Women Researchers' Network

Enabling Capability Platforms Symposium 27th October, 2016

Program and Abstracts rmit.edu.au/staff/research/women-researchers-network

Made possible by

Enabling Capability Platforms Funding Initiative

The Women Researchers’ Network & Enabling Capability Platforms

present

A Symposium highlighting the research interests of recently recruited women researchers

Thursday 27th October 2016

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Program

10:00 Welcome and introduction to the Enabling Dist. Professor Larissa Hjorth Capability Platforms

10:10 Introduction to the Women Researchers’ Dr Nicky Eshtiaghi Network

10:15-11: 00 Keynote presentation Professor Frances Separovic

11:00-11:30 Morning tea

11:30-13:00 Session 1 Chair: Professor Peter Design and creative practice Fairbrother

Global business innovation Social change Urban futures

13:00-:14:00 Lunch

14:00-15:15 Session 2 Chair: A/Professor Samantha Advanced manufacturing and fabrication Richardson

Advanced materials Biomedical and health innovation Information and systems (engineering)

15:15-15:30 Closing remarks A/Professor Samantha Richardson

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Session 1 Speaker Presentation title 1. Pia Arenius Study of the entrepreneurial startup process: longitudinal study of active nascent entrepreneurs 2. Amanda Warmerdam Research translation: bridging the gap 3. Areli Avendano Franco Service design thinking for sustainable value propositions for online services. 4. Judith Glover Design and Sexual Health: confronting taboos and creating innovation 5. Ceridwen Spark Gender in the Urban Pacific 6. Lauren Gurrieri Exploring the role of social media in female body idealisation 7. Christina Scott-Young Transitioning into and out of university: the impact of resilience on students’ psychological distress and well-being 8. Priyadarsini Rajagopalan Building energy efficiency and environmental quality 9. Slobodanka Stojkovic Plastic pollution in our environment and the role of microbes 10. Wendy Steele Wild cities 11. Lisa Farrell Understanding the relationship between subjective wellbeing and gambling behavior

Session 2 Speaker Presentation title 1. Tamar Greaves Role of the solvophobic effect in protein-ionic liquid interactions 2. Charlotte Conn Biomimetic lipidic nanostructured materials for encapsulation of therapeutic proteins 3. Jacqueline Flynn The uncharacteristic role of T memory stem cells in HIV-1 infection 4. Mary Tolcos A new therapy to promote myelination and improve neurological outcomes following fetal growth restriction. 5. Sara Baratchi Mechanism of TRPV4 channel activation in response to shear stress 6. Michelle Rank Using patch-clamp electrophysiology to explore mechanisms of plasticity in spinal cord circuits after stroke 7. Tamara Paravicini Exploring new targets for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases 8. Lin Tian Bio-transport in human respiratory airways 9. Amy Reichelt Cognitive impact of high fat and high sugar diets 10. Ruwini Edirisinghe E-Textiles to improve construction work health 11. Amanda Berry Investigating teacher knowledge development in science education

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Women Researchers’ Network The Women Researchers ’ Network (WRN) was established in 2013 to enable female academic staff and research fellows at all career stages to connect with one another. The Network’s purpose is to foster women researchers’ career advancement. WRN Objectives: • To advocate for change in gender equity policy, practice and behaviour • To foster a flourishing and supportive environment for women researchers • To connect the university to a wider community of practice in gender equity The WRN is open to all RMIT academic and research staff.

More information about the WRN may be found on the web at: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/staff/research/women-researchers-network

Enabling Capability Platforms RMIT University has established the Enabling Capability Platforms (ECPs) to build collaborative networks and communities of practice and nurture capability development. The ECPs will contribute to the delivery of RMIT’s research strategy and embed innovation in the research and innovation ecosystem. They are founded on large scale multi-disciplinary clusters of research excellence that can be deployed to address local, national, regional and global challenges and deliver significant economic, societal and environmental impact. The ECPs main roles are to: • build collaborative networks across the university and with key external partners; • build communities of practice within the university; • nurture and grow defined capability; • identify and support capability deployment through project development and delivery. The ECPs are inclusive and take a whole of university perspective. They provide a mechanism for the strategic allocation of research funding to build research excellence, innovation, translation and impact. They are structured to be flexible and responsive to changes in the internal and external environment. The ECPs are: Advanced manufacturing and fabrication Advanced manufacturing and fabrication is the transformation of materials into products. RMIT’s advanced manufacturing capabilities include design, additive manufacturing, micro-nano fabrication and automation; and the associated link with supply chain management and information systems. For further information contact: Professor Stuart Bateman Advanced materials Advanced materials refer to all new materials and modifications to existing materials to obtain superior performance in one or more characteristics that are critical for the application under consideration. Advanced materials can be both structural and functional. They can be inorganic, organic or inorganic-organic hybrids. They can be classified as soft matter or hard matter depending on their characteristics. For further information contact: Dist. Professor Mike Xie Biomedical and health innovation This Platform addresses international health challenges related to the rapidly-changing population demographics and the escalating burden of diseases through effective application of technology, therapeutic and diagnostic developments, patient education, nutrition, life-style modification and evidence-based clinical evaluation. This Platform incorporates theranostics, biomedical technology and health and lifestyle. For further information contact: Professor Peter McIntyre Design and creative practice This Platform brings together world leading expertise, infrastructure, partnerships and programs in design and creative practice. Focussed on critical and trans-disciplinary practice-based research in

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architecture, art, design, digital media, fashion, and organisational contexts, researchers advance knowledge and practice through effective collaboration. RMIT’s design and creative practice research develops new techniques for imagining and acting that help create rich and adaptive responses in a changing world, addressing questions of form and meaning. For further information contact: Professor Swee Mak Global business innovation This Platform brings together inter-disciplinary and applied researchers to address themes connecting governance, networks, technologies, design, culture, people and performance. It includes a specific focus on innovation, value creation, and sustainability from both market and socio-political perspectives. The goal of Global Business Innovation is to promote excellence across the diverse fields of business research as well as to use this expertise in the process of knowledge transfer for the benefit of the economy, society, and the public sector. This Platform comprises global logistics and supply chain management; entrepreneurship and innovation; governance, accountability, and the law; markets, culture, and behaviour; and people, organisations, and performance. For further information contact: Professor Pia Arenius Information and systems (engineering) Using a whole-of-system approach to develop and securely deliver targeted information, services and products - anywhere, and from any source, this Platform brings together core capabilities in data analytics, complex cyber-physical systems, mobile and pervasive environments, automation, bioinformatics, bioengineering, information management and user-centric systems. For further information contact: Professor Mark Sanderson Social change This Platform focuses on understanding social change associated with human progress, from the global scale to the local. Social change brings together RMIT’s capabilities in sociology, digital ethnography, social policy and media studies. It engages with communities, governments, organisations and industries to make theoretically informed and evidence based contributions through engaged social research. For further information contact: Professor Peter Fairbrother Urban futures There is an urgent need for research to inform how cities can be more equitable, sustainable and accountable. This Platform harnesses interdisciplinary expertise across social science, humanities, creative arts and design, environmental and technological disciplines, to analyse and resolve urban challenges. Drawing on the cutting edge urban disciplines of architecture, urban planning and the built environment, and the urban-based post-industrial applied disciplines such as cultural studies, new media, urban sociology, fashion and creative arts this Platform engages with practical problems of urban change, including sustainability, resilience and inclusion, delivering real world impact. The Enabling Capability Platforms will be developed during 2016 and further information will be released as it becomes available. For further information contact: Professor Jago Dodson

More information about the ECPs may be found on the web at: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/staff/research/capabilities

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Keynote Speaker Abstract and Bio

Women Challenging the Culture in Science Professor Frances Separovic FAA School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne Short bio Frances Separovic is a professor of chemistry and group leader at the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne. Frances completed a BA at Macquarie University and a PhD at University of New South Wales while working at CSIRO, Sydney. Following a post-doctoral fellowship at National Institutes of Health (USA), Frances joined the University of Melbourne in 1996. Her lab specializes in membrane biophysics and biological solid-state NMR with a focus on peptide antibiotics and toxins. Frances has served as Head of School, Associate Dean of the Science Faculty and in senior roles of professional societies, including General Treasurer of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), Secretary of the Biophysical Society (USA), Council of International Union of Pure & Applied Biophysics (IUPAB), President of Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB), and President of Australian New Zealand Society for Magnetic Resonance (ANZMAG). She is an editorial board member of several international journals and has organized 40 major scientific conferences and published over 200 journal papers. Frances was awarded the ASB Robertson Medal (2009), the ANZMAG Medal (2011) and elected Fellow of the Biophysical Society (USA), ISMAR Fellow, and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2012. http://separovic.chemistry.unimelb.edu.au Abstract We know that women in science face persistent challenges and increasingly institutions and professional societies are taking steps to promote the visibility of women. Much has been written about women in science, the ‘glass ceiling’ and the ‘leaking pipeline’. Gender equity continues to make headlines. Unconscious bias and a culture of exclusion have led many women to become disillusioned and ultimately leave science and academia. Professor Separovic will give a personal account of how she navigated a career in a male dominated field, the set-backs and the rewards, and why the culture of science needs to be less challenging and more inclusive

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Speaker Abstracts

Study of the entrepreneurial startup process: longitudinal study of active nascent entrepreneurs Prof. Pia Arenius, School of Management ECP Affiliation: Interim Director, Global Business Innovation, affiliate of Design and Creative Practice, Social Change, Urban Futures Abstract Despite years of research on entrepreneurship, we have limited understanding of what takes place during the time when individuals, either alone or in a team, attempt to create new organizations (Aldrich & Yang, 2012). The purpose of this project is to enhance our understanding of what happens during the startup process and what distinguishes successful startup efforts from the less successful ones. This project, which begins by screening a large random sample of members of the adult population and using validated, widely accepted questions to identify individuals who have recently began to work on starting up a new venture and then following these individuals over an extended period, will help us to understand the very basic question: why do some individuals succeed in starting up new ventures whereas others do not? Because entrepreneurship research has focused on studying established, operational organizations, many of the questions related to the process of creating ventures are overlooked. For example, what are the actual actions and activities taken by the nascent entrepreneurs? What are the outcomes of these actions and activities? I will present preliminary results of this ongoing project.

Mechanism of TRPV4 channel activation in response to shear stress Dr Sara Baratchi School of Health and Biomedical Sciences ECP Affiliation: Biomedical and Health Innovation, Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication Abstract Endothelial responses to haemodynamic forces associated with blood flow play a pivotal role in the acute regulation of vascular tone. Regulation of endothelial intracellular Ca2+ level plays a key role in controlling vascular contraction and relaxation. It is not yet understood how blood vessels sense mechanical forces, but it involves at least one mechanosensitive molecule at the cell surface that detects the force and transduces it into a biochemical signal. Mechanosensitive Ca2+ permeable ion channels are an important class of proteins that respond to mechanical stimuli and are expressed on the endothelial membrane. There is a growing appreciation that local increases in intracellular Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) are important for the regulation of vascular function. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), a non-selective cation channel, is a candidate mechanoreceptor that is widely expressed in the endothelium. Ca2+ influx through TRPV4 is an important source of local Ca2+ increase in the endothelium and it has been shown that the cooperative opening of as few as three clustered TRPV4 channels, per endothelial cell, causes maximal vasodilation through the activation of intermediate- and small- conductance, Ca2+ sensitive potassium channels (Sonkusare et al., 2014). TRPV4 channel is involved in junction barrier function in keratinocytes through binding to β-catenin (Sokobe 2010). In endothelial cells we have also found that TRPV4 is in complex with β-catenin and shear stress stimulation reduces the density of TRPV4 channels in complex with β-catenin (found in adherens junctions). Using a combination of super resolution microscopy, cell surface biotinylation assays and Ca2+ imaging, we have shown that TRPV4 channels form small clusters at the endothelial cell membrane that are in complex with components of adherens junctions such as VE-cadherin and β-catenin. Shear stress stimulation increased the density of TRPV4 channels at the cell membrane and also increased the density and size of TRPV4 clusters. TRPV4 trafficking to the cell membrane was regulated by AKT, β1 integrin and Rac1 signalling pathways but was independent of PI3K.

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Investigating teacher knowledge development in science education Prof. Amanda Berry School of Education ECP Affiliation: Information and Systems (Engineering), Design and Creative Practice, Social Change Abstract Amanda Berry is a Professor in Education in the RMIT School of Education. Amanda’s program of research focuses on teacher knowledge development and how that knowledge is shaped and articulated through teacher preparation, beginning teaching and continuing learning. In particular, Amanda’s work is directed towards two important issues in teaching and teacher education: the preparation of high quality science teachers and the ongoing development of their professional knowledge and practice; and, the work and learning of teacher educators. Amanda has been involved in many research projects focused on innovations designed to address the quality of teacher professional learning and to enhance science teaching and learning in schools and universities. The research tools that Amanda developed with colleagues at Monash University for investigating and documenting science teachers’ specialised knowledge of practice have been taken up and used by researchers internationally. More recently, Amanda has begun to focus on the interdisciplinary connections between science and the other STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/ Mathematics) subject domains, including how the key practices and ways of knowing of these different domains can be taught and learned in an integrated and meaningful way.

Biomimetic lipidic nanostructured materials for encapsulation of therapeutic proteins Dr Charlotte Conn School of Science ECP Affiliation: Advanced Materials, Biomedical and Health Innovation Abstract Proteins and peptides represent the fastest growing class of pharmaceuticals with application as drugs, vaccines and diagnostics. However, they present significant challenges for drug delivery due to their complexity and fragile nature. Hybrid protein-lipid materials are highly prospective bionanomaterials for the long-term storage and controlled release of therapeutic proteins and peptides. The lipid nanostructure offers the potential for targeted and controlled release of the bioactive molecule, while retaining the protein in a functionally active form. In order to advance the use of such materials we must understand the relationship between the nanostructure of the lipidic material, the encapsulated protein and their end use in drug delivery. The research aims to elucidate the fundamental physicochemical interactions between encapsulated proteins and peptides, and lipidic materials suitable for drug delivery. In order to screen the large compositional space associated with the design of such materials, the project makes use of high- throughput methodologies, and employs large national and international facilities such as the Australian Synchrotron, the Bragg Institute and the ASTRID 2 synchrotron, Denmark. The impact of encapsulated protein on the lipid nanostructure has been determined for a wide range of proteins and peptides. In addition the effect of the lipid nanostructure on the conformation and activity of the proteins has been determined directly within the lipidic material. Small-angle neutron scattering data on contrast matched lipidic materials has allowed the determination of protein location within the material for the first time. Results presented will guide the development of novel lipidic materials for the encapsulation and controlled release of protein and peptide based therapeutics.

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E-Textiles to improve construction work health Dr Ruwini Edirisinghe School of Property, Construction and Project Management ECP Affiliation: Information and Systems (Engineering), Urban Futures Abstract The next revolution of pervasive computing is the Internet of Things (IoT) that are smart in adopting behaviours according to the physical environment. The literature suggests that the construction industry lags in technology adoption compared to other industries. This research responds to a call by the International Council for Building (CIB) for research and innovation in wearable technologies in construction. The aim of the research is to propose a technological solution to a growing concern in the industry. Globally, the construction industry is one of the poorest performing industries in terms of its safety records. Accident statistics report fatalities and serious injuries due to exposure to extreme temperatures while regulatory bodies around the world are increasingly recognising the heat stress related health risks in the sector. An innovative approach using wearable technology and e-textiles to monitor the physiological parameters of construction workers in real time is proposed as a solution. The alerts are generated in real-time about anomalies. The technological feasibility of the proposed system was validated using a system implementation and rigorous laboratory testing. Validation of the technology usability in the industry is currently ongoing through real site-testing. An anticipated outcome of the research project is a significant contribution to the use of wearable sensor technology in the inherently dangerous construction industry to achieve improved safety performance.

Understanding the relationship between subjective wellbeing and gambling behavior Prof. Lisa Farrell School of Economics, Finance and Marketing ECP Affiliation: Global business innovation, Social Change, Urban Futures

Abstract Lisa's field of expertise is health economics and her research focuses on the consumption of addictive goods (alcohol, tobacco and gambling) along with understanding the economic and welfare drivers of lifestyle choices. In this paper she examines the relationship between gambling behavior and subjective wellbeing. It is often asserted that populations consist of different types of gamblers: those for whom gambling is a harmless leisure activity and those (pathological gamblers) for whom the activity has harmful effects. One might, therefore, assume that subjective wellbeing will be negativity associated with an individual’s level of gambling addiction. Alternatively, gamblers may choose to gamble because they derive utility from participating in this activity and so the relationship between happiness and gambling might be positively correlated. In this paper we test this association, empirically, using data from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey. The statistically significant findings from this analysis support the hypothesis that individual wellbeing falls as gambling disorder increases.

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The uncharacteristic role of T memory stem cells in HIV-1 infection Dr Jacqueline Flynn School of Science ECP Affiliation: Biomedical and Health Innovation Abstract HIV infects 37 million people worldwide, and with 2 million new infections every year for the last five years, key research areas for eradication of HIV need to be addressed. Defining the susceptibility of CD4+ T cell subsets to HIV-1 infection is important as treatments are currently being investigated to purge latent HIV-1 from CD4+ memory T cell reservoirs. The long-lifespan, robust proliferative potential and self-renewal capacity of T memory stem cells (TSCM) has generated much clinical interest. However these traits raise particular concerns for the preservation of the HIV-1 reservoir and viral persistence. We quantified the susceptibility of CD4+ T cells, including the newly described TSCM, to infection by HIV-1 subtype C (C-HIV) strains from treatment-naïve subjects (MUSH cohort, Jakobsen et al 2013). These subjects progressed from chronic to advanced stages of disease whilst maintaining viruses using the CCR5 cell surface receptor for entry (R5 viruses) or experiencing emergence of dominant viruses, which used the CXCR4 receptor for entry (X4 viruses). This is the first study to demonstrate TSCM were susceptible to infection by R5 and X4 C-HIV viruses (higher for R5 strains p<0.05). Mutagenesis studies established the V3 region of the HIV-1 envelope as the determinant underlying the preferential targeting of naïve CD4+ T-cells by emergent X4 C-HIV variants in this study. In contrast, the tropism of R5 C-HIV viruses for memory CD4+ T cell subsets was maintained during chronic disease progression. This study provides new insights into the natural history of tropism alterations for CD4+ T cell subsets by C-HIV strains. The maintenance of infection of key HIV-1 viral reservoirs, including central memory, transitional memory and TSCM cells, their contribution to the viral reservoir, and long- lifespan highlights the importance of targeting these cells in future therapeutic strategies.

Service design thinking for sustainable value propositions for online services Dr Areli Avendano Franco School of Architecture and Design ECP Affiliations: Global Business Innovation, Advanced Materials, Biomedical and Health Innovation, Design and Creative Practice, Social Change Abstract This research involves the use of design thinking methodologies for the delivery of high environmental, social and economic sustainability value to users and businesses of retail and financial online services. In partnership with Australia Post, the project consisted of the proposition of innovative service scenarios in which the current postal satchel used by business partners for the delivery of products to online buyers/clients were either reused or recycled or both. Two concepts were developed: a) ‘Wrap and Send’ satchel (a dematerialisation strategy), and; b) the ‘Multi-Trip’ satchel ( a multi-use strategy). Both aim to improve the overall user experience as well optimized logistics, adaptability, customisation, as well as responsiveness and product stewardship. The UK Design Council Double Diamond was used as a new way of designing for Australia Post and their business partners. This model breaks down the design process into four key stages: Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver. The design process involved multiple iterations across the different stages as well as collaboration with a multidisciplinary range of key stakeholders within and outside Australia Post. Through a co-design workshop with industry stakeholders and Australia Post, we accessed stakeholders’ expertise and insights to inform the proposed scenarios. Key foci at the workshop were to: • Identify how can business ‘value’ be created from the social, environmental and economic perspectives • Identify opportunities and challenges for implementation of a new service model in collaboration with business partners

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A major outcome of the project was to a service model that can be replicated across different products while addressing issues of sustainability. Elements of service innovation and active collaboration with different stakeholders and Australia Post including other major players in other relevant industries (related to the delivery of the service) was recognised as a main key for success.

Design and Sexual Health: confronting taboos and creating innovation Dr Judith Glover School of Architecture and Design ECP Affiliations: Design and Creative Practice, Biomedical and Health Innovation, Social Change Abstract Sexual Health across an individual’s lifetime contributes to significant wellbeing outcomes including and especially into old age. Conversely issues or problems around sexual functioning, practice or behaviours can contribute to enormous suffering especially if untreated. The area of Sexual Health even within the medical field suffers from the same social stigmas and taboos relating to sexuality and sexual practice. Longstanding social taboos and misunderstandings of sexuality and sexual functioning have affected the innovation of products and services in sexual health and wellbeing. Fifty years after the sexual revolution the product genre of sex toys for instance is still considered socially taboo and the area of sexual health in the design field barely exists. The design disciplines and Industrial Design in particular should and can play a role in developing the issues and problems of clinicians, health practitioners and patients into innovative product and service solutions. Negative socio- sexual attitudes to sexuality, gender and sexual functioning are more problematic to the development of appropriate new products and services than the current technical capabilities of contemporary design, engineering and manufacturing. Taboos can be challenged by developing research in a rigorous academic and scholarly manner within the design fields— collaborating with health practitioners and health researchers in cross disciplinary projects. Moving design and innovation in this important area of human health and wellbeing away from the sole confines of the Adult industry and into design and design academia challenges long standing social taboos. This presentation discusses why Design should be in the field of Sexual Health and the types of high impact problems that can be addressed through Design methods and methodology leveraging collaborations with health practitioners.

Role of the solvophobic effect in protein-ionic liquid interactions Dr Tamar Greaves School of Science ECP Affiliations: Advanced Materials, Biomedical and Health Innovation Abstract Biological applications which utilise enzymes, or other proteins, require the tertiary structure of the protein to be retained. However, many proteins readily undergo aggregation or denaturation when outside their native environment, and/or over longer timescales. The stability of proteins in solvents other than water is usually considered unappealing due to an assumption that the protein will be insoluble or denatured. However, a few solvents, such as glycerol and dilute alcohols have been shown to have protein stabilising properties. Previously we have developed extensive structure-property relationships between the chemical structures and mesostructures of non-aqueous solvents and the solvophobic effect experienced by amphiphiles for molecular solvents [1] and protic ionic liquids (PILs) [2]. We are now applying this fundamental knowledge to the stability of proteins in PILs. Initial results for lysozyme showed significant differences in the stability of lysozyme depending on which cation or anion was present in the PIL, and on whether the ions were kosmotropic or chaotropic [3]. A highly novel aspect of this work involves using stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric PIL solutions as the solvents. Many of these are suitable for biological applications, and we can control and isolate solvent properties such as pH and ionicity across very broad ranges, without the addition of new solutes. Consequently these PIL solutions can be tailored for specific applications, and are a useful tool for gaining understanding of complex systems. This work has the potential to lead to tailored solvent systems which optimise protein stability, such as for cryopreservation, protein crystallisation and industrial catalytic use of enzymes. [1] E. C. Wijaya, T. L. Greaves and C. J. Drummond, Faraday Discuss. 2013, 167, 191-215. [2] T. L. Greaves and C. J. Drummond, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2013, 42, 1096-1120 [3] E. C. Wijaya, F. Separovic, C. J. Drummond, T. L. Greaves, PCCP. 2016, accepted.

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Exploring the role of social media in female body idealisation Dr Lauren Gurrieri School of Economics, Finance and Marketing ECP Affiliation: Social Change Abstract This research investigates the role of social media in shaping body idealisation for women. Whilst a well-established body of research has explored how traditional media influences consumers’ body image perceptions, the media landscape is rapidly changing. A nascent area of research has begun to investigate the ways through which social media perpetuate body ideals for women, with the increasingly visual impression management conducted online through engagement in photo-based sharing activities highlighted as of particular concern. Simultaneously, in recent years the emergence of pro-anorexia online communities and an online culture of ‘thinspiration’ has gained increasing traction across social media. In turn, this study aims to investigate how body ideals communicated in and through social media spread and attain ‘trend’ status. A netnographic methodological approach was employed to understand the evolution of one body image trend online - the ‘bikini bridge’ - characterized by protruding hipbones and an inverted stomach. Data was collected via Twitter and focused on the central social media conversation spurred by ‘Operation Bikini Bridge’ – a hoax originating on 4chan that quickly developed into an online body image trend. A total sample of 10,310 tweets were captured using hashtag harvesting software during January 2014. Findings suggest that the ‘bikini bridge’ ideal gained viral status throughout social media due to four key factors: 1) simplicity (i.e. the singularization of skinny), 2) believability (i.e. the reality of the body image “hoax”), 3) cooptation (i.e. adoption by pre-existing communities), 4) controversy (i.e. conflicting narratives among users). Implications suggest that body ideals are becoming increasingly fragmented, rewarding women for achieving a single body part rather than focusing on overall health and wellbeing. In addition, the dark side of social media is highlighted through user-generated content that creates and popularises body ideals that reflect broader cultural expectations of beauty.

Exploring new targets for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases Dr Tamara Paravicini School of Health and Biomedical Sciences ECP Affiliation: Biomedical and Health Innovation Abstract Our research investigates the biological mechanisms that lead to cardiovascular disease and damage, with a view to identifying future therapeutic targets for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. A unifying research theme is examining the role of magnesium transport and signalling in maintaining cardiovascular health, and in various disease states. Heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI) remains a major cause of death and disability in the Australian population, affecting more than 50,000 Australians each year. Whilst new treatments have improved survival rates immediately following a heart attack, surviving patients are at increased risk for developing potentially fatal heart failure as the heart tries to adapt to the structural damage caused by the MI. Thus, in the development of new therapeutic strategies for MI, both the acute injury and the longer-term damage will need to be addressed. We have identified a magnesium transport protein that appears to contribute to both the acute injury and the long-term structural changes in the heart. We are currently examining the effects of inhibiting this protein in various models of MI to determine whether this protein may be a potential target for the development of future therapies to treat heart attack. Another area of active research focuses on the effects of vascular dysfunction during pregnancy. It is well-established that various perturbations during pregnancy can adversely affect maternal and foetal health, both immediately and in the longer term. However, the potential mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain poorly understood. We are using a variety of animal models to examine whether vascular dysfunction in the mother impairs development of the placenta and foetus, to ultimately determine whether maternal vascular dysfunction contributes to poor outcomes for both the mother and baby.

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Building energy efficiency and environmental quality A/Prof. Priyadarsini Rajagopalan School of Property, Construction and Project Management ECP Affiliations: Urban Futures, Information and Systems (Engineering) Abstract Greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector have more than doubled since 1970 and the building sector contributes up to 30% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions. Some ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions include developing new technologies to achieve greater energy efficiency. It is important to establish a good balance between building energy consumption and the quality of the indoor environment. A number of studies clearly demonstrate that indoor environmental quality of a building has significant impact on the health, well-being and productivity of its occupants. Indoor environment quality (IEQ) has four main components: indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal comfort, acoustics, and lighting. The health and productivity benefits of good IAQ, as attributed by low concentrations of carbon dioxide and pollutants and high ventilation rates, are well established. In addition, many studies have shown that thermal comfort improves productivity. Moreover design of the building façade and interior layout and materials have impact on acoustic performance, concentration, collaboration, confidentiality and creativity. The link between lighting and productivity, particularly level of artificial lighting, exposure to daylight and window views are well documented. By placing the users at the centre of design, they tend to be more forgiving and willing to work in a greater range of indoor conditions. This presentation will give an overview of the building energy and indoor environmental quality research currently being undertaken.

Using patch-clamp electrophysiology to explore mechanisms of plasticity in spinal cord circuits after stroke Dr Michelle Rank School of Health and Biomedical Sciences ECP Affiliation: Biomedical and Health Innovation Abstract Dr Michelle Rank is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences. Her research explores plasticity within the nervous system, especially the spinal cord, in response to injury. Her current focus is on discovering the cellular and synaptic mechanisms, within spinal cord neurons, that may be harnessed to improve functional recovery after a stroke. Ischemic stroke, caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain, accounts for >80% of strokes in Australia. Many patients who survive an ischemic stroke are left with severe motor and/or sensory disabilities. Currently, the best available treatment for ischemic stroke is recanalization therapy. This approach saves cortical tissue and leads to recovery as long as sufficient connections between the brain and spinal cord remain or reform. Although it is recognised that plasticity within surviving cortical areas is crucial for sensorimotor recovery after stroke, the role of plasticity in circuits outside the brain (i.e. the spinal cord) is unknown. Here, in an animal model of ischemic stroke, data are presented to highlight the use of whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology to assess the plasticity of spinal cord neuronal networks at early and late time points after a stroke. Significant changes in several important intrinsic membrane properties including rheobase current input resistance and action potential (AP) amplitude occur beginning at 7d and persisting 28d after stroke. These data demonstrate that long-term changes in the excitability of spinal cord neurons occur after an ischemic stroke in the brain. This is the first data of its kind to show specific changes in neurons and neural circuits outside of the brain after stroke. Exploring the mechanisms of spinal cord plasticity after stroke provides truly novel insights into potential new avenues of therapeutic treatments to benefit stroke patients.

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Cognitive impact of high fat and high sugar diets Dr Amy Reichelt School of Health and Biomedical Sciences ECP Affiliation: Biomedical and Health Innovation Abstract High fat and sugar diets contribute not only to the development of obesity but also have a profound impact on brain function. Young people are the greatest consumers of sugar and fat laden foods and drinks, and adolescence is a key period of neurodevelopment in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the hippocampus, which is essential for memory. These regions are critical for controlling behaviour, attention and decision making, and in combination with a poor diet, adolescents are a vulnerable population. Furthermore, the reward system is highly sensitive to stimulation during adolescence and may be permanently altered by over-stimulation by excessive consumption of palatable foods during this neurodevelopmental period. To examine the impact of diets on cognition, behavioural assays that are sensitive to brain dysfunction are utilised in rats exposed to high fat and high sugar diets. In particular, touchscreen-based tasks that recapitulate human neuropsychiatric tests have been developed for rodents that examine behaviours dependent on the PFC and the hippocampus. These tasks detect functional impairments and enhancements, essential for testing potential cognitive therapies. More so, alterations in neuroplasticity and reward associated genes have revealed mechanisms by which these diets can impact on cognition. Future research aims towards understanding the neural mechanisms involved in obesity induced cognitive decline, with the goal to generate targeted approaches to reverse behavioural deficits utilising chemogenetic, pharmacological and environmental interventions.

Transitioning into and out of university: the impact of resilience on students’ psychological distress and well-being Dr Christina Scott-Young School of Property, Construction and Project Management ECP Affiliations: Social Change, Global Business Innovation Abstract Studying at university is known to be a highly stressful phase of life, particularly for students transitioning into university and then again in their final year as they prepare to transition out into the workforce. The increasing incidence of psychological distress and poor mental health among higher education students is of growing concern worldwide. Stress is particularly marked in students of the Built Environment who experience high levels of burnout from combining full-time study with long working hours in the highly pressurised construction industry. Resilience is known to be an important competence for adapting to stressful environments, but there is limited research in university settings. To address this gap, a program of research was undertaken to: (1) develop and validate a measure of student resilience; (2) explore the relationship between resilience and mental health; (3) develop a profile of the resilience of built environment students; and (4) identify strategies to build students’ resilience. A mixed methods approach of interviews and a survey with first and final year undergraduate Built Environment students confirmed the validity of the new resilience scale and identified a positive relationship between resilience and psychological well-being. The results identified transitioning student profiles of resilience and measures of subjective happiness, depression, anxiety, and stress. The first year of university study evoked higher levels of anxiety and stress than the final year. International students and females experienced higher levels of anxiety and stress in their final year of study compared to local male students. The findings suggest that universities can proactively support student well-being by embedding resilience-building activities into the curriculum. Targeted interventions are likely to improve student mental health, lower attrition rates and equip students for a successful and sustainable adaptation to stressful working environments.

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Gender in the urban Pacific Dr Ceridwen Spark School of Global, Urban and Social Studies ECP Affiliations: Social Change, Urban Futures Abstract I conduct research on gender and social change, gender and education, gender and leadership and gender and spatiality in urban areas. Most of my research is based in Papua New Guinea but I also work in other parts of the Pacific and Australia. I am particularly interested in the interactions between gender, space and place and the ways in which belonging is shaped by these and other factors including ethnicity and colonial histories. I am currently involved in funded projects about leading women in Papua New Guinea, women's coalitions in the Pacific and Malaysia, and a respectful relationships program in Papua New Guinea. I would like to work with other RMIT researchers who are interested in exploring social change in urban areas as this relates to gender issues.

Wild cities A/Prof. Wendy Steele School of Global, Urban and Social Studies ECP Affiliations: Urban Futures, Social Change Abstract We live in wild cities – wild weather, wild capitalism, wild people, wild politics – and this has both positive and regressive dimensions. There is a restless churning at both the global and local scale where cities serve as a mirror for society’s pleasures, contradictions and anxieties. Part of this entails giving substance to notions such as justice and our ethical attempts to craft the way we live. How can we better shape the conditions of our cities within the context of a climate of urban-led change (environmental, economic, social, cultural)? There is an opportunity now to better embrace and engage with how real places and spaces - wild cities - are produced and change. Part of this is recognizing our own wild human nature, and working together from this understanding forward. Human flourishing and cooperation is not then some utopic end-point, but the very process by which we craft sustainable, just cities.

Plastic pollution in our environment and the role of microbes Dr Slobodanka Stojkovic School of Science ECP Affiliations: Advanced Materials, Biomedical and Health Innovation, Information and Systems (Engineering) Abstract Plastic pollution is one of the major threats for ocean health, with recent estimates of at least 15 trillion piece of plastic in the surface ocean waters. This is even more worrying, considering the majority is smaller than 5mm (i.e. microplastic), which can be easily mistaken for food and ingested by animals. Besides potential physical damage, plastic fragments present a perfect surface for accumulation of microorganisms, which, in turn, can accumulate organic and inorganic pollutants on their travel through the environment, elevating the potential threat to the animals. One of the roles microorganisms could also play in association with microplastic is changing the buoyancy of the microplastic fragments, driving them towards the sediments, extending the effects of microplastic to the new environment. Even though most research has been focused on the marine environment, it is now known that freshwater systems are as affected, and often pathways for microplastic transport to the marine environment. Our research is focusing on the role of microorganisms associated with microplastic in the aquatic environment, using novel molecular and analytical tools for characterizing microorganisms and plastic types found. Part of our research is using a citizen science approach to gather samples from beaches around Australia and Melbourne to examine microorganisms associated with beach plastic. The other part is focusing on the role of microorganisms in sediments in freshwater and marine environments in and around Melbourne, and trying to understand the main drivers of plastic pollution in our city. This information will help resource managers and regulatory organizations manage our waterways accordingly.

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Bio-transport in human respiratory airways Dr Lin Tian School of Engineering ECP Affiliation: Biomedical and Health Innovation Abstract My research focuses on multi-scale modelling, molecular dynamics of nanoparticle and structures and the applications in human respiratory systems. The research outcomes can bring innovation in two areas: (1) toxicity assessment; and (2) therapeutic applications. Commercial products incorporating nanoparticles are growing exponentially; however, knowledge of their toxicity is extremely lagging. On the other hand, targeted delivery of nanomedicine has great potential to improve drug efficacy in cancer treatment, medical imaging and many therapeutic applications. My research aims to generate fundamental discoveries with far-reaching significance to the nanotechnology and nanomedicine industries for the design of positive controlled devices and applications.

A new therapy to promote myelination and improve neurological outcomes following fetal growth restriction Dr Mary Tolcos School of Health and Biomedical Sciences ECP Affiliation: Biomedical and Health Innovation Abstract Myelination in the brain of infants following fetal growth restriction (FGR) is deficient; poor myelin leads to poor brain function that can manifest as low IQ, learning difficulties, poor memory, deficits in vision/hearing and movement disorders in childhood. In rodents we have shown that FGR-induced myelination deficits in the offspring are due to delayed maturation of oligodendrocytes. However the mechanisms that underpin this delay are not fully known and there is no corrective treatment. We propose that alterations in thyroid hormone (TH) uptake and signaling leads to delayed oligodendrocyte maturation and reduced myelination in FGR, and that DITPA (3,5- diiodothyropropanoic acid), a TH analogue, can correct the myelination deficit. At embryonic day 18 (term=22 days), pregnant rats underwent bilateral uterine vessel ligation to generate FGR pups; sham surgeries generated controls. Brains were collected at various postnatal ages to assess: (i) gene expression of TH receptors, transporters and enzymes (ii) oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination, within the cerebral white matter. We found that in FGR vs control neonates there was a significant decrease in: (i) monocarboxylate transporter-8 and thyroid hormone receptor alpha mRNA levels (ii) the density of mature oligodendrocytes and myelination. A second cohort of control and FGR pups were then treated with DITPA for the first 6 days of life and brains collected at day 7 for assessment of myelination. Treatment of FGR neonates with DITPA restored myelination to control levels. These findings confirm our hypothesis that reduced myelination arises because of decreased TH uptake and signaling in the white matter of the FGR brain. We also provide the first preclinical evidence that postnatal treatment with DITPA can correct FGR-induced deficits in myelination. We are now working towards translating our findings into clinical studies.

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Research translation: bridging the gap Dr Amanda Warmerdam School of Property, Construction and Project Management ECP Affiliation: Global Business Innovation Abstract Introduction The translation of research into policy, practice or future research creates value and promotes innovation through change enacted from new knowledge. My research focuses on bridging the gaps between researchers, industry partners, regulators and government. Significance My PhD research identified actors in a complex system who can contribute to safety. Through strong translation efforts, the research team identified the key barriers to implementation of the research recommendations. The findings provide impetus for industry, regulators, and government to play a more influential role in the systematic management of safety in organisational contexts. Now at RMIT, my current project examines the effectiveness of definitions used by national regulatory bodies to improve worker safety. This project includes national stakeholder consultation to ensure that the research captures knowledge that can be used for the benefit of the economy, society and the public sector. Outcomes This project is new to RMIT and consists of four stages. The first stage was commenced this week. Benefits The findings of this research will be considered by policy makers on a national level. This places RMIT in a strong position to advocate for the impact of research being completed within our university. The broader benefit of this research is that the findings have the capacity to improve safety of workers and potentially save the lives of Australian employees.

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Abstracts from newly recruited women researchers

Investigating HIV-1 resistance to CCR5 antagonist Maraviroc for the design of new prevention strategies Dr Jacqueline Flynn School of Science ECP Affiliation: Biomedical and Health Innovation Abstract Maraviroc (MVC) is a HIV-1 CCR5 entry inhibitor, which binds to and alters the confirmation of CCR5 such that CCR5 is no longer recognized by HIV-1. It is currently used for HIV-1 treatment and is being tested as a pre-exposure prophylaxis prevention strategy. Unfortunately, MVC resistance can occur. However the mechanisms behind its development are unclear. Elucidating these mechanisms will assist in the design of improved CCR5 antagonists for use in prevention and therapy. HIV-1 envelopes (Envs) were cloned from plasma from phase III MOTIVATE clinical trial participants, who developed phenotypically verified MVC resistance in vivo. MVC resistance was characterised by measuring the maximal percent inhibition (MPI) and the ability of the Envs to recognise the MVC- bound confirmation of CCR5. Tropism alterations for the infectivity of CD4+ T cell subsets were characterised and CCR5 engagement of resistant Envs was tested for neutralization by sulfated peptide fragments of the CCR5 N-terminus. The MPI values and affinity profiling showed that these Envs displayed a divergent ability to recognise MVC-bound CCR5, characterised by either a relatively efficient (MPI ~10%, less CCR5-dependant) or inefficient (MPI ~90%, more CCR5-dependant) recognition. Only the MVC-resistant Env with efficient recognition of MVC-bound CCR5 (MPI ~10%) displayed a tropism shift for CD4+ T cells characterized by a significant expansion of infected central memory T cells, potentially increasing the size of HIV reservoir. Interestingly, both resistant Envs were susceptible to neutralization by a sulphated peptide fragment of the CCR5 N-terminus. Our results suggest that the pattern of HIV-1 tropism alterations for susceptible cells can vary depending on the magnitude of MVC resistance. Despite divergent phenotypes of resistance, both Envs showed an increase reliance on sulfated CCR5 N-terminus residues, which could provide a new avenue to block HIV-1 entry through CCR5 N-terminus sulfopeptidomimetic drugs.

Design thinking for humanitarian aid education Dr Areli Avendano Franco School of Architecture and Design ECP Affiliations: Social Change, Advanced Materials, Biomedical and Health Innovation, Design and Creative Practice, Global Business Innovation Abstract My research outlines how Industrial Design (ID) –alongside other professions – can play a significant role in humanitarian scenarios in actualising sustainable recovery and resilience of communities impacted by a natural hazard. As part of the new Masters of Disaster, Design and Development (MoDDD), I have been working on the design of a new course titled: “Industrial design for humanitarian scenarios” (ARCH 1453). By describing the general context and principles that are used in humanitarian aid, some of the gaps that have been identified as challenges within the current practices are connected to ID principles and methodologies. The inclusion of ID methodologies in humanitarian aid education can contribute to the effective and sustainable management of material and immaterial resources. Access to all types of required expertise can be difficult to arrange and as such humanitarian aid practitioners face many ‘gaps’ or factors that limit their efficacy in practices. This is often the case where specialised design expertise is required. Two aspects that arise when PDM skills are examined from an ID perspective are: (a) the need to take a more holistic and human-centred design approach to augment the focus on civil infrastructure or urban scale, and; (b) the role of designedly systems and participatory approaches to assist in leveraging affected communities in the re-establishment of materially and technologically mediated daily activities A key element of taking an ID approach is the capability to work in cooperation with communities and relevant stakeholders by deploying a systems’ approach through participatory methods. The

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Gender and corporate social responsibility: a critical engagement Dr Kate Grosser School of Management ECP Affiliation: Social Change Abstract Over the last ten years my research has critically engaged with the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from a feminist perspective. I began by investigating the relationship between gender mainstreaming and CSR, and then the gender content of CSR reporting and stakeholder accountability processes. I am acutely aware of the importance of including traditionally marginalised voices, in terms of gender but also race, class, nationality, sexuality and other differences, in processes of defining CSR. My most recently published paper examines pluralism within CSR as a process of governance involving business, government, and civil society actors, from a gender perspective. Theoretically, I am exploring the contribution of feminist organization theory and advancing an interdisciplinary dialogue about corporate accountability/responsibility and gender issues. I am also working on a paper about the relationship between CSR and feminist activism through a social movement theory lens. CSR scholarship is important for gender studies because, as a consequence of privatization, deregulation, liberalization, and a ‘hollowing out’ of government, the private sector is playing a growing role in employment, and in societal governance in many parts of the world. CSR research is about business social and environmental impacts. Moreover, “the CSR movement is a discursive and material struggle about business practice; it represents a politicization of the social content of the institutions that govern private economic activity”. By implication CSR has become an important arena for critical and strategic engagement by feminist scholars interested in gender and organization. Apart from numerous academic publications, my research led to invitations to serve on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Gender Working Group (2010), and as advisor on ‘integrating a gender perspective’ to the UN Special Representative on Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises (2009).

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The art of navigation Ms Rose Michael School of Media & Communication ECP Affiliation: Design & Creative Practice Abstract The creative component of this thesis is a speculative fiction set in the Dandenongs in 1987. Three young girls exhibiting varying levels of adolescent vulnerability leave their safe suburban world to spend a life-changing night in the Emerald forest. They plan a half-serious Gothic adventure: to conduct a séance and call forth the Australian bushranger Ned Kelly. But their plans are disrupted when a group of boys from a nearby party intrudes. The teenagers share alcohol and drugs and one of their number, intoxicated, becomes convinced that the game has succeeded in a way the girls never intended – when day breaks Nat is in a psychotic state, believing she is possessed by a spirit she identifies as a different Edward Kelley. ‘Her’ Ed is a figure with a darker past and far more dangerous motivations: an alleged alchemist, necromancer and crystal ball ‘scryer’ for Elizabeth the First’s astrologist and one-time adviser Doctor Dee. The narrative moves between 1987, 1587 and 2087 – each part told from the point of view of a different non-realist literary tradition. The first, takes the form of a gothic ghost story; the middle section, a fantastic tale of possession; while the last uses science-fiction to imagine the possibility of future time-travel technologies. These three sections are linked via letters that Nat’s son Jo writes to her grandson John in an attempt to pass on what he knows; hoping that what is not clear to him, and was not clear to his mother, may make more sense in the future. As, indeed, it does, when Nat – dying a hundred years hence – stumbles upon a scrying device (inspired by Dee’s speculations) that enables her to revisit the original scene in the forest and also access the Elizabethan past where Dee and Kelley’s actions strangely echo Nat’s own forest encounter. (The critical component of this thesis takes up Bruce Sterling’s notion of slipstream literature to detail how the publication and reception of three recent bestselling literary fiction books aligns with non- realist genre conventions. My case studies are concerned not so much with generic content – which determines inclusion on Sterling’s list; though I do detail these titles’ respective elements of fantasy, gothic and science-fiction – as with the more formal, paratextual aspects of each book’s production.)

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