A landmark agreement to cut the world’s reliance on fossil fuels and thus slow the pace of global warming presents an important opportunity for universities, says Griffith University’s Professor Brendan Mackey.
The Director of the Griffith Climate Change Response Program, Professor Mackey says university research will be vital in gathering and distributing new knowledge on climate change.
Professor Mackey was in Paris for the United Nations Conference on Climate Change that ended yesterday with an accord committing most of the world’s nations to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Due to come into effect in2020, the historic agreement limits man-made global warming to well below an initial target of two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
A locked-in limit of 1.5 degrees is also positive news for smaller island nations that went to Paris with the message that two degrees still jeopardised their existence.Professor Mackey also previously warned about the two-degree target.
“Two degrees will still expose Australia to extreme climate-related risks, especially in the coastal zone. If 1.5 degrees is needed to protect small island states, then it is necessary for all countries that have a coastline,” he said.
The Paris agreement includesmechanisms for five-yearly reviews of emission reduction targets.
Professor Mackey says university research can inform climate change knowledge, policy and practice in the lead-up to and beyond 2020.
“Universities have a critical role to play in the generation and transmission of new knowledge to ensure that policy options are informed by the best available evidence as to efficacy and consequences,” he said.
Professor Mackey says Australia recently has played a much more positive and constructive role in climate change negotiations.
He hopes a strong agreement will in turn strengthen the hand of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Federal Government and be followed by a wave of community and business support for an upscaling of domestic ambition and actions on climate change.
Image of Evey Skinner’s work at the QCA Showcase, Foundation Studio. Image credit: Miriam Deprez
Congratulations to all 2015 Queensland College of Art (QCA) graduates including the following students awarded across the 2015 QCA graduate exhibitions at the Queensland College of Art, QCA Gold Coast and the Griffith Film School.
DIGITAL MEDIA (QCA Gold Coast)
Image credit: Chris Venning
“Kiko Lights is an ongoing entrepreneurial project. The project was created to highlight a combination of both urban and natural materials that presents an aesthetically pleasing hand-crafted product. The design and production process has been tailored to ensure each product has its own unique aspect such as the textures of the concrete or the grains of the wood.” — Chris Venning
$2,000 ADFAS Scholarship for outstanding performance by a student continuing on to study Honours Recipient: Jenna Baker
3 Dimensional Design Academic Achievement Award Recipient: David Haggerty
Best 3 Dimensional Design Portfolio Recipient: David Haggerty
3 Dimensional Design Student Culture Award Recipient: Zoe Appleby
Digital Design Academic Achievement Award Recipient: Itgel Altantsetseg
Best Digital Design Portfolio Recipient: Itgel Altantsetseg
Digital Design Student Culture Award Recipient: Kei Wong
Best Photo Media Portfolio Recipient: Dan Carson
Photo Media Student Culture Award Recipient: Dan Carson
Studio Art Academic Achievement Award Recipient: Jenna Baker
Best Studio Art Portfolio Recipient: Dan Pollard
Studio Art Student Culture Award Recipient: Cherie Noble
Graphic Design Academic Achievement Award Recipient: Jonty Spina & Chris Venning
Best Graphic Design Portfolio Recipient: Chris Venning
Graphic Design Student Culture Award Recipient: Aidan Ryan
Industry Practice Leadership Award Recipient: Bec Bates
Industry Practice Joint Leadership Award Recipient: Dan Pollard & Jasmine Arapovic
Tides Digital Media Honours Scholarship for artistic merit, to a graduating student continuing on to Honours Recipient: Jonty Spina
Honours Excellence in Research Award Recipient: Jason Haggerty
Best Honours Research Project Recipient: Monique Montfroy
Honours Student Culture Award Recipient: Libbi Reed
DESIGN
Sasha Hickson, Don’t Sweat It, 2015, digital print
“I’m a visual communicator, hand letterer, and typography lover. I’ve always had a passion for the creative arts, and find peace in anything hands-on. Due to my inquisitive nature, I’m always working to improve my craft and expand my capabilities as a designer.” — Sasha Hickson, Bachelor of Design
Liveworm Award for excellence in Design Recipient: Sasha Hickson
Design Institute of Australia Encouragement Award (Visual Communication) Recipient: Hayden Roberts
Design Institute of Australia Encouragement Award (Product Design) Recipient: Callum Burgess
Design Institute of Australia Encouragement Award (Interior Design) Recipient: Siu Wing Chow
FINE ART
Cosima Scales, Dream Home, 2015, oil on plywood, 70 x 100cm
“My practice investigates how painting can address conflicting desires for the comforts of suburban spaces and the adventure of wilderness. Based on reference collages bringing together real estate photography and holiday snapshots, the paintings combine representational elements of architectural and natural environments. The surface, interrupted with discordant fragments of imagery, is unified by the medium of paint, allowing both types of subject matter to co-exist.” — Cosima Scales, Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours).
Iain Turnbull Memorial Award presented to the fine art student at QCA judged to have displayed the most outstanding progress and potential for future development in printmaking Recipient: Jude Roberts
Bonnie English Memorial Award presented to the fine art student with the highest academic achievement in 3rd year Art Theory courses Recipient: Karen Stephens
St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital Award recognising artistic merit Recipient: Cosima Scales
The Trevor Lyons Award: an annual award in memory of Trevor Lyons for presentation to a print media student of the QCA who has displayed commitment and passion in printmaking during their studies and is likely to continue working in this field. Recipient: Chase Archer
QAGOMA Bookstore Book Prize for Best Presentation in Graduate Show
Recipient: Michelle Gilbert
Bruce Heiser Book Prize for best average grade across painting 3 and 4 courses
Recipient: Karen Stephens
Oxlades Art Essentials Undergraduate Painting Award Recipient: Jack (Casey) Mitchell
Oxlades Art Essentials Undergraduate Print Media Award Recipient: Lea I Zweig
Oxlades Art Essentials Undergraduate Sculpture Award Recipient: Haley Atkins
Oxlades Art Essentials Undergraduate Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art Award Recipient: Warraba Weatherall
Oxlades Art Essentials Undergraduate Jewellery and Small Objects Award Recipient: Marian Macaranas
Melbourne Etching Supplies Award Recipient: Torinne Zach
Vicki Williams Fine Art Quiet Achiever Award Recipient: Debbie Bennetts
Vicki Williams Fine Art Quiet Achiever Award
Recipient: Jack Gardiner
JEWELLERY AND SMALL OBJECTS
Congratulations to the recipients of 2015 J&SO Graduate Awards. Thank you to the sponsors: Australian Jewellers Supplies, Peter W Beck, Pallion Group, Morris and Watson, Lorraine Larter, Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Australia, Queensland (JMGQ), and thank you to our guest judge, Renai Grace.
Skutvik, 2015, silver and 9ct gold.
“My work is an expression of deceptively simple, primitive sophistication, inspired by ancient Nordic culture.” — Line Sagmo Arnesen Bachelor of Fine Art (Jewellery and Small Objects).
Australian Jewellers Award Recipient: Jack Gardiner
Australian Jewellers Award Recipient: Chloe Tozer
Australian Jewellers Award Recipient: Sarah Smith
Morris and Watson Award for outstanding body of work Recipient: Russell Fuller
Pallion Group Award for most outstanding series of work Recipient: Line Arnesen
Pallion Group Award for most outstanding series of work Recipient: Yu Ting Lien
Peter W Beck Award for outstanding individual piece Recipient:Avena Osborn
Lorraine Larter Award for outstanding installation Recipient: Marian Macaranas
Aspirational Award for the greatest improvement Recipient: Soriya Warren
Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Australia, Queensland (JMGQ) awarded to a student for a strong commitment to and participation in the wider jewellery community Recipient: Beth Hodges
PHOTOGRAPHY
Anna, 2015, digital photograph, 16.15 x 22.5cm
“Enter ‘freckles’ into any search engine and an endless list of websites confronts you with a plethora of freckle prevention remedies. Historically, and across cultural divides, we tend to stigmatise these little clusters of melanin. Questioning beauty stereotypes by focusing on women with freckles may highlight the impact and challenges that socially constructed notions of beauty have upon the wider female demographic. Hopefully, this project will inspire all women to be proud of their uniquely individual beauty.” — Evey Skinner, Bachelor of Photography (Creative Advertising).
The St Aiden’s Anglican Girls School Award recognising artistic merit from a photography student Recipient: Heather Fitzpatrick
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School Award recognising artistic merit from a photography student Recipient: Marc Pricop
The Sun Studios Award presented to the student whose work best demonstrates, technical excellence and conceptual depth within any of the three photography majors Recipient: Evey Skinner
CR Kennedy Award for artistic merit Recipient: Chris Bowes
Kayell QLD Award for excellence in Creative Advertising in still and moving image Recipient: Myles Bennell
AIPP Photography Business Mentoring Award presented to a student with the highest standard of visual and lighting ability Recipient: Gillian Jones
Anna Smith Prize for innovation and excellence in portraiture Recipient: Nicole Paulsen
TEDS Camera Stores Photography Award presented to a graduating photography student in recognition of innovation in historic technology Recipient: Marc Pricop
CameraPro Award presented to a graduating photography student in recognition of excellence in an advertising body of work with a strong conceptual framework in still and moving image Recipient: Myles Bennell
John McKay Memorial Scholarship presented to the photography student with the highest GPA continuing into Honours. Recipient: Evey Skinner
DES Beyond Creation Award in recognition of print mastery within a conceptual framework Recipient: Dennis Rodriguez
RGB Digital Prolab Award in recognition of excellence in Creative Advertising Recipient: Jared Finlayson
The Queensland Centre for Photography Award for experimentation and innovation within Photographic Art Practice Recipient: James Hornsby
Street’s Imaging Award for the student with the best overall series from any major, presented to a graduating student going into Honours Recipient: Patrick Adams
Vicki Williams Photography Quiet Achiever Award Recipient: Cale Searston
Vicki Williams Photography Quiet Achiever Award
Recipient: Jacinta Yann
Most Outstanding Director Recipient: Cameron March — The Neon King
Most Outstanding Script Recipient: Jordan Lynagh — The Neon King
Most Outstanding Performance (Male) Recipient: Thomas Larkin — The Neon King
Most Outstanding Performance (Female) Recipient: Millie Walton — The Top Secret Findings of Ethel P. Clearwater
Most Outstanding Cinematography Recipient: Peter Gorring — The Neon King
Most Outstanding Production Design Recipient: Jaykowa Hockings — The Top Secret Findings of Ethel P. Clearwater
Most Outstanding Sound Design Recipient: Fabian Valado — The Neon King
Most Outstanding Editing Recipient: Michelle McGilvray — The Neon King
Most Outstanding Music Recipient: The Neon King
Most Outstanding Documentary Recipient: Welcome Home
High Distinction in Film Production Recipient: The Top Secret Findings of Ethel P. Clearwater
ANIMATION
Most Outstanding Achievement in Character Animation Recipient:Spirit Parade
Most Outstanding Achievement in Production Design Recipient: Juhua
Most Outstanding Director Recipient: Rob Corless — Samuel of the Sea
Most Outstanding Script/Concept Recipient: Hubris
Best Portfolio Recipient: Fei Hu
Panel Award Recipient: Scraps
Overall Highest Achievement in Animation Production Recipient: Pain in the Rickshaw
GAMES DESIGN
Most Outstanding Visual Achievement Recipient: Thomas Hanley — Deductive Leap
Most Outstanding Technical Achievement Recipient: Daniel Galbraith — Deductive Leap
Most Outstanding Game Design Achievement Recipient: Brandon Ditcham — Chronodash
Overall Highest Achievement in Games Design (Best Game) Recipient: Deductive Leap
GFS HONOURS
Best Direction Recipient: Thomas Hanley — Deductive Leap
Best Script Recipient: Daniel Galbraith — Deductive Leap
Best Overall Project Recipient: Brandon Ditcham — Chronodash
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
Audience Choice Award — Film Production Recipient: More Than Just Grass
Audience Choice Award — Animation Recipient: Brhy & Guac
Audience Choice Award — Games Design Recipient: Chronodash
Audience Choice Award — Honours Recipient:Wonderful World of Careers
Griffith Business School is the first in the country to formally recognise Chartered Financial Analyst qualifications, opening the window of opportunity for industry professionals with an eye on postgraduate study.
People forging careers in the world of stocks and shares and investments can now take a significant step towards postgraduate study at Griffith if they have successfully completed the CFA examinations.
“For example, successful completion of the CFA Level 1 exam can now be used as a waiver for some of the entry requirements to the Master of Finance and Investments program,” explains Dr Alexandr Akimov, Program Director, Master of Finance and Investments, and Master of Finance.
“They can also use this industry knowledge and experience, in some situations, to gain credit points in both the Master of Finance and Master of Finance and Investments programs.
“Where some universities incorporate elements of the CFA into their postgraduate programs, Griffith is the first Australian university to recognise the CFA program and examinations in its curriculum.”
Prestigious
This move consolidates Griffith’s strong connection with CFA Institute and CFA Sydney Society and Brisbane Chapter, which has gained momentum since Griffith Business School was the first in Australia to be approved to take part in the prestigious CFA InstituteUniversity Recognition Program in 2013.
Griffith’sBachelor of Commercedegree (majoring in Finance) was then acknowledged as incorporating the content of at least 70 percent of the CFA Level 1 examination.
As a result, Griffith Bachelor of Commerce graduates are strongly positioned to start their quest for highly-prized Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
The Master of Finance and Investments curriculum was built around CFA Levels 2 and 3 professional exams for students with a background in finance studies.
Recognition
The Master of Finance program is designed for students from any background and covers the curriculum from all three levels of CFA exams.
“The work and study involved in passing the CFA exam is comparable to some of the work and study involved in gaining a university degree,” Dr Akimov continued.
“Griffith University understands how rigorous the challenge is for those sitting CFA exams and we are prepared to recognise this as sufficient foundation to enter directly into the Master of Finance and Investments program.
“It means people who don’t have a degree in finance but who have successfully completed the CFA exam can now use it as a pathway to further study which could accelerate their career plans.”
Each of these scholarships is worth up to $67,000 and will fund study travel for our students to destinations in the Indo-Pacific region. Amarina Smith was selected as the National Colombo Plan Fellow for Hong Kong as the highest ranked scholar for this location. She is also the first Indigenous NCP scholar.
Workplace Equality
And as advised in early November, the University was once again awarded a Workplace Gender Equality Agency Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation. The University is extremely proud of its achievements in being awarded the citation initially as an Employer of Choice for Women from 2001 and now as Employer of Choice for Gender Equality since its inception in 2014. This achievement showcases our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within the Griffith community.
These outcomes are a reminder of the incredible talent that lies at the heart of Griffith – in our researchers, teachers, professional staff, students and alumni. As Vice Chancellor, it was wonderful to see over two thousand staff attending end-of-year events and campus briefing sessions where we have been able to join together to share some of the great stories that have made up the year. I was pleased once again to be able to play Bob Dylan’s Christmas album as the soundtrack to my end of year campus lunches. First released in 2009, it just seems to get better and better. I am always surprised at how rarely it is played.
Griffith Lecture – Peter Greste
Although the year may be winding down, you would never know it by looking at the events calendar in recent weeks. Perhaps the highlight for me was an exceptional Griffith Lecture delivered by acclaimed journalist Peter Greste on 4 December. Peter’s speech on ‘Free Speech in the Age of Terror’ was skillfully crafted and compellingly presented, managing to engage in an intelligent way with the complex issues facing free speech in the modern world. To view this thought-provoking lecture, see the link above.
As a University with a deep commitment to equity and social justice, Griffith was privileged to host a symposium titled ‘The True Impacts of Domestic Violence’ on 25 November. The symposium, which was opened by The Honourable Shannon Fentiman MP, Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, provided an opportunity to engage with staff, students and community members on the impacts of domestic and family violence within the workplace and wider community.
Earlier in the same week, the University launched a Domestic and Family Violence website. The site features a number of research contributions by Griffith’s academic staff and students, and provides an overview of support services available to members of the Griffith community, both on and off campus. The University is also playing a key leadership role on the State Government’s Queensland Family and Child Commission Advisory Council with Griffith representatives including Deputy Chancellor Rachel Hunter DUniv, Professor Lesley Chenoweth AO, Professor Clare Tilbury and Ms Zoe Rathus AM.
Wayne Goss Centre
On 8December, the Chancellor and I were privileged to join Roisin Goss and family to celebrate the official naming of the Information Services Centre on our Logan campus as The Wayne Goss Centre. While Premier of Queensland from 1989-1996, Wayne Goss was determined to establish a university campus in Logan to provide higher education services for Logan residents and surrounding districts in the fast growing Brisbane-Gold Coast corridor. The 56ha Meadowbrook site was purchased by the Goss government for the University and the government provided significant funds towards the establishment of the Logan campus, which was opened in 1998.By renaming the Information Services Centre as the Wayne Goss Centre, the University acknowledges Wayne Goss’s contributions to the Logan community and his life time of extraordinary service to the people of Queensland and Australia.
Other highlights for the month included two Griffith alumni – Tie Song and Darren Burns – winning 2015 Australia-China Alumni Awards, Professor Andrew Kirkpatrick being elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, Professor Kathleen Daly being awarded the Distinguished Criminologist Award (as well as the Christine M Alder Book Award) at the 2015 Australian New Zealand Society of Criminology conference, and the presentation of two University 2015 Internationalisation Awards – one to Dr Allen Huang to recognise the most outstanding contribution to Griffith’s overall internationalisation, and the other to Professor Jean-Marc Hero to recognise the most outstanding contribution to short term global mobility programs. Congratulations to Tie, Darren, Andrew, Kathleen, Allen and Jean-Marc on their significant achievements.
Incoming elite athletes beginning studies at Griffith University in 2016 will have the chance to benefit from a new scholarship linked with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The prestigious Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Scholarships will offer National Sporting Organisation-recognised athletes an opportunity to be part of the Games delivery and experience Australia’s largest sporting event from a special perspective.
Griffith Sports College Manager, and former Olympian, Duncan Free OAM said it would be a unique experience to be involved in the delivery of the games, particularly if students have their sights set on competing at GC2018 as well.
“Competing at a home Games is amazing. I had the opportunity to do it in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics,” he said.
“Your home crowd, your home environment, your home training facility it is really good. The whole city gets behind you.
“For some of our students to have this experience combined with a scholarship will be an incredible opportunity.”
Griffith is one of Australia’s leading sporting Universities and supports elite athletes through the Griffith Sports College, which currently has 400 members.
“We take pride in supporting athletes to achieve not only their sporting success but also their academic success as well,” Mr Free said.
Incoming students studying degrees such as Exercise Science like Louisa Marmion can apply for the scholarships.
The other scholarship category is open to students like Louisa Marmion, who is in her first year of studying a Bachelor of Exercise Science (Pre-physio). Other study areas eligible for this scholarship include sports science and technology, tourism, major events management or broadcast sports journalism.
Louisa said any new student lucky enough to be selected to receive a scholarship which offered such a range of exciting opportunities would be setting themselves up for amazing success.
“As an aspiring physiotherapist I can see how this would be a perfect opportunity for any student, their resume and their future career,” she said.
“To have the opportunity to put their studies into practice is one thing but to do this at an international sporting event with athletes, trainers and health staff from around the world would be unbelievable.
Griffith University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Ian O’Connor said the University was proud to offer these unprecedented scholarship opportunities to students.
“Griffith University will play an integral part in the build-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games and today’s launch of the legacy scholarships is a demonstration of this commitment and involvement,” he said.
“As a leading university for the Gold Coast we are dedicated to fostering opportunities and extending possibilities for students close to home and across the Commonwealth. I look forward to meeting the successful students who will have so much to gain from this truly unprecedented opportunity.
“The Commonwealth Games represents a transformative moment in time for the Gold Coast and, in a similar vein, I know these prestigious scholarships have the potential to transform the lives and ambitions of the recipients.”
David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation said the scholarships would offer an unprecedented opportunity to not only study at a leading University but to be part of the delivery of the biggest event Australia will stage in more than a decade.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Griffith University to leverage from its partnership with GC2018 and in doing so to engage with communities across the Commonwealth sharing the Games message. It is also a chance to enjoy a once-in-a-generation education experience like no other.”
The scholarships are open to students from the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories who wish to undertake study or research at Griffith in a sport or event-related area as an undergraduate, post-graduate or higher degree by research student.
There are two categories, which students can apply for:
Griffith University and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Scholarship; and
Griffith University and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Sporting Excellence Scholarship
Each scholarship will include full tuition fee waiver, accommodation and a contribution towards education expenses. The value of each scholarship will vary depending on the degree of study but on average could be worth about$70,000 each.
The partnership between Griffith University and GOLDOC was announced on October 6 this year.
The partnership with Griffith will also see students offered internships, graduates offered employment and the Queen’s Baton Relay will pass through Gold Coast and Nathan campuses.
Griffith University Vice Chancellor Professor Ian O’Connor officially opened the Wayne Goss Centre in memory of the former Queensland premier at Logan campus this week.
Mr Goss, Queensland Premier from 1989-1996, was instrumental in the development of the Logan campus which opened in 1998.
“Wayne personally led the charge to have the Logan campus built when the whole higher education sector in Australia was going through a period of tumultuous change, and he convinced the Commonwealth Government to join with the State in funding it,’’ Professor O’Connor said.
“At the time, there was a high level of unmet demand for university places in the Logan and Gold Coast regions, and he was a champion for opening up educational opportunities and increasing University attainment rates for Logan residents and surrounding districts in the fast growing Brisbane-Gold Coast corridor.”
Wayne’s wife Roisin was in attendance and thanked the University of behalf of the Goss family for ‘this tremendous honour’.
“Wayne considered this campus to be of great importance to the university.”
The Goss government purchased the 56ha Meadowbrook site for Griffith University and provided significant funds towards establishing the Logan campus.
In 2003, Mr Goss was conferred Griffith’s honorary degree of Doctor of the University in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the community.
“Under his leadership as Premier, Wayne’s Government did many things to advance education as well as the development of the Logan campus,’’ Professor O’Connor said.
“These included new schools, the investigation of a modern and broader curriculum, moving nursing education into universities and expanding the teaching of languages other than English.”
As Queensland Premier, Wayne also oversaw extensive economic and institutional change including the passage of the new Public Service Act which transformed the Queensland public service. He instituted the reforms recommended by the Fitzgerald Inquiry, decriminalised homosexuality and introduced electoral reform. He also introduced initiatives in areas such as health and the environment.
Pro Vice Chancellor Logan campus, Professor Lesley Chenoweth AO, said the Logan campus enjoyed a deep engagement with its community — schools, community agencies, business and government.
“It is through these relationships that Logan campus can further its mission to build aspiration, and widen participation in education for members of the community.
“To be a community campus you have to open the doors and welcome everyone to the university. Logan campus and indeed this Wayne Goss Centre hosts many university and community events and conferences.
“And you have to agree it is a beautiful campus of which I am sure Wayne would be proud.”
Chancellor Henry Smerdon AM DUniv and Ms Goss unveiled a commemorative plaque to formally recognise the renaming of the building.
Like the successful BeachCare program run by the Centre, DuneWatch will foster community engagement to monitor, maintain and record the condition of dunes at 10 locations from Rainbow Bay to Paradise Point.
DuneWatch program leader Ms Maggie Muurmans says activities will include beach profiling, biodiversity surveys, analysis of human disturbance and other factors affecting dune health and coastal protection.
“Ideally the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management wants to set up a database to share findings throughout Australia,” says Ms Muurmans.
“The aim is to develop a blueprint for a national program geared to understanding what is happening with our dunes and informing any action that might need to be taken.
“Griffith’s BeachCare initiative has ably demonstrated what can be achieved when community groups come together to work with scientists and really take ownership of their local beaches.”
DuneWatch activities will take place at a different Gold Coast location from 9-11am every Saturday morning and participants are asked to wear enclosed shoes, sun smart clothing and to bring a bottle of water. All other equipment will be supplied.
Matthew Marny’s winning entry in the adult category of the My Beach, My Backyard photography competition
Meanwhile, the capacity for the Gold Coast’s natural coastline to inspire artistic creativity can be seen in the My Beach, My Backyard photography exhibition showing daily from 9am-4pm until December 18 at the headquarters of the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management on the Gold Coast campus.
Blake Doupain’s winning entry in the teenage category
Launched in July and with categories of Flora, Fauna, Beaches and Coastal Engineering, the GCCM received 60 entries that were judged by professional photographers
Angie Zhou’s winning entry in the child photography category
David Mahay and Simone Capridossi, and the Centre’s Nikos Penaranda.
Winners were Matthew Marny (adult), Blake Doupain (teenage) and Angie Zhou (child).
Griffith University mechanical engineering graduate Jack Anderson enjoyed a thrilling view of big-time motorsport when he was granted a pit-side perspective of the Castrol GC600 V8 Supercars event on the Gold Coast in October.
Now the leader of the Griffith Racing Team is preparing for his own racing challenge starting today (December 10) at the 2015 Formula SAE-Australasia student engineering competition at Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway.
Specifically tailored for engineering students, Formula SAE is centred on the design, construction and racing of an internal combustion or electric race car up to 600cc/80kW. The competition presents students with the opportunity to develop their skills in design, management, manufacturing, communication, research and business operations.
The Griffith Racing Team’s vehicle — christened Nara, for “not another risk assessment” — is powered by a 600cc/60HP Honda motorcycle engine and has a six-speed sequential gearbox, a track-limited top speed of 125kmh and is capable of going from 0-100kmh in 3.6 seconds.
The Griffith Racing Team with Jack Anderson behind the wheel and, from left, Sean Lowndes, Reece Schmith, Jake Werninghaus, Daniel Schulte-Loh and Ben Jackson
Along with Jack, the Griffith Racing Team comprises School of Engineering students Sean Lowndes (technical assistant), Reece Schmith (safety systems), Ben Jackson (technical director), Jake Werninghaus (engine drive line) and Daniel Schulte-Loh (head of design).
“Racing teams from universities all over Australia and New Zealand will be at Calder and the competition involves acceleration, skidpan, autocross and endurance challenges,” says Gold Coaster Jack, 21, who will be behind the wheel for the acceleration and endurance categories.
“I was immediately drawn to the design and construction credentials of the Formula SAE concept and it’s been a fantastic outlet for me.
“As well as the mechanical engineering practical experience, I’ve learned so much about research, sponsorship, health and safety, managing finances and more.
“I’ve also learned that engineering is more than maths and science. It’s about new ways of thinking. Griffith has a strong focus on engineering intuition.”
Jack’s motorsport connection will continue after graduation when he joins Gold Coast company PWR Performance Products, a world-leader in high performance cooling solutions for race categories including Formula 1, NASCAR, V8 Supercars and the World Rally Championship.
The 2015 Formula SAE-A student engineering competition runs until Sunday.
Griffith’s School of Nursing and Midwifery is celebrating following the Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2015 results which rated its Nursing discipline a “5” for showing well above world standard research.
Compiled by the Australian Research Council, ERA rates research areas 1-5 based on their level of excellence, with 5 being the highest.
In the previous two ERAs, Nursing at Griffith University gained a “4” (above world standard) rating.
“This fantastic result is a clear demonstration of the high quality research that the school is undertaking,” says newly-appointed Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery Professor Debra Anderson.
She cites the work of Professor of Nursing, Claire Rickard, which looks at improving the experience for cancer patients undergoing treatment and which has received $1.1m in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding.
“It is thanks to people such as this, and many more besides, that our School can provide clear examples of research which has a strong focus on optimising healthy outcomes within the wider community.”
Multiple campuses
Professor Anderson also highlights Griffith’s unique position with multiple campuses in South East Queensland.
“Particularly with midwifery for example, we are able to show strong research impacts across the health and wellbeing of a range of demographic groups including migrants, mothers and children and low socio-economic areas. It’s an exciting reach that we are able to take advantage of.
“ERA reflects all staff in a discipline,” adds Professor Anderson. “While we have many international research leaders, this significant achievement of moving from a “4” to a “5” reflects the important contributions of our mid and early career researchers.
“This result not only demonstrates our success but will stand us well in attracting quality students and building our reputation within the nursing and health arena, both nationally and internationally.
“On behalf of the professoriate, we would like to congratulate all staff, and in particular the early and mid career researchers, who have helped nursing achieve a “5”. It is a great recognition for all of us.”
