Environmental Networking is now available online at UNSW

The Environmental Network (EN) is a new UNSW resource, initially Internet based, which will facilitate communication, information acquisition and academic intercourse between faculty based and other personnel. It is a response to recent campus-wide calls for better networking on the important issues of the environment and sustainability. The EN will initially link UNSW users, and ultimately connect to other academic institutions, government, business and industry, and the community. Expressions of interest for membership have already been received from Australian government agencies addressing greenhouse action and from international programs on transport planning.

Currently over 100 UNSW academics and general staff have access to the network. The network is being initiated, on behalf of all University EN users, through the UNSW Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), a trans-faculty institute which reports to the Pro Vice Chancellor Education and Quality Improvement. It has clear applications to research, including funding and delivery, to teaching, and to university and public communication.

Did you know?

The EN Internet Portal:

• WHAT? The EN provides a set of communication and collaboration tools for sharing of resources, links and files by groups of academics, colleagues and members of the community with interests in specific aspects of the environment and sustainability. Groups are formed online to collaborate on topics of your choice through discussion forums, web links and web surveys.
• HOW? Visit the EN at www.en.unsw.edu.au and click "Quickstart" to learn the easy "request an account" steps, and submit your request. (Accounts are free to UNSW users.) Once accepted, you can create a group, schedule events, discuss, share files, share links, create and use web surveys.

Who's Who?

Tell us who you would like to be members of the network by sending an email to en@unsw.edu.au

All UNSW staff are eligible for free membership of the network via a personal account. Postgraduate and Honours research students may obtain an account with the knowledge of their supervisor. Undergraduate students don't hold personal accounts but may enquire about specific networking projects via the UNSW Student Guild.

Announcements

• Post your News on the EN: send stories to us at en@unsw.edu.au

• In July, the EN will be opened to users beyond UNSW. Just contact us on en@unsw.edu.au should you wish to nominate a potential external user or direct them straight to the portal website www.en.unsw.edu.au for more information.

• The EN home page at www.en.unsw.edu.au has useful web links directly to other university and international internet sites. Please let us know if you are interested in linking other appropriate sites.