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News from the University of Tasmaniawww.utas.edu.au
July 2010 Issue number 341
By FIona Horwood
A Tasmanian biobank will be a powerful tool for studying human disease, the Director
of Menzies Research Institute, Pro-fessor Simon Foote, said follow-ing a recent government funding announcement.
The Federal and State govern-ments will fund regional cancer centres including the infrastructure of a Biobank Tasmania: a collection of tissue, blood and information on indi-viduals who have suffered a disease.
The Menzies Research Insti-tute and UTAS Faculty of Law will
manage the new biobank with the State Government.
Prof. Foote said it will start by collecting tissue from people suffer-ing cancer but it is likely to expand to other diseases.
“With this we can start to study the biology and genetics of disease on an entire population.
“It will give more insights into the disease’s cause than we can ever get by studying a small number of patients. We’ll be able to integrate genetic and environmental data and track trends around the state as we presently do with the Cancer Regis-try,” he said.
The successful running of a biobank requires cooperation from many people: the tissue donator, the hospital taking the sample, the clinicians caring for the patient, the pathology service processing and storing the sample, and the staff inte-grating the tissue and information into the biobank.
“Individuals participating in the biobank do so with full, informed
consent,” Prof. Foote said.The UTAS Faculty of Law will
ensure ethical and legal integrity of the Biobank Tasmania. Access by researchers to information and tissue will be controlled by both ethics committees and biobank access com-mittees.
A community consultation program is under way and a new website will educate Tasmani-ans about the biobank and ask for their thoughts on how it should be managed. This is being developed by Professors Don Chalmers, Di Nicol and Margaret Otlowski from the Faculty of Law.
By sHaron webb
T he University of Tasmania has a “clear and confi-dent” Indonesian language
program which should be used as a model for other Australian states, believes a leading Indonesian expert.
Professor David Hill from Murdoch University recently exam-ined the UTAS Indonesian language program as part of his national tour looking at ways to strengthen Indo-nesian in universities.
Researching under an Australian Learning and Teaching Council fel-lowship, he was keen to find out how the UTAS College program helps to boost interest in Indonesian by allow-ing students to study at university level while they are still at college.
“The UTAS College program is innovative and working well,” Prof. Hill said.
“The teachers are tremendously enthusiastic. My impression is that they are highly motivated and the students are very positive about their studies.”
Nationally, Indonesian language studies have been declining for several years.
The previous prime minis-ter, Kevin Rudd, recently told an Asialink Asia Society forum that while his vision was for Australia to be the most Asia-literate western nation, between 2000 and 2008 the number of Australian students study-
ing Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese or Korean from kindergarten to Year 12 dropped by 22 per cent.
The Government’s target is that by 2020 at least 12 per cent of
students will leave Year 12 fluent enough in one of these languages to be involved in business, or to study them at university. Only half that number currently qualifies to do that.
Prof. Hill’s research over the past few months has led him to believe that the Indonesian plunge has lev-elled; there are even signs it is bounc-ing back.
“It’s clear there’s a strong commit-ment among teaching staff to ensure that the quality of teaching and learning programs is high and that universities are positioned to rebuild and expand Indonesian offerings,” he said.
“But I stress that work still needs to be done to strengthen community support for Indonesian. Old stereo-types about Indonesian language and culture linger on in the community, impeding development.
“Students, parents and teachers need to be better informed about the strong Indonesian economy and the importance of Australian trade in Indonesia. More than 400 Australian firms operate in Indonesia and the Australian embassy in Indonesia is larger than any other.”
Currently around 200 students study an Asian language at UTAS, with Japanese being studied the most.
In next month’s Unitas 8 Graduation ceremonies in China
biobank to invest in health
lung cancer cells: Biobank Tasmania will start by collecting tissue from people suffering cancer but it is likely to expand to other diseases.
uTas has a ‘clear and confident’ Indonesian language program: Professor David Hill from Murdoch University gathered information from UTAS academics, including Dr Taufiq Tanasaldy, who lectures in Indonesian language and culture in the School of Asian Languages and Studies.
seaglider survives! southern ocean research challenge
9
Indonesian program a model for other states
‘With this we can start to study the biology and genetics of disease on an entire population.’
Between 2000 and 2008 the number of Australian students studying Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese or Korean from kindergarten to Year 12 dropped by 22 per cent.
8 market test Thais want our vegetables
U TAS open days give people considering study the opportunity to find
out all the information they need.Open Day events give prospec-
tive students – and their parents and family members – the chance
to experience what a university education at UTAS can offer. And with more than 100 undergradu-ate degrees in traditional and spe-cialised areas, there is sure to be something of interest.
Open Days include a compre-
hensive expo where anyone can talk to UTAS staff and students and learn about the courses on offer, scholarships, applications and student accommodation. There will also be course overview presentations and general informa-tion sessions throughout each of the days, as well as campus tours, activities and demonstrations to inform and enjoy.
Feature events at Open Days this year include:• A presentation in Hobart by Todd Sampson, CEO of one of Australia’s top creative advertising agencies, Leo Burnett, and also the co-creator of the Earth Hour ini-tiative; • In Launceston Ian Pidd, Artis-tic Director of the Junction 2010 Regional Arts Australia Confer-ence, will be discussing “what good is a career in the arts?” • At the Burnie event, testing sessions will be held for the Aus-tralian Sports Commission’s National Talent Identification and Development program, of which the School of Human Life Science
is a testing centre. This program is searching for the next generation of Aussie sports stars.
UTAS Deputy Vice-Chancel-lor (Academic) and Provost Profes-sor David Rich, said Open Day is a key date on the university calendar for staff, students and members of the community.
“There truly is something for everyone on offer at the Open Day events, whether you are continuing straight from Year 12, contemplat-ing a return to study, or considering which postgraduate course might suit you best,” Prof. Rich said.
“Open Day is not only for aspiring and continuing scholars, it is also a chance for the com-munity to join us at UTAS, see the facilities, meet the people and experience a taste of uni life.”
Open Day dates: Hobart, Sunday 8 August; Launceston, Sunday 15 Au-gust; Cradle Coast campus in Burnie, Sunday 22 August. For a full program see www.utas.edu.au/openday OR phone 1300 363 864 OR email Info@utas.edu.au
2 UTAS community Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 341
Unitas is the monthly newsletter of the University of tasmania. it is printed in soy-based inks, on stock which is 80 per cent recycled and 20 per cent total chlorine-free pulp (FsC mixed source Certified). aluminium printing plates are also recycled after use.
Circulation 1,500 Editor sharon Webb 03 6324 3218 Email media.Office@utas.edu.au Production aCYs 03 6226 2591
Contributions are welcome, but items with a broad appeal will be given priority. the editor reserves the right to edit copy or hold it over for a later issue and is under no obligation to publish contributed material. the opinions expressed in Unitas are not necessarily those of Utas. For a list of Unitas deadlines and guidelines, visit us at www.utas.edu.au/events/unitas.html
uTas unlocks your future at open day
Ian Pidd, Artistic Director of the Junction 2010 Regional Arts Australia Conference will be discussing ‘what good is a career in the arts?’ at the Launceston Open Day.
On campus
In 1985 American wood designer Peter Adams was invited to lecture at the
University of Tasmania. Peter loved Tasmania so much that he is still here.
UTAS commissioned three of Peter’s iconic wooden benches for the Cradle Coast campus in 1997. They were welcomed to the campus with a twilight procession of glowing paper lanterns.
“With a bench you have to sit on it for it to be a complete work and I like that connection. I still do that. I like the bench for the idea that two people can sit next to each other on the same piece of timber and be connected,” he said.
Some feature events at the Open Days this year include a presentation in Hobart by Todd Sampson, CEO of one of Australia’s top creative advertising agencies, Leo Burnett.
summer at the research bench
searching the galaxy for stars and examining the links between tourism, conservation and development in the maasai mara, Kenya, were among the projects undertaken by students in the Faculty of science, engineering and technology under the 2009-2010 Dean’s summer research scholarship program. the achievements of the scholarship recipients were recognised in a ceremony held at the University Club recently. the Dean, Professor margaret britz, presented certificates of recognition to students who had spent six weeks embedded in a research group over the summer vacation period. the 16 students were mainly those about to enter the final year of their undergraduate program. the students were drawn from seven of the faculty’s 12 schools.
uTas law students triumph
a Utas law team has won the shield in the Victorian Council of Law students societies legal competitions championships. mark roberts and aneita browning comprised the winning client interview team, closely followed by teams competing on witness examination, negotiations, and mooting (a simulated trial in an appeal court). Other competing law students included aaron Cullen, Courtney Lockett, Pip monk, marko bolonja and bunewat Keo; three of the four Utas teams were victorious and selected to be in the grand finals of the competitions. Utas was the most represented law school in the grand finals, which were held at the Commonwealth Law Courts and were judged by Federal Court judges, County Court judges and other legal elite. this was the first time Utas has participated in the VCLss competitions.
Fulbright scholarships 2011 open
applications are open for the 2011 Fulbright scholarships, valued at up to $45,000. they are open to australian citizens to do research or study in the Us for 3–12 months. scholarships can be started between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2012. as the largest and most prestigious scholarship program in the world, Fulbright provides unique opportunities for australians to build long-term research collaboration and links with Us universities. applications are open to postgraduates, post-doctoral, professionals and senior scholars from any field of study; they close 31 august 2010. For more information see www.fulbright.com.au
In brIeF
3 News Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 341
Big picture
Professor David RichaCTInG vICe-CHanCellor
securing pathways to university
T he University has a deep commitment to the national and Tasmanian agenda of increasing educational participation
and attainment.Nationally, the Commonwealth has invoked
ambitious targets for participation in higher education in the wake of the Bradley Review. Universities have been challenged to provide opportunities for people from all backgrounds to participate in higher education, and to provide the support necessary to help them succeed.
With Council’s encouragement, UTAS is working to ensure that we play our full part in delivering on those targets, while also con-tributing in full to the Commonwealth’s other objective of expanding and strengthening the country’s research base.
At the state level, increasing educational attainment and improving participation rates was the philosophy behind the government’s Tasmania Tomorrow reforms that created the Academy and Polytechnic models.
Despite the changes announced recently in the post-Year 10 framework, the government’s commitment to improving educational out-comes remains.
As a member of its board, I am disappointed that the Academy will not have the opportunity to build on the progress it was already making in terms of setting a clear pathway for Tasmanian students wanting a university degree.
However, I have been assured by the new Minister for Education, Lin Thorp, that the recent post-Year 10 reforms will retain those successes while refining those elements not working so well. The university will continue to have a strong voice in the development of the new senior secondary system.
UTAS has recently agreed with the State Government that the focus of our formal part-nership agreement for the foreseeable future will be increasing educational attainment and partic-ipation. To achieve our ambitious objectives it will involve substantial changes across Tasmania.
UTAS already has much to be proud of in this area. Over the past decade, we have increased student numbers substantially, meeting targets ahead of schedule. We have been increasing the proportion of Tasmanians with a degree.
UTAS has achieved much but there is much, much more to be done. The university will need to play a leading role, in partnership with the State Government and other players across Tasmania. This is difficult stuff, but one of the biggest challenges is probably in how we change ourselves to accommodate a much wider cohort of Tasmanians in ways that will maximise their chances of academic success, while retaining the all-important quality of our education and excellence of our graduates for which we are renowned.
David Rich
www.utas.edu.au/vc
manCheck for improving men’s health By mICHelle nICHols
U TAS’ School of Medicine is calling for Tasmanian men to
help doctors-in-training become better skilled in performing sen-sitive men’s examinations.
Under the MCTA Man-Check program, men recruited from the community will be trained as professional patients or clinical teaching associ-ates and will provide valuable feedback to medical students on appropriate technique and etiquette for genital and other physical examinations.
The school’s head of surgery Professor Richard Turner said doctors-in-training must be comfortable and adequately skilled in performing physical examinations.
“Because of the sensitivities involved, it is difficult for medical students to obtain the experience they need as part of their standard curriculum,” Prof. Turner said.
“The Australian Govern-ment Department of Health and Ageing has declared both men’s health and cancer to be major priorities.
“Leading causes of death and diseases in men include
prostate cancer, tumours of the sexual organs and bladder cancers. Colorectal cancer is also the most frequently occur-ring cancer to affect both men and women in Australia.”
Prof. Turner said all of these conditions depend on early diag-nosis and treatment to provide good outcomes for patients.
That’s why the men’s program is being developed at the UTAS
School of Medicine in Hobart. The first step has been to
recruit men to do professional training as clinical teaching associates over a four-month period. In the first few weeks, more than 100 men of varying ages expressed interest in the program; 75 per cent of the men were aged 50 years or older.
A comprehensive teaching program will be delivered to
medical students commencing in early 2011.
Those trained as clinical teaching associates will be paid and will be under the normal privacy provision of doctor–patient confidentiality. Infor-mation will be treated with the utmost respect and privacy.
The MCTA ManCheck program is a joint venture between UTAS and the Pros-tate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Program Director Neil Sefton describes the development as highly significant and believes champions for men’s health will continue to come forward to help.
For more information phone (03) 6223 1247 OR email: mona@loofs-samorzewski.com for an expres-sion of interest.
The mCTa manCheck program: UTAS School of Medicine is calling for Tasmanian men to help doctors-in-training become better skilled in performing sensitive men’s examinations.
Professor Richard Turner said doctors-in-training must be comfortable and adequately skilled in performing physical examinations.
Honours for uTas Furniture design building
By sHaron webb
T he University of Tas-mania’s Furniture Design building at
Inveresk is in line for a national architecture award in October following awards from the Tas-
manian chapter of the Austral-ian Institute of Architects.
The building, designed by architects Six Degrees and Sus-tainable Built Environments, won the Sustainability Award and was one of three Tasma-
nian buildings to gain a Public Architecture Award.
Commenting on the build-ing the jury wrote that the Furniture Design building “seamlessly incorporates simple sustainable design techniques into an architectural expression that is appropriate not only to the industrial nature of the site but also the pragmatic require-ments of the newly-established furniture school.
“It is evident that environ-mentally sustainable design principles have been consid-ered and integrated from incep-tion although this has not been allowed to dominate.”
The Governor of Tasma-nia opened the $2.3m Furni-ture Design building on 30 April. It is part of the School
of Architecture and Design and attached to the historic railyard building which is the home of the majority of the school.
Constructed of a lami-nated Tasmanian oak portal frame with fibreglass sheeting, galvanised steel sheeting and plywood, its “pared-back” design incorporates environmentally-friendly innovative heating and cooling mechanisms.
The building is currently used by 25 full-time furniture design students and 40 students completing furniture design electives.
The head of the School of Architecture, Professor Roger Fay, said he was delighted that to date the school’s two build-ings had received seven awards at state and national levels.
In addition, Master of Architecture student Chloe Comino won the SWT Blythe Student Award for her designs; this award is open to architec-ture students at any level.
UTAS School of Architec-ture alumnus Todd Henderson won the Emerging Architect Award, given to an architect who has graduated within the past 10 years. Todd works at Birelli Architects in Launceston.
award-winning architecture: The Tasmanian chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects gave two awards to the new Furniture Design building at Inveresk, commenting that it was obvious that ‘environmentally sustainable design principles have been considered and integrated from inception …’
Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 3414 Features
neXT edITIon: The submission deadline for the august issue of Unitas is 9 July
Executive officer
my role at uTasi am two months into a 12-month secondment as an executive Officer with the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (academic) and Provost, where i’m currently working on the Your Voice @ UTAS Project as well as looking at the University’s planning, budget and reporting processes.
when I’m not workingi am an avid reader, and am currently enjoying sarah bakewell’s How to Live, on the sixteenth-century essayist michel de montaigne. Otherwise i’m cooking, climbing mountains, exploring the gorge, pottering around my West Launceston vegetable garden, enjoying the company of my dogs, cat and partner or retreating to a special place in the midlands where i get away from it all.
Home is where the heart isWhile only a few blocks away, Cataract Gorge feels like an extension of my home and enchants me every time i visit, especially on freezing winter mornings.
my life before uTasi completed a bachelor of science (botany) at the University of Queensland and a bachelor of Letters at the University of melbourne, where i also worked in marketing and student administration roles for eight years prior to moving to tasmania in 2007.
If I could take a holiday anywhere in the world I’d go tosomewhere my partner really wants to go, wherever that may be.
my favourite part of australia isthe alpine regions of tasmania. Walking through late spring snow in the Walls of Jerusalem last year was an extraordinary experience.
my secret talent isHolding hot items without getting burned …
when I was at school, my favourite subject wasbiology, which is why i ended up studying botany. nevertheless, i also completed a degree through an english department and english was my least favourite subject at school.
dean mundey
Up close Iran to break the dream of a nuclear weapons-free world
T urkish Prime Minister Re c e p E rd o g a n believes the world can
now stop fretting about Iran’s nuclear ambitions following the recent deal between Iran, Turkey and Brazil.
What looks like a promising breakthrough where Iran agreed to ship 1200 kg of its nuclear fuel to Turkey in return for fuel rods to make medical isotopes for “research” was successfully brokered by smaller countries after the US and big powers in Europe had failed.
But the deal actually raises more questions than it answers.
First, it reveals starkly just how flawed the ailing Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is. Under Article 4 of the treaty, states are not just entitled – but actively encouraged – to research, develop and produce nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. And this, of course, is exactly what Tehran says it has been doing. In the tran-script of the most recent deal with Turkey and Brazil, Iran reaffirmed its commitment to Article 4.
According to the NPT, then, Iran hasn’t yet done anything wrong. It will only have for-mally breached its obligations once it develops a weapon. But by that time, the genie will be well and truly out of the bottle.
Second, the “swap” signed in Tehran isn’t the first attempt to get Iran to give up its potentially weapons-grade uranium. Earlier this year Iran withdrew from a similar deal involving Russia, the United States and France, and sponsored by the IAEA,
the international atomic energy watchdog. And while President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s anti-Western diatribe at the signing of the pact with Turkey and Brazil was not unexpected, it is disturbing that Iran no longer feels obliged to deal with large Western powers on this issue.
The agreement also comes
during heightened internation-al attention to nuclear dangers. The US recently signed a new arms limitation treaty with Russia and its Nuclear Posture Review declares that the US will not use (or threaten to use) nuclear weapons against non-nuclear countries. The five-yearly NPT Review conference is currently underway, at which the parties may even agree on the agenda this time, and Presi-dent Obama recently hosted a two-day Nuclear Review Summit in Washington.
Yet the Iranian nuclear issue has noticeably taken a back seat each time, with references to Tehran’s ambitions being made either obliquely, or not at all. Obama’s Washington Summit concluded surprisingly that the most pressing proliferation issue
was keeping weapons-grade material away from terrorists.
Obama’s own talkfest would have been unnecessary if the NPT actually worked. But unfortunately it doesn’t. The most effective interna-tional regimes have normative, regulatory and punitive com-ponents – or rules, inspections and consequences. Yet in the
NPT the third aspect is absent, the second can’t be rigorously enforced, and the first is selec-tively interpreted.
This means that those inter-ested in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapon are running out of options. Iran remains hostile towards the IAEA and there is a fear that this latest piecemeal offering might placate China and Russia enough to ward off a new series of UN Security Council sanctions.
But are there really any other avenues? Advocates of punitive action in the guise of military strikes know that the chances of success are slim. And who would perform them? Israel is the most likely candi-date in terms of capabilities, but a pre-emptive attack by Tel Aviv would jeopardise patient
regional diplomacy that is only starting to bear fruit. Likewise, in the current political climate it is hard to see Barack Obama authorising a surgical strike, even though prudence dictates that he is probably planning for it if necessary.
Granted, the continued hypocrisy of the nuclear ‘club’ of five (the US, Russia, China France and the UK) arguably exacerbates the problem, and few would accept at face value Obama’s apparent renewed commitment to denuclearisa-tion. But the Iranian problem is a fine example of the many grey areas in contemporary international relations, where international law is unhelp-ful, and using force is fraught with danger. Amidst this uncer-tainty Iran is playing a skilful game, with its Foreign Ministry declaring that it will continue to enrich uranium up to weapons-grade level.
Such announcements do little more than deepen the fear that worse is to come – and that there is very little that can be done about it. Despite the best efforts of Obama, and even Kevin Rudd and Gareth Evans, dreams about a nuclear weap-ons-free world now seem even more utopian. In little more than a decade we’ve seen India, Pakistan and North Korea all go nuclear. Iran will surely be next.
Dr Matt Sussex is Senior Lecturer in the UTAS School of Govern-ment and Dr Matt Killingsworth is Associate Lecturer in the School of Government.
The view from here
in little more than a decade india, Pakistan and north Korea have developed nuclear weapons. dr maTT susseX and dr maTT KIllInGsworTH discuss theirbelief that iran will be next …
Obama’s own talkfest would have been unnecessary if the Non-Proliferation Treaty actually worked. But unfortunately it doesn’t.
By CHerIe CooPer
T he glamour of Broadway recently came to Hobart’s Festival of
Broadway and the star was creative genius Stephen Schwartz.
Mr Schwartz, a well-known Broadway legend, has written music and lyrics for major pro-ductions including Pippin, God-spell, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas, The Prince of Eygpt and the recent hit Wicked
which opened in 2003 and is currently running on Broad-way. His work has earned him two Academy Awards and three Grammys.
He was in town to perform his hits, talk about his body of work and to conduct master-classes for aspiring composers and lyricists.
“I’m excited about the con-certs but it’s much more excit-ing to do the master classes,” he said at the time.
“Working with Australian composers and lyricists, some of whom are going to be from Tas-mania, is exciting – I’ve heard the work of some of them before and it’s very talented and promising.”
Mr Schwartz said that musical theatre was special because of its intrinsic multi-tasking – it encompasses dance, music, story-telling, drama and design.
He is photographed here with soloists Silvie Paladino and Liz Callaway.
schwartz is the music man
5 Feature Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 341
neXT edITIon: The submission deadline for the august issue of Unitas is 9 July
Parasites beautiful and abhorrent
By merIan ellIs
T he fascinating faces of the most repellent of life forms were the feature of the Para-
sites in Focus exhibition at the Cradle Coast campus.
The exhibition consisted of twenty-six superb photographic prints showing the amazing micro-scopic world of the parasite from the common head louse to parasites found in the nostrils of deep-sea fish,
accompanied by two hands-on para-site exhibits.
Parasites in Focus includes pho-tographs by scientists from the Aus-tralian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Research Network for Parasitology, a national organisation of scientists, universities and research institutions, and is touring nationally.
It was exhibited at the Cradle Coast campus in May and early
June, attracting more than 150 stu-dents and members of the public.
Cradle Coast campus communi-ty engagement officer Nicki Fletcher said the images are both beautiful and abhorrent but provide a fascinat-ing insight into the most common and manipulative of all life forms.
“Parasites are often thought of as disgusting and regarded as an aber-ration but the parasitic way of life is the most common way of life on the planet,” Ms Fletcher said.
“This exhibition has appeal for anyone interested in science,
photography or what they may be carrying around in their gut. It provides a totally different perspec-tive on parasites such as tapeworms, roundworms, ticks and fleas which are transformed as into art forms through the lens of the microscope,” she said.
This exhibition was supported by the Imaginarium, Devonport, and is sponsored by the ARC/NHMRC Research Network for Parasitology, The Australian Society for Parisitol-ogy, Questacon and the Department of Education, Science and Training.
‘Parasites are often thought of as disgusting and regarded as an aberration but the parasitic way of life is the most common way of life on the planet.’
(Top) Ctenocephalides Ctenophalides: The flea in this image was raised on an artificial dog called FIDO (Flea Incubating Deluxe Oven), as part of a project to investigate the potential for development of a flea vaccine. Image courtesy of Russell Hobbs, Copyright Murdoch University 2007
(above left): Head of a trypanorhynch tapeworm, complete with tentacles. This parasite was found on a serranid fish on the Great Barrier Reef. Image courtesy of Rob Adlard, QLD Museum (Australia).
(above right): Pediculus capitas are parasitic lice that are often found in our hair. They live, eat blood, sleep, and lay their eggs close to our scalp so the heat from our head allows the egg to hatch. Image courtesy of Russell Hobbs, Copyright Murdoch University 2007.
(Top) Campanulotes: This blue-faced louse was found on a pigeon. Image courtesy of Cath Covacin, Stephen Barker and Rick Webb, The University of QLD (Australia).
(above) eimeria produce hundreds of ‘clones’ of themselves, packed into a single cell of their host. Image copyright 2007, D J P Ferguson, University of Oxford, UK.
(below) Capsaloides magnaspinosus lives in the nostrils of the striped marlin fish. Image courtesy of Bronwen Cribb, Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, University of QueensIand & Ian Whittington, Monogenean Research Laboratory, SA Museum, Adelaide (Australia).
6 Conferences & awards Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 341
research supported by elite scholarships
By sHaron webb
A ustralia’s aquaculture industry could make huge gains from improved edu-
cation and training of employees, the CEO of the National Aquac-ulture Council said recently.
Attending the Aquaculture Education and Training Con-ference at the UTAS Newnham campus, Justin Fromm said that the model of expecting aquacul-ture employers to approach course providers is not working.
“Educators and trainers realise now that they must go to the industry; after this conference I now have ideas of how to convince my members – the Council must have a position on education and training then that will flow on to members.”
The National Aquaculture Council represents the salmon, prawn, oyster, tuna, barramundi, mussel and abalone aquaculture industries in Australia. The pearl and mussel industries will shortly join its ranks.
Justin said the problem facing the industry was its apathy and reluctance to train and educate its employees.
“Most companies believe learning on the job is adequate and any formal training they do is for regulatory purposes. They don’t realise how much more they could get from broader formal training,” he said.
“Specific skill sets within the agrifood industry should be tar-geted towards employees.”
Justin said the overall fabric of training institutions and the edu-cation they provided was sound.
“Passionate people are target-ing high school students with science or aquaculture; these people are an untapped resource.
So if we can get them to meet the employers we can be successful.”
Attended by a large number of staff from the Australian Mari-time College, the core principle of the conference was the promo-tion of aquaculture as a career for school leavers and people already employed in the area.
Its goal was to raise the profile of the industry and attract and retain employees through raising skills.
Justin Fromm is a UTAS alumnus, gaining his Bachelor of Applied Science in 1996.
T en new research projects are under way in North-West Tasmania as part of
the UTAS postgraduate research program.
The new PhD students at Cradle Coast campus will be delving into topics including land use change, career decisions for young women, and two projects focusing on food
and climate change issues on King Island.
UTAS Dean of Graduate Research Professor Peter Frapell said a range of scholarships is available to support postgraduate level research in regional Tasmania.
“By providing opportunities for higher degree research and sup-porting our best candidates with a range of scholarships, UTAS ensures North-West Tasmania has highly skilled graduates whose research will contribute to the sustainability of the region,” Prof. Frapell said.
Three of this year’s PhD students have been awarded University of Tasmania’s Elite Research Scholar-ships, providing financial support of $30,000 a year, tax-free over the three years of their research projects, plus a lap top computer to assist with their projects.
The University of Tasmania has over 100 Elite Research Scholarships for PhD candidates in areas such as health and medical sciences, natural, physical and applied sciences, as well as business and management, region-al development, education and the humanities.
Angela Castles from Latrobe is one of this year’s Elite Research Scholarship recipients. Angela’s project is, Planning for peri-urban land use change – foster-ing innovation in agriculture. This project seeks to research how land use planning mechanisms can encour-age innovation in food agriculture by developing new planning mechanisms for the peri-urban setting.
Another of the Elite Research Scholarship recipients is Cherie Hawkins from Wynyard, who is researching the social and cultural influences on the career aspirations of adolescent females in the region.
aquaculture education and Training Conference: John Purser (Left) from the AMC’s National centre for Marine Conservation and Resource Sustainability discusses the industry’s need for more aquaculture education with Justin Fromm, CEO of the National Aquaculture Council.
elite research scholarships at Cradle Coast: (from left) students Angela Castles and Cherie Hawkins with Participation and Pathways Coordinator Dayna Broun.
Conference corner
T he winners of two envi-ronmental scholarships will focus their honours
studies on environmental issues affecting Tasmania.
The Claudio Alcorso Honours Environment Scholarships celebrate the values of Claudio and Lesley Alcorso, who were strident advo-cates for the natural environment.
Elinor Ebsworth is currently doing her honours in the UTAS School of Geography and Envi-ronmental Studies in Hobart. Her project will examine the invasive species of weeds which can have negative impacts on our environ-ment and threaten biodiversity.
“Cotoneaster was introduced to Australia as an ornamental garden plant but has since escaped to become a noxious weed,” she said.
“I suspect pademelon brows-ing might suppress invasion into bushland in Tasmania, given that they are known to browse on shrubs and are extinct from main-land Australia.”
The second recipient, Chris Slavin, is currently an under-graduate student at the Austral-ian Maritime College’s National Centre for Marine Conservation and Resource Sustainability in Launceston, enrolled in the Bach-elor of Applied Science in the
marine environment, majoring in marine conservation.
The aim of Chris’ honours project is to determine the types and sources of litter going into the marine environment and what type of legislation needs to be put in place to address this.
“Once litter enters the marine environment it impacts our envi-ronment and social values,” he said.
“Litter entangles, chokes and strangles marine animals and contributes to the movements of introduced species through rafting,” he said.
“Litter’s social impacts include people’s reduced pleasure in using beaches because of unsightly litter and the costs of cleaning our beaches as well as the human health risks posed by some materials.”
UTAS Acting Vice-Chancel-lor, Professor David Rich con-gratulated both of the recipients.
“The Alcorso Scholarships offer a helping hand to students while studying, which is very important. The honours year is a challenging yet rewarding one which is often a platform for con-tinuing on to postgraduate study,” he said.
Beach litter research in depth, page 11
scholarships address local green issues
weed invasion research: Alcorso Foundation Scholarship winner Elinor Ebsworth (centre) with Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor David Rich (left) and Simon Boughey, secretary of the Alcorso Foundation.
benefit from aquaculture education says industry body
7 News Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 341
learning medicine in Tassie’s rural communities
donation to benefit future doctors
ageing report first step in older people living more happily
By mICHelle nICHols
S econd-year medical students have learnt about specific health care issues and how
health providers work together to deliver care during a week spent in Tasmania’s small rural towns.
This year’s Rural Communi-ties Program has built on the suc-cessful statewide program launched last year; small groups of medical students were based in Smithton, Wynyard, Ulverstone, Penguin, Shef-field, Latrobe, Port Sorell, Westbury, Swansea, Ouse, Scottsdale, St Marys, Huonville, Snug/Bruny Island, New Norfolk and Kempton.
Director of the UTAS Medical Education Unit, Associate Profes-sor Craig Zimitat, said the School of Medicine is continually refining the
curriculum for UTAS medical stu-dents. The aim is to produce junior doctors well-equipped with the skills and knowledge to address communi-ties’ healthcare needs.
“There is strong focus on Tasma-nia’s rural communities,” he said.
“This focus facilitates an interest in our students wanting to work in rural areas upon graduation, pro-vides an opportunity to deliver a positive health promotion message to our rural communities and also to
engage members of the community to understand health issues.
Rosalie Maynard from the Uni-versity’s Rural Clinical School said all students based in the state’s north-west attended a clinical skills session at Burnie before heading to their communities.
“They then spent time talking and working with health profession-als in local practices and outreach programs,” she said.
“Students went out with com-munity nurses, learnt about commu-
nity support groups, spent time with local doctors, and talked to local ambulance officers about their roles in small rural communities. Some attended a Community Response to Eliminating Suicide workshop. They had a glimpse into important local industries.”
Some students visited Ian and Lesley Young’s farm at Sassafras where potato harvesting was in full swing.
Lesley Young is a former national president of the CWA and currently a
Latrobe Councillor. She told students about her involvement in rural health issues around Australia, particularly as part of a national taskforce visiting drought-stricken rural communities and her involvement in the beyond-blue initiatives that flowed from this.
While out and about in com-munities across the state, students took part in a wide range of activi-ties including visiting ward rounds and aged care facilities, engaging in health promotion activities and learning about Aboriginal health.
Students were also encouraged to enjoy the rural lifestyle such as fly fishing at Ouse, yachting on the East Coast and sea kayaking at Ulver-stone.
Evaluations showed the program motivates students to re-engage with their studies and opens their eyes to the positive aspects of rural medical practice.
Community feedback was also positive, with each community looking towards participation in 2011.
By CHerIe CooPer
Y oung aspiring Tasmanian doctors will be given a helping hand with the
creation of a new, ongoing schol-arship.
The Medical Council of Tas-mania recently made a $1 million donation to the UTAS Founda-tion to establish a scholarship to support Tasmanian secondary stu-dents study medicine at UTAS.
The donation, announced at the annual UTAS Founda-tion Dinner, will provide finan-cial assistance in the form of an ongoing scholarship for up to six Tasmanian students studying med-icine at UTAS who may not oth-erwise have had the opportunity to pursue a career in medicine.
The President of the Medical Council of Tasmania, Dr Peter Sexton, said he was pleased to announce the donation on behalf of the Medical Council of Tasmania.
“We believe it is important that the contribution of past gen-erations of doctors, made through their registration fees, should
directly support future genera-tions of doctors in Tasmania,” he said.
Chair of the UTAS Founda-tion Mr Miles Hampton con-gratulated the Medical Council of Tasmania for their vision and philanthropic leadership.
Professor James Vickers, Head of the UTAS School of Medicine, said that the donation from the Medical Council would support young Tasmanians embarking on a career in medicine.
“This will be particularly important for students from rural locations or where financial cir-cumstances may make university study difficult,” Prof. Vickers said.
T he first report from an important project research-ing Community Engagement
for Productive Ageing in rural Tasmani-an communities has found that older people show it’s possible to meet the challenges of ageing head-on, and live independently and successfully.
The study highlighted the impor-tance of a personal approach to deliv-ering health and community services for older people – and that many rural service providers already practise in this way despite organisational restraints.
One of the report authors, Dr Hazel Baynes from the UTAS Rural Clinical school, said after interviewing people aged 63-93 years about their experi-ence of ageing in rural Tasmania that service providers must aim to maximise older people’s ability to make their own choices around social engagement.
“The most service providers can hope to do is to help to create an environment which maximises the positive aspects of the ageing journey and minimises the negative,” she said.
“From speaking to older people and those planning and providing services such as home help, communi-
ty transport and community nursing we found that age-related changes in health and capacity do challenge older people’s ability to remain socially engaged.
“Without appropriate services and supports older people can easily move into forced withdrawal, social isola-tion and a socially and emotionally impoverished existence.”
The research, led by the chief execu-tive of the UTAS Rural Clinical School, Professor Judi Walker, has three phases, the first of which is complete:
• Survey older people, their service providers and government policy makers;
• Audit existing Australian and international models of service provision; and
• Produce a new Tasmanian service model based on the findings from the first phase.
The report’s co-author, Dr Peter Orpin from the University Depart-ment of Rural Health, said the major finding of the report was that despite the inevitable losses accompanying ageing, it is wrong and unhelpful to view ageing as pathological with many problems to be fixed.
“It’s a natural process which can be a relatively positive or negative experi-ence depending on a complex, often fine, balance of factors within the indi-vidual and their environment,” he said.
“We are working towards devel-oping innovative new approaches to support older people which enrich rural communities and their older people.”
Full report: See www.rcs.edu.au/growingolder
The aim is to produce junior doctors well-equipped with the skills and knowledge to address communities’ healthcare needs.
The donation … will provide financial assistance in the form of an ongoing scholarship for up to six Tasmanian students
(Far left) learning clinical skills: Students learn airway management with Rural Clinical school senior lecturer and specialist anaesthetist Dr John Henshaw.
(left) docs learn about local industries: Farmer Ian young with Sarah Henderson (kneeling), Samantha Cassidy and Alice Mulcahy.
ageing report: UTAS research has found that older people show it’s possible to meet the challenges of ageing head-on, and live independently and successfully.
8 News Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 341
Produce to the students
Thai trade for Tassie vegies
Finance – that’s kids’ play
S tudents at the UTAS Cradle Coast campus now have access to free
fruit and vegetables through the Produce to the People Tasmania project.
The aim is to gather excess produce from backyard gardens in Penguin, Burnie and Wynyard and give it to people in the com-munity who may not have access to seasonal fruit and vegetables.
The UTAS campus in Burnie has become a designated drop-off point for the Produce to the People project, providing students with a chance to boost their diets with healthy food.
Project Manager Penelope Dodd says up until now fruit and vegeta-bles have been distributed through the Salvation Army support service.
“The University drop-off point is a great way to extend the sharing opportunity to the student commu-nity at UTAS,” Ms Dodd said.
“Anything not taken by students or staff will be collected and deliv-
ered to the Salvation Army to boost our current Produce to the People contributions.”
“We are encouraging staff, stu-dents and gardeners in the area sur-rounding the University to donate any surplus fruit or vegetables. All they need to do is drop their goods into reception at the Cradle Coast campus.”
The Produce to the People Project is funded by the Community Capacity Building Grants Program of the Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet.
By merIan ellIs
T asmanian vegetable farmers are working on wedging open the door to lucra-
tive markets in Thailand through a project being run by the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research.
In April this year the Australian Government granted $116,000 to TIAR to develop a marketing and promotion strategy to determine the needs and commercial viability of new South-East Asian vegetable export markets.
TIAR Vegetable Centre Market-ing and Development Officer David Wells started a project last year looking at market opportunities for Tasmanian-grown vegetables. The intensity of the project increased overnight with the announcement in November that the McCain’s veg-etable plant in Smithton would close this year, affecting more than 100 farmers in the region.
David Wells says the closure of the factory has highlighted the need for new markets.
“The push is on now for growers to look harder for somewhere to sell their vegetables,” he said.
“It has become obvious that in many crops Tasmanian farmers cannot compete on the world market on price. But our research in Asia has shown that top-end consumers in that region will pay a premium price for premium produce.”
For the past year Mr Wells has been working with Sarawak Import Export Commercial LP director, Pupat Srisuksawadikul, to develop a sustainable supply chain to Thailand.
This month, Mr Srisuksawadikul will visit 23 potential exporters around the state who have registered interest in the project and believe
they can meet the demands of the Thai market
Mr Wells says the project aims not to take business away from exist-
ing vegetable processing and whole-saling businesses within the state but to provide an alternative for expan-sion into a secure market.
“We don’t just want the big volume producers of vegetables,” he said.
“We are looking to build a supply chain that will include all genres of food producers and gives smaller producers the opportunity to participate as well.
“This initiative aims to challenge the assumption that all exporters need to be big. We believe that they need only be innovative enough to be a supplier to a larger exporter.”
By mICHelle nICHols
A UTAS pilot program is exploring ways of increas-ing financial literacy in the
community by incorporating some concepts early in education.
Given that most individuals have responsibility for managing their own retirement funds, Deputy Head of the School of Economics and Finance Professor Mardi Dungey believes better financial understand-ing is a life skill which can be taught at primary school.
“I am piloting ideas so that I can work with teachers to develop a program which hopefully can
become more generally available to schools,” she said.
“I am often asked why target primary schools instead of waiting for high school. My reasoning is that kids really remember things they learn early. And by introducing them to these concepts as things they can do, they will hopefully not be intimidated by managing their own finances in the future.”
Prof. Dungey is advocating intro-ducing mathematical concepts of finance such as simple interest, and risk and return at primary school level.
“It makes it available in an envi-ronment where students are still able
to ‘play’ with the concepts, and don’t see it as yet another maths exercise,” she said.
“I think it engages their interest in a practical problem, which by the way happens to involve some maths.
They do lots of maths problems without even thinking about it, and have fun doing it. “
Prof. Dungey is currently under-taking a pilot program at a number of Tasmanian primary schools. The pilot is focused on three main areas – finance, maths, and information and communications technology skills.
Grade six students at Huon-ville Primary School are part of this program and teacher John Murray said his class has been right into the sessions, talking about the relative value of monies in different coun-tries and the nature of the stock exchange.
“Many students have a genuine feel for the stock results and have been watching their virtual share portfolio with real interest,” he said.
In the last session, the class gets together to talk about how much money they have made or lost overall and discuss what would have happened if they had put the same money in the bank.
“These final discussions intro-duce students to concepts of risk and return tradeoff,” Prof. Dungey said. “I think they have fun – I certainly do!”
The pilot program will run for the remainder of the year.
Produce to the People pumpkins: Janelle Allison and helpers on the vegie run.
Promoting Tassie’s vegetables: Herald Sun food columnist and chef Kate McGhie and TIAR Vegetable Centre’s Marketing and Development Officer David Wells show off Tasmania’s produce.
Prof. Dungey is advocating introducing mathematical concepts of finance such as simple interest, and risk and return at primary school level.
‘In many crops Tasmanian farmers cannot compete on the world market on price. But our research in Asia has shown that top-end consumers in that region will pay a premium price for premium produce.’
9 Features Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 341
By mICHelle nICHols
A small Seaglider has spent 76 days in the harsh conditions of the Southern Ocean gath-
ering observations to help scientists to better understand currents and ocean parameters that influence the Australian climate and marine eco-systems.
The Australian Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) is celebrating the successful deploy-ment and retrieval of the Seaglider which was launched from the Marine National Facility Research Vessel Southern Surveyor in late March some 680 kilometres from Tasmania.
IMOS Scientific Officer Dr Katy Hill said the Seaglider, a small type
of ocean glider, was at sea for 76 days before staff from CSIRO retrieved it off the continental shelf near South-port in early June.
“This first voyage has successfully demonstrated the Seaglider’s capacity in the harsh conditions of the vast Southern Ocean,” Dr Hill said.
Ocean gliders are autonomous vehicles designed to operate in water depths up to 1000 metres. By chang-ing buoyancy, they are able to descend and ascend. They have wings allow-ing them to move horizontally while profiling across strong currents, which means they are easier to control.
Seagliders fix their positions via the global positioning system when they surface and communicate with the onshore laboratory via Iridium
satellite, relaying collected data and receiving any new commands from the scientists.
The Seaglider is one of 17 in the Australian National Facility for Ocean Gliders fleet, which is oper-ated and managed from the Univer-sity of Western Australia.
Currently ocean gliders are deployed off south-west Australia and the Coral Sea. The observations
from the Seagliders are very impor-tant as the Southern Ocean plays a prominent role in the global climate system and ocean gliders are an ideal platform to observe oceanographic conditions in this region.
Dr Hill said the Seaglider was launched at the Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) site which is a multidisciplinary ocean observatory at the sub-Antarctic zone.
“The SOTS site is collecting sustained observations of the atmos-pheric surface layer, upper and deep-ocean to understand the transfer of heat, moisture, energy and CO2 between the atmosphere and ocean, and improve our knowledge of climate, carbon processes and the role of the ecosystem, “Dr Hill said.
“In the period from Septem-ber this year to March next year, it is expected that Seagliders will be deployed off Tasmania, traverse to the SOTS site and then return.”
“We hope that at least three Seagliders will be in the water at any given time, with one traversing towards the SOTS site, one at the SOTS site and the other returning to Tasmania.”
This current Seaglider deploy-ment is an example of scientists working together across a number of institutions including the Univer-sity of Western Australia, CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre at the University of Tasmania.
IMOS is supported by the Aus-tralian Government, through the National Collaborative Infrastruc-ture Strategy and the Super Science Initiative. It is led by the University of Tasmania on behalf of the Aus-tralian marine and climate science community.
For more information about the Seaglider visit: http://imos.org.au/
seaglider survives harsh southern ocean
(above) Tracking its own course: The Seaglider was retrieved in early June off the Continental Shelf near Southport.
(left) The Seaglider on the deck of the Southern Surveyor. Photo by Eric Schulz.
Tosia magnifica! say teachers viewing underwater photosBy sHaron webb
S ixteen Launceston teachers almost goggled at the diver-sity and unexpectedly bright
colours of life in the Tamar River and Bass Strait as they viewed an exhibition of photographs at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.
They were there with the pho-tographer, David Mayne, and PhD student Stephen McGowan to view David’s exhibition, Beneath the Waves, in preparation for bringing their students to see it.
Mayfield Primary School teacher Carol Boyd wanted to get some insight into the exhibition so she knew what to point out to her kids.
But really, kids wouldn’t need to have things pointed out with this exhibition; they’d skip from the mes-merising starfish collection, includ-ing the magnificent biscuit orange and cream star Tosia magnifica, to the amazing close-up of the spines of a purple urchin found near Garden Island. Teachers wouldn’t get a word in edgeways.
David Mayne, photographer and lecturer in resource sustainability in the National Centre for Marine Conservation and Resource Sustain-ability, and his team of PhD stu-dents from the Australian Maritime College are currently giving tours to teachers and students from both primary and high schools.
“We don’t know much about the Tamar estuary or our impacts on
the Tamar River,” David said.“The only way to understand more
is to monitor its health and conduct research into natural and human impacts within the catchment.”
Carol Boyd was clear on what attracted her, as an educator, to the exhibition.
“Most important for children is the passion of the presenters,” she said.
beneath the waves: AMC photographer David Mayne points out the colour-changing ability of the local big-bellied seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, to Mayfield Primary School teachers Carol Boyd and Lorraine Todd.
Ocean gliders are autonomous vehicles designed to operate in water depths up to 1000 metres.
10 News Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 341
weeding out environmental issues
I t’s a tough job weeding but for the people in the volunteer group Sea Spurge Remote Area
Teams (or SPRATS) it’s a labour of love.
The SPRATS volunteers spend hundreds of days weeding every year to eradicate potentially damag-ing weeds from Tasmania’s west and south coasts.
Dr Jon Marsden-Smedley, research fellow from the UTAS School of Geography and Environ-mental Studies, is an active partici-
pant in the wildcare group that was formed in 2007 by a group of vol-unteer bushwalkers and people who combine bushwalking with weed management.
SPRATS aims to eradicate all sea spurge and marram grass from the 600 km of Tasmania’s west coast and south coast between Strahan and Cockle Creek, where the weed is cur-rently causing major adverse changes to the environment.
Sea spurge is a weed that is devas-tating coastal landforms and ecosys-tems across Southern Australia.
Dr Marsden-Smedley researches these invasive weeds and recently ran a coastal weed management work-shop.
“The majority of this coastline is world heritage, listed for its outstand-ing natural and cultural values,” he said.
“Sea spurge could also adversely impact birds like hooded plovers, pied oystercatchers and sooty oyster-catchers which have their strong hold on this coast along with the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot.”
Dr Marsden-Smedley said an important aspect of SPRATS is com-bining high-level recreation with effective environmental work.
“This means we do the environ-mental work but also take the time to swim, snorkel, take photographs or just sit and enjoy one of the world’s last great wilderness areas.
“Volunteers have a reward-ing time so they return season after season.”
Matt Baker from the Tasmanian Herbarium was on hand at the work-shop to help attendees identify other weeds, including sea rocket, which has cork-like fruits that float away to germinate, allowing them to end up in remote locations like the South-West coast of Tasmania.
He told attendees that a lot of weeds arrived by stowing away in the ballast of ships.
He advised attendees to be aware that Sicilian sea lavender, a weed, was not to be confused with the native yellow sea lavender, despite their closeness in appearance.
Also on hand to offer advice to the enthusiastic weeders was bird expert Dr Eric Woehler. He emphasised the importance of keeping a respectful dis-tance from shore birds and terns when weeding. Birds such as the fairy tern and the little tern lay their tiny eggs on the beach and are easily spooked away from protecting their babies if disturbed.
Dr Woehler said the eggs were the size of mini chocolate eggs and if terns are scared away from their nests the chicks inside the eggs could die by freezing or overheating.
“Sitting on the eggs is not about keeping them warm, it’s about keeping them at a constant tempera-ture,” he said.
Dr Woehler said weeders should be careful of the birds and note their behaviour; if they seemed agitated it was best for weeders to retreat. He advised to never take dogs on weeding expeditions to the beach as they love to chase birds.
For more information on SPRATS see http://www.wildcare.org.au/ sea spurge and marram grass eradication by the sPraTs team:
Weeders on Tasmania’s West Coast. Photo by Ian Brown.
S cientists hope to reinforce the value of the Southern Ocean as a warning system for the
corals on the Great Barrier Reef by tracking the response of elephant seals to changes in ocean conditions.
The Antarctic Climate and Eco-systems Cooperative Research Centre in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation is researching how elephant seals respond to changes in ocean conditions.
Using special sensors mounted on the heads of elephant seals in the Southern Ocean, the project team – comprising researchers from CSIRO and the University of Tasmania – will collect data about the seals’ behav-iour and ocean conditions, such as temperature and salinity.
University of Tasmania marine biologist Professor Mark Hindell said the sensors allow researchers to investigate how elephant seals respond to changes in ocean condi-tions.
“By tracking the seals, we’re also gaining critical information about these changing conditions in the
Southern Ocean, which is a driver of world climate,” he said.
The results will reinforce the value of the Southern Ocean as an early warning system for the corals and others species on the Great Barrier Reef, which are particularly sensitive to even small changes in water temperature and pH.
The project will run for 12 months and will be followed by deeper analysis of data to gener-ate additional scientific results and inform research publications.
The climate change research project has received backing from QANTAS.
early warnings from elephant seals
‘Sea spurge could also adversely impact birds like hooded plovers, pied oystercatchers and sooty oystercatchers which have their strong hold on this coast along with the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot.’
‘By tracking the seals, we’re also gaining critical information about these changing conditions in the Southern Ocean, which is a driver of world climate.’
elephant seals fighting, Vestfold Hills, near Davis station Antarctica.Photograph © Frederique Olivier/Australian Antarctic Division.
School of Chemistry
analysing carbs for better foodi knew from my undergrad years that i enjoyed analytical, instrumental and organic chemistry the most. my project covers all of these areas.
the idea of my PhD started from my Honours project where i made synthetic molecules (fluorescent tags) which aided the detection and analysis of carbohydrates. a later collaboration with the University of Queensland helped me understand the importance of carbohydrates especially in rice starch. this encouraged me to investigate the detection and analysis of carbohydrates in foods.
the title of my PhD is ‘new strategies to improve the sensitivity of capillary electrophoresis for carbohydrate analysis’.
my project involved analysing carbohydrates, which are complex sugars found in food that we consume on a daily basis. the idea was to detect and analyse minute quantities of carbohydrates which cannot be detected by old conventional methods that usually take a large amount of time and require big pieces of equipment to do so.
in order to make the detection of carbohydrates in food easier we explored a few strategies. the first one was to improve detection using a state-of-the-art laser-induced fluorescence system. this was an expensive strategy that involved purchasing a hi-tech instrument.
the second part was to design a special fluorescent molecule tag which can be attached to carbohydrates to considerably improve detection. We designed and made a new fluorescent tag which worked well and better than some of the commercially available tags in carbohydrate analysis. Using a technique called capillary electrophoresis we were able to take small quantities of carbohydrates and concentrate them around 50-fold allowing for better detection.
Ultimately the method was transferred to a microchip which is a very small device which allows even smaller quantities of the sample (nano litre sample volumes) and much faster separation. When you go from capillary electrophoresis to a microchip everything gets reduced at least 10 times – the time of analysis, the sample quantity and so on. this chip also allows concentration of the sample to achieve better signal and ability to detect carbohydrates. this is the ultimate novelty of the project; the ability to do the analysis on such a tiny device.
this project is ultimately a starting point for future projects that will be able to improve the quality of food through quick carbohydrate analysis, which in turn will make food healthier for everyone.
Tom Kazarian
My PhD
A MC honours student Chris Slavin is about to spend the next nine
months at the beach, thanks to an innovative project and a recently awarded scholarship.
While it sounds like the perfect career choice, Chris will be getting his hands dirty because his project will explore the types and sources of marine debris in northern Tasmania. He hopes to feed the results of this work into the legislative process, as well as the public’s general awareness.
Originally from Victo-ria’s Mornington Peninsula, Chris made the move to Tas-mania to finish his Bachelor of Applied Science (Marine Environment) at AMC’s National Centre for Marine Conservation and Resource Sustainability (NCMCRS). Following his mid-year gradu-ation he’s pushing straight into Honours and the marine debris project. The project was developed by Associate Pro-fessor Marnie Campbell from the NCMCRS and is based on a broader aspect of human impacts on the marine environ-ment.
“Marine debris has always been an aspect of marine con-servation that I’ve been keen on – even before I started the course,” Chris said.
“There’s a strong visual
effect as well as the negative effect it can have on marine animals. There’s also the health risk to humans.”
The project has three phases, starting with a survey to gauge the perceptions of Tasma-nians towards marine debris.
The second part of the project will involve nine dif-ferent beaches: three pristine beaches, like Strahan, as well as
three recreational beaches, like Sisters Beach near Burnie or Beer Barrel in St Helens, and also three heavily urbanised beaches, like Bell Bay.
“I’ll pick up the rubbish I find and sort it into different categories, such as medicinal, sanitary, plastics, fishing gear, wooden material, metals and fabrics,” Chris said. “I’ll also look at whether it’s land-based
or marine-based litter, such as litter from boats, beach goers, or from stormwater drains.
“I’ll also investigate poli-cies that relate to marine debris, from an international level to a state level. Finally, I’ll overlay this with an analysis of public perception – whether members of the public think their actions contribute to this problem.
“I hope to do something that could influence legislation and gain perspective on the public’s knowledge of marine debris – hopefully something that can educate the public on issues related to this kind of debris so they can change their actions.”
Chris’s project received a welcome boost at the end of May. He was awarded 2010 Alcorso Foundation Honours Environment Scholarship from the Alcorso Foundation – an organisation founded to con-tinue the values of noted Tas-manian wine figure Claudio Alcorso and his wife Lesley. The foundation fosters international exchanges with Italy as well as sponsoring a number of prizes and awards in the areas of the arts, the environment and social justice.
To find out more about current and potential NCMCRS projects see www.amc.edu.au/marine-conser-vation-sustainability
nine months at the beach
11 Features Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 341
sorting the beach rubbish problem: AMC student Chris Slavin will spend nine months at the beach, hard at work on his honours project.
UTAS books
From the Ground up – the story of Codes’ First 20 yearsVarious authors (CODES, 2009)
CODes is the australian research Council’s Centre of excellence in Ore Deposits based at the Hobart Utas campus. since its 1989 beginnings, CODes has become one of the world’s leading centres in ore deposit research. From the ground up tracks this growth from when four researchers worked on a handful of australian-based projects to now, with nearly 200 research staff and postgraduate students working on more than 50 projects in 26 countries. Published to celebrate the centre’s 20th anniversary, this book highlights CODes’ major research achievements, benefits delivered to the minerals industry and its provision of first-class geoscientists for industry and academia.
The australian study of PoliticsEdited by Rod Rhodes, School of Government (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009)
this book is the first comprehensive reference work on the history of the study of politics in australia. it focuses on developments since World War ii, exploring the historical roots of each major sub-field. the chapters show that australian political science is strong where it has a longstanding engagement with the international political science community (for example, in international relations); where it regularly interacts with australian government priorities (for example, in public administration); and where it involves the larger community (for example, public intellectuals). this book is published in association with the australian Political studies association.
The state as Cultural PracticeBy Rod Rhodes, School of Government and Mark Bevir (Oxford University Press, 2010)
The State as Cultural Practice offers a fully worked-out account of the authors’ distinctive interpretive approach to political science. it challenges the new institutionalism, probably the most significant present-day strand in both american and british political science. it moves away from such notions as ‘bringing the state back in’, ‘path dependency’ and modernist empiricism. instead, bevir and rhodes argue for an anti-foundational analysis, ethnographic and historical methods, and a decentred approach that rejects any essentialist definition of the state and espouses the idea of politics as cultural practice.
management in Focus: the Global Financial CrisisBy Tom Valentine and Megan Woods, School of Management (Pearson, 2010)
Management in Focus analyses the Global Financial Crisis and its relevance to managers and organisations. the opening chapter examines the evolution of the GFC, its effect on world economies and the policies that were created to deal with it. Chapter two explains the business and management implications of the crisis by analysing how the crisis has influenced organisational environments. six case summaries with discussion questions complete the book by exploring the implications of the GFC for business opportunities and threats, planning, leadership, change management, talent management and changing employment relationships.
12 Arts Unitas JULY 2010 nUmber 341
What’s on
The work
By sHaron webb
T urkish Moment was created through Tasmanian artist Carmel Burns’ absorption
of the shapes, colours and images of Turkey when she travelled there.
The work is included in her exhibition, Beyond the Deckle, which is on display at the NEW Gallery at the UTAS Newnham campus until 12 July. The exhibition’s eye-catch-ing works combine an Asian/Middle Eastern aesthetic with Carmel’s fas-cination with the texture of paper as an implicit aspect of art. Many are oil-based ink on hand-made paper, some with gold and silver leaf.
“The crescent is always present in Turkey, on the flag and all the mosques,” Carmel said.
“This piece evolved intuitively as I absorbed my surroundings in that country.”
Carmel’s technique often involves beginning a work without a definite plan in mind; the work evolves as she expresses herself.
These days she often works with unusual hand-made papers, occa-sionally tearing and weaving them into compositions, or using collage
to create broadly representational and non-figurative works.
“I’m increasingly interested in the texture and quality of the paper after some past projects on specially-commissioned, hand-made paper,” she said.
“The exhibition includes a pro-gression of works done over time, with some of the more recent pieces made from fragments of specially-commissioned, hand-made paper adhered to canvas.”
Works such as Turkish Moment are a radical departure for Carmel Burns, whose original training was as a printer.
Her screened works utilise the structural and procedural processes of the craft with a painterly layering of inks. She uses the screen printing to apply colour as a painter would use a brush.
Carmel describes herself as a “screen painter”, producing single, one-off images created stage by stage, colour by colour, using tradi-tional screen techniques, sometimes with the inclusion of other materials such as gold leaf.
Her works have a vitality and energy that stems from the excite-
ment of creative exploration. As Carmel puts it, “each picture is always a revelation of possibilities”.
Carmel burns (b. 1953) majored in print making at Melbourne State College and taught art and craft for 10 years before moving to Tasmania in 1984 with her husband, Tony Smibert, to establish their Studio Gallery near Deloraine.
Her commissions include art-works for Pier One Hotel on Sydney Harbour and St John’s Ambulance executive building in Perth.
Carmel plays a major role in the art and creative consultancy services offered by her business partnership with Tony. Their company, Studio Editions Pty Ltd, has interests in art, education, publishing and broadcasting and has worked with institutions including Tate Britain, the National Gallery of Australia, various publishing houses and a leading Japanese fashion house.
Travel inspires Turkish textures
24 JulyVisiting artist seriesAustralian Chamber Ensembleincludes: Villa-Lobos – Sextuor Mystique, Dring – Trio for flute, oboe and piano, and brenton broadstock and Lachlan Davidson – World premiere of new work commissioned by the australian Chamber ensembleTickets: $20 adults / $15 Concession / $12 alumni available at the door 30 minutes prior to concert Time: 6pm Venue: Conservatorium recital Hall, 5 sandy bay road, Hobart Information: (03) 6226 7306
30 JulyVisiting artist seriesAnthony Garcia Guitarist composer anthony Garcia is a highly trained classical musician well versed in styles such as jazz, Latin folk and popular music. He touches audiences with his blend of formality and colourful improvisatory flair. Tickets: $20 adults / $15 Concession / $12 alumni at the door 30 minutes prior to concert Time: 6pm Venue: Conservatorium recital Hall, 5 sandy bay road, Hobart Information: (03) 6226 7306
4 auGusTVisiting artist seriesNiels Bijl saxophonist niels bijl, with the aurelia saxophone Quartet (arguably one of the top two saxophone quartets in the world) heads to australia in 2010 for a series of concerts and workshops. Tickets: $20 adults / $15 Concession / $12 alumni available at the door 30 minutes prior to concert Time: 6pmVenue: Conservatorium recital Hall, 5 sandy bay road, Hobart Information: (03) 6226 7306
09 auGusT - 29 auGusTAustralian Shakespeare Festivalthe australian shakespeare Festival, a major new australian multi-arts festival and a flagship event within tourism tasmania’s Lumina campaign, will have its inaugural season in Hobart. Executive Producer: Kevin Purcell Artistic Director: Paige newmark. Information: www. australian-shakespearefestival.com.au
15 JulyFree Public LectureWhere have creativity, innovation and passion gone in the great education
debates of the 21st century?the australian College of educators will present the richard selby smith Oration to be delivered by Professor brian Caldwell, a previous Utas Dean of education well known and respected by the tasmanian education community.Time: 6pm Venue: University Centre, Churchill ave, sandy bay Information: bradleyd@bigpond.net.au
20 JulyThe Royal Society of Tasmania Free Public LectureFrom Tasmania to Antarctica – Macquarie Island on the World Stagethe Winter Lecture series 2010 commemorates the 200th anniversary of the discovery of macquarie island in 1810. Speakers: Dr mark Hindell, school of Zoology, Graeme beech, Parks and Wildlife service, Dr Patricia selkirk, macquarie UniversityTime: 8pm Venue: sir stanley burbury theatre, sandy bay campus Information: (03) 6226 2521
26 JulySchool of Asian Languages and Studies public seminarPaul mcCarthy, a noted translator of prominent authors from Japanese to english, will talk about issues in the
translation of asian languages. all welcome.Time: 6–7pm Venue: Utas Law Lecture theatre b, Law building, sandy bay campus.
30 JulySchool of Geography and Environmental Friday ForumA Meditation on Virtuous Spaces associate Professor elaine stratford’s work is underpinned by a desire to contribute to the creation of generous, compassionate and inclusive domains in which the human and more-than-human may thrive. all welcome.Time: 4–5pm, followed by drinks and nibbles Venue: Lecture theatre 211, school of Geography and environmental studies, sandy bay campus Information: (03) 6226 2463
2 auGusTPublic lecture Can we prevent another Global Financial Crisis?the speaker, Prof. Joseph e. stieglitz, is professor and chair of the Committee on Global thought at Columbia University new York.Time: 6pm Venue: stanley burbury theatre, sandy bay campus Information: Utas.events@utas.edu.au
10 auGusTPublic lecture by Dr Lee Schip-per, co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace PrizeSustainable transport solutionsTime: 5.30–7pm Venue: stanley burbury theatre, Utas sandy bay campus Information: climatechange@dpac.tas.gov .au
22 July Visual and Performing Arts workshopVoice Theatre Lab public training sessionsCost: $8 Venue: Lecture theatre ir.ia181, academy of the arts inveresk Time: 6–7pm Information: robert Lewis (03) 6324 4426
30 July Alumni and Development UTAS Alumni gatheringalumni cocktails at the tasmanian museum and art Gallery. Chat with other alumni while viewing the City of Hobart art Prize exhibition. Time: 6–8pm Venue: tmaG, 40
macquarie st Hobart Information: melanie roome (03) 6324 3472
08 auGusT – 22 auGusTUTAS Open Daysneed to know more about your study options? Want to enhance or revive your career? Or just want to find out more about what Utas can offer you?
2010 Utas Open Days will be held in Hobart on 8 august, in Launceston on 15 august and Cradle Coast in burnie on 22 august.
Utas Open Days provide: a comprehensive course information expo, where you can talk to academic and general staff, a schedule of undergraduate and postgraduate course overview sessions presented by each of the faculties, as well as general information sessions and tours of campus facilities throughout the day.
Turkish Moment, oil-based ink on paper, 860x600mm, by Carmel Burns.
For a complete list of, or to con-tribute to, What ’s on/Classifieds, visit: www.utas.edu.au. Contribu-tions are free but may be edited.
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