In brief
New Head of School of Communication, Information and New Media
UniSA’s new Professor of Communication and Head of the School of Communication, Information and New Media is Kerry Green, current Head of the School of Professional Communication at the University of Canberra. Prof Green, who has a PhD in journalism, previously taught journalism at the University of Queensland. His research interests include the reporting of disasters and critical incidents, the newspaper industry’s use of readership research techniques, and the relationship between journalists and their audiences. He is a former editor of the daily newspaper The Queensland Times, and deputy editor of the provincial daily The Cairns Post and the metropolitan evening daily The Telegraph, in Brisbane. Prof Green will take up his position in July.
Director of Sansom Institute
Professor Ross McKinnon has been appointed Director of the newly formed Sansom Institute and Professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology located within the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences. Previously Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Prof McKinnon is also the founding Director of the South Australian Clinical Pharmacogenomics Initiative, Director of the Centre for Pharmaceutical Research and co-founder of a recently formed spin-off pharmaceutical company, PharmaQuest. The Sansom Institute brings together a number of successful research concentrations in biomedical and pharmaceutical science, quality use of medicines and medicines policy, and biomolecular studies.
Honouring great leaders
UniSA awarded three honorary doctorates to outstanding leaders in the community at its April graduation ceremonies. High profile advocate for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, Dr Julian Burnside was honoured for his distinctive public service in the area of humanitarian law and for his articulation of important principles of human rights honesty and morality in government. Dr Gregor Ramsay, former principal of UniSA antecedent institution, the SA College of Advanced Education, was honoured for his career contribution to education and the profession of teaching for four decades across state and federal arenas. Dr Ramamurthy Natarajan, Professor of Engineering and former Minister for Education in India, was honoured for his contribution to engineering and technology education and research and his support for international educational partnerships between India and Australia in the field. In addition three fellows of the University were named – Mr Gordon Ingaktji for his enduring commitment to the Pitjantjatjara language and culture; Professor Jong Taik Lee for his support and nurturing of Australian and Korean educational partnerships; and Dr Ian Hardy, CEO of Helping Hand Aged Care for his contribution to aged care in supporting innovation and research that continues to improve the health and well being of older Australians.
VET specialist wins Fullbright Scholarship
Metta Young, a UniSA Masters graduate in Education, Literacy and Language, has just won a prestigious Fullbright scholarship. She will be presented with the Fulbright Professional Award in Vocational Education and Training (VET) sponsored by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) on May 19. The award, established in 1995, supports the exchange of research and ideas on Vocational Education and Training between Australia and the United States. Young will undertake research at the Udall Centre for Studies in Public Policy of the University of Arizona. She will investigate how the Australian National Training System can be strategically positioned to expand its effort to support effective partnerships in the Australian Indigenous context. Her research will also build on the work undertaken by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development (HPAIED) which highlights the ability of Native Nations to build sustainable economies based on self-decision making.