It'll be labcoats and powerpoints at 10 paces when rival teams face off for a Great Debate on whether 'Good teaching is art: good research is science'.

CQU professors Alex Radloff (below) and Jennelle Kyd (right) are leading the oppposing teams, both which include students, in an exercise designed to spark insights into the relationships between teaching and research.

Professor Radloff said the two areas might be seen as 'different beasts', but it was important to tease out their characteristics, conncections and benefits and the various ways of measuring them.

"We want to challenge assumptions and inspire some fresh thinking," she said.

"I promise if there's any blood left on the floor at the end, we will examine it under the microscope and also provide a lecture on the results".

Professor Radloff's team includes CQU Melbourne academic Trevor Bransgrove and undergraduate student Kirsty MacRae. Professor Kyd's team includes CQU Executive Dean Professor Elizabeth Taylor and research student Timothy Wang.

The Great Debate is part of Central Queensland University's 2007 Learning and Teaching Showcase, which is being held next Thursday and Friday, February 22-23.

The debate segment will be held from 1.30pm on the Friday.

The Showcase will be held at CQU Rockhampton, with video links to other regional and Australian International Campuses.

Other program details are available at: http://learning.cqu.edu.au/showcase2007/