News briefs
Storm
repairs on track at half-year milestone
Six months on from the ‘supercell’ storm that pelted
the University’s Acton campus with hail and heavy rain,
senior University administrators report that repairs and insurance
negotiations are continuing well. >>
Indigenous
trainee program breaking ground
Indigenous Australians are accessing real career development
opportunities in a new program at ANU, which is also adding
to the diversity of the University’s staff profile. >>
Open
Day wrap up
More than 6000 people passed through the University on Saturday
25 August to learn about study options and campus life at the
annual Open Day. >>
Centre
turns spotlight on South Asia
A new centre at ANU will help the nation tap into the emerging
influence and importance of India, Pakistan and their neighbouring
countries. >>
New
head for US Development Office
Former staff member Peggy Daroesman returned to the University
in August to take up the directorship of the US-based Development
Office on the departure of Professor Malcolm Gillies, the former
Vice-President (Development) >>
Physics
team breaks premiership drought
A soccer team combining staff from RSPhysSE and the Department
of Physics has taken out the Purple Shine trophy for 2007. >>
Indian
MP visits ANU sustainable energy systems
Fourth generation Indian politician and member of the Indian
Parliament Rahul Gandhi recently visited ANU to learn more about
the University’s research developments in the fields of
alternative energy systems. >>
Successful
ANU Secondary College program participants receive early offers
There will be no nail-biting wait for university offers in December
for one group of talented ACT Year 12 students who have already
received an offer of a place at ANU. >>
ANU
Foundation for the Visual Arts honours creative fellows
Donors, diplomats, staff and art-lovers along with former recipients
of ANU creative arts fellowships gathered at the Drill Hall
Gallery last week to celebrate and honour the many significant
Australian artists who have spent time at the University with
the unveiling of an honour board recognising Creative Arts Fellows. >>
^^
Awards
Student invests his way to the top
A strategy of investing in mid-tier resources companies by ANU
student Gary Ding saw him take out the $5,000 winner’s
prize in the 2007 JPMorgan Portfolio Competition. Gary’s
portfolio value had increased by 34.5 per cent by the end of
the two month competition. The JPMorgan Portfolio Competition
provides competitors with a hypothetical A$200,000 to invest
in ASX 300 shares over an eight week period. Final rankings
are determined by total equity value at the conclusion of the
competition.
“I believe that the key lesson in the competition was
gaining a better first hand understanding of the market's volatility,”
Mr Ding said. “You really need to be on track with key
company information and you need to understand the market expectation.
Knowing and predicting the market expectation on the company
you invest in and keeping an eye on the competition, is really
the best way to stay on top of the stock market.”
^^
Staff info
Vice-Chancellor to welcome new staff
The new staff welcome will be held at University House on Friday
14 September. Held twice a year, this event gives new staff
members the opportunity to gain an insight into the workings
of the university, meet senior members of staff and network
in an informal setting. RSVP to Penny Liebke on x56600 or penny.liebke@anu.edu.au.
New Zealand recruitment drive
Student recruitment drives were held in Dunedin, Auckland,
Wellington and Christchurch throughout August as part of the
SRI team’s annual New Zealand recruitment trip. The visits
included ANU advisory sessions and public lectures by staff
from the ANU College of Science. Prospective undergraduate and
graduate students showed interest in the information provided
at the advisory sessions, particularly in regards to the 2007/2008
Summer Research Scholarships and course eligibility by New Zealand
citizens for Commonwealth supported places at ANU. Four Auckland
high schools were also on the agenda and Associate Registrar
Jenny Carlin attended the iAE EduNet exhibitions in Christchurch
and Auckland.
Graduates stride on in their careers
Ten young staff members across various areas of the
university have completed the 2006-07 Graduate Recruitment and
Development Program. The program, coordinated by the Staff Development
Branch, supports graduates as they undertake their first experiences
with fulltime employment. “It’s a great program
across the whole university,” program participant Vera
Holenstein said. “Everyone has been very helpful and I
have encountered support across every area of the university.”
Renewal of Childers and Kingsley Streets
ANU staff and their families are invited to celebrate
the opening of the new ROCKS premises at the corner of Barry
Drive and Kingsley Street from 2pm on Sunday 9 September. The
precinct’s tenants have been relocated due to the commencement
of work on the ANU Exchange. Canberra Dance Theatre and the
Creative Arts Therapy Studio will provide entertainment and
activities with drinks and snacks provided by the ANU Food Cooperative.
RSVP to anu@foodco-op.com
ANU in the Media
The ANU Media Office monitors all mentions of the university
in local, national and international news. See which staff and
stories are getting the most coverage with the new On Campus
feature:
Top Five Stories this Fortnight
- Robert Ayson, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, commenting
on Australia’s uranium deal with India
- Brendan Mackey, School of Resources, Environment and Society,
on the release of a report on Northern Australia
- Ian Williams, Research School of Earth Sciences, with the
discovery of the world’s oldest diamonds in Western
Australia
- Marc Budge and Andrew Janke launching the new Dementia
Collaborative Research Centre
- Michael McKinley, School of Social Sciences, on India’s
future in APEC
^^
Research
Sponge study reveals ‘seasons’ at ocean’s
bottom
The deep sea is often thought of as a tranquil, benign environment
– but a study led by a scientist from the Research School
of Earth Sciences shows that the ocean depths are an extremely
dynamic environment that may even experience ‘seasons’.
>>
^^
Education
First
intern swap successful
New strategies to improve energy efficiency in the University’s
library buildings are just one outcome of a new intern exchange
program between ANU and Yale. >>
^^
Books
Pain
and Death: Politics, Aesthetics, Legalities, Humanities
Research Vol XIV. No. 2. 2007. Edited by Carolyn Strange, ANU
E-Press.
^^
Between social justice and checking her to-do list, Katerina
Martina Teaiwa finds time for Asterix. >>
^^
Q&A
ANU is home to experts on all manner of subjects. Why not put
your question out there? Or if you know the answer, tell the
campus. Email on.campus@anu.edu.au
with your queries and responses.
Q. Why was the airport built in an
area of Canberra that is particularly susceptible to fog? –
Professor Peter Hill, School of Language Studies
A. Any airport designed for use by large aircraft
needs a large flat area for long runways (preferably more than
one direction) with adequate areas for climbout. Except in coastal
cities, such areas are usually found in valleys, which are unfortunately
often subject to winter fogs. – Margaret Travers,
School of Language Studies
Last week in Australia we saw a lunar eclipse and a
red moon. What is a blue moon and how often does it occur? –
Jane McIntyre, ANU College of Business and Economics
^^ |
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