Marijke Wright (2 February 2004)
Executive and Admin
Sydney Morning Herald
Study living expenses mean most university students have to work. Acting Manager of UTS Careers Service, Marijke Wright says, "UTS has a free, one-on-one service to help students with CV development and job search, networking and interviewing skills."

Sandra Symons (2 February 2004)
Humanities and Social Sciences
Sydney Morning Herald
Despite what you may have heard, university is not all sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.
Sandra Symons, a senior lecturer in journalism at UTS, says there's still plenty of fun to be had, but debts, jobs and the scarcity of places produce a more pressured environment.

Dr Carolyn Currie (2 February 2004)
Business
Australian Financial Review
The National Australia Bank failed to learn the lessons from a decade of trading scandals when it bet big in the currency markets and lost $360 million. Carolyn Currie says '"management is responsible and so are the bank regulators. If traders feel like top management is not watching, then they will get away with blue murder."

Professor Jane Hall, Director, Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (2 February 2004)
Business
ABC Radio National
Jane Hall discusses the features of the Medicare Plus package. She does not believe that there will be a significant change to bulk billing rates and that Mark Latham's announcement of support for the dental system is important, as dental health is often overlooked.

Keri Spooner (4 February 2004)
Business
Sydney Morning Herald
Keri Spooner comments on falling union membership among young people. She says, "my students are now all into sustainability - they worry about photocopying and petrol, but not unsustainable work practices that see people getting worn out and burnt out."

Dr Sara Lal and Professor Ashley Craig. (5 February 2004)
Science
Sydney Morning Herald, The Road Ahead
A UTS research team headed by Sara Lal and Professor Ashley Craig has created software for a driver fatigue measuring device that can differentiate subtle changes in brain activity. The team won funding from the European Commission to develop the project and are now only six months to a year away from producing a prototype.

Professor Ashley Craig (6 February 2004)
Science
New Scientist, Western Weekender-Penrith Valley, Inner Western Suburbs Courier, The Road Ahead
"Mind Switch" technology is being developed by UTS. The technology enables you to turn off your light switch with a single thought. It uses brain waves to activate electrical devices via a computer. UTS professor Ashley Craig says,"we are now at the stage where we can concentrate on fine tuning the device and making it as user friendly as possible."

Associate Professor Graham Sansom, Director, Centre for Local Government (6 February 2004)
Engineering
ABC 702
Professor Graham Sansom comments on the proposed amalgamation of the City of Sydney and South Sydney councils. He says the Boundaries Commission report anticipates that the same range of services will be provided to residents.

Antoine Hermens (7 February 2004)
Business
Sydney Morning Herald
People of all ages are determined to join the ranks of budding entrepreneurs in pursuit of independence. Antoine Hermens, lecturer in strategy at UTS, says you must balance your emphasis on introducing new products and getting new customers with defending existing markets on the basis of value and price - all in an environment of significant uncertainty.

Professor Shirley Alexander, Director (9 February 2004)
Institute for Interactive Media and Learning
Australian Financial Review
UTS plagiarism expert Shirley Alexander comments on universities' increasing use of electronic systems to detect plagiarism. She says, "our approach is based on the premise that most students are not inherently dishonest. A lot of the time it's simply poor academic writing. We're also improving the way academics design assessment tasks for students."

Dr David McKnight (9 February 2004)
Humanities and Social Sciences
The Australian
McKnight suggests that having mobilised the biggest demonstrations seen in a generation against the invasion of Iraq, the Left and antiwar activists now face a dilemma as post-war Iraq unfolds.

Professor John Hughes, Director, Institute for Information and Communication Technologies (9 February 2004)
Information Technology
Computerworld Australia
John Hughes, head of UTS Institute for Information and Communication Technologies, says things may look optimistic for this year's job prospects for IT professionals, but the reality is the days of the "two or three job offers" are gone. "Some IT professionals couldn't get into middle or management level roles because their skill sets are stagnant," he said. "Those people are not going back into IT but into alternative careers like engineering."

Associate Professor Graham Sansom, Director, Centre for Local Government (10 February 2004)
Engineering
Australian Financial Review
Big is not necessarily better when it comes to council amalgamations. One reason for amalgamations is to save money but according to the Centre for Local Government at UTS, this is questionable. Centre Director Graham Sansom says, "no-one has ever come up with conclusive proof that bigger councils are necessarily better."

Anne Dwyer, Director, Information Technology Division (10 February 2004)
Executive and Admin
The Australian
Serious growth will return to IT in 2004, perhaps setting the scene for the rest of the decade. At UTS, IT Division director Anne Dwyer says, "big projects for the year are the Oracle project, voice system replacement, e-student and our help-desk system replacement. A lot of pressure will probably come on for SMS-ed exam results now the HSC people are doing it."

Dr Antony Kidman, Director, Health Psychology Unit (11 February 2004)
Science
North Shore Times
The UTS Health Psychology Unit has put together three programs for teenagers to help them cope with the stresses and strains of modern life. Antony Kidman, director of the unit says, "It is for young people looking to learn some very effective techniques to maintain their emotional health."

Pru Black (11 February 2004)
Design, Architecture and Building
ABC 702
Sally Loane speaks to design gurus Ruth McDermott and Pru Black about the fashion for men to wear skirts.

Mike Minehan (14 February 2004)
Insearch UTS
Daily Telegraph
The current affairs show 60 Minutes has been as controversial as it is popular, attracting criticism and acclaim. "They broke some really hard-hitting stories, but it's now much more slicker, more commercial and celebrity and showbiz orientated," says former broadcaster and Insearch mass communications lecturer Mike Minehan.

Professor Rob Lynch, Dean (16 February 2004)
Business
Australian Financial Review
Australia's business schools are rushing to win international accreditation. In the case of UTS, which is seeking accreditation from the US-based Association of Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the reason is that potential students from overseas are looking for it.
"I think it will become a reasonable standard question," says Dean of Business Rob Lynch.

Paul McIsaac (17 February 2004)
Science
Penrith Press
Penrith Panthers have signed a deal with UTS to fund the development of it's "Mind Switch" technology. It works by reading Alpha brainwave signals emitted when people close their eyes. UTS researcher Paul McIsaac says, "this technology should be of benefit to an ageing population as well as being handy for people with a disability."

Associate Professor Kendal McGuffie (18 February 2004)
Science
ABC Online
Australian scientists hope new research will enable meteorologists to predict future floods, cyclones and rainfall patterns more accurately. Kendal McGuffie from UTS has been involved in researching two rare water isotopes said to be the missing link in climate change predictions.

Professor Desley Luscombe, Dean (18 February 2004)
Design, Architecture and Building
Campus Review Weekly
Professor Desley Luscombe has recently taken up her appointment as new Dean of UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building. Luscombe says that during her term she aims to enhance public and industry connections with the faculty.

Dr Sarah Edelman (19 February 2004)
Science
Sydney Morning Herald
Modern work and life - and the stress it can kindle - is bad for your health.
Dr Sarah Edelman says, "It applies to a whole range of different emotions, but the bottom line is that we feel that we are not in control."

Professor Jordan Louviere (19 February 2004)
Business
Sydney Morning Herald
Australians are becoming increasingly keen on home cinemas. Professor Jordan Louviere from the School of Marketing at UTS says, "there's a bunch of forces combining to put incentives in place for people to spend more time at home with their families, and when they're doing that they are wanting better quality entertainment."

Professor Mark Lyons (19 February 2004)
Business
ABC Radio National
Mark Lyons agrees reforms need to be made to the not-for-profit sector, however, he does not believe a single regulator is appropriate, due to the nature of not-for-profit organisations. He says groups that are run by volunteers may be disadvantaged by too much regulation.

Professor Claude Roux, Director, Centre for Forensic Science (19 February 2004)
Science
Radio 2UE
Forensic science expert Professor Claude Roux says that he is not an avid watcher of CSI because it is not very realistic. He says UTS forensic science students graduate with problem solving skills and strong scientific and technology skills. They get jobs in places like the Federal police and document examiners. He agrees that DNA could help to solve some old unsolved cases.

Associate Professor Wendy Bacon (19 February 2004)
Humanities and Social Sciences
ABC Radio National (Late Night Live)
Guests discuss the role of the Catholic Church in Australia's history. Professor Michael Devitt and Associate Professor Wendy Bacon recall going to church as children and how that affected their personality.

Associate Professor Kendal McGuffie (19 February 2004)
Science
Stock and Land
Australia's major nuclear scientists say climate forecasting is set to change forever.
Kendal McGuffie of UTS is part of a team that claims to have found the "key" to accurately tracking the evaporation and precipitation cycles of the world's major river basins.

Dr Peter Miller (21 February 2004)
Science
Weekend Australian, Channel 9, ABC 891 Adelaide
Peter Miller studies the cockroach to assist in pesticide development to stem the roach tide. He discusses the five-star abilities that enable cockroaches to thrive around humans and their great survival skills.

Malcolm McKenzie (22 February 2004)
Executive and Admin
Sun Herald
Students are being forced to weigh up their ideal careers against the financial realities of paying off their degrees. Malcolm McKenzie, manager of the careers service at UTS says, "It's not unusual for us to see students who steer away from what I might describe as their passion and head towards degrees that they see will provide food on the plate and pay the bills."

Dr Gillian Cowlishaw (23 February 2004)
Humanities and Social Sciences
Sydney Morning Herald
Rage lurks under the surface of Aboriginal life and Gillian Cowlishaw, adjunct professor at UTS, says that while the vast majority of Aboriginal people never become involved in riots, all Aboriginal people understand what is behind them. She sees riots as part of the "relationship between blackfellas and whitefellas in Australia."

Professor Ashley Craig (23 February 2004)
Science
Inner Western Suburbs Courier
Panthers Entertainment Group has signed an agreement with UTS to fund the development of it's "Mind Switch" technology. Mind Switch uses brain waves to activate electrical devices via a computer. A signal is transmitted through a computer to appliances, enabling a person to remotely turn on and off devices.

Dr Kendal McGuffie (24 February 2004)
Science
The Bulletin, ABC Online, Stock and Land
A research team that includes Dr Kendal McGuffie of UTS has pointed out the urgent need for improved management of salinity and other environmental issues in the Murray-Darling Basin. The research has led to finding the "missing link" in climate change predictions.

Eva Cox (24 February 2004)
Humanities and Social Sciences
ABC Radio National
Eva Cox applauds the new emphasis political parties are placing on policies to balance work and life. She is concerned about the detrimental effects of long working hours, health issues and assistance to parents in raising children.

Professor Christine Duffield (27 February 2004)
Nursing, Midwifery & Health
Hospital and Healthcare Australia
Professor Christine Duffield, Director of the Centre for Health Services Management at UTS, is conducting a world-first study into nurse shortages across Australia, the US, the UK and Canada. It is looking at why there is such a rapid turnover of nurses, and the effect this has on patient safety.

Dr Anurag Hingorani (27 February 2004)
Business
B & T
The NSW government has banned point-of-sale cigarette displays but UTS marketing lecturer, Dr Anurag Hingorani, is sceptical. He says, "I'm not sure how effective point of sale actually is because it's less of a communication device and more about availability and access. Existing users will still smoke and they'll need other reasons to stop."

Jennifer Dainer, research student (28 February 2004)
Science
Daily Telegraph
According to research carried out by UTS, smouldering cigarette butts thrown from cars can be fanned by passing traffic and ignite a fire. The research found that "once the fuel was dry, even under calm conditions, the fuel and cigarettes were able to light fires."

Professor Derek Eamus (28 February 2004)
Science
Sydney Morning Herald, The Age
In a time of drought, the UTS Institute for Water and Environmental Resource Management (IWERM) is helping resolve conflict in water use and to contribute to the sustainable management of all environmental resources. The body is headed by Professor Derek Eamus. "Awareness of water quality issues is increasing dramatically so it's a very exciting time for the institute to be engaging in the research we do," he said.

Professor Ashley Craig (28 February 2004)
Science
New Scientist
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is already used as a form of physiotherapy and could even help people paralysed from the neck down. One possibility is the combination of FES with "Mind Switch" technology developed by Ashley Craig and colleagues at UTS. If the two systems merge it could allow paraplegics to get up and walk, simply by blinking.

Louise Remond (28 February 2004)
Science
Weekend Australian
Clinical psychologist Louise Remond advises parents on dealing with teenage children. She says, "you're the head of the household, which means setting clear-cut rules and limits. If you don't have confidence on your own rules, how do you expect your children to respect you?"

Yusuf Pisan (28 February 2004)
Information Technology
New Scientist
The Magic Story Cube is a novel, interactive way to relate children's stories, in which computer graphics are superimposed on the real world. "The approach represents a new people-friendly way of displaying the information generated by interacting with computers," says Yusuf Pisan, convenor of a conference at UTS on developments in interactive entertainment.