Division of Environmental and Life Sciences

News From the Dean
The weekly update from the Dean of Division, Prof Liz Deane

ELS Congratulates Dr Ian Jamie of CBMS
Dr Jamie was recently awarded a Carrick Institute Citation

Opportunities
- Biosafety Workshop Next Monday
- Alumni Opportunities: Tim Flannery and Hugh McKay

Events
- CBMS Seminar this Thursday
- The Quark to the Cosmos: why was the 2006 Nobel Prize awarded?
- ELS Seminar Series

News from the Dean

Dear Colleagues,

Hopefully many of you saw the Vice-Chancellor's emails about our own Eureka Prize finalists - but just in case you didn't:

Congratulations again to Ron Oldfield - a finalist in the Science-Photography category. Ron has had a number of exhibitions here at Macquarie and his marvellous photos adorn the walls of the E8group of buildings.

Also starring are Joanne Jamie, Jim Kohen, Subra Vemulpad and Dave Harrington - finalists in the Promoting Understanding in Science category for their inspiring work in Engaging Indigenous students in Science. A group from Western Sydney was here a couple of weeks ago and previously we have hosted students from the North Coast - really impressive!

Finally, congratulations to one of our Honoraries, Maxine Piggott, who is in the category acknowledging Research which Replaces the use of Animals or Animal Products. Maxine's work used faecal DNA to investigate wildlife populations.

The Eureka Awards night will be held on Tuesday 21 August - we hope to sweep the pool!!

If you are interested in collaborative education - bringing industry and universities together, the Australian Collaborative Education Network will be holding a Symposium on Thursday 6 September at UWS, Hawkesbury Campus. Costs $50, (including lunch) - registration at:-
http://ipay.uws.edu.au/ipay_products_show.asp?pgrp=240

For more information email Freny Tayebjee on f.tayabjee@uws.edu.au

We have received information from the Research Office about a seminar on Research Collaboration with Europe: Winter 2007 FEAST Seminar - to be held on Tuesday 7 August from 2-5pm at the Westpac Amphitheatre 103, MGMS, Macquarie University.

Registration at:- http://www.humanities.mq.edu.au/register/

Hopefully you have all settled back in for 2 nd Semester - all appeals have been dealt with, room bookings and enrolments hiccups sorted!

Till next week,

Liz

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Dr Ian Jamie of CBMS awarded a Carrick Institute Citation

This citation recognises and rewards the diverse contributions that individuals and teams make to the quality of student learning. The Carrick Citations are granted to people who have made a significant contribution to the quality of student learning in a specific area of responsibility over a sustained period. People who are awarded Carrick Citations are widely recognised for their achievements within the nominating institution and have received strong institutional endorsement.

The citation was awarded to Associate Professor Mark Buntine (University of Adelaide), Associate Professor Scott Kable (University of Sydney), Dr Simon Barrie (University of Sydney), Mr Justin Read (University of Adelaide) as well as Dr Jamie and is for “For the development and implementation of the ACELL project, improving the quality of all aspects of teaching and learning in undergraduate chemistry laboratories throughout Australia.”

Starting in 1999, the Advancing Chemistry by Enhancing Learning in the Laboratory program (ACELL) was developed through the collaboration of four Australian Universities: University of Adelaide, University of Sydney, University of Western Australia and Macquarie University. Supervised by seven Directors, based at the four universities, ACELL is fostering learning environments where students can forge links between theoretical concepts and experimental observations. ACELL’s emphasis on providing academic staff with strategies for creating more meaningful, enjoyable and successful learning experiences in the lab, has resulted in both more satisfied students and staff, along with quality learning outcomes. By modifying laboratory practices among academic chemists, ACELL aims to provide students with quality-assured laboratory learning exercises that are student-focussed, relevant and engaging because of staff’s enhanced teaching awareness. The desired outcome of the ACELL
program is reflective teachers who are able to initiate students into the principles and practices of science, encouraging at the same time the capacity for independent, self-directed learning, highly developed metacognitive and problem solving skills, the ability to communicate their ideas and their findings, and the judgement to be able to critique their own work and the work of others. While no single laboratory program could possibly achieve all of these goals in isolation, ACELL has been demonstrating to academic staff how the laboratory learning environment can provide opportunities to assist students’ development towards these goals.

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Opportunities

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Biosafety Workshop

The Biosafety Committee will be holding a workshop addressing biosafety issues in research.

The workshop will be held on:

Date: Monday 13 August 2007
Time: 2-4pm
Venue:Room 498, Level 4, The Research HUB, Building C5C

Further details regarding the workshop can be found at:
http://www.research.mq.edu.au/researchers/workshops
http://www.research.mq.edu.au/researchers/ethics/biosafety

Registrations must be received by 5pm Wednesday 8 August

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Alumni Lecture: Dr Hugh Mackay - "Advance Australia Where?"

Date: 23 Aug 2007

Venue: The beautiful Dixson Room, State Library, Macquarie Street, Sydney

Parking: Please r efer to our website
RSVP: Monday 13 August, 2007 via Booking form

"Advance Australia Where?" is hot off the press, and will be released into book stores on the same day as the lecture! So don't miss this opportunity to hear this esteemed author speak about his research on Australia's future.

Annual Parliament House Luncheon: Professor Tim Flannery - "An Update on Climate Change"
Date: Thurs, 20 September 2006
Time: 12.30pm
Cost for alumni & guests: $60 p/p
Venue: Strangers Dining Room, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Parking: Please r efer to our website
RSVP: Thursday 6 September, 2007 ( Booking Form )

Come and enjoy a two course lunch with wine and tea/coffee with petifours in the Strangers Dining Room of the NSW Parliament. The Hon. John Aquilina will be our host this year. Our special Guest Speaker will be Professor Tim Flannery, the 2007 Australian of the Year, and an internationally acclaimed explorer and environmentalist. Professor Flannery will provide an update on climate change.

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Events

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CBMS Seminar This Thursday

12:00 Thur 9 Aug in F7B 322

Prof. Ian Paulsen, Department of CBMS, Macquarie University
Comparative and Functional Genomic Approaches for understanding microbial physiology and evolution

For further information see www.cbms.mq.edu.au/seminars

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The Quark to the Cosmos: why was the 2006 Nobel Prize awarded?

We've all heard of the Nobel Prize, but what are they actually awarded for? Come along and find out at in the yearly University of Sydney public talk...

Associate Professor Geraint Lewis
Institute of Astronomy, School of Physics
University of Sydney

TIME: 6.15 pm, Thursday August 16th
VENUE: Eastern Ave Lecture Theatre, (Upstairs) Eastern Ave,University of Sydney, Camperdown
COST: Free. Email us on outreach@physics.usyd.edu.au with your name and number of seats to reserve your spot, or call 9351 3472.

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Biological Sciences Seminar this Wednesday

"The natural history of ant pollination"

by Prof. Andy Beattie, Macquarie University

Wednesday 8 August, 1:00 pm, E8A 290.

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ELS Seminar Series

Departments in ELS host seminars covering a wide range of topics associated with ongoing research projects and other areas of interest. The seminars are delivered by academics, research staff, and students from within the Division, as well as guest speakers from other institutions and industry. Details of times, dates, locations and topics of seminars to be held over the next few weeks are listed here.

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Snippets

Depression a pay-off for hard work
New research has shown that work-related stress is a cause of clinical depression and anxiety among young adults.

'Crash testing' a Great White Shark
Scientists using sophisticated computer software will determine the "bite force" of a Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) trapped off the central coast, north of Sydney, Australia.

Attacking autism early
To counter a poor understanding of the presentation of early autism symptoms, scientists have developed Autism Detection in Early Childhood, a tool to assist in early diagnosis.

Mediterranean food for healthy hearts
Australia's largest study of eating habits has found that traditional Mediterranean foods may prevent cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

Aussie super fruits: antioxidant rich
Twelve native Australian fruits have been revealed as exceptional sources of antioxidants.

Dementia dilemma lies ahead
Researchers predict as many as one in four people aged over 65 years will be diagnosed with dementia by 2020. 

Seeing more to sheep selection
New research suggests that classing sheep on the basis of visual traits such the appearance of their wool should be incorporated into modern sheep selection strategies.

Wine's quick quality tester
Wine producers will be better equipped to deliver a high-quality harvest, thanks to a new device developed by RMIT University and industry.

Dad behind bars receives less blame
A study by University of Queensland researchers has found that having a dad in prison may be less harmful for some kids than once thought.

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