Comments on: Canterbury’s V5 Big Ideas http://www.ed.co.nz/2010/03/15/canterburys-v5-big-ideas/ Tertiary education news and views Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:57:26 +1300 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Dave Guerin http://www.ed.co.nz/2010/03/15/canterburys-v5-big-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-215 Dave Guerin Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:01:38 +0000 http://www.ed.co.nz/?p=447#comment-215 To be fair, the whole point of it was to spark ideas for big new industries and give them a hand to get started. There's a place for competitions like this and they don't have to weigh every possible social and economic variable - markets and regulation can sift out the finally successful ideas. And I'm sure for every proposal supported by the University, academics at Canty and others will be pointing out the pros and cons. I'm just happy that the group is encouraging some big new business ideas. I have no allegiance to the ideas themselves. To be fair, the whole point of it was to spark ideas for big new industries and give them a hand to get started. There’s a place for competitions like this and they don’t have to weigh every possible social and economic variable – markets and regulation can sift out the finally successful ideas.

And I’m sure for every proposal supported by the University, academics at Canty and others will be pointing out the pros and cons.

I’m just happy that the group is encouraging some big new business ideas. I have no allegiance to the ideas themselves.

]]> By: Steve Day http://www.ed.co.nz/2010/03/15/canterburys-v5-big-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-213 Steve Day Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:49:31 +0000 http://www.ed.co.nz/?p=447#comment-213 Hmm, yes, I should have read the links in your post before commenting. They've got me even more irritated (having read who some of the judges were - I thought a university might have greater concern for perceived conflicts of interest). I agree this is highly politicized issue - with even the prime minister making intemperate remarks on irrigating the Hurunui. That is even more reason that the university should have a more thorough justification than "it will make a whole lot of cash". I've got nothing against a little bit of entrepreneurism, as seems to be going on down that way, but they just be careful it doesn't get in the way of that 'critic and conscience' thing. I'd love to know what UC's department of biological sciences makes of all of this. Hmm, yes, I should have read the links in your post before commenting. They’ve got me even more irritated (having read who some of the judges were – I thought a university might have greater concern for perceived conflicts of interest).

I agree this is highly politicized issue – with even the prime minister making intemperate remarks on irrigating the Hurunui. That is even more reason that the university should have a more thorough justification than “it will make a whole lot of cash”. I’ve got nothing against a little bit of entrepreneurism, as seems to be going on down that way, but they just be careful it doesn’t get in the way of that ‘critic and conscience’ thing.

I’d love to know what UC’s department of biological sciences makes of all of this.

]]> By: Dave Guerin http://www.ed.co.nz/2010/03/15/canterburys-v5-big-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-206 Dave Guerin Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:17:17 +0000 http://www.ed.co.nz/?p=447#comment-206 There's some comment on that in the links to The Press and obviously it is controversial, but it certainly has potential to generate high returns. I'm not surprised that they rated so highly. The balancing act will take place thru a whole lot of RMA hearings, as water is certainly a scarce resource down in Canterbury with plenty of people wanting it. There’s some comment on that in the links to The Press and obviously it is controversial, but it certainly has potential to generate high returns. I’m not surprised that they rated so highly. The balancing act will take place thru a whole lot of RMA hearings, as water is certainly a scarce resource down in Canterbury with plenty of people wanting it.

]]> By: Steve Day http://www.ed.co.nz/2010/03/15/canterburys-v5-big-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-205 Steve Day Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:11:50 +0000 http://www.ed.co.nz/?p=447#comment-205 They can't be serious. Canterbury's water resources are already over extracted to allow intensified dairying. The health, environmental and social costs of the existing irrigation schemes are already evident. The university would be showing significantly more economic and social responsibility finding ways to end the massive over-irrigation in its province. They can’t be serious. Canterbury’s water resources are already over extracted to allow intensified dairying. The health, environmental and social costs of the existing irrigation schemes are already evident. The university would be showing significantly more economic and social responsibility finding ways to end the massive over-irrigation in its province.

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