Smart, confident and determined to make a difference. These are the hallmarks of three high-achieving young women who will start their education degrees at Griffith University this year.
School leavers Yasmin Atwani, who received an OP1, and Emily Williamson and Jean Stansfield OP2s could have studied anything they wanted, and chose teaching because they believe in the power of education.
“I had the option of studying medicine,’’ says Yasmin, “but then I had to be honest with myself and look at what I would really like to do in the long-term and the answer was teaching.”
“The significance of being an educator was initially sparked by my teachers and parents, who embedded in me a passion for improving the world we live in through education.”
Emily agrees. “I found that if you have passionate teachers it makes a big difference. I’m passionate about English and history and hope to teach those areas as a
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Studio 39 backing Gold Coast student startups
Student entrepreneurship is building at Griffith and Studio 39, the University’s startup hatchery on the Gold Coast campus, will be having a very busy 2017.
The Studio is part of Griffith Enterprise (GE) who have been working with students hoping to develop the next Twitter, Canva or Fitbit rather than a job or career. In 2016 startups jumped into the public mind as digital services like Netflix and Uber began to move into the lives of everyday people.
The successful multi-billion dollar listing of Australian software firm Atlassian on the NASDAQ has provided further impetus, as have television shows like Shark Tank.
In previous years, GE’s support was limited to advice and their co-working space. But in 2015 they adjusted focus and began making connections in the American startup community, organising breakfasts with investors, brought in the 3 Day Startup team from Texas to run training and facilitated hacking competitions.
Students have also been
Fulbright scholar to advance virus research
Griffith Law School PhD candidate Michelle Rourke has been awarded a 2017 Fulbright Scholarship to further her research on the commodification of viruses.
Captain Rourke, a scientific research officer with the Australian Defence Force, will spend 10 months with the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, Washington DC.
“Viruses pose the greatest infectious disease risk to global health due to their ability to rapidly mutate, jump host species and evade vaccines and drug treatments,’’ she said.
“It is essential that scientists have access to virus samples so they can conduct lifesaving research.
“But there’s been a shift in the way international law treats viruses. They used to be part of the sharing economy but are now regarded as tradeable commodities.”
This is causing major threats to global health because some developing countries have not been willing to share their viruses.
“In 2007 for example, Indonesia claimed sovereignty over pandemic influenza viruses
Griffith filmmakers win prestigious film award
Three Griffith filmmakers have been awarded a prestigious Crystal Bear award for their documentary ‘Wolfe’, which was named Best Short Film by the Youth Jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany.
‘Wolfe’ is a 16-minute production from producer/director Claire Randall, who is an undergraduate in Film and Screen Media at Griffith Film School.
Pivotal to the production as well was producer Shannen Tunnicliffe and Director of Photography and animator Lachlan Morton.
The film was inspired by the director’s own encounter with mental illness as a teenager. It uses interviews and animation to explore a young man’s journey through adolescence with undiagnosed schizophrenia, and his relationship with an imaginary friend, Mister Wolfe.
‘Wolfe’ was selected for the Generation 14plus category at the festival, part of a program dedicated to young people that attracts more than 65,000 film fans. The Generation 14plus section has previously featured other high-profile Aussie films like ‘Red Dog’, ‘Girl Asleep’ and ‘Bran Nue Dae’.
The Festival jury
Young minds shape future of commercial tourism in Queensland
The future of commercial tourism in Queensland now rests with young entrepreneurs who are best-placed to tap in to the needs of the booming youth market according to a tourism expert.
Dr Sarah Gardiner from the Griffith Institute for Tourism at Griffith University’s Business School, said new figures show a third of tourists to the Sunshine State are aged under 30 with the booming demographic now crucial to making commercial tourism thrive.
Dr Sarah Gardiner (left) with Chris Hogan from MeMedia and entrepreneurs Sarah Schoeller and Selasi Berdie
“Young people are looking for fresh and novel experiences that are relevant to their generation. Young entrepreneur share that mindset and are therefore best positioned to create experiences that appeal to young travelers.
“There’s a huge opportunity for young people to create businesses and market products to other young people out in the marketplace and that’s what we are trying to encourage people to think about,”
ABC showcases Griffith filmmakers
ABC iView is screening Griffith Film School’s graduate projects as part of a new showcase of Australia’s best original short films.
Grad Season 2017 is curated by ABC Arts on iView, introducing Griffith’s talented young filmmakers to a wider audience.
Selected works from the collection will also be chosen for a broadcast premiere on ABC2.
A new platform for young filmmakers
Creative Director of Griffith Film School’s LiveLab, Richard Fabb, said the initiative provided recent graduates with a national platform for their work.
“I am always blown away by the polish and professionalism of our graduate films and they really show the best Griffith Film School has to offer,” he said.
“The national broadcaster is a natural home for these young filmmakers, and it is great to see their work find a broader audience.”
Head of ABC Arts, Mandy Chang said the ABC was keen to build relationships with young Australian filmmakers.
“These young filmmakers are the future
Qld’s top Year 12 graduate to study at Griffith
She’s just been named Queensland’s top Year 12 graduate for 2016, she’s just about to start life as a Griffith University student and she’s got more than just a passing interest in rockets.
It’s quite the hectic life for 17-year-old Amelia Grace from Southport.
On Saturday she was presented with the state’s Outstanding Academic Achiever award by Education Minister Kate Jones at a South Bank ceremony hosted by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA).
Then on Monday she threw herself into everything O-Week had to offer at Griffith’s Gold Coast campus, ahead of her first lectures as an engineering student starting next week.
“I can’t wait to start. I’m sure there will be challenges that I don’t know about yet but I think I’m ready,” Amelia said. “The award was so unexpected. I think I’m still in shock. You just do the work.”
Amelia’s outstanding results in Year 12 placed her ahead of more
Gold Coast researchers make Chronic Fatigue Syndrome breakthrough
In a world first, Gold Coast researchers have made an important breakthrough in understanding the cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Science Minister Leeanne Enoch said researchers from Griffith University’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED) have found strong evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome was associated with a dysfunctional immune system.
“The research team, led by Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik and Professor Don Staines, have identified a dysfunctional cell receptor in the immune system which seems to be at the core of the problem,” Ms Enoch said.
“This discovery is great news for all people living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and the related Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), as it confirms what people with these conditions have long known – that it is a ‘real’ illness – not a psychological issue.
“CFS and ME are notoriously difficult to diagnose, with sufferers often going for years without getting the proper care and attention they need. Currently,
Griffith graduate nominated for Oscar
Griffith alumnus Angie Fielder has been nominated for an Oscar for the critically acclaimed Aussie box office smash, Lion.
Angie produced the film, which is up for the Best Picture Award at next week’s Academy Awards.
International acclaim
The ceremony attracts a worldwide audience of more than a billion TV viewers and gathers all of the film industry’s major ‘movers and shakers’.
“It’s really exciting and a little overwhelming,” she said.
“It is very special to be in the same room with people you feel you’ve known your whole life.
“I try not be intimidated – I have come to the realisation that they are filmmakers just like me, and they are in this industry because they are passionate about it.”
Lion has a star-studded international cast, including Nicole Kidman, Dev Patel, Rooney Mara and David Wenham.
It has topped the Australian box office charts since its release, and has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It
New trimester system already working for Griffith students
Learning about life at university was already on the radar of education student Lauren Vidler before she docked at the Mt Gravatt campus for O-Week.
The 18-year-old graduate of Calamvale Community College was suitably versed in how the education program’s foundation year works to her advantage and how Griffith’s new trimester system will benefit her student experience.
With her Bachelor of Education program shaped around trimesters, Lauren will graduate in three-and-a-half years and conclude her studies with a 6-8 week internship.
“This means my chances of gaining employment as a teacher immediately after university will be stronger,” she said.
The new Bachelor of Education also incorporates a foundation year across the first two trimesters which Lauren welcomed enthusiastically.
“It’s a chance for me to see what I like. I’m thinking secondary teaching right now, possibly maths and sport, but I don’t know for sure what I want yet. This will give me a good idea