newsUWA3 April 2000

The University of Western Australia Volume 19 Number 3

■ QUEEN VISITS UWA: STORIES AND PICTURES IN NEXT ISSUE

cientists are explorers looking for answers tothe world’s greatest mysteries. Finding

solutions to these problems is a challenge and therewards include the thrill of entering unchartedrealms and participating in discoveries that impacton life and health. There is tremendous satisfactionin knowing that my work could eventually improvepeople’s lives.’

The words of Dr Karin Eidne, the inaugural Keogh-RaineSenior Research Fellow, indicate an inspirational future forclinical research into reproductive medicine.

Dr Eidne has relocated from Edinburgh to Perth with theprestigious fellowship and has become the first scientist totake up residence in the QEII premises of the new WAInstitute of Medical Research (WAIMR).

The Raine Foundation has joined with the Keogh Institutefor Medical Research to establish a major $300,000 researchinitiative into reproductive medicine.

Back in 1977, the late Clinical Associate Professor TedKeogh’s work was acknowledged by the Raine Foundation,with a three-year fellowship. Now, more than 20 years later,the foundation is again supporting this important work byjoining with the Keogh Institute to make one of the biggestindividual awards ever offered to a scientist.

After a generous donation of $150,000 from the RaineMedical Research Foundation, the Keogh Institute, under thechairmanship of Clinical Associate Professor Don Gutteridge,raised the remainder with donations from 277 of Dr Keogh’sfriends, colleagues and patients, and the business community.

Dr Eidne is a graduate of the University of Cape Townwith a PhD in medicine from Edinburgh University whereshe has been working as a senior researcher for 12 years.

Before coming to Perth (for what she describes as a newchallenge), Dr Eidne was Senior Scientist in the MedicalResearch Council Reproductive Biology Unit in Edinburgh.She was the team leader of the research program on‘pituitary G-protein coupled receptors and reproduction’.

She is an outstanding scientist who has been invited toserve on several international committees in Europe and theUS and whose 66 publications over the past 15 years havemostly been in high-impact peer-reviewed journals in NorthAmerica.

Keogh-Raine scientist opensWAIMR’s account

‘S

‘… drugs to treat pain, asthma,

migraine, heart disease and certain

forms of cancer target G-protein

coupled receptors’

Continued on page 4

Keogh Institute

Raine Foundation

2 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

VCariousthoughts …

Charting the coast of Western Australia is an epicof modern maritime history. From the Dutch

East Indian Company captains of the seventeenthcentury, the British navigators of the eighteenthcentury and the French Baudin expedition of theearly nineteenth century, the European perception ofthe vast coast was gradually established.

Maps and map making were at the heart of their endeavour— just as our own journey into the new century relies onstrategic plans, which map our future, and which also needrefinement as new data comes to hand.

With enrolments, commencements andinductions all now behind us for theacademic year, what are the directionalfeatures of our chart for 2000?

Over the last few years we havedeveloped a UWA ‘operational plan’ toensure that our University bestnavigates the educational, funding andinternationalising environment in which we operate.

Our directional chart for 2000 takes the form of a UWAagenda of key actions — all readily understood by all of us, allposing challenges for all of us, and all open to enhancement byyour ideas and contributions.

Most important of all, given our profoundly academic outlookand values, we shall be developing a new academic profile forUWA — a comprehensive audit of our academic activities,working towards defining the major areas of real internationalstrength and opportunities in new knowledge areas. Fundingwill be aligned to reflect these ‘peaks of excellence’ from whatI take to be a plateau of quality.

It then necessarily follows that we shall need to review theoverall structure of all academic groupings to ensure that theorganisational and funding features of UWA are optimal toachieve our research and curriculum goals. It is anticipatedthat we shall move away from the multiplicity of departmentsto work within bigger ‘schools of knowledge’, reflecting thecore strengths of the academic profile.

We are a comprehensive university with our 11 majordisciplinary areas that must be preserved, and enhanced, bymaximising the capacity for cross-disciplinary work that is afeature of new knowledge formations today.

Once these big tasks are accomplished we will redraft ourUWA strategic plan — a robust document that has served uswell but which no longer reflects the evolving world of highereducation and research in which we live.

Underpinning all our endeavours is, of course, thepreserving of our University. We are all too aware of thepressure on institutions today. Our budget, of some $300million, is simply too small and the ‘gap’ to maintainexcellence is growing too large. A major incomeenhancement and income diversification strategy is nowunder way — ranging from the work of the Office ofDevelopment, to increases in research funding, overseasprograms and overseas fee-paying students, to majorindustry partnerships.

A comprehensive new campus plan is in preparation (theexisting Ferguson Plan is a decade old) and a draft will becirculated later this year to ensure that we have the rightfacilities — and the resources to support them — as ourUniversity develops key new research and teaching areas.

Within those core academic operations, I also look forwardto our vigorous implementation of the recent majorinternationalisation report, led by the new Executive Deanfor International Relations. And I am very pleased thatsignificant progress will be made in supporting andexpanding teaching excellence — through furtherinvestment in teaching infrastructure, enhancement of the

research-teaching nexus, anddevelopment of distance deliverycapability.

Considerable resources will beallocated to new technologies, andIT itself will become a definingfeature of UWA excellence.

Coupled with that thrust, an Officeof Industry and Innovation — a part of the University’sresearch division — will be established to assist facultiesand centres to maximise opportunities in ‘IP’ as ourcollaborations with the private and public sectors grow. Weare now only a short step away from initiating a pioneerincubator company environment along the western precinctof our campus.

Positioning UWA — not just within the competitivenational and local environment but internationally — hasbecome a major aspect of our work and that too we shalladvance in 2000 as we aim to fulfil the vision we haveoffered to our community and our graduates: of UWA beingrecognised as a world-class university within the next fewgenerations of staff and students.

It is now frequently remarked in public discussions thatunless institutions change as fast as the sector around them,they will ultimately fail in their goals.

I prefer our WA maritime image. We need to chart a boldcourse and sail to it with intelligence and spirit. That willdefine our autonomy, self-reliance and mission. Thealternative is not worthy of UWA as a learning communityof excellence — simply floating with the currents and thetides. That may look appealingly comfortable but in the endwe shall be beached as a lost institution of learning. Orworse still . . . sink on a reef named ‘DETYA’!

Deryck M SchreuderVice-Chancellor and Presidentvc@acs.uwa.edu.au

Chartingour future

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

UWA news 3

Yawn . . . another official opening. Polite speechesand the drawing of another silly little curtain to

reveal a plaque . . .Nothing so mundane for Physics’ Professor David Blair!The official opening of the first stage of the Australian

International Gravitational Observatory (AIGO) at Ginginrecently was an indication both of the exciting work that willbe carried out there and the enthusiasm by Professor Blairfor that work.

When the Premier cut the ribbon, it didn’t fall limply tothe ground: it set in motion a huge swinging pendulum, partof the workings of the laboratory. And instead of a sedatecurtain drawing, the snip of the scissors released the originalAboriginal painting designed for the event, which flew up toreveal a commemorative plaque.

It had the guests amazed and delighted, befitting such animportant occasion.

The AIGO is a research facility being developed by UWAin conjunction with the ANU, the University of Adelaide andMonash. The group is known as the Australian Consortiumfor Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Deryck Schreuder describedthe opening as marking a significant day in the history ofscientific endeavour in WA and the facility as another steptowards a long cherished scientific dream.

Professor Blair, held in high esteem internationally for hiswork in this area, has won a $345,000 grant over three years

Department of Physics

Grinning guests greetgravity group

to help pursue his gravitational wave detectionwork.

The specific research project attracting thefunding relates to the development of a high

performance, vibration isolation system, for use ininterferometric gravitational-wave detectors.

International speakers at the launch talked of theiradmiration for the vision, energy and tenacity of ProfessorBlair who has been the driving force in establishing what willbecome the southern hemisphere link in a worldwide arrayof laser interferometer detectors which will use superpowerful lasers to listen to sounds of the universe and tothe “big bang” in which the universe was born more than tenbillion years ago.

Gravitational waves are waves of gravity. They arevibrations of space itself travelling through space at thespeed of light, more like sound than light. They have not yetbeen detected on earth.

Aboriginal elder Robert Bropho told the guests at thelaunch the story of some Aboriginal people who has escapedfrom the Moore River settlement and used the stars to guidethem back to their own country at Leonora, despite the factthat one of them was blind but “still able to navigate by thestars”.

“My people, we represent the past in this land and this(AIGO) is the future we are going towards,” Mr Brophosaid.

4 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Her expertise is in the field of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs)which now belong to the largest singleclass of target molecules for drugtherapy.

Dr Eidne talks about her research: “Istudy the molecular basis of cellsignalling mediated by receptors.

“My goal is to understand themechanisms underlying cellularresponsiveness to hormones and otherstimuli. My model system is thegonadotropin releasing hormonereceptor (GnRH), a protein located inthe pituitary which is pivotal in thecontrol of the reproduction of allvertebrate forms of life.

“I am particularly interested in howthese signalling mechanisms control theaction of the GnRH hormone and howthis can be applied to controlreproduction.

“The GnRH receptor belongs to aclass of proteins called G-proteincoupled receptors, found on the cell’ssurface. When the body receives stimulifrom its environment, such as light,odours or hormones, these G-proteincoupled receptors recognise these cuesand help translate that information intochemical messages that determine howa particular cell responds to a givenstimulus.

“G-protein coupled receptorscontrol many aspects of our daily lifeand the mechanisms associated withthese receptors are pervasive in natureand are found in organisms from slime-mould and yeast to every cell of thehuman body.

“The mechanism to turn on andoff responses to stimuli is just asuniversal and controls theduration and intensity of thebody’s response to environ-mental stimuli and internalresponses to hormones.

“G-protein coupled recep-tors are important drugtargets as they are targetsfor more than 50 percent of all knownmedicines.

‘Researchers here allseem to be incompetition with eachother for resources. Thegovernment just hasn’tput aside the fundsnecessary for research’

“For example, drugs to treat pain,asthma, migraine, heart disease andcertain forms of cancer target G-protein coupled receptors.

“Although my focus is on molecularsignalling, our goal in WAIMR is to buildtools that will help us addressfundamental issues in hormone action,tissue engineering and cell biology.”

But, after taking up her Keogh-RaineFellowship in August last year, Dr Eidneis only just returning to her research.She has spent six months seekingfunding, setting up new laboratories andrecruiting research staff .

“It has been a very big challengegetting everything up and running,” shesaid. “It has taken a lot longer than Ianticipated. But now, thanks toLotteries WA’s generous sponsorship,an NHMRC grant and funds fromMEDWA, the infrastructure is in place

and my energies can be redirected backto my research.”

Dr Eidne shares a common goal withthe WAIMR’s director, Professor GlennBegley: to create employmentopportunities for locally trainedscientists.

“I was part of the brain-drain fromSouth Africa many years ago. I want tobe part of a movement to stop itcontinuing here,” she said.

Dr Eidne said coming here fromBritain, as a researcher, was very hard.

“Researchers here all seem to be incompetition with each other forresources. The government just hasn’tput aside the funds necessary forresearch,” she said.

“The one big hope is WAIMR: tobring together all the scientists andgenerate a research environment thatwill become internationally recog-nised.

“To get to this point, we mustpool our resources, instead ofcompete for them, and WAIMRprovides the umbrella for that tohappen,” she said.

Continued from page 1

Changes inname only

Senate has agreed to adoptnew titles for theexecutive.

The changes do not alter thefunction of the positions but reflectthe way the responsibilitiesattached to them have developedover the past decade.

The Vice-Chancellor, ProfessorDeryck Schreuder’s title will beVice-Chancellor and President. TheDeputy Vice-Chancellor, ProfessorAlan Robson, becomes DeputyVice-Chancellor and Provost.

Professor Michael Barber, ProVice-Chancellor (Research)becomes Pro Vice-Chancellor(Research and Innovation) andAssociate Professor MargaretSeares, Director of CommunityRelations becomes Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community andDevelopment).

Keogh-Raine scientist opens WAIMR’s account

Dr Eidne’s research usesa PCR: an instrument foramplifying DNA.

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

UWA news 5

About 80 young students helped eachother with their language education

recently — by simply having conversationsand playing games.

Half the group were graduates enrolled in theGraduate Diploma of Education course. They areall studying TESOL Curriculum (Teaching Englishto Speakers of Other Languages).

The other half were Japanese students inAustralia for an intensive three-week courselearning to speak English. They were studying atCELT (the Centre for English Language Teaching).

Both programs are part of the GraduateSchool of Education (GSE).

Megan Ewing (pictured), TESOL lecturer, andCELT teacher Marlene Rattigan combined to co-ordinate the large group

Margaret Jones, Director of Studies at CELT,said there were many students on campus,particularly those studying Asianlanguages, who were willing tomeet and talk with CELTstudents, but trying to getthem together in groupsregularly was a timetablingnightmare. The fact that theTESOL students were locatedin the same building, and wereable to accommodate theevent into their studyprogram was a realadvantage.

Graduate School of Education

A most beneficial chat

‘We arranged for our groupsto spend two afternoonstogether … and it wasa win-win situation …’

It worked much better getting together twogroups of students from the same discipline,especially as they could each practise their skillson the other.

“We arranged for our groups to spend twoafternoons together, talking, undertaking variousactivities, playing games, having fun and it was awin-win situation,” Megan Ewing said.

“My TESOL students had the chance to workwith English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students.It was also a great opportunity for them to worktogether in a group teaching situation. As an ESL(English as a Second Language) teacher for manyyears, I know how much teaching is done as partof a team, so this was a valuable part of theexperience.

It might not be everybody’s ideaof fun but Marjorie Apthorpe

takes great delight in her studiesof the single-celled animal-typeorganisms, foraminifera.

And it has — indirectly — won hera prize.

Ms Apthorpe is a palaeontologistwho is working on her PhD in theDepartment of Geology andGeophysics.

During last year, she frequently usedthe electron microscopes in the Centre

for Microscopy and Microanalysis, oftenentering her images in the centre’sweekly competition.

Recently, the centre announced thebest image submitted in 1999 — and itwas one of Ms Apthorpe’s.

“But it was actually the backgroundof one of my images of forams: somesingle-celled plant-like organisms calleddiatoms, which are a food source forforams,” she said.

It didn’t worry the centre that theyear’s best image actually had nothingto do with Ms Apthorpe’s PhDresearch. They presented her with a bigframed print of the image.

Ms Apthorpe is so intrigued by thehabits of forams that she keeps some athome in an aquarium. It was an image

from her fish tank that captured thejudges’ winning votes.

Other entries included images ofshark skin, copepods, seeds and retinalvein imaging.

All the weekly winning images from1999 are on display in the centre andvisitors from the campus are welcomeat any time to see them and to comeand see the marvels that are only visiblethrough the use of electron andconfocal laser microscopes.

Little wondera prize winner

Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis

“It was great to develop closer links between theTESOL and CELT programs,” Ms Ewing said. “Thisproject complements the innovations that arealready happening in the GSE to make the students’study more hands-on early in the course.”

Margaret Jones said CELT was also workingtowards a closer relationship with the GSE, afterrunning as a more separate program up until now.Both groups are keen to repeat the experiencelater on in the year.

6 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

M ore than 700 years after his death, Dante’s writings are still intriguing

and fascinating his students.Emeritus Professor John Scott, a senior honorary

research fellow in the Department of European Languagesand Studies (Italian Studies) laughs as he says that there isstill more to be discovered from the works of the greatphilosopher and writer.

“I am working now on what I call my last will andtestament: a big book on Dante, his writings and thebackground of his times,” Dr Scott said.

“It will be in English and I hope it will help to bridge thegap between the American and the Italian Dante scholars.”

He said the powerhouses of Dante scholarship were inItaly and the US and both have recently honoured Dr Scott.

The Italian Government has awarded him its highesthonour, Commendatore nell’ Ordine al Merito dellaRepubblica Italiana, or Knight Commander of the Republic ofItaly. It was presented on board the Italian ship San Guisto inFremantle, as the ship was on its way home after operationsin East Timor.

“It’s a great honour, but I feel just as honoured, if notmore so, by the recognition of the Dante Society of America,which has recently made me an honorary life member,” hesaid.

Emeritus Professor Scott has been a member of thesociety for more than 40 years and joins the elite ranks ofonly 12 life members: himself, one American and tenEuropeans.

“I have always been fascinated not so much by languagesbut by different cultures. I taught myself Italian at the age of15, so I could discover as much as I could about Italian arts,literature and culture in general,” he said.

Dante, whom Dr Scott describes as “the flavour of ageneration” has become moreaccessible since an Americanscholar put all his works andseveral hundred years ofcommentaries, in severallanguages, onto anelectronic database.

“This makes it somuch easier for weDante scholars tokeep on foraging andmaking newdiscoveries,” he said.

European Languages and Studies

Italy and US honourUWA Dante scholar

When Professor Deryck Schreuder was afreshman at the University of Rhodes, he

and his fellow first years had to wear a placard and aconspicuous pink bow tie to advertise their lowlystatus in the student hierarchy!

When he officially launched the University MentorScheme recently, the Vice-Chancellor lamented that such ascheme was not in operation when he was a fresher.

He hailed UWA’s well-supported student-to-studentmentoring scheme as evidence of a welcomed advance in thecourse of human progress!

Mentoring among students is not totally new at UWA. Itbegan several years ago in UWA’s Faculty of Agriculture, wastaken up by Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (throughthe Women in Science and Engineering Project) and nowruns through most of the University.

Emeritus ProfessorJohn Scott wears hisKnight Commandermedallion with pride.

Mentors smooththe way

First-year Commerce/Engineering student Carl Jones and mentorGina Lawrence (fifth-year Commerce/Engineering student).

Professor Schreuder was impressed by the fact that about700 mentors had volunteered to help a similar number offirst-year students with advice and encouragement as theyeased themselves into University life.

“What the scheme will achieve is to help you feel moreconnected to the University as you weave your way through themaze of first year,” Professor Schreuder told students gatheredin the Sunken Garden recently for the launch of the scheme.

He added that it would be particularly valuable tostudents from overseas, or from country areas, who facedadditional challenges in getting to grips with a newenvironment.

Mentor Tung Nguyen, who benefited from mentoring lastyear and is now involved as a mentor in the newly-launchedscheme, told the students that he had felt left behind in workand overwhelmed before finding a mentor last year. Fifth-yearmentor Gina Lawrence confirmed that mentors also bene-fitted from the scheme by sharing their experiences, extendingtheir friendship group, and developing additional skills.

Barbara Goldflam, co-ordinator of the scheme run byStudent Services, said that the University put a high value ondeveloping generic skills — such as leadership andcommunication — among its students, all of which were by-products of mentoring.

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

UWA news 7

University women celebrated InternationalWomen’s Day recently with more than just

great cake and good music.A new database to gather the skills and experience of

women at UWA was launched at the morning tea at theLawrence Wilson Art Gallery.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community and Development)Margaret Seares launched the project saying it was an

initiative aimed at improving the participation ofwomen in all areas of University decision making.

“There is an enormous level of expertknowledge and experience across theUniversity which we could be

tapping into but are not effectivelyutilising in policy developmentand strategic directions,” shesaid.The database is an initiative of

the Senior Women’s Network whichrealised that women were not beingrepresented on key decision-makingcommittees.

Dr Seares pointed out that committeechairs were often not aware of theexpertise of women from a wide range of

areas, backgrounds and levels.“For example, people at the University

always think of me in the realms of theperforming arts. But how do you know I don’thave an incubator in my backyard?” she said.

Women often have expertise and interestsoutside their University roles, throughparticipation in the community and externalbodies.

Billie Court’s songswere a hit with theaudience, eveninspir ing some todance . . . including ECEL’sJanette Barrett, whocelebrates her birthday onInternational Women’s Day.

Database and dancing forwomen’s celebration

The database will allow women to provide details of theirskills, qualifications, experience and interest in participating inUniversity committees.

Associate Professor Robyn Owens, Head of theDepartment of Computer Science, demonstrated thedatabase at the morning tea. The groundwork had been doneby Marjan Heibloem, who is now working in the Faculty ofMedicine and Dentistry, and the programming completed byChris McDonald from Computer Science.

The project is co-ordinated by the Equity Office. SandyMcKnight, manager of the Equity Office, said allfemale staff would soon be contactedabout the database and encouraged tofill it in. It will be on-line and you simplyclick on boxes to reply to questions.

“It’s important that women take upleadership roles in the University,” SandyMcKnight said.

You can find out more about thedatabase at http://www.acs.uwa.edu.au/run/equitydb

Guild edgesVC’s XI

The traditional annual student vsstaff cricket match was reinstatedthis year and a glorious latesummer sun was ordered for theFriday game.

The Guild President’s XI was toostrong for the Vice-Chancellor’s XI,easily passing their 148 runs in thelimited overs match.

Here the Guild President’s XI wrapsup the batting but the VC was graciousin defeat, sharing a beer with thestudents after the game.

International Women’s Day

8 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Monday 3 April

HISTORY SEMINAR

"On writing a short history of the NorthcliffeRegion", Trish Crawford, 4:30pm, PostgraduateLounge, Hackett Hall.

BOTANY SEMINAR

"Genetic engineering of crops for fungalresistance at ARC-Roodeplaat, South Africa", DrDave Berger, Vegetable and Ornamental PlantInstitute, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria,South Africa. 4pm, Room 2.14 (Seminar Room—Top Floor) in the Department of Botany.

Tuesday 4 April

LAWRENCE WILSON ART GALLERY

“Australian landscape and modernisttransformations”, Professor Dennis Haskell,English. Professor Haskell will take paintings bySidney Nolan currently on show at the LawrenceWilson Art Gallery as a starting point for adiscussion of Australian modernism in landscapeand literature. 1pm, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery.

SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION

“Research and development—a perspective froman agribusiness company”, Dr Stephen Carr,IAMA, ISG. 4pm, Agriculture Lecture Theatre.

Wednesday 5 April

PATHOLOGY SEMINAR

“Do T-cells acquired following antiretroviraltherapy protect the host from secondaryinfections?” Dr Patricia Price, Pathology. 1pm,Pathology Conference Room, G14, Ground Floor,M Block, QEII Medical Centre. Light sandwichlunch is available.

ENVIRONMENTAL DYNAMICS SEMINAR

“Internal gravity waves in a plume ‘filling box’”,Dr Graham Hughes, Research School of EarthSciences, The Australian National University,Canberra. 4pm, Blakers Lecture Theatre.

Thursday 6 April

STATISTICS SEMINAR

“The number of near-maximum observations forthin-tailed populations”, Associate Professor TonyPakes, Mathematics and Statistics. 2.15pm, BlakersLecture Theatre.

ZOOLOGY SEMINAR

“Population dynamics and viability of NewZealand birds reintroduced to islands”, Dr DougArmstrong, Massey, New Zealand. 4pm, JenniferArnold Lecture Theatre.

TECTONICS SPECIAL RESEARCHCENTRE/DEAN’S LECTURE

“Can geology prevent global economic collapse?”Professor Eldridge Moores, University ofCalifornia. 5pm, Geography Lecture Theatre 2.

Friday 7 April

MICROBIOLOGY SEMINAR

“Mechanisms of cell mediated immunity againstBurkholderia pseudomallei”, Dr Gregory Bancroft,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,UK. 9am, Seminar Room 1.1, First Floor, L Block,QEII Medical Centre.

ANTHROPOLOGY SEMINAR

“Marginalisation, resistance, celebration: culturalidentity in a farming community”, StephanieHammill, Anthropology. 12 noon, AnthropologyConference Room (First Floor, Social SciencesBuilding).

ASIAN STUDIES SEMINAR

“International marriage agencies in Japan”,Tomoko Nakamatsu. 1 to 2pm, G.25 SeminarRoom, Ground Floor, Social Sciences Building.

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCEWORKSHOP

“The effects of time budget pressure, audit riskand type of audit test on auditor performance”Paul Coram, Accounting and Finance. 2pm,Research Centre, Room 1.93, Accounting andFinance.

CIVIL AND RESOURCE ENGINEERINGSEMINAR

“Insights gained from low budget pile testingexperiments”, Dr Barry Lehane, University ofDublin, Ireland. 3.45pm, Room E151, First Floor,Civil and Resource Engineering Building.

Saturday 8 April

ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE SEMINAR

“Drugs know no boundaries”. This seminar willfocus on educational issues in drug use and willinclude a number of key speakers. Iain Cameronfrom the WA Drug Strategy Office will providean overview in his presentation, “Tackling drugabuse in WA”. Health Department of WArepresentatives Melanie Chatfield and EleanorCostello will discuss “Preventing drug abusethrough education”. The use of drugs by womenhas been included for discussion since there aredefinite gender differences in the patterns ofdrug use. Gemma Dale, who has recently beenappointed the Drug Project Co-ordinator withSports Medicine Australia (WA Branch), willdiscuss the drugs in sport issue. Melanie Handfrom the WA Drug Strategy Office will describethe “Community Support Services” available. Theseminar will focus on the abuse of alcohol,tobacco and prescription drugs rather than onillicit drug use. 8.30am to 1pm, St Catherine’sCollege. $10 entry and includes morning tea.Enquiries to Danni on 9386 5847 or emailstcats@cygnus.uwa.edu.au

PUBLIC LECTURE AT THE ALBANYCENTRE

“The sculptures of the Parthenon”, AssociateProfessor John Melville-Jones, Head of Classicsand Ancient History. 12 noon, Albany Centre.

Monday 10 April

PERTH MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCEGROUP MEETING

“Fathers and identities in early modern England”,Professor Patricia Crawford, History. 1pm,Postgraduate Common Room, Hackett Hall. Allwelcome.

HISTORY SEMINAR

"Socialists versus National Socialists: classconflict and ethnic solidarity in Fin de Siècle,France" Rob Stuart, 4:30pm, PostgraduateLounge, Hackett Hall.

BOTANY SEMINAR

"Benthic Chambers measure nutrient fluxes in anestuarine seagrass meadow", Bernard J Dudley, PhDStudent, Botany. 4pm, Room 2.14 (SeminarRoom— Top Floor) in the Department ofBotany.

Tuesday 11 April

LAWRENCE WILSON ARTGALLERY

“Sculpture on campus at UWA: anoverview”, Robert Cook, Curator of WestAustralian Art, Lawrence Wilson ArtGallery. 1pm, Lawrence Wilson ArtGallery.

SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANTNUTRITION

“Enhanced biodegradation of methamsodium soil fumigant — implication forAustralian horticulture”, Dr Ben Warton,Entomology, CSIRO. 4pm, AgricultureLecture Theatre.

Wednesday 12 April

PHYSIOLOGY RESEARCHSEMINAR

“Anatomy, physiology and pharmacologyof the regenerating optic projection inreptiles”, Dr R. Victoria Stirling, Zoology.5pm, Physiology Seminar Room.

PARAGONS OR PRESSTITUTES?– A DISCUSSION OF NEWSPAPERSAND ELECTRONIC MEDIA

John McIlwraith wil l examine thesweeping changes that have occurred inthe media in the past few years, andwhere its future might lie.

John McIlwraith has been a journalist, in allaspects of media, throughout his working life. Forthe past 30 years he has specialised in financeand politics, including the Press Gallery inCanberra and Western Australian politics, Statefinancial affairs and particularly resources.

John writes, or has written, for many Australianand overseas magazines and newspapers(including The Times, Financial Times, InternationalHerald Tribune, Australian Business Monthly, theSydney Morning Herald, the Canberra Times andmany technical and specialist financial journals).Much of his work now appears in The Australian.He has written six books and a number ofmonographs, mostly on minerals and otherresources. John has been awarded a number ofprizes for journalism and is a judge for TheLovekin Prize

Friends of The University ofWestern Australia Library, 8 pm,Scholars’ Centre, Reid Library.

Thursday 13April

FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERT

Commemorating the 250thanniversary of the death of J. S. Bach,Stewart Smith performs Bach organworks on Winthrop Hall’s HackettOrgan. 1.10pm, Octagon Theatre.

ZOOLOGY SEMINAR

“Go and no-go signalling during opticnerve regeneration”, AssociateProfessor Sarah Dunlop, Zoology.4pm, Jennifer Arnold Lecture Theatre.

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UWA news 9

Friday 14 April

MICROBIOLOGY SEMINAR

“Sponge sex and symbiosis”, Kayley Usher,Microbiology. 9am, Seminar Room 1.1,First Floor, L Block, QEII Medical Centre.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENTAND MARKETING

“The effects of cigarette placements in afilm on late teens and young adults”,Professor Dick Mizerski, InformationManagement and Marketing. 11.30am,Social Sciences South Resource Room223.

BIOCHEMISTRY SEMINAR

“Investigating the mitochondrialproteome in plants: a tool in bottom-upand top-down analysis of respiration”, DrHarvey Mil lar, Biochemistry. 1pm,Simmonds Lecture Theatre, GP3.

CIVIL AND RESOURCEENGINEERING SEMINAR

“Estimation of pile base capacity fromcone resistance”, Associate ProfessorRodrigo Salgado, Purdue University, USA.3.45pm, Room E151, First Floor, Civil andResource Engineering Building.

THE PHILOSOPHY SOCIETYMEETING

“The ghosts of departed quantities”,Hartley Slater. 4.15p.m., Arts Seminar Room 1.33.

CENTRE FOR MUSCULOSKELETALSTUDIES LECTURE

“Spinal biomechanics and new implanttechnologies for spinal stabilisation”, ProfessorVijay Goel, Head of the Department ofBiomedical Engineering and Director of theIOWA Spine Research Centre. This lecture willbe of interest to all clinicians and researcherswho investigate or treat the human spine. 7pm,F. J. Clarke Medical Lecture Theatre. Enquiries toAssociate Professor Kevin Singer on 9224 0219.

Saturday 15 April

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OFUNIVERSITY WOMEN (WA) WORKSHOP

“Essentials of conflict resolution”. The discussionwill be led by Dr Jenny Mills and includes a videomade by the Conflict Resolution Network.10.15am to 12 noon, M. E. Wood Room, StCatherine’s College . Donation to defrayexpenses.

UNIVERSITY MUSIC SOCIETY

“Music and the dramatic muse”. TheWAIM Symphony Orchestra,

directed by Peter Moore, willperform a program exploring the

relationship between music anddrama. The program wil linclude Dvorak’s Symphony No.9, From the New World. Ticketsare available at $18.50 and$13.50 and can be booked onext. 2440. 8pm, Winthrop Hall.

Advance

Notice

Tuesday 18 April

LAWRENCE WILSON ART GALLERY

“Fame and fashion: Holly Wood on Glossy”.Holly Wood, radio personality and socialcolumnist for The Sunday Times, will talk aboutfame, fortune and fashion in Glossy, anexhibition of celebrity photographs frommagazines currently being shown at thegallery. 1pm, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery.

SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANTNUTRITION

“The significance of soil microporosity”,Professor Jim Quirk, Soil Science and PlantNutr i t ion. 4 pm, Agr icu l ture LectureTheatre.

May

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE OLIVEACTIVITIES

TABLE OLIVE WORKSHOP 2000

This one-day workshop, which costs $125 perperson, will be held at UWA on Sunday May7. The workshop covers growing andprocessing table olives, hands-on activitiesmaking cracked, chilli olives and tapenade,evaluating table olive products and anintroduction to the Mediterranean Diet.

June

INTERNATIONAL OLIVE SCHOOL2000

This six-day live in school, which costs $1000per person and includes all meals andaccommodation, will be held at New Norciafrom Sunday June 11 to Friday June 16. Theschool covers all aspects of olive growing,olive oil and table olive products. Bothdidactic and hands-on activities will bepresented by national and international olivespecialists.

4TH OLIVE CULTURAL ANDSCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM

This three-day live in symposium, which costs$370 per person and includes all meals andaccommodation, will be held at New Norciastarting at 7pm on Friday June 16 andfinishing 4pm on Sunday June 18. Saturdayonly registration is also available .International, national and local speakers willpresent current information on olive growing,olive oil production and marketing of oliveproducts. Much of Sunday 17 is set aside forpractical demonstrations in the olive grove.Cultural activities include: visits to the NewNorcia bakery, museum and historic buildings;Mass, prayers and coffee with the BenedictineMonks; and an Australian bush breakfast onSunday.

For further information please contactProfessor Stan Kailis at the Faculty ofAgriculture. Tel: 9380 1644; fax: 93801108; email: skailis@agric.uwa.edu.au

UNIVERSITYPHYSIOTHERAPY

ANDSPORTS

PODIATRY

PHYSIOTHERAPISTSSally Bigwood

Gerard Hurst

PODIATRIST

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UWA Recreation Centre9380 2316

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CAMRY (1998), white, 34,000km, auto, PS, CL,under new car warranty until mid 2001. Excellentcondition. $19,900 ono. Call Sharon on ext. 2562or 9305 3736.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF COLIN CAMPBELL-FRASERTel.: 9380 2889 Fax: 9380 1020

Email: cam@acs.uwa.edu.au

EDITOR LINDY BROPHYTel.: 9380 2436 Fax: 9380 1192Email: lindy.brophy@uwa.edu.au

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JO THOMPSONTel.: 9380 3029 Fax: 9380 1162

Email: uwanews@publishing.uwa.edu.au

PRODUCTION PUBLICATIONS DEPTTel.: 9380 3688 Fax: 9380 1162

Email: steve@publishing.uwa.edu.au

newsUWA

wsnightly.publicationhould beThompson,

Unit,ax 1162,

.uwa.edu.au

N 5 P. M.

L

ublic Affairs

89.

ence or chargets/exhibitionsopen to all andinterest.

10 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Confucius hit the nail on the head when hecommented on what we now call diversity. No

matter how diverse people’s habits are, they alldeserve to be included in the same experiences.

Staff at UWA have been learning how to do this with theUniversity’s widely diverse student body. The Centre for StaffDevelopment’s findings have been published, followingacademic and general staff projects to achieve inclusivity. TheVice-Chancellor, Professor Deryck Schreuder, launched thepublication recently at University House.

There are more than 400 students on campus who havedisabilities. There are also 17 per cent of students who comefrom non-English-speaking backgrounds. Added to these area diversity in race, gender, sexual orientation, culturalbackground and socio-economic status.

The most recent project, funded by the nationalCommittee for University Teaching and Staff Development(CUTSD), focused on the development of general staff whohave a responsibility for the provision of services to

Centre for Staff Development

Including allstudents

‘All people are the same — it is only

their habits which are so different’

students, including staff who are a direct and often first pointof contact for them.

This project complemented an earlier one on achievingdiversity and inclusivity in teaching and learning.

The project was directed by Barbara Black, and co-ordinated by Maureen Callander, both from the Centre forStaff Development.

Action learning groups focused participants’ awareness onissues directly relevant to their departments or positions.

Some of the projects undertaken in the action learningcomponent were: identifying the types of problemsexperienced by older students with particular attention tothe stresses imposed by technology; facilitating the academicadjustment of undergraduate mature-age students; andperceptions and awareness of disability among Universityreception staff.

Members of the steering group with Professor Deryck Schreuder.

2001RAINE PRIMING GRANTS

Applications are invited for Raine Priming Grants in accordance with the Guidelines governing the awards,and include provision for New Project Grants as defined in the Guidelines. The Grants* shall provide fundingfor research into any area of medical science that investigates the nature, origin and cause of human disease,and the prevention, cure, alleviation and combating of such disease.

Grants shall be offered for a two-year period, subject to annual review.

Grants may be used to provide funding, or part funding, of salaries for researchers and/or technical staff,computing, and consumables.

Major items of equipment will not be financed.

The research shall be carried out at, or in association with, The University of Western Australia.Guidelines and Application Forms are available from:

Raine Medical Research FoundationSuite 24, 95 Monash Avenue, Nedlands, WA 6009

Hollywood Specialist Centre

Telephone: 9386 9880Fax: 9386 9522; email: raine@raine.uwa.edu.au

Web site: www.raine.uwa.edu.au

Application forms must be received at the above office no later than Monday 1 May 2000 at 5pm

* Raine Priming Grants are intended for: (a) less experienced researchers, (b) researchers wishing to move ina different scientific direction, and (c) new academic research staff to The University of Western Australia.

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

UWA news 11

A work of art purchased almost by accident 73 years ago has become

one of the most valuable and importantparts of the University’s art collection.

The Henry Holiday cartoons, now on displayat the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, have beenreturned to their original glory, after manymonths and many thousand dollars worth ofrestoration.

The set of jewel-coloured full size illustrationsfor stained glass windows in a Yeovil (UK) churchwas the first work acquired for the UWA artcollection.

Professor Walter Murdoch visited the Victoria and AlbertMuseum in 1927 to buy a cast of Donatello’s statue of StGeorge. While he was there, he was advised to visit thedaughter of Henry Holiday. He had just died and hisdaughter was selling his casts.

But Professor Murdoch was attracted to the “exquisite”stained glass designs and paid 100 pounds for them.

For many years they graced the back of the stage inWinthrop Hall but were removed and put into storage in1963 when the organ was installed.

The panels illustrate the text, ‘There was war in Heaven’,presenting opposing worlds: light and dark, order and chaos,good and evil.

Holiday was one of the leading stained glass artists of histime, actually making the windows as well as designing them.He designed windows for more than 400 churches andother buildings.

Years of storage took their toll on his panels and UWAart restorer Slobodan Binevski had to replace the originalcanvas backing and, as LWAG Director Anna Gray put it,“repackage” them completely, replacing the heavy but

Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery

damaged jarrah frames with lighter palest grey frames whichhelp the panels make the transition into the modern gallery.

Dr Gray discovered, on a research trip to southernEngland, how Holiday’s stained glass panels were made andhas had a local artist, Ledwina Butler, recreate a portion ofthe panels with glass and lead, with painting by gallery artistKevin Robertson.

This work is displayed at the gallery along with thepanels, lit magnificently to give almost the effect of stainedglass. In the same exhibition is the plaster cast of St Georgethat Professor Murdoch purchased at the same time butwhich has been rather overshadowed by the Holidaycartoons.

Dr Gray also discovered in her Holiday research thatWilliam Dampier, an early explorer of Western Australia,came from Yeovil, where the stained glass window designsbegan their life.

So there is a link, however tenuous, that points to WAbeing the best place for these panels. They will remain in thegallery until the end of the year. Where they will beexhibited permanently is still to be decided.

The third annual Ciara Glennon Memorial LawScholarship has gone to a fourth-year Law/Arts

student who has more in common with the lateCiara Glennon than a love of the law.

Like Ciara Glennon, scholarship winner PatriciaNeurauter has a passion for dance.

She is a classical ballet dancer and a champion Spanishdancer and has used her skills extensively to help fundraisefor less fortunate people.

The scholarship is awarded to a law student who has madea recognisable contribution to the community in a charitable,religious, cultural or sporting area: who demonstrates an activeinterest in an area outside the practice of law; who has agenuine concern for others and a demonstrated need forfinancial assistance to continue studies.

Patricia Neurauter accepts the Ciara Glennon award, under thewatchful eye of Ciara’s father, Denis Glennon.

Dancer wins lawscholarship

Stainedglassdesignsrestoredto glory

Law School

The scholarship is sponsored by law firm Blake DawsonWaldron, where Ms Glennon was working when she diedtragically in 1997. It was presented to Ms Neurauter by theMinister for Police, Kevin Prince, standing in for the Premier,Richard Court.

12 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Stuart’s spendingpays off

Some people have flowers orcards sent to them at work.

Stuart Mather, a laboratorytechnician in the Department ofElectrical and Electronic Engineering,went one better recently and tookdelivery of a new car on campus.

P ublic Health worksiteresearchers, Lorna Rosenwax

and Anne Same, have beenacknowledged for their out-standing efforts with the Jan WattPrize for Excellence in PublicHealth Field Research.

The Jan Watt Prize was establishedby the Faculty of Medicine andDentistry in 1997 to acknowledge thequalities needed by public health fieldresearchers who administerquestionnaires and take other healthmeasurements on patients and thegeneral public as their subjects.

The role provides an importantinterface between the Department ofPublic Health and the community.Sometimes research participants areanxious about an interview or upsetabout their illness. It takes sensitivity,tact and professionalism to ensure thattheir feelings and rights are respected.

With the right attitude and approachby researchers, the involvement of theirsubjects in a research project isremembered as a positive, affirming andenjoyable experience.

Jan Watt, who began work morethan 20 years ago in what was the

Compassion andconcern are winners

forerunner of today’s Department ofPublic Health, was a pioneer in the artof collecting data from the communityfor many important research projects,including case-control studies on cancerand other diseases.

She was much loved and highlyrespected by her co-workers and,following her death from cancer, abiannual award was offered in hername.

The second biannual Jan Watt Prizehas been awarded jointly to Lorna

Rosenwax and Anne Same for theirdedication and exceptional field

work in the Workplace BackStudy, funded by the WA HealthPromotion Foundation.

It was a longitudinal study of2626 blue-collar shift-

workers at 16 differentworksites. The aim wasto examine therelationship betweenpsychosocial factors inthe workplace andabsenteeism for low

back pain, a problem with major publichealth and industrial implications.

For two years, the Rosenwax/Sameteam were on site at odd hours (like11pm, 2am and 5am) to make contactwith research participants as theyclocked on and off work. Theydeveloped an amazing rapport withtheir subjects and achieved a responseto the research of 85 per cent, a figurepreviously unheard of in studies inthese industry settings.

Apart from the scientific objectives(which are being pursued as MsRosenwax’s PhD), the field work teamprovided extensive direct feedback tomanagers on local workplace healthproblems. This resulted in a string oftangible improvements to workingconditions, and praise from both bossesand workers for the commitment andgenuine concern that the two publichealth researchers had shown.

The Head of the Department ofPublic Health, Associate ProfessorMatthew Knuiman, said that the role offield researchers was vitally important.

“They showed genuine compassionand concern for their researchparticipants. Many worksite managershave written to me about the veryprofessional and helpful manner inwhich Lorna and Anne conducted theirwork.

“To get this number of very positiveletters from the public about a singleresearch project is exceptional.”

The Holden Barina was a prizefrom his bank for simply using hiscredit card. All Westpac and ChallengeBank credit card users betweenNovember and January automaticallywent into a draw.

Mr Mather said it was the first timehe had ever won anything and thoughtat first that it was a practical joke.

Challenge bank staff present StuartMather with his prize.

‘With the right attitude

and approach . . . a

research project is

remembered as a

positive, affirming and

enjoyable experience …’

By Professor D’Arcy Holman

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

UWA news 13

INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIESUNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Presents monthly seminars in 2000 for

Land Place Culture and Identity: across-disciplinary program of inquiry

Monthly seminars in 2000Lawrence Wilson Gallery, UWA. Wednesdays at 4pmThese are the first three, the second series will be announced later.

April 12: Opening sessionA panel will present an introduction to the intentions of this cross-disciplinary program.The social and cultural significance of land, and more generally of ‘place’, hasbecome a major focus for investigation in the Humanities and Social Sciences.Current contributions derive in particular from the disciplines ofanthropology, architecture, cultural geography, history and literary studies.Across diverse areas of enquiry it is increasingly recognised that people’ssense of place is a critical aspect of how they articulate their identities asindividuals, families, ethnic groups and nations. The connection to placecommonly serves as a strong reference point for the way people andcollectivities of various kinds negotiate their material and symbolic interests.Panellists: David Trigger, Gareth Griffiths and Terri-ann White

May 3: Endeavour and Hokule’a: the theatre ofre-enactment and cultural identity.“The World Encompassed” was Francis Drake’s, or maybe his ship’s secretary,Francis Fletcher’s, phrase for the global experience of his circumnavigation.There was a moment when the World Encompassed was compacted forDrake in one experience. He had driven the Golden Hind further south thananyone had ever sailed, to where, he wrote, “the Atlanticke Ocean and theSouth Sea meet in most large and free scope”. He was right. This sea at thebottom of the globe has no end as it eternally circles the earth. Drake, out ofthe totally particular and sensory experiences of wind, water and movementhad an experience of — if I may invent a word — globalité, a sense of forcesof large and free scope meeting the particularities of everyday life. I would liketo reflect on the poetics of globalité. I would like to reflect on a double-visioned globalité in Oceania, the globalité of the intruding strangers onOceania in the eighteenth century, and the globalité of the native islanderswho had encompassed Oceania for thousands of years. It is the theatre ofhistorical re-enactment of two replicas, James Cook’s Endeavour and theHawaiian voyaging canoe, Hokule’a, that prompts my reflection on the doublevisioned encompassment of Oceania and its relevance to cultural identities.Greg Dening, Adjunct Professor, Centre for Cross-cultural Research. ANU,Canberra

June 7: Approaches and understandings of place.A discussion between Kim Scott, fiction writer (Benang, True Country), RichardWoldendorp, photographer, and one other speaker (to be confirmed).This seminar will continue through to October.

To be informed of future events, please contactTerri-ann White

Academic Executive Officer, Institute of Advanced Studies,9380 2114

tawhite@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

MASTER CLASSESIN MOLECULAR

BIOPHYSICSAPRIL 23-28

by Terri-ann WhiteAn exciting new venture is to be

launched in April in the Faculty ofScience that crosses over the disciplinesof Physics, Crystallography, Chemistry,Botany and Pharmacology. Master classesin Molecular Biophysics is an initiative ofthe Department of Physics and is part ofthe Science at the New Millenniumprogram for the Institute of AdvancedStudies with both faculty and IASsupport. Additionally, ten scholarshipswill be awarded to enable students fromacross Australia to participate.

In the first year of what is intended tobe a regular meeting, the eminentbiophysicist Professor Klaus Schulten ofthe Beckman Institute, University ofIllinois, will co-ordinate the program.Four specific sub-topics will be covered;the format will be lectures in themorning by experts in the field, followedby workshops in the afternoon led bydistinguished presenters.

This program is intended forresearchers interested in fundamentalbiophysical techniques used in the studyof molecular systems. The scope of thematerial covered makes these classes ofinterest to practising scientists wishingto keep abreast of the latestdevelopments in the various sub-topicscovered. The breadth of thepresentations, from introductions andsummaries to the latest advances, makesthe classes suitable for the non-expertas well as those experienced in the field.All students and practitioners interestedin these areas of science and technologyare most welcome to attend.

The student scholarships are beingoffered to interstate and internationalstudents in their third or honours yearof a science degree through thesupport of the Faculty of Science.

This project offers an exemplarymodel of collaboration acrossdisciplinary divides. It has beenconceptualised and planned by adedicated team of scientists over thelast 12 months. More information isavailable from their web site at http://www.biophysics.uwa.edu.au/mcb2000/

14 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

UWA News,

Public Affairs,

Hackett Hall, UWA,

Nedlands WA 6907

Dear Reader,

Are you going overseas or interstate (or

even to Albany!) for work or pleasure?

Now you can economise on your postcard

postage by having your message printed

in UWA News.

Staff, students and friends and

associates of the University are invited to

send postcard messages, be they

humorous, heartfelt or just a seminar

update to Public Affairs or via email:

lindy.brophy@uwa.edu.au

Hope to hear from you soon, Lindy

POSTCARDS HOME

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Departments are reminded that all University equipment available for sale must be advertised in the UWA News. Receipts should be PeopleSoft accountcoded 490 (computing with barcode), 491 (non-computing with barcode) or 493 (items with no barcode). If equipment has an existing barcode please

contact extension 3618/2547 for details.

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Due to the accessibility of the online

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THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

UWA news 15

ResearchGrantsContracts

&NATIONAL HEART FOUNDATION

Dr D. J. Green, Human Movement and ExerciseScience, Professor R. R. Taylor, Medicine and DrJ. G. O’Driscoll (external): ‘Effect of tumournecrosis factor-a endothlial function in patientswith chronic heart failure and non-insulin-dependent diabetes’ — $45,000 (2000; 2001).

Associate Professor G. F. Watts, AssociateProfessor P. H. Barrett and Dr T. A. Mori,Medicine, and Professor T. G. Redgrave,Physiology: ‘Regulation of apoB-100 andchylomicron remnant metabolism with statin andfish oil on obesity’ — $40,500 (2000); $41,400(2001).

Dr F. M. Bockxmeer and AssociateProfessor F. T. Christiansen, Pathology, andProfessor R. R. Taylor, Medicine: ‘Haplotypes inthe apolipoprotein E gene cluster and coronaryheart disease’ — $36,000 (2000; 2001).

NHMRC

Associate Professor A. R. Harvey, Anatomyand Human Biology: ‘Intraocular transplantationand regeneration of retinofugal pathways inrodents’ — $114,228 (2000; 2001; 2002).

Dr J. H. Williams and Professor S. P. Klinken,Biochemistry: ‘Characterisation of novel regulatorsof the haemopoeitic system’ — $137,065 (2000);$123,520 (2001); $127,216 (2002).

Dr W. K. Greene and Associate Professor U.R. Kees, Child Health Research: ‘Regulation of anovel target gene, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, byHOX11 in childhood leukaemia’ — $118,325(2000); $122,421 (2001); $126,514 (2002).

Dr P. D. Sly and Professor P. G. Holt, ChildHealth Research, and Dr K. S. Loh (external):‘Effects of upper versus lower respiratory infectionson the induction of atopic asthma’ — $186,236(2000); $191,655 (2001); $197,065 (2002).

Professor W. R. Thomas and Dr P. M. Watt,Child Health Research: ‘Mimotopes for theinvestigation and therapy of allergic disease’ —$73,156 (2000); $61,816 (2001); $63,930 (2002).

Professor W. R. Thomas , Child HealthResearch: ‘Cat al lergens: the neglectedspecificities’ — $65,232 (2000); $63,703 (2001);$65,418 (2002).

Dr D. A. Knight and Associate Professor P. J.Thompson, Medicine: ‘Epithelium-fibroblastinteractions in response to allergic airwayinflammation’ — $79,128 (2000); $74,513 (2001);$76,494 (2002).

Dr D. Trinder and Associate Professor J.Olynyk, Medicine, and Professor E. Morgan,Physiology: ‘The pathogenesis of haemo-chromatosis in the HFE knockout mouse model’ —$73,705 (2000); $75,686 (2001); $77,669 (2002).

Dr M. A. Degli-Esposti , Microbiology:‘Modulation of apoptosis by cytomegalovirus:analysis of new mechanisms to interfere withcytomegalovirus-induced disease’ (2000-2002,fellowship).

Dr P. C. McMinn, Microbiology: ‘A study of themolecular pathogenesis of Murray Valleyencephalitis virus in mice using infectious clone-derived virus’ — $59,566 (2000); $61,283 (2001);$62,999 (2002).

Professor G. R. Shellam, Dr M. A. Degli-Esposti and Dr A. A. Scalzo, Microbiology:‘Role of cytomegalovirus class I homolgue ininterference with host NK cell responses: apotential antiviral target’ — $134,693 (2000);$134,389 (2001; 2002).

Dr G. A. Stewart and Dr L. T. Mathaba,Microbiology: ‘House dust mites, endosymbioticbacteria and asthma’ — $65,418 (2000; 2001;2002).

Dr G. A. Stewart, Microbiology and Dr A. S.McWilliam , Medicine: ‘Role of proteaseactivated receptors in cystic fibrosis lungpathology’ — $54,323 (2000; 2001; 2002).

Professor I . J . Constable and Dr Y.Kanagasingam , Ophthalmology and VisualScience: ‘Development and evaluation ofteleophthalmic systems for screening of commonblinding eye diseases’ — $139,419 (2000);$121,692 (2001); $110,820 (2002).

Dr P. Price, Dr C. S. Witt, AssociateProfessor F. T. Christiansen and AssociateProfessor M. French, Pathology and Mr R. J.Allcock, Biochemistry: ‘Fine mapping andcharacterisation of polymorphic immuno-regulatory genes in the general MHC’ —$171,865 (2000); $175,695 (2001); $179,525(2002).

Adjunct Associate Professor T. Ratajczak,Pharmacology: ‘Protein targets for the steroidreceptor modulator, cyclophilin 40’ — $120,298(2000); $122,016 (2001); $123,731 (2002).

Associate Professor D. R. English, Dr B.Corti and Ms E. Milne, Public Health andAssociate Professor D. Cross (external):‘Kidskin: and intervention to reduce sunexposure in children’ — $101,449 (2000);$169,564 (2001); $81,662 (2002).

Dr J. B. Semmens, Professor C. D. Holmanand Ms D. Henrie, Public Health and Dr N.Morlet (external): ‘Endophthalmitis in WesternAustralia (1980-2002): incidence, managementand effectiveness on chemoprophlaxis’ —$112,313 (2000); $110,573 (2001); $112,218(2002).

Professor J. P. Newnham, Mr T. J. Moss,Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Professor R.Harding (external): ‘Differential effects on fetalgrowth and development of repeated fetal ormaternal corticosteroid treatments’ — $117,706(2000); $109,275 (2001); $110,990 (2002).

Dr N. G. Laing, Neuromuscular and Neuro-logical Research: ‘Identification of genetic defectsin muscle contractile proteins’ — $52,293(2000); $54,407 (2001); $56,521 (2002).

NHMRC (EQUIPMENT GRANTS)

Dr A. J. Bakker, Dr A. W. Everett, AssociateProfessor D. Robertson and AssociateProfessor H. W. Mitchell, Physiology: ‘Cairnspectrophotometer and a zeiss epiflourescencemicroscope’ — $40,000 (1999).

NHMRC (joint grant with the University ofMelbourne)

Dr P. J. Henry, Professor R. G. Goldie,Pharmacology, and Dr T. M. Cocks and Dr J. D.Moffatt (external): ‘Mechanisms of protease-activated receptor-2-mediated bronchoprotection’ — $49,230 (2000); $51,169 (2001);$53,108 (2002).

NZ RESEARCH, SCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION

Dr E. Harvey and Dr G. A. Kendrick, Botany:‘The influence of macroalgal structure andtopographic complexity on the organisation ofreef fish assemblages’ — (1999-2000, fellowship).

ROCHE PRODUCTS P/L

Professor G. A. Jelinek, Surgery and Dr D.Mountain and Dr D. O’Brien (external):‘Contract-National audit of thrombolysis data(NATDAT) study’ — $25,000 (2000).

RURAL INDUSTRIES RESEARCH ANDDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Associate Professor G. B. Martin, Agriculture:‘Development of reproductive technology andfertility assessment for the emu and ostrichfarming’ — $76,700 (1999); $101,730 (2000);$105,682 (2001).

THE NATIONAL OCCUPATIONALHEALTH AND SAFETY COMMISSION

Dr N. H. de Klerk and Clinical Professor A.W. Musk, Public Health: ‘Contract-CrystallineSilica Exposure Standard Review’ — $75,987(1999).

UNIVERSITY POSTDOCTORALRESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

Dr A. H. Millar, Biochemistry: ‘Mitochondrialmetabolism in rice following anoxia and theimplications for resistance to oxidative stress incrops following submergence’ — (1999-2001,fellowship).

Dr A. D. Kennedy, Geography: ‘ExploringAntarctic biogeographical response to globalenvironmental change’ — (1999-2001, fellow-ship).

WA HEALTH PROMOTIONFOUNDATION

Associate Professor S. R. Zubrick, Mr S.Silburn, Dr J. J. Kurinczuk and AssociateProfessor P. R. Burton, Child Health Research:‘Rascals: investigation and early causal pathwaysof mental health problems’ $105,741 (2000);$108,284 (2001); $110,000 (2002).

Dr V. Burke, Professor L. J. Beilin, Medicineand Associate Professor S. Houghton,Education: ‘Health behaviours and cardiovascularrisk: longitudinal data since childhood’ —$104,421 (2000); $109,978 (2001); $108,405(2002).

Dr F. Bull, Dr M. Booth and Mr M.Rosenberg, Public Health: ‘Validity of self-reported accumulation of moderate-intensityphysical activity’ — $75,130 (2000).

Associate Professor J. Straton, Ms L. J.Lambert and Associate Professor M. W.Knuiman, Public Health: ‘Hormone replacementtherapy, hysterectomy and coronary heartdisease risk’ — $48,862 (2000).

Ms L. K. Rosenwax and Associate ProfessorM. W. Knuiman, Public Health: ‘Impact of backpain on mortality, hospital morbidity, health andlifestyle’ — $45,943 (2000).

WATER AND RIVERS COMMISSION

Dr A. W. Storey, Zoology: ‘Environmental waterrequirements for the Canning River’ — $34,000(1999).

More Research Grantsin the next issue.

Enquiries through ResearchServices on 9380 1776.

16 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Dr Sato JuniperLEARNING SKILLS ADVISERPOSTGRADUATE OFFICERSTUDENT SERVICES

ecently I had the distinct privilege of co-ordinating theUniversity’s Vacation Research Scholarship program

marketed as UWA’s ‘West Coast Experience’. Nineteenstudents were recruited from interstate universities to cometo UWA for six weeks during summer and engage in shortresearch projects under the supervision of UWA staff. It washoped to promote postgraduate study at UWA directly tothe scholarship holders, and, more importantly, to recruitthem as ambassadors who would help raise awareness aboutUWA in their home universities. They arrived very excited,somewhat nervous and eager to learn new skills, check outthe University and see some of WA.

The outcomes of the project are outstanding: two studentshave commenced studies at UWA, and five more declaredthat they would “definitely” or “probably” return to UWA.All the students were very positive about their experience:many of them commented that they were surprised andimpressed by the welcome they received, the quality of theresearch they saw and heard about, the standard ofsupervision from friendly, enthusiastic academics of highstanding, the helpfulness of their postgraduate studentmentors, the beautiful physical environment of the University,the quality and comfort of accommodation at St Catherine’sCollege and the general flavour of life at the University.

The academic supervisors, other staff and postgraduatementors in the 13 departments (across five faculties) whoparticipated in the project did an outstanding job of ensuringthat the students had a productive and educationally usefulas well as an enjoyable experience at UWA. This is despitelarge variability in the students’ background and experienceof research. About half had completed an honours year in1999 and the others were at various stages of undergraduate

programs. The students appreciated the time theirsupervisors spent with them discussing ideas, teachingmethodologies and generally inducting them into research.On her last day, one student commented “UWA gave me myfirst job. Ever since I was 12 I’ve wanted to do research andthis is the first time I’ve ever been paid to do what I love. Ifeel like a scientist now and that’s really important to me”.

A strong sense of camaraderie and shared discovery quicklydeveloped in the group. There were expeditions to thePinnacles, Rottnest and Margaret River as well as placescloser to home and much of the enjoyment of theexperience for me was seeing the University and the statethrough the eyes of visitors.

They also discussed their impressions of their departmentsat UWA and made frank comparisons between universities.On the whole, we came out pretty well — UWA staff mayfeel jaded and discontented at times but, to most of thesevisitors, this is a very attractive environment, academicallyand socially as well as physically. This is an extremelydiscerning group of students: they are used to the vigorousrecruitment practices of interstate universities and werevery aware of the purpose of the scholarship program. Theyreadily took on the role of expert consultants and providedvery useful ongoing feedback and advice on various aspectsof the project, including the timing and structure, targetgroup and marketing strategy. Their comments andsuggestions form a large part of the report on the project.

Supervisors also rated the project positively and several havevolunteered to supervise future projects. This is a strongendorsement indeed: departments funded stipends for thestudents and provided all resources and funds for theresearch, out of already agonisingly tight budgets. In addition,the supervisors gave generously of their time in January andearly February, when many staff prefer to take leave andothers concentrate on their own research. However, somesupervisors and others in the University have reservations:money is tight and there are conflicting views about themost effective structure and target group for such a scheme.If it is decided that a similar program be offered in the future,the first task will be to resolve these arguments.

Of all the participants in the scheme, I am sure that noneenjoyed the experience as much as I did. Six weeks in thecompany of 19 highly articulate, talented and enthusiasticstudents from a wide range of disciplines and personalbackgrounds was both educational and refreshing. Irecommend the experience.

last

Summer studya great success

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