Thirty-one undergraduate students showcased their research at a one-day conference at Avondale last November entitled Critical Issues in the 21st Century. The conference was a new initiative highlighting the importance Avondale places on developing research capability right from undergraduate level.
The conference was the brain-child of Dr Jane Fernandez-Goldborough, senior lecturer in English in the Faculty of Arts and Theology. In her opening remarks, she observed that the conference was intended to further Avondale’s objectives to build a research culture, to develop the nexus between teaching and research, and to build a community that makes learning cooperative and innovative.
Students and teachers at Avondale are encouraged to consider how to turn their learning/teaching into research items, how to extend their research skills, and how to benefit the community through research. Research topics are developed in discussion between staff and students, and students are encouraged to produce publishable products. Kiel Winch, a student presenter and member of the organising committee, described the conference as ‘a historic event in the life of Avondale Р a chance to step into the higher world.’
The conference presentations, some of which are summarised below, focused on a range of key contemporary issues, including the environment, gender, education, and issues in society, culture and religion. Many of the findings have significance for the Christian church.
The environment
Miranda Leijser explored the role Christians can play in modelling ecological awareness. Sarah-Jo Huber challenged some less than satisfactory Christian attitudes to climate change, suggesting alternative approaches compatible with scientific findings and biblical admonition. Kirsten Bolinger discussed environmental problems in the event industry, proposing sustainable solutions for event management. Lee Hancock explored ways in which teachers can contribute to the development of ecologically literate students by engaging with nature outside the classroom. Environmental sustainability is one of the Australian government’s National Research Priorities.
Gender
Ben Reynolds examined the identity of Junia (or Junias?), described in Romans 16:7 as ‘prominent among the apostles.’ The Greek form of the name is ambiguous, with the result that some English versions of the Bible translate it as the feminine Junia, others as the masculine Junias. Reynolds showed that linguistic and historical evidence strongly favours the feminine Junia. Historical evidence also supports Junia’s identity as an apostle.
Bethany Turner examined the passage in Deuteronomy 21:10-14 about the treatment of brides captured in war, arguing that in a culture where women typically had few rights, this law was compassionate in its concern for the welfare and rights of the woman.
Daniel Mateo examined in their biblical and cultural contexts Paul’s instructions about women in 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Timothy 2. He argued that Paul’s advice that women should cover their heads (1 Corinthians 11:5, 6) was understandable in a culture where the women who went uncovered were typically prostitutes or elderly. Mateo pointed out that Paul’s advice about women in this chapter must be read in the context of his pivotal statement about the equality of the sexes in verses 11 and 12. Mateo argued further that Paul’s advice that women should not teach (1 Timothy 2:12) must be read in the light of Paul’s commendation of Phoebe as deacon (Romans 16:1) Р a role which in the early church included preaching, evangelism and pastoral care.
Nikkari Parker researched the pressures that church expectations place on ministers, their spouses and children, exploring pathways to facilitate support and pastoral care for ministers’ families.
Education
Kimberley Sharman researched student attitudes to interactive white boards in schools and the implications for children’s engagement with learning. Mandi Hill researched the effectiveness of partnering students of different age levels in a tutor-tutee relationship. She found that most students in the school where the research was conducted enjoyed the tutoring program, which contributed to enhanced self-confidence, self-esteem and self-efficacy among participants. Kiel Winch explored the key arguments and positions in debates surrounding the teaching of history in Australia, and investigated the potential for more effective and innovative teaching of the subject. Brooke Pellegrino and Rosanna Laredo explored ways of integrating spiritual values into teaching in Christian schools.
Society and culture
Joseph Mapuor undertook a critical examination of efforts reduce poverty, hunger and disease within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals. Rebekah Bamford and Jotham Kingston examined issues relating to cross-cultural prejudice.
Religion and spirituality
Kiel Winch examined various ways in which non-believers have conceived of religious belief, comparing three historical theorists (Freud, Marx, Durkheim) with the views of two contemporary atheists (Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens). Hannah Bennett studied spirituality in the work of the Indian poet Kahlil Gibran.
The papers were generally of excellent standard. The conference program included the following note by the external moderator of Avondale’s English program, Dr Tony Simoes da Silva, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the Faculty of Arts, University of Wollongong: ‘Having read many of your English papers over the last eighteen months, I have been very impressed with the quality of the writing, the maturity of the reasoning and the willingness to take risks in your responses to the material.’ The same could be said of most of the papers presented at the conference.
