Kalamazoo College - ICRPs - Australia - Perth
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This collection contains student intercultural research projects during their study abroad in Perth, Australia.
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Item AQIS: Life in Quarantine(2003-01-06) Geneczko, Charles M.The paper goes over a short history of AQIS and the various parts that were included in the program as well as an overview of Risk Analysis from text sources. The paper then goes into what it would take to bring Nutmeg, my dog, from the US to Australia and back. The end of the paper proper covers Steve Irwin, and the many reactions to him that people seem to have. The paper includes my own observations, those of the people I worked with, and those from AQIS material. Included also are personal reflections of my time in Perth, and a short list of things that I've learned in that time. As well as the forms required if one wish to import a dog.Item "Slowly being poisoned." An outsider's look at solvent abuse in the Indigenous population of Australia(2003-02-14) Shelden, Steven F.In the introduction of its final report regarding the Inquiry into the Inhalation of Volatile Substances, the Drugs and Crime Prevention committee (DCPC) states that "Volatile Substance Abuse is not a new phenomenon, but. .. it is a most under-researched one."1. Further, the practice is far more prevalent in the Indigenous community of Australia, the problems of which are of significant and ongoing importance to the nation as a whole. It was with these and other facts in mind that I set out to complete my Integrative Cultural Research Project (ICRP) working on the problem of solvent abuse, with a focus on how it affects the Aboriginal people. Herein I have endeavored to approach the problem's many facets with the hope of combining the relevant literature and expert opinions to which I have been exposed during my brief sojourn in Australia. I will examine the history and causes of solvent abuse, the demographics and methods of the people who abuse them, the physiological, psychological, neurological, and community effects of the practice, and the solutions and interventions which have been used in the past and are being used currently, both the effective ones and the less so. It is my hope that my contribution will be a meaningful one.Item A Flora and Fauna Survey of Woody Island(2003-02-14) Faust, Mara K.; Faeth, Stanley; Fraser, Ann M., 1963-Woody Island is one of about 100 islands that make up the Archipelago of the Recherche, located on the southern coast of Western Australia, to the south and south-east of Esperance. It has the highest diversity ofland plants ofany ofthe islands in the Archipelago, and is also inhabited by many species of birds, a handful of reptiles, and two mammals. Although the island was used throughout the last century for logging and sheep grazing, tourist use did not begin until 1973. Today, Mackenzie's Island Cruises operates camping facilities on the north-eastern side of the island. There has been some debate about the effects that tourism may be having on the island, and no completely comprehensive survey of plants and animals has been carried out. This report presents a compilation of the results of all of the surveys that have been carried out on Woody, as well as the results of the current study, carried out in December 2002. Vegetation, birds, reptiles, and mammals were surveyed. Vegetation data was the least thorough due to the size of the island, and data varied greatly between researchers. Bird data varied less, and seems to be composed of permanent residents of the island and visitors from other islands and the mainland. Only two species of skink and one species of gecko were found in the current survey, but others have been found in earlier surveys. The only mammals on the island are the ship rat and the western grey kangaroo. The effects of tourism on Woody Island are difficult to determine because no baseline data is available. There are species that seem to have disappeared, most notably the ashy-grey mouse. More comprehensive data needs to be obtained before tourism is allowed to expand.Item Healthcare in Rural and Remote Areas of Australia(2003-02-02) Levy, LaurenThe vast expanse of land known as "Outback" Australia provides a considerable challenge to the delivery of medical care quickly and effectively to those seeking emergency treatment or even routine healthcare. Problems arising from distance and communication have led to the evolvement of a truly unique system of healthcare. The administration of medical consultation and treatment using radio, telephone, emergency aerial medical service, a volunteer ambulance network, as well as other services has become standard medical practice in areas where traditional types of treatment are unavailable or scarce. Remote healthcare involves not only the local doctors, nurses, and volunteer workers, but also the entire community of people in the surrounding area.Item A Comparison of Skin Care Attitudes Between Eastern and Western Cultures(2002-02-14) Noe, Megan H.; Fairnie, HelenThe societal definition of beauty is developed by entire cultures over time and carried out by future generations. Beauty encompasses fashion, make-up, hair, body type, and even skin color. In Western society tanned skin is considered beautiful, while Eastern culture sees pale skin as the height of beauty. Both groups have tried at length to alter their natural skin color, unfortunately not all popular methods are safe. People from the Western culture are spending more and more time out in the sun and at tanning salons, despite being aware of the dangers of ultraviolet radiation. This has been causing arise in melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, despite earlier detection rates. People from Eastern society are using skin whitening creams in an attempt to achieve a skin color whiter than their own. Not only does white cream hide any skin problems, but also some of these products contain poisonous ingredients like lead, mercury, and bismuth. With all this knowledge, the products are still popular. Overall, a society's conception of beauty seems to be more important than scientific fact and heath statistics in today's modern world.