RHD CONNECTION

KEEPING FEDUA RHD STUDENTS UPDATED WITH NEWS AND EVENTS IN THE FACULTY
VOLUME 1 JULY 2013

WELCOME
Professor Pam Nilan ( Assistant Dean of Research Training)
Welcome to the inaugural issue of RHD Connection a newsletter for all RHD students in the Faculty of Education and Arts. I am excited by this new initiative, which will enable our RHD students, especially our off-campus and part-time students, to keep up-to-date with all RHD happenings in the Faculty. In each issue we will highlight recent events and inform you of upcoming ones; draw attention to the considerable achievements of our RHD students; and let you know of any upcoming opportunities. I hope you enjoy the first issue of this newsletter Happy Reading!

3 MINUTE THESIS FINAL

27 June 2013
The Faculty Final of the 3 Minute Thesis competition took place on 27 June 2013. The 3 minute thesis competition challenges RHD students to respond dynamically and engagingly to the basic question "tell me about your research" in just 3 minutes. 9 RHD students participated in the final. Lucienne Gerrard, Kymme Laetsch, Debbi Long, Michael Kilmister, Neil Tucker, Chuanmei Dong, Craig Smith, David Roy and Stephen Q Wye faced an enthusiastic audience of over 50 staff and students.

Our Judging Panel

The judging panel praised the very high quality of all the presentations and encouraged all finalists to participate again next year. The winners of the FEDUA 3 minute Thesis final were Craig Smith (Education), Neil Tucker (Education) and Kymme Laetsch (HASS).

The winners of the FEDUA 3 Minute Thesis Final The Faculty 3 Minute Thesis Finalists

While attendees enjoyed a sumptuous afternoon tea the judging panel comprising of Tim Dean (Ethics), Elianne Renaud (Research Services), Jenny Cameron (ADRT, FSIT) and Jenny Archer (ADT&L, FEDUA) retired to determine the winners.

Kymme, Neil and Craig will represent the Faculty at the University 3 minute thesis final on 26 July 2013 at 10am in the Richardson wing Nursing Theatre. Please go along to support our representatives. Congratulations to our winners and good luck to them at the University final!

RHD WELCOME AFTERNOON TEA

The Faculty hosted an afternoon tea for its RHD students on 21 March 2013 to welcome commencing students to the Faculty and celebrate the progress of its continuing students. Over 60 students attended this very successful event, at which the PVC Prof. John Germov welcomed all RHD students and highlighted some of the amazing successes that our current RHD students have achieved. Students completed a brief survey rating the RHD experience with the Faculty. The feedback was collected and distributed to schools. Some of the suggestions proposed by students have been incorporated into the Honours and RHD Expo

2012 RHD EXCELLENCE AWARD

The RHD Excellence award recognises excellence in research and aims to encourage, reward and celebrate outstanding achievement in research by candidates in any area of research at this University. Examiners of theses are given the opportunity to nominate candidates and each Faculty determines a recipient after reviewing the Examiner comments for nominees. The 2012 RHD Excellence award for FEDUA was Dr Godlif Sianipar for his thesis titled Christian-Muslim Relationships in Medan and Dalihan na tolu - A Social Capital Study of The Batak Cultural Values and Their Effect on Interreligious Encounters Dr Sianipar was presented with his award at the May Graduation Ceremony. 3 other graduates were selected as runners-up to this prestigious award. They were Dr David Kelly, Mr Jason McGrath and Dr Leanne Schubert. The runners-up will be awarded their prizes and certificates at the 2013 FEDUA Honours and RHD Expo in August.

This year the program has been revamped with sessions for future Honours and RHD students, as well as for our current students. The program will include presentations by Career Services, Research Services, and current RHD students Nathan Berger and Matthew Bunn. Recent achievements by our RHD students will be awarded, while current research projects will be showcased through our annual poster competition. Our Keynote speaker is Dr Hadyn Wilson, an award winning visual artist and University of Newcastle graduate. Dr Wilson completed a PhD in Fine Art in 2010. He won the Gallipoli Art Prize in 2011 for his painting honouring sacrifice in war. The EXPO will conclude with an open forum for RHD students to discuss RHD issues such as work/RHD balance and keeping motivated All students attending the Expo will go in the draw to win an IPad mini. All details of the Expo and the full program can be found at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/faculty/educationarts/research/information-for-rhd-students/expo.html If you would like to attend this exciting event please RSVP to Amanda Hall-Griffin (Amanda.Hall@newcastle.edu.au ) or Michelle Allan (Michelle.Allan@newcastle.edu.au) by 1 August 2013

RECENT GRADUATES
Congratulations to the following students who have recently been awarded their degree Dr David Murray PhD (English) Words for the Heat of Deeds Ms Keira OToole M Phil (Fine Art) Beyond the Pale: Australia: the Studio as Site where Notions of Irish National Identity are Translated into Contemporary Works of Art Dr Samar Al-Amawi PhD (Speech Pathology) The Assessment of Aphasia in the Context of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Dr Shajimon Peter PhD (Social Work) A Critical Examination of Values Education Perspectives on Non-formal Education in India Dr Graham Marchant PhD (Fine Art) Between the Interior and Exterior, Between the Finite and the Infinite Dr Kristin Heineman PhD (Classics) The Decline of Delphi Dr Emma Hamilton PhD (History) Masculinities in American Western Films, 1950-1972: A Hyper-Linear History Dr Julie Mundy-Taylor PhD (Humanities) Storytelling Engagement in the Classroom: Observable Behavioural Cues of Children's Story Experiences Ms Sarah Robertson M Phil (English) Slipstream Ms Ruth Gresham M Phil (Social Work) The Homecoming Experiences of Female Saudi Arabian International Students Dr Michelle Black PhD (Sociology and Anthropology) A Sociological Investigation of Trust in complementary and alternative Medicine Use

RHD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Congratulations to the following RHD students who have had recent successes in their research careers: Zachariah Duke PhD (Theology) is the sole recipient of the biennial HLLP Fund scholarship from the European Society for the Study of Theology and Disability. The scholarship allows Zach to attend the Societys Conference in France where he will present a paper on his PhD research Ryan ONeill PhD (English) has received a nomination for this years NSW Premiers Literary Awards. Ryan submitted his debut collection of short stories The Weight of a Human Heart and is in the running for the $5000 prize. Philip Johnston PhD (Music) premiered his new score for Lotte Reineger's silent animation classic The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) at Randwick Town Hall in May 2013

RHD PUBLICATION PRIZE 2013

The Faculty of Education and Arts Publication Prize is awarded annually to a Research Higher Degree student who has produced a high quality research output such as a book, journal article or creative work in the previous year. This year 10 nominations were received, all of very high quality, making the selection panels decision very difficult; so difficult that they decided that this year 2 students would receive $1000 as joint winners of the award. The joint winners of this years Publication Prize were: Myles Young for his journal article that appeared in the highly ranked journal Obesity Reviews and Susan Cairns for her journal article that appeared in another highly ranked journal CURATOR: The Museum Journal Ros Dunlop has received the runners-up prize of $500 for her book on traditional music of East Timor CONGRATULATIONS to all our winners!

Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. Norman Vincent Peale

SCHOLARSHIP ROUNDS
The 2013 Scholarship rounds will open soon. Closing dates for the rounds are: International Students 31 August Domestic Students 31 October During the scholarship rounds applicants are scored and ranked based on academic merit including undergraduate grade point average and extra research attainments (such as research experience and research publications). Remember to be considered eligible for a scholarship you must have obtained: A GPA of 5.25/7 Honours class 1 and Met the Universitys English proficiency requirements If you did not meet any of the criteria above there will be an opportunity by your supervisor to propose an alternate GPA or equivalent Honours Class 1 attainment. If you have any questions regarding the scholarship rounds you can contact the Office of Graduate Studies.

UPCOMING EVENTS
POSTER Competition
The annual RHD Poster competition will take place as part of the FEDUA Honours and RHD Expo that will be held on 9 August 2013. RHD students are invited to submit a poster that explains their RHD research project. Posters will be displayed in the Nelson room during the Expo. Posters are judged and winners selected for the best poster in the following four categories: *Proposal Stage *Mid-term Stage *Completion Stage *Peoples choice (voted for by staff and students at the expo) Winners of each category will receive a $150 Westfield voucher. Guidelines for designing a poster and a poster template can be found at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/faculty/educationarts/research/information-for-rhd-students/expo.html If you have any questions regarding the poster competition please contact Amanda Hall-Griffin on ext 15302 or via email (Amanda.Hall@newcastle.edu.au )

REMINDER: CENSUS DATE

A reminder that Variations of Candidature (in particular for Leave of Absences or Change of Load) must be submitted to OGS by 31 August 2013 for changes to take place. All variations must be signed by Head of School and Assistant Dean of Research Training. To allow all signatures to be obtained and sent to OGS by the census date paper work should be sent to your School by 15 August 2013

SCHOOL EVENTS
School of Educations next SSTAR workshop will be held on Tuesday 30 July at 10am in HA96 Preparing for Confirmation workshop for HASS students and supervisors will be held on 22 July 2013 at 10am A 3rd year Completion Workshop will be held for HASS RHD students. Date to be confirmed A 2 day RHD Writing Bootcamp will be held for HASS RHD students. Date to be confirmed

CONTACT

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.

WINSTON CHURCHILL

Amanda Hall-Griffin Research and Research Training Officer T +61 2 4921 5302 F +61 2 4921 0000 E Amanda.Hall@newcastle.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00109J