SIT has hosted a number of fantastic seminars and events over the past few years. Below you can read an overview and access presentations from the speakers where available.

SIT Research Symposium 2012

In December 2012 teaching staff at SIT presented their research at the annual Staff Research Symposium.  In what was a packed and varied agenda, 15 staff shared their research findings with their colleagues.  The day was well attended, and participants appreciated the opportunity to sample research completed within the organisation that contributes to the current SIT curriculum.  The day was spilt into four sessions, with staff presenting from across two faculties: Health, Humanities and Computing, and New Media Arts and Business.  As SIT Research Manager Sally Bodkin-Allen explains, “it’s the second year we have run it.  This year’s agenda was much bigger than last year’s, and there was more time to ask questions.”

 

The topics of research ranged from water quality of cold water springs in Southland to the effect of music tempo on cycling performance. “It’s important that our degrees are supported by staff doing research. It’s also a chance to celebrate the diversity of staff research that’s been happening,” says Sally.  This year also saw the first ‘People’s Choice Award’, where the audience voted for their favourite presentation of the day.  The winner was Warrick Low, tutor in the School of Business, for his presentation on faculty perceptions of cooperative education.  A full list of speakers and topics is given below.

 

Presenter	Presentation Title
Peter Belton, School of Design and Visual Arts	On being there
Erine van Niekerk, School of Environmental Management	Baseline study on the water quality of cold water springs in Southland
Paul Marambos, School of Business	Education Performance Indicators: an initiative that may adversely impact upon performance in education
Duncan McKenzie, School of Health, Exercise and Recreation	The effect of music tempo on cycling performance
Fiona Forrest, Sir Anthony Hopkins School of Dramatic Arts	The art of story
Emma Cathcart, School of Fashion	Examining changes & influences of Maori/Pacific design in New Zealand Fashion
John Archer, School of Business	Workplace influences on the perceptions of middle-aged New Zealand casual employees
Reen Skaria, School of Nursing	Experience of overseas nurse educators in New Zealand
Doug Heath, School of Audio Production	Polysonics - sonic field trickery
Warrick Low, School of Business	Faculty perceptions of cooperative education
Ross Ramsay, School of Environmental Management	Oreti Beach to Waitutu Forest to Burma, and Beyond
John Mumford, School of Computing	Numeracy versus mathematics in education
Jason Sagmyr, School of Music	Are we having fun yet?  Student engagement in project-based assessment
Kathryn Mitchell, School of Design and Visual Arts	Holy Shop: the church, the mall, the factory and the lab.
Sally Bodkin-Allen, School of Music	Facebook for student engagement

Photo Gallery

Southland Health Research Five Minute Findings Forum 2012

In October 2012 SIT and the Southern District Health Board hosted the inaugural Southland Health Research Five Minute Findings Forum.  This was a collaborative forum designed to share the results of health-related research in or about Southland.  The Five Minute Findings Forum challenged those who have carried out projects or studies on health-related topics to share their findings with a non-specialist audience in just five minutes.  It was a very successful day, attended by approximately 70 people from around the community and the region.  It provided a great opportunity to find out about a fascinating range of projects, all in the one place at the one time.  There were presentations by speakers from SIT, the Southern District Health Board, Environment Southland, Sport Southland, University of Otago and Our Way Southland, and presentation topics covered an enormous range of research.  For a full list of topics and speakers please click here. 

 

The Five Minute Findings format was a great challenge and all the presenters certainly rose to the occasion.  Presentations were strictly limited to exactly five minutes with a maximum of three PowerPoint slides.  A prize of book vouchers to the value of $250 for use at the SIT Bookshop was awarded for the best presentation.  A panel of three judges was appointed: Dr Sally Bodkin-Allen, Research Manager, Southern Institute of Technology; Dr Norman MacLean, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Otago, and Ali Timms, Chairman of Environment Southland (Southland Regional Council).  They really had their work cut out for them in choosing the best presentation of the day out of so many excellent presentations.  The winner was Yvette Hodges, Active Lifestyles Manager, Sport Southland, for her presentation on the 2012 Annual Green Prescription patient survey results for Southland.  Thank you to everyone who took part and made this such a successful day.

'Southern Exposure' Hypothermia Seminar 2011

Hypothermia: how to recognise it and how to survive it

 

Whether working in the outdoors, running an outdoor event, or heading into the back country for hunting, fishing, tramping or climbing, hypothermia is something that Southlanders need to be aware of.

 

SIT hosted the free 'Southern Exposure' seminar in May 2011 to present the latest knowledge on hypothermia as a medical condition, how to prevent it and how to treat it. Experienced outdoors and medical experts spoke on how the body reacts in cold environments, the management of groups in the outdoors, protective clothing, and practical first-aid.

 

Speakers:

• Dr Claudia Schneider, Medical Team Leader of Critical Care Unit, Southland Hospital
  How the body reacts in a cold environment: the pathophysiology of hypothermia
  
• Gareth Lawson, Manager, Macpac Dunedin Store
  Have you got the gear? Protective clothing and equipment to travel safely in the outdoors
  
• Dr Stanley Mulvany, Director, Waihopai Health Services, Invercargill
  Hypothermia: how it occurs, how to avoid it and how to treat it. Vignettes on hypothermia. Cold water immersion, prevention and treatment
  
• Jodie Burton, Student Nurse, Southern Institute of Technology, Invercargill
  Hypothermia as a workplace hazard: first aid for those working outdoors

'Skilling the Community' Conference 2009

The ‘Skilling the Community - Preparing for the Upturn' Conference was held at SIT in July 2009.

The day was spent considering how the social impact of increasing unemployment in this current economic climate can be minimised with a focus on upskilling the changing workforce and those seeking employment.

The aim of the conference was to look at what is happening globally, nationally and locally and how we can best provide the skills that will be needed in order for our region to be equipped to make the most of the economic upturn when it arrives.

Speakers included:

• Hon John Key - Prime Minister
• Hon Anne Tolley - Minister of Education
• Dr Ronald Williams - Vice President, The College Board, Washington DC
• Dr Ganesh Nana - Chief Economist, BERL
• Brett Gamble - General Manager New Energy, Solid Energy
• Kate Cherrington - Ambassadors for Maori Opportunity (AMO)
• Dr Bob Elliott - Living Cell Technologies
• Simon Hopcroft - NZ Young Farmer of the Year 2006

Case Studies included:

Southland Energy Consortium - Promoting Regional Capability
Mark O'Connor, Chief Executive Officer, South Port Ltd

Oil and Gas Development
Julian Galt, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Southern Institute of Technology

Trades Training - A Success Story
Glenys McKenzie, General Manager, Southern Group Training Trust

Making Words Count in Vocational Programmes
Jason Hare, National Quality Assurance Manager, Hairdressing Industry Training Organisation
Donna Bowman, Programme Manager, Southern Institute of Technology

Seasonal Careers - Your Choice
Paul Casson, Regional Labour Market Manager, Work and Income
James Neylon, Personnel Manager, Alliance Group Ltd

Teaching the Professions - An Accounting Example
Tim Ward, Partner, BDO Spicers
Lara Stevens, Finance Manager, South Port Ltd

Workforce Flexibility
Nigel Finnerty, Carbon Manager, New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd

Environmental Upskilling and Outreach
Dr Ross Ramsay, Academic Leader, Southern Institute of Technology
Richard Bowman, Biosecurity Manager, Environment Southland

Value of International Students
Bharat Guha, Business Services Manager, Southern Institute of Technology
Teri McClelland, Head of Faculty SIT2LRN, Southern Institute of Technology