Staff Notices: 10 - 13 March 2009

Table of Contents

• Uni in the News
• General Information for Staff
• Events
• Training and Development Opportunities
• Information for Researchers

Uni in the News

Schools rally to uni's call

School students across Australia have responded to a call from the University of Adelaide to help unravel the mystery of how genetic mutations are linked to cerebral palsy. Expected to be the world's biggest study into the genetic condition, the University says it has already attracted students and their parents willing to provide cheek swabs. "In order to understand how cerebral palsy is caused at a genetic level, we need a large sample size in the community... more young people aged between five and 18 were still needed," said the study's leader, Professor Alastair MacLennan, Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology & Head of the South Australian Cerebral Palsy Research Group.

Source: News.com.au (2 March 2009)
Uni full story: School students get cheeky for cerebral palsy research
Eurekalert story on 2008 Launch: 10,000 people in world-first cerebral palsy study

Want more Uni news coverage? Sign up for latest relevant Google Alerts.

General Information for Staff

Legal & Risk newsletter

The first edition of the Legal & Risk newsletter - UNIlink - is now accessible from our webpage: www.adelaide.edu.au/legalandrisk.

The newsletter will provide updates on major projects (risk, legal compliance, contract management and business continuity), and general material to help increase understanding of legal and risk issues across the University. The newsletter is one part of the communication and implementation plan for the major projects and we hope you find it helpful.

Introduction to Tertiary Teaching

An introduction for newly appointed academic teaching staff (sessional, contract or tenurable). This workshop is an opportunity for new staff to meet with CLPD staff, to focus on initial learning and teaching issues and to plan access to further support and development opportunities available to academic teaching staff at the University of Adelaide.

Date/Time: Monday 16 March 2009, 4:00pm-6:00pm
Venue: CLPD, Level 2, Schulz Building West

For further information visit the Learning and Teaching website.
To enrol in this workshop, please email Marilyn Purdy or phone 8303 5771.

Eco-Minds Challenge 2009 - Call to the Faculties

Students can win a trip to New Zealand to be a part of the Eco-Minds Youth Forum from 25-30 May 2009, where students will work towards solving global environmental problems through a multi-disciplinary approach with other students from the Asia-Pacific region. Applicants must write a 1,000-word essay on an energy supply system in Australia, discussing two of the following aspects: Environmental, Social, and Economic.

Download: attached flyer.
Applications close on 27 March. Visit: www.eco-minds.bayer.com
Email the Coordinator, or phone (02) 4736 0892.

In the 2007 Eco-Minds Challenge, Rachel Cain (University of Adelaide fourth-year student in Bachelor of Laws and Environmental Studies) was one of three selected to represent Australia at the Eco-Minds Youth Forum in Thailand. The forum is endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Adelaide onLION

Staff are invited to join Adelaide onLION, the University's exclusive online community - it's fun, it's free, and it's a fantastic opportunity to engage with the wider alumni community! Visit: www.alumni.adelaide.edu.au/adelaideonlion

Vacant Positions

www.adelaide.edu.au/jobs/

Events

The AAS Rudi Lemberg Lecture & The Henry Bennett Lecture in Genetics

"Photosynthesis Explains Cytoplasmic Inheritance. CoRR!"
Presented by: Professor John F. Allen, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary College, University of London.
Date/Time: Friday 13 March 2009, 2:00pm includes light refreshments
Venue: School of Molecular & Biomedical Science, Mawson Lecture Theatre, 1st Floor Breakout Space, Molecular Life Sciences Building, North Terrace Campus

Abstract: Chloroplasts and mitochondria are energy-converting organelles in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. Chloroplasts in plant cells perform photosynthesis; the capture and conversion of the energy of sunlight.
Mitochondria in both plant and animal cells perform respiration; the release of this stored energy when work is done. Chloroplasts and mitochondria also contain small, specialised genetic systems to make some of their own proteins. Both the genetic and the energy-converting systems of chloroplasts and mitochondria are descended, with little modification, from those of the free-living bacteria that these organelles once were. Most genes for proteins of chloroplasts and mitochondria are, however, now located on chromosomes in the nuclei of eukaryotic cells. There they code for precursor proteins that are made in the cytosol for subsequent import into organelles.
So why are any characters at all inherited through the cytoplasm? In other words, why, in evolution, did a few bacterial genes remain in organelles, refusing to join the nuclear, emigrant majority?

Stella Miles Franklin: the South Australian dimension

The Friends of the University of Adelaide Library invite you to a FREE author event with Professor Jill Roe AO.
Date/Time: Thursday 19 March 2009, 6:00pm for 6:30pm
Venue: Ira Raymond Exhibition Room, Barr Smith Library
Seating is limited.

Miles Franklin became an international publishing sensation at the age of 21 with the publication of her novel, My Brilliant Career. She was also a journalist, nationalist, feminist, larrikin, and founder of the prestigious Miles Franklin Award.

In her new book, Stella Miles Franklin: a biography, Jill Roe AO, Professor Emerita of History (Macquarie University), rediscovers for us a life of enormous range never before examined in its totality.

Bookings by Tuesday 17 March to Robina Weir, phone: 8303 4064
Full details are on the University Library web site.

Adelaide and its Water Future

Friends of the Waite Arboretum AGM
Date/Time: Monday 6 April 2009, 7:30pm
Venue: Urrbrae House, Waite Campus

It will be followed at 8:00pm by a talk presented by Professor John Argue, Adjunct Professor of Water Engineering, Urban Water Resources Centre (UniSA) on:

"Water in Adelaide: understanding the crisis"

Abstract: The current 'water crisis' has assumed a place of prime importance for political and community leaders across the nation, and in the media. Adelaide, in common with all other major population centres south of the Tropics, is subject to water restrictions which are set to continue until substantial rains occur in our local catchments and in those of the Murray-Darling Basin. We are informed that we are experiencing "...the worst drought since records have been kept" or that it is, perhaps, the "once in 1,000 years drought" that has spelt the doom of the River Murray lower lakes. Then there is El Nino and climate change to contend with...

Download: Registration Form or phone 8357 1679.

Emeritus Professor Michael Detmold - Lectures and Dinner

In February 2008, Professor Michael Detmold retired from the University of Adelaide.

To mark Professor Detmold's long and distinguished career in law, members of the University community are invited to attend a series of lectures presented by Emeritus Professor Detmold on:

The Law of Love
Dates/Time: Tuesday 24 March; Wednesday 25 March; Tuesday 31 March; Wednesday 1 April 2009, 6:00pm includes light refreshments;
Dinner in Professor Detmold's honour follows the last lecture on 1 April.
Venue: Moot Court Room, Law School (Ligertwood Building)
FREE Public Lectures.

Details of the dinner and tickets are available from the Law School. RSVP for lecture to Fotina Agalidis, phone 8303 5557.

School of Mathematical Sciences - Fluid Mechanics Seminar

Understanding optimal linear transient growth in complex-geometry flows
Speaker: Associate Professor Hugh Blackburn (Monash University)
Date/Time: Friday 27 March 2009, 3:00pm
Venue: Napier, LG29
All welcome.

Further information about the Fluid Mechanics Seminar series can be found at: www.maths.adelaide.edu.au/news/events.php?fluids.
Enquiries to Jim Denier.

Training & Development Opportunities

Managing Inappropriate and Difficult Behaviour

This workshop is for Heads of School, Unit Managers and supervisors and provides the opportunity to develop and practice skills in effective handling of difficult behaviour and harassment issues. In the workshop you will be provided with relevant and practical methods for initiating difficult conversations addressing behaviour and it will aid you in fulfilling your responsibilities, managing risk in relation to fair treatment issues and maintaining good collegial and working relationships.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the workshop you will have a good understanding at a practical level of:

• Why Fair Treatment is important
• Why early intervention is important
• Techniques to assist you to intervene and to handle complaints
• How to talk with alleged sender of negative social behaviour at work

This workshop is for managers and supervisors.

Date/Time: Wednesday 25 March 2009, 9:00am-1:00pm

Please email Janet Hart or phone 8303 3130.

Peer Review of Teaching for Promotion Purposes

This ALTC-funded project of the University of Adelaide, Griffith University, University of Wollongong and University of New South Wales is holding a Dissemination workshop.

Date: Friday 13 March 2009
Venue: Equinox Room, Level 4, Union House

Session 1: Internal Peer Review of Teaching

Presentation, 9:00am-9:45am
Workshop, 9:45am-12:30pm

This session will present protocols and tools for summative peer review of classroom teaching, and give participants the opportunity to try them in a workshop setting.

Session 2: External Peer Review of Teaching

Presentation, 1:30pm-2:15pm
Workshop, 2:15pm-5:00pm

This session will present the protocols and tools developed for summative peer review of written applications for promotion, and give participants the opportunity to try them in a workshop environment.

Download workshop flyer.

RSVP via email to Kerrie Le Lievre or phone 8303 6923.

Understanding and Analysing Financial Information - 26/27 March - Executive Education Unit

If you are a middle to senior level manager or professional, this program will support your decision making, by providing an increased understanding when analysing and interpreting accounting and financial information.

Understanding and Analysing Financial Information introduces you to basic accounting methods and concepts and shows you how and when to apply them to a range of business situations.

Discount: 10% discount for University staff.

For further information: Amanda Bramwell, Executive Education Unit, phone 8303 3268.

WPDN Book Club

The Women's Professional Development Network Book Club 2009 schedule has been announced!

The first Book Club will be held -
Date/Time: Thursday 12 March 2009, 1:00pm-2:00pm
Venue: Room 13.01, Level 13 Business School, 10 Pulteney St, Adelaide.
All welcome.

Guest Author: Rosanne Hawke
Hosted by Convenor: Allayne Webster

Children's Author Rosanne Hawke started writing whilst living in Pakistan and working as an Acting School Principal of a girls boarding college. Rosanne has since published many books for children and teenagers - her latest offering being 'The Last Virgin in Year 10': a candid and funny novel about finding the courage to be yourself.

Further details at: www.adelaide.edu.au/wpdn/bookclub2009homepage.html.

Professional & Continuing Education

Language Courses

Open to all adult learners, the University of Adelaide's Centre for Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) offers a wide range of language courses catering for beginners to the more advanced. Full year courses commence in late March and run for 30 weeks, one evening a week.

Languages offered:
Arabic
Italian
Chinese (Mandarin)
French
German
Indonesian
Japanese
Russian
Spanish

Discount: 5% discount for University of Adelaide staff and students.

For further information or to enrol please email Rupert Irudayaraj or phone 8303 4777, or visit our website at: www.adelaide.edu.au/pce to view our extensive program offering.

Upcoming Professional Development Courses

Essentials of NLP at Work
Wednesday 11 March

Contract Management
Tuesday 17 March

Confident and Persuasive Presentations
Tuesday 24 March

Understanding and Using Statistics
Friday 27 March

From Team Member to Team Leader
Wednesday 1 April

Discount: 5% discount for University of Adelaide staff.

For further information or to enrol please email Jo Carrick or phone 8303 4777, or visit our website at: www.adelaide.edu.au/pce to view our extensive program offering.

Information for Researchers

Adelaide Research & Innovation

The latest commUNIcate RESEARCH news is available online.

Research Branch

See the Research Branch Bulletin for the latest news on major grant rounds & information sessions, a selection of competitive grants, prizes & funding opportunities now open.