Griffith University’s academic and aquatic talent have been awarded coveted scholarships through a powerhouse partnership with the Nation’s premier body for swimming, Swimming Australia.
The $5,000 scholarships are tailored to assist gifted student-athletes commencing or continuing study whilst training to further their competitive careers.
Sports College Manager Naomi McCarthy OAM.
Former Olympic flagbearer and Sports College Manager Naomi McCarthy OAM said the awards help to address the transitional challenges faced by athletes as they move from junior to senior elite levels.
“There is often a large gap for talented junior athletes to navigate as they transition to senior teams,” McCarthy said.
“These scholarships provide support for swimming athletes as they strive towards a place in the senior Dolphins teams, which in many cases come a couple of years after they finish junior age swimming.
“These couple of years are crucial for swimmers to remain supported and continue to swim competitively during this time, the scholarships providing some assistance for them to do that whilst they are supported in their study at Griffith University.”
Recognising talent and potential, the scholarships also provide consideration to First Nations swimmers, para-athletes and those facing relocation expenses.
General Manager of Performance Pathways at Swimming Australia, Gary Barclay, said the organisation “appreciates the support provided by Griffith University towards our athletes on their competitive and academic journey.”
“Life as an elite athlete and university student is extremely challenging,” he said.
“To fully commit as both a full-time athlete whilst pursuing a degree is a tough juggle.
“Scholarships like the ones offered by Griffith University are an enormous help for our athletes and allows them to pursue two dreams simultaneously.”
The five recipients for 2024 include:
Mia Feltham (Bachelor of Exercise Science)
Sally Vagg (Bachelor of Communication and Journalism / Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations)
Bailey Lello (Bachelor of Business)
Karl Albertyn (Bachelor of Sport Development / Bachelor of Business)
Charlotte Hansen (Bachelor of Physiotherapy)
Junior swimming star and BA Journalism and Communications, Political Science and International Relations student Sally Vagg.
Sally Vagg traded cattle country for city lights when she relocated from Rockhampton to Brisbane, commencing a dual degree in Journalism and Communications, Political Science and International Relations.
On top of a full-time study load, the multi-national medallist balances 9 training sessions a week in the pool and another 3 sessions in the gym.
“I’ve always been really interested in human rights and I love writing, so journalism seemed like a good course to complement that as well as boost my career opportunities in the future,” she said.
The former junior Australian swim team athlete said the sports scholarship has been immensely helpful through her move, whilst the Sports College team have accommodated classes to fit with training.
“Naomi [McCarthy] has been super helpful, especially with Nationals coming up in April,” she said.
“This scholarship means I get some breathing room between moving out on my own for the first time which can be a bit expensive, working part time whilst also studying and training.
“I hope I can make a career out of swimming as long as my body will allow, but then doing this degree gives me another avenue, whether that’s working in government and policy or human rights and ethics.”
Swimming Australia Flippers Squad member and Bachelor of Exercise Science student Mia Feltham.
A typical week for Bachelor of Exercise Science student Mia Feltham involves 9 swim and 3 strength sessions, as well as 3 or 4 days each week on campus for a lab, prac or workshop.
The star breaststroker trains under Thomas Fraser-Holmes at Griffith and strength and conditioning coach Paul Haines.
“This scholarship is really important to me as it supports both my athletic and academic goals, aiding with associated costs to allow me to keep doing what I love,” she said.
“Following this degree, I hope to continue working in the sporting industry with athletes at elite levels, whether in a sports science or psychology sense.”
Of her many achievements, Feltham said she is particularly proud of her progress over the years, having won back-to-back national titles and snagging a spot as a member of the Swimming Australia Flippers Squad.
“I’m looking forward to the year of racing ahead with nationals in the next month and both Olympic and World Champs Trials within the next 4 to 6 months,” she said.
Past Junior World Champion representative and Sport Development and Business student Karl Albertyn.
Sport Development and Business student Karl Albertyn said “receiving the Swimming Australia scholarship is a tremendous honour and opportunity.”
Albertyn previously represented Australia at the Junior World Championships, now balancing a rigorous study and swim schedule.
The Miami Swim Club athlete is on campus 3 days a week for university, training mornings and evenings with coach Paul Croswell on top of 3 strength sessions.
“This scholarship provides financial support and access to resources that will enable me to focus on my training and competition goals while enabling me to pursue academic excellence,” he said.
Post-university, Albertyn hopes to apply his Sport Development and Business degree towards a career in sports management, event planning, or athlete representation.
“I want to be able to make a meaningful impact and contribute to the growth and success of the sports industry,” he said.
“Looking forward, I’m excited about the prospect of competing at higher levels and continuing to push my limits to achieve new milestones in my athletic career.”
The future of swimming will be on show at the Australian Age Championships from the 6-14 April at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. Tickets available here.
The study, recently published in Cell Reports, highlights the pivotal role of a sugar known as sialic acid in this invasive process, with far-reaching implications for malaria vaccine and drug development.
Malaria, a persistent global health menace, recorded a staggering 249 million cases and 608,000 fatalities in 2022 alone. The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum stands out as the main culprit behind severe malaria cases and the majority of malaria-related deaths, inducing clinical symptoms through its multiplication within red blood cells.
While the invasion of human red blood cells by P. falciparum has long been recognised, the precise molecular targets exploited by the parasite remained elusive. Although the role of the malaria protein, cysteine-rich protective antigen (CyRPA), was acknowledged in this invasion process, its specific contribution remained unclear.
A collaborative team, spearheaded by researchers from Swiss TPH and the Institute for Glycomics, delved into the binding dynamics of CyRPA. Their investigations pinpointed sialic acid as a critical component present on the surface of red blood cells, essential for the invasion process. Their findings mark a significant stride forward in understanding malaria invasion mechanisms.
Professor Gerd Pluschke, Group Leader of Molecular Immunology at Swiss TPH and co-corresponding author of the study, said the role sugar plays in malaria infiltration process is a lot clearer.
“We are now demonstrating that P. falciparum CyRPA binds to a specific carbohydrate structure (glycan) present on the red blood cell surface. The CyRPA protein is highly adapted to bind to a glycan terminating with a sialic acid. The discovery of the key function of CyRPA in host cell invasion provides an explanation for the parasite inhibitory activity of CyRPA-specific antibodies.”
Professor Michael Jennings, Acting Director of the Institute for Glycomics and co-corresponding author, highlighted the evolutionary adaptation of the malaria parasite to humans.
“Humans differ from other primates because they can only produce one type of sialic acid, called Neu5Ac. This genetic difference between humans and closely related primates has long been proposed to contribute to the species-specific targeting of malaria parasites. In this study, we show that the human form of sialic acid, Neu5Ac, is strongly preferred by the human-specific malaria parasite P. falciparum, and may explain the adaptation of this parasite to humans.”
While vaccines targeting P. falciparum’s pre-erythrocytic stages have been registered for use, their efficacy remains moderate. Currently, there is no registered vaccine targeting the blood stage of malaria, but ongoing research worldwide and by many groups focuses intensively on this aspect.
“The discovery of the key function of CyRPA in host cell invasion strongly supports the concept to clinically test CyRPA as a blood stage vaccine target,” Professor Pluschke said.
The study’s findings offer promising avenues for novel antimalarial drugs according to Professor Jennings.
“The essential binding activity of CyRPA to a specific glycan also validates CyRPA as a drug target, and we demonstrate that small molecule inhibitors that interfere with this function can inhibit malaria replication in our study.”
This breakthrough not only sheds light on the intricate mechanisms of malaria invasion but also paves the way for innovative strategies in combating this pervasive global health challenge.
Griffith University’s continuous commitment to excellence has once again been recognised on a global scale.
The University is thrilled to announce our outstanding performance in CEO Magazine’s 2024 Global MBA Rankings, where Griffith’s MBA program has maintained its Tier 1 global status.
In addition to our global recognition, Griffith has secured the enviable position of being ranked #2 for Online MBA programs in Australia. We are immensely proud to remain the only Queensland university awarded in this category. Our global standing is further solidified as we take the 18th position internationally for Online MBAs.
We are honoured to have our efforts acknowledged by CEO Magazine, a reputable publication renowned for its objective assessment of business schools worldwide.
MBA Director, Professor Stephanie Schleimer said: “this is a fantastic result that showcases the sustained, overall quality of our Online MBA program and teaching excellence both nationally and globally.”
Griffith MBA Director Associate Professor Stephanie Schleimer
CEO Magazine has been at the forefront of recognising top business schools since its inception in 2008. With a 13% increase in participation this year, the publication rigorously evaluated 139 schools offering a total of 284 different MBA programs across 24 countries. Notably, the surge in online MBA programs saw the inclusion of 16 new programs in the rankings, showing the growing prominence of online education in the business landscape.
CEO Magazine’s rankings provide prospective students with a reliable benchmark for assessing the performance of schools under review. Factors such as the quality of faculty, international diversity, class size, accreditation, and more are considered to determine rankings.
The complete CEO Magazine 2024 Global MBA Rankings can be accessed in the latest edition of CEO Magazine and on their website. To view the rankings online, please visit CEO Magazine Rankings 2024. The rankings were updated on 27th March 2024.
In an evidence-based approach to pandemic prevention, a new plan published in Nature Communications advocates for using ecological perspectives to thwart disease outbreaks before they begin.
Authored by an international team of 25 scientists, including three Australian scientists, the paper suggested a roadmap for preventing the next pandemic by conserving natural areas and promoting biodiversity.
“The world is focused on how we can detect and then contain a new pathogen once it is circulating in humans, rather than how can we prevent that pathogen from entering the human population in the first place,” said lead author Professor Raina Plowright from Cornell University.
“Pandemics begin with a ‘spillover’ event, when pathogens circulating in wild animals in close proximity with humans, livestock, or other animals are passed on.
“Because this is an ecological process, our proposed strategy aims to prevent pandemics with ecological solutions – preserving natural habitats and ensuring animals have adequate food sources and safe havens.”
Dr Alison Peel.
The roadmap drew from case studies, including research on how horses and humans become infected with the fatal Hendra virus in Australia, to clarify the link between environmental changes and pathogen spillover.
“In those studies, we showed that Hendra virus is most likely to pass from bats to horses in places where habitat destruction has left bats without reliable natural food sources, and that this is exacerbated after climate cycles cause abrupt food shortages for bats,” Dr Alison Peel said, a leading wildlife disease ecologist from Griffith University’s Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security.
“These changes cause closer contact with horses and people, and more stress, which increases the amount of virus that bats shed.”
But Dr Peel said this effect was reversed when there was adequate food available in native forests.
“This shows how we can prevent new spillovers if we protect where bats eat, protect where bats roost, and reduce land-use changes that increase contact with bats.”
Ian Thompson, Australia’s former Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, said maintaining and restoring native forests was imperative to reduce the risks of virus spillover, particularly for the myriad species of bats facing habitat loss.
“In eastern Australia loss of forests is forcing bats to move to urban areas for alternative food sources,” he said.
“This stresses the bats, adding to existing stressors like climate change and harassment, and brings them into close contact with people. Diseases like Hendra and ABLV can be a real risk to people and livestock so we need to reduce this by risk by reducing stress on bats and their habitats.”
The study’s authors emphasise the need for an international agency or panel that can assess and synthesize data on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response and collect metrics on intactness of landscapes, ecological integrity and biodiversity.
Co-Chief Councillor of the Biodiversity Council and former Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Hugh Possingham said where pandemics were concerned, “an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure, but all the focus has been on cure”.
“If Australia is serious about not being the source of the world’s next pandemic then there are key areas across eastern Australia where we need to be restoring and protecting habitats for wildlife under stress, otherwise the world’s biggest pandemic after the Spanish flu might be called the Aussie virus,” Professor Possingham said.
In addition to preventing spillovers by improving bat health, actions to restore natural habitats would have wide-ranging benefits, including preservation of ecosystem services provided by bats (e.g., pest control and pollination of native forests), and protection towards the climate and biodiversity crises currently facing humanity.
With a dynamic background spanning over 14 years in building construction, architectural design, academia, research, and project management, Annie brings a wealth of experience to her new role.
Annie’s role at QDRA will play a pivotal part in fostering successful collaborations among the member universities. Her strategic thinking and expertise in stakeholder engagement make her well-suited to spearhead initiatives aimed at securing research funding and opportunities for the Alliance members.
With a versatile skill set encompassing project management, strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, ethical decision-making and adaptability, Annie has successfully navigated complex projects, contributing significantly to projects involving sustainable development, housing resilience, urban design, emergency shelters, intergenerational park design, and disaster research.
Annie envisions the QDRA members being recognised as key partners for government and private sectors in delivering valuable outcomes for disaster risk reduction, preparedness and resilience, particularly in Queensland, as it is one of the most disaster-impacted states in Australia.
She is currently doing her PhD in disaster resilience, with a passion in fostering resilient communities and sustainable development. Her current focus for QDRA is on multi-universities collaborative bids for identifying the expertise, enhancing the capacity as well as the building the relationship with the stakeholders to achieve the mutual goal of building disaster resilience in Queensland as well as nationally in Australia.
“As manager of the Queensland Disaster Research Alliance (QDRA), Annie, aims to assist government and businesses in recognising the significance of university research in building disaster resilience. Emphasising the potential of Australian universities in providing crucial policy and governance advice, we are excited to welcome her as our new full-time Alliance Manager,” said Professor Paul Greenfield, Chair of the Queensland Disaster Research Alliance.
“Annie’s extensive background in project management, academia, and research perfectly aligns with our mission to advance disaster resilience and sustainable development. Her appointment represents a significant step in our commitment to enhancing collaborative efforts among the seven member universities, particularly in securing research bids and funding opportunities.”
“I am very excited for this opportunity, my goal for this year is securing multi-university collaboration bids and funding opportunities which ultimately advance our collective mission for Team Queensland,” Annie said.
The Queensland Disaster Research Alliance (QDRA) is a collaborative network of seven universities dedicated to advancing research, education, and engagement in disaster management. The Alliance aims to contribute to the development of resilient communities through impactful research and academic initiatives.The Queensland Disaster Research Alliance includes the following member universities across Queensland:
A Griffith masters student has been working with an esteemed team of engineers at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to design and deliver cutting-edge technology for Paralympic athletes.
Masters student Rajtilak Kapoor is helping to shape better performance outcomes for Paralympic athletes.
Rajtilak Kapoor’s work is supporting multi-medallist wheelchair racing athlete Angie Ballard and her push for podium success at Paris 2024.
Together, he and the team at AIS have been developing highly customised, 3D-printed racing gloves, designed to optimise Ballard’s pushing technique for greater power and efficiency.
“The hands are an abrasive surface, and when you’re pushing with such power, you’re prone to slipping and inhibiting pain,” he said.
“These racing gloves mould directly to Angie’s handshape, allowing her to push past her pain threshold as the glove is taking the direct force out of it.”
Mr Kapoor said CAD software and 3D printing has revolutionised the world of sports engineering, both technologies allowing for the creation of precise, custom-made equipment tailored to an athlete’s specific needs.
He said 3D printing specifically is not only more environmentally friendly, but it ensures the consistency and repeatability of a product, crucial factors when minor details and milliseconds of difference could mean a medal gained or lost.
“Athletes can detect even the slightest variation in equipment,” Mr Kapoor said.
“Previously, even if you had the same craftsman developing the same product with the exact same specifications, they might not be able to make any two things exactly alike.
“For elite athletes, they might not be able to tell you exactly what it is, but they’ll be able to tell you that something feels different and that variation can be the deciding factor between a gold, or nothing.”
Beginning as putty sculpted to the athlete’s hand in motion, a 3D scan is taken and then transferred across to software for smoothing, refinement and material selection before completing its journey at the 3D printer.
“Every wheelchair racer coming through the AIS and competing at this level will have their own sort of custom version of gloves; we’ve now built up a library of equipment for all the athletes,” Mr Kapoor said.
Mr Kapoor interned with PUMA in Germany whilst completing his Griffith degree.
In the midst of studying a Masters in Electronics and Sports Engineering at Griffith, Mr Kapoor interned at PUMA in Germany over a period of several months.
“My professors and supervisors at Griffith, Hugo Espinosa, David Thiel and David Rowlands, were super supportive of me pausing my degree to go over and get the practical experience at PUMA,” he said.
“They even accommodated for the time zone differences, logging on in the evening for me to deliver my presentation abroad.”
With just one unit of study left and a determination to officially graduate from Griffith, Mr Kapoor is finishing cross-institutional study from his base in Canberra whilst enjoying a dream gig at the AIS.
“I wanted to combine my background in mechanical engineering with sport, two things I was really passionate about, so to work for one of the National bodies in this space was always the goal.”
As well as having the technical experience and accreditation, Mr Kapoor cites the co-curricular activities on his resume as an integral part of landing roles in his desired field.
3D print from Mr Kapoor’s work with the AIS.
“Right from studying my undergrad, I was heavily involved in lots of the societies and clubs at Uni, and I still have some of those listed on my resume to this day,” he said.
“I always wanted to work in sport, so everything that I’ve done within and around sport, even if that means I played cricket, or was captain of a team or part of a sports organisation, I’ve always kept them on my resume.
“It becomes a talking point, especially something like sport which is really valued in Australia, and you can draw on skills you’re learning through sport that translate to the workplace.”
Griffith student and athlete Curtis McGrath OAM will lead the Australian Paralympic team alongside Angie Ballard at the Paris 2024 Games.
“There are so many transferable skills, even seemingly simple things like getting along with your team, leading a team, or learning how to get along with other people.”
“At the end of the day, whether it’s through developing equipment that they can use in their sport or enhancing training and recovery, the goal is to enable athletes to perform at their best,” he said.
Mr Kapoor said whilst the team has now finalised their project with Angie Ballard, it won’t be until after the Paris 2024 Games that they’ll be able to truly evaluate the effectiveness of their work.
Angie Ballard will join Paralympic canoeing gold medallist and Griffith aviation student Curtis McGrath as co-captains of the Australian team in Paris this August.
Pebdeh Cave excavation in the southern Zagros Mountains. Pebdeh was occupied by hunter-gatherers as early as 42,000 years ago. Photo: Mohammad Javad Shoaee
A new study combining genetic, palaeoecological, and archaeological evidence has unveiled the Persian plateau as a pivotal geographic location serving as a hub for Homo sapiens during the early stages of their migration out of Africa.
This study sheds new light on the complex journey of human populations, challenging previous understandings of our species’ expansion into Eurasia.
The study, published in Nature Communications, highlights a period between 70,000 to 45,000 years ago when human populations did not uniformly spread across Eurasia, leaving a gap in our understanding of their whereabouts during this time frame.
Key findings from the research include:
Periphery of Iranian Central Plateau where humans may have concentrated for tens of thousands of years before dispersing to other parts of Asia. Photo: Mohammad Javad Shoaee
The Persian plateau as a hub for early human settlement: Using a novel genetic approach combined with palaeoecological modelling, the study revealed the Persian plateau as the region where from population waves that settled all of Eurasia originated.
This region emerged as a suitable habitat capable of supporting a larger population compared with other areas in West Asia.
Genetic resemblance in ancient and modern populations: The genetic component identified in populations from the Persian plateau underlines its long-lastingdifferentiation in the area, compatible with the hub nature of the region, and is ancestral to the genetic components already known to have inhabited the plateau.
Such a genetic signature was detected thanks to a new approach that disentangles 40,000 years of admixture and other confounding events. This genetic connection underscores the plateau’s significance as a pivotal location for early human settlement and subsequent migrations.
“Our multidisciplinary study provides a more coherent view of the ancient past, offering insights into the critical period between the Out of Africa expansion and the differentiation of Eurasian populations,” Professor Petraglia said.
Riverine landscape in the southern Zagros region providing fresh water resources for Homo sapiens populations. Photo: Mohammad Javad Shoaee
“The Persian plateau emerges as a key region, underlining the need for further archaeological explorations.”
First author Leonardo Vallini of the University of Padova, Italy, said: “The discovery elucidates a 20,000-year-long portion of the history of Homo sapiens outside of Africa, a timeframe during which we interacted with Neanderthalpopulations, and sheds light on the relationships between various Eurasian populations, providing crucial clues for understanding the demographic history of our species across Europe, East Asia, and Oceania.”
Senior author, Professor Luca Pagani added: “The revelation of the Persian plateau as a hub for early human migration opens new doors for archaeological exploration, enriching our understanding of our species’ journey across continents and highlighting this region’s pivotal role in shaping human history.”
In the ever-evolving landscape of corporate philosophy, the question of a company’s raison d’être has surged into the spotlight, captivating minds and sparking debates worldwide. The notion of corporate purpose, once relegated to the periphery, now commands centre stage, evident in the exponential increase in Google searches over the past decade and the meticulous scrutiny it receives in annual CEO surveys. Purpose has become the lodestar guiding the trajectory of modern organisations.
Profit maximisation and shareholder primacy
Yet, the discourse on business purpose is not a novel phenomenon; its roots delve deep into history. More than a century ago, pioneers like Cadbury and Sunlight Soap imbued their enterprises with a sense of purpose that transcended mere profit-making, exemplified by their provision of housing for workers. Fast forward to the 20th century, where the Harvard Law Review served as the arena for debates on the purpose of corporations. On one side of the divide stood proponents of shareholder primacy, while the opposing camp championed a broader perspective encompassing employee welfare, product quality, and societal well-being.
“Purpose has become the lodestar guiding the trajectory of modern organisations.”
Port Sunlight, the village founded by ‘Soap King’ William Hesketh Lever in 1888. The village was built to house Lever’s ‘Sunlight Soap’ factory workers.
A necessary shift is needed to address systemic challenges
In 1954, the scales seemed to tip in favour of the broader conception of purpose, with organisations seen as engines not just of profit but of societal progress. However, the pendulum swung decisively in the opposite direction less than two decades later, propelled by the influential economist Milton Friedman, who advocated for shareholder primacy as the lodestar of corporate purpose. Since then, Friedman’s doctrine has held sway, shaping business paradigms, theories, and pedagogy.
In recent years, however, a resurgent chorus has emerged, challenging the hegemony of shareholder primacy and advocating for a more inclusive approach that considers the interests of all stakeholders. Voices like Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, the Business Roundtable of America, and the World Economic Forum have called for a paradigm shift, emphasising the importance of delivering value to a broader spectrum of stakeholders. This shift reflects a growing recognition that businesses, as integral components of society, must embrace a holistic perspective to address the systemic challenges confronting our world.
State your purpose
Transitioning from historical narratives to theoretical underpinnings, the concept of corporate purpose emerges as the guiding philosophy, the North Star illuminating the path of organizational decision-making. It serves as a linguistic construct, shaping the mindset and actions of stakeholders, alongside other components of a company’s narrative framework such as vision, mission, and values. Therefore, crafting an effective purpose statement becomes paramount, with experts advocating for simplicity, longevity, and pro-social orientation.
A purpose statement should not only encapsulate the organization’s enduring reason for existence but also serve as a catalyst for decision-making, a unifying force for stakeholders, and a compass guiding long-term strategic endeavours. A framework for ensuring purpose statements resonate with all internal and external stakeholders of an organization is whether it; connects what the corporation does to what the world needs, is enduring. And how it shapes up relative to a key challenge question from the Future Normal approach; Does the purpose helps perpetuate a world you/we want to live in?
In essence, the purpose of an organisation transcends simplistic notions of profit maximisation; it embodies a commitment to societal well-being, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable value creation. As businesses navigate the complexities of the modern world, embracing a purpose-driven approach not only enhances financial performance but also fosters resilience, innovation, and societal impact. Thus, the journey towards defining and realising corporate purpose is not merely a philosophical exercise; it is a strategic imperative, shaping the destiny of organisations and the societies they serve.
Nick Barter is a Professor of Strategy and Sustainability in Griffith Business School. Nick helps executives and their organisations escape the myopia of conventional business thinking and embrace a Future Normal perspective. Future Normal organisations act meaningfully in their surroundings and purposefully to benefit society. For the last decade Nick has taught MBA students sustainability and systems thinking on Griffith’s world leading sustainability focused MBA.
In 2023, the Griffith Asia Business Internship (GABI) Program once again delivered unique and transformative experiences to students, helping to shape them into globally minded business leaders. Last year marked a milestone with the largest cohort since the pandemic, comprising 35 students who embarked on six-week internships across the Asia Pacific region. The program, designed to develop Asia literacy, enhance professional skills, and broaden perspectives, aims to establish lasting international connections and networks and shape participants into future-focused graduates, prepared for a global career.
Liam Fogarty
Diversity and inclusion are core principles of the GABI program, welcoming students from various disciplines and backgrounds. Supported by the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Program Grants, 21 participants received invaluable financial assistance that helped to enrich their tertiary education experience while fostering deeper engagement with the Asia Pacific region.
One standout participant from the 2023 cohort, Liam Fogarty, a recipient of an NCP mobility grant, shared his profound journey during his internship with the Australian Chamber of Commerce Korea (AusCham Korea). Liam’s testimonial underscores the transformative power of embracing new experiences with an open mind.
“I achieved more professional and personal growth than I could have imagined. Being in a country where I had little knowledge, or expectations allowed me to flourish.”
“The “say yes” attitude was championed by my supervisor, Rowan Petz. On day one, Rowan told me how much I would learn in Korea if I went into every experience with a positive attitude and no expectation of outcomes, and he couldn’t have been more right. I truly had a “say yes” attitude, and it allowed me to meet different people, eat different foods, and find myself in areas that I would never have been in back home.”
Rowan Petz, Executive Director of AustCham Korea, praised Liam’s exceptional contributions, highlighting his proactive attitude and adaptability as qualities that make him an asset to any organisation, stating:
“Over the years, we have hosted numerous interns; among them, Liam has distinguished himself as one of the most exemplary. Liam’s proactive, positive, and motivated approach ensured the successful completion of all tasks assigned to him, regardless of complexity. Given the opportunity, I would not hesitate to offer him a full-time position within our organisation.
Richard Kaltongga
In 2023, the GABI program commenced facilitation of in-person internships in Fiji, offering students like Richard Kaltongga an immersive experience in logistics and supply chain management with Joyce Aviation. Richard’s reflections resonate with many participants, highlighting the program’s impact on shaping career aspirations and fostering cross-cultural understanding.
“The GBS Internship was truly an eye-opening experience for me. As somebody who is aspiring to a career in the air transport & logistics industry, this internship has sealed this sector as one I see myself in. Joyce Aviation was a wonderful host organisation and I have received valuable upskilling, training, and knowledge in the aviation industry of which I am grateful for.”
Looking ahead, the GABI program remains committed to its mission, securing NCP mobility grant funding for future years, and expanding student opportunities across the region. Aspiring leaders who seek transformative experiences are invited to apply for the 2024-2025 cohort, setting the stage for another year of growth, learning, and international collaboration.
Griffith Business School’s GABI Program stands as a beacon for experiential learning, shaping the next generation of leaders equipped with the skills, knowledge, and cultural sensitivity to thrive in a globalised world. To embark on this transformative journey, interested applicants can visit the program’s website for more information and application details.
Researchers from Griffith University and the University of Sydney (USYD) have joined forces with leading figures in science and clinical medicine to help solve the challenges of spinal pain in space and enhance the sustainability of space missions.
Dr Julie Hides stands in front of the buoyancy lab at NASA HQ in Houston.
Professor Julie Hides from Griffith’s School of Health Sciences and Social Work and Professor James Elliott, Director of Sydney’s Kolling Institute, were recently invited by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to contribute their expertise in musculoskeletal health at the renowned Johnson Space Centre in Houston.
Due to the lack of gravity in space, astronauts are predisposed to muscle atrophy, bone loss and spinal pain.
“On Earth, when we are upright, gravity loads the spine and this loading is important for maintaining the health of spinal tissues,” Professor Hides said.
“In the case of astronauts in microgravity, the intervertebral discs can imbibe fluid and the spinal curves flatten, resulting in lengthening of the torso.
“Astronauts can come back to Earth 5-8 centimeters taller.”
Whilst Professor Hides said the changes that occurred in space were a natural adaptation of the human body to microgravity, those changes could create serious issues when astronauts returned from space.
Dr Hides has worked extensively with the European Space Agency, engaging in bedrest studies lasting 60 days.
Having worked with the European Space Agency for more than 20 years, Professor Hides presented results from three prolonged bedrest studies, simulating decreased gravitational loading on the spine.
These studies involved volunteers going to bed six degrees head down for 60 days without rising; the effects of interventions tested both before and after bedrest.
Professor Hides also presented research on the effects of microgravity on astronauts’ back muscles and the effectiveness of exercises to recondition these muscles post bedrest and exposure to microgravity.
Together with NASA flight surgeon Dr Rick Scheuring, Professor Hides has since helped develop a protocol for ultrasound imaging of trunk muscles in space.
“Dr Scheuring was in Kazakhstan before a mission and I was facetiming in from Australia late at night,” she said.
“We were establishing an imaging protocol that would allow one astronaut to image another astronaut on the International Space Station.”
The success of this muscle-imaging protocol was noted at the NASA meeting, having been approved and formally adopted on the International Space Station.
“The use of ultrasound imaging equipment on the international space station has two advantages: the equipment is small and compact, and it can show you the muscles contracting in real-time,” Professor Hides said.
Scenes from the Johnston Space Centre in Texas.
“This means that we can measure both changes in muscle size and ability to contract spinal muscles in space.
“Whilst we have had access to ultrasound images of muscles before and after six months on the International Space Station, monitoring astronauts whilst in space will allow assessment of how quickly muscle size decreases, thus providing important information to allow development of appropriate exercise interventions.”
As well as ultrasound imaging, NASA are performing MRIs of astronaut’s spines pre and post spaceflight.
Professor James Elliot (USYD) and Professor Julie Hides (Griffith).
“NASA has expressed an interest in our MuscleMap program, which is a revolutionary technique to automatically assess or measure whole-body skeletal muscle composition using high-resolution MRI,” Professor Elliot said.
“The MuscleMap program could be an assessment tool to help target more effective ways to improve their pain and performance when they’re in space, when they get home, and in preparation for future missions.”
The combination of ultrasound imaging, supported by Professor Hides’ clinical research, and MRI muscle mapping, led by Professor James Elliot, would enable close monitoring of skeletal muscle composition to improve long-term astronaut health.
Further, Professor Hides said that whilst the research would directly benefit astronaut health and space travel, it could also be translated to terrestrial patients suffering from musculoskeletal conditions.
Dr Hides offers her insights and tips for managing back pain in our YouTube Health series linked below:
