Dr Michael Meany
Senior Lecturer - Communication
School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci (Communication)
- Email:michael.meany@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4985 4525
Career Summary
Biography
Dr Meany’s background includes work as a freelance writer, photographer, a typesetter and publication designer, and as a playwright. This diverse media background allows him to bring an eclectic mix of skills to his research and teaching. He was initially employed at the University of Newcastle as a lecturer in professional writing partly on the basis of his freelance experience. However, as media technologies changed and converged so too did his teaching role and research interests. Desktop publishing evolved into web-design; film-based photography gave way to digital photography; audio and video on the web became multimedia; and, web coding became interactive interface design. His PhD, The Performance of Comedy by Artificial Intelligence Agents (2014), was an interdisciplinary study that amalgamated scripted artificial intelligence dialogue and computer interface scripting with the theory and practice of comedy and of creativity. His work since that time has continued to integrate the study of creativity with a range of disciplinary perspectives.
● Contributions to the Field:
Dr Meany’s contribution to the field of creativity research has been in two primary areas. First, the integration of theories of creativity with theories of humour and comedy. These areas share a similar philosophical history. Both disciplines have their roots in classical scholarship calling on the works of Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. Likewise, both areas were reimaged and found new prominence during the Enlightenment. Later, both areas were scrutinised through the psychological lens by Freud, Jung and others. Dr Meany in his PhD made the distinction between humour and comedy by pointing out that the construction of comedy, unlike the sometimes unintentional aspects of humour, is a systematic, intentional creative activity. Second, Dr Meany has applied the systems model of creativity to curriculum development. Not only has this resulted in direct research outputs it has also guided the development of curriculum in the School of Creative Industries. In his role as the Deputy Head of School (Teaching and Learning) Dr Meany has applied the systems model of creativity to a School wide reinvention of Programs and Courses.
● Industry and community engagement:
Rapid project, an initiative of the School of Creative Industries, aims to engage academics with industry and community groups to invent solutions, through a co-design process, to perceived social and cultural issues. Dr Meany has contributed to the two iterations of the Rapid project.
● Professional involvement – including committees, conference organisation and participation:
In 2013 Dr Meany and Professor Michael Ewans were co-convenors of the Nineteenth Colloquium on ‘Humour and Creativity’ at The University of Newcastle - City Campus, 7-9 February 2013. The Australasian Humour Studies Network’s (AHSN) interdisciplinary conference attracted eminent national and international humour scholars. International scholars came from Poland, Estonia, United Kingdom and the United State of America.
Dr Meany has been for the past three years the Co-Editor the of Humour Digest, the official publication of the AHSN. With Dr Jessica Milner-Davis, former President the International Society for Humour Studies, Dr Meany has produced sixteen editions of the Humour Digest.
Between 2012 and 2014 Dr Meany was an Associate Editor and Reviewer for three journals published by Common Ground. These journals spanned the range of Dr Meany’s research interests including: Technology and Society; Arts in Society; and, Literary Humanities.
● Supervision and mentoring:
Dr Meany currently co-supervising four PhD’s. He has been the primary supervisor on one completion and co-supervisor on four other completions. All of these completions have come from the disciplines of Communication and Media Arts. However, they have covered a range of topics including journalism, music production and cinema. The link between these projects has been the application of practice-based research methodologies and the examination of the social, cultural and psychological facets of creative activity.
Dr Meany has supervised eight Honours projects one of which won a University Medal. He has also mentored students after their successful graduation. He has co-authored three conference papers and a book chapter with past students.In his role as Deputy Head of School he has mentored colleagues in the School of Creative Industries as part of the performance review framework.● Peer review involvement:
In 2017, Dr Meany examined a Creative Project and Exegesis Higher Research Degrees for an Australian University. He has been the external examiner for two Honours projects from Australian Universities and has been an Honours examiner for eight University of Newcastle projects.
Dr Meany was an invited by the conference organizer, Dr Liisi Laineste, to review of papers submitted to the 2018 International Society for Humour StudiesConference in Estonia.● Other:
Dr Meany has used production skills to create three CD cover designs for album and EP releases. As a photographer he has been called on to cover numerous Faculty and University events.
● Teaching
Dr Meany's courses employ a collaborative learning approach where students and staff are expected to share their knowledge, skills and abilities. To further this teaching and learning strategy, students are allowed to resubmit assessment events where they feel they can demonstrate enhanced learning outcomes from assessment feedback. This strategy seeks to deal with the following issues:
- Students undertaking technology-based courses, and on-line courses, tend to have 'penny-drop' moments of understanding that may not occur in time for an assessment event.
- Students may not fully understand the assessment criteria until they see the quality of work produced by others in the class or until they receive specific feedback on their work.
- These courses require students to develop their visual, written and oral communication skills and to be not only competent but also literate across a range of media forms.
- The 'one attempt only' approach to assessment discourages students from taking creative leaps and academic risks.
This strategy is intended to allow students to fully engage with the course material and to develop for themselves the best learning outcomes. The course resubmission policy only applies to selected formative assessment events with comparatively low marks value (less than 20%). There is no penalty for resubmitting an assignment. It is not, however, intended for students wishing to engage in a petty 'marks chase'. Assessment descriptions, criteria and fully developed marking guides are supplied for each assignment on the Blackboard site. For these formative assessment tasks, the marking guides are quite prescriptive - the student must undertake the required skills development in accordance with the outcomes made explicit in the course outline. Students resubmitting an assignment need to take into account the assessment criteria as well as the specific feedback provided by their lecturer. This strategy also encourages rigorous assessment and grading. In other words, resubmission does not create a soft option. Students are completely responsible for their results; they cannot blame the course or the lecturer for their results. The only way to do well in the course is to behave professionally, stay engaged, learn from feedback, and develop critical self-reflection skills. Students are told that it is possible to do worse on an assessment event after resubmission. Where a student has thoughtlessly created new errors in their work in a poor attempt at 'fixing' the original submission, their grade can be reduced. This again reminds students that they are responsible for their grade and for the approach they take to their studies. The application of these strategies leads to a high level of student satisfaction, evidenced through formal survey results and informal communication.
Administrative Expertise
Dr Meany's career has been punctuated with periods of where hehas undertaken duties usually reserved for more senior academics. For example, as a Level A academic, he undertook my first term as a Program Convenor (Program Coordinator as it was known then) for the Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies). Since being promoted to Level B he has undertaken the Program Convenor role on several occasions for the Bachelor of Communication and the combined Bachelor of Communication/Laws, as well as, the Master of Digital Media. Mostly recently, his service to the School has been as Deputy Head of School.
Collaborations
My primary research interests revolve around the combined domains of humour studies and creativity research. I collaborate with with colleagues from various organisations including: Australasian Humour Studies Network; International Society for Humor Studies; and, Australia and New Zealand Communication Association.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Victoria University - Australia
- Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies), University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Newcastle
- Master of Creative Arts, University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Audio and Video Editing
- Computers and Theatre
- Humour
- Interactive media
- New Media Production
- Print Editing
- Professional Writing
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
---|---|---|
470101 | Communication studies | 40 |
470102 | Communication technology and digital media studies | 60 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|
Senior Lecturer - Communication | University of Newcastle School of Creative Industries Australia |
Academic appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
1/1/1997 - | Senior Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Design Communication and IT Australia |
Awards
Research Award
Year | Award |
---|---|
2012 |
International Award for Excellence Unknown |
2007 |
International Award for Excellence - Runner-up Unknown |
Invitations
Participant
Year | Title / Rationale |
---|---|
2013 |
Convenor Organisation: Australasian Humour Studies Network Description: I convened the 19th Australasian Humour Studies Network Colloquium on ‘Humour and Creativity’ held at The University of Newcastle - City Campus, 7-9 February 2013. This iteration of the Colloquium attracted a very strong cohort of national and international delegates. |
Speaker
Year | Title / Rationale |
---|---|
2013 |
Keep Laughing... This is Serious Organisation: Northern Sydney Region Primary Principals Conference Description: I was invited to give a presentation on the topic of Humour and Creativity at the Northern Sydney Region Primary Principals Conference held in Terrigal, NSW, June 6-7, 2013. This invitation was a result of convening the 2013 Australasin Humour Colloquium in Newcastle in February 2013. |
2006 |
Michael Meany Organisation: Assumption University, Bangkok, Description: In 2006 I received an invitation to give a guest lecture to staff and students of Assumption University, Bangkok, Thailand. This was an opportunity for the UoN in general and the Faculty of Science & IT in particular to raise our University's profile and promote our Bachelor of Communication program to students, staff and management of Assumption University. |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Book (2 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2023 |
McIntyre K, Fulton J, Kerrigan S, Meany M, Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industries: How Innovative Agents, Skills and Networks Interact, Palgrave MacMillan, Basingstoke, UK (2023) [A1]
|
Nova | ||||||
2018 |
McIntyre KCP, Fulton JM, Paton EJ, Kerrigan SM, Meany MM, Educating for Creativity within Higher Education: Integration of Research into Media Practice, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 240 (2018) [A1]
|
Nova |
Chapter (4 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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2021 | Meany M, 'The Making and the Made: The Intersection of Theory and Practice in the Creative Industries', The Elephant's Leg Adventures in the Creative Industries, Common Ground Publishing, Champaign, Illinois 345-359 (2021) [B1] | Nova | |||||||||
2019 |
Kerrigan S, McIntyre KCP, Fulton J, Meany M, 'Systems Centered Learning Approach to Creative Practice in Communication and Media Teaching', Encyclopedia of Educational Innovation, Springer, Singapore, Singapore 119-125 (2019)
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2017 | Brady D, Meany MM, 'Search Engines as Opinion Leaders', Creating Space in the Fifth Estate, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne 129-143 (2017) [B1] | Nova | |||||||||
2016 |
Meany MM, 'Comedy, Creativity, Agency: The Hybrid Individual', The Creative System in Action: Understanding Cultural Production and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, UK 169-184 (2016) [B1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
Show 1 more chapter |
Journal article (9 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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2020 |
Kerrigan S, McIntyre P, Fulton J, Meany M, 'The systemic relationship between creative failure and creative success in the creative industries', Creative Industries Journal, 13 2-16 (2020) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2014 | Meany MM, Clark T, Joseph S, 'Comedy and Artificial Intelligence: Do We Laugh When a Thing Gives the Impression of Being a Person?', The International Journal of New Media, Technology and the Arts, 8 21-34 (2014) [C1] | Nova | |||||||||
2014 | Meany MM, Clark T, Laineste L, 'Comedy, Creativity, and Culture: A Metamodern Perspective', THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LITERARY HUMANITIES, 11 1-15 (2014) [C1] | Nova | |||||||||
2013 |
Meany MM, Clark T, 'Design dramaturgy: A case study in new media, humor and artificial intelligence', Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal, 6 59-71 (2013) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2012 |
Meany MM, Clark T, 'Chat-bot humour: A survey of methodological approaches for a creative new media project', The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, 8 23-32 (2012) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
2011 | Meany MM, Clark T, 'Scripting humour in conversational agents: Improvisation and emergence of humorous interchanges', International Journal of the Arts in Society, 5 225-235 (2011) [C1] | Nova | |||||||||
2010 |
Meany MM, Clark T, 'Humour theory and conversational agents: An application in the development of computer-based agents', The International Journal of the Humanities, 8 129-140 (2010) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2007 | Meany MM, 'Interactive, new media poetry: Is such a thing possible?', International Journal of the Humanities, 5 1-7 (2007) [C1] | Nova | |||||||||
2006 | Meany MM, 'The Semblance of Truth', The International Journal of the Arts in Society, 1 33-40 (2006) [C1] | Nova | |||||||||
Show 6 more journal articles |
Conference (28 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2023 | Meany M, 'Metamodernism: Oscillations, Energy and Entropy.', La Trobe University (2023) | |||||||
2023 | Meany M, 'Representations of Academics in Plays', online and Abercrombie Business School, The University of Sydney. (2023) | |||||||
2021 |
Fulton J, McIntyre K, Kerrigan S, Meany M, 'Journalists as creative entrepreneurs', University of Canberra (2021)
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2017 | Meany MM, 'Creativity and curriculum design: an integrated model.', http://www.anzca.net/conferences/past-conferences/2017-conf/p2.html, Sydney (2017) [E1] | Nova | ||||||
2015 | Hookham G, Meany MM, 'The Spectrum of States: Comedy, Humour and Engagement in Games.', Proceedings of the 11th Australasian Conference on Interactive Entertainment (IE 2015)., University of Western Sydney (2015) [E1] | Nova | ||||||
2015 | Meany MM, 'The Cake is a Lie: Ideology, Humour and Comedy in Portal', Abstracts and Program Twenty First AHSN Conference, State Library of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia (2015) [E3] | |||||||
2014 | Meany MM, 'Comedy - A Computationally Intractable Problem', Program and Abstracts Twentieth AHSN Colloquium on 'Anything Goes'., National Library of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand. (2014) [E3] | |||||||
2014 |
Hookham G, Meany MM, 'Perspective Shifting: Humour and Comedy in Games', IE2014 Proceedings of the 2014 Conference on Interactive Entertainment, Newcastle (2014) [E1]
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Nova | ||||||
2013 | Meany MM, 'Humour and creativity - Theoretical congruence', Program and Abstracts Nineteenth Colloquium on 'Humour and Creativity', Newcastle, NSW (2013) [E3] | |||||||
2012 | Meany MM, 'The vaudeville 'two-act' in a new media environment', The 18th AHSN Annual Colloquium on "Varieties of Humour and Laughter", Canberra, ACT (2012) [E3] | |||||||
2011 | Meany MM, 'Incongruity: Human-like machines and machine-like humans', 17th Australiasian Humour Studies Network (AHSN) Colloquium on 'Time, Place and Humour' Abstracts, Hobart, Tas (2011) [E3] | |||||||
2010 | Meany MM, 'Testing an inversion of Bergson's 'new law' of humour', Proceedings of the 10th International Summer School and Symposium on Humour and Laughter: Theory, Research and Application, Boldern-Mannedorf (2010) [E3] | |||||||
2007 | Meany MM, 'Humour, anxiety, and Csikszentmihalyi's concept of flow', 3rd Global Conference : Creative Engagements - Thinking with Children. Conference Program, Abstracts and Papers, Sydney (2007) [E1] | Nova | ||||||
2006 | Meany MM, 'Another Triumvirate: Creativity; Practitioner Based Enquiry; and, New Media', 6th Annual Conference of Early Career Academics, University of Newcastle-Treehouse (2006) [E2] | |||||||
2001 | Meany MM, 'The Sensorium of Computer Mediated Education', IASTED Computers and Advanced technology in Education Conference, Banff, Alberta, Canada (2001) [E1] | Nova | ||||||
2001 | Russell K, Meany MM, 'Merewether Baths will never look the same again', Computing Arts 2001, University of Sydney (2001) [E2] | |||||||
2001 | Meany MM, Russell K, 'The Cultural Spiral: Virtual Spaces as Records of Time:VRML Technologies', Computing Arts 2001: Digital Resources for Research in the Humanities, University of Sydney (2001) [E2] | |||||||
Show 25 more conferences |
Creative Work (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Meany MM, Print Projections, Watt Space, Newcastle (2004) [J2] |
Thesis / Dissertation (3 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Meany MM, The Performance of Comedy by Artificial Intelligence Agents, Victoria University (2014) | ||
2011 | Fulton JM, Making the news: print journalism and the creative process, University of Newcastle (2011) | Nova | |
2006 | Meany MM, A Playwright s Toolkit The Instruments, Tools and Agency of a Playwright in the Creative Writing Process., University of Newcastle (2006) |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 4 |
---|---|
Total funding | $128,480 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20192 grants / $125,280
Early Career Researcher HDR Candidate Scholarship$110,384
Funding body: Universtiy of Newcastle
Funding body | Universtiy of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | ECR HDR Candidate Scholarship |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2019 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Creativity in Higher Education Network (CHEN)$14,896
Funding body: Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | A/Professor Phillip McIntyre (Lead), Dr Janet Fulton, Dr Susan Kerrigan, Dr Michael Meany |
Scheme | Strategic Network and Pilot Project Grants Scheme |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2019 |
Funding Finish | 2019 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20071 grants / $1,700
The fifth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities, 17/7/2007 - 20/7/2007, American University Paris$1,700
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Michael Meany |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2007 |
Funding Finish | 2007 |
GNo | G0187602 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20061 grants / $1,500
International Conference on the Arts in Society, Edinburgh, Scotland, 15-18 August 2006$1,500
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Michael Meany |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2006 |
Funding Finish | 2006 |
GNo | G0186817 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | PhD | A Study into Video Games and their Interrelationship with Artistic History and Literary Legacy | PhD (Design), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2019 | PhD | Exploring the Placement/Replacement of Eurasian Character and Story in Contemporary Australian Writing for Performance | PhD (Comm & Media Arts), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2017 | PhD | Technological Innovation and Adherence to Tradition: The Creation, Design and Manufacture of the Acoustic Steel-string Guitar. | PhD (Comm & Media Arts), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Past Supervision
Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | PhD | Exploring the Creative Capacity of The Shoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival | PhD (Comm & Media Arts), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2023 | PhD | The Map of the Moment: The Factors that Afford Identity in the Recorded Moment of the Female Singer Songwriter in Her Studio Performance | PhD (Comm & Media Arts), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2019 | PhD | Defining and Measuring Engagement in Serious Games | PhD (Information Technology), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2018 | PhD | Understanding the Excessive Use of Hyper-Compression in Music Production: A Systems-Based Approach to Examining Innovative Change in the Field of Music Production | PhD (Comm & Media Arts), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2016 | PhD | Communication, Creativity and Consilience in Cinema: A Comparative Study of the Top 20 Return-on-Investment (RoI) Movies and the Doxa of Screenwriting | PhD (Comm & Media Arts), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2014 | PhD | Profiling Creativity: An Exploration of the Creative Process Through the Practice of Freelance Print Journalism | PhD (Comm & Media Arts), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2013 | PhD | Rock, This City: A Thematic History of Live Popular Music in Licensed Venues in Newcastle, Australia, During the Oz/Pub Rock Era (1970s and 80s) | PhD (Comm & Media Arts), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2011 | PhD | Making the News: Print Journalism and the Creative Process | PhD (Comm & Media Arts), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Research Projects
Creativity in Higher Education 2018 -
The A1 book publication, Educating for Creativity within Higher Education (2018) is about how to go about creating the conditions for bringing novel and valued things into being. It is about Systems Centered Learning (SCL) for creative professionals. This innovative approach to educating for creativity has been developed by this research team at UON to assist teachers, students, and anyone interested in getting the best out of their higher education experience. The research team has been successful in gaining a SNaPP grant to allow them to set up the Creativity in Higher Education Network (CHEN) which has scholars from around the nation who are researching and teaching involved in the network. The research team from UON are now involved in expanding these links by publishing collected papers in an edited book with the scholars who attended a recent symposium organized by the UON research team. This team was praised by world’s leading creativity researcher Prof Mihaly Csikszentmihlayi. He wrote that “the group of researchers at Newcastle who contributed to this book are at the forefront of scholarship dedicated to understanding how humankind has been using creativity in the past, and how the process can be supported in the future. To my knowledge, there has been no previous center anywhere on the planet where such a close-knit and dedicated group of scholars has existed quite like this one.” A Discovery grant application is now under way to investigate the cross cultural implications of the SCL approach to educating for creativity in higher education.
Publications
McIntyre KCP, Fulton JM, Paton EJ, Kerrigan SM, Meany MM, Educating for Creativity within Higher Education: Integration of Research into Media Practice, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 240 (2018) [A1]
Kerrigan SM, McIntyre KCP, Fulton JM, Meany MM, Paton EJ, 'Educating for Creativity: Media Practice Teaching and Research in Higher Education', Hong Kong (2018)
McIntyre KCP, Kerrigan SM, Fulton JM, Meany MM, 'The Creative System in Action Applied through Communication and Media Research and Teaching', Ashland, Oregon, USA (2018)
Collaborators
Name | Organisation |
---|---|
Associate Professor Susan Maree Kerrigan | University of Newcastle |
Doctor Janet Michelle Fulton | University of Newcastle |
Doctor Elizabeth Jo Paton | University of Newcastle |
Doctor Michael Maurice Meany | University of Newcastle |
Edit
Dr Michael Meany
Position
Senior Lecturer - Communication
School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci
College of Human and Social Futures
Focus area
Communication
Contact Details
michael.meany@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | (02) 4985 4525 |
Fax | (02) 4921 5896 |
Office
Room | Level 4, Desk 10, NUSpace |
---|---|
Building | NUSpace |
Location | City Campus, NUSpace , |