For the love of Francis
Published on: 19 January 2021
- When Don Barrett retired from teaching just shy of his 89th birthday in 2018, he was Queensland’s oldest practising teacher. He taught Latin for more than half a century at both high school and university level. But who is Don when he isn't transcribing Latin phrases in history books?
- Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about them? Experts explore their rise, impact and potential consequences.
- As global conflicts continue to escalate and questions are raised about Australia's ability to defend itself amid a growing risk of war in the Indo-Pacific region, 'Contact' posed the question to UQ experts: should Australia consider bringing back conscription to boost troop numbers?
- In this edition of UQ Diaries, we asked the UQ community if they prefer working from home or in the office. Find out what the UQ community had to say.
- Ahead of the 2024 Rodney Wylie Eminent Visiting Fellowship Lecture Series in Australia, 'Contact' sat down with the French politician and former EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier to talk about Brexit, diplomacy, and his unusual approach to building unity.
- UQ Master of Philosophy (MPhil) student and 2022 UQP Writing Mentorship winner Carly-Jay Metcalfe has written a memoir that will leave you breathless. Literally.
- For the latest edition of UQ Mythbusters, 'Contact' asked Dr Sally Mortlock, a Research Fellow at UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, to help put some of the most persistent myths about endometriosis to bed.
- A nationally representative survey has found 80% of Australians believe preventing catastrophic risks from advanced AI systems should be a global priority on par with pandemics and nuclear war.
- In this edition of The Real YouQ, 'Contact' catches up with audiology research leader and the new Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Professor Louise Hickson AM.
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- Have you ever wondered how life might have been had you chosen a different career path? Well, current UQ student and former public relations executive Yasmine Gray won’t be left wondering. At the grand age of 60, she has just enrolled in the Bachelor of Veterinary Technology and aims to become an animal paramedic, specialising in large animals such as horses and cows.
- In this edition of The Real YouQ, we meet internationally acclaimed archaeologist, heritage consultant and author Dr Andrew Sneddon. His new memoir "charts the often frightening and sometimes farcical journey of his teenage years" while living in the criminal underbelly of Queensland’s Gold Coast.
- Meet the current UQ Liveris Academy Executive in Residence, Leigh Staines, who reveals her passion for her new role and how she believes she can make a difference.
- Professor Victor Nurcombe has dedicated his professional life to understanding and improving repair processes within the human body. In a cruel twist, the pioneer stem-cell researcher now finds himself on the other end of the science as he undergoes treatment for terminal bone-marrow cancer. 'Contact' caught up with Professor Nurcombe as he reflects on his esteemed career and the remarkable UQ family legacy that paved the way before him.
- Robin Levison CA FAICD has been a bright light in the business world for many years. But his latest venture will see him propelled even closer to the heavens – the Moon and Mars, actually.
- UQ's award-winning publishing house, University of Queensland Press, has launched a new series showcasing classics of Indigenous Australian literature. We took a closer look at the new series, and why you should add these 8 beautiful new editions to your bedside stack.
- Meet the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger and UQ graduate walking the Thin Green Line in honour of fallen rangers.
- Welcome to The Real YouQ, the latest 'Contact' Q&A series offering a glimpse into the real lives of members of the UQ community. In this edition, we meet celebrated TEDx speaker, author and cult survivor Claire Ashman.
- TEDxUQ turns 10 this year. To celebrate this milestone, Contact caught up with some of the UQ community members who have been part of TEDxUQ over the years.
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- Professor Coral Gartner, from UQ's School of Public Health, analyses the potential effectiveness of the latest government vaping regulations and what the crackdown means for recreational vapers.
- Did you know there are over 20,700 different bee species in the world? UQ’s resident bee expert Dr Tobias Smith shares his top 7 most interesting facts about bees to help inform the public about the role the hard-working pollinators play in our delicate ecosystem.
- The current public debate about housing is focused on “silver bullet” solutions. What is needed is a comprehensive package of bold interventions, coordinated between all levels of government and the private sector.
- UQ experts analyse the 2023 federal budget and how it will impact various sectors across the country.
- Air pollution affects not just our physical health but also workplace productivity, as it reduces our cognitive functions.
- Parts of Australia are starting to see cooler weather. For some of us, that can mean increasing feelings of hunger and cravings for 'comfort food'. But what’s happening in our body?
- Actor and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow declared “I love an IV!” While IV supplements have hit the mainstream in recent years, here’s why they are not a quick fix and can be deadly.
- New research suggests plants can generate airborne sounds in response to stress, such as from drought or being cut.
- It's been more than 30 years since Queensland last held a referendum on daylight saving, so 'Contact' put the question to UQ researchers and alumni: is it finally time for daylight saving in Queensland? And, if so, who has the power to make it happen?
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- Nyah Teiotu (Bachelor of Engineering ’11 / Bachelor of Engineering (Honours Class 2B) ’16) is a proud Wemba Wemba woman, BHP’s first Indigenous female engineer, and the Queensland Resources Council’s Most Exceptional Person of 2019.
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- A team of UQ students and alumni are on a mission to launch Australia into space by building a scalable and zero-emissions rocket engine that doesn’t cost the Earth – all with the help of 3D printing.
- 'Contact' asked the December 2022 Honorary Award recipients to give advice to their 18-year-old selves. This is what they wrote...
- 2 December is International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. While it may be tempting to think that slavery is a thing of the past, in 2022 slavery and similar exploitative practices remain a significant and global problem.
- The University of Queensland is set to take a second-generation molecular clamp vaccine to a proof-of-concept human trial.
- As he transitions into retirement, UQ has recognised Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer's outstanding contribution to society by renaming the UQ Diamantina Institute in his honour.
- 'Contact' sat down with the research assistants who are paving the way for future generations around the world by exploring the quality of life of Gen Z’s with Down syndrome.
- Several Australian Commonwealth Games representatives are among 19 student-athletes recognised for their sporting achievements as UQ celebrates 110 years of the UQ Blues Awards.
- Dr Ellice E.P. Dart became a doctor and medical educator at a time when women were rare in both fields in Australia. The first woman employed by the University of Queensland’s fledgling Faculty of Medicine in 1936, she is being remembered in 2022 for her dedication to teaching and learning.
- 'Contact' has compiled a list of the best jacaranda walks you can enjoy at UQ this spring.
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- With the boom of technology like the metaverse, AI, and virtual reality, 'Contact' wanted to know what impact these technologies could have on the world’s sustainability goals.
- UQ alum Inga Doak (Bachelor of Applied Science, ’98), The Royal Mint’s first ever Head of Sustainability, talks about the future of cash, the Mint’s world-first gold recycling breakthrough, and what it was like to work at The Royal Mint during the transition to a new monarch.
- Pride Month (1–30 June) is about celebrating, and with good reason. But it’s also important to continue to reflect on the ongoing challenges facing LGBTQIA+ communities and to remember that there is still more to be done. Here are 5 tips on how to be an awesome ally.
- Parental burnout is not just a buzzword. It’s a growing syndrome that results from chronic parenting stress. So, what can parents and carers do to help prevent or reduce burnout when they’re already stretched so thin? Here are four things to explore.
- Despite having prepared for all the other questions an interview panel will throw at you, it's common to draw a blank on the last one: do you have any questions for us? Here are 10 questions to consider asking during your next job interview to give you the edge on the competition.
- Infectious diseases and microbiology expert, Associate Professor Paul Griffin, breaks down everything you need to know about the 2023 flu vaccine.
- Professor Coral Gartner, from UQ's School of Public Health, analyses the potential effectiveness of the latest government vaping regulations and what the crackdown means for recreational vapers.
- The current public debate about housing is focused on “silver bullet” solutions. What is needed is a comprehensive package of bold interventions, coordinated between all levels of government and the private sector.
- UQ experts analyse the 2023 federal budget and how it will impact various sectors across the country.
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- Join 'Contact' each month as we take you on a virtual guided tour, providing a brief overview of UQ's design pieces and where you can find them.
- Video: find out how Dr Michael Thai learned to step outside his comfort zone to become a celebrated lecturer and winner of the 2013 Three-Minute Thesis competition.
- Signs of inclusion as UQ student Jamie Howell named AFLW Premiership Cup Ambassador.
- 'Contact' heads to the photo archives to share some of the most remarkable images from the 2011 floods at UQ.
- Inspired by her naturalist grandfather and scholarly father, UQ graduate Margaret Thurgood had no choice but to go to university, even though this was not usual for women in the 1930s.
- Welcome to the final instalment of '11 Decades in 11 weeks at UQ'.
- Welcome to the final instalment of '11 Decades in 11 weeks at UQ'.
- How long will it be until artificial intelligence surpasses that of our own?
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