December 2009 | Volume 18 | Number 10 | Free Publication Two giant reasons for students to volunteer Story on page 12 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, Give the gift of knowledge with a focus on Life Impact. Circulation: 11,000 per month One of the greatest gifts anyone can (March to December) Online readership: give our students is a scholarship. 140,000 hits per month (on average) www.adelaide.edu.au/adelaidean Editor: Scholarships are vital in supporting our for students with disabilities, for those from David Ellis students, giving them the best possible chance rural, regional or remote areas, for Aboriginal Design: of gaining a quality educational experience. and Torres Strait Islander students, for Honours Chris Tonkin Ask any student who has received a students, postgraduate coursework and research Writers: Candy Gibson scholarship what benefi ts they get from it, and students, for international students, and even Robyn Mills they’ll tend to say the same things: studying some scholarships for those who study over Contributors: at university can be a fi nancial burden; my their holidays. Ben Osborne, Claire Oremland scholarship helps to take the fi nancial pressure It sounds like a lot – and it is – but we need Cover photo: off; it means I don’t need to get a job to support more. Our students need more. iStock me while I study; it means I can focus on For every student who receives a scholarship, Adelaidean will return in March 2010 Do you receive too many Adelaideans? my education. many dozens miss out. That means for many Not enough? Want to be added to our Scholarships change lives. They can change students, their educational opportunities and mailing list or taken off? them in big ways – such as through major experiences are limited simply due to fi nancial Contact us to let us know. scholarships like the Rhodes, Fulbright, Menzies pressures. We should not accept that as Editorial/Advertising enquiries: and Monash schemes, which lead to unique the norm. Phone: +61 8 8303 5414 Fax: +61 8 8303 4829 study opportunities – or they can change them By offering an array of scholarships, the Email: [email protected] in other ways, such as paying enough to cover University of Adelaide provides hope to students Mailing address: tuition or important study costs. who have the academic talent and ability but Adelaidean Many scholarship winners go on to become who might consider a university education to Marketing & Strategic Communications, leaders of the community, industry, politics and be beyond their grasp. There could be many University of Adelaide, academia. Such students are talented and their reasons for this, such as concerns about the costs SA 5005 talent deserves to be recognised and fostered, associated with study, or of relocating to the city Australia helping them to reach their fullest potential. from a country area. Printed by: At the University of Adelaide, I’m pleased to Scholarships help us to provide higher Lane Print & Post say that we have a huge number of scholarship education to those who deserve it, regardless Distribution: recipients at both undergraduate and of their socio-economic status, location or Lane Print & Post postgraduate level. other disadvantage. Passing Out Distribution Co. Our undergraduate scholarships for Industry and community support is critical in Registered by Australia Post commencing students alone are valued at $1 helping us to maintain and grow our scholarships. No 565001/00046 million, and this year we gave scholarships to This year, SA Water doubled its scholarships, 150 new undergraduate students. This is a major providing 24 students with fi nancial support commitment to providing the best educational as well as offering some of them paid work opportunities for students who deserve them. experience. Such support is extremely important Adelaidean is printed on 100% There are scholarships for commencing and in providing educational opportunities as well as Carbon Neutral Paper that is derived from sustainably managed forests continuing students, for those in fi nancial need, direct links between our students and industry. and is certifi ed by the Australian Families such as the Hawker and Cowan Government’s Department of Climate families have been an outstanding presence Change. Adelaidean is printed using vegetable-based inks and is in the provision of scholarships and bursaries Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF). The to students. Members of the community have paper stock and the printing process also been vital in supporting the annual Vice- are ISO 14001 certifi ed. www.dalton.com.au Chancellor’s Scholarships, which give exceptional www.climatechange.gov.au/ students the opportunity to attend the University greenhousefriendly of Adelaide. To all of those who already provide our students with scholarships each year, I thank you. To those who are considering support for scholarships, we welcome your generosity. The gift of knowledge is the best gift of all. JAMES A. McWHA Vice-Chancellor and President 2 Adelaidean Volume 18 | Number 10 | December 2009 Contents South Australian of the year 4 awards 2009 5 $54 million impact on research World-class science precinct 6 has added value Light of learning shines at 7 new institute 8 $2.1 million boost to Library Iraqi student has real-world 9 perspective Student water project wins Best for customer service 10 national prize Around Australia on fi sh’n’chips Top quality customer service to our students has been recognised in the latest “mystery shopping” Extinct moa rewrites New 11 Zealand’s history benchmarking exercise undertaken by the COVER STORY Two giant reasons University of Adelaide’s Student Centre. 12 for students to volunteer As part of the University’s strategy to The University of Adelaide’s Student Algae biofuel project maintain and improve high standards of Centre has a team of dedicated staff to 14 leads world student service delivery, the Student Centre’s help current and future students. enquiry telephone service participates in “We’re here to provide help and advice Pedestrians at risk, warn regular benchmarking surveys. to students or their families on a range safety experts In Customer Service Benchmarking of issues – from choosing what to study 15 Australia’s (CSBA) latest Quarterly and how to apply, to information about Lack of experience key factor Report, the University of Adelaide set the scholarships or accommodation, and in youth crashes benchmark for overall performance for the many other issues that affect students,” universities surveyed. Ms Ciccarello said. Adelaide students win PM’s The CSBA survey judges the quality “Our promise is that if we don’t know 16 scholarships of customer service by measuring and the answer to your query, we will fi nd the assessing the time taken to respond to person who does.” New Lumen out this month a call, greeting skills, manner, enquiry For many students, deciding what they 17 resolution, communication skills and want to study and whether they are making complaint handling skills. the right choices can be a diffi cult and 18 Recovery on the way: expert Student Centre Manager Sue Ciccarello stressful decision. said it was pleasing to see University of “Students can easily feel overwhelmed Scientists leap horse Adelaide in the overall top position, and with options,” she said. “It’s also common genome hurdle many points above the sector average, for students to worry that they will be 19 in the latest survey which included 14 locking themselves into a future study and Platypus mysteries revealed universities across Australia. career path for the rest of their lives. This “We like to monitor our performance simply isn’t true.” Folic acid link to asthma risk so that we get an external, objective In addition to the team at the Student 20 Questions raised over assessment of how the enquiry service is Centre, there are many staff who provide gastric banding shaping up against its peers and against support services to students. similar operations in other sectors so Student support includes help with that we can take any action necessary,” accommodation, making the transition from Surf’s up for eChallenge 21 winners Ms Ciccarello said. school, study help, counselling, fi nancial The quarterly report also surveys support, careers advice and specifi c other sectors including fi nancial support networks for international students, Frog expert makes leap institutions, councils, utilities, airlines and elite athletes and students with disability. 22 into Korea telecommunication companies, although Story by David Ellis comparisons between sectors are only on Who’s making sci-fi history? sector average. 23 “Interestingly, the university sector Above: Student Centre Manager Sue Ciccarello (centre) compares well against these other sectors with members of the Student Centre team 24 Coming Events across all criteria,” said Ms Ciccarello. Photo by Michael Mullan Volume 18 | Number 10 | December 2009 Adelaidean 3 ACHIEVEMENT South Australian OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2009 University of Adelaide staff and graduates have received fi ve of the prestigious 2009 South Australian of the Year Awards, including the two top awards. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PROFESSOR BILL GRIGGS AM ASM ROBERT NORMAN JULIAN O’SHEA Associate Professor Bill Griggs AM ASM The University of Adelaide’s Professor University of Adelaide engineering graduate has been announced as the 2009 recipient Robert Norman has been named the winner Julian O’Shea has been named Young South of the prestigious South Australian of the in both the Health and Science categories of Australian of the Year. Year Award. the 2009 South Australian of the Year Awards. Julian is a young leader within the Dr Griggs is an Associate Professor in Professor Norman, a world-renowned engineering profession, the Australian the University of Adelaide’s Discipline of reproductive health expert, is a Professor in Defence Force and the wider community as Anaesthesia and Intensive Care (School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University an active volunteer.