Division of Environmental and Life Sciences

News From the Dean
The weekly update from the Dean of Division, A/Prof Kevin McCracken

Sustainability@MQ Launches Design Competition
Calling all entries for "Power Saving Campaign Slogan and Design Competition"

Opportunities
- Fantastic Graduate Employment Opportunities in Tennant Creek NT
- United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Awards 2008
- FEAST's "Europe Strategy Day 2008", Uni of Sydney, Wednesday 19th March.

Events
- Ranger Talk Tuesday Night : Aboriginal Heritage of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
- Jessie Street National Womens Library Talk this Thursday: The Thalidomide Story
- ELS Seminar Series

News from the Dean - A/Prof Kevin McCracken

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Division I would like to extend congratulations to Sue O'Reilly (EPS) for two recent prestigious professional awards - the first, appointment as a Fellow of the Geological Society of Australia, the second, being the recipient of The Royal Society of New South Wales' Clarke Medal for 2007. Very well deserved external recognition Sue.

For anyone who may have missed the announcement by Julia Gillard, the Government announced last week there is to be an independent, evidence-based review of Australia 's higher education system, chaired by Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley AC. So watch this space.

Horizon Reports

My attention has been drawn to an annual publication series called the Horizon Reports . These reports focus on emerging technologies likely to have a large impact on teaching and learning. Judyth Sachs has tabled recent issues at several senior University committees and I thought it would be useful to in turn circulate them around all ELS teaching staff. They are a bit scary in places in terms of what is going on e-technology wise in some institutions, and what is likely to emerge over the next few years. However, Macquarie is clearly going to have to embrace the challenge of many of these technologies if it wants to be a genuine pace-setting university for the 21st century. PDF versions of the reports can be accessed at http://www.nmc.org/horizon.

Enrolments

Mike Poulsen (our ELS rep on Coursework Studies Committee) has conducted a review of enrolments across the Division over the period 2006-2008. For those of you thinking you have been seeing more students around you haven't been mistaken. Counting up enrolments in all our units (as of 29 February) revealed we had nearly 12,600 enrolees, compared with around 11,900 last year and 11,400 in 2006. According to Mike's analysis, 100 level increases have been very high and 200 and 300 level flat. Non-award numbers have dropped from 203 last year to 157 this year, though second semester may see some extra numbers on that front. A departmental breakdown of the numbers was distributed to the Learning and Teaching Committee last week and will likewise be distributed to HoDs for anyone interested in seeing further details.

A couple of opportunities:

- The Forum for European-Australian Science and Technology cooperation (feast) have announced 'Europe Strategy Days' - a free workshop (bookings essential) to be held in Sydney on Wednesday 19 March at the University of Sydney. Full details available:- www.feast.org/strategy2008

- The BBVA Foundation in collaboration with the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) have announced the DDVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards and invite nominations in the following categories: Basic Sciences, Biomedicine, Ecology and Conservation Biology and Climate Change, amongst others. Awards of €400,000 prize money. Full details available from:- http://w3.grupobbva.com/TLFU/premios/fronteras/en/index_masinfo.html

Finally, would all members of academic staff intending to apply for promotion in this year's round please inform their Head of Department and myself of that intention as soon as possible. Make sure you give yourself sufficient time to prepare a solid application and for your referees to work on their supporting statements. I will be happy to talk with any intending applicants about the process. Times can be arranged via Jane Edgson (x8418). To allow me adequate time to write my Dean's reports I would like to have draft copies of applications no later than Wednesday 16 April.

Have an enjoyable Easter break,

Kevin

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Sustainability@MQ Powersaving Campaign Slogan and Design Competition

Sustainability@MQ has just launched a Power Saving Campaign Slogan and Design competition. The competition is open to students and staff to come up with a short, catchy slogan to engage people in turning off lights and non-essential equipment when not in use in an effort to reduce our energy consumption and carbon emissions. The closing date for entries is March 26 and the winning design will receive a 3 month gym membership and the opportunity to see their design on posters and stickers across the university.

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ELS Congratulates Phsyical Geography Honours Student

Rhaelene Freeman, an Honours student in Physical Geography, was awarded the prize for best student poster at the recent (Feb 11-15) Australia New Zealand Geomorphology Group conference held in Queenstown Tasmania.

The conference is held biennially and is the premier meeting of geomorphologists in the region. Rhaelene's poster reported results from part of her Honours project in which she investigated the ecological response to channel changes in the Macquarie Marshes, northern NSW, recorded by plant and animal remains in shallow sediment cores.  

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Opportunities

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HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT LIVING AND WORKING IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A CAREER AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER or OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER?

ARE DOING A DEGREE IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING...

Applied Science
Environmental health
Health Science (Bachelor Public & Environmental Health)
Public Health – majoring in Environmental Health
Science in Environmental Health
or any other related discipline, and are in the LAST year of your degree,

Why not get experience and finish you’re your degree at the same time!!

This is a fly in and fly out position (2 weeks on and 2weeks off), with meals and accommodation supplied. Salary negotiable.

If this opportunity interests you, then call Michele on 08 8962 1288 or enquire via email to: jresec3@julalikari.com.au for more information

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United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Awards 2008

• Building Commission Award for Best Sustainable Residential Development
• Business Sustainability Awards
• Community Award
• DSE Excellence in Marine and Coastal Management Award
• Excellence in Sustainable Water Management Award
• Individual Award
• ITW Industrial Packaging Education/School Award
• Lincolne Scott Triple Bottom Line Award
• Local Government Awards
• Media Award for Environmental Reporting
• Sustainability Victoria Meeting the Greenhouse Challenge Award
• Szencorp Green Building Award
For further information and nomination forms please visit: www.unaavictoria.org.au or phone: (03) 9670 7878

Nominations Close Friday 2 May.

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FEAST's "Europe Strategy Days 2008", University of Sydney, Wednesday 19th March.

The aim of these events is to explore how we can intensify research and innovation cooperation with Europe within the context of the emerging international research and innovation system.
There is a particular emphasis on building stronger industry-academic links between Australia and Europe in order to address major global challenges such as greenhouse gas emission reduction. The programmes seek to provide a balance between academic and business interests.

The event is morning only and is free of charge. As numbers are limited it is necessary to pre-register with FEAST by email at rsvp@feast.org

Further information: www.feast.org/strategy2008

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Events

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Aboriginal Heritage of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Tuesday 18 March
David Tribe is a ranger with Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and a local authority on the interpretation of aboriginal heritage. He has just completed research for NSW National Parks in Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai that examines the future for these parks.

Time: 7:45pm-9:30pm Mar 18 Cost: Free
Venue: St Andrews Church, Vernon St, South Turramurra
Enquiries: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon www.step.org.au 0412 250 595

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The Thalidomide Story
Thursday 20 March 2008
Dr Janet McCredie's research led to the discovery of how thalidomide affected the embryo. In her talk she outlines the history of the drug, its development, how it was marketed and the terrible effects that ensued. Dr McCredie's book on the subject was published last year.

Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm Mar 20 Cost: $20/$15 members (incl light refreshments)
Venue: Seminar Room 2, Ultimo Community Centre, Ultimo Community Centre, Bulwara Road, Ultimo
Bookings: Jessie Street National Womens Library 02 9265 9486

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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

Australians eating more kangaroo
More Australians are eating kangaroo than a decade ago, but most are unaware that the meat is wild harvested and not caged, a report has revealed.

Diet decides bees' status
A diet rich in royal jelly, a substance secreted by adult bees, flicks a genetic switch that ensures a bee will become queen and not a worker.

Plastic bags turtle's biggest killer
Experts are pleading for cleaner marine habitats, following research that revealed rubbish is now the leading cause of sea turtle deaths.

Skin cancer rates soar
Melanoma rates in Victoria have increase to an all time high, with six cases diagnosed a day, the results of a shocking study have revealed.

Lower cholesterol saves lives
Reducing 'bad' cholesterol by even 10 per cent could save the lives of almost 3000 Australians a year, who suffer from diet related heart attacks and strokes.

Boys need sport to learn
Short, regular bursts of exercise between classes helps boys to focus and learn more at school, according to New Zealand research.

E.T not smarter than us
Aliens may exist, but if evolution patterns on Earth are anything to go by, they are unlikely to have developed human-like intelligence, according to an expert.

Australians want to save energy
Over 75 per cent of Australians want to reduce energy consumption in their homes and prevent climate change, the results of a new survey have shown.

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