In Brief
Australia's role of honour
UniSA graduates, academic leaders, and former staff were all in the honours list this year when the Australia Day Awards were announced.
Recently retired UniSA Chancellor David Klingberg was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his enormous contribution to both the tertiary education sector in governance policy and to commercial and economic development and infrastructure projects. Klingberg was Chancellor at UniSA for 10 of its most formative years and played a strong leadership role across the sector.
Honorary Doctor of the University Dr Julian Burnside, QC was also awarded an AO for his services as a human rights advocate, a patron and fundraiser for the arts and his services to the law.
Members of the Order of Australia (AM) include retired staff The Reverend William Edwards for a lifetimes work in preserving, teaching, and recording the language and culture of the Anangu people of central Australia and his service to the Indigenous community and the Uniting Church of Australia; John Halbert for services to Australian Rules football administration and youth development and to the community through the Lutheran Church; and Emeritus Professor Alison Mackinnon for her career research, teaching and as an author in the fields of social research and history. Alumnus Roger Gent was also awarded an AM for services to medical science in paediatric sonography and the development of new technologies for the investigation in children’s disorders.
And graduates Donald Hawking RFD and Stephen Sunk were awarded Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM) – Hawking, for services to the Army Cadet movement and Sunk, for work in curriculum design and development to Indigenous communities in the NT.
Investigating memory and mood
UniSA researchers will test the benefits of fish oil and physical activity on memory and mood in older people.
"We all find that our memory and thinking slows down as we age," said Dr Natalie Sinn, from UniSA’s Nutritional Physiology Research Centre.
"For many people this can occur more rapidly and interfere with their daily lives leading to dementia and in some cases depression. Dementia and depression have been associated with poorer blood flow in the brain, and there is some evidence that lifestyle factors including diet and physical activity, may alleviate mood and cognitive decline."
Dr Sinn said research previously undertaken at the Nutritional Physiology Research Centre had found additive health benefits with a combination of omega-3s and exercise.
"We want to investigate therefore the individual and additive benefits of omega-3s and physical activity on cognition and memory with ageing, and determine whether improvements in cognition and memory are associated with improved blood flow in the brain," she said.
The study is being undertaken at UniSA and the Queensland University of Technology and is supported by the ATN Centre for Metabolic Fitness, the Australian Research Council and Novasel Australia.
Dr Sinn is looking for adults aged over 65 who have been noticing signs of memory loss but who do not have dementia. They can’t currently be taking any fish oil supplements or medication that affects cognition or mood, or be engaging in regular exercise. For further information phone Dr Sinn on 8302 1757 or Catherine Milte on 8302 1452.
An edge for international engineers
International engineering students are taking steps to ensure
they can fit into the Australian workplace once they complete their
studies.
The Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment has strong overseas demand for its mechanical engineering postgraduate courses but those who want to stay on in Australia to work, sometimes find it difficult to gain employment.
"The Division has worked hard to ensure that its overseas engineering graduates better understand the Australian workplace practice," said Dr Jun Ma, senior lecturer in the School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering.
"Over the past few years, we have placed Master students with host companies during which time they complete a project for the company.
"These students find industrial work experience very rewarding as they can put their skills and abilities into practice.
"The placements are also a great opportunity for companies to have a project undertaken for them, and potentially to find a new employee for the future."
Master of Engineering (Manufacturing Management) graduate Ruchir Patel (pictured right) from India undertook a voluntary work placement at at OneSteel in Whyalla during his uni holidays, as well as taking part in industry visits and work shadowing.
"I knew that to get a job in Australia, I had to improve my knowledge and skills about Australian work practices and workplace culture," he said.
"This experience gave me the skills and confidence to find my graduate position with Leighton Contractors."
Dr Ma encourages more South Australian engineering companies to consider hosting an international postgraduate engineering student.
"It costs the company nothing except in providing the student with the information and access required to investigate the project in order to develop the solution," he said. "It is a great win-win."
Helping overweight children
Helping overweight children to be physically active and participate fully in everyday life is the focus of a new study being undertaken in Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane.
The study, being led by UniSA’s Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, is investigating the physical impacts of excessive weight and body fat on growing young bodies.
The study is being undertaken by the ATN Centre for Metabolic Fitness, with support from the Physiotherapy Research Foundation and research teams at RMIT University and Queensland University of Technology.
"Our previous research had shown that overweight children find it hard to increase their level of physical activity," said UniSA physiotherapist Margarita Tsiros.
"Our most recent research suggests the reason behind this may be that excess body fat impacts negatively on physical function making it more difficult to engage in physical tasks."
Ms Tsiros said the research shows children with excessive weight and body fat have poor quality of life, reduced overall physical functioning, and more physical pain in more locations in their bodies which impacts their ability to carry out everyday tasks.
The research teams are looking for children aged 10 to 13 who are carrying some extra weight to take part in the study. For more information phone 8302 2348.