The University of Melbourne Voice
Issues, views, debate, University news and events, fortnightly Vol. 3, No. 10, 8 December - 12 January 2009 Cover StoryThe Economy Changes Gears
Australians are famous for their have-a-go spirit. But that spirit is sure to be tested over the holiday season as traditional Christmas spending is balanced by ongoing fears of a recession and the lingering effects of the global credit crisis. DAVID SCOTT reports. Tightening our belts
Australian consumers will reduce spending for Christmas and beyond according to a University of Melbourne-commissioned Colmar Brunton poll. Getting Easier Being Green
Want to do the right thing by the environment and the economy at the same time? It is possible, according to Dr Robert Crawford. DAVID SCOTT reports. US Presidency A New Deal
The election of Barack Obama as 44th President of the United States has absorbed people’s attention around the world in a way that was both unprecedented in America, and fascinating for political and media analysts everywhere. For the first time in a long while, it seemed like a candidate said something worth hearing Time For Change
Imprudent dealing in underpriced debt by once-trusted financial institutions has dealt a staggering blow to many national economies. Recession looms – and ordinary people anticipate lean times. Voice asked philosopher JOHN ARMSTRONG to comment on what to make of it all and where it may lead. NewsReset Your Preferences
The University of Melbourne offers easy access to all the information and advice you need during the Change of Preference period so you can be confident about your final tertiary choices for 2009. A Toast To Melba
The first recordings of Australia’s most famous opera singer Dame Nellie Melba were launched at the University of Melbourne recently as part of the 31st National Conference of the Musicological Society of Australia. Cocktail To Fix Bugs That Fight Drugs
As infection rates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria increase, their evolution may provide drug targets for which the so-called superbugs will have no defence, according to University of Melbourne scientists. From the Vice-Chancellor: Students Of Sustainability
Universities are places for generating ideas and finding real solutions for problems facing society. At its best, education is a conversation across generations about shared concerns. Australia’s Hot Underbelly
A love of nature and the Earth motivates University of Melbourne scientist Dr Sandra McLaren in her work on unique hot rocks in central and southern Australia Scholarly Gems Caught In Traffic
Geishas and prostitution, the history of molecular biology, and the tragedies of AFL fans, are among areas of research explored in the latest edition of the University of Melbourne postgraduate research journal Traffic. Reviews and PreviewsA Philosopher’s Guide To Being Free
The constant interruption of emails or phone calls, the allure of television or shopping or perhaps simply a fear of silence – these are just some examples of distraction – trivial and unnecessary time-wasting pursuits that tear us away from what’s valuable and important. Summer Reading
Prolific Australian songwriter Paul Kelly is featured in the Summer edition of the University of Melbourne’s literary magazine Meanjin, writing about the inspiration of angels. Stars At The Potter
A magical and poetic Banumbirr or morning star pole by the highly regarded Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi – the winning entry in this year’s Kate Challis RAKA Award – heads an exhibition of this year’s RAKA Award entries now open at the University of Melbourne’s Ian Potter Museum of Art. Knowledge TransferElite Music Training
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett has announced that funding for the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) will cease in December, and then recommence with a reformed program next July. A founding Board Member WARREN BEBBINGTON recalls ANAM’s troubled history and imagines its new possibilities. The Way Ahead
The one certainty emerging from the near collapse of the world financial system and its infection of the ’real‘ economy is that governments are back in the business of directing national economies. Inspiring Camp For Refugees
While most Sudanese in Australia associate camps with the trauma and dispossession of civil war, a group of University of Melbourne students have attempted to give young newly-arrived Sudanese refugees the new perspective that camps can be a place of fun and opportunity. Classics Go Country
When a trio of young Melbourne classical musicians noticed their audiences were largely middle-aged or elderly they began to wonder: “Where are the children – where is the next generation of audiences?” ProfilesPsychology Skills Broaden Opportunites
During her PhD Isla Carboon interviewed dozens of people who had recently been diagnosed with life-threatening cancers. It was a project which required her to combine great sensitivity and compassion alongside the more traditional research skills such as study design and statistical analysis. AlumniOn Solid Ground
Horsham-raised engineer Max Ervin dreamt of being a doctor, but was put off by the prospect of long working hours. Graduating in 1972 with a Masters of Civil Engineering from the University of Melbourne, he found himself, however, in an industry which happens to expect hard and long hours. “So I didn’t quite avoid that,” he laughs. “But I’m very happy with the choice I made.” New Benefits For Alumni
Alumni can now access the University of Melbourne’s most in-demand online journals, after a major alumni survey showed a strong push for new benefits. SportWorld-beating Butterfly
First year Arts student Marieke Guehrer lived every swimmer’s dream last month, when she became a world record holder. Representing Australia at the Berlin World Cup, Guehrer smashed the 50m Butterfly short-course world record, reducing the world’s best time from 25.31 to 24.99 seconds. What's Onhttp://events.unimelb.edu.au/
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