registry,
phone 364 2496 or extension
8810.
Lynette Hartley
History of forestry in New Zealand
focus of lecture series
“Introduction of Economic
Forestry” and “Innovation in Forest
Products Processing”. They will be
presented by forestry staff and
people involved in commercial
forestry.
All the speakers have had long
careers in the New Zealand
forestry sector and can speak from
first-hand experience.
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