01-cover only - Office of Marketing and Communications - University ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Academic appraisalof Helpmann’s lifeFrom left: Christopher Pate, Jonathon Hardy and Sir Robert in Michael Pate's The Mango Tree.PHOTO: courtesy Dr BemroseAlthough Sir Robert Helpmannwas one of this country’s mostfamous international performers,his work in Australia has receivedlittle academic attention.This has changed thanks to UQPhD scholar Dr Anna Bemrose, whorecently completed her thesis AServant of Art: Robert Helpmann inAustralia.As well as researching private andpublic collections, Dr Bemrose interviewedmany of Helpmann’s professionalcollaborators in Australia andoverseas.These included Michael Paton,Garth Welch, Richard Bonynge, PeterSculthorpe, Dame Alicia Markovaand the late Dame Ninette de Valois.Dr Bemrose said while there wasinformation on Sir Robert’s workduring his time overseas, little had beendone on his life before and after histriumphant return.“Most people seem to think that hewent to England and that was whereDr Bemrosehe learnt his craft, but even before heleft Australia he had explored mostaspects of the arts,” she said.“He had been involved inexperimental theatre in Adelaide andhad already choreographed his firstballet.“While Helpmann’s artisticversatility led him to explore manyareas of the arts, it was initially balletthat drew him back to Australia towork with the Australian Ballet,which he showcased to the world.”ADVERTISEMENT10 UQ NEWS, february 2004
Bridging thescience gapMore than 180 high school students fromQueensland and New South Walesconverged on UQ in January to discoverthe wonders of science and technology.UQ has played host to the SiemensScienceExperience – a fun threedays of hands-on science activities forstudents starting Year 10.During the event, which ran fromJanuary 20 to 22, participants visitedmine-sites and museums and tookpart in various laboratory workshopsconducted by some of UQ’s leadingscientific minds.UQ Director of The Siemens ScienceExperience Dr Adrian Bradleysaid the university environmentprovided experiences not normallyavailable in schools.“Often the bridge between schooland university is a large one to cross.The Siemens Science Experiencedemystifies university and givesstudents a hands-on opportunity tolearn from various experts and findout what careers are available withinthe scientific field,” Dr Bradley said.Workshops covered areas includinganatomy, physics, engineering, mathematics,entomology and robotics.Students were challenged to build amicroscope using nothing more thancommon household materials.Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Internationaland Development) ProfessorTrevor Grigg delivered the welcomeaddress at the opening ceremony onJanuary 20 at the Steele LectureTheatre.Executive Dean of the Faculty ofBiological and Chemical Sciences(BACS) Professor Mick McManusand the Director of Studies for BACSProfessor Susan Hamilton alsoattended the ceremony.Professor Hamilton delivered anaddress of encouragement to Queensland’sfuture scientists during theclosing ceremony at the UQ Centreon January 22.About 400 students attending TheSiemens Science Experience hostedSiemens Science Experience participantsby Griffith University and QueenslandUniversity of Technology joinedthe UQ participants for the closingceremony.During the ceremony, The NationalScience and Technology Centre,Questacon presented their Smart Movesshow that highlighted significantAustralian innovations and inventions.The Siemens Science Experiencewas introduced in Melbourne in 1990and is currently operated by 34universities throughout Australia.The event was supported byRotary and Queensland Rotariansplayed an active role hosting and supervisingstudents. Program sponsorsincluded Education Queensland andthe Department of Innovation andInformation Economy.EPSA held two other eventsduring January designed to givebudding engineers and scientists anacademic head start.The 2004 Australian StudentMineral Venture from January 10-22allowed students to visit mine-sitesand research centres while the FutureEngineers Australia ManagementProject from January 12-16 taughtstudents team-building, problemsolvingand time-management skills.’....................The SiemensScience Experiencedemystifies universityand gives students ahands-on opportunityto learn from’various expertsAbalone and humans relatively closeAn abaloneUQ NEWS, february 2004We may be at different ends of thefood chain but a UQ researcherhas drawn a link between abaloneand humans.Dr Liz O’Brien, who studied partsof the genetic code of the tropicalabalone for her PhD thesis, foundhumans and abalone shared genes thatwere also active in the brain andsensory system.“When we analyse DNA code wefind incredible genetic similaritybetween very different animals,” DrO’Brien said.“Some genes are so well-suited tothe roles they play they have remainedunchanged despite millions of yearsof evolution.”She said conservation of suchgene code and expression in animalsthat had evolved independently formillions of years also indicated anessential function for these genes.“They are so well-suited to the rolethey play that they have not beenaltered for millennia,” she said.“It’s amazing to think about howpowerful evolution can be. A commonstarting point gave rise to animals ascomplex and as different as abaloneand humans.”Dr O’Brien said her work was veryeasy to get excited about.“The discovery of these genes andtheir proposed function adds another bitto the puzzle and reaffirms that at onetime we all had a common ancestor.”11
Page 8 and 9: Dr BotellaGreen light for newplant
Page 12 and 13: orientation week 2004Student lifest
Page 14 and 15: Bin briefDrug abuse studyA study in
Page 16 and 17: graduations december 2003High degre
Page 18 and 19: graduations december 2003Tenor tuni
Page 20 and 21: conference callForum infocus at UQT
Page 22 and 23: Bin briefrecent appointmentsVale Pr

01-cover only - Office of Marketing and Communications - University ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?