Details of CQU’s “Breaking New Ground” conference were announced this week in conjunction with International Rural Women’s Day on October 15.

The second bi-annual conference, “Breaking New Ground: Women researchers in a regional community”, is scheduled for February 7 and 8, 2003.

“Women from within the community and university are invited to submit either a full paper, concise paper or a poster for presentation in a supportive environment,” said CQU Nursing Lecturer and organiser Wendy Madsen The previous conference covered a wide variety of topics including poverty in India, Syrian women living in Queensland to the use of email discussion groups and Sea Change and popular culture.

This year the “Breaking New Ground” conference offers even more variety, reinforcing the role that women play within the community.

“When you consider the topics on the agenda so far it is clear that the conference will be showcasing that women are involved in every aspect of research in a wide variety of disciplines,” said Wendy. Some of the papers to be presented at the 2003 conference include: ‘The effect of tree clearing on pastoral production’ by an Emerald researcher and from Mackay a paper titled ‘Learning from the past and present’ and one from Rockhampton focussing on decision making from a psychological perspective. Bundaberg area researchers will present ‘Nursing History’ and ‘Tele-visuality in the 19th century’.

Information and registration for the “Breaking new ground: Women researchers in a regional community” can be obtained from Darlene Turner on 07 4150 7051.