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

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