November 2010 | Volume 19 | Number 9 | Free Publication Rhodes Scholar set for Oxford Story on page 4 VICE-CHANCELLOR Adelaidean is the offi cial newspaper of the University of Adelaide. It provides news and information about Our future in agriculture the University to the general public, with a focus on Life Impact. Circulation: 10,000 per month While the focus of agriculture is changing, it remains a (March to December) Online readership: cornerstone for education and research at University of Adelaide. 140,000 hits per month (on average) www.adelaide.edu.au/adelaidean Follow the University of Adelaide on We are seeing a wonderful revitalisation of The establishment of the School of Animal Facebook and Twitter: both the Waite and Roseworthy campuses as and Veterinary Sciences and the new veterinary the University’s investment in infrastructure and health centres will further attract research and research capacity is realised through state-of- teaching interest in Roseworthy at a time when the-art facilities and bold plans for the future. the region is preparing for signifi cant growth in facebook.com/uniofadelaide Capitalising on a long tradition of excellence population, industry and infrastructure. twitter.com/uniofadelaide in agricultural research and teaching, we are Yet as we acknowledge the success of our Editor: building on these strengths and developing an research and education outcomes and our David Ellis environment that will encourage and support the world-class facilities, we are acutely aware of the Design: next generation of students and academics. responsibility that we share with the community Chris Tonkin This direction, starting with a restructure of in ensuring that the agricultural sector is well Writers: Candy Gibson the undergraduate agricultural degrees and a supported for the long term. Kate Husband fi rm commitment to major capital works, and A fundamental key to this viability is quite Robyn Mills culminating in record levels of competitive simple – undergraduate students. Contributors: research income, has helped to strengthen Looking ahead, one of the greatest challenges Ben Osborne the University’s reputation as a internationally facing the University, and more importantly the Cover photo: recognised centre for agriculture. farming sector, is offering an attractive learning Rhodes Scholar Christopher Wong Photo by Michael Mullan This was highlighted at the recent openings of pathway for young people in agriculture. While the Waite Research Institute, further cementing postgraduate study continues to grow in Deadline for December issue: Friday 5 November 2010 its well-deserved standing in plant research, agriculture, undergraduate enrolments have Do you receive too many Adelaideans? and the fi rst of fi ve general public veterinary remained relatively constant in the past few Not enough? Want to be added to our health centres at Roseworthy. It clearly years. However, an overarching shift in student mailing list or taken off? demonstrated the University’s resolve to keep interest in science has the potential to erode Contact us to let us know. plant and animal sciences at the forefront of our numbers in coming years. Editorial/Advertising enquiries: Phone: +61 8 8303 5414 academic agenda. This is fuelled by an unfortunate and persistent Email: [email protected] From a resource viewpoint, Roseworthy has misconception that job prospects in the industry Mailing address: the facilities, equipment and land to effectively are uncertain. Adelaidean teach all of the practical and fi eld aspects Our agricultural graduates continue to achieve Marketing & Strategic Communications of agriculture including broad acre farming. some of the highest employment outcomes The University of Adelaide SA 5005 Australia Students benefi t enormously from the unique across the University. The demand for our combination of fi eld and laboratory experience, students is strong and the prospects look Printed by: which is enhanced by a range of industry even brighter. Lane Print & Post internships and placements across Australia. Imparting this message to our young Distribution: people, the local community and the media is Lane Print & Post critical. Ironically, from the most challenging of Passing Out Distribution Co. environments come the most extraordinary and Registered by Australia Post unexpected of opportunities. This is especially No 565001/00046 so in agriculture, where the industry relies heavily on the development and application of research that will help to solve some of the most pressing global issues including food security. The University, the agricultural industry, governments of all levels and the public must work together to ensure that the needs of the sector, and the communities that are sustained by farming, are met today and into the future. Adelaidean is printed on Impress Gloss paper which features the following environmental profi le. www.dalton.com.au JAMES A. McWHA Vice-Chancellor and President 2 Adelaidean Volume 19 | Number 9 | November 2010 Contents COVER STORY Medical student 4 takes Rhodes to Oxford 5 State’s best uni teacher 5 News in Brief Study rejects benefi ts of fi sh oil capsules 6 Justice prize for indigenous health research Students launch scramjet 7 at Woomera 8 Graduations 2010 Nursing scholarships Summer School is just 9 for aged care 10 Concert tribute to operatic great around the corner Study into future of family farms It’s not summer yet, but interest in the University of Adelaide’s 11 No fear of sea level rise Summer School for 2011 is already heating up. Vet health centre draws public attention Summer School offers a wide range of Professor McDougall said there were 12 Physics leader wins Telstra courses to current students who want to different reasons for students to take one business award “fast-track” their degrees, as well as to or more of these courses. members of the community who just want “For current University of Adelaide to “dip their toe in the water”. students, Summer School is an ideal United front on mining and energy research “In recent years the University of Adelaide opportunity to accelerate their study, catch 13 has made a focused effort to increase up on missed courses, and spread their the take-up of our Summer and Winter study load over the whole year,” he said. Uni rowers strike gold School courses, offering greater fl exibility “Students from other universities may 14 to students and giving them a wider range also want to do a course with us over the of study options,” said Professor Fred summer, which will give them extra credit Outspoken judge at law conference McDougall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and towards the programs they’re studying at 15 Vice-President (Academic). their own institutions. Alumni Privileges “The response has been outstanding. “There are also non-award courses, In 2009 we saw signifi cant growth in which any member of the community is Coming Events student numbers, with our Summer School able to do. These courses provide people 16 enrolments up by 26%, and enrolments of all ages with the opportunity to broaden in 2010 were up again by a further 20%. their educational experiences, learn for There are now thousands of students personal interest, or build upon their own who take advantage of this fl exible study practical experience.” opportunity each year. Professor McDougall said Summer “Being able to meet students’ desire for School 2011 enrolments would open on these courses means we have given them Monday 6 December. yet another reason to value their learning “We encourage potential students to experience at the University of Adelaide,” apply as soon as possible because in our Professor McDougall said. experience these classes fi ll very quickly,” For the 2011 Summer School, a range of he said. undergraduate and postgraduate courses For more information about the range of are being offered in the areas of: business, courses offered during Summer School computer science, economics, education, 2011 and the enrolment process, go to: entrepreneurship, commercialisation and www.adelaide.edu.au/summerschool innovation, engineering, humanities and social sciences, international trade, law, mathematics, psychology, public health, and sciences. Story by David Ellis Volume 19 | Number 9 | November 2010 Adelaidean 3 SCHOLARSHIPS Medical student takes Rhodes to Oxford University of Adelaide fi nal-year medical student Christopher Wong has been named the 2011 Rhodes Scholar for South Australia. Mr Wong, 24, of Toorak Gardens, is the In 2008 while in the 4th year of his Sanders, as “the most outstanding student” University’s 103rd Rhodes Scholar and medical degree, Mr Wong was awarded he has ever supervised. will study for a Masters of Global Health one of the nation’s top cardiovascular The Executive Dean of the Faculty Science at the University of Oxford. prizes for his research into atrial fi brillation, of Health Sciences at the University of “I chose this course because it offers the most common heart rhythm disorder in Adelaide, Professor Justin Beilby, said Mr graduates the opportunity to develop skills the world. Wong was an “excellent choice” for South in a wide range of medical areas, including He was the fi rst undergraduate student Australia’s next Rhodes Scholar. public health, health economics and in the country to win the Cardiac Society of “What is impressive about Chris is management, epidemiology and statistics,” Australia and New Zealand’s Affi liate Prize his passion to pursue quality clinical Mr Wong said. for Scientifi c Excellence, chosen ahead of training at the same time as developing “Undertaking my Masters at Oxford will 2000 other delegates, most of who were a research career. He wants to be part of provide me with a foundation for further established postdoctoral scientists with an exciting partnership between clinical doctoral studies, and also a future career years of experience behind them. care and research and this is one of the as an academic and health advocate, in Earlier this year he was a guest presenter new challenges for health care,” Professor which I hope I can take a leadership role.