Of the day

Science and Technology Australia has new executive committee members. Jeremy Brownlie is president-elect (taking over at end 2019).  Sue Barrell is VP, Sharath Sriram is policy chair, Sumeet Walia is early career representative.  Darren Saunders is re-elected as secretary.

SA Tafe has new board leadership, with resources executive Jacqui McGill appointed chair. Other new directors are Joanne Denley, Judith Curran, Jennifer Cleary and Andrew Marshal. They join Sam Scammell and Craig Fowler (ex head of the estimable National Centre for Vocational Education Research) on “the revitalised board”.

 The University of Adelaide has announced its Stephen Cole the Elder* awards for excellence in  teaching and learning support: Corinna Van Den Heuvel, (med school). Elizabeth Koch, (music). Claudia Szabo, (computer science) and Christophe Fumeaux, (electrical engineering).  *The awards are funded by the estate of a descendant of colonial settler Stephen Cole.

University of Canberra sociologist Deborah Lupton has received an hoc doc from the University of Copenhagen.

And of the week

 Heiko Spallek steps up as head of school and dean of dentistry at the University of Sydney. Professor Spallek became pro dean in 2016 and has acted as dean and school head since early this year.

Guang Shi will be the inaugural head of the University of Wollongong’s School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences. Professor Shi will move from Deakin U to UoW in March. The school was created following a restructure and commences in January.

Caroline Mansfield will be the new dean of education at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Freemantle. She will move from Murdoch U and start in February.

Chief Scientist Alan Finkel has received the Engineers Australia award for outstanding service to engineering. Marlene Kanga (boards of Academy of Technology and Engineering, HEARing CRC among other roles) is professional engineer of the year.

James Cook U has awarded an hon doc to Bonita Mabo for her advocacy for indigenous schooling and the rights of Indigenous Australians and Australian South Sea Islanders.

Ingrid Day joins the Australian Institute of Business, (“the practical business school”) as academic dean. She moves from the University of Adelaide where she was ED teaching, learning and student experience in the professions faculty.

 The Victorian Young Tall Poppy science awards for 2018 are announced, including;Kathryn Backholer (Deakin U, policy to improve diet), Bianca Brijnath, (depression, dementia diagnosis in older migrants, National Ageing Research Institute), Andy Casey (Monash U, chemicals in distant stars),  Tim Doherty, (Deakin U, wildlife ecology,) Nishar Hameed (Swinburne U, strong, light materials), Roslyn Hickson (Uni Melbourne, maths models of disease spread), Megan Lim (Burnet Institute, public health), Yen Ying Lim(Alzheimer’s, Florey Institute), Erin McGillick (Monash U, fetal lung development), Gemma Sharp (Monash U, women’s body image),  Michelle Tate (Monash U, influenza).YTP of the year is Scott Griffiths (Uni Melbourne, eating  disorders),

The National Health and Medical Research Council has announced membership of its Health Innovation Advisory Committee, to serve until 2021.

 Chair Katherine Woodthorpe, is also in the NHMRC’s overall advisory council. Other members are; Matthew Cooper (UoQ), Dean Moss (health and biotech investor), Anna Lavelle (chair, Medicines Australia), Robyn O’Hehir (Monash U), John Prins (Melbourne Medical School), Ashley Bush, (Melbourne Dementia Research Centre), Julie Phillips (director, MTP Connect), Rebecca Davies (chair, Heart Foundation NSW), Laura Thomson(Aboriginal health leader), Ruth Stewart, (James Cook U), Jennifer Herz (biopharmaceutical industry executive).