8U Q N E W S , M A R C H 2 0 0 7Queensl<strong>and</strong> Academy students Rob Murdock, Pree Jeew<strong>and</strong>ara <strong>and</strong> Eliza Chew with tutor Annie Chen (second left).SMART KIDS GETTING HEAD STARTTHE NEWEST STUDENTS TO STUDY AT UQ MAY BE YOUNG, BUT THEY SURE ARE BRAINY.For their first five weeks <strong>of</strong> school,students <strong>of</strong> the new Queensl<strong>and</strong>Academy for Science, Mathematics<strong>and</strong> Technology at Toowong are spendingone day a week working with top UQacademics at the University’s researchinstitutes.As part <strong>of</strong> their UQ practical experience,the students are taking part in workshops<strong>and</strong> tutorials in biology, biomedical science,chemistry, mathematics <strong>and</strong> physics.But their UQ experience will not endthere – the “Smart State” Academy willmaintain an ongoing <strong>and</strong> close link withthe University, allowing its high-achievingstudents to develop their skills through aleading-edge curriculum.Vice-Chancellor Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John Hay, AC,said the arrangement would provide academystudents with an enhanced learning experience<strong>and</strong> the opportunity to develop research <strong>and</strong>investigation skills in a world-class environment.“The University has cultivated a tradition<strong>of</strong> research <strong>and</strong> teaching excellence that willafford students every opportunity to fulfil theirpotential,” Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Hay said.“As well as being provided with access tocutting-edge technologies in innovative fieldssuch as robotics, biomedical science, forensicscience <strong>and</strong> gene technology, students are beingexposed to a groundbreaking researchenvironment that has produced researchsuccesses <strong>of</strong> the likes <strong>of</strong> our scramjetproject <strong>and</strong> life-saving cervical cancerresearch.”The 242 inaugural academy students aretaking on the International BaccalaureateDiploma program, a two-year curriculumthat prepares 16-to-19-year-olds foruniversity.As well as being able to fast track theirlearning by combining their schooling withtertiary studies, students are presentedwith opportunities to gain valuable workexperience.RewardingexcellenceNominations are being invited forThe University <strong>of</strong> Queensl<strong>and</strong>’s <strong>2007</strong>Awards for Excellence in Teaching <strong>and</strong>Awards for the Enhancement <strong>of</strong> StudentLearning.AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHINGThese awards were established in 1988 torecognise, encourage <strong>and</strong> reward sustainedexcellence in teaching at the University.Academic staff with teaching or teaching/research appointments who have a minimum <strong>of</strong>two years academic teaching-related employmentwithin the University are eligible for nomination.C<strong>and</strong>idates must be nominated by at leastfive members <strong>of</strong> the University’s academic staffor current or former students (those who havebeen taught by the nominee within the last fiveyears). Of the five people who nominate, at leastone must be an academic staff member <strong>and</strong> onea current or former student. Self-nominations willnot be accepted.Information, including posters, guidelines<strong>and</strong> nomination forms, is available in faculty,school <strong>and</strong> centre <strong>of</strong>fices, Student Centres <strong>and</strong>at: http://www.uq.edu.au/teaching-learning(Select Teaching Excellence) or by contactingJenny Bjarnesen on (07) 3365 3206 or emailingj.bjarnesen@admin.uq.edu.au.Nominations, completed on the appropriateform, should be submitted by Friday May 4, <strong>2007</strong>to the Director <strong>of</strong> Studies <strong>of</strong> the nominee’s faculty.AWARDS FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OFSTUDENT LEARNINGThese awards were established in 2001 bythe University’s Academic Board. They recogniselearning <strong>and</strong> teaching support programs <strong>and</strong>services that make an outst<strong>and</strong>ing contributionto the quality <strong>of</strong> student learning <strong>and</strong> the studentexperience <strong>of</strong> higher education.Self-nominations are being invited for theseawards, which are open to innovative teaching<strong>and</strong> learning related projects or services initiatedby curriculum teams, groups or units withinsupport services, administrative units, centres,schools, or programs <strong>of</strong> study. They can also beUniversity-wide initiatives.Information packages, including posters,guidelines <strong>and</strong> application forms, are available indivisions <strong>and</strong> central services <strong>and</strong> school <strong>of</strong>fices<strong>and</strong> at http://www.uq.edu.au/teaching-learning(Select Teaching Excellence) or by contactingJenny Bjarnesen on (07) 3365 3206 or emailingj.bjarnesen@admin.uq.edu.au.Applicants should submit their completedapplication form with appropriate endorsement<strong>and</strong> a two-page synopsis <strong>of</strong> the nominatedproject by Friday May 4, to Jenny Bjarnesen,Room 629, Level 6, J D Story Building.
IT’S NO JOKE…FUNNY BUSINESS IS SERIOUS WORK FOR A UQ LECTURERWHO’S RESEARCHING HUMOUR IN THE WORKPLACE.Dr Westwood9U Q N E W S , M A R C H 2 0 0 7UQ Business School academic Dr BobWestwood believes the TV program BigBrother can tell us something pr<strong>of</strong>oundabout humour at work.Dr Westwood said the Big Brother <strong>Office</strong>Olympics episode broadcast last year was funnyprecisely because it was subversive.“Most research on humour at work to datehas come out <strong>of</strong> a functionalist framework with,ultimately, the idea <strong>of</strong> capturing the benefits <strong>of</strong>humour as a way <strong>of</strong> improving productivity,” hesaid.“But the <strong>Office</strong> Olympics episode, with itsmockery <strong>of</strong> the “boss” figure, showed humour atwork at its most subversive <strong>and</strong> dangerous.”Dr Westwood has recently co-edited (with CarlRhodes, University <strong>of</strong> Technology, Sydney) a booklooking at humour in the workplace.Humour, Work <strong>and</strong> Organisation is publishedby Routledge <strong>and</strong> brings together academics fromAustralia, New Zeal<strong>and</strong>, Engl<strong>and</strong>, Irel<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> theUS to provide an alternative to the managerialistperspective that Dr Westwood believes continuesto drive much <strong>of</strong> the research.With examinations <strong>of</strong> gender, humour, <strong>and</strong>organisations; humour in workplace meetings; anin-depth look at TV’s The Simpsons; a chapterentitled “The comedy <strong>of</strong> ethics”; <strong>and</strong> a finalsection examining the organisation <strong>of</strong> humour,the book is a surprise package.Dr Westwood said it was a scholarlyacademic book, produced from withinthe academy, by an established <strong>and</strong>establishment publishing house.Contributors include Sam Warren<strong>and</strong> Stephen Fineman, who examinethe intriguing idea <strong>of</strong> “prescribed fun”at work, while Martin Parker studiesthe interplay <strong>of</strong> organisational culture<strong>and</strong> popular culture by providing along list <strong>of</strong> satirical books, televisionshows <strong>and</strong> websites, all predicatedon the stereotype <strong>of</strong> work as thelast place you’d want to be <strong>and</strong> “theboss” as a tyrant.“It constitutes a location [for hischapter [Theory as Joke] within theextant power structures that largelymilitate against the possibility <strong>of</strong>subversion <strong>and</strong> transformation,” hesaid.In other words it’s no joke.Join NTEU at UQWe know higher education.We have a full-time <strong>of</strong>fice at UQ.We are a democratic union.The National Tertiary EducationUnion (NTEU) is open to all General<strong>and</strong> Academic Staff at UQ. Werepresent all staff in negotiationsabout your pay <strong>and</strong> conditions. Weassist individual members with issuesranging from performance appraisalto probation.Our recent achievements include:• 4% pay rise on 1 Jan <strong>2007</strong>.• 26 weeks paid maternity leave.• Short-term contract roll-over.• Guidelines limiting academicworkloads.• Raising research staff issues.• Improved casual loading.We want to do more but we need your help. Join NTEUtoday! It’s an essential investment in your future.To find out more or join online visit www.nteu.org.auContact the UQ Branch <strong>of</strong>fice on 336 52538,or email m.mcnally@qld.nteu.org.auThere has never been a moreimportant time to join a union.