45. Retirement thoughts with Michael Buxton_TMBTP

On changing rooms, changing boundaries, and change makers: Retirement thoughts with Michael Buxton. In this episode of This Must Be The Place Elizabeth corners son-to-be Emeritus Professor Michael Buxton just before his retirement from RMIT after around 20 years. Michael describes his move to academia from state government, and as someone who has been closely involved in local government politics. Change is a recurring theme in the discussion, including changes to university management and administration styles, and changes in political cultures and attention spans. Michael and Elizabeth discuss the role of academics in public policy debates, and different strategies for this. They also discuss the merit of research and its voluminous outputs – the dream that, one day at least, someone might read it and find it useful. At least, that’s what researchers like to tell themselves. The episode finishes up on the massive collection of stuff that is Michael’s former office, much of it acquired via the garages of former public servants.