UQ Update

UQ Update - 24 November, 2008  


The latest

Departure of University Chancellor Sir Llew Edwards, AC

The University of Queensland is paying tribute to Sir Llew Edwards, AC, who will soon bow out as Chancellor after 16 years at the helm of UQ’s governing body. Read full story here.

Vice-Chancellor’s address to all staff

All staff are invited to attend an open address by UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield, at 3.30pm on Tuesday, December 2, 2008, entitled “Reviewing 2008, Previewing 2009”. The address will be followed by a question-and-answer session and be video-linked from the UQ Centre at St Lucia to Herston, Gatton and Ipswich campuses. Please register to attend by clicking on the venue of your choice:

School name changes

Following University Senate's meeting of November 20 and arising from the creation of a Faculty of Science, two schools will have a name change as of January 1, 2009. The School of Integrative Biology is to change its name to the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences will be known as the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences.

INSIGHT Project invitation to all staff

The INSIGHT Project team would like to invite all staff to a presentation on the development of the UQ brand values, new visual identity and plans for our brand launch and rollout in 2009. Presentations of all the latest developments and materials will be held at various locations in December beginning with St Lucia on Wednesday, December 3, Ipswich and Gatton, Thursday, December 4, and Herston, on Tuesday, December 9. Staff are encouraged to register attendance at: http://www.uq.edu.au/omc/?page=93370.

Congratulations on 25 years at UQ

The following staff members were celebrated at a special event on November 20, hosted by the Vice-Chancellor, for 25 years’ service at UQ including OMC’s website analyst Barbara Freeman who helps put together UQ Update each week. Apart from Barbara, the other staff members celebrated included: Dr Anthony Arklay (Health Service), Frank Audsley (EPSA), Alan Basford (Library), Michael Burrows (P&F), Rebecca Carter (AusLit), Robyn Chitham (EPSA), Thomas Connolly (Vet Science), Susan Davidson (Library), Sue Dengate (BEL), Jennifer Falknau (SMMS), Steve Fick (Mining and Minerals Processing), Lynnette French (Medicine), Mark Girling (ITS), Owen Hudspith (Finance & Bus Services), Margaret Lavery (VC’s office), Adrian Lee (ITS), Brenda Mason (Medicine), Debra Michelmore (Employee Benefits), Kathleen Nolan (Library), Gavin Richardson (P&F), Tania Smith (Business School), Wayne Smith (P&F), Doreen Stevenson (MIS), Shane Walker (EPSA), Christine Wheatland (Vet Science), and Stephanie Wright (Library).

Staff discount – CSIRO science club Christmas gift memberships

As a valued partner of CSIRO Education, UQ staff can purchase CSIRO’s Double Helix Science Club Christmas gift memberships for $22 representing a 15 percent discount. With a magazine subscription, weekly email newsletters, events, holiday programs and discounts, membership provides fun and knowledge all year making a lasting gift for ages 7–16 across Australia and the world. Details: www.csiro.au/helix/ChristmasDiscount.pdf or 02 6276 6643. Please mention the organisation you’re from to receive your discount.

Funding opportunities

New Laureate scheme

The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, has announced a new Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme costing $239 million over five years. The program will be run by the Australian Research Council, alongside the new Future Fellowships scheme for mid-career researchers. Up to 15 fellowships will be awarded each year. Each fellowship will be worth around $3 million over five years and will allow the Laureate Fellow to work with, and mentor, up to four postdoctoral and postgraduate researchers. The new scheme will replace Federation Fellowships.

Staff comings and goings

Vice-Principal appointed at Emmanuel College

Dr Jane Thomson begins as Vice-Principal at the college from January, 2009. Dr Thomson is currently a senior lecturer in the School of Human Services at Griffith University. She has 25 years of experience working with students, including time at James Cook University and in government, working in the area of child safety. In 2003, Dr Thomson was awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal for services to higher education.

Farewell morning tea for UQ Chaplain Reverend Cyril Muller

All staff are invited to a special morning tea tomorrow, Tuesday, November 25, at 10am to farewell Reverend Muller, who has been instrumental in spiritual development at UQ Ipswich since its inception and has been involved with the Chaplains group at St Lucia since 1985. Details and RSVP: Raewyn on r.peeti@uq.edu.au or ext 11002.

Festschrift Seminar for Dr James Nixon

This event on Friday, November 28, will mark the retirement of Associate Professor Nixon, a senior medical social worker and child welfare and safety advocate based at the Royal Children’s Hospital for more than three decades. It will be held at The Keidanren Lecture Theatre, 5th floor, Woolworths Building, Royal Children’s Hospital, Herston. Details here.

Housekeeping matters

Finalise accounts ahead of UniFi

With the impending implementation of UniFi, the new financial system, it’s imperative that all outstanding accounts payable items be finalised before year’s end. These include: general claims for staff reimbursements, travel reimbursement, phone reimbursements, mileage claims and any other types of claims or reimbursements, and outstanding purchasing and executive card reconciliations. The payment of claims need to be lodged with Accounts Payable Section by December 12, and reconciliations by December 15.

Update emergency contact details through ESS

For effective management in an emergency crisis situation, staff are asked to keep their contact details up-to-date. Staff who have not already updated their current phone numbers including mobiles, where available, and next-of-kin details, are requested do so by December 24, 2008.

Overseas travel reporting reminder

The University is required by law to submit to State Parliament, as part of the Annual Report, information on overseas travel undertaken by University employees. There is a template on the UQ website for this purpose. It is important that all details are completed on the template, including title and office, and that there is a brief explanation of the purpose of the visit. Please check that amounts and countries are correct before submitting your report.

Get out and about

UQSOPA event

University of Queensland Secretaries’ and Office Professionals’ Association (UQSOPA) Christmas Cocktail Party at Customs House Art Gallery, $35 for members, $45 for non-members, 6pm–8pm, Thursday, November 27. Details and RSVP: http://www.uq.edu.au/current-staff/index.html?page=48776.

UQ Staff and Graduates Club events

Get a group of friends together for these upcoming events:

Schonell Cinema

Movies will be shown Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (apart from between Friday, December 19, and Friday, January 9). Details on the UQ Union website.

UQ Art Museum

Upcoming events at the UQ Art Museum include:

Study, training and development

Systematic review training

Do you want to obtain or improve your skills in critically appraising the research literature? Are you interested in how to gather and synthesise the evidence to promote best practice? The University of Queensland/Blue Care Research and Practice Development Centre is running a five-module training program between December 1 and December 4 in undertaking comprehensive systematic reviews of evidence. Details:  http://www.uq.edu.au/health/docs/2008/Bulletin/SysReview.pdf,  j.rosenberg@uq.edu.au, 3720 5313.

Mediation and conflict resolution training in 2009

Find out more about this training run by the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at www.uq.edu.au/acpacs, acpacs.melbourne@uq.edu.au or 1300 364 562. Download the brochure here.

UQ Business School’s Postgraduate Information Evening

Applications for 2009 for UQ Business School postgraduate programs close on January 31, 2009. An information evening will be held from 5.30pm on Wednesday, November 26 at UQ Business School Downtown, Level 19, Central Plaza One, 345 Queen Street, Brisbane. Details and RSVP: http://www.business.uq.edu.au/display/connect/Event+Registration.

Low-cost English classes at ICTE-UQ

The Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education offers low-cost English language classes to all adult learners. A 36-hour course costs only $30 if 90 percent of lessons are attended. The Testing and Enrolment session is on Thursday, December 4, and the next course begins on January 9, 2009. Details: icte.enrol@icte.uq.edu.au, 3346 6770.

Staff development courses

Places are still available in the following staff development courses:

Go8 Future Research Leaders’ Program

Places are also available in the following Go8 Future Research Leaders’ Program courses:

Details: www.tedi.uq.edu.au/sdh/.

November 30 close for BEL scholarships

The BEL Faculty is offering Commonwealth Supported Postgraduate Scholarships to general staff employed in full-time continuing appointment/s for at least two years. Details: Allanah Bigg, ext. 69061.

UQ Business School’s executive education courses for 2009

Register your interest now for Executive Leadership courses. Details: www.business.uq.edu.au/execed, execed@business.uq.edu.au or 3346 7104.

Graduate Certificate in Higher Education

Applications are now being sought for 2009 in the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education. Details: an application form and additional details can be found at: http://www.uq.edu.au/education/index.html?page=9427 or contact education@uq.edu.au, 3365 6550.

Lectures, seminars and workshops

Australian Academy of Science Queensland Fellows public forum

To celebrate the election of five Queensland scientists to the Australian Academy of Science in 2008, each fellow will give a short presentation of their work at 5pm tomorrow, Tuesday, November 25, followed by a cocktail party at the Queensland Brain Institute, Building 79. Details and RSVP: Tuesday, November 18, to Charmaine on 3346 6402 or m.paiva@uq.edu.au.

Novel therapeutic targets in estrogen receptor negative breast cancer

Dr Ali Naderi will speak on this topic from 4.30pm until 5.30pm on Thursday, December 4, in the Level 2 (ground floor) Auditorium of the UQCCR, next to the Education Centre at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Herston. Details: e.slowey@uq.edu.au.

Strategic Indigenous Awareness Workshops

Grant Sarra will conduct his thought provoking half-day workshop “To Understand the Present: We Must Understand the Past” at the Ipswich campus on Wednesday, December 10, and St Lucia campus Thursday, December 11. Details, booking and RSVP: http://www.uq.edu.au/equity/docs/sarra_flyer.pdf, equity@uq.edu.au, or 3365 3052.

NMR education

A workshop will be held to demonstrate the possibilities of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in Brisbane from December 13 to 17. It is aimed at non-specialists, solution-state NMR users and solid-state NMR beginners. Details: Dr Marianne Gaborieau.

Siemens Science Experience

UQ will host the Siemens Science Experience – a fun three days of hands-on science activities for secondary students about to enter Year 10 in 2009 – from January 20 to 22, 2009. Details: http://www.scienceexperience.com.au/about.

Health and fitness

Lifestyle program summer 08

This summer, open your mind to something new, improve your fitness, dare to be a little adventurous or learn a new skill by enrolling in the UQ SPORT summer lifestyle program. Enrolments close Friday, November 28. Details: www.uqsport.uq.edu.au/lifestyle.

Mindfulness training

UQ clinical psychologists are running a four-week program in mindfulness suitable for people experiencing mild to moderate levels of anxiety, depression, or stress. Run over four weeks, it starts tomorrow, Tuesday, November 25. Details: sjones@psy.uq.edu.au, 3365 6451.

Volunteers sought

Please note entries remain for three updates unless further requests received. Thank you.

New this week

Carried over


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