UQ Update

Celebrate diversity in all its forms at UQ this week

Diversity Week (May 20–24) commences today and you are encouraged to attend some of the many events that have been organised. This year's theme, "The Art of Diversity” refers to art in all its many forms and the way it spans human divides to build common understandings and potentially develop shared understandings in situations of conflict. There are still places available at the free President and Vice-Chancellor's Equity and Diversity Awards event, to be held from 4.30pm–7pm on Thursday, May 23, in the UQ Centre. To register and for further information, click here. Visit the Diversity Week website for more details about the week overall and check out highlighted events in the Events section below.

UQ reSEARCHers, UQ Experts naming competition

The University is currently redeveloping the UQ reSEARCHers and UQ Experts systems to provide a one-stop, easy-to-use online profile of UQ's academics. It is expected that the new system will go live in 2013. In recognition of the new unified system, we would like to launch a new name. Currently, UQ reSEARCHers provides access to the diverse and excellent expertise and experience of individual researchers and groups of researchers at UQ. UQ Experts provides an easy-to-use system for the media to locate key researchers to provide expert opinion on a wide range of teaching and research fields. The new platform is being designed with consideration of the most utilised components of these two systems to provide an easy to navigate profile of UQ’s academics suitable for RHD recruitment, internal and external engagement, and media contact. We are calling for your ideas for a name for the new online system. The chosen entry will win a $100 gift card. Entries should be sent to Lynn Neilsen and close on Friday, June 7, 2013.

2013 Faculty Review: Notification of Staff Forums with the Review Committee

Dear Colleagues

In February 2013, the Vice-Chancellor established a Review Committee, chaired by the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, to undertake a review of the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, and the Faculty of Health Sciences. The Review has also encompassed considerations in relation to the nexus between the School of Biomedical Sciences and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

A three-stage consultation process is being followed. Stage 1 has been completed and further information can be found on the Faculty Review 2013 website. In response to Issues Paper 1, 64 submissions reflecting a broad range of individual and collective views were received. The Review Committee is thankful for the significant time and effort that went into compiling these useful and well-considered submissions.

Stage 2 of the review process commendes today (Monday, May 20, 2013) when the Review Committee will circulate Issues Paper 2 to staff members for consultation; this paper will summarise considerations to date and raise a number of issues for further consultation in relation to possible future configurations of the Faculties of Arts, Social and Behavioural Sciences and Health Sciences. We encourage feedback to Issues Paper 2 from individuals and groups (up until Tuesday, June 11, 2013).

Given the complexity of the issues at hand, the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and members of the Review Committee will hold a number of staff information forums. Four forums are scheduled for this week. The open forums will provide an overview of the Review Committee’s deliberations to date and will outline the issues and options for further consultation.

In addition, the Executive Deans will be arranging a number of discussion sessions at the faculty level.

The open forums have been arranged as follows:

• Open Forum 1: Social and Behavioural Sciences Tuesday, May 21, 2013, 1.15pm–3pm, Venue: Riverview Room, Emmanuel College, Sir William Macgregor Drive, St Lucia Campus
• Open Forum 2: Arts Tuesday, May 21, 2013, 3.1pm–5pm, Venue: Riverview Room, Emmanuel College, Sir William Macgregor Drive, St Lucia Campus
• Open Forum 3: Professional Staff Friday, May 24, 2013, 11.15pm–1pm, Venue: QBI Auditorium, Level 7, Queensland Brain Institute, Building 79, St Lucia Campus
• Open Forum 4: Health Sciences Tuesday, May 24, 2013, 3.30pm–5.30pm, Venue: The Auditorium at UQCCR, Herston Campus

We recognise that some staff members may not be able to attend at the specified time set aside for their faculty and are therefore welcome and encouraged to attend alternative sessions. Open Forum 3 has been arranged to cover specific issues and questions relating to professional staff within the three faculties (please note revised date and time). If required, the Review Committee will be open to holding further staff forums at a later stage in the review process.

Members of staff are asked to register for an open forum at the Faculty Review 2013 website. Further information can also be obtained by contacting facultyreview2013@uq.edu.au.

Thank you in advance for your contributions to this review process,

With warm regards

Professor Deborah Terry
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor

International Student Friendship Ceremony

On Thursday, May 23, at noon, UQ will host the Lord Mayor's International Student Friendship Ceremony in the Great Court as part of Diversity Week. International students will have an opportunity to meet the Lord Mayor, be presented with a certificate of friendship and have their contribution to the social fabric of Brisbane recognised. All UQ students and staff are welcome to attend. The Vice-Chancellor has nominated a representative, Professor Alan Lawson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and International), to address the attendees, along with the Lord Mayor. There will be brief performances by indigenous dancers and the state poet. The Lord Mayor's office will provide a free barbecue lunch for both domestic and international students.

Latest news about the Universitas 21 (U21) network

For news from the U21 network, including updates on initiatives regarding student mobility, teaching and learning and research engagement, click here. Universitas 21 is a global network of research-intensive universities, of which UQ is an active member. For further information on U21, contact Andrew Everett, Director, UQ International, on ext. 51681.

UQ Body Donor Thanksgiving Service

This year's UQ Body Donor Thanksgiving Service will be held from 5.30pm on Thursday, May 30, at the UQ Centre. This year's service commemorated those deceased donors whose bodies were received into the care of the School of Biomedical Sciences during 2011. Their gift has assisted many students in their studies during the past two years. To view some highlights of the 2012 service, click here. To RSVP to this event, please click here.

New website for UQ Business School's Executive Venue

The UQ Business School's Executive Venue has a new website and domain which is user-friendly with a fresh look, updated information, room image gallery, client testimonials, room capacities and options to request an information pack and request a quote. The venue is located in the heart of Brisbane's CBD in Central Plaza One, 345 Queen Street and combines modern facilities with stylish contemporary design and panoramic views over the city skyline. The flexible layout allows a range of options to accommodate meetings, seminars, workshops, training, breakfasts and lunches for groups of up to 200 delegates. Please visit the website and trial the new "Request a Quote" option to book your next event. Request an information pack and/or contact venuemanager@business.uq.edu.au on 3346 7111.

Events survey

UQ's Corporate Operations Division is currently investigating the usage and requirements of events and conferencing systems within the University and seeks your help to detail the types, nature and delivery of event activities held at UQ. If you have current or previous involvement in the many areas of event staging (mainly at UQ but external experience may also be valuable), please click here before 4pm, Friday, May 31, to complete our 30-question survey. If you would like more information, please visit our website or contact Amanda Watson. Thank you for your help.

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Diversity Week events There is a wide range of activities and events to explore during Diversity Week including: Te Doy Una Canción: Celebrating the work of Cuban troubadour, Silvio Rodríguez – This Diversity Week concert (Tuesday, May 21, from 1pm, The Terrace, Sir Llew Edwards Building) will bring together participants from several sections of the University and members of the broader Latin American community. The event will showcase a selection of songs by celebrated Cuban singer-songwriter, Silvio Rodríguez, whose prolific body of work now spans almost five decades. RSVP essential to i.rojaslizana@uq.edu.au and for further information, click here. Gender Studies in the World Today: Creative Interventions – a talk by Merle Thornton, who pioneered, 41 years ago, the joint-first Women's Studies course in Australia at UQ, that grew into an inter-University major, a major, and an Honours program. Merle will discuss imaginative feminist interventions into issues for our time, and the role of Gender/Women's Studies in analysing contemporary problems, and proposing solutions for alternative futures. The talk will be held in room 24-S402 (Social Sciences Building) on Thursday, May 23, from noon followed by refreshments at 1pm. All welcome. Details: Professor Carole Ferrier on ext. 53146. Singing, Dancing and Painting Country: Lecture – Singing is a universal human activity that fosters creativity, intellect and wellbeing. But how singing fits into larger contexts varies considerably. In this lecture, Dr Myf Turpin will explain how "art" is a multi-modal genre in central Australian Aboriginal societies, involving sung-poetry, visual art and dance. Each medium conveys meanings through well-established yet culturally unique forms. This lecture will be held from 5pm–6pm on Friday, May 24, in the UQ Art Museum followed by cocktail reception. RSVP essential to events@slccs.uq.edu.au and for further information, click here. President and Vice-Chancellor's address to all staff Professor Peter Høj's inaugural address "UQ: Foundations for the Future" will provide staff with an opportunity to hear more about the President and Vice-Chancellor's vision for UQ and allow you to share your thoughts on the organisation. Please join the conversation and help define the University's future from 10am–11am on Friday, May 31, in the Exhibition Hall of the UQ Centre (building 27A) at the St Lucia campus. The address will also be streamed live to UQ Ipswich, Gatton and Herston. Register here to attend. Clinical psychology alumni and awards event The School of Psychology would like to invite all clinical academic staff, research and clinical supervisors, and past and present students to attend the UQ Psychology Alumni Awards event on Thursday, May 23, from 6.30pm-8.30pm in the Terrace Room, level 6, Sir Llew Edwards Building, UQ St Lucia. Cost: $22 per head (includes drinks and nibbles). Please RSVP to Rachelle Croton on ext. 44919 by Monday, May 20. For more information, click here. What is action research really? Action research is an established research methodology to use in complex and uncertain contexts, and is particularly suited to participative approaches. The Sustainable Minerals Institute is privileged to have Dr Bob Dick, renowned for his work in the AR field, and one of the founders of the Action Learning and Action Research Association (ALARA), run a brief forum on Tuesday, May 21, at 10am in the Level 4 Seminar Room, Sir James Foots Building (47A), UQ St Lucia. All welcome, no need to book. UQ Architecture Lecture Series 2013 at SLQ, convened by Professor Luis Feduchi Join Brit Andresen, Mara Francis and a panel of guests discussing Canberra 100 and "Sedimentary City: Canberra", created for CAPIThetical, a design ideas competition for a hypothetical capital city. Sedimentary City presents a process for spatial and temporal review of the city and speculates on alternative futures. The lecture will be held from 6pm–7.45pm on Tuesday, May 21, in Auditorium 1 of the Queensland State Library. For details and to book, click here. School of Population Health Seminar Dr Laith Yakob from the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit will present a seminar on "Mathematical models of soil transmitted helminths: All models are wrong but some are more wrong", from 1pm–2pm on Tuesday, May 21, 1pm-2pm, in the ES Meyers Lecture Theatre, Herston. All are welcome, no RSVP required. Click here for more information. Conservation and Heritage Innovation (Critical Approaches to Museums and Heritage Research) Seminar Series Dr Brian Crozier and Faye Schutt (Crozier Schutt Associates) will present this semester's final paper in the Conservation and Heritage Innovation seminars, entitled "The cultural role of Queensland's small museums". The event will be held from 4pm–5.30pm on Thursday, May 23, in room 601 of the Michie Building. All welcome and for more information, contact Professor Ian Lilley on ext. 57051. Seminar: Planning for "coastal squeeze" The Australia Sea Level Rise Partnership (ASLRP) is a collaboration of researchers based at UQ using interdisciplinary approaches to examine the impacts of rising seas in coastal areas. "Coastal squeeze" occurs when ecosystem migration is prevented by existence of hard infrastructure, such as sea walls or levies, which are used to defend settlements from inundation. This joint seminar will be held from 12.30pm–1.30pm on Tuesday, May 28, in room E109 of the Forgan Smith Building. For further information, click here or contact Kate Hannah on ext. 53558. Rare Earths Minerals Symposium The Sustainable Minerals Institute is launching a new research consortium initiative that seeks to bring together leading international academics, industry practitioners and policy makers to discuss the full product cycle of rare earth minerals. The launch of this consortium will take the form of a one-day symposium to be held from 8am–5pm on Friday, May 31, to develop a series of new research ideas that are important to consider in partnership between academia and industry. The event, to be held at Women's College, is part of SMI's NextMine™ initiative, which aims to identify and pursue cutting-edge research areas in the mineral sector. For further information, click here or email Ye Liang. 2013 Winter School in Mathematical and Computational Bilogy (July 1–5) The series of winter schools is designed to introduce mathematical and computational biology and bioinformatics to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers and others working in the fields of mathematics, statistics, computer science, information technology, complex systems analysis, and biological, chemical and medical sciences and engineering. Online registration is open until Tuesday, June 25. Early bird closes on Sunday, June 16. This event will be held in the Auditorium of the Queensland Bioscience Precinct. Travel bursuries applications open from Monday, May 20, until Friday, May 31. For further details, contact Lanna Wong on ext. 62617.
Other upcoming events UQ Gatton International Food Festival (22.05.13) The Vice-Chancellor's Equity and Diversity Awards Event (23.05.13) Beyond Melancholy: Sadness and Selfhood in Renaissance England (23.05.13) Public lecture: Retirement – Curse or Blessing (27.05.13) More UQ events »		UQ in the media The media monitoring service provides a broad collection of external media articles where UQ is mentioned. This information is gathered and updated daily by the Office of Marketing and Communications. For more information: Subscribe to the daily Strategic Directions Media Summary by emailing communications@uq.edu.au, or If you are a Marketing or Communications staff member, you may be able to make arrangements to access the Media Monitors portal directly by emailing communications@uq.edu.au.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Dos and don'ts of recycling

According to the Brisbane City Council, nearly a third of rubbish thrown away in general waste is recyclable. Recycling has multiple benefits. Along with conserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, recycling creates new jobs, reduces landfill and saves energy. One of the best ways to promote recycling in your office area and at home is to ensure that highly used areas have their own specific recycling bins. To request recycling bins and boxes for your office, email recycle@pf.uq.edu.au. Visit the Sustainability website for more information.

Eco tips – busting some common recycling myths

1. Placing one wrong item in a recycling bin will not spoil the whole truck load – it will simply be sorted out at the recycling facility.
2. Plastic bags can't go in the general recycling bin, but they can be recycled at many local supermarkets.
3. You do not have to wash containers before placing them in the recycling bin – as long as they're empty, there is no need to rinse.
4. Remember not to put recyclables in plastic bags as they cannot be sorted and will be sent to landfill instead.
5. There's no need to peel labels off containers as they will be removed during the recycling process.

For more information about recycling in your home, visit the Brisbane City Council website.

Become a Green Labs representative

Do you work in a UQ laboratory? Are you interested in influencing more sustainable practices in your lab? UQ's Green Labs pilot program has concluded and the full program is now open to all UQ labs to participate. The next New Green Labs Representative training course will be held on Thursday, May 23, from 9.30am to provide you with the knowledge and skills to identify, assess and minimise the environmental impact of practices in your lab. For more information or to register your interest, contact UQ's Green Labs Assistant or visit the Sustainability website.

Green Office – Sustainability Poster Promotion

The Green Office is calling on all representatives to promote sustainability in their workplace throughout the month of May. We want you to creatively use the Sustainability Poster Series and create an innovative poster display in your office. Entries submitted will feature on the Sustainability website and in UQ Updates, plus all entrants will get a sneak peek at the second instalment of sustainability posters. Green Office representatives should send photos of how they utilised the posters along with a short description about how this has encouraged sustainability in their workplace to the Green Office by Friday, May 31. For more details, visit the Sustainability website.

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LIFESTYLE

Winter revision language courses enrolling now

The Institute of Modern Languages is offering Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Mandarin), Danish, Farsi, French, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Spanish, Thai language classes for $135 for two-hour lessons, mid-June to mid-July 2013. Early bird rates applies for enrolments before Monday, June 3, and there is a five percent discount for staff. Enrol online and/or for further information, contact iml@uq.edu.au on 3346 8200.

Special screening and discussion on film The Cure

At this free event, to be held from 6pm–8.30pm on Wednesday, May 22, the film The Cure will be screened followed by a moderated discussion panel with its director, Heather Corkhill, as well as psychologist Paul Martin, and Reverend Dr Steven Ogden on the social, religious and health implications of conversion therapies. Through a series of candid interviews, the film explores a range of conversion therapies to unveil a single ultimatum to homosexual Christians – you must change. It shows how such programs continue to have devastating effects on the mental and emotional health of many participants. For further information, click here or telephone the Equity Office on 3365 3052. To view a trailer of the film, click here.

New menu at UQ's Customs House

The new Terrace Menu is now available for light meals and drinks at UQ's Customs House with its stunning views of the Brisbane River and Story Bridge. Book online or phone 3365 8921.

Carnival of the animals – UQ Symphony Orchestra at QPAC

Conducted by Warwick Potter, the UQ Symphony Orchestra presents its Semester 1 concert at QPAC's Concert Hall on Sunday, May 26, from 2pm. Repertoire includes Saint-Saens's Carnival of the Animals narrated by Emeritus Professor Roly Sussex and featuring UQ's world class piano duo, Liam Viney and Anna Grinberg. Rachmaninov's highly charged and dramatic Second Symphony concludes what will be a wonderful afternoon of music. Priced from $18, tickets are available from QPAC's website.

Colleagues@UQ event

Please join Colleagues@UQ for its next monthly meeting at a new venue on Friday, May 24, at Genies Café. Colleagues was formed last year to foster collegiality and unity among professional staff; academics; teachers; researchers; postdoctoratal, doctoral, masters and honours students; alumni; and all past and current staff members of UQ and their friends. For further details and/or to RSVP, visit the group's Facebook site.

Keep fit and healthy in 2013 with UQ Wellness

Click here to view a list of lunchbox seminars organised so far – some of these are currently open for registration. Visit the UQ Wellness website for current health and wellbeing opportunities across campuses, including information about walking groups. You can also contact providers directly to inquire about boxing and yoga options. If you want information about becoming a wellness ambassador for your work area, please contact Vicki McNabb.

Adult Autism Spectrum Group

A group exists for adults on the Autism Spectrum in a non-threatening environment. This non-clinical group meets for adults to discuss and find friendship every second and fourth Saturday of the month at the Toowong Uniting Church. Click here or phone Garry Burge on 0431 444 512.

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DEVELOPMENT

Staff development opportunities

• Microsoft PowerPoint 2010: Workshop on Tuesday, May 28
• Gatton Campus Workshop for presenters of Staff Development courses – If you're a presenter in the Staff Development Program and would like to improve your facilitation skills, consider the Effective Course Facilitation workshop run over two half-days: Wednesday May 22, 1pm–4.30pm, and Tuesday, June 25, 9am–1pm. For more information or to enrol, email Tamma Sorbello.
• Leadership Courses: UQ is also offering a range of leadership development programs for staff who are prepared to step up and lead change. Leadership development is not like other training programs. It requires commitment to practice and time to reflect on personal learning. It is rewarding and challenging and it is available to you though the Staff Development Program. HEW levels 5 to 7 Demonstrating Your Leadership Behaviours over three days on July 5, August 6 and September 5. Applications close Friday, June 7.

Upcoming conferences, including calls for abstracts/papers

• The 6th International Flotation Symposium (Flotation '13) will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from November 18–22. Abstracts are now being called for research on flotation chemistry (due December 6). For more information, click here.
• Perspectives on progress: an interdisciplinary postgraduate and early career researcher conference will be held at the UQ Centre, St Lucia on November 27–29. Humanities and social sciences scholars from history, classics, religion and philosophy; literary, media and cultural studies; anthropology, psychology and political sciences are invited to interrogate the concept of progress, to consider how this idea influences their own work, and to explore intersections with research from other disciplines. To learn more, click here.
• The International Trends and Issues Communication and Media Conference (ITICAM) will be held in Kyrenia, North Cyprus from December 18–20. Papers that offer new research or theoretical contributions on the latest trends in communication and media are now being called for (due end of June, 2013). For more information, click here.

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Getting news into UQ Update

Please lodge all items for UQ Update through our request form. Items must be submitted by noon on Thursday to be included in the following Monday's issue. Please note items can only be included for one edition unless special circumstances exist. Inquiries can be directed to OMC on (07) 3365 2802.

Previous issues

All previous issues of UQ Update can be viewed online in the archive section.

Other campus news: UQ News, UQ Ipswich and UQ Gatton.