Flinders University Highlights report 2013

inspiring achievement

2013 Highlights

Professor Graeme Young SA Scientist of the Year Distinguished Staff, Students and Alumni Community Engagement Teaching and Innovation Research Success International

Distinguished Staff, Students and Alumni

nn School of Psychology student Gemma Sharp won the

Flinders University’s 2013 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition for a presentation on her PhD research, which aims to identify the social and cultural factors that influence women to undergo genital cosmetic surgery. She also represented Flinders at the TransTasman 3MT final in Sydney in October. nn Flinders graduate and longest-serving Mayor of

Marion, Felicity-ann Lewis, was named South Australia’s Australian of the Year for 2014. nn Professor Michael Kidd, Executive Dean of the

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, commenced a three-year term as President of the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA).

Founded in 1972, WONCA has 118 member organisations representing over 400,000 general practitioners and other family doctors in more than 130 countries and territories. nn Professor Steve Rayner from Oxford University

took up the first of six Visiting Professorships under the ANZSOG-Goyder Institute Visiting Professors Program in Public Sector Policy and Management (Management of Finite Resources). The program is a collaboration between Flinders, ANZSOG and the Goyder Institute for Water Research. nn Professor John Long, the former Vice President

of Research and Collections at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum, was appointed Strategic Professor in Palaeontology and continued his long track record of unlocking the secrets of the planet’s evolutionary past and publishing his results in prestigious scientific publications. nn Dr Trevor Worthy, Vice-Chancellor’s post-doctoral

Professor Colin Raston

nnProfessor Colin Raston, the South Australian

Flinders staff, students and alumni continue to display the ideas, energy, innovation and professionalism that have defined the University’s character as a friendly, accessible institution. Flinders builds on a record of award-winning teaching, robust and relevant research and strong and effective community engagement to ensure it continues to meet its core aim to ‘transform the lives of individuals and communities, and to find ethical and innovative solutions to make a positive difference to society’s most challenging problems’.

nnProfessor Graeme Young, the world-leading

gastrointestinal expert, was named South Australia’s Scientist of the Year for 2013.

Professor Young was commended for his instrumental role in developing the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, for his work in preventing infant deaths from diarrhoea in developing countries and for his role in establishing the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer. Professor Young’s success followed Professor Karen Reynolds being awarded the same accolade in 2012.

Premier’s Professorial Research Fellow in Clean Technology, oversaw development of the $1.1 million Clean Technology Laboratory dedicated to developing products and processes in a cleaner, greener way. Professor Raston delivered a number of high profile public lectures. nnPhD student Matthew Norris was awarded

the Fulbright Scholarship giving him the opportunity to spend 12 months at Princeton University continuing his research into synthesising rare natural products for use as new agents, medicines and vaccines to combat the increasing number of antibioticresistant bacteria and cancerous cell-lines. nnDeputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor

David Day, was elected to the Australian Academy of Science. The Academy annually elects a small number of Australian scientists to the Academy in recognition of their outstanding contributions to science. nnFlinders Law student, Jordan Gifford-

Moore, was awarded a prestigious Endeavour Award. The annual awards are made by the Federal Government to further overseas educational, research and professional links and increase the skills and global awareness of high achievers. nnBachelor of Behavioural Science student,

Ashum Owen, was awarded the 2013 Terry Roberts Memorial Scholarship for Aboriginal South Australians.

Fellow and ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award recipient, joined Flinders from The University of Adelaide and caused consternation across the Tasman with his research findings that New Zealand’s national emblem, the Kiwi, may have originated in Australia. nn Professor Julian Meyrick was awarded a Linkage

Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities grant worth $325,000 for stage five of his project to internationalise AusStage, which is an online resource for researching live performance in Australia. nn Chris Kellett, a Flinders Screen and Media graduate,

won first prize (for the film Aurora) in the Best Action / Adventure category at the international Comic-Con, which is the world’s foremost celebration of comics and popular art. nn Drama graduate Ken Yamamura appeared as the

“Young Yashida” in the Twentieth Century Fox film production The Wolverine. Melanie Vallejo (BA in Performance) starred in the multi award winning television series Winners and Losers. nn Flinders graduate and Associate of Finlaysons, Paul

Gordon, was named joint winner of the South Australian Gray Young Lawyer of the Year Award. nn Creative writer Phillip Kavanagh won the Patrick

White Award for Little Borders, which was written as the creative component of his Masters thesis. nn Emeritus Professor Ian Maddocks, who was

appointed the first Chair of Palliative Care at Flinders 25 years ago, was named The Australian Senior of the Year for 2013. nnProfessor Patrick Hesp was appointed Strategic

Professor of Coastal Studies after holding academic positions in NSW, Western Australia, Singapore, USA and NZ, and non-academic positions in the WA State Department of Agriculture, Geomarine Pty Ltd, and the Rottnest Island Authority.

Community Engagement nnUniversity student Emma Gorman had a rare

opportunity to work closely with the newly established United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights during a four-month, part-time internship. nnThe four-day 14th biennial Conference on

Australasian Vertebrate Evolution, Palaeontology and Systematics, hosted by Flinders, was the biggest in the organisation’s 26-year history, with 170 delegates from Australia, China, the USA and New Zealand participating. nnThe Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences’

Professionals Lecture Series again showcased the research of senior academics. The series also hosted the annual Dean Jaensch Lecture, which was delivered by former Prime Minister John Howard. nnA partnership between Flinders and Adelaide

Zoo gave third-year student teachers a rare perspective on the value of the arts in education.

With a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Histories and Cultures, Asia and sustainability and the Zoo’s own conservation messages, the 180 pre-service teachers developed 10 minute performances – creating their own costumes, songs, scripts and sets – and presented them at the Zoo in ensembles of 10 to over 600 students from metropolitan and regional primary schools.

Flinders sponsors the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club, which introduces international students to swimming and surf lifesaving

nnProfessor Justine Smith was appointed Strategic

Professor of Eye and Vision Health. Professor Smith completed her PhD at Flinders in 1998. nnHusband and wife team, Professor Julio Licinio

and Professor Ma-Li Wong, two world-renowned obesity and depression experts, were appointed Strategic Professors of Psychiatry Research. nnAssociate Professor Daryle Rigney, Dean of

Indigenous Strategy and Engagement at Flinders, was named Person of the Year in the SA National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) awards. nnFlinders groundwater hydrologist, Associate

Professor Andy Love, was named the 2013 Unsung Hero of South Australian Science. nnAssociate Professor Lucie Walters received

the Louis Ariotti Memorial Award. The $10,000 award, named after Queensland rural medical practitioner, Dr Louis Ariotti, is for innovation and excellence of national significance to rural and remote health. nnTeaching staff were recognised at the Vice-

Chancellor’s sixth annual Celebration of Excellence and Innovation in Teaching. More than 130 staff attended the event, which included an inaugural keynote address by the 2012 Prime Minister’s University Teacher of the Year, Professor James Arvanitakis, from the University of Western Sydney. Recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching were Dr Chris Brebner, Professor Larry Owens and Dr Craig Taylor.

The 2013 Teaching and Learning Innovation Grant winners were Mrs Liz Abery, Dr Kathy Brady, Dr Julia Erhart and Associate Professor Karen Orr Vered, Dr Jeffrey Gil, Dr Kirstin Ross and Dr Paul Williamson and Dr Lydia Woodyatt. nnProfessor Craig Simmons was a finalist in the

Australian Museum Eureka Prize. Professor Simmons is a world-leading groundwater scientist and Director of the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training.

Groundwater experts from Flinders University won a state leadership award in the Water Industry Alliance’s Smart Water Awards. nnDr Vincent Post, from the Faculty of Science

and Engineering, received national and international media coverage for his paper in Nature about groundwater resources under the sea bed. University researcher, Chunhui Lu, received a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Early Career Researchers for his novel technique to prevent seawater intrusion into coastal freshwater stores. The method was published in the leading international journal Groundwater. nnProfessor Kathy Mack and Professor Sharyn

Roach -Anleu’s report on job satisfaction among the judiciary, which found that most judges felt that the satisfaction of their job outweighed the stress, received national media coverage. nnAssociate Professor Steve Brown received

a national teaching citation and also won

nnArt by Prisoners, conceived and organised by

Flinders Law School PhD candidate Jeremy Ryder, returned to the Playhouse foyer. Supported by the Department for Correctional Services, the Adelaide Festival Centre and the Commissioner for Victims’ Rights, Art by Prisoners seeks to connect prisoners in South Australian gaols with the wider community through the medium of art. nnA new Flinders ‘shopfront’ was opened at TAFE

SA’s Noarlunga campus. A reception area, meeting room, staff workstations and student access computers are providing a local point of access to information about Flinders courses, admissions and research opportunities.

the 2012 Career Achievement Award from the SA Community Achievement Awards. nnDr Andrew Groves received national

media coverage after he found the use of methamphetamine among night club-goers is about four times the rate of use in the general population. Almost half of the 460 people he surveyed had seen a drug deal take place. nnProfessor Jim Mitchell received an Office for

Learning and Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. nnFlinders-led research into techniques to isolate

DNA in illicit drugs and speed up the identification of disaster victims was recognised at the National Institute of Forensic Science’s annual awards. The journal articles describing these processes – jointly developed by the University and Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA) – were judged Best Paper in a Refereed Journal and Best Technical Article.

Teaching and Innovation

Minister, Mr Tony Abbott. SAHMRI will house more than 600 leading researchers (including around 60 from Flinders) working together in the search for better treatments and cures for some of the world’s most challenging diseases. nn The first year of a new Bachelor of Nursing

curriculum embracing blended learning, and combining on-line learning with face-to-face classroom sessions, was delivered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery. nn Several Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health

Sciences courses in allied health gained external accreditation for the first time, including Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Sciences) / Master of Optometry, Master of Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Health Sciences / Master of Occupational Therapy. nn For the first time, medical graduates qualified

with an MD – Doctor of Medicine. The University awarded degrees to its first cohort of Master of Occupational Therapy graduates. nn Academic Senate approved the establishment

of the Flinders University Prideaux Centre for Research in Health Professions Education. Led

by Strategic Professor of Medical Education, Professor Lambert Schuwirth, the Centre’s research will be aimed at building bridges between educational theory and practice in the health professions. nn The University had its first intake into the new

BA High Achievers Program, which is designed to enable high achieving students to maximise their intellectual growth in a supportive environment. nn The new offshore Master of Educational Leadership

and Management program got underway in partnership with Nankai University in China.

Professor Michael Barber (left) and Minister Tom Kenyon at the Tonsley site

nn Construction began on the University’s $120

million building at Tonsley, just days after the University Council formally approved the project. The Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Mr Tom Kenyon, joined Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Barber, in turning the first sod at the former Mitsubishi site in July. nn Seeley International signed a Memorandum

of Understanding with Flinders University and TAFE SA at Tonsley to establish a research and development centre for new energy efficient cooling and heating technologies. The partnership will provide an opportunity for Flinders University and TAFE SA students to have direct access to Seeley International’s state-ofthe-art facilities and some of the world’s best cooling and heating experts. nn In recognition of the growth in courses in Allied

Health and recommendations from the 2012 Strategic Review of the School of Medicine, University Council agreed to the establishment of the School of Health Sciences, to provide a clear focus for the University’s Health Science research, teaching and external engagement. As a consequence, the Faculty of Health Sciences was re-named the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and a comprehensive review of the Faculty’s services, internal structures and governance took place. nn Flinders supported the launch of a new high-

tech housing development to enable people with disabilities to live independently in the community. As part of the State Government’s

Woodville West Urban Renewal Project, eight ‘smart living’ apartments were purpose-built for people with disabilities, based on expert advice from Flinders’ engineers. nn The University made a total of 5360 offers

of places to students, up from 5025 offers in 2012. The 6.3 per cent increase continued a strong rise in demand for undergraduate courses. Between 2010-11 and 2013-14, first preference demand increased by more than 12 per cent, well above the sector-wide increase of six per cent. Increasing numbers led to a new September graduation in the Adelaide Town Hall, which was attended by 1132 graduands, friends and family. nn The University also awarded several Honorary

degrees, including doctorates to Aboriginal health pioneer and advocate, Ms Pat Anderson, and to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of New England, Professor James Barber. A Degree of Laws honoris causa was awarded to Justice Bruce Lander, the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption in South Australia; a Degree of Doctor of the University was awarded to Professor Pratikno, Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, a Flinders PhD graduate and one of Indonesia’s leading experts on Indonesian politics; a Degree of Doctor of the University was awarded to Dr Peter Toyne, legislator, educator and a key figure in the Northern Territory. nn Flinders staff took up a key role in delivering

research outcomes at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), which was opened by the Prime

nn The first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

was offered. The free course, The Human Body as a Machine, was written and presented by Professor Colin Carati and used four modules to give participants an overview and basic understanding of the human body. It attracted more than 1,000 registrations. nn Flinders Living won the inaugural national College

/ University Housing Operation of the Year award from the Australasian Association of University Hall and College Officers. nn A $14 million investment with leading

international ICT supplier, Cisco, and its reseller, Dimension Data, means Flinders students will receive access to world-class communications technology. nn The Flinders Foundation Studies Program, a

semester-long preparation course for university study, had its first ‘graduates’ from within the South Australian prison system in September. Ten serving prisoners, from an initial class of 17, completed the first intake of the course at Mobilong Prison taught by staff from Flinders and TAFE SA. nnFlinders University gave a distinctive focus to its

investment in the Tonsley redevelopment with the creation of the New Venture Institute (NVI), which further strengthens the University’s enterprise culture and supports the business and community collaborations at Tonsley, including the Venture Dorm and Enterprise Workshop initiatives. nn Dr Melanie Swalwell, ARC Future Fellow, began

working on a project to build the foundation for securing and remembering Australian digital cultural heritage. The project recovers the local history of digital media technology from 1976-1992 in digital arts and culture.

Research Success subsequently invested $21 million in South Australian company, Australian Kelp Products.

Professor Wei Zhang, Director of the Centre, received $300,000 from the Premier's Research and Industry Fund, for research into the conversion of seaweed into a range of high value products. nnThe Faculty of Education, Humanities and

Law established two new research Centres – the Centre for Sport, Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) and the Centre for Crime Policy Research (CCPR) during 2013. nnFlinders began helping with the establishment

of a $16 million Science of Learning Research Centre to investigate the neuroscience of the human learning process. Flinders is the only South Australian university involved in the national collaboration, which is spearheaded by the University of Queensland. nnAssociate Professor Robert Phiddian was Chair

of the 2013 Festival of Ideas Advisory Board and Director of the Australian Consortium of Humanities Research Centres. nnA Flinders study into the cultural value of

Dr Daniel Tune researching next generation solar cells

nnAlmost $7 million worth of grants – including

six Future Fellowships – were awarded to Flinders University researchers by the Australian Research Council (ARC). The recipients were Dr Gavin Prideaux, Professor Luciano Beheregaray and Professor Amanda Ellis, from the Faculty of Science and Engineering; Dr Damien Riggs, from the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences; Associate Professor Melanie Swalwell, from the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law. nnFour projects from areas including

mathematics, biomedical engineering and health sciences received a total of $1 million in Linkage grants from the Australian Research Council. Projects focused on optimising patient flow in hospitals, promoting social inclusion for refugees and using computational modelling to test orthopaedic devices. nnA total of seven researchers received almost

$6 million in funding under the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Standard Project Grants to pursue studies ranging from airway surgery in obstructive sleep apnea, to the genetic risk factors of blinding eye disease. Another three researchers were awarded $1.2 million as part of the council’s Established Career Fellowships and the Translating Research into Practice Fellowships.

nnGroundwater experts from Flinders University

began setting up one of the world’s largest arid zone groundwater studies in the Northern Territory. Up to $2.3 million worth of infrastructure – including 100 bores, three weather stations and 20 river sensors – were installed on Pine Hill Station in the Ti Tree Basin, 150km north of Alice Springs, by a team of Flinders hydrologists, PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. nnThe National Institute of Labour Studies was

commissioned by the Australian Government to evaluate the roll out of the new national disability insurance scheme, DisabilityCare Australia. A NILS-led team will monitor and evaluate the experience of participants, their families and carers, service providers and the disability sector workforces in South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, over the first three years. nnThe Qindao Gather Great Ocean Group

(GOGG) committed $450,000 over three years to further the University’s research into the potential conversion of seaweed into a range of high value products including foods, cosmetics and medicinal compounds.

Minister for Science and Information Economy Grace Portolesi officially opened the world class marine biotechnology laboratory that will host the research collaboration, known as the Flinders University Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development. GGOG

the 2013 Adelaide Festival found that South Australians who are not festival-goers still valued it at $16.4 million, while those who do attend valued it at over $68 million – a total of $85 million. The Cultural Value Research Project, led by Flinders University’s Head of Tourism, Dr Steve Brown, surveyed Festivalgoers and members of the general public about the value of the Festival in terms of its contribution to the State’s reputation, as well as to their sense of identity and wellbeing. nnResearchers from Flinders began working

to prevent the burden of degenerative bone diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, using advanced microscopic techniques to understand better how and why bone loss occurs in the elderly. A special X-ray method known as a micro-computed tomography, or micro-CT, is enabling Dr Egon Perilli’s team to analyse the complex structures of the skeletal system, including bone density and the thin internal features of the bone, in 3D. nnDr Sean Kim’s research into the phenomenon

of ‘film tourism’ found that television movies and series had a large impact on the tourism industry. Dr Kim has spent four years at Flinders analysing the complex relationships between popular media and tourism. nnA record nine higher degree research

students – Jean Winter, Belinda Lunnay, Melissa Atkinson, Linda Isherwood, Matthew McDowell, Ashley Slattery, Leanne Morgan, Stefano Bona and Melinda Graefe – all received a cash prize of $1000 in the University’s Best Student Paper Awards.

International

2013 Australia Award scholarship students at Flinders

nnFlinders signed a memorandum of

understanding in Jakarta with Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs that will see the University provide key assistance in the development of Indonesian capacity in social work and disability services. nnThe Vice-Chancellor hosted an alumni event

to celebrate the launch of the University’s Indonesian Alumni Network, which was attended by 170 alumni, guests and VIPs. Special guests included Australia’s Ambassador, Mr Greg Moriarty, and Dr Daniel Sparringa (a Flinders PhD from 1997), who is Senior Adviser to the President of Indonesia. nnThe second Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

(CASS) and Flinders University bilateral academic conference, Changing Economies, was hosted by the Centre for United States and Asia Policy Studies over two days at Flinders Victoria Square.

Presenters included staff from the Institute of National Academy of Economic Strategy and key figures from Australian universities. nnSenior University staff, including the Chancellor

and Vice-Chancellor, attended the graduation ceremony at Nankai University in Tianjin for the University’s joint postgraduates. More than 420 students graduated, and distinguished alumni awards were presented to hospital executive Mr Miao Qilong and language school principal Mr Yu Zongyong.

nnMedical specialists from China’s Central South

University (CSU) spent several weeks learning about rural and remote general practice at Flinders University, as part of a joint venture aimed at bolstering the number of GPs in China. The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences strengthened its links with CSU in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, through developments including the signing of a memorandum of understanding to establish the China-Australia General Practitioner Education and Training Research Centre. nnA Flinders delegation led by the Vice-Chancellor

visited CSU in June. The group, Flinders’ largest delegation to date, included 18 academics and researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. The group ran a workshop to discuss the results of jointly funded seed projects, and held an early career researcher forum to introduce younger researchers from each University and to consider joint projects. Professor Michael Kidd, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, also visited CSU and met staff from the Medical school and the 3rd Xiangya Hospital. nnThe Centre for United States and Asia Policy

Studies collaborated with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), the Lowy Institute, and the United Kingdom’s Chatham House, on a closed-door, high-level

www.flinders.edu.au

workshop on Afghanistan 2020 scenarios.

Over 40 experts and officials from Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Singapore spent an intense day debating the key drivers and challenges for Afghanistan’s future. nnTwenty-five educators, disability advocates

and policymakers from Nepal and Indonesia participated in a five-week program hosted by Flinders as part of an Australian Government AusAID Australia Awards Fellowship program to examine local models of inclusive education for students living with disability. nnEighty delegates, including business leaders

from China’s pharmaceutical and seafood companies, and institute directors of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and top Chinese universities, visited Adelaide for the inaugural SA-China Marine Biotechnology Forum hosted by Flinders’ Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development in conjunction with the State Government. nnFlinders International Studies Centre had

its first intake of more than 40 students in the latter half of 2013. The Centre provides introductory academic, Foundation and Diploma programs on campus for students from overseas seeking to qualify for and enrol in Flinders undergraduate courses.

Photos: Ashton Claridge