What's On at UWA

Asymptomatic infection has long been an omnipresent feature of a diversity of diseases in animals (including humans) and plants. This phenomenon has received relatively little attention amidst the contemporary cacophony focused on disease elimination and even eradication.

Malaria transmission between asymptomatic carriers poses a particularly vexing problem, and raises serious questions about the tractability of elimination targets. In the context of plant pathology, Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, a vector-transmitted bacterial infection of citrus trees has wreaked havoc on citrus crops in Asia and Latin America and is currently a major problem for the Florida and California citrus industries.

One of the most under-studied aspects of HLB is disease transmission during the several years from initiation of infection in a grove until symptoms actually become manifest. We discuss case examples of malaria transmission in the Brazilian Amazon region and asymptomatic HLB in Florida, introducing recent experimental results integrated with spatially explicit mathematical modeling to provide deeper understanding of the phenomenon of asymptomatic carriers and the mitigation strategies that they suggest.

We briefly indicate lessons from malaria and HLB that carry over to a broad range of infectious diseases in animals and plants. A vast array of open research problems is also part and parcel of our topic.

Brief Biography,

Burton Singer is Adjunct Professor in the Emerging Pathogens Institute and Department of Mathematics at University of Florida. From 1994 - July, 2009, he was Professor of Demography and Public Affairs in the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University. He was formerly chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health and professor of economics and statistics at Yale University (1984 – 1993), and Professor of Statistics at Columbia University (1967 – 1984).

He has served as chair of the National Research Council Committee on National Statistics and as chair of the Steering Committee for Social and Economic Research in the World Health Organization Tropical Disease Research (TDR) program. He is currently on the Research Board of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, focused on both short- and long-term consequences of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

He has centered his research in three principal areas: identification of social, biological, and environmental risks associated with vector-borne diseases in the tropics; integration of psychosocial and biological evidence to characterize pathways to alternative states of health; and health impact assessments associated with economic development projects.

His research program has included studies of: the impact of migration and urbanization on malaria transmission in the western Amazon region of Brazil and in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; the biological correlates of well-being. and health consequences of gene- environment interactions focused on the social environment; and health impacts over time of large-scale development projects in the tropics, with particular emphasis on forcibly resettled communities.

He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (1994), the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (2005) and was a Guggenheim fellow in 1981-1982. Ph.D. He received his PhD in Statistics from Stanford University in 1967.

Apologies for the short notice change.

PS* This seminar is free and open to the public & no RSVP required.

****All Welcome****

Public Work Shop

The Gala Launch will feature the artists and music to be performed throughout the first semester of the 2014 Concert Series at St George's College. Musicians to feature are Professor Graeme Gilling, Raymond Yong, Dr Semyon Kobets, Alexandra Isted and Isabel Hede to name a few. Music to be performed will be Prokofiev - Violin Sonata, Grebla - Piano Trio, Arensky - Piano Trio and Schubert - Fantasie 4 Hands.

Refreshments will follow in the College's Quadrangle.

Apologies for cross posting, please circulate to interested groups.

Dental Research Seminar

A researcher transition from social science to dental statistics.. (including prostitution, Fitzgerald and QLD bikers) KJ Sutherland Lecture Theatre, Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, 17 Monash Avenue. Tuesday 8th April, 415 for 430pm start followed by refreshments

A professional life-course of a dental public health researcher. How does a political scientist specialising in The political economy of prostitution in Thailand end up with a career in population oral health. Strange life segue or consistent application of a range of public health research methodologies (or both). http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/kelly.jones

Supported by International Association for Dental Research (ANZ) WA Section

Please rsvp to Padma [email protected] or 9346 7660 by Friday 4th April

A public lecture by Denis Weaire, Emeritus Professor, School of Physics, Trinity College, Dublin and 2014 UWA Gledden Visiting Fellow.

The study of liquid foams has a long and fascinating history, involving for example the blind Belgian physicist JAF Plateau and the inspiring figure of Lord Kelvin in the 19th century. It remains a lively and wide research topic, and has spilled over into art and architecture, as well as many applications in industry. Professor Weaire will present a personal overview of the subject, ranging from basic mathematical questions to tomographic analysis of foam structures, which should interest a wide range of scientists and engineers, and be accessible to a wider audience as well.

About the talk

Dr Drewfus Gates will talk about his personal journey through the Sciences, Arts, Philosophies, and Spiritualities in the quest for truth.

About the Speaker

Drewfus Gates was born in North Wales in 1951 and migrated to Western Australia in 1958.

Although raised in a fundamentalist Christian family he has branched out developing his own spirituality and now embraces the Bahai faith particularly its acceptance of others regardless of their own religious affiliations.

Dr Gates was an exceptional student winning the first prize in the State Maths Talent Quest for both years 11 and 12 before studying at the University of Western Australia and receiving a PhD in Physics.

In addition to his scientific achievements Dr Gates has had a long career as an artist with his wife of 32 years, Chelinay. Their first exhibition was in 1983 and has been their primary source of income ever since.

In 2001 Dr Gates suffered a disastrous fire accident whilst working in the remote Aboriginal community of the Patjarr in the Gibson Desert.

Despite this tragedy, he has persevered and continues to flourish creatively as a writer, an artist, a scientist and art teacher. Fully appreciating all the beauty and joy the world has to offer and sharing this and his peaceful philosophies with all around him.

Banksia woodland coves half the recharge area to the Gnangara Mound, Perth’s most important water resource. To help understand the water balance and carbon balance of this native woodland we have installed an eddy covariance system measuring the atmospheric turbulence and scalar fluxes above the vegetation.

It is coupled to soil moisture monitoring and a piezometer network to enable closing the water balance. The site, 70 km north of Perth, has been selected as representative of the recharge area and its ecological value. These measurements enable a better calculation of recharge to the groundwater under this ecosystem than previously available, and will monitor how the vegetation is responding to changes in climate and other influences.

We now have nearly two years of measurement that enable estimation of recharge and the dynamics of carbon assimilation in the woodland. This work comes from a site in the OzFlux network of atmospheric flux stations around Australia, and is supported by the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) of the Australian Government, and CSIRO under its Climate and Atmosphere Theme.

Biography,

Dr Richard Silberstein is a catchment hydrologist investigating interactions between vegetation and surface and groundwater, particularly in the context of a drying climate. He is the Groundwater-Vegetation interactions Team Leader in CSIRO Land and Water.

His research interests include modelling vegetation response to climate, soil, water and salt conditions, field and modelling studies of catchment forest dynamics and water yield, recharge under changing land use and climate, and ecosystem function and landscape water balance through multiple techniques, including atmospheric fluxes, soil and vegetation monitoring and remote sensing.

Dr Silberstein currently leads the surface water modelling in the Pilbara Water Resources Assessment of CSIRO’s Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship. He previously led a similar component of the South-west Western Australia Sustainable Yields Project and a Water Foundation Project 'Vegetation dynamics and water yield under changing climate and management' which studied the interactions between catchment vegetation growth and stream flow in the context of changing climate and historical forestry.

PS* This seminar is free and open to the public & no RSVP required.

****All Welcome****

Masterclass - Mark Coughlan

The HSK is China’s officially recognised language proficiency exam. All HSK results are internationally recognised as proof of Chinese language proficiency. 2014 HSK testing will be held on Saturday 12th April 2014 at UWA Claremont Campus.

Since 1972, Adelaide’s Patch Theatre Company have delighted over 1½ million children with their award-winning and charming productions.

Six whimsical stories by award-winning children’s writer, Pamela Allen, emerge from dozens of suitcases and crates as three curious warehouse workers transform a storeroom into an enchanting miracle of music and play for 3 to 9 year-olds.

“It is rare to see a show that leaves an avid theatre-goer wanting more. Mr. McGee does.” Minneapolis Star Tribune

National Helpmann Award for Best Children’s Presentation 2008.

SCHOOL BOOKINGS: Call the Enquiry Line 08 6488 2440 (noon-4pm, weekdays) or email [email protected] to get significant ticket savings for children and free teacher tickets for every 10 children.

In recent years there has been an international boom of contemporary arts by Muslims living in and outside the West. This global eruption of creative expression defies traditional boundaries by melding histories, lived experiences and artistic practices in an effort to express multiple Muslim identities.

Creative Expressions of Muslim Identity through Contemporary art is a unique symposium bringing together world-renowned French-Tunisian graffiti artist eL Seed and Sydney based graphic designer Peter Gould alongside an array of emerging Perth artists including Tusif Ahmad, Suzi Elhafez and Abdul Abdullah.

The Symposium will focus on two themes; Classical interplays of Islamic art and Creative expressions of Muslim experiences to answer the following questions:

• What is the importance of arts and creativity in Islamic traditions? • What are current understandings of arts and creative expression in Muslim communities locally and internationally? • What opportunities and challenges exist between ‘traditional’ or ‘classical’ Islamic art and contemporary art by Muslims? And; • How do Muslim artists interpret their experiences of being Muslim into multiple contemporary art forms?

We expect the symposium to be open and constructive with the aim of listening and viewing the work of the artists and panelists.

Guests are also welcome to join the artists and other guests for a post-symposium dinner at 6pm.

Symposium Cost: $30 Student/Concession $35 Full/Standard

Post-Symposium Dinner Cost: $15 Student/Concession $20 Full/Standard

Since 1972, Adelaide’s Patch Theatre Company have delighted over 1½ million children with their award-winning and charming productions.

Six whimsical stories by award-winning children’s writer, Pamela Allen, emerge from dozens of suitcases and crates as three curious warehouse workers transform a storeroom into an enchanting miracle of music and play for 3 to 9 year-olds.

“It is rare to see a show that leaves an avid theatre-goer wanting more. Mr. McGee does.” Minneapolis Star Tribune

National Helpmann Award for Best Children’s Presentation 2008.

SCHOOL BOOKINGS: Call the Enquiry Line 08 6488 2440 (noon-4pm, weekdays) or email [email protected] to get significant ticket savings for children and free teacher tickets for every 10 children.

A lecture by Julie McKay, Executive Director, Australian National Committee for UN Women.

Despite significant increases in public debate about gender equality and the empowerment of women, progress towards equality for women is slow, and risks stalling. While measures of women’s workforce participation and women’s educational attainment are used to demonstrate equality, there is very limited public debate on what success would look like with regards to equal opportunities for men and women.

This lecture will outline a vision for equality, focusing on key levers for accelerating progress towards gender equality and discuss the actions required of the international community and the Australian community in 2014.

Cost: free, but RSVP required via http://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/lectures/2014-gvl

Mature-age entry provides flexibility for entering UWA, even if you don't have any previous academic results.

If you are aged 20 or over on 1 March of the year of intended entry, you qualify for our mature-age entry pathways.

Find out which entry pathway is most appropriate for the course you want to apply for, based on your study history.

You can also learn what to expect from student life and the student support services available to you.

Please note: this session is aimed at prospective mature-age students seeking admission to our undergraduate courses. If you are looking at applying for postgraduate study, refer to our Postgraduate Events page (www.studyat.uwa.edu.au/about/events/postgraduate-research)

Admissions Centre and Prospective Students Office staff will be available to answer questions following the presentation.

People make goal directed movements to interact with their environment. We examined how attention is deployed during goal directed movements and how shifts in attention impact these movements. In the first study, we used a dual task paradigm to investigate how attention can be divided between a search task and a pointing task. Results suggest that shared attentional resources between two tasks degrades performance on both tasks. Movement latency, but not movement time, was also affected by dual task conditions. In a second study, we mapped the spatiotemporal profile of attention relative to a reach. Results showed a consistent pattern of facilitation in the planning stages of the reach, with attention increasing and then reaching a plateau during the completion of the movement before dropping off. Altogether, the results suggest that attention can be deployed dynamically during a goal directed movement and affect the outcome of the movement.

Anna was awarded a BA (Hons) from the University of Sydney and a PhD from Macquarie University. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow at UWA with Prof John Ross and Prof David Badcock. Following this Anna won a Rachel C Atkinson Fellowship to work with Dr Suzanne McKee at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute in San Francisco. She returned to Australia to take up a lectureship at the University of Adelaide and is currently an Assoc Prof in the School of Psychology

Krista Low (MMus Candidate): Cello Performance Practice and the Decline of Romanticism in the Early Twentieth Century

Assistant Professor Ashley Smith: Practising Ferneyhough

Registration is now open for UWA Confucius Institute Intake 2 Chinese Culture and Language Classes! Chinese language classes include adult and children's classes, from beginners to advanced, to suit different study needs. Chinese culture classes include Chinese Medicine and Well-being; Chinese Kong Fu; Chinese Business Culture; Chinese Arts Appreciation; Chinese Language Teacher Training; Chinese Literacy for background/heritage students. To enrol, please email: [email protected] or call us on 6488 6888

Helen Stain is currently Senior Clinical Lecturer at Durham University where the focus of her post is on the research of psychological interventions for youth mental health and includes a clinical role with the NHS Foundation Trust. Prior to this appointment in 2012, Helen was in private practice in Perth, Western Australia, and accepted an academic research appointment with the University of Newcastle based in Orange in rural New South Wales in 2004. As Associate Professor in Psychiatry, Helen was responsible for the rural mental health research program for the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, a joint initiative of the University of Newcastle and the NSW Ministry of Health.

Abstract

We currently know that childhood trauma and subclinical psychotic symptoms are pluripotent risk factors for developing major and severe mental illness. For example, the odds ratios following trauma are 4.4 for PTSD, 2.8 for drug abuse, 2.7 for depression, 2.4 for panic disorder, 1.9 for alcohol abuse, 1.9 for simple or social phobia, and 1.8 for generalised anxiety disorder (Teicher & Samson, 2013) with researchers reporting the average odds ratio for a psychotic disorder of 2.9 in a population cohort (Bebbington et al, 2004) and 2.8 in a meta-analysis of approximately 80,000 subjects (Varese et al, 2012). The development of psychopathology for those who have experienced childhood trauma occurs at a younger age, with more severe symptoms, more comorbid disorders, greater suicide risk and a reduced treatment response (Teicher & Samson, 2013).

Trauma or maltreatment occurring in childhood coincides with the period for a child’s development of relational understanding such as attachment to others, and the reflective awareness of self and others (Holmes, 2002). In addition, childhood trauma itself often involves attachment disruption and interpersonal violence in the context of primary relationships. It can therefore disrupt the acquisition of interpersonal relatedness skills, including the desire for affiliation, and lead to difficulty with social functioning in adulthood. This paper will discuss the impact of childhood trauma on mental health and social wellbeing.

With a compelling case, Dr Hugh Ross will challenge the commonly held misconception "everyone knows the Bible teaches scientific nonsense". The study of nature or science will be shown to complement and build confidence in the integrity of the Bible, without having to compromise eithe scientific or biblical integrity. Science shows an expanding universe with a finite beginning that is breathtakingly large and with an incredible fine tuning that has enabled life to floursih on earth. He is not a young earth creationist. Hugh will present from his field of astronomy and other areas of science and theology including material from his books. The Chaplains International Lectures are an occasional series of international level lecturers who are integrating faith and global questions.

Described by The Australian as a 'musical ambassador', Anna Goldsworthy is an award-winning pianist who has performed extensively throughout Australia and internationally, with highlights including solo appearances at the Teatro Colon for the Buenos Aires International Music Festival for the Orchestra of Colours in Athens, and at the Melbourne International Arts Festival.