Global recognition for key researchers and institutes at Flinders University has applauded work across diverse areas, from health equity and treating eating disorders to underwater archaeology and coral reef preservation.
Southgate earns WHO designation
Reflecting Flinders University’s expertise in social policy, the World Health Organisation has designated our Southgate Institute as a WHO Collaborating Centre for the Social, Political and Commercial Determinants of Health Equity.
The Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity conducts public health and policy research that informs practice and policy development in Australia and overseas, in relation to the promotion of population mental and physical health and health equity, and the reduction of social and economic exclusion. In particular, it focuses on what can be done about the underlying factors that determine the distribution of health and wellbeing outcomes.
The Collaborating Centre will foster global research and knowledge translation on the social, political and commercial determinants of health equity and see Flinders contributing its research knowledge in a range of fundamental areas pertinent to health outcomes, such as urban planning, digital technologies, factors affecting life expectancy and the health impacts of transnational corporations.
Eating disorder book earns international clinician award
Professor Tracey Wade and co-authors received an outstanding clinician award from the international Academy for Eating Disorders for their 2019 book Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Non-Underweight Patients: CBT-T for Eating Disorders, which focuses on clinicians providing shorter forms of therapy for those with eating disorders.
The academy judges say this important book has the potential to change clinical practice worldwide by halving the time it takes to deliver CBT from 20 sessions to just 10, and it recognises Professor Wade’s continuing work at the forefront of informing innovative therapy adaptations to make therapy a better experience for consumers.
The award, which will be presented in a virtual ceremony on June 13, also provides a timely endorsement for the latest contribution by Professor Wade to an international publication giving clinicians tips about delivery of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders during COVID-19 restrictions.
Support for major nautical archaeology monograph
Associate Professor Wendy Van Duivenvoorde was recently awarded the 2020 George and Ann Bass Endowment for Nautical Archaeology Publications worth US$25,000 by The Institute of Nautical Archaeology.
Associate Professor Van Duivenvoorde leads the Kyrenia Ship Project, detailing the excavation of a 3rd-century BC ship which was wrecked near Kyrenia in Cyprus. This important nautical archaeology project is currently working on the publication of a four-volume monograph series, compiling years of study by an international team of scholars.
Associate Professor Van Duivenvoorde says the funding will be used for teaching relief, research assistance, archaeological illustration, and the 3D modelling and integration of data sets pertaining to the photogrammetry of the ship’s hull.
Prolific publication recognition
Emeritus Professor Neil Brewer has been identified as the most prolific Australian law researcher published in globally-recognised law journals – a significant achievement for a psychologist who is not from a law school. Several other authors acknowledged in this list, published by Australian law researchers Natalie Skead and Ian Murray, were former students of Professor Brewer, having been part of his third-year forensic psych/psych-law topic and did PhDs or postdoc studies with him.
Support for student reef studies
To help further her studies of coral reefs, Flinders University’s Cassie Hoepner has been named among a group of national students selected by the Australian Coral Reef Society for a $12,000 student grants to help support their travel costs when conducting reef research. This grant has been provided to help add to the growing body of coral reef research in preparation for the International Coral Reef Society conference in 2021.