Saturday, February 12, 2005

Lazy Sunday Afternoon on Funky Campus

A quiet Sunday afternoon before the start of classes seemed like a good time to get some pix of what I think is a beautiful contemporary campus. The campus is not large, and certainly not intimidating for students. It is fresh, open, airy. And it has the feel of a lot of fun. So the Redback (see yesterday's post) and I took the Nikon and ventured forth in search of the photogenic.

Looking toward the admin building Posted by Hello

Scootway from Education toward the library or cafeteria. Posted by Hello

Grounds outside my office window. Posted by Hello

Al fresco tutorial space? Could it be a wireless hotspot? Posted by Hello

The School of Ed building, lower floor Posted by Hello

The front view of the library Posted by Hello

The track to the library Posted by Hello

The scootway from the library to the cafeteria Posted by Hello

Take a break in the shade Posted by Hello

Free rainforest strolls Posted by Hello

Get me to the books on time Posted by Hello

Fresh coconuts. They don't come any fresher Posted by Hello

Mixin' the reds along with the blues Posted by Hello

View from library main door. Posted by Hello

You meet the best at Jac's Posted by Hello

A New (Half Time) Job

2005 has brought the beginning of a new half time job in Australia -- the major source of my income. In November 2004 I was appointed to a half-time research professorship in the School of Education on the Cairns campus at James Cook University. The official position is Professor of Literacy and New Technologies. I couldn't wish for a better job description. The basic idea behind the job is that I work to help the ongoing development of a research culture and help bolster the research quantum (the research income generated by the School). This will involve working with colleagues in various ways to pursue success in publishing, research grant applications, higher degree completions, and so on. I will be coming here 3 times each year in intensive bursts.

Because each trip is short I have decided to stay at the nearby residency -- the Cairns Student Lodge. The sequence of posts that follows maps the daily trip to work. It is a fun trip and sets up and ends each day in close to what would be for me the perfect manner.

Incidentally, my tenure has begun extremely happily. Along with warm and generous collegiality on the day to day basis, my Townsville-based colleague, Nola Alloway, has contrived to get things off to a great start. Nola convened a team (which includes me) to compete in collaboration with the Curriculum Corporation for a federal government-funded research project in the area of boys and literacy. The application was successsful, and at a million dollars will benefit the research quantum massively. I am looking forward immensely to working with this team, as well as working with Neil Anderson, Mary Klein and members of the high tech business community in Queensland on our Australian Research Council-funded Linkage Project which investigates factors associated with low female participation rates in professional level ICT occupations. And plenty more besides.

This is a beautiful campus, which I will capture in future posts. Meanwhile, it's off to work.

The lounge of the suite I am in at the residency. The literal start of the way to work. Posted by Hello

Transportation. The Razor E-200, which I have called Redback. The battery will give 45 minutes at 20 kph. A fantastic piece of fun with function. I owe the idea to get one of these to Chris Anderson, and I will cherish her insight for ever. Thank you, Chris. Posted by Hello

Nice lines, a comfortable ride. It takes 5 cool minutes to get from 'home' to the office on the hottest of days. The alternative is a 20 minute sweat-drenched walk through the heat. No contest, really. Posted by Hello

Out the doorway, down the stairs. Posted by Hello

The building I stay in at the residency. Posted by Hello

Passing the dining and function rooms at the residency. Posted by Hello

Leaving the residency to start the scoot to work. Posted by Hello

The beginning of the track. It is a nice concrete pathway all the way. Undulating. Good for the Redback's muscles. Posted by Hello

Looking toward the university from the start of the ride. To get there you have to cross the road, by the underpass. Posted by Hello

Approaching the underpass from the residency. Posted by Hello