From UNE laboratory to a life in bird song

February 28, 2008

After 20 years of productive research in Britain and the United States, Dr Patrice Adret has visited the laboratory at the University of New England that set him on his scientific career.

Dr Adret (pictured here), from the University of Chicago, is a neuroscientist who works on vocal learning in songbirds – a field with important implications for medical research on neurological conditions such as speech disorders and epilepsy.

He conducted his postgraduate research in UNE's Physiology Department, completing his PhD thesis in 1988. Late last month his PhD supervisor at UNE, Emeritus Professor Lesley Rogers, and her colleague Professor Gisela Kaplan, welcomed him back to their Centre for Neuroscience and Animal Behaviour at UNE, where, surrounded by current postgraduate students, he relived his postgraduate days.

"I'm very excited to be back at UNE for the first time since completing my postgraduate studies here," Dr Adret said. "The lab feels very familiar – even after 20 years."

Arriving at UNE from his native France in 1985, Patrice Adret found himself (after a few months of self-directed research) under the supervision of Professor Rogers – a world-renowned authority on brain lateralisation in the development and behaviour of the domestic chicken. Working on visual lateralisation in feral chickens, his PhD research flourished at UNE, where he learnt many experimental techniques that he has continued to use throughout his scientific career.

That career continued – after he had completed his PhD studies in 1988 – at St Andrew's University in Scotland where, working with Dr P.J.B. Slater in the study of zebra finches, he made significant contributions to one of the most keenly-pursued research endeavours in comparative neuroscience – an understanding of how birds learn to sing. This is of particular interest to neuroscientists because songbirds learn their songs through processes of vocal copying and auditory feedback analogous to those employed by human infants when learning to speak. A fascinating difference between birds and humans, however, is that neurons controlling those processes in the songbird brain are able to regenerate – after periods of atrophy – with the seasonal onset of singing.

One of Dr Adret's contributions at St Andrew's was the development of a technique for inducing finches to overcome their resistance to learning songs from a tape recorder. He discovered that this could be achieved by allowing the birds to control the tape recorder themselves by pecking an on/off button.

After six years at St Andrew's ("good years" as he remembers them) he moved to the University of Chicago to work with the prominent neuroscientist Dr Daniel Margoliash in his attempt to identify a network of neurons corresponding to the "acquired auditory template" that is thought to guide birds through the process of vocal imitation. Their work continues, and, together with Dr Kurt Hecox, they are exploring the possibility of using the songbird brain (and particularly those neural networks associated with vocal learning) as a model in developing treatments for epilepsy in children.

Another goal is to apply an understanding of neuronal regeneration in songbirds to possible treatments for brain damage in humans – including damage caused by diseases such as Alzheimer's.

During his visit to UNE, Dr Adret presented a lecture on the search for the "song-learning template", prefacing his discussion of auditory memory in songbirds with comments on his own "wonderful memories" of UNE.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:10 PM

Essay on comparative federalism wins national prize

February 28, 2008

An essay by Braeden Donnelly, a student at the University of New England, has won second place in the 2007 Governor-General's Undergraduate Essay Competition.

More than 700 students from universities around Australia submitted essays in the competition. From a range of nine possible topics, Braeden chose one that required him to analyse contrasting patterns in the development of federalism in Canada and Australia, and suggest lessons that nations like Iraq might draw from such an analysis when contemplating the introduction of a federal system.

The annual competition, organised by the Constitution Education Fund of Australia (CEFA), is designed to appeal to students from all Faculties. Braeden, who is studying for qualifications in Arts, Law and Business, included the Politics unit "Comparative Federalism: Australia, USA and Canada" in his UNE program last year. "The unit covered much of the ground required for the essay," he said.

UNE's Dr Jim Maher, the lecturer for – and creator of – the "Comparative Federalism" unit, said that the essay topic had "fitted nicely" into the framework of the course.

Braeden's closely-argued essay examines judicial and financial influences on the contrasting development of federalism in the two nations, pointing out that "the movement of Canadian federalism towards decentralisation comes as a natural consequence of its cultural and linguistic heterogeneity", while "the culturally homogeneous nature of Australia drives it towards further centralisation". "The ethnic and religious diversity of Iraq is analogous to that of Canada," he concludes, "and logically drives Iraq towards a coordinate federal system."

In addition to writing the essay, Braeden had to undergo a rigorous interview by a panel of examiners including Justice Michael Kirby (High Court of Australia) and Professor George Winterton (Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Sydney). After interviewing Braeden and the other finalists (including the first-place winner from La Trobe University), Justice Kirby said he had "thoroughly enjoyed hearing intelligent young people present their arguments". The other essay topics on offer dealt with faith and religion in Australian public policy, the possibilities of admitting Pacific microstates into the federation, media laws, citizenship, voting for prisoners, and the High Court and "Workchoices".

Braeden, who comes from Tenterfield, is a resident of UNE's St Albert's College, where he is a Resident Adviser. He will travel to Sydney in March for a dinner with other finalists, judges and CEFA Trustees and Executives, and will be presented with his prize (including a cheque for several thousand dollars) by the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, during a ceremony to be held at Admiralty House.

David Furse-Roberts, a UNE Law student, won sixth place in the 2006 Governor-General's Undergraduate Essay Competition.

Entries are now open for the 2008 competition, and CEFA has set aside $33,000 in prize money. Those interested in entering should go to the CEFA Web site at http://www.cefa.org.au or contact Dr Maher on (02) 6773 3810.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Braeden Donnelly (right) with Dr Jim Maher.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 02:32 PM

UNE students shine in US meat judging competition

February 27, 2008

Dylan Duncan, a student at the University of New England, has won his section in the National Western Intercollegiate Meat Judging Competition in the United States.

Dylan, who comes from Narrabri, is one of three UNE students included in the five-member Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Team that toured the United States in the recent summer vacation. The team competed successfully in the national American competition, held at the Denver Stock Show in Colorado, where Dylan won the Junior Beef Judging Competition.

He and his UNE team-mates Amy Watt from Condobolin and Kathleen Marshall from Tamworth were among more than 80 tertiary students from around Australia who competed for a place in the Australian team at the Australian Championships held at UNE last July and sponsored by industry groups including Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). Fifteen of the 80 were selected to give a presentation, and then 10 of those were chosen to take part in a week of industry tours and work experience with MLA in Brisbane. Finally, the field was narrowed down to five students who went on to represent Australia in the United States, where three of them achieved places in the top 20 overall.

Dylan (who is studying for a Bachelor of Rural Science degree) and Amy (who is studying for a Bachelor of Agriculture degree) are both residents of St Albert's College at UNE, while Kathleen (also a Bachelor of Agriculture student) is a former resident of the College. [A photograph of Kathleen Marshall (left), Dylan Duncan and Amy Watt can be seen by clicking on the meat image displayed here.]

Coaching the Australian participants was very much a team effort, with Bob Gaden, Technical Specialist with the Beef Industry Centre (based at UNE) of the NSW Department of Primary Industries providing valuable training before the Australian Championships, and Jason Strong from Catapult Genetics and Rebecca Underwood from MLA training the Australian team.

The team's success is particularly impressive as they had to learn the American grading system very quickly. As well as competing, they were treated to a range of experiences – including industry tours across the United States, specialist training with US meat science professors, a visit to the US Meat Research Facilities in Clay Centre, and some recreational skiing.

The students found the whole experience very much worthwhile. "It was an eye-opener," said Dylan, "and a unique opportunity to witness first-hand the American meat industry and how it works – particularly the sheer size of the industry and the massive amounts of funding it receives.” Amy said the trip had enabled them to "place the Australian meat industry into a world perspective, highlighting differences in size and demand".

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:46 AM

Tasmanian student wins college memorial scholarship

February 26, 2008

Kate Nicholas, a first-year student at the University of New England and resident of Robb College, is the inaugural recipient of a scholarship that honours the memory of a former Robb College student.

Kate (pictured here), from York Plains in Tasmania, is an all-round achiever, excelling both academically and athletically. She is studying for a Bachelor of Agribusiness degree with the help of the Robb College Foundation's first Darren Ellis Fund Sporting Scholarship.

The Scholarship is named after Darren Ellis, a former Robb College student. "At the end of 1984, Darren had completed four years of University life at Robb College," said the Head of the College, Janice Moran. "On his final day he left the College and the University to embark on his new life and career. That same day he died in a tragic car accident."

"Darren was a substantial contributor to sport and a range of extra-curricular activities within Robb College," Ms Moran continued. "His achievements in sport and other activities at Trinity Grammar School were also outstanding. Both at school and Robb College he was a significant all-round achiever, but in a relatively quiet and humble manner.

"The Darren Ellis Fund is an effort to remember a remarkable Robb College student by providing financial assistance to individual students through scholarships, as well as funds for various sporting and cultural activities within the College."

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 12:06 PM

Armidale welcomes its overseas students

February 25, 2008

More than 100 students, newly arrived at the University of New England from 21 overseas countries, received a civic welcome to Armidale in the Town Hall last Friday.

They represented a total of 222 new overseas students at UNE this year – about double last year's number.

The Mayor, Councillor Peter Ducat, said it was "a great honour" for him to be welcoming the students in a Town Hall decked with the flags of so many countries. "And it's a great honour for Armidale that you've chosen our city as a place to study," he continued.

Councillor Ducat welcomed each of the UNE students – as well as several overseas students at Armidale schools – in person. "The people of Armidale enjoy the cultural experiences you bring," he told them. "We want to participate in your cultures, and we encourage you to participate in ours."

He invited them to continue their relationship with Armidale after completing their current study programs by returning for further study or on business.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, urged the students to enjoy their Armidale experience and to consider the possibility of subsequent degree courses at the University. He remarked on the increasing numbers of overseas students coming to Armidale.

The largest national group at the welcome, comprising more than 40 students, was that from China, while the second largest (20 students) was from Japan. Among the largest of the other groups were those from Bhutan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Thailand.

Sayaka Nunotani (pictured here), a second-year UNE student from Osaka in Japan, thanked the City and the University on behalf of all the international students. Ms Nunotani said she had arrived at UNE's English Language Centre in 2006 and, having completed the English language course, was now in the second year of a Bachelor of Business degree program.

"Coming to Armidale has changed my life," she said, "and I feel very lucky that I made the choice to come here. On behalf of us all, I thank the people of Armidale who have accepted and welcomed us into their community."

She told the newly-arrived students that Armidale – with its University – was a place of "fresh air and clear skies", surrounded by a rich natural environment, and inhabited by friendly people.

THE PHOTOGRAPH of Sayaka Nunotani displayed here expands to include Professor Alan Pettigrew (left) and Councillor Peter Ducat.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 06:13 PM

Thai visitors impressed with UNE's medical teaching facilities

February 22, 2008

A group of 30 Thai health workers visited the University of New England this week to tour the university's newly opened Rural Medical School and visit local health facilities.

The group - which included hospital directors, doctors, university lecturers and government officials - met with a range of UNE staff during their visit, including the Vice-Chancellor, PVC Dean of the Professions, and the Heads of the Schools of Health and Rural Medicine. They also attended presentations in Tamworth by representatives from the Hunter New England Health Service and the North West Slopes Division of General Practice.

Several of the visitors were from Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, Thailand, an institution with which UNE already enjoys strong links, including a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two universities in Thailand last year.

Boonchob Pongpanich, a Professor of Medicine at Mahidol University and former advisor to the President of Naresuan University, said he had been very impressed with the facilities at UNE's new medical school, which he said had been put in place in a surprisingly short timeframe.

Prof Boonchob said he hoped the visit would lead to further collaboration, not only between UNE and Naresuan University, but other Thai institutions as well.

"There are a lot of opportunities for exchanging both instructors and students at the undergraduate and postgraduate level between our two countries," he said.

In an address to the Thai group, Prof John Fraser - Head of the School of Rural Medicine at UNE - said that Australia and Thailand faced many of the same health care challenges.

"We both face ageing populations, higher morbidity rates in rural areas, and a shortage of rural medical health personnel," Prof Fraser said. "In both countries, we are also trying to increasingly shift our emphasis from treatment to prevention."

"I feel confident that over time we can foster collaboration between our two countries in research and staff exchanges that will help us deal with these shared challenges," he said.

The group flies home to Thailand today.

Posted by Leon Braun at 03:21 PM

Rod Gerber remembered in light-filled meeting room

February 22, 2008

Memories of Rod Gerber, a loved and respected former Dean at the University of New England who died last year, will be kept alive in a UNE meeting room named in his honour.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, officially opened the Rod Gerber Meeting Room on Monday at a function attended by members of the Gerber family, former colleagues, students and friends, and representatives of the Armidale community including the Mayor, Councillor Peter Ducat.

The focal point of the meeting room is a striking portrait of Professor Gerber painted by local artist Don Gentle and donated by the Gerber family to the University. Elegantly furnished, the room (in Professor Pettigrew's words) "attests to the elegance of the man".

Professor Gerber was Dean of UNE's Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies from 1995 to 2002. Internationally recognised as a leader in the field of geography education, he is remembered by his colleagues and students as both "inspiring" and "compassionate".

"Rod had a very personal approach," said UNE's Professor Victor Minichiello in his introduction to Monday's proceedings, "and a lot of people were touched by that. He was a very generous leader." Professor Minichiello, who is Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the newly-formed Faculty of The Professions, said that many of the decisions taken by Professor Gerber had contributed to the strength of the new Faculty.

Professor Pettigrew welcomed Rod Gerber's wife Michelle, son Andrew, and daughters Elizabeth and Catherine. He said the enduring partnership between the University and the Gerber family was represented not only by the meeting room and the portrait, but also by the family's provision of an annual scholarship: the Rod Gerber Memorial Scholarship for a Higher Degree Research Student in the Faculty of The Professions.

"Thank you for allowing us to honour Rod in this way," he said.

Andrew Gerber thanked the University for dedicating the room in his father's memory. "It gives us great pride to see the portrait of Dad displayed in a room such as this," he said.

The Rod Gerber Meeting Room is a light-filled room on the top floor of the Education Building, Faculty of The Professions. The portrait of Professor Gerber is pictured here.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 10:31 AM

Minister launches Greenhouse Gas Office at UNE

February 21, 2008

The NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, visited the University of New England yesterday to launch a new phase in the life of the Primary Industries Innovation Centre (PIIC) – a collaborative venture between his Department and the University.

Mr Macdonald announced the appointment of Professor Bob Martin (pictured here) as the first full-time Director of PIIC, and the establishment of an Office for Rural Greenhouse Gas Studies within the UNE-based Centre.

Speaking during yesterday's event, The Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, and the Director-General of the Department of Primary Industries, Dr Richard Sheldrake, both emphasised – and celebrated – the truly collaborative nature of PIIC.

Dr Sheldrake predicted that the newly-announced Office would be "the powerhouse for greenhouse gas studies throughout Australia", adding that "our partnership with an organisation like UNE makes this possible". Professor Pettigrew highlighted the capacity of PIIC to call on the expertise of people from a wide range of disciplines. "It's a great testament to the idea of collaborative research into real-world problems," he said.

The event was chaired by the Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly and Member for Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay. Mr Torbay said the initiatives being announced came at a time when there was "a constructive debate occurring in rural areas" about agricultural practice in the face of climate change. "The opportunities are there," he said.

In announcing the appointment of a Director for PIIC, Mr Macdonald said Professor Martin – who is also the Director of DPI's Tamworth Agricultural Institute – was "widely acknowledged as an expert in farming systems research, with more than 35 years' experience building project teams in Australia and overseas".

"This stronger link between UNE and DPI will allow leading scientists from the two organisations to work together to develop robust solutions to major problems facing primary industries in north-west NSW," the Minister said. (Professor Martin, speaking after the event, pointed out that DPI brought to the Centre "a very strong applied research background and a widespread network of extension staff", while UNE brought its strengths in pure research and teaching.)

While launching the Office for Rural Greenhouse Gas Studies, Mr Macdonald released a discussion paper titled "Climate change research priorities for NSW primary industries". "The discussion paper is designed to provide advice on research priorities to help primary producers reduce future carbon emissions as well as adapt to any climate variation in which they may have to operate," he said.

The Minister's speech marked the opening of a two-day PIIC Symposium at UNE's Drummond and Smith College featuring reports on recently-completed, current, and proposed projects. Attending the symposium are about 50 researchers from DPI and UNE as well as the Chief Executive Officers of the UNE-based Cooperative Research Centres for the sheep, beef and poultry industries and the Director of the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit. This is the first annual symposium for PIIC, which was launched two years ago. The position of PIIC Director is jointly funded by DPI and UNE, and the Centre has external funding for current projects of more than $3.5 million.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 01:19 PM

Preeminent scholar of Japanese music history visits UNE

February 19, 2008

One of the world's preeminent scholars of Japanese music history has arrived at UNE for a one-month stay.

Prof Gerald Groemer of the University of Yamanashi in Kofu, Japan, has come to UNE under the Distinguished Visitor program, which brings notable academics to UNE to share their knowledge and forge links with UNE staff.

Prof Groemer is an expert in the fields of ethnomusicology and pre-20th century Japanese music. During his stay, he will give a public lecture on the prominent role of blind musicians in pre-Meiji Japan and continue a collaboration with UNE's Assoc Prof Hugh de Ferranti on the musical life of Osaka.

"Prof Groemer is probably the most prolific writer in English on Japanese music and performing arts history," Dr de Ferranti said. "He is a very important colleague, and I'm thrilled that we have been able to bring him over."

Prof Groemer's lecture will draw on material gathered over a period of 20 years for a recently completed history of blind musicians in Japan. The book - which is 2000 pages long, took eight years to write and is written in Japanese – might well represent, in the words of Dr de Ferranti, "the final word on this important topic".

Prof Groemer said that visually impaired musicians made up the core of the Japanese music scene before 1868 and that along with blind acupuncturists they comprised a powerful economic and political force in the Japan of the day.

"You cannot avoid talking about visually impaired performers if you want to talk about the history of Japanese music," Prof Groemer said. "This is not a subset of the study of traditional Japanese music - it's practically all of it."

A classically-trained pianist, Prof Groemer's interest in Japanese music was the indirect result of a hand injury that interrupted his performing career in the US.

"While I was waiting for it to heal, I started looking to other music of the world for inspiration, and Japanese music struck me as particularly interesting."

"It's about as different from Western music as you can get and still be music. I was attracted to the challenge of understanding something so different."

"Another thing that drew me to Japanese music was its similarity to a type of music I had always been interested in: post-war modernist Western music. The first time I heard the shakuhachi [a kind of Japanese flute], it sounded very modern to my ears: no beat, no harmony, not even a catchy tune. I found that very attractive."

Prof Groemer will remain at UNE until February 28. His lecture, which is hosted by the UNE Asia Centre, will be held at 4.30pm on Thursday, February 21 in Lecture Theatre A2 in the Arts Building. All are welcome.

For more information, contact Assoc Prof Hugh de Ferranti on 6773 3518 or at hdeferra@une.edu.au.

Posted by Leon Braun at 10:21 AM

Studies begin for UNE's first medical students

February 18, 2008

The first students ever to embark on a medical degree program at the University of New England began their studies today.

The 62 students, including three from New Zealand, nine from inter-State, and many from rural areas, comprise the "pioneer" cohort in UNE's School of Rural Medicine. The new School is the UNE component of the Joint Medical Program, run in collaboration with the University of Newcastle (UN) and Hunter New England Health (HNEH). This is the program's first year of teaching, with 100 students enrolled at UN as well as the 62 at UNE.

Early today, before teaching began, the students were welcomed to the program by Professor John Fraser (Head of the School of Rural Medicine at UNE), Professor Alan Pettigrew (Vice-Chancellor of UNE), Professor Victor Minichiello (Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of the Professions at UNE), Professor Michael Hensley from the University of Newcastle (Dean of Medicine – Joint Medical Program), and Dr Nigel Lyons (Chief Executive of HNEH).

All the speakers emphasised the importance of the Joint Medical Program for the future recruitment and retention of medical practitioners in northern NSW (as well as other non-metropolitan regions), and its significance as the first collaborative venture of its kind in Australia. "It's been very much a team effort," Professor Fraser said.

They also emphasised the scale of the achievement in turning what was a mere concept only two years ago into a reality, and thanked everyone involved. Professor Pettigrew remarked on the prevailing "sense of achievement" among the staff and "sense of excitement" among the students.

Professor Hensley thanked the students for "embarking on this career from which the community expects such a lot", and encouraged them to go on and "graduate at the end of 2012 as outstanding doctors". He pointed out that, under the system of "problem-based learning" that UN had developed for its medical degree course more than three decades ago and now shared with UNE, students were required "to be doctors from day one". This teaching method requires students, working in teams of eight, to analyse and solve problems presented to them by a tutor. Dr Lyons, who was among the fourth intake of medical students at UN, told the students that "problem-based learning" would give them "skills that will last for life".

The students themselves were unanimous in their enthusiasm for the program. Daniel Tilley from Foster in Victoria and Emily Lewis from Adelaide were typical of many in welcoming this opportunity to train for medical practice in a rural area. They were also excited about what lay before them over the next five years. "We've got this brand new, amazing anatomy lab," Emily said, "and I'm excited about going there later today."

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here, taken after today's welcome, expands to include students and staff of the School of Rural Medicine and managers of the Joint Medical Program.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:21 PM

Margaret Sharpe to guide language revival on Roper River

February 15, 2008

Thirteen years after her "retirement" from the University of New England, Margaret Sharpe is heading to the Northern Territory to take up a full-time position at Ngukurr on the Roper River.

She will be working as a community linguist for the Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre, helping Aboriginal people revive and relearn six local languages.

Among those languages is Alawa, the subject of a thesis that won Dr Sharpe a PhD degree from the University of Queensland in 1970.

She first visited Ngukurr in 1966, and has returned regularly to the remote community ever since. "I know quite a few people there – people now spanning three generations," she said. "I'm looking forward to living permanently among them, and to having a single focus – a job to be done. When you retire you get involved in so many things . . . ."

And when Dr Sharpe (pictured here) gets involved she really gets involved. Her move from Armidale to the Northern Territory will take her from the University (where, as an Honorary Research Fellow in Linguistics, she has been active in research and has done some online tutoring), local radio station 2ARM-FM (where she has been a presenter of classical music since 1986), the Armidale Symphony Orchestra and Armidale City Band (in which she has played bass trombone since 1983), and the UNE and Northern Tablelands Astronomical Society (of which she has been President for many years).

Dr Sharpe moved with her family from Brisbane to Armidale in 1978 to take up a position as lecturer at the College of Advanced Education, and spent the following 17 years with the CAE and the University. Although she enjoyed teaching in Aboriginal and multicultural studies, it was only after her retirement at 60 that she joined Linguistics – which, she said, was where she "really belonged".

Her keen interest in music – both as a listener and as a performer – began in childhood, when she learnt to play the piano and the flute. She has been able to combine this musical interest with her studies in Aboriginal language and culture, leading a research team in 1994-95 that, funded by a large grant from the Australian Research Council, investigated aspects of Aboriginal song and dance. In her new role at Ngukurr, she said, there might be opportunities to use traditional music as an aid to language learning.

In that role she will be working with the people teaching Aboriginal languages in local schools, and training Aboriginal people to take over the linguistic work. She will also be visiting the schools themselves, where her work is not unknown: a "Learner's Guide to Alawa" that she prepared some time ago for use in the Ngukurr community quickly found its way into schoolrooms.

While acknowledging that the current work in reviving Aboriginal languages "should have been done decades ago", she is enthusiastic about the increasing level of effort in that endeavour. "Things are happening now, and the schools and the people are interested," she said.

Margaret Sharpe will, undoubtedly, keep that interest very much alive in Ngukurr.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 01:18 PM

Worriers wanted for self-help study

February 14, 2008

Psychologists at the University of New England are looking for chronic worriers to participate in a study to see whether a self-help book could help people suffering from generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

GAD is a type of anxiety disorder characterised by excessive, uncontrollable worrying about everyday things--often out of all proportion with the actual source of the worry. The disorder is relatively common, affecting as much as 4 per cent of the general population. People with GAD may suffer a variety of symptoms in addition to worrying, including fatigue, muscle tension and insomnia.

"There are worriers, and there are worriers," said Dr John Malouff, the psychologist overseeing the study. "The people we're looking for will have worried about a wide variety of things for at least six months."

For the purposes of the study it doesn't matter whether the participants have actually been diagnosed with GAD, but they cannot be undergoing any other treatment for the disorder.

Participants will receive a free self-help manual written by two of the world's leading authorities on GAD. By reading the book and following its advice, they will learn relaxation methods, problem-solving strategies and ways to change their thinking--the same treatments that have proven effective in treating the disorder when administered by a trained psychologist in a therapy situation.

The study is expected to take several weeks to complete.

"What we're trying to see is whether people can achieve the same results as therapy without having to go to a therapist," Dr Malouff said. "We know that self-help books can be effective in treating a wide variety of disorders, and we want to know whether they can help people with GAD, too."

Self-help books had a number of advantages over therapy, Dr Malouff said, including affordability, convenience and avoiding the stigma some people associated with seeing a therapist.

People interested in participating in the study should contact Dr Malouff at jmalouff@une.edu.au.

Posted by Leon Braun at 12:34 PM

School of Rural Medicine welcomes 'pioneer' students

February 12, 2008

Sixty-two students at the University of New England set out yesterday as "pioneers" on a new rural road to the medical profession.

As part of this week's Orientation program at UNE, they were welcomed to the University's School of Rural Medicine by the transitional Head of the School, Professor John Fraser (as pictured here).

The School is the UNE component of the Joint Medical Program, run in collaboration with the University of Newcastle (UN) and Hunter New England Health. This is the program's first year of teaching, with 100 students enrolled at UN as well as the 62 at UNE. "Establishing the program has been a long-term project – and very much a team effort," Professor Fraser said. "And it's now bearing fruit."

"Our emphasis is on giving a high-quality medical education in a rural setting," he explained. "The local health professionals are very supportive of the program. They will be mentors and role models for the students, who will do most of their training in this region. The involvement of Hunter New England Health will facilitate clinical placements in hospitals and health centres throughout the region.

"This experience of NSW country practice will be part of a program that – overall – will train doctors to work anywhere in Australia or the world."

Among the students are three from New Zealand and nine from inter-State – including Emily Lewis from Adelaide who, at 17, is the youngest of the group. Emily said she chose UNE as the place to fulfil her long-term ambition of becoming a doctor. As for the future, "working as a GP in a rural practice would be good," she said.

Matt Ingram, from Sydney, said he would like to gain experience in an urban centre and then "take the skills into rural areas", while Harriet Ambrose – also from Sydney – aims at doing volunteer work overseas with the humanitarian medical agency Medecins Sans Frontieres. Careers in medical research are among the aims of others.

Many of the students are school-leavers, but there are some mature-age students as well. "This mixture of ages and experience will contribute to the richness of their educational experience," Professor Fraser said.

The students at UNE will follow the curriculum developed with outstanding success by the University of Newcastle and based on a process of "problem-based learning". "The students, working in teams of eight, analyse and solve problems presented to them by a tutor," Professor Fraser said. "This means that from day one they start 'working as doctors'."

He said the training in teamwork would prepare the students for the modern environment of medical practice, in which there was an increasing emphasis on working as part of a team.

On the morning of Monday 18 February the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, the Dean of Medicine - Joint Medical Program, Professor Michael Hensley from the University of Newcastle, and the Chief Executive of Hunter New England Health, Dr Nigel Lyons, will welcome the students to the Joint Medical Program's Bachelor of Medicine degree in the School of Rural Medicine at UNE. Teaching for the five-year course will start later that day.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 06:15 PM

Science students report on primary industry experience

February 11, 2008

An innovative project that links senior high-school science students with local primary industries and agricultural research organisations reaches its climax in Armidale this afternoon.

Eleven high-school students from Armidale and Tamworth will talk about their experiences in the Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE) project at a "reporting back session" at 5 pm in the Wicklow Hotel.

The Armidale/Tamworth program was organised through the national PICSE project's NSW hub, managed by Susanna Greig and Associate Professor Robin Jessop at the University of New England. This is the NSW hub's first year in the project.

Each of the 11 students received a PICSE Industry Placement Scholarship that allowed them to work with industry and research scientists in a local primary-industry setting in the week 14-18 January, after coming together earlier that month for a five-day Science to Industry Camp. At the camp they learnt about exciting developments in agricultural science, and career and research opportunities for science students.

A workshop for teachers last December demonstrated the scientific principles and research programs underlying agricultural businesses in the New England region.

The audience at today's "reporting back" session will include industry partners, UNE officials and participants, teachers and parents.

Ms Greig, the UNE-based Education Officer for PICSE, said she had "thoroughly enjoyed working with these students who took time in their summer school holidays to become involved in the Science to Industry Camp and the five-day industry placement to investigate careers in agricultural science".

The program introduced the students to agricultural science research taking place at UNE and the Tamworth Agricultural Institute, as well as the science supporting primary industries in Armidale, Tamworth and Guyra. "We'd like to acknowledge the financial support of UNE and the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training," Ms Greig said, "and thank scientists at UNE, the Tamworth Agricultural Institute, and many local agricultural businesses for their valuable input into the program."

The national PICSE program was initiated by Dr David Russell at the University of Tasmania in 1998, and spread to the University of Western Australia in 2002 and South Australia's Flinders University in 2005 before coming to UNE last year. Ms Greig said the program was designed to address a national decline in the number of skilled young people going into agricultural science courses and careers.

"This was the initial, trial program for the PICSE project in NSW," she said. "I am delighted to have heard only extremely positive feedback from all those involved."

Comments from students included: "To future students I'd say: 'Just do it!' The experience is worthwhile! You will make lots of great contacts, and it will open your eyes to what career options are available for scientists within the local agricultural industry."

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:37 PM

Orientation ushers in an exciting year at UNE

February 08, 2008

With 20 new courses – including a medical degree through the Joint Medical Program – on offer at the University of New England this semester, Orientation 2008 will usher in an exciting year for UNE.

This year's Orientation program will begin on Monday 11 February when – on the lawns of "Booloominbah" at 11 am – the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, will officially welcome new students to the University. This will be followed by an information session for parents and friends, before "Lifesaver Day" gets under way in UNE's Lazenby Hall.

"Lifesaver Day" is when student and community organisations set up stalls to alert new students to the vast potential for involvement – both on and off campus – in sporting, cultural, and community-oriented activities. It will include a free barbecue lunch, music presented by a live DJ, and the opportunity to win prizes in a treasure hunt. Active entertainment will be provided by a "Bucking Bull", "Gladiator Joust", and "Bouncy Castle" in the Central and Northern Courtyards.

A full program of informative activities throughout the week will include a series of talks on Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 February that will introduce new students to their areas of study. These talks will also include advice on career development, social ethics, information technology, study skills, and generally "settling in to UNE". To ensure that they are enrolling in the units that will best serve their educational and vocational needs, students can speak directly to academic staff at a "course advice" session in Lazenby Hall from 1 pm to 3 pm on Tuesday 12 February.

New students will have free use of the first-class sporting facilities at Sport UNE from 1 pm to 5 pm on Friday 15 February, and can take part in "freshers' sports games" (including tug-o'-war, sack race and three-legged race) between 2 pm and 3 pm that day.

Orientation will provide opportunities for new students to visit the University's student-run radio station, TUNE! FM. In doing so, they can get an idea of the contribution they might make to TUNE! as a volunteer, and the contribution it could make to their career aspirations. TUNE! FM will be broadcasting continuously from Lazenby Hall during "Lifesaver Day" and will broadcast updated Orientation information throughout the week.

UNE provides its students with a wide range of services, including counselling, careers advice, disability and equity support, chaplaincy and medical services, and assistance in finding off-campus accommodation and part-time and casual work. Information on how to access all of those services will be available throughout Orientation, and representatives of the services themselves will be on hand to give initial advice and assistance. A special orientation session for students not living in the residential colleges ("town students") at 10 am on Monday morning will help them with making social contacts and feeling at home in the university environment.

Ed Campbell, the Student Experience Liaison Officer at UNE, said he was looking forward to meeting all new students during Orientation, and to helping them throughout the year to make the most of the services – and the extra-curricular academic and social activities – the University offers.

For Orientation information in detail – including a series of podcasts containing the information presented in the introductory talks – go to: http://www.une.edu.au/for/current-students/orientation.

Orientation information specially for distance education students can be found at: http://blog.une.edu.au/deassist.

Orientation for international students began today, with special information sessions, welcoming events, and a barbecue lunch. The photograph displayed here shows two students from the United States at today's Orientation program: Anna Harrison from Washington State and Brett Tyrell from Wyoming.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:55 PM

Professor Albury appointed as Chief University Ombudsman

February 05, 2008

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, has announced the appointment of Professor W. R. Albury as UNE's Chief University Ombudsman.

Professor Pettigrew said that Professor Albury would bring "a wealth of experience and independence" to the role of Chief University Ombudsman, which was "to ensure that members of the University community are treated fairly by individuals, offices, committees, boards, or any other group within the University".

Professor Albury served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and then as UNE's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), before retiring at the end of 2004.

Since retirement, he has continued his association with the University as an Adjunct Professor and has been actively pursuing his research as a historian. "This has kept me in touch with UNE affairs," he said, "without involving me directly in day-to-day business. Since I won't be an employee of UNE in my new capacity, the arm's-length relationship will continue. This arrangement is designed to highlight the independence of the Chief University Ombudsman's role, and also to free it from the time constraints imposed by full-time employment responsibilities."

The Chief University Ombudsman is authorised to investigate and report on complaints from UNE students and staff only when all other channels of appeal or redress have been exhausted. But often the University Ombudsman office is approached before that point, and in those cases the Chief University Ombudsman provides advice on how the complaint can be pursued.

Professor Albury said that the work of the ombudsman was sometimes regarded as "a necessary evil", but that, in fact, it made a positive contribution to the improvement of University services. "Helping individuals resolve their problems is only one part of the job," he explained, "and the other part is recommending changes to University procedures that will reduce the likelihood of those problems occurring again."

"The University Ombudsman tradition is well established at UNE," he said. "This is a credit to all those who have worked in the area, and especially to my predecessors in what was then called the 'Senior UNE Ombudsman' role: Professor Eilis Magner and Associate Professor Cathryn McConaghy. I'm very grateful for the briefings that they gave me, and also for the advice and ongoing support of Dr Josie Fisher, who is continuing as a University Ombudsman."

More information about the University Ombudsman office can be found at http://www.une.edu.au/ombudsmen/.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:10 PM

Student leaders prepare for the college year

February 04, 2008

With the academic year about to begin, student leaders at the University of New England are undergoing a two-week training program that will prepare them not only for their current role on the UNE campus, but also for future positions of leadership and responsibility within the wider community.

UNE's unique residential system is well known for providing opportunities for the development of leadership skills. Within the colleges, Residential Leaders (including Resident Fellows and Assistants) play a key role in helping their fellow residents with all aspects of college life – from personal and academic problems to issues of safety and security. Residential Leaders are generally students in their third or fourth year of study, or graduates.

During a full-day program today, about 90 Residential Leaders from the seven colleges and the University flats (Wright Village) met UNE's counselling team to discuss the process of engagement with their fellow students and how to assist them when in difficulty. The Armidale solicitor Greg Moin and risk management consultant Murray Giles visited the campus to inform them about their legal and safety-related responsibilities, and they received training from UNE's Fire Officer, Scott Norton.

The day's program ends with a formal dinner at Robb College this evening.

The coordinator of the training program, David Ward (Head of Earle Page College), said that appointed positions as Residential Leader were highly sought-after within the college community. "Residential Leaders are a key support link between the students and the College Heads," Mr Ward said. "They're not expected to solve all problems, but they are expected to identify where help or change is needed."

"The program today covers the broad issues," he explained. "Then they'll go back and see how these can be applied in their individual colleges through a range of in-house workshops."

Today's program, following a series of individual team-building activities last week, brings together the Residential Leaders from all the colleges, enabling them to establish mutual support networks. "The day provides an outline of our legal responsibilities and duty of care," said Lynese Welsh, a Senior Resident Fellow at Robb College, "and it also allows us to meet our counterparts at the other colleges."

A related training program tomorrow and the following day is for members of the colleges' Junior Common-rooms and college clubs. This program, too, includes sessions on legal responsibilities and health and safety, but also includes sessions on financial management, minute-taking, event management, and the UNE Alcohol Policy.

The work of all these college leaders and office-bearers will begin in earnest during Orientation next week.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Earle Page College Residential Leaders (from left) Evatt Styles, Nick Ballam, Chris Cucuruto and Gwen Hall during today's training program.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:14 PM

Jo Woolmington: clear-sighted, compassionate historian and mentor

February 01, 2008

The University of New England's Mary White College celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and among the golden memories that the celebrations are sure to revive will be many of a former College Principal, Jo Woolmington.

Throughout her 51 years of residence in Armidale, Jo Woolmington brought her characteristic blend of clear-sightedness, enthusiasm, and sense of social responsibility to her many-faceted involvement in the life of the University and Armidale communities. She died on the 6th of December, aged 80.

Born, educated and married in England, Jo Woolmington (pictured here) arrived in Armidale in 1956 when her husband Eric joined the academic staff of UNE as a lecturer in Geography.

She quickly became involved in community organisations promoting education, employment, health and housing for Aboriginal people in Armidale. In 1957 she co-founded the University Players, which went on to stage at least two major productions a year in Armidale Town Hall.

After graduating from UNE in 1967 with a BA Honours degree, she became a tutor in the University's History Department. Her sensitive and ground-breaking study of the relationship between Aboriginal people and the Church in Australia during the first half of the 19th century, completed in 1979, earned her a PhD degree from UNE with a thesis titled Early Christian Missions to the Australian Aborigine: a study in failure. As a result of her research, she published two collections of documents with critical comments: Aborigines in Colonial Society 1788-1850 and Religion in Early Australia. They are both still highly regarded by researchers in these fields.

Jo Woolmington was Acting Principal of Mary White College in 1973, Principal from 1978 to 1982, and Acting Principal again in 1985 before the appointment of Jill Spilsbury as Principal. "Jo's achievement at Mary White was quite extraordinary," Ms Spilsbury said, "particularly as she performed her Principal's role on a half-time basis along with her academic position. She was close to – and supportive of – the students, and enriched College life with her talent and enthusiasm for drama and other cultural activities."

"Jo Woolmington was a much-loved former Principal," said the current Principal of Mary White College, Barb Shaw, "and many fond memories of her will be shared during this year's 50th anniversary celebrations."

"The 'Jo Woolmington Room' – a common-room in the College named in her honour – serves as a permanent catalyst for such memories," Mrs Shaw added.

As an academic, Dr Woolmington was appointed to a Lecturer's position at UNE in 1985, and held the position of Senior Lecturer when she retired in 1992. Geoff Quaife, a former Head of the History Department at UNE, speaking at her funeral service in Armidale, said that she had been "an excellent teacher", appreciated by her students for her "firm and resolute interpretation of events".

He went on to speak of her outstanding qualities as a mentor – qualities that played a vital role in her success both as College Principal and History Lecturer. "Despite her often formidable presence," he said, "there are numerous people out there whose stability and success can be attributed to the advice and support given to them by Jo during their period of vulnerability."

Jo Woolmington is survived by her son Jonathan and daughter Nicola.

THE PHOTOGRAPH of Dr Woolmington displayed here was taken in 1979 during her time as Principal of Mary White College.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 02:29 PM