Alumni, University of Tasmania, September 2016

$300m plan to address the education deficit Pre-eminent economist joins the University Table talk of the London Biennale ISSUE 48 2016 Gift makes possible $5m Warren Chair in Astrophysics Have blog, will travel New TV series brings Alumni comic back on campus Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Rathjen: “We have to train at the highest possible standards the future leaders of this state and to bring our knowledge and our culture to the professions.” Anniversary issue wins praise The University of Tasmania’s special of trying to develop the human capital of an 125th Anniversary Alumni entire state. magazine (pictured) was not Global portability matters enormously when only well received by alumni you are located on an isolated island in the but also enjoyed national Southern Ocean where the future must be built peer recognition. PETER MATHEW on cultural respect – respect for diversity and integration into a globalised economy. Here the University plays such an important It was voted the best role, from affording opportunities for its alumni hardcopy students to participate in that global economy magazine at the to its supportive alumni networks around the Australian Alumni world. We act as a bridge between Tasmania Professionals biannual WELCOME and the world, the world of cultures, of ideas, conference held at the of ethnicities – the world we have to be part of University of Melbourne What makes this university, and its alumni, in we want a prosperous future for our children. in late February. Thirty distinctive is addressed by the Vice-Chancellor Underpinning all of these is a commitment institutions from in this edited extract from a speech he gave at not just to this state but to people. We see our around the country ISSUE 48 a recent London Design Biennale reception: primary role as empowering people to discover, were represented at identify, nurture and develop their talent in the conference. Brodie Neill is renowned for his ability to whatever direction that might take them. The 125th Anniversary combine contemporary materials with artisan In Brodie Neill, we have someone who has issue was praised by skills, to do things that other people normally lived this experience, who embodies this the judging panel cannot. An important message for us all to vision of aspiration, enrichment and global spokesperson for, remember, especially those of us from the participation. among other things, Southern Ocean, is that disruptive innovation We draw strength from our identity and our its “wonderful quality”, more often than not comes from outside the ability and Brodie does too. “the right balance of mainstream. It is important that we celebrate achievement research, personal His story is one we often hear of on this island and talent wherever we see it, that we interest and anniversary – that of a bright, talented, motivated person, showcase the fact that people from our island stories” and as a “great nurtured within the university and working across and people on our island can achieve at a level example of a coffee the globe. as high as anyone else in the world. In that table-style magazine” In many ways, Brodie’s trajectory is an spirit, we celebrate our role as a university that and “a great keepsake embodiment of how we see the University of creates opportunity on the broadest possible for alumni”. Tasmania’s role. front, on an island that has so many people and It was subsequently There is but one university of this island. It alumni of outstanding accomplishment. entered in the prestigious means that we have the awesome responsibility international Council of representing all of what higher education is to for Advancement an entire state. – Professor Peter Rathjen, and Support of We have to train, at the highest possible Vice-Chancellor Education (CASE) awards standards, the future leaders of this state and bring for tertiary institution our knowledge and our culture to the professions. publishing. Prior to London, I was in Frieberg, Germany, where 52 per cent of the young people go on to higher education; in North-West Tasmania that figure is 7 per cent. We have the awesome responsibility Until Tasmania can train its people at the same level as the rest of the world, we are of representing all of what higher doomed to be non-competitive. At the University of Tasmania we have the awesome responsibility education is to an entire state 02 — Alumni 2016 021 024 037 02 Welcome 030 04 Michael Tate Oxford scholarship 05 West Park: New education precinct 011 Student housing projects 012 Dr David Warren CONTENTS 018 A family affair 020 Profile: Dr Michelle Somerton 021 World of Wanderlust SAUL ESLAKE PLASTIC FANTASTIC 023 Profile: David Keeling 06 The economist discusses 024 Alumnus Brodie Neill pushes 026 Joan Webb: Tasmania’s challenges creative boundaries PhD at 90 years old 030 Massive responses 032 Nursing ambition TRANSFORMATION NEWLY MINTED GRADUATES 034 Annual appeal scholarship 08 A brand new vision for the 028 Nearly 2,000 students in the winter 035 Neuroscience scholarship northern city campuses graduation round for women 036 Plus generation 037 Devils research AWARDS ON THE MENU LUKE McGREGOR 038 Tourist tracking 014 Two pioneering researchers 033 The comedian reflects on his 040 Alumni honoured at awards night time at university 041 High achievers COVER IMAGE: BRODIE NEILL’S GYRO TABLE (SUPPLIED). SEE STORY PAGES 24-25. 03 OXFORD EXPANDED MY INTELLECTUAL HORIZONS ... THIS WAS AN INTELLECTUAL, SPIRITUAL AND NICK OSBORNE SOCIAL REVOLUTION By Lucy Poskitt The transformative experience of was involved in a car accident at the horizons,” he said. “For me this was a year at Oxford University as a corner of Regent and Princes streets a combined intellectual, spiritual and young postgraduate student has near the Sandy Bay campus, leaving social revolution. led Reverend Professor Michael him almost immobile and meaning “At the same time I was a Tate AO to propose a scholarship he had to repeat the first year of his devotee of Martin Luther King, for another University of Tasmania law degree. and became convinced that the ISSUE 48 student or graduate to do the “I had to be carried up the way they were waging war in same. steps to the engineering building, Vietnam was immoral and unjust, which is where the Faculty of Law which meant that I gravitated “It was such a transformative was housed in those days,” Father towards the Australian Labor experience in every sphere, that Tate said. Party.” if one or two Tasmanians can have “I had a lot of support from Upon his return to Tasmania, a similar experience, that will be students and staff.” Father Tate embarked upon a enough for me to die a happy They say every cloud has a silver long and distinguished career as a man,” he said. lining, and recovering from the federal politician. From 1978 he Father Tate, as he is known, has accident meant Father Tate spent was a Labor senator for Tasmania had an extraordinary and diverse many hours in the library – which for 15 years, and held the position career as an academic, politician, contributed to the achievement of of Minister for Justice from 1987 diplomat and priest. his First Class Honours, giving him to 1993 in the Hawke and Keating He gained a First Class Honours the opportunity to go to Oxford on governments. in Law from the University of a Commonwealth scholarship. In 1992 he was awarded an Tasmania before studying a “I was supposed to study Honorary Doctor of Laws by Bachelor of Arts at Oxford in the more law, but when I got there, the University of Tasmania and Honour School of Theology in 1971. I asked if I could study theology,” has been an Honorary Professor An academic career at the Father Tate said. since 1997. University of Tasmania followed, The Oxford experience was In 2011, Father Tate was including serving as Dean of a rewarding one for the young recognised by the University with the Faculty of Law from 1977-78. Hobart man. a Distinguished Alumni Award, In his first year as an “The thing about Oxford is and he is now Cygnet Parish Priest undergraduate student, Father Tate that it expanded my intellectual in the Huon Valley. The Michael Tate Oxford Scholarship is intended for a University of Tasmania student or graduate undertaking studies in theology at Oxford University and will cover fees and associated expenses, travel costs and living allowances. It will open for applications in early 2017. For more information, please contact the University of Tasmania Scholarships Office on 1300 361 928. 04 — Alumni 2016 February by the University, the Principal charged with leading a WEST IS BEST State Government, TasTAFE, Burnie northern-based academic unit that By Peter Cochrane City Council and the Cradle Coast will create and deliver the suite of Authority encompassing agreement associate degrees. Professor AN EXCITING NEW about the need to facilitate David Adams has assumed her EDUCATIONAL PRECINCT educational and economic change former role). IS STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE. for the region. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Partners in the project are Peter Rathjen, spoke of the need to committed to expanded course boost educational attainment, and offerings at the West Park site, how this might be achieved, at the and ensuring that current activities signing of the MoU. In the City of Makers the there, such as the Makers’ “The University recognises this University of Tasmania is making Workshop, continue. region has lower school retention its presence felt, in a move that will “Our aim is for the new city rates and we will address that with have far-reaching benefits across campus to complement present courses delivered more intensively the North-West.

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