title: Postgraduate boundary crossings?

authors: White, Elizabeth Jayne

abstract: This Special Issue: Crossing Philosophical, Cultural and Geographic Boundaries in Educational Scholarship?: Postgraduate Experiences arose out of an invited panel of postgraduate speakers at the 42nd Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia Conference, held 7–10 December 2012 in Chiayi, Taiwan. The wider conference theme of “Crossing Boundaries” generated lively discussions about what such encounters and experiences might mean in the broader sphere of education; while the postgraduate speakers were invited to address their personal experience of boundaries during doctoral study. The central thrust of this invitation was to consider the extent to which such boundaries could (or should) be crossed through postgraduate experiences, and to gain a deeper appreciation of what this might mean for scholars who venture – physically and/or philosophically – outside of familiar terrain. The papers that comprise this issue provide associated cross-cultural, cross-country and cross-philosophical narratives, reflections and interrogations of their experiences in this regard. In doing so the authors provide a rich landscape through which to consider boundary crossing as an opportunity to expand on knowledge and/or to appreciate ones own position through encounters with ‘other’. Such crossings (or attempts to cross) presented significant challenges to these students, as they reveal in this issue. Their insights highlight the point that crossing philosophical, cultural and geographic boundaries is often a difficult relationship between all three, and, that there are costs involved. Such profoundly confronting experiences of crossing (or not crossing) are not necessarily bridges to be traversed as much as a means of confronting boundaries through which students might gain important insights – about themselves as persons of culture, scholars and members of a global society that is characterized by difference. This complex encounter – for all its pleasure and pain – is, evident through every paper in this issue, and sets the scene for important 21st century dialogues concerning diversity and difference in education.

text: Postgraduate boundary crossings? This Special Issue: Crossing Philosophical, Cultural and Geographic Boundaries in Educational Scholarship?: Postgraduate Experiences arose out of an invited panel of postgraduate speakers at the 42nd Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia Conference, held 7–10 December 2012 in Chiayi, Taiwan. The wider conference theme of “Crossing Boundaries” generated lively discussions about what such encounters and experiences might mean in the broader sphere of education; while the postgraduate speakers were invited to address their personal experience of boundaries during doctoral study. The central thrust of this invitation was to consider the extent to which such boundaries could (or should) be crossed through postgraduate experiences, and to gain a deeper appreciation of what this might mean for scholars who venture – physically and/or philosophically – outside of familiar terrain. The papers that comprise this issue provide associated cross-cultural, cross-country and cross-philosophical narratives, reflections and interrogations of their experiences in this regard. In doing so the authors provide a rich landscape through which to consider boundary crossing as an opportunity to expand on knowledge and/or to appreciate ones own position through encounters with ‘other’. Such crossings (or attempts to cross) presented significant challenges to these students, as they reveal in this issue. Their insights highlight the point that crossing philosophical, cultural and geographic boundaries is often a difficult relationship between all three, and, that there are costs involved. Such profoundly confronting experiences of crossing (or not crossing) are not necessarily bridges to be traversed as much as a means of confronting boundaries through which students might gain important insights – about themselves as persons of culture, scholars and members of a global society that is characterized by difference. This complex encounter – for all its pleasure and pain – is, evident through every paper in this issue, and sets the scene for important 21st century dialogues concerning diversity and difference in education.

year: 2014

title: The effect of silane coupling agents on radiata pine fibre for use in thermoplastic matrix composites

authors: Pickering, Kim L.

subjects: A Thermoplastic resin

abstract: Gamma aminopropyltriethoxysilane (GS) and dichlorodiethylsilane (DCS) were employed for surface modification of radiata pine (Pinus radiata) wood fibre. Levels of fibre moisture were carefully controlled to optimise chemical and hydrogen bonding with these silane coupling agents. The effect of pre-treatment using 2% sodium hydroxide, shown to be effective in assisting silane coupling for other natural fibres [1], was also investigated. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) were used to characterise modification of the wood fibre. Concentrations of up to 3.2wt% Si were obtained on the fibre surface due to silane coupling, however, pre-treatment was found to dramatically reduce this value. NMR provided evidence that coupling had occurred between the fibre and DCS by a reaction producing ether linkages between the hydroxyl groups on the wood fibre and silane. Pre-treatment and treatment were found to have an insignificant effect on fibre strength. Composite sheets were produced by blending fibre (5, 10 and 20wt%) with polyethylene followed by extrusion. An increase in strength was obtained at fibre contents of 5wt% for all treatments compared to composites with untreated fibre. This is believed to be mainly due to increased compatibility of the fibre surface to polyethylene. However, there was no such improvement obtained at higher fibre contents. Evidence suggests that the production of voids is limiting composite strength.

text: The effect of silane coupling agents on radiata pine fibre for use in thermoplastic matrix composites Gamma aminopropyltriethoxysilane (GS) and dichlorodiethylsilane (DCS) were employed for surface modification of radiata pine (Pinus radiata) wood fibre. Levels of fibre moisture were carefully controlled to optimise chemical and hydrogen bonding with these silane coupling agents. The effect of pre-treatment using 2% sodium hydroxide, shown to be effective in assisting silane coupling for other natural fibres [1], was also investigated. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) were used to characterise modification of the wood fibre. Concentrations of up to 3.2wt% Si were obtained on the fibre surface due to silane coupling, however, pre-treatment was found to dramatically reduce this value. NMR provided evidence that coupling had occurred between the fibre and DCS by a reaction producing ether linkages between the hydroxyl groups on the wood fibre and silane. Pre-treatment and treatment were found to have an insignificant effect on fibre strength. Composite sheets were produced by blending fibre (5, 10 and 20wt%) with polyethylene followed by extrusion. An increase in strength was obtained at fibre contents of 5wt% for all treatments compared to composites with untreated fibre. This is believed to be mainly due to increased compatibility of the fibre surface to polyethylene. However, there was no such improvement obtained at higher fibre contents. Evidence suggests that the production of voids is limiting composite strength.

year: 2003

title: The Unmet Legal, Social and Cultural Needs of Māori with Disabilities

authors: Hickey, Susan Jane

subjects: Māori

abstract: There is little work done in the area of indigenous disability identity issues and how they are recognised in domestic and international human rights laws. The discourse of disability has always been based on social constructionism and without it, there is no identity. I discuss its relevance to indigenous (Māori) with disabilities and how the multiplicitous nature of the identity of  other  has a particular impact when indigenous, gender and disability are all identified from marginalised groups. I also explore the impact of westernised thinking around impairment, in particular the models of disabilities on indigenous well-being. The issues of family (whānau), whakawhanaungatanga (family relationships), interdependence (community) and collectivity identities central to indigenous thinking are largely ignored by law and policy, yet central to indigenous identity. This ignorance in policy has led to the disparities that continue to remain for indigenous persons with disabilities, particularly those from within thematic identity groups.

text: The Unmet Legal, Social and Cultural Needs of Māori with Disabilities There is little work done in the area of indigenous disability identity issues and how they are recognised in domestic and international human rights laws. The discourse of disability has always been based on social constructionism and without it, there is no identity. I discuss its relevance to indigenous (Māori) with disabilities and how the multiplicitous nature of the identity of  other  has a particular impact when indigenous, gender and disability are all identified from marginalised groups. I also explore the impact of westernised thinking around impairment, in particular the models of disabilities on indigenous well-being. The issues of family (whānau), whakawhanaungatanga (family relationships), interdependence (community) and collectivity identities central to indigenous thinking are largely ignored by law and policy, yet central to indigenous identity. This ignorance in policy has led to the disparities that continue to remain for indigenous persons with disabilities, particularly those from within thematic identity groups.

year: 2008