Welcome to QUT's first round-up of news and events for 2016. Stay tuned for our top stories of the year later this week. For more updates as they happen, join 12,000 followers of @QUTmedia on Twitter.
Jurassic genius: digital zoo shows the real world of dinosaurs: They’re life sized. They’re smart. And they can see you. What they do next is up to them! Ten artificially intelligent prehistoric beasts have been set loose in QUT’s digital Dino Zoo.
Global research hub publishes QUT study on light exposure and kids’ weight: A world-first QUT study revealing light exposure plays a role in the weight of preschool children has been published by international research journal PLOS ONE.
QUT mourns passing of Adjunct Professor Brian Johns AO - a visionary of digital futures for Australian culture: QUT is proud to add its voice to the public acknowledgement of the unique contributions to Australian media, culture and public life of Brian Johns, who died on January 1, 2015, at age 79.
Volunteers wanted for study concerning falls in older adults with macular degeneration: QUT Optometrist and PhD candidate Ursula White wants people over 65 with and without macular degeneration to participate in a study examining the association between falls, fear of falling, and activity levels.
New program reduces hospital infections: A first-of-its-kind collaborative project between QUT and Logan Hospital designed to reduce healthcare associated infection has won national acclaim at the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS) National Conference.
Empty shelves could await those who’ve delayed Christmas shopping: Today is the last shopping day before Christmas and while there are still bargains to be had, many shoppers could go home empty-handed.
QUT and Global Road Technology invest in building better roads: A new research partnership between QUT and Global Road Technology will deliver health and safety benefits for mine sites, regional towns and third-world countries through spray-on, “instant” roads that can make dirt roads as hard-wearing as bitumen.
Now - Jan 26: Dino Zoo in the school holidays (free) @ The Cube QUT Gardens Point
Now - Feb 28: Nineteen Sixty-Five: Dadang Christanto (free) @ QUT Art Museum
Now - June 26: Inspirations (free) @ William Robinson Gallery
Feb 18: Climate change law workshop @ QUT Gardens Point
Feb 24 - March 18: SHAPE of Things to Come: The Anniversary Show (free) @ QUT Creative Industries Precinct
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
The Cube Studio’s launch of Dino Zoo at The Cube attracted widespread media attention, including, Seven News, 10 News, 9 News, SBS Online, 4BC, 612 ABC, ABC Online, Brisbane Times, 2GB, the Campus Morning Mail and on Lonely Plant travel news
Dino Zoo and Professor David Gust also featured in the Courier Mail’s Career One section.
Professor James Dale was interviewed by US-based Mother Jones about the spread of the fungal disease Tropical Race 4 through Cavendish banana crops while Before It’s News published a piece on Professor Dale’s African banana project.
Professor Rebecca English was interviewed on her ‘gentle parenting’ research by ABC TV News.
Professors Marek Kowalklewicz and Rowena Barrett and Dr Md Shahiduzzaman had a letter to the editor concerning the digital economy published in the Financial Review.
Professor Terry Flew’s obituary on Adjunct professor and former ABC Chair Brian Johns was published in ON LINE opinion.
Dr Ian Weir’s advice on rebuilding was sought by media organisations covering bushfires in Victoria and South Australia over the Christmas period including The Guardian.
The Courier-Mail ran an in-depth piece with Associate Professor Jane Shakespeare-Finch about how Queenslanders coped with the 2011 flood disaster. The story also ran across other media outlets including Fairfax’s Brisbane Times.
The Courier Mail highlighted the success of QUT’s Teaching Advantage program that prepares academics for tertiary teaching roles.
Dr Gary Mortimer had a range of retail-related items on everything from Christmas TV advertisements to credit card spending in various news outlets over the period including in the news.com.au network and in the New Year was asked to comment on US retail giant Costco opening more stores in Australia, with comments reported across a range of outlets including the Daily Mail.
A number of online outlets including the Health Cast ran stories about the risk drowsy drivers pose to others as well as themselves.
What’s in a name? A lot if you’re an accountancy firm called ISIS. Dr Nicolas Pontes spoke with Channel 7 News about branding.
Associate Professor Adrian Barnett told the New Daily China’s new canned air product is unlikely to improve the population’s wellbeing.
Gizmodo republished Professor Jonathan Roberts’ article about Star Wars droids, while Lifehacker republished his Conversation article about how robots see the world. He was also interviewed by ABC radio Wydney Drive about the rise of the robots.
Dr Bill Lott spoke to ABC Sydney’s 702 overnight program about the work being done on quantum computing in Australia.
Dr Mia Woodruff’s opinion on the medical implications of 3D printing was sought for a news.com.au networked piece on the Coolest scientific breakthroughs of 2015.
An interview with Professor Sagadevan Mundree and Brett Williams on their research into the Australian resurrection grass ran on ABC Longreach and was also picked up by Fox28 News.
Dr Ernest Foo’s cyber security research was quoted by the Australian Automotive Dealers’ Association.
Associate Professor Chamindie Punyadeera’s research on a saliva test to replace blood tests for heart failure was in the Sunshine Coast Daily and other APN papers as well as multiple overseas websites.
Dr Helen Berents’ co-authored a piece for The Conversation on how young people are working for peace was republished by World Economic Forum’s Agenda.
Gary Mortimer was interviewed by several media outlets in relation to a range of Christmas news and commentary including 2SER in Sydney and regional press such as the News Mail.
Dr Vanessa Lussini’s interview with Life Matters aired on ABC Radio National.
Professor Jonathan Roberts was interviewed by ABC radio Sydney Drive about the rise of the robots.
Professor Lynne Daniels’ advice on healthy eating over the festive season was run across numerous outlets including the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Dr Mark Ryan’s comments about why Australian filmmakers steer clear of making Christmas movies were reported by The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Gympie Times and elsewhere across the APN network.
Dr Nigel Stobbs provided comment to the Fairfax network on the tension between public expectations and court decisions on high profile cases.
Dr Mary Crawford told The Courier Mail that ‘ugly politics’, complexity of local government decision making and cost could be responsible for a lack of contenders for this year’s election of Mayor of Moreton Bay Regional Council.
Stephen Whyte’s research into what women want in a sperm donor continued to attract publicity including in Australasian Science.
Dr Christine Satchell told ABC News there was a natural coupling of tourism and social media platforms like Instagram.
PhD student Cassandra Pattinson’s research on the impact of light exposure on children’s weight received international coverage including in Health, Medical and Science Updates.
Research by Dr Lisa Bradly indicating that businesses are failing to plan for the future was published in newspapers throughout regional Queensland.
Mitchell McEwan weighed in on speculation surrounding the new Nintendo hybrid console in a range of online journals including The New Daily
Neuroscience News reported on Dr Dimitri Perrin’s research identifying genes linked to people who sleep less.
Susan Hetherington provided advice on the use of Facebook to Fairfax regional media following controversy surrounding the setting up of a ‘Who Got the Rain’ copycat site.
Visual artist and QUT alumni Joel Fergie was interviewed by Style Magazine.
Landscape architecture students Emily Colling and Debbie Turner had a piece on their project giving the Aussie farm dam a make-over published in International Water Power & Dam Construction.
Adjunct Professor Bill Caelil told Adelaide ABC Breakfast radio that mobile phones did not yet have the security provisions to enable drivers’ licences to go digital.
Release date: Monday, January 11, 2016
Media contact: media@qut.edu.au
