Research Week: Rob Chalmers – Commercialising Research

Research Week runs from 28th October to 4th November.
In today’s interview Tim Brunero talks to Rob Chalmers, the Managing Director of Adelaide Research and Innovation, about managing ethics and the process of commercialisation in the University of Adelaide.
How does research become commercialised – what are the processes involved; and what about intellectual property – who owns the idea, or concept?

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Another View: Angus Story – SA Unions

How does the local branch of SA Unions view the recent Qantas dispute, and the actions of Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, in grounding the Qantas fleet – thereby initiating what is, in effect, a “Lock-Out”?
Tim Brunero talks to Angus Story, Manager of Industrial Services – SA Unions, to get the Union’s view.
Occupational Health And Safety – No Oxymoron
Also covered is the new Forum seeking information from 110 workers about the horrific injuries and deaths in their workplaces is taking place in relation to new Occupational Health and Safety Laws being debated.

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Watch The Skies!

Do you like to look at the stars?
On a warm spring or summer night, it can be really amazing to find yourself a spot away from the city lights and take the time look up into the sky. The Astronomical Society of SA is all about keen astronomers publicly sharing their knowledge about the stars.
Dean Davidson vice President of the Astronomical Society of SA (ASSA) spoke to Tim Brunero about astronomy.

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Oil And Elections: News From New Zealand

Election campaigning in New Zealand has begun in earnest, and there have been a couple of major promises/bribes/policies from both sides: Labour says it will raise the superannuation entitlement age to 67 from 65 (over the next few decades), and will contribute more government funds to an Auckland central rail loop. National says it will use funds from partial sale of state assets to improve schools, and John Key hangs out with Peter Jackson.
Pumping of oil from the stricken Rena container ship is going well: only one tank left to go. It seems that the good weather is paying off.
A major North Island gas line was disrupted last week, which proved a big problem for many big industries including dairy, as some $20 million  worth of milk had to be dumped in just one day because the processing plants (which run on gas) weren’t operational. Luckily the problem is now resolved, so the story has lost some drama.
But of course we can chat a bit about the Rugby World Cup finishing since we missed last week!
Tim Brunero talks to Will Pollard from 95bFM about the latest from New Zealand.

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Up Up And Away – Hopefully

Fair Work Australia last night ordered a termination of all industrial action in the Qantas dispute.
Was Alan Joyce, the CEO of Qantas, acting fairly when he ordered the fleet grounded?
How do Qantas Pilots see the dispute; and who’s winning the Public Relations war – the company or the unions? And how is it that Virgin Airlines’ engineers are paid more than Qantas engineers?
Dick Smith offered two options – which one is the best?
Tim Brunero spoke to Capt. Barry Jackson of the Pilots’ Association to find out more.

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Greece: The Economy And The Protests

On the 20th of October this month the Greek Government passed a key austerity Bill, demanded by the European Union and the IMF in order to secure an Eight Billion Euro slice of international funding in to stave off imminent default.
The unpopular terms of the bill included tax hikes and severe spending cuts that led to further violent protests in the streets of Athens.
Last Thursday Euro zone leaders struck a deal with private banks and insurers that saw them accept a 50% loss on their Greek government bonds under a plan to lower Greece’s debt burden bringing at least some relief to the Greek economy.
To find out what effect this had on the people, Tim Brunero spoke to Peter Ppiros, the Editor of the monthly Greek newspaper, The Greek Tribune.

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