Students win across screen, visual art and water management while aviation history takes off thanks to Flinders researchers, school policy whiz joins new education super group, and genetics expert starts new Canberra fellowship.
Screen students show their stuff
A competition by Music SA and the SA Government encouraging young filmmakers to promote local musicians has seen another Flinders screen win.
Directed by Laura Kennedy, the Flinders team including Ellen Baldock and Phoebe Lynch won the Open Category for their clip for Isaac Thomas’ ‘Crippling Depression’.
Their win in the Clip Combat competition was announced on Thursday 18 July at the Mercury Cinema.
Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni says Clip Combat was inspired by the ‘Battle of the Bands’ model, with entrants vying for prizes to support the professional development of their craft and increased exposure.
Music SA received 40 entries across the High School and Open categories with three finalists named for each category, including two Flinders teams.
“It’s great to see the level of engagement in this competition. Just to enter requires a fair bit of commitment – sourcing an original song, conceiving a concept and then the logistics of filming, editing and bringing it to life – using so many skills that will be beneficial no matter what career path entrants end up choosing,” Minister Pisoni says.
View the Flinders students’ winning clip.
German accolades for water student
Peter Reeve, a PhD student in environmental health, recently attended the International Water Associations Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse in Berlin where he participated in the Young Water Professionals Program.
Program participants were divided into teams to design a sustainable water reuse scheme for Berlin. Mr Reeve was a member of the winning team, which received 100 Euros.
At the event he delivered a paper, The removal of emerging organic contaminants in managed aquifer recharge schemes to ensure a safe, sustainable and high quality water resource – which presented some of his research undertaken at the Oaklands Wetlands.
Arts graduate wins $20,000 fellowship
A Flinders graduate has been awarded the inaugural Centre for Creative Health Curatorial Fellowship, presented by the Helpmann Academy in partnership with the Centre for Creative Health at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Erin O’Donohue, who completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at Flinders, was awarded the 12-month paid position which will see the emerging visual artist work alongside an established team at the Royal Adelaide Hospital for two days a week.
The program will include developing an understanding of the day-to-day requirements of working as a curator within an Arts in Health environment, culminating in curating an exhibition within one of the dedicated gallery spaces at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Ms O’Donohue commenced her role in July. The fellowship is valued at $20,000.
School policy and practice whiz appointed to education super group
Emeritus Professor John Halsey has been appointed to the Australian Council for Educational Leaders’ (ACEL) new academic advisory group that will facilitate the sharing of research, policy and practice in educational leadership.
The new group brings together some of Australia’s most recognised and influential academics.
Emeritus Professor Halsey said the formation of the group is “a very important development for ACEL for progressing education and educational leadership in Australia and beyond”.
“The partnership of researchers and ACEL provides the critical bridging so essential for testing and translating new ideas into best practice to enhance opportunities for all,” he told The Educator.
“I am especially pleased ACEL has used the Advisory Group initiative to enthusiastically engage with the challenges and opportunities of rural and remote education.”
Genetics expert moves to Canberra for fellowship
Former Tall Poppy and Flinders seed research grant recipient Dr Catherine Attard has commenced a one-year science policy fellowship with the Australian Government in Canberra.
Working in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, she will spend the first six months assisting the Australian Space Agency, and then move to the Remediation Policy team for the remainder of her term.
Dr Attard’s research interests are in the use of DNA to understand and improve conservation management. She retains Academic Status with Flinders.
Aviation history takes off
Two famous stories in South Australian aviation history are taking off this year, assisted by Flinders University academics.
The centenary of Sir Ross and Keith Smith’s epic world-first flight from Australia to England – and the first airmail flight over water in the southern hemisphere, from Adelaide to Minlaton across Gulf St Vincent – are major celebrations of heroic flying adventures marked by new history editions.
Flinders Professor Peter Monteath has edited and introduced a revised memoir by the world-renowned pilot Sir Ross Smith who tells of his crew’s victory in the Great Air Race of 1919: Flight to Fame: Victory in the 1919 Great Air Race, England to Australia.
Another Flinders University academic, South Australian historian Dr Samantha Battams of Flinders’ Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity. is launching her second history book for the year.
The Red Devil coincides with the centenary of the historic flight across Gulf St Vincent 100 years ago.
Captain Henry John “Harry” Butler (1889-1924) became known as the Red Devil (due to his red monoplane) after becoming part of a daring corps of Australian aviation pioneers who fought – and survived – the horrors of World War One.
Upon his return to South Australia, his flight from Adelaide across the Gulf to his hometown of Minlaton on 6 August 1919 is regarded as the first mail run and first flight across a large body of water in the southern hemisphere.
The Red Devil (The Story of South Australian Aviation Pioneer, Captain Harry Butler, AFC) will be officially launched by Professor Monteath on 3 August, followed by another book signing at the SA Aviation Museum on 17 August.