Welcome to the bi-monthly update for ANU's agent representative network.
IN THIS ISSUE:
From the Vice-Chancellor's Desk
ANU/UNISA Summer Research Scholarships
NEW Master of Climate Change
Alumni Profile: Brendan Howe
NEW Bachelor of Genetics
Spotlight on Law
FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR'S DESK
…Like the city of which we are so much a part, the University’s beginning was somewhat humble but the ideas it was founded upon were lofty. 'The reputation of a university depends not on the number of its students or the splendour of its buildings, but on the quality of its members and the nature of its contribution to learning…' These words by the Minister for Post-War Reconstruction, Mr John Dedman, reflect the spirit in which ANU was founded in 1946 and the spirit in which it continues to operate. Rising to the challenge, ANU people have long played a role in discussions of national and international importance. That engagement is at the core of the University’s mission. And it carries over to the learning experience for our students, and the public programs that we offer. ANU staff create an environment of intellectual curiosity that is second to none in Australia. And as they learn, each student contributes greatly to the achievements of the staff of the University. At its best, it is an exhilarating partnership and what we aspire to achieve at ANU.
Text and Image courtesy of ANU Reporter
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ANU/UNISA SUMMER RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS
New research student linkages between ANU and UniSA
ANU Student Recruitment and International hosted a pre-departure briefing and morning tea in November for 10 ANU students (including three international students) going to South Australia to participate in the ANU/University of South Australia Summer Research Scholarships program.
While the 10 ANU students will be spending the summer at UniSA, 10 UniSA students will be coming to ANU as part of the reciprocal arrangement. Students at both universities will undertake eight weeks of supervised research with leading researchers at the host institution – using materials and facilities not usually available to them, and gaining research team experience and networking opportunities. Although the students won’t actually meet during the scholarship period, they will be connected virtually through an ANU Alliance website developed for the program.
The high achieving students were selected from each university based on their academic merit and demonstrated interest in the exploration and development of their research careers. Priority study areas at both universities included Environment, Health, Population Health, Software Engineering and Computer Science, Telecommunications, Minerals and Materials Science, Indigenous Policy Development, Asia/Pacific Studies and Social Sustainability.
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NEW IN 2009: MASTER OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Preparing to face the Climate Change challenge
Climate change is one of the biggest issues facing our planet today. Far from being simply a matter of environmental concern, climate change affects all aspects of society and needs to be addressed from scientific, political, social and economic perspectives.
Acknowledging that multi-faceted problems require a multi-disciplinary approach, The Australian National University has combined its wealth of scientific, socio-cultural, public policy and economic expertise to create the Master of Climate Change.
This program offers students unique breadth and diversity in addressing the multiple dimensions of the climate change problem through access to world-leading experts and resources in climate change science and policy.
Graduates may follow careers in climate change risk assessment, adaptation and mitigation strategy development, and regional, national and international policy formulation.
For further information, please visit the dedicated program information.
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alumni profile: brendan howe
Brendan’s time at ANU led him to some golden opportunities.
Brendan Howe combined Commerce with his Science degree at ANU in case he was unable to find a job in science on graduating.
Now he is an exploration geophysicist at one of the biggest gold mining companies in the world. 'I wanted a backup – a safe bet for a degree,’ he says. ‘But there are no regrets there. Commerce was good as it taught me a lot of practical life skills regarding money, markets, and business.’
Howe graduated with a BSc(Hons)/BComm in 2006. He chose to study at ANU because he 'wanted a degree from an internationally respected university'.
During his studies, he won a South Africa-Australia Scholarship sponsored by Barrick Gold to conduct research into platinum exploration. He did fieldwork at one of the company’s South African sites. ‘An additional component of my scholarship was to visit different South African geological sites, universities, and science centres with the goal of encouraging cross-country mineral research collaboration,’ he says.
He now works for Barrick Gold, collecting and interpreting geophysical data in the hunt for new deposits of the precious mineral in Australia and Pacific.
'Studying at ANU gave me fantastic fundamental skills and knowledge combined with fantastic opportunities,' he says.
He ranks among the best aspects of the program "the hands on practical work, flexibility within degrees, and getting involved with social groups". 'I was the president of the Geology Society for three years and it provided me with some of my best university memories,’ he says.
‘The lecturers all loved what they did, were passionate and articulate and instilled that same passion and yearning to understand in their students. Additionally, we were given many options to make contacts with industry, which help immensely when looking for work.'
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new program: bachelor of genetics
The perfect program for students aiming to join the exciting world of genetics
The field of genetics is advancing at an accelerating rate. Population genetics, molecular genetics, general genetic theory and associated biotechnology now impact on all major fields of biology, from neurobiology and physiology to ecology and conservation biology.
The ease with which genetic technology can now be accessed has led to a fragmentation of the field, and a shortage of broadly educated geneticists who can assimilate and synthesise data from all fields.
The Bachelor of Genetics degree will give students a solid grounding in all aspects of the field. ANU is particularly well placed to present this degree, with contributing geneticists from across ANU as well as genetic counsellors from The Canberra Hospital.
The program’s unique third year course – Tools for Molecular Ecology – and a Special Topics course will provide Bachelor of Genetics students with hands on experience in developing and using variable markers such as microsatellites, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), and DNA sequences for applications including population, epidemiological, evolutionary and forensic studies. The use of these techniques can be extended and applied in further Special Research Topics courses.
Please note, the Bachelor of Genetics is currently only available for commencement in Semester 1.
For more information, please visit the dedicated program information.
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SPOTLIGHT ON... LAW
Increasing international recognition of Australian law degrees
In the past, professional qualifications in Law in Australia (Bachelor of Laws or Jusis Doctor) were not as internationally portable as, for example, an economics or commerce degree. While many international students have been interested in coming to Australia to study law, they have often found difficulties when trying to gain professional recognition when they return home.
In recent years, however, the LLB and JD of some Australian law schools have been recognised by a number of other countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, as satisfying part of the academic requirements for admission to practice. In a historic decision in June 2006, the Bar Council of India recognised the LLB or JD of a number of Australian law schools for the purpose of admission to legal practice in India. For many years, Australian-qualified lawyers have been practicing in the United Kingdom, and are now doing so in increasing numbers in the United States, where some states (including California and New York) allow graduates from some non-US accredited law schools to sit for the local State Bar exam.
Law at The Australian National University
One of the Australian law schools with both a vigorous graduate program and a basic professional law degree, recognised not only in Australia but also widely overseas, is the ANU College of Law. Established in 1960, the ANU College of Law is the 7th oldest of Australia’s 30 law schools and is renowned for its special strengths in international law. The College has a long tradition of receiving international students into its programs. Professor Michael Coper, the ANU College of Law's Dean and Immediate Past Chair of the Council of Australian Law Deans, says, ‘Greater mobility for practising lawyers, which is enhanced by the international recognition of the basic professional law degree, enables otherwise parochial legal systems to learn about and borrow the best from other legal systems.'
The diversity of choice of law programs at ANU
In the LLB and JD programs, the ANU College of Law offers a wide range of elective choices, opportunities for internships and clinical experiences and participation in mooting and other competitions run by the Law Students’ Society. In addition, the College offers a wide variety of research and writing opportunities, such as the thesis component of the Honours program. In its graduate programs, the College offers a diversity of coursework Graduate Diploma and Masters programs, and a range of research degrees, including the Master of Philosophy and PhD, with some of the world’s best mentors and supervisors. These programs span many areas, including international law, public law, commercial law, environmental law, criminal law, legal practice and many others.
For further information about the ANU College of Law, please visit the College website or send an email.
*Adapted from an article by Professor Michael Coper
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