February 20, 2024

UOW expert commentary (20 February)

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

Two-year anniversary of the Ukraine war

Dr Stephen Brown can discuss the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine war which falls on Saturday 24 February. Dr Brown is a Russian history expert who can also talk about recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry.

NSW asbestos crisis

Occupational hygienist Ms Linda Apthorpe is available for interviews about asbestos-contaminated mulch that has been discovered in several sites across Sydney. Ms Apthorpe has an extensive background in managing asbestos removals and remediations, and conducting risk assessments for chemical, physical and biological hazards in the construction, agriculture, mining, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries. She is a Lecturer in the School of Health and Society.

The conflict in Gaza

Associate Professor Markus Wagner can provide commentary on the conflict in Gaza. Associate Professor Wagner is an expert in international law and former clerk at the Supreme Court of Israel for then-President Aharon Barak. He is the Director of the Transnational Law and Policy Centre at UOW. His research and teaching is in the areas of international and comparative law. During his former position on the Supreme Court, Professor Wagner has witnessed first-hand the complexities of the situation in the Middle East and dealt with similar questions that the current outbreak of violence raises. 

Criminalising doxing

Privacy and cybersecurity expert Honorary Professor Katina Michael can discuss the government’s plans to strengthen laws to stop doxing. Honorary Professor Michael is from the School of Business and comments regularly on the social implications of emerging technologies with an emphasis on privacy and national security. She is also a Professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence at Arizona State University.

Preventing suicide in NSW correction centres with AI

Dr Rebecca Bosworth can talk about a new research project that will explore AI based health monitoring as a suicide prevention tool in NSW correction centres. She said the project is a unique opportunity to improve the health outcomes of people in contact with the justice system. Dr Bosworth is a Registered Nurse and Lecturer in the School of Nursing.

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.