Contents

02 From the President

Feature
03 Does higher education really need academic developers? 
Janice Orrell and the influence of academic development on the role of the university

Conference 2017
05 Conference photos, awards, prizes and reflections

Community
10 Recognising outstanding service
11 Science, technology, maths and engineering = STEM
12 Around the branches
13 Fellows 
14 HERDSA New Zealand
15 Ako Aotearoa
15 TERNZ
16 Who’s who in HERDSA 
16 New Scholars

Perspectives
17 From the HERD editorial desk 
Craig Whitsed and Wendy Green
17 Essential readingStephen Marshal
18 Meanderings 
Robert Cannon takes a ‘mind walk’ through aspects of academic writing
20 Is there a dark side of academia’s Internet? 
Roger Atkinson discusses the possible impact of cyber surveillance on the academic endeavour
22 Postcard from home 
Owen Hicks reflects on his international experience in his final postcard

Reviews
24 Kerri-Lee Krause The Australian higher education student experience

Showcase
25 Earthquakes, teaching labs and communication skills 
Erik Brogt reports on rapport, trust and collegiality and the development of a communication skills program