The eighth Sustainable Development Goal the United Nations hopes to see achieved in our lifetime is Decent Work and Economic Growth. The aim is to create a future in which we "Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all".

JCU has a number of researchers working in the fields of Sustainability,Sustainable Livelihoods, Business Performance,Small Business,Entrepreneurship, Developing Countries and Emerging Economies.


One of our Singapore-based researchers and lecturers is Dr Emiel Eijdenberg, who has a strong research focus in entrepreneurship in developing countries.

Dr Eijdenberg is particularly interested in the personal attributes of entrepreneurs and how these attributes are related to the sustainable growth of their businesses.

For research and consulting projects, Dr Eijdenberg has secured in collaboration with others significant amounts of funding from multiple organisations and is involved as…

We have two reviews of books that contain genre crossing stories within stories for this week's Reading Challenge post. One book was published over 170 years ago, while the other is brand new - published this year. This month's theme of "Family and Society" is not new, but it's never old...

We have a guest review from community borrower Lydia Sharpe, who is visiting lesser known Bronte sister Anne's book: a fictional diary within an epistolary novel. And Sharon has snaffled Emily Rodda's latest book, which has a fairy tale within a ghost story. Perhaps we should have a book review within a book review...

Remember, if you want to contribute a guest review for our Reading Challenge, send it to us at library@jcu.edu.au. Our favourite books are the ones we have in our collection, but as long as you can borrow them from one of the libraries around the place, we're happy.

Lydia Sharpe read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Bronte.

Anne Bronte was never as …

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

This year's theme is Climate Action for Peace, based on Sustainable Development Goal 13, Climate Action. This goal calls for immediate action to lower greenhouse emissions, build resilience and improve education on climate change. Every human is part of the solution - from turning off the lights to taking public transport, to raising awareness in your community.

The United Nations supports student involvement in helping to achieve this goal, and has designated 20 September as International Day of Peace Student Observance. Students rallies are being held across the nation, including in Cairns and Townsville.
The Peace Day celebrations continue on Saturday, 21 September with a Peace Day Festival in Yorkey's Knob and a CommUnity Peace Picnic in Townsville.
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The UN's Sustainable Development Goals are designed to identify objectives that will tangibly improve the lives of people all over the planet (and the quality of life for the planet itself, as well).

Goal number 7 is Affordable and Clean Energy - which is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

The United Nations states that progress towards goal 7 in 2019 has seen access to electricity in the poorest countries begin to accelerate. Energy efficiency continues to improve and renewable energy is making gains in the electricity sector. Despite this progress, some 800 million people remain without electricity while access to clean cooking fuels and technologies needs dedicated attention.
For this week's showcase on JCU research and the UN SDGs, we'd like to highlight a researcher from the College of Science and Engineering.

Associate Professor Ahmad Zahedi  from JCU College of Science and Engineeri…

In 2019, the Australian Reading Hour will take place on Thursday, 19 September. The premise is simple – pick up a book at any time of the day or night and read for an hour. Reading Hour encourages all Australians to either rediscover or introduce themselves to the benefits of reading. Take the time to learn, escape and relax.

In children, reading has been shown to help with identity formation, setting them up for success in the future. In adults, reading has been shown to reduce stress by 68%, more than listening to music, going for a walk, or having a cup of tea.

So what are you waiting for? You can use One Search or the library catalogue to find your reading material, either print or online. If you're looking for inspiration, check out some of the book reviews from the library's Reading Challenge.

The library buildings in Cairns and Townsville occupy three floors, and each floor has a different purpose. If you know what the floors are for, then you can find the right floor for your study needs.

The ground floor is for collaboration and consultation. This is the floor where you'll find most of the library services (and the Learning Centre, and other services), where you can ask for help, and where you can find group study spaces. You can take phone calls on this floor (but we'd like you to be mindful of your neighbours and take them quietly). This is the best floor for group work. It is a "talking floor", but it's not a "loud" floor - if you think you're going to want to make noise, please move to the student spaces outside the buildings.


The first floor is a shared study space, and a designated quiet zone. While we don't mind if you talk on this floor, please keep your voices at a low level and be mindful of other users in the space. There …

The nation of Papua New Guinea achieved its independence from Australia on 16 September 1975. Independence Day is celebrated with flag raising ceremonies, open air music, dances and markets, and fireworks. The national colours gold, red and black feature prominently in the streets, shops and homes (Public Holidays Global).

James Cook University has strong connections with Papua New Guinea, including: the University of Papua New Guinea Twinning Projecta significant number of research outputs , accessible through Research Onlinespecial collections, including the Bragge Collection The Bragge Collection features two intimately connected components - more than 600 material culture artefacts collected by Laurie Bragge during the time he lived and worked in Papua New Guinea, and the extensive personal library he amassed containing various resources, which he used extensively when writing his multi-volume history of the Sepik. Selected artefacts from the collection are on display for a limited…

This week, for the 2019 Reading Challenge, we promise to review two works that are not, in any way shape or form, Frankenstein.

This week we're looking at the society side of the "Family and Society" theme, using a couple of interesting lenses. Shannon reviews a book in which an entire society has to get together to prove it exists, while Sharon reads a story in which civilised society falls in a heap when there's a deserted island involved (no, it's not Lord of the Flies - although that book would definitely fit this month's theme).

Shannon Harmon read Horton Hears a Who, by Dr Seuss.

Dr Seuss' books are great for kids and adults alike. Kids for reading and speech development and the stories themselves, and for adults when rereading these books to discover and appreciate the story and message contained within. I personally hated Dr Seuss as a child, but reading them now to my son, I love them with the wacky language and simple storytelling of the world (y…

Developing and maintaining good mental health is essential to one's overall well-being, resulting in benefits for both the individual, workplace and community. It’s normal to experience mental health issues, to go through 'ups and downs'. But university life can be particularly difficult with the stress of a new environment and the pressures of assignments and exams.

JCU is hosting two events to highlight the importance of good mental health and support students and staff:

Let's Chalk About Mental Health
World Suicide Prevention Day on Tuesday 10 September provides an opportunity to raise awareness of suicide prevention.Everyone is welcome to participate by writing chalk messages of support, understanding and help. Red Frogs will be cooking up free pancakes.
Date: Tuesday, 10 September
Time: 9:00am-10:00amVenue: Founders Green (CNS); Verandah Walk, near The Science Place (TSV)

R U OK? Day - Join us for coffee, cupcakes and conversation
R U OK? Day is an opportunity to…

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are a collection of 17 objectives that we can work on together to improve the quality of life for all people, and support the planet at the same time.

We've been looking at an SDG a week, and finding examples of JCU research or activity which supports that SDG.

SDG 6 is Clean Water and Sanitation, and seeks to "ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all".

According to the 2017 Sustainable Infrastructure Report in the State of the Tropics, close to 20% of people in the Tropics struggle to access sources of clean water. The report cites "clean water and sanitation" (along with access to clean, reliable and affordable energy) as something that can "help reduce poverty and hunger, improve health outcomes and wellbeing, promote access to education, and assist in realising gender equality".

A 2018 article by JCU Public Health lectures and researchers (in collaboration with…