*** Research***
It is the Publicity Agent's office. It is the usual mess of papers, empty boxes and miscellaneous litter. The Capt'n enters. The Publicly Agent pushes some papers off the spare chair and onto the floor.
Publicity Agent
Please excuse the paucity of chairs.
Capt'n
Paucity?
Publicity Agent
"Limited in number or quantity". I picked it up from the "Research and Research Training Management Plan". I was looking through the plan to see how it relates to the ' Bar.
(hands copy of plan to Capt'n)
Capt'n indicating stamp on each page
It's a draft.
Publicity Agent
You're cold? All of Applied Science 2 is like this. If you want to warm up go into the storeroom next door. If you really want to cool down, go up to the next floor. Then you'll find out what a draught is.
Capt'n
Well, what else have you learnt?
Publicity Agent
Fora.
[Research Plan section 2.6 - ed.]
Capt'n
Fora what?
Publicity Agent
Fora instance, that's another new word, fora.
Capt'n
What does it mean?
Publicity Agent
Oh, I've only learnt the word, not its meaning. I suspect it's the plural of forum, but I can't prove it.
Capt'n flicking through plan
Is there anything here that concerns us?
Publicity Agent
In section 4.2 there's some talk about inviting research students to social functions. It seems that we are already achieving there.
Capt'n
Yes, we run that seventy cents for a glass of white special for them.
Publicity Agent
One thing that really caught my eye was the objective to promote and encourage curiosity driven research. The novelty of the idea of during research because you were curious quite got my curiosity up. I decided I should indulge in some real research, so I looked in the current La Trobe University Bulletin to see what others were up to and to get some ideas.
Capt'n
Well?
Publicity Agent
There's a postgraduate working on space tourism. I thought I could do something on submarine tourism. Perhaps convert a Grundy bin to a bathysphere, use the louvres off the Applied Science 1 penthouse as guidence vanes, and do dives in Lake Eppalock.
Capt'n
If you want to do the tourism bit, there's that local bloke who's doing ballooning.
Publicity Agent
I believe he's rising to higher levels.
There's also an article in the Bulletin about someone doing her PhD thesis on Queen Victoria's attitude to Motherhood. I thought I might try doing some work on Richard the Third 's attitude to Fatherhood.
Capt'n
This promo's struggling a bit.
Publicity Agent
Yes it is, rather.
Capt'n
Just tell the readers what they need to know.
Publicity Agent
Okay
Campbell Bar, via Baker Street, Applied Science 2, 5:00 Friday.
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