Welcome to SInet – here to improve quality of life
11 Sep 2008 | Bernie Goldie
Imagine a government or community body that has a complex task needing help which could be achieved by tapping into a range of academic expertise across various disciplines all in one go – then welcome to SInet.
SInet (or Social Innovation Network) -- which aims to find solutions to many of the critical problems now facing humanity such as work-life balance and environment issues -- will be officially launched at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus today (Thursday 11 September) by Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Lee Astheimer.
It is a networked collaboration between complementary groups of researchers in the field of social innovation at the University of Wollongong. SInet will enable research into strategies and tools that empower individuals, communities, profit and non-profit organisations and the government to improve quality of life.
“This is where quality of life means material standard of living as well as personal well-being in terms of health and environment and social harmony,” according to SInet co- convener, Professor Jan Wright of UOW’s Faculty of Education.
“In a nutshell SInet’s aim is to create better futures for people,” Professor Wright said.
SInet will:
• Facilitate the information flow between researchers with similar research interest
• Provide a platform for sharing ideas, expertise and networks
• Strengthen social science research at UOW and
• Strengthen the position of all SInet members by developing and jointly promoting a brand name
The launch will see three presentations on the theme ‘Building Stronger Communities’ which will showcase socially innovative work at UOW.
These talks will be delivered by:
• Professor Kathy Eagar – ‘Translating research into practice: evidence-based strategies to improve the health and well-being of children in local communities’
• Associate Professor Chris Gibson and Associate Professor Gordon Waitt looking at the re-emergence of the festival in the lives of people living in non metropolitan NSW
• Associate Professor Karen Malone looking at how child friendly is my community
[Note: A Social Innovation Register is being created by UOW as a magnet to draw social innovators and their ideas together. Developed by the Faculty of Commerce, the register will be available to industry and the community online by the end of this year. All members if the University, academic and non-academic, who are working with ideas that contribute to the enhancement of human well-being are invited to join the register. The register will be open to the UOW members on Monday 15 September]
SInet official launch date, time and venue: 5.30pm today (Sept 11) at the Innovation Campus, Squires Way.
Media please note -- for further information contact Professor Jan Wright on 0419 673 228 (m) or Dr Eduardo Pol on (02) 4221 4025.
|
