Tag Archives: university
USQ and NASA Discuss Collaboration on Space Technology
The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) may expand its research focus into smart composite technologies for space applications following a successful meeting between a USQ academic and NASA scientists in the USA. USQ Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC) Director, Professor Alan Lau, visited the NASA Glenn Research Centre in Cleveland, Ohio, earlier this year to discuss future collaboration in energy composites. CEEFC researchers Dr Jay Epaarachichi, Professor Alan Lau and Dr Mainul Islam are examining smart technologies for composite materials. Professor Lau said NASA scientists had shown interest in the CEEFC projects in this particular field: Composites Wind Turbine Blade Design and Delamination Detection of Smart Composite Structures using Embedded Sensor and Actuator Technology. “Many topics, like modelling skills on sandwich structures, life prediction of space composite structures and fibre-optic sensor technology were placed on the table to find any commonality to further extend the research scope in the future,” Professor Lau said. “We also discussed the issue of the life reliability measure for composites and their related structures based on a generic mapping system for smart composite wing, developed by the CEEFC using an embedded fibre sensor network.” Professor Lau said the centre was now working with NASA on developing a scholar/research exchange scheme, a joint PhD supervision scheme and joint research and development centre scheme in Toowoomba. Currently, Professor Lau and two key CEEFC researchers, Dr Jay Epaarachchi and Dr Mainul Islam, are working with different research and development sectors on smart technologies for composite materials. Submitted by Madeleine Tiller, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1163 Continue reading
Mother-of-Six Honoured at USQ’s First Law Graduation
When Toowoomba teacher Mary Ann Armstrong returned to university to study law, she was determined to find out if two things were true. “I was once told that nice people don’t make good lawyers. I was also told that I would not be capable to complete a law degree in three years because I had six children.” Through sheer determination and a positive attitude, Mary Ann proved both statements false when she stepped proudly onto the stage last weekend as one of USQ’s first Law graduands. “My law degree belongs to many more people than just myself,’ she said. ‘It was a choice to study law; however, it was a gift to study law at USQ.” Mary Ann said her decision to become a solicitor stemmed from a desire for a new start and change in career. “I had just completed my Master of Training and Development through USQ, having been a teacher in Toowoomba since 1997,’ she said. ‘Although I loved being an educator, I was looking for a new beginning. When I was told that USQ was starting up a Law School in 2008, I jumped at the chance to study law.” USQ Law graduate Mary Ann Armstrong is congratulated by Law School Head, Professor Mike Robertson. Mary Ann’s youngest child was a small baby when she attended her first lecture in March 2008. Her confidence received a boost when she achieved seven high distinctions and one distinction in her first year of study. “That first year I dedicated myself to that degree, only working part-time, although it soon became clear that I needed to find a position within a law firm so that I could balance the theoretical knowledge with practical application. I needed to work and study full-time to achieve my goals.” Last year Mary Ann began working at GR Brown Solicitor in Sandgate, Brisbane. “I started out as the receptionist, and remember not even being able to understand some of the language used around the office,’ she said. ‘But with the support of Mr Brown, a sole, general practitioner with more than 40 years experience, I learnt quickly and woke up every morning looking forward to a new challenge. For two years he guided me, never raising his voice or being negative. He introduced me to the courts, allowed me to brief Counsel and attend court whenever possible. He also gave me time off for my exams. I was determined not to let him or my university lecturers down, let alone my family and myself.” Mary Ann studied three semesters a year, and by January this year was eligible to graduate with a juris doctor qualification. During her last semester, Mary Ann enrolled as a full-time student in the Legal Practical Training course at the College of Law and recently received her Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, as well as her admission at the Supreme Court of Queensland. She is now a qualified solicitor in Queensland. The USQ School of Law was established in 2008 and currently has more than 600 full-time, part-time, on-campus and distance education students. Submitted by Madeleine Tiller, USQ Media Continue reading
Humble Onion May Improve Quality of Life
An onion a day may keep a cold at bay but also it has the potential to combat obesity, diabetes and an increased blood pressure, according to a new study by University of Southern Queensland (USQ) biomedical scientists. The study showed that rutin extracted from onions reversed fat stores in laboratory rats, lowered blood pressure, reversed glucose problems and improved liver damage. The USQ research was conducted by Professor Lindsay Brown, Sunil K Panchal, Hemant Poudyal and Thiruma Arumugam and will be published in next month’s prestigious Journal of Nutrition. Rutin is a non-nutritive component of many foods such as onions, apples, tea and red wine, and has shown health-improving effects in different animal studies but this is the first study concentrating on diet-induced health problems. USQ Professor Lindsay Brown has studied the effects of rutin on obese laboratory rats. The study, led by Professor Brown, involved feeding rats a high carbohydrate, high fat diet for eight weeks until they developed signs of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, hypertension, fatty liver and cardiac stiffness. The rats given rutin for a further eight weeks improved the structure and function of the heart and liver, together with improved metabolic signs and less abdominal fat compared with rats given the high carbohydrate, high fat diet. Professor Brown said that anti-inflammatory responses were the key to the positive responses with rutin. “Inflammation can induce weight gain as well as damage to the heart and liver,’ he said. ‘We now have scientific evidence that the adverse effects of the high fat diet in these rats were completely reversed by rutin.” Professor Brown said he hoped to work with local producers in further research, as well as secure funding for human trials to be conducted “What we have found in our rats tells us that rutin could improve the quality and quantity of life in people, with no known side effects,’ he said. ‘While there is still a long way to go with this research, we are encouraged by our findings so far.” Professor Brown works in the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences at USQ. Submitted by Madeleine.Tiller@usq.edu.au Continue reading
Population Growth – What’s in it For You?
A free public information forum to discuss the impact of population growth in regional areas will be held in Toowoomba on Wednesday 8 December 2010, from 7pm – 9pm, Jacaranda Room, Grand Central Shopping Centre. Hosted by Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE), the evening’s topic will be ‘Regionalisation of population growth: whose agenda is it and what’s in it for us?’ The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) is currently calling on the state government to develop a population policy. LGAQ believes more needs to be done to manage the impacts of a growing population on environmental and natural resources, as well as providing for services and infrastructure. According to HOPE president Frank Ondrus, the forum is a unique opportunity for the public to have their say on the increasing population and its potential impacts on their region, and to talk about such issues as sustainability, jobs, development and the local environment. “By 2031, Queensland is estimated to be home to 6.3 million people”, says Mr. Ondrus, “however, at the moment we are only reacting to trends in population growth. We should be preparing for growth. We should be talking about the potential impacts on the local environment and our natural resources, as well as our ability to provide services and infrastructure to this expanding population.” Speakers at the forum on Wednesday 8 December include Jane O’Sullivan from Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) and Dr Geoff Cockfield Associate Professor (Government and Economics) & Deputy Dean of the University of Southern Queensland. For further information, or to RSVP for the forum please contact Frank Ondrus on 4639 2135 or email office@hopeaustralia.org.au. Submitted by Keryn Donnelly, Media Officer – HOPE Inc Continue reading
Inspiring Nursing graduate triumphs over difficult past
Tiffany Zimmermann is a firm believer in pursuing academic dreams. This Saturday (April 24), when the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Master of Mental Health Nursing graduate steps onto the stage to accept her Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Award for the highest grade point average, it will be a triumph over a difficult childhood and troubled teenage years. “Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the life I have now or the achievements I have made, it blows me away,” she said. “I would never have considered that one day I would have a Bachelor’s Degree, a Master’s Degree and be working towards a third degree.” Tiffany, 36, a mother-of-two who was born in Toowoomba, describes her past as “somewhat gruesome. I was raised by a single parent and moved around a lot – 10 moves and nine schools by the time I was 14,” she said. “I was put in the care of the Department of Child Safety Services at 14 years old, kicked out of home at 16, unemployed and living in a caravan in Miles at 17 and pregnant at 18.” At 20 years old, Tiffany undertook a natural therapies course and discovered she had a passion for women’s health. “I decided I wanted to be a private midwife and repeat Year 12 so that I could go to uni.” Since then, Tiffany has undertaken study in pregnancy counselling, completed a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Nursing, and is currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s Degree in Midwifery. “I am also planning to train as a doula later this year,” she said. Currently residing in Cairns with her husband Rene (a doctor), daughter Ivory and son Raven, Tiffany said her dream was to work as a private midwife, providing community and home-based intrapartum care and birthing services to women and their families. “I would like to find a way to meld my mental health training with midwifery training,” she said. ‘”I have a particular interest also in perinatal mental health and am part of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health group in Cairns. I would like to do a doctorate one day and maybe write a book about hyperemesis gravidarum (a severe form of morning sickness) for Australian women.” Tiffany will join more than 1100 Sciences and Education students celebrating the conferring of their degrees during USQ’s Autumn Graduation Ceremonies at the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre this Saturday, April 24. The Faculty of Education graduation ceremony will be held at 10am and the Faculty of Science graduation ceremony will get underway from 2.30pm. Nursing graduate Tiffany Zimmermann has overcome many challenges to achieve her academic dreams. Submitted by Madeleine Tiller, USQ Media , +61 7 4631 1163, 0400 025 429 Continue reading
Inspiring Nursing graduate triumphs over difficult past
Tiffany Zimmermann is a firm believer in pursuing academic dreams. This Saturday (April 24), when the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Master of Mental Health Nursing graduate steps onto the stage to accept her Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Award for the highest grade point average, it will be a triumph over a difficult childhood and troubled teenage years. “Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the life I have now or the achievements I have made, it blows me away,” she said. “I would never have considered that one day I would have a Bachelor’s Degree, a Master’s Degree and be working towards a third degree.” Tiffany, 36, a mother-of-two who was born in Toowoomba, describes her past as “somewhat gruesome. I was raised by a single parent and moved around a lot – 10 moves and nine schools by the time I was 14,” she said. “I was put in the care of the Department of Child Safety Services at 14 years old, kicked out of home at 16, unemployed and living in a caravan in Miles at 17 and pregnant at 18.” At 20 years old, Tiffany undertook a natural therapies course and discovered she had a passion for women’s health. “I decided I wanted to be a private midwife and repeat Year 12 so that I could go to uni.” Since then, Tiffany has undertaken study in pregnancy counselling, completed a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Nursing, and is currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s Degree in Midwifery. “I am also planning to train as a doula later this year,” she said. Currently residing in Cairns with her husband Rene (a doctor), daughter Ivory and son Raven, Tiffany said her dream was to work as a private midwife, providing community and home-based intrapartum care and birthing services to women and their families. “I would like to find a way to meld my mental health training with midwifery training,” she said. ‘”I have a particular interest also in perinatal mental health and am part of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health group in Cairns. I would like to do a doctorate one day and maybe write a book about hyperemesis gravidarum (a severe form of morning sickness) for Australian women.” Tiffany will join more than 1100 Sciences and Education students celebrating the conferring of their degrees during USQ’s Autumn Graduation Ceremonies at the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre this Saturday, April 24. The Faculty of Education graduation ceremony will be held at 10am and the Faculty of Science graduation ceremony will get underway from 2.30pm. Nursing graduate Tiffany Zimmermann has overcome many challenges to achieve her academic dreams. Submitted by Madeleine Tiller, USQ Media , +61 7 4631 1163, 0400 025 429 Continue reading
A Stroll Down Broadway – A Grand Success
Toowoomba Municipal Brass Band The Inaugural ‘A Stroll Down Broadway’ was a grand success and raised $7,000 for the Toowoomba Hospice. Promotions and Fundraising Manager Mr. Mark Munro said he had goose bumps through and through on opening night and he couldn’t wait until the matinee session on Sunday. “ I was so proud of the Toowoomba Municipal Band and Choir ‘The Accidentals’ as they all did an outstanding performance in presenting music from many great Broadway shows including ‘Love Changes Everything’ from Lloyd-Webber’s ‘Aspects of Love’, Peter Allen’s ‘I go to Rio’ from ‘Boy from Oz’, ‘I Know him so well’ and ‘Anthem’ from the musical ‘Chess’. The ever popular music of ABBA as seen in ‘Mamma Mia’ was featured in a great medley of their hits. Mr. Munro also sang the praises of Compere Mr. Robert Ketton, Musical Director Lorraine Fuller, Choral Coach Cherie Macaulay and Choreographer Shannon Gralow who had combined their talents in this production with the whole cast to make it such a success. All proceeds from the 2 performances have gone to the Toowoomba Hospice to help continue the invaluable free palliative care service for the terminally ill on the Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley. Cidinha Moos and Gai McGee volunteered to serve light refreshments for all those who attended the Performance at the Empire Theatre, Toowoomba Mr. Munro wanted to pass on the Hospice’s sincere gratitude to: University of Southern Queensland, Empire Theatres, The Glennie School, Bob Horstman, Mark Munro, Renae Coonan, Lorraine Fuller, Leanne Fuller, Ian A Rosenberger, Elizabeth Crook, Matthew Skerman, Stephen Lebsanft, Toowoomba Regional Council’s Community Access Fund, Hospice Volunteers, Municipal Band Volunteers & all media for their support of this event. Finally to Lisa Skerman who made Mr. Munro’s dream of holding a special ‘Musical Concert’ a reality! “I have been wanting to do something like this for a long time and when I put the idea to Lisa she was more than happy to get the ball rolling by securing the band and creating the ‘Accidentals’ Lisa was and is an absolute Gem…Thank you Lisa!” Roisin Davis, Chris Lebsanft, Leo Lebsanft and Grace Elliott were all smiles at the Inaugural 'Stroll Down Broadway' Laureen Roberts and Desley Nothdurft were all cuddles for Jamie Nuss from the Toowoomba Municipal Brass Band to congratulate him on the success of the night. Continue reading
