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UWAnews
The University of Western Australia Established 1911
21 MAY 2007 Volume 26 Number 6
A life-saving budget for WA
New alliance a massive boost for health
by Lindy Brophy
Professor Fiona Stanley
… “enhancing our
capacity to reduce the
major health problems
of the 21st century”
Professor Peter Klinken
… “to bring the best
clinical and laboratorybased minds together and
establish a critical mass
to work for better health
for the entire community”
Professor Ian
Constable … “Without
internationally
competitive science in
WA, our quality of life
will deteriorate”
The Federal Budget gave the green light to a
major new health research alliance involving
UWA.
It will take medical research from the laboratory bench and
translate it into life-saving treatments for Western Australian
people.
The Federal Government’s $100 million adds to the State
Government’s recently-committed $80 million and UWA’s
$50 million for the creation of two state-of-the-art medical
research hubs for the State.
UWA and the directors of WA’s other premier medical
research institutes have welcomed the Federal Government’s
decision. With $230 million in funding, the research hubs will
now go ahead. They are an initiative of a new alliance called the
Western Australian Institutes for Health which brings together
24 research organisations that undertake almost all medical
research in WA.
To establish these centres of research excellence the Western
Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR), the Lions
Eye Institute (LEI) and the Telethon Institute for Child Health
Research (TICHR) will combine with researchers from UWA as
well as smaller specialised research teams and hospital clinicians.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson, said the Federal
Government’s commitment marked one of the most significant
steps forward taken in medical research in the State’s history.
“Western Australia needs to build a massive capacity for
research in all areas, but we are now well placed to drive forward
by capitalising on the crop of talented medical researchers within
the State for the benefit of the community at large,” he said.
Continued on page 2
UWAnews
Iron
injections
rescue
icons
The yellowing leaves, followed by
dead branches, mark this jarrah
tree as a victim of CDS
A life-saving budget for WA
“The University of Western Australia is proud to be a part
of this significant commitment to a partnership which reflects
our goal of achieving international excellence for the benefit
of all Western Australians,” Professor Robson said.
WAIMR Director Professor Peter Klinken said the funding
was critical to allowing WA to compete on a global scale.
“The development of these two major facilities will create
first-class research precincts that will allow us to take WA’s
medical breakthroughs from the bench and translate them
into life-saving treatments for patients in as short a time as
possible,” said Professor Klinken.
“This will be made possible as these iconic buildings act as
a beacon to bring the best clinical and laboratory-based minds
together and establish a critical mass to work for better health
for the entire community.”
One of the research buildings will be built at the Queen
Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, the
site of a newly announced early phase Clinical Trials Facility and
one at the Fiona Stanley Hospital campus at Murdoch.
TICHR Director Professor Fiona Stanley said: “This
great support from the Federal government will enable
exciting collaborations, enhancing our capacity to reduce
Iron injections are usually
prescribed for humans with a
low red blood cell count.
But they seem to be doing the
trick for jarrah trees suffering from
overwatering with alkaline (salty) water.
Research soon to be published
between the School of Plant Biology
and botanists at Kings Park and Botanic
Garden has found the cause – and the
cure – for local eucalypts which were
turning yellow and dying over a two to
three year period.
Adjunct Professor Kingsley Dixon,
Kings Park’s director of science, said
that marri and karri trees in Kings Park
and on the Crawley campus had been
succumbing to an unusual malaise in
recent years.
“It started with a yellowing of the
leaves, then the tree would gradually die
and no tree was ever found to naturally
recover,” Professor Dixon said. It was
thought the trouble was caused by an
unknown pathogen.
But the latest research has found
the cause is a lot simpler. A mineral
deficiency in the trees is the most likely
cause of the decline now referred to as
chlorotic decline syndrome or CDS.
CDS is found in a wide rage of
eucalypts and has been responsible
for the loss of more than a third of
the remnant jarrah and marri trees in
Continued from page 1
the major health problems of the 21st century. The new
buildings will concentrate research excellence around the
two major teaching hospitals, influencing both clinical care
and prevention.”
As well as health benefits, Professor Klinken said these
new research hubs would deliver WA many economic spinoffs.
“There is no doubt these state-of-the-art centres will
pique the interest of international pharmaceutical companies
and generate investment that will lead to new jobs,” he said.
Professor Ian Constable from the Lions Eye Institute said
science was vital to the community’s welfare.
“Without internationally competitive science in WA, our
economy will suffer and our quality of life will deteriorate,”
said Professor Constable.
Putting funds into science research will produce results
for WA.
“Look at California: the fifth-biggest economy in the world,
and the biggest science and research base anywhere,” said
Professor Constable.
“If we can become a scientifically competitive state, we
can be like that too.”
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
UWAnews
King Park. It is also prevalent in Perth’s
northern suburbs.
Head of the School of Plant Biology,
Professor Hans Lambers, said the
affected trees were all in lawn areas
or garden beds where bore water was
drawn up from aquifers in which the
water was calcium-rich and alkaline. The
salt-tolerant tuart tree has, naturally, not
been affected by CDS.
Professor Lambers said overwatering
with the alkaline water prevented the
eucalypts from absorbing enough iron
and magnesium, and the deficiency soon
showed in yellow leaves, then a gradual
dying off.
He has injected a big old jarrah tree
near his office with slow release iron
pellets. Professor Dixon has supervised
the injection — and rescue — of 47
trees at Kings Park.
“There are another ten to 15 trees
on campus which need to be treated,”
Professor Lambers said.
“These are iconic trees, some of
them hundreds of years old, and we must
not let them die,” he said.
Minimising the use of bore water
close to these trees would be a longer
term solution, but right now, their acute
condition needs the iron injections.
The tree outside Professor Lambers’
window is recovering and he hopes to
be able to save the rest of the trees on
the campus which have CDS.
“These are iconic trees,
some of them hundreds
of years old, and we must
not let them die”
Hans Lambers shows
where the iron was
injected into the trunk
of the jarrah tree
The reality of radioactive waste
Final year engineering students had their environmental and
sustainability management skills put to the test recently with
a simulated radioactive waste exercise.
All 160 students in Professor James Trevelyan’s course, engineering for sustainable
development, took part in teams of eight, transporting two tonnes of simulated
radioactive waste water across the campus, using wheelbarrows and buckets.
“Even though they had spent some weeks preparing and thought they had
covered everything, they soon discovered that unexpected events turned the
exercise into a much longer, more complicated event than they had anticipated,”
Professor Trevelyan said.
Professor Trevelyan said the students hugely underestimated the time they
needed for negotiation, both within their teams and with students acting as local
council representatives.
They had to do a risk assessment before the exercise, including surveying
the route, detailing their procedures, negotiating with the local authorities
(other students), working out the best way to explaining to bystanders what was
happening, and calculating protection measures. For themselves, this depended on
how long they would be exposed to the radioactive waste; for members of the
public, how far from the wheelbarrows they were.
In keeping with student tradition, an anti-nuclear protest also threw a spanner
in the works (pictured below).
“It’s very important to give students hands-on experience,” Professor Trevelyan
said. “Things are never as simple as they look and people don’t necessarily follow
instructions.”
He said he wanted to expose them to the realities of nuclear radiation issues,
not something they would necessarily learn in the classroom.
The students had to comply with all the relevant regulations for transporting
controlled waste, including international and local safety controls. The exercise had
to be economically viable and each team had to negotiate with local authorities for
the best prices for access fees and escort services without compromising safety.
“They all eventually made it to the destination without any spills, except for a
few at the starting point
where the buckets were
being filled,” Professor
Trevelyan said.
“We had 100 per
cent participation by
the students which was
a good indication of how
important they thought
the exercise was.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
UWAnews
U WA’ s E x c e l l e n c e i n T ea c h i n g
Vice-Chancellor’s
Teachers
column
Keeping
higher
education on
the political
agenda
The recent Federal Budget
has shown how important
it is to continue to keep
higher education on the
political agenda.
There is no question that many
areas of university activity have
suffered as a result of chronic underfunding for many years. Over that
time, universities and the Australian
Vice-Chancellors’ Committee have
continued to lobby for additional
investment in the sector. It is
pleasing, therefore, that in this latest
budget there are some significant
allocations which have the potential
to do much to support the sector.
Key among these is the ‘bigticket’ $5 billion Higher Education
Endowment Fund which has the
potential to provide substantial
support for the funding of vitally
needed capital works and the
development of research facilities.
It will be some time until we
are able to fully understand the
mechanisms by which individual
universities such as our own might
be able to unlock some of the
funds on offer. However, we can
be pleased with the fact that there
has been significant recognition of
the importance of universities in
supporting the growth of Australia’s
economy and our social and cultural
development.
Of specific importance to our
University was the very welcome
allocation of $100 million towards
the creation of the Western
Australian Institutes for Health (see
front page story).
This is an outstanding outcome
and a credit to the work of many
people, notably Professor Peter
Klinken (WA Institute for Medical
Research), Professor Fiona Stanley
(Telethon Institute for Child
Health Research) and Professor
Ian Constable (Lions Eye Institute).
Through their work, and that of
many of their colleagues, we have
been able to convince both State
and Federal governments to accept
the visionary establishment of
two significant hubs of world-class
medical research.
Media commentary made
much of the Federal budget in
the context of this election year.
Rather than adopt a cynical view,
I believe we should accept the
election environment as a further
opportunity to continue to push
the importance of our sector at all
levels.
There is still much to be
achieved. For example, beyond
infrastructure and capital works, we
must continue to press for increased
investment in world-class teaching,
learning and research; we need to
consider how to encourage further
private investment in research and
development; we need to find new
ways of continuing to increase
funding per student; and we need
to work out how to best support
those students whose poor financial
position is negatively affecting their
study.
The School of Human Movement
and Exercise Science took off
the most prizes in the 2006
Excellence in Teaching Awards,
awarded during Teaching Month.
The School won four
awards, two going to one
academic, Dr Paul Fournier,
who was recognised with both
an individual teaching award
and one for Honours research
supervision. His colleague,
Professor Bruce Elliott, also won
an award for Honours research
supervision, and Dr Peter Whipp
was highly commended in the
individual teaching category.
Six academics won individual
teaching awards and all other
categories had between one
and three winners. UWAnews
celebrates Teaching Month with
the winning teachers’ thoughts
on their noble profession.
Alan Robson
Vice-Chancellor
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
Photo by David Malthouse
UWAnews
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U WA’ s E x c e l l e n c e i n T ea c h i n g Awa r d s
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U WA’ s E x c e l l e n c e i n T ea c h i n g
who all love their work
Individual
Teaching Award
Dr Paul Fournier
School of Human Movement
and Exercise Science
“I am grateful to my students, not only
for their support, but also for the bright
and stimulated lot that they are. Good
quality lecturing and supervising is so
much easier to achieve when you are
dealing with students who want to
learn and to be intellectually stimulated.
I have always made a point of offering
my students units that they consider
to be more challenging than average.
For instance, the unit I was nominated
for (Bioenergetics in Exercise and
Nutrition) offers a smorgasbord of
thermodynamics, exercise biochemistry,
cell signalling, neuroendocrinology,
nutrition, exercise physiology and even a
bit of philosophy of science, and this has
teased my students’ appetite for learning
rather than scared them away.
“I consider myself lucky and
privileged to be in a profession that has
provided me with the chance to train
so many brilliant minds and leaders of
tomorrow. “
Dr Simon Clarke (left)
Graduate School of Education
“At the risk of sounding sanctimonious
I would like to think that the reason I
have been deemed a good teacher is
because of what drives me to do it.
“In particular, I believe that teaching
should be inspired by a strong sense of
moral purpose and always be concerned
with the betterment or good of the
students. Good teaching is also driven by
the professional purpose of questioning
the efficacy of one’s practice and
developing as a teacher through personal
reflection and interaction with others.
“Good teachers are, in other words,
powerful learners themselves – people
who are not afraid to make mistakes,
and are exhilarated by understanding
and new knowledge. Humility, of course,
is another of my teaching attributes
and from this perspective perhaps it
is for others to judge why I might be
considered a good teacher.”
Professor Don Robertson
(below)
School of Biomedical, Biomolecular
and Chemical Sciences
“I have been teaching undergraduates
since 1979, but teaching, just like
research, is a continually new experience.
The students change and the subject
matter is always changing, especially in
an area like biomedical science.
“The technological tools available
and administrators’ expectations are
also constantly changing. All this makes
for an interesting if sometimes stressful
experience for the academic teacher.
“In all this sea of change, what
guiding principle can the university
teacher latch onto? For me the answer
is a bit akin to the ‘golden rule’.
“I remember my student days
and what behaviour on the part of my
university teachers I appreciated and
what behaviours repelled and frustrated
me. So as a teacher I try to emulate
the former and avoid the latter. I try to
respond promptly to student questions
and not to be neglectful or dismissive of
their needs. I try to spend one-on-one
time with students who really need help.
Above all, I try to be entertaining and to
give students a sense of why the subject
is important to them as well as to me.”
Dr Jasmine Henry (above)
School of Electrical, Electronic and
Computer Engineering
Jasmine Henry believes having a baby
and taking time off to care for him may
have made her a better teacher.
“I think having Connor helped a lot
with my teaching because I became more
kid-aligned. I think that one day my boy
(who is now 2 ½ ) will be this age and
I hope that somebody will treat him as I
am treating these boys in my classes.
“I really think there’s something in
that because, for the first time in all my
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
UWAnews
Awa r d s
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U WA’ s E x c e l l e n c e i n T ea c h i n g Awa r d s
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U WA’ s E x c e l l e n c e i n T ea c h i n g Awa
years of teaching, I have finally won a
teaching award, since having Connor.
“I love my job, the units I teach,
and the students, all of them, although
I must say that I tend to nurture my
female students in case they feel
a bit overwhelmed by the gender
imbalance.”
Dr Patrick Finnegan (below)
School of Plant Biology
Andrea Stanberg (above)
School of Music
“I am very involved in my teaching and
I think involvement increases student
curiosity. They feel they are not just
receiving information but are drawn in
to the subject with you.
“The nominations from my students
highlighted things I do for them outside
the classroom and curriculum. I have
implemented a work experience initiative
so that the high achieving students can
get experience in laboratory research
work while still an undergraduate.”
This program is run during the
summer break and, as one of Dr
Finnegan’s students pointed out, he has
no School funding for it, but continues
every year and is as excited by the work
as his students are.
“And I’ve also started Biology
Forums for my first years students.
They are invited to come along to
presentations I arrange by biologists
from lots of different disciplines so they
can hear about their research and have
their own learning enriched.
“In first year Biology, the hardest
part is challenging and extending the
really motivated students while still
encouraging and involving those who
are less motivated.”
“My personal teaching philosophy
encompasses three main areas. Firstly, the
model of teacher as facilitator and mentor.
Secondly, in fostering the development
of a community of learners through
collaboration and the sharing of ideas.
Thirdly, the development of the person as
a whole, encompassing the nurturing of
positive self-image through peer-to-peer
learning and reflective practice.
“I think that good teaching
recognises the individual student’s needs.
Each of my students is on an individual
journey and therefore I aim to model
a variety of pedagogical approaches to
influence, motivate and inspire them.
“I teach students in the 2nd, 3rd and
4th years of our music programs, most
of them Bachelor of Music Education
students.
“I have been teaching for almost 20
years in Sydney, Singapore, Toronto and
Perth. The common joy that I have taken
from these settings is seeing the student
grow and develop, dream and accomplish
things they didn’t believe. Who could ask
for a better job?”
and Learning supplied part of his
citation: Dr Chen’s approach to teaching
emphasises to students the importance
of acquiring future skills and knowledge
of international relations which are
required in this age of globalisation. He
is a staunch believer in continuous self
improvement and critical self reflection
in regard to his teaching and uses
student and peer feedback to adapt
and diversify teaching practice. He has
performed outstandingly as a teacher
and is regarded by students and peers
alike as a caring, flexible and enthusiastic
teacher.
POSTGRADUATE
COURSEWORK
TEACHING
Dr Mark Pegrum (below)
Graduate School of Education
“I believe that, at its best, education
should encourage students to build on
what they already know, integrating past
experience with new knowledge as they
learn to develop a critical perspective
on our information-saturated world;
reflect at length on important issues;
(re-)consider their own opinions;
articulate their beliefs; engage in
rational debate with those who hold
SMALL GROUP
TEACHING
Dr Jie Chen
School of Social and Cultural
Studies (Political Science and
International Relations)
Dr Jie is unavailable overseas, but the
Centre for the Advancement of Teaching
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
Photo by David Malthouse
UWAnews
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different opinions; and eventually, where
appropriate, compromise and find ways
to accommodate other stances.
“It’s important for teaching to
retain a fresh, innovative edge. I run all
of my Master’s units in blended mode
– partly face-to-face and partly online.
Students are enthusiastic about the
opportunity to engage intensively with
their multilingual, multicultural peer
groups in structured online forums. This
is reflected in a student’s comment:
Your method certainly works …
never thought harder before in any class
I’ve attended and in the process come to
realise that there are a myriad views about
so many aspects of learning and teaching
and life too.”
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U WA’ s E x c e l l e n c e i n T ea c h i n g A wa r d s
POSTGRADUATE
RESEARCH
SUPERVISION
to be effective leaders within their field
and enabling them to act as catalysts
for future positive change within
communities and organisations.
Dr Charlie Musca (below)
EARLY CAREER
TEACHING
School of Electrical, Electronic and
Computer Engineering
Michael Ondaatje (below)
School of Humanities
Dr Renu Burr (below)
Graduate School of Management
Dr Burr was unavailable but the Centre
for the Advancement of Teaching and
Learning supplied part of her citation:
Dr Burr was chosen for this award
for her strong respect for academic
theory through provision of practical
examples, applications and assessment.
She is committed to sharing her passion
for knowledge through her teaching.
She focuses on providing the richest
of learning environments through
intellectually challenging readings
and coursework and by providing
experientially diverse simulations and
practical work.
Dr Burr considers the holistic
learning experience by inspiring students
“I am very fortunate to work with
students and colleagues who consistently
vitalise my passion as a historian and
teacher.
“Who, I ask, would not teach
history at UWA, if given the chance? I
teach history not only because I love
my discipline but also because I believe
it provides students with the most
precious thing a university education can
afford: an interrogative framework for
seeking wisdom that nourishes society
and is the essence of democracy itself.
“I seek to share with my students
my passion for the study of history, in
the hope that they make it their own.
“I consider it my job to communicate
not only the content of the course and
its significance to our lives, but to create
a relaxed and comfortable classroom
environment in which students feel
able to take chances with their thinking.
I like to think that I embrace teaching
as a dialogue rather than a monologue,
as much an opportunity to learn as to
educate others.”
“My approach to supervising is based
on the fact that not only do I have
knowledge that I am keen to pass on
to students, but more importantly I am
enthusiastic and passionate and that
helps drive the students to perform at
their best.
“My goal has always been to treat
students as colleagues, all working
toward the common goal of adding to
the knowledge in the area in which we
are working. To achieve these goals I
draw on my experiences (both good and
bad) as a PhD student, a researcher and
working in industry.
“All my students have been different,
in their cultural background, intellect,
or their ability to remain focused. They
are individuals and each has their own
problems and issues which I need to be
aware of and respect. The issues are farranging and include making allowances
for family commitments, religious
obligations, shyness, and a multitude of
others.”
Dr Simone Pettigrew
UWA Business School
“I suppose I won this award because
I’m very approachable and I always
try very hard to make myself available
to my students, returning their emails
and phone calls within the hour, if it’s
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
UWAnews
U WA’ s E x c e l l e n c e i n T ea c h i n g Awa r d s
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me to want to be a great scientist and
not just treat it as an ordinary career.”
A/Professor Xu said he was deeply
moved by the nominations from three
Honours students, a Masters student
and four PhD students for a supervision
award.
“It made me realise how much I love
teaching,” he said. “I have a firm belief
that good teachers are those who have
genuine concern for their students and
who teach and lead by example.”
HONOURS RESEARCH
SUPERVISION
Dr Paul Fournier
possible,” said Dr Pettigrew (pictured
above), whose specialist area in the
Business School is consumer research.
Dr Pettigrew is supervising five
postgraduate students here at UWA and
two overseas.
“My four Doctorate of Business
Administration students are all working
full-time, with families, so they’re very
busy. My three PhD students have more
time, so I help them as much as I can.
“I love doctorate students in
particular because you see such huge
improvement in them as they go along.
And then, when they overtake you in
their area of expertise, you start learning
from them.”
HONOURS AND
POSTGRADUATE
RESEARCH
SUPERVISION
School of Human Movement and
Exercise Science (see page 5)
that comes across to students and they
appreciate it.”
Associate Professor
Lyn Parker
School of Social and Cultural
Studies (Asian Studies)
A/Professor Parker is unavailable overseas,
but CATL supplied part of her citation: A/
Professor Parker is currently supervising
five doctoral students. She says she
most values her mentoring relationship
with her students and is continuously
inspired by their enthusiasm, energy and
intelligence. She strongly believes that
modelling good academic scholarship and
leadership is crucial to the success of her
role as a supervisor.
Professor Bruce Elliott
School of Human Movement and
Exercise Science
“I’m very organised and my students like
knowing where they are.
“I care about my students and I
want them to do well. They’re motivated
by my research. They see that I publish
a lot in very good journals and that I
get good publicity for the School, and it’s
something they can aspire to.
“I ensure that they complete their
theses, based on good questions that
take them somewhere.
“I believe in co-supervision and our
School has a philosophy of encouraging
the team approach to supervision,” he
said. “I’m always enthusiastic and I think
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Dr Patrick Garratt, from Primary,
Aboriginal and Rural Health Care
(General Practice) was highly
commended for his small group teaching.
Natalie Skead, from the Law School, was
highly commended as an early career
teacher. And Dr Peter Whipp, from
Human Movement and Exercise Science
won a high commendation for individual
teaching.
Professor Yinong Liu and Professor
James Trevelyan from Mechanical
Engineering, Dr Susan Broomhall from
Humanities, and Dr Erik Veneklaas, from
Plant Biology, were all highly commended
for their postgraduate research
supervision.
Dr Peter Whipp, Professor Bruce
Elliott and Dr Paul Fournier celebrate
Human Movement’s four awards
Associate Professor Jiake Xu
School of Surgery and Pathology
A/Professor Xu is described, in his
students’ nominations, as a motivational
and inspirational supervisor. “He is
the most patient supervisor I’ve ever
encountered,” says one student. “His
humility, humbleness and dedication
to his staff and students are beyond
description. He has challenged and
encouraged me tremendously during my
Honours and PhD years and has inspired
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
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UWAnews
Hope for the children
of schizophrenic mothers
Mothers who suffer from mental disorders
such as schizophrenia pass on some of the
genes for the condition to their children.
But is that enough for a child, in turn, to develop the
illness? Or does it depend on other added factors including
birth complications, early nutrition, and parenting skills?
Research in the School of Psychiatry and Clinical
Neurosciences is conducting a population-based study of the
offspring of mothers with severe mental disorders.
Schizophrenia, bipolar disease and major depression
account for about 16 per cent of the global burden of disease,
according to the World Health Organisation. This UWA
study is one of very few of its kind worldwide, linking data on
population and health databases to compare 467,000 children
born to mothers in WA since 1980.
About 14,000 of them
were born to mothers
with one of these three
disorders.
Professor Assen
Jablensky, the chief
investigator, said the
study would answer
many unresolved
questions about environmental causes
of schizophrenia in
particular.
“We hope they will lead to preventative and treatment
interventions that will reduce adverse outcomes and improve
the quality of life for families at risk,” he said.
“What is it that predicts that a child will have behavioural
problems or a psychiatric disorder? Is it related to pregnancy?
“Women with schizophrenia have more problems with
pregnancies than usual, particularly with fetal distress during
childbirth, which often is a signal of reduced supply of oxygen
to the baby’s brain. It can lead to subtle but still significant
impediment of normal brain development,” Professor Jablensky
said.
“Another complication is that women with schizophrenia
often have babies with low birth weight, which can also affect
early brain development and eventually lead to metabolic
disorders (diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity).
“Women with schizophrenia are less likely to attend
antenatal clinics regularly, tend to take less care with their
nutrition, and may smoke and drink alcohol during pregnancy.
“All these problems are not uncommon in the general
population, but they tend to cluster in this group of women,”
he said.
There are two practical projects emerging from the findings
of the study. The first is a pilot program, already being tested in
the North Metropolitan Health region, to help pregnant women
with schizophrenia.
“We don’t know yet if this intervention will work, but we
are trying supportive counselling to help them stop smoking
and adopt a healthier lifestyle,” Professor Jablensky said. The
program has been initiated by UWA’s Centre for Clinical
Research in Neuropsychiatry and the Department of Health
and is being implemented by a specialist research nurse in
community health centres.
The other project will aim to support these mothers and
their babies for 12 to 18 months after the birth, a critical time
for bonding and for mothers to provide enough stimulation to
promote healthy brain development.
The group’s National Health and Medical Research Council
grant is now supplemented by a prestigious March of Dimes
grant from a major US funding agency that aims to prevent
birth defects.
“We hope that by 2010 or 2011, we will have fully analysed
our data and published it,” Professor Jablensky said.
“This is very rewarding research. It will generate new
knowledge that will help to better understand mental illness,
but it is also practical and will help us to work out how to
reduce the chances of psychiatric disorders developing in those
carrying genetic risk.”
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
UWAnews
10
National Archaeology Week
Photo by Marc Schmidlin
Photo by Kelly Fleming
No aqueducts or
pyramids but a rich
story of our past
“How can you do archaeology
in Australia?” Dr Kate Morse
was asked. “There were no
Romans or Egyptians here!”
This week is National Archaeology
Week (NAW) around Australia and the
activities, lectures, exhibitions, workshops
and tours are designed to help people
understand what a rich archaeological
past Australia has.
At the moment, there is more
work here than there are archaeologists
to carry it out, thanks mainly to the
resources boom in WA.
Kate Morse is the director of
Eureka, an archaeological research and
consulting centre within the discipline of
archaeology, in the School of Social and
Cultural Studies.
“We have four archaeologists in
the Pilbara at the moment, salvaging a
site,” Dr Morse said. “A road is going
to be built in the area and we have
permission from the original Indigenous
owners of the land to salvage it, that
is to meticulously record the site and
preserve what we can before it is
obliterated by the roadworks.
“The boom means there is a lot of
this type of work. Our resources are
used by government agencies, Aboriginal
organisations and mining companies,
and we’re extremely busy. Our staff has
increased from two to five consultants.
With the revenue, we buy our own
computers and equipment and employ
former honours and postgraduate
students. We also train people.”
Dr Morse said that NAW was about
enthusiasm and encouragement, and
opening people’s eyes. Her presentation
on Saturday May 26 is called The
Archaeology of your Western Australian
Holiday.
“It’s designed to enrich people’s
holidays, to give them another
perspective of the place they choose to
visit. For example, if they’re going up to
Exmouth, I’ll suggest they stand on Cape
Range and look out to sea and imagine
what it was like 80,000 years ago, when
the sea was about 12 kilometres away.
“At Shark Bay, the shoreline was
300 kilometres further out. You could
imagine that perhaps its name could have
been Emu Plains!”
She said she would ask the public
audience at her talk to tell them where
they were going and she could enhance
their holiday with an archaeological
perspective.
“There is fabulous archaeology here:
you don’t have to go to Europe either to
study it or to enjoy it.”
Archaeology PhD student Jade
Stingemore specialises in forensic or
biological anthropology. “When my
work pertains to criminal activity, then
obviously, it’s called forensic. Otherwise,
it’s biological,” she explained.
Her public lecture, on Friday May
25, is Stories from the Dead:What forensic
and physical anthropology can reveal from
skeletal remains.
“You can tell so much from bones,
not just the sex, age and height of the
dead person, but factors that can help
to identify the body, such as lifestyle: did
he have a healthy lifestyle or a poor one,
with diseases from, say, poor nutrition,
that will show in his bones?
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
UWAnews
“So many people in WA had ancestors who were part of the
goldfields scene,” she said.
“We have four sites in the Murchison: Cue is our home
base; Lake Austin is actually an island within Lake Austin; the
mainland is a site just down the road from the lake; and Day
Dawn is also near Cue.
“There were townsites there between the 1890s and the
1930s and there are some amazing miner’s huts still standing
from the 1890s,” she said.
“We are able to learn from these sites what these people
were eating, drinking and smoking, how they were living, even
what types of people they were.
“There are large amounts of ceramics to be found. It’s
extraordinary what people brought with them to the goldfields,
including tea sets and sewing machines. I’ve found part of a
wrought iron leg of a Singer sewing machine!”
Kelly said WA was a particularly good place to study
archaeology. “We get between 60 and 80 new students each
year and have a pretty good retention rate. Some of the them
come here and think they will have to go to Europe, before
Photo by Lisa Goddard
Photo by Kelly Fleming
“You can tell by looking at the bones what sort of activity
a person was involved in. For example, a rower will have
big shoulder bones; you can identify a rock climber from
his fingers; you can tell whether an African woman regularly
carried heavy pots on her head.”
She said bones could often tell you how a person died.
Poison remains in the bones. Injuries can be seen, for example
a broken leg. Old injuries, during the person’s lifetime, will
have healed or at least show some signs of healing whereas an
unhealed injury could be the cause of death.
“What kind of weapon was used? Was a stab inflicted by
a knife or an axe? Was the person shot, and with what sort
of gun?
“You can also help to identify a body from the way it’s
buried: was it mummified; did it have a Christian burial; was it
carefully interred or left by the side of the road?”
Jade said her experience could be used to help identify
bodies after major disasters like tsunamis or acts of terrorism.
“But I prefer to work with people who are long dead,” she
said.
11
Photo byMarc Schmidlin
CLOCKWISE FROM
TOP LEFT: Liz Hanna
and Kelly Fleming
near Cue; Miner’s hut
circa 1890; discovering
the old Fremantle
jetty; Bathers’ Beach
Fremantle: archaeology
alongside the Golden
Arches.
Another PhD student, Kelly Fleming, is co-ordinating WA’s
part in National Archaeology Week. She said it was a thriving
academic discipline, involving Indigenous, maritime and historical
archaeology.
“It often crosses over into other disciplines such as
zoology, forensics and environmental science,” Kelly said.
“I think attitudes to archaeology are changing. When
once it was assumed that archaeology was all about Egyptian
pyramids, mummies and dinosaurs, people are beginning to
recognise that Australian archaeology is amazingly diverse and
interesting and that we do have a complex past with a rich
archaeological record.”
Kelly’s postgraduate research is in the Murchison goldfields
and she will present some of her work on Saturday May 26.
they realise that they can practise archaeology here.”
She said she loved the diversity of her work. “One day
you can be out in the centre of Australia, navigating your way
through the bush, recording sites and talking to the locals,
while the next day you could be in a classroom discussing
the finer points of archaeological theory with students, or
in a conference room debating heritage management with
government officials.
“There is also the thrill of discovering wonderful sites with
an abundance of information about Australia’s past.
“Archaeology has it all!”
For all the details on National Archaeology Week and its
activities, go to http://www.archaeologyweek.com and click on
the link to WA.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
12
UWAnews
Aimee
ensures the
environment
wins
been established in administrative areas, and Animal Biology is
Whether it’s turtles, frogs or recycling paper,
one of the first Schools to take it on. Aimee is part of a team
Aimee Silla has a passion for sustainability
involved in promoting sustainability by implementing initiatives
and conservation.
to reduce energy and water consumption, avoid wastage and
The PhD student in the School of Animal Biology was
promote recycling.
recently named WA Young Person of the Year, the second
She is described as an outstanding ambassador for the
UWA winner in consecutive years.
environment, combining her theoretical knowledge with
Aimee completed an Environmental Science degree
practical application through volunteering.
with first class Honours, then spent three months as a
The WA Young Person of the Year has six categories,
team leader for the Ningaloo Turtle Monitoring program in
Exmouth where she led, motivated and organised more than
including environment (for which Aimee won the overall
80 volunteers.
award) and citizenship, which
Her PhD project,
was won by second year
“She is proof that with hard work and
supervised by Professor
Engineering student Paul
Dale Roberts, and in
Mason.
the desire to succeed, young Western
Paul is an advocate
collaboration with
for social change. He is
Per th Zoo, aims to
Australians can achieve great things”
the state director of The
develop captive breeding
Oaktree Foundation, a young
technologies as a tool to
organisation known for its
stop the decline of frog
Make Poverty History campaign.
species and populations globally.
When he took on the reins of the foundation in WA last
Presenting her with the award, which brings with it a
year, there were just eight members. Oaktree WA now has
European holiday for two, Youth Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich
more than 500 supporters and 150 active volunteers. Paul
said Aimee was an inspiration to the community in the way
believes education is the most powerful tool that can be used
she dedicated her time and energy to ensuring the world was
to change the world.
conserved for future generations to enjoy.
“She is proof that with hard work and the desire to
Engineering graduate Darren Lomman won the award last year.
succeed, young Western Australians can achieve great things,”
He is still working with the School of Mechanical Engineering with
she said.
his company , Dreamfit, to design and manufacture recreational
Aimee is one of six volunteers in her School who coequipment for people with disabilities.
ordinate the Green Office program. Unigreen’s program has
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
UWAnews
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THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
13
UWAnews
14
notices
new STAFF
Australian Federation of University Women (WA) Inc.
Education Trust
2007 Bursaries
AFUW(WA) Foundation Bursary $5,000 and
Mary Walters Bursary $3,500
The purpose of these bursaries is to meet a special need which will
assist women in the completion of a higher degree by research.
Jill Bradshaw Bursary $3,000
The purpose of this bursary is to meet a special need which will
either assist a woman who has completed a higher degree by
research but, at the time of the application, does not have access to
academic support for her further writing and research; or assist a
woman to complete a higher degree by research
Mary and Elsie Stevens Bursary $3,000
The purpose of this bursary is to meet a special need which will
assist a woman in the completion of a higher degree by research in
mathematics or science.
Joyce Riley Bursary $3,000
The purpose of this bursary is to meet a special need which will
assist a woman in the completion of a higher degree by research or
coursework in the humanities or social sciences.
Application forms available from:
Bursary Liaison Officer, AFUW(WA) Inc, PO Box 48,
NEDLANDS WA 6909
Closing Date For Applications – 5pm Tuesday 31 July 2007
Research collaboration with impact
will be the theme of the Australasian Research Management Society’s
ninth annual conference in Adelaide, 19 - 21 September 2007.
The focus will be on the benefits and challenges of collaborative research, with
special attention on how Indigenous research can be managed collaboratively
and ethically. The topic is timely, with most funding agencies now directing
resources into collaborative projects and researchers therefore seeking multidisciplinary approaches to research questions.
The organising committee are leading by example with members from each of
the three SA universities, CSIRO, SARDI and the SA Dept of Further Education,
Science and Training.
For further information, please visit: http://www.sapmea.asn.au/fusion2007
REDUNDANT EQUIPMENT
Welcome to the following new staff who have
joined The University since January 2007
Fiona Alexander, Library Officer,
Library
Geoffrey Atkins, Safety and Health
Adviser, Human Resources
Melissa Barrett, Senior Project Officer
Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health
Care
Bridget Beesley, Research Officer,
Population Health
Dr Kellie Bennett, Lecturer, Psychiatry
and Clinical Neurosciences
Dr Bryan Boruff, Lecturer, Earth and
Geographical Sciences
Kate Brandis, Prospective Students
Adviser, Student Services
Sasha Britton, Grounds Maintenance
Assistant, Facilitiess Management, Uni
Grounds
Janine Brooks, Business Manager,
Venues Management
Larissa Brown, Project Officer, Primary,
Aboriginal and Rural Health Care
Ruth Browne, Librarian, Library
James Bush, Accounting Assistant,
Financial Services
Casey Butler, Administrative Assistant,
Medicine, Dentistry and Health
Sciences
Heather Campbell, Clinic Receptionist,
Surgery and Pathology
Lisa Caputo, Lecturer, Medicine and
Pharmacology
Barry Cayford, Graduate Research
Assistant, Anatomy and Human
Biology
Dr Lynda Chadwick, Senior Research
Fellow, Biomedical, Biomolecular and
Chemical Sciences
Dr Eugene Chen, Dentist, Oral Health
Centre of WA
Sarah Cocks, Administrative Assistant,
UWA Extension
Gavin Coslett, Grounds Maintenance
Assistant, Facilities Management, Uni
Grounds
Nicole Crane, Assistant (General),
UWA Business School
Jason Darragh, Manager, Facilities
Management, Planning and Design
Douglas Davis, Field Officer, Facilities
Management, Unipark
Blake Dawson, Grounds Maintenance
Assistant, Facilities Management, Uni
Grounds
Dr Jane Deacon, Senior Research
Fellow, Biomedical, Biomolecular and
Chemical Sciences
Jane Downie, Human Resource
Assistant, Human Resources
Dr Derek Eng, Senior Lecturer,
Medicine and Pharmacology
Maureen Faas, Accounting Officer,
Clinical Training and Education Centre
(CTEC)
Nicole Farano, Accountant, Finance
and Resources Office
Tamara Felsinger, Human Resource
Assistant, Human Resources
Anthony Fortina, Intellectual Property
Solicitor, Legal Services
Joshua Fransz, Project Manager,
Research Services
Lee Goodyear, Software Engineer,
Centre for Water Research
Jeremy Gray, Field Officer, Facilities
Management, Unipark
Alison Griffith, Graduate Research
Assistant, Population Health
Aaron Groves, Technician (Soils),
Offshore Foundation Systems
Dr Rada Haddadin, Associate Lecturer,
Dentistry
Jade Hampel, Graduate Research
Assistant, Surgery and Pathology
Natalie Hawes, Administrative
Assistant, Australian Centre for
Geomechanics
Trudy Hayes, Project Officer, Primary,
Aboriginal and Rural Health Care
Jacob Hearsch, Plumber, Facilities
Management, Maintenance Workshop
Anh Tuan Hoang, Information Analyst,
Planning Services
Alex Holloway, Research Nurse,
Medicine and Pharmacology
Peter Hope, Research Assistant,
Surgery and Pathology
Catherine Hughes, Administrative
Officer, Natural and Agricultural
Sciences
Bevelynn Ibrahim, Administrative
Assistant, Womens and Infants Health
Bids should be accepted by Monday June 4 with schools to have first option
CONDITION refers to the general condition of item (1 = as new, 2 = good, 3 = serviceable, 4 = unserviceabe). AGE refers to the nearest year.
Schools are reminded that all university equipment available for sale must be advertised in the UWAnews. Receipts should be PeopleSoft account coded 490
(computing with barcode), 491 (non-computing with barcode) or 493 (items with no barcode). If equipment has an existing barcode please contact extension
3618/2546 for details.
ITEM
4 x IBM Notebook T30
1 x IBM Notebook A30
4 x IBM Think Pad T30\A30 Port replicators (no p/s)
4 x Alcatel SpeedTouch pro 4 ports (10base)
2 x Dlink DSL-504 ADSL router
1 x Netcomm NB1300 - 1 port
1 x Tektronic Phases 840 (needs drum)
1 x Colour blocks to suit 840 (new, sealed)
2 x HP4050N
2 x HP1600
6 x 17” Sony E200 CRT
1 x Palm M130 + cradle
1 x Palm Tungstone + Cradle
1 x Prima Opera 35, Coil Binder
1 x Lamirel 320 Laminator
PRICE
AGE COND. SECTION
$255-350 3.5
2
Rural Clinical School
$185
4.5
2
Rural Clinical Schoo
$18
4
2
Rural Clinical School
$12
4
2
Rural Clinical School
$24
3
2
Rural Clinical School
$8
4
2
Rural Clinical School
$100
4
3
Medicine and Dentistry
$100
1
1
Medicine and Dentistry
$50
6
2
Medicine and Dentistry
Offer
6
4
Medicine and Dentistry
Offe
5
2
Medicine and Dentistry
Offer
4
3
Medicine and Dentistry
$50
2
2
Medicine and Dentistry
$300 ono
6
3Library
$100
6
3Library
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
CONTACT
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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[email protected]
Ped Ristic Tel: 9346 2582
Ped Ristic Tel: 9346 2582
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Ped Ristic Tel: 9346 2582
[email protected]
[email protected]
UWAnews
new STAFF
continued
Anthony Jackson, Grounds
Maintenance Assistant, Facilities
Management, Uni Grounds
Dr Ross James, Associate Professor,
Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health
Care
Peter Johnstone, Human Research
Ethics Officer, Research Services
Dr Mohamed Kandil, Research Fellow,
Oil and Gas Engineering
Blair Kelly, Library Officer 1, Library
Dr Lea-Anne Kirkham, Research
Associate, Biomedical, Biomolecular
and Chemical Sciences
Anita Krsnik, Administrative Assistant,
Earth and Geographical Sciences
Jenny Landrigan, Project CoOrdinator, Population Health
STAFF ADS
Andrew Lem, It Project Management
Team Leader, Information Technology
Services (ITS)
Dr William Macdonald, Research
Associate, Biomedical, Biomolecular
and Chemical Sciences
Dr Paul Maginn, Senior Lecturer, Earth
and Geographical Sciences
Graham Maier, Database Manager,
Population Health
Anna Maley Fadgyas, Graphic Designer,
University of WA Press
Dr Ida Marais, Research Fellow,
Graduate School of Education
Erin Martin, Assistant (Production),
UniPrint
Laura Masters, Research Assistant,
Biomedical, Biomolecular and
Classified advertising is free to university staff.
Email: [email protected]
fOR SALE
VW Golf 4-door hatch. Manual
1.6. White. 2004 model. Excellent
condition, still under manufacturer’s
warranty. $22,500 ONO. Contact
Nicky Davison Ext 4671 or 9380
6508 or 0413 034 722.
motor scooter: Bug Bandit 50cc
motor scooter. Excellent condition,
low km. Perfect commuter vehicle.
$1,800 ono. Call 0413 005 510 or
email: [email protected]
REAL COW SPLIT LEATHER Office
Chairs: Brand new. Premium style
$130.00 and the Executive style
$115.00. Please contact Nehal Shah
for pictures and further information
on 6488 2978 or email: nashah@
cyllene.uwa.edu.au
TO LET
F R E N C H M A N BAY, ALBA N Y:
Holiday rental property. 4 bedroom,
2 bathroom, modern house with
stunning views over King George
Sound. 5 minute walk to pristine
Goode Beach. Fully furnished and
self contained. Sleeps 8. Only need to
bring linen. Contact Stephen Home
on 0419 969 138 or stephen.home@
uwa.edu.au
NANNUP: Holiday rental property.
Beautiful secluded house set on
6 acres. Sleeps 7/8. Fully fitted
throughout to a high standard.
Contact Nicky Davison on Ext
4671, 9380 6508 or nicky.davison@
uwa.edu.au. Also see website www.
kanjarralodge.com.au
FRENCH PYRENEES: Holiday rental
property. Characteristic rental
property in the small French village
of Rodes at the foothills of the French
Pyrénées. 40 minutes from Perpignan
and 2.5 hours from Barcelona. Sleeps
7. Fully fitted throughout. Contact
Nicky Davison on Ext 4671, 9380
6508 or [email protected].
au. Also see website http://www.
voletsbleus.co.uk/
BUSSELTON: “Driftwood Cottage”.
New holiday house right in town.
Only 250m to the beach or town
centre, but quiet and secluded under
big peppermint trees. Sleeps 8, with
big spa in main bedroom, and fully self
contained. Only need to bring linen.
Contact Nick Gibson on 0413 622
269 or Tel: 9305 9059 or ngibson@
cyllene.uwa.edu.au and ask for a
brochure.
HOUSESITTING
Uni lecturer available for
house-sitting from early May 2007.
Please contact Cecily on 0424 319
457 or [email protected]
WANTED
Accommodation: New Zealand
couple with two young children
require 2 - 3 bedroom house to
rent or house sit while on sabbatical
at School of Animal Biology, UWA.
Semi furnished or furnished
house preferred but will consider
unfurnished. Period required 1 August
‘07 to 2 January ‘08. Contact Paul
Kenyon via [email protected]
AC C O M M O DATI O N : V i s i t i n g
professor and wife from the
University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, Canada are looking for
accommodation from December 15,
2007 to March 1, 2008. Dates are
somewhat flexible. They are looking
for a 1 or 2 bedroom small house,
town house or apartment close
to UWA. Preferably in Nedlands,
Crawley, Subiaco, Shenton Park. They
like to garden and would be happy to
take care of plants both inside and
out. For more information please email: [email protected] chava.
[email protected] Phone +1-604222-3415
AC C O M M O DATI O N : M a t u re
woman, non-smoker requires duplex/
villa (preferred) or house in northern
suburbs from 1 June 2007. Would like
a long lease (24 month minimum).
Excellent references available. Able to
pay up to $250 pw. Have small female
dog – well behaved, house trained and
doesn’t dig or chew (Bichon Frise X
Shih Tzu). Contact Anne: Tel 9489
7830 or [email protected]
art and craft
FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS
EVERYTHING: For a unique and
personal gift, how about a watercolour
($190) or pen-and-ink sketch ($150)
of his/her home/garden? I also work
from old photos. Call Maureen 9299
6588 or email maureend@uwapress.
uwa.edu.au.
Chemical Sciences
Monica Mathyssek-Kilburn, Accounts
Officer, Natural and Agricultural
Sciences
Nicole Mccoy, Admin Assistant,
Medicine and Pharmacology
Vittoria Misitano, Freedom Of
Information Co-Ordinator, Legal
Services
Dr Michael Moody, Lecturer, Plant
Biology
Jane Morris, Central Sterilising
Assistant, Oral Health Centre of WA
J a s o n M u r p h y, I t P r o j e c t
Manager, Facilities Management,
Administration
George Mutale, Analyst/Programmer,
Information Technology Services (ITS)
RESEARCH
grants
& contracts
AINSE RESEARCH TRAINING
Mr Richard Sewell, Electrical,
Electronic and Computer Engineering:
‘SIMS analysis of dopant incorporation
and transient effects during MBE
growth of HgCdTe’—$6,200 (2007)
Prof Sidney Bradshaw, Ms Felicity
B r a d s h a w, A n i m a l B i o l o g y :
‘Measurement of protein turnover
in free-ranging Honey possums’—
$6,525 (2007)
CRC FOR INTEGRATED
ENGINEERING ASSET
MANAGEMENT
Dr Mohammad Paurobally, Mechanical
Engineering: ‘Industrial Applications
for Corrosion Sensing’—$237,050
(2006-09)
CSIRO ex Meat and
Livestock Australia
A/Prof Martin Barbetti, Plant Biology:
‘Pasture Soil Biological Constraints
- Field Bioassay’—$9,850 (2006)
LAND AND WATER
AUSTRALIA
Dr Ross Kingwell, Agricultural and
Resource Economics: ‘Changing the
Ownership-Management Paradigm
in Broadacre Farming’—$143,425
(2007-09)
MURDOCH UNIVERSITY ex
CSIRO Cluster
Dr Atakelty Hailu, A/Prof Michael
Burton, Agricultural and Resource
Economics: ‘Wealth From Oceans
Ningaloo Cluster’—$539,243 (200709)
WA FISHING INDUSTRY
COUNCIL ex FRDC
Prof Thomas Riley, Mr Steve
Munyard, Dr J Howieson, Mr Don
Nichols, Biomedical, Biomolecular
and Chemical Sciences, Centre
for Legumes in Mediterranean
Agriculture, External: ‘Developing
Targeted Strategies for Improving
Product Quality Through Selected
Low Value Seafood Supply Chains’—
$330,035 (2006-10)
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
15
AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH
COUNCIL LINKAGE
PROJECTS:
ALCOA, GREENING
AUSTRALIA, KINGS PARK
AND BOTANIC GARDEN,
WORSLEY ALUMINA
Prof Johannes Lambers, Dr Siegfried
Krauss, Dr J Koch, Dr Erik Veneklaas,
Plant Biology, External: ‘A Molecular
Ecophysiological Assessment of
the Importance of Using Local
Provenance Seed in Plant Biodiversity
Restoration’—$637,000 (2006-10)
AUSTRALIAN MINERAL
INDUSTRIES RESEARCH
ASSOC
P ro f M a r k B a r l ey, M r M a rc o
Fiorentini, Dr John Mavrogenes, Prof
Hugh O’Neil, Earth and Geographical
Sciences, External: ‘Experimental
Constraints on Platinum-Group
Element Geochemistry: Developing
Lithogeochemical Exploration Tools
for Nickel-Sulfides in Mafic and
Ultramafic Systems’—$263,987
(2006-08)
CALM,SOUTH COAST
REGIONAL INITIATIVE
PLANNING TEAM
NHT, South West
Catchments Council
NHT
Dr Jane Balme , Prof John
Dodson, Earth and Geographical
Sciences, Social and Cultural
Studies: ‘Aboriginal Landscape
Transformations in South-West
Australia’—$470,276 (2006-09)
DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
(DAFWA)
Prof Zdenko Rengel, Mr Robin
Wilson, Dr T Setter, Earth and
Geographical Sciences, External:
‘ P hy s i o l o g i c a l a n d G e n e t i c
Mechanisms Underlying Tolerance
of Bread Wheat to Ion Toxicities’—
$319,000 (2006-09)
Dr Megan Ryan, Prof Rudi Appels,
Phil Nichols, Mr R Snowball, Centre
for Legumes in Mediterranean
Agriculture, Plant Biology, External:
‘Molecular Approaches for the
Exploitation of Genetic Diversity
in Subterranean Clover (Trifolium
Subterraneum L.) for Profitable
Australian Farming Systems’—
$402,000 (2006-09)
PROJECTS, AGRICULTURE
VICTORIA SERVICES PTY
LTD
Prof Stephen Powles, Prof John
Forster, Prof German Spangenberg,
Plant Biology, External: ‘Gene
Identification and Genetic Marker
Analysis of Herbicide Resistance in
Lolium Rigidum’—$564 000 (200609)
WESFARMERS, XL TECH
GROUP
A/Prof Hui Chua, Dr Lizhen Gao,
Prof Colin Raston, Biomedical,
Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences,
Mechanical Engineering: ‘Near ZeroEmission Hydrogen and Carbon
Production from Natural Gas and
Bio-methane’—$536,092 (2006-09)
UWAnews
16
the
Last Word
Professor Stephan Lewandowsky
School of Psychology
Misinformation, Memory
and Democracy
memory updating relates to long-term success or failure to
correct outdated beliefs.
Continued influence — the belief in something you know
to be false — is immune to the repetition of a retraction or
admonitions to process the information for comprehension.
Indeed, particularly strong retractions may paradoxically
enhance continued influence.
However, it is known that continued influence can be
minimised if the correction is accompanied by an alternative
explanation of events or if people are suspicious of the
motives underlying the initial misinformation.
The project at UWA will contribute to psychological
science in many ways and has implications for all of us in an
increasingly complex world.
These are some of the biggest questions about human
memory that we face. How is memory updated? How is
outdated information discarded and barred from influencing
future decisions?
The challenges of globalisation and geopolitics can only
be mastered by successful management of rapid and largescale change.
The importance of clear, honest, coherent information
is as important as ever. But in the absence of that, our
ability to process new information — in many cases truthful
information — is crucial.
Professor Stephan Lewandowsky has recently won an Australian
Research Council Discovery Projects grant for the proposal:
“Keeping Memory Current. Updating and Discounting of
Information.”
UWAnews
EDITOR/WRITER Lindy Brophy Tel: 6488 2436 Fax: 6488 1192
Email: [email protected]
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Doug Durack Tel: 6488 2806 Fax: 6488 1020
Designed, typeset and printed by UniPrint, UWA
UWAnews online: http://uwanews.publishing.uwa.edu.au/
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 21 MAY 2007
UniPrint 52869
The power of politicians, the media, advertisers and other professional communicators
to influence public opinion is well known.
But what are the consequences for our democracy when
information is wrong and the public record is corrected
­­— but people’s memories fail to record the fact?
Take Iraq for example. About a year after the invasion,
up to 30 per cent of Americans still believed one of the major
rationales for going to war and thought that Weapons of Mass
Destruction (WMDs) had been found in Iraq.
This mistaken belief persisted even though tentative
media reports about possible WMDs were always followed by
published corrections and even though, after the invasion, the
media was soon converging on the consensus that there were
no WMDs in Iraq.
A similar reliance on discredited information could be
observed with other war-related news stories that were
publicly retracted after they turned out to be false.
This continued influence of corrected misinformation
must have adverse consequences in an information society.
The current barrage of accusations by Western leaders against
Iran, widely reported in the media but rarely accompanied by
evidence or thorough analysis, is worryingly reminiscent of
similar claims levelled against Iraq prior to the invasion.
In addition to the general problem that arises for a
democracy when people are persistently misinformed about
pressing issues, continued reliance on misinformation is
detrimental when juries fail to disregard tainted evidence;
when politicians rely on outdated intelligence during an
international crisis; or if scientists postulate theories based on
results that cannot be replicated.
In all those cases — and in numerous others studied
in laboratory testing — people first received information
thought to be true. They then received, processed and
verifiably remembered a correction to that information,
whereupon they nonetheless continued to rely on the
original — discredited — misinformation.
The continued influence of misinformation is particularly
puzzling because the correction is more recent — and
hence stronger in memory — than the original information
and people believe the correction and profess to ignore the
misinformation.
New research at UWA aims to explain the continued
influence of misinformation and what can be done to address it.
The project assumes that working memory — the shortterm apparatus that underlies much of cognition — plays a
central role in continued influence.
There is no detailed theoretical account of working
memory updating, and even less is known about how working