Patyegarang launch - MQ Staff - Macquarie University

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Jun 6, 2012 - “As soon as you observe it, it's different from what would have happened if you hadn't observed it,” s
6 June 2012

Patyegarang launch

[L-R] Associate Professor Susan Page, Charlotte Moar, Darug Artist Leanne Tobin (brand designer), Professor Steve Larkin and Professor Gail Whiteford. Photo: Bill Green.

the lunchtime event was the inaugural Patyegarang Oration delivered by Professor Steven Larkin, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Indigenous Leadership) at Charles Darwin University.

research and training issues.

Held on May 29, the centerpiece of

As Chair of the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council (IHEAC), Professor Larkin advises government on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander matters relating to higher education,

He also commended Macquarie for adopting a ‘whole of university’ approach to advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, employment, recognition and partnerships.

Giggles all round

The way to the transit of Venus

Campus morning tea

A hoot had by young and old at Gumnut Cottage last week.

For Carlos Bacigalupo, there’s more than one way to wake up in the morning.

Staff rally together to raise money for cancer research.

Around 60 staff and guests were welcomed by Warawara Department of Indigenous Studies Director, Associate Professor Susan Page to the launch of Patyegarang, Macquarie’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement Strategy 2012-2017.

Professor Larkin gave a thoughtful and insightful speech about current challenges and what is required to advance Indigenous higher education.

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Debbie Hatumale and Huma Ahmed. Amanda Parker, Mauricio Marrone and Michael Mendoza.

Staff helped to raise almost $900 for cancer research at a Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea in the Central Courtyard on 24 May. Coffee and cakes were served in a marquee on a grey Thursday morning to raise money for the Cancer Council. Tim Sprague thanked attendees for their generosity, and introduced John Boyages, Director of the Macquarie University Cancer Institute and Professor of Breast Oncology [pictured left], who gave a short talk about his work.

Sharyn Gilkes and Lisa Limbrick.

Lilia Mantai and Kim Richard.

Leah Angrisano, Pam Nilon, Dana Junokas and Rebekah Pang.

Frances O’Donovan and Sharron Motro.

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&

GIGGLE hoot On Wednesday 23 May, Gumnut Cottage received some special visitors. The team behind ABC’s hit show Giggle and Hoot arrived on campus to film Gumnut’s children participating in craft activities for a special segment on the show. Jimmy Giggle and Hoot the owl weren’t part of the ABC entourage, but kids were reminded of their role in the show by a cartoon picture of Hoot on the cameras, and encouragement to “speak up loudly, as you know Hoot sleeps most of the day!” Gumnut Cottage Director Rae Roy says it was an exciting day for her team. “We knew ABC Kids TV were going to be respectful of our Centre philosophy, the children and adhere to our early learning principles, so it was easy to say yes to their request.” All the staff of the Centre pitched in - even if it wasn’t their class directly involved, and they helped in managing the Centre environment for the day so that filming could occur in a quiet, uninterrupted outdoor space.

the way to the transit of VENUS

by Carlos Bacigalupo Research Officer, Department of Physics

This adventure is only a small part of an expedition to observe the Transit of Venus, the last time the planet Venus will cross the disk of the Sun for over a hundred years. The next transit will be in the year 2117.

As Rae explains, it was a unique opportunity to help the children make the connection from home to the Centre. They are aware of the Hoot character from home TV and were confident to join in the planned crafts. “Involvement in this TV production process has been a fantastic learning opportunity. It’s been very interesting for the children to see how the filming of a sequence may have to be repeated several times, how important it is for show consistency to repeat your lines right for the camera,” says Rae. “We are always looking for opportunities to expose the children to different experiences that enable them to connect with and better understand their world.”

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It was time to climb the rigging and our destiny was the fore mast. An exciting, yet challenging, climb later I was leaning on the yard arm unfurling a sail, with an unforgettable view of Sydney Harbour. My two team-mates and I could not stop smiling at each other. Several television helicopters circled us, recording our crossing though the heads for the news.

There are many ways to start a day. You can wake up, take the train and do your daily routine and that can be a great day. Alternatively, you can do what I did today. After sleeping in a hammock, I woke up to a now-familiar voice, coming from a PA system. By the time I was fully awake I had a harness on and was ready to climb 20 metres. It was not part of a dream; I spent the morning sailing on HMB Endeavour.

It is our second day on the ship and we are heading to Lord Howe Island. It is an expedition undertaken in commemoration of Captain James Cook’s original voyage in the ship upon which this vessel is modelled – a voyage to observe the Transit of Venus in Tahiti. As an astronomer, it is a privilege to be part of such an expedition. Dr. Alex Cook, the historian on the ship, and I are bringing together the two sides of this unique adventure that combines a rare astronomical event with a major historical one. Learning how to sail a traditional tall ship is an amazing experience. It is only when you are unfurling the sails from the top of the mast that you become really aware what it means to sail a traditional vessel, and how much skill and work it takes to keep her sailing. The 18th-century flavour of the trip, and the excitement of observing the Transit of Venus, permeates every moment.

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Japanese on the move

Dr Kimie Takahashi talking to research participants.

[centre right] Dr Kimie Takahashi and [right] Professor Ingrid Piller with guests.

Greg Earl, Australian-Japan Foundation Board Member

life stories of transmigration

Professor Gail Whiteford talking to guests.

A few weeks ago on a cool Friday night in the city, Ingrid Piller and Kimie Takahashi addressed a launch event with a difference for their latest research project. Although many of the attendees had never met they all seemed to know one another, and there was a strange sense of completion for an event marking the start of something. The guests in the room all had one thing in common: they are participants in the Japanese on the Move project, and they had all seen interviews with each other already. Japanese on the Move is a unique project in more ways than one. Growing out of the Language on the Move research blog, and funded by the Australia-Japan Foundation, its subject matter is novel, and the innovative methodology used not only gives a glimpse into the research process, but also an insight into the day-to-day lives of the participants. Interviews with the

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‘subjects’ are posted online, and updates are announced on the project Twitter feed, providing a community feel that is rarely found in academic research. “I think what’s really unique about this project and what has created this sense of community is the immediacy,” says Ingrid. “I mean, we started interviewing in August [2011] and we had the first interviews up in October, and pretty much all through the project period we were still conducting interviews and putting them up.” Participants’ interviews are edited and made available on the project website for the world to see, with each of the stories relating to the experience of learning either Japanese or English in Japan or Australia. But the tales that emerge are far more than just a collection of learning experiences. “Very often language learning is seen as a sort of a thing you do in a classroom, but of course unless you learn Latin you don’t just do it for the classroom: you learn it to do something with it – to live a life in another language.” The result is a charming and compelling collection of personal tales that revolve around language learning, but expose the

humanity that might be overlooked in traditional academic research. Anecdotes, reminiscences and even love stories are revealed as researchers investigate the motivations, challenges and successes of bilingual life. Ingrid openly acknowledges that posting the data online straight away affects the outcome of the research, calling it a contemporary version of the perennial ‘observer’s paradox’. “As soon as you observe it, it’s different from what would have happened if you hadn’t observed it,” she says, but they accept that it comes with the territory. As with all research projects, they will produce papers for peer review and eventually conclude the project, but in the meantime, they are delighted with the way the project has captured the imagination of the participants, and their sense of ownership over their involvement.

“In some areas of the human sciences we still talk about “human subjects”, so they are people who sort of give you data, or you do something to them and they reveal their behaviours,” says Ingrid. “But the social sciences have really moved away from that kind of research participant out there, to a concept of your participants as partners. They may have different interests from yours that can be very interesting and give you different perspectives that are more meaningful in the community than what you originally set out to do.”

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Arboretum walking tour

For your diary june Macquarie Colloquium Lecture: The economic outlook - what does it mean for interest rates, the australian dollar and shares?

Saturday 30 June (10am) The Macquarie University Arboretum is a valuable resource for teaching and research; and a pleasing and relaxing environment for the enjoyment of staff, students and visitors to our campus. Come on a guided walk and see our magnificent trees and explore our hidden gardens you might not otherwise get to see while you work. Location: Entrance to E8A Information: Please call Samantha on ext. 8170 or email [email protected].

Chef’s Winter Soup Kitchen Homemade, hearty goodness for just $4

Tickets: Free. Submit your diary entry by emailing [email protected].

Tuesday 19 June (6pm)

The Atrium

Presented by Dr Shane Oliver, a regular media commentator and Chief Economist and Head of Investment Strategy, AMP Capital. Dr Oliver will focus on issues and trends affecting the economy and financial markets.

Level 0, The Hub

Location: MGSM City Campus, Level 7, 37 Pitt Street, Sydney

11am - 2.30pm

Information: Please visit the Alumni website. Tickets: Free, but registration is essential.

Science Research Lecture Series: Discover what we’re discovering

Menu changes daily

Tuesday 19 June (6pm) The Department of Statistics will present two lectures on current research projects.

for rent

Assessing whether new medicines work: Statistical revolution in medical research

furnished two bedroom townhouse

Speaker: Professor Ian Marschner Of all the great medical advances of the twentieth century, one of the most significant was the development of ways to assess whether promising new medicines actually work. At the forefront of these advances was the advent of the randomised clinical trial, and the development of methodologies for interpreting and synthesising evidence from clinical trials research. Using case studies from areas such as cancer and heart disease, including current research being conducted at Macquarie University, this lecture will discuss how these methodologies have revolutionised medical research and the pivotal role that statistical science has played. The art and science of statistical graphs Speaker: Hilary Green, PhD student and Lecturer An appropriate statistical graph facilitates our understanding of data. Psychologists, statisticians and computer scientists have various explanations as to why this relatively new scientific tool is so powerful. In this lecture Hilary will provide some background to this research as well as present graphs aimed at providing insight into various datasets including climate data. Location: Theatre 1, Y3A Tickets: Free, but registration is essential to Cathy at [email protected].

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spotted on CAMPUS

About: Available from 12 September to 31 December 2012. Owner will be overseas during period indicated. Living room and main bedroom feature pleasant bush views. Nonsmoker preferred. Would suit visiting academic (and partner, if applicable). Please note, the home is not child-proof. Location: Busaco Rd, Marsfield. Walk or bus to the university. Rent: $300pw plus bond (phone and electricity extra). Contact: Scott at [email protected] or call ext. 9575.

for rent one bedroom in a spacious two-bedroom flat

The incoming Vice-Chancellor was spotted on campus this week, on a visit ahead of his official start date later this year.

About: Partially furnished sunny room with mirrored built-in wardrobe and sofa couch. For share with a PhD student, prefer another female researcher. Shared bathroom. Available from July - February 2013. Location: 10 minute walk from Hornsby train station and Westfield Shopping Centre. 20 minute direct train ride to the university.

Professor S. Bruce Dowton will take over from Professor Steven Schwartz on 10 September. This is his second visit since the Chancellor announced his appointment in April. He has been meeting with staff, students and Council members to plan a smooth transition later this year. Keep your eyes peeled and be sure to say hello if you see him out and about.

Rent: $210pw (incl. electricity). Contact: Natasha at [email protected] or call ext. 8389. Submit your classified by emailing [email protected]. Photowrite/ Effy Alexakis.

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Interested in How Your Child Learns Language?

entries sought for annual building inclusive communities awards Macquarie University (Social Inclusion) in partnership with the Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW (ECC), is accepting entries for the ‘Building Inclusive Communities Awards 2012’. The awards are designed to recognise and showcase individuals and groups in NSW, whose work makes a significant contribution to building a diverse Australia. In particular, the awards focus attention on individuals and groups who often go unrecognised. Entries for the awards are sought from individuals, community groups or organisations who serve, work on behalf of, contribute to, or represent Indigenous Australians and/or people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Individuals and groups are able to nominate their own work or that of others. The six categories are: individual contribution; non-government organisations; ‘grass roots’ volunteer and community groups, government; corporate; and youth.

Entries close 5pm 15 June. Visit the Building Inclusive Communities Awards website for more information.

Is your child aged between 24 - 30 months old? Are your child’s language and hearing abilities developing normally? Is Australian English the primary language spoken in your home? If you answered yes to these questions then you’re eligible to participate in an ARC-sponsored research study which explores aspects of children’s language development. Conducted on campus by the Child Language Lab, our study involves a fun speaking game with your child and is carried out in your presence. Your child’s speech is recorded, and you will be required to fill out a form regarding the words that your child typically says, and the languages spoken at home. The entire session lasts about 30 minutes and upon completion, you’ll receive a $20 Coles/Myer card, and your child will receive a free T-shirt. If you have any questions please contact us on ext. 9651 or email [email protected].

Call for papers first australasian conference of undergraduate research The first Australasian Conference of Undergraduate Research will be held 20 September 2012. This one-day conference will include poster presentations and spoken papers by undergraduate students from all disciplines and from across Australasia. This is a great opportunity for undergaduate students to meet students from other universities and share their work. All research is welcomed at this conference, from any discipline. We ask staff to encourage their students to get involved and present at this event. All students need to do is submit and abstract of no more than 300 words by 15 June 2012. Presentations judged to be the best will be published in a special issue of MQ Matrix and the best paper will receive $1000. For more details please visit the Learning and Teaching Centre website. Find out how to submit your bulletin board notice. Visit: staffnews.mq.edu.au.

Applications now open : Staff Travel Loan Scheme Don’t stress in the traffic over winter, get on a train or bus and beat the mid-year blues. Public transport is a great option for travelling to and from campus, and allows you time to catch up on your favourite book, television show or movie. Interest-free travel loans are available now for continuing and fixed-term staff.

Applications close Friday 15 June 2012. No late applications will be accepted after this date. Applicants must include a start date for a MyMulti or MyTrain travel ticket between 2 - 31 July 2012 (inclusive). For more information, application forms and terms and conditions please visit the Travel Loan Scheme webpage.

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We welcome your comments and suggestions. For all enquiries please contact the Communications team by calling 9850 6766 or at [email protected] For more information about how to submit content, please visit staffnews.mq.edu.au.