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Today's date is Friday, March 29, 2024
Events for the public
 August 2012
Monday 06
16:00 - PUBLIC LECTURE - Why Do We Get Osteoarthritis: Can We Fix Our Arthritic Cartilage? Website | More Information
A public lecture by Alan Grodzinsky, Director, Center for Biomedical Engineering, MIT.

It is widely accepted that Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the world, causing major health problems, pain and disability for adults young and old. Yet today, there are still no disease modifying Osteoarthritis drugs (“DMOADS”) that can halt or reverse the progression of disease, only drugs that may temporarily alleviate painful symptoms in knees, hips or other affected joints. Osteoarthritis is a disease of the whole joint, including cartilage, bone and other soft tissues.

In this lecture, Dr Grodzinsky, UWA Institute of Advanced Studies Visiting Professor-at-Large, will discuss current challenges to diagnosis, tissue degradation, and drug discovery for Osteoarthritis.
Tuesday 07
18:00 - PUBLIC LECTURE - Ending of Life and Medical Care: Legal Challenges Website | More Information
A public lecture by Associate Professor Meredith Blake, Law School, UWA.

With an ageing population and the medical technology available to prolong life, action and inaction connected with the ending of life in the clinical setting raises confronting issues for modern society. The issues engage the disciplines of religion, philosophy, ethics, medicine, and economics, as well as the law, and therefore represent a complex, multi-layered challenge for legal regulation. One of the problems which the law faces in this context is its struggle to deal with scientific and philosophical concepts from these other disciplines.

When is it in the best interests of a person to cease life-sustaining medical intervention? Should persons be able to request medical assistance in hastening death? In what circumstances can doctors decide not to resuscitate profoundly disabled young children? These are some of the questions which illustrate this challenge. The place which the sanctity of life occupies in society explains why these sorts of questions are troubling, especially when that principle is ‘in conflict’ with both objective and subjective assessments that a life is of unacceptably poor quality. Given the significance of these issues, it is especially important that the law responds coherently and transparently.

These are some of the difficult questions which will be addressed in this lecture.

Cost: Free, but seats are limited. RSVP to [email protected].
Wednesday 08
18:00 - PUBLIC LECTURE - SOLD OUT - Neoliberalism and the Denial of Global Warming Website | More Information
The 2012 Joseph Gentilli Lecture by Naomi Oreskes, Professor of History and Science Studies University of California & 2012 UWA Institute of Advanced Studies Professor-at-Large.

This event has reached capacity, no more registrations can be taken.
Thursday 09
13:10 - PERFORMANCE - Free Lunchtime Concert : The Winthrop Singers Website | More Information

16:45 - Internship - Internships : iVEC Research Internships 2012-2013 - Call for Project Proposals Website | More Information
Would you like to give an outstanding student an opportunity to use some of the most advanced computing facilities in WA? If so, please nominate a project for the iVEC research internship program. iVEC welcomes proposals for internship projects suited to a 10 week period over December 2012 to February 2013. Selected undergraduate students (3rd and 4th year and honours students) will receive up to $6,000 tax free over the 10 week internship.

Nominated projects must clearly demonstrate that the intern will be involved in exploring aspects of supercomputing, eResearch, large-scale storage, high-speed communications or scientific visualisation and must utilise iVEC Facilities.

Projects can come from any research field and should be submitted in early August.

Sponsored positions can be accommodated. In previous years, sponsored intern projects allowed iVEC to increase available places from eight to fourteen.

For more information and for application forms, see our website http://www.ivec.org/research_interns or email Valerie Maxville at [email protected] .

18:00 - PUBLIC LECTURE - How Cultural Continuity Reduces Suicide Risk in Indigenous Communities Website | More Information
A public lecture by Dr Michael J. Chandler, Emeritus Professor, The University of British Columbia, Canada.

There is overwhelming evidence that Australian Indigenous peoples’ mental health and social and emotional wellbeing is well behind that of other Australians and is a key contributor to the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The cumulative effect of inter-generational trauma and ‘malignant grief’, combined with social and economic disadvantage, has resulted in high rates of psychological distress, substance abuse and self-harm. Suicide rates among Indigenous Australians are a national tragedy. For example, in Western Australia between 2004-2008 Indigenous suicides were triple that of other West Australians.

Similarly, the rate of Aboriginal youth suicide in Canada is a serious problem. However, ongoing research by Professor Michael J. Chandler amongst Canada’s First Nations communities has found that youth suicide is not necessarily an “Aboriginal” problem per se, but may be a problem for only some communities. The communities that take steps to preserve their cultural past and control their civic lives tend to have fewer suicides. That is, a sense of identity and ‘cultural continuity’ can help Aboriginal people, and especially youth, to see that they have a future.

Professor Chandler’s 2012 Australian lecture tour is timely and important. It will not only inform the important ongoing academic research around cultural continuity and suicide prevention in Aboriginal communities, but also has the potential to influence public debate and government thinking in this critical policy area.

Professor Michael J. Chandler’s visit is generously sponsored by: *UWA’s School of Indigenous Studies; *Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation; *Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing; *WA Commissioner for Children & Young People; *WA Mental Health Commission: *Centre for Social Impact at the UWA Business School

18:00 - PERFORMANCE - Winthrop Singers Choral Evensong : Evensong at St George's College Chapel Website | More Information
This week's service will feature West Australian music - Jerusalem by choir conductor Dr Nicholas Bannan, Nunc Dimittis by UWA student Francis Cardell-Oliver, and music by Dom Stephen Moreno of New Norcia.

Introit: Bannan - Jerusalem Responses: Rose Moreno - Te Deum Cardell-Oliver Nunc Dimittis Anthem: Moreno - Agnus Dei
Friday 10
13:00 - SEMINAR - Ireland: Church, State and Society, 1800-1870 : Seminar Series More Information
"The Irish Catholic Community and the State in the 19th Century: Setting the Scene"

Professor Oliver Rafferty SJ, the 2012 St Thomas More College Chair of Jesuit Studies, will present the first in a series of six lectures on nineteenth century Irish history.

The Chair of Jesuit Studies is jointly recognised by the the University of Western Australia and the University of Notre Dame Australia, and aims to bring a leading academic from the worldwide Jesuit community to Perth each year.

Professor Rafferty is visiting from Heythrop College, University of London, where he specialises in Irish and Ecclesiastical history. He will present the remaining five seminars in the same locations, and at the same time, on Fridays 17th and 24th August, and Fridays 7th, 14th, and 21st September.

15:00 - EVENT - Working Memory Binding and Episodic memory Formation : “Working memory binding and episodic memory formation: Neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging Website | More Information

15:00 - PUBLIC TALK - The Futures of the Biologically Designable : Public talk with Orkan Telhan Website | More Information
Glowing plants, drug-delivering artificial cells, smell-changing bacteria, propelling mouse tissues… Today, new kinds of biological designs are increasingly gaining public awareness and shifting biological imagination towards new horizons. Next to scientists and engineers, do-it-yourself biologists are claiming crucial roles as the hackers, artists, designers, cultural theorists, and entrepreneurs of the biophilic era. As Synthetic Biology is becoming the go-to-discipline to those who are interested in the biochemical design space, engineering principles become the driving force behind designed biologies.

But what do we mean by “design” when we talk about biological design?

In this two-part talk, Orkan Telhan will trace the long history of biological design rather quickly through a series of designed and commercialized biological artifacts and offer a more discursive view on the evolution of the biologically designable beyond specific disciplinary agendas. Secondly, Telhan will reflect on the outcomes of his research residency at SymbioticA and briefly discuss his current project on “Biosynthesis and the Futures of Sandalwood.”

Current SymbioticA resident Orkan Telhan is an interdisciplinary artist, designer and researcher whose investigations focus on the design of interrogative objects, interfaces, and media, engaging with critical issues in social, cultural, and environmental responsibility. Telhan is Assistant Professor of Fine Arts - Emerging Design Practices at University of Pennsylvania, School of Design. Telhan is working towards his PhD in Design and Computation at MIT School of Architecture and Planning. He was part of the Sociable Media Group at the MIT Media Laboratory. He studied Media Arts at the State University of New York at Buffalo and theories of media and representation, visual studies and graphic design at Bilkent University, Ankara. Telhan's individual and collaborative work has been exhibited in a number of venues including Ars Electronica, ISEA, LABoral, Archilab, Architectural Association, Architectural League/ NYC, and the MIT Museum.
Saturday 11
19:00 - ALUMNI EVENT - 20 year Medical Reunion : The Class of 1992 will be celebrating their 20th Year Medical School Reunion More Information
The Class of 1992 will be celebrating their 20th Year Medical School Reunion at The University Club on Saturday the 11th of August 2012 from 7pm to 11pm. This affair will be a cocktail event with tickets costing $100 per person.
Sunday 12
10:00 - EVENT - 2012 Open Day : Experience what's on offer at UWA Website | More Information
UWA opens up the whole campus to the public.

Come and find out about the courses on offer, career options, scholarship opportunities, our valuable research, community programs and facilities.

There's also residential college tours, hands-on activities, live music and entertainment, and plenty of fun activities for the whole family.

11:00 - EVENT - SCINEMA Film Festival : Science films showing on Open Day in the Science Library Foyer More Information
As part of National Science Week, the Science Library is once again hosting the SCINEMA Film Festival

Two collections of short films on selected topics will be screened in the Science Library Foyer during Open Day, and they are as follows:

11:00am - 12:45pm - ‘A Climate for change’

12:50pm - 3:00pm - ‘Space & Astronomy’

Entry to enjoy these two collections of films is free, so come along and enjoy!
Monday 13
13:00 - VISITING SPEAKER - A life course approach to understanding ethnic differences in health - insights from the DASH study : Raine Visiting Professor Seeromanie Harding More Information
The overall aim of Professor Harding research programme is to focus on how the timing and duration of social exposures are related to ethnic differences in health and health related behaviours over the life course. Professor Harding established the first large scale cohort study of ethnic minority children in the UK, designed to examine the contribution of social, biological and economic influences on health. The Determinants in Adolescent Social well-being and Health (DASH) study has created a unique longitudinal social-epidemiological resource that can be used to examine ethnic specific effects, particularly in relation to the effects of deprivation and family life on cardiovascular, mental and respiratory health. About 6,000 children aged 11-13y took part in the baseline survey in 2002/3, 80% of whom are ethnic minorities.
Tuesday 14
13:00 - PUBLIC TALK - Blue Stockings in the Cultural Precinct : Panel Discussion More Information
For Blue Stockings Week this year (13-17 August), the Berndt Museum is presenting a panel discussion on the important role of women within the UWA Cultural Precinct. Blue Stockings Week is a commemoration of the Blue Stockings Society, an 18th century club for 'clever ladies and their gentlemen friends'. The club encouraged women to discuss intellectual topics over a cup of tea, thereby bucking the trend of succumbing to the frivolous topics and endeavours expected of women during that time. The name emerged from the habit of dressing down during the club's meetings, whereby the women wore blue woolen legwear, as opposed to the silk stockings traditional to evening meetings.

The panel will consist of Emeritus Professor Margaret Seares AO, Professor Sandy Toussaint and Curator Lee Kinsella.

18:30 - EVENT - The Shakespeare Songbook Website | More Information
A public lecture and performance by Julianne Baird, Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University and Internationally Acclaimed Early Music Scholar-Performer.

What can we learn from Shakespeare’s use of music and from musical references in his plays? In this lecture-performance, renowned soprano Julianne Baird will discuss and perform music from Elizabethan and Jacobean times conceived for performance in the plays of the great Bard. William Shakespeare alludes to or includes the texts of well over 160 songs in his plays.

Music in Shakespeare’s time ran the gamut of lute songs by the famous contrapuntalist, John Dowland, madrigals and fa la’s (ballets) by Morely and, of course, the great polyphonies and verse anthems by William Byrd. But extant Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre music is much more simple and vivid, often almost ballad-like in style and the playwright seems to have had a genuine fondness for honest English popular and traditional songs. The poignancy of having Desdemona sing the Willow Song in her fatal hour shows his full commitment to music’s emotional power.

The audience of Shakespeare’s time would have expected each drama to have included at least one song per play, (with the exception of tragedies which usually contained only the heraldic and militaristic sounds of trumpets and drums.)

Not only are the musical references far more numerous, but Shakespeare defied this orthodoxy and wrote poetry for the tragedies which movingly uses musical reference as dramatic device.

Among the Elizabethan pieces performed at the lecture-recital will be “The Willow Song”, “Farewell Dear Heart” “O Mistriss Mine”, and “Ah Robyn, Gentil Robyn.” A number of pieces written for the Jacobean revivals of Shakespeare’s plays composers John Wilson and Robert Johnson will also be discussed and performed.

Cost: free, however RSVP is essential to [email protected] or 6488 1340.

19:00 - PUBLIC LECTURE - Friends of the Library Speaker : Almost a French Australia More Information
French-British Rivalry in the Southern Oceans

Australia was very nearly a nation divided, like Canada, with two languages and cultures, nevertheless Australian history books neglected these early chapters of our nation’s history for almost two centuries.

In a strategic battle with her rival across the English Channel in the 18th and early 19th centuries, France sent numerous scientific and commercial expeditions to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, attempting to solve the mysteries of the legendary Terra Australis Incognita, and hoping to locate suitable ports for commercial ventures below the Equator. However, because of shipwreck or illness, many French captains and officers perished, and could not report their exciting discoveries directly to their King or Emperor. With the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789 and its subsequent mayhem meant that France was not politically or financially stable enough to develop colonies in the southern oceans until the mid 19th century.

Therefore France, despite having claimed the western side of this country, and making many thousands of important scientific discoveries in this region, eventually withdrew from Australia, allowing the British carte blanche to develop this nation and effectively block the French from both Australia and New Zealand.

Noelene Bloomfield, BA (Hons), MA, CertT, Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques, who is currently a Research Fellow in European Languages and Studies at The University of Western Australia, taught French in NSW before lecturing at the University of Oregon in the USA in the 1960s. She then joined the staff of French Studies at The University of Western Australia, from 1968 till 2002.

Noelene has published a textbook entitled Voyage de Découverte and produced a DVD and a CD-ROM on the extensive French exploration in Australian waters. She also created an exhibition entitled A French Australia? Almost!, which was displayed in Australia and overseas, including a French version currently touring in France. Last year Noelene co-authored a book on the first 100 years of the Alliance Française association in Perth, Western Australia. Her forthcoming book, entitled Almost a French Australia: French-British Rivalry in the Southern Oceans, will be released by Halstead Press in September this year.

Free parking is available via Entrance 1, Car Park No.3.

If glass door is unmanned, please enter via spiral staircase to 1st floor, then go down the stairs to the ground floor meeting room.

Refreshments 7:00pm, Presentation at 7:30pm

Member: Free, Non Members $5 donation
Wednesday 15
12:00 - SEMINAR - Accomplished Education Researcher Seminar Series : Reflecting on how education researchers are tackling some of Australia's pressing issues Website | More Information
The Graduate School of Education invites you to participate in this inaugural Seminar Series.

With a focus on sharing personal insights into timely and relevant topics in education research, these seminars will engage participants in a lively discussion of some of the pressing issues affecting Australia’s academics, schools and society today.

Speakers and topics for 2012

15 August

Winthrop Professor Grady Venville

“Choosing science comes more from the heart than from the brain (or the pocket)”: A retrospective study of why scientists chose to study science.”

26 September

Winthrop Professor Stephen Houghton

“Are the seeds of antisociality and psychopathic traits sown early in life?”

10 October

Winthrop Professor and Chapple Chair David Andrich

“Sliding Doors in Academe: Idiosyncrasies of autobiography and controversy in psychometrics”

31 October

Winthrop Professor and Faculty Dean Helen Wildy

“NAPLAN Data: Improving student learning OR doing the work of the Devil?”

14 November

Winthrop Professor Thomas O’Donoghue

The primary school’s invasion of the privacy of the child: Unmasking the potential of some current practices

Venue Details

RSVP to Ms. Alyce Green, Administrative Assistant, GSE [email protected]

Abstracts and additional details will be distributed closer to the event date.

16:00 - SEMINAR - CWR Presents : REGULATON OF THE WATER, GAS AND ELECTRICITY INDUSTRIES IN W.A Website | More Information
Regulation of the utility industries is relatively new in Western Australia. The Economic Regulation Authority was established to licence, monitor and set customer protection standards across the utility industries, particularly water, gas and electricity. In addition, the Authority determines arrangements for access to key gas, electricity and rail assets in Western Australia. The presentation will cover the work of the Authority with particular emphasis on the licensing, monitoring and customer protection functions of the Authority, how they operate and opportunities for the private sector in these industries.

There will be a particular focus on the Water Sector.

Bio,

Paul has had 25 years experience at Senior and Senior Executive levels in the Public Sector with extensive experience in :

* the development of high level government policy;

* the negotiation of State/Commonwealth Agreements;

* advice to senior levels of government;

* public administration and regulation.

He was responsible for major State wide reforms in purchasing and contracting of services for Government in the human services industry involving over 600 contracts totalling $42m.

He was previously Executive Director of the Office of Water Regulation in Western Australia, responsible for the establishment of a state wide licensing regime for Water Service Providers and reported to Government on the operations and performance of the water industry. Paul is currently Executive Director of the Economic Regulation Authority.

The Authority was established in 2004 as an independent entity to regulate the Water, Gas, Electricity and Rail industries in Western Australia. Its functions include licensing, monitoring and setting customer protection standards of utility service providers as well as determining access arrangements to infrastructure in the electricity, gas and rail industries. In addition to these roles the Authority can be requested to provide independent advice to Government.

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

****All Welcome****

18:00 - PUBLIC LECTURE - The Frontiers of Ethics Website | More Information
A public lecture by Dale Jamieson, Director of Environmental Studies, New York University.

Climate change presents us with problems of utmost complexity. In particular, climate change poses the largest-scale and most difficult collective action problem that humanity has ever faced. Considerations ranging from our biological nature to facts about our political institutions all bear on the explanation of why we have failed to act.In the face of such problems, two broad families of considerations are sometimes effective in motivating action. Economics can sometimes succeed in showing that particular solutions appeal to our interests. Ethics can sometimes show that particular responses accord with our moral ideals. Economics is severely limited in demonstrating that aggressive responses to climate change are in our interests because it is permeated with ethical considerations. Our hope for motivating action on climate change must therefore to a great extent turn on ethical concerns.

In this lecture Dr Jamieson will explain why this hope largely has been disappointed. Just as the problems of climate change overwhelm our cognitive and affective systems, and our ability to do reliable economic calculations, so they also swamp the machinery of morality, at least as it currently manifests in our moral consciousness.

The choice we face is whether to remain complacent in the face climate change, or undertake the challenge of revising our morality.

Cost: Free, RSVP your attendance to [email protected] .

This lecture is a part of the Institute of Advanced Studies 2012 lecture series ‘Global Transformation and Public Ethics’. This series of free public lectures aims to stimulate considered debate about urgent issues in public ethics and policy as well as reflecting on ways we can improve public discourse about such issues.

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