The leading cause of death for Australians is now dementia, according to the latest update on research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It's also possibly the leading topic for research engagement.
Research translation for latest insights into the progression, impact and treatment for dementia has never been more important, with 16 out of every 1,000 Australians suffering from the disease – and millions of Australians with a family member affected by the disease.
Given that this is not only National Dementia Week, but also the week for the Future Campus HE FEST conference, there will no doubt be much interest in the presentation from Distinguished Professor James Vickers, who will unveil the secrets of how the UTAS Wicking centre has delivered research insights to more than 700,000 people across the world through their ragingly popular MOOCs. Around 60% of the audience are Australian, and as an example of demonstrated research translation impact, the Wicking model has generated a lot of interest.
Word of mouth has been responsible for increased enrolments in recent years, but growth in the US appeared to be inhibited by a misunderstanding. “There is a lot of interest, but there is also apprehension, people say you are offering it for free, what is the catch, will we get request for money in the future?” Professor Vickers said.
Professor Vickers will speak at HE FEST tomorrow.