alumni magazine summer 2002 Paul Bishop A day in the life of a Blue Heeler plus… Discovery gives plants healing powers 10 steps to advance your career Time management: Tips for beating the clock Gifted children: Intelligent Ironies 230 343 Links Summer 2002.ind 1 19/2/02, 9:15 AM A new look and Contents feel for QUT volume [5] number[1] he university thanks those alumni who took the time to Tparticipate in our 2001 QUT Links reader survey. Your Plants play key role in bio-breakthrough ............................... 1 feedback helped us drive some important changes to your alumni magazine. News roundup .......................................................................... 2 You told us you wanted to see, or access, more: What’s in the air we breathe?................................................... 3 current research, especially that which could be applied in your work or home; Villagers benefit from nursing program .................................. 4 knowledge, experts and facilities at QUT; Tissue engingeering speeds healing ....................................... 4 the latest information about issues of concern to you; education opportunities to help further Legal-ease .................................................................................. 5 or change your career; and 10 steps to advance your career .............................................. 6 what’s going on at QUT and where the university is headed. Women face re-balancing act................................................... 7 To meet some of these needs, QUT Links will feature more cutting-edge research, plenty of useful information as Meet our latest Rhodes Scholar, a man of vision ................... 8 well as some issues-based and lifestyle stories. Lavery conquers waves of change .......................................... 9 We have also redesigned the publication to reflect the increasingly diverse interests of the 100,000+ alumni who have studied or taught at QUT or one of its many predecessor Beating the clock … tips for better time management........ 10 institutions. COVER STORY: We hope that you enjoy your new QUT Links alumni magazine and that we continue to live up to your Go on set with Blue Heelers star Paul Bishop ..................... 12 expectations. Intelligent ironies .................................................................... 14 If you would like to offer further feedback, suggest future stories or be the person to ask the Vice-Chancellor a few Graduate helps smooth the road to Beijing ......................... 17 questions, please contact us: [email protected] Nutrition the key to preventing weight 07 3864 2361 loss in cancer patients ............................................................ 18 OR Inactivity and poor nutrition weighing us down ................. 18 The Editor Research aids prostrate cancer fight...................................... 19 QUT Links QUT Corporate Communication Department Early diagnosis improves survival chances........................... 19 GPO Box 2434 BRISBANE QLD 4001 Vision 2020: Industrial design portfolio ................................ 20 Can’t wait for your next Alumni news ........................................................................... 21 edition of QUT Links? Keep in touch.......................................................................... 22 You can visit one of these three university websites to keep up to date: Ask the Vice-Chancellor .............................. Inside Back Cover QUT’s latest news at http://www.corpcomm.qut.edu.au/releases What’s On at QUT at http://www.whatson.qut.edu.au QUT Links is published by the Corporate Communication and Department of Queensland University of Technology, in Your QUT Alumni Online Community at co-operation with the QUT Alumni Relations Unit. Design http://www.qut.onlinecommunity.com and production QUT’s Publications Unit. Designer: Michael Kuhn. Edited by Trina McLellan. Photography: Tony Phillips and Suzanne Prestwidge. Editorial material is gathered from a range of sources and does not necessarily reflect the opinions and policies of QUT. 230 343 Links Summer 2002.ind 2 19/2/02, 9:15 AM Plants play key Proteins important role in bio-breakthrough in medicine can now be produced at a fraction of the cost thanks to new technology patented by QUT Margaret Lawson “INPACT technology allows us to pro- proteins meaning their cheaper equiva- duce proteins where and when we want lents will be an attractive export. ew technology that will allow them and in large amounts,” Dale says. Dale says local primary industries Nhealing antibodies and vaccines “It will mean proteins can be pro- will particularly benefit from the new to be custom-grown by plants duced for between one tenth and one business, which is set to enter its com- has been developed and patented by hundredth of their current cost.” mercial phase soon with the launch of researchers at QUT. Dale says INPACT technology works Farmacule. The discovery means many impor- by replacing one of a plant’s protein- “We will contract local farmers to tant proteins – like insulin and human producing genes with a gene “trained” grow the protein-producing crops and growth hormones – can be produced to create the desired proteins instead. these crops will probably be able to locally at a fraction of their current cost. A range of plants is suitable for attract a price of two to three times that It will also create a molecular farming this job, he says, including bananas and of food crops,” Dale says. industry for Queensland, with QUT set to tobacco, from which the proteins can be “So it will be a very attractive launch a spin-off company, Farmacule, to extracted for commercial uses. sideline for some of Queensland’s top commercialise the discovery. “Our technology is unique in that primary producers.” QUT Science Faculty research director we can choose which part of the Dale says that, in light of some con- Professor James Dale, who made the dis- plant makes the protein, which is cerns surrounding genetic engineering, covery, says the INPACT (In-Plant Activa- less draining for the plant and there- the protein crops will either be grown tion) technology can replace many of the fore more efficient,” Dale says. in isolation or will be sterile to ensure traditional, time-consuming and expensive The discovery is expected to signal “genetic containment”. processes currently used to make proteins the start of a multi-million dollar industry The proteins harvested from these for medical and industrial use. in Queensland, with a looming world- plants, he says, will be structurally iden- wide shortage of medical and industrial tical to animal-produced proteins. ■ More information: [email protected] page 1 230 343 Links Summer 2002.ind 1 19/2/02, 9:15 AM newsr undup Commercial law professor Vice-Chancellor’s QUT senior podiatry lecturer Alan joins ASIC portrait unveiled Crawford says as a result of Coleman’s study tour practising Australian clinicians QUT Law Faculty Professor Berna Collier A portrait of QUT’s Vice-Chancellor, will be provided with a reliable and has been appointed as a full-time Professor Dennis Gibson, by Australia’s affordable measuring tool that will member of the Australian Securities and foremost portrait painter, Robert enhance health outcomes for patients Investments Commission (ASIC) for the Hannaford, was recently unveiled at the suffering lower-limb vascular disease. coming three years. QUT Art Museum. Professor Collier’s move to ASIC, where Based in Adelaide, Robert Hannaford was she will serve with chairman David chosen from a group of seven well- Exclusive course offered at Knott and deputy chair Jillian Segal, has known portrait painters to undertake the Caboolture study centre returned the commission’s membership commission. QUT is offering a new course to three. QUT Art Museum senior curator Stephen exclusively in Caboolture, after being A spokeswoman for the Federal Treasurer Rainbird says the portrait not only awarded 80 special Commonwealth- says Professor Collier’s skills and successfully captures a “very good funded student places. experience will be of great benefit to likeness” of the Vice-Chancellor, but also Professor Ruth Matchett, who is ASIC, particularly with a number of major captures his character. overseeing QUT’s northern corridor corporate investigations under way. “He has caught Professor Gibson with development, says Caboolture students For several years Professor Collier has a characteristic expression – it has a are being offered a unique course, been Clayton Utz Professor of Commercial contemplative, pensive quality,” Rainbird Business Information Management, Law in the Law Faculty at QUT. She says. “So not only is it technically very which combines business and IT has also been the faculty’s co-director of good, but it portrays his individual subjects. its Centre for Commercial and Property character very well.” “We believe we will produce multi- Law and a consultant with Clayton Utz, skilled individuals who will be able Brisbane. to work in a range of business and industry settings,” Matchett says. “We Faculty welcomes will be developing a special recruitment strategy in collaboration with North bio-business expert Point TAFE and the 17 schools in the Taking QUT’s scientific endeavours to the Caboolture area.” “top end of town” is a challenge right up She says QUT will share administrative Dr David Wyatt’s alley. staff with TAFE but appoint its own As the founder of Brisbane-based teaching staff. biotechnology success PanBio