FREE Publication AdelaideanNEWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE Volume 12 • Number 5 • June 2003 inside this issue What’s happened to our PAGE 5 Family loans name to world-class facility native species? PAGE 8 Students to A new study highlights benefit from library appeal the dramatic changes to plant and wildlife species in Adelaide PAGE 10 New bat’s name a over almost 170 years. bright inspiration PAGE 15 New books The study is the first of its kind to by Adelaide’s Friendly Poets detail the changes to our urban ecosystem by taking an historical view of Adelaide. Catherine Tait, an Honours student in the University of Adelaide’s School of PAGE 4 Online Masters a giant Earth and Environmental Sciences, of innovation has examined the changes in plant Engineer first non-US and animal species since Adelaide’s student to win award founding in 1836. PAGE 6 Tougher testing urged for Using more than 200 studies, alternative medicines checklists and reports documenting the flora and fauna of the Adelaide PAGE 7 Ash Wednesday study calls for 1500 Australians region since 1836, Ms Tait has discovered which plant and animal PAGE 9 South Africa study puts species have arrived, which information first have been lost, and when they disappeared. She is also trying The glossy black cockatoo is PAGE 12 How do you stop the among those species lost to Adelaide self sabotage? to discover the reasons for these changes, and chart the impact that PAGE 13 Students face $70,000 introduced species have made on animal species in Adelaide, but there species decreased from 395 to 352. challenge Adelaide’s ecological environment. has been an overall increase in the While 43 native species have been total number of species,” Ms Tait lost, 31 introduced animals are PAGE 16 Twin scholarship success Her research has produced some startling results about the changing said. present today. face of our urban habitat. This increase was due largely to the Of the mammals, 50% of the native She found that the Adelaide area high number of “alien” plant and species recorded in Adelaide in 1836 —the region bound by Gawler River animal species introduced, while are no longer found (a decrease from in the north, Mount Lofty in the east the overall number of native plant 40 to 20 species), while 12 mammal and Sellicks Beach in the south—has and animal species has decreased, species have been introduced (nine actually increased in species richness she said. of these are still present today). The University of Adelaide (that is, the number of plant and Overall, 132 species have become “Most of the mammals were gone is Australia’s third oldest university and is known animal species) since Adelaide was extinct from the Adelaide area since by 1909, under pressure from land internationally for excellence founded. 1836, while 648 species have been clearance and the introduced species, in research and teaching. “Since Governor Hindmarsh landed, successfully introduced (that is, they of which most arrived here by the there has been a significant drop are still in the area today). 1870s,” Ms Tait said. www.adelaide.edu.au in the number of native plant and The total number of native animal continued on page 11 Adelaidean News from the University of Adelaide Volume 12 Number 5 June 2003 Adelaidean News from the University of Adelaide Volume 12 Number 5 June 2003 McWha’s Words Growth with Excellence The recent forum hosted by the Chancellor • Growth with excellence in education; During my nine-month tenure, we have made and myself in Bonython Hall was a great • Student focus, and; numerous strides. We have learned how opportunity yet again to connect with the • Scale and focus in research. to reinforce our strengths and build on our university as a whole. I would like to thank all You will be hearing more on each of these weaknesses. We have also shown that we who attended, and also thank the students and over the course of the year, and we will be have a “can-do” attitude and that nothing is staff for their many thoughtful questions. encouraging discussion on what they mean to impossible. For the benefit of those who were unable to the university and our future. Thanks to your commitment and passion for attend, and for the majority of Adelaidean It is important to recognise that while the this university, we will be able to explore the readers who are outside the university, I will use university wants to grow, we will only do so opportunities and meet our ultimate goal of this opportunity to highlight some of the key with excellence; that while we are seeking new Growth with Excellence. points discussed at the forum. opportunities in education and research, we will You will be hearing more from me as we The most important is our immediate do so with quality outcomes in mind—for the move ahead and I cannot stress enough the direction and focus. Thanks to the efforts and university, for students, for our partners and the importance of your input as we shape the future commitment of a great many people, we have community. of this fine university. now obtained invaluable data from surveys, The AUQA report identified that previous focus groups, the Australian Universities attempts at strategic planning were poor; Quality Agency (AUQA) report, and from the that we’ve had too many priorities along with community at large. inadequate monitoring and evaluation. This This feedback has provided us with enough time, and with your input, we will obtain the information to concentrate on three clear necessary understanding to achieve our JAMES A. McWHA objectives. They are: desired outcomes. Vice-Chancellor Adelaidean Editor: David Ellis Writers: Uni’s finances on track Ben Osborne, Howard Salkow, David Ellis Design and Layout: Chris Tonkin The University of Adelaide ended the 2002 Contributors: Rosslyn Cox, Helen Simpson, Kim McBride, financial year on a sound footing showing an Ian Doyle, Lauran Huefner Printed by: operating surplus of $12.4 million, according Lane Print Group Distribution: to audited figures released last month. Lane Print Group Passing Out Distribution Co. Advertising: In announcing details of the cognisant of the hard work that $1m from the Graduate School KRL Media university’s 2002 financial lies ahead to sustain this position. of Business, Professional and Tel: +61 8 8231 5433 Fax: +61 8 8212 1238 performance, Vice-Chancellor “This turnaround would not Continuing Education and other Email: [email protected] Professor James McWha said the have been possible without the programs; and additional teaching- university’s net assets grew by related grants of $3.8m. Coming Events: incredible commitment and hard Please send all coming events to the editor $58m to $618m, a 10.4% growth. at the address below. There is no charge work of all staff. This result is “In the area of research, there for coming events, but they must be “In addition we significantly testament to their efforts over the was an $8.2 million increase in university related. reduced our current liabilities last past year,” he said. revenue. This consisted primarily Deadline for next issue: Thursday, June 19 year by paying out a $20m loan, Professor McWha attributed the of an increase of $3.8m in national Room G07 Mitchell Building, leaving us debt free,” Professor positive turnaround to a number competitive grants and industry South Australia, 5005. McWha said. of factors. grants of $4.7m.” Tel: +61 8 8303 5174 Fax: +61 8 8303 4838 “As with all universities, part of the “In the area of teaching and Professor McWha said another Email: [email protected] surplus relates to pre-committed learning, there was a $12m contributing factor was the $6m www.adelaide.edu.au/pr/publications/ funds, such as capital funds. reduction in costs from staff Adelaidean/ increase in revenue. This However, this is still a sound result. reductions and other staff-related Material may be reproduced without comprised a rise of $6.4m in permission but acknowledgement must be “I am encouraged by the positive international student fee income; savings. given to the Adelaidean. Story by Howard Salkow Registered by Australia Post turnaround, but at the same time, additional non-award courses of No 565001/00046 2 3 Adelaidean News from the University of Adelaide Volume 12 Number 5 June 2003 Adelaidean News from the University of Adelaide Volume 12 Number 5 June 2003 More Hawker scholars for Adelaide Two University of Adelaide students are among the latest to receive the prestigious Charles Hawker Scholarships for study in Australia. Teegan Waples and Christian Christian, a former top student at Winterfield were among five talented Trinity College in Gawler, is studying students from around the nation for a Bachelor of Engineering to be awarded the scholarships for (Mechatronics) and Bachelor of 2003. Arts (Politics) and is in residence Both Teegan and Christian are at St Mark’s College. enrolled at the University of Adelaide. He completed his secondary studies Teegan was educated at the Faith in 2002 and achieved a merit (20/20) Lutheran Secondary School in in physics and an overall Tertiary Tanunda and at Adelaide TAFE. Entrance Rank of 99.35. She is now studying for a Bachelor of Agriculture and is the first Hawker Scholar in residence at the “The Charles Hawker Scholars Christian Winterfield and Teegan Waples (centre) were presented with their Roseworthy Campus. scholarship certificates by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Alexander Downer, at St Hawker Scholarship Mark’s College recently. Also present was Hawker Trustee Mr Andrew Hawker (left).