uq news online uq news · dr baker’s research also found the annual cost of the treatment program...
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Hadean era exposed 6
UQ News Onlinewww.uq.edu.au/news
UQ NEWSUQ NEWSUQ News Onlinewww.uq.edu.au/news
AUGUST 2003 NO. 528
CROCODILEHUNTERS 5
Hadean era exposed 6
ROLLING BACKROCKS RECORD
Discovernew frontiersat one ofAustralia’stop ratinguniversities
The 2004 edition of the Good Universities Guide rates UQ higher than any
other university in Queensland and among the elite universities nationwide.
Add to this UQ’s position within the top three research universities in
Australia, award-winning teaching staff, and state-of-the-art facilities – and
there are a host of reasons why UQ puts you a world ahead.
Learn more at www.uq.edu.au/study.
GRADUATIONCEREMONIES
DISCOVERINGTHE ORIGINS OFLIFE ON EARTH
TEDI’S 30THBIRTHDAYCELEBRATIONS
BLOOD-CLOTTINGMODIFICATIONDRUG DEVELOPED
IN PRINT: DRHAIDA LUKE
TRACKING CROCODILE MOVEMENTS ................................. 5
ORIENTATION PROGRAM AND ST LUCIA OPEN DAY .......... 9
NEW MUSIC CULTURE COURSES FOR UQ IPSWICH .......... 10
CANCER RESEARCH DONATION ........................................ 11
IPSWICH RAILWAY WORKSHOPS EXHIBITION .................. 15
SCHOOL OF MUSIC CONCERT ............................................ 16
UNIQUE ART BOOK LAUNCHED ......................................... 17
INAUGURAL TENNIS CHALLENGE ...................................... 18
RUGBY PLAYER RETURNS FROM WORLD CUP .................. 19
FIRST UQ PROFESSIONAL BIOTECH DOCTORATE ............. 22
HITTITES FILMSEEKS UQ HELP
message fromthe VICE-CHANCELLOR
UQ's Teaching and EducationalDevelopment Institute (TEDI)turned 30 recently (see storypage 8) and the celebration wasmore than merely markinganother birthday – it was anoccasion to acknowledge the
remarkable transformation in teaching at the University.
In the past three decades pedagogical and technologicalchanges have driven TEDI's approach.
The shift away from what the teacher does to how thestudent learns influenced TEDI's direction in teachingand learning strategies. Equally, technologicaladvancements presented both challenges andopportunities, and the Internet now plays a key role inlearning processes at UQ.
Among TEDI's many achievements was its role inestablishing the UQ Awards for Excellence in Teachingwhich are now a highlight in the University calendar.
The Institute has made an important contribution to arange of multimedia and flexible learning initiatives overmany years. Last year TEDI ran 167 teaching andlearning courses for 1662 academic staff members;processed 125,151 student and 1045 course evaluations;and helped develop more than 150 e-learning courses.
In the midst of rapid change, TEDI's emphasis has alwaysbeen on service to people. With this approach andcommitment, I am confident this vital unit will continue tosupport excellence in teaching at UQ.
Professor John HayVice-Chancellor
August 12, 2003 Issue 528
COVER PHOTO: Dr Balz Kamber from the Advanced Centre for Queensland
University Isotope Research Excellence (ACQUIRE).
UQ NEWS is produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications, TheUniversity of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia Telephone: (07) 3365 3367Facsimile: (07) 3365 1488 Editor: Brad Turner (07) 3365 2659, [email protected]: Joanne van Zeeland (07) 3365 2619, [email protected]; Chris Saxby(07) 3365 2479, [email protected] Art: Wendy Oakley Photography: Chris Stacey(07) 3365 1735, [email protected]; Diana Lilley (photo librarian) (07) 3365 2753,[email protected] Printing: Print Works, GeebungCirculation: 15,000Advertising (external): John Treacy and Associates (07) 3846 0655 (internal): TinaHannan (07) 3365 2049Registered by Australia Post Publication No. QBH 0104The University of Queensland’s web address is www.uq.edu.au
UQ news 4
12 14 21
6 8
Blood-clotting drug
Aboriginal epidemicPreventing a rise in the alarming renal failure rate of anAboriginal community is the aim of a UQ PhD graduate.
UQ’s Dr Philip Baker has spentthe past three years looking at
how to prevent kidney failure inAboriginals.
Dr Baker, who graduated with aPhD in July, completed his thesisamong the Tiwi people of the NorthernTerritory (NT), who until recently hada renal failure rate 60 times higher thanthe non-Aboriginal NT population.
“Renal failure causes muchsuffering for Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander people,” Dr Baker said.
“Treatment involves regular travelfor medical care, frequent bloodsamples, the discomfort and often theneed to relocate away from familymembers for dialysis.”
Dr Baker, in collaboration with theMenzies School of Health Research inDarwin, evaluated the effects and costsof a screening treatment programdeveloped by his supervisor ProfessorWendy Hoy from the School ofMedicine.
The program operated in part-nership with local health boards andhealth workers and focused on the
administration of prescriptionmedicines combined with rigorousblood pressure control. People at riskor with early renal disease in the TiwiIslands were targeted.
Over the assessment period,clinical data indicated a markedimprovement in the participants’health and the need for dialysis fell.
Dr Baker’s research also found theannual cost of the treatment programwas $1210 per person per year.
This was offset by cost savings,estimated at between $800,000 to$11.4 million over three years basedupon a reduced need for dialysis.
The research was funded by aNational Health and MedicalResearch Council scholarship andfollowed a World Health Organisationneeds-based health technologyassessment method.
Dr Baker said the findings high-lighted the importance of fundinghealth interventions which reduced anidentified burden of illness ratherthan those driven by new tech-nological breakthroughs.
UQ researchers have developed
a new drug to modify blood-
clotting that does not have the
side effects of existing
medications.
The researchers have receivedventure capital and governmentsupport to help commercialise theirresearch.
The investment consortium was ledby a $428,000 investment fromUniSeed Pty Ltd, a dedicated pre-seedfund established by UQ Holdings PtyLtd and Melbourne University Private.
The new Brisbane-based company,Thrombostat Pty Ltd, also received$250,000 through AusIndustry’sBiotechnology Innovation Fund, and$125,000 under the QueenslandGovernment’s $3 million BioStartprogram.
UniQuest Pty Ltd, UQ’s main tech-nology commercialisation company,formed Thrombostat earlier this year.
The company aims to developseveral new compounds that inhibit
blood clotting with potentially far lessside effects than drugs such as aspirin,which were identified by researchersled by Professor Michael Roberts andDr Daniel Hung of UQ’s School ofMedicine.
“This is life-saving research, asmore than 50,000 people die ofcardiovascular disease each year inAustralia,” said Queensland Govern-ment Innovation Minister Paul Lucas.
“Millions of patients worldwide areprescribed some form of anti-clottingmedication to help prevent strokes andthrombosis, however up to 60 percentof patients have adverse reactions suchas chronic stomach ulcers.”
He said the global market for anti-clotting agents to treat cardiovasculardisease and thrombosis was worthabout $4.3 billion.
The company Directors, Uni-Seed’s Dr Peter Devine, UniQuest’s DrLisa Bidwell and Professor Roberts,said the capital injection would propelthe new drugs further along the comm-ercialisation pathway.
Dr Baker
UQ NEWS, august 20034
by Chris Saxby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ajoint project being carried outby Queensland Parks and
Wildlife Service (QPWS) and UQ isattempting to reduce negative humaninteraction with estuarine crocodilesby tracking their movements.
Former UQ PhD student Dr MarkRead from QPWS’s Crocodile Man-
agement Unit, is attempting to tracethe movements of the world’s largestliving reptile using satellite trackingsystems placed on crocodiles in theEndeavour River in Cooktown, northQueensland.
He is collaborating with twointernationally-recognised authoritieson the biology and physiology ofcrocodiles – Professor Gordon Griggand Associate Professor Craig Franklinfrom UQ’s School of Life Sciences, aswell as QPWS’s Crocodile Man-agement Advisory Committee.
Dr Read, who is chief investigatoron the project, said the project wouldhelp with the management of theanimals.
“We have limited information onthe spatial requirements of largeestuarine crocodiles so this project willmake our knowledge and understand-ing of how they use space through timeinternationally significant,” he said.
“This information will not onlyincrease our knowledge of the biologyof these animals but also hasimplications for the management ofthis potentially dangerous speciesthroughout its natural range.”
Professor Grigg said satellitetransmitters had been attached to thelarge scales of the nuchal shield onthe necks of two crocodiles after one4.35 metre male and one 2.65 metrefemale had been caught in trapsfloating in the Endeavour River.
“Both crocodiles were released asclose to their capture location aspossible and on the same day theywere taken from the floating traps sothe time they were kept from thewaterway was minimised,” he said.
He said the male crocodile hadbeen named Charles after the lateCooktown herpetologist CharlesTanner, regarded as one of the fathersof herpetology in Australia.
Satellite trackingsystems are beingused to trace themovements ofcrocodiles in theState’s far north.
Croco-dials scale up studyMr Tanner’s bequest to support
crocodile research was instrumental inproviding funding for the project.
The female crocodile was namedHarriett after Professor Harry Messel,the first person to try to study themovement of estaurine crocodiles byradio telemetry and who, as Head ofthe University of Sydney’s School ofPhysics, first supported ProfessorGrigg’s interest in crocodiles.
Dr Franklin said the local peoplehad great respect for crocodiles.
“It is about living with crocodilesand making sure the interactions arepositive and not negative,” he said.
“Records show that males cangrow in excess of seven metres witha body mass of around one tonne.”
Dr Franklin said the long-termplan was to attach between 10 and 20transmitters to crocodiles residing inwaterways around Weipa in the north-western Cape York Peninsula.
A floating crocodile trap moored in the Endeavour River. Loading a trapped crocodile onto a boat trailer. Removing Charles the crocodile from the trap.
Dr Read (centre) and teammembers after attaching asatellite-monitored radio tag toCharles the crocodile. PHOTOS:PROFESSOR GORDON GRIGG
UQ NEWS, august 2003 5
briefin
History set in
When did life on Earth originateand what kind of environment
was it established in?A team from UQ’s Advanced
Centre for Queensland University Iso-tope Research Excellence (ACQUIRE)hope to discover the answers from theirinvestigations into a time in the Earth’shistory between 4.68 and 3.85 billionyears ago known as the Hadean era.
ACQUIRE senior research fellowDr Balz Kamber said the problemwith finding answers was that theHadean era left no rock record.
“The absence of rocks for theperiod we are trying to understandobviously determines the limitedmethods we can apply for studying thistime window,” Dr Kamber said.
“Hence the situation is like aforensic problem where no witnessescan be found for a case.”
The team’s only alternative hasbeen to study the oldest known rocksfrom the period immediately after theHadean era in the hope they containsome memory of the time before theyformed.
Using a combination of fieldwork,geochemical data and sophisticatedradiogenic isotope data from a varietyof rocks from south-west Greenlandand northern Labrador, they havediscovered a range of such memories.
Dr Kamber said the most im-portant discovery was that the oldestknown rocks chemically intact, con-tain an unexpected range of initiallead (Pb) isotope ratios.
Vanishing rocks could hold the secrets to theorigins of life on Earth, according to a teamof University researchers.
These ratios provide importantclues to how the Earth looked duringthe Hadean era.
“The bottom line of this findingis that not only do Pb isotopes in theserocks show that during the Hadeanperiod the Earth was encased in acrust of basalt like the moon, but alsothat this crust must have formed by4.4 billion years ago and thenpersisted until around 3.85 billionyears ago,” Dr Kamber said.
“It is that persistence that isremarkable in view of the fact that itthen all of a sudden completely dis-appeared.”
Dr Kamber said the key to the dis-appearance of the ancient terrestrialcrust was the establishment ofsubduction where the edge of a crustalplate is forced below the edge ofanother.
ACQUIRE Director ProfessorKen Collerson said the presence of anocean permitted subduction of platesand caused the disappearance of theHadean crust.
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... the situation
is like a forensic
problem where no
witnesses can be
found for a case’
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Teachers neededThe Institute of Continuing
and TESOL Education (ICTE-
UQ) is looking for people with
relevant degrees and
experience to offer short
courses in its Community
Education Program for 2004.
Subjects include: human
society; science and natural
environment; the arts;
literature and philosophy;
effective writing; personal and
professional development;
business and finance; and
computers.
Information: 07 3365 6739,
www.icte.uq.edu.au
Vale Carolyn BakerUQ Associate Professor
Carolyn Baker died on July 12.
Dr Baker was appointed to
UQ’s School of Education in
1991 and served as an elected
member of Academic Board, a
member of the Standing
Committee of Academic Board
and Director of Research and
Postgraduate Studies in the
School of Education.
She had an international
reputation in the sociology of
reading, literacy, ethnomethod-
ology and the application of
conversational analysis to
educational talk.
Getting a roll onUQ staff and students are
invited to enter rolling devices
with three or more wheels in
the Forstaff roll for research
from 8.30–11am on August 31,
UQ St Lucia.
The riverside event kicks
off with breakfast and con-
cludes with prize presentations
in various categories.
Donations of $20 per team
(three to four people) will
benefit research at the Royal
Brisbane and Royal Women’s
hospitals.
Volunteer marshalls are
required and will receive a free
breakfast.
Information: 07 3636 7748
Wells public lectureRegenerative medicine will be
discussed at the upcoming
2003 Wells Bequest Public
Lecture.
It will be held on August
28 at 6pm in the Institute for
Molecular Bioscience Audi-
torium, Queensland Bioscience
Precinct, UQ St Lucia.
The Director of the Parker
H. Petit Institute for Bioeng-
ineering and Bioscience in the
United States, Professor
Robert Nerem, will discuss
Regenerative medicine: The
science, the technology and in
the industry.
RSVP: 07 3365 1950,
Back to UQ GattonUQ Gatton graduates are invi-
ted to attend a Back to College
Weekend on December 6–7.
The Gatton College Past
Students Association Inc is org-
anising the event, with feature
years including 1953, 1963,
1973, 1978, 1983 and 1993.
Information: 07 5460 1724,
ADHD research callThe UQ Psychology Clinic is
asking parents of children
diagnosed with Attention-
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
to help in an important
research project.
The project will evaluate
strategies from a new parent-
ing program and measure the
overall well-being and parent-
ing style of participants.
The project may also result
in new programs specifically
designed for children with
ADHD.
Parents will be asked to fill
out questionnaires before
attending one session at the
clinic to view a video
demonstration of parenting
strategies from the new
program.
Information: 07 3206 3074,
COVER STORY
Torngat Mountains (left) and Mugford Mountains, Labrador. PHOTOS: PROFESSOR KEN COLLERSON
6
by Chris Saxby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
stone“Towards the end of the late heavy
meteorite bombardment between 3.95and 3.85 million years ago, an oceanformed on the Earth’s surface whichirreversibly changed the geology of theplanet and provided the niche for lifeon Earth,” Professor Collerson said.
Dr Kamber said it was interestingthat isotopic memories and mineralremnants of the Hadean crust couldonly be found in those regions of theEarth where rocks older than 3600million years existed.
“This suggests to us that in areaswhere a lot of new crust rapidly formedbetween 3.8 and 3.6 billion years ago,remnants of the Hadean crust couldaccidentally have been preserved andmay await discovery,” he said.
Dr Kamber said UQ researchersincluding Professor Collerson, DrRobert Bolhar and Dr Alan Greigwere examining rocks provided byProfessor Collerson’s previousresearch in northern Labrador andfrom the University of Oxford whereDr Kamber began his research sevenyears ago.
He said the team’s discovery wasmade possible due to the superioranalytical data obtained in theACQUIRE laboratory.
The rocks are being examinedalongside high-quality chemical andisotopic data obtained at the Centreand analyses provided by Dr MartinWhitehouse from the NordSIMSfacility in Stockholm.
Professor Collerson, who firstdiscovered the very ancient rocks innorthern Labrador more than 30 yearsago, is planning to return to thisremote and logistically challengingregion in 2004, providing funding canbe found.
He said proposed new field mapp-ing and sampling would providefurther information about field rela-tionships and additional importantsamples enabling the ACQUIRE teamto characterise the cryptic record ofearly Earth processes.
Dr Kamber studyingrock samples.
UQ NE WS, august 2003 7
From left: Outcrop of pre-3800 million-year-old gneisses from sandstone and mudstone precursors; outcrop of pre-3900 million-year-old Nanok gneissfrom iron-rich igneous precursors; and quartz and iron oxide-bearing pre-3800 million-year-old rock. PHOTOS: PROFESSOR KEN COLLERSON
briefin
Asperger’s studyThe Behaviour Research and
Therapy Centre at UQ St Lucia
will be conducting small group
interventions for anger manage-
ment in children 10 to 13 years
of age with Asperger’s
syndrome.
The intervention consists of
six two-hour sessions on
consecutive Saturdays, plus one
intake interview with parents
before the intervention.
A parent is required to
attend parent training sessions.
Information: 07 3365 6411,
Brain injury projectPeople with mild to severe brain
injury are needed for a School of
Health and Rehabilitation
Sciences’ study into speech
impairment.
Researchers are developing a
speech therapy program for
individuals following brain
trauma.
People with or without
speech difficulties older than six
years are required, with
travelling expenses paid for
within south-east Queensland.
Information: 07 3365 8876,
TEDI celebrates30th birthday
A new gateway for lawyers to go online
for trustworthy legal information was
launched at UQ last month.
WebLaw (www.weblaw.edu.au) is the newsubject gateway to almost 2000 Australian legalInternet resources and is coordinated by UQ.
Project coordinator Barbara Thorsen of UQ’sLaw Library said the database currently handledabout 8000 queries a week and in its busiest weekdealt with 16,000 queries.
“Whether you need the latest privacy leg-islation, or information on legal issues as diverseas sports law, native title, e-commerce, intellect-ual property and criminology, WebLaw willprovide the best starting point,” she said.
“WebLaw will find not just the wording of lawsfor you, but also the bodies most concerned withtheir drafting, implementation and review.
Setting a legal precedent
Thirty butterflies were recentlyreleased by UQ’s Teaching and
Educational Development Institute(TEDI) as part of its 30th annivers-ary celebrations.
The butterflies, one for eachyear, were released by the newestand longest-serving staff membersto symbolise how TEDI had trans-formed, evolved, developed andgrown.
UQ established TEDI in 1973 toimprove the quality of its teachingand learning by research andpractical means.
TEDI Director Denise Chalmerssaid despite a period of enormouschange in the higher educationsector, some of the Institute’sactivities were surprisingly similarto those carried out in the 1970s.
“There’s no doubt that changes
in technology such as the Internet,and a shift in the teaching and learn-ing emphasis from what the teacherdoes to student learning, have hadan impact,” she said.
“Government measures havealso meant more benchmarking andaccountability and a need to provideevidence of the quality of theUniversity’s teaching and learningprocess.”
Many of TEDI’s activities haveled to pioneering achievements.
In 1988, on TEDI’s recommen-dation, UQ was the first Australianuniversity to establish Awards forExcellence in Teaching, fundedinitially by The Alumni Associationof The University of QueenslandInc.
TEDI was founded in 1973 witheight staff members. Today TEDIemploys 45 staff, many in positionsunheard of in the 1970s such ascomputer programming, desktoppublishing, web development andinstructional design.
Last year TEDI ran 167 teachingand learning courses for 1662academic staff members; processed125,151 student and 1045 courseevaluations; and helped developmore than 150 e-learning courses.
A UQ institution has worked consistentlyfor three decades to improve the qualityof the University’s teaching procedures.
“You could search the Net for similar inform-ation, but that is too hit-and-miss a process forlegal information, which often has to stand up –literally – in court.
“WebLaw solves the key issues of provenanceand trustworthiness of information, thus savingtime and effort.”
Ms Thorsen said WebLaw was different fromother legal websites because any site found inthe database had been through an authenticationprocess by expert staff at one of WebLaw’scontributing partners with only the best and mosttrusted sites making the cut.
Ms Thorsen said so far 21 institutions wereinvolved in WebLaw with each one contributingrecords in its own area of expertise.
They included university libraries, the Nat-ional Library of Australia, the CommonwealthParliamentary Library, the Law and Justice
Foundation of New South Wales, the NationalNative Title Tribunal and the Federal Court ofAustralia.
The database is constantly updated and linksto full text legislation, organisations, publications,educational materials and other legal sites.
New contributing partners are being sought toensure the database continues to improve.
Ms Chalmers
UQ NEWS, august 20038
Mid-year welcome for new students
The University’s St Lucia campus
opened its doors to the wider
community this month for its
annual Open Day.
More than 25,000 people visitedthe campus on August 3 to learn aboutthe various study options available.
“The day was a huge success andgave prospective students and theirfamilies the opportunity to talk one-on-one with representatives from allthe programs available at UQ,” saidDean of Students Dr Lisa Gaffney.
“It also provided them with theopportunity to have a look at ouroutstanding resources and facilities.”
UQ’s museums, libraries and cafesenjoyed a steady stream of visitors withstudents helping guide visitors aroundthe campus and leading walking andbus tours throughout the day.
Activities on offer included roboticdemonstrations, virtual tours throughan underground mine, performancesfrom the Queensland ShakespeareEnsemble, marine science displays,
Tips on finding accommodation,
financial survival and avoiding
plagiarism were some of the
useful information sessions on
offer to new and continuing
students during UQ’s mid-year
Orientation program.
MID-YEARORIENTATION
The Orientation program ran fromJuly 21–27 with information sessionstaking place at the University’s StLucia, Ipswich, Gatton and COTAHcampuses.
Student Centre Manager ErilMcNamara said the comprehensiveprogram give students the opportunityto find out more about study prog-rams as well as the University’s acad-emic and personal support services.
“About 2500 students joined UQin July and traditionally there are
more new international than domesticstudents at this time,” she said.
A free program guide, colour-coded by faculty, was produced tohelp students find both compulsoryacademic and optional informationsessions, with the information alsoavailable online.
Ms McNamara said essentialsessions covering course information,academic advising, InformationTechnology training and campus tourswere available at all four campuses.
“Other information sessions whichproved successful at the beginning ofthe year, such as Avoid Plagiarism andTransferring Programs, were alsorepeated for both new and continuingstudents,” she said.
Favourite Orientation socialactivities such as Market Day, UQSPORT demonstrations and aReVitalize band concert took placeduring ReUnion Week from July 28–August 1, the first official week ofsemester.
koala tracking and an UltraCommutersustainable vehicle display.
Information sessions were held forall study areas as well as alternativeand mature age entry and how to im-prove entry scores, change programsand transfer to UQ.
In addition to campus bus andwalking tours, Library and UQ SPORTtours were on offer throughout the day.
More than 1100 people also at-tended the Postgraduate Expo in theUQ Centre at St Lucia on August 4.
The annual event is designed toprovide UQ students with informationabout postgraduate study options.
Representatives from each of theUniversity’s postgraduate programswere on hand to answer questions andprovide details about how postgrad-uate study can be used to upgradequalifications, make a career changeor pursue cutting-edge research.
UQ Ipswich’s Open Day will beheld on August 17 from 10am–2pm,and UQ Gatton’s on August 24 from9.30am–3pm.
Opening doorsOPEN DAY 2003
w www.uq.edu.au/opendays
Robert fromBrisbane
Boys’ Collegeexamines
some fire ants
Left: ausgym-atics instructor Vadym Kystalov. Centre: Market Day stalls. Right: UQ SPORT’s Rowan Foster with Tina Skinner (centre) and Megan King.
Left: three-year-old Alex at the entomology display. Right: UQ environmental science studentCherie O’Sullivan (left) with Doonamay from Lindisfarne Anglican School. PHOTOS: KAYLENE BIGGS
UQ NEWS, august 2003 9
UQ has again received the best
overall rating of all Queensland
universities and one of the best
Australian university rankings in
the 2004 edition of the Good
Universities Guide.
The independent consumer guidereleased in July provides ratings,rankings, comment and informationabout Australian higher educationinstitutions.
The University received themaximum five-star rating for ninemain categories: prestige; non-gov-ernment earnings; student demand;research grants; research intensivity;toughness to get in (UQ St Lucia);international enrolments; getting a job;and positive graduate outcomes.
UQ was the only Queenslanduniversity to receive the highest ratingfor prestige, student demand, researchgrants, research intensivity, getting ajob and positive graduate outcomes.
It was also among just eightuniversities nationally to score the toprating for prestige – the others werethe universities of Adelaide, Mel-bourne, Sydney, Western Australia andNew South Wales as well as MonashUniversity and Australian NationalUniversity.
Senior Deputy Vice-ChancellorProfessor Paul Greenfield said theUniversity had a dual focus onresearch excellence and achievinghighest quality teaching.
He said it was committed to prov-iding educational opportunities equalto the world’s best and welcomedbenchmarking against best practice.
“The Guide has again confirmedby independent assessment UQ’s highquality standing,” he said.
“UQ continues to obtain the bestgraduate outcomes in the State.
“It attracts the dominant share ofthe State’s most able Year 12 studentsto its undergraduate programs and thelion’s share of Queensland’s AustraliaStudent Prize winners.”
“Today some 33,000 students areenrolled at UQ, including 6500postgraduates in more than 6000courses and 400 programs.”
Open Days will be held at UQIpswich on August 17 from 10am–2pm and at UQ Gatton on August 24from 9.30am– 3pm.
UQ remainsnumber onein uni guide
The culture of Australian countrymusic will be under the spot-
light in one of four new courses tobe offered at UQ Ipswich.
The courses will focus on “musiccultures”, including popular andcontemporary music.
John Williamson and other lead-ing country music artists helped tocelebrate the launch of the coursesat a function on August 4.
The event was hosted by theCountry Music Association ofAustralia (CMAA) at UQ Ipswich.
Dr Shirley Tucker from UQ’sContemporary Studies Program hasbeen working in close consultationwith the CMAA and said the organ-isation had been extremely suppor-tive during the course developmentprocess.
She said she was delighted theBoard had agreed to hold a functionto celebrate the University initiative.
“Clearly the industry is motivatedby the prospect of gaining graduateswho can specialise in the industry andenhance research in contemporarymusic culture,” she said.
“Country music in particular, as
the longest sustaining popular musicgenre in Australia, has made animportant contribution to our under-standing of what being Australianmeans.”
CMAA President John William-son sang a duet with Golden Guitar-winning artist Sara Storer at thelaunch and country music artistsDobe Newton, Pat Drummond, JimHaynes and Brendon Walmsley alsoperformed.
“An academic approach to ourmusic is not something a lot ofpeople would have contemplatedbefore now,” Mr Williamson said.
“It’s an exciting move, one we arevery pleased to see.
“The extension of country musicinto formal study will provide moresubstance to our industry, morepathways for people to examine andunderstand country music, andopportunities for people already inthe industry to extend their in-volvement to this level if they wish.”
The courses will be offeredthrough UQ Ipswich’s Contemp-orary Studies Program and will bepart of studies in media and culture.
Two first-year courses, exam-ining aspects of music and popularculture, will be available from nextyear.
Two advanced courses are beingdeveloped for 2005 by Dr Tucker andDr Keith Beattie from the Con-temporary Studies Program.
Ipswich swingsto musical beatCountry music stars helped launch fourAustralian-first courses at the University.
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Clearly the
industry is motivated
by the prospect of
gaining graduates
who can specialise
in the industry...’’
Arts Faculty Executive Dean Professor Alan Rix(centre) with John Williamson and Dr Tucker.
John Williamson during his performance.
w www.uq.edu.au/opendays
UQ NEWS, august 200310
11
The inaugural Vice-Chancellor’s Equity and
Diversity Awards will be presented during UQ
Diversity Week, planned for May 2004.
The prestigious awards, worth $5000 for anindividual and $10,000 for an organisational unit, aredesigned to reward University staff or students whomake a significant contribution to improving the workand study environment at the University.
The University’s strategic plan states that a keyoperational priority is to “promote equality ofopportunity through a pro-active equity and diversityprogram”.
The awards, which will support this aim, enablesignificant recognition to programs, initiatives orstrategies that advance the University’s capacity to
provide a work and study environment appreciating andvaluing the contributions of UQ staff and students.
“It’s important that people get involved now in orderto be considered for these worthwhile awards,” saidEquity Office Director Ann Stewart.
“I would like people to understand they don’tnecessarily have to do anything on top of their currentworkload.
“Rather, they could look at what they currently doand see if there are ways this can be modified, improvedor enhanced to advance the University’s equity anddiversity objectives.”
Footy stars kick in for cancer
New equity and diversity awards
w www.uq.edu.au/equity/documents/vc_ed_award_guide.pdf
UQ cancer research has beengiven a major kick-along by a
group of former State of Origin rugbyleague players.
The Former Origin Greats (FOGS)donated $35,000 to UQ’s Centre forImmunology and Cancer Research
(CICR) at the Princess AlexandraHospital (PAH) on July 15.
“The money will be used to purch-ase Brisbane’s first solar ultravioletlight irradiator, which will allow usto simulate the effects of sunlight onskin and greatly enhance research intomelanomas,” said Head of the CICR’sCell Cycle Group Dr Brian Gabrielli.
“We are very grateful for thefunding. Melanoma and skin cancer ingeneral is a major health problem inQueensland and the more we under-stand about how the ultravioletcomponent of sunlight effects the skin,the better we will be able to preventand treat skin cancer in the future.”
Dr Gabrielli said the research
would focus on how ultravioletradiation affects melanocytes, thecells in skin that produce a tanningresponse to sunlight exposure and thatcan lead to melanoma when mutated.
“Our work has shown that lowdoses of ultraviolet light, less thanwould produce reddening of the skin,cause changes in melanocytesinvolving genes often mutated inmelanomas,” Dr Gabrielli said.
“We are leading the world in thisfield by examining the normal role ofthese genes in their protectiveresponse to low doses of ultravioletradiation so we can understand howmutations of the genes contribute tomelanoma.”
UQ researchers involved in theproject with Dr Gabrielli include DrHeather Beamish, Nichole Giles andPhD student Andrew Burgess, whoalso collaborate on aspects of theirwork with another CICR team led byDr Nick Saunders.
Ten former Origin stars attendedthe presentation with BrisbaneBroncos Chair Don Jackson handingover the cheque on behalf of theMardi Jackson Research Fund, namedafter his daughter who died frommelanoma two years ago.
In December last year the funddonated $63,000 to the CICR for thepurchase of a cryostat and micro-scope.
A donation to theUniversity from agroup of rugbyleague greats willcontribute to thefight against cancer.
From left: PAH Foundation Chief Executive Officer Leighton Wood, Dr Beamish, Mr Jackson and CICR’s Associate Professor Ranjeny Thomas
briefin
UQ retains games titleUQ narrowly defeated Queens-
land University of Technology
(QUT) to defend its title as
Northern University Games
champions in Brisbane last
month.
The University, which co-
hosted the 2003 games with
Griffith University, swept to
victory with a strong team
boasting more than 300 student
athletes.
UQ claimed 12 of the 16 gold
medals to win the overall
championship by 32 points.
UQ NE WS, august 2003
There were smiles aplenty amongstudents at graduation cere-
monies held at the UQ Centre on July21 and 23.
Guest speaker for the July 21ceremony for Faculties of Arts andSocial and Behavioural Sciencesgraduands was respected advisor onchildren’s television, Dina BrowneAO.
Ms Browne’s speech to graduandsfocused on whether entrenchedinequality, greed and racism were“too big” to tackle because they werethe products of “human nature”.
“The huge changes in societymean new goals, different rules andextended boundaries for young people– the major challenge is to balancethe practical with the ideal and thattakes special courage,” she said.
Student valedictorian for theceremony was Bachelor of Educationgraduand Ellena Papas.
Other graduands included UQUnion President for 2000 SarahMcBratney, who graduated with aBachelor of Arts majoring in politicalscience and German language.
Ms McBratney will continuestudying towards her law degree andhopes to pursue a career in inter-national law.
Sharyn Johnson graduated with aBachelor of Behavioural Studies afterenrolling at the Bremer TAFE to gain
entry qualification to university fiveyears ago having left school in Year10 in 1978.
Her outstanding Grade PointAverage (GPA) has seen her gainmembership into the internationallyrecognised Golden Key NationalHonour Society.
Dedicated to excellence andservice, membership is by invitationonly and is extended to students inthe top 15 percent of their field ofstudy.
Ms Johnson currently works as afull-time counsellor at a correctionalcentre and hopes to continue herstudies with an honours year in 2004.
Dr Marta Sinclair was one of 400graduands who attended the 3pmceremony for the Faculty of Business,Economics and Law (BEL) on July23.
Dr Sinclair received a PhD for herinternationally-recognised researchinto decision-making.
With more than 20 years ofmanagement experience in a numberof industries, including Silicon Valleyin the United States, Dr Sinclair’sresearch interest developed afterwitnessing decision-making in high-pressure work environments.
Her research found that betterquality decisions require both analysisand intuition, and that people candevelop the ability to switch betweendecision-making styles by learninghow to manipulate their emotions.
Guest speaker at the ceremonywas Haydon Coles, Head of Corpor-ate Banking (Queensland) for theCommonwealth Bank of Australia.
He addressed students on thechanges that have taken place in thefinance sector and the challengegraduates faced to continue pushingfor appropriate changes, with part-
Smiles aplenty at gradNearly 1200 degreeswere conferred atthree UQ graduationceremonies held atthe St Lucia campuslast month.
Ms McBratney and UQChancellor Sir Llew Edwards.
Ms Papas
Graduandsat the
July 21ceremony.
Graduands at the 3pm ceremony on July 23
UQ NEWS, august 200312
icular consideration to environmentalissues.
Before the ceremony, Mr Colespresented a cheque to the BEL Fac-ulty towards a Chair in banking andfinance.
The student valedictorian wasBachelor of Business Management(first-class honours) graduand MeganAxelsen, who plans to continuestudying towards a PhD.
The 6pm ceremony on July 23 wasfor graduands of the Faculties ofBiological and Chemical Sciences;Engineering, Physical Sciences andArchitecture; Health Sciences; andNatural Resources, Agriculture andVeterinary Science.
Dr Alex Pudmenzky receiveda PhD for his research showingthat creativity was part of anoptimised search strategy usedby molecules, individual org-anisms or populations oforganisms.
Dylan Radcliffe received one of20 University Medals presented at theceremony.
He also received a UQ AlumniAssociation Graduate of the YearAward for achieving a GPA of sevenfor his Bachelor of Engineering.
Guest speaker at the 6pm cere-mony was Chair of the QueenslandBiotechnology Advisory CouncilEmeritus Professor Peter Andrews,who addressed graduates on theopportunities for building knowledge-based industries in Queensland,particularly in biotechnology.
Professor Andrews was formerlyCo-Director of UQ’s Institute for Mole-cular Bioscience and CEO of its comm-ercialisation arm, IMBcom Pty Ltd.
The student valedictorian wasBachelor of Engineering (first-classhonours) student Matthew Gregora.
uation days
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The huge
changes in society
mean new goals,
different rules and
extended
boundaries for
young people...’
’
A graduate at the 3pmceremony on July 23.
UQ NEWS, august 2003 13
by Andrew Dunne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In ancient history circles the Hittiteshave long been considered the
obscure cousins to the more famouscivilisations of the Egyptians, Greeksand Romans.
But a new international document-ary is hoping to change all that andright in the thick of things is a UQacademic who has dedicated most ofhis life to discovering more aboutthese fascinating ancient people.
Professor Trevor Bryce from UQ’sSchool of History, Philosophy,Religion and Classics was one of theadvisors on The Hittites, a document-ary covering the history of the Hittitecivilisation told through variousstories of rulers and their people.
The Hittite civilisation arose inTurkey about 1700 BC and lastedabout 500 years before totallycollapsing only leaving some smallkingdoms and population groupsscattered in Palestine and Syria.
The Hittites were once the super-power of the Near Eastern world,surpassing the might of Egypt andAssyria and becoming highly skilledinternational diplomats.
They also established a code oflaws that influenced biblical law andwere also a bridge between the east andthe west, much like modern Turkey.
Professor Bryce, a renownedexpert on Hittites and author of anumber of publications on the subject,
said it was through his writings thatthe film’s director made contact andasked him to work on the documentary.
The invitation meant travelling tothe film’s location in Turkey for twoweeks last year.
Professor Bryce was both aconsultant and interviewee on camera.
“It’s not a straight documentary.There are many recreation scenes suchas a major battle between the Hittitesand the Egyptians along with scenesfrom everyday life,” Professor Brycesaid.
“It was great to see aspects of mywork brought to life, particularly theprominence given to the most famousof the Hittite queens whom I discussat some length in my book.
“They had Turkey’s leading actressplay her so I got the chance to see myresearch brought to life.”
The film recently premiered inLos Angeles and Istanbul and thedirector is hoping for an Australianshowing later this year.
Professor Bryce will be kept busyin the meantime publishing anotherbook entitled Letters of the GreatKings of the Ancient Near East, dueout in September.
Hittiteshit film
A UQ academic hasmade a significantcontribution to adocumentary filmedin Turkey recently.
RESEARCH> Findings by PhD student DarrylIrwin from the Institute for Molec-ular Bioscience that pap smearsfrom pregnant women could revealgenetic defects in foetuses wasreported nationally, including inThe Age, The Sydney Morning Her-ald, West Australian, Channel 10and several radio stations.
> The Australian reported work byProfessor Jack Pettigrew and DrSteven Miller from the Vison,Touch and Hearing Research Cent-re in developing BiReme Systems,a device for improved accuracy indiagnosing bipolar disease.
> School of Psychology PhD studentGabrielle O’Shea’s research as partof an Australian-first depressiontreatment program for teenagersreceived widespread media cover-age in newspapers and on radio.
EDUCATION> Federal Opposition LeaderSimon Crean’s visit to UQ St Luciaon July 9 to announce a $44 millionpolicy on science fellowships wasreported nationally, including inThe Courier-Mail, The Australian,The Sydney Morning Herald and onradio.
> The Australian Financial Reviewreported that UQ’s Master of Bus-iness Administration had receivedaccreditation from the US-basedAssociation to Advance CollegiateSchools of Business International.
FASHION> A July fashion conference at UQSt Lucia was mentioned in fourstories in The Courier-Mail, two inThe Australian and on ABC radioin Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney.Several stories included commentsby event co-convenor Dr MargaretMaynard from the School of Eng-lish, Media Studies and Art History.
AGEING> UQ’s Australasian Centre onAgeing was mentioned in an articlein The Weekend Australian’s healthsection about how older people canstart an exercise program.
> The Courier-Mail and numerousradio stations reported a School ofHealth and Rehabilitation Sciences’study aimed at helping older driverswho gave up driving.
UQin the
NEWSSOME OF THE STORIES THATPUT UQ STAFF IN THE MEDIA
July 2003
Professor Bryce
Director Tolga Ornekand his crew lookingat a Hittite artefact.PHOTO: courtesyProfessor Bryce
UQ NE WS, august 200314
A photographicexhibition of anhistoric railway yardis currently on showin Ipswich.
ness” as if they had been taken at theend of an ordinary working day.
“Because of the development ofthe site over time, my photographsreveal juxtapositions of vintagepictorial elements with contemporaryelements, such as a shot of a ‘parked’locomotive, which looks like amuseum diorama,” Mr Stringer said.
“The project is a fine example ofa creative and challenging approachto the interpretation of industrialheritage,” Dr Ginn said.
“Its highly-visual qualities andfocus on the links between the humanhistory of the site and its more ab-stract heritage values is sure to appealto a wide audience.”
The workshops were commiss-ioned in the mid-1860s. Withindecades, the site on the banks of theBremer River boasted the colony’slargest locomotive depot, assemblingand refurbishing the locomotives,carriages and wagons that workedtheir way around the expandingcolonial rail network.
Its subsequent history was one ofperiods of expansion, changes infunction, and a rapid decommission-ing since 1995.
At its height, it employed a work-force of around 3000 people in up to130 trades.
The publication was supported byan Arts Queensland grant.
Entry to the museum costs $12.50(adults), $6.50 (children more thanfour years old) or $36 (families withtwo adults and four children).
School of Geography, Planning andArchitecture associate lecturerDouglas Neale, UQ PhD student IhorHolubizky and Queensland Railheritage projects officer Greg Hallam.
The exhibition will be opened byUQ’s Faculty of Engineering, PhysicalSciences and Architecture ExecutiveDean Professor Michael Keniger at2pm on August 16 at the WorkshopsRail Museum.
“The documentary photographsprovide two visions of the same evoc-ative site and represent a form of urbanarchaeology,” Mr Liddy said.
In conjunction with the publication,these form a major contribution to thesite’s historical archive of the site.”
Mr Liddy’s exterior shots show thestructure and accumulative archi-tecture of the workshops’ buildings,while others reveal patterns byfocusing on piles or repetitions ofthings, such as a pick-axe heads andsawtooth skylight roof patterns.
Several photographs show tracesof the work and people of the past –such as a wall with workers’ hand-prints and rolls of wire in the black-smith’s area.
A trained architect, Mr Stringersaid he preferred abandoned sitesbecause of the potential for an arch-aeological foray sifting through thesite selecting and recording artefacts.
Mr Stringer said his photographsof the workshops’ interior, exteriorand transitional spaces showed lessevidence of abandonment and had acrisp resolution or “matter-of-fact-
View from line’s end
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The North Ipswich Railway
Workshops offer a unique
insight into Queensland’s
industrial heritage...
’
’
Peter Liddy: Painted handprint, interior ofpowerhouse, 2003
A unique industrial heritageexhibition is the result of an
interdisciplinary project involvingUQ staff.
Industrial Cycle: Photographs ofthe North Ipswich Railway Workshopsis on display from August 16 toOctober 19 daily from 9.30am–5pmat the Workshops Rail Museum,North Street, North Ipswich.
It comprises 70 photographs byUniversity Art Museum exhibitionsofficer Peter Liddy and urban doc-umentary photographer RichardStringer, as well as 10 historicalphotographs from Queensland Rail’sarchive.
“The North Ipswich RailwayWorkshops offer a unique insight intoQueensland’s industrial heritage,having experienced the cycle ofdevelopment, transition and decline,”said Mr Liddy.
The exhibition is accompanied bya major publication of the same namefeaturing essays on the photographs,heritage and architecture of the site.
Contributors include UQ Centrefor Applied History and HeritageStudies Director Dr Geoff Ginn, UQ
Peter Liddy: Spray paint shop, 2003
Richard Stringer: Traverser and bogie shop,1997 printed 2003 (detail)
Richard Stringer: Carriage shop, 1997printed 2003 (detail)
Richard Stringer: Gloves, tool and gaugeworkshop, 1997 printed 2003 (detail)
Peter Liddy: Looking north, exteriorof wheel shop, 2003 (detail)
UQ NEWS, august 2003 15
Two young researchers have
jointly won the Amgen Australia
prize for the best honours
students at UQ’s Institute for
Molecular Bioscience (IMB).
Kate Palethorpe and Falak Helwaniwere rewarded for their research intoGrowth Hormone (GH) receptors andcadherin molecules respectively.
Ms Helwani said her project, en-titled A role for cortactin in cadherin-directed actin assembly, investigatedthe role a protein called cortactinplayed in cell-to-cell adhesion.
“I discovered that cortactin is partof a large molecular ‘anchor’ insidecells that connects to cadherin, thecellular glue that helps cells sticktogether,” Ms Helwani said.
IMB Group Leader ProfessorAlpha Yap said that fully understand-
ing the role of cadherin had impli-cations in understanding normaldevelopment and tumour progression.
“In the absence of functioningcadherin, cells don’t recognise oneanother properly and we believe thespread of tumour cells is caused bycells breaking away from the tumouras a result of a lack of cadherin,”Professor Yap said.
Ms Helwani’s work was thesubject of a mini-symposium talk atthe prestigious American Society forCell Biology meeting last December.
Ms Palethorpe’s work has over-turned current theories relating to theaction of GH in the body.
Ms Palethorpe said her projectresearched the way GH interactedwith its two receptors to switch onthe myriad of pathways affected byGH.
“My work showed that the tworeceptors are bound together prior toGH attaching to them, and that GHactivates the receptors by rotatingthem together,” she said.
“Since GH plays a critical role incontrolling growth after birth, andregulates metabolism, it is importantwe understand how it functions in thebody.”
Project supervisor IMB’s ProfessorMike Waters said Ms Palethorpe’swork overturned the accepted wisdomthat GH activated its receptors bybringing them together.
“This work will have enormousimplications in drug design and smallmolecule synthesis to combat manygrowth disorders,” Professor Waterssaid.
IMB Director Professor JohnMattick said the Institute was ex-
tremely grateful for Amgen’scontinued support and involvement.
The Amgen Prize for academicexcellence, valued at $500 , is award-ed each year to the IMB honoursstudent graduating at the top of theclass.
Ms Helwani and Ms Palethorpegraduated with first-class honoursafter completing their Bachelors ofScience in physiology and pharm-acology.
French fanfare
Nineteenth century French musicwill be the focus of a UQ music-
al performance this month.Evocations of France will be
presented by the School of Music at2pm on August 24 in the Concert Hallof the Queensland Performing ArtsCentre (QPAC).
“The program concentrates on19th century French music but alsoembraces a broader Mediterraneansensibility with Italian and Spanishinfluences, as well as French provinc-ial folk,” said School of Music HeadProfessor Philip Bracanin.
The UQ Orchestra, directed byAdjunct Professor Maestro WernerAndreas Albert, will commence withBerlioz’s Roman Carnival.
The program also includes Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 (the organsymphony) with renowned organistRobert Boughen and a selection ofCanteloube’s Songs of the Auvergnesung by fourth-year music student andmezzo-soprano Kathleen Parker.Senior UQ music lecturer GwynRoberts will feature as soloist in theLalo Cello Concerto.
“Berlioz’s Roman Carnivaljuxtaposes two contrasting ideas – asection featuring a haunting cor
anglais solo and a wild, fiery andenergetic Italian dance,” said Prof-essor Bracanin.
“Lalo, in the finale of his celloconcerto, quotes a Spanish folk songand the other two movements containpassages strongly suggestive of thissame national temperament.
“Saint-Saëns’ organ symphony, onthe other hand, is decidedly Parisianin character.”
Professor Bracanin said the per-formance would delight and charmaudiences, while providing a valuableexperience for students to perform ademanding program under the batonof an international conductor in asplendid venue.
It is the second School of Musicconcert to be held at QPAC this year.
Mediterranean melodies will form part of anupcoming UQ performance of French classics.
Duo share IMB honour
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The program…
also embraces a
broader
Mediterranean
sensibility ’’
From left: UQ music students ElizabethGallagher (French horn), Frank Fodor(viola), Daniel Bouwmeester (French
horn) and Karyn Walker (violin).
UQ NE WS, august 200316
briefin
Internet presentationDr Gerard Goggin from UQ’s
Centre for Critical and Cultural
Studies will give a presentation
to Federal Parliament as part
of a National Arts Research
Showcase.
The August 12–13 event
will be opened by Federal Min-
ister for Communications, In-
formation Technology and the
Arts Senator Richard Alston.
Dr Goggin’s presentation,
entitled A cultural history of
the Internet, was one of only
12 proposals chosen nationally.
The two-day event is
designed to showcase arts
and humanities research to
parliamentarians, policy-
makers and national media.
Short story contestUQ Vanguard, a publishing
initiative run by UQ students,
is holding the second annual
LiterARTure Award.
Short stories, between
3000 and 5000 words, can be
submitted with an illustration.
First prize is $3500 plus
publication of the top five
stories in a special UQ
Vanguard edition.
An additional $500 will be
awarded for the entry that
best reflects the relationship
between word and image.
Entries close September 1.
Information: www.emsah.uq.
edu.au/uqvanguard
Hydrogen workshopThe revenue potential of
hydrogen-based energy and
the latest developments in
hydrogen research will be the
focus of a workshop at
Customs House on August 28.
Hydrogen opportunities
for clean energy delivery,
organised by UQ’s Nano-
materials Centre Associate
Director Dr Joe da Costa, will
bring together speakers from
government, industry and
academia.
Information: 07 3366 1407,
www.qld.ieaust.org.au
Young artistsinterpreting thework of older artistsis the subject of anew book.
Look atbiggerpicture
Acollaboration between CampusKindergarten and the University
Art Museum culminated in the launchof a book in July.
Big art small viewer: Celebratingchildren as artists (Campus Kinder-garten, $39.95) documents a projectin which children aged between two-and-a-half and five interpreted eightadult artists’ work.
The collaboration led to a six-week exhibition of the children’s workalongside the “grown-up” artwork atthe University Art Museum in Augustand September last year.
It was believed to be the firstexhibition of its kind ever staged inAustralia.
Campus Kindergarten DirectorMegan Gibson said the book wouldinspire early childhood curricula,encourage opportunities for similarcollaborations and challenge parents’thinking about young children as artists.
“It also provides art lovers with agreater insight into children’s art as alanguage,” Ms Gibson said.
The book features colour imagesof children’s and adult’s artwork fromthe exhibition, documentation panelsof the processes behind creating theart, reflections from teachers andmuseum staff involved in the projectand leading children’s authors’discussions.
The “grown-up” artists selectedfor the project were: Melinda Harper;Rosella Namok; William Yang;Rosalie Gascoigne; Michael NelsonJagamara and Michael Eather (one artwork by these two artists); RuthWaller; and Colin Lanceley.
Their works were chosen by MsGibson, University Art Museumexhibitions officer Peter Liddy andCampus Kindergarten pre-schoolteacher Nadine McAllister as amongthose most likely to appeal to thechildren from more than 2000 worksin the University’s collection.
In 2002, the children attendedworkshops at the University ArtMuseum to view and create their ownversions of the seven works, rangingfrom photographs to oil paintings andinstallations.
Using water paints, collage mat-erials and pastels, the childrencompleted their works at CampusKindergarten with the aid of photo-graphs of the Australian artworks.
“This collaborative project prov-ided a wonderful introduction for thechildren to the University Art Mus-eum and gallery environment ,” saidUniversity Art Museum Director RossSearle.
The book is available at CampusKindergarten, located on CollegeRoad, UQ St Lucia.
☎ 07 3365 3894
Campus Kindergarten pupils Eliasand Lucy looking at the art bookwith Ms McAllister
Some of the children’s artwork on display last year.
UQ NEWS, august 2003 17
UQ NEWS, august 200318
briefin
Australian–American relations
were tested when promising
tennis juniors squared off at UQ
recently.
The two-day inaugural AustraliaCup Challenge pitted more than 70young tennis hopefuls from bothcountries against each other in a roundrobin format at the UQ Tennis Centre.
Tournament director Ross Orfordsaid the event provided developingplayers aged 11–18 with valuableexperience.
"It was a unique opportunity forthese young athletes to improve theirtennis skills and come up againstplayers from another country in acompetitive arena," Mr Orford said.
The Australian team dominated allfour categories winning: the boys’ 11–14 year age group 146–125; the girls’11–14 year age group 122–119; theboys’ 14–18 year age group 678–300;and the girls’ 14–18 year age group457–300.
It was the only competition playedby the Americans during their two-week visit to south-east Queensland.
Cross-court volleysVale Dot SandarsDistinguished UQ academic
Dorothea (Dot) Fanny Sandars
passed away recently.
Dr Sandars joined the
University in 1946 as an assis-
tant lecturer in zoology and
later held senior lectureships in
the then departments of
parasitology, medicine and
pathology.
From 1971 until her retire-
ment in 1981 she was sub-Dean
of the then Faculty of Science.
She served on three Uni-
versity Senates during the 1970s
and 1980s and was a champion
and leader of many causes.
She was vigilant about
University interests, and
particularly the plight of
University women.
She was granted an
honorary doctorate in 1995 for
her extraordinary work and
commitment to the University
over almost 50 years.
ADVERTISEMENT
Andrew from Anglican ChurchGrammar School (left) withGreg from De La Salle HighSchool in California.
UQ NEWS, august 2003 19
B ullocking forward StephenMoore has returned from the
under-21 Rugby World Cup determ-ined to help drive UQ to its firstBrisbane premiership in 13 years.
The UQ Sports Scholarship holderwas a key member of the Australianunder-21 team that finished runner-up to New Zealand in England inJune.
Mr Moore’s skilful 117kg frameis a major asset to a rejuvenatedUniversity side intent on erasing thedisappointment of recent seasons.
“There is a good feeling at the clubthis year and we’ve got the personnelto be very competitive and win thecompetition,” Mr Moore said.
“It remains a huge goal foreveryone involved to be able to claimthe club’s first Brisbane premiershipsince 1990.”
The Red Heavies have benefitedfrom a talented mix of youth andexperience in 2003 with the premierrugby side boasting a host of repre-sentative players.
“There has been some good talentcoming through University ranks thisseason and along with the experienceof a few older players, it has given theteam some real confidence,” MrMoore said.
The third-year science studentcapped a highly-successful risethrough Queensland Rugby ranksearlier this season when he re-signedwith the Bank of Queensland Reds fora further two years.
Mr Moore, who was playing coltsrugby union less than 12 months ago,said his debut season with theQueensland squad was invaluable forhis game.
“I’m really only starting to learnthe pros and cons of playing hookerat that level,” Mr Moore said.
“It was a big step up from watch-ing the guys on television as ayoungster to training and playingalongside them.”
Injuries and suspension paved theway for Mr Moore’s unexpectedSuper 12 call-up in 2003 afteroriginally being pegged as fourthstring hooker when the season began.
Mr Moore made a daunting Super12 debut when he came off the benchagainst the powerhouse front row ofthe Bulls in Pretoria, South Africa.
“My heart was in my mouth whenI was running out on the field, but yousoon settle down with 14 other blokesalongside you,” Mr Moore said.
Moore merrierfor UQ title bidThe return of anAustralian under-21player will add stingto University rugbybefore the finals.
The papers of internationally-
acclaimed Australian author and
recently-awarded UQ honorary
doctor Janette Turner Hospital
will be permanently housed in
UQ’s Fryer Library.
Dr Turner Hospital is currentlyProfessor and Distinguished Writer inResidence in the English Departmentat the University of South Carolina.
Her latest novel, Due Preparationsfor the Plague, and a collection ofshort stories, North of Nowhere, Southof Loss,were released during her Mayvisit to Australia when she alsoreceived her honorary doctorate.
Dr Turner Hospital first agreed todeposit her literary papers with theUQ Library in 1995.
Archival material relating to herwriting was deposited on loan on theunderstanding the Library would havefirst purchase right for five years.
The Library purchased the man-uscripts of Charades, The LastMagician and The Ivory Swing underthis arrangement.
Dr Turner Hospital depositedfurther papers under the samearrangement in 1996 and 1997.
University Librarian JanineSchmidt was last year advised by DrTurner Hospital that she wasreconsidering the disposition of theremainder of her papers on loan tothe Fryer Library.
“We were anxious to ensure thatthis valuable literary resource re-mained within Australia, and offered
Stories, 1970–1994 and The IvorySwing; and
> material including drafts and cor-respondence relating to a collabor-ation between Dr Turner Hospitaland film maker Paul Cox, on thescript for a feature film, Suicide ofa Gentleman.
Fryer home to author’s worksto purchase the 30 boxes of papers forthe amount at which they had beenindependently valued, AUD$55,250,”Mrs Schmidt said.
The papers fill out the author’sliterary oeuvre from commencementto the publication of Oyster in 1996.
They include:> first and second drafts of Oyster;> drafts of Borderline and The Tiger
in the Tiger Pit;> galleys for A Very Proper Death (a
mystery written under the pseudo-nym Alex Juniper), which includehandwritten comments by theauthor;
> material, including correspondence,reviews, cuttings relating to theabove works and to Isobars (a col-lection of short stories), Collected
Mr Moore. PHOTO: courtesy UQ SPORT
Dr TurnerHospital
UQ NE WS, august 200320
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MOVINGOVERSEAS?
MOVINGOVERSEAS?
A new software program for
theatre studies developed by a
UQ researcher will take centre
stage at an upcoming free
public lecture.
Theatres online: Using virtualreality in theatre studies research isthe topic for the next UQ Centre forCritical and Cultural Studies lectureon August 14 from 5.30–6.30pm inthe UQ Centre.
School of English, Media Studiesand Art History Associate ProfessorJoanne Tompkins joined forces withstaff from UQ’s Advanced Comput-ational Modelling Centre to developTheatres Online.
The software facilitates both theproduction and touring of theatre;and research on theatre space.
Theatres trialled as 3D interactivemodels to date include the BrisbanePowerhouse and La Boite Theatre.
By the end of this year, the newLa Boite Theatre, Cairns CivicTheatre, and two Sleeman Centrevenues will also be modelled.
The software provides highly
accurate scale renderings of thetheatres using Virtual RealityModelling Language (VRML).
“The additional facility toplace props and sets within therecognisable location of La Boiteor the Powerhouse Theatre makesthis software unique in theatrestudies and in computer-model-ling work,” Dr Tompkins said.
“The ability to import objectson to a stage and then manipulateand save the resulting design hasalready helped staff at La BoiteTheatre.”
The lecture details how theprogram has helped in theproduction of Daniel Keene’s Halfand Half, and the revival of DavidWilliamson’s The Removalists.Details: 07 3365 7182
Lecture showcasesvirtual theatre research
Conference
callTo publicise yourconference or seminar,email Joanne van Zeelandat [email protected]
essional development conferencewill focus on the future direction ofprofessional development andtraining in Australasia.Details: 07 3381 1574
Education marketing seminarseries: August, Brisbane
The UQ School of Education’s nexttwo-day seminar for educationaladministrators who want to extendthe scope of their organisation’smarketing perspective is Strategyand marketing in education fromAugust 29–30.Details: 07 3365 7343
MINING
Water in mining:October 13–15,
Brisbane
UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Instituteand the southern Queenslandbranch of the Australasian Instituteof Mining and Metallurgy will hostthe f irst known conference inAustralia devoted to water-relatedchallenges of the mining industry.
Speakers include EmeritusProfessor Ted Brown from UQ’sJulius Kruttschnitt Mineral Re-search Centre.Details: www.ausimm.com
BIOTELEMETRY
ISOB17: September1–5, Brisbane
The International Society of Bio-telemetry (ISOB) conference will behosted by UQ and the QueenslandNational Parks and Wildlife Service.
Topics include wildlife and fishtelemetry, human applications aswell as data and development.
Speakers include ProfessorGordon Grigg from UQ’s School ofLife Sciences.Details: www.biotelemetry.org
EDUCATION
Professional develop-ment and training:
September 27–28, Brisbane
The Federation of Australasian Philo-sophy in Schools Associations’(FAPSA) biennial strategic prof-
Dr Tompkins
UQ NE WS, august 2003 21
PRINTin
CURRENTBESTSELLERS
1 A Thousand Days inVenice, Marlena deBlasi (Allen and Unwin,$22.95) TRAVEL/FOOD/MEMOIR
2 The Girl Most Likely,Rebecca Sparrow (UQP,$22) FICTION
3 The Mayne Inheritance,Rosamond Siemon(UQP, $19.95) BRISBANEHISTORY/TRUE CRIME
4 Killing Superman,Mary-Rose MacColl(Allen and Unwin,$21.95) FICTION
5 Tristessa and Lucido,Miriam Zolin (UQP,$22.00) FICTION
6 My Life As a Fake,Peter Carey (Knopf,$45) FICTION
7 Bride Stripped Bare,Anonymous (4thEstate, $24.95)FICTION
8 Recollections of aBleeding Heart, DonWatson (Vintage,$34.95) BIOGRAPHY/POLITICS
9 A Short History ofEverything, Bill Bryson(Doubleday, $54.95)HISTORY
10 Due Preparations forthe Plague, JanetteTurner Hospital (4thEstate, $29.95)FICTION
Tough medicine for doctors
THE UNIVERSITYOF QUEENSLAND
BOOKSHOP
Many junior doctorsfeel “thrown in atthe deep end”during the first yearsout of medicalschool, according toa new book.
Dr Haida Luke, a senior researchofficer with UQ’s School of
Education and the Centre on NationalResearch on Disability and MedicalRehabilitation, has written what isbelieved to be the first book exam-ining the transition of Australianmedical graduates into junior doctors.
“The first years of on-the-jobmedical training are filled with newworkplace and medical activities,” DrLuke said.
“Many of the clinical components
for junior doctors serve as ground-work for learning how to deal withpatients and illness, yet there are moresocial and cultural components whichare not met in the four to six years ofmedical school.
“Junior doctors undergo intenseworking weeks of up to 60 hours andthus encounter a lot of stress anddisillusionment towards the ‘system’.”
Her book, entitled Medical Edu-cation and Sociology of MedicalHabitus: “It’s not about the Stetho-scope!” (Kluwer Academic Publish-ers, Dordrecht), is based on qualitat-ive, face-to-face interviews with juniordoctors at a major Brisbane publichospital conducted at two points: thebeginning of their training year; andeither at the end of their first year orsecond year of hospital work.
Dr Luke said the book revealedhow local training doctors werethrown in at the “deep end” to learnabout aspects of the job such as stressmanagement, talking to patients, and
striking a balance between work andsocial lives.
“It also shows the vital role playedby GPs, specialists, nurses and alliedhealth workers in shaping the educa-tion and direction of young doctors,”she said.
Researchers in medical andeducational social sciences whoseresearch and teaching related to issuesof professional education, manage-ment, or research in health and medic-al sociology would find the bookuseful, Dr Luke said.
“Clinicians involved in medicaleducation will also relate to the juniordoctors’ voices and find the applicationof sociology to a medical clinicalenvironment constructive,” she said.
Dr Luke, who holds a Master ofEducational Psychology (1994) and aPhD (2001) from UQ, said she becameinterested in the study area while work-ing as a training co-ordinator of youngdoctors at a major Queensland hos-pital.
Dr Luke
UQ Associate Professor Ross Barnard (left) with Dr Bodner. PHOTO: courtesy Dr Bodner
Election to theAcademic BoardProfessors and Non-Professors
www.uq.edu.au
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5BElections will be held to appoint members to theAcademic Board as follows:
By and from the professors of the University:■ 7 for 2004–2006 ■ 1 for 2004–2005 ■ 2 for 2004 onlyNomination Date: 4pm Wednesday, August 27 2003Election Date: 9am Wednesday, October 8 2003
By and from the non-professorial teaching andresearch staff of the University:
■ 7 for 2004–2006
Nomination Date: 4pm Wednesday, August 27 2003Election Date: 9am Friday, October 10 2003
Any person entitled to vote for any of the classes ofelected members to be appointed to the AcademicBoard is entitled to nominate a professorial or a non-professorial candidate. Nomination forms are availablefrom Tina Ferguson, Academic Policy Unit (ext. 53360).Voting will be by postal ballot.Nomination forms and ballot papers must be received atthe Academic Policy Unit, Room 503, J D Story Building,by the nomination and election dates shown above.
Douglas PorterSecretary andRegistrar
Dr Michael Bodner has become
the first student to complete
UQ’s Professional Doctorate of
Biotechnology, resulting in a
sought-after position with a
global pharmaceutical company.
Dr Bodner was selected to be partof Schering-Plough’s managementassociate program that trains a smallnumber of highly-talented futuremanagers to work in the areas of fin-ance, strategic planning and productmanagement.
As a biotechnology student, DrBodner investigated the parallelbridge – a new venture strategy forthe biotechnology industry designedto limit the probability of failure.
The theory is based on the principleof providing research and develop-ment, early cash flows and developingcompetencies and business acumen.
Dr Bodner said he was using theseskills in his work at Schering-Ploughin Sydney.
“This is a high-profile positionwith the long-range objective ofdeveloping future general managers,directors, vice-presidents and exec-utives within the global company,”he said.
“Schering-Plough has establisheditself as a leader in biotechnology withstrong research positions in genomicsand gene therapy.”
The company has manufacturingfacilities in more than 20 countriesand has an annual revenue of around$17 billion.
Dr Bodner said he was workingon special projects ranging from in-licensing new products, selling off oldproducts, redesigning Schering-Plough’s website and analysing thecompany’s contribution to the Aust-ralian economy.
“One of the skills I learned whilestudying for the degree at UQ wasbio-entrepreneurship, which gave mepractical experience for working inthe larger pharmaceutical business,”he said.
Flying start forbiotech graduate
Election to theAcademic BoardStudent Members
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Elections will be held to appoint student members of theAcademic Board for 2004 as follows:
■ 3 Undergraduate Students
■ 1 Postgraduate Research Student
■ 1 Postgraduate Non-Research Student
The elections will be conducted in conjunction with TheUniversity of Queensland Union elections.
As soon as the final dates have been set for TheUniversity of Queensland Union elections, students willbe advised of nomination, voting and ballot dates for theAcademic Board elections. The nominations areexpected to be called during mid to late August.
Douglas PorterSecretary and Registrar
UQ NEWS, AUGUST 200322
UQ NEWS COPY DEADLINES FOR 2003
Issue number Copy deadline Publication date
529 Friday, August 22 Tuesday, September 9530 Friday, September 19 Tuesday, October 7531 Friday, October 24 Tuesday, November 11532 Friday, November 21 Tuesday, December 9
WANTED TO RENT■ Visiting academic needs f/furn
hse, Jan–Mar. Alan:[email protected]
■ Visiting academic needs 1 bdunit close to St Lucia, Sep–Nov.Gavin: [email protected]
■ Visiting academic needs 3+ bdf/furn hse, Oct–Dec/Jan. Jeff:[email protected]
■ Visiting academic needs 2 bdf/furn unit near Royal Children’sHospital, Aug–Nov. Philip:[email protected]
FOR RENT■ St Lucia: large, mod. 2 bd f/furn
unit, $300/wk. Kim: 07 3870 7724
■ Cromwell College: on campusrms, fully-catered. 07 3377 1497
CLASSIFIEDS
UQ LIBRARY HOURSfor 2003
SEMINARS■ Friday, August 15
Centre for Social Researchand Communication,Interpersonal lying and lie-
catching in the face of terrorism,Associate Professor Mark Frank,Rutgers University, US (4pm, RiverRoom, Emmanuel College).
School of Biomedical Sciences, Thelost protein: Glutathione transferaseGSTT1-1, Dr Ricarda Thier (1pm,Room 305, Skerman Bldg).
School of Life Sciences, Toward ametabolic theory of ecology, Dr JimBrown, University of New Mexico(1pm, Room 388, Goddard Bldg).
■ Sunday, August 17
School of History, Philosophy,Religion and Classics and TheFriends of Antiquity, The tomb ofMeryneith at Saqqara, Dr MaartenRaven, National Museum ofAntiquities, The Netherlands (2pm,Abel Smith Lecture Theatre).
■ Tuesday, August 19
The Physics Museum, Precise lengthmeasurement, George Dick (6pm,Room 222, Parnell Bldg).
■ Wednesday, August 20
Bright Minds, The future of our reefs,Associate Professor Bette Willis andProfessor Helene Marsh, James CookUniversity and UQ’s AssociateProfessor Ron Johnstone and ProfessorHugh Possingham (5pm, IMBAuditorium, Queensland BiosciencePrecinct). Bookings: 07 3365 9798.
■ Friday, August 22
School of Biomedical Sciences,Therapeutic role of a novel C5areceptor antagonist against models ofdisease in rats, Trent Woodruff (1pm,Room 305, Skerman Bldg).
School of Political Science andInternational Studies, Friendship andstrangership: The new civil society of
Concerts, special lectures
and seminars, UQ events
of general interest and
details about visiting
academics and dignitaries
is published in this
section. Entries, including
date, time, school/section,
contact name and
telephone number, should
be emailed to
onCAMPUS
Adam Smith, Dr Lisa Hill, Universityof Adelaide (3pm, Room 537, GeneralPurpose North Bldg).
School of Life Sciences, Sex differencesand data quality as determinants ofincome from hunting, Dr Eleanor Mil-ner-Gulland, Imperial College London,UK (1pm, Room 388, Goddard Bldg).
■ Thursday, August 28
School of Biomedical Sciences,Regenerative medicine: The science,the technology and the industry, Prof-essor Robert Nerem, Georgia Instituteof Technology, US (6pm, IMBAuditorium, Queensland BiosciencePrecinct). Bookings: 07 3365 1950.
■ Friday, August 29
School of Biomedical Sciences,Comparative physiology in stereoperception, Professor Jack Pettigrew(1pm, Room 305, Skerman Bldg).
School of Life Sciences, The ecologyof Australasia’s kelp forests and forestdwellers at local through biogeo-graphic scales, Dr Sean Connell,University of Adelaide (1pm, Room388, Goddard Bldg).
■ Wednesday, September 3
Australasian Centre on Ageing,Staying strong for life: The role ofresistance training, Dr Dennis Taaffe(7.30am, Royal on the Park, cnr Aliceand Albert Sts). Details: 07 33469084.
■ Friday, September 5
School of Biomedical Sciences,Molecular pathways of postsynapticreceptor clustering at synapes,William Phillips, University of Sydney(1pm, Room 305, Skerman Bldg).
School of Political Science andInternational Studies, Theuniversalism/relativism debate andethics in international relations, DrAnne Brown (3pm, Room 537,General Purpose North Bldg)
■ Sunday, September 7
School of History, Philosophy,Religion and Classics, Ancientmosaics, Cathy Cogill (2pm, Room323, Michie Bldg). Cost $4.
briefin
Information is available at
www.cybrary.uq.edu.auor by telephoning
(07) 3365 6703.
Fryer Friends meetThe newly restructured
Friends of Fryer, the support
group for UQ Library’s Fryer
Library on the St Lucia campus,
will be officially launched at
6pm on August 27.
Guest speaker UQ Vice-
Chancellor Professor John Hay
will talk about literary
reviewing.
Professor Hay will also
introduce Friends of Fryer
members to Kay De Jersey, a
new patron of the Fryer
Library.
The Fryer Library is the
special collections branch of
the UQ Library and is
considered one of Australia’s
premier resources for
Australian studies.
Anyone interested in
attending the launch or be-
coming involved in Friends of
Fryer activities should
telephone 07 3346 9427.
S ■ Tuesday, September 9
The Physics Museum, X-rayinstruments, Colin Kennard (6pm,Room 222, Parnell Bldg).
■ Friday, September 12
School of Biomedical Sciences,Intelligent conversations: Cadherinsignalling to the actin cytoskeleton,Associate Professor Alpha Yap (1pm,Room 305, Skerman Bldg).
School of Political Science andInternational Studies, Resistingamalgamation from a position ofweakness: An intimate and partialhistory of the saga of the severalattempts to merge the ANU withCanberra CAE and end the binarysystem in the Australian CapitalTerritory, Emeritus Professor RogerScott (3pm, Room 537, GeneralPurpose North Bldg)
CONCERTS■ Tuesday, August 12
School of Music, Twilightconcert (6pm, Customs House).Bookings: 07 3365 8999.
■ Sunday, August 17
School of Music, Brass ensemble(11.30am, Customs House). Freeadmission.
■ Thursday, August 21
School of Music, Graham Tobin –saxophone (12.30pm, Nickson Room,Zelman Cowen Bldg).
■ Sunday, August 24
School of Music, Evocations ofFrance (2pm, Concert Hall, Queens-land Performing Arts Centre).Bookings: 07 3840 7444.
■ Wednesday, August 27
School of Music, Margaret Nicksonprize in voice and accompaniment(6.30pm, Nickson Room, ZelmanCowen Bldg).
■ Thursday, August 28
School of Music, Kaja Holzheimer –mezzo soprano (12.30pm, NicksonRoom, Zelman Cowen Bldg).
■ Wednesday, September 3
School of Music, Twilight concert(6pm, Customs House). Bookings: 073365 8999.
■ Thursday, September 4
School of Music, 4MBS musica vivaSid Page memorial prize in chambermusic (12.30pm, Nickson Room,Zelman Cowen Bldg).
■ Thursday, September 11
School of Music, Karen Hadfield –clarinet (12.30pm, Nickson Room,Zelman Cowen Bldg).
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UQ NEWS, august 2003 23