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The latest
Vice-Chancellor’s statement to Senate
To read Professor Paul Greenfield’s statement to the Senate meeting of Thursday, September 17, please click here.
Improving UQ’s efficiency
The recently created Administrative Improvement Program aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of administrative processes at the University. The program is initially working with a pilot group consisting of one school from each faculty but is keen to hear from anyone who has ideas on how processes can be improved. If you have ideas on improving efficiency, please visit the online suggestion box where you can also access more details about the program in general.
Group treatment for social phobia
UQ’s Psychology Clinic will provide group treatment for people with social phobia – the fear of criticism and rejection by others. For example, people may fear they will be judged or do something wrong in social situations. The treatment program is an evidence-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy group program focusing on providing skills that will help manage anxiety in social situations. The eight-week program begins in late October and for details and/or to take part: ext. 56451.
Plaudits for UQ-ICTE
ICTE-UQ received the award for Best Practice in International Collaboration (ELICOS) for the Institute’s highly successful global partnership strategy at the recent 2009 Queensland Government Education & Training International (QETI) Awards. Other awards to/linked to UQ-ICTE were as follows:
- Best Practice in International Collaboration (Higher Education) – UQ School of Medicine for the Manali Medical Aid Project (accepted by two third-year medical students)
- Outstanding Pathway Program – IES Ltd for the UQ Foundation Year program
- Outstanding Work Placement Program – Australian Internships Ltd (ICTE-UQ partner)
Centenary events and activities
If you’re holding a UQ event or activity during 2010, be sure to let the Centenary Secretariat know if you haven’t done so already. There could be an opportunity for you to promote your event on the Centenary website, or via other promotional activities. Email: centenary@uq.edu.au.
Research happenings
- Research Week 2009
The University will celebrate outstanding research during Research Week this week. Research Week raises awareness about UQ research among current and prospective students, staff, graduates, schools, industry, government, media and the wider community. Details: online.
- Three Minute Thesis Competition finals
Eight finalists will present their “Three Minute Thesis” as a compelling three-minute oration on their thesis topic and its significance in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience today from 2pm–4pm in room 220 at the UQ Centre. They will be competing for a $5000 prize to attend an international research conference. Join our judges, Warwick Hadfield (ABC Sports broadcaster), the School of History, Religion and Classics’ Dr Michelle Boulous-Walker, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and International) Professor Alan Lawson and cast your own vote on whose Three Minute Thesis reigns supreme in 2009. All welcome to this free event. Details: online.
- Saying goodbye to flu forever
“Engineering an end to influenza” is one of the topics to be discussed at a free public lecture at UQ on Wednesday, September 23, as part of Research Week. The public lecture, to be held from 6pm–7.30pm in the Auditorium, Level 3, Queensland Bioscience Precinct (Building 80), will also feature a presentation by Professor Matthew Cooper from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience entitled “Bad bugs, no drugs: a health crisis in Australia and developing countries”. Register online.
- UQCCR Open Day
The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research is holding an Open Day during Research Week on Friday, September 25. Details: online.
- Graduate Student Week (GSW)
GSW is a program of research training workshops and seminars organised by the UQ Graduate School. Research Higher Degree candidates (PhD & MPhil), postgraduate coursework and honours students are all encouraged to participate. Details: online.
- Summer Research Scholarships
Come along to find out about summer research projects and scholarships. The session includes feedback from past recipients and how to go about getting a scholarship. Presented by Professor Sushila Chang, it will be held from 11.30am–12.30pm on Monday, September 21 in the Library Conference Room, ground floor, SS&H Library (Duhig Building).
- Research careers for honours students
Come along for some lunch and a taste of what research degrees (PhD and MPhil) are about, how we support and fund them at UQ, and how you can apply. You'll hear from and have the opportunity to speak with:
- Professor Zlatko Skrbis: About Research
- Professor Sushila Chang: Summer Research Opportunities
- Dr David Rowland: Support for Researchers
- Dr Angela Chang (Ernst & Young): My PhD and where it has taken me
- Your peers: The UQ-Australia Team to the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) challenge at MIT, Boston USA
The event will be held from 11.30am–12.30pm on Tuesday, September 22, in the Library Conference Room, ground floor, SS&H Library (Duhig Building). Seats are limited to 100, so please register online asap.
2009 Prime Minister¹s Prize for Australian History
There's just three weeks left to apply for this award. Nominations are sought from an individual or a group for any work first published, produced or broadcast between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. This may include a published book, a documentary film, a documentary for radio or television, CD-ROM, DVD, other form of multimedia or a series of these works. Apply online. Details: pmhistoryprize@deewr.gov.au or 02 6240 9047.
UQ biological scientists listed in Faculty of 1000 Biology
A paper published in Molecular Ecology by scientists from UQ Science’s School of Biological Sciences has been selected for the prestigious Faculty of 1000 Biology. Written by Drs Elizabeth A. Williams, Bernard A. Degnan, Helen Gunter, Daniel J. Jackson, Ben J. Woodcroft and Sandie M. Degnan, the paper has been included in the award-winning online service that highlights and evaluates the most interesting papers published in the biological sciences, based on the recommendations of more than 2000 of the world's top researchers. Papers are highlighted on the basis of scientific merit rather than the journals in which they’ve appeared.
2009 Practices Day
“Sustaining ourselves in difficult times. A creative skills workshop for Social Work, Health and Human Services” will be held from 8am–4.45pm on Thursday, September 24, at Hillstone St Lucia, Carawa Street, St Lucia, presented by the UQ Social Work and Human Services Alumni & Friends Network, The School of Social Work and Human Services.
UQSOPA Conference
Registrations are now open for the annual The University of Queensland Secretaries’ and Office Professionals’ Association Conference entitled “The Professional You” to be held from 8.30am–4.30pm on Thursday, October 29, in the QBI Auditorium. Details and registration form: uqsopa@uq.edu.au or call UQSOPA President Tara Kitch on ext. 51300.
2009 MIS User Prize and User Forum
The 2009 MIS User Forum will be held on Friday, November 20. A preview of the agenda is available on the MIS website. Click here to register. The 2009 MIS User Prize will be awarded at the event. The prize is awarded for the most useful and effective entry utilising the UQ Data Warehouse to improve work practices. Further details on the prize and how to submit an application are available on the MIS website.
Summer Semester postgraduate courses
The Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre, within the School of Population Health, is offering three, postgraduate courses during Summer Semester: Introduction to Substance Use and Misuse; Substance Use and Misuse in Special Populations; and Tobacco Cessation and Control. All are available in distance mode and supported by an allocated supervisor/tutor. Details: online or y.flanagan@uq.edu.au or ext. 55189.
Pharmacy summer scholarships
The School of Pharmacy is offering five Summer Research Scholarships to undergraduate students over summer 2009–2010. Scholarships are open to students enrolled in second, third or fourth years of undergraduate programs at Australian or New Zealand universities. Details: online.
Join the Green Office Program
UQ’s Green Office Program is an initiative where UQ staff work together to promote good environmental practices in their work area. Currently, more than 70 UQ staff are involved in 63 areas across three campuses. It’s a great opportunity for UQ staff to broaden their understanding of environmental issues and play a key role in advancing environmental practices at UQ. The next Green Office information session for new representatives is scheduled for 2pm on Tuesday, October 6. To join the program and attend the session, email greenoffice@pf.uq.edu.au. Details: online.
Make every day Earth Hour
Earth Hour in March this year achieved an energy saving of 6.5 percent. With the University’s annual energy costs estimated to reach $11 million next year, UQ staff are encouraged to be energy-efficient at work. If we saved 6.5 percent of our annual energy usage every day, the financial and environmental saving would be $715,000 and 7954 tonnes greenhouse gas emissions annually. The environmental impact is equivalent to switching off 644 houses for one year. Designate someone in your area to switch off lights at the end of the day. Remember to turn off air-conditioners, computers and monitors, lights in corridors, meeting rooms, bathrooms, etc. Also, keep doors and windows closed in air-conditioned spaces and use natural light wherever possible provided OH&S is not impacted. View more energy saving hints online.
UQ Latin America Colloquium
UQ’s Latin America Reference Group and Trade Queensland invite UQ staff members to attend the 3rd Annual Latin America Colloquium to be held from 3pm–7pm on Thursday, October 8, at Customs House. This event is a unique opportunity to meet with Latin American ambassadors, make connections with key government and industry personnel actively involved in Queensland–Latin America trade and investment and to receive updates on recent developments in Latin America. Details:online.
Three double Gold Class movie passes up for grabs
For a chance to win one of three double-pass gold class movie vouchers, enter the P&F Survey Competition. As part of its commitment to improve the provision of services to its customers, P&F is seeking input via a survey competition, on whether the services it provides meet with customer requirements, and also on the level of satisfaction with services. The competition offers prizes of double-pass Gold Class movie vouchers to three lucky respondents who submit their completed surveys within the period beginning today until Sunday, October 18. Access further details and the survey online.
The Science Experience
UQ will host The Science Experience (formerly known as the Siemens Science Experience) – a fun three days of hands-on science activities for secondary students about to enter Year 10 in 2010 – from January 19–21, 2010. Participants will join in various laboratory workshops and lectures conducted by some of UQ’s leading scientific minds. Details and registration: online.
Events & UQ in the media
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Upcoming events:
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UQ in the media:
- Regrowth’s green yield: Thinned scrub stores more carbon
- Plastic to reduce solar panel costs
- Pimelea poisoning: Booklet released
- Ipswich’s bid to get one million visitors
- Northern study aims to optimise supplementary feeding strategies
- Researchers recruit community pharmacists
- Book tracks rich history of Ipswich
- Ageing talk
- Ecology award
- Keep cool at Boyce Garden
- John’s part of world wide web
- Boys build it like Beckham
- Sign in to the UQ Mediaclips site for more media clips.
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Other news
UQ best for customer service
UQ has been ranked number one this quarter for customer service by Customer Service Benchmarking Australia (CSBA) based on calls to the University’s main number of 3365 1111. Test queries ranged from student life to enrolment. CSBA benchmark nationally across multiple industries and the result is a feather in the cap for UQ’s voice operations team.
UQ travel survey (win gold class movie tickets)
The University of Queensland is determining its greenhouse gas emissions inventory. A significant source of emissions is associated transport. This survey gathers data about how student and staff travel to UQ St Lucia and the distance travelled. The data will be used to estimate transport emissions. Participate in the survey online.
Students’ UQ experience
Every two years UQ asks first- and later-year students to comment on their UQ experiences. This year UQ is using the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement for this purpose. Participation is online. Previous surveys have brought about changes in the University such as the emphasis on first-year experience, the development of collaborative teaching and learning spaces and increases in IT access in libraries. Eligible students will be contacted via their student email addresses. Details: ext. 56731.
Australian National Data Service (ANDS) roadshow
The following workshops, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 29 and 30, at Customs House may be of interest to researchers and support staff, research administrators, data centre and repository staff and other staff involved with the sharing and management of data:
- ANDS Services
- Research Data and the Code: the researcher perspective
- Research Data and the Code: the institutional perspective
Registrations are now open. Details: online.
Housekeeping matters
General Staff Self Development Prize
The School of Medicine’s Dr Paul Masci was recently awarded the General Staff Self Development Prize. Administered through the Scholarships and Prizes Office, the prize is open to members of the general staff who have been employed at the University for at least three years. This prize is awarded to the staff member who demonstrates the most outstanding achievements in self-development whether of an academic or non-academic nature. Dr Masci has been employed at UQ for 38 years and during this time has completed a BSc, MSc and PhD. He is also the principal inventor on four intellectual properties (IP) belonging to UQ – three of which have been licensed to a spinoff company.
Part-time Multi-Level permits
UQ Traffic & Parking is now able to offer staff part-time Multi-Level (Guaranteed) permits that may be configured for one, two, three or four days per week. The fee will be 20 percent, 40 percent, 60 percent or 80 percent of the full-time guaranteed permit fee. Payment may be made upfront or through payroll deduction (by which staff members would take advantage of the salary sacrifice arrangement). Application forms are available online by clicking "Staff Parking", "UQ St Lucia Staff", "Part-time Permits". Details: parking@uq.edu.au.
Get out & about
Feathery photos
A collection of photographs entitled “Birds of UQ” by Emeritus Professor Trevor Heath will be on display in the Members’ Bar of The University of Queensland Club until the end of October. Some of the birds with which we share our campuses are shown going about their lives – feeding, grooming, swimming, flying and learning to fly, and even confronting one another.
Just clowning around
The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble (QSE) is UQ’s resident theatre company. Artistic Director Rob Pensalfini is a Professor with UQ’s School of English, Media Studies and Art History and stars as court clown, Touchstone, in an upcoming QSE performance of As You Like It. Fifteen performances of the play will be staged over three weeks from October 8–11, October 22–25 and October 29–November 1. Evening shows from Thursday to Saturday will start at 7.30pm while matinees, on Saturday and Sunday, will start at 2pm. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for concessions and group bookings of 10 or more. Details and tickets: online.
Club AGM approaching
The University of Queensland Club will holding its Annual General Meeting from 5.30pm on Tuesday, September 29. Details: online.
Prepare to be scared
Not for the faint-hearted, Lake Mungo, a new film showing at the Schonell Cinema, which has been described as “an atmospheric gem” by Variety magazine. This twisted, supernatural mystery develops following the drowning of 16-year-old Alice in a local dam. When her body is recovered and a verdict of accidental death returned, her grieving family buries her. They then experience a series of strange events centred in and around their home. A psychic helps them discover Alice’s secret, double life. Clues lead the family to Lake Mungo where her past emerges.
Win a delicious lunch for 10
From October, multiple choice will be made easy when UQ Union launches a unique on-campus food experience with epic atmosphere, great prices and a wide variety of fresh choices. For your chance to win a fully catered lunch for you and nine work friends or one of 100 meal vouchers click here.
Growing old positively
The Queensland node of the ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Ageing Well (based at the UQ/Blue Care Research Unit at Toowong) is holding events targeted at professionals working in areas related to ageing, baby boomers and seniors themselves including a cocktail party and a symposium covering areas such as financial management, grandparenting, exercise and travel tips on Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25. Details: online or 3720 5303.
Health & fitness
Learn skills which could save someone’s life
UQ Sport in conjunction with PulseStart Training Solutions provides nationally accredited First Aid and CPR courses on the St Lucia campus. Courses run fortnightly and prices start from $60. Upcoming course dates are September 16, 26 and 30. Details: online or ext. 66243. PulseStart is the preferred provider of First Aid & CPR courses for the Australian Medical Association of Australia Queensland branch.
Are you more active than your hearing?
The UQ Audiology clinic is pleased to offer a full range of hearing services for both adults and children as part of the audiology student placement program. The clinic provides hearing tests for adults and children, hearing protection (custom-made earplugs), hearing assistance (hearing aids, TV listening systems). Mention this advertisement and receive $20 off a hearing test (valid for bookings until October 31 for staff members, students and their families). Details: ext. 52811.
Study, training & development
UQ Ally training opportunity
Places are filling fast for this training program on Monday, October 12. Register online and follow links within the equity and diversity section. Details: online.
ICTE-UQ Professional Development Workshops
Expand your professional skills and efficiency with ICTE-UQ intensive short-course professional development training:
- Writing Skills That Mean Business (Wednesday, September 30)
- Time and Workplace Management (Thursday, October 1)
- Project Management (Monday, October 12, until Friday, October 16)
Details: online or ext. 66756.
Upcoming staff development courses
Places are still available in the following courses:
General
Teaching & Learning
Details: online.
UQBS Corporate Education Courses for 2009
Register your interest for one of these corporate leadership courses:
- Strategic Marketing & Communication (September 28–October 2)
- Negotiation Skills for Today (October 19–23)
- Making Sense of it All: Integrating Philosophy with Business (November 2–6)
Details: online or 3346 7111.
Upcoming ATEM courses
- Presentations skills – Train the Trainer, Thursday, September 24
Details: online or b.cavallari@uq.edu.au.
Lectures, seminars & workshops
School of Pharmacy seminar series
Weekly seminars are run throughout the academic year for all interested attendees including academics, RHD candidates, researchers and any other UQ staff members. The 45-minute lectures are held from 1pm–1.45pm each Wednesday in room 204 in the Mansergh Shaw Building (building no. 45) on the St Lucia campus. Details: online.
Evaluating balance disorders
Professor of Neurology at the Oregon Health & Science University, Professor Fay Horak, will present a free seminar on behalf of the CCRE Spine Research Seminar Series entitled: “A Systematic Approach to Evaluation of Balance Disorders” from noon on Tuesday, September 22, in room 506, fifth floor of the Therapies Building (84a) at the St Lucia campus. Details: a.weidman@uq.edu.au.
Historians must toughen up
Highly regarded Australian historians such as Henry Reynolds, Stuart Macintyre and Lyndall Ryan have attracted scorn, derision and ad hominem attacks in mainstream media outlets, and vicious personal abuse on blogs run by such luminaries as Andrew Bolt and Tim Blair. The temptation is to leave academic history and public memory to operate in distinct and separate spheres. UQ senior lecturer in Australian History, Martin Crotty, will urge historians to “gird their loins, toughen up, and enter the public fray when the opportunity arises” at this Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies seminar from 5.30pm–6.30pm on Thursday, September 24, at the UQ Art Museum. Details: online or ext. 67407.
Pluripotent adult stem cells: from naris to nosology
Please join us for a presentation by Professor Alan Mackay-Sim, Director of the National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research at Griffith University, entitled “Pluripotent adult stem cells: from naris to nosology”. The seminar will be held from 4.30pm on Thursday September 24, in the Main Auditorium, Level 2, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, RBWH Campus. Refreshments will be available at the conclusion of the presentation courtesy of Invitrogen. Details: reception@uqccr.uq.edu.au or ext. 65555.
Specialist Aged Care Conference
The Geriatric and Rehabilitation Unit (Princess Alexandra Hospital) and the Academic Unit in Geriatric Medicine (UQ) are proud to announce their bi-annual specialist aged care conference “Geriatrics Beyond the Boundaries 2009: e-Health and Technology in Aged Care”. This one-day conference brings together experts in geriatric care from across Queensland and interstate and is expected to host up to 200 delegates from the public and private health sectors. The conference will be held in the Russell Strong Auditorium at PAH on Friday, October 9. Registrations are now open. Details: n.krueger@uq.edu.au or 3240 5530.
Getting them and keeping them
UQ staff are invited to a symposium on access and retention of low SES students from 9am–1.30pm on Tuesday, October 20, in the Riverview Room, Emmanuel College. A light lunch will be provided. Program and details: online. RSVP: equity@uq.edu.au.
New Directions in Leukaemia Research Conference 2010
Save the date for March 28–31, 2010, for the New Directions in Leukaemia Research Conference to be held on the Sunshine Coast. This conference aims to bring together scientists and clinicians to discuss and debate current concepts in our understanding of the molecular basis of leukaemia, emerging paradigms, breakthroughs at the forefronts of leukaemia research and new therapies emerging in the clinic. Details: online.
Ninth Biennial Conference of the Association of Academic Language and Learning
Early bird discounts are available for this conference to be held at UQ on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, November 25, 26 and 27. The theme of this year’s conference is “Learning Together: Crossing Boundaries through Collaborative Practices Within and Beyond the Tertiary Context”. The conference covers themes relevant to academic staff, academic language and learning lecturers/advisors, professional development staff, administrative staff as well as those working with international students and/or in counselling, careers and with students with disabilities. Details: online.
Volunteers sought
Please note entries remain for two Updates unless further requests received. Thank you.
New this week
- Healthy, active females aged 20–38 years for MRI study investigating hip muscles. Must have no history of hip pain, hip fracture/surgery, or trauma to hip/pelvis. Must have no contraindications to undergoing MRI.
Details: m.mendis@uq.edu.au
- Men with prostate cancer for an exercise clinical trial. Interested participants must have been undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or hormone suppression therapy for at least the past two months.
Details: k.bolam@uq.edu.au or ext. 54998
- Healthy females aged 20–40 years as control group for a study investigating fatigue in lupus. Time requirement is one hour and involves questionnaires, strength testing and a blood test.
Details: k.stockton@uq.edu.au
- People aged 18–65 with current neck pain following whiplash injury incurred during a motor vehicle accident three months to two years ago to participate in a study investigating the effects of dry-needling, exercise and advice. Each participant will receive $60 towards their travel and time for each assessment (five in total over one year).
Details: s.valentin@uq.edu.au
- Healthy people aged between 35 and 70 without hand, arm or neck pain for two free MRI scans of the wrists one week apart.
Details: a.schmid@uq.edu.au or 0421 868 215
- People with tennis elbow in one elbow only for a study of a combination of injection and physiotherapy treatments.
Details: tenniselbow@uq.edu.au or ext. 54692
Carried over
- Adults with normal hearing for a 45-minute, computer-based task investigating the effects of visual distraction on normal hearing and cochlear-implanted individuals. Participants will be reimbursed $10.
Details: jill.harris@uq.edu.au or 0448 100 724
- Adults in committed relationships that have lasted at least 12 months, who are either living together, engaged, or married, for a study investigating the short-term and long-term effects of three different types of couple relationship education (a book; a questionnaire feedback session; or a questionnaire feedback session with a six-week, home-based education program). Open to couples living anywhere in Australia.
Details: couplecare@psy.uq.edu.au or ext. 56753
- People aged over 18 years to complete a short confidential and anonymous online survey looking at community attitudes of different groups of people towards each other.
Details: j.griffiths2@uq.edu.au or ext. 67801
- People with current neck and arm pain to participate in physiotherapy treatment study. Symptoms should have been present for four weeks or more and not caused by a vehicle accident or other trauma.
Details: neckpain@uq.edu.au or 0421 679 210
- Caregivers with children with Asperger syndrome and/or typically developing children aged five–15 years old in Queensland for a study investigating the nutritional status and eating behaviours of children.
Details: s.ong@uq.edu.au or 04 3259 3459
- Healthy people aged between 35 and 70 years old without hand, arm or neck pain for two free MRI scans of the wrists one week apart.
Details: a.schmid@uq.edu.au or 0421 868 215
- Young women (18-36 years) who work full-time in either a job where they spend most of their day sitting (most office-based workplaces) or in a job where they spend a large proportion of their day on their feet (teachers, hairdressers, nurses, retail etc) to participate in a study that is looking into activity patterns and health.
Details: womenatwork@hms.uq.edu.au or ext. 54998
From the editor
News for UQ Update should be forwarded to update@uq.edu.au by noon on Thursday for the following Monday's bulletin. Inquiries can be directed to OMC on 3365 1931. Items should be no longer than seven lines. Thank you.
Go to the archive section if you would like to see previous versions of UQ Update.
Other campus news: UQ News, UQ Ipswich and UQ Gatton.
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