High accolades for UWA teaching

Once again UWA staff have been recognised for their high teaching standards with two individual awards for excellence at the 2009 Australian Awards for University Teaching.

Winthrop Professor Stephen Houghton from UWA's Graduate School of Education and Mr Mel Thomas and his team from UWA's School of Indigenous Studies and UWA Law School were among 24 teachers across Australia to achieve recognition among the nation's top university teachers and most outstanding programs and services.

Nobel Laureate Series named in honour of Barry Marshall and Robin Warren

A public lecture series to allow the community to engage with Nobel Laureates from around the world has been named in honour of UWA Professors Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, joint winners of the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 2005.

The 2009 Marshall-Warren lecture: How Advances in Science are Made, will be delivered by Stanford University Professor in Physics Douglas Osheroff on 24 November from 6.00pm in Winthrop Hall.

Alumni events

Alumni located in the UK and the USA had the opportunity to attend alumni reunion events last month. The turn out for both events was impressive, thanks to the hard work of key alumni in both regions. The London event was held in the magnificent surrounds of Australia House while the Harvard Club in New York was the venue for the USA reunion.

New postgraduate courses in International Relations commencing 2010

UWA has launched its new Postgraduate Program in International Relations for 2010 designed to provide graduates with advanced training in the academic field of international relations.

Endorsed by the Australian Ambassador-Designate to the United States, Kim Beazley, as an "... important development at UWA", the new program includes a three semester Master of International Relations.

Staff appointments

Two new appointments at UWA bring experience and youth to the Faculties of Law and Engineering, Computing and Mathematics.

Christopher Steytler QC, Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission of Western Australia, has been appointed a Winthrop Professor of Law and Associate Professor Eric May has been appointed as the Chevron Chair in gas Process Engineering.

Convocation elections

Nominations for the 2010 Convocation elections are open until the 15th of January 2010.

Mr Simon Dawkins and Mr David Hodgkinson will complete their terms as Warden and Deputy Warden of Convocation, the UWA Graduates Association in March 2010.

In addition, six members of the Council of Convocation, the UWA Graduates Association will complete terms in March 2010, and there are four additional vacancies.

Cycle across Africa to educate on poverty

A UWA graduate has begun an epic 24,000 km journey across Africa from west to east in an effort to educate and inspire action to break the cycle of poverty.

Kate Leeming, who already has two cycling world-firsts under her belt, has begun her 10-month journey which will be made into a documentary and book, aiming to educate people about the plight of Africa's poor.

New school for young medicos

The Federal Government has committed $5 million from its Capital Development Program to improve UWA's capacity to provide teaching and learning facilities on the Joondalup Health Campus.

The funding will be used to construct a purpose-built Community Clinical School for training undergraduate students from medical and allied professions.

UWA wins in Diversity@Work

UWA's leadership in workplace diversity has been acknowledged with two major honours at the Employment and Inclusion Diversity@Work awards in Melbourne.

UWA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson, was named as the National Diversity and Inclusion Champion recognising his strong personal commitment to equity and social justices and the University's Ally Program won the Employment and Inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Intersex Award.

International sailing program launched

UWA's new international sailing program will give more staff, students and members of the community the opportunity to become involved in one of Australia's more popular sports.

The University of Western Australia International Sailing Program is a collaboration between UWA and partners including the UWA Sport and Recreation Association, the West Australian Yachting Federation, Royal Perth Yacht Club and the State Sailing Centre.

Coming events

• UWA November Extension courses: Creating an Edible Landscape; Building or Renovating your Home - The Legal Issues; Turning Japanese for a Day.
• 50th Reunion Lunch for all graduates in Winthrop Hall on Sunday 22 November, 12.30pm
• AGM for ACT Alumni, guest speaker is ANU Chancellor Professor Kim Beazley on Thursday 3 December.
• Indian Rim Asian University Games hosted by UWA  on 7 to 11 December