Theatregoers are in for a unique treat when the Ship of Fools berths at South Bank in September.
The Ship of Fools is an immersive theatre piece performed by third-year Griffith University Contemporary and Applied Theatre students, which promises to take audiences on a rollicking ride along the Brisbane River.
The performance is the culmination of a year-long creative development process with the students driving the entire creative process in collaboration with director Shaun Charles.
“In years gone by we have put on an arts festival and the year before that we took shows to the Brisbane Powerhouse.The key here is that each year it’s different,’’ Shaun said.
“This year, inspired by vaudeville and the history and philosophy of Plato’s Ship of Fools, we decided to embark on an immersive theatre piece that’s set on a boat.
“By immersive we mean in a non-traditional venue and one in which the audience or Land Folk, in this case, are totally immersed in the happenings on the boat.”
With no seats, the Land Folk are free to roam for the much of the performance. They will encounter an array of characters and situations as those on The Ship of Fools struggle to create a fair and just world.
“The problem is as soon as anyone is appointed captain they turn toxic and shortly after they have to be done away with. It’s a never ending cycle of revolution.”
An allegory for the conflict in today’s world, The Ship of Fools is fun and crazy, but also violent and political.
Theatre-goers can embark The Lady in Red to immerse themselves in The Ship of Fools at South Bank from September 22-25. For more information and to book visit: follyfleet.wordpress.com
Have you got a minute?
Griffith University has released a new vault of 60 second videos to celebrate the power of knowledge.
Our staff and students have expertise across an extraordinary range of subjects. To capture some of their great ideas, Griffith has launched the Know More in Sixty Seconds website.
Ben Pole from the Gold Coast Tourism Corporation holds a Master of International Business and a Bachelor of Communication from Griffith. In just 60 seconds he explains the astonishing impact of tourism on Australia, and reveals just how outnumbered we are by visitors!
That’s just one example. There are plenty more amazing things to know in 60 seconds and the website will keep growing with new clips being added regularly.
So check out ourKnow More in Sixty Secondswebsite. You’ll be amazed by what you discover. In just a minute!
Researchers from Griffith University’s Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery have returned from the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve with new flora samples that may one day be used to fight the world’s most serious diseases.
Within the 135,570-hectare reserve at Cape York, researchers Dr Ngoc Pham, Associate Professor Rohan Davis, Dr Ian Hayward and Associate Professor George Mellick spent a week collecting samples they hope will contribute to cures for cancer and other infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.
The Eskitis team brought back 15 flora samples to add to Nature Bank, a collection of more than 45,000 samples of plants and marine invertebrates from tropical Queensland, Tasmania, China, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.
The new inclusions range from moss and fern found in a melaleuca swamp, to orchids, rare lilies and a tree with a trunk resembling tiger stripes found growing by rare bauxite springs that deliver some of the purest water on the planet into the Wenlock River.
Associate Professor Rohan Davis says the reserve is also home to vulnerable species such as the rainforest plant Calophyllum bicolor.
“This species of rainforest plant would be very interesting to look at from a medicinal chemistry perspective,” he says.
“Calophyllum is a plant genus known to produce a number of significant bioactive compounds, some of which have anti-HIV, anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities.”
Seasonal visits
The first of what will become seasonal visits to the reserve came about thanks to an agreement between the world-leading Eskitis Institute and Australia Zoo’s Mrs Terri Irwin AM.
In 2007, the Queensland Government handed Terri the pristine parcel of land to manage as a living legacy to her late husband’s conservation work.
“There’s been the discovery of an entirely new ecosystem here and new species of plants, so we’re excited to see what Eskitis will find as these visits unfold,” she says, speaking from the reserve’s Camp Coolibah base where each year she brings daughter Bindi, 16, son Robert, 10, and Australia Zoo staff for crocodile research.
Now a member of the Eskitis Foundation Board, Terri is thrilled the first batch of samples from the reserve will be processed and added to a library already containing more than 200,000 natural product fractions ready for high throughput screening against disease.
“The thought of the plants here having the potential to offer better treatment or even cures for diseases such as Parkinson’s, malaria, Alzheimer’s and different types of cancers … it’s so exciting because I’m really about that mix of conservation and wildlife and humans,” she says.
“It’s so beautiful here and, as we’ve learned over the past seven years since we were given this land in Steve’s honour, it’s also extraordinarily unique.
“This place has 35 different ecosystems, from scrub to relic rainforest, and if Eskitis can find these special things to help treat people, it will be wonderful.”
What is missing from the G20 Leaders Summit agenda is arguably as noteworthy as the issues listed for high-level discussion.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s decision to resist calls to elevate climate change to the G20 table in November has confounded and troubled many observers, not least the Director of Griffith University’s Asia Pacific Centre for Sustainable Enterprise (APCSE).
Professor Jeremy Williams finds it difficult to understand how G20 leaders can discuss measures to accelerate global economic growth without simultaneously addressing how greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced.
APCSE’s response comes in the form of ‘Economic Growth, Climate Change and the G20’, a one-day conference to be hosted by the Asia Pacific Centre for Sustainable Enterprise at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on October 7.
“Climate change is the biggest emergency facing the global economy today. Ignoring it is not an option,” he said.
“What kind of economy can you have in a climate-constrained world? This is a major focus for the Asia Pacific Centre for Sustainable Enterprise and it is a crucial issue to be explored by leaders in the field at the conference.”
Former Liberal Party leader Dr John Hewson (Asset Owners Disclosure Project), Mara Bun (Green Cross Australia), Senator Larissa Waters (Australian Greens Senator for QLD) and Professor Clive Hamilton (Charles Sturt University) will be among the speakers attending, while US economist and director of The Earth Institute Jeffrey Sachs will also take part via video conference.
Leading climate change scientist at Griffith’s School of Natural Sciences, Professor Ian Lowe, will take part in the first of four panels on the day, to consider what future generations might say about the economic growth strategies of the G20 in the early 21st century.
The other panels will discuss economic growth in a climate-constrained world, capital markets and stranded assets, and the opportunities for sustainable enterprise arising from the need for climate adaptation.
Registration reached full capacity more than four weeks before the conference.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the level of interest which is a clear indication of the urgency surrounding this issue. There has to be an intelligent conversation about economic growth and climate change,” Professor Williams said, “this conference will go some way to addressing this need.”
The conference is sponsored by bankmecu and Australian Ethical Investment.
Good climate change data and information management practices are critical for supporting decision-makers, researchers and practitioners to undertake more effective adaptation and resilience planning was a key topic discussed at the 3rd International United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States (UN SIDS 2014) held in Samoa in September 2014.
The dialogue was part of a side event, “International cooperation on climate change data and information management,’ hosted by the Government of Vanuatu in collaboration with The Secretariat of Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Griffith University. The side event was opened by the Honorable James Bule, Minister for Climate Change and Natural Disasters, Government of Vanuatu and had strong attendance from delegates, including the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Pacific Director of German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Wulf Killman.
The side event was jointly facilitated by Dr Netatua Pelesikoti, Director, Climate Change, SPREP and Professor Brendan Mackey, Director, Griffith Climate Change Response Program and involved presentations on lessons learnt, existing barriers and progress made in climate change data and information cooperation by delegates from the Governments of Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The side event dialogue kept to the UN SIDS 2014 theme of “Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States through Genuine and Durable Partnerships,” and the key recommendation of greater cooperation on climate change data and information management among SIDS now forms part of the Samoa Pathway Outcome Document.
Professor Mackey said that “the UN SIDS conference is a unique event in that it is held every 10 years, and provides a platform for SIDS and their stakeholders to come together to share their experience and knowledge and to commit to genuine development partnerships.”
The Pacific iCLIM project is supported by the Government Partnerships for Development program (an Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade initiative) and being implemented by Griffith University in collaboration with SPREP.
The Pacific iCLIM project aims to provide stakeholders in the Pacific with the capability to store data and information on stable infrastructure that will be available over the long-term; improve the capability of stakeholders to discover data and information through greater connectivity among information portals; ensure that connected data and information is clearly described with standard metadata, making it more widely discoverable to stakeholders; and ensure that data and data produced from tools are in a format and system that makes it both reusable and re-discoverable. More information on the Pacific iCLIM project can be found at www.griffith.edu.au/pacific-iclim.
Edited byAssociate ProfessorBruce Gilley and Professor Andrew O’Neil
China’s rise is changing the dynamics of the international system.Middle Powers and the Rise of Chinais the first work to examine how the group of states referred to as “middle powers” are responding to China’s growing economic, diplomatic, and military power. States with capabilities immediately below those of great powers, middle powers still exercise influence far above most other states. Their role as significant trading partners and allies or adversaries in matters of regional security, nuclear proliferation, and global governance issues such as human rights and climate change are reshaping international politics.
Contributors review middle-power relations with China in the cases of South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, South Africa, Turkey, and Brazil, addressing how these diverse nations are responding to a rising China, the impact of Chinese power on each, and whether these states are being attracted to China or deterred by its new power and assertiveness. Chapters also explore how much (or how little) China, and for comparison the US, value middle powers and examine whether or not middle powers can actually shape China’s behavior. By bringing a new analytic approach to a key issue in international politics, this unique treatment of emerging middle powers and the rise of China will interest scholars and students of international relations, security studies, China, and the diverse countries covered in the book.
“A refreshingly readable account of the theory and practice of middle power influence in the contemporary world, which should help to correct the longstanding and rather patronizing neglect of these actors by US academics and policymakers. The jury may still be out on the full extent to which the norm-creating and multilateral institution-building initiatives, and strategic positioning of these states, including my own, have moderated–and will continue to moderate–the course of China’s rise. But the analysis and argument here makes it hard to argue that the traditional great powers are the only players who matter.”
Gareth Evans, foreign minister of Australia 1988-96, and president emeritus of the International Crisis Group, Australian National University
Griffith University and the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney are pleased to announce the International Dialogue on Women in Leadership will take place in Brisbane on 16-17 November.
As a G20-related event the Dialogue will bring together world leaders from government, business, and academia to consider ways to encourage and promote women’s leadership in the global economy through a stronger commitment to gender equality and greater involvement in business, politics and international organisations.
The conference will feature an expert panel on the evening of Sunday, 16 November, followed by a full day of debate on Monday, 17 November, exploring how full participation by women can improve economic efficiency and productivity and generate sustainable long-term global growth.
The event reflects the deep commitment made by the two universities to promote a greater leadership role for women both in Australia and globally.
Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, will present a keynote address.
“I am pleased to support the International Dialogue on Women in Leadership, which will explore the international effort to support women’s empowerment and increased participation in the global economy,” says Ms Bishop.
“It will also focus on the progress of women in leadership across business, politics, government and the non-profit sectors and address the importance of having more women actively engaged in these roles.
“One of the earliest diplomatic appointments of the Coalition government was to appoint former Senator, Ms Natasha Stott Despoja AM, Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, with a brief to raise the profile of women’s empowerment on the world stage. I am delighted to support the International Dialogue on Women in Leadership event which aligns closely with the government’s agenda,” she says.
Advancing gender equality
The Director of the Women in Leadership Initiative at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, Melissa Grah-McIntosh, says the event will help build on the recent Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) Joint Communiqué, which reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to advancing gender equality and the status of women and girls.
“The International Dialogue on Women in Leadership will be another chance for the United States and Australia to further their goal of promoting women’s employment and economic opportunity, particularly in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.”
The program will include speakers such as University of Sydney Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson, Group Managing Director of Coca-Cola Amatil Alison Watkins, and Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison.
Griffith University Chancellor, the Hon Leneen Forde AC (left), who will also address the conference, says the Dialogue would continue the enduring culture of research, discussion, and promotion of issues related to women’s leadership that had been fostered by the supporting organisations.
“Both Griffith and Sydney Universities have strong traditions of supporting issues of women’s empowerment across the full range of their teaching, research and administrative activities
“We are excited to welcome women and men of the highest calibre to Brisbane to advance the discussion on female empowerment around the world.”
For Griffith Business School PhD graduateJohn Fan completing a doctorate is just part of his impressive list of achievements at university.
While researching his thesis, he worked with the Sydney-based hedge fund, H3 Global Advisors, to test new investment strategies for large institutional investors such as pension funds and hedge funds.
“Basically, the strategy is to offer low correlation with traditional investments which helps with portfolio diversification,’’ he said.
“These strategies appear to be highly profitable on paper even after accounting for trading costs and I hope they may be implemented in the future.”
John also established the popular Griffith University Accounting, Finance & Economics Research Student Society (GUAFERSS)and was its inaugural president.
“I started the group in 2013 as I felt there was a need to enhance the research culture for quantitative-oriented research students,’’ he said.
To date, the society has 60 members and has held 15 workshops with speakers coming from the Department of AFE and external universities including Professor Pravin Trivedi from Indiana University, a global leader in the field of limited dependent econometrics.
“GUAFERSS provides a range of academic and informal workshops that focus on quantitative data analysis and professional developments for our members. The workshops have been well received with positive feedback from all who attended.”
In late 2013 John led a team of three Gold Coast-based undergraduate students in the CFA (Chartered Financial Analysts) Institute Research Challenge in Sydney which they won.
The commerce students Andrew L’Estrelle, Euan Orsini, Jason Rayment, and John then competed in the Asia-Pacific Regional in Singapore.
While they didn’t win the top award they put in a tremendous effort and were commended by Griffith Business School Dean (Academic) Professor Linda Trenbath who thanked them for helping to put Griffith on the global map.
“We look forward to taking the big prize next year,’’ Professor Trenbath said.
The CFA Challenge is a global educational initiative that promotes best practice in equity research among burgeoning financial analysts through mentoring and training in company analysis and presentation skills.
Adding to his achievements John was recently appointed a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Griffith Centre for Personal Finance and Superannuation.
He is also a popular lecturer, this year receiving an unprecedented 100% rating in every category of the student evaluation of teaching in a postgraduate finance course.
John’s honours thesis, which examined the hedging effectiveness of futures contracts on carbon emissions in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) – was published in the Australian Journal of Management, one of the leading finance journals in Australia.
As the undesirable consequences of the use of fossil fuels gain greater prominence globally, it is apt that students of the world should consider the future prospects for alternative energy.
These will include International Business students from Dr Tapan’s Energy and Environmental Security course, along with Griffith G20 scholars and high school students representing four Brisbane schools.
“The initiative greatly enhances the student experience,” Professor Heidi Dahles, head of Griffith’s Department of International Business and Asian studies, said. “Theyget a sense of the significance ofthesustainability agendain the context of a high profile political event. This is exactly what future leaders need to understand.”
“This is an extension of Griffith’s earlier G20 initiative involving high school students,” Dr Tapan said.
“It is a form of blended learning which takes Griffith students beyond the classroom. In this case we are promoting student interaction with industry leaders and influential figures like the CEO of the International Energy Centre.
“It will be an ideal arena for future leaders to demonstrate and exercise their leadership qualities. Solutions around the future of alternative energy are required and what better place or time to start than in Brisbane on the eve of the G20 Leaders Summit?”
International Energy Centre CEO, Tim McLennan, welcomed the summit. “This is an important initiative to ensure we broaden the dialogue around energy and involve the future custodians of our society,” he said.
“I am confident this event will include a number of our future energy leaders. This summit also builds into the energy program around the G20 that is developed through the Brisbane Global Café and creates greater engagement on the overall topic.”
Griffith G20 Scholars pictured below:
A unique Australian opera performance inspired by the courage and resilience of those who lived through the devastating floods of 2011 will take to the stage across Queenslandfrom Thursday 18 September.
The world premiere of Floods will be launched in partnership with Brisbane Festival, before taking to the road travelling to the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Toowoomba and Ipswich.
Four composers have each contributed a twenty minute opera inspired by this theme of ‘flood’, with each responding to the challenge in ways that vary from the traditional to the abstract.
To present these four works, a dynamic cast of young singers and instrumentalists from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University will pay an evocative homage to the spirit within us all, that when called upon, can rise and triumph in the face of adversity.
Floods Director Gregory Massingham says the new Australian work explores the 2011 inundation as both a dramatic narrative and as a metaphor for the sometimes overwhelming aspects of modern life.
“In such times we often resort to flood metaphors, we ‘try to keep our heads above water’, ‘weather a storm’ or ‘tread water’; we can feel ‘adrift’ and welcome the offer of a ‘life line’,” he explains.
“We hope that our performance of these works will provide the community with a variety of insights into this common experience – not only the physical and psychological effects of its impact, but also of the spirit that rises above such misfortunes.
“Each composer has brought a unique musical perspective to the overall work, which combines instrumental, vocal, digital and interactive media,” Mr Massingham says.
‘Rising’ by Dr Kim Cunio highlights the emotions of fear and isolation in adversity; ‘A Water Parable’ from Gerard Brophy relates an ancient flood myth from the Puranic scriptures of India; “Flood” by Dr Gerardo Dirie probes the anticipation of an approaching force; and “Buninyong” by Dr Stephen Cronin blends past and present calamities in examining the impact upon individuals and communities.
“The sometimes experimental yet largely thoughtful reflections of these dramatic events will be sure to touch the minds and hearts of all who hear them,” Mr Massingham continues.
“We invite people of all ages across the state to witness this new piece of Queensland culture as we come together to celebrate such remarkable strength and resilience.”
FLOODS TOUR DATES
World Premiere 18 & 20 September, Brisbane Queensland Conservatorium Theatre
In association with Brisbane Festival
24 September, Toowoomba Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
26 September, Ipswich George Hogg Auditorium, Ipswich Civic Centre
2 October, Buderim Matthew Flinders Auditorium, Buderim
4 October, Bundaburg Moncrieff Theatre, Bundaberg
Tickets for all venues are available for purchase through conevents.com.au.
