Seminars 2017

Join us for short seminars reflecting upon the critic and conscience role, and the opportunities and challenges it presents for academics in Aotearoa New Zealand. Following the afternoon seminars, those who can stay are invited to keep talking over a drink in the Buttery, the Staff Common Room bar.

Date

Presentation
Monday, 18th Sept, 10.30am-12noon

Federation of University Women Room, Old Government House (upstairs)
​Speaking truth to power: Working with the Official Information Act

​In carrying out the role of critic and conscience, academics sometimes find themselves needing to use the Official Information Act. And, as some of our colleagues have experienced, we may also find ourselves targets of requests under the Act. In this seminar, Nicky Hager will draw on his experience and expertise to talk to us about range of issues relevant to the Act. For example, what does the Act allow? What doesn’t it allow? What rights do we have to request information? What rights do we have to refuse requests? And so on.
Nicky Hager,
​investigative journalist and author
Tuesday, 19th Sept, 5.00pm-5.30pm

Federation of University Women Room, Old Government House (upstairs)
​The role of critic & conscience:
​A view from the top

​Our Vice-Chancellor will talk about how he thinks about the role of critic and conscience: how he sees it fitting into an individual academic’s work and into the overall work/mission of the University, as well as some of the complexities he anticipates arising from the role.
Stuart McCutcheon,
​Vice-Chancellor
Tuesday, 10th Oct, 5.00pm-5.30pm

Vice Chancellor's Suite, Old Government House (ground floor)
​Taking on trade and health: The story of ‘Doctors for Healthy Trade’

Pat will reflect on her involvement as a public health academic in critiquing the broad health implications of the TPPA. She will tell the story of the establishment of a network of NZ doctors known as ‘Drs for Healthy Trade’. Speaking as a former senior lecturer, she will also offer her view on the role of academics as critic and conscience.
Pat Neuwelt,
​Honorary Academic, School of Population Health
Tuesday, 31st Oct, 5.00pm-5.30pm

Vice Chancellor's Suite, Old Government House (ground floor)
​Advocating for ethical investment – Why? How?

I am not an expert on investments, but I care about the human and environmental damage caused by poor choices, and I realise that many institutions, including our own University, pay little or no attention to outcomes other than financial return. How should we, as academics, respond? I will present a case study – my attempt to persuade our Unisaver superannuation fund to cease supporting the tobacco industry.
Alistair Woodward,
​School of Population Health
Tuesday, 21st Nov, 5.00pm-5.30pm

Vice Chancellor's Suite, Old Government House (ground floor)
​Reflections on an academic life

As a colleague with a longstanding commitment to role of critic and conscience, Susan St John will give an account of why she has made this commitment, the choices she has made over her academic life, and some of the consequences.
Susan St John,
​Economics
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