Uni Newcastle researchers who publish scholarly papers supported by the Australian Coal Industry’s Research Programme could be feeling unloved just now, what with successful opposition in the university community to coal mine company chair Mark Vaile becoming chancellor (CMM 21,22 June)

If so they probably are not alone. Uni Newcastle is not the only university in a region built on coal-mining where staff members are unhappy with the industry. In 2020 Uni Wollongong (250kms to the south) “deferred” the Coal Operators Conference, which it had hosted since 1998, “as part of a short-term refocusing of university priorities.” Campus protests were expected if the conference occurred and university unionists had called on then Vice Chancellor Paul Wellings to commit to “zero net emissions” by 2030 (CMM January 23 2020).