September 6, 2022

UOW experts available for comment this week (6 - 10 September)

UOW academics provide expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing and breaking news stories

Banning mobile phones in high schools

Associate Professor Sarah Howard can provide commentary on NSW Labor leader Chris Minns announcing he will ban mobile phones in high school classrooms if he is elected in 2023. Associate Professor Howard is an expert on technology use in classrooms and says a blanket ban on phones in classrooms isn’t necessarily the best approach. She is an Associate Professor of Digital Technologies in the School of Education.

TikTok, social media and data harvesting

Associate Professor Shahriar Akter is available for interview about Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil ordering her department to investigate the harvesting of data by social media giant TikTok. Associate Professor Akter is an expert in artificial intelligence and algorithmic bias, data privacy, and digital innovation. He is an Associate Professor of Digital Marketing, Analytics and Innovation and the Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of Business and Law.

Interest rates and mortgage prisoners

Dr Paul Mazzola is a banking and finance expert who can talk about rising interest rates and the impact this has on people’s ability to refinance their mortgages. Dr Mazzola is a lecturer in banking and finance in the Faculty of Business and Law and has more than 25 years’ banking and finance experience in the Australian, European and Asian pacific markets. He recently published a book that explores the power and greed behind the global financial crisis.

Welfare payment boost

Social welfare expert Dr Mona Nikidehaghani can provide commentary on welfare recipients being set to receive the largest indexation increase in three decades on 20 September 2022. Dr Nikidehaghani is an expert in the relationship between accounting and public policies. She is a Lecturer in the School of Business.

Women's Health Week (5 - 11 September)

Dr Monique Francois is available to speak about new research on gestational diabetes, pregnancy and postpartum health. The research is focusing on lifestyle, diet and exercise. Dr Francois is an expert on exercise, nutrition and health and is a Lecturer in the School of School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences. 

Dr Deirdre McGhee is a passionate advocate for women’s health, with her research addressing the barriers that breasts can have on physical activity levels, athletic performance and the musculoskeletal system. Associate Professor McGhee’s clinical research into the physical issues experienced by women after breast cancer surgery continues to have global impact on the lives of women. She is the Co-Director of Breast Research Australia and an Associate Professor in the School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences.

UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the University of Wollongong.