The diversity of Avondale’s research profile and its impact on education, health and society and culture features in a new video series that launched on October 23.
The series features two-minute clips of academics connected with the university college’s research centres, describing their area of interest then explaining how it connects with Avondale’s ethos and mission, and the good it will do.
School of Humanities and Creative Arts head Lynnette Lounsbury, an author and film producer, explains why she continues to practice as a creative. “It’s important for students of the creative arts to see their lecturers making something new and putting it out into the world.” Colleague professor Daniel Reynaud describes how he is “bringing a spiritual dimension to probably our most important national narrative, that is the Anzac story, which people have denied a spiritual dimension.”
Higher degree research director professor Maria Northcote and dean (research) associate professor Peter Kilgour talk about partnering with universities to study collaborative student learning. While Avondale Business School head Lisa Barnes speaks about bringing the results of her research into the classroom so “students know that I’m not just making these things up, that I haven’t just read it, that I’ve actually lived it.”
School of Education head Beverly Christian (perceptions of Seventh-day Adventist education) and Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre director associate professor Darren Morton (lifestyle interventions) are also included.
“The research is in areas that make a genuine difference and have significant impact, and that encourages me,” says vice-chancellor and president professor Kevin Petrie. “It’s fulfilling its purpose in being truly transformational, and that’s why we exist!”
The focus of this series is on projects connected to the Centre for Advancement of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and the Christian Education, Lifestyle Medicine and Health and Scripture, Spirituality and Society Research Centres. A previous series launched in May focused on people, particularly researchers connected with the Christian Education Research Centre.
Both are part of the Avondale Researchers | Here For Good brand, which aligns the mission of Avondale with its research agenda. “From our founding in 1897, we’ve served and made a positive impact on local, national and global communities,” says executive producer associate professor Carolyn Rickett, the former associate dean (research). “The series continues this focus. Our researchers are committed to engaging with real-world issues and the ways in which people can be transformed through new knowledge and practice.”
All of the videos from the Avondale Researchers | Here For Good series are available on Avondale’s YouTube channel.
