Until recently, Australia-Indonesia relations were seen as being at historic highs under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. However, after ten years in power the Indonesian constitution prevents the man known as SBY from serving another term in the top job.Australia’s diplomatic relationship with Indonesia has gone worse following the revelations about Australian spying on the President and his inner circle back in 2009. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he regretted any embarrassment the reports of spying may have caused the President, and stressed the importance of Australia’s relationship with Indonesia. On April 9, Indonesians will go to the polls, to elect Members of the National Parliament.
Griffith University’s Professor Colin Brown says SBY’s Democratic Party is unlikely to hold onto power. The PDIP is widely tipped to secure the presidency. While the asylum seekers policy featured strongly in a 2013 Federal Election, Brown says it barely rates a mention in the lead up to the Indonesian polls. Since the spying revelations in November, Australia’s relationship with Indonesia has been further pressured by the Abbott Government’s asylum seeker policy.
The Sri Lankan government has condemned a proposed UN inquiry into alleged war crimes at the end of the country’s civil war in 2009.Gordon Weiss, from the Griffith Asia Institute, was interviewed about the situation for SBS World News Radio. Mr Weisswas the UN spokesman in Sri Lanka during the final stages of the civil war.
Climate change experts have long warned that extreme weather events are set to worsen; intense and prolonged heatwaves; more bushfires; more powerful cyclones, coastal inundation and general flooding. Now attention is turning to how communities, industries and ecosystems will cope in this altered world.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II Fifth Assessment Report was released in Japan on 31 March 2014 at 10 am (AEST). The report has found that without adaptation, further changes in climate, atmospheric CO2 and ocean acidity are highly likely to have substantial impacts on water resources, ecosystems and biodiversity, infrastructure, health, agriculture and communities.
The IPCC is comprised of thousands of scientists around the world who voluntarily review and assess the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to climate change. These scientists then pool their expertise to provide a collective view of the most likely effects of global warming on the way we live and our future environment.
Professor Roger Kitchingfrom the Griffith School of Environment is one of the co-ordinating lead authors of the Australasian chapter.
“Our coastal zones are on the front line; rising sea levels in combination with storm surges are projected to increase erosion and inundation which will damage low-lying ecosystems, infrastructure and housing,” Professor Kitching said.
“We can say with a very high degree of confidence that snow lines will continue to rise and while more intense rainfall events will bring heightened flood risks to some areas, across southern Australia annual average rainfall is expected to decrease.”
Macquarie University’s Professor Lesley Hughes is also one of the lead authors of the Australasian chapter.
“We have identified a number of key risks for Australian natural and human systems. Some of these risks can be reduced with significant adaptation efforts, but some, such as those to mountain ecosystems and coral reefs, will only be reduced by substantial reductions in emissions,” Professor Hughes said.
Furthering understanding of respiratory infections in young children is just one of theresearch areas focussed on by the new professor of infectious diseases at GriffithUniversity, Professor Keith Grimwood.
A newcomer to the Griffith Health Institute’s Molecular Basis of Disease program onthe Gold Coast, Professor Grimwood’s appointment is jointly supported by Gold CoastHealth and Griffith and aims to improve research collaboration.
A former director of the Queensland Children’s Medical Research Institute, he brings awealth of research experience with him, relevant to his current study into the impacts ofvaccines on preventable disease and gastrointestinal diseases.
Pertussis, otherwise known as the contagious and potentially deadly whooping cough, isa particular focus for Professor Grimwood who, with his colleagues, is studying theeffectiveness of the current vaccine.
“While the vaccine is good, particularly in young children, its duration of protection wanesmuch more rapidly than older vaccines,” he says. “After about five to ten years, itseffectiveness is slowing and this will need addressing in the future.”
He said a reason that the pertussis vaccine is currently being investigated is because ofthe higher rates of whooping cough being reported amongst older, vaccinated children inQueensland.
Professor Grimwood’s research also continues to focus upon Pseudomonasaeruginosa and lung infections in cystic fibrosis, as well as acute and chronic chest
infections in Indigenous children.
Professor Grimwood and his colleagues in Darwin and Malaysia are now turning theirattention to studying treatments of severe pneumonia in children in SouthEastQueensland, the Northern Territory and Malaysia.
Queensland Conservatorium, in partnership with Open Conservatorium and Besson and Brass Music Specialists, is excited to present the Robert Childs Conducting Course this April.
Dr Robert Childs was recently appointed as Principal Conductor and Director of Music of the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band, as well as being the Brass Band Conductor, Educator and Director of Brass Band Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
The course runs from 22 — 24 April and is open to teachers, conductors, musicians and students, with the program having been approved as Professional Development by Education Queensland, Department of Education, Training and Employment.
Participants have the opportunity to enrol in the full three-day course, or in individual sessions, as participants or observers.
Dr Childs will be joined by Dr Peter Morris, Lecturer in Conducting at Queensland Conservatorium and Director of Music at Villanova College.
For further information or to enrol, please email [email protected] or phone 07 3735 6306.
Far from being just the stuff of science fiction, artificial intelligence is set to help us overcome some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
In the latest IMPACT @ Griffith Sciences Lecture, Professor Blumenstein will discuss the science that underpins modern artificial intelligence and how this field is gathering momentum with the emerging information powerhouse of ‘big data’.
For the past 18 years Professor Blumenstein has been researching technological innovation based on machine learning and pattern recognition, and it is being used to solve complex problems in fields such as environmental science, engineering, neurobiology and coastal management.
“This free public lecture will explore ground-breaking developments in computer vision, automated pattern recognition and artificial intelligence in the context of the big challenges facing our world today and into the future”, Professor Blumenstein said.
“We already know of a myriad of applications for this processing power, from the early diagnosis and treatment of such brain disorders as Parkinson’s disease; to safely managing and predicting the deterioration of bridges; as well as forecasting floods and enhancing our understanding of the environment.”
“And doubtless in the future, the limitless capacity of artificial intelligence will be harnessed in ways we haven’t even thought to of yet.”
When: Wednesday 2 April, 2014, 6:00 — 7:00pm
Where: Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, Glycomics Building, G26_4.09
For a country already uneasy about energy security, the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which caused a nuclear catastrophe at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, turned pre-existing Japanese concern about the availability of energy into outright anxiety. The subsequent closure of many nuclear reactors meant Japan needed to replace lost power quickly and so had no choice but to secure additional fossil fuels, undermining Japanese diversification policy and increasing global and regional competition for energy. This switch has been at a cost to the already weak Japanese economy whilst the increase in fossil fuel consumption has caused a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
In this book Vlado Vivoda examines the drastically changed environment following the disaster in order to analyse Japan’s energy security challenges and evaluate Tokyo’s energy policy options. Looking at how the disaster exacerbated Japan’s existing energy security challenges, Vivoda considers the best policy options for Japan to enhance national energy security in the future, exploring the main impediments to change and how they might be overcome.
Vlado holds a B.A. (Honours) from the National University of Singapore, and an M.A. (International Relations) from the Australian National University. He completed his Ph.D. on the international political economy of oil at Flinders University in 2008. Since completing his doctorate, Vlado published a book on bargaining in the contemporary international oil industry, along with numerous peer-reviewed articles with journals includingNew Political Economy, Business and Politics, Asian Survey, Journal of East Asian Studies, Australian Journal of International Affairs, Resources PolicyandEnergy Policy.
In 2012, he has been awarded a competitive Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award. Vlado has been cited in two submissions to the Australian Senate “inquiry into foreign investment by state-owned entities”; and a submission to the UK Parliament’s Energy and Climate Change committee’s “inquiry into UK deepwater drilling — implications of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill”. In November 2012, he was invited as a witness to the Australian House of Representatives, Standing Committee on Economics “inquiry into Australia’s oil refinery industry”. In December 2012, he was invited by the Asian Development Bank to participate in the workshop on “Ensuring Energy Security in Asia and the Pacific”. In 2011, he was invited to participate in the prestigious JENESYS East Asia Future Leader Programme, “Energy Security: Advancements in Cooperation in the East Asian Region”, organized by Japan Foundation. Vlado has given over 50 lectures at various universities.
Most recently, in August 2012, Vlado delivered a course on International Policy and Geopolitics of Energy and Resources at the University College London, School of Energy and Resources, Australia. His publications feature as compulsory course readings at Cambridge University and Peking University. Vlado’s current research focus is on the political economy of mining and energy sectors, and on energy security in the Asia-Pacific region.
The award-winning Griffith English Language Institute (GELI) based at Griffith University has beaten 200 International Development Program test centres to be named world’s best.
At the recent International English Language Testing System (IELTS) conference in Hong Kong, Griffith received top honours by taking out the prestigious Performance Excellence Award for its commitment to quality English language testing.
“Each year, IELTS Australia hosts a conference for their global network of more than 200 test centres acknowledging the best in each category with an award,” said Pamela Humphreys, GELI Deputy Director.
“It’s like the Oscars except that the nominations aren’t known until each award is announced,” Ms Humphreys said.
“The IDP’s Performance Excellence Award is like the Best Picture Award — it’s the final and most prestigious of all — and I could hardly believe it when they announced we had won,” she said.
The award recognises Griffith’s commitment to quality and distinction in all aspects of test delivery, and is an acknowledgement of the test centre’s sustained commitment to quality, integrity and customer service.
“I am so proud of the team — this award is due to their hard work and dedication over many years,” Ms Humphreys said.
In 2013, Griffith University also won the International Education Association of Australia’s Best Practice/Innovation in International Education excellence award for the Griffith English Language Enhancement Strategy.
The national award recognises the outstanding work of the institute and its ground-breaking developments in international education.
“My colleagues and I are passionate about enhancing academic English language proficiency and it is an honour to be rewarded for our efforts,” Ms Humphreys said.
Since opening in 2006, the Griffith IELTS test centre has used the internationally recognised IELTS test to measure the English language proficiency of thousands of people in Queensland.
Located on the bus-way at Griffith’s Mount Gravatt campus, the test is available to anyone who needs an English language proficiency test.
IELTS is the most utilised English language proficiency test used in Australia and in many other countries in the world, with more than two million people taking the test annually.
In Australia, IELTS is taken for three main reasons:
For evidence of language proficiency to gain entry to academic study
For migration requirements for and visa applications to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)
For professional registration (engineers, nurses, teachers, etc).
Students take the IELTS test before they commence study and Griffith students have an opportunity to sit the test at the point of graduation via the subsidised test initiative IELTS4grads
Griffith University will lead and shape the Australian tourism landscape into the future through “vital” research conducted under the banner of its all-new Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT).
Unveiled today (Mar 27) at Griffith’s Gold Coast campus by Queensland Tourism and Major Events Minister Jann Stuckey, GIFT will have relevance and outcomes effective at both academic and industry levels.
“The importance of tourism to the national economy can never be understated and it’s extremely satisfying to see a Queensland institution become a vital conduit between government, industry and marketing organisations within the sector,” Minister Stuckey said.
“As an international knowledge provider, the Griffith Institute for Tourism is well positioned to bring about positive, sustainable change within an industry worth more than $22 billion to the Queensland economy.”
Inaugural Director of GIFT, Professor Susanne Becken, (left) will lead a research team with a dedicated focus on sustainable tourism.
“The Griffith Institute for Tourism is engaged with local, national and international industry organisations, academic institutions and other organisations which share our commitment to making a difference for a sustainable tourism sector,” she said.
Minister Stuckey also highlighted the new institute’s appropriate location. “Australia’s tourism capital attracts more than 11 million visitors annually, forming a large proportion of Queensland’s collective tally from interstate and overseas each year.”
Industry Headway
Established to undertake and disseminate world-leading research in tourism, GIFT is also making major operational headway.
Strategic alignments are being formed with United Nations World Tourism Organisations, plus a memorandum of understanding is already at an advanced stage with Gold Coast City Council, Gold Coast Tourism, as well as international tourism and environmental management and advisory group, EC3 Global.
The charter of GIFT’s strategic purpose will be determined by an advisory board chaired by tourism industry heavyweight and Griffith University lecturer, Don Morris AO.
“The initial focus of research at GIFT will be the customer experience, China tourism, water and energy efficiency in tourism, indigenous tourism attractions and education, and tourism in natural areas,” Professor Becken added.
“Excellence draws excellence and already GIFT is attracting world-class academics keen to advance and share their expertise under the banner of GIFT for the benefit of the entire tourism industry.”
Reinforcing the research epicentre status of GIFT, a second white paper on water, that was supported by the EarthCheck Research Institute (ERI), together with Ecolab (ECL), was last week presented by Professor Susanne Becken during a lecture in Hong Kong to mark World Water Day 2014.
The paper titled, “From Challenges to Solutions: Providing the Business Case,” shows that water and its combined effect with energy use could become the most contested resource of the future, calling on the tourism industry — a heavy user of water – to act fast.
Tourism industry insights:
Leo Jago — Tourism Research Australia, Chief Economist and General Manager
“Without the knowledge that solid academic research can provide, Australia’s tourism industry will not realise its true potential. It is critical that government policy and industry activity in the tourism sector are informed by the depth of research expertise that only institutions like GIFT can provide. There are few research institutions in Australia with a focus on tourism and so the launch of GIFT will be invaluable for delivering on Australia’s national tourism research agenda that was recently updated to focus research activity for the benefit of industry and government. GIFT has brought together a group of researchers and research affiliates that will ensure that its outputs are truly world class.”
Paul Donovan — Gold Coast International Airport, Chief Operating Officer, Chairman Gold Coast Tourism
“I’ve no doubt GIFT will do wonderful things for our industry. The calibre of research leaders is world-class, and their knowledge and insights as to how we can continue to foster tourism growth into the future will be of significant benefit. I’d like to congratulate Griffith University on taking this step and urge our industry to get behind the initiative and take advantage of the knowledge that will be on offer.”
Working at Amnesty International and interviewing Australian politicians and musicians are just some of the things international student Eduardo Jordan Perez has enjoyed during his Masters degree at Griffith.
It was while Eduardo, from Mexico, was studying a computer science degree that his interest in journalism was first piqued.
“My friends asked me to volunteer as a producer at the university’s radio station,” he said.
“I enjoyed it so much that once I completed my degree I continued working on the radio show and then decided to study journalism overseas.”
After researching many universities he enrolled in a Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication degree through Griffith’s School of Humanities in 2011, adding on an Honours year once completed.
“It has been one of the most intense and rewarding times of my life.”
As part of his program Eduardo gained an internship with Amnesty International Australia. His role included covering stories, uploading content to the website, managing the picture database and developing the monthly electronic newsletter sent to more than 11,000 human rights supporters across Queensland.
“The internship gave me a thorough understanding of the communications area as well as the human rights movement,’’ he said.
After completing his Amnesty Internship, Eduardo began working as a producer on The Wire — a national community radio program broadcast to 180 community radio stations across Australia — where he has been for the past two and half years.
“The fact that you learn something new every time you step into the studio amazes me so much.
“I have had the opportunity to interview Indigenous artists like Shelley Morrison and Kutcha Edwards, human rights advocates, professors and politicians including Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Sydney Deputy Lord Mayor Marcelle Hoff.”
Eduardo is also the 2014 National Secretary for the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations for 2014. He assisted the Annual Council Meeting in Hobart last year representing the Griffith University Postgraduate Students Association.
Now studying a PhD in journalism at Griffith, Eduardo is researching how editors select international news in Australia and wholesale news organisations such as Reuters or Australian Associated Press affect the gate-keeping process of Australian media.
“Australia has given me the time of my life learning what I am passionate about and applying that knowledge to the benefit of this nation, without forgetting my roots,’’ he said.
Until recently, Australia-Indonesia relations were seen as being at historic highs under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. However, after ten years in power the Indonesian constitution prevents the man known as SBY from serving another term in the top job.Australia’s diplomatic relationship with Indonesia has gone worse following the revelations about Australian spying on the President and his inner circle back in 2009. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he regretted any embarrassment the reports of spying may have caused the President, and stressed the importance of Australia’s relationship with Indonesia. On April 9, Indonesians will go to the polls, to elect Members of the National Parliament. 
