A ‘70s alumnus of The University of the South Pacific (USP) and the present Associate Professor of Professional and Practice Based Learning at Griffith University, Associate Professor Sarojni Choy (nee Naidu) came as a student to USP in 1976 and graduated with a Diploma of Science in 1978.
Dr Choy describes her experiences at USP as enriching. “I came as a naïve village girl and was transformed into a professional teacher. I lived on campus and was immersed in a rich multi-cultural community of students from eleven (11) Pacific countries and international staff who brought together a mix of ethnic cultures, languages, values, understandings and different perspectives on life. The campus offered a shared space to commingle, learn and live together. I was the first and remain the only child in my family with tertiary education.”
USP was the only institution in Fiji that offered University qualifications in the 1970s and Dr
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Griffith goes completely smoke-free from World No Tobacco Day
Students, staff and visitors to Griffith’s five campuses will be able to enjoy a completely smoke-free environment from this Thursday, 31 May, as the University implements its no-smoking initiative to coincide with World No Tobacco Day.
Approved in March this year, the no-smoking plan covers the entirety of Griffith’s Nathan, Logan, Mt Gravatt, Gold Coast and South Bank campuses, in an effort to better support and promote healthy lifestyle choices for our broad community.
Under the initiative, staff, students and visitors to Griffith will have to go off-campus if they wish to smoke, including the use of electronic cigarettes and vapour pens.
Griffith University Pro Vice Chancellor (Health) Professor Sheena Reilly said the introduction of smoke-free campuses will provide a healthy and safe environment for work and study.
“As health professionals, we see the tragic effects of smoking-related diseases all too often,” Professor Reilly said.
“Implementing a smoke-free policy at Griffith is a key step to promote healthy living among students,
Photography grads embark on epic road trip around Australia
Twelve months. Two photographers. One caravan and a continent to explore.
Queensland College of Art alumni Sid Coombes and Callena Brenchley are embarking on an epic 12-month road trip around Australia in their vintage Sunliner caravan – hoping to capture the people and places that make up our great sunburnt land.
The couple met while studying a Bachelor of Photography at the QCA, and founded a successful photography business, Daisy + The Duke, after graduating in 2013.
“Going to the QCA changed my life,” Sid said.
“Not only did I meet Callena there, but it gave me the confidence to come out of my shell and really start believing in myself.”
Callena said the emphasis on exploring a narrative through images had changed the way she worked.
“As well as teaching us all of the technical skills you need as a photographer, our lecturers at the QCA introduced us to the concept of using images to
Griffith adds climate change expertise to world-leading report
Two Griffith University academics are among the world’s best in climate change research to be named as authors in the next report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The sixth instalment (AR6) of the world-leading independent report will feature Professor Brendan Mackey, director of the Griffith Climate Change Response Program at Griffith University, as a Coordinating Lead Author, and Dr Johanna Nalau, from the Griffith Institute For Tourism, who will be a Lead Author.
The role of the IPCC is to review the latest climate change research from the past five years and assess the scientific, technological and socio-economic findings from around the world. The key assessment findings are communicated through a series of reports including summaries for policy makers.
Three IPCC Working Groups will report on the physical science basis, the impacts, adaptation and vulnerability of climate change, and the mitigation of climate change respectively.
Professor Mackey will act as
Griffith films recognised on world stage
Cutting-edge productions from Griffith Film School are continuing to make an impact on the international stage, with several films taking out top honours at the World Media Festival in Hamburg.
The awards recognise content in all lengths and forms from around the world. Dedicated to television, film and online productions, they celebrate global trends and encourage the next generation of story-tellers and talent.
Three films made through LiveLab, Griffith University’s production studio, were recognised by the international jury.
A five-part web series, Twisted Fates, took out silver, and a quirky stop-motion film to promote Griffith’s musical theatre program won a gold award.
LiveLab’s Christmas film, A Gift for the Lonely Heart, took out a gold award and also won a special citation for productions that improve the lives of others.
International student Tabea Hannappel, who edited A Gift for the Lonely Heart while on exchange from the Internationale Filmschule Köln represented Griffith Film School at the awards ceremony in Hamburg,
Partnership brings new research node to Griffith
Griffith University has become a collaborating partner with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP), which will host a CNBP research node at the Institute for Glycomics at the Gold Coast campus.
As a research node and collaborating partner of the CNBP, Griffith joins the University of Adelaide, Macquarie University and RMIT University as a core member of the Centre of Excellence.
The Griffith-based CNBP research node, headed-up by Associate Professor Daniel Kolarich from the Institute for Glycomics, will add to CNBP’s research capability in the development of next-generation light-based tools that can sense and image at a cellular and molecular level.
“Our team has specialised glycan knowledge and expertise that will aid the Centre in its objectives of improving understanding and knowledge of cell-communication and the nanoscale molecular interactions in the living body,” Associate Professor Kolarich said.
“Glycans (sugar chains attached to proteins and lipids on the cell surface) are intricately
Community walks a pathway to reconciliation
To mark National Reconciliation Week Griffith University Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and students have come together to participate in two Walk and Talk events this week.
Hosted by the GUMURRII Student Support Unit, the annual walks at the Gold Coast campus (May 29) and from Mt Gravatt to Nathan campus (May 31), were created in the spirit of reconciliation. Record numbers of students and staff are participating this year.
“This is the eighth year the University has held the Walk and Talk and the aim is to encourage the entire University community to think about ways we can foster better cross-cultural understanding and respect,” said Deputy Vice Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Martin Betts.
Students and staff took the scenic route from Mt Gravatt to Nathan campus.
“The University has committed to clear targets to improve the participation and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres
PL Hub partners with photographer, Steve Parish to improving teacher skills and wellbeing
Renowned nature photographer Steve Parish has partnered with Griffith University’s Professional Learning Hub to deliver photography courses to Queensland teachers.
Teaming with Dr Alison Sammel from the School of Education and Professional Studies the online courses would help improve teachers’ communication skills as well as enhancing personal and professional fulfillment.
The need for a multi-skilled, flexible workforce is growing. Communications skills for teachers and the wider community are essential to augment traditional skills, as well improve personal well-being.
Griffith’s Professional Learning Hub (PL Hub) is focused on improving the skills of those in the education sector throughout Queensland and Australia. The platform is delivering quality professional development across a range of focus areas including STEM, languages, leadership, behavioural management, well-being and action research.
The PL Hub provides micro-credentialing pathways in a lot of the professional development programs delivered that promotes a postgraduate pathway into Griffith University
Steve Parish is an award-winning Australian photographer who has
Autism friendly story sessions setting the foundations for literacy skills in pre-schoolers
In a Queensland first, Autism CRC, Griffith University, Studio G (Autism Queensland) and Brisbane City Council are working together to pilot autism-friendly story time sessions in public libraries.
The importance of shared book reading for promoting early language and literacy skills in young children has been well established. Libraries regularly run story time sessions for young children and their parents to promote these skills in pre-schoolers, but visiting public spaces can be an overwhelming or distressing experience for some children on the autism spectrum.
As Dr Marleen Westerveld, Autism CRC Project Leader and Senior Lecturer for Griffith University’s School of Allied Health Sciences, points out: “The ability for children on the autism spectrum to attend their local library and participate in story time activities can be affected by factors such as the story time space and session structure.
“Autism is highly prevalent. Australian Bureau of Statistics data indicate that, in 2015, more than
Griffith artist selected to exhibit in Rome
Queensland College of Art graduate Andy Lowrie has been selected to exhibit his latest collection of jewellery in Rome – part of an international exhibition showcasing the best young talent from around the world.
‘7 Artists 7 Days’ will take place at the myday-byday gallery space in Rome from 5 – 16 June.
Andy graduated from the Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) in 2011, and is now based in the US. His bold designs, featuring unusual materials and forms, have won him an international following.
“I’ve been really fortunate in recent years to have my work shown in Australia, North America and China,” he said.
“The exhibition with myday-byday will be the first time my pieces have been shown in Europe, which is a real hub of activity for art jewellery.
“I’m looking forward to sharing my work with an audience of people who will likely have a keen and critical eye.”
QCA senior lecturer Elizabeth Shaw
QCA