Division of Environmental and Life Sciences

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

On Campus Exhibition: 'Bennelong's River to Darug Insights'
Interestinig new Macquarie University exhibition examines history and culture, people and place

Opportunities
- Australian Museum Up Close and Spineless Photography Competition on again
- "Housing and Social Inclusion" conference in Melbourne Oct '08

Events
- Genes to Geosciences Seminar this Wednesday
- GreenBiz Cafe Talk: Printing that Doesn't Cost the Earth
- Introduction to the Philosophy of Science: new and interesting 8 part lecture series
- Grand Challenges in Health & Medicine Public Lecture Series 2008
- University of Sydney Lecture "The Evolution of Social Structures"
- ELS Seminar Series

News from the Dean

Dear Colleagues

Just a couple of things this week ...

Academic staff of the Division will have received (or will soon receive) an email asking them to participate in an External Engagement and Knowledge Transfer Audit by the University. The purpose of this audit is to collect information relating to the social, environmental, cultural, economic and/or commercial impact that the University's research has had, both within Australia and internationally. Details of the Audit are set out on the University's website at: http://www.research.mq.edu.au/quality/audit . The Audit is seeking information about all external research-based engagements and knowledge transfers with which staff were involved between 2003 and 2007. Each of these engagements or knowledge transfers needs to be reported only once - if they involved other Macquarie University staff, then you will need to decide amongst yourselves which staff member will report it. The data collected will be used in preparing for next year's AUQA audit, the Federal Government's Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative, etc. Please find time in your schedules to contribute to the Audit.

The other thing on the go at the moment is feedback on the draft ERA journal rankings list. If you wish to make any modifications please do so in the next few days as the deadline for submissions is July 31. See
http://www.arc.gov.au/era/submissions_ranking.htm for details. The modifications procedure certainly hasn't been designed with users in mind, but it is important that we take the opportunity to have changes made to any obviously incorrect rankings or missing journals.

Till next week

Kevin

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Macquarie University exhibition examines history and culture, people and place

Macquarie hosts a new exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal artworks inspired by the Parramatta River and the people whose lives revolved around its waters.

'Bennelong's River to Darug Insights' draws broadly from art works, contemporary photographs, historical images, botanical specimens, textile pieces, rare books and the audio-visual to examine the perception of Aboriginal culture throughout history and its place in contemporary society.

At the heart of the exhibition is an examination of the Aboriginal people who have traditionally inhabited the land on which Macquarie University now stands - the Darug people - and well-known historical figure, Woollarawarre Bennelong.

Famously kidnapped by Governor Phillip in the earliest years of colonisation, Bennelong was born into the Wangal clan on the Parramatta River's south bank and is buried in Wallumedegal territory on the river's north side at Ryde.

Both the Wangal and Wallumedegal clans belong to the Darug people.

Senior Curator of the Macquarie University Art Gallery, Rhonda Davis, said the exhibition offered a unique interpretation of the local landscape.

"Central to this exhibition is its broad scope - works from the British Museum of Natural History have been teamed with botanical specimens from the University's herbarium, historical artefacts and paintings by renowned local artists with a refreshing contemporary approach to more traditional Aboriginal art practices," Ms Davis said.

"This is a great example of history and culture coming together to broaden our understanding of the connection between place and people."

Highlights of the exhibition include public lectures by historian curator Keith Vincent Smith (Wednesday, 6 August at 1pm), textile artist Robyn Caughlan (Saturday, 9 August at 11am) and Darug artist Leanne Tobin (Tuesday, 12 August at 1pm).

Any members of the public interested in attending the lectures can RSVP by contacting the Gallery on (02) 9850 4271 or emailing ArtGallery@mq.edu.au

Bennelong's River to Darug Insights will run until Saturday, 23 August in the Macquarie University Art Gallery, Building E11A, and Macquarie University Library, Building C7A, on the University campus.

The gallery is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, and for the purposes of this exhibition will also be open on Saturday, 9 August and Saturday, 23 August.

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Opportunities

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Up Close & Spineless photographic competition 2008

Yes, it's on again - the competition that puts animals without a backbone on the map! Over 99% of all animal species are invertebrates. These comprise over 30 major animal groups and more than 5 million species!

To raise awareness of the wonderful world of invertebrates, the Australian Museum is holding the photographic competition, Up Close & Spineless. The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers and has four entry categories: Primary School, Secondary School, Open and Professional.

All you have to do is choose the category that's right for you, then start taking photos and send us your best by Friday 29 August 2008. Winners of the first 3 categories will win a digital camera. Winners will receive a voucher for $600 to spend on photographic supplies.

Before entering, please read the information provided and the terms and conditions of entry at http://www.amonline.net.au/up_close/competition.htm

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Housing and Social Cohesion
7 October 2008
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Website: http://www.ahuri.edu.au/seminars/ahuri_conference

This AHURI conference will investigate the role housing plays in supporting social inclusion and the implications this link has on the development of housing policies. The conference is organized by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. Check the event website for latest details.

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Events

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Genes-to-Geoscience Seminar this week:

“First results from the new OPAL research reactor: new opportunities
from engineering and physics to biology”

by Dr Robert Robinson, Head, Bragg Institute, Lucas Heights, Australia

Wednesday 30th July, 1-2 pm (Biology tea room, E8A 290).

Seminar abstract:
Australia's new research reactor, OPAL, presents exciting new research capability and opportunities for collaboration. Dr Rob Robinson, Head of the Bragg Institute at Lucas Heights, will explain the research capabilities of this world-class facility, and outline how they can be used to enhance Macquarie's research across a broad range of disciplines from genes to geosciences to geoarchaeology.

Come along and hear about the first research results from the Bragg Institute, and how Macquarie's researchers can gain access to this expertise and equipment through the AINSE grant scheme.

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GreenBiz Cafe Talk: Printing that Doesn't Cost the Earth
Monday 28 July 2008

Industry expert Zaidee Jackson, talks about how printing affects our carbon footprint and why choosing a green printer makes a difference.

Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm Jul 28 Cost: $5 incl tea/coffee
Venue: The Fair Trade Cafe, 33 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
Enquiries: GreenBizCafe www.greenbizcafe.com (02) 96603303

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Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
Tuesday 29 July 2008

What is 'Science'? And what makes it 'scientific'? This 8-lecture layperson's introduction to the Philosophy of Science explores the theory and logic of Science: how to make sense of what scientists say; and how to decide whether or not to believe them.

Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm Jul 29 Cost: $169/$140 conc
Venue: WEA, 72 Bathurst Street, Sydney
Enquiries: Brainwaves Information Services www.weasydney.com.au 041 041 2963

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Grand Challenges in Health & Medicine Public Lecture Series 2008
Wednesday 30th July 2008

"The fifty-year revolution in global public health"
Presented by Prof.Sir Gustav Nossal, AC CBE Professor Emeritus, Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne.Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm Jul 30 Cost: Free
Venue: Eastern Avenue Complex, Eastern Avenue, The University of Sydney, Camperdown
Enquiries: School of Public Health, University of Sydney www.health.usyd.edu.au (02) 9036 7552

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The Evolution of Social Structures
Thursday 31 July

Brian Skyrms, Professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science and Economics, University of California, explores how evolutionary game theory has applications and implications for economics, ethics, and all forms of social contract, from business dealings to faithful marriages.
Time: 6:00pm-6:30pm Jul 31 Cost: Free
Venue: Old Geology Lecture Theatre, (Near Parramatta Rd Footbridge), University of Sydney
Enquiries: University of Sydney (02) 9036 6381

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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

Trees jabbed for survival
Scientists are injecting native trees in WA's South-West with a potent mixture of nutrients and fungicide in a race to save dwindling populations from extinction.

SUVs safer than portrayed
SUVs are not as dangerous as sometimes thought, but they have serious safety drawbacks and may seem safer than they are because of their driving demographic.

Limestone may return climate
Adding millions of tonnes of limestone buried under the Nullarbor Plain to the world's oceans could remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Enough sleep improves memory
Lack of sleep impairs children's working memories, and consequently their abilities to perform various intellectual tasks, according to research. 

Mothers not asked to stop drinking
One in two pregnant Australian woman drink alcohol during despite risks for the baby, and many obstetricians do not ask or inform, according to research. 

Rural car crash causes identified
A five year study of rural and remote road safety found that speed, alcohol, and off road driving need to be managed better if serious crashes are to be avoided. 

New HIV drug more effective
The first of a new class of retroviral drugs is showing promise - in clinical trials, the drug was about twice as effective as other anti-HIV medicines.

Fishing ban keeps starfish away
Reefs where fishing is not allowed are much less likely to have outbreaks of the devastating crown of thorns starfish, according to a new analysis of research. 

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