WINTER 2011 ContactFOR ALUMNI & COMMUNITY In this issue: n Flood recovery in focus n Colleges mark centenaries n Antiquities rehoused n Honouring our donors Indigenous leadership UQ APPOINTS NEW PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR UQ research students are discovering Consistently ranked in the top 1% of all innovativeinnovative solutionssolutions toto some of the world’s universities in the world, UQ plays a leading most challenging questions. Supported by role in research collaboration and innovation. over 2000 experts across a wide range of The 2010 Excellence in Research for disciplines, UQ offers a focused environment Australia assessment confirmed UQ as having forfor itsits studentsstudents to excel. more researchers working in fields assessed Every research student benefits from UQ’s above world standard than at any other acclaimed culture of research excellence, Australian university. acclaimed culture of research excellence, Australian university. uq.edu.au/grad-school which includes world-renowned advisors, Whatever you want to achieve, however extensive international networks and ongoing you want to succeed, you will enjoy every professional development opportunities. advantage at The University of Queensland. The University of You. UOQ 0957 Research Grad Ad_297x210.indd 1 24/05/11 4:18 PM UOQ 0957 Research Grad Ad_297x210.indd 1 24/05/11 4:18 PM From the Chancellor CONTENTS 06 12 Welcome to the Winter 2011 edition of Contact magazine. The academic year started in an unforgettable fashion, with devastating floods inundating large parts of Queensland, including the St Lucia and Gatton campuses. On pages 14–15 you’ll find related stories and a gallery of striking photographs that help capture the historic event from the University’s perspective. While the damage incurred by UQ was mainly restricted to the grounds rather than buildings, the support offered by staff, students, neighbours and 14 20 partners during this time was extraordinary. The clean up team worked incredibly hard to reopen roads + FEATURES + REGULARS and restore the sporting facilities, with Property and Facilities staff shifting almost 300 tonnes of silt from 06 A TICKING TIME BOMB 04 StRatEGIC MOVES roads at St Lucia in one day alone. Alumnus Professor Michael Steer has Professor Paul Greenfield on the Also playing a direct role in the recovery effort received one of the United States’ power of alumni support. were the large number of donors – many of them highest civilian military honours for work 10 CUTTING EDGE alumni – who answered the call to assist UQ defusing explosive devices in the Middle students whose accommodation and belongings East. 16 CAMPUS NEWS had been destroyed by the floods. Their generosity ensured these students did not go without, and we 12 UQ RESEARCH MAKES ITS MARK 32 GRADUATE NEWS The depth and quality of University sincerely thank each and every one of them (more 36 KEEP IN CONTACT on the success of the UQ Flood Appeal can be of Queensland discovery has been found on page 5). captured in a landmark research Among the worst-hit areas at St Lucia was exercise. International House, which has welcomed scholars + DISCOVER ONLINE from around the world for more than four decades. 14 AFTER THE FLOOD COLLEGE PHOTO ALBUM The college has been closed for Semester One while Community spirit at The University of Discover rare archival images of UQ it rebuilds, but will reopen in July thanks to the support Queensland remains strong after the colleges from the last 100 years of its current and former residents. outpouring of support following the January floods. The resilience of International House shows the UQ WORLD CLASS RESEARCH college tradition is a proud and enduring one – indeed, 20 THEN AND NOW Professor Alan Lawson explains the St John’s and Emmanuel will mark their centenaries significance of new research rankings this year, having been part of the University community On the eve of centenary celebrations at Emmanuel and St John’s, learn since the very beginning. A feature starting on page THE MEMORY OF WatER about the University’s rich collegiate 20 gives a colourful overview of UQ’s 11 colleges, and View remarkable photographs captured history. reveals both their rich history and the vitality of their on campus during the January floods communities today. In this edition we also acknowledge the initiatives www.uq.edu.au/graduatecontact made possible when passionate alumni donate their time and resources to the University. These stories COVER: UQ’s first Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education) Professor Cindy Shannon are but a sample of the great work undertaken in Photo: David Sproule the name of partnership, and we invite you to join with us to make a difference. CONTACT Editor: Cameron Pegg Happy reading. is produced by the Office of Marketing and Deputy Editor: Penny Robinson Communications, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia Proofing: Shirley Glaister Telephone: (07) 3365 3367 Design: Paul Thomas UQ research students are discovering Consistently ranked in the top 1% of all Email: [email protected] Contributors: Caroline Bird, Simon Byrne, Fiona innovative solutions to some of the world’s universities in the world, UQ plays a leading Cameron, Denise Cullen, Carly Dengate, Erik de Wit, Editorial Board: Chair: Jack Lunn (Former Deputy Madelene Flanagan, Shirley Glaister, Paul Greenfield, most challenging questions. Supported by role in research collaboration and innovation. Chair, Queensland Press Pty Ltd) Kathy Grube, Shane Higgins, Melissa Jeffreys, Fiona Members: Graham Bethune (Director, Office of Kennedy, Janardan Kewin, Jan King, Alan Lawson, over 2000 experts across a wide range of Marketing and Communications) Julie Lloyd, Fran Molloy, Erin Pearl, Nhi Pham, Allison The 2010 Excellence in Research for Rock, Andrew Quek, Naomi Smith and Kate Swanson disciplines, UQ offers a focused environment John Story Dr John Desmarchelier (Former General Manager, Australia assessment confirmed UQ as having Sugar Terminals Limited) Photographers: Stewart Gould and Jeremy Patten for its students to excel. Chancellor more researchers working in fields assessed Clare Pullar (Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement) Photographic Librarian: Matthew Taylor Every research student benefits from UQ’s above world standard than at any other Shane Rodgers (Editorial Director at APN News and Advertising: Tina Hannan ([email protected]) Media) Printing: DAI Rubicon acclaimed culture of research excellence, Australian university. Lesley Whitteker (Deputy Director, Office of Marketing uq.edu.au/grad-school and Communications) which includes world-renowned advisors, CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Whatever you want to achieve, however Professor Ian Zimmer (Deputy Vice-Chancellor extensive international networks and ongoing (External Relations) Please telephone: (07) 3346 3150 you want to succeed, you will enjoy every professional development opportunities. Facsimile: (07) 3346 3901 advantage at The University of Queensland. Email: [email protected] The University of You. This product is printed on PEFC The international code for dialling Australia is +61 paper from sustainably managed www.uq.edu.au/graduatecontact forests and controlled sources Material in this publication does not necessarily reflect the policies of The University of Queensland. UOQ 0957 Research Grad Ad_297x210.indd 1 24/05/11 4:18 PM STRATEGIC MOVES D THE poweR of AV ID SP R OUL PHILANTHROPY E YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A Jennifer Brice (all three of whom are UQ in America. Chaired by Dr Andrew Liveris, BRILLIANT RESEARCHER OR graduates). the 2005 UQ Alumnus of the Year who The progress they have spurred in just a heads The Dow Chemical Company, and WIZARD TEACHER TO BE A few years shows that, where the University overseen by a board including UQ alumnus Dr CATALYST FOR CHANGE AND is prepared to loosen the rigidity of our first- Patrice Derrington, who works in Wall Street PROGRESS AT UQ. century business practices and work closely investment banking, it will enable US citizens with benefactors, we can deliver new and to make tax-effective donations to UQ. Since the University’s early days, better outcomes to students, high-achieving Andrew and Patrice’s service to the US philanthropists have been making a mark staff, and community members who need foundation highlights another vital avenue for by applying foresight and generosity to our research. alumni and others to elevate the University’s challenges of all scales. In fact, as far back as reputation, standing and performance: 1911 at least 100 donors were helping fund volunteering. Throughout the UQ equipment for the fledgling University, paving community, from the Senate to the the way for transformational benefactors in AS THE UNIVERSITY matuRED, recent biennial Alumni Book Fair, the 1920s and 1930s. Among them were THE PHILANTHROPIC TRADITION was sporting clubs and student societies, volunteers lend energy and influence to James and Mary Emelia Mayne who enabled CULTIVATED BY COUNTLESS PEOPLE – among other things – the St Lucia campus, support fantastic ventures in learning, a medical school and a UQ presence at WITH BIG HEARTS AND THE VAST research, and activities that engage and Pinjarra Hills; TC Beirne, who funded a law VISION TO IMAGINE A LONG-TERM uplift local and global communities. One of the best outcomes of last school; and a group of Dramatic Society LEGACY OF LEARNING students whose collective £10 seeded the year’s Centenary celebrations was Fryer Library, which now holds more than AND RESEARCH extensive contact between alumni 100,000 publications including 4,000 rare and their alma mater. More than 10,000 people attended reunions in books. venues ranging from the UQ Centre, As the University matured, the On the other hand, you do not have to be to the Cornell Club in New York, to the philanthropic tradition was cultivated by a successful business person and hands- Sheraton Saigon. countless people with big hearts and the on patron in order to make an impact. Very One function of these events was to vast vision to imagine a long-term legacy of recent events have proven that gifts of a encourage alumni to articulate the University’s learning and research.