FOR ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY WINTER 2015

In this issue: Indigenous connections Antibiotic resistance Governing with grace CONTACT CONTACT is produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications and UQ Advancement, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia Telephone: +61 (0)7 3346 7886 Email: [email protected] Website: uq.edu.au/uqcontact Advertising: Tina Cupitt Email: [email protected] Editorial Board: Shane Rodgers (Chair) – Queensland Editor, The Australian Graham Bethune – Director, Office of Marketing and Communications Colleen Clur – Director, Compass Communications Group Doctor John Desmarchelier AM ED – Former General Manager, Sugar Terminals Limited Clare Pullar – Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement) Editors: Prue McMillan and Mark Schroder Project coordinator: Jacqui Belesky Design: Geoffrey Burmester, Jennifer McLeod, James North, Paul Thomas Contributors: Renae Bourke, Megan Bull, Associate Professor Martin Crotty, Reggie Dutt, Sonya Gellert, Kerri Harris, Professor Ove Hoegh- Guldberg, Shannon Holborn, Bruce Ibsen, Fiona Kennedy, Professor Doune Macdonald, Professor Justin Marshall, Jessica Marshallsay, Catherine Moller, Bill Park, Katrina INDIGENOUS Shimmin-Clarke, Matthew Taylor, Gina Wheatcroft, Leanne Wyvill, Hosam CONNECTIONS: Zowawi. UQ is committed to helping “Close the Material in this publication does not Gap” for all Indigenous Australians through necessarily reflect the policies of innovative research, teaching and learning. The University of Queensland. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: 10 Please telephone: +61 (0)7 3346 3900 Facsimile: +61 (0)7 3346 3901 Email: [email protected] Printing: DAI Rubicon

This product is printed on PEFC + REGULARS + FEATURES paper from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources UPDATE LEADING THE WORLD FOR ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY WINTER 2015 Director of Alumni and Community © The University of Queensland 2015 06 WITH RESEARCH Relations Gina WheatcroftBREAKTHROUGHS Ranked well inside the world’s top 100, The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s leading teaching and research institutions. UQ has won more national teaching awards than any other Australian university and, in 2013, was the number one university in Australia for the generation of external research income*. For more than a century, we have educated and worked with outstanding people to deliver knowledge leadership for a better In this issue: discusses philanthropy.world. Our successes are embodied in a global network of more than 220,000 graduates and the countless people worldwide who have benefited from UQ innovations. These are just some of the reasons why Indigenous connections UQ is, and will continue to be, a meeting place for current and future leaders. Antibiotic resistance COVER IMAGE: Governing with grace Potential by Sid Domic, Outreach and IMPACT WORLD’S FIRST CERVICAL CANCER VACCINE VACCINES Research conducted by Engagement Program Co-Ordinator, Professor Ian Frazer AC WITHOUT NEEDLES and the late Dr Jian Zhou Research is currently being led to the development of undertaken at UQ into the the world’s first vaccine TM Researchers are examiningNanopatch , a revolutionary how we against cervical cancer, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait needle-free method of delivering benefiting tens of millions TM vaccines. The Nanopatch is of women worldwide. a small, pain-free patch being 22 developed through a UQ spin- out company, Vaxxas, and Islander Studies Unit, The University has the potential to help save can protect and sustainmillions of lives. our coral of Queensland, as commissioned for reefs and oceans. the UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous

HELPING OVER SEVEN MILLION CHILDREN Health. Potential represents the Triple P – Positive Parenting USING MRI TO DIVE THE REEFS Program is backed by more FIGHT CANCER FROM YOUR DESKTOP than 30 years of ongoing research at UQ. The program With the majority of the world’s UQ is working to visually document has helped more than seven MRI scanners using technology life within reef systems across the million children and their potential in all of us. The plant doesn’t CRICOS No. 00025B engineered at UQ, the next step globe. Images are made available families in approximately BOOKS is to integrate radiation therapy for the world to explore on Google 25 countries. with MRI scanners to target and Street View and the Catlin Global reach its full potential until it flowers; a treat cancer. Reef Record database. UOQ0358 UQ’s excellence in research has been translated into positive economic, environmental, health and social benefits. With the support of UQ’s main commercialisation company, UniQuest, many UQ innovations are now available to the community. Kate Howarth’s SettlingTo learn more about these research Day breakthroughs, visit uq.edu.au/research gives symbol of its expression and growth. 46 * Per data reported for the 2013 Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC). In the image, the U shapes represent readers an insight into the effects that the UQ community (staff, students, forced adoption policiesOMC Research Ad_A4 FINAL.indd 1 had on many 1/04/15 3:09 PM Indigenous community, our partners, people. Free iPad and everyone). From the UQ community comes their individual growth, directed Android apps towards the centre circle, which REMEMBER WHEN represents a focal point of all this AVAILABLE NOW – knowledge and energy. This creates 47 Contact remembers staff and students the flower, which is symbolic of our who fought in past conflicts. SEE PAGE 4 FOR DETAILS potential as a community working together. Potential is also a reflection of a DNA cross-section, which makes us what we are. Indigenous school students gain exposure to university by participating in the InspireU Program, which offers practical insights into career opportunities and studying disciplines such as Engineering, Health Sciences, Law and Science.

+ FEATURES

© Rolex Awards/Ambroise Tézenas © Rolex Awards/Ambroise 16 28 38 40 SUPERBUG FIGHT HALO EFFECT SCHOLARLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT ON TURKEY Rolex Young Laureate White Halo Ensemble, UQ’s Contact speaks with With a rapidly growing Hosam Zowawi is chamber music group, students, donors, and an economy and a youthful researching the spread of launched in 2014 and alumna about the joys population, Turkey is a infectious diseases to fight includes talented full-time of giving and receiving country to watch. Contact back against antibiotic- teaching and research scholarships that support explores UQ’s engagement resistant superbugs. performance staff. intellectual development. with this interesting nation.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 3 SHARE YOUR STORY

FOR ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY SUMMER 2012 ith more than 220,000 graduates, UQ has been

an integral part of so many FOR ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY SUMMer 2014 people’s lives. Our alumni Whave shown dedication in contributing to society, the environment and economies in countries around the world. As an alumnus, you are one of the University’s greatest assets, and Contact

wants to hear from you. In this issue: 100 years of What is it that set your UQ experience great professors When is it right to fight?

apart? How has the University, and your If Pain Persists: Linde Ivimey Sculpture time here, shaped the person you are opens at UQ Art Museum today? In this issue: Volunteering You might have continued to engage with For the students the University, participating in reunions or Active at work other events, offering your time as a guest lecturer or speaker, or giving back through philanthropy. Maybe you have decided to return to pursue postgraduate studies, or Whatever your story, as an alumnus, Do you have any memories of your time have seen siblings, children and friends we invite you to tell us more. How do you on campus to share, or highlights from your embrace their own UQ experiences. continue to be inspired by UQ, and what life as an alumnus? You might still be based in South-East does the University’s vision of achieving We invite you to get in touch, and your Queensland, or may have travelled globally, or “knowledge leadership for a better world” story might feature in an upcoming edition to other parts of Australia. mean to you? of Contact magazine.

To share your story, email us at [email protected], or write to us at: Office of Marketing and Communications Level 7 JD Story Building, St Lucia Campus The University of Queensland, QLD 4072 For Privacy Policy details, please visit: http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/1.60.02-privacy-management

LEADING THE WORLD WITH RESEARCH Visit the BREAKTHROUGHS FOR ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY WINTER 2015 Ranked well inside the world’s top 100, The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s leading teaching Help reduceand research institutions. UQ has won moreour national teaching awards than any other Australian university and, in 2013, was the number one university in Australia for the generation of external research income*. For more than iTunes™ App Store a century, we have educated and worked with outstanding people to deliver knowledge leadership for a better world. Our successes are embodied in a global network of more than 220,000 graduates and the countless people worldwide who have benefited from UQ innovations. These are just some of the reasons why UQ is, and will continue to be, a meeting place for current and future leaders. In this issue: or GooglePlay™ store Indigenous connections CARBON Antibiotic resistance Governing with grace and search for

VACCINES WITHOUT NEEDLES WORLD’S FIRST CERVICAL Research is currently being CANCER VACCINE undertaken at UQ into the Research conducted by NanopatchTM, a revolutionary Professor Ian Frazer AC needle-free method of delivering UQ Contact and the late Dr Jian Zhou FOOTPRINTvaccines. The Nanopatch led to the development of TM a small, pain-free patch being is the world’s first vaccine developed through a UQ spin- against cervical cancer, out company, Vaxxas, and benefiting tens of millions has the potential to help save of women worldwide. millions of lives. Subscribe to UQ Contact’s free

iPad or AndroidUSING MRI TO apps, HELPING OVER FIGHT CANCER SEVEN MILLION CHILDREN DIVE THE REEFS With the majority of the world’s FROM YOUR DESKTOP Triple P – Positive Parenting MRI scanners using technology Program is backed by more engineered at UQ, the next step UQ is working to visually document than 30 years of ongoing is to integrate radiation therapy life within reef systems across the research at UQ. The program then emailwith usMRI scanners to targetat and globe. Images are made available has helped more than seven treat cancer. for the world to explore on Google million children and their Street View and the Catlin Global families in approximately Reef Record database. 25 countries. CRICOS No. 00025B UQ’s excellence in research has been translated into positive economic, environmental, health and social benefits. With the support of UQ’s main commercialisation company, UniQuest, many UQ innovations are now available to the community.

UOQ0358 [email protected] learn more about these research breakthroughs, visit uq.edu.au/research * Per data reported for the 2013 Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC). to stop receiving printed copies of the magazineOMC Research Ad_A4 FINAL.indd 1

1/04/15 3:09 PM

4 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLERY AIMING HIGH, WITH A GLOBAL STORY TO TELL

he line between backing It is something I wonder about. While If I am talking to people who are into yourself and sounding too I am frequently dazzled by the impact research, they are impressed that in boastful can be a fine one. How of UQ’s people and the accolades they 2013 UQ received more direct funding for do we say enough to ensure accrue for the University, I find that many research than any other Australian university. that UQ’s excellence is noticed of my interstate friends, colleagues and The same type of people would think it Tin the highly competitive global marketplace, acquaintances are surprised to hear significant that UQ leads the Australian without being regarded as arrogant? how well UQ compares to other global contingent in a table based on publications universities. linked to the prestigious journal Nature. A It is part of my job to factually subset of research wonks will think it is cool communicate UQ’s contributions and that the proportion of UQ publications in potential. If the messages are not cutting the most prestigious global journals, Nature through, I wear responsibility. and Science, is more than double the world When making the case, I take pointers average and leading by an even longer from alumni who I have found to be some of margin in Australia. UQ’s most credible advocates. Many of the A bigger group of people (who don’t best are not prominent people with access spend their weekends reading academic to journalists, speakers’ rostrums and vast journals) light up when I say Geoffrey Rush, social media audiences — instead, they Wotif.com founders Andrew Brice and spread the word through relatives, friends, Graeme Wood, and the double Grammy colleagues, employees, clients, friends- winner Tim Munro are all UQ graduates. Our of-friends, and chance encounters with graduates are indeed the best testament complete strangers. for a UQ education, and are increasingly UQ has so many strengths that I am meaningful to the prospects of current and challenged to keep the UQ story brief — future students. but I must, because most of my friends So, alumni advocates — thank you, and don’t have the time or inclination to digest please continue your magnificent work! a thesis. Mentioning that the world’s first Some readers will recall that when your cervical cancer vaccine started at UQ last Contact magazine was in production, generally resonates. Most people might Australia was debating government know about Gardasil®, but need proposals to deregulate student fees. Since reminding that UQ is its birthplace. then, most Australian senators have rejected Saying that about two-thirds of the proposals, twice. At the time of writing, the world’s magnetic resonance neither major party has revealed a detailed imaging machines use UQ alternative plan for investment in higher technology also cuts through. education, even though many politicians Some people are surprised to seem to have judged that Australians are hear that UQ ranks well within not keen to pay more tax for it. the top 100 of the world’s Universities in some regions, notably 10,000-plus universities, North America, have bedrock endowments and that this is the place that they top up with ambitious fundraising where US President campaigns. At UQ, donors have Barack Obama transformed countless lives by supporting made his famous students and research, but we have never remarks about built a resilient endowment. the Great Barrier Now, we may be approaching a new era Reef. in strategic, collaborative investment that will extend opportunities for students and researchers, like never before. Like any strong global university, we owe it to our community to aim high. Achieving our aspirations will not be easy, especially as other institutions in our neighbourhood continue to amass esteem. But I have seen compelling evidence that alumni are incredibly effective envoys, who have the capacity to help take the opportunities emanating from UQ to a whole new level. I thank you all for those efforts, and so will future generations of young people who get the opportunity to benefit from an exceptional UQ experience and advantage.

Professor Peter Høj Vice-Chancellor and President

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 5 UPDATE

SUPPORTING STUDENTS

Director of Alumni and Community Relations Gina Wheatcroft discusses how support from alumni can make an incredible difference in students’ lives.

he University of Queensland or conserving the Great Barrier Reef. We all peers or participating at University events. goes from strength to strength, benefit from outputs at UQ that are a direct Alumni philanthropy is practised throughout consistently ranking well inside result of philanthropy. the world, at key institutions and at all levels. the top 100 universities in the Last year brought with it the Even if just one in five alumni gave $100 Tworld, providing groundbreaking technology announcement of a $10 million gift from each year, the University would have over internationally through research and Greg Poche AO and Kay van Norton Poche $4 million to invest in scholarships, student development, and offering the number one — a truly transformative gift that will be welfare and crucial research. You could be a MBA program in Australasia. directed towards a Centre for Indigenous part of this. It’s an incredible credit to the staff, Health, which you can read more about on I encourage each and every one of our academics, students and alumni of UQ, page 12. alumni to include UQ in your charitable giving but this consistent trajectory would not be A usual gift is comparably more modest, each year, and become a part of something possible without the extraordinary support highlighting the importance of each that is improving the lives and livelihoods offered to the University by our donors. donation, and in particular, alumni giving. of members of our community, the city, the In 2014, we completed UQ’s first ever Alumni philanthropy is a great way for state, the country and the world. telephone fundraising campaign, with alumni to continue being involved with their current students phoning a select group of alma mater — similar to staying in touch To see how your gift can make a alumni, engaging with them and requesting through volunteering, promoting UQ among difference, visit uq.edu.au/giving. their support for the University’s Annual Fund — a fantastic initiative that targets the greatest needs in student welfare, as well as research. The Annual Fund provides students who are facing personal or financial hardship with practical assistance. For many students, the support can be the difference between dropping out of university or continuing their studies. The Annual Fund also assists researchers in finding solutions that have a global impact — work being undertaken by the likes of Dr Natalie Connors, whose research into vaccine production technologies is profiled on page 45, as well as Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg and Professor Justin Marshall, whose environmental research is highlighted on pages 22–23. The benefits of philanthropy to the University couldn’t be summarised in these comments — but they are, needless to say, extensive. The benefits go well beyond UQ: exceptional graduates forge remarkable careers that businesses, both large and small, benefit from. Research and development produces technology, the aim of which is almost always to improve lives in some way, whether it be through vaccinating against particular cancers, creating a parenting program that ensures our children can successfully navigate peer situations,

6 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS

ALUMNI REUNIONS JULY Dealing When was the last time you saw your UQ classmates? with chronic pain Several reunions are underway in upcoming months. Join Professor Paul Hodges The Alumni and Community Relations team can help with and an expert panel as they planning reunions. Visit alumni.uq.edu.au/reunions. discuss the effects of chronic pain on individuals and communities, plus results

©Shutterstock.com/Kaulitzki from conservative therapies.

AUGUST Hemp: should it be legal?

To legalise, or not? Professor Wayne Hall, in conjunction with GLOBAL LEADERSHIP the Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, offers a thought- SERIES provoking assessment of the Just four Global Leadership Series events remain for legalisation of marijuana, drawing 2015. For more information and to book tickets for on examples from the United States upcoming events in September and October, visit and The Netherlands. ©iStock.com/pashabo alumni.uq.edu.au/global-leadership-series.

1965 International House

YEAR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 29-30 29-30 August 2015 AUGUST 2015

Join us in celebrating SATURDAY 29 AUGUST SUNDAY 30 AUGUST 50 years of cultivating • Registrations open and IH Great Debate • The Brotherhood Brunch global leaders. When: 9:00am – 11:00am. Where: Ivor Cribb, IH When: 10:30am – noon. Where: IH What: Light refreshments are served while What: Join us at IH for a relaxed morning after the International House is registrations open, before we kick off the weekend night before of sharing your memories, photos and proud to be celebrating with The IH Great Debate. Celebrate the intellectual reconnecting over brunch. A great opportunity for all its Golden Anniversary in wit of IHers as we discuss life at IH, then and now. IHers to come together in a casual setting at their old 2015, which is a weekend • IH Soirée home, IH. of remembering, celebrating When: 11:00am – 2:30pm. Where: G-Lawn, IH • IH and UQ St Lucia Tour and looking to the future. What: Live multicultural entertainment, and stalls When: Noon – 1pm. Where: IH and UQ Register now to be a part of filled with international cuisine and refreshments at What: See how IH and UQ have changed over the remembering the last 50 years G-Lawn’s main stage. Tickets include all food and years with tours leaving over the hour to visit your of friendship. We encourage entertainment. Free for children under 12. alma mater and IH. you to bring your family and partner. Confirm your • Golden Anniversary IH Ball • IH Sport attendance by registering at When: 7:00pm - midnight. Where: Brisbane When: Noon – 2:00pm. Where: Dependant on numbers internationalhouse.uq.edu.au Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank What: Sport has played an important part in bonding or call +61 (0)7 3721 2485. What: The black and gold themed main event of the IHers together over the last 50 years. Join us for a weekend is a night of celebration and catching up relaxed game of soccer and/or cricket at either IH or The activities to the right are with good friends. It includes entertainment, 3 course the local oval. planned for the weekend and meal, 5 hour drink package etc. Seating arrangement Further information, including accommodation partners, may be subject to change. by decade periods and/or nominated friends. is available at www.internationalhouse.uq.edu.au.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 7 YOUR UQ. YOUR ADVANTAGE. inspire future studentsandthecommunity. like tohearaboutyourcareer success.Your experiencescan As weapproach 50,000BachelorofArtsgraduates,wewould the UQHumanitiesandSocialSciences’Alumnisub-group. Discover arts,educationandsocialsciencesupdatesthrough and share knowledge,newsandideas. Alumni LinkedIngroup. You canbuildprofessional networks, Stay connectedwithfriendsandcolleaguesbyjoiningUQ’s YOUR UQ YOUR WITH CONNECTED STAY acquired byTwitter andMyFitnessPal. who co-foundedfourcompaniesbefore the Nick isanentrepreneur basedinSanFrancisco age of30.Two ofthesewentontobe Nick Crocker –UQ Arts/LawGraduate

hass.uq.edu.au/alumni

CRICOS Provider Number 00025B YOUNG ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD

The Young Alumni Advisory Board (YAAB) is a select group of volunteer leaders who assist the University in delivering a variety of relevant services to recent graduates. Board members are appointed on a competitive basis that reflects their ability to inspire, influence and serve the greater alumni community.

YAAB members pictured front row, left to right: Oscar Hernández, Dr Tarni Cooper, Zoe Black, Dr Robert McLachlan, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Julia Bruerton and Laura Stokes. Back row, left to right: Elizabeth George, Chad Hardy, Rohan Watt, Siena Perry, Nkosana Mafico, Michelle Chee, Tom Mackay, Leighton Crisp, Cameron Schofield, Tayla Tatzenko, Wayne Chan, Dr Andy Mukherji and Carly Stephan.

In this issue of Contact, we meet YAAB member Laura Stokes (Bachelor of International Hotel and Tourism Management ’10), who is the licensee for the popular TEDxSouthBank, a role she holds along with her day job as Advancement Director for International House, a UQ college.

tokes is also completing lasting relationships with peers “I also really enjoyed organising the Young an MBA at UQ, as well from their alma mater,” said Alumni Sunday Session that we held at a as a Global Consulting Stokes. local microbrewery. Practicum with Wharton “The activities are, first “The event raised over $1000 for UQ SBusiness School, in addition to and foremost, about taking scholarships, and we had a really strong being a member of the Young advantage of the broad and attendance from current students and young Alumni Advisory Board (YAAB). diverse networks open to alumni alumni.” It’s no surprise that in the by attending a world-class Of how her time at UQ has helped shape collection of awards she’s institution like UQ. her ability and motivation to be involved with amassed in her 27 years, “At UQ, you know you are the YAAB and countless other initiatives, Stokes has been named one of surrounded by some of the Stokes suggests her time living on campus at Queensland’s Leading Women, country’s best and brightest, International House was instrumental, offering and being involved with young great life and career lessons to propel her and won the Foundation for Laura Stokes. Young Australians’ Young and alumni initiatives in particular forward. Extraordinary Award for her work in the not- means you’re able to forge strong networks “Being a member of the International for-profit sector. that can continue for life.” House Student Club Executive gave me the Stokes is in good company in YAAB, Stokes said working on key projects, opportunity to experience real-world work working alongside some of the University’s including establishing the YAAB Philanthropy scenarios involving people management, most extraordinary young exports, including Sub-Committee, and organising the inaugural conflict resolution, reporting and finances,” an Australian of the Year finalist, tech start-up YAAB fundraising event, have been highlights she said. owners, young doctors, countless award of her time on the board. “It was a soft introduction to a real career winners, and numerous ambassadors or “Chairing the Philanthropy Sub-Committee before I was 20.” volunteers for a range of causes. and working with the team to promote “YAAB activities provide an opportunity its vision, values and purpose has been To find out more about YAAB, visit for recent and young alumni to forge strong, fantastic,” she said. alumni.uq.edu.au/yaab.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 9 FEATURE

INDIGENOUS CONNECTIONS

In the 1990s, UQ offered Australia’s first Indigenous Primary Health Care program. Today, strategic leadership, new facilities, personalised student support and innovative research strengths underpin efforts to “Close the Gap”.

he University of Queensland has been home to many bright and “We are a global university. brilliant thinkers who have enacted positive change globally. In unique An important part of this Tways across diverse industries, these If you are interested in contributing to involves addressing local students, alumni, teachers and researchers UQ’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander have supported the University’s bold vision teaching, learning and research efforts, of delivering knowledge leadership for a issues successfully. We please visit uq.edu.au/giving. better world. Enacting change at a local level is equally must work with our own as important as achieving global change, and fostering better outcomes for Indigenous Indigenous communities, services and support across all areas of Australians at the community level is integral. Indigenous health. Notable alumni include UQ’s Indigenous strategy, as embedded in in addition to supporting Dr Raymond Gadd, Director of Emergency The University of Queensland Strategic Plan Medicine, Gladstone Hospital; Dr Shannon 2014–17, is also grounded in the settings for Indigenous people across Springer, Discipline Lead for Indigenous its campuses and institutes. Health, Bond University; Dr Chelsea “South-East Queensland has 38 per cent Queensland, nationally Bond, Inala Indigenous Health Service and of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Senior Lecturer in the Oodgeroo Unit at Islander population and the largest population and internationally Queensland University of Technology; Tarita of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Fisher, Cherbourg Hospital and Health in the country,” shares Pro-Vice-Chancellor through our initiatives.” Service Manager; Associate Professor (Indigenous Education), Professor Cindy Noel Hayman, Clinical Director of the Inala Shannon (Bachelor of Arts ’86, Doctor of Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Indigenous Health Service; Dallas Leon, Social Science ’04). Education), Professor Cindy Shannon CEO, Gidgee Healing; and Condy Canuto, “With our unique position and coverage Senior Lecturer, Aboriginal and Torres Strait across the region, the University has an integral Shannon has extensive experience Islander Studies Unit (ATSIS Unit) at UQ. role in helping teachers, researchers, students on Indigenous advisory councils and Associate Professor Jon Willis (PhD in and alumni ‘Close the Gap’ by promoting committees, and was recently appointed Tropical and Public Health ’97), who is now more sustainable local communities.” to the Australian Government’s Council of the Academic Director of the ATSIS Unit, Shannon is a descendent of the Ngugi the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and worked as a Lecturer in Indigenous Health as people from Moreton Island, and has had Torres Strait Islander Studies. She guided part of the program from 1997 to 1999. a pivotal role in guiding the University’s the development of Australia’s first degree- “It was a fabulous and grounded Indigenous strategy since being appointed level program targeting Aboriginal health program, and evolved to have Indigenous inaugural Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous workers in the 1990s, and contributed to health embedded in broader studies, to Education) in 2011. In her opinion, UQ’s the establishment of the Institute of Urban upskill more non-Indigenous students about position and coverage across South-East Indigenous Health (IUIH) in South-East Indigenous health issues,” he said. Queensland brings both extra scope for Queensland in 2009. In 2015, UQ has a record number of research collaboration, and an intrinsic social UQ’s 1990s Indigenous Primary Health Indigenous students enrolled in Medicine, responsibility. Care program was both pioneering and with 24 students enrolled in programs “We do have an additional responsibility successful, supporting the development of through the School. to support Indigenous communities,” said high-performing Indigenous doctors and Indigenous students are showing stronger Shannon. practitioners who are trained in providing interest in enrolling at the University, with

10 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 Indigenous learning is supported and encouraged by staff in the ATSIS Unit. Here, Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) students Victoria Francia and brother Carl Francia share a lighthearted moment on campus.

“These placements have demonstrated “We encourage Indigenous students to a particular need for allied health services, pursue their potential,” he said. which has enabled the development of innovative programs in chronic disease “Why can’t, or shouldn’t, rehabilitation and self-management and children’s developmental support, with Indigenous students a 300 per cent increase in allied health services regionally.” achieve their highest Initiatives are underway to foster Indigenous pathways to tertiary study, possible aspirations? including the InspireU Program and Solid Pathways Program. UQ also works with Coming to UQ gives them a the Deadly Choices Program, which is an initiative of the IUIH that aims to empower chance to do that.” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to make healthy choices (see page 13). Academic Director, ATSIS Unit, In terms of notable research, the Associate Professor Jon Willis Aboriginal Environments Research Centre is also making an impact: with researchers Scholarships and bursaries sponsored by recognised for their work into urban alumni such as Dr Alan Van Tran (see page homelessness; and projects on Indigenous 14) further support Indigenous students with culture, environments and architecture. accessing opportunities they might otherwise Such positive initiatives have far-reaching never receive, due to social disadvantage. impact, and — when bolstered by the new, Helping people realise their potential is dedicated learning space opened for the a sentiment philanthropists Greg Poche AO ATSIS Unit and Poche Centre — reiterate and Kay van Norton Poche agree with. The the University’s commitment to improving couple — who have given more than $100 Indigenous outcomes. million nationally to address major issues Shannon explained, “We are adopting such as melanoma research and improving a strengths-based approach, and there is the lives of Indigenous Australians — have overwhelming support across the University an increase in Indigenous first preference pledged $10 million to establish a Poche to improve Indigenous education and demand this year. In Semester 2, 2014, Centre for Indigenous Health at UQ (see increase our community impact through Indigenous student retention and pass page 12). continuous improvement.” rates also improved, reflecting improved As part of UQ’s embedded Indigenous Yet, she is adamant more needs to be performance outcomes for the cohort overall. strategy, consultation is integral to achieving done to “Close the Gap”, including generating This year, the ATSIS Unit facilities have the best outcomes for students, researchers new partnerships and improving programs. been upgraded, with the team relocating and teachers, as well as local communities. “We definitely have further work to do to to a modern learning space that is easily One example of these consultations and attract and retain more Indigenous students. accessible for students at St Lucia campus. partnerships involves a joint approach to “I would like to see us broaden our The ATSIS Unit provides Indigenous student placements in Aboriginal and Torres engagement to areas like law, child students with invaluable support. Students Strait Islander health. protection and education, and facilitate can seek advice from a learning advisor and IUIH’s Director of Workforce Development closer relationships with schools and access tutorial assistance. Information is and Allied Health, Dr Alison Nelson, also has educating Indigenous teachers. available about topics including scholarships, a Senior Lecturer appointment to the UQ “With ongoing funding, collaboration and careers, childcare and accommodation ATSIS Unit. This role enables her to work a commitment to reaching targets, we can arrangements, with disability, health, multi-faith with local community-controlled Aboriginal enhance UQ’s reputation and continue to and counselling advice also offered. and Torres Strait Islander health services generate knowledge leadership by promoting Alumna Kirrily Phillips (Bachelor of and The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander a fairer future for all Indigenous Australians.” Oral Health ’12), works as an Oral Health Independent Community School to facilitate Therapist at the IUIH, and is continuing her and create new student placements, often in studies as a Bachelor of Dental Science an inter-professional framework. student at UQ. She personally experienced “IUIH and UQ, through the leadership a high level of support during her of Professor Shannon and IUIH’s CEO, app Download the Contact app to undergraduate studies. Adrian Carson, have been incredibly find out more about Indigenous “I had great, one-on-one tutoring each innovative in funding an academic position, connections at UQ, with stories semester that was provided by the ATSIS which provides well-coordinated student featuring alumni of the 1990s Unit,” she reflected. placements where students are supported Indigenous Primary Health Care “The staff helped guide, support and to develop their knowledge and skills in this program, videos, photo galleries, encourage me to complete my degree.” area. This move has contributed to significant opinion pieces, and an exclusive As Willis surmised, encouraging growth in student placements, from 30 Q&A with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Indigenous students to achieve their absolute students in 2010 to 300 students in 2015,” (Indigenous Education), Professor best underpins the work of the ATSIS Unit. she said. Cindy Shannon.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 11 FEATURE

POCHE CENTRE FOR INDIGENOUS HEALTH

Enhancing health outcomes for urban Indigenous people is the focus of the UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, which launched in March following a $10 million donation from Sydney couple Greg Poche AO and Kay van Norton Poche.

mproving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians is one of our nation’s biggest challenges, according to Greg Poche AO, who, with his wife, IKay, has funded a new Poche Centre for Indigenous Health at UQ. The couple have previously funded Poche Centres at The University of Sydney, Flinders University in Adelaide and Alice Springs, The University of Western Australia and The University of Melbourne. Mr Poche, who is the founder and former owner of logistics company Star Track Express, considers the 11-year health and life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to be unacceptable. So too does Pro-Vice- Chancellor (Indigenous Education) Professor Cindy Shannon, who said about 80 per cent of the life expectancy gap could be attributed Guests attended a lunch hosted by Greg Poche AO and Kay van Norton Poche to celebrate a $10 million gift to UQ to to chronic disease. establish a Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. Pictured from left to right: Maxwell Mitropoulos, Shane Drahm, Professor “The visibility of Indigenous peoples Peter Høj, Kay van Norton Poche, Professor Cindy Shannon, Reg Richardson AM, Professor Bruce Abernethy, Sally Richardson, Associate Professor Jon Willis and Professor Nicholas Fisk. and understanding of their needs in urban settings is often very poor,” she reflected. and supporting staff to collaborate with enable more Indigenous students to study “An Australian Institute of Health and community organisations and health Health Sciences and increase the number Welfare report last year confirmed that 79 per providers. of practitioners, as well as to facilitate more cent of Australia’s Indigenous population now health students to be skilled in working with live in non-remote areas.” Indigenous patients, particularly in urban contexts. The research at the Centre is partly “The UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health will train focused on urban Indigenous health because there can, at times, be a misperception and grow a stronger workforce in Indigenous health. Indigenous issues are ‘always somewhere else, far away’,” he said. We aim to increase the number of Indigenous Australian “As Brisbane is the largest Indigenous community in Australia, we wanted a health discipline graduates and translate research into program of worker development and research focused on the issues of Indigenous people in our own backyard better health promotion and service delivery models.” — the people who live in Woodridge, the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Peter Høj people who live in Deception Bay and the people who live out on Stradbroke Island.” The UQ Poche Centre aims to meet Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical UQ’s key collaborator in the UQ Poche the critical need for translational research Sciences Executive Dean, Professor Centre for Indigenous Health is the Institute on improving urban Indigenous health Nicholas Fisk, elaborated by sharing: for Urban Indigenous Health, with other outcomes across the life course, from “Staff at the new centre are collaborating collaborators including the Mater Health maternal and child health, through with primary health care and hospital Services and the Queensland Aboriginal and adolescence to the challenges of chronic providers to grow placement and training Islander Health Council. disease and ageing, with a significant focus opportunities for students in Indigenous Queensland Treasurer, the Honourable on prevention and education. health care.” Curtis Pitt, and Minister for Health and At the same time, there is a focus on Outreach and engagement programs Minister for Ambulance Services, the workforce development. This is an area of through the Centre are anticipated to attract Honourable Cameron Dick, attended a strength for the University, which offered and support more Aboriginal and Torres launch for the Centre in March. Australia’s first professional degree program Strait Islander people into health careers, Download the Contact app to watch a for Indigenous health workers in the 1990s. according to Academic Director of the ATSIS video from the Poche Centre launch, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Unit, Associate Professor Jon Willis. view a related photo gallery, and read Peter Høj said the Centre is bringing “The Poche Centre allows us to expand stories featuring alumni from UQ’s 1990s together expertise across the University, on an existing program that we have to Indigenous Primary Health Care program.

12 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 UQ is a university of choice for Indigenous people aspiring to careers in health. Pathway programs including the InspireU Program, Deadly Pathways Program, Indigenous Youth Sports Program and UQ Health UQ Deadly Pathways Leaders Program create greater opportunities and outcomes, and are Program delivered with support from the new Poche Centre. UQ’s Deadly Pathways Program is complementary in its health focus. It includes a range of InspireU Program Young Achievers Program Solid Pathways educational pathways for InspireU is a series of residential The UQ Young Achievers Program Indigenous students into health careers. UQ supports the Arthur camps for Aboriginal and Torres Program supports the tertiary The Solid Pathways Program is Beetson Foundation through Strait Islander students in study and career aspirations of a unique academic extension its Murri Carnival — a smoke- Years 11 and 12 that provide state secondary school students program for Aboriginal and free, alcohol-free, healthy food opportunities to experience who might not otherwise have Torres Strait Islander and Out-of- event that promotes education university life. access to university. This includes Home Care students in Years 4 to 15 to 17 year olds; and The camps focus on a mentoring, financial assistance and to 12 who have been identified is also collaborating with UQ variety of disciplines including opportunities for personal growth as performing in the top two College to provide tertiary Engineering, Health Sciences, and leadership development. The NAPLAN bands. Solid Pathways preparation pathways into Law and Science. Program supports individuals aims to connect these students health for Indigenous students “Students stay on campus from select schools across with similar peers, extend their who undertake school-based in one of our great colleges and Queensland, including students learning and maintain their level traineeships in health. These take part in a range of activities who identify as Aboriginal and of achievement as they transition pathways are also open to designed to provide a practical Torres Strait Islander. through school to tertiary study. insight into university study in existing Aboriginal health service their chosen field,” explained UQ Health Leaders staff seeking to upgrade their Outreach, Engagement and Program skill levels and qualifications. Student Relations Manager, The UQ Health Leaders Program, Shane Drahm. offered by the School of Population “The camps are an Health, provides a range of opportunity for students to experience university life, short courses. This provides an participate in workshops and opportunity for collaboration, lectures on campus and explore with the potential to encourage different disciplines and career emerging Indigenous leaders who have completed the program INDIGENOUS opportunities.” to then engage with advanced leadership opportunities. PA T H WAY S

the Deadly Choices Program, which is Lander and Drahm both consider Deadly Choices administered by the IUIH. education to be a Deadly Choice. This year, and Indigenous sport “Deadly Choices is a chronic disease Lander is pursuing postgraduate studies at prevention and education program for urban UQ as a student in the Master of Business ormer Queensland Reds player Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Administration program. Shane Drahm and Ipswich Jets rugby The program was developed to empower Drahm said the merit of education being Fleague captain Keiron Lander are young people to make healthy choices. It uses a Deadly Choice is supported by evidence both advocates for Indigenous sport and a strength-based approach by linking health that more highly educated people enjoy healthy lifestyles. Drahm is the Outreach, messages to sports performance. Areas include better health outcomes. The opportunity to Engagement and Student Relations leadership, chronic disease, nutrition, substance participate in sport is also an enabling factor Manager for UQ’s ATSIS Unit, and Lander misuse, smoking cessation, sexual health, and that supports Indigenous students who are is the Healthy Lifestyle Coordinator for health literacy and access,” said Lander. considering enrolling at UQ. “Young Indigenous people like sport, but they may not know about university,” said Drahm. “Through our Indigenous Sports Program, Indigenous young people can understand that university and sport can go together.” He continued: “The kind of planning that goes into being an elite sportsperson is exactly the same planning that goes into being a good scholar. There is no reason that a young Indigenous student who is a promising footballer can’t also be a promising engineer.”

app Download the Contact app to read opinion pieces by Shane Drahm and Keiron Lander Healthy Lifestyle Coordinator for the IUIH’s Deadly Choices Program, Keiron Lander (right), shows his skills about the importance of on a campus oval, alongside Outreach, Engagement and Student Relations Manager Shane Drahm (left). Indigenous education.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 13 FEATURE A JUST SOCIETY Dr Alan Van Tran (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery ’83) and his family arrived in Australia by boat as refugees after the Vietnam War. He felt deeply about the social disadvantage experienced by Indigenous Australians in their own homeland.

r Tran was in military life in the army of South Vietnam until 1973, and had taught medicine in Saïgon (now Ho Chi Minh City) at the Faculty of Medicine Dat Saïgon University. He grew up in a small town, Hà Đông, outside Hanoi, and followed in the footsteps of an uncle by studying medicine. “I always had a passion to care for other people,” he said. In his former life, Dr Tran saw disadvantage firsthand, working with patients with leprosy. “In remote areas, people with leprosy were locked up,” he reflected. “This was a result of a decision of the communities that they were cast out to live somewhere separately, and you didn’t know. “Leprosy was a disease, but it was treatable. It was under the scanning of the health system, but most Vietnamese laypeople didn’t know about this, so they were very scared of the disease.” Mrs Minh Ha Tran and Dr Alan Van Tran meet bursary recipients Glenn Clifford and Melissa Carroll for the first time at Dr Tran shares this story for an important the St Lucia campus. reason. After he arrived in Australia, retrained in medicine at UQ and transitioned from an Associate Professor at Griffith University, followed, the traditional system of speaking a residency at Greenslopes Hospital, on Director of Respiratory Medicine and Staff with elders. Brisbane’s southside, to establish a medical Intensivist at Logan Hospital, as well as a “At the clinic, we offer day-to-day care clinic in Inala, he became aware of how Visiting Respiratory Physician at Princess for acute problems, and provide support social disadvantage was impacting the local Alexandra Hospital. for chronic problems including alcoholism Indigenous community. His daughter, Dr Uyen Tran (Bachelor and drug problems, diabetes, hypertension, He was concerned at how little was of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery ’95, domestic violence and non-compliance with being done to redress existing inequities, Master of Public Health ’07), specialises children having vaccinations. particularly in light of the visibility of in Paediatrics, with subspecialty training “People appreciate my help, because I try underlying issues, including poorer health in Neurodevelopmental and Behavioural to do my best.” outcomes and the prevalence of chronic Paediatrics, as part of the Child Development With Dr Tran retraining and his children disease. Program at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. both studying medicine at UQ, the family “I was 43, and I had my wife and two Mrs Tran, who practised law in Vietnam decided to provide financial support to children,” he shared. and studied counselling in Brisbane, has current students through a bursary in “We set up a medical clinic in Inala, and played an integral role in raising the couple’s Indigenous health and education. could see what the situation was like for children. The Dr Alan Van Tran and Minh Ha local Indigenous people, and how bad it truly The family has been in Australia for over Tran Indigenous Health Education Bursary was.” a generation, with Dr Tran’s clinic having is awarded to Australian Aboriginal and/ Dr Tran still practises as a doctor at the opened its doors to patients in Inala for or Torres Strait Islander students who are Inala Clinic, and his children, Khoa and Uyen, nearly three decades. studying an undergraduate or postgraduate have been inspired to pursue careers in “We started trying to help Indigenous program in the Faculty of Medicine and medicine, after also studying at UQ. people in the community when we started Biomedical Sciences or Faculty of Health and His son, Dr Khoa Tran (Bachelor of the clinic, and they appreciate it,” he said, Behavioural Sciences. The first recipients are Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery ’92) is now elaborating that he had respected, and Melissa Carroll and Glenn Clifford.

14 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 PARTNERS IN SUCCESS

The Institute for Urban spoke of how this unmet need, combined with a growing population and opportunities Indigenous Health (IUIH) is arising as a result of the “Close the Gap” UQ’s Poche Centre partner. agenda, led to its inception. Today, the Institute is the University’s key peaking at the launch of the UQ Poche collaborator in the UQ Poche Centre, and is Centre in March (see page 12), Pro- facilitating improved access to comprehensive behaviour encouraged in partnership with Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education), primary health care for Indigenous peoples in S the Brisbane Broncos have contributed to Professor Cindy Shannon, shared: “Why South-East Queensland, as well as developing this result. a focus on urban, regional Indigenous a competent and appropriate workforce in Overall, over 600 UQ students have been populations? The neglect of those groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. placed in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander until recently, was extraordinary.” “The Institute now has more than 22,000 community-controlled health services or Shannon was instrumental in helping active clients. Last year, they had more than clinics across the IUIH’s regional network. establish the IUIH in 2009. In her speech, she 90,000 patient visits and did more than As the IUIH’s Director, Workforce 10,000 preventative health Development and Allied Health, and Senior assessments, reflecting a Lecturer of UQ’s ATSIS Unit, Dr Alison “The outcomes achieved have 1300 per cent increase over Nelson, shared: “The relationship between four years,” said Shannon. been unprecedented in Australia.” the Institute and the University has led to a Success enjoyed with the ‘win–win’ approach.” Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education) Deadly Choices Program and Professor Cindy Shannon changes in health-seeking For more information, visit iuih.org.au.

ALUMNUS GIVES BACK IN MT ISA Dallas Leon (Bachelor of “There are lots of gaps for Indigenous people in Mount Isa. Applied Health Science ’97) I can take pride in coming back to help with this service.” is an alumnus of the Gidgee Healing CEO and UQ alumnus, Dallas Leon groundbreaking 1990s Indigenous Primary Health to participate in a final-year project about Care program. primary health care. During the final years of his studies, Leon received a Queensland Health Rural Health Scholarship. eon has worked in Aboriginal health Since graduating, he has gone on to for 17 years, starting his career as an finish postgraduate studies at Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National University and Griffith University, L and worked in London before resettling Health Worker for Queensland Health after graduating from UQ. Leon enjoyed the in his home town. At Gidgee Healing, he focus on practical placements that informed oversees a team of dedicated practitioners Australia’s first dedicated Indigenous Primary who deliver medical and primary health care Health Care program. services to people living in Mount Isa and the As part of the program, he visited surrounding region. Woorabinda in Central Queensland with the other students in the cohort, collating data from app Download the Contact app to the community, including clinical records, and read the personal experience of preparing a report focused on environmental Dr Chelsea Bond, an alumna of health. He later visited the Torres Strait the same program at UQ. Gidgee Healing CEO and UQ alumnus Dallas Leon.

“The funding has had an enormous “Medicine is something that I have “If you can have enough teachers and impact and given me the opportunity to wanted to do all of my life,” he said. doctors, they can transfer their skills and attend Indigenous health conferences, as “Mr and Mrs Tran are both lovely people, knowledge to young people in the next well as provide the financial means to obtain and I am very appreciative.” generation, and be role models so they can vital educational resources,” shared Carroll, Dr Tran said although he has experienced make a contribution with their lives. speaking with Contact before meeting Dr adversity, he believes he has also always “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tran and his wife in person for the first time been a “lucky person” in life. people deserve our help and assistance to at St Lucia campus. “Our family has struggled before, but we ‘Close the Gap’. “Besides its monetary value, I am have got there. I feel very privileged to be “We are playing a small part, but extremely grateful for the donors’ generosity, able to help, and we are very humbled that everybody can help. This is the hardest as it provides Australian Indigenous students we are in a position to provide assistance.” challenge for our society, and if we do not with an opportunity to feel proud of their He said health and education are issues make this effort, who will?” achievements.” that are close to his heart, with consultative Clifford, who is a mature-aged student action needed to address inequalities. To find out more about how you can and father, said he never thought he would “It is my firm belief that if you want to contribute to the University’s giving have the opportunity to study medicine change something, you need to focus efforts, visit uq.edu.au/giving, or contact before being accepted through the on health and education, particularly for the Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor alternative entry program. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. (Advancement) at [email protected].

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 15 OPINION

Unravelling ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

Antibiotic-resistant superbugs are the world’s greatest threat

ABOUT THE AUTHOR to humans now, and in the future, says Saudi Arabian-born Hosam Zowawi is a Rolex Young Laureate, Hosam Zowawi, who is researching PhD Candidate in the the spread of infectious diseases in the Gulf States as part of Infection and a global campaign to fight back. Immunity theme at the UQ Centre for Clinical Research. In 2014, he was awarded the 2014 Rolex Award for or many decades, Enterprise. Each modern medicine has

© Rolex Awards/Ambroise Tézenas © Rolex Awards/Ambroise Rolex Award for enjoyed the privilege of Enterprise is given antibiotics, which have for a new or ongoing saved millions of lives project anywhere in the world that deserves all over the world. The discovery support for its capacity to improve lives, or F of antibiotics was intended to end protect the world’s natural and cultural heritage. the threat of infectious diseases. Zowawi is the second UQ recipient of the award, While they have helped humanity following in the footsteps of Professor Mark to control many fatal infections of Kendall, co-inventor of the Nanopatch™, who is the past — such as sore throat and based at the Australian Institute for puerperal fever — unfortunately the Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. Zowawi privilege of antibiotics is coming has also been announced as a Queensland to an end. This is mainly due to Science and Innovation Champion, TIME Next antimicrobial resistance. Generation Leader and one of The Courier-Mail’s “50 Best and Brightest” for 2014. Zowawi is Antimicrobial resistance is interested in hospital-acquired infections, a global issue that is not only particularly those caused by antimicrobial- endangering humanity, but also resistant organisms. As a clinical microbiologist, animal health. Our sophisticated he recognised the need to develop more rapid surgeries and anticancer therapies global level. The pillars for this plan include diagnostic tools to aid initial medical are at risk. We are confronting bacteria initiating global surveillance on antimicrobial management and implement infection control that can be resistant to multiple antibiotics, resistance, developing rapid diagnostic precautions. He completed a Masters degree in including last-line treatments, making them tools for early detection to allow early Clinical Science (Clinical Microbiology) with nearly impossible to treat. treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and Honours and received the Griffith University An economical review of antimicrobial conducting educational programs to limit the Award for Academic Excellence 2010. In his resistance estimated that in 2050, inappropriate use of antibiotics. Master’s dissertation, he studied catheter- antimicrobial resistance would kill 10 million At the UQ Centre for Clinical Research, related infections (CRI) at the QIMR Berghofer more people — more than how many are under the guidance of world-renowned Medical Research Institute, under the anticipated to die from cancer. In the United Infectious Diseases expert, Professor David supervision of Dr David McMillan. Zowawi States alone, there are currently more Paterson, and in partnership with other participated in the development of a novel than two million reported cases related international organisations, we have initiated quantitative multiplex real-time polymerase to antimicrobial resistance, resulting in 23 the first network of collaborating hospitals chain reaction (PCR) assay that can be used to thousand deaths, and $20 billion in direct to monitor the emergence and spread of target common bacteria causing CRIs. costs. superbugs in the Gulf States. This research As a counter plan, the World Health complements superbugs research by Phone +61 (0)7 3346 6081 or email Organization (WHO) set a strategic plan researchers at the Institute for Molecular [email protected]. to combat antimicrobial resistance on a Bioscience’s Centre for Superbug Solutions.

16 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 In the Arabian Peninsula, international Having a rapid point-of-care diagnostic I have also been part of a team which expatriates are contributing heavily to the test that can identify antibiotic-resistant has initiated an awareness campaign, with a economic boom, and making more money bacteria in minutes for a very low cost is zero-dollar budget, aimed solely at educating than 50 per cent of the total population. The indeed still ambitious, at this stage. Yet, the public about the importance of using region is also home to the two holy mosques biotechnology innovation is at the frontier antibiotics wisely, and being aware of the of Mecca and Medina for Muslims around with the level of advancements achieved in threat superbugs pose. the world. These factors are contributing to this era. The beauty of our campaign is that we heavy travel activities, and travel is known to We have started by exploring use data generated from our epidemiological impact the international spread of infectious technologies, with an aim to advance research in the Gulf that are published in diseases. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria favours monitoring the spread of antibiotic-resistant high-tier journals, and translate this into free intercontinental rides. Thus, studying bacteria and hopefully produce results in a everyday language for people. Our campaign antibiotic resistance in the Gulf region shorter turnaround time to help clinicians has interested more health activists, who exemplifies the global spread of the problem. apply targeted therapy. have volunteered to produce multimedia Planning the study and conducting the Last June, the UK Government, with materials that help clarify the complicated research were challenging. Coordinating Nesta Foundation, announced the next science behind antimicrobial resistance. a multinational study required many late Longitude Prize will be devoted to rapid, We were grateful to see that the Saudi nights and early morning phone calls, firing cheap, point-of-care diagnostics for Food and Drug Authority launched a off unlimited emails, and flying hundreds of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The White follow-up campaign last November to raise thousands of miles to attend meetings. House also announced a similar award last awareness about antibiotics. We feel our We started with a dream that only September. work is impacting, and may have triggered became a reality through perseverance, As clinical microbiologists, we recognised an organisational move towards raising dedication and teamwork; access to readily the need for rapid diagnosis long before antibiotic awareness. available, and well-equipped, research these announcements, and have taken a Combating antimicrobial resistance facilities; and a healthy dose of good luck. few steps towards that direction. In fact, a should not be done at an individual level. It Despite still being in the early stages of our few days before the announcement of the should be carried out as a global mission on work, our published data is considered by Longitude Prize, I was awarded the Rolex multiple collaborative, innovative and social many local and international experts to be Award for Enterprise as a Young Laureate levels. We hope our slow and gentle moves landmark research in the area of antibiotic to support our work for rapid diagnosis are concrete in contributing to the important resistance in the Gulf States. research and development. fight against superbugs. Our data has raised awareness about As suggested by WHO, education is a the issue of antimicrobial resistance in the pillar in the combat strategy for antimicrobial More details about superbug research region. I recently returned from overseas resistance. In some parts of the world, are available from uqccr.uq.edu.au and after attending high-level committee planning including where I am originally from, superbugs.imb.uq.edu.au. To contribute sessions for a strategic plan to combat antibiotics can be sold over the counter to the University’s superbug research, antimicrobial resistance in the Gulf States. It without prescriptions, despite the existing visit uq.edu.au/giving or email the was evident our produced data has made banning law. It is clear that public education Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement) at such an impact. is needed in this regard. [email protected].

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 17 FEATURE

MATTHEW’S INSPIRATION

Home is where the heart is for alumnus Matthew Ames (Bachelor of Engineering ’93), who has survived tremendous odds to adjust to life as a quadruple amputee. The father-of-four speaks to Contact about attitude, and how studying engineering has helped in ways he never imagined.

atching his two-year-old son, your head and you have a breathing tube safety and environmental engineer — and a Ben, play with a kaleidoscope of down your throat, and you’ve got a feeding successful one at that — who had revelled Wcolourful balloons and brighten tube down your nose, and you are on dialysis in adventures such as hiking Machu Picchu up a plain hospital room is etched deep in in an intensive-care bed, and you can’t talk in Peru and rafting through icy, turquoise Ames’s memory. The hospital bed was not to anyone…” he drifted off. rapids in New Zealand with Diane by his side, his, but his mother-in-law’s, and she was before they raised a family together. celebrating her birthday after receiving a Today, Ames has a renewed purpose. terminal cancer diagnosis. “It is a precious thing, life. “I want to grow old with my wife and “It was a pretty tough time for the family,” kids,” the Queensland state finalist in the Ames conceded, “but Ben knew how to I didn’t realise just how 2013 Australian Father of the Year awards have a good time. In that particular moment, and 2013 Queensland Pride of Australia it rubbed off on everyone else, and we precious until I went (Courage) award-winner shared. enjoyed just living in the moment.” “This experience has forced me to The genuine observation offers insight through this experience.” transition from defining myself by what I did, into Ames’s own attitude. He is resoundingly to who I am.” resilient, having steered his own path with Ames said skills learnt studying Engineering the help of loved ones and a dedicated team “I think it was the first time in my life I have proved invaluable as he embraces of specialists after a bout of “man flu” took actually truly stopped. I really valued that time assistive technology. For instance, he a fateful turn. A simple bacterial infection to slow down, and to become aware.” communicates using a touch screen he and his (streptococcal A) went undiagnosed, Ames, who learnt to breathe, talk and engineer father designed to be compatible with cannibalising into toxic shock syndrome. drink again after the operation, had always his metal rods and electric wheelchair. Within 24 hours of being admitted to the defined himself by what he did. He was a “I had to work out how to get a stylus tip Mater Hospital in Brisbane, Ames, 39, was connected to the metal on my arm, because in an induced coma, as his limbs blackened touch screens don’t work with plastic materials from blood toxicity, his kidneys failed, and his — they conduct off your finger,” he said. blood pressure dipped dangerously low. “We sat down and worked out some “My body was producing toxins that designs, just so I could press ‘answer’ on the ended up killing my extremities,” he explained. phone.” “I would have died from the tips up if doctors Ames is aiming to become more didn’t get rid of the dead tissue.” independent with prosthetic arms and limbs Ames’s wife, Diane, a civil engineer and connected to his nervous system and metal UQ alumna, was given a heart-wrenching pins in his limbs. This osseointegration has choice: let her husband die, or fight for a one enabled him to enjoy a rich life, and he is the per cent chance of survival by agreeing to first person in the world to have the surgery the amputation of his arms and legs. done on all four limbs. For Diane, it was a simple choice. She Ames maintains perspective, even as he and their four children could not bear to see continues to face new challenges and adapt him go, even if it meant he would wake up to existing ones, including experiencing profoundly disabled. phantom pain where his limbs used to be. Counsellors had forewarned of a likely “If you look at it from an individual level, what spiral into depression, yet Ames didn’t wallow happened to me was catastrophic, but if you in self-pity, once Diane finally told him the look at it from a community perspective, it’s like news. Instead, he was optimistic and open- — eh, it’s not that big a deal,” he maintained. minded, adopting an attitude he attributes, in “It’s connections to those things that are part, to ample opportunity for self-reflection. bigger than you and connections to those Matthew is embraced by Diane and three of their children, “When you are lying there, in a hospital Emily, 4, Ben, 9, and Will, 8, at the 2014 Bridge to who are close to you to that can really make bed with no arms and no legs, you can’t lift Brisbane, on a special Father’s Day. a difference.”

18 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 Diane and Matthew Ames at their Brisbane home.

UQ EXPERIENCE Matthew Ames was mentored by academics including Professor Paul Lant and Professor Ian Cameron in the School of Chemical Engineering, and met Diane on the first day of university. As part of the first cohort of Environmental Engineering students, he graduated with strong employment prospects in the midst of the early 1990s recession. “I wasn’t pigeonholed,” he said. “I got to do things that most people were not able to do at that age. At 25, I was sitting in Taiwan with a multinational CEO and corporate legal advisor, restructuring a takeover deal. The opportunities to get involved early were great.” UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 19 FEATURE

“Finding ways to accept, and not judge, is something that has really helped me to be at peace, both with myself and others.”

Matthew Ames. RESILIENCE: MATTHEW’S TIPS

The concept of resilience is derived from the Latin verb resilire, meaning to spring back, or rebound. For Matthew Ames, who has given lectures at UQ about developing resilience, “bouncing back” involves following simple steps that set a foundation for personal growth.

1. Acceptance. sense of self. Over a couple of years, I’ve For me, I’ve been blessed by what I see as tried a social experiment with people looking Acceptance is not thinking everything is the humanity that stirs us within the world. wonderful and good, but understanding at me. The consistent one I’ve settled on is, The sense of community, the support and what is around you, being aware of it, and “Smile and say hello.” the help that I’ve received is unfathomable. not judging it. What do you think happens? People smile The fact that it exists in the quantity it does Finding ways to accept, and not judge, is back. It’s pretty good, and I get a whole in the community is a wonderful thing. something that has really helped me to be at heap of people smiling at me and saying hi. peace, both with myself and others. Who’s created that? Me. 5. Enjoyment. There’s always an opportunity, even when With my family, I have enjoyed new 2. Sense of purpose. things are really hard. Thinking back to when experiences: bodyboarding, playing Goals should not be easy. When it gets you learnt the most in your life, chances are modified soccer, swimming with custom- hard, ask yourself the question, “Why does it was from a really, really hard time, when designed flippers and paddles and my goal exist and why do I want to do it?” you were facing something quite difficult. participating in the 2014 Brisbane to Bridge. Keep asking until it makes sense. Instead, try thinking, “this will be a great They have all helped form new memories learning opportunity”. infused with happiness, not just adversity. I am doing totally different things to what I used to do, but it is with the same purpose: to make the world a better place. 4. Relationships. With his wife Diane and sister Kate, The single most important thing that will Matthew has co-authored Will to Live, a 3. Opportunity. help you get through adversity is the quality book about his experience. Attitude makes a difference. I might look of relationships you have with those who are You can read Matthew’s blog at different, but it has nothing to do with my close to you. renovatingmatthew.com.

20 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 Pictured left to right: Professor Eric McFarland, Centre Director; Doctor Andrew N. Liveris AO, The Dow Chemical Company Chairman and CEO; The Honourable Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry and Science; and Professor Peter Høj, Vice-Chancellor and President, attended the opening of the Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation.

UQ’s Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation is addressing the challenges of water and INSPIRED energy management in a carbon-constrained future. ENGINEERING dynamic vision underpins the select projects that, if successful, will have Liveris, who has been recognised with Centre, which is part of a $10 measureable and significant global impact.” an honorary doctorate in science from UQ, million partnership between UQ The Centre has developed a new said the impact of the work being done and The Dow Chemical Company process to co-produce chemicals using could be far-reaching. A(Dow). The partnership has been founded nuclear radiation that might improve “The Dow Centre represents the on a commitment to achieving sustainable the value proposition of nuclear power. transformation Australia needs to make — solutions to global issues, as Dow Chairman Researchers have also participated in an from extract and export to extract, enhance and CEO, Doctor Andrew N. Liveris AO industrial process for lower-cost carbon fibre and export. There is too much opportunity at (Bachelor of Chemical Engineering ’75, First production for automobile lightweighting and our fingertips for this country to resign itself to Class Honours), shares. methane conversion technology. being the world’s quarry, hotel, or farm. “The chief ambition of sustainable engineering is to deliver essential human necessities — clean water, affordable “We must reach across industries and sectors. housing, abundant food, reliable energy,” We must all work together at the intersection between he said. “In the forty years since I first walked business, government, academia and civil society. onto the St Lucia campus as a student, these basic necessities have not changed. The Dow Centre sits at this crucial intersection.” What has changed is the scale. With a growing global population comes a vastly Dow Chairman and CEO, Doctor Andrew N. Liveris AO increasing demand. To meet these needs in a sustainable way, we must use our science “Apart from a macroalgae project, we “The world should look to Australia not and our smarts.” have worked on an idea to store electric only for its raw materials and raw beauty, but Internal partners of the Dow Centre energy in natural gas pipelines — it works, also for our ideas and our solutions. include the School of Chemical Engineering, but analysis showed there is no need for this “The stakes could not be higher and the Global Change Institute and the in the market,” said McFarland. developments at the Dow Centre can play a Australian Institute for Bioengineering and “We also found that to smaller major part.” Nanotechnology. companies, the storage of compressed air Centre Director, Professor Eric energy in unconventional applications like gas Alumni are invited to share their advice McFarland, said, “The Centre’s central cylinders might be interesting. about industries where innovative research activity is collaborative analysis “We are offering an avenue to link solutions to real-world solutions are related to the techno-economic and researchers, engineers, investors, and needed. You can contact the Centre technical feasibility of innovative technology, sometimes even policymakers, ensuring about any proposed collaborations by linked to the sustainable production of those technologies with the potential to emailing [email protected]. chemicals, fuels, water, and food. It is ‘move the needle’ — in terms of sustainable unique in its focus on both economic and practices and metrics — have an easier app Download the Contact app to environmental sustainability, and attempts to transition into the commercial world.” view related photos.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 21 OPINION

Underwater MA ESTY

The magical world under the sea inspires researchers — supported by the generosity of donors — to discover how we can protect and sustain our coral reefs and oceans in an era of global change.

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg after that), it generated significant negative interviewed by Sir David Attenborough for an Director and ARC Laureate Fellow, Global attention from colleagues and researchers upcoming BBC television series, and the US Change Institute (GCI) around the world. Secretary of State, John Kerry, invited me Today, it is increasingly evident to present at the Our Ocean Conference in have been how far we have come in terms of Washington DC in June last year. fascinated by the understanding how critical systems within These are all a giddy set of circumstances ocean ever since the ocean are changing dramatically in ways at recollection, and remarkable yet I can remember. unprecedented over tens of millions of years. unnecessary honours for what has been a An introduction to My early work focused on identifying complete labour of love. Icoral reefs at the age of 10 the molecular mechanisms associated with began a lifelong obsession coral reef stress and understanding their The GCI has been incredibly with the world’s most relationship to warming oceans. complex ecosystem and More recently, I have been involved in important in maintaining the problems that it faces in exploring the combination of ocean warming a rapidly changing world. and acidification on a broader range of an unwavering pursuit of I saw the first samples organisms and ecosystems. of bleached coral early in As a researcher, I have published more answers. my career during the 1980s, when the first than 250 journal articles and authored 18 mass bleaching events were happening in book chapters on climate change. According Our Institute seeks to provide fresh the Caribbean. Nobody quite knew why this to Thomson Reuters, I am the most cited perspectives, not only on climate change, but was occurring, so I chose to make finding Australian researcher on climate change, and also about key questions around renewable and understanding the cause of mass coral the third most cited in the world. energy, food security and sustainable water, bleaching and mortality the focus of my My work, and that of my team, has which all loom large as some of the greatest doctorate. attracted significant international support. challenges humanity has ever faced. At the time, the concept of global In 1999, I was honoured with the Eureka It is wonderful to work with such inspired warming was relatively new, so when my Science Award, and last year I received the and motivated people. The GCI, largely modeling projected coral reef destruction Climate Change Award from His Serene funded by vital philanthropy, really is making by 2050 (as opposed to over 100 years Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco. I was a difference to our future.

22 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 Photo courtesy of Catlin Seaview Survey.

Professor Justin Marshall Under, enabling my research to span science, enables us to maintain a series of ARC Australian Laureate Fellow, Queensland imaging from satellites in space to unlocking communication channels on a global level Brain Institute sensory system secrets in the deep sea — and across multiple projects. unusual for a member of the Queensland CoralWatch is a citizen- Affiliated Professor, School of Biomedical Brain Institute! science project I set in Sciences Philanthropic funding growing from Deep motion over 10 years ago Down Under enabled us to use research to inform and engage the am a neuroscientist working primarily submersibles in Australia off the Great Barrier public in reef preservation in the ocean, rather than the Reef for the first time in 2014. This was a and stewardship, enabling laboratory. Questions such as why journey of discovery, from surface waters anyone to contribute data to reef fish are colourful, how they see to 300 metres deep, and we were lucky to long-term monitoring of reefs their own world (rather than how we work with Sir David Attenborough and his in over 80 countries. see it), and why a marine crustacean has I team, revealing new secrets from the reef As our oceans, and the the most complex visual system on earth, fill that will soon be shared with anyone who is fascinating visual systems my research life. interested, including scientists. and brains they contain, Mainly curiosity-driven, bio-inspired Philanthropic contributions and the media continue to be impacted outcomes in optics, neural imaging and are vital ways of engaging public interest and by climate change and information flow also fascinate me, and these participation in science, but the other key population demands, nothing is more lines of work take me everywhere, from the to my success has been a growing network important to me than attracting international Great Barrier Reef to the deep ocean. of international colleagues and research attention to ensure that the natural wonders I have been fortunate enough to maintain partnerships. I now see and work on are also there for my a constant stream of research-based My laboratory comprises members from children to wonder at, live with, learn from funding, through a string of Australian nine different countries, and I have worked and preserve. Research Council (ARC) grants, including, in with top scientists from the United States, 2014, a Laureate Fellowship. United Kingdom, Sweden, Taiwan, Israel To find out more, visit these websites: This has also been bolstered with and New Zealand for over 20 years. Global Change Institute: gci.uq.edu.au industry-supported ARC funding for projects Outside input, financial and intellectual, such as Prawns in Space and Deep Down as well as true participation of the public in Queensland Brain Institute: qbi.uq.edu.au

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 23 FEATURE GOVERNING WITH GRACE

A deep belief in public duty and the legal system have inspired career choices made by former Chief Justice, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC (Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws Honours ’71), who is the sixth UQ alumnus to assume the post of Queensland Governor.

s a child, de Jersey discovered the footsteps of a series of UQ graduates arrivals here, I hosted a bilateral meeting, country life in Queensland, who have held the role, including the and I attended President Obama’s address living outside Lowood in the Honourable Penelope Wensley AC at UQ and met him. We (de Jersey and his Lockyer Valley; in Coolabunia, (2008–14), the Honourable Quentin Bryce wife, Kaye) met many leaders at the Prime outside Kingaroy; and in AC CVO (2003–08), the Honourable Major Minister’s Reception and the Treasurer’s AMaryborough and Longreach. He dreamt General Peter Arnison AC VCO (1997–03), dinner. I also hosted Prime Minister Modi’s of a career practising law even before he the Honourable Leneen Forde AC (1992–97) unveiling of the great statue of Mahatma was a teenager, with his parents, both and the Honourable Sir Walter Campbell AC Gandhi at Roma Street Parklands.” school teachers, encouraging him to think QC (1985–92). inquisitively. Accepting the job involved a major life What was it like meeting dignitaries such “From my pre-teen years, I always wanted change, with de Jersey transitioning from as US President Barack Obama, and to be a barrister,” he reminisced, speaking a 43-year-long career “where the common Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi? with Contact from the Governor’s residence, daily thread was conflict” into a “world of “It was an amazing experience to meet all of which casts a striking impression with its “consensus and mutual support”. the dignitaries. Absolutely extraordinary — stark white façade steeped in history, high on It was a move accepted graciously, but I never thought it would happen.” a hill in Paddington. deliberately, by a man with a quiet yet steely You have been involved with the Mental “This was driven by curiosity about the self-belief that has informed his judgement Health Tribunal and a patron for many challenge of helping people resolve disputes since childhood. charities. Is mental health an issue you are that were beyond their own capacities, both passionate about, along with other causes? with other people and with the State.” Q&As After matriculating from the Church of “I’m concerned about all aspects of life. I have England Grammar School (Churchie), de You were made a judge at 36. What were the to be, I should be, and I am. Mental health is Jersey took his next natural step: enrolling in highlights during this time in your career? obviously a startling problem in our community. a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws. “There were many challenging and notable It explains a lot of criminal offending, which has It was here that he would form lifelong cases. I particularly enjoyed sitting in regional to be dealt with in a particular way. It means friendships, be guided under the mentorship centres, and I believe that country people many fellow citizens are denied the prospect of of Chief Justice Sir Charles Wanstall, KBE, can usefully remind city people about what reaching their full potential, and I think it is an QC, and meet the love of his life, Kaye, while life is really about. I learnt that then, and I’ve issue we have to address actively, and we are, she worked in the Law Library. remained of that view. I was privileged to work through various means. I would like to make “My really abiding memory is of an with many distinguished judges, eventually a point about the importance of volunteering, unhurried regime, where intellectual talents leading them, of course, as Chief Justice.” which is critical to the maintenance of our could be fostered and developed,” reflected social fabric and civic society.” de Jersey. Do you have any advice for students and What is your personal philosophy and While studying, de Jersey also served alumni about achieving success in the approach as Governor? part-time in the Queensland University legal profession? Regiment, before being commissioned as a “The main thing is not to be complacent, “I think the current perception of the role Lieutenant in 1969. and to assume you have capacities you may of Governor is broader than the mere “My time in the regiment was really a not have. Be apprehensive about things, ceremonial. I’m ever so pleased that this life-defining experience. It emphasised the and be enquiring. Push yourself, and do not is so, because not only does it make it so importance of service, which is really a critical assume things are as you may think. Always much more interesting from my point of view, theme now during the Centenary of Anzac. do your best. Perhaps be courteous to the but it makes it much more relevant for the “I also realised the importance of Law Librarian if you are inclined to ask for her people of Queensland and the state. self-discipline and organisational skills, hand in marriage?” (laughs) “I hope that through my personal which I think young people these days are involvement with people, I’ll add a particular particularly recognising are important.” During the G20, you undertook a number flavour. I do sense — and it is for others to For the de Jersey family, the University of official engagements. Can you share judge — that so far, this Governorship is has inspired many generational memories. In more about the experience? working well.” addition to Paul and Kaye, who is a Bachelor “I had quite a diverse exposure during of Arts alumna (’72), the couple’s three the G20. My involvement was really part app Download the Contact app to read children, Carolyn, Alison and David, are all of promoting Queensland, apart from the an extended interview with Paul also UQ alumni. national interest. My efforts, I saw, as really de Jersey, discover his career In 2014, de Jersey was announced the complementary to those of the Ministry. highlights and find out who has 26th Governor of Queensland, following in I met a number of world leaders on their inspired him in his professional life.

24 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 25 DISCOVERY HIGHLIGHTS

Talented researchers are making a difference by finding solutions to global issues. To find out more about how you can contribute to the University’s research efforts, visit uq.edu.au/giving.

©iStock.com/hidesy

IS BEHAVIOUR FRUIT FOR NERV E INJURY IN THE FAMILY? HEALTHY WOMEN BREAKTHROUGH

nti-social behaviours, including omen who eat fewer than two activities such as smoking, serves of fruit a day face a greater alcohol misuse and violence, Wrisk of developing depression. are damaging to health and Professor Gita Mishra from the School Awellbeing. Researchers from the School of Public Health said the findings of a six- of Public Health and School of Social year study of more than 6000 Australian Science, led by Professor Jake Najman, women revealed a clear inverse link are conducting a study to examine anti- between fruit consumption and developing social behaviour across three generations, depressive symptoms. to determine whether and to what extent poor behaviour of grandparents can be transmitted to grandchildren. “There’s a belief in society that criminal behaviour is transmitted across generations, despite there being very little evidence to support this,” said Najman. “Marriage instability, poverty and poor parenting have been linked to the

development of anti-social behaviour and, ©iStock.com/cerealphotos by looking at three generations, this study allows us to better examine the impact of Scientists have discovered the molecular mechanisms these and other critical factors.” that allow severed nerves in roundworms to fuse back together. Pictured left to right: Dr Brent Neumann and Najman said the study findings might Associate Professor Massimo Hilliard. see anti-social families targeted for early intervention programs that may help reduce the incidence and impact of poor behaviours. small, transparent roundworm with the remarkable ability to UQ research aims to answer the age-old question self-heal may hold the secret to of whether anti-social behaviour is passed down through families. treating nerve injuries in humans. AProject leader Associate Professor Massimo Hilliard, from the Queensland Brain Institute, and collaborator Professor Ding Xue, from University of Colorado Boulder, Participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on believe the findings provide hope for treating Women’s Health have revealed two or more pieces of fruit a day can prevent depression in women. nerve injuries. “This will now open new avenues to try to exploit this knowledge in other systems closer to human physiology, and hopefully “We found women who ate at least two move further towards solving nerve injuries,” servings of fruit a day were less likely to said Hilliard. suffer from depression than women who Hilliard said neurosurgery could be ate fewer servings, even after taking into combined with molecular biology in the account other factors, such as smoking, future to deliver clinical outcomes, and alcohol, body mass index, physical activity, possibly treat conditions such as spinal cord marital status and education,” she said. or nerve injuries. According to Mishra, the findings “A combined approach using molecular highlighted that a diet including two or biology might create an environment that is more pieces of fruit a day could prevent much more conducive to regeneration, and developing depression in middle age. we may be able to deliver molecules that act “The rate of depression in women is as a glue to enable healing,” said Hilliard. growing rapidly. By 2030, it is expected to Lead author Dr Brent Neumann said the be one of the world’s top three diseases, C. elegans roundworm was ideal for studying making it a priority area for public health regeneration, due to its transparency, interventions.” simplistic structure, and known genetics.

26 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 FIRE TRACKERS

n an Australian first, a research project The project will utilise UQ’s mobile about bushfires that focuses on Doppler weather radar, unmanned aerial Ibetter protecting lives and property vehicles, weather balloons and the BoM is underway, in collaboration with the fixed radar network. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services “The end goal of the work is to better and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). understand the processes that are involved Geographical Sciences Honours student with the formation of the most severe of Nicholas McCarthy will lead a pilot project bushfires in Australia,” said McCarthy. to understand and model the intense Researchers will track bushfires around columns of heat above bushfires, known as the east coast of Australia to observe convective plumes. related wind and temperature structures.

Research into convective plumes is set to improve bushfire forecasting and management. ©iStock.com/EdStock

STREP BEERS TO THAT DISCOVERY cientists have been tasked with outlining the unique molecular n international team including structure of beer. UQ scientists has made a S The scientists are, for the first time, breakthrough in understanding revealing the full profile of the molecular how group A Streptococcus components that give beer its flavour A(strep) bacteria resist the human immune and much-prized foaming head. system. This research is an important Dr Glen Fox, from the Queensland step in creating a safe vaccine against Alliance for Agriculture and Food diseases such as strep throat, necrotising Innovation, is leading a project working fasciitis (flesh-eating disease) and with staff from the Australian Institute for streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and A School of Chemistry and Molecular the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences researcher and co-lead author Biosciences to gain the most detailed of the study, Dr Jason Cole, said the team picture yet of all the carbohydrate, discovered how group A carbohydrate, protein and yeast molecules in a single which makes up most of the cell wall of the “tallie”, or glass of beer. strep bacteria, plays a critical role in helping “We have a set of platform the bacteria to resist the immune response. technologies that allows us to have a I-BALL FOR ALL panoramic view of all the components in beer, especially components

that interact together in ©iStock.com/Sezeryadigar he Interactive Ball (I-Ball) is set making foam, rather to improve social ball game than only being able Tparticipation on the field and court to study a few single for people with a visual disability. components at a The I-Ball is a robotic soccer ball that time,” said Fox. contains motion sensors, high-efficiency The quality speakers and a small UQ-developed and the quantity controller that can be programmed to emit of protein in beer sound to suit the player. determines its foam The ball, which was created quality. The research by researchers from the Faculty of has so far identified Engineering, Architecture, and Information more than 200 Technology, will help people who have a proteins in beer. visual disability participate in ball sports, The team hopes and makes game play both fun and to identify whether inclusive. certain proteins should Dr Surya Singh said the I-Ball was more be present at different Photomicrograph of Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. advanced than existing electronic soccer stages of the process, Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and balls designed for people who are blind or which would allow Prevention. have low vision. It varies the sound based on brewers to troubleshoot motion and the environment, with the tone for quality control and speeding up or slowing down depending on help manage wastage “The group A carbohydrate may trigger movement. and fermentability. diseases such as rheumatic heart disease, “Traditionally, balls designed for people which has hindered the development of a who are blind or have low vision have been safe carbohydrate-based vaccine against very simple,” he said. strep,” he said. “This ball can make a variety of sounds, The team has produced a modified form and can be programed to play songs.” of the group A carbohydrate and hopes to Singh, with colleagues Dr Paul Pounds produce a safe vaccine that doesn’t trigger and Dr Hanna Kurniawati, is collaborating such diseases. with staff from Vision Australia, who have Scientists are discovering more about how previously hidden Researchers are now conducting pre- provided expertise about the social, molecules present in clinical testing of the modified vaccine to physical and developmental aspects of beer and foam interact. see if it is safe for human trials. vision with sport.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 27 FEATURE

Creative C O LLABORATIO NS White Halo take centre stage performing at Customs House, Brisbane.

With a new single, Epic Diva, White Halo Ensemble are delivering a symphony for the senses for chamber music listeners.

he richly soothing melodies crafted complemented by a track record of music leadership, by innovating new linkages by four UQ musicians leave a lasting performance-based and performance-led between research, teaching and practice. impression on listeners. A standing research, and outstanding teaching. “As a result of being supported and ovation when the colleagues embedded within the University, White Tperformed at the 2014 Bangalow Chamber Halo is able to interact with students and Music Festival, broadcast on ABC Classic “UQ is the only university other staff in ways that are unusual for a FM, was an early indication for their success. chamber music group — not just working Together, the acclaimed colleagues are in Australia to have a with a composer on a new work, but White Halo Ensemble: a chamber music allowing students to see all three parts of group launched in 2014 comprising of performance ensemble the process — composition, collaboration Associate Professor Adam Chalabi (violin), between composer and performers, and the Professor Patricia Pollett (viola), Patrick comprising full-time performance,” continued Barrett. Murphy (cello) and Dr Liam Viney (piano). Violist Pollett, who is regarded as one The ensemble takes its name from the teaching and research of Australia’s leading string players, has halo effect that forms behind supersonic jets combined academia with her work as a as they break the sound barrier. The group, performance staff.” performer for some time, as a master class which is UQ’s ensemble-in-residence, has teacher for the Australian National Academy adopted the name with intent to “break Head of School, Music, Professor of Music and New York University, and tutor through” and inspire new standards of Margaret Barrett for the Australian Youth Orchestra. excellence in chamber music. Along with Barrett, Pollett played an Each musician has diverse experience, As an ensemble, they are establishing integral role in identifying a creative outlet for with their performance backgrounds the University as a national hub for chamber the quartet at its inception.

28 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 “We went looking for three musicians — a pianist, a cellist and a violinist — and it has White Halo is able to interact with students and taken five or six years to create the group. It is a fabulous team, and I’m really delighted,” other staff in ways that are unusual for a chamber said Pollett. Pianist Viney is a Piano Performance Fellow, music group, allowing students to see all three parts and directs keyboard studies at the University. He has performed in festivals, live radio of the process – composition, collaboration between broadcasts and major series across several countries, and studied at Yale University with composer and performers, and the performance. acclaimed concert pianist Boris Berman. Cellist Murphy is a Cello Performance Fellow in the School of Music, in addition to being a member of the Southern Cross Chalabi contends there is a synergy White Halo’s mission includes Soloists, and a resident at the Queensland among faculty staff who have performed at commissioning new chamber music from a Performing Arts Centre and the Australian such high levels, especially when sharing diverse range of composers, including both World Orchestra. Recent recordings to which their advice and applying teaching theory to established and emerging composers from he has contributed, including Stravinsky’s Rite practice. Australia and overseas. Composers including of Spring and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 with “Students have the opportunity to see Andrew Ford, Matthew Hindson, Gordon Zubin Mehta, have met with critical acclaim. us performing on stage, and they have Hamilton and James Ledger have already Violinist Chalabi moved to Brisbane unanimously told us they value seeing been commissioned to contribute to the to join White Halo, and accepted an performance staff performing,” he reflected. group’s creative forays. appointment as Associate Professor “You can say clever things and discuss Future plans include regional, national of Violin at UQ. After beginning violin great teaching techniques, but if students and international tours, presenting studies at the age of four, he has realised see you reasonably implementing what you innovative chamber music performance his childhood dream, performing for the speak about on stage, this is proof that what research, and leading master classes in Suedwestdeutsches Kammerorchester you have taught them works.” chamber music practice. Pforzheim in Germany; Symphonieorchester As well as being an exemplar for chamber A debut CD is due for release soon. Vorarlberg in Austria; Camerata Bern, music practice, the talented musicians Upcoming White Halo Ensemble Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and participate in innovative performance and performance dates are available at Zurich Chamber Orchestra in Switzerland; research activities for the School’s Creative uq.edu.au/music/events-and-concerts. and Orchestra Victoria and Tasmanian Collaboratorium. Symphony Orchestra in Australia. The quartet is seeking to highlight the app Download the Contact app to He is the first violinist in the Tinalley importance of chamber music to arts culture listen to Epic Diva, an explosive String Quartet, and was formerly Head of and music education, both in Australia and track commissioned from Strings for the Australian Academy of Music. internationally. Matthew Hindson by White Halo.

Academic expertise, open collaboration and creativity underpin the soothing melodies crafted by White Halo Ensemble.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 29 IML UQ_Ad_v4.indd 1 IML UQ_Ad_v4.indd 1 u u yourself yourself Make Make www.iml.uq.edu.au www.iml.uq.edu.au t t Language coursesforeveryoneinover30languages Language coursesforeveryoneinover30languages InstItute ofModernLanguages InstItute ofModernLanguages ranslation andinterpreting service ranslation andinterpreting service nderstood nderstood your your u u Q. Q. Q.

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CRICOSCRICOS Provider Provider Number Number 00025B 00025B B MATCH MADE IN RUGBY IN MADE MATCH HEAVEN J CENTENARY OFSERVICE sporting rivalrybetweenAustraliaandEngland? World Cup inSeptember?Doyoulovethe Are youheadingtotheUKfor2015Rugby who foughtinpastconflicts. UQ remembers staff andstudents Jonathan Richards and overseen Somewhere inAustralia. entitled SomewhereinFrance, and theInstituteFrançais— Embassy the French between UQ, joint venture Museum —a Queensland event atthe and apublic in July2014, held atUQ “Conflict inHistory”,whichwas annual conference, themed Australian HistoricalAssociation commemoration activities. centenary through arangeof has, tothispoint,observedthe Crotty, saidthattheUniversity Inquiry, AssociateProfessor Martin Historical andPhilosophical its staff andstudents. students havewon theBritish the BritishandIrishLions. these playersalsorepresenting rugby,international with17of Ireland, ScotlandorWales in on torepresent England, LSRUFC playershavegone the 2015UniversityChallenge. Union FootballClub(LSRUFC)in Loughborough StudentsRugby head-to-head withthelegendary UQ RugbyFootballClubgoes the 2014Premiership-winning some first-classactionwhen In aproject undertakenbyDr These activitiesincludethe Head oftheSchool Loughborough University More than60former Cup, youcancatch at theRugbyWorld the tworivalsclash ust afewdaysbefore mark the war service of mark thewarserviceof program ofactivitiesto UQ isrunningalarge etween 2014and2018, Head ofSchool,SchoolHistoricalandPhilosophicalInquiry, are listedonUQ’s RollofHonour.” the communityaboutWWIIveteranswho “We wouldbedelightedtohearmorefrom involvement inWorld War II,will classmates in1941andtheir level research abouthisfellow conducted postgraduate- Philosophy, ’09)whohassince of Commerce, ’47,Masterof Accountancy ’42,Bachelor accurately aspossible. Roll ofHonourismaintainedas primary aimistoensure the the project, andtheUniversity’s high degree ofenthusiasmfor at StLuciacampus.There isa in theForganSmithBuilding The RollofHonourislocated who diedduringWorld War II. that memorialisesUQstudents Roll ofHonour— re-examining itshistoricUQ by Crotty, theUniversityis times sinceitsinaugural yearin the HospitalChallenge Cup21 last fiveseasons.UQhaswon Premiership three timesinthe Premier Rugby’s HospitalCup having wonQueensland are notto be underestimated, table, haditbeenacountry. the University11thonmedal medals —theoretically placing athletes, wonatotalof35 well asLoughborough-based past andpresent students,as 2014 CommonwealthGames, prowess isrenowned, andatthe University’s overallsporting 30 consecutiveyears.The (BUCS) Championshipforover Universities andCollegesSport Bill Park (Associate Bill Park(Associate Our ownRedHeaviesteam Associate Professor MartinCrotty

a plaque a plaque September at7pm. world-class rugbyfacilitieson30 at Loughborough University’s the competition. 1946 –themostofanyteamin pose some challenges. pose somechallenges. Roll ofHonourisexpectedto examining theaccuracyofUQ’s historical records oftenunreliable, War Two NominalRoll.With Photography courtesyofUQArchives. World War IIWomens ArmyCorps,circa 1943attheStLuciacampus. Queensland Premier RugbyCompetition. The RedHeaviespackascrumagainstinter-varsity rivalsBond Universityinthe The matchwillbeplayed

and theWorld Roll ofHonour Memorial’s Australian War against the lists ofstudents be checking researchers will Richards. The be assisting

uq.edu.au. or emailcontactmagazine@ phone +61(0)733667886 involvement inthewar, please may helppiecetogetherUQ’s If youhaveinformationthat during WWII. who diedindefenceservice know ofanyalumniandstaff its readers togetintouchifthey Roll ofHonour, Contactinvites the accuracyofUniversity’s war veteransandtohelpensure To discovermore aboutUQ’s [email protected]. clubs, pleaseemail these twoformidablerugby attending thematchbetween For more informationabout UQ CONTACT 2015 WINTER

31 IMPACT BIG

PHILANTHROPY Photo courtesy of Catlin Seaview Survey. Seaview Catlin of courtesy Photo Global Change Institute (GCI) researchers are creating a baseline record of the world’s coral reefs through the Catlin Seaview Survey, students and staff involved with the Young Achievers Program, and the GCI atrium.

ndrew Brice AM and Graeme university are embodying the idea of giving lawyer Allan Myers and his wife Maria have Wood AM are renowned not only back. This is a sentiment that is widely supported The University of Melbourne with for their business acumen, having recognised internationally, particularly in the a $10 million gift. founded accommodation booking United States. Greg Poche AO and his wife Kay van websiteA Wotif.com, but also as early pioneers In 2013, mining magnate Andrew Forrest Norton Poche have given over $100 million of large-scale university philanthropy in and his wife Nicola made a $65 million nationally to establish Poche Centres for Australia, having invested around $18 million donation to five universities in Western Indigenous Health at six leading Australian in a public ancillary fund designed to support Australia, while commodity trader Graham universities, including a centre launched at UQ in 2008. Tuckwell and his wife Louise made a similar UQ in March (see page 12). Considered to be the largest alumni donation of $50 million to Australian National Wood, Andrew Brice and Jennifer Brice donation to a higher education institution University. have continued to give to the University, with in Australia at the time, the gift helped to Engineering services entrepreneur Wood donating a further $15 million to fund establish UQef, which, in turn, has funded John Grill has donated $20 million to The the Global Change Institute (see page 22), world-leading research and helped students University of Sydney, while top commercial which aims to address the impacts of climate and Australian youths reach their potential though the provision of scholarships and mentoring programs. “We want to enact positive change, Since then, Australian universities have received mega gifts from philanthropists who have followed in the footsteps of Wood and but we don’t want to be part of a select Brice, donating to universities to address major issues that transcend generations. few in pioneering big philanthropy in This trend reflects a “big picture” mentality of achieving outcomes through learning, Australia. Through collective action, we teaching and research. Across Australian states and territories, can achieve substantial social change.” some of our most innovative and dynamic thinkers who have achieved success after Graeme Wood AM

32 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 “I think today, more people are donating to universities in an effort to advance human capital — giving opportunities to kids who are just like they were, and investing in research that addresses serious intergenerational issues. The more people who earn a university degree, the better off society will be.”

Andrew Brice AM

Jennifer Brice and Andrew Brice AM.

change, technological innovation and Through UQef, Wood’s abiding interest in The Australian Government acknowledges population growth through programs focused youth is evident in the support of researchers education as a “foundation capability” in on clean energy, food systems, healthy at the Centre for Youth Substance Abuse reducing the likelihood people will experience oceans and sustainable water. Research, which is delivering early deep and persistent disadvantage. Authors of a The Brices, who are both graduates of intervention initiatives and drug and alcohol recent report concluded: “It improves a person’s UQ — Andrew having completed a Bachelor services for Australian youths. employment prospects and earning capacity, of Commerce in 1965 while Jennifer finished A similar interest in tackling disadvantage and the evidence points to a relationship a Bachelor of Arts in 1996 — are equally has seen financial support for tertiary between education and better health and passionate about leading the cause to education offered to youths through the raised civic and social engagement.”1 support education in Australia, with their Young Achievers Program (see page 34). However, awareness of education as a family’s stated purpose to “advance human This is an initiative close to the hearts variable affecting disadvantage is just part of capital”. of the Brices, who continue to donate a piecing together the puzzle. “I think today, more and more people considerable amount of personal time to the “We want to enact positive change, but are donating to universities in an effort to program. we don’t want to be part of a select few advance human capital: giving opportunities Tackling disadvantage in its varied forms in pioneering big philanthropy in Australia. to kids who are just like they were and has underpinned the entrepreneurs’ diverse Through collective action, we can achieve investing in research that addresses serious, philanthropic efforts. For Mr and Mrs Brice, substantial social change,” said Wood. intergenerational issues,” said Mr Brice. personal experience has been integral in Visit these links to find out more: “The more people who earn a university shaping their approach to philanthropy. degree, the better off universities and society “I thought we were extremely fortunate Global Change Institute: gci.uq.edu.au will be.” in that we have four happy, healthy children, Centre for Youth Substance Abuse “At US universities, the idea of giving who have all gone on to become university Research: http://cysar.health.uq.edu.au back is so entrenched within the institution; graduates,” she said. however, in Australia, it’s not something most “That stroke of fortune was a major Young Achievers Program: students consider. motivating factor in helping other children uq.edu.au/youngachievers “That’s something Andrew, Graeme and who may want to go to university, but might 1 Australian Government: Productivity Commission, Deep and I are trying to teach and promote as well,” not necessarily be able to clearly see a path Persistent Disadvantage in Australia, July 2013, Productivity added Mrs Brice. to do so.” Commission Staff Working Paper, p. 2.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 33 IMPACT THE YOUNG ONES

app Download the Contact app to watch a video about the Young Achievers Program.

UQ graduates and Young Achievers Program participants, from left to right: Emily Brown, Andrew Luck, Tim Seng, Alisha Vogler and Sarah Oyet.

The first cohort of the UQ “I’ve always been interested in the Program participant Tim Seng (Bachelor human body, and studying health sciences of Commerce, ’14) has shown reciprocity Young Achievers Program has brought me closer to realising that I in becoming a mentor and sharing his are closer to their dreams, would like to study medicine,” said Oyet. experience with younger students. “It has been a great feeling giving back graduating to join our ranks by being a Young Achiever mentor, because of esteemed alumni. “Getting into the program I have been able to share my story to help younger students explore university life. he Young Achievers Program is an made me start thinking “The program has changed my whole exciting initiative that supports the about university and UQ, university experience. I feel it has boosted Ttertiary study and career aspirations of my confidence and I’ve made a wonderful senior school students who may otherwise group of friends,” said Seng. not have access to university after school. and the opportunities it Students chosen for the program Mentoring, financial assistance and benefit not only from mentor support, but opportunities for personal growth and had to offer.” also financial assistance, including $1000 leadership development provide a valuable Sarah Oyet annually towards the educational costs of support framework, enabling students to Year 11 and 12, and $6000 annually once realise their potential. The Young Achievers Program provides they enrol at UQ. Sarah Oyet (Bachelor of Health an opportunity for students to work as The Young Achievers Program was Sciences, ’14) who arrived in Australia in mentors with new Young Achievers through established in 2009 through an endowment 2003 as a refugee from South Sudan, feels Years 11 and 12 and during the school-to- from Wotif.com co-founder Andrew extremely fortunate to have been selected university transition process. Mentors advise Brice AM, with more than 560 students for the program. Having completed her students about university options, pathways participating to date. undergraduate studies, Oyet now plans and application procedures, as well as to study postgraduate medical imaging at study and career planning, and encourage To support the Young Achievers UQ, with the goal of eventually becoming a participants to have self-confidence and set Program, email the Pro-Vice-Chancellor medical doctor. personal and educational goals. (Advancement) at [email protected].

34 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR UQ

We would like to extend a In 2014, the generosity of many individuals and organisations heartfelt thank you to the alumni, enabled us to raise over $44 million, a significant increase on the $25 staff, industry partners and the million raised in 2013. broader community for your At the end of 2014, the University’s endowment stood at a record continued support. $136.5 million.

THE IMPACT OF YOUR DONATIONS 2% 80% GREATEST NEED 3% RESEARCH TO AID ENHANCING UQ’S DISCOVERY OF CULTURAL PROGRAMS SOLUTIONS WITH AND ACTIVITIES WORLDWIDE IMPACT 15% SCHOLARSHIPS AND ENRICHING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

UQ ENDOWMENT INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

The University has a total of $136.5m in a long- – cash and fixed interest; term investment portfolio that is managed by – listed property; 35 external specialist fund managers. – Australian shares; – overseas shares; The portfolio consists of trusts, bequest funds – tactical asset allocation; and and philanthropic donations that have been – private equity. received over UQ’s long history and is referred to as UQ’s Endowment. The portfolio is invested The investment strategy of the portfolio is and annual earnings are distributed to the to achieve a long-term return of CPI plus an purposes specified by the donors. additional 6%. The portfolio produced a return of 8.48% in 2014. The fund managers are required to operate within designated asset allocation benchmarks The table below indicates the return of the and each has responsibilities for investments in: portfolio during 2014 and over the past 5 years.

Investment portfolio performance

Return of portfolio Average CPI plus 6%

Return over past year (%) 8.48 -0.29

Return over past five years (%) 8.55 0.41

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 35 OPINION

PERSONAL TEACHING AND LEARNING

Connections and collegiality are integral to meaningful learning, shares alumna Professor Doune Macdonald, who is considering exciting new pedagogies and tested methodologies in overseeing a new Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation (ITaLI).

ince ITaLI was recently launched With contemporary teaching methods strongly in ITaLI’s methodology. Partnership and I was tasked with shaping based on broad learning analytics, UQ is projects are underway in all six faculties the Institute’s vision and culture, at the forefront of offering individualised to renew curricula with contemporary I’ve been reflecting on my own education for diverse cohorts. I believe that pedagogies and assessment. experiences at UQ as a student, a personalising educational innovation support Peer mentoring schemes and embedding Steacher and as a Head of School. Collegiality for teaching staff is the starting point. student employability skills in learning and opportunities to learn in ways that have meaning for me stand out as two of the strongest drivers of success. The push for personalisation in many aspects of life I’m very keen to see the traditional student experience threaded through is changing expectations for tertiary education. the web of exciting new pedagogies and modalities. Building connections and a sense ITaLI’s brief is to provide leadership, programs are in the mix, along with a of belonging will make this possible. engagement and advocacy so that the quality assurance dashboard and an Significant shifts in higher education, University can continue to raise the bar international review of best practices in such as the growing popularity of “flipped for educational innovation and teaching notable universities. A help desk style service classrooms” and massive, open, online excellence. Our teaching academics need is also on ITaLI’s to-do list. We’re offering courses (MOOCs), have prompted UQ to support to fulfil these aims in ways that both intellectual and practical support to reconfigure its teaching and learning centres suit their disciplines, workloads, and own help tackle some new and enduring teaching into ITaLI’s one-stop-shop model. For career goals. That is why ITaLI is all about challenges. We’re working with fellows from example, in a little over 18 months, more helping them to understand how and why various schools to support their projects, than 268,000 students worldwide have incorporating innovative practices creates and to assist them to evaluate and publish enrolled in UQ’s MOOCs — five times the the connectivity that students need to stay their findings. University’s annual enrolment. This is a clear motivated and engaged in learning. Seven teaching fellows from different indication of how widely the UQ brand is A strong sense of teamwork has faculties are funded to work with ITaLI on recognised around the world as looking to be contributed to my own learning and their projects. These ventures range from a hallmark of quality. teaching success, and collegiality features enhancing research-based practices in the

36 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 PERSONAL TEACHING AND LEARNING

app Download the Contact app to view videos

relating to UQx Hands iStock/hocus-focus MOOCs. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Professor Doune Macdonald is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) and Bachelor of Science program, to developing wanted to understand what influenced Director of the intercultural competence in management this level of interest, and corresponding Institute for Teaching education, and promoting problem-setting engagement and completion rates. and Learning skills using mobile technologies for creative We’re also analysing existing systems Innovation (ITaLI). arts and humanities teachers. I encourage and surveys, such as Blackboard and With her background alumni who are involved with tertiary teaching student evaluations, to understand in education — and learning, especially those based what enhances learning experiences. beginning with overseas, to apply for ITaLI’s three-month The look, feel and direction of the her first degree, visiting fellowships and share their global University’s next big ideas for teaching a Bachelor of Human Movement Studies perspectives. International staff and students and learning will change in the future, (Education) at UQ, followed by a relevant PhD at contribute to UQ’s rich tapestry, and to the but the sense of belonging and Deakin University — the experienced educator University’s high status in global rankings. collegiality that our alumni have enjoyed feels comfortable taking up her new post with For many students, a MOOC experience and contributed to over the past the Institute, which opened in 2014. Prior to this will influence their decision about where in the century is something that ITaLI will strive position, Macdonald was Head of the School world they will enrol for their undergraduate to maintain. of Human Movement Studies (from 2004 to or postgraduate studies. Ironically, it’s the While MOOCs and other interactive 2013), which afforded her valuable insights into extensive global reach of UQ MOOCs that’s options might challenge contemporary teaching, research and engagement across helping to build the bank of data ITaLI is concepts of tertiary education, the several biophysical and social cultural disciplines. drawing on to personalise learning for our campus experience remains central In 1998, she won a Prime Ministerial Award for increasingly diverse student body. to academic life. Such learning Teaching Excellence and has since held several Learning analytics — the analysis of the options are certainly a rich catalyst for national and internal grants for teaching and mass of information on student performance invigorating how we teach and learn. learning innovation. As a leading educator, she and feedback generated by MOOCs, as sits on the Board of the Brisbane Grammar well as from other digital footprints — is Professor Macdonald would like to School and her administrative experience has helping us construct new models of student thank Professor Roly Sussex, Professor given her the opportunity to chair state, national learning patterns, and to appreciate, Peter Tregloan and Marcel Lavrencic and international committees. Macdonald almost in real time, the characteristics of for their input into this article. currently holds two Australian Research successful and less successful approaches Council Discovery Project Funding Agreements, For more information about ITaLI, to presenting material. through which she addresses aspects of social, visit itali.uq.edu.au. One of our MOOCs, The science of educational and technological change in relation everyday thinking (THINK101x), initially To learn more about MOOCs to teaching and school curricula provision. attracted 113,000 enrolments from 249 currently offered at UQ, and to enrol, Phone +61 (0)7 3365 1075 or email countries and territories. Naturally, we visit uqx.uq.edu.au. [email protected].

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 37 GIVING

OPPORTUNITY ARISING

The importance and impact of scholarships are, in many ways, immeasurable. A performance indicator can’t determine how a bright student feels when their application for a scholarship succeeds, and the benefits when they graduate are considerable.

STUDENT ALUMNA

Bachelor of Nursing student Stuart Adcock is the Ipswich RSLA Sub Branch Scholarship in Nursing recipient. Alumna Karen Chester, former Archibald Scholarship recipient.

he 2014 recipient of the Ipswich “I plan to pursue a long and rewarding rchibald Scholarship recipient RSLA Sub Branch Scholarship career in nursing, and hope that one day Karen Chester (Bachelor of in Nursing, Stuart Adcock, I will be able to repay the generosity of Economics ’84, Honours), who knows firsthand the difference receiving this scholarship through my work is now a Commissioner at the Ta scholarship can make in the life of a as a nurse,” he said. AProductivity Commission, remembers the student. Finances often play a major role in Adcock suggests scholarship holders’ soaring costs of text books while attending students’ abilities to complete and achieve capacity to reduce hours they spend university. This was at a time well before success in their studies. in casual jobs is also a major benefit of the price-reducing impacts of tariff cuts and “The financial aspect is crucial. I had receiving support; ensuring students internet use. been stressing over, and concerned about, can make the most of their study time. “I had to work hard to support my the cost of requirements for my upcoming He attributes his scholarship to helping university costs, union fees and very semester, and deciding which books I could motivate him to succeed in his chosen expensive textbooks,” she said. do without,” he said. field. Chester was awarded the Archibald “With this scholarship, I have been In his opinion, the benefits of Scholarship in her third year of studies. The able to purchase the books, as well as a award recognises exceptional results in the scholarships are straightforward. laptop and hospital uniforms for practical study of Economics at UQ, with stringent “If UQ didn’t have scholarships, a internships.” qualification criteria including enrolment in lot of great students wouldn’t be here. In the future, Adcock is keen to help the Honours program, and a GPA of 6.50 or Scholarship support helps to keep UQ others in similar circumstances who aspire greater in the undergraduate degree. accessible to the best students, regardless towards a career in nursing. He is also “I was (unknowingly) nominated by the grateful for opportunities he has received. of their financial circumstances.” Head of the Economics faculty at the time,

38 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 and later learnt the prize is awarded to the experience, with a reduced need to rely on student with the highest grades in micro- DONORS part-time work to supplement their income. economics and macro-economics,” she “Aside from the financial benefit, I want reflected. s the former recipient of a students to have an opportunity to achieve Chester used the funding to pay various Commonwealth Scholarship and academically, culturally and spiritually as university expenses, but suggests the a university donor, Keith Bennett citizens and leaders in their communities and benefits of the award went well beyond (Bachelor of Engineering ’66, careers,” said Bennett. immediate financial assistance. ASt John’s College 62–65) understands Calvin Zhang, the current Civil Engineering “The scholarship afforded me the the difference scholarships can make in Residential Scholarship holder, agrees the confidence to continue with my honours year students’ lives. financial benefit of the scholarship is just one in Economics, but it was also an important “As a result of receiving benefits from my aspect that is rewarding for him as a student. distinguishing feature on my CV when I own scholarship, I am a different person than “This scholarship is an invaluable vote of entered the graduate employment market, at I otherwise might have been. I’ve had an confidence,” said Zhang. a time when youth unemployment was over enjoyable career that has brought financial 20 per cent,” she said. rewards,” he said. “Despite this, I was offered the graduate With his wife Annette (Women’s position I hoped to get with the Department College ’63), Bennett established the Civil of Prime Minister and Cabinet. It was my Engineering Residential Scholarship in 2012. first few years there that really set me on a The scholarship provides financial assistance wonderful career path trajectory.” to students in the engineering program who Chester suggests there are critical also live on campus. benefits with university scholarships. The scholarship reduces a student’s “First, they create a strong incentive for residential fees by $5000 each year, but the hard work. Second, they afford recognition benefits extend well beyond the figures. Extra for excellence and allow distinction beyond financial support can enable recipients to the headline metric of a GPA.” focus more on their studies and the university

“I have chosen to share those rewards with students, so they can enjoy a similar education to mine — giving back, so to speak.” Keith Bennett, scholarship donor

Civil Engineering Residential Scholarship holder, Calvin Zhang.

“It has been integral in making the past two years a rewarding experience for me, and has motivated me to make the most of my time and focus on learning as much as I can.” Calvin believes his scholarship will provide a solid foundation for a career in civil engineering, and hopes to be a part of major projects that enhance city landscapes. Both Keith and Annette are firm believers in the life skills garnered from college residency. They want to promote and preserve the college experience at university among current students. “Annette and I have benefited enormously from attending The University of Queensland and having our respective college experiences,” said Bennett. “We want as many students as possible to enjoy the same experiences we had, and our scholarship ensures at least one person will benefit from attending college each year.”

The recipients and donors featured have shared their stories about a sample of UQ funds supported by countless alumni, businesses and community members. To find out more about how you can contribute to the University’s giving efforts, visit uq.edu.au/giving, or contact the Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement) at [email protected]. Keith Bennett and his wife Annette are donors who support the Civil Engineering Residential Scholarship.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 39 FEATURE

SPOTLIGHT ON UQ IN TURKEY Turkey, the country that joins Asia and Europe, is a nation experiencing immense growth, with opportunities for UQ to nurture partnerships that are mutually beneficial.

his year, Turkey is hosting a to strengthen its engagement with the Through collaborative ventures — momentous gathering of visitors unique destination. In Australia, students including a number of archaeology and participating in significant are afforded the chance to enrol in projects with Hacettepe University collaborations alongside UQ. Turkish language courses. The University in Ankara involving historically rich TTurkey will welcome the world’s leaders additionally offers students the opportunity research sites across the country — UQ when it hosts the 2015 G20 events. The to participate in exchanges with two is exchanging knowledge and fostering country is also seeing a large number of Turkish universities through UQ Abroad: strong connections with Turkey. visitors arrive to commemorate the Anzac Boğaziçi University and Koç University, Centenary, which marks 100 years since both in Istanbul. the historic landing on Gallipoli took place New academic and research app Download the Contact app on April 25, 1915. collaborations continue to be supported by to view an interactive map With the firm advancement of Turkey’s the University, which is developing strong about UQ’s engagement with economy and its subsequent broadened partnerships with Turkish universities, Turkey. A Turkish translation global reach, the University continues corporate partners and government bodies. is also available.

UNCOVERING TURKEY’S PAST

or archaeologists, Turkey is a rewarding land where relics of a fascinating history Fabound. As Associate Professor Andrew Fairbairn from the School of Social Science shared, Turkey has more archaeological sites than Greece and Egypt combined. Each year, Fairbairn takes between four

and 10 students, including undergraduates, A research team led by Associate Professor Andrew Fairbairn and Professor Douglas Baird gathers at Boncuklu Höyük, Honours and Research Higher Degree the site of a 10,500-year-old village near the city of Konya in Turkey. students, to Turkish archaeological sites. Fairbairn spends up to 12 weeks each “My research interest in Turkey focuses to 20,000 years ago,” he said. year working in and discovering more about on understanding the development of the To better understand these historical Turkey, and has seen a steady increase in farming economy and how it influenced developments, Fairbairn analyses plant student involvement since he commenced at social and economic development from the remains, which he collects during annual UQ in 2006. Neolithic to Iron Age, approximately 10,500 excavations on Turkish sites.

40 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 DELIVERING EXPERTISE IN MINING

uring the past decade, Turkey has Turkish government in November 2014. Global Comminution Initiative. emerged as a strong performer The IMC will be based at Hacettepe, and PhD Candidate Bariș Yıldırım chose UQ in the global economy. National Benzer has been appointed as its Director. for undertaking research in mining because policies, demographics — including “Hacettepe University is recognised for its of the long-standing engagement between Dhaving a comparatively “young” population technical expertise worldwide and UQ–SMI the University and his home country. — and industries such as mining are playing represents the world’s largest concentration “I don’t think I would be able to study a critical role in its continuing growth. of university researchers working on mining such a challenging subject at any other UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute and sustainability issues. The IMC gives university,” said Yıldırım. (UQ–SMI) is poised to play a significant part us both an opportunity to consolidate our “It is a different PhD journey than most. in this process through a partnership in an efforts,” said Bradshaw. I am thankful to UQ for the opportunities International Mining Centre (IMC) with Turkey’s “The aim of the IMC is to provide I’ve received — site studies in Canada and Hacettepe University. a platform to ensure the safe, secure Chile, and experiments in Brazil, Australia and The idea for the IMC emerged from and sustainable future of mining in Turkey. The diversification of the research, discussions in 2014 between UQ–SMI’s Turkey, through a collaboration between and engaging with different cultures and world Professor Dee Bradshaw, Hacettepe’s government, universities and business.” experts, strengthens the value of the PhD.” Professor Hakan Benzer and Turkish PhD Professor Alban Lynch, the founding Yıldırım believes that the Turkish mining scholar Barıș Yıldırım. The Centre involves director of UQ’s Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral industry will derive lasting benefits from the collaboration between SMI and UQ’s Faculty Research Centre, established collaboration collaboration in Australia. of Engineering, Architecture and Information between Hacettepe University and UQ in 1998, “The engagement with UQ and SMI Technology. At the same time, the Soma coal and there has been a continuous exchange of through the IMC will support the Turkish mine accident in May that year, which took staff and students since then. mining industry and increase the level the lives of more than 300 miners, highlighted In 2009, Hacettepe University joined of professionalism. It will improve safety, the need for improved safety. the Australian Minerals Industry Research increase social responsibility, train leaders, The discussions led to a proposal for Association (AMIRA) P9 project — one of the apply new technologies and develop a centre based on a model developed by world’s longest running research projects, linkages. If we can save lives and improve UQ–SMI. It was supported by the Turkish which began in 1962. In 2012, Hacettepe efficiency, this will be the ultimate contribution mining industry, and officially approved by the was one of five universities in the UQ–SMI that professionals can make,” he said.

PhD candidate Barıș G. Yıldırım discusses his research with the mine manager Tümay Yıldırım and supervising colleagues, Professor Malcolm Powell and Dr Deming Wang, Uludağ at the world’s biggest boron mine in central Anatolia, Turkey. at the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre.

The dedicated researcher’s fondness for fascinating country to visit and experience,” “The excavation provides continuing Turkey extends beyond his research interests. said Carah. research fieldwork experiences for students “Turkey has a very complex landscape, Fairbairn’s team also liaises with the and staff, and fieldwork experience is with an engaging beauty, even in the central Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as essential for archaeologists’ training.” He plateau — which is my winter home — and well as the British Institute at Ankara, which added, “I am taking part in developing an the people are wonderful, with a complex sponsors the Boncuklu Project. exchange program with Hacettepe University culture, fine food and overwhelming His research incorporates collaborative in Ankara, and the projects are forming a hospitality,” he said. projects between the Japanese Institute of basis for collaboration.” Fairbairn’s primary focus is on the Anatolian Archaeology and Ankara University Back at the St Lucia campus, Fairbairn excavation of Boncuklu Höyük, the site of a across several important sites. runs a course entitled “The Archaeology 10,500-year-old village near the city of Konya, A number of students also attend of Turkey” to prepare undergraduate which he leads with Professor Douglas Baird Fairbairn’s field school each year at Kaman- Archaeology students for conducting from the University of Liverpool. Kalehöyük, south-east of Ankara, where they research in Turkey. Having worked in Turkey “My work is contributing to providing a assist with sample processing and analysis. each year for 15 years now, Fairbairn’s new understanding of this challenging and Fairbairn and his students’ efforts in enthusiasm for the country remains strong. unique region’s role in the development of Turkey are long-term endeavours, which “The simple fact is that Turkey, as a place, ancient civilisations,” Fairbairn said. have fostered strong connections with local got under my skin, and the archaeological PhD candidate Xavier Carah seized the communities. questions there are really engaging,” he said. opportunity to visit Turkey. Fairbairn said these connections are “For millennia, Turkey has been at the particularly strong in Konya, where Boncuklu app Download the Contact app to view centre of empire and civilization — a truly is based. an exclusive photo gallery.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 41 A WORLD-CLASS VENUE WITH GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

As the host venue for the G20, lauded as the friendliest and most successful to date, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre is confident in its ability to host any event, big or small.

We have a 20-year track record in collaborating with the UQ community to attract key international conferences to help showcase Brisbane’s world-leading research outcomes.

With a dedicated team to help UQ scientists and alumni bid for conferences, our bidding support is free, and we can help with financial assistance for travel scholarships and speaker costs.

If you know of a conference that should be held in Brisbane to showcase UQ then contact us and we’ll make it happen.

BCEC & UQ – WORKING TOGETHER

BRISBANE CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE Host Venue for the successful 2014 G20 Leaders Summit

T 07 3308 3063 E [email protected] W www.bcec.com.au PROFILE

DEALING WITH DIABLO

Matthew Versluys Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Science – ’96 Care to share an office with Diablo, the Lord of Terror; Nova, a ghost from StarCraft; or Prince Arthas, former Lich King? UQ alumnus Matthew Versluys has a role offering thrills by the minute.

or alumnus Matthew Versluys, the infrastructure used to host people playing delivering blockbusters such as the biggest names in gaming, such as WoW World of Warcraft (WoW), Diablo and and Diablo III. StarCraft to millions of fans is part of “At any given time, there are over a million Fthe action-packed reality of his everyday. people using the service. Every time a game It took years for Versluys’s parents to take is released, we have many millions of people his job — where he manages more than 130 show up on Battle.net, and having our service computer engineering staff and delivers one survive these huge events is always a major of the most popular forms of entertainment to accomplishment,” he said. fans around the world — seriously. Versluys credits the simulation “My parents wanted me to go into components of his degree as providing medicine. I made a compromise with them to him with valuable career skills. He said the do an Electrical Engineering and Computer environment he enjoyed at university has Science dual degree,” said Versluys. given him a great foundation for working in “When I graduated, they wanted me to the gaming industry. join a major, respectable company. Instead “At UQ, I learnt how to learn, which is of doing that, I chose a role with a very small crucial in this industry. You have to be learning game development company in Brisbane.” all the time, because everything changes at an It was in this role that Versluys fell into extremely rapid rate,” he said. networking, an area he hadn’t had exposure Versluys said competency in fundamental to previously. His proficiency in it would have skills required in the industry is also essential. him noticed by important industry contacts. “The hardest thing to find in graduates “I quickly became known as the looking to enter the industry is a thorough multiplayer, networking guy,” he said. understanding and competency in At the time, a game in the company’s fundamentals, like how caches work, how portfolio was being published by one of processors are built, microarchitecture, and the industry’s biggest players, Activision. low-level languages such as C++ (a general- Versluys soon made the move to Activision’s purpose programming language). These headquarters in California, before finding his skills are invaluable in ensuring performance, way to Blizzard Entertainment. particularly with premium content.” “Working at Blizzard was definitely After receiving service awards for his aspirational for me, because I’ve played fifth (a sword) and 10th (a shield) work these games my entire life, and now I’ve anniversaries, and currently just a few weeks worked exclusively on networking and servers shy of his 15th (a ring) anniversary, Versluys is at Blizzard for almost 15 years,” he said. looking forward to what the next five years at Versluys is a Technical Director of the Blizzard holds — and the crown staff receive company, and is responsible for Battle.net, after 20 years of service. “I love it here. We’re making premium entertainment and we’re doing it for millions Left: Nova, a ghost from StarCraft; and top, middle to right: Diablo, Lord of Terror; and Prince Arthus, former and millions of people. That’s not something Lich King, World of Warcraft. you can do in many industries,” he shared.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 43 UOQ 1540 MBA UQ Contact Winter [P] 297x210mm OL.indd 1 30/03/2015 2:37 pm PROFILE

Dr Natalie Connors Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) – ’05 Doctor of Philosophy – ’12

VACCINE SOLUTIONS

“It feels great to create something that may solve a huge number of issues for people.” Dr Natalie Connors

Developing vaccine “Current vaccine production processes There is also a financial incentive. are time-consuming and costly, and can be “Current technologies price vaccines technology that changes unsafe too, as you are growing live bacteria beyond one dollar per dose,” said Connors, the lives of millions of to make a vaccine,” said Connors. “yet a VLP vaccine could cost less than one In contrast, the new technology takes cent per dose, and the obvious beneficiaries people inspires researcher a VLP — a simple mouse virus — and of this would be people in developing Dr Natalie Connors. attaches components of another virus or countries.” bacterium to its shell, where it naturally With additional funding, Connors could onnors is developing vaccine self-assembles into an exact replica of the see potential in taking the research further, production technologies that live virus. and integrating the technology with the may result in cheaper, more The crucial difference is that the VLP Nanopatch™, which was developed by readily available vaccination lacks the infectious genome that would Professor Mark Kendall. programs throughout the world. make it a real and harmful virus. In February, vaccine technology “My work involves “Essentially it is just a protein, but it company Vaxxas, a start-up of UQ’s main developing a vaccine platform, using a virus- convincingly presents itself to the human commercialisation company, UniQuest, Clike particle (VLP), that can be manipulated body as the highly infectious disease it is attracted $25 million in funding led by and used to suit any virus or bacteria, in imitating,” said Connors. Australian venture capital firm OneVentures order to create or improve a vaccine. A benefit of the technology is safety: to further the Nanopatch™. “I am targeting influenza and rotavirus, by removing the infectious component of Connors’ research is complementary, but the technology can be used for anything a virus from the vaccine, the virus cannot with support for vaccine research from that has a known antigen, and VLPs have be contracted or transmitted into the investors reflecting the tremendous impact already been used for vaccines such as environment. The process also reduces the technology might have in people’s lives. Gardasil®,” she explained. production times drastically. “Any program that combines cutting- Traditionally, vaccines are produced by “When a new strain of influenza is edge technology in vaccine delivery, such inactivating or mutating a virus or bacteria discovered, we can’t wait up to six months as the Nanopatch™, with cutting-edge to create a weaker version, which is then for that vaccine to be readily available. Our technology in vaccines, such as VLPs, can presented to a human immune system. VLP vaccine platform can reduce production only be a good thing, particularly for people There are limitations with this approach. times to a couple of weeks.” in developing countries,” she said.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 45 FEATUREBOOKS

RECOMMENDED READING

Settling Day Kate Howarth stablished in 1948, UQP is a dynamic publishing house known for its innovative Reviewed by Megan Bull — philosophy and commitment to producing Graduate Certificate in Arts (Writing, Editing E and Publishing) student high-quality books of cultural significance. It has launched the careers of many celebrated Australian eemed unfit, 17-year-old Kate writers, including David Malouf, Peter Carey, Kate Howarth must leave her infant Grenville, Doris Pilkington and Nick Earls. son in the custody of his father. UQP’s scholarly books are internationally D In response to an overwhelming sense recognised, presenting contemporary issues such of powerlessness, she becomes fuelled as peace and conflict, creative industries and by her determination to meet the ’70s Australia’s own regional concerns through a major perceived standard of a worthy mother Pacific Studies collection. Other publishing activities and reunite with her son. Howarth include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, Indigenous builds an incredible career with a writing and the promotion of literacy and a love of recruitment agency, which, through her reading through its children’s and young adult titles. resilience and work ethic, she leads as UQP is also dedicated to co-releasing front-list one of Australia’s most successful. titles as eBooks and digitally printing selected out- This evocative narrative offers a of-print titles. startling insight into the injustices women experience,

both at home and in the workplace, and even from those enlisted to aid To purchase any of these books or them. Socially conscious, the narrative encounters the devastating effects sign up to UQP’s monthly e-newsletter, visit that Australia’s forced adoption policies had on many young women and uqp.com.au. their children. Serving as a powerful sequel to Howarth’s acclaimed Ten Hail Marys (2010), Settling Day is a compelling story, harrowing in its narration, confronting in its context and empowering to read.

Ransacking Paris Patti Miller Reviewed by Kerri Harris — Master of Arts (Writing, Editing and Publishing) student ometime around 2004, Patti garnering their views on everything spends the year immersed in Miller fulfils a lifelong dream from motherhood to love to writing. French language and culture, Sand leaves Australia’s Blue The title of this memoir and takes us on a sensory, Mountains and her two grown- comes from 16th century French philosophical and deeply up sons to spend a year in Paris philosopher Michel de Montaigne, contemplative journey. with her husband Anthony. As she who wrote, “Bees ransack flowers Good memoirs have the zigs and zags across Paris, Miller here and there: but then they make ability to allow readers to introduces us to her favourite French their own honey which is entirely know themselves, and Miller memoirists, one by one, from theirs”. Miller travels to Paris to pulls this off exceptionally Montaigne to Rousseau, and de ransack, to steal, to fully understand well. Ransacking Paris is a Beauvoir to Stendhal. She imagines herself and the world, and to write sensitive and sublime memoir chatting with them over coffee, the story of her late friend, Dina. She — nectar for the soul.

The Ash Burner Kári Gíslason Reviewed by Catherine Moller — Master of Arts (Writing, Editing and Publishing) student

his is Gíslason’s first novel, with two sophisticated and changes the context of his life. and it traces similar themes complex teenagers, Anthony and Gíslason’s prose is dreamy T of fatherhood, loss and Claire. The pair encourage Ted and ethereal, exploring the place revealed in his critically to embrace art, poetry, and the boundaries between reality and acclaimed memoir, The Promise sense of belonging he has longed memory. He charts a rich internal of Iceland. At 13, Ted is haunted for. As the trio matures and travels landscape for his characters, by a mother he barely remembers. to university, Ted must learn to examining the essential disconnect While his father chooses to navigate the uncertain waters of between one’s own inner life and define his life in silence, Ted finds love, friendship and loss, until he the ultimately unknowable inner himself falling into a friendship uncovers a long-kept secret that lives of loved ones.

46 UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 REMEMBER WHEN

ANZAC CENTENARY

A photograph of the supports going up at nightfall from “Selected photographs from the papers of Alfred Mills” and a letter written by Jack Dennis Fryer’s brother, Will Fryer, on 18 August 1916.

One hundred years after the Anzacs descended on Gallipoli, Contact reflects on the events of 1915 and remembers students and staff who served.

Images courtesy of Fryer Library In March 1915, the Fryer’s life was commemorated with the University established establishment of a a War Committee to library. In 2015, the assist authorities, help Fryer Library will with recruiting, deliver digitise the John lectures, write articles and Denis Fryer Papers — pamphlets, and produce a collection of Jack’s reports on available personal wartime recourses. correspondence. Emeritus Professor After being Malcolm Thomis, in his book A Place fortunate to arrive of Light and Learning: The University of home safely, ust three years after UQ opened Queensland’s first 75 years (1985), wrote Professor Thomas its doors to students, the First that UQ never closed its doors during the Parnell returned £437 John Denis (Jack) Fryer. World War (WWI) broke out. On war, and attempted to follow the British to the University from 25 April 1915, Australian soldiers Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith’s his military activities. Jcommenced their first major action in the advice on continuing business as usual, He asked that this money be given to war when, alongside allies from a number of “despite a sadly depleted staff and student returned soldiers in need of financial other countries, they landed on the Gallipoli body”. assistance to pursue their studies. Peninsula at what was later to become In September 1914, the Senate had Bryan wrote, “No one could doubt the known as Anzac Cove. released a small number of staff on full University’s patriotism. In addition to the In the lead-up to WWI, the University pay for military work. Marking the second services of its members and to the practical was expanding: there were 32 academic anniversary of the declaration of war in help given to [the] war industry and research staff, and student numbers had reached 231. August 1916, an impassioned speech was in its laboratories and workshops, it did not Respected librarian Dr Harrison Bryan delivered at Senate on the defence of liberty fail to issue statements appropriate to the AO wrote about the small community in The and justice. Regrettably, approximately 31 times and the period.” University of Queensland 1910–1960: An students and two staff members did not Throughout the Anzac Centenary, the Essay Towards History (1966), sharing that return from the war, although numbers are University remembers Australians involved 154 staff and students participated in active not certain. in conflict and peace operations, and service and 22 engaged in munitions or Although John Denis (Jack) Fryer did students and staff who have given their lives other work. return, he subsequently died in 1923. in service.

UQ CONTACT WINTER 2015 47 LEADING THE WORLD WITH RESEARCH BREAKTHROUGHS Ranked well inside the world’s top 100, The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s leading teaching and research institutions. UQ has won more national teaching awards than any other Australian university and, in 2013, was the number one university in Australia for the generation of external research income*. For more than a century, we have educated and worked with outstanding people to deliver knowledge leadership for a better world. Our successes are embodied in a global network of more than 220,000 graduates and the countless people worldwide who have benefited from UQ innovations. These are just some of the reasons why UQ is, and will continue to be, a meeting place for current and future leaders.

WORLD’S FIRST CERVICAL CANCER VACCINE VACCINES Research conducted by WITHOUT NEEDLES Professor Ian Frazer AC and the late Dr Jian Zhou Research is currently being led to the development of undertaken at UQ into the the world’s first vaccine TM Nanopatch , a revolutionary against cervical cancer, needle-free method of delivering benefiting tens of millions TM vaccines. The Nanopatch is of women worldwide. a small, pain-free patch being developed through a UQ spin- out company, Vaxxas, and has the potential to help save millions of lives.

HELPING OVER SEVEN MILLION CHILDREN Triple P – Positive Parenting USING MRI TO DIVE THE REEFS Program is backed by more FIGHT CANCER FROM YOUR DESKTOP than 30 years of ongoing research at UQ. The program With the majority of the world’s UQ is working to visually document has helped more than seven MRI scanners using technology life within reef systems across the million children and their CRICOS No. 00025B engineered at UQ, the next step globe. Images are made available families in approximately is to integrate radiation therapy for the world to explore on Google 25 countries. with MRI scanners to target and Street View and the Catlin Global

treat cancer. Reef Record database. UOQ0358

UQ’s excellence in research has been translated into positive economic, environmental, health and social benefits. With the support of UQ’s main commercialisation company, UniQuest, many UQ innovations are now available to the community. To learn more about these research breakthroughs, visit uq.edu.au/research * Per data reported for the 2013 Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC).