Welcome to QUT's weekly round-up of news and events. For more updates as they happen, join 15,860 followers of @QUTmedia on Twitter. To subscribe to this wrap, please email media@qut.edu.au.
NEWS
Do red Smarties make you happier? ‘Live the trial’ class debunks the myth: A test to assess the effect of red Smarties on happiness has been used to teach the often “dull” or “boring” concepts of clinical research.
Through a child’s eyes: Classroom study measures vision and academic achievement: QUT researchers are investigating how vision can affect a child’s ongoing learning, with results showing that 30 per cent of Year 3 students tested had uncorrected eye problems that could affect their NAPLAN performances.
Another accolade for QUT biomaterials scientist Professor Dietmar Hutmacher: QUT has awarded the title of Distinguished Professor to Professor Dietmar Hutmacher for his outstanding achievement in the challenging transdisciplinary field of biomedical engineering.
QUT graduate publishes acclaimed debut novel with a regional focus: It’s safe to say that there aren’t many romantic comedies set in the regional Queensland town of Rocky.
WTO ruling could light the way to a tobacco-free future: Australia’s defence of plain tobacco packaging which brought about the World Trade Organisation (WTO) decision in its favour is a landmark win for global public health, says QUT Professor of Intellectual Property and Innovation Matthew Rimmer.
Road Wars: Intellectual property, driverless cars and Knight Riders: Driverless vehicles will have to traverse a minefield of Intellectual Property issues before they arrive on the market if the Google/Uber legal stoush is anything to go by, says QUT IP law professor Matthew Rimmer who appeared before the Federal Parliament’s inquiry on autonomous vehicles in Brisbane last week.
QUT supports new education research centre: QUT has joined the Media Centre for Education Research Australia to deliver the latest information about education research.
Creating the story of landscape architecture at QUT: A team of creatives, alumni, students and teachers has been assembled to create an interactive story based in Brisbane.
EVENTS
May 12: CARRS-Q pedestrians, cyclists & vehicles road safety initiative launch @ Samford
May 12: Prestige Scholarships Information Seminar (free) @ Gardens Point
May 14: Mother's Day High Tea @ Old Government House
May 14: Mother's Day Art @ QUT Art Museum
May 16-18: High school students & parents information seminars (free) @ Gardens Point, North Lakes & Caboolture
Now - May 21: Earth & fire: Ceramics from the QUT Art Collection (free) @ QUT Art Museum
Now - May 21: Less than: Art and reductionism (free) @ QUT Art Museum
May 24: Business Leaders’ Forum with Sam Walsh @ Hilton Brisbane
May 26: IFE Grand Challenge Public Lecture with John Gunn @ Institute for Future Environments
June 2-3: Careers and Employment Expo @ Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
June 12-13: Shirley Valentine @ Gardens Theatre
Now - June 18: William Robinson: Genesis (free) @ William Robinson Gallery
Now - Sept 13: Season 2017 @ Gardens Theatre: Stories that connect @ Gardens Theatre
Now - Nov 24: STEM for Schools: What's on in 2017 @ QUT
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
- Professor Matthew Rimmer was on the ABC’s PM program talking about how Australia’s patent system could stymie driverless vehicles innovation.
- Professor Des Butler warned listeners of ABC Sunshine Coast, Far North and Capricornia that driverless cars could present privacy concerns.
- A Conversation piece on flying cars by Professor Jon Roberts and Associate Professor Michael Milford (pictured) was run by Fairfax sites including The Sydney Morning Herald.
- Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake’s comments on the proposed changes to Federal Government funding for universities were published in The Australian and The Courier Mail while he also discussed the issue with ABC Radio Brisbane.
- Aljazeera interviewed Associate Professor Gary Mortimer about the changing global retail industry. Channel 9’s A Current Affair also interviewed him about supermarkets and meat prices, Australian Hardware Journal also quoted him on Amazon setting up shop in Australia and Smart Company quoted him on Amazon’s impact on sports stores.
- 7 News ran a story on electric bikes in Australia and how QUT researchers want to make them safer. Dr Markus Rittenbruch from the QUT Design Lab and Dr Ronald Schroeter from CARRSQ were interviewed.
- Dr John Willsteed was interviewed by Ten News on the Freedom Then, Freedom Now Exhibition opening at the State Library of Queensland.
- The Courier-Mail and other News Corp papers published the announcement of inquiries into mobile phone and drug use by drivers, that will involve CARRS-Q researchers.
- Associate Professor Janet Davies was interviewed for a Weekend Australian story about thunderstorm asthma and her work on the grass pollen count (Brisbanepollen.com.au).
- Dr Mark Gibbs’ piece on affordable housing was published on ABC Online and Business Standard.
- Brisbane Times and other Fairfax sites published a Conversation article by Professor Marcus Foth and Dr Mirko Guaralda on designing cities that encouraged people to slow down.
- Campus Morning Mail reported on law lecturer James Morton being appointed a Queensland Magistrate and Professor Marcus Foth being made a fellow of the Australian Computer Society. Mr Morton was also interviewed by ABC Radio Brisbane.
- Professor Axel Bruns was interviewed on ABC Brisbane Evenings about the social media reaction to the emergency meeting called at Buckingham Palace. He also wrote a piece on the diversity of Twitter for The Conversation, which was re-published by The Arabian Post, The Daily Bulletin and Australian Business.
- News Corp’s Sunday newspapers published a feature on Dame Quentin Bryce which led with her observations on QUT’s “vivacious” and “energetic” Gardens Point campus (which houses her office).
- The Courier-Mail’s Qweekend ran a feature on the new Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition at GOMA and QUT’s involvement via interactivity activities, such as a green screen, that are tipped to be a major drawcard.
- Qweekend also profiled Masters of Counselling graduate Alison Lalieu, and law student and Brisbane Racing Carnival ambassador Courtney Thorpe.
- The Gold Coast Bulletin wrote about Federal MP Karen Andrews who was one of QUT’s first female graduates in mechanical engineering.
- Maths and IT student Rhys Jones made The Courier-Mail’s Careers section thanks to his good work as an IT volunteer with Spinal Life Australia.
- ABC Radio Brisbane Drive program spoke with Professor Lisa Nissen about the generic medicines and a government proposal for doctors to prescribe medicines by the active ingredient rather than the brand.
- ABC Brisbane interviewed Professor Brian McNair about the Fairfax job cuts.
- APN ran a story on Ipswich runner Clay Dawson who claimed the Ipswich One Mile Gift and also came second in the 10km QUT Classic on the weekend.
- Dr Mary Crawford joined ABC Radio Brisbane for her weekly segment, which ranged from carparking shortages around new inner city developments to Gonski 2.0.
- Susan Hetherington talked TV classifications during her family affairs segment with ABC Capricornia.
- ABC Capricornia also talked about the Northern University Games on its breakfast program and that the QUT team had won the overall trophy at the past four games.
- Professor Greg Kyle was interviewed by ABC Radio’s The World Today about the death of a Ballarat university student from meningococcal disease.
- Campus Review reported Professor Virginia Barbour’s views on the academic attitude of publish or perish. Campus Review also wrote about entrepreneur Catherine Ball’s talk at the Times Higher Education Young Universities Summit at QUT.
- AFR ran a story on St Margaret’s College which provides Brisbane boarding accommodation for students at universities including QUT.
QUT is part of a national collaborative group of five major Australian universities that form the ATN (Australian Technology Network of Universities).
