November 2009 | Volume 18 | Number 9 | Free Publication Drug driving: the road ahead for police Story on page 5 Life Impact | The University of Adelaide www.adelaide.edu.au VICE-CHANCELLOR Adelaidean is the offi cial newspaper of the University of Adelaide. It provides news and information about the University to the general public, Growing opportunities with a focus on Life Impact. Circulation: 11,000 per month Looking back on some of my past comments in this (March to December) Online readership: publication, a few defi nite themes have emerged. 140,000 hits per month (on average) www.adelaide.edu.au/adelaidean Editor: One of those themes is my interest in We’ve already started doing this: the Fairway David Ellis growing educational opportunities for anyone Scheme has this year been extended to all Design: who wants and deserves them. This is Year 12 students eligible for a School Card or Chris Tonkin something I’ve always felt very strongly about: Youth Allowance; we are working with TAFE SA Writers: Candy Gibson geographical isolation or social disadvantage to expand our articulation, credit transfer and Robyn Mills should not prevent students from obtaining a resource sharing agreements so that students can Contributors: higher education. more easily continue their education to degree Ben Osborne, Claire Oremland Since early in my time here, the University level; we’re making changes to admissions Cover photo: has pursued a strategy of growing educational processes and credit transfer policies to maximise Victoria Police Deadline for December issue: opportunities in the state to great effect. In fact, recognition of prior learning. Friday 13 November 2009 over the past decade we have grown signifi cantly Our recent signing of a Memorandum of Do you receive too many Adelaideans? in student numbers. Understanding with Kaplan Inc. is the start of Not enough? Want to be added to our We plan to continue this growth and to whole- an innovative partnership that will help us in our mailing list or taken off? heartedly embrace the Federal Government’s aims to become a much more student-centred Contact us to let us know. current emphasis on access, and on aligning university, with increasingly fl exible options for the Editorial/Advertising enquiries: Phone: +61 8 8303 5414 our academic programs with national and state delivery of our programs and an increased focus Fax: +61 8 8303 4829 priorities and the demands of industry. on the student experience. Email: [email protected] I am fi rmly of the view that recruitment This agreement with Kaplan will allow us to Mailing address: of greater numbers of students from lower create even further opportunities for education Adelaidean Marketing & Strategic socio-economic backgrounds should not be in this state and beyond, widening our access to Communications, limited to the VET sector or less research- students who might otherwise have missed out. University of Adelaide, intensive institutions. We expect that there will be new articulation SA 5005 Australia Of course, the University’s track record in pathways from Kaplan programs to entry into trying to break through the barriers of social University of Adelaide courses; and Kaplan’s Printed by: disadvantage or geographical isolation expertise in online learning technologies will help Lane Print & Post signifi cantly pre-dates my term as Vice- us develop our own online learning and resources, Distribution: Chancellor. For example, Adelaide’s Fairway helping us to expand our offerings to rural and Lane Print & Post Scheme was a pioneering low socio-economic remote regions. This will also offer more fl exibility Passing Out Distribution Co. status access scheme almost 20 years ago. in the delivery of our programs for the benefi t of Registered by Australia Post But now we want to create new pathways those already in the workforce. No 565001/00046 and opportunities for entry into the University of The University of Adelaide, the state and the Adelaide for students who may have previously Australian community will benefi t greatly from been denied them, while at the same time the entry of Kaplan into the Australian higher continuing to maintain the highest standards. education sector. We have much to gain from Adelaidean is printed on 100% Carbon Neutral Paper that is derived Kaplan’s worldwide recruitment network, its from sustainably managed forests exemplary record in student outcomes and its and is certifi ed by the Australian strong focus on student support services. Government’s Department of Climate Change. Adelaidean is printed The University of Adelaide is proud to be able using vegetable-based inks and is to contribute in this way to the aims of the State Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF). The paper stock and the printing process Government’s ‘University City’ strategy and to help are ISO 14001 certifi ed. meet both the State and Federal Government’s www.dalton.com.au goals of increasing access to quality education. www.climatechange.gov.au/ And we’re pleased to be growing opportunities greenhousefriendly for education at a time when our nation needs it most. JAMES A. McWHA Vice-Chancellor and President 2 Adelaidean Volume 18 | Number 9 | November 2009 Contents 4 Elder Hall has ASO touch COVER STORY Drug driving: 5 the road ahead for police Immune cell pregnancy 6 link a winner Raise targets to prevent 7 extinction Strong link between obesity and depression 8 Mental health benefi ts from alcohol: study Adelaide’s new uni New student hub 9 partnership Uni teams rise to the builds campus life 10 challenge The University of Adelaide is about to embark on a major new Award to anti-smoking facility for students in the heart of its North Terrace Campus 12 campaigner that will transform on-campus student life and learning. New species discovered 13 underground The $34.5 million redevelopment of the this rather barren area into a true hub which central Hughes Plaza as a student learning will provide more opportunity for social hub, due for completion in March 2011, will interaction on campus. It will integrate First taste of uni for students reinvent students’ on-campus experience, learning, social and recreational spaces 14 increase learning and recreational space with a ‘front door’ to student support and provide a ‘front door’ to services at services and library resources, food and the University. beverage outlets and other services.” Food sources under threat The learning hub will be a multi-level, The development will incorporate from climate, development all-weather space where students can technologies such as online learning, 15 Want to do research without meet and undertake group study in fl exible learning management systems and wireless studying honours? lounge areas, use free computer and networks with informal and collaborative other audio-visual facilities, and access study and recreational spaces. It brings a broad range of student services, while together the leading thinking on educational Excellence in education enjoying a coffee and a range of other space planning from around the world. 16 rewarded food and beverages. “We will be arranging focus groups and “This will be the largest and most undertaking surveys with students to ensure dynamic student learning hub in Australia we provide exactly what students want in Jubilee graduates relive and, we believe, the envy of other this new facility,” Professor McWha said. 17 golden years universities across Australia,” said the “This is a signifi cant development in University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, the University’s building program, which Professor James McWha. is seeing more than $400 million being ‘Eco’ an indicator of “Other satellite learning hubs are likely invested in state-of-the-art research and 18 environmental times to follow on our North Terrace, Waite and teaching facilities on the North Terrace, Roseworthy campuses. We’ve already Waite and Roseworthy campuses.” opened a student hub in the Faculty of The development is part-funded by the Volunteers needed for salt the Professions on Pulteney Street and it’s Federal Government’s Better Universities 19 intake study proving highly successful. Renewal Funding initiative. “Hughes Plaza is the geographical heart of the campus, a logical intersection Story by Olivia Jones and Robyn Mills Coming Events traversed by more than 50% of all campus Above: A proposed concept of the Hughes Plaza 20 pedestrians. The redevelopment will turn learning hub. Image courtesy of Hassell Volume 18 | Number 9 | November 2009 Adelaidean 3 MUSIC Elder Hall has ASO touch The presence of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will be felt in Elder Hall this month in more ways than one. The ASO returns to historic Elder Hall on “I have worked with voices for my entire Wednesday 25 November for the second of professional life and composing Requiem its Classic Hour concerts, Haydn in Spring. gave me the opportunity to combine Featuring works by Pärt, Respighi, my passion for choral sonority with the Skalkottas and Haydn, the orchestra will wonderful palette of orchestral colours,” perform at 1.00pm and again at 6.00pm he said. under the direction of its Chief Conductor, “It is such a fantastic opportunity for our Arvo Volmer. (See below for details about students to work with a conductor of such how you can win tickets.) international standing. I’m sure many will Just a few days later, Arvo Volmer will be inspired by Arvo to become orchestral then return to the University of Adelaide to musicians,” Mr Crossin said. direct the Elder Conservatorium of Music’s Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony, Pathétique, full choral and orchestral forces, in the is the other main work in the fi nal fi nal concert of the 2009 Evenings at Elder concert’s program. Hall concert series at 6.30pm Saturday Tickets to the evening concert are $25 28 November.