From the Vice-Chancellor
 From the Vice-Chancellor
I like the first six months of the year. It is a time to look afresh at the opportunities and challenges we are presented. It is also the time to start thinking about visits to the various schools, departments and units around the university. While it's true that Vice-Chancellors always have openings and launches to go to, and speeches to give, I also like to have informal meetings with staff in their own environment. These meetings tend to be more frequent in the first half of the year because the pressures on everyone build up as the year progresses, and the opportunities to visit seem to get fewer.
Over the past two years I've managed to visit every area at least once (and I'm hoping that none have been missed out - if they have, please get in touch with my office!) Although I prefer an informal atmosphere at these meetings, the importance of such visits cannot be overstated, certainly not from my perspective. Being able to see first-hand the vast amount of work being done at the university is so much more tangible than reading a report about it, and it gives staff, postdocs and postgrads the opportunity to ask questions - and, in many cases, provide the answers. What I take away from these meetings is something that many members of the public don't get a chance to see - an amazing level of expertise at this university, evidence of true enthusiasm for the work, and a sense that what is being done in each and every area is somehow of benefit and/or interest to the wider world. Frequently when I visit an academic department I come across some gem of information. It is true that there is a great wealth of talent at this university, across all its campuses, the quality of which continues to surprise me. Now entering my third year at Adelaide I know these things shouldn't surprise me anymore, but they do. We need to have as one of our priorities informing the community - whether that be industry, professions or the general public - about the quality of our work and the contribution the 成人大片 makes to our community and society as a whole. This not only refers to research but also our teaching. The new teaching year has just begun, and thousands of new students have commenced their educational experience with the 成人大片. Many more thousands are continuing their experience with us. I'm filled with great pride for the individuals and teams of people working hard to make it all happen. These include both academic and general staff, and the many volunteers and students who also help out in a variety of ways. Universities are such complex organisations; if it weren't for all of these people, there would be no gems of discovery, no challenging viewpoints, no enrolment of new students, no future for our society. 2005 will bring us many challenges and opportunities. As we take the time to work through everything that is presented to us, let's also take the time to show others at the university and the wider community why we are proud to be a part of the 成人大片. JAMES A. McWHA
Vice-Chancellor
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