IQ inside

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Queensland University of Technology NewspaperIssue 291 March 3 - March 30, 2009

www.news.qut.edu.au George Street Brisbane 4000 Telephone (07) 3138 2361 Registered by Australia Post – Publication No. QBF 4778. CRICOS No 00213J

Caboolture growth spurtCaboolture campus

QUT’s Caboolture campus has welcomed 35 per cent more students than last year.

Close to half the new students have come straight from school this year, proof that QUT’s activities in the local community such as work experience and practical placements have created awareness about QUT, Caboolture campus head Robert Craig said.

“The largest increase is in the Bachelor of Business where our

numbers have more than tripled,” Mr Craig said.

“We have an exciting year ahead as we continue to develop our facilities to meet the demand to give our students a top-class learning experience.

“We have received a number of grants recently for upgrades and improvements to teaching and learning programs and facilities.

“One is to build a state-of-the-art simulation unit for our nursing students as well as health

professionals from the Redcliff e and Caboolture hospitals.

“Our teaching students will benefi t from the $1.45 million Teacher Education Done Diff erently project that looks at ways to integrate more school-based activities for our pre-service teachers and teacher aides.

“And we continue to plan for the expansion of our library and learning support areas with $2.5 million from the Capital Development Pool.”

The BUZZ is backTHEY came, they saw, they partied ... and now they’ll study! Semester one is underway but not before thousands of students celebrated O Week across QUT’s three campuses. Balloons, free pizza, live music – and even a visit from Batman and Catwoman – were part of the fun. Students enjoying the entertainment at Gardens Point campus included Matthew Bone (Business), Angela De Jesus (Applied Science) and Reinel Jiongco (Business), all pictured. Turn to pages 4 and 5 for more O Week photos.

First-year nursing students, left to right, Kayla Delange, Regan Cameron and Tracey Hill enjoy the library at the QUT Caboolture campus.

Page 2 Inside QUT March 3 - March 30, 2009 IQVisit www.corpcomm.qut.edu.au/insidequt for more details when you see this

the gift of a lifetimeA bequest to QUT in your Will makes the

world of difference to our future.

For more information about how you can support students or projects at QUT contact:

Anna Herbert Bequests and Major Gifts, Development Office, Queensland University of Technology Gardens Point Campus, Level 4, O Block Podium. 2 George St, Brisbane, Qld, 4001

Phone 07 3138 2950 Email a.herbert@qut.edu.au www.giving.qut.edu.au

CHRIS HEPPERLIN has been appointed QUT’s director of Student Support Services and will oversee

services including counselling, health services and career assistance. He is a former director of student services at the University of Technology Sydney. He is also president elect of the Asia Pacifi c Student Services Association.

RAY KELLY is the new executive director of QUT International and leads QUT’s international

engagement activities ranging from recruiting students to servicing international student exchange partnerships. He has come to QUT from the Queensland Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry where he was executive director of technology and emerging industries. Mr Kelly has lengthy experience in international trade and investment, including positioning Queensland as an international student

destination.

STEPHEN PINCUS has been appointed executive director of QUT’s Finance and Resource Planning

Division. He has previously been the university’s Facilities Management director and also helped shape QUT’s involvement with the burgeoning Kelvin Grove Urban Village as QUT project director.

New appointments

Taking care of businessBusiness

IT’S shaping up to be another successful year of QUT Business Leaders’ Forums, with two sell-out events kicking off 2009.

For more than a decade, the Faculty of Business forums have attracted national and international speakers, including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, musician and anti-poverty activist Bob Geldof and British royal Prince Philip, to entertain and enlighten the local business community.

Outging Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo, pictured, spoke at the sell-out BLF breakfast last month, and trucking magnate Lindsay Fox will address the fully booked forum on March 5.

Mr Trujillo spoke of his belief that diffi cult times, like economic downturn, were opportunities for businesses to fi ne tune their operations.

He said business leaders had a responsibility to perform during crises by boosting productivity, providing “more for less” and not looking towards governments for bail-outs.

“In previous economic downturns, we have seen inspired new business models emerge,” Mr Trujillo said.

“In tough times it is possible to do more with less.”

Mr Trujillo said Australian businesses relied too heavily on government, which limited productivity.

“It is about being decisive and not waiting for government to provide the relief we are looking for,” he said.

“I’m a believer in markets; I’m a believer in people controlling their destinies.”

This week when Mr Fox, founder of the Linfox Group and self-made billionaire, addresses the BLF he will outline why his brand of leadership has been so successful.

Mr Fox built his business from a one-truck enterprise in 1958 into one of the largest Australian-based transport and warehousing groups, with operations in 11 countries and 16,000 employees.

Mr Fox has been named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

The big issues for QueenslandPolitics

HEALTH and the performance of the State Opposition are set to be two major issues of the Queensland election, despite the forecast $1.5 billion budget defi cit.

According to QUT political scientist, Professor Clive Bean, most voters understand that the Queensland economy is driven largely by external factors.

“Obviously the state’s economic problems and the government’s capacity to address them are also topical, but I don’t think that issue will be an election decider,” Professor Bean said.

“People don’t necessarily see the State Government as being responsible for the economic woes at the moment. Queensland’s doing okay, relatively speaking.

“The other big issue will be the performance of the Opposition and how the new LNP arrangement performs. It’s likely that Labor will try to use any disharmony as a distraction from the policies that the LNP is trying to present.”

Professor Bean said he expected the election campaigns to be fought on a combination of issues and personalities.

“I think this election will be a little bit less personality focused because

Peter Beattie isn’t on the scene and Anna Bligh is less personality driven,” he said.

Professor Bean is a political scientist with teaching and research interests in the fi eld of political behaviour - an area of study that focuses particularly on the question of why people choose to vote for diff erent political parties and candidates.

He is also one of the principal investigators of the Australian Election Study, a survey of political attitudes and voting behaviour conducted at each federal election.

-Mechelle McMahon

Biofuels boost Research

THE QUT-based Syngenta Centre for Sugarcane Biofuel Development was offi cially opened on February 23.

The world-class centre is the result of a collaborative agreement between QUT, its commercialisation arm bluebox, the local biotech start-up Farmacule BioIndustries and Syngenta, the world’s largest agribusiness company.

QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake welcomed guests to the opening.

“Hosting the centre is a great opportunity for QUT, as this partnership brings together highly talented researchers to address a serious challenge that is facing the world,” Professor Coaldrake said.

QUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Commercialisation) Professor Arun Sharma said it is an

exciting partnership for QUT and one that is working well.

“This is one of the most important things we are doing and we are very proud of our relationship with Syngenta,” Professor Sharma said.

Director of QUT’s Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities Professor James Dale said the project would move into the Mackay Renewable Biocommodities pilot plant in the near future.

“I anticipate we will have our fi rst genetically engineered plants in the ground up there in around two years,” Professor Dale said.

The opening was also attended by Syngenta’s head of Research and Development, Dr David Lawrence, who flew in from the company’s Switzerland headquarters.

“Biofuels could contribute up to 10 per cent of transport needs,” Dr Lawrence said.

Professor James Dale with Syngenta’s Dr David Lawrence

Nathan Ryan and Renzo Renda at Cabooluture campus during O Week make sure they have a say by enrolling to vote.

Inside QUT March 3 - March 30, 2009 Page 3

Rare accolade Scholarship

AN $8000 scholarship has made a bright start to the year for human resource management student Sarah Rowling.

Sarah, pictured below, received the 2009 Ivan Wood Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Human Resource Management (HRM), awarded to a QUT student in the fi nal year of their HRM studies.

This scholarship is sponsored by Chandler Macleod and Thiess Pty Ltd as a memorial to the late Mr Ivan Wood. Mr Wood was a highly respected HRM professional, who, during his career, inspired colleagues with his concern for the professional development of new entrants to the HRM fi eld.

Sarah, who worked for Brisbane CityWorks during the holidays, is interested in industrial relations .

She would like to work in a large mining or construction fi rm when she graduates to gain experience and move into consulting and recruitment.

“ T h e h u m a n r e s o u r c e management environment is always changing and challenging,” Sarah said.

“I am very interested in other people and helping people out and improving workplace culture.”

Sarah said she believed off ering employees opportunities to fi nd a work-life balance and maintaining a health and safety perspective in an organisation were key areas for a positive workplace.

QUT’s Bachelor of Business (HRM) lecturer Dr Claire Gardiner said it was only the third time the annual prize had been given.

“Prizes for undergraduate HRM students are very rare in Australia so they are highly desirable and well-regarded,” Dr Gardiner said.

“The quality of applicants was very high – students had to demonstrate knowledge of practical HRM issues as well as the research that informs leading professional HRM practice, in line with QUT’s emphasis on ‘real world’ knowledge.

“The QUT HRM prog ram greatly appreciates the prize sponsorship, time and involvement provided by two leading companies, Chandler MacLeod and Thiess Pty Ltd, and their active support for our students.”

-Niki Widdowson

Donations

THE outpouring of support for Victoria’s bushfi re victims and Queensland’s fl ood victims is typical of Australians’ generosity in the face of disaster, according to a Queensland University of Technology philanthropy researcher.

Dr Kym Madden, pictured, is a senior research fellow at the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofi t Studies, which is based at QUT.

She recently returned from the International Symposium on Giving Culture in Korea, where she presented a snapshot of Australian volunteering and donation trends and the dynamics underpinning giving in this country.

“Australians have always been extremely good at responding to natural disasters - we automatically reach out to people in need,” she said.

“Giving to the Asian tsumani pushed charity receipts to a record Australian high at the time. Now, with the response to the bushfi res surpassing that, it really does prove the goodwill the people of

this country have towards others in times of crisis.”

Dr Madden said people should also consider what sort of giving they could do at other times of the year.

QUT donated $20,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and a further $5,000 to assist the relief eff ort for the North Queensland fl oods.

QUT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Coaldrake, said the University’s contribution to the bushfi re appeal is part of an unprecedented response to an unprecedented disaster.

“As with the rest of the nation, and even the world, the University community has felt this tragedy deeply and, consequently, everyone is digging deep,” Professor Coaldrake said.

“Our hearts go out to the families, friends and communities who have endured this shocking event that continues to unfold. Our thoughts will continue to be with them over the diffi cult times ahead.”

Professor Coaldrake said the devastating bushfi res in Victoria and

the huge flood damage in North Queensland had combined to provide a sombre start to 2009.

“QUT will always do what it can to support communities in distress,” he said.

QUT’s contribution of $20,000 toward the Victorian bushfi res is also part of the ATN universities’ combined contribution of $100,000.

- Mechelle McMahon

Australians digging deep to help those in need

Careers FairOpportunities

STUDENTS have the opportunity to discuss their futures with potential employers from more than 100 organisations at the QUT Careers and Futures Fair.

Students will be able to connect with representatives from organisations in the industry, business and government sectors, including Accenture, NAB,

BHP Billiton, and Connell Wagner. The free event will take place on

Monday, March 30 from 10am-2pm at Main Drive and Gardens Theatre foyer, Gardens Point campus.

For more information, phone 3138 2571 and visit www.careers.qut.edu.au/job/fairs.

For more upcoming events, turn to page 8.

IHBI

A QUT research project looking at how to block enzymes which cause tumours to grow and spread, and which resist chemotherapy, has been rewarded with a grant of $783,750 from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Professor Judith Clements, of the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), will lead the research team (Drs Ying Dong and Daniela Loessner, Professor Dietmar W. Hutmacher and Drs. Simone Rizzi & Matthias Lutolf ) in developing ways to understand and prevent the activity of these enzymes, called kallikrein proteases, and the eff ect they have on cancer cells.

“We have been looking at four of 15 kallikrein proteases, which are enzymes shown to be associated with poor outcomes in ovarian cancer,” Professor Clements said.

“When a combination of four of these enzymes - KLK4, KLK5, KLK6 and KLK7 – is introduced into ovarian cancer cells, they can make bigger tumours and increase tumour spread in the abdominal cavity.

“The other thing we are focussing on is why increased levels of KLK4 and KLK7 in ovarian cancer cells can cause resistance to chemotherapy.

“ S o m e t h i n g wh i c h i s we l l -known about ovarian cancer is that chemotherapy often doesn’t work well but we don’t know why, so this could be one of the reasons.”

The next step of the research would be tests to understand the mechanisms behind the increase in tumour growth and spread and in chemotherapy resistance.

“If we can understand the way this all occurs, then we can devise treatments to block the activity of these proteases,“ said Professor Clements.

“We will be taking cancer cells into the lab and manipulating them to express KLK4, 5, 6 and 7 and test how they perform when we add the same kinds of chemotherapeutic agents used clinically.”

Professor Clements said the enzymes being studied were common in women with ovarian cancer.

“Most of the 15 kallikrein proteases are expressed in ovarian cancer to varying degrees, and these are the four

that we have found at this point are the most damaging,” she said.

“That is not to say the others would not be damaging but these are the four we will be focussing on in the next three years.”

She said in the lab they would be using a three-dimensional or 3D jelly-like substance called a hydrogel, which places the cells in an environment which mimics that of the abdominal cavity better than the conventional 2D method.

“Cancer cells cultured in 3D better mimic those of the tumor as a whole,” said Professor Clements.

“We are using this new approach of embedding them in a novel 3D culture that was originally developed for tissue engineering applications, that better mimics the abdominal cavity and the environment the tumour cells grow in.”

The hydrogel culture has been developed by Professor Dietmar W. Hutmacher’s team, which is developing diff erent 3D technology platforms for research into a variety of cancers and other diseases.

- Sharon Thompson

Chemo challengeProfessor Dietmar W. Hutmacher and Professor Judith Clements

Page 4 Inside QUT March 3 - March 30, 2009 IQVisit www.corpcomm.qut.edu.au/insidequt for more details when you see this

Clockwise from top, Andrew Flannigan, Jake Turner and Tai Hara at Kelvin Grove; Chieliza Kue and Myra Rimando with Batman at Gardens Point; and Joyi Lu from Integrated Help Services handing information to Suarez Valdivia at Gardens Point.

NAVIGATING QUT’s online environment as well as its physical environment proved to be one of the hits of O Week 2009.

The week off ered plenty of entertainment and social highlights, but many students also grabbed the chance to sit in on sessions covering study advice and information on QUT’s computing environment, and to take library tours.

Patrice Meixsell-Draper from Technology, Information and Learning Support said it was great to see so many new students keen to get involved with all aspects of uni life.

“I think students are really keen to get in and take advantage of the social activities, but to also fi nd their way around and determine what services

are available to them – they are discerning consumers,” she said.

“The orientation to our virtual environment – like navigating the QUT website, Virtual and Blackboard – is just as important as getting to know the uni’s physical environment.”

New students have also been urged to check the Student Services website for information about services on off er to them, as well as

important policy changes that have been introduced this year.

These include changes to pass/fail grades, deferring exams and unit credits.

The address is www.studentservices.qut.edu.au.

Patrice Meixsell-Draper from Technology, Information and Learning Support said it was great to see so many new students keen to get involved with all aspects of uni life.

“I think students are really keen toget in and take advantage of the socialactivities, but to also fi nd their wayaround and determine what services

important policy changes that have been introduced this year.

These include changes to pass/fail grades, deferring exams and unit credits.

The address is www.studentservices.qut.edu.au.

The colourful crowd at Gardens Point campus included, left to right, Duncan Sutherland, Mark Jones, Matt O’Sullivan, Max Garner, Angus Robertson and Anna Prokop.

Inside QUT March 3 - March 30, 2009 Page 5

Clockwise from top left, Laura Bush, Katrina Shimmin-Clarke and Rachael Melmeth at Kelvin Grove; Laura Hass, Jane Zewe and Kyryl Bondarevych at Caboolture; Sarah Pragnell and Nirvana Fraig at Gardens Point, Amy Traise and Desirae Sciasci at Kelvin Grove; Louise Eadie, Shae Jones and Georgia Croke at Gardens Point; and Tom Horan, Sam Ireland and Jesse Moore at Caboolture.

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Balloon art competition at Gardens Point

Mia Paollacci and Christian McKenzie at Kelvin Grove

Page 6 Inside QUT March 3 - March 30, 2009 IQVisit www.corpcomm.qut.edu.au/insidequt for more details when you see this

in BRIEF...$6 million for CCI

Australia’s economy will benefi t from almost $6 million in funding awarded to the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI). The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced a further three and a half year’s funding of $5.95 million. CCI, based at Kelvin Grove, brings together dynamic forms of economic analysis and an expert understanding of contemporary culture to develop a new approach called “cultural science”. CCI director Professor Stuart Cunningham said the ongoing funding was a vote of confi dence in the centre. “One of CCI’s core contributions is to show how the creative sector plays a vital role in national innovation,” Professor Cunningham said. One of the centre’s projects was to map the creative economy in Australia to track the input value of “creative occupations”.

Honour for QUT law grads

Five graduates of the QUT School of Law are among eight barristers recently appointed as Senior Counsel in Queensland. QUT executive dean of law, Professor The Honourable Michael Lavarch, said the appointment to Senior Counsel is a great honour that recognises years of outstanding practice in law. “Our graduates have always been successful and this latest milestone refl ects the maturity of the QUT law course, which had its fi rst intake of students in 1977,” Professor Lavarch said. QUT alumni recently appointed as Senior Counsel by the Queensland Chief Justice are: Martin Burns SC (LLB 1982)Michael Copley SC (LLB 1987)Geoffrey Diehm SC (LLB 1990)Kylie Downes SC (LLB 1990) Darryl Rangiah SC (LLB 1990)

Keep the kilos off

Chronic dieters, mystifi ed as to why they never keep their hard-won weight loss, can join a groundbreaking study to fi nd out why and in the process help design effective, sustainable weight loss strategies. Energy metabolism researchers at QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation are embarking on a 16-month study to fi nd out why most people who lose excess weight through diet and exercise put it all back on within two years. The study needs more male volunteers aged between 25 and 55 who are overweight, and who are mainly sedentary. To fi nd out more email Associate Professor Nuala Byrne at n.byrne@qut.edu.au or call 3138 6088 or Dr Rachel Wood at re.wood@qut.edu.au.

Competition for creatives

Pooling Ideas is an exciting competition being run by QUT’s Creative Commons Clinic and ABC Pool as part of the Ideas Festival from March 25-29. Creative Commons’ Jessica Coates said people can create their own remix works based around the theme ‘we are what we share’. “Just be creative. Mash up a fi lm, tweak an artwork, remix a poem,” Jessica said. “Thanks to digital technologies, you can now remix anything, but the law can get in the way. Creative Commons helps you fi nd material that can be reused legally.” The winner will receive an internship with ABC Radio National to co-produce an episode of The Night Air, while runners up receive a Creative Commons pack. Selected entries will be showcased at the Ideas Festival and on the Pool and Creative Commons Australia websites. Entries close 23 March. For details go to www.pool.org.au/poolingideas.

Socially responsible banking from mecu

Make your money ethical, sustainable and profi table.Call 132 888 or visit mecu.com.auGardens Point Campus, Level 3, Community Building, 2 George St, BrisbaneKelvin Grove Campus, Level 1, A Block, Victoria Park Rd, Kelvin Grove

Good cause

FOR three and a half years, Rick Shingles has been growing a mane of fl owing locks which wouldn’t look out of place in a shampoo commercial.

But it’s not born of vanity – Rick has been preparing for this year’s World’s Greatest Shave, when he will get rid of his locks to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Rick, who is studying education at QUT’s Caboolture campus, was inspired to make a diff erence after meeting a young girl with leukaemia four years ago.

“I was working as a cashier for a local bank and one of our regular customers had a daughter diagnosed with leukaemia, and I saw the girl and her family go through hell as the cancer and chemotherapy took its toll,” said Rick.

“The girl told me that her hair had been blond like mine, and that she was worried about going to primary school and what her friends would say.

“It was close to the time I was starting to study primary education too. I really felt for this girl, and I felt useless because there was nothing I could do for her.”

Rick lost touch with the young girl and her family, but the memory of the sick child stayed with him and motivated him to make a diff erence.

Hair today gone tomorrowRick Shingles is getting ready to have his long locks cut by Debbie Lane

So he decided to grow his hair – then shave it off .

Despite his new ‘do’ having been with him for a while now, he said he was not concerned about it coming off .

“It was always short before, and it was grown for this purpose, so it won’t be too hard, although I have become used to it,” he said.

“It is strange how people react though – at the start, a lot of people did not even want me to grow it, and now people are telling me not to cut it!

“But it is only hair, and the point is that when people have leukaemia they don’t

have a choice. My identity isn’t my hair and it is such a good cause.”

Rick also hopes to sell his hair after it has been cut.

“It is blond and pretty healthy, so I have been told I could get a lot of money for it,” he said.

Rick hopes to raise $10,000 and has so far raised just over $1000. To sponsor Rick, go to http://my.imisfriendraising.com.au/personalPage.aspx?SID=44726.

- Sharon Thompson

Counselling

IF all the world is a stage, why not write your own script, asks award-winning theatre doyenne and Master of Counselling graduate, Margi Brown Ash.

As a therapist trained at QUT, with more than 30 years theatre experience, Ms Brown Ash helps emerging and established performers, musicians and artists unlock their creativity and develop a sense of resilience and joy.

“Theatre is a microcosm of life, it is both a refl ection and a laboratory,” Ms Brown Ash said.

“Sometimes it can be more abstract, but you are still able to explore issues that you are dealing with in the ordinary world.”

Ms Brown Ash uses psychotherapeutic theory and technique to develop theatrical productions and works with small groups or individuals to help artists, or people wanting more art in their lives, to achieve their potential.

“I take the ritual of the therapy room to theatre-making and the artist’s studio,” she said.

“Everyone involved in the production, the musicians, stage designers and performers, are all present in the rehearsal room and work together to create a strong ensemble.

“Each day we begin in a circle with ‘check in’, spending time talk ing about our lives outside the rehearsal room and how to integrate it into the rehearsal. We are careful with how we employ language, recognising its

power to change, and we are respectful of each other.”

Ms Brown Ash said the theories of social construction taught during the Master of Counselling degree at QUT were as invaluable in the rehearsal room as they were in the therapy room.

“People who sit in the creative world are often very sensitive,” she said.

“When problems arise it can seem as though there is a split between what the world wants and what the artist wants.

“My job is to make challenges transparent so that we can make informed choices, both on and off the stage.”

- Rachael Wilson

Staging therapy

Margi Brown Ash

Inside QUT March 3 - March 30, 2009 Page 7

The following items will be accepted from residents, small businesses and schools on 7 and 8 March:

When: 9am-4pm,

7-8 March 2009

Where: Sims E-Recycling

72 Crockford Street, Northgate (UBD Map 121 Ref B14)

Brisbane Landfill Gardner Road, Rochedale (UBD Map 202 Ref B18)

Wilston SES Depot 66 Wilston Road, Newmarket

enter from Erneton Street (UBD Map 139 Ref H14)

Brisbane City Works Depot 38 Shamrock Street, Darra

(UBD Map 198 Ref B12)

Brisbane City Parks Depot Herbert Street, Lota

(UBD Map 163 Ref L11)

Brisbane City Parks Depot Josling Street, Toowong (UBD Map 178 Ref R1)Whitegoods, vacuum cleaners,

microwaves and other kitchen and household appliances.

A limit of 20 complete systems (e.g. computer monitor, keyboard and hard drive) per customer will be accepted on the day.

Electronic waste drop-off days are another way Council is achieving our vision for the city’s future.

For more information visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.

That’s why I recycle my electronic waste

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Recycle your electronic waste at Brisbane City Council’s electronic waste drop-off days. Your old computer and other electronic waste cannot be disposed of in your wheelie bin. Items taken to drop-off locations will be recycled in an environmentally friendly manner instead of contributing to landfill.

The following items will not be accepted:

Creative industries

PROFESSIONAL and aspiring musos may soon have an alternative to worn-out karaoke-style backing tracks and drum machines, with a new digital programme created at QUT.

PhD researcher Toby Giff ord, from QUT’s Creative Industries Faculty, has created an artif icial musical accompanist, called Jambot, which can listen to music and improvise musical rhythms and melodies to it.

Mr Giff ord’s invention, which is still in its prototype stage, was named a runner-up in the Ideas Competition, run by QUT’s commercialisation company bluebox, winning him $7,500 to help commercialise his concept.

“It is common for a band or solo musician to have a computer-based backing track or use looping pedals, but these kinds of technology are not very fl exible or responsive to what’s happening on stage,” Mr Giff ord said.

“Jambot is a musical robot, but it’s not made of metal and it doesn’t blow smoke.

“It is a piece of computer software that could play along to a soloist, providing a backing track, or improvise a conga drum solo over recorded music being played by a DJ, for example.

“It could also allow a live band to have a fuller sound when they can’t have as many band members as they would like on stage.”

Mr Giff ord said Jambot utilised some

recent discoveries in audio music perception combined with his own clever algorithms to keep up with musicians as they played.

“Under the hood, I have created new algorithms to quickly identify what’s going on in the music as it’s being played,” he said.

“It keeps track of tempo changes as they occur during a performance.

“It also judges pitch and users will be able to choose the particular instruments they wish to jam with.”

Mr Giff ord is expecting to complete his PhD this year and will look at the commercialisation of Jambot after that.

- Rachael Wilson

Danger identifi ed

Meet the beat doctor

Economics

AUSTRALIANS’ relationships could be in for a rocky ride because fi nancial stress is one of the most common reasons couples give for problems in their relationships.

QUT psychologist Dr Matthew Bambling said many couples and younger families were heading into new territory because they had never experienced insecure employment, redundancy or worries about making ends meet.

One of the key ways to cope was to keep communicating about your fi nancial situation.

“Be honest and open and treat it as a shared problem, not as being one person’s responsibility,” Dr Bambling said.

“Agree on attainable dreams and goals but accept diff erences in some areas and speak to each other with understanding and respect about differing financial priorities. A big house might be a dream, but the dream will soon crash and burn if it can’t be paid for – a small house will do just as well.”

Dr Bambling said few couples actively planned their fi nancial lives.

“Audit your fi nancial situation and then review it monthly to reduce surprises and relationship-wounding arguments,” he said.

“Share fi nancial chores and make sure each person is clear about what they have to do.

“Remember going backwards fi nancially is much more stressful on a relationship than working as a team to put in the hard yards of getting rid of debt, avoiding credit and trying to save even a small amount each week in order to reduce money worries.

“If you are both involved in fi nding s o l u t i o n s a n d p l a n n i n g t h e i r implementation you are more likely to own the plan and be committed to the goals.”

Dr Bambling said people should not hesitate to get help in a crisis.

“See a fi nancial counsellor, you will be pleased with how eff ective this can be,” he said.

“Don’t be afraid or too proud to ask for help in a crisis, you might be surprised how much family and friends are prepared to do for you and community organisations can assist with the basics of life if things are really tough.

“If you feel you are not coping, get help. Constant worry can take a toll on physical and mental health, your GP can help or refer you for more specialised assistance.”

- Niki Widdowson

Research

THE identity and origin of tiny, potentially hazardous particles emitted from common laser printers has been revealed by a new QUT study.

Professor Lidia Mor awsk a, pictured, from QUT’s International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health led the study to answer questions raised by earlier fi ndings that almost one third of popular laser printers emitted large numbers of ultrafi ne particles.

These tiny particles are potentially dangerous to human health because they can penetrate deep into the lungs.

Professor Morawska said the latest study found that the ultrafi ne particles were formed from vapours produced when the printed image was fused to the paper.

“In the printing process, toner is melted and, when it is hot, certain compounds evaporate and those

vapours then nucleate or condense in the air, forming ultrafi ne particles.” she said.

“The material is the result of the condensation of organic compounds which originate from both the paper and hot toner.”

“The study compared a high emitting printer with a low emitting model and found two ways the printers contributed to the formation of these particles.

“The hotter the printer gets, the higher the likelihood of these particles forming, but the rate of change of the temperature also contributes,

“ Th e p r i n t e r w i t h b e t t e r temperature control emitted fewer particles”

Professor Morawska said this research would help the printer industry to design low or no emission printers.

The paper is available at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es802193n.

Recession proofi ng

PhD researcher Toby Gifford

Page 8 Inside QUT March 3 - March 30, 2009 IQVisit www.corpcomm.qut.edu.au/insidequt for more details when you see this

The Hypochondriac- QUT actors take to the stage

Final-year acting students will star in Molière’s fi nal play The Hypochondriac, which is considered the playwright’s greatest comedic triumph. March 12-14 & 16-18, 7.30pm, at Gardens Theatre, 2 George Street, Brisbane. Tickets $12-16, phone 07 3138 4455.

Seminars MARCH 5

US campaign expert Joe Trippi, who introduced the internet into US presidential campaigning, will speak at the Faculty of Law’s free public lecture, from 5.30pm at the Gibson Room, Level 10, Z Block, Gardens Point. To RSVP, email qutlawpubliclectures@qut.edu.au. The talk, called Online campaigning in the US Presidential election, will also be posted on the Faculty of Law’s website www.law.qut.edu.au.

MARCH 9 World renowned composer and music educator and Faculty of Education Outstanding Alumni Award winner Rhonda Davidson-Irwin will discuss her innovative work and perform Chinese fl ute music. The free seminar is from 5-6pm

at IHBI, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove. Contact educationrsvp@qut.edu.au.

Events MARCH 11

A free seminar for budding artists will explain how to secure an exhibition and what’s involved in planning a show. Getting Works on the Wall: Dealing with Galleries will take place from 6-7pm at QUT Art Museum, Gardens Point. Contact 07 3138 5370 or artmuseum@qut.com.

MARCH 17 - 19 Harmony Day will be celebrated with activites at Gardens Point on March 17 from 12pm, at Kelvin Grove, F Block, on March 18 from 11am, and at Caboolture Lawn on March 19 from 12pm. For details, email a.mcniven@qut.edu.au.

Exhibitions MARCH 23 - 25

The artistic side of engineers will be on display at Dimensions: Artistry in Engineering to raise funds for Engineers Without Borders. Artworks, jewellery and photography will feature at this free event, at the OJ Wordsworth Room, S Block Floor 12, Gardens Point, from 10am-5pm. Contact w2.miller@qut.edu.au.

Visit www.whatson.qut.edu.au for more event listings and to submit your upcoming event.

WHAT’S on...

Astra Dadzis (Editor) 07 3138 2361

Sharon Thompson 07 3138 4494

Niki Widdowson 07 3138 1841

Rachael Wilson 07 3138 1150

Mechelle McMahon (Mo-Tu) 07 3138 2130

Erika Fish (Photography) 07 3138 5003

Marissa Hills (Advertising) 07 3138 2999

Richard de Waal (Design)

about IQInside QUT is published by QUT’s Marketing and Communication Department. Our readership includes staff, students and members of the QUT community. The paper is also circulated to business, industry, government and media. Opinions expressed in Inside QUT do not necessarily represent those of the university or the editorial team.

Economics

IF you were female, a child, rich and/or American you would have had a greater chance of survival on the Titanic.

Behavioural economist David A. Savage, from Queensland University of Technology’s School of Economics and Finance, said this fi nding was part of a study of four maritime disasters from 1912 to 2004 analysing the economic determinants of survival in life and death situations.

Using economics’ key concepts of scarcity and self-interest, the study provides an insight into the way individuals behave in a life-threatening crisis.

“Such situations are when people must make decisions about their own survival, like on the Titanic or the 1973 Andes cannibalism plane crash,” Mr Savage said.

Mr Savage said his study aimed to improve understanding of people’s decision-making processes and to see if social norms hold across time or if more pragmatic mechanisms such as ‘survival of the fi ttest’ come into play over time.

“If we can prove social norms hold in extreme situations it can affect

policymaking as it means we don’t need to implement policies and regulations for how people are going to behave naturally and be able to better allocate aid after disasters,” he said.

“It seems that on the Titanic the social norm of ‘women and children fi rst’ was followed as proportionally more women than men and almost all the children on board survived.”

He said the study addressed the core concept in economics of scarcity or excess of demand over supply in extreme situations and how resources were allocated.

“In the case of the Titanic it was places on lifeboats that were the scarce resource,” Mr Savage said.

“Because we know that people on the Titanic stood back and allowed others to get on the lifeboats, we also considered altruism and helping behaviour in the analysis.

“This life and death situation is treated as a ‘one-shot game’ because those who let others onto lifeboats knowing they faced certain death acted out of something other than self-interest. In mainstream economics maximising utility or acting in self-interest is a traditional fundamental force.”

Mr Savage said that proportionally more Americans survived than expected, which could be because British passengers followed social queuing etiquette which may not have been as strong in America.

“While the passengers in the fi rst and second-class berths on the Titanic had a higher probability of survival it may be that they were closer to the lifeboat deck but also it was the norm that they received preferential treatment,” he said.

“We expect that fi rst-class passengers had higher bargaining power and better access to information about the imminent danger, which may have increased survival rates.

“Overall, the results indicate a strong support that social norms and altruism do matter.”

Mr Savage is also analysing the data from the sinking of the cruise liner Lusitania in 1915 by a German U-boat; around the 1956 sinking of the most luxurious liner of its day, the Andera Doria; and the loss of the Estonia in 1994, a roll-on roll-off ferry en route from Estonia to Finland. The full paper is available at http://ideas.repec.org/p/qut/dpaper/237.html.

- Niki Widdowson

Creative industries

LIZ Willing’s kitchen becomes her studio when she stirs, moulds and sucks her artwork into shape for a new exhibition.

The QUT Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art) graduate, pictured, is one of several talented graduates whose work is on display at the Creative Industries Precinct.

The both/and exhibition will feature recent QUT graduates of visual arts, fashion, music, architecture, industrial and interior design from QUT.

“I love cooking and I really like the seductive quality of toff ee,” Ms Willing said.

Just like a sugar fi x, the sticky sweet, brightly coloured objets d’art have a temporary life span.

“How long it lasts depends on how long I cook it, but each piece usually lasts about two weeks,” she said.

“As it starts to melt, it glistens. Every day it changes. Sometimes it crystallises or bugs get stuck on it.”

Ms Willing’s work Suck It and See features home-made coloured toffee sucked into the shape of fl owers.

Other works by Ms Willing feature fake fi ngernails sunk in white royal icing and bugs embedded in amber-like toff ee.

The exhibition both/and will be on display from February 24 to March 12, open 2pm daily (Tuesday to Saturday) at The Block, QUT Creative Industries Precinct, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove campus.

- Rachael Wilson

Rock-climbing

IF you are into extreme stress release, the QUT Cliff hangers reckon their rock-climbing club off ers the best experiences around.

The Cliff hangers are one of the most active clubs on campus, with members taking regular camping and climbing trips as well as learning great skills.

Club member Courtney Bryce, pictured with Cliff hangers president Adam Gibson, said being part of the group was a rewarding, fun experience.

“It is pretty exciting, and you get a rush from it, and it is such a social club too,” she said.

“We teach newcomers everything and supply all of the equipment, so people can go at their own pace and just enjoy it.

“We also go camping regularly, take many day trips and go to the Blue Mountains every year for three weeks.”

Favourite camping spots include Mt Coolum, the Glass House Mountains and Mount Arapiles.

“It is such a great way to see all of these places, and the club is very popular with international students because they get to go to parts of the country they may never get to see otherwise,” said Courtney.

“Also, because of the regular social events, cocktail parties and pub crawls, it is a good way for people to make new friends.

“It is also a nice distraction – walking down to the cliff s, and going on the weekend trips is a really good way to de-stress and get away from it all.”

She said there was no need to be superfi t, or to have had experience in climbing before.

“It is a diff erent sort of activity which people don’t really do very often, but we welcome beginners.”

QUT Cliff hangers is a Student Guild-affi liated club.

For more information, students and members of the public can head to

Love your sweet art!

Life on the edge

Good manners and altruism aided Titanic survivors

Kangaroo Point Cliff s on Mondays and Wednesdays for a free try, or go to www.qutcliff hangers.com.

- Sharon Thompson

David A. Savage