June 14, 2022

UOW experts available this week (14 - 18 June)

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

SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS

Associate Professor Matthew Pepper can speak about supply chain delays and the impact on local industry. He says businesses need to diversify their supply base and that the lean “just in time” model of the past has led to a more fragile system where sudden spikes in demand put it under stress. Prof Pepper is an expert in supply chain design and optimisation. He is from the School of Business.

EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE PACKAGE

Associate Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett is an expert in early childhood education and can provide comment on the NSW Government’s announcement of a $281.6 million workforce package to attract, support and retain the best early childhood workforce in the state. Prof Neilsen-Hewett is the Academic Director of the Early Years at UOW.

US GUN CONTROL AND IMPACT IN LATIN AMERICA

Dr Luis Gómez Romero writes in the Sydney Morning Herald that the calamities of US gun violence are not limited to American citizens. He says: “A gun made in the US is more likely to murder a Mexican than an American citizen.”

Dr Gomez Romero is a Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory. He is from the School of Law.

PROTECTING CHILDREN'S DIGITAL RIGHTS

A recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report has exposed children’s rights violations by providers of edtech endorsed by governments in Australia and overseas. In a new article for The Conversation Dr Tiffani Apps, Dr Karley Beckman and Associate Professor Sarah Howard say the report’s findings may be just the tip of the iceberg in a largely unregulated industry. They also write: “When a child uses an app or website for learning, the resulting data can be collected, monitored, tracked, profiled and traded in data economies. These practices are intentionally opaque and highly profitable for technology corporations.”

Dr Apps, Dr Beckman and Prof Howard are experts in digital technologies for learning from the School of Education.

CHINA-AUSTRALIA RELATIONS

Associate Professor Markus Wagner is available for interview regarding the improvement of Australia’s diplomatic and trade relationship with China. Prof Wagner says Australia’s relationship with China needs a reset, especially on the trade front. He says: “Both governments will need to take actions to de-escalate their tensions, find mutually-agreed approaches to managing their disagreements on a handful of highly sensitive political matters, and shift the focus to pursuing shared interests to rebuild the habit of cooperation.”

Prof Wagner is from the School of Law and is an expert in international law and politics. He teaches and writes in the areas of international economic law and governance.

DAVID LITTLEPROUD AND THE NATIONALS

Professor Greg Melleuish is an election analyst who can talk about the new leader of The Nationals, David Littleproud. In an opinion piece for The Conversation Prof Melleuish says Littleproud’s leadership is “a move that indicates a desire for at least the appearance of change in the party.”

Professor Melleuish is a lecturer and researcher with expertise in political theory, Australian politics, ancient history and world history. He is from the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry.

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.