Architecture student Sarah Paige was at university during the holidays when lecturer Karine Dupre approached her with a project that would enhance and invigorate her studies in a way she could never have anticipated.
In early February before a public audience at Southport Library, Sarah outlined her small but significant part in the design of the Opening Ceremony of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) when she joined Associate Professor Dupre for the latest edition of 2018 Inside Scoop.
Karine Dupre, Program Director, Architecture, at Griffith University presented an insight into the buildings that will host GC2018 in April, from Carrara Stadium to the Gold Coast Optus Aquatic Centre.
“I discussed the function of architecture in designing structures that deliver a premium experience for athletes and spectators, and the critical role of those spaces in the success of the Games,” Associate Professor Dupre said.
Sarah Paige, who is studying a Master of Architecture, outlined
Category: Griffith University Feed
Griffith Film School animator making her mark
Griffith Film School student Samantha Zaleski dreams of making her mark in the world of animation, film and design.
The 19-year-old go-getter is hard at work making those goals a reality.
The Bachelor of Animation student has exhibited work at GOMA, illustrated a children’s book, worked on a short film in Sydney, was named ‘Aspiring Young Business Woman’ at the Women in Business Awards, and is off to the UK on a study exchange – and that was just the past 12 months.
“It’s been absolutely crazy,” she says.
“There have been a lot of late nights, but you only get one life and you’ve got to chase your dreams.”
This year, Sam will be based in the UK on an exchange program at Falmouth University, whose alumni include famed children’s illustrator Laurence Anholt and Turner Prize-nominated artist Tacita Dean.
“I still can’t believe it – Falmouth is the number one university in the UK for the
Humans and their pets help parasitic worms spread around the world
Of the nearly 400 parasitic worm species that have been recorded in humans, almost 50% have been found in a diversity of wildlife including domestic animals, according to new research led by Griffith University.
Published in scientific journal Global Change Biology, the research found as much as 49% of parasites such as tapeworms, roundworms and flukes not only exist in humans but more than 500 wildlife species including primates, rodents, deer, cattle, kangaroos, and wild carnivores.
Of those parasites – more formally known as helminths – 45% are also found in domestic animals such as dogs, cats, cows, pigs, and black and brown rats.
The international research team, hailing from Australia, Spain and France, included Griffith Environmental Futures Research Institute scientists Dr Konstans Wells and Professor Hamish McCallum.
Using a global database of humans, domestic animals and wildlife species infected with such parasites, the team used a model-based analysis to predict which attributes had
Debating China and International Order
By Diego Leiva, School of Government and International Relations
Professor Ned Pankhurst opens the conference with warm welcome to participants.
On 17th and 18th of January 2018, the Griffith Asia Institute, with generous support of the The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, hosted a conference on “Debating China and International Order: Contending Perspectives on the Rise of China”. Leading scholars from Australia, mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States debated and exchanged views on what the rise of China means for international order. Griffith University’s Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Ned Pankhurst and the Co-PIs of the MacArthur project “How China Sees the World” Professor Kai He and Dr Huiyun Feng opened the conference with warm welcome and an introduction to the MacArthur Project.
The participants approached the conference theme from different theoretical and empirical lenses. Kai He and Huiyun Feng’s paper on “international order” provided the basic conceptual
QCA lecturer designing the future
Queensland College of Art lecturer Dr Sam Canning is helping design the future – fusing art and engineering to create cutting edge designs.
Sam’s stunning 3D printed dress is the centrepiece of Griffith’s ongoing Remarkable campaign, and featured on the Today Show in the US before hitting catwalks across Europe and Asia.
It’s a project he describes as “the highlight of my design career”.
“It took me about 400 hours to model this dress on the computer and it ended up comprising 25,000 to 30,000 individual pieces,” he explains.
The gown was specifically folded to fit into a 3D printing machine and came out fully assembled in one individual piece – making it one of the first of its kind.
The collaborative international project highlighted the incredible potential of 3D printing technology.
“We want the next generation of designers to see that there is a real place and ever growing demand for this type of expertise.”
From his
Jacqui has the good oil on health with Cobram Estate
Jacqui Plozza started her career as a medical scientist, but a burning desire to study nutrition and dietetics led to the career she has today.
As the Nutrition Strategy and Education Manager at Cobram Estate, Jacqui is developing, executing, monitoring and evaluating a robust, multi-faceted health education strategy and program to key health professionals across Australia.
She is also at the forefront of key food policy and regulation issues relevant to the Australian olive oil industry.
Jacqui says her medical science degree has been a great addition to her new career focus: “I always had an interest in nutrition and dietetics as I grew up.”
“My family was living and breathing the human side of a chronic health condition because both my dad and sister have type 1 diabetes.
“Although it’s an autoimmune condition and not caused by lifestyle, healthy lifestyle choices are an important part of managing it.”
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science
Special vehicle to make life easier for Izzy and carers
The plight of a Gold Coast girl with a rare muscular condition has inspired the support of a Griffith University graduate, two international students and the Gold Coast Community Fund. Their aim is to raise enough money to buy a life-changing special vehicle.
Seven-year-old Izzabelle Burns lives with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, an exceptionally disabling condition that involves joint contracture in two or more areas of the body. Its devastating impact is similar to that of quadriplegia.
Izzy’s grandparents, Stephen and Kerri-Lee Burns, are her prime carers and while they have embraced the role with love and dedication, the challenges are many. One of the biggest is transport.
“On school days, Izzy travels with her grandmother while her motorised wheelchair follows behind in a maxi taxi,” says Gold Coast Community Fund coordinator Mr Malcolm Tucker, who graduated from Griffith with a Bachelor of Information Technology in 2002.
“The cost of the maxi taxi is incredibly
Policy and performance drive James in UK Fast Stream
At a fascinating time in British political history, Griffith University alumnus James Boyle is thriving as part of the UK Civil Service’s prestigious and influential graduate degree program. And he is keen to acknowledge Griffith University’s role in the process.
Out of 45,000 applicants, James was one of about 1000 to be accepted into the Civil Service Fast Stream program, which develops the craft of the next generation of senior civil servants.
“I currently work with the team that maintains the digital UK tax platform. We are responsible for the systems and processes that enable citizens and businesses to pay their taxes online or via apps,” says James.
“Being a digital team, there is a big emphasis on continual improvement of our service offerings to the public, and to maintain the security and reliability of the system.”
Graduating from Griffith with a Bachelor of Arts (History and Politics) in July 2016, James has since
DFAT Pacific Banking Fellowship highlights Griffith’s capacity for positive, lasting impact
Griffith University welcomed delegates from the Reserve Banks of Fiji and Vanuatu this month for the 2018 DFAT Pacific Banking Fellowship program, in pursuit of achieving effective policy outcomes in the South Pacific region and completing joint working papers with researchers.
At the three-week program’s welcome ceremony, Ms Heidi Piper, the Director of Griffith International, described the Fellows – who will also be the crucial members of the long-term collaboration between the central banks and Griffith – as significant ambassadors for the university and Australia.
Griffith Business School Dean (Academic) Professor Fabrizio Carmignani acknowledged the importance of the Fellowship, noting that its convener, Dr Parmendra Sharma, has been working on the project for several years.
Dr Parmendra Sharma and Professor Fabrizio Carmignani
“It’s an excellent example of engagement with policy institutions; we’re talking about Griffith engaging and working with central banks in the Pacific region on issues relating to central banking and monetary policy,” Professor Carmignani
Lia kicking goals in the house of the rising Suns
With the 2018 AFL season looming, Lia Ferguson has been immersed in one of the busiest times of her year.
As Brand and Marketing Coordinator for the Gold Coast Suns, Lia is devising and delivering strategies to ensure the Suns continue to grow in terms of identity, longevity and community support in what is an ultra-challenging sporting and business environment.
Lia joined the AFL’s 17th franchise in March 2014, during the final year of a Griffith University business degree majoring in Marketing and Human Resources.
“I took part in Griffith’s Industry Mentoring Program and was fortunate to be mentored by Kelly Ryan, the Suns’ former General Manager of Stadium, Consumer and Community. It gave me great guidance and insight into how a major sporting organisation works,” says Lia.
“It showed me how entities like the Gold Coast Suns are large but also intimate and intricate, with so many elements contributing to their overall operation.”
When