Issue 581 (March 2009) - Office of Marketing and Communications

NEWSNEW HONOUR FORGOVERNOR-GENERALSHAKESPEAREBEHIND BARSUQ TO HOST WORLDPRESS FREEDOM DAYMARCH 2009REEFREVIVALHeron Island ResearchStation reopens

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOROne of the great embodiments of learning,discovery and engagement is located on a tinyGreat Barrier Reef coral cay, 80km from mainlandQueensland.It is UQ’s Heron Island Research Station,a destination for academics and students forwell over half a century. For years it has yieldedrevelations about tropical coral reefs that, in thepast decade or so, have evolved into insights thatare influencing how the world understands andanticipates climate change.Pioneering scientists hand-built their researchfacilities, before a permanent research andaccommodation structure was completed in1953.Early this century the University spent $7million to build the Great Barrier Reef’s bestmarine research centre. It became a knowledgehaven not only for UQ students and staff, butalso for overseas institutions of the calibre ofYale University, for Australian school children andteachers, and for scientists from commercial andresearch institutions.Then, just months after the new complex wasfinalised, fire razed the station. Although nobodywas physically injured, the blaze of March 2007caused great material and emotional loss toresearchers and resident staff.With the help of insurance funding, UQimmediately committed to rebuild, and academicand general staff joined the effort with their sightson the importance of Heron Island’s science andeducation activities. Programs in learning anddiscovery soon resumed.Within a few months the boatsheds wereserving as labs and seminar rooms andstudents had tents to stay in. By August 2008students had moved up-market into a newaccommodation block, and in the secondsemester of that year almost 500 school anduniversity students from Australia and the USAmade field trips to the station.Nine million dollars and two years later, it isundeniably back in business. Some of the newgeneration equipment is even better than theprevious versions. And there is another newfeature, artist in residence Judy Watson.When the Queensland Minister for Education,Training and the Arts, Rod Welford, relaunchedthe centre on February 20, it was more acelebration of the spirit of staff and students thanit was a salute to the material infrastructure.A mark of the reopening was the presence ofdelegates from industry, government, researchcollaborators and the not-for-profit sector.UQ’s connections in these spheres are ofgrowing importance, which is one of manyreasons why I am delighted to welcome a leadingbusiness identity, Mr John Story, as Chancellor.John, whose roles include chairing Suncorp-Metway, Tabcorp Holdings and the AustralianInstitute of Company Directors, has been a UQSenator for almost three years and was votedChancellor by his Senate colleagues. He is a UQgraduate and has been an adjunct professorhere. He never trades on it, but his is a UQ nameto conjure with: his grandfather John Douglas(‘JD’) Story was our first full-time Vice-Chancellor,in the days when the position was honorary.Professor Paul Greenfield AOUQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 3CONTENTS06John Story named ChancellorUQ honour for Governor-GeneralNew CEO joins Aussie Colourswww.uq.edu.au/news ➔ ISSUE 581 MARCH 200907 08 15 17 21RSPCA scholarship to help petsObama event too good to missListening for a good cause0412202223SHORTCUTS – A monthly wrap up of UQ innovation and discoveryCOVER STORY – New Heron Island Research Station unveiledINPRINT – Covering the latest releases from UQ writersSPORT – Calling all UQ BluesAROUND CAMPUS – Upcoming public lectures, concerts and eventsCOVER: Associate Professor Hamish McGowan and PhD student Melissa MacKellar conduct climateresearch on Heron Island.PHOTO: STEWART GOULDUQ News is delivered off-campus to our neighbours at St Lucia and across theEleanor Schonell Bridge. We hope you enjoy catching up with news and events atthe University. If you would like to comment on the magazine, telephone(07) 3365 3367 or email communications@uq.edu.auUQ NEWS is produced by the Office of Marketingand Communications, The University of Queensland,Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia.Telephone: (07) 3365 3367. Facsimile: (07) 3365 1488Editor: Cameron Pegg (07) 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.auActing Deputy Editor: Eliza PlantProofing: Shirley Glaister and Penny RobinsonContributors: Wendy Burford, Cate Clifford, AndrewDunne, Steve Forster, Shirley Glaister, Meredene Hill, JuliaKeith, Fiona Kennedy, Jan King, Teola Marsh, Erin Pearl,Bruce Redman, Penny Robinson and Cathy StaceyDesign: Felicia Gibson and Wendy OakleyPhotography: Diana Lilley (photo librarian), StewartGould and Jeremy PattenPrinting: Print WorksCirculation: 15,000Advertising: Tina Hannan (07) 5460 1739Registered by Australia Post Publication No. QBH 0104The University of Queensland’s web address iswww.uq.edu.au

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 4SHORTCUTSPOP APPEALUQ research has gonebackstage to some ofAustralia’s biggest music festivalsto discover what makes them tick,and the answers may surprise you.Dr Nic Carah, a Lecturer withUQ’s School of Journalism andCommunication, has studied the waycorporations use music festivals to helpbuild their brands and found rather thanalienating young people, these brandingpractices were embraced.“Global corporations have becomevery adept at co-opting popular musicculture into their marketing strategies,”Dr Carah said.“Instead of being seen as an outsiderof youth culture, they gain authenticityby being part of these events.”He said while in the past some ofthese strategies may have been lookedupon as suspicious, young people todayunderstand the marketing practices andaccept it as part of the culture.He said events such as the V Festival– a very overt branding exercise – areacceptable as long as there is value in itfor the concert goer.“If Virgin brings popular bandsto a festival, then the audience iscomfortable to use their phones andcameras to send texts and pictures togiant branded screens,” he said.“They also share these experienceson web 2.0 spaces such as MySpaceand Facebook, pushing thecorporations’ reach even further.“Music events like the V festivalwork because they try to develop ameaningful and natural engagementwith the audience.”Dr Carah is working on a bookabout his research to be titled PopBrands: branding, popular music andyoung people, which is expected to bepublished next year.STOCK.XCHNGBACTERIA BUSTINGA group of scientists in London have collaboratedwith a UQ researcher to discover a way of usingtiny nano-probes to help understand how anantibiotic is effective against bacteria.Bacteria such as MRSA (commonly knownas Golden Staph) are becoming increasinglyresistant to antibiotics, posing a major communityhealth problem.Professor Matt Cooper (pictured), has recentlyjoined the Institute for Molecular Bioscience atUQ on a $4 million Australia Fellowship.Through the fellowship, he will establish aresearch program to develop antibiotics andantifungals that are active against drug-resistantpathogens.“In order to attack this problem we need tounderstand not only the ways in which bacteriadevelop and exhibit resistance to antibiotics,but also how new antibiotics can work to kill orslow the growth of resistant bacteria,” ProfessorCooper said.To study antibiotic action, the London teammade nano-probes coated with molecules foundREACHING FOR THE STARSQueensland high school students recentlyreached for the stars at a UQ event toexplore the future of life in space.About 100 students from 10 differenthigh schools from throughout the state tookpart in the annual Australian Space DesignCompetition in January.Hosted by UQ’s School of InformationTechnology & Electrical Engineering (ITEE),the event involves four teams of studentsassuming it is the year 2058, and thenpreparing and presenting a tender responseto design and build a settlement in spacesuitable to accommodate up to 5000humans.ASDC chairman Mark Shaw said teamsaddressed issues in their space settlementdesign such as structural design, operationalrequirements, human factors, automation, ITand business initiatives.“The three-day competitioninvolves students from manydifferent backgroundsand schools workingcollaboratively inin bacterial cell walls from normal bacteria andbacteria resistant to antibiotics.They then added doses of the “last resort”antibiotic, vancomycin, to the system and foundthat probes from normal bacteria were stressedand changed shape, whereas probes fromresistant bacteria were only weakly affected.The team are now screening other antibioticswith the goal of finding a drug that is able tobind strongly to resistant bacteria and causesubstantial structural weaknesses to the cell wall.order to solve space settlement issues andultimately win the chance to visit the USAand compete on an international scale,” MrShaw said.ITEE Head of School Professor PaulBailes said the event allowed studentsto communicate in a group, demonstrateteamwork, work on projects and showcasetheir ideas and futuristic inventions.INSTITUTE FOR MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCEJEREMY PATTENSTOCK.XCHNG

RIGHT RECIPEThey’re among the mostneeded workers in Australia,and now UQ research hasuncovered why chefs maybe so difficult to recruitand retain.In a recent report,“Employing Chefs inQueensland”, School ofTourism researchers DrCharles Arcodia and MrRichard Robinson suggestthe content and listing ofjob vacancy ads may needgreater attention.“Job vacancies that articulate moreappropriately the skills and attributes which aredeemed essential in the various roles in cookeryand list employer and industry benefits may havea greater capacity to attract the right candidate,”Dr Arcodia said.Preliminary findings also show the terms “chef”and “cook” have been used interchangeably andthat different employment statuses such as “fulltime”and “permanent full-time” are confusing.“Developing standardised terminology acrossthe hospitality industry may clarify the differentjob titles and employment status leading to moreefficient and effective job matching which couldreduce turnover,” Mr Robinson said.The authors also suggest that jobadvertisements provide a wealth of informationwhich is rarely used in academic circles.“Job advertisements are an under-utilised datasource as they are current and available to thepublic,” Dr Arcodia said.“Rich insights can often be gained fromadvertisements given the occupational,organisational, industry and societal artefacts theycontain.”REPORTING UNDER FIREVictoria’s fire grounds have been the site of amassive relief effort, and a UQ journalism experthas done his bit to help.Bruce Redman (pictured centre) from theSchool of Journalism and Communication wascalled in by The Salvation Army to help managethe hundreds of journalists who descended onthe disaster site, and to assist in recording themassive relief effort.“I was moved by the enormity of theSTOCK.XCHNGROMANCE IN THE AIRA UQ academic has shared her passionfor romance fiction at a recent event inMelbourne.Dr Toni Johnson-Woods was invited todiscuss her research into 1950s romanceat the inaugural Australian RomanceReaders Convention last month.Dr Johnson-Woods was one of twoQueensland academics asked to attendthe event to discuss genres and trendswithin Australian romance fiction, alongsidereaders, authors and publishers.“Romance is the most neglected of allpopular fiction genres,” she said.“To date, academic research hastended to focus on readership and largelyAmerican romances – my focus is postWorld War II Australian romances.“Overseas books were banned andso local companies suddenly foundthemselves with a golden publishingopportunity.”The research forms part of anAustralian Research Council project titled“Australia's Forgotten Culture”.devastation and how quickly organisations likethe Salvos had responded to the needs of thethousands of survivors,” Mr Redman said.“I recorded interviews with workers, survivorsand media. Everyone concerned was numb withthe shock of so many lives lost and a feeling ofhelplessness.“On the upside, people were buoyed by therenewed sense of community. It was a privilege tobe involved in such a sad yet significant event inAustralia’s history.”Mr Redman appears regularly on ABC LocalRadio as a film and television reviewer, and whilein the firefields was asked to contribute a numberof live reports via mobile phone.Mr Redman will present his experiences as acase study to students later this semester.STOCK.XCHNGFACTS +FIGURES146 – number of inauguralUQ Excellence scholars whoreceived their awards at a specialceremony on February 22. More than200 further students were awardedUQ Merit Scholarships, also in theirfirst year.60,000votes cast in the UniJobs 2008Lecturer of the Year award, whichwas won by UQ Associate ProfessorJulie Walker. Dr Walker, who teachesaccounting, edged out 2,500colleagues from across the country.1200 attendeesat the launch of Margaret Olley:Life’s journey at the University ofQueensland Art Museum last month.The exhibition was opened byGovernor-General Dr Quentin Bryce,AC, and runs until April 19.36 teams participating inthe Rotman International TradingCompetition in Canada, where UQplaced third in the challenging salesand trading division.9 million– cost of refurbishments to the UQHeron Island Research Station offGladstone, which was officiallyreopened last month after a fire in2007. The facility is one of the oldestand most advanced marine researchstations in the world.STEWART GOULDUQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 5BRUCE REDMAN

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 6$22 MILLIONBOOST FORUQ RESEARCHVaccines for cancers, better pain reliefand getting people off the couch andexercising are some of the UQ researchprograms given a multi-million dollarboost last month.Three UQ teams will receive almost $22million as part of the National Health and MedicalResearch Council 2010 Program Grants that areaimed at giving scientists the ability to expand thescope of their research. UQ was awarded morethan 20 percent of the national total.Professor Ranjeny Thomas’s team at UQ’sDiamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology &Metabolic Medicine received $10.13 million towork on vaccines for cancer, chronic infectionsand autoimmune diseases such as diabetes.“There is a large unmet need for effectivesolutions with fewer side effects in thesediseases, which cause a high disease burden inour society,” Professor Thomas said.Professor Neville Owen, who leads the CancerPrevention Research Centre in UQ’s Schoolof Population Health, received $5.39 million toexamine ways to increase physical activity in anincreasingly less active society.“The majority of Australian adults spend mostof their waking hours sitting,” Professor Owen said.“This leads to weight gain and to diseasesof inactivity particularly diabetes, heart disease,cancer and depression.“Our research will measure sitting time andBooster shot: Professor Ranjeny Thomas has received $10.13 million to develop vaccines for cancer and otherdiseasesthe physical activity in people’s daily lives, whatfactors encourage inactivity, and how to increaseactivity levels, especially among the ageing babyboomer population.”Associate Professor Richard Lewis, from UQ’sInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, has received$6.36 million to develop new drugs to treatchronic pain.“The goal of our research is to improvetreatments for pain, especially persistent pain,” DrLewis said.“We are investigating the venom from animalssuch as cone shells to develop a new class ofpain killers that can treat persistent pain.”UQ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)Professor David Siddle said the three grantswould fund work that had the potential to reshapethe health of Australia.“Work by our outstanding researcherssuch as Professor Thomas has the potentialto revolutionise the way we treat cancer anddisease,” Professor Siddle said.“In much the same way that many diseaseswere controlled last century by the use of vaccines,the new generation of vaccines could do the samethis century.”– ANDREW DUNNECHRIS STACEYUQ welcomes new ChancellorSUNCORP-METWAYThe University’s new Chancellor isMr John Story, a highly experiencedcorporate leader with strong familial,professional and personal links to UQ.Members of UQ’s governing body, Senate,voted Mr Story into the honorary position,which carries important governance, ceremonialand symbolic responsibilities.Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfieldcongratulated Mr Story, and said hisacceptance of the role showed a generouscommitment to serving UQ and the broadercommunity.“John’s paternal grandfather, John Douglas(‘JD’) Story, was UQ’s first full-time Vice-Chancellor, serving in an honorary capacity, andJohn has continued the affiliation by studyinghere and formerly giving legal advice to UQ,”Professor Greenfield said.“He has held two voluntary positions, asa Senator since May 2006 and formerly as anAdjunct Professor, and whilst he was a partnerof Corrs Chambers Westgarth he initiatedsupportive links between the legal firm andUQ’s TC Beirne School of Law.“He is a lawyer with deep and broadcorporate experience, being Chairman ofSuncorp-Metway, Tabcorp Holdings and theAustralian Institute of Company Directors,a Director of CSR, and a member of theQueensland Public Service Commission.“John’s loyalty to UQ and his extensivebusiness experience are fitting qualities for theChancellor who will take UQ – which will markits centenary in 2010 – into its second century.”Mr Story thanked his Senate peers forhonouring him with the position, and paidtribute to his predecessor Sir Llew Edwards AC,who was Chancellor for 16 years.“I look forward to working with theVice-Chancellor to fulfil the office’s duty ofmaintaining high standards of accountabilityby the University executive to the Senate,” MrStory said.“Equally importantly, this officeencompasses the spirit, traditions and valuesof Queensland’s oldest university, and it grantsopportunities for interaction with members ofthe UQ community and with partners in thebroader community.“Sir Llew was a superb Chancellor, andI am very conscious of the responsibilitiesassociated with being his successor.”Mr Story’s term as Chancellor will extenduntil December 31, 2012.

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 7PHOTOS JEREMY PATTENWorthywinnerTHE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLANDRECENTLY PRESENTED AUSTRALIA’SFIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR-GENERALWITH A SPECIAL AWARD ATCUSTOMS HOUSE.Australia’s first female Governor-GeneralDr Quentin Bryce, AC, was last monthpresented with the University’s Alumnus ofthe Year for 2008.Dr Bryce, formerly Governor of Queenslandfrom 2003 until 2008, was announced as UQ’sAlumnus of the Year late last year along with UQ’sInternational Alumnus of the Year, Cambodianlabour camp survivor, Path Heang, and YoungAlumnus of the Year, music therapist AlissaPhillips.Dr Bryce received her award at a specialpresentation ceremony at Customs House,attended by UQ’s former Chancellor Sir LlewEdwards, AC, and Vice-Chancellor ProfessorPaul Greenfield, AO, as well as President of theAlumni Friends of The University of QueenslandInc. Feona Walker and the group’s Senior Vice-President Dalma Jacobs.Dr Bryce, who was the official Visitor to theUniversity, is a University of Queensland graduate,former UQ academic and an honorary Doctor ofLaws recipient.She was sworn in as Australia’s 25thGovernor-General at a ceremony at ParliamentHouse in Canberra on September 5, 2008.Professor Greenfield said UQ was privilegedto have alumni of Dr Bryce's calibre.“A university’s reputation is determined largelyby the character of its graduates, and QuentinBryce is a great example to students, staff andother UQ graduates,” he said.“She has put her UQ education to excellentuse by improving conditions for people who havenot shared in her advantages.”Ms Walker said the Alumni Friends werehonoured Dr Bryce had accepted the award ofAlumnus of the Year for 2008.Dr Bryce graduated with a Bachelor of Artsand a Bachelor of Laws from UQ where shelater spent 14 years teaching Introduction toLaw, Criminal Law, Administrative Law and LegalAspects of Social Work.Some of her appointments have includedfounding Chair and Chief Executive Officer ofthe National Childcare Accreditation Council andFederal Sex Discrimination Commissioner.– SHIRLEY GLAISTERCause for celebration: (from left) Mrs Louise Greenfield, Dr Michael Bryce, Vice-Chancellor Professor PaulGreenfield, Dr Quentin Bryce, former Chancellor Sir Llew Edwards, The Honourable Paul Lucas MP, and DalmaJacobs of the Alumni Friends of The University of Queensland Inc.

AUSSIE COLOURSJEREMY PATTENUQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 08TOP HONOURSStaff, alumni and students associatedwith UQ have been honoured in thisyear’s Australia Day awards.Those receiving honours include:Officer (AO) in the General Division• UQ alumnus Professor Brian Crommelin, forservice to the law.Member (AM) in the General Division• Associate Professor Robert Beeton, for serviceto the environmental sciences.• Alumnus Dr Ian Cameron, for service to civilengineering.• Alumnus The Hon Justice Keiran Cullinane, forservice to the law.• Alumna Lesley McFarlane, for service toeducation.• Alumnus Llewellyn Russell, for service to theshipping and transport logistics industries.• Alumna Professor Julianne Schultz, for serviceas a journalist, editor and academic.• Alumnus and Adjunct Professor Peter Short, forservice to the law.• Alumnus Professor James Taylor, for service totertiary education.• Alumnus and staff member Professor HarveyWhiteford, for service to medicine.Medal (OAM) in the General Division• Alumna Ann Bennison, for service to localgovernment and the community.• Alumnus Dr Ian Bunce RFD ED, for service tomedicine.• Alumna Deidre Brown, for service to thecommunity.• Alumnus George Curphey, for service to thecommunity.• Alumnus Victor Doig, for service to surflifesaving.• Alumnus Joseph Donnelly, for service toeducation as a teacher.• Alumnus Commodore James Longden, forservice to the community.• Alumnus and staff member Associate ProfessorIan McPhee, for service to medicine.• Science student Melanie Schlanger, as a goldmedallist at the 2008 Olympic Games.• Alumna Dr Gail Waterhouse, for service to thecommunity.• Alumnus Dr Robert Weiland, for service toeducation in Western Australia.• Alumnus and staff member Dr Chester Wilson,for service to medicine and the community.• Alumnus Dr Leonard Young, for service tomedicine.Recipients of the Public Service Medalwere alumni Louise Hand, David Kopelke andDennis Wogan, while the Australian PoliceMedal was awarded to alumnus Detective ChiefSuperintendent Jeffrey Loy.The Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) wasawarded to alumnus Colonel Anthony Wallace,with UQ staff members Dr Steve Johnston,Professor Roly Sussex and UQ graduate andveterinarian Dr Hugh Wirth serving as AustraliaDay ambassadors.New look executiveThe University has welcomed severalnew and familiar faces to its executiveteam for 2009.Among the appointments is legal leaderDorothy Collins who has been named UQ’s firstSecretary and General Counsel.Ms Collins (pictured) has been GeneralCounsel at UQ since May 2007, prior to whichshe practised as a commercial and corporatelawyer in Perth and was a lecturer at the LawSchool at the University of Western Australia.Among Ms Collins’ responsibilities are servingas the University Secretary, leading the UQLegal Office and supervising the operations ofAssurance and Risk Management Services.In related news, Professor Susan Hamiltonhas been elected the President of the AcademicBoard, and Professor Ian Zimmer is currentlyacting as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (ExternalRelations). Professor Zimmer recently completeda successful 10 years as the Executive Dean ofthe Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, andhas been succeeded by Professor Tim Brailsford.Meanwhile, Professor Graham Schaffer is theExecutive Dean of the new Faculty of Engineering,Architecture and Information Technology, whileProfessor David de Vaus will become the Facultyof Social and Behavioural Sciences’ ExecutiveDean in June. Professor Mark Western has alsobeen appointed as Director of the Institute forSocial Science Research.Aussie Colours to grow under new CEOAussie Colours, the company formedto commercialise drought-resistantplants developed by UQ research hasappointed Lionel Sach as its new CEOto lead the business through its nextphase of growth.Mr Sach has more than 20 yearsexperience in the nursery industry, both inAustralia and the UK, and brings a wealth ofexperience in the growing and distribution ofunique flowering plants.“Aussie Colours is a progressive innovativecompany with enormous potential,” Mr Sachsaid.“I am extremely excited to be a part of thecompany’s expansion plans.”Since the company’s formation in June2007, Aussie Colours has released a number ofnew native flowering plant varieties to nurseriesthroughout Australia. The Outback Princess®(Ptilotus nobilus), has also been sold for cutflowers to the Japanese market, and in 2009one Aussie Colours variety will be released forsale in the USA and Canada.“We are very pleased with the progressof Aussie Colours,” said interm CEO BrianRuddle.“Our rapidly expanding product range willbenefit from the expertise of a full-time CEO ofLionel’s calibre.”Mr Sach is a prominent figure on industrybodies including Treasurer of the InternationalPlant Propagators Society Australian Region,President of the Horticulture Media AssociationAustralia, Industry Advisory Committeemember for Horticulture Australia Limited,and Chairman of NGIQ Nursery & GardenIndustry Queensland Technical & EnvironmentCommittee.

ScholarsEXCELUQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 09More than 100 new UQExcellence Scholarshiprecipients were commendedat a special ceremony at theUniversity in February.UQ launched its new academic scholarshipprogram last year, with two types of scholarshipsawarded – UQ Excellence Scholarshipsvalued at $6000 a year for the duration of thestudent’s program and more than 200 UQ MeritScholarships providing $6000 for the first year ofstudy.UQ Excellence Scholarship recipients receivedtheir certificates from UQ Vice-ChancellorProfessor Paul Greenfield at the event.Excellence Scholar Wesley Draper, fromNeurum, between Woodford and Kilcoy, visitedUQ St Lucia for the first time to attend the“Since most of myfamily and friends aresports addicts, why notenter a career where Ican not only treat theirinjuries, but remain intune with science?”Research by UQ Business School’sRenee Adams has found womenappear to significantly enhance themonitoring capacity of the boards theyjoin.Using detailed data sourced from theUS Investor Responsibility Research Centre,Professor Adams and co-researcher Dr DanielFerreira found boards with more femaledirectors were characterised by greaterparticipation of directors in decision making,tougher monitoring of the CEO, and morealignment with the interests of shareholders.Professor Adams said the researchprovided solid evidence to support what haduntil now been a largely ideological debate.“Boards around the world are underpressure to recruit more women with somecountries legislating quotas to improvediversity on boards,” Professor Adams said.UQ Excellence Scholar Jade Denmar and her grandmother Lola at the awards presentationpresentation, and has recently commenced aBachelor of Physiotherapy.The 17-year-old attended Kilcoy State HighSchool, where he shared joint captaincy and wasSenior Dux of his year.Mr Draper encouraged other students toapply for a scholarship, with his successfulapplication helping him to fulfil his dream ofworking for a national sporting team.“After bouncing back and forth betweenprofessions such as pharmacy, dentistry andmedicine, I finally decided upon physiotherapy,”he said.“Since most of my family and friends aresports addicts, why not enter a career where Ican not only treat their injuries, but remain in tunewith science?”UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)Professor Deborah Terry said the newBusinesswomen add to boards“From January last year, companies inNorway have been required to ensure at least40 percent of directors are female.“Spain is following suit with their quota,also 40 percent, coming into effect from 2015and Sweden is threatening to do the same.“The research suggests there will be ameasurable improvement in the monitoringcapacity of boards incorporating more women.“However, our findings do not support theargument for quotas as increased monitoringcan be counter-productive in well-governedcompanies.“Ultimately decisions about boardcomposition must be made at the companylevel, taking into account other boardcharacteristics.“What our evidence does show is thatwomen board members are not mere tokens.”The research is to be published in theJournal of Financial Economics.scholarships were one of the richest universitymerit scholarship packages for school leavers inQueensland and also one of Australia's biggest.“We received almost 1500 applications fromYear 12 students across Queensland, as well asthe Northern Territory, New South Wales, ACT,Victoria and overseas,” Professor Terry said.“We were tremendously impressed by thedepth of talent and the academic achievementsof these young people.“Selecting the recipients was a very difficulttask. All UQ Excellence Scholarship recipientsscored an OP1 (or interstate equivalent), makingthem among the highest academic achievers inAustralia.”INFO ➔ www.uq.edu.au/scholarships– ELIZA PLANTLYLE RADFORD UQ BUSINESS SCHOOL

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 10IN BRIEFTEACHING WINUQ Business School’s JulieWalker beat 2500 lecturersacross Australia to take out theUniJobs 2008 Lecturer of the Yearaward last month.The Associate Professor, whohas taught company accounting atThe University of Queensland for 20years, said she was surprised anddelighted by the win.Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Academic) Professor Debbie Terryopened the event with a shortspeech congratulating Dr Walkerand acknowledging her contributionto the lives of UQ students andgraduates.UniJobs Executive DirectorJarrod Kanizay said more than60,000 votes were cast nationwide.THAI HOSPITALITYUQ’s School of Tourism has playeda pivotal role in brokering thedevelopment of the Thai-AustralianTourism and Hospitality Centre.The establishment of the centrelast year has been essential tocapacity building of the vocationalhospitality and tourism workforcein Thailand – an area the Thaigovernment has identified as criticalto the country’s economic growth.A delegation of 20 Thairepresentatives travelled to Australiain August where they participatedin an intensive two-week executiveeducation training and developmentprogram hosted by the School ofTourism.WatercentresecuredUQ researchers will participate ina new $60 million National Centrefor Groundwater Research andTraining announced by the RuddGovernment.Minister for Climate Change and Water,Senator Penny Wong, and Minister for Innovationand Research, Senator Kim Carr, said thenew centre, led by Flinders University, was animportant investment in helping secure Australia’sfuture water supplies.The UQ component of the research will be ledby Chair in Hydrology, Professor David Lockington,whose team will focus on the groundwaterdynamics and biogeochemistry of key coastalenvironments from local to regional scales.Other key UQ investigators will be ProfessorLing Li, Associate Professor Catherine Lovelock,and Associate Professor Massimo Gasparon.“Australia’s extensive coastline has anincredibly diverse range of terrestrial andshallow water conditions and habitats, whichare home to complex and sensitive ecosystemsof rich biodiversity, and are subject to majordevelopment pressure as well as climate changeimpacts,” Professor Lockington said.The $60 million centre has $30 million jointfunding from the Australian Research Council andthe National Water Commission, with $30 million inadditional contributions from the 20 organisationsinvolved. Partners include the University ofNew South Wales, the Australian NationalUniversity, CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, and thegovernments of NSW and South Australia.UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)Professor David Siddle welcomed the AustralianGovernment’s recognition of the importance ofgroundwater research, and said UQ’s inclusionreflected on its high quality research into thecoastal and marine interface.STOCK.XCHNGMARSUPIAL RESEARCHA UQ PhD student has beenawarded a Community Coastcaregrant to research squirrel gliders andthe effects of “island syndrome”.Sarah Bell from the School ofBiomedical Sciences will studythe marsupial on island locationswhich have fewer predators, butalso display lower levels of geneticdiversity and adaptation.The study will be the first toprovide information on populationsof the animal in this context, andmay be applied to other speciesto reduce any further loss inbiodiversity within Australia.

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 11THE UNIVERSITY GAVE A SPECIAL WELCOME TO THOUSANDS OFSTUDENTS DURING ORIENTATION WEEK ACTIVITIES LAST MONTH.Purple and green coloured donuts, UQfrisbees flying their way around campusand the chatter of new friendshipssummed up Orientation Week 2009.From St Lucia to Ipswich and Gatton, theweek again proved an important part of theacademic calendar with thousands of studentsattending.Student Centre Manager (OrientationCoordinator) Kenneth Aberdeen said MarketDay was one of the highlights of OWeek 2009,LYLE RADFORDespecially the Physics Student Society “walkingon water” demonstration.“The sporting and social clubs proved to befavourites again this year and there were lots of‘freebies’ for students as well as fun activities,”Mr Aberdeen said.“From the University’s perspective, thesuccess of OWeek is best judged by how wellstudents transition to University life and accessthe information and services we are trying tohighlight.”These include workshops on study skills,understanding the academic timetable,discovering the UQ Library, computer help andtraining, faculty welcomes and course advisingsessions.The week culminated in the Big 0 on tourat UQ, with acts including The Music, TheFratellis, Ben Lee, Bluejuice, Yves Klein Blueand Cassette Kids, held at The University ofQueensland Amphitheatre, St Lucia.Mr Aberdeen said Orientation Week gavestudents a chance to be informed about whatsupport was available to them before the hecticacademic year started.“Building social and study networks is alsoa very important focus of orientation and manyfaculties have devoted considerable effort tothat outcome again this year,” he said.“Universities worldwide are putting a greatdeal of effort into their orientation and transitionprograms. This period can be a key differentiatorin students’ success and it is great to seestudents having fun in the process.”– ELIZA PLANTThousands of UQ students took part in this year’s OrientationWeek festivities at St Lucia (main picture and top), Ipswich (left)and Gatton (above)PHOTOS JEREMY PATTEN

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 12ReefrenewalUQ MARINE RESEARCH IS READY TO TAKE FLIGHT AGAIN AFTER A$9 MILLION UPGRADE OF HERON ISLAND FACILITIES WAS UNVEILEDLAST MONTH. PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEWART GOULD

“My research group has focusedon global climate change, exploringhow corals and other organisms areresponding to increasing temperaturesand growing ocean acidity”UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 13UQ’s Heron Island Research Station onthe Great Barrier Reef was officiallyreopened by Minister for Education,Training and the Arts Rod Welford onFebruary 20 following a $9 million upgrade.The refurbishments come after a firedestroyed most of the station in March 2007.UQ Centre for Marine Studies directorProfessor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg said having aresearch station in one of the healthiest partsof the Great Barrier Reef was an asset, notjust to UQ, but also to researchers worldwide.“This proximity enables researchers toexplore coral reefs using the latest laboratoryfacilities and equipment while only beingsituated literally metres away from a livingand breathing coral reef,” Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said.“There are very few places in theworld that have this type of access andsophisticated study platform. Investigatorsand students come here from all overAustralia and the world.”Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said coralreefs were important to people in Australiaand surrounding countries due to theirability to support industries like tourism andfisheries.“Over $6 billion flows into theQueensland economy each year fromtourists coming to see the Great BarrierReef, for example,” he said.“Unfortunately coral reefs both here inAustralia and all over the world are beingaffected by human activities such asdeclining water quality, over-fishing andglobal warming. This has generated animperative for research.”Research at Heron Island has already ledto major discoveries, including medicinalproperties associated with cone shells, andusing sea sponges and abalone to betterunderstand evolution.Professor Hoegh-Guldberg’s ownresearch area relies heavily on studying thereef at close hand.“My research group has focused onglobal climate change, exploring how coralsand other organisms are responding toincreasing temperatures and growing oceanacidity,” he said.“This work has turned out tobe fundamentally important to ourunderstanding of how coral reefs, the mostbiodiverse marine ecosystem in the ocean,are going to respond to increased levels ofatmospheric carbon dioxide.”Heron Island Research Station is one ofthe oldest marine research stations in theworld, having been in operation for morethan 50 years.Thanks to the reconstruction, the stationnow includes seven research labs, threeteaching labs, two instrument rooms,aquaria infrastructure and seminar andcomputer rooms, along with an 80-bedstudent accommodation block.It has extensive facilities foraccommodating undergraduatesincluding teaching laboratories and dormaccommodation.THE HERON ISLANDRESEARCH STATIONLocated at the southern end of the GreatBarrier Reef National Park, Heron IslandResearch Station (HIRS) is the largest andmost sophisticated marine research stationin Australia, providing research laboratorieswithin metres of Heron Reef.The research station is located at theleeward end of a coral cay on a 10 x 5kilometre platform reef, 80 kilometres eastof Gladstone and 600 kilometres north ofBrisbane.Heron Reef is home to approximately 60percent of the fish species and 72 percent ofthe coral species found on the Great BarrierReef, as well as the cay’s rich terrestrial floraand fauna.The research station is one of onlyfour centres of excellence recognised inthe global Coral Reef Targeted ResearchProgram funded by the World Bank.It was established more than 50 yearsago and is a cornerstone of the AustralianResearch Council’s Centre of Excellence inCoral Reef Studies.HIRS is recognised as one of the keyfacilities for marine research as well asundergraduate teaching and training. Manyhigh schools also come to Heron Islandto teach their students about coral reefecosystems.INFO ➔ www.cms.uq.edu.auNatural wonders: Heron island from the air, and from bottom left, a turtle on the beach,an aerial shot of HIRS facilities, underwater life and some of the station’s new buildings

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 14US ENDORSESTRIPLE PPROGRAMA landmark US study has found thatthe University’s Triple P – PositiveParenting Program can significantlylower rates of child abuse injuriesand foster care placements whenoffered to parents community-wide.Results of the five-year study, which wasfunded by the prestigious Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention and led by Dr RonPrinz at the University of South Carolina,were published in the online edition of thePrevention Science journal.It is the first large-scale study to showthat providing all families – not just familiesat risk – with access to proven parentinginformation and support can reduce rates ofchild maltreatment.The study found that making Triple Pavailable to all parents led to significantlylower rates of confirmed child abuse,fewer out-of-home placements and fewerhospitalisations from child abuse injuries,when compared to communities withoutaccess to Triple P.Researchers estimate for every 100,000children under the age of eight, the resultscould translate annually into 688 fewer casesof child maltreatment, 240 fewer children incare and 60 fewer children being admittedto hospital or emergency departments withabuse injuries.Study co-author and Triple P FounderProfessor Matt Sanders (pictured), said theresearch added to the already strong evidencebase of the program.“This research shows that by providingall parents – not just those at risk – withparenting support through evidence-basedprograms, we can have a major impact onchild maltreatment,” Professor Sanders said.“We would expect similar results inAustralia if all families here were offered easyaccess to Triple P.”INFO ➔ www.triplep.netCHRIS STACEYWhen a mother breastfeeds she isessentially protecting her child fromherself, according to UQ researcher anddevelopmental paediatrician, Dr LaneStrathearn.By linking data from the Mater-University ofQueensland Study of Pregnancy – Australia’slargest longitudinal study tracking mothers andtheir children – with reports of maltreatmentrecorded by the Department of Child Safety,Dr Strathearn (pictured), found mothers whobreastfed were less likely to neglect their children.“Mothers who didn’t breastfeed were almostfour times more likely to be reported for maternalneglect than mothers who breastfed for four ormore months,” he said.“For mothers who breastfed for less than fourmonths, the risk was about 2.3 times.”In what is believed to be the first populationstudy to provide statistics on the rate of childabuse in Australia, seven percent of children wereidentified as victims of maltreatment.Of the 7223 children in the birth cohort, 512were confirmed cases of maltreatment, with themother identified as the perpetrator 60 percent ofthe time.While it was impossible to conduct arandomised trial, Dr Strathearn said breastfeedingoffered a realistic explanation.“The difficulty with this research subject is thatyou can’t randomly assign a woman to breastfeedher baby and another one not to, so there’salways potential for bias,” he said.“But, these results make sense biologicallybecause breastfeeding is associated with oxytocinrelease, and we know from animal studies thatoxytocin is produced in the brain and helpsactivate areas of the brain that are involved inmaternal care and behaviour.“There are some other functional MRIstudies which show how an intranasal doseof oxytocin actually affects how the brainresponds to stressful or anxiety-provokingsituations and increases trust in a dyadicexchange between two people.”While the biological function of oxytocin“Breastfeedingmay simplypromote thatinterpersonalbond betweena mother andher baby - thephysical touch,the holding,the eye-to-eyecontact”BREASTFEEDING POSITIVESoffered a logical explanation, Dr Strathearn saidthe physical bond created between the motherand baby during breastfeeding could also be acontributing factor.“Breastfeeding may simply promote thatinterpersonal bond between a mother and herbaby – the physical touch, the holding, the eyeto-eyecontact,” he said.– PENNY ROBINSONSTEWART GOULDJEREMY PATTEN

FelineresearchUQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 15CENTRE FOR COMPANION ANIMAL HEALTHNever before hascomprehensive data onhomeless and unwantedcats been collected andanalysed to the magnitudecurrently being undertakenby UQ PhD student CorinneHanlon.Ms Hanlon (pictured), from the Centrefor Companion Animal Health, is conductingresearch which will provide evidence-basedsolutions to Australia’s unmanageablepopulation of unwanted cats and kittens.Nationwide, an estimated 60 percent ofcats that enter shelters are euthanised andthis figure is higher in council pounds.Across Australia, there have been anumber of strategies put in place in aneffort to curb euthanasia rates, includingmandatory desexing, pet registrations andcommunity awareness programs.However, none of these strategies havebeen successful in reducing the numbersand there has been a 28 percent increasein the euthanasia of cats nationwide in thelast year.By working closely with RSPCA sheltersacross Australia, Ms Hanlon’s research isspecifically investigating the cat populationentering shelters.This data is being analysed to identifywhich factors have the greatest impact onwhy cats and kittens end up in shelters.“We are looking into specific factors suchas demographics and the environment andwhether the temperature, rainfall and daylength have an effect on entry of cats andkittens to shelters, and if so, what factors aremost influential,” Ms Hanlon said.“Analysing the reasons why peoplesurrender their cats and the humandemographics of those who surrender willalso allow us to determine if socio-economicstatus, housing situations or local legislationhave any influence.“Additionally we are investigating thecharacteristics of these cats – which catsare at a higher risk of euthanasia once in ashelter and what shelter factors improve theoutcome for kittens and cats.”The analysis of this data will provide acomprehensive nationwide view of theunwanted cat population which will enableshelters and government to build on currentmanagement strategies to not only reducethe number of unwanted kittens born, butcats entering shelters.“Ultimately, our goal is the reduction ofcat euthanasia through the development oftargeted management strategies,” Ms Hanlonsaid.“This project has substantial support fromtwo private donors, however additional ongoingfunding is still required.“We welcome any donations fromthe community who want to help make adifference.”INFO ➔ www.uq.edu.au/ccah– JULIA KEITHRSPCAscholarshipUQ Business School honours studentChristilene du Plessis has been awardeda $25,000 RSPCA Qld Scholarship tohelp in the search for an ethical way tofind homes for shelter animals.The one-off scholarship, financed by thePetcare Information Advisory Service (PIAS), willfund Ms du Plessis’ market research as part ofRSPCA Qld’s one-year trial selling refuge animalsthrough commercial pet shops.Ms du Plessis said she was extremely excitedto be the scholarship recipient as it allowedher to make a contribution to the communitywhile also fulfilling her marketing honours thesisrequirements.“I’m very interested in corporate socialresponsibility and how that relates to marketingand I thought this was a wonderful opportunity tomake a positive difference as part of my studies,”Ms du Plessis said.RSPCA Qld’s trial began last month, with catsand dogs from its shelters now on sale at Petbarnin Lawnton and the RSPCA’s World for PetsSuperstore at Springwood.RSPCA Qld Scientific Research OfficerMandy Symons said the animals were de-sexed,vaccinated, wormed and micro-chipped andRSPCA staff and volunteers were responsible forthe care and sale of the pets.“We need to find ways to successfully rehomemore animals because at the moment thesad truth is that we are putting thousands ofanimals, especially kittens, to sleep every year,”Dr Symons said.UQBS honours academic supervisorAssociate Professor Frank Alpert said thescholarship, one of the largest ever awarded fromUQBS, represented a win-win situation for allinvolved.“The project will use state-of-the-artmethodology to address a market research needand, because it is not simply a consulting project,will also result in an original contribution to themarketing literature. It will produce an honoursthesis that is academically rigorous,” Dr Alpertsaid.JEREMY PATTEN

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 16All smiles: (from left) Malcolm Binks, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Rupert Murdoch and Carissa Klein at the AAA dinnerBUILDING BIODIVERSITYReceiving an award from the PrimeMinister and one of the world’smost prominent businessmen isn’tan everyday occurence, and it’s anexperience UQ postgraduate CarissaKlein is unlikely to forget.Ms Klein received the Sir Keith MurdochFellowship at a benefit dinner for the AmericanAustralian Association (AAA) in Sydney lastmonth, and met many dignitaries includingPrime Minister Kevin Rudd and NewsCorporation chairman Rupert Murdoch.The AAA is a non-profit organisation devotedto encouraging stronger ties between the twocountries, particularly in the private sector.Currently completing her PhD at UQunder the supervision of renowned ecologistProfessor Hugh Possingham, Ms Klein’sresearch is unique in its exploration ofbiodiversity planning with socio-economicconsiderations in mind.“The key is to find solutions that addresssocioeconomic issues without compromisingbiodiversity conservation objectives,” she said.Ms Klein completed her Master’s thesis atthe University of California, where she developedways to protect marine ecosystems whilstminimising impact to the fishing communities.She plans to continue her explorationof this and other projects while working atUQ with Professor Possingham, UQ lecturerKerrie Wilson and Ecotrust, a US based nongovernmentorganisation.Socially responsible banking from mecuMake your moneyethical, sustainableand profitable.MECC0090LISA HOGBEN PHOTOGRAPHYSenatewatchCollaborative research involvingscholars from the United States,Canada, the United Kingdom andAustralia suggests a vibrant upperhouse improves accountability ofgovernments.Dr Nicholas Aroney, from UQ’s TCBeirne School of Law, worked with DrScott Prasser of the University of theSunshine Coast and J.R. Nethercote ofThe Menzies Research Institute to publishtheir findings in a book titled RestrainingElective Dictatorship: The Upper HouseSolution?Developed from a major nationalconference held in Brisbane in 2006which examined the need for an upperhouse in Queensland, the researchproposes that modern democraciesare dominated by tight party disciplineand an increasingly politicised publicservice, resulting in a kind of “electivedictatorship”.The research argues that a potentialsolution is the operation of a vibrantupper house as a means of improvingaccountability and acting as a break onexecutive government dominance.The book contains chapters on theupper houses in the United Kingdom,USA and Canada, as well as those inseveral Australian states. The book alsodiscusses the need for an upper house inQueensland.Restraining Elective Dictatorship: TheUpper House Solution? is published byUniversity of Western Australia Press.Dr Aroney has a further book, TheConstitution of a Federal Commonwealth:The Making and Meaning of theAustralian Constitution, due to bereleased by Cambridge University Pressin May.Call 132 888 or visit mecu.com.auSt Lucia Campus, Staff House Road, St LuciaGatton Campus, Morrison Hall, GattonSTEWART GOULD

MAIN PICTURE STEWART GOULD. OTHER PHOTOS NORITTA MORSEU-DIOPUQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 17Hoping for changeWhen the United States of Americaofficially inaugurated its first AfricanAmerican president on January 20,UQ PhD candidate Noritta Morseu-Diop was inWashington D.C to offer her applause.Ms Morseu-Diop braved the US capitol’sfreezing weather to witness history unfold whenPresident-Elect Barack Obama took his seat atthe White House.A UQ PhD candidate, with the Schoolof Social Work and Human Services, MsMorseu-Diop is currently completing aninternational study on the experiences of exincarceratedIndigenous people in Queenslandand Aotearoa/New Zealand, looking at theirperspectives on the effectiveness of prisonrehabilitation programs.“It was absolutely amazing. To be there inthe crowd on that historic day was incrediblymoving,” Ms Morseu-Diop said.“When the people in the streets heard thatwe had come all that way from Australia for theInauguration, many were overwhelmed.“The presence of people from othercountries showed the American people that theworld was standing in solidarity with them inwelcoming President Obama and his family intothe White House.”Ms Morseu-Diop can still recall the dayPresident-Elect Barack Obama’s winningspeech brought tears to her eyes.“His election win was inspiring and hisspeech brought tears to my eyes and hope inmy heart, because I never ever thought thatDr Martin Luther King’s dream to see AfricanAmericans being judged by the ‘content oftheir character and not by the colour of theirskin’ being made a reality in my lifetime,” shesaid.“Being the President of the mostpowerful country in the world and themany challenges facing him as hetakes on the Presidential seat, I trulyhope that Barack Obama will bringharmony, hope, peace and unity backto the people of the world and theUSA.”UQ graduate Neil Willmett alsojoined Ms Morseu-Diop and three otherIndigenous Australians in Washington D.C.As owner of the Willmett Group, Mr Willmettprovides human resource and business adviceto government and business and is alsothe author of How to Establish a SuccessfulAboriginal Business in Australia, the firstsmall business book written by an IndigenousAustralian.– ELIZA PLANT“His electionwin wasinspiring andhis speechbrought tearsto my eyes andhope in myheart”

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 18STOCK.XCHNGGP boostThe University will contribute$1.7 million towards a GP SuperClinic to be established atRedcliffe.The Federal Government hasannounced it will contribute up to $5million towards the facility.It is one of nine proposedGP Super Clinics in Queenslandannounced by the Commonwealth tobe located in Brisbane, Bundaberg,Cairns, Gladstone, Ipswich, MountIsa, Redcliffe, Strathpine andTownsville.The clinics will provide high-qualityservices, with a focus on convenient,multi-disciplinary care from teamsof medical, nursing and allied healthprofessionals.They will also provide an idealteaching opportunity for GP registrars,along with other medical, nursing andallied health professional students andnew graduates.The Head of the NorthsideClinical School in The University ofQueensland’s School of Medicine,Associate Professor Ian Yang,welcomed the announcement.“From a training and educationpoint of view, this is a very excitingopportunity for The University ofQueensland to partner with theMoreton Bay Region community,to build a sustainable health careworkforce for the future,” Dr Yang said.“This GP Super Clinic will helpto train medical, nursing and alliedhealth students, in a dynamic learningenvironment.“This will also enable significantresearch into preventing chronicdiseases and their complications, tohelp our patients in the region.”SEAN MITCHELLUQ aids African hospitalsUQ postgraduate Sean Mitchell testedboth sides of his brain recently in Africaas part of his medical studies.Using his science and French language skills,Mr Mitchell spent six weeks in Rwanda as partof an elective undertaken through the School ofMedicine.In conjunction with St John’s Ambulance, MrMitchell (pictured) spent the first two weeks witha colleague teaching 200 Rwandan high schoolstudents basic first aid in French.He then went on to spend four weeks at theNyanza District Hospital working in the maternityand surgery departments where he saw donatedequipment from Brisbane hospitals put to gooduse.UQ students are involved with TowardsInternational Medical Equality (TIME), which sentalmost $15 000 of equipment to hospitals all overthe world last year.Prior to commencing his studies inmedicine, Mr Mitchell completed a Bachelor ofScience/Bachelor of Arts dual degree, with hisknowledge of French proving invaluable duringhis visit.“Most of the doctors and nurses were trainedeither in Rwanda or the Democratic Republic ofCongo, and as such French was used clinicallyfor communication between the staff, andalso between the Congolese doctors and theirpatients,” he said.“This also meant that doctors were accessingFrancophone clinical aids from the World HealthOrganisation and UNICEF.”Mr Mitchell said he was fortunate to havestudied several different disciplines at universitybefore deciding to become a doctor.“An Arts degree offers a great opportunityto explore both the theoretical underpinnings ofvarious intellectual movements and critique yourown way of thinking,” he said.“Having a strong understanding of who youare, the way you think and what you stand forbefore you begin to study medicine will make youa better doctor at the end of the day.”In the future, Mr Mitchell hopes to work inRwanda with Médecins Sans Frontières.Fast, accurate & affordable transcription –free your time for the analysis!mobile: 0403 050 473 email: tara@daats.com.auweb: www.daats.com.au– Specialists in transcription of one-on-one interviews,telephone interviews or large focus group discussions.– Fixed pricing (per hour of recorded audio) to help youplan your grant application and budget.– All recording formats, including tapes can be transcribed.– Files can be uploaded to our secure server from your PCand are sent back to you via email in a Word document.– You can contact us 7 days a week and we are availableto take your enquiries on weekends & public holidays.

Bringing the bard BEHIND BARSShakespeare’s work speaksto people from all walks oflife, as Dr Rob Pensalfiniknows first hand.The UQ linguistics lecturer and his wife Anneare leading an Arts Community Enhancement(ACE) program at the Borallon CorrectionalCentre, which will culminate in a performance atthe prison in May.Approximately 20 inmates are working with DrPensalfini and colleagues from the QueenslandShakespeare Ensemble (QSE) after a world-firstpilot program at Borallon in 2006.The project ties in with the work of theatrepractitioner and activist Augusto Boal andis among the first to fuse his theories andShakespeare in a prison context.Dr Pensalfini said ACE philosophy held thatviolent and other disruptive behaviour often aroseout of an inability to express negative thoughtsand emotions through appropriate means.“In Shakespeare’s works, players find themeans to express the very thoughts, feelings andsituations that are the most difficult to put intowords,” he said.“Shakespeare places his characters inextreme and disruptive situations, then demandsthey be extremely eloquent about the experience.“It is through the embodiment of these dramatictexts that detainees will most acutely be able toacknowledge and address rupture in their own lives.”Inmates and their families will participatein weekly workshops until May, choosing aShakespearean piece for performance thatreflects their realities and experiences.Twenty participants completed a five-dayintensive on Boal’s techniques at UQ Ipswichin February, including three QSE members whoare working at Borallon and several Indigenousperformers who hope to use the techniques intheir local communities.The ACE initiative is made possible by supportfrom Borallon staff, the QSE and Arts Queensland.– CAMERON PEGG“In Shakespeare’sworks, players find themeans to express thevery thoughts, feelingsand situations that arethe most difficult toput into words”Above: Dr Pensalfini during a performance at Borallon prison in 2006, and top, the theatre intensive held atUQ Ipswich last monthPHOTOS AMELIA DOWD JEREMY PATTENUQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 19TRACKINGTRAFFICKINGIn response to recent cases of humantrafficking in Far North Queensland,UQ researchers visited Townsvilleand Cairns to investigate and presentpreliminary findings at public forums.The TC Beirne School of Law’s HumanTrafficking Working Group, headed by DrAndreas Schloenhardt, has been workingwith government agencies, non governmentorganisations and advocacy groups to identifyand analyse reported and suspected cases ofhuman trafficking in Australia.Of particular interest were reports abouta married couple from Weipa, who recentlyappealed against their conviction for slaveryand sexual servitude offences. The couple wasconvicted of arranging the marriage of a womanfrom the Philippines, bringing her to Australiato work in their shop and as a domestic helperin their private home. When the woman arrivedin Australia, she was held in a Cairns motel forseveral days and repeatedly raped.The working group examines the patternand criminology of trafficking in persons,relevant criminal offences relating totrafficking in persons and sexual servitude,the immigration status and legal protectionprovided to both lawful and unlawful foreign sexworkers, and the effectiveness of governmentregulation of the sex industry in Australia in thiscontext.Based on these findings, the responseby national, state, and territory governmentswill be critically evaluated. Global initiativesand best practices to confront trafficking inpersons, especially those developed by theUnited Nations are drawn upon to proposerecommendations for policy change and lawreform.The project is a joint initiative of the TCBeirne School of Law at The University ofQueensland, and the Centre of InternationalRelations at The University of British Columbiain Vancouver, Canada.The public forums are supported by theQueensland Law Society.

INPRINTBook offers aGOODLAUGHHumour is what sets the stereotypicalAussie larrikin apart from his foreigncounterparts, with a newly releasedbook from University of QueenslandPress bringing a bit of laughter to thetable on the topic.Serious Frolic: Essays on Australian humour isa collection of pieces on what makes Australianslaugh, penned by leading scholars of Australianliterature and culture and edited by Fran de Groenand Peter Kirkpatrick.The book looks at the Australian comic spirit,and examines whether there is a distinctive styleof Australian humour, what social and culturalfactors play a part and who decides whensomething is funny.“It’s probably only in Australia that ‘you oldTHE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND PRESSbastard’ could be a term of deep affection,” DrKirkpatrick said.Australian humour has become a brand in itsown right and Ken Stewart, Lillian Holt, ElizabethWebby and Michael Wilding are some of thecontributors who bring it to life in the book.Dr de Groen, an Adjunct Professor inthe School of Humanities at the Universityof Western Sydney, said the contributorswere encouraged to write in an amusing andinteresting way.“There are however many examples ofdifferent kinds of humour in the essays. Whetherthey make readers laugh depends very much onthe taste of the reader,” she said.“What we’ve tried to do is start aconversation. Even though we pride ourselves onour sense of humour in Australia there is not a lotof discussion about it.”Dr Kirkpatrick, who teaches Australianliterature at the University of Sydney, said thebook had helped him better understand the rangeof Australian humour.“In one sense, when you look at the kinds ofjokes and tall stories that circulate in Australianculture, there’s actually not much that’s entirelyunique or indigenous about them,” he said.“Most jokes, for example, circulate globally,with simply the names and local contextschanged. But in another sense, humour inAustralia can be said to differ from that of othercultures simply because it’s so insisted upon.”UQP is giving away threecopies of Serious Frolic to UQNews readers. Simply email yourdetails to communications@uq.edu.auwith “UQP giveaway” in the subject line.Winners will be announced before April 21.GIVEAWAYTHE CO-OP BOOKSHOPCURRENT BESTSELLERSCreative minds combine1 BREAKING DAWN – StephanieMeyer, Little Brown (PB) $29.99YOUNG ADULT2 THE WHITE TIGER – AravindAdiga, Penguin (PB) $32.95FICTION3 THE SLAP – Christos Tsiolkas,Allen & Unwin (PB) $32.95 FICTION4 REVOLUTIONARY ROAD – RichardYates, Random House (PB) $24.95FICTION5 THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITHFIRE – Stieg Larsson, MurdochBooks (PB) $32.95 CRIME6 THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGONTATTOO – Stieg Larsson, MurdochBooks (PB) $22.95 CRIME7 THE ELEGANCE OF THEHEDGEHOG – Muriel Barbery,Gallic Books (PB) $19.95 FICTION8 THE AUDACITY OF HOPE– Barack Obama, Penguin (PB)$24.95 Biography9 TWILIGHT SPECIAL EDITION– Stephanie Meyer, Little Brown(PB) $24.99 Young Adult10 DREAMS FROM MY FATHER– Barack Obama, Penguin (PB)$24.95 BIOGRAPHYAs part of a major relaunch of itsacademic publishing list, UQP is proudto announce the arrival of the CreativeEconomy + Innovation Culture seriesthis month.The groundbreaking series brings to a widerreadership fresh approaches to global creativethinking, enterprise and innovation, and examinesnew knowledge for the new economy.The series will feature leading Australian andinternational scholars in the creative industries,selected by UQP in conjunction with serieseditors Professors John Hartley and StuartCunningham.Titles will explore enterprise andinnovation along the dynamic boundarybetween market and non-market, cultural andeconomic, commercial and community, andwill link creative practitioners with businessleaders, policy makers and scholars.UQP is proud to welcome leadinginternational names in creative industriesresearch and practice as the inauguralauthors in the series. John Howkins’ CreativeEcologies and John Hartley’s The Uses ofDigital Literacy will set the agenda for thisambitious project and contribute new thinkingto intellectual debates.Following on from the success of hisprevious book The Creative Economy, ProfessorHowkins draws on new ecological principles toshow why some ideas prosper and others fall bythe wayside.Fifty years after Richard Hoggart’spioneering The Uses of Literacy reshapedthe educational response to popular culture,Professor Hartley’s The Uses of Digital Literacyextends Hoggart’s argument from print to digitalmedia.To celebrate the launch of the UQP CreativeEconomy + Innovation Culture series, ProfessorHartley and Professor Howkins (who will be visitingfrom the UK) will be speaking at the Ideas Festivalon March 29 at the State Library of Queensland.INFO ➔ www.uqp.uq.edu.auTHE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND PRESS

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 21PHOTOS LYLE RADFORDEco art: (clockwise from top) Hideki Okubo listens to the water harp via a length of bamboo, Dr Kato at the opening,and Kubo Yoshinobu and Indigenous elder Uncle Joe Kirk take part in the ceremonyIN BRIEFTOP TEACHERSNominations are beinginvited for The University ofQueensland’s 2009 Awards forTeaching Excellence, Awards forPrograms that Enhance Learning andCitations for Outstanding Contributionsto Student Learning.Information including posters,guidelines and nomination forms isavailable at administration officesacross the University, and online atwww.uq.edu.au/teaching-learning.Entries close on Friday, April 24.INFO ➔ (07) 3365 3206SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONSA UQ public policy expert was the soleAustralian academic invited to take partin a recent think tank held in the MiddleEast.Professor Brian Head, fromthe Institute for Social ScienceResearch, attended the Agenda forthe New Millennium event to discusssustainability issues in Abu Dhabi.The event drew participants from18 countries, with its aim to providesolutions for a broad range of issuesfaced by policy makers around theglobe.MusicalTranquilityVisitors to the Roma StreetParkland witnessed a uniqueceremony taking placerecently, but only if they wereprepared to listen.January saw the Hatsune-shiki (first soundceremony) of a purpose-built Japanese waterharp, also known as a suikinkutsu.The harp is the centrepiece for a “soundgarden” designed by UQ’s Dr Kumi Kato, localarchitect Will Marcus and Mr Kubo Yoshinobu,a specialist suikinkutsu builder from Japan whotravelled to Brisbane specially for the occasion.Once complete the garden will be apermanent feature of the parkland, and hasbeen funded by the Queensland Government’sart+place program.The harp consists of a buried earthenwarepot, which is tipped upside down and has ahole drilled at the top. When drops of water fallthrough onto a permanent layer of water at thebase it creates a subtle musical effect whichdiffers depending on the weather.Mr Kubo also assisted Dr Kato with asimilar installation in a Tasmanian forest in 2005– believed to be the first of its kind in Australia.Dr Kato said the Australian harps were unique,as they weren’t built as part of a traditionalJapanese garden, but instead were created toencourage conservation and the importance ofdialogue across cultures.The sound garden’s design also draws onIndigenous knowledge, and will in time incorporatea design of the Rainbow Serpent in honour of thelocal traditional owners, the Turrbal People.Dr Kato is also gathering the “sounds ofQueensland” for Q150 celebrations later this year,and has encouraged the public to suggest entriesfor the archive.INFO ➔ www.ecco.org.au/150sound/

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 22SPORTFitnessFIRSTStill haven’t fulfilled that New Year’sresolution to get fit, learn a new skillor meet new people?It’s not too late to get started with thefantastic range of facilities and recreationaland fitness programs offered by UQ SPORT.Executive Director Kim Guerin said therehad never been a better time to make the mostof the sporting opportunities at UQ.“We’ve altered our fee structure so theconcession rate is available to all staff andstudents,” Ms Guerin said.“Also, there is no membership fee to joinUQ SPORT. This means it’s more affordablefor students and staff to participate, whetherthey want to take a dance class, have a gameof tennis, train for a triathlon or join our socialsport competition.”The concession rate applies across allUQ SPORT programs and facilities, includingthe tennis and aquatic centres, gym, andrecreational classes.UQ SPORT has also opened a new Pilatesstudio on campus offering specialised classesfor individuals and groups throughout the day.Enrolments for the recreation programclose on March 23.INFO ➔ For full programs and schedulesvisit www.uqsport.uq.edu.auBLUESTRADITIONMAINTAINEDThe University is appealing toits Blues of the past to supportthe stars of the future.UQ SPORT Executive Director Kim Guerin saidthe 2009 Blues Awards Dinner, to be held on April24 at Hillstone St Lucia Golf Links, would focuson the traits that unite athletes throughout theages.“The characteristics of perseverance,determination, dedication, passion, courage andcamaraderie continue to define UQ athletes,” MsGuerin said.ABC sportscaster Gerry Collins is the MCfor the night, which will also see the 2009 UQSPORT scholarships announced along withawards for sportsman, woman and coach of theyear.The awarding of university Blues and Half-Blues is a tradition that can be traced back morethan 170 years to the historic rivalry betweenOxford and Cambridge universities.Ms Guerin said UQ had an excellent reputationin nurturing elite athletes, and wanted to hearfrom all former Blue recipients and their familiesand friends.“Over 55 Wallabies, 60 Olympians and manyother successful athletes have benefited from theUQ Half-Blues recipient Angus Mortonoutstanding sporting facilities and services UQSPORT has to offer,” Ms Guerin said.“Following Australia’s success at the BeijingOlympics, where 16 UQ alumni took part, the2009 Annual Blues Awards Dinner is a greatopportunity to reflect on the achievements ofsportsmen and women, past and present, whohave achieved excellence.”INFO ➔ For more details or to book tickets,contact (07) 3365 8205 or danielles@uqsport.uq.edu.auBARRY ALSOPSilver success for UQCAMERON PEGGA particularly impressive piece ofsilverware is on show at UQ SPORT,and it’s all thanks to the efforts of theUniversity’s rowers.The UQ men’s coxed eights took out theOxford and Cambridge Cup in October for thefirst time in 16 years, and were rewarded with afamous silver trophy that is over 100 years old.The trophy was donated by old Blues ofOxford and Cambridge in the early 1890’sto be rowed for annually by the universitiesof Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and isestimated to be worth more than $250,000.The cup has scenes of both Cambridge andOxford and depicts pictures of rowing and thefloral emblems of England, Scotland and Wales.The angel at the top is pictured in the traditionalpose of the toast to rowing.Queensland first entered the race in 1920and won in 1922 and 1923, with both crewsstroked by Eric Freeman (after whom the UQBoatshed is now named). Queensland wonagain in 1958 and 1959 and broke tradition bytaking the trifecta in 1990, 1991 and 1992.The 2008 winning crew was coached byLincoln Handley and consisted of Ben Ward,Will Lindores, Angus Morton, Charles Ohtomo,Jonathan Trovas, Robert Lewis-Swan, SamConrad, Michel McBride and Mark Alexander.

UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 24MEDIA EVENT TO UNITE NATIONSUQ HAS SECURED A FIRST FOR THE PACIFIC REGION TO HOST A GLOBAL MEDIA FREEDOM FORUM IN 2010.In a first for Australia and the Pacific, UQ haswon the right to host UNESCO’s global WorldPress Freedom Day conference and GuillermoCano World Press Freedom Prize-givingceremony in 2010.Announcing UNESCO’s decision to stage theheadline event in Brisbane next year, Director-General Koichiro Matsuura said his organisationwas “proud to hold this ceremony in yourwonderful country, and for the first time in thePacific region”.The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World PressFreedom Prize honours a person, organisationor institution that have made an outstanding andcourageous contribution to the defence and/orpromotion of press freedom anywhere in theworld.The theme of World Press Freedom Day onMay 3, 2010 is “Freedom of Information: TheRight to Know”, and UQ’s conference will focusparticularly on freedom of expression issues in theAsia-Pacific region.UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfieldsaid UQ was proud to support UNESCO’s effortsto uphold and engender public accountability andmedia freedom.“UNESCO is the only UN agency with amandate to defend media freedom, and too oftenit has cause to condemn the deliberate killing of ajournalist or journalists,” Professor Greenfield said.“One of this conference’s purposes will beto honour reporters who were assassinated orharmed because they exposed or threatened toexpose the truth.“One of thisconference’s purposeswill be to honourreporters who wereassassinated orharmed because theyexposed or threatenedto expose the truth”“UQ educates journalism students who mayone day work in places where their professionmakes them targets, and we regard thisconference as important for their safety as well asfor the global flow of accurate information.”The University of Queensland celebrates itscentenary in 2010 and its journalism school isAustralia’s oldest.Professor Michael Bromley, Head of theSchool of Journalism and Communication, saidhe hoped the conference would also encourage awider “fringe” program of activities in Brisbane topromote the importance of media freedom to thegeneral public.“Our school has been actively pursuing theWorld Press Freedom Day project for about 18months. This is a high-level, global UN Day, andit will attract large numbers of delegates from allaround the world,” Professor Bromley said.Planning for the event has now started, witha World Press Freedom Day 2010 OrganisingCommittee soon to be appointed.INFO ➔ www.uq.edu.au/sjc– ELIZA PLANTMARTIN HADLOW