The third edition of the Cork Institute of Science and Technology's journal of science and art, Tableau 3: Arguments, will be available at selected bookstores from Thursday next.
As one of the regional technical colleges, the CIT often seemed unsure of itself and hankered after the status it felt it deserved. Having got it, the modern institute has flourished and is now sure of its place in the scheme of things. Look no further for proof than the third edition of Tableau.
Edited by June O'Reilly, a communications lecturer at CIT, the mission of the journal is to get academics from the arts and sciences talking to one another and the general public.
"The aim is to encourage debate: each argument is short, to-the-point, and most importantly, free of jargon. I believe that academics need to take risks by jumping out of their ivory towers and communicating in a way that's accessible to the general public," says Ms O'Reilly, adding that in her experience, academics don't like taking a clear stand on any issue and would rather cloak intellectual cowardice with jargon.
The latest edition of Tableau contains contributions on art, music, the university, GM foods and life itself. A multimedia CD accompanying the journal contains the full graphics and text, an illustrated article on architecture as well as the full score of Nijinsky by John Gibson.
Senator Joe O'Toole, who claims he needs a good argument before settling down for a night's sleep, will preside at a reception to mark the publication of the latest volume.