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Staff Notices: 10 - 14 May 2010

Table of Contents

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

Uni in the News

Mammoth blood protein brought back to life

Adelaide researchers have played a pivotal role in bringing one protein of the extinct woolly mammoth back to life using ancient DNA from the bones of specimens found in Siberia. In Nature Genetics, an international team of researchers show how it used modern bacteria to recreate the main blood protein haemoglobin. Analysis of the haemoglobin has also told how the giant mammoth was able to survive harsh Arctic conditions, said the study's co-author Professor Alan Cooper, Director of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide. Professor Cooper said the technique can now be used on a range of extinct proteins to better understand the "soft biology" or physiology of lost species.

Source: ABC News, 3 May 2010
Uni full story: Resurrected mammoth blood very cool

Australia's global footprint one of the worst

Australia ranks among the world's 10 worst countries for environmental impact, according to research that found the richer a country, the greater its environmental footprint. Published in science journal PLoS ONE, research led by Professor Corey Bradshaw, Director of Ecological Modelling at the University of Adelaide's Environment Institute, found Australia's carbon emissions, rate of species threat and natural forest loss were the greatest contributors to its ninth-place ranking. "We are one of the highest per capita water users and carbon emitters in the world," Professor Bradshaw said. Countries were measured on a range of indicators, including fertiliser use, natural forest loss, habitat conservation, fisheries and other marine captures, water pollution, carbon emissions and species threat.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald & The Age, 6 May 2010
Uni full story: New study ranks countries on environment impact

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General Information for Staff

Academic Promotions - submission deadlines

Academic Staff and Titleholders at the University of Adelaide are reminded of the following Academic Promotions deadlines:

Applications for Academic Promotion to Levels B & C have now closed. References, directed to Human Resources, are required to support these applications by Tuesday 18 May 2010.

Level D - The application submission deadline is Friday 14 May, with references required by Friday 4 June.

Level E - The application submission deadline is Friday 18 June with references required by Friday 16 July.

The Academic Promotions Toolkit contains application forms, example applications, podcasts and handouts from the Academic Promotions Workshop and the Academic Promotions schedule.

Please contact Lucy Maynard on 8303 8006 if you require assistance in relation to Academic Promotions.

 

Prospective Students Office e-news

Staff are encouraged to get involved with Uni student recruitment activities. To find out more about the Prospective Students Office and how you can become involved, see the PSO e-news May 2010.

 

eChallenge 2010 calls aspiring entrepreneurs

The University of Adelaide is offering a share of $50,000 in cash and prizes to lure aspiring entrepreneurs to take part in its annual eChallenge program.

The eChallenge (Entrepreneurs' Challenge), hosted and organised by the Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation & Innovation Centre, is a business plan competition targeted at university students from any discipline. This competition is also open to students from other universities, TAFE and the broader community.

The eChallenge requires teams of two to six people, one of whom must be a currently enrolled student from any tertiary institution in South Australia - to develop a business plan, for a new previously unfunded concept.

The teams are offered help in the form of a series of workshops and the support of a mentor from the business community. The business plans developed by the teams are judged by high profile executives from the government and business community. In a nutshell, the eChallenge offers great advice and great exposure.

eChallenge coordinator Diana Lucic said the competition aimed to hone business skills among students. "eChallenge exposes students and other team members to high quality coaching and feedback," she said. "The competition benefits the students and their eventual employers and has even helped to fast track a number of innovative South Australian businesses."

Enter the eChallenge 2010 via the Team Registration Form available at: www.adelaide.edu.au/echallenge/ by Wednesday 2 June.

For further information, attend the eChallenge information session on Thursday 13 May, at Piper Alderman, 167 Flinders St, Adelaide, from 5:30pm - 7:00pm.
RSVP to eChallenge@adelaide.edu.au for catering purposes.

 

 

Review of the School of Mechanical Engineering

The University is currently undertaking a review of the School of Mechanical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences. Staff, students and members of the University community are invited to make a submission to the review on matters relevant to the Terms of Reference, which are available on the Quality and Reviews website at: www.adelaide.edu.au/pvclq/reviews/current/.

Submissions can be sent via email to: Stephen Jeisman or via mail to:
Stephen Jeisman
Quality and Reviews
University of Adelaide SA 5005

The deadline for submissions is 5:00pm, Friday 21 May 2010. All submissions remain confidential.

For further information please contact Stephen Jeisman, Quality and Reviews, on 8303 6346.

 

Launch into ORBIT!

Did you know that you can find details of the scholarships awarded to students in your area in the ORBIT Student Profiles Module? Just click on the Scholarships tab/link to display details such as stipend amount, funding source and scholarship dates.

For further assistance, contact the ORBIT helpdesk at: orbit@adelaide.edu.au or phone 8303 1391.

https://orbit.adelaide.edu.au

 

TRIM Tip

University Archives, Records and Collections will be hosting a series of TRIM User Forums during 2010 to discuss TRIM related processes and issues.

The first forum will be on Thursday 13 May 2010 from 10:00am - 11:00am in the Basten Room, Level 1, Mitchell Building.

The topic for the first meeting will be Student Files.

AGENDA

1. Student Merge Letters
2. Titling of Documents
3. Backlog of Student Documentation
4. Related files

To register your interest please RSVP to Tupp Carmody or Shannon McFarlane.

If you have any questions you would like addressed at the Forum, please advise Tupp or Shannon by COB today.

TRIM Team.

 

Vacant Positions

www.adelaide.edu.au/jobs/

 

Events

Development & Alumni
Ageing Positively Seminar Series

Sponsored by Perpetual Trustees.

Planning for Your Future
Date/Time: Tuesday 11 May 2010, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Venue: Ira Raymond Room, Barr Smith Library

"Will you outlive your money in retirement?"
Speaker: Clive Perring

"Does quality advice make a difference to your wealth?"
Speaker: Gabor Szekernyes

Download: Planning for Your Future (jpg)
Contact: Susan Fox on 8303 3234.

 

Barr Smith Library Book Sale

The Barr Smith Library's annual sale of pre-loved books will take place on Wednesday 2 June and Thursday 3 June, 9:00am - 5:00pm in the Ira Raymond Exhibition Room, Level 3 South, just at the library entrance.

Many subject areas and languages will be represented.

Most items $2.00 unless marked otherwise (cash only).

Sorry, no listings or previews.

Enquiries to the Book Resources Librarian: Margaret Hosking on 8303 3706
Email: library-brl@adelaide.edu.au

 

The Bob Symons Lecture 2010

School of Agriculture, Food & Wine Named Lecture Series: The Bob Symons Lecture 2010
Speaker: Professor Dieter Söll, Yale University (USA)

Date/Time: Monday 24 May 2010, 4:00pm
Venue: Plant Research Centre Auditorium, Waite Campus

The evolution of the genetic code: a work in progress

Synopsis: At the time of its elucidation the genetic code was suggested to be universal in all organisms, and the result of a 'frozen accident' unable to evolve further even if the current state were suboptimal. How do we see the genetic code today - 40 years after the familiar 'alphabet' with 20 amino acids was established? Of course, the 'genetic code' is the product of its interpretation by the translational machinery and it is only static as long as the components of this machinery do not evolve or are strictly conserved between organisms. Professor Söll, with over 470 scientific publications, has led the team which discovered selenocysteine and pyrrolysine, the 21^st and 22^nd amino acids which are directly inserted into growing polypeptides during translation. Based on the realization that protein plasticity is a feature of living cells, man-made expansion of the genetic code has begun by adding non-standard amino acids to the repertoire of the cell. Professor Söll will discuss these present evolutionary developments and how they underpin the creation of new organisms in the realm of synthetic biology.

The 3^rd Bob Symons Lecture is named in honour of the former Emeritus Professor in Plant Science at the Waite, Professor Robert Henry Symons (1934-2006).

Contact Dr Amanda Able, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, phone 8303 7245.

 

School of Molecular and Biomedical Science
School Seminar Series

"Multiple Personalities in Quaternary Structure and Regulation of a Novel Antibiotic Target"
Speaker: A/Prof Matthew Perugini, Reader & ARC Future Fellow, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne
Date/Time: Friday 4 June 2010, 1:00pm; lunch provided from 12:30pm
Venue: Seminar Room 5.01, Level 5, Molecular Life Sciences Building
All Welcome.

This seminar will describe recent discoveries that demonstrate differences in quaternary structure and regulation of an antibiotic enzyme target from common bacterial pathogens and bacterial extremophiles that live in cold, hot and high salt environments.

Download: Perugini Seminar flyer (pdf)
If you would like to meet with A/Prof Matthew Perugini - contact: Dr Briony Forbes, phone 8303 5581.

"Towards Antibacterials Without Resistance"
Speaker: Professor Jenny Martin, ARC Australian Laureate Fellow, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland
Date/Time: Friday 14 May 2010, 1:00pm; lunch provided from 12:30pm
Venue: Seminar Room 5.01, Level 5, Molecular Life Sciences Building
All Welcome.

Antibiotic resistance is developing at an alarming rate, while the number of new antibiotics in the pipeline has slowed to a trickle. Drugs with new mechanisms of action are required urgently. This presentation focuses on our approach to develop antibacterial drugs that target bacterial virulence rather than viability.

Download: Martin Seminar flyer (pdf)
If you would like to meet with Prof Jenny Martin - contact: Dr Briony Forbes, phone 8303 5581.

 

Asian Studies Workshop Series

'Thinking about Asia' Workshop 11

Civil Societies in Asia (2)
Lots of Civil Society in India, but not much Social Capital
Speaker: Associate Professor Peter Mayer, Politics, University of Adelaide

Civil Society in a Constrained Environment
Speaker: Professor Andrew Watson, Economics, University of Adelaide

Date/Time: Friday 14 May 2010, 1:10pm - 2:30pm
Venue: Ligertwood Room 529, North Terrace Campus

Download: Asian Studies flyer (pdf).
Registration is recommended to secure seats - contact: Niki Pavlidis, phone 8303 5815.
Further information - contact: Dr Shoko Yoneyama, Centre for Asian Studies, phone 8303 5187.

 

Translating research into publications

Date/Time: Wednesday 19 May 2010, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Venue: State Library of South Australia, Institute Building Lecture Theatre

Join us for a HDA Forum on 'translating research into publications'. Our speakers all research in areas of healthy development, but from different perspectives - basic science, clinical research, and population/public health research. They will present their views on how best to translate research into good publications. An ensuing panel discussion will focus on the questions and issues you wish to raise.
This is a FREE event, which should prove useful for postgraduate students and early career researchers. All welcome.

For further details and speaker profiles, download: HDA flyer (pdf)
RSVP by Thursday 13 May via email to: Anne Jurisevic, Healthy Development Adelaide.

www.adelaide.edu.au/hda/events/

 

ATEM Central Region 2010 Annual Conference

Future Directions for Tertiary Education
Thinking big and making it real: challenges and opportunities beyond 2010

The region has been fortunate to secure a number of nationally recognised speakers who will take attendees on a journey from the current tertiary education context to a range of possible futures. The conference program will also offer tertiary education managers and staff the opportunity to reflect on how we respond to the current challenges as well as possible futures.

Date/Time: Wednesday 26 May 2010, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Venue: Adelaide Pavilion

Download: ATEM Conference flyer (pdf)

 

Training & Development Opportunities

FREE Staff Learning and Development Programs for May and June 2010

The following FREE programs are currently available in May and June to support your development, attendance at programs should be linked to your PDR. Please discuss programs with your manager or supervisor prior to enrolling for a program online at: www.adelaide.edu.au/hr/development/. Please bookmark the web site, as new programs will be added regularly.

May 2010
Date	Workshop	Overview	Who Should Attend
12 May	Mastering Presentation Skills	Discover the key elements of effective presentations and receive step-by-step guidance on creating and delivering truly engaging presentations.	Staff required to give frequent presentations.
17 May	PDR for Staff	Learn about the benefits of PDR for you and how to be actively involved in the planning of your work and professional development.	All continuing staff on a fixed term contract of 12 months or longer.
26 May	Coaching in Challenging Situations - for Heads of School/Institutes Workshop 1	Learn to maximise the potential of others by applying workplace coaching techniques. This workshop focuses on providing the skills and tools to enable Heads of School/Institutes to tackle challenging situations and conversations.	Head of Schools / Institutes
31 May	Creating Safe Workplaces	This workshop will provide managers with the information and skills needed to create a safe workplace.	Managers and supervisors
June 2010
1 June	Demystifying Equity and Diversity and the Resources Available to Support You	Recent changes in legislation has resulted in new responsibilities for managers / supervisors regarding equity and diversity practices. Learn about the key changes and how they apply to your role.	Managers and supervisors
9 June	Coaching in Challenging Situations - for Heads of School/Institutes Workshop 2	This workshop follows on from Workshop 1 (26 May) and provides the skills for applying effective workplace coaching techniques.	Head of Schools / Institutes

 

Executing Strategy - 8 & 9 June 2010 - Executive Education Unit

If you are a middle to senior level manager or academic, you will be involved in developing strategies for your faculty, division or school. The ability to implement a strategy can actually be more important than the quality of the strategy itself.

Executing Strategy will show you how to bridge the gap between a strategy's development and its execution.

10% discount for University staff.
For further information, please contact: Kateryna Katsman (phone 8313 3268).

 

Strategies for Online Learning: Online Administration

This seminar will focus on strategies for managing large classes, communicating with students, online office hours, generic MyUni courses and student view, Grade Centre, MyGrades, adaptive release, tracking and statistics, as well as setting up online groups.

Date/Time: Thursday 13 May 2010, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Venue: CLPD, Level 2, Schulz Building West

You can download the seminar flyer (pdf) from the training page on the MyUni Support website.

To book for the seminar go to the University Course Booking System.

 

Developing a Teaching Portfolio

In this practical, hands-on course staff will be assisted in developing and maintaining an up-to-date Teaching Portfolio. Bring your draft portfolio.

Date/Time: Wednesday 19 May, 9:30am - 11:30am
Venue: CLPD, Level 2, Schulz Building West

Please book online via the University Course Booking System.

For further information please see the CLPD web site.

 

Transforming Assessment Webinar

A free webinar (web based seminar), the first in the 2010 series titled 'Transforming Assessment', will be led by Professor Geoffrey Crisp, Director of the University of Adelaide's Centre for Learning and Professional Development. Geoff will present on the changes in the student learning environment afforded by Web 2.0 and virtual worlds and lead an interactive discussion with participants on why assessment practices need to change in response to these new learning environments.

To participate in the seminar you will need to:

1. have an Internet connected computer;
2. have a headset (mic and speakers/earphones);
3. have run the Setup Wizard prior to the session time.

To run the Setup Wizard please go to: http://192.160.71.198/launcher.cgi?room=transformingassessment.

The live webinar session:

• Will be held at 4:30pm
• On Wednesday 12 May
• Please ensure you plug in the headset, and
• Go to: http://192.160.71.198/launcher.cgi?room=transformingassessment.
• The event will be recorded and an archive made available on the Transforming Assessment website for reference.

More information about the seminar series can be found at: http://www.transformingassessment.com/events.php.

 

2010 TEM Conference Grant

The ATEM Central Region Committee is pleased to offer a Tertiary Education Management (TEM) Conference grant to University of Adelaide staff, valued at the early bird registration fee of $895. The 2010 TEM Conference is being held this year in Melbourne. The grants are available for Central region members who meet the below selection criteria.

Purpose
The purpose of the grants is to support ATEM Central Region members' professional development by assistance to attend the annual TEM conference. Details on the conference are available at: www.temc.org.au.

Selection Criteria
Applications should address the following criteria:

• applicants must be current financial members of ATEM (Central Region);
• potential for professional development; indicated through supporting statements from a professional referee (not necessarily an immediate supervisor);
• financial and professional need, as indicated by the applicant.

Preference will be given to applicants who have been members for at least twelve months and who satisfy one or more of the following:

• have not had an opportunity to attend previous TEM conferences;
• are paid a salary not exceeding the maximum incremental step of the HEO7 classification;
• are submitting a paper for presentation at the TEM conference;
• have not previously received an ATEM grant from the Central Region;
• provide evidence of having sought funding from their university.

Applications, including supporting statements, should be forwarded by Friday 14 May 2010 to: Gregory Wright, Flinders University.

 

Professional and Continuing Education

Certificate IV in TESOL

If you are looking to teach English as a second language in Australia or overseas and wish to gain a qualification in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), then this practical program is for you. The program is accredited as a Certificate IV within Australia and provides the minimum qualification required to teach ESOL. It provides essential training in the usage of communicative methodologies in teaching adult learners, including lesson planning and classroom practice. This program combines face-to-face delivery, self-study and group work. Participants will observe experienced ESOL teachers and participate in teaching practice with ESOL learners at various levels.

Full-time Intensive Program: 26 July - 20 August 2010

Part-time Program: 28 August - 11 November 2010

For further information, including selection criteria and fees, visit our website at: www.adelaide.edu.au/elc/courses/tesol/ or contact PCE on 8303 4777.

Upcoming Professional Development Courses

Writing for the Web
Wednesday 12 May

Financial Management and Budgeting
Thursday 13 May

Time Management
Friday 14 May

The Indispensable Personal Assistant
Wednesday 19 May

Project Management
Wednesday 26 May

Discount: 5% for University of Adelaide staff.

You can now enrol and pay online! Visit our website and follow the easy steps.

www.adelaide.edu.au/pce

For further information visit our website or phone 8303 4777.

 

Information for Researchers

Exploring Supervision Program ... on the Waite Campus

The Exploring Supervision program is a series of three interactive workshops on key topics in HDR supervision, which we now offer three times a year. The program is open to all academic staff. Completion of the full module of the program can lead to principal research supervisor status.

Towards the end of second semester, on Wednesday 16, Thursday 17 and Friday 18 June, from 9:30am to 1:30pm each day, we are delivering the workshop series at the Waite Campus. All staff are welcome to attend. For staff based at the North Terrace Campus, we will be providing transport to and from the Waite (departing from the city campus at 9:15am and returning just after 1:30pm).

We are also repeating the workshop series at the end of second semester, on Monday 8, Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 November, in the AGC Seminar Room, Level 6, 115 Grenfell St. You can do whatever workshops you like, whenever you like. There's no set order, you don't have to do them all in one go, and it's all FREE!

To find out more about the program, and to link to our enrolment facility go to: www.adelaide.edu.au/red/staff/esp/

For further information contact Dr Ian Green or Dr Cally Guerin.

 

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.