CQUniversity's Professor Rob Reed is proud that the 'Prac Skills' series of textbooks that he helped to pioneer has just broken through the 100,000 sales barrier, generating more than $3 million...

The Rockhampton-based academic helped to pioneer the Pearson Publishing series when he was based in England, collaborating with Dr Jonathan Weyers and Dr Allan Jones (both at Dundee University, Scotland).

Bill Aspden, Peter Reaburn and Rob Reed discuss their new book projects

Prac Skills' textbooks have sold around the world, particularly in Europe and the UK, and they have been translated into a range of languages.

Each of the ‘Prac Skills' books is designed to provide guidance on a range of topics including basic study, exam, library, IT, communication, laboratory, data analysis and presentation skills.

Professor Reed explained "the books work as companions to students involved in a particular field of study and are designed to take them from their first year at university, right through to their postgraduate years, with many readers keeping our books close to hand throughout their studies".

Profesor Reed has recently arranged major contributions to the series by CQUniversity colleagues Dr Bill Aspden and Associate Professor Peter Reaburn.

Bill and Rob have contributed to a new textbook Practical Skills in Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, which has specialist sections on topics such as ‘dietary assessment', ‘analytical techniques' and ‘food microbiology.

Peter and Rob have collaborated with Dr Ben Dascombe, a CQUniversity graduate, on the new textbook Practical Skills in Exercise and Sport Science, which has specialist sections on topics such as ‘measuring muscular strength', ‘measuring aerobic endurance' and ‘field testing of athletes'.