In this edition:
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News From the Dean |
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GSE plays important role at the coal face of Australia's international aid effort |
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Macquarie Announces Unique Partnership with Australian Volunteers International |
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Opportunities |
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Events |
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Snippets | |
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Science News Archive | |
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News from the Dean |
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Dear Colleagues, Well by now, apart from a few supplementary exams still to be held, first semester results should be out of the way and so it's a good time to say thank you to everyone who burnt the midnight oil to get the marking done and to those who then efficiently put all the results together for the Departmental and Division meetings. It's always a very tight time frame for all concerned, but again we've managed to get through it. Well done. In the course of any year ELS hosts numerous workshops, conferences, and the like. The most recent was a very successful workshop last Thursday and Friday on Professional Learning for Climate Change, Environmental Management and Sustainability. Organised by Wendy Goldstein (GSE) the workshop drew a large group of participants from over 20 Australian universities plus senior people from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Commission on Education and Communication. Wendy is the Regional Chair of the IUCN Commission and anyone interested in IUCN activities should contact her via e-mail at wgoldste@gse.mq.edu.au. Finally, just foreshadowing a research audit coming up later in the year (what is being termed the MQ External Engagement and Knowledge Transfer Audit). The Audit will be collecting information relating to the social, cultural, economic and/or commercial impact that the University's research has had, both within Australia and internationally. In short, the Audit will be aiming to establish the level of engagement that Macquarie researchers have had with external organisations or communities and the influence these research results have had on the organisations/communities. The data will be used for a variety of purposes: in the 2009 AUQA audit, in the Excellence in Research (ERA) evaluations, in cases MQ might make for additional Commonwealth funding under the proposed "Compacts" program, etc. Trials have been held with ICS and ACES and other Divisions will be surveyed during the remaining months of this year. The Audit will be done via a web-based form and from the ICS/ACES experience takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. I mention the Audit now just to get us all thinking of such external engagement and impact. Fuller details will be given closer to the time of the Audit. Till next week. Kevin
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_________________________________________________________ GSE plays important role at the coal face of Australia's international aid effort
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Australian Partnership Scholarships (APS) were created in response to the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Banda Aceh and North Sumatra. The scholarships aim to increase the Indonesian human resource capacity in areas such as Economic Governance, Public Sector Management and Education. Recent Master of Environmental Science graduand Kurniati Mahyiddic came to Macquarie on an AusAID scholarship and hopes to apply her newly developed skills to improve her hometown of Banda Aceh. “After the tsunami in 2004 we received a lot of national and international support. I say we have now recovered about 90%. But we have other environmental factors to consider like the impact of deforestation, flooding and climate change.” Similarly, Bangladeshi Supriya Tripura study was supported by an Australian Development Scholarship which is funded by the Australian Government as part of Australia's foreign aid program. “I have worked in agricultural science for the Government for seven years now,” says Supriya. “Now that I have finished my Master of Environmental Management I can bring my new skills to my workplace. I can combine my environmental and agricultural knowledge to create a good balance.”
(L-R) Scholarship students Ana Saleh and Kurniati Mahyiddic from Indonesia and Supriya Tripura from Bangladesh say goodbye to Macquarie University |
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_________________________________________________________ Macquarie University and AVI announce unique global community service program |
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The Global Futures Program, which will commence in 2010 in conjunction with the University's new curriculum, is the first of its kind in the Australian tertiary sector - Macquarie is the first university to partner with an NGO on this type of program. The program is a manifestation of Macquarie's commitment to social inclusion and equity, themes which the University is endeavouring to incorporate throughout all its activities. Its aim is to develop partnerships, both local and international, which make valuable contributions to communities, and which are mutually beneficial. Programs will be developed in conjunction with local community groups, regional and remote councils, Indigenous groups, and nations throughout the South Pacific and South East Asia. "Community service provides outstanding life, study and career development opportunities for participants and their counterparts," says Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz. "People-to-people links are at the heart of community and equity. Through a network of facilitated partnerships, these links can make a real and lasting difference to our world. "Through participation in the program, Macquarie students will be able to develop their capabilities to the highest potential so that they grow intellectually, are well-equipped for work, can contribute effectively to society and achieve personal fulfilment." For each placement students will receive academic credit. The partnership will also afford Macquarie staff, both academic and professional, access to volunteer projects, providing an excellent opportunity for career and leadership development. Opportunities for mutual learning, mentoring, peer support, e-volunteering and two-way exchanges - including guest lectureships at partner universities - will ensure mutual benefit for all participants. AVI is a natural match with Macquarie, says Schwartz, as both organisations are committed to initiatives that contribute to the shaping of an inclusive society based on sustainable global relationships and cooperation. "AVI has a 50-year track record of success in recruiting, placing and managing more than 6000 international volunteering assignments with local partners, across 68 countries," says Schwartz. "Tapping into their expertise, infrastructure and relationships will allow Macquarie to create exceptional linkages which lead to lasting associations of learning and mutual benefit." It is this commitment to reciprocity and a vision to achieve positive and lasting change which AVI says makes Macquarie the ideal partner in such a collaboration. "That Macquarie has, as one of its key objectives, the goal of developing socially inclusive relationships of equal benefit with communities both locally and internationally, is one of the key motivations for us wanting to partner with them," says AVI CEO Dimity Fifer. "This philosophy is a hallmark of AVI's work and we look forward to working with them in this venture." This story is adapted from a story by Fiona Crawford recently appearing on the Macquarie University website.
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_________________________________________________________ Opportunities |
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The Australasian Science Prize, awarded annually, provides priceless recognition to Australian scientists whose work best encapsulates these ideals. Criteria considered by the judging panel include scientific originality, breadth of impact, and communication to both the scientific and broader communities. Nominations for the 2008 Prize are now open, and must be received by 12 September 2008. For information on how to nominate see australasianscience.com.au. The winner(s) will be announced in the November/December 2008 issue of Australasian Science. _________________________________________________________ Call for Exhibitors, Inventors, Training Workshops and Seminar Speakers - Green Tech Australia - 3rd Australian International Green Build, Design and Technology Show, New South Wales, on Friday 15th August 2008. Green TECH 08 is proud to present an international Trade Show and Conference with a core focus on green building, sustainable design and clean technology. GreenTECH 08 special features include SRD ChangeX 08, Green Inventors Showcase, Eco House of the Future Competition and a Green Living Zone. A sustainable society requires innovative solutions for improving the quality of our lives - solutions that work harmoniously with the Earth`s systems and across diverse cultures. Today, we are part of a global community connected through economic, technological, socio political, and ecological systems. Now more than ever, the choices we make at home and at work impact not only our own welfare, but also the welfare of people in distant lands and future generations. We believe that a commitment to sustainability is an opportunity for creativity and innovation in the way we satisfy the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable development is a social process that involves technological innovation. Special features: The event runs from Friday 15th to Sunday 17th August. For more information please visit www.greentechshow.com.au. _________________________________________________________
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Events |
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_________________________________________________________Saturday 12 July 2008 _________________________________________________________ Friday 11 July 2008 _________________________________________________________ Friday the 18th of July An informal reception will follow, with drinks and nibblies on the CISAB lawn from 4.45 pm. All welcome.For further information about Dr O'Carroll's research see http://www.adelaide.edu.au/mbs/research/insect_vision/personnel/. _________________________________________________________ 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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SnippetsMountaineering not just for high risks New role for antibodies discovered Test to verify organic food Crash test dummies don't represent kids Site helps sustainable eating Diamonds suggest life began earlier Online learning boosts literacy Birds identify eggs by colour
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