SYDNEY ALUMNI MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 — SEMESTER ONE 2016 WHERE START-UPS RADICAL WAYS TO SYDNEY STUDENTS WITH DEMENTIA’S GET THE BEST START BEAT EXTREMISM OLYMPIC DREAMS UNEXPECTED VILLAIN SYDNEY ALUMNI MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 – SEMESTER ONE 2016 The future starts here CONTENTS INCUBATE gives a University students Behind the scenes flying start to start-ups 15 shoot for Olympic gold 18 of a famous garden 44 Updates, awards and anniversaries Newsbites 3 On my desk – Craig Barker Perspectives 6 Small wonders – Nanoscience Innovation 8 On my mind – Emily Scanlan Influence 22 My favourite – Karn Ghosh Perspectives 24 At the heart of dementia – Professor Jonathan Stone Research 26 Everyone’s favourite economist – Justin Wolfers Influence 30 Keep calm and get connected – Daniel Tasso and Hussain Nadim Influence 34 Books that changed my mind Perspectives 38 Streets of green – Romilly Madew Influence 40 Classnotes Community 48 Managing Editor: Kate May Produced by Cover: Professor David Reilly, Inside back cover: Abercrombie Publishing Editor: George Dodd Marketing and Communications Experimental Physicist, Building, Codrington Street, The University of Sydney, The University of Sydney Australian Institute of 2016. Photo: Rhys Holland Level 7, JFR Building, NSW, 2006 Printing managed Nanoscale Science and Technology 02 9036 9222 by Publish Partners Photo: Matthew Vasilescu Distributed to more than 170,000 sam @sydney.edu.au Inside cover: 21 Codrington members of our community. Street, Darlington, circa 1960. 16/5425 ISSN 1834-3929 Photo: The University of Sydney ©2016 The University of Sydney Archives. Ref G74_4_7_F4 01 Leadership for good starts here. For 165 years our students have forged a vision at the University of Sydney and gone on to change lives for the better. sydney.edu.au/leadership From left to right: John Bell, Victor Chang, Anne Summers, John Howard, Kerryn Phelps, Michael Kirby, Samah Hadid, Gough Whitlam, Benjamin Veness, Tara Moss, Mary Kostakidis, Nick Farr-Jones, Bruce Beresford, John Bradfield, Adam Spencer, Annabelle Chauncy, Jack Manning Bancroft, Ethan Butson, John O’Sullivan. 02 UNIVERSITY UPDATE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE Last month, Senate approved the refine our understanding of how to University’s 2016-20 Strategic Plan, achieve our vision most effectively. which regular readers of SAM will So by 2020, we will invest in recall follows extensive consultation outstanding research, ensuring that with our staff, students and the wider our best work – work of national, community throughout 2015. regional and international impact – is During those conversations, we well supported with the right people, heard that the goal we established five equipment, and physical infrastructure. years ago – to create a place where the We will deepen our commitment best researchers and most promising to undergraduate education with a students can achieve their full potential reinvigorated curriculum, so that – still rings true. We also heard about our graduates will develop the skills, Belinda Hutchinson AM (BEc ’76), Chancellor. the pride people feel for our University, knowledge and values they need to and how much they want us to succeed. thrive and lead in a rapidly changing Our vision for 2020 is therefore world. And we will build a University- unashamedly aspirational, aiming to wide culture in which our staff and position the University of Sydney as students can realise their full potential. the best university in Australia and a Through enabling Sydney to embody leading institution globally. It continues the best that a university can be, this the trajectory that began almost is a vision that we hope will inspire 170 years ago with our twin founding our fellow alumni. We encourage you, commitments to excellence and public as a valued member of the University service. And it builds on our work since community, to find out more about 2011, which has both strengthened our exciting new initiatives at: the University on every academic and sydney.edu.au/strategy Dr Michael Spence (BA ’85 LLB ’87) financial measure, and enabled us to Your feedback is always welcome. Vice–Chancellor and Principal INFLUENCE A GRADUATION AND A NEW BEGINNING On 11 May 1966, Charles Perkins It attracted national and Perkins’s trailblazing ideas are walked the steps of the Great Hall international media attention. embodied in the University’s Charles to receive his academic testamur, His dedication, determination Perkins Centre. It embraces his vision marking a milestone in Australia’s and activism continued well after his by looking for solutions beyond the history. Perkins was the first studies, as he played a pivotal role in traditional as it provides fresh hope for Aboriginal man to graduate from the 1967 referendum that amended the health of all Australians. any university in Australia. the Constitution to include Aboriginal This year marks the 50th people in the census and allow anniversary of that singular event, Parliament to create laws for them. and its influence is still being felt. Perkins made history again in While studying for a Bachelor of 1984 when he was appointed Secretary Arts, Perkins led the historic 1965 of the Department of Aboriginal Freedom Ride through western Affairs, the first Aboriginal Australian NSW with a group of fellow students, to hold such a position. drawing attention to racism against Perkins was a tireless champion Aboriginal people. of progress and justice. He passed Above: Charles Perkins has been one of away in 2000. the University’s most influential graduates 03 ARTS AND CULTURE RESEARCH IDEAS TAKE CENTRE STAGE WHAT THE HUH? Nicole Kidman made her professional debut there. We congratulate Nick Enfield, Professor of Geoffrey Rush, Jacki Weaver, Judy Davis, Russell Crowe, Linguistics at the University of Sydney, who has Cate Blanchett and Mel Gibson have all trodden its boards. won an Ig Nobel Prize for breakthrough research. And last year, the Seymour Centre, built after a significant And no, that “Ig” is not a misprint. bequest from Sydney businessman Everest York Seymour, The Ig Nobels are a parody of the Nobel Prize; celebrated its 40th Anniversary. they are awarded for work that makes people laugh This year the Seymour Centre’s program includes the and think. Enfield was honoured for his linguistic Great Ideas Performance Series, with post-performance forums insights into the word “huh”. conducted by some of the University’s leading academics. With co-authors Dr Mark Dingemanse and Tim Jones, Artistic Director of the Seymour Centre, believes Dr Francisco Torreira from the Netherlands, this reflects an audience evolution. “Audiences are increasingly Enfield established that “huh” and its variants seeking theatrical experiences that not only entertain, but also appear in 31 languages where its use is to engage on a cerebral level,” he says. fix misunderstandings. More than this, it suggests universal principles that underpin all Upcoming academic-enhanced productions include: human communication. The Hansard Monologues: Age of Enlightenment “Our findings could help computers to 5 – 13 August communicate in more ‘human’ ways,” Enfield says. Written using the Hansard-recorded words “They also have applications in language teaching of our federal politicians. and cross-cultural communication.” The research is part of a five-year European Letters to Lindy Research Council project led by Enfield. 2 – 10 September Based on the 20,000 letters Lindy Chamberlain received during her trial and wrongful imprisonment in the 1980s. INFLUENCE Take advantage of the special alumni ticket offer on these performances by using the promo code ‘SYDALUMNI’ when you book at: www.seymourcentre.com NEW ALUMNI AWARDS At the University of Sydney we’ve added two categories to our annual Alumni Achievement Awards to make them even more representative of the great work our alumni do. The new categories are Cultural Contribution and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. They join International Achievement, Professional Achievement, Outstanding Achievements of Young Alumni and Service to Humanity. This year’s winners include artist and activist Ben Quilty (BVA ’96) whose work changes hearts and minds; and Tom Beer (BSc ’67), a scientist whose work with the International Panel on Climate Change contributed to a Nobel Prize. Every year the awards recognise graduates who Top: In 1975, the Seymour have made a significant contribution to society Centre forecourt was temporarily a carpark. through innovation, dedication, leadership and Left: The Seymour Centre today is a vibrant performance community spirit. facility. Photos: Supplied by the sydney.edu.au/alumni/awards Seymour Centre. 04 ADVERTISEMENT INSPIRED_ has reached $600 million The campaign to support the University of Sydney has reached its goal two years early. What inspires our donors, inspires our students, inspires our researchers and inspires our staff. Here are just some of the people who have contributed to or benefited from INSPIRED. What are you inspired to do? sydney.edu.au/inspired 05 PERSPECTIVES ON MY DESK: CRAIG BARKER DR CRAIG BARKER (BA ’96 PhD ’05) Archaeologist and Manager, Education and Public Programs, Sydney University Museums Photography by Victoria Baldwin (BA ’14) Dr Craig Barker’s office is right outside the door of the Nicholson Museum so he doesn’t have to travel far when school groups, students, staff and tourists arrive for one of his classes or tours. When Barker’s not there, he could be in Cyprus at the Paphos archaeological dig that has fascinated him for more than 20 years. We asked him to dig around his desk, and a few of his other obsessions turned up. CYPRIOT FIGURE I’ve spent five weeks a year working in Cyprus for the past 20 years. During that time, we’ve worked closely with the Cyprus Department of Antiquities, which has given us various AGATHA acknowledgements for the work we’ve CHRISTIE done for the country. This one was given to us by the President of Cyprus. It’s just POSTCARD a little handmade replica of a 4500-year- I’ve been reading Agatha old figurine, but it was great to receive Christie’s books since I was it.