Issue 4 2006 - acpfg

Out and aboutWITH ACPFGFunDr Heather Bray from MPBCRC, Bruce Stevens from Education Queensland, Dr Amanda Ablefrom MPBCRC and Belinda Barr from the ACPFG at the awards ceremonyGet into Geneswins national awardBy Belinda BarrThe ACPFG and Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative ResearchCentre joint education program, Get into Genes, has receiveda Cooperative Research Centres Association (CRCA) Award forExcellence in Innovation.The award recognises Get into Genes’ innovative approach ingiving secondary school students and teachers relevant examplesof gene technologies used to develop improved cereal crops.Gene technology is a major component of secondary schools’biology curriculum. Generally students learn about these technologies,such as DNA fingerprinting, through medical and forensicexamples. Through Get into Genes students are made awareof the role gene technology also plays in developing improvedcereal crops.The workshop aims to increase students’ understanding of plantbiotechnology and ultimately attract high quality undergraduatestudents to plant biotechnology.Get into Genes is a product of three years research and development.It has been designed with teacher input to ensure it meetsboth students’ and teachers’ learning objectives, while givingworking, contextual research examples.In the workshop students learn about how DNA is used in aplant breeding program, from marker assisted selection to geneticengineering. Students also investigate conventional plant breeding,DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, restriction enzymes andmolecular markers.Get into Genes has been successfully run in South Australia atthe Plant Genomics Centre since 2004. It is now being deliveredin Victoria at the Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre at La TrobeUniversity and the University of Melbourne. Well over 3500students have been through the workshop since its inception.The Awards for Excellence in Innovation ceremony was held inBrisbane in May as part of the national CRCA conference.Careers onlineThe new Transform Your Career resourceThe ACPFG’s new careers site, aresource for secondary and tertiarystudents, is now online. Thesite aims to give students an ideaof the opportunities and experiencesthey can expect from ascience career, as well as how theycan prepare for their ideal job.The site has interviews with10 ACPFG staff in a range ofHannah from Annesley College in an ACPFG labBy Dr Stuart RoyThe ACPFG is once again takingpart in the CSIRO studentresearch scheme, which aims toget year 12 students enthusiasticabout careers in science.This year we have Hannah andMichelle from Annesley College,who are investigating the differencesin gene expression betweencells of the inner and outer halvesareas, such as protein chemistry,bioinformatics, microscopy andcommercialisation.The interviews revealed someinteresting facts about ACPFGstaff, such as:• Dr Rachel Burton started acareer in medical microbiologybefore realising her passion wasplant science• If Nadim Shadiac weren’t aprotein chemist he’d be anAustralian football star• Dr Andreas Schreiber has moreexperience in subatomic physicsthan bioinformatics• David Harris’s colourful historyincludes working as a plumber’smate and carpenter’s assistant.www.acpfg.com.au/careersStudents in scienceof the root, and examining howgene expression affects the transportof salt to the shoot.After their four afternoonsat the ACPFG, they will givea presentation about their workto schoolmates and design aposter that will be judged byother members of the studentresearch scheme.Gwen, Stu and the amazingtechnicolour lab coatIn June the Plant Genomics Centre participated in the World’s BiggestMorning Tea, raising almost $800 for cancer research. As part ofthe fundraising events, staff members were encouraged to offer atalent or item for auction. Researcher Gwen Mayo offered her artisticpainting services.Scotsman, Dr Stuart Roy, won the bidding and is now proudly wearinga lab coat sporting a fantastic painting of the Loch Ness monster wearinga hat in Dr Roy’s ancestors’ tartan, pictured.Due to popular demand Gwen will offer her painting services forcharity again next year.Plant Genomics Centre World CupBy Nadim ShadiacACPFG staff embraced theAustralian Socceroos’ entry inthe World Cup with a local soccertournament. One thing’s forcertain… despite our Braziliannicknames, we were no Brazil!A bunch of soccer enthusiaststook to the Waite Oval on a coolThursday afternoon to showcasesome of the ACPFG’s emergingtalents. Four teams with a total of28 players battled it out for a littleover an hour, in what seemed likean eternity.The goalkeepers provided somethe best highlights with outstandingdiving saves including a crackingshot that was denied by the noseof keeper Trevor Garnett.Despite allegations of matchfixing, the winning team, theDaring Dodgers (who acquired ahandy player, me, for the secondhalf) were bathed in glory aftergoing through to the final on apenalty shootout.Gwen putting the finishing touches on Stu’s lab coatand games on the field16 17