December 3, 2024

UOW expert commentary (3 December)

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

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International Day of Persons with Disabilities – Tuesday 3 December

Dr Shawn Burns can discuss the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Tuesday 3 December). The former reporter and current journalism lecturer is a passionate disability advocate, his PhD examined how people with disabilities were characterised in news coverage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and what they thought about it. Dr Burns is a Lecturer in the School of the Arts, English and Media.

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Joe Biden pardoning his son

Professor Markus Wagner can talk about Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. Professor Wagner is an internationally recognised expert in international economic law and governance, international peace and security, as well as US and Australian constitutional law. He is the Director of the Transnational Law and Policy Centre at the University of Wollongong.

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Trump and trade tariffs

Associate Professor Markus Wagner can also provide expert commentary on United States President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose steep tariffs on goods imported into the US.  Professor Wagner is currently leading a project titled Weaponised Trade and says trade is increasingly being utilised as a new battlefield around the world.

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China and the Philippines - sovereignty and maritime dispute

Professor Clive Schofield is available for interviews about the ongoing sovereignty and maritime dispute between China and the Philippines. China recently declared new baselines around Scarborough Reef, a large coral atoll topped by a handful of rocks barely above sea level in the South China Sea. In an article Professor Schofield coauthored for The Conversation he said:

China’s clarification of its baselines around the reef signals it may be more assertive in its law enforcement here.

The China Coast Guard has said it will step up patrols in the South China Sea to “firmly uphold order, protect the local ecosystem and biological resources and safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights”.

Given the long history of clashes related to fishing access around Scarborough Reef, this sets the scene for more confrontation.

Professor Schofield is a Professor with the Australian Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) at UOW. His research interests relate to international maritime boundary delimitation and geo-technical issues related to the law of the sea. 

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International Volunteer Day – Thursday 5 December

Dr Vivien Forner can discuss International Volunteer Day (Thursday 5 December). She is a volunteer retention expert and applied psychology researcher with expertise across social psychology, workplace dynamics, motivation theory and leadership development. In 2022 Dr Forner authored a policy paper for Volunteering Australia titled “The great (volunteer) resignation: An evidence-based strategy for retaining volunteers”. She is an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Business.

Dr Forner is not available for interviews on Tuesday 3 December.

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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. 

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Find an expert

The University of Wollongong boasts world-leading experts across a range of disciplines. Visit our Find an expert page for a selection of our experts who can speak to current ongoing and breaking news stories, or contact the Media and Public Relations Unit for help finding relevant experts, organising interviews and providing answers to specific questions.