Community: Edition 1 2009

Vice-Chancellor and President's comment

Ministerial policy announcements about the future of higher education are being released gradually this year. The level of funding to support the policies are to be announced in the May budget.

So far it seems that Ministers Julia Gillard and Kim Carr are generally supportive of the recommendations of the Bradley Review which emphasised expansion, more generous funding, and a student-driven system.

Most sectoral interest groups have been supportive of the proposed new directions and, at USC, we see many opportunities to further expand our scale and influence in the region.

We already recruit large numbers of students who are the first in their family to attend university. We also recruit many from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Federal Government seems intent on intensifying these recruitment campaigns and financially rewarding those universities, like USC, which have the potential to meet or exceed government targets.

So, along with increased funding for teaching, for research, for being regional and for linking with business, USC can expect to be better funded into the future.

The Budget will no doubt address what can be done now, and what funding will have to be deferred. But I am confident that the level of support to higher education is increasing, and equally confident that USC is well placed to benefit from the reforms.

There is an emerging opportunity to again accelerate our growth curve and develop further high-quality academic programs.

Professor Paul Thomas AM
Vice-Chancellor and President

Students log on to expanded wireless network

The University of the Sunshine Coast has ramped up its wireless network to provide greater and more flexible computer access for students.

USC last year successfully trialled a wireless network for the University’s Library and its surrounds, and this year has extended the network to five other locations on campus.

Three of the new locations include popular meeting spots of students at the Brasserie, Cafe J and the recently-opened Cafe C in the University’s new Chancellery. Other locations are the new Health and Sport Centre and the second floor of Building J.

USC’s Information Technology Services Director Maureen Klinkert said the wireless network would offer students greater mobility, convenience and comfort.

Gaming studio set to locate at Innovation Centre

One of Australia’s largest game developers, Big Ant Studios, is set to establish a new gaming development studio at USC’s Innovation Centre. This announcement was made in mid-January by Acting Queensland Premier Paul Lucas. The Melbourne-based company specialises in developing premium character action and racing content for platforms that include the Sony PlayStation2, PlayStation3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox360, and PC.

Big Ant Studios will be located in the Innovation Centre’s Business Accelerator, which was officially opened in August 2008. Company CEO Ross Symons said the studio would initially employ 30 staff and would expand to about 84 staff over the next four years.

“Being located on the University of the Sunshine Coast campus means we can also tap into the talent of the students studying here,” Mr Symons said.

“We are already talking to the University about developing a work integrated learning program for design students as well as some course content particularly for students wanting to work in the gaming industry.”

Innovation Centre CEO Colin Graham said the Business Accelerator could provide businesses like Big Ant with an integrated package of serviced office space, fast speed fibre access, meeting rooms and business development services.

National award for brave business graduate

A University of the Sunshine Coast business graduate has become the Young Australian of the Year 2009 for her courageous work in leading the Queensland Homicide Victims’ Support Group.

Jonty Bush, 29, received her Australia Day award from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at Parliament House in Canberra on Sunday 25 January at a televised ceremony attended by 35,000 people and watched by millions.

Jonty said the ceremony was an emotionally charged event for her because her association with the victims’ support group began after the tragic loss of two family members to violent attacks. Jonty was a USC student in 2000 when her younger sister and her father were killed in separate incidents on the Sunshine Coast and in her home town of Gympie.

After graduating, Jonty worked in human resource management before joining the Queensland Homicide Victims’ Support Group as a volunteer in 2003. Three years later, at age 27, Jonty was appointed CEO of the organisation and has since led a successful push for a review of the State’s laws surrounding murder and manslaughter, which will begin later this year. She also worked with other families to develop the One Punch Can Kill campaign which the Queensland Government adopted in a bid to prevent further tragedies.

“I’m deeply passionate about my work,” Jonty said. “I am blessed to work with an amazing team, and with truly inspirational people, many of whom have lost someone as well. I may be the one receiving recognition, but there are many hundreds of people who are here beside me.”

Jonty said she credited her study at USC as a major factor in her success in leading the Queensland Homicide Victims’ Support Group. She said it had enabled her to work proactively with governments, the police and legal agencies.

“My business degree has helped in my capacity to manage the team, not just the five staff but 120 volunteers as well,” she said. “Charities really are businesses. It’s often said that they are ‘not for profit’, but they are ‘not for loss’ either.”

Jonty said her business degree also provided her with skills in budgeting, business planning, strategic planning, business law and marketing.

Start study mid-year

Those keen to start studying at the University of the Sunshine Coast mid-year can apply now through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).

QTAC is currently accepting applications for Semester 2, 2009, and will be making offers for mid-year enrolments at USC on 13 May, 3 June and 18 June. The major offer round will be made on 3 June.

Mid-year applicants can choose from 61 USC study programs that are featured on QTAC’s Semester 2 course search. Information on starting study mid-year is available on the USC website .

Inquiries about admissions can be directed to the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Student Administration on Tel: +61 7 5430 2890.

Artistic academic rewarded

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has honoured USC Art and Design academic Dr Lisa Chandler for her dedication towards developing and supporting the region’s creative sector.

Mayor Bob Abbot presented Dr Chandler with the council’s 2009 Creative Award at a special Australia Day ceremony at Noosaville on 25 January. The award recognises Dr Chandler’s outstanding work as an educator, gallery director, curator, graphic designer, community arts worker, journalist and a practising artist.

“I feel really honoured because the region has such a strong creative sector,” she said. “It was an incredible honour to be picked from so many outstanding people in the region.

“I think it’s really important that this council does recognise creative achievements and acknowledges the importance of the creative sector as something that is quite relevant and distinctive in this region.”

Dr Chandler has taught Art and Design at the University of the Sunshine Coast since 1996 and was the foundation curator of the USC Gallery from 1997–2004, developing it into a venue that is highly regarded and well visited.

She worked with the University’s Foundation in securing donations of more than A$500,000 from local businesses and community members for the construction of a new purpose-built gallery in 2004. The Creative Award citation also paid tribute to Dr Chandler’s achievements in encouraging current and emerging artists and designers, and in contributing to entrepreneurship in creative industries in the region.

Education author wins media award

Education academic Dr Michael Nagel has won a national media award for an article he wrote about training educators.

The article, entitled “Teaching the Teachers”, featured in Copeland Publishing’s parenting magazine Sydney’s Child in Sydney and the magazine’s equivalents in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.

The publisher nominated Dr Nagel’s article for the Professional Teachers Council NSW Media Award—an award that recognises those who contribute positively to changing the public’s perception of the significance of teaching as well as identifying the value to the community of teaching as a profession. Dr Nagel received his award from NSW Education and Training Minister Verity Firth in Sydney in December.

Dr Nagel said his article emphasised that teaching was both an art as well as a science, and that great teachers were those who enabled students to be happy and engaged in learning.

Laura is Young Citizen of the Year

University of the Sunshine Coast graduate Laura Monaghan, 24, has won the Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s Young Citizen of the Year award for 2009.

Laura received the award at an Australia Day event at Noosaville in recognition of her keen interest in improving the Sunshine Coast community.

“I’m still quite shocked that I won,” she said. “It was a big surprise for me. It’s a real honour to be in a field of young people who have done so much for the community, and then to be chosen for the award.”

Laura graduated from USC with a Bachelor of Arts in May 2006 and began working as a Learning for Life Worker at The Smith Family’s Maroochydore branch. Her work involves offering children from disadvantaged families better educational prospects through financial and tutoring assistance.

“I think education is the key to many of the issues in the world,” she said. “If people are educated, they can make educated choices and decisions. They can really make things happen. Education can help overcome financial disadvantage and other issues of inequality.”

Student population tipped to exceed 6,000

The University of the Sunshine Coast’s student population is expected to exceed 6,000 for the first time this year. Among that number are almost 2,500 first-year students who started studying a wide range of programs at USC in February.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM said their decision to gain a university education was an important one that would benefit them well into the future.

“The deepening international financial crisis will mean many fewer jobs, but the opportunities for employment will be greatest for those with a degree,” Professor Thomas said.

“The recent Bradley Review of higher education has come out strongly in favour of enhanced financial support for students, signalling an easing of student debt, as well as the government’s call for more educated graduates.”

Professor Thomas addressed more than 1,000 new students at an official Welcome Ceremony during Orientation in mid-February.

Orientation activities also included a range of fun social events, free lunches, campus tours, trips to tourist attractions and faculty presentations.

The biggest intake of students this year was for the Bachelor of Nursing Science degree, which had 197 new undergraduate enrolments in Semester 1.

Other popular undergraduate programs for 2009 include Psychology, Sport and Exercise Science, Early Childhood Education, Paramedic Science, Arts, Business, Nutrition and Dietetics, a combined Education/Arts degree, and Science.

Since the start of semester, students also have enjoyed the University’s first Market Day for 2009 in early March and the combined celebration of Harmony Day and USC’s Exchange Fair on 17 March.

The Exchange Fair highlighted the numerous overseas study opportunities available to students through USC’s award-winning Global Opportunities (GO) program.

Scientist aims for ‘greener’ forestry

University of the Sunshine Coast plant scientist Dr Stephen Trueman is leading an exciting project which aims to establish a “greener” hardwood forest and timber industry in Queensland.

Dr Trueman and a team of 14 researchers from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the CSIRO are working to improve the wood quality of trees sourced from hardwood plantations. The project, which will help reduce dependency on timber from native hardwood forests, recently received a State Government grant of A$875,000.

The USC Senior Lecturer in Plant Science said he believed his research would help develop plantation timber that matched or exceeded the quality of native timber.

“We now have information from 10-15 years of Government and private company trials, so we can tell which plantation trees have the best growth and form and which will produce the best timber.

“We will look at which trees have the right combination for commercial hardwood plantations, and will propagate the trees en masse through industry nurseries for release as elite varieties of plantation trees.”

Dr Trueman said USC was well placed to do this research as the Sunshine Coast was central to almost 200,000 hectares of plantation forestry.

The A$875,000 grant, provided through the Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund, aims to help Queensland develop a strong plantation-based forestry industry.

Dr Stephen Trueman is working with the State Government and the CSIRO to boost the quality of plantation timber.

Karina revels in research

Within one year of starting a degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast, biomedical science student Karina Hamilton has completed some nationally significant research.

Karina, 18, has tested whether commercially available omega 3 fatty acid capsules in Australia contain the concentrations of the fatty acid indicated on their labels.

After months of rigorous testing of 19 different supplements that are available from pharmacies and supermarkets, the accelerated Honours student found that the manufacturers’ labels were accurate.

“This research was needed because omega 3 capsules are classed as low-risk complementary medicines,” she said. “Because of that, each product is not individually assessed.”

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) funded Karina’s research and recently flew her to its head office in Canberra to present her findings to scientists there and by video link to other scientists in New Zealand.

Karina said she had assessed a range of fish oil tablets, along with flaxseed and evening primrose oil tablets which also contain omega 3 fatty acids.

Karina is from Hervey Bay. She graduated from Urangan State High School in 2007 with an OP1, and last year received a A$12,000 Renouf Family Scholarship for Academic Excellence through the University of the Sunshine Coast Foundation.

Academic leads quoll study

If there are quolls in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, University of the Sunshine Coast scientist Dr Scott Burnett is certainly the man to find them.

Dr Burnett is leading an innovative project to count the numbers of the endangered carnivorous marsupials that might inhabit the Mary River headwaters in forestry around Conondale, Kenilworth and Kandanga.

The USC Wildlife Ecology lecturer will soon set camera traps (heat-activated cameras) to help count the animals as part of a Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WPSQ) project called “Protecting Quolls in Queensland Landscapes”.

USC appoints high achiever

Award-winning academic and author Noel Meyers has been appointed Professor and Head of School of Science and Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Professor Meyers, 43, formerly of the University of Tasmania and Queensland University of Technology, took up his position at USC in February.

The dynamic academic—who has a PhD in Botany (UQ), has submitted his Master of Education thesis at QUT, and whose interests include mountain climbing and scuba diving—said he was excited about leading a school in which his dual expertise in education and science would be so well utilised.

“I think the school’s staff and future growth will position us well to make significant contributions to science, education, and science education nationally,” he said.

Professor Meyers’ impressive academic career includes co-authoring the textbook, Biology, which is used in most first-year biology courses across Australia.

He won the prestigious Pearson Uniserve Award for “outstanding contributions to science students’ learning” in 2002, gained one of only seven national Australian Awards for University Teaching in 2004 and recently became a Fellow of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia.

Professor Meyers also won numerous awards when he worked at QUT from 1999-2005, including the QUT Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2003 and several Lecturer of the Year awards from QUT’s Student Guild.

Computer whiz works to boost child safety

University of the Sunshine Coast academic Dr Christian Jones has developed a computer game that helps boost children’s awareness of their personal safety.

Dr Jones, a Senior Lecturer in Interactive Digital Media, worked closely with the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Education Queensland in designing the free online game called Being Safety Smart.

North Coast Police Region Assistant Commissioner Graham Rynders officially launched the Being Safety Smart initiative in early February to provide children aged 6 to 8 with abduction prevention strategies.

Local police conceived the idea for the game after the abduction of Daniel Morcombe in 2003, and the game’s launch was backed by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.

Dr Jones took up the challenge of designing the game when he arrived at USC in 2006. He had previously taught computer science at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was CEO of Affective Media, a UK-based company that is developing technologies that automatically recognise human emotions.

Dr Jones said QPS funded the Being Safety Smart initiative which will provide an important educational resource for primary schools. The game is being trialled on the Sunshine Coast, with the aim to then release it state-wide.

“Being Safety Smart is designed to increase the awareness of children to situations which might impact on their personal safety and to empower them with the ability to act appropriately and with confidence,” he said.

Schools can register for the Being Safety Smart initiative online.

Dr Jones said recent testing of Being Safety Smart at Chancellor State College showed children’s safety knowledge improved significantly after playing the game.

“USC has developed age-appropriate child safety messages, which are presented using computer games and animation designed to be appealing and engaging for both boys and girls,” he said.

The Being Safety Smart game also took centre stage at the University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery’s first exhibition for 2009 during February and March.

Science student keen to find a cancer cure

A love of chemistry and a burning ambition to find a cure for cancer have led OP1 student Hayley Armstrong, 17, to sign up for a degree in Biomedical Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Hayley, a Suncoast Christian College graduate, began her degree in February and is excited about the scientific adventure that lies ahead. She said she chose Biomedical Science at USC as her first preference because it could lead to numerous career options, including medical research.

“I’d really love to find a cure for cancer. A lot of people I know have been affected by cancer,” she said. “And I really enjoy science, especially chemistry.”

Hayley said there were other factors that made USC the right choice for her.

“Studying on the Sunshine Coast will certainly be easier financially, and USC offered the degree that I wanted,” she said. “I’ve also heard from people I know who have studied here that the academics and the student support staff are very helpful.”

Hayley is one of about 10 students from Suncoast Christian College who started studying at USC this semester.

Felicity fills gender gap

Sixteen-year-old Felicity Cunningham has a head start in her Bachelor of Software Engineering at the University of the Sunshine Coast — in more ways than one.

The first-year student, who finished Year 12 last year with an OP2, is the only female enrolled in the degree at the Sippy Downs campus this year.

“I don’t mind at all,” she said. “It’s actually helpful because I’ll stand out from the crowd with employers in the future. They’re looking for more females in the computer industry.”

Felicity and more than 30 male counterparts this year enrolled in the degree program, which explores the software development process from design to implementation, including how to build systems in multiple programming languages.

USC Faculty of Business Teaching and Research Fellow Wayne Clutterbuck was delighted by Felicity’s enthusiasm.

“We want to encourage more women because they make very good software engineers,” Mr Clutterbuck said.

Felicity said her transition from Suncoast Christian College to USC had been smooth because she had participated in USC’s Headstart program which enables Year 11 and 12 students to do accredited university courses.

“I enjoyed my time at USC through Headstart and wanted to come back,” she said. “It’s a great campus, my lecturer was helpful, and the students are friendly. Plus, it has good facilities that they keep adding to and it’s close to home.”

Enterprising students add to markets

Enterprising University of the Sunshine Coast students and graduates were among the stall holders at USC’s first monthly market for 2009 on Thursday 5 March.

The markets — which are planned to be held from 10am to 2pm on the first Thursday of each month during semester — will feature jewellery, crafts, bags, shoes, handmade soap, organic produce and more.

Nursing Science student Dale Fernandez enjoyed the first market day, selling incense, Indian cushions, natural perfumes and other products from his stall. Dale said he planned to combine his nursing qualifications and his markets experience to pursue his goals of working in communities in India and Nepal.

Psychology student Sonja Ziegler had a selection of organic clothing on display at the USC markets. Sonja is an Australian distributor for the Jonäno eco chic collection, headquartered in the United States, which specialises in clothing made from bamboo and organic cotton.

Other stall holders included entrepreneurial business graduand Ben Hewitt whose online business, Benny’s Freshpacks, delivers fresh produce to the University and nearby student accommodation weekly. Ben gave away fresh fruit to market-goers while he handed out brochures about his business.

For more details about the market days at USC, contact Sally Conolly on Tel: +61 7 5459 4691.

Academic to edit scientific journal

University of the Sunshine Coast’s Head of School of Health and Sport Sciences Professor John Lowe has been appointed senior editor of a major health publication, the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

Professor Lowe said he was delighted about his four-year appointment to edit the Public Health Association of Australia’s prestigious scientific journal which is published every two months. The journal features articles about cutting-edge research projects and also includes occasional reviews, opinion pieces and historical reports.

Executive MBA offered

Busy executives can now boost their career progress thanks to the introduction of an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) at USC.

This new, flexible study program will begin in late February and will offer an exciting learning environment with immediate business benefits for participants.

USC’s Dean of Business Professor Evan Douglas said the EMBA program would focus on the most up-to-date business and management practices in a time-friendly format.

For more details, contact USC’s Faculty of Business.

Building Excellence Campaign reaches $5 million target

The University of the Sunshine Coast’s first major fundraising campaign — the Building Excellence campaign — wrapped up on 31 December 2008.

It surpassed its goal of A$5 million, with the final amount of A$5,071,022 from more than 270 donors, including graduates, staff, community members, businesses and organisations.

University Foundation Executive Officer Andrew Pentland said he was delighted by the strong support for the campaign which has helped fund the construction of USC’s new Health and Sport Centre, boosted scholarships and bursaries, and provided for campus enhancements.

“This campaign has already achieved major benefits for the University and will continue to do so well into the future,” he said.

“Funds raised have gone towards the establishment of new student awards, two campus sculptures, a tree-lined campus linkway and a new state-of-the-art Health and Sport Centre (pictured above) which will provide education, training and research for future Sunshine Coast health professionals.”

Mr Pentland said a campaign art exhibit had been commissioned to honour and recognise donors to the campaign and their legacy at USC.

“The exhibit will be unveiled on 12 May 2009 at a Building Excellence campaign celebration at the new Health and Sport Centre,” he said.

The University recently held a special staff morning tea to celebrate the many staff gifts and strong staff support for the campaign.

“Having strong staff support helped send an important message to the community about our belief in building a quality educational institution,” Mr Pentland said. “This sentiment was echoed by the community.”

USC launches herbarium

An extensive reference collection of pressed and preserved plant specimens has opened at the USC Library.

Contained within the herbarium are about 8,000 plant specimens of trees, shrubs, herbs and weed species from across the greater Sunshine Coast region.

The collection, which was started in 1950 and includes valuable historical records of plant distributions in many areas prior to clearing, is housed in a climate-controlled room in the USC Library.

Library staff have started digitising the specimens for a virtual herbarium that will be accessible on the internet.

USC has thanked the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, which donated the herbarium in 2003, and Hessie and Keith Lindsell of Buderim who helped fund its establishment at USC.

Librarian Kate Watson inspects one of the specimens from USC’s herbarium.

Memorial service for Ann McDougall

The USC community was shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Co-op Bookshop manager Ann McDougall in early December last year.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Paul Thomas said Ann had been with the Co-op bookshop on campus since it opened.

“She was an inspiration to all who knew her for her kindness of heart, her willingness to help others, her passion for her work and her ever-present smile and friendly ‘hello’ for everyone she came in contact with,” he said.

“She will be deeply missed at the University, but we are all richer for having known such a wonderful human being.”

The University held a special memorial service for Ann in December.

Flying Frenchman wins annual race

Fast-paced French student Clement Chanel, 20, was a clear winner in this year’s Great Court Race at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Clement, a Study Abroad student in the Faculty of Business, certainly meant business in the 800m dash around campus on Tuesday 17 March, finishing at least 30m clear of his nearest rivals.

Sport and Exercise Science student Darren Bradley of Buderim claimed second place ahead of another Business student, Andrew Synk of the United States.

Sport and Exercise Science students dominated the women’s event, with Buderim’s Chloe Turner victorious ahead of Maroochydore’s Jodie Harris. Third place went to Education student Vivian Oberhollenzer of Maroochydore.

The race is held each year for first-year students and features cash prizes of A$125 for first, A$75 for second and A$50 for third. It is usually held during Orientation, but was postponed to USC’s Harmony Day celebrations due to wet weather.

The first place-getters also received the Dean Van der Helm Memorial Shield, which was presented by Dean’s mother Roslyn and stepfather Ken Dalgleish.

Mr and Mrs Dalgleish both spoke about Dean who had competed in the Great Court Race in 2002 but had died shortly afterwards in a road accident.

Mrs Dalgleish said it was appropriate that the race, held in her son’s honour, took place on Harmony Day because her son had always encouraged people to get along with one another.

Class of 1999 reunion to top events for graduates

Planning is underway for the Class of 1999 reunion.

The USC Alumni Relations Office hopes to track down as many of the University’s first graduates as possible to celebrate 10 years since graduation. Details about this event will be announced soon.

Anyone who is in contact with any 1999 graduates can contact the Alumni Relations office on Tel: +61 7 5459 4564 or email: alumni@usc.edu.au.

For information on future and past alumni events, visit Alumni Events on the USC website.

Starting a successful business

“Start-it UP!” is an intensive and practical one-day course on how to turn your business ideas, skills and passions into a successful and profitable business.

The course will be held on Friday 5 June 2009 and is aimed at ambitious knowledge-based businesses. It will cover topics like generating business ideas and opportunities, planning for success, raising finance and building a winning team.

The cost is A$295 (or A$245 at the early-bird rate). For more information contact Emma Boyle at the USC Innovation Centre on Tel: +61 7 5450 2609 or email eboyle@usc.edu.au.

Enterprise Tuesday is back

Enterprise Tuesday is a free evening program that will be held during semester at the Innovation Centre. It is open to all USC students, alumni, staff and the local business community.

Future topics will include:

• 28 April — “From ideas to action — spotting business opportunities and creating a successful business” with guest speaker Mark Leckenby, Managing Director of Auzion Sustainable Solutions.
• 26 May — “The future is online — an opportunity to rethink your business model” with guest speakers Russell Bullen of Online Marketing Collective, Nigel Hall of the Innovation Centre and Trevor Holmes of ENACT.

For more information or to register, go to the Innovation Centre website.

USC launches academic Wall of Fame

The University of the Sunshine Coast has launched a “Wall of Fame” to celebrate the success of its award-winning academics.

Framed photographs of academic staff who have received national recognition for their outstanding contributions to teaching and learning are now featured on the wall on the top floor of the USC Library.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Greg Hill and Chair of USC’s Learning and Teaching Management Committee Associate Professor Joanne Scott officially launched the display in December 2008.

They congratulated the six USC academics who have received Australian Learning and Teaching Council (formerly Carrick) Citations for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning in the three years since the awards began.

The recipients were Associate Professor Gary Crew and Lecturer Dr Maria Raciti in 2006, Associate Professor Karen Brooks and Lecturer Gayle Mayes in 2007 and Associate Professor Stephen Lamble and Associate Lecturer Gill Cowden in 2008.

The Wall of Fame launch was attended by five of the six ALTC recipients, staff currently applying for ALTC recognition, and other University staff.

Award-winning academics, from left, Dr Maria Raciti, Associate Professor Gary Crew, Gayle Mayes, Gill Cowden and Associate Professor Stephen Lamble.

Gallery exhibitions

Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Awards

26 March–24 April

This touring exhibition is the biennial flagship of the Grafton Regional Gallery in NSW and showcases excellence in contemporary Australian drawing. Artists from around Australia submit drawings to contend for the first prize of A$15,000 that was awarded in Grafton in October 2008. Additional works were purchased for the collection and, over the past 20 years, Grafton Regional Gallery has amassed an impressive collection of drawing to rival any in Australia. The 2008 contest was judged by the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ Senior Curator of Australian Prints, Drawings and Watercolours Hendrick Koleberg.

Not the Flat Surface

30 April–6 June

This exhibition of sculptural works created from hand-made paper is hosted by the Papermakers of Queensland with guests from the Papermakers of Victoria, Primrose Paper Arts (NSW), Arilla Paper Enterprise (Mt Isa) and Euraba Paper Mill (Bogabilla).

The exhibition aims to surprise and engage the viewer in the multiple possibilities of paper-making and its use to create three-dimensional sculpture. Included in the exhibition will be work by nationally recognised artists Judy Barrass, Katherine Nix and Tricia Smout. This exhibition will be supported by Arts Queensland.

Design Students’ exhibition

11 June—11 July

Large format images designed, executed and displayed by advanced University of the Sunshine Coast Computer-Based Design students will feature in this exhibition. The artists interpret and explore technology within a framework of past, current and future global issues. Their artwork will express the changing aspects of technology with implications for human and cultural identity.

Gallery hours

Entry to the University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery is free and the public is welcome. Gallery hours are 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday. The Gallery is closed Sundays and public holidays.