UQ Update

UQ Update - 22 September, 2008  


The latest

This week is Research Week – staff invited to activities

UQ celebrates outstanding research during Research Week this week from September 22-26. Highlights include a public lecture featuring Federation Fellows Professor John Quiggin and Professor Paul Burn, to be held on Wednesday, September 24, at the Queensland Bioscience Precinct auditorium, St Lucia, from 6.30pm–9pm and the 10th anniversary of the UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards tomorrow night. Further Research Week details: online.

Three minute thesis competition hots up

Imagine explaining your life's work in three minutes. As part of The University of Queensland's Research Week events, seven research higher degree candidate finalists will do just this as they vie for an international research or conference grant of up to $5000. Story…

UQ staff invited to give feedback

As part of the Market Research and Strategic Planning INSIGHT project, the INSIGHT Team invites all interested staff to provide feedback on proposed brand values and brand concepts that have been developed as a result of extensive international and domestic market research. To participate in this process please follow this link.

What’s new@UQ for next year?

UQ is expanding its range of offerings for 2009 with new Arts and Education programs at the St Lucia campus. Story…

University welcomes TAFE graduates in new arrangement

UQ is making it easier for people with TAFE and other vocational education qualifications to enter university. Story…

Alumni Court receives makeover

As part of its campus enhancement program, The University of Queensland has recently completed the $1.7 million renovation of the Alumni Court. Story…

Supplementary round for Higher Education Equity Support Program (HEESP) funds

Applications are invited for unallocated funds for amounts up to $30,000. HEESP supports activities that assist in removing barriers to access for disadvantaged domestic students and promote equality of opportunity in higher education. Full details and application form available online. Submit applications by COB Friday, October 3 to Academic Registrar, St Lucia Campus. Further information from The Equity Office website or phone ext. 53052.

UQ Business School’s Enterprize pitch day invitation

Staff are invited to Enterprize pitch day on Thursday, October 16 at 4pm at the IMB Auditorium, John Hay Building (#80), St Lucia. Entry is via corner Chancellors Place and Services Road. Now in its eighth year, Enterprize has assisted more than 200 entrepreneurs and has launched medical and materials science breakthroughs, software innovations, new green technologies, and high tech products and solutions. On pitch day, seven finalist teams will battle it out for $100,000 in commercialisation funding. The dress standard is smart casual or business attire. To reserve your seat, email Jarna King by Thursday, October 9.

Seminar looks at study film and television findings

Tony Bennett is Professor of Sociology at the Open University, Director of the Economic and Social Science Research Centre on Socio-Cultural Change at the University of Manchester, and Professorial Fellow in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne. He will present a Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies seminar entitled: On Not Watching Television: Character, the Will, and Social Class on Monday, September 29 at 2pm in Room 302, Forgan Smith Building (East Wing) St Lucia. This seminar will review the main findings from an ESRC-funded survey of cultural tastes and participation in the UK relating to film and television. Details: Rebecca Ralph, phone ext. 67407.

Examination supervisors & scribes sought

Examinations section is seeking suitable applicants across UQ for multiple casual positions at St Lucia and Ipswich campuses as Examinations supervisors during central exam periods. Their role is to ensure that students have the opportunity to sit examinations under optimal conditions in accordance with the rules that regulate the conduct of examinations. Instruction is given on the duties entailed.

Examinations is also seeking applicants such as RHD and PhD students, who are able to act as scribes for students with special needs, particularly with specialist knowledge in the fields of mathematics, economics and business. Email: examinations@uq.edu.au for an Expression of Interest form. Completed forms must be returned to Examinations by October 1.

TEVAL evaluation orders due by Monday, October 6

Have you ordered your TEVAL? The last teaching week of semester is approaching. Staff who plan to use an evaluation survey (TEVAL) to gather students’ perceptions of teaching must place orders by Monday, October 6. Instructions and the forms needed to place your order can be found online. Further information: Evaluation Services, phone ext. 53006 or evaluations@uq.edu.au.

Student Recruitment team conducts campus tours

Tours of the UQ campuses will be available throughout the Queensland and NSW mid-semester holidays from today, Monday, September 22 until Friday, October 10. Details: online.

Invitation to focus groups on new sport facility

UQ staff who either use UQ SPORT facilities or are members of a gym are invited to a staff focus group to gather feedback on the design of the proposed new St Lucia Sport and Recreation facility. The focus group will be held at 4pm on Thursday, September 25 in Building #25. Details: Sarina, phone ext. 67266. Participants will receive an incentive cash payment of $70.

2009 Australia-Harvard Fellowships — $40,000 awards for science & technology researchers

Australia-Harvard Fellowships are aimed at innovators who meet three criteria: they must normally be based at Harvard, be very good at what they do, and have a persuasive plan to collaborate with Australia’s best science/technology researchers and educators. Details: online or contact Fellowship Secretary, John Turner, phone 02 9328 2366. Applications for 2009 awards close on October 13. Successful applicants will be notified by mid-December.

Enter the P&F survey competition

As part of the commitment to improve the provision of services to customers, the Property & Facilities Division has developed a customer service survey. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and the competition offers prizes of double Gold Class movie vouchers to three lucky respondents who submit their completed survey between today, September 22 and October 24. Details: online.

Library communications for UQ staff

The Library is moving to email as the standard delivery method for sending library notices to UQ staff. This change is in accordance with the updated UQ policy on Email for Staff, Professional Doctorates and RHD Students (HUPP 6.10.5) and the Environmental Management Policy (HUPP 7.50.2). It will apply to all UQ staff listed in Aurion, including adjunct academic staff, honorary appointments, visiting academics, industry fellows and externally funded health professionals with academic titles.

From September 30, Library notices will be sent to your UQ email account. This includes notices for loans due soon, holds, recalls and overdue items. Please be aware that, with the exception of notices for very overdue material, Library notices will no longer be sent through the internal mail system, or Australia Post, after September 30. Details: contact your Liaison Librarian or email circ@library.uq.edu.au.

Tools of Science talk looks at galvanometers

The next Tools of Science meeting on Tuesday October 7, at 6pm in Parnell LR 222 features speaker Professor Norman Heckenberg, Director, UQ Physics Museum, discussing galvanometers. For over 100 years, the galvanometer was the most important electrical measuring and indicating instrument, appearing in many specialised forms in all areas of science and engineering. This talk, illustrated with numerous examples from the collection of the Physics Museum, will explain the operating principles, the history, and some of the many applications of this once ubiquitous, but now almost extinct device. Details: phone ext. 53369.

School of Social Science holds anthropology seminar

Dr Sally Babidge, a lecturer in anthropology in the School of Social Science, will give a seminar: Aboriginal families: Sociality, contemporary politics and historical perspective on Friday, September 26 from 1pm–2.30pm in the Richards Building (Building #5), Room 207. Details: seminar coordinator Dr Rebecca Wickes, phone ext. 52204.

SI-net training this month

Staff can enrol for the following SI-net courses via the TEDI website. SI-net Fundamentals is a prerequisite. All sessions will be held in Room 102, Building #33, St Lucia.

Upcoming UQSOPA events and courses

The University of Queensland Secretaries’ and Office Professionals’ Association is holding the following events and courses over the next few weeks:

UQ Business School’s executive education courses

Register your interest now for one of these Executive Leadership courses:

Details: contact the Executive Education Team on ext. 67105 or 67115, email execed@business.uq.edu.au or visit www.business.uq.edu.au/exceed.

Australia's 1st major lesbian, gay, bisexual & trans parenting study under way

The study, titled: Work, Love and Play in Diverse Family Life, looks at how lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans parents are handling their parenting and household responsibilities, as well as relations with extended family and the broader community. While the research is being funded by La Trobe University in Melbourne, it seeks to involve families from all over Australia and New Zealand. Researchers are keen for any lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBT) people who are actively parenting a child or children under the age of 18 to complete the online questionnaire.

Staff invited to attend Behind the Crime

The Queensland Police Service and Community Supporting Police will host a discussion on two criminal investigations on Friday, October 10. The first case, “The Collingwood Park Recidivist Rapist”, will be featured in The Courier Mail and Sunday Mail. Case presenter: Detective Senior Constable Darren Prickett. The second case is: “The Killer Next Door” — the homicide of Nina Lewis in Ipswich in 2004. This investigation is due to be presented at an international policing forum next year. Presenter: Detective Sergeant Tom Armitt. The session will be at Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School Lecture Theatre, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane at 6.45pm for 7pm start. Attendees must be aged 18 years or older. Cost: $25 per person; $20 students/concessions (includes light supper). Details: phone 3378 3373 or email Pat Dryden.

Tennis, anyone?

The UQ Tennis Centre’s Adult Group Coaching program starts again today Monday, September 22. Offered as a five-week course, it caters for all skill levels from beginners/intermediate through to advanced squad. The programs are fun and affordable, and endeavour to help participants enjoy their tennis while brushing up on skills from stroke correction to match play.

Participants sought for leadership aspirations study

What do you think about accepting a leadership role in your organisation? What do you think about your organisation? What about your current manager? Academic and general staff are sought to complete a 30-minute survey to assess the factors that are important for increasing leadership aspirations in the workplace. The survey is being undertaken by Amy Hawkes, a PhD candidate (School of Psychology), working with Associate Professor Julie Duck. The survey is for UQ staff, and should not be completed by postgraduate students or research assistants. There is also a draw to win a double movie pass at the end of the survey. It is available online. For a paper version, contact Amy Hawkes.

Calling all cat owners

The Centre for Companion Animal Health is conducting a study to investigate metabolic and genetic markers of obesity and diabetes in cats, aiming to develop a test to easily detect cats at risk of diabetes and to prevent this increasingly common condition. Researchers seek volunteers who would be willing to bring their cats to UQ’s Small Animal Clinic and Hospital at St Lucia to have one blood sample taken. They need clinically healthy male and female cats for this study, with the following characteristics: obese mixed breed cats, lean mixed breed cats, and lean Burmese cats. Each cat owner will receive a bag of cat food of their choice as a gift for participating. Details: Marcia Coradini or phone ext. 52739.

Autism study needs participants

Parents of children aged 4–12 with an autism spectrum disorder are invited to participate in a: survey asking about their play behaviour. Children aged 4-12 with autism are also sought to participate in a fun study on one interaction that includes testing verbal and cognitive skills, as well as using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, the gold standard tool for autism diagnosis. For information or to participate contact Karen O’Brien or phone ext. 67326.


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