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School of Molecular Sciences
 September 2011
Tuesday 06
13:00 - SEMINAR - Soil&Water Seminar, 1pm Sept6: : "Towards a philosophy of soil science" More Information
The Soil&Water Seminar at 1pm on Tues, Sept. 6th will be given by Professor Martin Fey from the School of Earth and Environment. All welcome!

TITLE: “Towards a philosophy of soil science”

ABSTRACT: Besides the philosophy of science there is a philosophy of particular sciences. This paper addresses each of the classical branches of philosophy (metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, politics and aesthetics) from a soil science perspective. By comparing soil with rock, regolith, biomantle and duricrust we understand it from different perspectives. The roots of soil science lie in the study of soil for its own sake. Logically the main branches of soil science should be physics, chemistry (including mineralogy) and genesis, with each having applied divisions as appropriate: edaphology (agriculture, forestry, ecology); informatics (classification, spatiation, databases); environmental management (conservation, pollution, restoration) and engineering (construction, tillage, mining, traffic and water). Some hybrid subjects such as soil biology belong less in soil science than in the partner discipline. Certain fashionable terms used in soil science have pitfalls. Notable examples (with respective pitfalls) are soil health (condition and quality are sufficient terms); ecosystem services (property, process and function are adequate terms); intrinsic value (no such thing - value is relational by definition); holism and complexity theory (cognitive significance is lacking); sustainability (green politics buzzword); and organic production (a term widely abused). Cognitive significance is crucial. Research funding and public policy interact. Researchers often have a vested interest in accepting and promoting ideas. This applies to recipients of both government and big business funding. Some of the best discoveries result from amateur interest. Professional registration is claimed to ensure ethical practice but could be seen as unethical by those whom it excludes and those who feel they pay excessively for the service. Certification should be voluntary and non-registered practitioners free to establish and benefit from their own reputations. Soil and land can be viewed from an individualist (voluntary) or collectivist (coercive) perspective. Should soil pollution and erosion be tackled by legislation or jurisprudence? Soil profiles are beautiful. The colour and tilth of a ploughed field can be fine things to behold. Restoration after mining entails aesthetic landscaping. Some creative art is soil based. Soil themes in literature can be inspiring. The philosophy of soil science affects the self esteem of practitioners and makes soil science more durable as a discipline.
Wednesday 14
11:00 - VISITING SPEAKER - Maturase proteins in higher-plants mitochondria group-II introns splicing : Expression of mtDNA in plants is complex, particularly at post-transcriptional level More Information
The expression of the mtDNA in plants is complex, particularly at the post-transcriptional level; RNA processing events which contribute to organellar genome expression include hundreds of RNA-editing events and the splicing of numerous group-II-type introns which lie within many protein-coding genes required in both respiration and organellar genome expression mediated functions. The splicing of the mt group-II introns is therefore essential for organellar function and is dependent upon different proteincous cofactors. While in non-plant systems, the splicing of group-II introns is mediated by proteins encoded within the introns themselves which are known as Maturases, only a single Maturase ORF (matR, encoded within the forth intron in nad1 gene) was retained in the mtDNA in plants; yet, its putative role(s) in the splicing of nad1 or additional organellar introns are yet to be established. Clues to other proteins are scarce, but these are likely to be encoded within the nucleus as beside MatR there are no obvious candidates among the remaining ORFs within the mtDNA. Intriguingly, in addition to matR, higher plants nuclear genomes also harbor four Maturase-related genes (nMat 1 to 4), which exist in the nucleus as self-standing ORFs out of the context of their “evolutionary related group-II introns hosts". These are all predicted to reside within the mitochondria and are therefore expected to function in the splicing of organellar introns. GFP-localization analyses indicated that the four nuc-Mats are localized to mitochondria in Arabidopsis. Analyses of the phenotypes associated with various Arabidopsis 'knock-out' mutants established the roles of the four nMats in the splicing of a different subset of mitochondrial introns.

18:00 - FREE LECTURE - Masdar, World's First Carbon Neutral City? : Free lecture by Sasha Ivanovich More Information
Sasha Ivanovich has travelled to the UAE to study the amazing city of Masdar, hailed to be the world's first carbon neutral city. The lecture will be followed by drinks.
Friday 16
13:00 - SEMINAR - DVCR Lunchtime Seminar Series : Socialising your Research More Information
Dear Colleagues, You are all invited to the next in the series of the DVCR Prof Robyn Owens’ Lunchtime Seminars.

Title: Socialising your Research - publishing a paper is just the start…

Guest Speakers: Prof Stephan Lewandowsky – Professorial Fellow, School of Psychology An expert in human memory and learning; Steve is a regular contributor to “The Conversation”.

Prof T. Campbell McCuaig– Director, Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) An expert in mineral deposit genesis and exploration; Cam interacts constantly with end-users, discipline experts and other stakeholders.

Venue: Murdoch Lecture Theatre, Ground Floor, Arts Building

Date and Time: Friday 16th September 1-2pm. See: http://www.uwa.edu.au/campus-map?id=2185

RSVP is NOT required.

Note: open the attachment to enter into your diaries.

Regards,

Vincent Wallace

Vincent P. Wallace, Ph.D. Research Development Advisor (FLPS) Research Services, M459 The University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway, CRAWLEY, WA, 6009

Office: +61 8 6488 3056 Fax: +61 8 6488 1075
Monday 19
12:00 - EVENT - Lung Institute of WA Medical Research Seminar : The molecular pathology of the innate immune system in treated HIV infection. Website | More Information
Prof French is a physician/scientist who holds the positions of Winthrop Professor of Clinical Immunology in the School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UWA and Consultant Clinical Immunologist at Royal Perth Hospital and PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Perth.
Wednesday 21
16:00 - SEMINAR - CWR Presents: : Keeping trees healthy in the Perth urban forest Website | More Information
Recent decades have seen a rapid increase in urban development throughout Perth. Such expansion has resulted in the unfortunate removal of large amounts of endemic vegetation.

The vegetation that is retained is often already predisposed to premature decline, and is further impacted upon by many inciting and contributing factors often leading to further decline and subsequent death. The managers of these trees allocate large budgets to their ongoing maintenance, removal and replacement, often driven by the fear of limb failure and risk to life and property.

This talk will discuss the various factors that cause premature decline of trees in the Perth urban area, the importance of correct diagnosis, and alternative methods for sustainable management of the tree population.
Tuesday 27
13:00 - SEMINAR - Towards the cyborg; integration of robotics and the nervous system in engineering and the arts. : School of Anatomy & Human Biology Seminar Series More Information
The Seminar: Since Galvani “galvanised” his frogs in the eighteenth century there have been attempts to link living tissue with electronics. However it has been the rapid reduction in size accompanied by increases in sophistication of electronics in the twenty first century that has opened up extraordinary possibilities for linking circuitry (hardware) with biological tissue (wetware). In this seminar I will describe the various attempts to integrate microcircuits with living cells, tissues and organisms, including humans. I want to draw attention to the different motivations of those working in basic, applied and artistic research and how each has exploited the advances in technology to produce startling and futuristic objects linking the living and inanimate. I will discuss the practical and ethical dilemmas such hybrids engender and what may be possible in the all too near future.

The Speaker: Stuart Bunt is Professorial Fellow in Teaching and Learning in the School of Anatomy and Human Biology. A zoologist/neurobiologist by training, Stuart has been involved with computer aided learning and new media art since the early eighties. In 2000 he teamed up with Miranda Grounds and Oron Catts to found SymbioticA, a research laboratory for artistic research, predominantly in the life sciences. One of the first collaborative projects of the SymbioticA Research Group, based on Stuart’s research, was a drawing robot powered by a fish brain. Stuart was scientific director of SymbioticA from its inception to 2007 when SymbioticA won the inaugural Golden Nica for hybrid arts at Ars ElectronicA. SymbioticA, with Oron Catts as director, is now a State Centre of Excellence and continues to attract residents from around the world.
Wednesday 28
16:00 - SEMINAR - CWR Presents: : “Losing Our Endemic Sense of Place: Solastalgia in South West Western Australia.” Website | More Information
  We are living in a period of ecocultural disintegration. The complexity and diversity of culture and ecology (ecocultural diversity) is being removed and/or homogenised by powerful forces all tied to modernity, global development and now, climate change. In some respects we are now all in the position of Indigenous peoples who have a lived experience of the desolation of their endemic sense of place and culture. But now, as global ecosystems and the climate change, the whole earth as ‘home’ becomes alien to us.

Despite the scale and power of these transformations to our home at all scales, we generally lack the concepts to understand the negative and positive dimensions of our situation. This presentation will examine what I call  ‘psychoterratic states’ with particular emphasis on the concept of solastalgia, developed by me to explain the lived experience of negative environmental change to a loved home environment. In this case, the loved home environment is Perth and its location within South West, Western Australia.

I will conclude with some thoughts about positive concepts that oppose solastalgia that might bring about genuine sustainability and human happiness ... even in Perth.

Bio,

Glenn Albrecht undertakes internationally relevant transdisciplinary research in the domain of sustainability and ecosystem health and has also produced research papers/publications in environmental history, transdisciplinarity, sustainability, environmental politics, environmental and animal ethics.

Glenn is on the editorial board of the international journal Ecohealth and is a member of the International Association for Health and Ecology. He has been the J.W. McConnell Visiting Professor in Ecosystem Health at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario in 2003, 2005 and 2007 where he has conducted research and teaching.

**** All Welcome ****


 October 2011
Tuesday 04
13:00 - SEMINAR - Reproduction by donor conception: different perspectives on the donor conception process. : School of Anatomy & Human Biology Seminar Series Website | More Information
The Seminar: Approximately 10% of fertility treatment cycles in Australia use gametes (sperm or eggs) donated from a third party. In the past donors were usually anonymous, little personal or health information about them was stored and children born were seldom told the manner of their conception. More recently there has been a shift in societal attitude away from secrecy towards openness. This seminar discusses the changes in policy and practices of donor conception in Australia over the last decade, the accompanying changes in the profile of donors and recipients, and the different value those stakeholders in the donor conception process place on information about the donor.

The Speaker: Kathy Sanders has a BSc (Hons) and PhD from The University of Western Australia (UWA). She was appointed lecturer in the School of Anatomy & Human Biology at UWA in 2002 and teaches human biology and reproductive biology to undergraduate science and medical students. Dr Sanders’ research brings together theory and practice from psychology, endocrinology and evolutionary ecology to examine lifestyle and psychosocial factors influencing human reproduction. Her research centers around three main areas: the impact and interaction of stress (psychosocial and energetic) on reproductive processes; the stress buffering effects of supportive social relationships on psychological and reproductive health outcomes; and issues surrounding the use of donated gametes and embryos in assisted reproductive technology. Dr Sanders is a deputy member of the Reproductive Technology Council of Western Australia and a member of its Scientific Advisory Committee.
Wednesday 05
12:00 - STUDENT EVENT - Honours and BMedSci in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine : What's the next step in my career More Information
Come along and hear about the exciting opportunities for further study in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Supervisors will be presenting outlines of the Honours and BMedSci topics for 2012. A pizza lunch is provided at 12.45pm in the Foyer so you will be able to discuss projects directly with potential supervisors.

16:00 - EXPO - UWA Postgraduate & Honours Expo 2011 Website | More Information
The Postgraduate and Honours Expo showcases a host of opportunities for further study, including honours and postgraduate coursework and research possibilities.

Discover the courses each faculty has to offer, learn about postgraduate scholarships, attend information sessions and talk to staff, honours and postgraduate students.

For more information about the Expo along with details on the presentations being held throughout the evening please go uwa.edu.au/postgradexpo
Thursday 06
16:00 - SEMINAR - CMCA - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at UWA � The Bayliss NMR Facility Website | More Information
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy provides insight into molecular structure, interactions and dynamics. It has applications in a wide range of disciplines including chemistry, soil science, botany, biochemistry, exercise physiology, pharmacy, marine archaeology, microbiology, engineering and medicine. Whilst most of our work relates to the study of organic and organo-metallic compounds in solution, we have undertaken a diverse range of research projects such as investigating the 31P chemistry of growing plants and studying the level of degradation of timbers from ancient shipwrecks. The talk aims to introduce NMR spectroscopy to those who may be unfamiliar with the technique and illustrate its capabilities with examples of work undertaken in the NMR facility.
Tuesday 18
13:00 - CANCELLED - EVENT - Breastmilk cells: from infant immunity to development : School of Anatomy & Human Biology Seminar Series More Information
Unfortunately this event has been cancelled.



-----------------

The Seminar: Human breastmilk is the gold standard for the nutrition of the human infant at the early stages of life. In addition to its valuable nutritional components, breastmilk also contains maternal cells, the properties and role of which are largely unknown. Among those cells, immune cells are thought to confer immunity to the infant, but their relation to infection and various lactation parameters are not well understood. At the same time, stem-like cells have been shown to be present in breastmilk. This presentation will focus on recent discoveries on (a) the immune cell content of breastmilk and how it responds to mother/infant health; and (b) the stem cells of breastmilk and first evidence for a pluripotent character. Finally, the significance of these cells for the breastfed infant will be discussed.

The Speaker: Foteini graduated from the Aristotle University of Greece in 2005 with a B.Sc. in Biology and First Class Honours in Microbiology and Physiology. She then migrated to Perth with her husband and shortly started a PhD in Physiology at the University of Western Australia, which she completed in 2009. She then joined the Human Lactation Research Group of the University of Western Australia conducting research into the physiology of breastfeeding. Foteini’s research has a dual focus, concentrating on (a) the properties of the maternal cells that are present in breastmilk and their biological role, and (b) mammary stem cells in health and disease.
Wednesday 19
12:00 - SEMINAR - School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences; Chemistry Seminar : Natural Product Inspired Synthetic Organic Methodology: Purpose design and accidental discoveries of new methods (and limitations of older methods) More Information
In the course of undertaking a number of complex molecule total synthesis campaigns (target orientated synthesis) our group was forced by the nature of these projects to push literature methodology to its limits and purpose design new methods. In other examples synthetic methodology was developed for an intended purpose, but ultimately did not live up to the task, or equated to new methods discovered accidentally. Short stories encompassing these methods and how they arose will be discussed.

16:00 - SEMINAR - CWR Presents: : Towards a better understanding of aquatic environments: a real-time management system tool. Website | More Information
Recent advances in environmental monitoring and modelling have led to improved knowledge on how aquatic environments function. The Centre for Water Research at The University of Western Australia has developed a software suite, the Aquatic Real-time Management System and the Real-time Management System Online (ARMS-RMSO, http://www.rmso.com.au/), as a tool for the sustainable management of rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal seas.

  Such a tool provides an understanding of questions about important processes and their controlling factors, contributes to assessment of management needs and effectiveness and aids in direct human benefits from the aquatic environment under study. It combines the integration of a number of technologies and approaches to enable the extraction of new levels of knowledge using arrays of sensors encompassing physical, chemical and biological measurements, providing data in real time, models and continuous information display to be used for scientific research, education, management and environmental policy-related applications.

This talk will present the overall concept of the tool and its implementation in several aquatic environments to understand and assess the risks associated with flooding, local stagnant zones, pathogen source to fate and nutrient to algae cycling. Current limitations and future developments will be also presented.

****All Welcome****

Thursday 20
13:00 - STUDENT EVENT - SCIENCE Student Exchange Information Session : Student Exchange Program Information Session for SCIENCE (LPS, FNAS & HEALTH SCIENCE) Students Website | More Information
Interested in finding out more about Student Exchange? It's not too late!

The next deadline for applications is FRIDAY 2nd December (for exchange in Semester 2, 2012). Come along to a helpful info session and talk to a friendly Exchange Adviser and your Faculty's Academic Student Adviser. Get all the info you need about studying abroad in 2012 or beyond!

The UWA Student Exchange program offers you an opportunity to study at one of over 108 partner Universities in 22 countries. Study for one or two semesters and receive credit towards your UWA degree at the same time!
Friday 21
13:00 - SEMINAR - The Role and Regulation of XIAP and FLIP in Chemoresistant Ovarian Cancer : School of Anatomy & Human Biology Seminar Series More Information
The Seminar: Dr Tsang’s research program covers the broad area of cell fate regulation in women’s reproductive health and diseases. During the past thirty years Professor Tsang has examined the cell signalling pathways involved in these regulation of ovarian cell survival and apoptosis and his seminal observations not only helped to define the basic mechanisms governing normal ovarian follicular growth but offered important insights into the pathophysiology of various ovarian disorders associated with infertility, including polycystic ovarian disease and premature ovarian failure. In addition, his research on the molecular and cellular basis of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer has provided key information for the development of new therapy for chemoresistant ovarian cancer, a most lethal cancer of the reproductive track in women. To date, he has contributed over 180 full-length original publications and 19 reviews/book chapters. He holds four US patents on his work on the regulation of IAPs as a diagnostics and therapeutics for proliferative diseases and has filed five additional ones in the last 10 years.

The Speaker: Dr Ben Tsang is Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa and Senior Scientist, Ottawa Health Research Institute. He completed his undergraduate training in chemistry at Bemidji State College in 1971, received MSc (Biochemistry; 1973) from the University of Iowa, and Ph.D. (Pharmacology; 1976) from the University of Ottawa. In 1980, Dr Tsang joined the University of Ottawa as the Director, Reproductive Biology Unit and has been instrumental in developing a research-intensive academic program in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He also served as Associate Chair (Research) of the Department, and has developed in Ottawa of a multi-disciplinary research program in reproductive health. Professor Tsang is internationally recognized as an outstanding ovarian biologist, who has the insight and ability in bringing fundamental research into the clinical context. He is a recipient of the 2011 OCRI Research Award from the Ottawa Centre of Research and Innovations, 2008 Award of Excellence in Reproductive Medicine from the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society, the J David Grimes Research Career Achievement Award at the Ottawa Health Research Institute, the Award of Excellence for his outstanding contributions in research, scholarship and education at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine (1996) and the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine Recognition Award for Outstanding Contributions in Medical Education (2002). In 2008, he was also honoured as an “Outstanding Alumnus” of the Bemidji State University, Minnesota.

Host: Professor Dharmarajan – PH) 6488 2981
Saturday 22
8:30 - EVENT - UWA Multidisciplinary Diabetes Symposium Saturday 22nd October 8.30am - 4.30pm UWA Club : Educational seminar day with presentations from diabetes experts from across the spectrum of health professions Website | More Information
Presentations from across the spectrum of health professions A platform for health practitioners to share their expertise Network opportunities with other health professionals Develop and strengthen collaboration and referral pathways AHPRA CPD and Medicare requirements Online availability of presentations
Monday 24
10:30 - SEMINAR - CMCA Seminar: Microscopy Labelling Technologies More Information
Livia Vo is the Cellular Analysis Specialist with Life Technologies and will be presenting a seminar covering some of the labelling technologies available in the biological science field. Topics will include organelle stains, apoptosis, autophagy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) for both cells and tissues. Livia will also highlight the online tools available through Life Technologies to aid in experiment planning and design.

Morning tea will be provided and the winner of the Life Technologies Microscopy Imaging competition will be announced. This competition is open to all West Australian researchers and will be awarded to the best fluorescent image captured using either a wide field or confocal microscope . The prize will be a framed print of the winning image and a $250 Life Technologies voucher. Entries close Wednesday 19th October.
Tuesday 25
16:00 - EVENT - CMCA Seminar Series - The New Empyrean XRD - Application capabilities for UWA : CMCA@Physics has recently installed the latest PANalytical Empyrean X-Ray Diffraction system More Information
CMCA@Physics has recently installed the latest PANalytical Empyrean X-Ray Diffraction system, which is available to all researchers.

This talk will cover the hardware and software modules available with the installed system. Various application capabilities are possible - such as thin film epitaxy, reflectometry, phase analysis, and powder diffraction with the existing configuration of the system. The special optical components used for these applications will be discussed such as mirrors, monochromators, cradles and an insight on the latest all in one detector the PIXCEL.

Also a brief overview of what other applications can be performed in future if the system is upgraded with hardware and softwares will be highlighted.

Tuesday 25 October @ 4pm CMCA Seminar Room ALL welcome, refreshments provided Please promote and circulate to interested colleagues

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