The Melbourne Newsroom - Studio

Nick Sharman discusses the New Hampshire Republican primaries on ABC 24

dascott — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:13:01 +0000

Nick Sharman discusses the likely outcome of the New Hampshire Republican primary vote on ABC 24.

Mr Sharman is an expert in the intersection of US politics and the media, and is based in the Media and Communications program at the University of Melbourne.

Nick Sharman analyses the results of the Iowa Caucus on ABC News 24

smitk — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:02:12 +0000

Nick Sharman from the Media and Communications program at the University of Melbourne is an expert in the intersection of US politics and the media. He spoke to ABC News 24 just as candidates were addressing the crowd after the Iowa Caucus. The Caucus is the first test of Reblican candidates hoping for nomination to contest the US Presidency in the general election later this year.

A perspective on the European Union

arahilly — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:08:58 +0000

Associate Professor Philomena Murray talks to ABC 24 about the current state of play with the state of the European Union.

Professor Kevin Davis discussing Eurozone debt on ABC 24

lsod — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Professor Kevin Davis live on ABC 24 discussing the latest debt issues in the Eurozone and what this means in the broader economic context.

Kevin Davis is a Professor of Finance. His primary research interests are in the areas of financial institutions and markets, financial engineering and corporate finance.

Patrick Hearps talks about sustainable transport

arahilly — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:09:44 +0000

Dr Patrick Hearps talks about future transport and sustainability.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Symposium

isanders — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:48:24 +0000

Professor Ian Anderson spoke about the inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Symposium held on Thursday 3 November.

Alaskan Inuit leader William Hensley visits Melbourne

isanders — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:41:12 +0000

Alaskan Inuit leader William Iggiagruk Hensley – who is best known for his extraordinary contribution to the Alaska Native Land Claims Movement – visited the University of Melbourne this week to participate in a number of events including the annual Narrm Oration.

Richard Pennell on ABC 24 discussing the death of Muammar Gaddafi

dascott — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:39:28 +0000

Associate Professor Richard Pennell discusses the impact the death of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi will have to the country and the region. He was speaking live on ABC 24 on October 21.

A/Prof Pennell is the al-Tajir Lecturer in Middle East and Asian History based in the Faculty of Arts in the University of Melbourne. You can see his full profile at http://history.unimelb.edu.au/about/staff/pennell.html.

Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar discussing Australia-India relations on ABC 24

ltoh — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:12:46 +0000

Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar live on ABC 24 discussing India's impact in Australia as a growing superpower.

Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar is a former Indian Government Minister and in 2006 was conferred the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award by the President of India. He was visiting Melbourne to deliver a keynote lecture at the Australia India Institute's inaugural conference on 'The Reluctant Superpower: Understanding India and its Aspirations' from 22 to 23 September.

Professor David Studdert on allegations that doctors fail to disclose risks

rebeccas — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:46:05 +0000

In more than 70 per cent of legal disputes over informed consent, patients allege the doctor failed to properly explain the risks of complications, a University of Melbourne study published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia has found.

For more information visit http://newsroom.melbourne...

Video interview on fossil discovery which could be our oldest human ancestor

dascott — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:19:51 +0000

Dr Robyn Pickering discusses research that has confirmed the age of our possible oldest direct human ancestor at 1.98 million years old.

The discovery was made after Dr Pickering and Dr Andy Herries from La Trobe University conducted further dating of the early human fossils, Australopithecus sediba, found in South Africa last year.

Indigenous Opera star appointed head of Wilin Centre

isanders — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:43:34 +0000

Internationally acclaimed Australian Indigenous soprano, Deborah Cheetham, has been appointed Head of the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts at the Faculty of the VCA and Music, University of Melbourne. The Wilin Centre supports Australian Indigenous students at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

Associate Professor Michelle Foster on the Malaysian refugee swap High Court decision

dascott — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 02:11:07 +0000

Associate Professor Michelle Foster from the Melbourne Law School discusses the Australian High Court's decision regarding the Federal Government's proposed asylum seeker swap deal with Malaysia.

This interview was live on ABC 24 on Thursday September 1, 2011.

7th Annual Nossal Institute Global Health Forum

nhannink — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:09:13 +0000

Professor Rob Moodie, Nossal Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences discusses the 7th Annual Nossal Institute Global Health Forum being held today at the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne.

As a prelude to the United Nations Heads of State meeting in September, this year's Forum brings together global leaders on non-communicable diseases, (cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and lung disease) the leading causes of death, disability and preventable morbidity across the globe.

House dust mite test on wheezy toddlers predicts asthma in teen years

rebeccas — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:05:01 +0000

Wheezy toddlers who have a sensitivity to house dust mites are more at risk of developing asthma by the age of 12, a University of Melbourne led study has shown.

Children aged one – two years with a family history of allergy, who had a positive skin prick test to house dust mites, had a higher risk of developing asthma later in life. Results showed 75 per cent of these children had asthma at aged 12 compared to 36 per cent of children without a positive skin prick test.

Breakthrough research holds clues about MS cause

rebeccas — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:22:36 +0000

In one of the largest human genetic studies ever undertaken, scientists have identified the major common genetic variants that contribute to the cause of the devastating neurologic disease, multiple sclerosis (MS).

The results of the study were published in the prestigious scientific journal, Nature. They represent years of work by the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (IMSGC) involving more than 250 researchers, in 15 countries, including from the University of Melbourne and Florey Neuroscience Institutes.

Prettier websites make for more trusting web surfers: Dr Coker discusses research

lsod — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:46:44 +0000

Small group of doctors account for large share of complaints

ccrawford — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 06:07:14 +0000

Dr Marie Bismark discusses her research which studied the characteristics of complaint-prone doctors and found that a small number of doctors account for a large share of complaints made in private practice in Victoria. She notes that Commissioners largely resolve complaints on a case-by-case basis and recommends that greater attention be paid to a doctor's complaint history.

Dr David Tribe speaking on the ecoli outbreak in europe on ABC 24

ccrawford — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 03:47:06 +0000

David Tribe from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology discusses the recent ecoli outbreak in Europe.

He talks about the possible origins of the strain as well as the speed at which it could travel and whether or not Australia is prepared for an outbreak of this scale.

Sixth wave of data for HILDA survey released

lsod — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:43 +0000

Associate Professor Roger Wilkins discusses some of the results from the sixth wave of data released from the Household Income and Labor Dynamics Australia (HILDA) survey. The HILDA survey is a longitudinal investigation into the economic and financial situation of households, and how this impacts the life and job satisfaction of Australians.

The Wednesday Lectures hosted by Raimond Gaita: Secrecy, Power and Democracy

ltoh — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:26:32 +0000

After ten years at Australian Catholic University, Raimond Gaita is bringing his remarkable program of Wednesday Lectures to Melbourne Law School, from 8 June to 6 July 2011.

Join us for these five free public lecture events, each Wednesday evening from 8 June, to hear thought-provoking insights and ideas on the issues of secrecy, power and democracy, from writers, academics and commentators.

8 June - Guy Rundle will present "From Coldwar to Cyberwar: Power, the State and the Wikileaks Effect

Getting older & costing more, healthcare sector facing challenges to be more efficient

ltoh — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 07:20:48 +0000

The Australian healthcare sector’s supply chain is in need of an overhaul to meet the challenges of rising costs, as well as a growing and ageing population, according to a new University of Melbourne study.

And according to study author Dr Vikram Bhakoo, hospitals may be running up to 20 per cent less efficient than they could be by not taking full advantage of e-business technology that is in widespread use across the retail and grocery sectors.

Festival of Ideas: Chris Wallace-Crabbe on Australian Identity Today

ltoh — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:07:27 +0000

Can we have a unified sense of Australian identity given the multiplicity of Australian culture and society? How does indigenous Australia shape an overall sense of Australian identity? How does the immigrant experience shape it?

Festival of Ideas: the role of landscape art in identity

dascott — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 03:01:26 +0000

While landscape art was traditionally seen as a key way of representing personal and cultural identity, well-known art historian and writer Professor Timothy Clark believes that many 19th Century painters resisted such a push.

Prof Clark, a Distinguished Visiting Professor from the University of York and a Professor Emeritus at the University of California (Berkley), will give the keynote lecture on Friday June 17 at the University of Melbourne’s Festival of Ideas session “Australian Identity Today”.

Festival of Ideas: Asserting Identity, Writing Constitutions: Britain, America and Australia

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:24:02 +0000

Since the drafting of the American Constitution in 1787, Written Constitutions have increasingly come to be viewed as an essential symbol of the modern state. They have also frequently been seen as emblems of identity: not just something that a country has, but something that a particular country and its people are. Professor Linda Colle, Shelby M C Davis 1958 Professor of History at Princeton University, discusses.

Festival of Ideas - Past and Present

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:12:57 +0000

How has the past shaped contemporary Australia? What sort of ideas, landscapes, movements, institutions of the 19th century have had an impact and what do these influences mean for us today. Kate Darian-Smith, Director of the Australian Centre, University of Melbourne, discusses.

Festival of Ideas - The Construction of National Identities

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 07:38:31 +0000

The wartime memoirs of Charles de Gaulle open with a celebrated evocation of his native land: 'a certain idea of France.' As such they express the widely held view that the nation is the most significant focus and resonant form of collective human identity', the end point to which the whole of history was ionexorably tending, initially in Europe, and eventually throughout the whole world.

Festival of Ideas - The Genetic Revolution: Legal, Ethical and Moral Dimensions

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 07:29:47 +0000

What issues of privacy arise from a person’s genome being full described? What moral issues are at stake in pre-natal diagnosis of potentiality for serious illness in the foetus? Why do indigenous peoples reject genetic testing? Professor Loane Skene, Professor of Law in the Faculty of Law and an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, discusses.

Festival of Ideas - The Genetic Revolution

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 07:18:30 +0000

Some aspects of the Australian identity find their expression in controversial areas of science and technology. Our long history of agriculture over the vast Australian rural landscape, built on the efforts of fiercely independent farmers, has given many of us a sense of personal independence, a can-do and hard work ethic and a sophisticated understanding of the importance of innovation to our productive capacity. It has also given us a deep love of our natural environment.

Festival of Ideas

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:07:38 +0000

Dr Patrick McCaughey, offers an insight into the second Festival of Ideas, on the theme ‘The Pursuit of Identity: Landscape, History and Genetics’. He introduces tonight’s keynote speaker, UK Scientist and writer, Dr Matt Ridley, and his ideas about the way human trade and exchange of expertise has influenced our genetic evolution.

Professor Peter Ebeling speaks on a state of the art facility for training medical students in the West

rebeccas — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 07:56:36 +0000

The Western Centre for Health Research and Education is a partnership between Western Health, the University of Melbourne and Victoria University that will transform Sunshine Hospital into a tertiary hospital. The landmark facility was officially opened on June 7 by the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Federal Minister for Health and Ageing and the Hon David Davis MP, Victorian Minister for Health and Minister for Ageing.

Closing the gap for Indigenous eye health an achievable vision

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:42:58 +0000

The significant eye health and vision problems experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can be eliminated to bring us one step closer to closing the gap in Indigenous health, according to two new reports from the University of Melbourne and the Australian Institute of Indigenous Studies.

Blindness rates amongst Indigenous Australians are six times those in mainstream Australia and there is a major shortfall in the provision of eye care services to Indigenous communities.

Professor Alun Jackson discusses gambling legislation on ABC 24

rebeccas — Thu, 19 May 2011 01:57:07 +0000

What's wrong with jumps racing?

smitk — Tue, 10 May 2011 07:04:50 +0000

Jumps racing should be banned in the only two Australian states where it is still practiced because of the unreasonable and unsafe expectations placed on horses, according to human-animal studies expert and research fellow in the University of Melbourne's School of Political and Social Enquiry, Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan.

Dr O'Sullivan said NSW banned jumps racing in the 1990s, which leaves only Victoria and South Australia "hanging on" to this practice which raises very serious problems for animal welfare.

Dr Louise Keogh comments on teenage pregnancy on ABC 24

rebeccas — Tue, 10 May 2011 05:57:16 +0000

VCA future bright thanks to $24million budget allocation

smitk — Wed, 04 May 2011 07:47:06 +0000

The Dean of the Faculty of the VCA and Music at the University of Melbourne, Professor Barry Conyngham, has enthusiastically welcomed the allocation in yesterday’s state budget of $24 million to support arts education at the VCA.

Professor Conyngham said the fulfillment of the promise made by the Premier would allow VCA to “do the job we want to do”.

The funding committed in the 2011-12 Victorian Budget is for $6 million a year over four years.

It will deliver a range of practical initiatives to provide career pathways for students, including:

VET teachers need to be valued more

smitk — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:39:14 +0000

Teachers in the VET system need better acknowledgment and validation in recognition of the vital role they play in the complex world of vocational and technical education, according to a leading education expert.

Associate Professor Leesa Wheelahan, from the LH Martin Institute for Leadership in Higher Education at the University of Melbourne said VET teachers worked in a wider variety of workplaces, and with a more diverse range of students than school teachers or university academics.

Professor Tony Sargona talks about the Gallipoli battlefield discoveries on ABC 24

rebeccas — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:59:25 +0000

Professor Geoff Stevens discusses nuclear issues in Japan (ABC 24)

dascott — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:07:23 +0000

Professor Geoff Stevens talks with ABC 24 about some of the issues facing Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Prof Stevens was speaking ahead of the "Fukushima: The Facts & The Fallout" public lecture, occurring at the University of Melbourne on March 31.

More information about the lecture can be found at http://www.eng.unimelb.ed... while a full profile of Prof Stevens is available on http://www.chemeng.unimel...

Comparisons of school system funding disappointing and illegitimate

smitk — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 06:27:34 +0000

With the Gonski review of school funding due by the end of this year, the release of school funding data on My School 2.0 has accelerated the already lively debate.

Professor Jack Keating from the Melbourne Graduate School of Education said the debate so far has focussed on comparing funding levels between Australia’s three school systems, which is illegitimate because they are so different. He advocates a funding model based on student need.

Who owns our blood?

rebeccas — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 06:33:38 +0000

The absence of specific laws which define the ownership, storage and use of blood drops taken from every Australian baby since 1971 could threaten public trust in newborn screening (NBS) programs in Australia, a University of Melbourne academic has warned.

For more information visit http://newsroom.melbourne.edu/news/n-488

Expert explains the tsunami in Japan

sally sherwen — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:53:29 +0000

Seismologist Gary Gibson explains the impact of the Christchurch earthquake

rebeccas — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:11:34 +0000

Experts propose global guidelines for safe use of Kava and new Australian study

rebeccas — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:56:55 +0000

Medical and scientific experts propose a global framework for the safe production and use of the medicinal plant Kava, including further clinical testing In Australia.

For more information visit media release at http://newsroom.melbourne.edu/news/n-469

Melbourne's future as a city of short distances

dascott — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 03:24:25 +0000

Michael Trudgeon, the Deputy Director of the Victorian Eco Innovation Lab (VEIL), discusses the Melbourne 2032 project, where university students and design professionals examined just how the city would look in 20 years.

Uncovering the genome secrets of the Blackleg fungus

rebeccas — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 02:30:07 +0000

The genome of the Blackleg fungus, which causes the most damaging disease to canola crops worldwide, has been sequenced for the first time by a team of French and Australian scientists.

Professor Barbara Howlett from the School of Botany at the University of Melbourne, who led the Australian research team, said the discovery was a significant step towards controlling the rampant Blackleg disease.

Fresh approach to teacher education better prepares graduates for classroom

smitk — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:59:08 +0000

Ninety per cent of University of Melbourne Master of Teaching graduates consider themselves ‘well prepared’ or ‘very well prepared’ when they begin teaching, compared to 41 per cent of beginning teachers nationally*, according to an independent evaluation.

Professor Stephen Dinham, the inaugural Chair of Teacher Education in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, says the Melbourne Master of Teaching is a fundamental shift away from traditional teacher education programs.

Associate Professor Ingrid Volkmer comments on role of global communications and Egyptian uprising

rebeccas — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:18:57 +0000

Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh comments on political unrest in Egypt

rebeccas — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:13:54 +0000

Faulty gene linked to disorders of sexual development

rebeccas — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:35:06 +0000

Scientists have discovered that the alteration of a single gene could cause some male embryos to develop as females.

The breakthrough will improve diagnosis and clinical management of patients with disorders of sex development (DSD). These conditions occur when the testis or ovary does not develop properly in the embryo, causing genital abnormalities in one in 4500 babies.

VCA graduate film 'Deeper Than Yesterday' wins at Beijing

rebeccas — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 02:49:40 +0000

A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts at the University of Melbourne has won China's most prestigious foreign short student film award.

The film 'Deeper Than Yesterday' directed by Ariel Kleiman received the award last night at the 9th Beijing Film Academy's International Student Film and Video Festival, from a field of over one hundred entries from thirty-five countries.

Preventable job stress costs $730M a year: report

rebeccas — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 04:14:22 +0000

Excessive pressure at work is costing Australia’s economy $730 million a year due to job-stress related depression, a University of Melbourne and VicHealth report has revealed.

The Estimating the Economic Benefits of Eliminating Job Strain as a Risk Factor for Depression report was funded by VicHealth and led by Associate Professor Tony LaMontagne from the University of Melbourne School of Population Health and Dr Kristy Sanderson from the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania.

New spin on silicon opens up quantum computing future

rebeccas — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:54:10 +0000

An Australian-led team of scientists have developed the key building blocks needed to make a quantum computer using silicon. Their work was published in Nature.

A research team from the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales, and Aalto University in Finland have been able to read out the spin orientation of a single electron on a single engineered atom in a nanoscale device they developed called “the single electron reader”.

Early exposure could prevent egg allergy in babies

rebeccas — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:43:28 +0000

Parents who delay giving their babies allergenic foods could be doing more harm than good, with a new Australian study showing the rate of egg allergy significantly increases among toddlers who are introduced to the food after 12 months of age.

The world-first research involving University of Melbourne researchers in a Murdoch Childrens Research Institute led study found babies given egg after 12 months of age were up to five times more likely to develop egg allergy as they grew older than infants introduced to egg at four to six months of age.

Increased risk of other cancers for relatives of women with early onset breast cancer

dascott — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 23:44:19 +0000

Close relatives of women diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 35 years are at an increased risk of developing other cancers, according to a University of Melbourne led study, published in the British Journal of Cancer today.

Professor John Hopper, Director of Research from the Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology at the University of Melbourne, a lead investigator in the study, said these are surprising and novel findings which could be pointing to the existence of a new cancer genetic syndrome.

AFL integral part of Melbourne history - unites generations

smitk — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 05:18:17 +0000

The School of Historical Studies’ Professor Joy Damousi talks about this weekend’s grand final, the role of the AFL in Melbourne’s history and culture, why Collingwood and its supporters evoke such extreme reaction, the professionalisation of football and the associated expectation for players to behave professionally off and on the ground. A lifelong Magpies supporter….she tips Collingwood to win this weekend.

Secrets of birds' sexual signals revealed

rebeccas — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 04:28:14 +0000

Patterned feathers, previously thought to be used only for camouflage in birds, can play an important role in attracting a mate and fending off rivals, a University of Melbourne study reveals.

Ms Thanh-Lan Gluckman, co-author of the paper and Masters of Philosophy student from the Department of Zoology at the University of Melbourne, said this finding brought a new perspective to research in animal communication and evolution.

Inaction on climate change, not an option for Labor

rebeccas — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:49:10 +0000

A price on carbon is back on the agenda following yesterday's announcement of a minority Gillard Government says Dr Peter Christoff of the Department of Resource Management and Geography at University of Melbourne, but an emissions trading scheme like the one pushed by Labor in its first term is unlikley.

Melbourne: 175 years old and with more work to do

dascott — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:04:20 +0000

On the 175th birthday of the city of Melbourne, Professor Miles Lewis says the city needs to overcome a long history of 'planning anarchy' to continue to grow.

"Planners have lost their vision of what planning needs to be. When town planning was introduced here after World War 2 it was seen to be a rather socialist activity, where you distributed the goods across the community in the best possible way. Now it's seen to be a task of facilitating development, which it shouldn't be."

Economic benefits of the World Cup 'vastly overstated'

dascott — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:03:06 +0000

The football World Cup in South Africa this year will have economic draw backs, not benefits, for its host country says Professor Richard Tomlinson.

"Facts are negotiable when it comes to the World Cup as it relies on the source of the facts and the context that they're put in. However, its estimated that South Africa has spent about $4.6 billion on the event."

Australia must not isolate itself over climate change and transport

dascott — Fri, 28 May 2010 06:15:51 +0000

Australia must do - and more importantly, be seen to do - its bit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by transport, says Professor Nicholas Low, Director of the University of Melbourne-based Australasian Centre for the Governance and Management of Urban Transport (GAMUT).

Speaking ahead of an international conference organised by GAMUT on "Sustainable Transport in the Asia-Indo-Pacific", Professor Low says Australia needs to work harder to move transport planning in the right direction.

Melting sea ice major cause of warming in Arctic, new study reveals

rebeccas — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:24:43 +0000

Melting sea ice has been shown to be a major cause of warming in the Arctic according to a University of Melbourne study.

Findings published in Nature today reveal the rapid melting of sea ice has dramatically increased the levels of warming in the region in the last two decades.

Lead author Dr James Screen of the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne says the increased Arctic warming was due to a positive feedback between sea ice melting and atmospheric warming.

ICC position 'an honour' says Prof Tim McCormack

dascott — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:09:18 +0000

Australian humanitarian and military law expert Professor Tim McCormack has been appointed as Special Adviser on International Humanitarian Law to Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Discussion starts on draft National Curriculum

dascott — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:04:19 +0000

Professor John O'Toole discusses the purposes and the current progress of the National Curriculum.

Professor O'Toole is the Chair of Arts Education at the University of Melbourne, and lead author of the arts subject area of the National Curriculum.

Study reveals genetic link between mammographic density and breast cancer

rebeccas — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:02:48 +0000

A University of Melbourne study has revealed that certain breast cancer genetic variants increase mammographic density, confirming the link between mammographic breast density and breast cancer.

Professor John Hopper of the University’s School of Population Health says women vary greatly in their underlying risk of breast cancer. “These findings provide an insight into possible new pathways into the development of breast cancer.”

Congratulations to Professor Pat McGorry Australian of the Year

rebeccas — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:34:58 +0000

The University of Melbourne congratulates Professor Pat McGorry as the 2010 Australian of the Year.

Professor McGorry is Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, Executive Director of Orygen Youth Health (OYH), a world-renowned youth mental health organisation and Director of the National Youth Mental Health Foundation (headspace).

Scientists discover cells critical to cause and relapse of childhood leukaemia

rebeccas — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:56:34 +0000

Scientists at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and the University of Melbourne have discovered the cells that cause a common type of childhood leukaemia – T cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (T-ALL). Targeting of these cells may lead to improved treatments for this disease and help prevent relapse.

The team, led by Dr Matthew McCormack and Dr David Curtis of the Rotary Bone Marrow Research Laboratories and the University’s Department of Medicine at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, made the discovery whilst studying mice prone to developing this leukaemia.

Student demand for University of Melbourne on the rise

dascott — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:47:58 +0000

The University of Melbourne's strong number of offers are evidence of an increased demand for the University's new generation degrees, says Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar.

"This represents a resounding endorsement of the new-gen degrees, and the Melbourne Model of which they form a part. Students clearly welcome the focus the new degrees place on disciplinary depth and intellectual breadth, as well the outstanding pathways to professional graduate study, research training opportunities, or employment."

Access Melbourne providing valuable pathways for students

dascott — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:38:05 +0000

As first round offers are sent out to students Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Sue Elliott says she is excited about the the number of offers the University of Melbourne has made through its Access program.

"The University of Melbourne is absolutely committed to attracting students with the best possible potential to achieve...This year we've increased the diversity of our intake of students, and 25% of our offers have gone to students who come in through the Access program, which recognises that there are inequalities in education."

Student demand for science on the rise

dascott — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:20:56 +0000

Increased numbers of students applying for the University of Melbourne's Bachelor of Science shows that students believe science is important to the future of our society, according to the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Robert Saint.

"The dramatically increased demand for Science at the University of Melbourne tells us...that students are recognising the importance of science to the future of our society, and that they recognise the quality of science education and research going on at the University of Melbourne."

Nintendo Wii Balance Board could prevent falls, study reveals

rebeccas — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:31:09 +0000

IBES joins international research consortium to improve energy efficiency of Internet and communications networks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:34:10 +0000

The University of Melbourne’s Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society (IBES) today announced its membership in a new research consortium - the Green Touch™ Initiative - which brings together leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry players and researchers to fundamentally re-invent the network and reduce ICT energy consumption up to a factor of 1000.

A mobile concern that isn’t going away

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:26:35 +0000

Every time a mobile phone call is made or received, the handset user inevitably absorbs radiation. According to Dr Malka N Halgamuge from the University of Melbourne’s Department of Engineering, the effects of this on our health won’t provide specific answers for at least another decade so its best to take precautions with useage.

“The level of radiation emitted from your phone depends on a phone’s specific absorption rate (SAR) and this can vary with the brand of phone you buy," she says.

Australian study reviews H1N1 vaccine effectiveness

rebeccas — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:15:00 +0000

An Australian study into the effectiveness of a H1N1 swine flu vaccine has revealed a single dose produces an excellent response against the virus in most children.

The study, led by Professor Terry Nolan, Head of the Vaccine and Immunisation Research Program at the University of Melbourne and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, and colleagues in major children’s hospitals around Australia has been published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

'Peak copper', not peak oil, the real commodity concern

dascott — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:31:50 +0000

When it comes to precious commodities, it could be copper, not gold or oil, that stands out in the future, according to Dr Les Coleman.

"Copper is interesting. It has been mined for the better part of ten thousand years, so we know copper very, very well, but the price keeps on going up."

"Generally if you know something very well you should be able to produce a lot of it quite cheaply and we don't seem to be able to do that, so it may be (a commodity) to look out for."

According to Dr Coleman we may be seeing the approach of 'peak copper.'

Bionic eye in sight thanks to $42 million

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:39:51 +0000

Leading Australian researchers have welcomed an announcement today by the Australian Government of $42M in funding for the development of a bionic eye capable of restoring vision to the blind.

Bionic Vision Australia is a consortium including the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales, the Bionic Ear Institute, Centre for Eye Research Australia and NICTA. The project is also supported by researchers from the Australian National University and the University of Western Sydney.

With Abbott and the ETS 'all bets are off'

dascott — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:25:35 +0000

A significant shift in the ETS debate will result from this week's Federal Opposition leadership spill, says University of Melbourne's Dr Les Coleman

"The major issue to come out of Abbott 's leadership is the fact that all bets are off now. Where there was consensus before about the ETS as being a good way forward, I think it will go right back to basics now and that there will be a complete reassesment of it."

'Gecko-gate', not asylum seekers, the big issue in Indonesia

dascott — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:41:57 +0000

The Oceanic Viking asylum seeker issue has barely caused a ripple of interest in Indonesia, where all the eyes are focussed on the biggest government corruption scandal in years, says Professor Tim Lindsey. "It’s a little bit like America's Watergate scandal."

Be wary of rose-coloured glasses, says Dr Les Coleman

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:08:18 +0000

Despite widespread economic recovery following last year’s Global Financial Crisis, Dr Les Coleman says we should be wary of rose-coloured glasses.

“Even the most optimistic forecasters aren’t expecting the economy to get back to full strength until the end of next year, and even these predictions are based on the variable assumptions of a resilient Aussie dollar, strong China and a continuation of strong commodity prices,” he says.

“The world is in a much better position economically than it was six months ago, but we are not out of the woods yet.”

A violent wake up call: the lasting impact of removal

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:14:55 +0000

Indigenous mothers removed from their natural families during childhood are significantly more likely than other Indigenous mothers to be victims of violence according to a new report led by Dr Kyllie Cripps from the University of Melbourne’s School of Population Health.

Dr Cripps analysis of data from the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Social Survey found mothers of the Stolen Generation living in remote areas were three times as likely to experience violence as other Indigenous mothers.

Consequences of Infrastructure gaps

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:58:38 +0000

Long-term infrastructure planning should be encouraged, despite budget deficits says Dr Les Coleman.

“Every time governments talk about going into deficit, people seem to get hysterical. But it’s the only way we can afford to build infrastructure that lasts and we need to recognise the major social, economic and environmental problems our infrastructure gaps are causing," he says.

Australia has a bigger leadership role to play in campaigns against the death penalty

dascott — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:23:37 +0000

Australia has a vital role to play in the region in campaigning against the death penalty, says Fr Peter Norden AO. "I dont think it's enough for Australians to say it's not an issue in this country. We are based in a region where many countries execute their citizens and we are host to many overseas students studying in Australia from these countries.

"We need to engage with those students while they are studying here to be more creative in their thinking, because they're going to be the leaders in those countries when they return."

Female bank workers leave due to unfriendly work practices

dascott — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:22:39 +0000

Mergers, management changes and unfriendly work-family practices were the main reasons behind women leaving the workforce today a new survey has found.

The survey of 44 bank workers in Australia found that despite the popular assumption that professional women ‘opt out’ of the workforce to focus on family – “choosing to forgo top management aspirations to fulfill the traditional role of homemaker” - it was unlikely to be the main reason for their departure.

G20 risks missing the point

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:11:38 +0000

The issue of risk management was a vital topic missed by G20 representatives during their analysis of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) according to Senior Lecturer in Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Commerce Dr Les Coleman.

“The G20 has done a lot of work looking at ways of avoiding another financial crisis, but they are tackling things like capping executive salaries and not addressing what caused the GFC – and that was risk,” he says.

Sixty years of Communist China a 'significant landmark'

dascott — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:12:54 +0000

Dr Pradeep Taneja says that while communism in China is dead 'practically', the 60th anniversary of the creation of the People's Republic of China is particularly significant. "It comes about a year after China hosted the Beijing Olympics, so there's an added significance that China has demonstrated to the rest of the world that China is an important country and one that has achieved remarkable success in its economic development and modernisation."

Australia primed for strong dollar performance

dascott — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:45:41 +0000

Commodity prices are set to push the Australian dollar higher in the not so distant future, according to Dr Les Coleman. "The indicators are quite good for the global economy and it looks like there will be recovery in place next year. That means growing demand for commodities, higher prices for commodities and in turn these prices will probably significantly support the Australian dollar, and will also get some support in the rise in interest rates that the central bank seems keen on."

Fear of insurance rejection deters potentially life saving genetic tests for bowel cancer

rebeccas — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:26:47 +0000

An Australian study of families with genetic risk of bowel cancer has found that 50 percent of participants declined genetic testing when informed of insurance implications.

“This indicates that people have a significant fear of insurance discrimination which impacts their decision to have potentially life saving genetic testing,” says co-lead author Dr Louise Keogh, of the University of Melbourne’s Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society.

Australia’s first National Preventative Health Strategy launched today

rebeccas — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:34:41 +0000

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has today received Australia’s first National Preventative Health Strategy from Committee Chair, Professor Rob Moodie of the Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne.

The 307 page report includes a broad range of recommendations to be implemented in three stages until 2020, to reduce the burden of obesity, alcohol and tobacco on Australian’s health and wellbeing.

Australian sharemarket set for fall despite strong recovery

dascott — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:44:58 +0000

Despite better than expected profit reporting by Australia's major companies, the direction of the Australian sharemarket is still cloudy, says Dr Les Coleman. "In the last few months the stockmarket reached a low in March but has rebounded almost 50% since then. In fact its gone back about 40% of the way to its previous high in 2007."

Naming 'secret' detainees a step in the right direction

dascott — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:34:02 +0000

The decision by the US Government this week to pass on names of all detainees in its secret detention centres to the Red Cross is a step in the right direction, according to Professor Gerry Simpson. "We know that in secret sites like Bagram Air Base (Iraq) and Guantanamo Bay (Cuba) that some fairly nasty things can happen, and it’s the glare of publicity that prevents torture in many cases."

Bushfires Royal Commission right to focus on risk management

dascott — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:22:39 +0000

Improvements in risk management processes can and should be made to avert the next bushfire catastrophe, says Dr Les Coleman, in the wake of the release of the bushfires Royal Commission interim report. "It comes back to looking at the risks, putting in place mechanisms to try and reduce those risks ahead of time, and recognising that when these extreme events start to unfold, its really beyond anyone's physical resources to handle every part of it."

More than a token effort required to save Indigenous languages

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:58:22 +0000

Saving threatened Indigenous languages across Australia will take more than $ 9 million and a two year program, according to Dr Rachel Nordlinger from the School of Language and Linguistics at the University of Melbourne.

Dr Nordlinger’s comments come in response to the Federal Government’s funding announcement of $ 9 million for a two-year program aimed at saving threatened Indigenous languages still spoken in Australia.

Driving clean energy all the way to zero emissions

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:58:31 +0000

Researchers from the University of Melbourne’s Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering have moved a step closer in their pursuit of a zero emissions future with the launch of a highly efficient hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine.

The prototype is part of a $2.93 million three-year Hydrogen Car project; a collaboration between the Brumby Government, Melbourne University and several local manufacturers.

Victorian Fellowship winner says “cheese”

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:39:21 +0000

Why do parmesan and cheddar cheese crumble differently? And how much more cheese could manufacturers produce if they could predict and control the texture of cheese during its manufacture?

New institute to drive broadband innovation

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:18:04 +0000

The nation’s first cross-disciplinary research institute dedicated to maximizing the community benefits of broadband technologies has been announced by Premier John Brumby.

The Victorian Government will provide $2 million for the new Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society (IBES). The Institute will be based at the University of Melbourne to foster innovation across a wide range of disciplines including Medicine, Engineering, Education, Social Sciences, Economics, Business and the Environmental Sciences.

Re-election of Indonesian President Yudhoyono sadly hasn't changed old attitudes

dascott — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:41:53 +0000

Professor Tim Lindsey says the re-election of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has, somewhat surprisingly, barely rated a mention in one of it's biggest trading and diplomatic partners: Australia.

"Perhaps this was because it was expected, but I suspect it's more likely that Australian's have barely noticed Indonesia's extremely successful transition to democracy. Of all the countries that have gone through the economic crisis, Indonesia is one of the few in which democracy has taken hold and increased."

Violence prevention needs long term integrated approach

dascott — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:03:56 +0000

Improved local government based violence prevention plans are more in need than ever before, according to the final results from a new University of Melbourne study.

"It's not rocket science, it's not a matter of allocating tremendous new resources, but simply using the resources that are already there effectively."

Australian consumers to get carbon footprint labelling scheme for food

nhannink — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:05:51 +0000

Consumers will soon be able to compare, buy and reject products based on their greenhouse emissions after the launch of a carbon footprint labelling scheme. Australia will be the third country, after Britain and the US, to get the foot-shaped Carbon Reduction Label, which is being billed as the greenhouse equivalent of a nutritional panel.

Professor Snow Barlow from the School of Land and Environment comments on the importance of the scheme for food security and best practice in standardising greenhouse gas emission reporting for food production.

Victoria well behind OECD best practice in public transport

dascott — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:04:54 +0000

Victoria is well behind OECD best practice when it comes to its public transport operations according to Professor Bill Russell, Deputy Director of the Australasian Centre for the Governance and Management of Urban Transport (GAMUT).

Breakthrough research navigates its way to success

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:55:10 +0000

Why is it easier to follow directions when they are explained through a series of landmarks instead of street names? According to the research by the University of Melbourne’s Geomatics Department and Whereis.com, when your mate says “turn right at the post office” he is actually tapping into your spatial cognitive recognition to give you a better understanding of how to get where you’re going.

Furosemide stops race horses bleeding into lungs

nhannink — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:17:18 +0000

A drug banned in Australian horse racing significantly reduces the risk of bleeding in to the lungs in thoroughbreds during racing, a groundbreaking study has found.

The study, which will be published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) on July 1, 2009, is the first to draw a definitive link between use of the medication furosemide (also known as frusemide, Lasix or Salix) and the prevention of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH).

Burqa debate is about choice

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:18:35 +0000

Social media making us ‘the other’

dascott — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:38:19 +0000

Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have had a tremendous effect on the reporting of Iranian elections, according to Associate Professor Ingrid Volkmer.

Associate Professor Volkmer says YouTube and Twitter have allowed a global audience access to footage and reports from Iranian citizens which would have been gagged by the Government, and says these first hand accounts have made the Iranian people less like ‘the other’ to a western audience.

It started with a ping – Internet marks 20 years in Australia

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:07:38 +0000

The internet came to Australia 20 year ago today, with a fragile link from Hawaii pinging across the seas to Robert Elz - now a fellow of the Melbourne School of Engineering in the Department of Computer Sciences and Software Engineering.

Indigenous eye health pioneer Hugh Taylor reflects on NT Intervention, two years on

smitk — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:16:39 +0000

A leading Melbourne University health expert says one of the main benefits of the NT Intervention has been getting Indigenous health back on the agenda as a major social justice issue in Australia.

Professor Hugh Taylor, who is Harold Mitchell Chair of Indigenous Eye Health at the University of Melbourne, began working alongside Fred Hollows in the seventies, and has for 30 years been striving to eradicate trachoma, a treatable eye disease causing blindness which disproportionately affects Indigenous Australians.

Ambitious new project to raise literacy and numeracy levels in Victoria’s schools

smitk — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:26:19 +0000

Ambitious new project to raise literacy and numeracy levels in Victoria’s schools

Pupils taking part in a University of Melbourne and Catholic Education Office Melbourne (CEOM) project have improved their reading ability by at least three times the state average.

Festival to highlight solutions as well as problems

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:01:23 +0000

Australia faces severe challenges from changes in climate and our necessary response to these challenges will lead to great changes in our society, says Director of the Festival of Ideas Patrick McCaughey.

“Everyone has heard a lot about climate change and how our temperature is rising, but there are so many other aspects of climate change that need to be taken into account such as food shortages, food fights, food security, and the problem that arable land is drying while the population continues to grow,” he says.

Positive change a real possibility in Iran

smitk — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:26:22 +0000

Iranians go to the polls tomorrow in a much anticipated presidential election, with the very real prospect of a victory for the reformists and a positive change for the nation, according to Melbourne middle east expert, Associate Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh.

Although positive about the prospect of change Associate Professor Akbarzadeh says it will be a close election, with the reformist camp divided between two candidates, risking a split in the reformist vote.

No clash of civilisations, Obama’s address paves the way for peace

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:01:11 +0000

In the wake of 9/11, the world was waiting for someone powerful to say that ‘our enemy is not Islam’ according to Professor Abdullah Saeed. He says this moment finally arrived when President Barack Obama made a landmark speech to the Muslim world.

“All of the issues Obama talked about in his address were closely connected to the interests of both America and the Muslim World. Obama presented the view that there is no clash of civilisations, that there is no clash between Islam and the West,” he says.

Figures don't lie, Australia is in recession says Associate Professor Mark Crosby

dascott — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:03:25 +0000

While the Australian economy recorded positive growth over the last economic quarter, Associate Professor Mark Crosby from the Melbourne Business School says Australia is still in recession.

"Most economists would not use the journalistic interpretation of recession i.e. two quarters of negative growth. Most economists would have a pretty rubbery definition of it, but generally the settle on something 'significantly below trend'. The Australian economy IS significantly below trend, with regards to GDP growth, so I would say we are in recession."

Hubble constant wins Professor prestigious prize

rebeccas — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:20:39 +0000

Measuring the size and age of the universe has won University of Melbourne Professor Jeremy Mould and his international colleagues the prestigious 2009 Gruber Prize for Cosmology, announced by the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation overnight in the United States.

Water efficiency is everyone’s business, says Associate Professor Hector Malano

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:07:16 +0000

City dwellers and farmers must work together to improve water efficiency, or the food demands of our growing population will not be met says Associate Professor Malano. “Water efficiency is everyone’s business, both city dwellers and farmers. If nothing is done about managing our state’s water more effectively then the consequences could be very severe,” he says.

Former Wallaby Dr Geoffrey Vaughan discusses the MURFC foundation match and Weary Dunlop

dascott — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:25:40 +0000

Dr Geoffrey Vaughan, a former Wallaby and Melbourne University Rugby Football Club player, says the University has had a long history against the University of Sydney.

Nurses aren’t just doing what the doctor tells them, says Professor Sanchia Aranda

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:42:10 +0000

The introduction of nurse operated walk-in clinics for public hospitals will help formalise the new role of nurses according to Head of Nursing at Melbourne University, Professor Sanchia Aranda.

“There is this classic perception that nurses are educated to know just enough to help doctors do their job. Yet these days the role of a nurse is blurred,” she says.

“These days there are nurses who have Masters and PhD degrees, these people have sophisticated skills and the ability to support the management of patients.”

Its time to rid the world of nuclear weapons, says Associate Professor Tilman Ruff

Fri, 29 May 2009 07:04:18 +0000

North Korea’s underground nuclear tests have been condemned by world leaders, yet Associate Professor Tilman Ruff says the global community should not simply react by reprimanding the regime but ridding the world of nuclear weapons.

“There are around 25,000 nuclear weapons in the world and if less than half of one per cent of the world’s nuclear arsenal was targeted on cities it could result in a global climatic catastrophe that would imperil human civilisation,” he says.

Do we have enough uranium to sustain export demand?

rebeccas — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:11:54 +0000

Professor Mike Sandiford of the University of Melbourne’s School of Earth Sciences questions whether Australia has enough uranium to supply the growing global nuclear power industry, as an alternative to fossil fuels.

BHP is set to develop Australia’s first and biggest uranium mine in more than 20 years, in Western Australia. The plans have been submitted after the Liberal West Australian Government's removal of the longstanding ban on uranium mines.

Efficiencies to be won in Australian education says Chair of National Curriculum Board

smitk — Tue, 26 May 2009 03:08:22 +0000

There are important efficiencies to be won for Australian school-children through the implementation of a national school curriculum, says Chair of the National Curriculum Board and Director of the Melbourne Educational Research Institute (MERI), Professor Barry McGaw.

There is a better way to reduce carbon emissions

Fri, 22 May 2009 07:01:41 +0000

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) is not the most efficient way to reduce carbon emissions, says Senior Lecturer in Finance Dr Les Coleman.

Dr Coleman says that while there have been extensive discussions about the pros and cons of the CPRS, alternatives to the scheme have not been adequately considered and people with specialist knowledge in the area of carbon reduction have not been adequately consulted.

VIDEO ALERT: Why no one cares about women in a sex scandal

Fri, 22 May 2009 03:49:53 +0000

Media focus on the morals of a dozen National Rugby League players allegedly involved in group sex with a woman in 2002 reflects deeper societal problems regarding the perception of women in our society, says expert on media and sexuality Dr Lauren Rosewarne.

No need to pack your pandemic pantry, says Dr Jodie McVernon

Thu, 21 May 2009 05:34:59 +0000

Dr Jodie McVernon says it was inevitable that swine flu would eventually hit our shores following confirmation this morning of three cases in Melbourne. Yet she assures Melbourne residents that these cases are not an indication of “wider community risk”.

Dr McVernon says surveillance measures put in place by the Department of Human Services upon the outbreak of swine flu aided containment of the virus to three boys from one family.

Death of Tamil Tigers’ leader not a guarantee for peace, says Dr Pradeep Taneja.

Wed, 20 May 2009 02:37:31 +0000

VIDEO ALERT: Death of Tamil Tigers’ leader not a guarantee for peace, says Dr Pradeep Taneja.

The armed struggle of Tamil Tigers for an ethnic homeland in Sri Lanka is reported to have ended after 26 years, yet Dr Pradeep Taneja from the University of Melbourne’s School of Social and Political Sciences said peace will be short-lived if the Sri Lankan Government does not “reach out to the Tamil people and appeal to their grievances”.

A combined tooth-venom arsenal revealed as key to Komodo Dragon's hunting strategy.

nhannink — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:32:10 +0000

A new study has shown that the effectiveness of the Komodo Dragon bite is a combination of highly specialized serrated teeth and venom. The authors also dismiss the widely accepted theory that prey die from septicemia caused by toxic bacteria living in the dragon’s mouth.

Prof Joshua Gans on the ETS and 'buying green'

dascott — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:36:03 +0000

Professor Joshua Gans says delays on the Federal Government’s emissions trading scheme shouldn’t effect consumer decisions on ‘buying green’.

With the Federal Government's hotly debated emissions trading scheme set to be introduced into the lower house today, Professor Gans says that the proposed one year delay in its official introduction should not be considered as "reneging on a previous timetable."

"When it comes down to it all, of the targets are to be achieved by 2020 or 2050”.

Budget policies should not be delayed: Associate Professor Mark Crosby reviews the Government’s budget.

Thu, 14 May 2009 05:49:19 +0000

The announcement of a $57 billion deficit by the Federal Government on Tuesday did not surprise Associate Professor Mark Crosby; but the decisions to delay policies such as maternity leave and a pension increase have.

“It seems strange that the Government has decided to delay certain policies because if it’s a good idea why not start now?” he says.

“The effect of delaying these policy delays will have a minimal effect on revenue and taxes, as while some changes will cost the government, some are revenue raising.”

Maternity leave lobbyists among few to celebrate in the wake of a tight Federal budget

Wed, 13 May 2009 01:05:04 +0000

VIDEO ALERT: Paid maternity leave will increase the value our nation places on paid and unpaid work of mothers according to University of Melbourne researcher Amanda Cooklin.

Ms Cooklin says the inclusion in tomorrow’s budget of an 18-week paid parental leave scheme which will begin nationally from January 2011, is an “historic and important decision”.

Public support for Pakistan’s military offensive against the Taliban may waiver as refugee numbers reach one million says Associate Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh.

Tue, 12 May 2009 03:40:18 +0000

The Pakistani Government and global aid community can’t address the needs of these refugees; it could result in a large pool of people who could easily be recruited into the Taliban says Associate Professor Akbarzadeh.

“There is a big risk that public opinion could turn against the Pakistani Government because of its bad management of this war, these military advances have resulted into over a million refugees and the Pakistani Government and aid agencies are woefully under prepared for this,” he says.

Professor Rob Moodie on the benefits of taxing alcopops

dascott — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:01:48 +0000

With the Federal Government set to resume debate today on proposed changes to taxes on alcopops, Professor Rob Moodie, Chair of Global Health at the University of Melbourne, discusses the benefits of such a tax.

Professor Moodie says there is independent evidence that the alcopop tax does work in reducing consumption, with independent studies revealing 165 million fewer spirit-based drinks were drunk by Australians when the tax was enforced between May 2008 and January 2009.

Paid maternity leave will increase the value our nation places on paid and unpaid work of mothers according to University of Melbourne researcher Amanda Cooklin.

Mon, 11 May 2009 06:47:17 +0000

Professor Mark Wooden says governments should focus on job creation instead of job protection to halt rising unemployment.

Wed, 06 May 2009 06:58:12 +0000

Professor Mark Wooden says governments should focus on job creation instead of job protection to halt rising unemployment.

Professor Wooden says state and federal government policies focused on saving jobs are “misplaced” and should be redirected toward job creation.

He says a number of declining industries are going to die out no matter how much funding is provided, and that the recession is “just the mechanism that accelerates the process”.

Professor Lynn Yates on funding school facilities

dascott — Tue, 05 May 2009 06:06:55 +0000

Professor Lyn Yates says funding for school buildings and facilities will help improve student morale and retention rates.

In today’s state budget, the Victorian Government has allocated $402 million toward the rebuilding and renovation of 113 state government schools across the state. These funds will be combined with the Federal government’s allocation of $686 million for Victorian schools’ infrastructure projects.

Fr Peter Norden calls for a proper burial for Ned Kelly

dascott — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:01:50 +0000

Ned Kelly’s remains should be returned to his family and he should be given a decent burial says former Pentridge Prison chaplain, Fr Peter Norden, AO.

Fr Norden, who has been appointed a Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne, says that in the 12 years since the former Pentridge Prison closed and moved into the hands of private commercial developers, nothing has been done to recognise the grave sites of those buried in the prison grounds.

Dr Carolyn Whitzman on plans to increase housing density in Melbourne

dascott — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:22:39 +0000

Increasing Melbourne’s housing density along its major tram lines would help achieve the planning goals of Melbourne 2030 according to Dr Carolyn Whitzman at the University of Melbourne.

“The plan would add a lot of certainty, because right now decisions are being made council by council about what maximum heights are going to be, while this plan is talking about a maximum height of 8 stories. Studies in Europe and North America show that if you increase density, you also increase services."

Dr Sam Wylie on the impact of recession in Australia

dascott — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:11:04 +0000

Dr Sam Wylie says that IMF predictions of a growth phase in the world economy in 2010 are off the mark, and says Australia should expect a long but shallow recession.

"The financial crisis is going to take between $40-$60 billion out of Government revenues. We should expect to see big defecits in Australia, with total government debt around $200 billion at the end of 2012, where at the moment its about $50 billion."

Australia prepared for swine flu - Prof Graham Brown

dascott — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:46:41 +0000

Australia well prepared to face swine flu outbreak, says Director of the Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne, Professor Graham Brown

Professor Brown says he is not surprised that the World Health Organisation has called the recent outbreak of swine flu a public health emergency of international concern.

This has been noted as an epidemic of potential concern as the World Health organisation want to act early; because the flu has traveled outside Mexico, there is a risk of it becoming a pandemic, he says.

Assoc Prof Mark Crosby on Chinese investment in Australia

dascott — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:36:22 +0000

Associate Professor Mark Crosby from the Melbourne Business School says the Chinese Governments decision to increase investment overseas is a sign that China wants to be more closely integrated in the world economy.