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New labs nurture digital creativity at Curtin

By Salome Husselmann May 9th, 2012 Facilities No Comments »

Last week, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jeanette Hacket, officially opened Curtin University’s new digital creativity lab.

Mr Howard Worth, Professor Jeanette Hacket, Associate Professor Steve Mickler and Professor Majella Franzmann.

Mr Howard Worth, Professor Jeanette Hacket, Associate Professor Steve Mickler and Professor Majella Franzmann.

The architecturally designed lab features automated video projectors, large flat screen televisions and 40 high-powered iMac computers. A central glass articulating wall allows the lab to be readily partitioned to create two 20-seat labs that can run their software systems and networks independently of each other.

The lab is connected to a new state-of-the-art high speed Isilon server that will provide the data-handling power required for creative visualisation techniques and processes such as digital rendering, animation, virtual environment and augmented reality work.

Associate Professor Steve Mickler, Head of Curtin’s School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts, said the new facility has already opened doors for collaboration with other digital and multi-media students around the world.

“We have initiated discussions with overseas universities with a view to working together on collaborative, networked teaching, research and production projects,” Associate Professor Mickler said.

“The lab also encourages trans-disciplinary ventures such as 3D imaging collaborations between Curtin’s built environment students and students across the Faculty.

“It is fair to say that almost every career path our students pursue will involve using digital and new media at some level.

“The new lab will prepare Curtin students to work with the best technology available and to think and work creatively and cooperatively.”

The facility was funded by Curtin’s Faculty of Humanities with assistance from the Vice -Chancellor.

Curtin is currently building a linked sister facility to similar specifications in the School of Design and Art.

The Scott Kimpton CUPSA grant for fieldwork

By Salome Husselmann April 30th, 2012 Grants No Comments »

The Scott Kimpton CUPSA grant for fieldwork has been created by Tiffany Forman (Scott’s wife) and Professor George Curry (Scott’s Supervisor) together with the founding members of the Postgraduate Open Door Society (PODS) and CUPSA (Curtin University Postgraduate Student Association) in honour and memory of the late Scott Kimpton, a postgraduate student in geography in the social sciences, a founding member of PODS and an active and generous supporter of our postgraduate community.

Beginning in 2010 a pool of $3,000 will be available each academic year, with a maximum value of $1,500 per successful applicant to assist eligible students undertaking fieldwork in developing countries. The intention of these grants is to provide additional financial support for Higher Degree by Research students to assist in buying materials/resources that are necessary for the successful completion of their field research. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in a Higher by Research degree (Masters, PhD or DCA) at Curtin University and be undertaking fieldwork research in a developing country as part of their studies and have completed candidacy.

Selection criteria will be based on how a research project benefits the community in which the fieldwork is being carried out and that fieldwork must be undertaken in a community within a developing country. If there is a tie the level of financial need will be taken into consideration.

The deadline for applications closes on 11 May 2012. There will be no extensions.

Download the Scott Kimpton CUPSA grant application form

Please contact CUPSA is you have any queries.
cupsa@guild.curtin.edu.au

Curtin hosts European Union SMART Cities expert

By Salome Husselmann April 19th, 2012 events No Comments »

Internationally renowned architecture consultant Professor Roberto Pagani will visit Curtin University’s School of Built Environment next week to share advice on how to build sustainable cities that are equipped for energy and resource crises.

Professor Pagani, Director of the Italian Chapter of European Concerto Program in the SMART Cities Platform, will present a series of lectures and workshops with urban planners, students and members of the public.

Currently, there are 70 small to medium cities that form part of the European SMART Cities Platform and 12 are in Italy.

The 70 cities are measured on a combination of the six following characteristics; smart people, smart mobility, smart living, smart governance, smart environment and smart economy1.

Curtin Associate Professor Reena Tiwari from the School of Built Environment will join Professor Pagani for his presentations.

Associate Professor Tiwari has recently been engaged by SMART Cities Turino as an expert consultant on urban form and mobility.

Associate Professor Tiwari said that Professor Pagani’s visit is an opportunity to learn first-hand how European cities are implementing planning solutions now to prepare for sustainable growth in the future.

“The SMART Cities program differs from many other programs on sustainable cities world-wide because of its focus on making a shift from ‘managing the projects’ to ‘managing the change’,” she said.

“SMART Cities aims to empower planners and community members to embrace innovation and change when making decisions about the future of our cities.

“Professor Pagani’s visit is a chance for us to debate our current situation here in Australia and what current cultural constraints we face as we move towards a greener future.

“With key urban thinkers gathered together, it is also a chance for us to debate how we overcome these constraints.”

During his time here, Professor Pagani will also discuss whether Curtin Town, the proposed campus development at Curtin Bentley, can become a SMART Town.

PUBLIC LECTURE

Members of the public are invited to join Professor Pagani for a public lecture at 6.00pm, Monday 23 April in Tim Winton Lecture Theatre, Curtin University (213.104).

This lecture will cover SMART Cities initiatives in Europe, the success of the RESET Project (Renewable Energy Strategies for European Towns) in the cities such as Barcelona, Glasgow and Torino and Professor Pagani’s experience working with cities in China.

About Professor Roberto Pagani
Roberto Pagani is a Full Professor of Architectural Technology at Politecnico Torino and Vice-Dean of the School of Architecture.

Professor Pagani is also an architect with an expertise in green architecture and urban form and has lead many research projects for institutions including the European Commission.
Professor Roberto Pagani has been appointed by the City of Torino to coordinate and develop the strategy for Torino Smart City.

The Hayman Theatre presents

By Salome Husselmann April 19th, 2012 Uncategorized hayman theatre No Comments »

BEYOND THE NECK: A quartet on loss and violence

Directed  by Artist-in-Residence Adam Mitchell, Beyond The Neck: A quartet on loss and violence is “a haunting play about grief and recovery”. Set ten years after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, it is based on in-depth interviews conducted by Australian playwright, Tom Holloway.

Beyond the Neck poster

Time/Date: 7.30pm May 3-5, 8-12
Venue: The Studio, Subiaco Arts Centre, 180 Hammersley Road Subiaco
Ticket Prices: $18 Standard & $15 Concession (booking fees apply)
Bookings: BOCS Ticketing  9484 1133

Applied Linguistics Association of Australia National Conference

By Salome Husselmann April 19th, 2012 events No Comments »

The School of Education at Curtin University is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the 2012 Applied Linguistics Association of Australia’s National Conference on 12, 13, and 14 November 2012.

The Conference theme is:

Evolving Paradigms: Language and Applied Linguistics in a Changing World

The Conference streams are:

  • Research Methods and Methodologies
  • Language Education
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Applied Linguistics and Globalisation
  • Language, Culture, and Society
  • Language and Literacy
  • Translating and Interpreting
  • Language Development
  • Language Testing and Assessment
  • Language Planning and Policy

The Keynote Speakers and Keynote Themes are:

12 November: Language and Global Communication

Professor Ryuko Kubota

Ryuko Kubota is a Professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia, Canada.  She has previously taught in the United States and Japan. She has been involved in teaching EFL and Japanese as a foreign language as well as in second language teacher education. Her research is focused on issues of culture, race, multiculturalism, and critical pedagogies in second/foreign language education. She is an editor of Race, Culture, and Identities in Second Language: Exploring Critically Engaged Practice (2009, Routledge). She has also published in such journals as Journal of Second Language Writing, Canadian Modern Language Review, Critical Inquiry in Language Studies, International Journal of Bilingualism and Bilingual Education, Linguistics and Education, Modern Language Journal, TESOL Quarterly, Written Communication, and World Englishes.

13 November: Language and the Media

Phillip Adams AO

Phillip Adams’ radio programme Late Night Live is broadcast twice a day over the 250-station network  of ABC’s Radio National and around the world on Radio Australia and the World Wide Web. Adams has interviewed over 15,000 of the world’s most prominent politicians, philosophers, economists, scientists, theologians, historians, archaeologists, novelists, and scholars. Writing in The Monthly, Robert Manne has said that Adams is: “The most remarkable broadcaster in the history of this country.” For almost 50 years his columns in major newspapers (he currently writes for The Australian newspaper) have provoked discussion and outrage. He is also the author of over 20 books. Honours awarded to Adams include two Orders of Australia, the Senior ANZAC Fellowship, the Australian Humanist of the Year, the Republican of the Year 2005, the Golden Lion at Cannes, the Longford Award (the highest award of the Australian film industry), a Walkley award, a UN Media prize, four Honorary Doctorates and the Responsibility in Journalism Award at New York University. In 2006 he received the Human Rights Medal from the Australian Government’s Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission. In 2008 he was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

14 November: Language and Evolution

Professor Rob Brooks

Rob Brooks is Professor of Evolution and Director of the Evolution and Ecology Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. He is an Evolutionary Biologist who thinks about sex for a living. Topics  he has thought and written about include the evolution of mate choice, the costs of being attractive, the reason animals age, and the links between sex, diet, obesity and death. Together with his fabulous research group and collaborators, Rob explores the evolutionary and ecological consequences of sexual reproduction. At the moment he is especially interested in the interactions between evolution and economics, the evolution of human life histories, the reasons for sex differences in aging and longevity, the unfolding obesity crisis, the relationship between evolution and equity feminism, the evolution of human bodies, the purpose of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and what we can and cannot infer about morality from studying the natural world. His first book for a popular audience, Sex, Genes & Rock ‘n’ Roll: How Evolution has Shaped the Modern World (New South Books) was published in 2011.

The Call for Papers for the Conference will be issued in April 2012.

For more information, please contact the Conference Convenor: Dr Chris Conlan, School of Education, Curtin University, Phone +61 8 9266 2386, Email: C.Conlan@curtin.edu.au

Excellence in Teaching Awards

By Salome Husselmann April 4th, 2012 awards No Comments »

The Curtin Student Guild runs annual Excellence in Teaching awards to celebrate and acknowledge the lecturers, tutors and supervisors that help students be successful throughout their degrees.

Joan Wardrop won the Guild Excellence in Teaching Award for Best Undergraduate Lecturer/Tutor in 2011.

Alexey Muraviev received an honourable mention in the same category.

Both the lecturers are from the School of Social Sciences and Asian Languages. Congratulations with this excellent achievement!

Sunday Night Theatre at Curtin

By Salome Husselmann March 16th, 2012 events No Comments »

Curtin’s Hayman Theatre begins its 2012 season of Sunday Night theatre on Sunday 18th March. 2 short one-act plays that feature an hilarious play from the U.S., 2 new works and a local black comedy.

The first play starts at 7.30pm and all tickets are $10 and sold at the door from 6.45pm.

The plays:

FlightCourierServiceFLIGHT COURIER SERVICE

By Richard Maxwell

Rene is a dimwit. Jobless, loveless, broke and desperately seeking some direction, “Flight Courier Service” may be the answer! If only he can get around the foreign city of Kuala Lumpur while dodging a boss that doesn’t care if he lives or dies, jazz playing gangsters, one super attractive but equally crazy flight stewardess and successfully deliver the package intact, and hopefully, just maybe find a flight home.

Director: David Cronin

Cast: Barnaby Pollock, Catherine Bonney, Katharina Spanbroek, Lucas Marie, Wasseem Parkar

[Sunday March 18]

I HATE MYSELF AND I WANT TO DIE

By Sophie Joske

“I Hate Myself and Want to Die” is a whimsical romantic comedy about people attempting suicide. The play begins with a young man named Fred standing on a bridge, preparing to jump. He is interrupted by June, a young woman in a red dress who criticises his last words. The two strangers then try to end their days together with as much theatricality and decorum as possible, learning along the way that they have more in common than just a death wish and a healthy sense of sarcasm.

Director: Sophie Joske

Cast: Catherine Bonney & Stephen East

[Sunday March 18 & 25]

SmashSMASH

By Michael Collins

Two scientists think they have found a way to prove to the world that their relationship can exist forever, that love can. But as the time comes for them to prove themselves, their relationship begins to play back in front of them, causing a reflection on the time they’ve spent working together. “SMASH” is a comedy about the light and dark moments of trying to prove yourself to the people you love and the world outside the one you’ve created.

Director: Michael Collins

Cast: Patrick Harvey & Mary Soudi

[Sunday March 25 & April 1]

DEREK DRIVES A DATSUN

DEREKBy Kate Mulvany

Derek is a loner and a slightly twisted man who has the very unusual job of a suicide hunter. Beryl is a qualified police officer that works hard in order to receive a promotion and she almost gets it…until Derek gets in the way.

Director: Rebecca Miller

Cast: Rachel Granger & Elijah Melvin

[Sunday April 1]

Enquiries: Leigh Brennan 9266 2383 or L.Brennan@curtin.edu.au

Humanities lecturer wins top gong at international conference

By Salome Husselmann March 12th, 2012 journalism No Comments »

Journalism lecturer Dr Thomas Yesudhasan’s passion for community radio was rewarded when he received the Best Paper Award at an international academic conference in Dubai late last year.

Thomas Yesudhasan

Thomas Yesudhasan

Competing against almost 200 delegates from 100 countries, Dr Yesudhasan’s paper, ‘Qualitative Audience Ethnography and Grounded Theory in Researching Indigenous Media Audiences,’ took out the top prize at the International Conference on Emerging Research Paradigms in Business and Social Sciences.

Dr Yesudhasan’s paper presented findings on the role community radio plays in influencing cultural and economic activities in small villages in southern India.

“Through my research, I met with around 150 people of all ages and backgrounds from four farming villages,” Dr Yesudhasan said.

“I found that the government funded stations were playing an active role in engaging the community by methods such as offering location specific farming advice and encouraging cultural activities through traditional Indian tribal song.”

The findings from Dr Yesudhasan’s paper have been well received by the International academic community.

Over the past five years, Dr Yesudhasan has been invited to present his research on this topic at conferences inUnited States, Canada, Australia,  the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam,  Thailand, India,  China, Malaysia and Singapore.

Dr Yesudhasan’s involvement with community radio started in high school when he was encouraged to prepare a script for the local youth radio program in Nagercoil, India.

Many years on, he is now sharing his knowledge and skills with Curtin University students by teaching Media Ethics, Intercultural Communication, and Cultural Literacy at undergraduate and post graduate level and also coordinating Master of Arts program in Journalism.

John Curtin’s great granddaughter graduates from Curtin

By Salome Husselmann February 17th, 2012 journalism No Comments »
Rebecca Curtin Graduation

L - R: Vice-Chancellor Jeanette Hacket, father John, Rebecca Curtin, mother Josephine and Chancellor Jim Gill.

On Saturday night, the great granddaughter of John Curtin, former Prime Minister of Australia, graduated from the university that honours his name, Curtin University.

Rebecca Curtin, aged 21, received a Bachelor of Arts (Mass Communication) at a ceremony that saw her join with almost 600 graduating students from Curtin’s Humanities faculty.

During her four years at Curtin, Rebecca was heavily involved the John Curtin Leadership Academy (JCLA), a leadership development program for community minded university students.

“As part of JCLA I worked with a team of students to organise a 10 hour music festival in Fremantle that raised funds for music programs in Aboriginal communities.

“I can’t speak highly enough of JCLA and the values it teaches Curtin students.”

Midway through her degree, Rebecca took part in a six month student exchange at University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.

“Studying in the UK gave me the opportunity to explore Europe, an experience that will stay with me for life.

“I believe my involvement with JCLA and my travels abroad have prepared me well for future career and study opportunities.”

Rebecca said it was rewarding to complete her degree at the university that celebrates her great grandfather’s achievements.

“My great grandfather had an extraordinary career, one that started in the field of journalism.

“It is such a dynamic time to be studying journalism as the way we consume media is evolving so quickly.”

For the immediate future, Rebecca will continue her studies with a Post Graduate Diploma in Broadcasting at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

As for following her great grandfather into a career in politics, Rebecca said it is not something she would rule out.

“I am interested in global and community issues however politics is not something that should be rushed into; I have more travelling and learning to do before I cross that bridge.”

Humanities Professor helping to show full picture

By Salome Husselmann February 14th, 2012 News 1 Comment »

The work of School of Education’s Professor Richard Lowe has been featured on a major Perth news website, calling for ‘graphicacy’ to be given far more weighting in the school curriculum.

Ric Lowe

Professor Richard Lowe

“For hundreds of years, words and numbers have been the mainstay for teachers, with illustrations being relatively neglected,” Professor Lowe said. “ However, in the 21st century, the importance of graphicacy is approaching that of literacy and numeracy.”

“We need to recognise that today’s children grow up in a highly visual world so it is absolutely essential that graphics be an integral part of their education.

“Reliance on visual displays has exploded across the workplace, with both industry and the professions making extensive use of sophisticated visualizations.

“The danger is that children will be left behind if we don’t explicitly teach them the skills they require to make best use of graphic information.”

View Ric’s profile here: http://humanities.curtin.edu.au/about/staff/index.cfm/r.k.lowe

View the WA Today article: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/think-youre-smart-because-you-can-read-and-write-think-again-20120208-1reon.html