Category: Griffith University Feed

When trying to make sense of all around us and how we interact with our urban environment, six heads are better than one.
Joining forces to launch a new podcast platform The Urban Broadcast Collective (UBC)  the gathering of the sharpest urban studies minds will look at a range of topics from city shaping to policy-making and to ways to improve everyday living.
Griffith University urban and environmental planner Dr Tony Matthews is one of the architects of the podcast collective which covers aspects of urban living Australia-wide.
Dr Tony Matthews
“The UBC is the creation of a dynamic group of ‘podademics’ from universities across the nation. There is no singular focus within our collective as it looks at issues facing communities from Hobart to Perth and all centres in between,” Dr Matthews said.
 
Joining Dr Matthews behind the microphone are Associate Professor Paul Maginn (University of Western Australia), Dr Dallas Rogers (University of Sydney),

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Supporting families, early childhood education and school retention are the key factors in helping people beat the poverty cycle.

Griffith University criminologist Professor Ross Homel AO will outline practical methods and tools to help schools and community agencies lift children and families out of intergenerational cycles of poverty and welfare dependence when he delivers the Keith Hancock Lecture in Brisbane on Thursday, March 8.
“Firstly, we need to support families to provide the best possible home environment, whether that’s practical, economical or emotional support. Let’s start with the assumption that every parent wants the best for their child,” he said.
“Secondly, get the kids into early childhood education at age three, not four. Get them into an enriched kindergarten or pre-school environment, not just child care.
“Thirdly, keep kids at school. One of the biggest risk factors in youth justice is the lack of attachment to school.”
Professor Homel,  who was instrumental in creating a

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When Griffith Associate Professor Tanya Smith entertains the World Science Festival Brisbane audience with the many tales teeth tell, they’ll be pondering much more than what they’ve just eaten at the Brainfood Breakfast event (22 March).
The Biological Anthropologist turns back time to reveal the secrets of ancient teeth and the stories they tell of human evolution, childhood development and prehistoric behaviour.
“Teeth have this amazing record locked inside them for million of years, “ says Associate Professor Smith.
“When we grow our teeth they’re almost like fossils already.”

Amazingly accurate records
Teeth don’t decay like other evidence of our evolution, holding records of birth and childhood growth inside them for millions of years.
And the former Harvard researcher, now part of the Griffith’s Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution (ARCHE), says they’re fortunate to have many tooth specimens to study, compared to the limited number of human bones in the fossil record.
“When we look at the

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To celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8), Griffith University is highlighting some of the many remarkable women in our community and how they are working to make a meaningful impact at all levels.

All of these outstanding women are striving to create equality, raise the profile of women and support each other creating a diverse and inclusive community.
Nationally recognised as being an Employer of Choice for Women since 2001, Griffith has again been named an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality for its commitment and best practice in promoting gender equality.
International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of women throughout history and the world.  The theme for 2018 is ‘Press for Progress’.

 
 

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In the wake of International Women’s Day and the unstoppable momentum behind global movements such as #MeToo and Time’s Up, new research from Griffith University has highlighted the many challenges still faced by solo female travellers around the world.
Dr Elaine Yang, of the Griffith Business School’s Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management, undertook a study for her PhD research investigating risk perceptions for solo female travellers.
Dr Yang says that although her study focused on the rising and under-researched Asian market, her findings have broad implications for the sorts of unwelcome and worrying behaviour still faced by women who travel alone.
According to a recent TripAdvisor survey, in 2015, 74% of women globally were interested in travelling alone. In Australia and South-east Asia, the figures are even higher – 81% and 79% respectively.
“My study resonates with campaigns such as #MeToo and #viajosolo – which means ‘I travel alone’ – as well

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New music, exquisite choreography and exhilarating live performances – welcome to Converge, the first collaboration between the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and Expressions Dance Company (EDC).
Composition students from the Queensland Conservatorium have collaborated with EDC ensemble members Jake McLarnon and Richard Causer to create a stunning soundtrack for their choreography.
An ensemble of twelve musicians will perform the works live on stage in the stunning Conservatorium Theatre – featuring a string and wind quintet, piano and percussion.
Empowering young musicians
Queensland Conservatorium Director Professor Scott Harrison said he was pleased to collaborate with EDC.
“This is our first venture into contemporary dance, and we hope it is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with Expressions Dance Company,” he said.
“The project is unique in its inception, with choreographer and composer working side by side to create a shared vision, all brought to life by the brilliance of the dancers and musicians.
“Giving emerging artists the opportunity

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Griffith Law School​’s​ ​​Professor​ Mary Keyes and Associate Professor Therese Wilson have been named on the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland (WLAQ) 2018 Inspo List for their inspiring work in teaching, coaching and mentoring future lawyers.
To celebrate its 40th year and coincide with International Women’s Day, the WLAQ announced its list of women who have inspired them over the course of their careers.
“We have worked together at Griffith Law School for a long time, teaching, coaching Vis international commercial arbitration moot teams, and serving the law school in management positions,’’ ​Associate ​Professor Wilson said.
“Throughout we have both been passionate about quality legal education and supporting our students to become the best lawyers they can be.
“We are both honoured and humbled to have been included in the Women Lawyers’ Association of Queensland’s 2018 list of women lawyers who have inspired.”
Griffith alumni on the list include: barristers Susan Downes, Dearne Firth, and Borcsa Vass; ​solicitor, Cassandra Heilbronn;

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Credit: Toby Scott
Queensland College of Art student Michael Phillips has won a $25,000 commission to create an epic 90 metre floor to ceiling art work for the expansion of Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal.
Believed to be the most lucrative student art prize ever offered in Australia, Brisbane Airport’s competition was open to QCA students across all disciplines, with applicants invited to submit concepts for the vast space that explored themes of adventure, discovery, connection and flight.
More than 100 entries were received, with five finalists considered for the major prize. The four runners-up each received $5000 prize money and the winner received $25,000.
This significant piece of public art will be seen by millions of travellers each year.
The Master of Visual Arts student created his striking work in the QCA workshops at South Bank, making a series of wood block prints that were blown up and digitally printed onto vinyl panels.

Michael said the

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In the global war against plastics contamination, a groundbreaking Griffith University study has found Antarctic krill which ingest microplastics are able to turn them into nanoplastics through digestion.
The study, which formed the PhD research of Dr Amanda Dawson, was published in Nature Communications this week. The work was conducted under Associate Professor Susan Bengtson Nash’s Southern Persistent Organic Pollutants Program (SOPOPP) in collaboration with the Australian Antarctic Division, and has uncovered the ability of an Antarctic species to physically change ingested microplastics in a way not previously described.
“Despite a growing body of research, there are still considerable knowledge gaps regarding spatial patterns and abundance of microplastics in the marine environment,’’ Dr Dawson said.
“The phenomena of digestive fragmentation has never before been reported in other planktonic crustaceans despite the facts that many possess similar gastric mills and mouthparts designed for mechanical disruptions.”
The researchers also identified the potential for translocation (movement across

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The advice leapt from online to real life for Tori Macklin, a Griffith Student who scored an internship through using eCareerCoach.
“The eCareerCoach platform is so beneficial for students because it allows us to easily connect with professionals willing to share their knowledge gained from years of experience in their industry. Coaches also get the opportunity to mentor future professionals, expanding their network and giving them the ability to give back to the up-and-coming young generation,” Tori explains.
The program, created by Griffith Business School, sees Coaches matched with current students to provide career advice and respond to queries about their job paths through a digital portal. The resulting relationship could be just a few questions long, or the Coach could choose to take on a more comprehensive role. Which is exactly what happened when Tori matched with Carly Green, the Human Resources Manager at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort.
“My online cohort

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