The latest
Fine nine rewarded for excellence
UQ has paid tribute to its emerging research leaders, awarding $685,000 at the annual UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards at a gala ceremony last Tuesday night at Customs House. Nine researchers were honoured for their work, which covered projects as diverse as understanding and preventing obesity, bankruptcy laws, and disease-resistant genes in canola production. Read the full story online.
UniJobs.com.au lecturer of the year
UniJobs is happy to announce that it is close to tabulating its 2009 winner. With nominations from all universities in every state, the lecturer of the year initiative has proven that both staff and students now have an outlet to formally reward those lecturers who work feverishly to better their campus communities. After several months of award recommendations, the top nominated lecturers for UQ are:
- Dr James Laurenceson (School of Economics)
- Professor John Devereux (TC Beirne School of Law)
- Mark Horswill (School of Psychology)
- Dr Nick James (TC Beirne School of Law)
- Sebastian Kaempf (School of Political Science and International Studies)
- Michael Jennings (School of Mathematics and Physics)
- Dr Donovan Storey (School of Geography Planning & Environmental Management)
- Associate Professor Kerrie Sadiq (TC Beirne School of Law)
Nominations are open until Monday, November 30. If you think someone has gone above and beyond the call of duty in actively bettering their campus community, both staff and students can nominate online.
School of Tourism forum links industry leaders
More than 100 of Queensland’s finest tourism minds considered the impact of the Global Financial Crisis on the industry at a forum this month. Organised by the UQ School of Tourism in partnership with Brisbane Marketing, the forum, “Economic Storm Riders – Turning Downturn into Opportunity”, heard corporate culture that embraced creativity and valued staff input was just one of the ways savvy operators were using the downturn to their advantage. School of Tourism Director of Industry Partnerships Dr David Solnet said the forum fostered the connection between academia and the coal-face of industry and was designed to keep the school top of mind among industry and government partners and representatives.
Frazer to feature in ABC TV documentary
Watch out for Professor Ian Frazer from UQ’s Diamnatina Institute who will feature in a documentary entitled Catching Cancer to be screened on ABC 1 at 8.30pm on Thursday, October 22.
Tell your colleagues to check their junk mail
Changes to the filtering system employed by ITS has resulted in UQ Update ending up in the junk mail folder for some staff. You may have received this in your Inbox, or you may be reading this online, but until the filtering problem is rectified, please advise your colleagues to check their junk mail folder if UQ Update has not been received by close of business on Mondays. Thank you for your patience.
UniQuest signs deal with the University of Tasmania
UniQuest, UQ’s main commercialisation company, has formed a partnership with the University of Tasmania (UTAS), its fifth with an external research institution. The collaborative agreement was launched at the UTAS Sandy Bay (Hobart) campus this month with a networking event for UTAS researchers, representatives from government departments involved with innovation and state development, and members of the Tasmanian business community. Read full story online.
2010 diaries now available
The Property and Facilities Central Store has just been supplied with diaries for 2010. These are available to be ordered now through the Property and Facilities Central Store St Lucia UniFi Catalogue. Details: store@pf.uq.edu.au or ext. 51231.
SOUL food for lawyers
The Society of University Lawyers (SOUL) Annual Conference is taking place on Friday, October 30, hosted for the first time this year in Queensland by UQ at the UQ Business School Downtown. The conference will address issues of direct relevance to lawyers employed in tertiary education and will be of interest to those involved in legal matters affecting higher education institutions including private practitioners, University administrators and in-house lawyers. This year’s conference will include a keynote address by The Honourable Justice Dr Margaret White. Details: online.
Clever development the key to sustainable tourism
Increasing the efficiency of regional tourism development is at the heart of a study by UQ School of Tourism PhD scholar Char-lee McLennan. Char-lee is examining how economic structure and government policy, laws and business practice interrelate in the context of tourism in three Queensland regions – the Murweh Shire, Hervey Bay and the Gold Coast. To complete her study, Char-lee needs help from each of the regions she is targeting and is looking for people to take part in a short survey. Details: c.mclennan@uq.edu.au or 0407 589 110.
Social sustainability seminar
Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (International Association of Students in Economics and Business Management) (AIESEC) UQ is holding a seminar on Wednesday, October 28, to discuss environmental and social sustainability. Speakers from industry and government will present their views and solutions on these areas at the forum. The event is open to anyone who wants to find out more about such issues, and more importantly, for those who want to make a difference in the world. Opportunities to volunteer overseas will be offered at the event. RSVP: online by Friday, October 23.
Support needed to stop the Hendra virus
UQ has established the Alister Rodgers Memorial Hendra Virus Research Assistance Fund in memory of the second veterinarian to die from the disease, Alister Rodgers. Head of the UQ School of Veterinary Science, Professor Jonathan Hill, said a coordinated approach to fighting the virus was needed. Read the full story online.
No need to suffer in silence
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential and voluntary counselling service provided to all UQ employees and their immediate families. The EAP aims to assist with the resolution of personal and work-related problems that may affect work performance or quality of life. This external counselling service is free-of-charge and facilitated by Assure programmes. Details: online or info@assureprograms.com.au or 24-hour hotline on 1800 808 374.
Events & UQ in the media
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Upcoming events:
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UQ in the media:
- UQ investigates ways to avoid investor fall out
- Modelling helps manage farm risk
- Indigenous academic visits Geraldton
- Walking and Talking Country Program
- Most GLBT Australians want marriage: survey
- DYI Organic Machines
- Uni helps
- Sign in to the UQ Mediaclips site for more media clips.
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Other news
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.
Call for papers – special edition of Crossroads
The interdisciplinary journal Crossroads is inviting submissions on a wide variety of topics relating to UQ for a special issue celebrating UQ’s centenary to be published in 2010. Papers should include an aspect of at least one of Crossroads’ four key disciplines: history, philosophy, religion and classics. Details and submission guidelines: online.
2009 Prime Minister’s 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, documentary film, 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 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
Maid who painted from the “Sacred Heart”
Séraphine, a new film at the Schonell Cinema, depicts the true story of Séraphine Louis aka Séraphine de Senlis (played by Yolande Moreau), a simple and profoundly devout housekeeper who in 1905 at age 41, self-taught and with the instigation of her guardian angel, began painting brilliantly colourful canvases. In 1912, Wilhelm Uhde, a German art critic and collector – he was one of the first collectors of Picasso and champion of naïve primitive painter Le Douanier Rousseau – discovered her paintings while she worked for him as a maid in his house in Senlis outside Paris. A moving and unexpected relationship develops between the avant-garde art dealer and the visionary cleaning lady leading to Séraphine’s work being grouped with other naïve painters – the so-called “Sacred Heart Painters”. The beautifully shot film recently won Best Picture and Best Actress for Yolande Moreau along with five other awards at the Cesars – the French Academy Awards. Details: online.
Club AGM approaching
The University of Queensland Club will holding it’s Annual General Meeting from 5.30pm on Tuesday, September 29. Details: online.
Frothy festivities
Guten Tag! Get out your lederhosen because it’s time to celebrate Oktoberfest. On Wednesday, October 7, The 2nd Degree Bar & Grill will present the biggest Oktoberfest event UQ has ever seen … and no cover charge. This year’s festivities will see the Union carpark transformed into a massive German beer hall complete with steins and loads of entertainment including special guests, The Spacifix, Capitol Groove and Mark Lowndes.
2009 Latin American Film Festival on campus
Nine films are to be screened for the Latin American Film Festival which will be held on campus from October 8–16. All films are free, courtesy of the Latin American Embassies. The festival is being organised by Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies, with the generous support of the Programme for Cultural Cooperation (between the Ministry of Culture in Spain and the Australian National University) and UQ’s International Education Directorate. Opening and closing night celebrations will include great food, dance and music (RSVP required). Full program: online. RSVP and more information: e.shedden@uq.edu.au or ext. 56914.
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.
Melbourne Cup Lunch
UQ Union invites you to celebrate the race that stops the nation at The 2nd Degree Bar & Grill on Tuesday, November 3. Start the day with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival and spoil yourself with a delicious, two-course lunch of fresh Queensland seafood followed by a grilled beef tenderloin paired with Moreton Bay bugs. Live coverage of the race will be shown throughout the venue from 11.30am and a host of lucky door prizes will be up for grabs. Join in the festivities with your friends for $44.95 per person. Bookings essential. Details: catering.union@uq.edu.au or 3377 2206.
Health & fitness
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.
First Aid and CPR training
UQ Sport in conjunction with PulseStart Training Solutions conducts regular First Aid and CPR courses on the St Lucia campus. Upcoming course dates are: October 7, 10 and 24 October. From $60, enrol in one of the nationally accredited courses. With qualified professional trainers, PulseStart Training Solutions are nationally recognised and are the partner of choice for the Australian Medical Association Services Queensland. Enrol online or contact ext. 66243.
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)
- Managing People, Managing Projects (November 9–13)
Details: online or 3346 7111.
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.
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.
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.
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 by Friday, October 9: equity@uq.edu.au.
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.
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
- 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 for a physiotherapy treatment study. Symptoms must 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
- Participants for a study investigating ways Australian couples express their love for each other and how this affects their relationship quality. Participants must be at least 18 years old, in a relationship of at least three months and both partners will be required to fill out a questionnaire.
Details: kylie.layton@uqconnect.edu.au or 0413 052 010
- Young women aged 18–36 years who work full-time in either a job where they spend most of their days 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 looking into activity patterns and health.
Details: womenatwork@hms.uq.edu.au or ext. 54998
Carried over
- 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
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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