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Queensland University of Technology Newspaper Issue 260 February 14 - March 6, 2006
ROBERT and Peter Davies have a lot in common. They were born on the same day, both scored an OP1, both have just fi nished a summer coastal road trip, and are both studying at QUT this year on a prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship.
But Robert is one of about 10,000 students new to QUT in 2006 and Peter is one of about 30,000 returning after the summer break.
The twins fi nished school together at Gympie State High School in 2004, with Peter deciding to start his uni studies straight away and Robert deciding to have a gap year.
This year, they will be reunited at QUT’s Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering where Rob is starting a degree in urban development and Peter is embarking on his second year of civil engineering.
The excitement of Peter fi nding out he had been awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship in late 2004 was doubled when Robert discovered he had also received a scholarship over summer.
“I took a year off to save up for a few things – like a car – and sort out what I wanted to do career-wise,” Robert said.
“I then applied for uni and for the scholarship – when I found out I’d got it it was fantastic, it was just awesome.”
“It will be great this year living together again,” Peter said.
“And we’ll be able to catch up on campus because we’re both studying in the same area.”
While the twins are looking forward to the social aspects of sharing uni life, they also know they’re in for plenty of hard work.
“That’s what’s great about the scholarship:
you don’t have to worry about getting a part-
time job – you can just put your head down and study,” Peter said.
The scholarships, which are worth $5000 a year, were also good news to the boys’ parents who have fi ve children who all want to go to uni.
Robert and Peter are living at Toowong during semester but plan to head home to Gympie every second weekend to catch up with their mum and dad, two sisters and younger brother.
“We’ve got season passes to the Broncos this year so we can’t go back too often!” Peter said.
- Mechelle Webb
Careers expert honoured
www.news.qut.edu.au George Street Brisbane 4000 Telephone (07) 3864 2361 Registered by Australia Post – Publication No. QBF 4778. CRICOS No 00213J
Honours
QUT careers expert Col McCowan has received an Order of Australia Award in the Australia Day Honours for his services to the development and implementation of new knowledge in career management for young people.
Mr McCowan, whose work has been recognised and implemented nationally and inter nationally through the United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is coordinating the International Symposium on Career Development and Public Policy in April in Sydney which delegates from 50 countries are expected to attend.
Mr McCowan said he was honoured to receive the award and that it would highlight the vital contribution planned career development made to individuals and industry.
“I see this award as recognition of the fi eld of career development and management that
is of growing importance to young Australians and to the prosperity of the country in general,”
Mr McCowan said.
Mr McCowan is a registered psychologist, teacher and guidance counsellor who has managed QUT’s Careers and Employment Service since he established it in 1993.
QUT’s nationally recognised ser vice, responsible for addressing the career development needs of more than 40,000 students, was acknowledged by the Federal Government with the awarding of Best Practice Awards for Excellence in Service in 2000 and 2001 and a placing in 2003.
In addition, Mr McCowan was awarded the National Career Counselling Excellence award from the Australian Association of Career Counsellors in 2004.
Mr McCowan’s research has driven major changes in the management and delivery of career development strategies and career guidance services across government and industry.
In particular, his research on managing cross-generational career development has shed much light on critical issues such as how lecturers, managers and coaches can best reach diff erent generations.
He has published three books on career development, the latest being Working the Web:
Career planning via the Internet, and he is on the editorial board of the Australian Journal of Career Development.
Mr McCowan has played a leading role in developing a national career advisory system that monitors and regulates career development practices to benefi t all students.
H i s ex p e r t i s e h a s b e e n re c og n i s e d internationally with the completion of several UNESCO-funded projects to establish formal career development programs for young people in less developed nations.
- Niki Widdowson
Twin success heralds start of uni year
From l to r, twins Peter and Robert Davies relax in front of Old Government House at Gardens Point.
See page 8 for news of the historic house’s exciting new multi-million dollar facelift.
O’ Events coming up…
THE 2006 Orientation Week will be held from February 20 to 24 to welcome new students to QUT.
The week is an event not to be missed and includes a variety of course-specifi c orientation programs, as well as social events organised by the Student Guild.
It will be followed by live music and stalls at a series of market days during the fi rst offi cial week of semester.
For details on orientation programs relating to your course, as well as Guild events, visit www.orientation.qut.edu.au.
For other information on enrolment procedures, including fees and student ID cards, visit www.gettingstarted.qut.edu.au.
Turn to the back page of Inside QUT and check out “What’s On” for some O’Week highlights!
Col McCowan
Nanotechnology
NANO scientists from QUT are developing cheap, portable, personal solar cells that will be able to recharge laptops and mobile phones.
The fl exible, 100 nm (nanometres – a nanometre is one billionth of a metre) thick polymer sheet devices will be able to be rolled up and taken anywhere to free users-on-the-move from having to depend on fossil fuel powered sockets to keep their communications devices charged.
Professor Nunzio Motta of the
School of Engineering Systems and Dr Eric Waclawik from the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences are developing the new renewable energy source using nanotechnology.
Weighing all of 10 micrograms per cm2, the new product is a cheap composite material made from carbon nanotubes, a 10th of the size of a human hair, and conductive polymer.
The polymer tiles could be easily linked together in a patchwork to increase the size and generate more power according to individual needs.
“QUT is the only university to be looking to develop the use of carbon nanotubes in this way,” Prof Motta said.
“This solar cell could generate enough energ y to recharge the batteries of low power devices such as laptops and mobiles.”
Dr Waclawik said the polymer could be a viable alternative to silicon solar cells which are expensive, heavy and delicate.
“Although silicon solar cells have gained considerable market share and commercial success, high production costs still limit their commercial viability,” he said.
“This is why we are exploring t h e d eve l o p m e n t o f l ow c o s t alternative photovoltaic in the Applied Nanotechnology group under a QUT Strategic Collaborative Grant.”
- Niki Widdowson
COMMENT
uWELCOME to the 2006 academic year and, in particular, a special welcome to the 10,000 of you who are commencing your studies at QUT this semester.
The f irst days and weeks at univer sity can sometimes be bewildering, with the need to complete enrolment formalities while gaining familiarity with the campuses and their teaching and research spaces, as well as the range of activities, facilities and support services which are available.
But these early weeks should also be exciting, providing the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
M a ny s t u d e n t s i n t e r we ave university studies with work and other commitments; balancing these priorities also can be demanding, and persistence will be necessary but worthwhile.
T h e u n ive r s i t y s e c t o r h a s undergone a great deal of scrutiny and change over recent years, and we are very sensitive to the rising fi nancial cost to students of gaining university qualifi cations.
While a degree does not guarantee a job in a particular fi eld, it is the case that higher education remains a very sound investment both for the
individual and for the community.
QUT takes particular pride in the value we can add by closely linking our teaching and research with the real world of industry and the professions.
Evidence of our performance in this regard is provided by the high levels of job and career success of our graduates.
However we do not lose sight of the fact that the world is rapidly changing, and societies face major social, environmental and economic challenges in the years ahead.
U n ive r s i t y e d u c a t i o n mu s t therefore be about more than just professional training; it must develop the mind to think in new ways about the world and to thrive on change and challenge.
Once again, best wishes for your studies, and welcome to the QUT community.
Professor Peter Coaldrake Vice-Chancellor
Personal solar power: the ultimate in wireless
Psychology
IS there a psychological profi le for the gym junkie? Do couch potatoes really exist? Is there such a thing as an average eater?
A QUT study is underway to fi nd out if there is a set of psychological features that can profi le such eating styles or if they are all just myth.
S c h o o l o f P s yc h o l o g y a n d Counselling PhD student K ate Mulgrew, pictured above, is embarking on a study of body image and health and is calling for 150 people of any and all eating and exercise persuasions to volunteer for a one-hour computer task and questionnaire.
“This is one of the fi rst studies of its kind in Australia” Ms Mulgrew said.
“Other studies have looked at the psychological profi les of people with anorexia or bulimia but we want to look at the other 95 per cent of the population who don’t have clinical eating disorders to better understand what a ‘normal’ body image is.
“Thus, we are seeking males and females over 18 from a broad range of backgrounds to participate in the study, regardless of whether they are concerned with their appearance or not.”
If you are interested in participating in the study, please contact Kate on [email protected] or 07 3864 4685.
What’s your eating style?
QUT grad named human rights medallist
QUT alumnus Kevin Cocks has won Australia’s prestigious Human Rights Medal for 2005 in recognition of his lifelong dedication to disability rights and social justice issues. Mr Cocks is the director of Queensland Advocacy Incorporated – a community-based advocacy organisation for people with disabilities across the state. His Human Rights Medal was announced in Sydney in December to coincide with annual Human Rights Day.
Professor Jonathan Izant will help oversee the future direction of molecular medicine in Australia following his appointment to a new national human genetics advisory committee. The executive director of the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation is one of 12 experts selected for the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Human Genetics Advisory Committee. The Australian Government has provided $7.6 million over four years to establish the new committee, which will look at the impact human genetic technology may have in a wide range of applications – from health care to insurance.
QUT expert joins human genetics advisory committee
Associate Professor Chris Collet has been named the Best Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year for his innovative degree designed to meet real-world demands. Dr Collet, from the Faculty of Science, was presented with the prestigious honour at the annual Business/Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT) awards late last year. He has played a major role in the development of QUT’s Bachelor of Biotechnology Innovation.
QUT science educator rewarded for innovation
QUT has joined the international table of one of the world’s most infl uential IT organisations by becoming Australia’s only university member of the web standard body, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). IT Dean Professor Simon Kaplan said membership of W3C gave the university the opportunity to infl uence development of new web tools and guidelines which would signifi cantly impact upon the way the world does research, business and leisure.
QUT becomes a weaver of the World Wide Web
QUT data safety expert Professor Peter Croll has been awarded a prestigious CSIRO Fellowship to investigate the security risks associated with analysing people’s private health records. Professor Croll, from the Faculty of Information Technology, is only the third fellow to be appointed to the CSIRO Preventative Health National Research Flagship.
Leading QUT researcher Professor James Dale has been appointed as chair of the Australian Research Council’s Biological Sciences Panel. The prestigious appointment adds another string to the bow of the biotechnology expert who specialises in molecular farming and development of industrial crops such as tobacco and sugarcane, and development of transgenic disease resistance in bananas, papaya and sugarcane.
Top researcher on ARC panel
Keeping your health records private
Our latest high achievers
From l to r, Professor Nunzio Motta and Dr Eric Waclawik.
Personal solar cell
In the 2006 Australian of the Year Awards, QUT alumni were named as fi nalists in three of the four categories. Two of those graduates, Sally Goold and Toni Hoffman, went on to be awarded the top honour on the eve of Australia Day, January 26.
Senior of the Year
QUT graduate and former nursing lecturer Sally Goold has been awarded Senior Australian of the Year 2006.
Ms Goold, pictured below with Prime Minister John Howard, received the Australia Day honour in recognition of her contribution to nursing and the Indigenous community.
She graduated from QUT with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing) in 1988 and later returned to the university’s School of Nursing to work as a lecturer and clinical educator for three years.
QUT’s Head of Nursing, Professor Helen Edwards, said QUT and Ms Goold’s former colleagues were very proud of her.
“Sally was always very enthusiastic with students and staff ,” Professor Edwards said.
“She has a real passion for nursing and highlighted Indigenous health issues while at the university.
“I think being named Senior Australian of the Year is a great a c h i eve m e n t fo r S a l ly a n d a recognition of the wonderful work that she has done.”
Ms Goold, who already has an OAM, is an Indigenous registered nurse and founder of the Congress of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Nurses, which aims to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in nursing.
She has worked in hospitals in medical, surgical and cardiac units and as a midwife and been involved in the training of many others.
She now advises gover nment as a member of the National Indigenous Council and lives on Bribie Island.
Young Australian of the Year fi nalist
Australia’s Local Hero
QUT alumnus and whistleblower nurse Toni Hoff man was named Australia’s Local Hero for 2006.
Ms Hoffman, pictured right, was recognised for her dedication in raising concerns about patient safety at Bundaberg Base Hospital.
She led the charge to expose Dr Jayant Patel, the surgeon dubbed “Dr Death” who has been linked to the deaths of many former patients at the hospital.
In an awards citation, Ms Hoff man
was applauded for true dedication to her profession as a nurse and to her personal values.
“Her ethics and values would not allow her to walk away from the problems she identifi ed and she placed her concern for patients and their families above her own well being,”
the citation read.
“There are many who understand and appreciate her compassion for patients and her strength in standing up for what she believed in.”
Ms Hoff man completed a Graduate Certifi cate in Management
at QUT in 2002.
Health and Biomedical Innovation
QUT researchers have warned people to throw out old sunscreen bottles and wear sunscreen under sun shirts at the beach.
Their message this summer was that even 50+ sun shirts were not as protective of your skin once they’re wet from swimming.
Dr Michael Kimlin, a senior research fellow with QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, said it’s important to wear sunscreen under sun shirts to protect your skin from sun damage.
“Once sun shirts were wet, their protective capabilities decreased,” he said.
“It’s important for parents to use a range of strategies to protect themselves and their children from the summer sun.”
Dr Kimlin is leading a team of QUT
researchers in looking at both positive and negative impacts of UV exposure.
He said old sunscreen bottles needed to be replaced every two years as they’re no longer eff ective against Ultraviolet rays.
“This time-frame is even less for sunscreen stored in hot cars,” he said.
Studies showed the risk of skin cancer increased with increased UV exposure.
“In the middle of the day in Brisbane it takes less than 10 minutes to burn and a lot of southerners don’t realise how strong the Queensland sun is,” he said.
Dr Kimlin said summer holiday makers should use multiple strategies to protect themselves from the sun including wearing long sleeved shirts, applying sunscreen – including under sun shirts, wearing hats and sunglasses outside, staying in the shade when
possible and avoiding being out in the sun in the middle of the day.
Dr Kimlin’s study of UVA exposure, sponsored by the US Government’s National Institute of Health, was likely to show that
‘safe’ activities in fi ltered sunlight also weren’t as safe as we thought.
“Harmful Ultraviolet A light penetrates car windshields, offi ce windows and even shopping centres,” he said.
“People think they’re safe because the glass blocks out the UVB light but long-term exposure to UVA light could be causing signifi cant skin damage, including premature ageing, eye damage and even skin cancer.”
He said people going on long drives or driving holidays should be aware of this.
Dr Kimlin is a State Government Smart State Fellow.
Doubt over safety of sun shirts
THE year 2006 is already shaping up as a big one for QUT alumnus Alen O’Hran.
The 24-year-old originally from Bosnia headed to Canberra on January 25 after being named a fi nalist in the 2006 Young Australian of the Year and on his return to Brisbane started a dream job.
A l e n h a s m a d e a tremendous impact in the community since he and his mum arrived in Australia nine years ago as
refugees of the strife-torn Balkans.
He spoke no English at fi rst, but proved to be a fast learner and hard worker
at school and was then off ered a law scholarship to QUT.
He tackled a diffi cult double degree in law and business and still found time to assist others
as a student ambassador.
After g raduating he worked as an associate to the Honourable Justice Peter Dutney, the Central Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland, based in Rockhampton.
And next month he takes up a Brisbane position as a solicitor with leading Australian law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
He is also continuing a part-time academic/teaching role with the Faculty of Business.
Victoria’s Trisha Broadbridge went on to be named 2006 Young Australian of the Year.
Inspiring grads shine as role models
Teaching and Learning
ALL eyes were on QUT’s Professor Joanne Wood, pictured left, who was recognised for her outstanding contribution to higher education at the 2005 Australian Awards for University Teaching last November.
Professor Wood, from the School of Optometry within the Faculty of Health, was named Australia’s most outstanding university teacher in the fi eld of biological sciences, health and related studies.
“The thing that makes teaching so rewarding is working with students who will make a real diff erence in the lives of other people in the future,”
she said.
Professor Wood’s latest award win is the third in a stellar career. In 2003 she received QUT’s Faculty of Health Teaching Award and in 2004 was awarded a QUT Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award.
She said it was a great honour to receive the national award which was presented by Federal Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson at a ceremony held in Canberra.
“ I t wa s a n h o n o u r fo r m e individually but also an honour for QUT as a whole,” she said.
“It recognises high quality teaching as well as the great research which is being done at QUT.”
Professor Wood has been at the university for 15 years, and was
appointed senior lecturer in 1992, associate professor in 1998 and full professor in 2005.
She has played a leadership role in improving eye health status of the Indigenous population.
Professor Wood established the fi rst optometry teaching clinic at the Aboriginal and Islander Community Health Service in Brisbane more than 10 years ago, which still serves as an important teaching tool.
She is the fi fth QUT winner at the Australian Awards for University Teaching.
- Sandra Hutchinson
• SEE PAGE 6 FOR RESULTS OF THE 2005 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S TEACHING AWARDS.
Teacher tops nation
MBA win helps protect In
Advertising
FOUR QUT students are the whiz-kids behind an “IncREDible” new advertising campaign for one of Queensland’s favourite sports teams – the Reds.
The state’s top rugby players turned to QUT for inspiration to help them get over the line with fans in 2006 via a new ad campaign.
The campaign hinges on the catchcry of “IncREDible!” – something rugby fans want to be able to chant more often next year after a hit-and-miss 2005 season.
Students Brian Hastings, Sarah Wright, Daniel Newton and Knut Haehre came up with the idea as part of a QUT copywriting subject for their advertising and marketing degrees.
Brian said the class had been given a clear brief and divided into teams which came up with diff erent options.
“We were told the Reds had been struggling on the fi eld and that they wanted to give the team a boost and get more supporters,” he said.
“The message we wanted to get out there was that you should rock up to the
game and support your team. At fi rst, we were going to do something overly- creative and then we thought no, they want something simple and eff ective that will last three years.”
The students hit upon “IncREDible”
as a strong central idea and went about creating designs for everything from billboards and radio ads to t-shirts and other merchandise ideas.
“We thought it was versatile, it was eyecatching, it would work on billboards and was easily understandable,” Brian said.
The students will each receive a season’s pass to the Reds for their eff orts, along with some merchandise.
The Reds’ commercial manager, Tony Hancock, said it was often the obvious idea that worked the best.
“I was extremely impressed with the quality of work submitted by all the QUT students ... we received about 25 diff erent ideas, short listed to fi ve and then chose IncREDible,” he said.
“This group stood out from the rest ...
even going as far as to get IncREDible t- shirts produced for their presentation.”
Students devise an IncREDible ad
Engineering
QUT eng ineering students recently celebrated a lucky 13th placing in the biggest university car race in Australasia.
The 2005 Formula SAE competition was held in Melbourne in December and pitted 25 university teams against each other in the design, construction and racing of a 610cc formula-style race car.
QUT’s Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering was represented by QUT Motorsport – a team of young mechanical engineering students who spent much of last year creating their dream machine.
QUT debuted in the F-SAE competition
in 2004 and fi nished a credible 17th.
Last year they jumped four places to 13th in the overall rankings.
The team’s best perfor mances in specialist categories included 12th for car presentation, 10th for car endurance and third in fuel effi ciency.
The University of Western Australia won the 2005 event and will now represent Australia in the world contest in the USA.
QUT Motorsport’s 2005 squad was led by team manager Michael McInnes and core members Matt Glass and Robert Hackwood.
Mazda was the team’s major sponsor for 2005.
ZOOM ZOOM
in Melbourne Summer
success
QUT staff, students and alumni have been busy over the summer chalking up an impressive array of awards and achievements.
Students Brian Hastings, Sarah Wright, Daniel Newton pass the promotional ball to the Reds’ Tony Hancock (far left).
Kimberly Curtis from the Brisbane Graduate School of Business helps vaccinate Indian children against polio.
The QUT car in action in Melbourne.
The 2005 QUT Motorsport team.
Fashion
CHILDHOOD memories of Africa have helped a QUT fashion graduate win the trip of a lifetime to showcase her designs at the Mercedes Australian Fashion Week in Sydney.
Shilo Engelbrecht, pictured left, lives at Red Hill in Brisbane now, but grew up in South Africa where she spent her youth sailing and exploring mountains, forests and beaches along the African coastline.
A passion for fashion with an international fl avour saw her enrol in QUT’s fashion design degree after her family moved to Australia.
Now she’s celebrating a double success – she has just fi nished her degree and her graduate collection won the Queensland fi nal of the Mercedes-Benz Start Up competition.
The win means she will represent Queensland in a showcase of emerging young designers at the prestigious Australian Fashion Week in Sydney in April.
“I was really surprised to win but it’s really starting to sink in now,”
the 22-year-old said.
Shilo’s winning collection, which she calls “Map of My Heart”, was inspired by her African childhood, international travels as a youngster, a family map collection, her sea-loving father and grandfather, and artistic mother and grandmother.
One of the standout pieces is a delicate silk chiff on skirt and matching cami made of fl oating layers adorned with prints of street maps of Capetown – the city where Shilo grew up.
“A lot of my prints and inspiration are from memories of Africa and memories of where I am now,” she said.
“I design all my own prints and print them. The patchwork of diff erent urban fragments and fabrics contrasted with the colours of satellite images are meaningful to me as they refl ect my childhood, my present location and perhaps a blueprint of my future.”
Shilo said she would spend the next few months printing her own fabrics and manufacturing her collection which has already been sold to Blonde Venus in Fortitude Valley.
- Mechelle Webb
Shilo’s fashion adventure
Business
A TEAM of QUT business students have used their entrepreneurial talents to help poor and underprivileged children in India.
After winning an international marketing competition in India last month, the four Master of Business Administration (MBA) students donated their prize money to a Rotary program which immunises children against polio.
The money will be used to immunise more than 6000 children as part of Rotary International’s Polio Plus program.
The team consisting of Kimberly Curtis, Justin Robinson, Utkal Patra and Jim Efthimiou, competed at the Indian Institute of Management Confluence event held in Ahmedabad, India winning fi rst place in the interactive marketing competition.
Ms Curtis said the decision to donate the prize money to an Indian cause was a result of the team’s keen awareness that while there were many fantastic business possibilities in India there were also many social needs.
“It was great to win the competition but it also gave us a great feeling to be able to help others.”
Ms Curtis said the competition allowed top business schools from across the world to bring together their ideas.
“The competition involved developing a marketing strateg y for a new venture and presenting this to a panel of judges,” she said.
“Our product was Think Drink and it was targeted at the Information Technology sector in India who needed a boost.
“It was a fruit and vegetable juice with supplements to help you get through the day.”
She said the focus of the team’s marketing campaign was to create an innovative targeted strategy without spending a lot of money.
“We looked at strategically placed billboards where our target demographics would frequent,”
she said.
Following the Confl uence event, Kimberly visited the slums of New Dehli where she assisted doctors and nurses immunise young children with the polio vaccine.
- Sandra Hutchinson
Indian children
GAIL Reid – a QUT fashion graduate and close friend of Shilo’s – is also on a meteoric rise in the world of fashion.
Last month, Gail’s designs, under her Gail Sorronda label, made their way down the catwalk at the Australian Designer Showcase in Hollywood, part of the Australia Week G’Day LA trade promotion.
The major fashion event showcased a cross section of Australia’s contemporary designers and a range of new Australian designers – including Gail – to the style- conscious LA marketplace.
The aim was for sales for retail outlets, placement in films and TV shows and dressing actors for forthcoming red carpet events.
Gail was the Queensland winner in last year’s Mercedes-Benz Start Up.
Gail’s star is on the up and up
Information Technology
AUSTRALIA’S newest soccer hero is just 8cm tall, made of metal and an absolute gun at scoring goals.
QUT’s tiny robot with a big name – Jumbo – has won the 2005 FIRA RoboWorld Cup for Khepera robots in Singapore.
Khepera robots are tiny machines that are programmed to play autonomously (rather than via remote control) against other robots on a 1m by 68cm indoor soccer fi eld.
QUT won the world title in 2003 and 2004 with a robot named Kheperoo who was “coached” by information technology student Narongdech Keeratipranon.
This year, Narongdech was responsible for programming a new robot, Jumbo.
The world cup fi nal in Singapore came down to the two Australians, with Jumbo beating Kheperoo four goals to one.
Scooter from Germany, the other favourite nation, fi nished third.
Narongdech said Jumbo, named after trip sponsor Boeing Australia, had gone into the competition with a new secret weapon – an improved vision camera which saw further and in colour.
The robots play soccer with a yellow tennis ball and switch between a series of behaviours that are programmed in an endless loop – go to the centre, look for the ball, go to the ball, dribble the ball to the opposite goal.
Narongdech, 24, is part-way through a PhD in autonomous robotics and hopes to continue his research career in robotics when he returns home to Thailand in a couple of years.
“I want to keep working with autonomous robots and one day make a robot that can take care of old people in their own homes,”
he said.
“Maybe this won’t happen for 20 years ...
but in my lifetime!”
- Mechelle Webb
QUT wins third
‘robo-soccer’
Goodna study earns students top honour For the fourth consecutive year a team of graduate planning students have won the Planning Institute of Australia’s top tertiary student award, for their study Finger on the pulse of Goodna, a project to revitalise one of Ipswich’s disadvantaged communities. The team of nine students was supervised by Associate Professor Phil Heywood (pictured) from QUT’s School of Urban Development .
Students scoop fi lm awards
QUT fi lm and television students have won 11 awards at the important 2005 Queensland Awards
for Cinematography. In the category of Student Cinematography, three QUT students won four awards: Laura Dudgeon (Gold), Paul Knox (Gold) and Matthew Floyd (Silver and Highly Commended).
QUT’s newsmakers hit the headlines
QUT’s newsmakers made news of their own with two graduates winning Walkley Awards at Australian media’s night of nights held last December.
QUT graduates Leigh Sales, who is an ABC correspondent in Washington, and Tenille Bonoguore, formerly of the Sunshine Coast Daily, were recognised for their outstanding journalistic achievement.
And still more triumphs …
Narongdech Keeratipranon Gail Reid
in BRIEF...
Student Services
QUT student Damian Leonard is already fl ying high when it comes to his own career goals – but he’s also taking time to help others take off .
The 26-year-old aerospace avionics student is one of a select group of young people combining their studies with work as a QUT student ambassador.
The part-time job has seen Damian visit schools across Queensland to pass on some fi rst-hand advice about what uni life is like.
For the past two months he has also spent his summer holidays working at Boeing Australia as a student engineer to gain a valuable insight into his future industry.
And while Damian said aerospace avionics was not exactly rocket science, it’s pretty close.
“When I fi nish uni I want to work as a systems engineer within the aerospace industry,” he said.
“I’m interested in the interfacing of components within aircraft systems.”
Damian is about to start the third year of his QUT degree in Brisbane.
“I became a student ambassador in my fi rst year at QUT because I thought it was a good opportunity to get involved with QUT and to let school students know what it was like,” he said.
“When I was in high school I didn’t know a lot about universities so I think it’s good to now have someone like us go into schools to talk to students.”
Damian visits tertiary expos as well as high schools and has travelled around the state to destinations including the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Rockhampton and Gladstone.
He said he usually worked between fi ve and 10 hours a week as a QUT student ambassador and liked the flexibility of being able to easily
Damian fl ies high to help fellow students
THEY are all experts in their own fields – now Dr James Hogan, Professor Des Butler and Associate Professor Peter O’Shea have been named QUT’s top teachers for 2005.
The trio was presented with individual awards by Professor Peter Coaldrake at the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Awards ceremony on November 15.
The awards were established in 2000 and recognise teaching staff nominated by their colleagues and the community for either individual or team teaching awards.
Applicants must be nominated by three people (eg colleagues, students, industr y par tner s, employers of graduates).
The 2005 team awards for teaching went to:
A s s o c i a t e P r o f e s s o r S u z i Vaughan, Ms Wendy Armstrong, Mr Dean Brough, Ms Kath Horton and Dr Michelle Markham – fashion, Creative Industries Faculty
Ms Helen Partridge and Dr Gillian Hallam – Faculty of Information Technology
Dr Marett Leiboff and Mr Mark Thomas – Faculty of Law
Dr Andrew Baker (Faculty of Science) and Dr Jillian Hamilton
(Creative Industries Faculty) were also recognised in the “beginning”
category for academics with less than three years experience as QUT teachers.
Postgraduate supervision awards went to Professor Mary Courtney (Faculty of Health), Professor Mahen Mahendran (Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering),
and Associate Professor Parlo Singh (Faculty of Education).
Catriona Harg rave was also recognised for her part-time teaching with the Faculty of Science.
V-C’s top teachers for 2005
arrange his work around his studies.
Students interested in becoming a QUT student ambassador should visit www.studentservices.qut.edu.au.
Applications close on March 10 and are being accepted for every faculty except Law and Humanities and
Human Services (who already have enough ambassadors).
Australian and inter national students are welcome to apply.
- Mechelle Webb
From l to r, individual winners Dr James Hogan, Professor Des Butler and Associate Professor Peter O’Shea.
QUT ranks in world’s top unis
QUT’s world-class reputation has earned it a place in the world’s top 200 universities, according to a prestigious international rankings compiled by The Times in London. QUT ranked at 118 in the World University Rankings, which was released late last year by The Times Higher Education Supplement. It is the fi rst time the university has made the top 200. American and British universities dominated the top 20, with Harvard named the world’s best. The Times also released a global rankings for technology universities which saw QUT rise to a ranking of 67th in the world.
Farewell
After many decades of service to QUT, several staff retired from the university in the past month. Following 34 years teaching engineering mathematics, lecturer Colin Calder retired from the Faculty of Science. Head of the School of Information Systems Professor Alan Underwood left the Faculty of Information Technology after 31 years while the dean’s personal assistant Marie Sands also left the faculty after 30 years.
Associate Professor Jennifer Radbourne left QUT at the end of January for a sea change, taking up the post of head of the School of Management at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Indigenous Institute wins Telstra grant
The Cherbourg-based Indigenous Education Leadership Institute, of which QUT is a partner, has attracted a $130,000 grant from the Telstra Foundation.
The funds will allow institute director Chris Sarra to embark on a national, two-year speaking tour to promote “stronger smarter, higher” learning outcomes for Indigenous students.
The planned seminars and learning forums will be aimed at school principals, teachers and the wider community.
Shakespeare lives online with QUT
QUT’s Creative Industries Faculty has launched Bardwire a virtual world of Shakespeare, a catchall website for teachers, actors, directors, cultural critics and just plain Shakespeare fanciers to discuss, delight and be informed on events, workshops and all bard- related happenings. The site at www.bardwire.qut.
edu.au will be continually updated with the latest news on anything remotely Shakespeare going on in and around Brisbane and comes in time for the 2006 World Shakespeare Congress to be held in Brisbane in July this year.
Damian Leonard has travelled around the state promoting the values of studying at QUT as a student ambassador.
Banking
GP – Commonwealth Bank ATM – ground level, Y Block (next to refectory)
Uni Credit Union – top level, Y Block, 9am- 4.30pm Mon-Fri. 3229 1388.
Multicard ATM – outside Y Block.
KG –Uni Credit Union – level 1, A Block, 11am- 2pm Mon-Fri. 3864 3187.
Multicard ATM – main entrance to C Block, near bookshop.
Cars – Multicard ATM – level 2, C Block.
Bookshops
(books and computer software)
GP – ground level, Y Block, 8.30am-6pm Mon- Thu, 8.30am-4pm Fri. 3864 2433.
KG – level 2, C Block, 8.30am-5pm Mon-Thu, 8.30am-4pm Fri. 3864 3125.
Cars – level 2, C Block, 8.30am-5pm Mon-Thu, 8.30am-1pm Fri. 3864 4569.
Second-hand textbooks are available through the Student Guild Info Centres (see separate entry).
Visit www.bookshop.qut.edu.au
Campus clubs
(QUT Student Guild) GP – top level, Y Block KG – level 1, C Block Cars – top level, C Block
Contact Matt Williams. 3864 2349.
Campus shops
(QUT Student Guild)
GP – ground level, Y Block, 8.30am-6pm Mon- Thu, 8.30am-4pm Fri. (9am-4pm during recess.) 3864 1681.
KG – Kelvin Grove News and Post Offi ce, opposite bookshop in C Block, 8.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri. 3864 3330.
Careers &
Employment Service
GP – level 2, U Block, 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. 3864 2649.
KG – level 4, C Block, 9am-5pm Mon-Thu, 8am-4pm Fri. 3864 3488.
Cars – level 2, C Block, 8am-4pm Mon-Thu.
3864 4539.
Course direction and career support – 3864 2649, email [email protected] or visit www.
careers.qut.edu.au. (Call Student Guild on 3864 5509 for information on casual employment and off -campus accommodation.)
Chaplaincy Services
Fr Bavin Clarke is the QUT Chaplain and can be contacted on 3864 2700, 0414 642 700 or [email protected]. The Chaplain is based at Old Government House, GP. KG Campus contacts are James Edwards and Kerry Pierce – 3864 3352, room A131 KG. The Chaplaincy Service visits Carseldine and Caboolture – contact the student centre for details.
Childcare Centres
(QUT Student Guild)
** NB – long waiting lists apply for under 2s GP – child care centre (six weeks to fi ve years), 7.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri. 3864 1690.
GP – crèche (six weeks to fi ve years), 7.30am- 5.30pm Mon-Fri. 3864 4047.
KG – 9 School Street, 7.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri.
3864 3943.
Cars – child care (six weeks to fi ve years), 7.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri. (Eastern Beams Rd entrance.)
Cab – TAFE runs a childcare centre next door to the campus. 5498 3542.
Clubs & Societies
(QUT Student Guild)
To fi nd out about a wide variety of clubs and societies, call 3864 1213 or visit www.guildonline.net.
Computing Services
Student Computing Help Desk. 3864 2898.
GP – level 2, V Block.
KG – level 2, D Block.
Cars – level 2, A Block.
For opening times, visit www.studentcomputing helpdesk.qut.edu.au. Phone support is available to all four QUT campuses from 6am-1am Mon-Fri and 9.30am-5pm weekends and public holidays on 3864 2898.
Counselling Services
The Counselling Service promotes academic and personal development by providing a professional, free and confi dential service to students. Advice on welfare issues is also available.
GP – level 1, Y Block, 8am-5pm Mon-Thu, 9am-4pm Fri. 3864 2383.
KG – level 4, C Block, 9am-5pm Mon-Thu, 8am-4pm Fri. 3864 3488 (during semester).
Cars – level 2, C Block, 8am-4pm Mon-Thu.
3864 4539.
Cab – Contact Carseldine Service for assistance. 3864 4539.
Equity Programs & Services
QUT provides a range of programs and services to create an inclusive environment and to support the social and cultural diversity of students and staff . www.equity.qut.edu.au GP – level 1, X Block. 3864 2699.
KG – level 2, K Block. 3864 5601.
Fitness Centre
(QUT Student Guild)
GP – Y Block (below refectory), 6am-8.30pm Mon-Thu, 6am-7.30pm Fri, 9am -1pm & 3pm- 7pm Sat, 3pm-7pm Sun. 3864 1685.
KG – C Block (below refectory), 6.30am-8pm Mon-Thu, 6.30am-6.30pm Fri, 9am-1pm Sat.
3864 3710.
Food Venues & Catering
GP
Refectory – lower level, Y Block
Chill Out Zone – lower level Y Block, refec seating area
Degrees Café – top level, Y Block Artisans – opposite D Block Bar Merlo – ground level, X Block Ritazza Kiosk – level 4, Z Block Jacket Junction – O Block Podium Juiceperation – outside library entrance KG
Refectory – C Block
Beadles on the Quad – behind A Block Create Café – Z1, Creative Industries Precinct Cars
Red – level 1, A Block Cab
Isabella’s – ground fl oor, B Block
Guild Aquatic & Squash
(QUT Student Guild)
A 25-metre, eight-lane indoor heated swimming pool. Two glass-backed squash courts for squash, rebound volleyball and badminton.
I Block, GP (beside refectory). 5.30am-8pm Mon-Thur, 5.30am-7pm Fri, 9am-5pm Sat &
Sun. 3864 1688 or 3864 2818.
Health
Health services clinics (medical centres)
GP – lower level, Y Block, 8.30am-5pm Mon- Fri. 3864 2321.
KG – level 4, C Block, 8am-4pm Mon-Fri. 3864 3161.
Optometry Clinic
KG – level 5, O Block, B Wing. Enquiries – 8am-5pm Mon-Fri (except Wed 8am-7pm).
3864 5743 or 3864 5695. Open during semester breaks.
Podiatry Clinic
KG – level 6, O Block, B Wing. 9am-3pm Mon- Fri, 5pm-7pm Thu. 3864 5652.
Campus Physiotherapy
GP – QUT Sports Centre (Pool Complex, I Block) on the gallery level, 8am-1:30pm Mon,Tues & Thurs. 8am-5pm Wed & Fri. 3864 1687.
KG – lower level, C Block, 8am-1.30pm Mon- Fri. 3864 3711.
International Student Services
International Student Services (ISS) provides a range of services specifi cally designed for international students and Australian students from non-English speaking backgrounds. These include language and learning skills assistance, orientations, accommodation, fi nancial assistance, confi dential counselling as well as social and cultural activities.
GP – lower level, Y Block, 9am-5pm Mon-Fri.
3864 2019.
KG – level 4, C Block, 9am-5pm Mon-Thurs, 8am-4pm Fri. 3864 3488.
Homestay enquiries – KG, level 2 C Block, 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. 3864 3846.
Study Abroad
& Exchange Unit
The focal point for the university’s international activity, the QUT student exchange program, study abroad programs and international visitors.
GP – level 3, O Block Podium, 9am-5pm Mon- Fri. 3864 4300.
Student Exchanges 3864 2200 and Study Abroad 3864 2814.
www.international.qut.edu.au
Learning Support
Academic skills advisers can assist you to manage your learning at QUT. Phone 3864 9100, email [email protected], or visit the Learning On-Line Interactively (LOLI) website for on-line tutorial and further information.
Library
GP – V Block. Help desk, 3864 2083.
- Law library, C Block. Help desk, 3864 2842.
KG - R Block. Help desk, 3864 3079.
Cars – R Block. Help desk, 3864 4555.
Cab – B Block. Help desk, 5433 7420.
www.library.qut.edu.au
Lost Property
GP – Campus Parking offi ce, level 1, M Block 3864 8315.
KG – Campus Services, level 1, Y Block.
3864 3940.
Cars – Campus Services, level 4, C Block, 3864 4627.
Media Services
If you have a story to tell contact QUT Marketing and Communication Department and your newsworthy ideas may be considered for Inside QUT and other publications. 3864 2361 or [email protected].
Oodgeroo Unit
The Oodgeroo Unit for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students has facilities on all campuses.
GP – ground level, X Block, room 104. 3864 1548.
KG – level 2, B Block, room 205. 3864 3610.
Cars – level 4, C Block, room 409. 3864 4874.
Cab – H Block. 5433 7490.
Parking
Parking at QUT is very limited (especially at GP and KG) and penalties apply for breaching parking regulations. Pay and display car parks exist at GP and KG. All campuses are easily accessed via public transport (see transport information below). Applications for people with demonstrated need are available at www.
fmd.qut.edu.au/campus_services/parking/.
There is ample free parking at Caboolture campus.
Printing & Copying – QUT Printing Services
GP – level 4, V Block. 3864 1474
Law Library – level 6, C Block. 3864 5019 KG – level 3, R Block. 3864 3938
Cars – level 2, R Block. 3864 4772 www.qps.qut.edu.au
Security
General enquiries 3864 5585 Emergencies 3864 5555
Freecall 1800 065 585 (from anywhere in Australia)
Security operates 24 hours a day on all campuses, with emergency points on each campus. Escorts can be arranged to accompany you to your car in the evening. Night shuttle buses also service each campus – 3864 3940.
www.fmd.qut.edu.au/security/
Student Centres
Visit the Student Centre on your campus for information and assistance with the following. admission enquiries, academic credit; enrolment; fees (HECS-HELP, FEE- HELP, tuition and Guild fees); student ID cards, campus maps, directions and other administration or general enquiries.
GP – level 1, A Block. 9am-5.30pm.
KG – level 4, K Block. 9am-5pm.
Cars – level 2, C Block. 9am-5pm.
Cab – H Block, cnr of Tallon and Manley Streets, Caboolture. 9am-5pm.
Student Guild Info Centres
(QUT Student Guild)
GP – Y Block courtyard. 8.30am-4pm Mon-Fri.
3864 1213. Second-hand bookshop level 3, Y Block. 3864 1680.
KG – level 3, C Block, 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri.
3864 3704.
Cars – level 3, C Block, 9am-5pm Mon-Thur, 9am-4pm Fri. 3864 4714.
Second-hand textbooks can be sold and purchased at Centres. (see Books).
Student Ombudsman
QUT has an ombudsman to help students resolve complaints or grievances. Details of the service are available from www.registrar.qut.edu.
au/studomb/ or 3864 2457.
Transport
FREE (upon presentation of ID card) inter- campus services include.
•Kelvin Grove to Gardens Point 391 direct return service every 15 minutes during semester (every 30 minutes outside semester).
•Kelvin Grove to Carseldine 392 direct return service every 60 minutes approx.
For links to timetables and more information on other public transport to QUT, visit www.
transinfo.com.au.
Your guide For more details on student services, visit www.studentservices.qut.edu.au/help/support/ to student services
NOTE: Many times listed here only apply during semester, not during exam periods or semester breaks.
GP = Gardens Point campus KG = Kelvin Grove campus Cars = Carseldine campus Cab = Caboolture campus
WHATS on...
TWO great Queensland icons will come together in a new QUT project which will see the restoration of Old Government House and the creation of a gallery to house the works of one of Queensland’s and Australia’s leading landscape painters, William Robinson.
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake said the $13.5 million project was the fi rst major renovation of the 143-year-old building for almost two decades.
He said one of the important outcomes of the restoration would be a showcase gallery for Robinson, one of state’s most revered artists and the winner of two Archibald Prizes.
“Old Government House holds a special place in the hearts of Queenslanders and so does William Robinson - we are proud to be leading this project,” Professor Coaldrake said.
Old Government House is one of Queensland’s and Australia’s most signifi cant historic buildings, located adjacent to the City Botanical Gardens and on QUT’s Gardens Point campus.
Built in 1862 as the fi rst major project completed by the newly-for med Colony of Queensland, it served as the residence for each of Queensland’s governors from its fi rst, Sir George Bowen, to its eleventh, Sir William MacGregor, who moved out in 1909.
This new restoration, which is already underway, will include replacing the building’s roof, restoring original internal features and upgrading the building to meet modern safety and access requirements, such as installing
Restoration is an art
Inside QUT is published by QUT’s Marketing and Communication Department. Our readership includes staff, students and members of the QUT community.
The paper is also circulated to business, industry, government and media.
Opinions expressed in Inside QUT do not necessarily represent those of the university or the editorial team.
about IQ
Janne Rayner (Editor)07 3864 2361 Sandra Hutchinson 07 3864 2130 Carmen Myler (part-time: Thurs, Fri) 07 3864 1150
Mechelle Webb 07 3864 4494
Niki Widdowson 07 3864 1841 Erika Fish (Photography)
07 3864 5003 Rachel Murray (Advertising) 07 3864 4408 Richard De Waal (Design)
Animal exhibition
- Animals as Allegory Will this be the most unusual exhibition of the year at QUT Art Museum? Animals as Allegory is a taxidermy-inspired collection with works including a sequinned squirrel, crying deer and painted skulls. The free exhibition is on until April 9. The gallery opens Tuesday to Sunday in Main Drive at Gardens Point.
Events
FEBRUARY 20-24 Explore Gardens Point campus by joining an offi cial campus tour each morning during O Week. Meet at A Block on the hour and half hour. At Kelvin Grove, regular morning tours will also leave A Block on February 21 and 22. And at Carseldine, they’ll leave from C Block half-hourly from 8.30am to 1.30pm.
FEBRUARY 20 The QUT Student Guild hosts an orientation event at Caboolture campus from 9.30am.
FEBRUARY 21 The offi cial
international students welcome and orientation starts at 9.30am in Z Bock at Gardens Point (Z411).
FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 25
Play with your favourite childhood toy or have a real conversation with virtual characters ...
you can do it all at the ReActive art exhibition.
It’s free, hands-on,
innovative and on at The Block at QUT’s Creative Industries Precinct.
FEBRUARY 26 If you’re an “out of towner”, head to room Z406 at Gardens Point at 10am for a welcome orientation for regional and rural students.
The event includes a Q & A session with current students, lunch and a “get to know Brisbane” tour. Email [email protected] for more details.
FEBRUARY 27-28 What’s better than one market day? Two! The Student Guild hosts live music and food and information stalls over two days from 11am at the Kidney Lawn at Gardens Point.
MARCH 1 It’s Market Day at Carseldine from 11.30am in the Carseldine Plaza.
From 5pm, there’s also free movies on the big screen (The Brothers Grimm, Kicking and Screaming).
MARCH 2-3 More market days – this time at Kelvin Grove. The Student Guild hosts stalls and entertainment on the A Block and C Block lawns from 11am.
NOW - MARCH 12 Check out the fi rst major exhibition of Arthur Boyd’s prints at the QUT Art Museum.
It showcases 59 of the artist’s prints from the early 1960s to the 1990s.
Entry is free.
Conferences
FEBRUARY 20-21 QUT hosts a two-day event management course at the Hilton for people who fi nd themselves planning events in addition to their regular roles.
Email ar.hardy@qut.
edu.au for registration details.
Visit www.whatson.
qut.edu.au for more event listings and to submit your upcoming event.
Visit www.
orientation.qut.edu.au for more O’Week events.
a lift.
To ensure all heritage issues are addressed, QUT is work ing closely on the project with the National Trust of Queensland and the Queensland Government, which has committed a total of $5 million to the restoration.
The university has also committed
$3.5 million to building works and is seek ing philanthropic support from the business community and interested individuals.
Invited guests from cultur al, education and government sectors attended a special evening event at Old Government House late last year.
Guests included Gover nor of Queensland, Ms Quentin Bryce AC.
To commemorate the restoration launch, William Robinson has donated a major work from his own private collection.
The painter selected a 1998 oil on canvas entitled Tallanbanna with
cloud front to present to QUT and Old Government House.
The 138cm x 183cm painting will hang amongst other Robinson pieces in what will become Australia’s largest public display of his work.
Robinson has maintained generous ties with QUT as a graduate, former lecturer and art benefactor.
The building works are due to be completed in 2008.
Clockwise from top: Old Government House at Gardens Point campus;
artist William Robinson; Chancellor Peter Arnison with Governor Quentin Bryce at the launch; Peter Arnison, Premier Peter Beatie and V-C Peter Coaldrake outside the historic venue.
