Inspiring achievers

Flinders University has a reputation for teaching and research excellence.

The following inspiring achievers are amongst the latest contributors to Flinders fine standing in higher education, in Australia and overseas.

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Flinders University neuroscientists Professor Marcello Costa and Professor Ian Gibbins have been jointly awarded the 2008 award for Unsung Hero of South Australian Science Communication.
They were cited as 'highly energetic and engaging individuals who are extensively involved in numerous initiatives to increase the public awareness of science'.
In addition to their extensive research efforts, the pair have developed a range of medical and biomedical science courses. Both have been heavily involved in setting up organisations aimed at improving science communication in South Australia, including such initiatives as the South Australian Neuroscience Institute, 'Science outside the Square', the Australian Science Media Centre and Royal Institution of Australia.
Presenters of numerous public lectures, their fundamental belief is that communicating to a wider audience is a critical role for scientists.

 

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ADDITIONAL PROFILES

• Flinders University’s Professor Claire Smith has been re-elected for a second term as President of the World Archaeological Congress.
• As the top final-year students in the Flinders University’s Bachelor of Technology (Forensic and Analytical Chemistry) Degree in 2007, Lucy Martin and Emma Partridge have been jointly awarded the annual Forensic Science SA Medal.
• Flinders University’s Alumni Association has announced the award of 10 Distinguished Alumni Awards to 10 Flinders graduates in recognition of significant contributions made in diverse fields of public life.
• Current and former Flinders staff members and graduates received awards in the recent Queen’s Birthday honours list.
• A career dedicated to teaching of the Italian language and research on Italian immigrant communities has brought a major award from the Italian government for Professor Desmond O'Connor of the Department of Languages at Flinders.
  
• Professor Mark Israel of the School of Law and Professor Iain Hay from the School of Geography, Population and Environmental Management at Flinders have each been honoured with a Senior Fellowship by the UK’s Higher Education Academy.
  
• Four Flinders University projects – three from Drama and one from Screen Studies – have received funding in the first round of 2008 awards by South Australia’s tertiary arts funding body, the Helpmann Academy.
• Professor Fran Baum , Head of the Department of Public Health at Flinders, is one of 14 outstanding researchers to receive a Federation Fellowship, Australia’s best-known and most valuable research grants, from the Australian Research Council (ARC).
  
• Flinders Bioengineering graduate David Hobbs , now a Senior Rehabilitation Engineer with Novita Children's Services, has been awarded a Fulbright Professional Scholarship.
• Flinders University nursing academic Sabina Knight has been appointed to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.
• Flinders student Emma Lawrance , who has just commenced her honours year in physics, has been awarded a $15,000 scholarship by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and the Australian Institute of Physics.
• Three researchers from Flinders are among 91 leading Australian scientists to be awarded grants to undertake important overseas collaborative research in 2008-2009 under the Australian Government's Backing Australia's Ability initiative.
  
• The already promising film career of Flinders graduate Anthony Maras took a major leap on December 7 when his short film Spike Up won the best short fiction film award at the Australian Film Industry (AFI) awards.
  
• Flinders University student and Adelaide Lightning professional basketballer Jessica Foley, has scored yet again, this time winning the national title of University Female Athlete of the Year at the annual Australian University Sports awards.
  
• Professor Susan Sheridan is one of six Australian academics to be acknowledged on the Australian Research Council’s Christmas card.
  
• Melissa Suckley from Flinders Housing has been funded to present a paper at the International Housing Officer conference in the United States next year.
  
• Bachelor of Innovation and Enterprise (Science and Technology) [BIE] team, Yancie, won the Company of the Year Award, and the team’s CEO, Ms Angela Dewdney, won the State Tertiary Business Person of the Year Award. She will travel to Sydney to compete in the national titles on November 28.
  
• The University of New England has conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (HonDLitt.) on Emeritus Professor Norm Feather from Flinders University’s School of Psychology in recognition of his "past contribution to the University and your outstanding contribution to the discipline of Psychology.
  
• Medical ethicist Associate Professor Wendy Rogers and the Rural Parallel Rural Community Curriculum Program, led by Professor Paul Worley, have won 2007 Carrick Awards, given for national tertiary education teaching.