QUT News & Events Wrap - December 5 edition

NEWS

Could the mosquito-borne disease chikungunya arrive in Australia?: Research on the risk of arrival in Australia of a debilitating disease spread by the same mosquito that carries Zika, is one of $2.8m in the latest NHRMC grants awarded to QUT.

Too much glass & no privacy: Brisbane's new apartments not suited to subtropical climate: Brisbane’s newly built apartments are mostly over-glazed hot boxes that will  increasingly cost more to keep cool and be uncomfortable to live in, due to poor design and a focus on “the view”.

MEDIA ADVISORY – heatwave experts from QUT: QUT has a multidisciplinary team of experts who can speak about various aspects of the current heatwave.

Largest ever research into philanthropy reveals Australians’ generosity: Fewer Australians are giving to charity but those who do are giving more, according to the largest ever research into philanthropic behaviour.

Healthy holiday habits won’t hamper festive fun: With school holidays on the horizon and Christmas rapidly approaching, festive season fun can also throw up temptations to challenge families.

World-leading green-energy physicist joins QUT: ARC Laureate Fellow and physicist Professor Dmitri Golberg will join 800 physics researchers at the Asia Pacific Physics Conference in Brisbane this week (December 4 to 8).

Tests on oil recycled from tyres finds a cleaner diesel blend: Old tyres can be completely recycled into lower emission diesel engine oil, instead of being dumped in dangerous, highly flammable stockpiles that become breeding grounds for malaria and dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

QUT celebrates 2017 New Colombo Plan Scholars: Eight outstanding QUT students have been awarded the prestigious New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship at an awards dinner in Canberra on Monday 28 November.

EVENTS

Dec 8-9: INDEX Industrial Design Graduate Exhibition @ Creative Industries Precinct
Dec 13-16: Social Lightscapes Workshop with QUT Design Lab @ West End
Dec 20: Real Decisions uni info day @ Gardens Point & Caboolture
Now - 13 Sept 2017: Season 2017: Stories that connect @ Gardens Theatre
Now - Feb 23: To Sir with Love: an exhibition of the Dr Wilton WR Love album (free) @ Old Government House
Now - March 5: GLASS: art design architecture @ QUT Art Museum
Now - early 2017: Physics Observatory (free) @ The Cube
Now - June 18, 2017: William Robinson: Genesis (free) @ William Robinson Gallery
March 26-31: MIT Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp @ QUT
April 5-7: 2017 Times Higher Education (THE) Young Universities Summit @ Gardens Point

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

• ABC TV News and ABC online featured a story about a new rubber tyre biofuel from Green Distillation Technologies which has undergone rigorous testing at the QUT Biofuel Engine Research facility. The story was also covered by The National Newspaper (PNG), Radio Australia, 4ZZZ, Gizmodo, New Atlas,  Industry Update, Manufacturers' Monthly and more.
• ABC online and ABC Radio featured interviews with QUT experts Associate Professor Adrian Barnett, Dr Wendy Miller and Associate Professor Ian Stewart on the heatwave. Professor Barnett was also interviewed by 4BC Drive while Professor Stewart was quoted in a story on MamaMia and International Business Times warning workers in hot, physical jobs to be extra cautious.
• Associate Professor Gary Mortimer told the Australian Business Network and Sky News Steinhoff Asia Pacific’s takeover of furniture retailer Fantastic highlights Australia’s attractiveness as a market for foreign retailers. He also gave 7 News and City North News tips on staying on budget this Christmas, spoke to Smart Company about Metcash’s plans to roll out private label brands, spoke to ABC Radio regarding Amazon selling groceries in Australia and wrote a piece for The Conversation on the top five tricks retailers use to make you spend at Christmas. ABC RN’s The Money program interviewed him on Christmas gifts, which was also covered by the Sunday Mail, while 9 News sought his opinion about gift card expiry dates.
• ABC Radio and online featured an interview with Professor Rosemary Kennedy on her concerns that high-rise apartments sacrifice comfort for a good view. Sustainability Matters, Domain.com and Brazil Business Today also covered the story.
• Professor Sagadevan Mundree talked to Robyn Williams on The Science Show about research to make food crops more nutritious.
• Campus Morning Mail listed the new ARC College of Experts members including Professors You-Gan Wang, Steven Bottle, Margot Brereton and Anthony Clarke and reported on Professor Gayle Kerr’s teaching excellence award from the federal government.
• The Courier-Mail quoted Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies research in a story on corporate philanthropy. The Centre’s Giving Australia Report was released and covered by ProBono Australia which ran a number of stories including one on how volunteers give more and another on how Australian businesses go beyond giving.
• There was continued international coverage of the launch of the Herston Biofabrication Institute, led by Associate Professor Mia Woodruff, including International Business Times, PC & Tech Authority, Ubergizmo and Computer Hoy. 
• BBC News and South Wales Evening Post reported the city of Swansea, Wales, could be getting its own version of The Cube.
• Early Learning Review covered QUT's three-year study into the nature of early-childhood educators’ work and what underpins high-quality, early-childhood education.
• Professor Jonathan Roberts’ opinion was sought by BrisbaneTimes and Fairfax Online on an innovative Japanese robot that would wash, sort and fold.
• Dean Brough was interviewed on 2SER about his kombucha clothing research, while colleague Dr Alice Payne spoke to The Huffington Post. 
• Associate Professor Janet Davies was quoted in a Healthline story about what causes the deadly ‘thunderstorm asthma’.
• Dr Chris Lehnert spoke to the Redland City Bulletin and Queensland Country Life about the trial of Harvey, the capsicum-picking robot. 
• Business Acumen covered the opening of qutbluebox’s QUT Foundry.
• Quest Newspapers covered a story involving three QUT engineering students who designed new bike helmets equipped with cameras. It was also mentioned on 612 Brisbane Breakfast.
• Australian Regional Media across northern NSW reported on students joining QUT’s First LEGO League competition.
• Dr Mark King talked about road safety over Summer on ABC 612 Brisbane’s Drive program.
• Dr Alexia Lennon’s research into the role of parents in helping their children learn to drive was reported across Australian Regional Media papers in Queensland.
• Traffic Technology Today and Australasian Transport News reported on CARRS-Q’s landmark driverless car trial in Queensland.
• B&T reported on advertising company BCM taking a record number of QUT students for its internship program.
• Rural Weekly featured Professor Tristan Perez and QUT's agricultural robots at the AgFutures Innovation and Investment Conference.
• Emily Gill spoke to regional media, including the Mackay Daily Mercury and the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin, about how to maintain weight loss.
• Books and Publishing praised QUT Bookshop as finishing runner-up in the APA Campus Bookseller of the Year.
• CARRS-Q research into the Fatal Five most common killers on Queensland roads was covered by The Toowoomba Chronicle.
• ABC Wide Bay Bundaberg spoke to Urangan State High School year 11 student Maddison McMorrow about her experience at the QUT Vice-Chancellor’s STEM Camp.
• QUT design school student Anna Carter's award-winning design of level 14 of Central Plaza One office tower in Brisbane featured in The Courier-Mail.
• Mary Crawford was interviewed on ABC Brisbane Mornings about Australian politics including the backpacker tax and the review of ride sharing services like Uber.
• Susan Hetherington joined ABC Capricornia for her usual spot to discuss family matters. She also made her weekly appearance on ABC Brisbane Breakfast to talk about theatre.
• Peter Black talked tech in his regular segment with 612 Brisbane Breakfast’s Spencer Howson.
• Dr Andrew McGee, Professor Ben White and Professor Lindy Willmott wrote about South Australia’s reasons for voting against euthanasia legislation in a piece for The Conversation.
• Dr Anne-Frances Watson's Conversation piece lamented the end of Dolly magazine in hard copy after 46 years.

Release date: Monday, December 5, 2016
Media contact: media@qut.edu.au