Maritime historian bridges to community groups
Published on 30 March, 2006
Associate Professor Steve Mullins has been particularly active in engaging with regional and State-based community initiatives.
Dr Mullins recently presented in Yeppoon, at a community forum for stakeholders involved with the Coastal CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) and CapReef.
He has been heading the School of Humanities Historical Coastlines team undertaking environmental history research on the Capricorn Coast.
Historical Coastlines (community perspectives), is a joint CQU/Coastal CRC project studying the relationships between local communities and their coastal and estuarine environments, including the aim to create awareness that environmental management is an intergenerational concern.
One of the outcomes of this research is an interactive DVD educational package designed for upper primary students.
The Yeppoon forum introduced the DVD to the community and generated quite a bit of interest, with participants impressed by both the content and design.
The day before the forum, Dr Mullins was in Cairns assisting with the development of an Indigenous Training and Alliance (IETA) DVD-based training program.
Earlier in the year, he contributed to a workshop on a proposed new history of the Great Barrier Reef.
The workshop, held at James Cook University in Townsville in February, was the first stage of an ongoing, multidisciplinary endeavour organised by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and was only open to invited speakers.
Other participants included representatives from GBRMPA (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority), Australian National University, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation). (For related information see URL: www.coralcoe.org.au).
In addition to these and a number of other research activities, Dr Mullins is the general editor of 'The Great Circle', (Journal of the Australian Association of Maritime History). This refereed journal has been around since 1979 and has an international subscription list.