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Adelaidean April 2008

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Adelaidean April 2008 FREE Publication April 2008 | Volume 17 | Number 2 inside this issue 4 $1 million scholarships attract best students 9 Unlocking Anzac spirit needs to be nurtured deadly mysteries 13 Drug program targets of the mind Vietnam HIV epidemic 17 Neuroscience “These new areas of research For the fi rst time, the Centre for are exciting for staff and students Neurological Diseases will begin From pioneer to in the Centre for Neurological studies of brain tumours focusing page-turner: Dame New research at the University of Roma’s life in print Diseases – even more so when you on two specifi c research questions. Adelaide will delve into some of the consider that the Neurosurgical “The fi rst is concerned with the crucial issues surrounding death by Research Foundation (NRF) is this swelling, or oedema, caused in brain tumours and stroke. year celebrating 45 years of funding neural tissue by tumours, which The research, to be conducted in lifesaving research,” he said. is the main determinant of patient the joint University/IMVS Centre for “To be able to add two new areas outcome,” Professor Vink said. Neurological Diseases, will aim to of research is great news for our “We know that the cerebral blood fi nd links between chemical signals work, and it promises even better vessels in the vicinity of the tumour in the brain and the reasons news for people’s health in the become ‘leaky’, and this is what why brain tumours or strokes future.” underlies the development of the become fatal. swelling. However, the mechanism “There are still many mysteries Brain tumour research that causes this change in vascular around how the brain works, and Brain tumours account for permeability is unknown. this new research will help to approximately 2% of all cancer “From our research into traumatic unlock key elements we believe deaths. However, a much greater brain injury and stroke, we believe are involved in two separate but problem is the spread of cancer, that neuropeptides (chains of amino equally debilitating conditions,” said with secondary tumours developing acids in the neural tissue) may play a Professor Robert Vink, NRF Chair within the central nervous system. key role in changing the permeability of Neurosurgical Research and This accounts for almost 10 times of the blood-brain barrier. Head of the University’s School of as many deaths as primary brain Medical Sciences. tumours. continued on page 18 Adelaidean Adelaidean is the offi cial newspaper of the University of Adelaide. It provides news and information about the University to the general public, with a focus on Life Impact. Circulation: 11,000 per month (March to December) Online readership: 90,000 hits per month (on average) www.adelaide.edu.au/adelaidean From the Vice-Chancellor Editor: David Ellis Design and Layout: Chris Tonkin A scholarship can help change a student’s life. their second year, and already they have proven their Writers: I was lucky enough to receive a Gibson Scholarship value to our University – and, hopefully, to the schools Candy Gibson at undergraduate level, and a Queen’s University and the students themselves. Robyn Mills scholarship supported my subsequent PhD studies. So In awarding these and other scholarships, the Contributors: Claire Oremland I fully appreciate the importance of this sort of support University of Adelaide is continuing its long history of Anna Rivett for students, especially those from rural and sometimes attracting the brightest young people to study here – as Deadline for May issue: remote areas. shown by our 101 Rhodes Scholars and three Nobel Friday 4 April 2008 The Gibson Scholarship was valued at £200 per year. Laureate graduates. Editorial/Advertising enquiries: Tel: +61 8 8303 5414 That seems a small sum today, but in rural Ireland in Scholarships act as an incentive for students to Fax: +61 8 8303 4829 the 1960s, it was a substantial sum. It really did help to achieve excellence in their studies. They also, very Email: [email protected] change a student’s life. importantly, provide support for those students who Mailing address: I recently welcomed our new undergraduate might otherwise be unable to take up a University place Adelaidean scholarship winners to the University of Adelaide at – a situation that was very true for me. Marketing & Strategic Communications, a ceremony in Bonython Hall. We are blessed at this Past experience suggests that some of our University of Adelaide, University with some of the most gifted young students scholarship students will go on to become the next SA 5005 Australia in the nation. It is very pleasing to be able to say to generation of Rhodes, Fulbright, General Sir John Material may be reproduced without the hundred or so students who attended the function Monash or Menzies scholars, earning them a rightful permission but acknowledgement must be given to the Adelaidean. that we are giving them every opportunity to succeed place in the University’s history. In turn, these Printed by: in their studies, thanks to the fi nancial support they scholarships will offer our graduates opportunities right Lane Print & Post are receiving. around the world, and experience that will help them to Tel: +61 8 8179 9900 Fax: +61 8 8376 1044 As well as being academically talented, many of these make an impact on our society in a wide range of fi elds. Email: [email protected] students have also made major contributions to their Scholarships are an investment in our future. The Web: www.laneprint.com.au schools and their local communities. University of Adelaide is pleased to be making such an Distribution: Lane Print Group On the day, it was pleasing to see so many family investment, and I thank everyone who has contributed Passing Out Distribution Co. members and friends – even teachers – helping to generously in support of our scholarship programs. Registered by Australia Post celebrate the students’ success. With their support, Your assistance has made a great difference. No 565001/00046 and the fi nancial support afforded by the range of scholarships (see story on page 4), these students already have a solid foundation at this crucial early stage of their university studies. Also attending the event were Principals of secondary schools who nominated their students for the University of Adelaide Principals’ Scholarship. Their support for students and the scholarship program is greatly JAMES A. McWHA appreciated. The Principals’ Scholarships are only in Vice-Chancellor and President Art & Heritage Collections The aim of the Heritage Furniture Collection is The Elder School of to showcase and preserve the changing styles of Music commissioned educational furniture through the years. Andrew Parish at Alchemy Iron Works to Some items date back to the establishment of the design and produce University in 1874 and include the work of master a pair of iron bench craftsmen of that era. seats, which capture While many pieces from the collection are in storage, some of music’s Art & Heritage Collections believe it is important for whimsicality. These seats can be seen items to continue to be used and enjoyed for their and used outside the functional and aesthetic qualities. This means you will western entrance to the fi nd a selection of pieces throughout the University, with Hartley Building, North their history and superior design helping to enhance the Terrace Campus, off working spaces around campus. Kintore Avenue. The collection also includes modern pieces of furniture. Photo by Anna Rivett Anna Rivett, Collections Offi cer, Art & Heritage Collections 2 Adelaidean Volume 17 | Number 2 | April 2008 News in Brief Law lectures celebrate 125 years The University of Adelaide’s Law School is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year with a variety of events including the Law 125 Distinguished Speakers Series of free public lectures. Coming up in April are two lectures within the series: On Thursday 3 April, Associate Professor Tim Stretton of St Mary’s University in Canada will shed new light on the famous ‘pound of fl esh’ with his talk on “Contract, Debt Litigation and Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice”. On Friday 18 April, international law expert Professor David Kennedy of Brown University and formerly Harvard University Law School will discuss “The Mystery of Global Governance”. All Law 125 lectures are free, open to the public, and will be held at 1pm in the Moot Court Room, Ligertwood Building, North Terrace Campus, University of Adelaide. For more information on planned Light of learning events contact Dr Paul Babie, Associate Dean of Law (Research), on (08) 8303 5521 or email: paul. for all to see [email protected] Jazz Awards move to Hyatt Eight of the University of Adelaide’s fi nest young jazz musicians will receive more than $6000 in awards Bonython Hall, as well as the State Brett Sheehy, Artistic Community and perform in an evening of jazz on Library of South Australia, the South Director of the Adelaide Wednesday 30 April from 7pm. Australian Museum, and the Art Bank Festival of Arts, The University of Adelaide’s motto outside the University of One of the highly popular concerts Gallery of South Australia. Adelaide’s Elder Hall in is Sub Cruce Lumen. Roughly Northern Lights was just one way in the Elder Conservatorium of preparation for the opening Music’s Evening Concert Series, the translated, it means “the light (of in which the University shared centre of Northern Lights Jazz Awards concert will this year learning) under the (Southern) Cross”. stage in the offi cial launch of the be held in the Ballroom of the Hyatt But at the recent opening of the Photo by Russell Millard, Festival of Arts. Among the opening Regency.
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