Over 100 staff and students attended the Division of EFS's second annual Research Expo on Friday 4 August 2006 in the SAM Building at Macquarie University. The event showcased the innovative and diverse work of 47 Division higher degree research students, who were each required to give a ten minute presentation on their thesis and field questions for five minutes. Of 35 attendees (including presenters, supervisors, chairs and the general public) who completed an evaluation form, 99% gave it the thumbs up. Attendees had the opportunity to see what research other people were doing, and experienced different presentation styles and skills. The cross-departmental interactions, constructive feedback, and networking beyond one's own area of research topped off the day.
The diversity of the research topics was extraordinary and included statistical modelling of such things as feeding regimes of pigs, lung cancer treatments, waterborne hazard, stock market prices and genetic material; social networks in Bangladesh and contraception choice; Indigenous poverty in urban NSW; effectiveness of anti-smoking campaigns; consumer decision in banking; measuring consumer loyalty; ethnicity and suicide mortality; accountants' attitudes and decisions-making and audit quality. Abstracts of all presentations are now available.
The Dean, Professor Ed Davis, AM, agreed that this year's presentations exceeded all expectations, “Higher degree research is vitally important to the Division and its efforts in building our research performance, and we were delighted to witness such a high calibre of research talent. I am particularly impressed by the number of students conducting research about social issues such as poverty and health."
"The sense of a research community between departmental areas, as well as within, was palpable; everyone there was genuinely interested in exchanging ideas and learning from each other. It could not have turned out better," said Associate Dean, Research Associate Professor Melanie Beresford.
Associate Professor Beresford thanked the Division Research Office team - Kerry Todd-Smith, Wendy Noble, Andrea Chareunsy and Sumi Pilkington - for the organisation of the event, and acknowledged the participants for their contribution to the success of the Research Expo. Feedback suggests that participants would welcome a two-day Expo with the addition of 'Master class' sessions where HDR students see how an 'expert' would present, and the attendance of colleagues from other Divisions.
other's research and presentation skills!"
- Zhiming Cheng, PhD student.
highly motivated, articulate, and more than capable pool
of PhD students.’’
-Associate Professor Ron Ripple.
Prizes were awarded by popular vote as follows:
Best Presentation
Charlene Chen MQSR 6 - month gym membership with T - shirt and personal training session
Passion in Presenting
Alan Kilgore SAM MQ hooded sweatshirt pack
Community Impact of Research
Faiza Ali $50 Co-op Bookshop voucher
Runners-up (above categories combined)
Rebecca Reeve MQSR 4 - month gym membership with T shirt and personal training session
Barbara Nevicky SAM MQ hooded sweatshirt pack
Bhanu Bhatia $50 Co-op Bookshop voucher
Samantha Sin MQSR 1 - month gym membership with T- shirt and personal training session
Daminda Weerasinghe $50 Co-op Bookshop voucher
Andrea Chareunsy $50 Co-op Bookshop voucher
The Division Research Office gratefully acknowledges the sponsorship and support of The Co-op Bookshop, Macquarie University Sport & Recreation, SAM and Venues at Macquarie.
Contact: Skaidy Gulbis
Phone: 9850 4774
