From Publications to Public Actions: The Role of Universities in Facilitating Academic Advocacy and Activism in the Climate and Ecological Emergency

Thousands of universities have made climate emergency declarations; however the higher education sector is not rising to the collective challenge with the urgency commensurate with scientific warnings. Universities are promoting an increased focus on sustainability through their research, teaching and their own institutional footprints. However, we suggest that such initiatives will be insufficient to catalyse the required transformations in our societies and economies because of (i) the time lags inherent in education and research pathways to impact, and (ii) their failure to address either real-world political processes or the forces invested in maintaining the status quo. We therefore suggest that academics should move from publications to public actions and engage in advocacy and activism to affect urgent and transformational change. We discuss the barriers to engagement in advocacy that academics face, and propose a number of actions that universities should adopt to help overcome them. These include explicitly recognising advocacy as part of the work mandate of academic staff by altering work allocation models, facilitating engaged research sabbaticals, altering hiring and promotion policies, and providing training to enhance the effectiveness of engagement. In addition, universities must defend the right of academics to engage in protest and push back against emerging threats to academic freedom. Such actions would strengthen a rich tradition of academic protest and enhance the contribution of universities to the public good in areas well beyond sustainability, for example race and social justice (Black Lives Matter, decolonising education) and public health.

Doing gender well: Women’s perceptions on gender equality and career progression in the South African security industry

Orientation: Although significant progress has been made globally in gender equality, women still occupy less political influence, fewer leadership positions and yield less control over their careers than most men. Gender inequality is evident in male-dominated work environments such as the security industry.Research purpose: This study reflects on women’s perceptions on gender equality and career progression in the South African security industry.Motivation for the study: In post-democracy South Africa, women are categorised as previously disadvantaged, therefore a priority group in terms of advancement. However, it is still unclear, from the narratives of the women themselves, how their career progression is encumbered in the milieu of the security industry.Research approach/design and method: Through qualitative one-on-one semi-structured interviews, 15 women, working in the security industry, shared their experiences concerning gender equality and career progression. Data were analysed thematically, guided by the context of the gendered security profession.Main findings: The findings reveal that women experience slower career progression than men in terms of rejection and work allocation. Moreover, negative perceptions of female leadership among colleagues was a factor hindering career progression.Practical/managerial implications: This study argues by doing gender well, equality in the security workplace can be obtained. Furthermore, the study encourages South African security managers to recognise how aspects such as rejection, work allocation and a negative perception of female leadership may encumber the career progression of female security professionals.Contribution/value-add: The study contributes to scientific knowledge and discourse regarding women’s perceptions on gender equality and career progression.

The Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire: A Survey of RAN Submariners

This paper reports on the development, method, and major findings from the Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire (SUB-HAQ) undertaken as part of a lessons-learned review of the current RAN submarine platform. The questionnaire was completed by 167 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Submariners and was developed to examine the perceived habitability of the main living and working areas. The results showed satisfaction with cleanliness, lighting, privacy of amenities, ventilation in certain areas, and location of amenities and facilities. The results also suggest dissatisfaction with aspects of the work areas (such as storage space for work materials, and space to conduct off-watch work), allocation of space and equipment for exercise, crowding, and ratio of crew to amenities. Best use of space on a submarine is an extraordinarily challenging design problem. However, it was concluded that significant benefit could be achieved through applying human systems integration methods early in the design of a future RAN platform. The importance of careful workforce planning and crewing analyses to prevent occurrences of overcrowding, lack of storage, and an unacceptable ratio of crew to amenities was observed. The findings from SUB-HAQ have led to a significant investment in evidence-based habitability design assurance by the RAN.

A Study on Various Task-Work Allocation Algorithms in Swarm Robotics

This paper discusses the various task allocation algorithms that have been researched, analyzed, and used in swarm robotics. The main reason for switching over to swarm robotics from ordinary mobile robots is because of its ability to perform complex tasks co-operatively with other bots rather than individually. Furthermore, they can be scaled to perform any kind of tasks. To carry out tasks like foraging, surveying and other such tasks that require swarm intelligence, task allocation plays an important role. It is the crux of the entire system and plays a huge role in the success of the implementation of swarm robotics. Few algorithms that address this task allocation have been briefly discussed here.

Training Need of MGNREGA Beneficiaries in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) guarantees 100 days of employment in a financial year to any rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work. A study was undertaken to assess the training needs of MGNREGA beneficiaries in the Dharmapuri district, one of the most backward districts of Tamil Nadu. A Proportionate random sampling method was used to select 120 respondents for this study. The data was collected using a well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule, and appropriate statistical tools were used for analysis. The findings of the study reveal that majority of the respondents expressed training needs on seven major subject areas i.e., Checking multiple entries in job cards, active participation in gram sabha meetings, operations of savings accounts in banks/ post office, Active participation in social audit, work allocation procedure and awareness on grievance redressal mechanisms. The majority preferred to have peripatetic training in their panchayat union office for a day during the summer season on forenoon session.

RELASI GENDER PADA RUMAH TANGGA PETANI CENGKEH

This study aims to (1) identify the pattern of gender relations in the structure of work allocation and the allocation of time on clove farming, (2) to analyze the association between gender relations with revenue allocation on men and women in clove farming. This research was conducted in June 2016, with 34 respondents who are located in Seppong Village, District of Tammero'do, Majene. The method used is quantitative descriptive analysis and chi-square test. This study shows that gender relations in work allocation of clove farming are dominated by male at 50% of activity weeding, replanting, fertilizing, harvesting and transporting the ladder manufacture crop yields; the domination of female at 20% of activities, such as sorting and drying; men and women are equal to 30% of activities like watering, harvesting and sales. Gender relations in the farming clove time allocation dominated by male at 60% of activities such as weeding, replanting, watering, harvesting staircase manufacture, harvesting and transporting the crop; the domination of female at 20% of activities, such as sorting and drying; men and women are equal at 20% at sales activities, and fertilization. There was no association between gender relations with the allocation of income.Keywords: gender relations; male; female; clove farming.