August 8, 2023

UOW expert commentary (8 August)

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

KPMG and defence contracts

Dr Erin Twyford is available for interviews about the Department of Defence use of consultancy firms, including KPMG. Dr Twyford is a critical accounting expert and says there’s a concerning level of interdependency between government and consultants. Dr Twyford is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Business and teaches financial accounting and taxation.

National Stroke Week

Associate Professor Caleb Ferguson can talk about National Stroke Week (7 August to 13 August). He recently received a 2023 NSW Tall Poppy Science Award in recognition of his contribution to stroke and cardiovascular research. Associate Professor Ferguson is a registered nurse, Professor of Nursing (Chronic & Complex Care) and Associate Head of School (Research Strategy, Development & Partnership) in the School of Nursing. He is the Academic Director of the Centre for Chronic & Complex Care Research, a collaborative research centre between UOW and Western Sydney Health.

Ending Loneliness Together report

Professor Thomas Astell-Burt can provide commentary on the Ending Loneliness Together report, that found one-third of Australians feel lonely. Professor Astell-Burt said his own research showed a modest amount of parkland nearby can reduce the odds of becoming lonely over four years by a quarter. Among people living alone, the odds of becoming lonely drops by a half. He is a Professor of Population Health and Environmental Data Science in the School of Health and Society.

Silicosis and engineered stone

Occupational hygienist Jane Whitelaw is an expert on industrial respiratory diseases. She can provide commentary on the increasing number of people diagnosed with silicosis after exposure to silica dust from cutting engineered stone and growing calls to ban the material. Ms Whitelaw is an occupational hygienist in the School of Health and Society.

Lymph nodes

In an article for The Conversation Associate Professor Theresa Larkin says the lymphatic system has long been considered mysterious, but it plays an important role in health and disease, from fighting off infection to maintain the body’s fluid balance. Associate Professor Larkin is an expert in anatomy and medical science. She is a Senior Lecturer in UOW’s Graduate School of Medicine. Associate Professor Larkin was recently named a Superstar of STEM by Science & Technology Australia.

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.