UNE > News and Events > Browse by article > UNE participates in launch of high-speed network

Next Geoffrey Blainey to give public lecture at UNE September 15, 2006  

Previous Seminar to discuss UNE's 'built and landscape heritage' September 14, 2006 

UNE participates in launch of high-speed network

September 14, 2006

AARNET launch in Lazenby HallThe University of New England was one of three Australian universities involved in an interactive event yesterday that marked the launch of the third generation of the high-speed communications network linking universities and research institutions around Australia.

UNE's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, and children from Ben Venue Public School in Armidale and Deepwater Public School participated in the event, which was centred on Parliament House in Canberra. The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, spoke from there.

“The Australian government recognises the benefits of having our best and brightest minds connected across the nation and around the world,” Ms Bishop said. Thanks to AARNET, Ms Bishop said, Australian surgeons would be able to conduct operations in Australia while consulting with colleagues overseas and Australian musicians would be able to rehearse with musicians on the other side of the world.

“This will be a critical foundation, not only for cutting-edge research, but for the future of our children in teaching and learning,” she said.

The Armidale school children joined children at Charles Sturt University in an interactive performance of marimba music. There was also interaction with the CSIRO radiotelescope at Parkes, and a doctor in Japan demonstrated surgical training techniques.

High-speed Internet infrastructure was “absolutely crucial” for UNE to deliver its more that 300 online units to distance education students, Professor Pettigrew said. He singled out animal genetics and spatial imaging as two areas the new network would be employed by UNE.

“These are all very important areas where AARNET will help us,” he said.

Posted by Leon Braun at September 14, 2006 02:37 PM