Having snuck in to Australia by such tiny margin, it’s fitting that Daniele now spends his days studying very tiny creatures. Working under the supervision of Dr Chris Reid and Professor Andrew Barron in Biological Sciences, Daniele is looking at the self-assembled structures of weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) and discovering that these tiny blind creatures are actually little marvels of engineering.

1. Something people ask you when they find out what you do for living
Are you getting paid to play around with a bunch of ants!?

2. Something you’d like staff to know about
My supervisor Chris Reid and I just published an interesting article in The Conversation, talking about self-assembly architecture in social insects.

3. Something you feel proud of
The University recently awarded me the Tony Price Award, which will allow me to travel to Queensland for a few weeks to perform field work with weaver ants.   

4. The coolest bit of equipment you use in your work
We are setting up infrared cameras and lights for automated tracking of weaver ants. Each ant will be equipped with a very tiny (< 1mm) QR code on its back, which we will track with a custom software in MATLAB. 

5. What you need to do your best work
Ants, ants, and more ants! Also, a good computer capable of running heavy scripts is often helpful. Some of the software I use requires high GPU and CPU processing power.

6. Your definition of success
Success to me is to being recognised as an expert in your field, having people asking you advice and help on research matters and have them know that they can count on you.

Also, not being severely bitten by ants during experiments is a great success!

7. Something you’ve read recently that has had an impact on you
We are now able to design brain machine interfaces to control electronic devices, and soon this technology may be available for treating neurological disorders in humans. Wow!

8. A favourite photo from your camera roll
I took this photo of pink flannel flowers in the Blue Mountains a couple of months ago. These flowers are rarely seen, as they need a precise combination of intense fires followed by heavy rains to bloom.  I was so lucky to witness their beautiful colours.

9. I’m happiest when…
I’m snorkelling in the ocean or canyoning in the Blue Mountains.

10. What you like about where you live
I love living in Sydney, and in NSW, because of the amazing wildlife and landscape you get to see all year round.

The Australian Financial Review’s Women of Influence awards recognise a diverse group of influential, inspirational and visionary women who are dedicating their time and energy to creating positive change in business and society.

Two Macquarie academics were nominated as Women of Influence this year: Professor Lucy Taksa, Co-Director of the Centre for Workforce Futures in the Macquarie Business School, was nominated for her work in championing diversity and inclusion; while Dr Vanessa Pirotta from the Department of Biological Sciences was nominated for her role as a young leader in science.

We sat down with Lucy and Vanessa to learn more about their work, and how they are using their voice for change.

How did it feel to be recognised as a woman of influence?

Lucy: I felt extremely honoured to be included, and humbled to be among so many outstanding women who are making an immense contribution to Australian society.

Vanessa: It was a great surprise! It was a really nice feeling knowing that I’m now part of the 2019 AFR alumni. I was also able to learn all about the work of amazing women from around Australia, which was inspiring.

Which of your achievements are you most proud of?

Lucy: I’m most proud of my work in helping migrants and refugees settle and have a good life in Australia through two initiatives: the group mentoring model I helped to establish as an advisor for the Western Sydney Community Forum CALD Workers Mentoring Project, which enhanced knowledge sharing, networking and professional development for the  participants; and my contribution since 2015 to the Board of Settlement Services International (SSI) Ltd, and its Refugee Student Scholarship scheme, which has enhanced refugee students’ support for education that can lead to employment opportunities.

Vanessa: It would have to be my work within the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) space. My research has become a great example of STEAM nationally and internationally. This has allowed me to strengthen my science communication skills on multiple platforms and become a visible female scientist for school children and science professionals to connect with. In addition, it has highlighted the role of emerging technologies in wildlife conservation.

What do you see as your biggest challenge, and your biggest opportunity, in the next decade?

Lucy: There are immense opportunities to harness the capacities and skills of migrants and refugees for areas of skill shortages and in the face of an ageing population. The major challenge is ensuring that inclusion of diversity and acceptance of differences becomes the norm in Australia generally, and its workplaces more specifically.

Vanessa: Being able to progress forward into dynamic marine-based roles is a challenge – these are so few and far between. Having a wide variety of transferable skills makes the transition into similar fields a little easier. There’s a lot of talk around climate change currently and this may play a big role in potentially providing future opportunities for marine scientists.

What advice do you have for women seeking to be a voice of influence?

Lucy: Influence of any sort requires commitment, passion, participation, engagement and resilience in the face of indifference and opposition. My advice would be to look for opportunities to open doors and collaborate with others who share your values, concerns and passions.

Vanessa: Be yourself. Everyone has something different to share, and finding that may be a little tricky to start with. Surround yourself with what you’re passionate about. Network with others in your field and beyond. You never know what might come of a collaboration. Finally, don’t be afraid to share your work and always make sure to thank those around you who’ve supported you.  

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and at Macquarie you’ll find some wonderful examples of researchers who have passed on an insatiable pursuit of knowledge and discovery to their own children, creating multi-generational academic families.

With celebrated neuroscientist Professor Gilles Guillemin for a parent, it’s not surprising that Tristan Guillemin developed a keen interest in science very early on. But it wasn’t in his father’s lab  that Tristan got his career inspiration.

“From the age of five I’ve been going out diving and snorkelling and fishing with dad and my brother Lucas,” says Tristan. “It’s a big part of why I wanted to become a marine biologist.”

While Gilles continues to be at the forefront of his field – recently being awarded a National Order of Merit in home country France for his 30-plus year contribution to neurodegenerative disease research – Tristan has been kicking goals of his own in the completion of his Master of Research in the Department of Biological Sciences, where he has been studying parasites living on different species of marlin.

Having won awards at each of his first two scientific conferences – including best graphical abstract at the Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference in October ­– Tristan will embark on the first year of his PhD at Macquarie next year, with a determination to bring a greater knowledge to those invested in the health of our oceans.

“I’m a big believer in the fact that your science is only as good as the number of people that it reaches,” Tristan says. “Fishermen are some of the most invested people when it comes to marine health, but not enough of our scientific research is communicated to them. I want to change that.”

Tristan’s drive for growing scientific knowledge is something he shares with his father, who is a lead researcher at the Macquarie University Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research.

Gilles’ team broke new international ground following the discovery of the first blood biomarker – a chemical identifier in the blood – for multiple sclerosis (MS), which saw them recognised as Eureka Prize finalists in 2017.  A prognostic kit is currently in the final stage of development by a French biotech company, whereby clinicians will be able to determine the type of MS a patient has within 24 hours and adapt their treatment accordingly.

One of Gilles’ current research projects is closer to Tristan’s own line of work, with an international research collaboration looking into the biotoxins found in cyanobacteria (commonly known as blue-green algae) as a potential trigger for MND.

Gilles and his team, together with the University’s Neurodegenerative Diseases Biobank, are assessing samples from people living in MND hotspots such as the Riverina in regional NSW, which are prone to frequent algal blooms as well as agricultural pollutants such as pesticides and metals.

So, will father and son scientists ever officially collaborate on a research project?

Not likely, says Tristan. While he deeply admires his dad’s work and is open to the idea of collaboration, he prefers researching fish rather than humans.

“Human science, and dealing with people’s pain, is a lot more stressful for me,” Tristan says. “It pulls too much on my heart strings.”

A six-and-a-half-metre dinosaur skeleton called Jack – named after Professor Jack Bassett, who retired in 2004 – was moved to the Biological Sciences Museum to accommodate the construction of a new MacShop outside MUSE, which is scheduled to open on 18 November.

The skeleton was first installed at Macquarie in 1996, and is molded from a fossil of a Tarbasauraus bataar found in the Gobi Desert and believed to be approximately 75 million years old.

With over 200 fragile pieces in the skeleton, moving Jack was a full-scale exercise, with external specialists and Macquarie staff taking almost a week to move and re-assemble him, and a Channel Nine news crew following proceedings.

Watch the Channel Nine news story >>

Museum curator Libby Eyre says it’s very fitting that Jack’s new home is with the Biological Sciences team.

“Our colleague Professor Walter Ivanstoff, who sadly passed away earlier this year, was instrumental both in securing this specimen and in setting up the Biological Sciences Museum,” Libby says.

“It’s amazing to see our Jack ‘come back to life’ in his new showcase – he’s going to be very much loved.”

Jack will be all cleaned up and ready to view in the Biological Sciences Discovery Centre in early November.

But it has blind spots. And one of those blind spots is women. Wikipedia admits that most of the volunteer editors are male – somewhere between 84 and 91 per cent on the English-language version, according to its surveys. This in turn, the Wikipedia Foundation acknowledges, means there are fewer and less extensive articles about women or topics important to women.

In 2018, when Donna Strickland became the first woman in 55 years to win a Nobel Prize in Physics, the Guardian noted that, not only did she not have a Wikipedia listing, but that when a Wikipedia user attempted to create a profile for her some months previously, a moderator rejected the entry, saying, “This submission’s references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article”.

With women making up only 27 per cent of Australia’s STEM workforce, it’s clear there is a vital need for more visible role models to encourage girls and young women into STEM professions.

With this in mind, groups worldwide are mobilising to increase the representation of women in Wikipedia.

Recently, Macquarie’s Dr Melanie Zeppel (pictured, left) joined a ‘Wikithon’ organised by Franklin Women – a professional community for women working in the health and medical research field. Melanie describes them as “an amazing group of supportive and inspiring women lifting each other up and inspiring careers for diverse groups”.

The aim of the Wikithon was to create as many Wikipedia profiles of prominent women in STEMM as possible.

Melanie had never edited a Wikipedia page before (her day job involves researching genomic medicine at Macquarie’s GenIMPACT research centre) and she says she found the writing style very different to the grant applications she usually writes.

But she was so excited by what she was doing she kept at it after the event, creating an entry a day, complete with evidence and information suitable for Wikipedia’s style and acceptable to its moderators.

“I’ve created profiles for women like UWA neuroplasticity researcher Dr Sarah Dunlop, and the head of UNSW’s Psychosocial Research Group, Professor Bettina Meiser,” she says. “It’s been very inspiring learning about all these women.”

Who from Macquarie – male or female – do you think needs a Wiki entry? Tell us in the comments below.

The Australian Academy of Science is also encouraging entries in its STEM Women online database, which features over 1000 Australian women in STEMM.

Every month we celebrate some of the impressive achievements in the Macquarie community. Got something to share for next month? Tell us.

Macquarie’s seven Eureka Prize finalists

Congratulations to all of our finalists who had had outstanding success in their respective areas and who have been nominated in the Eureka Prizes. The Eureka Prizes reward excellence in the fields of research and innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science.

Distinguished Professor Michelle Leishman and Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes (main photo) with the Weed Futures team have been named as finalists for the 2019 NSW Environment, Energy and Science (DPIE) Eureka Prize for Environmental Research.

Associate Professor Joanne Jamie, Associate Professor Subramanyam Vemulpad and Dr Ian Jamie, have been nominated for the 2019 Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion, along with Yaegl Aboriginal Elder Dr Uncle Ronald Heron, and Dr Danny Bedgood and Associate Professor Paul Prenzler from Charles Sturt University.

Professor Neil Saintilan of Macquarie University’s Department of Environmental Sciences has been shortlisted for the Eureka Prize for a second year running. In 2019 he has been shortlisted in Environmental Science, while in 2018 his work was recognised in the Mentoring of Young Scientists category. His success as a mentor is obvious from his latest nomination, which builds on the success of his former students. Three members of the team completed their PhD studies and postdoctoral research under Neil’s supervision.

Macquarie University Senior Lecturer in Applied Mathematics, Sophie Calabretto, is a finalist for the 2019 Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science. In 2017 Sophie was chosen as one of the ABC’s ‘Top 5 Under 40’ researchers, which gave her a platform to engage with the wider community.

In addition to her Eureka Award nomination (above), Professor Lesley Hughes has also been honoured with the 2019 Australian Museum Research Institute Lifetime Achievement Award.

Receiving her award in the Museum’s Long Gallery on 31 July, Professor Hughes spoke of her hope in the face of climate change.

Read Professor Hughes’ full speech >>

Congratulations to Dr Philippe Gilchrist and Associate Professor Melissa Norberg from the Department of Psychology who hosted a Visiting Scholar, UK PhD student Tess Langfield, in a specialist lab here on campus.

Tess won a USD$3000 award from the Health and Behaviour International Collaboration (HBIC) to investigate drinking behaviour using psychophysiological measures. This project builds upon her PhD research, which investigates the impact of glass shape on drinking behaviours for soft drinks.

Tess explains the project greatly benefited from Macquarie University’s state-of-the-art facilities and equipment (including a “bar laboratory”, situated in the MQ ‘Simulation Hub’, complete with a BIOPAC machine for measuring physiological responses).

The Department of Physics and Astronomy has received the Silver Pleiades Award from the Inclusion Diversity and Equity in Astronomy Chapter of the Astronomical Society of Australia.

The Pleiades Award recognises organisations in Australian astronomy that take active steps to advance the careers of women through focused programs and strive for sustained improvement in providing opportunities for women to achieve positions of seniority, influence and recognition.

In 2016 WiA broadened its aims to encompass wider issues of diversity. The overarching objective of the IDEA Chapter is to achieve an environment in all institutions associated with Australian astronomy that is welcoming and supportive of all academic staff, professional staff and students, regardless of gender and sexual identity, ethnic and cultural background, disability, age, family/carer responsibilities, political affiliation, and religious belief.

The Department received the Bronze award in this scheme in 2016.

Read our 2018 This Week story about the Department of Physics and Astronomy’s efforts to create a more inclusive culture >

Associate Professor Ronika Power has been named as the recipient of one of two Early Career Awards from the Union Académique Internationale – a global organisation of more than one hundred national and international academies from more than 60 countries across the world.

As part of the celebration of the Union’s Centenary in 2019, the Board created two awards of €6000 ($10,700 AUD) each for a period of two years (2020-2021) to scholars who qualify as Early Career Researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

“The project I will be undertaking under the auspices of this award is entitled: The Sentinels of Ħal Saflieni, Malta: Science Facts versus Science Fiction,” says Ronika.

“In close collaboration with Heritage Malta, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage Malta and colleagues from various international institutions, the project will carry out the first-ever interdisciplinary analyses of the remains of the only surviving individuals (<20 out of a prospective 7,000 people) excavated from the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a multi-level subterranean Neolithic (~4,000–2,500 BC) burial and ritual complex located in Paola, Malta.”

Congratulations to the LEAP UP Refugee Mentoring Program run by the Widening Participation Unit has been shortlisted for the Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards under Equity and Opportunity.

The Awards are judged by an independent panel of eminent higher education veterans and this year will be held on 27 August at the Hilton Brisbane.

Reimagining the MBA for a future, global workforce

Earlier this month the Macquarie Business School launched its Global MBA to industry partners and the public at an event at our City Campus. The first session with 60+ Global MBA students commenced this month with the cohort representing a talented group of professionals from all over the world who want to future-proof and accelerate their careers.

The exciting new program features an innovative model that is stackable, affordable and future-focused to address tomorrow’s workplace. Structured around six key future-focused capabilities, the discipline knowledge and skills integrated into every capability will equip students to meet challenges head on.

The launch event included engaging addresses from Dr Stephanie Fahey, Austrade CEO; Warren Bingham, founder and Executive Chairman of MedTech International; and Professor Stephen Brammer, Executive Dean of Macquarie Business School. Find out more about our Global MBA.

Scientists and mothers (L-R) : Dr Lizzy Lowe and baby Riley, Dr Alex Carthey and baby Stella, Dr Jemma Geoghegan and baby Zephy.

Having kids in STEM: staff praise Macquarie for its support of new parents

The Faculty of Science and Engineering Women in STEM group regularly organises events to promote and support the women in STEM in the Faculty.  Recently, the Department of Biological Sciences hosted a morning tea with the theme: STEM and having kids.

Specifically invited were colleagues who are currently on parental leave. The guest speakers were Dr Lizzy Lowe and Dr Chris Reid who both had recently taken parental leave (and Lizzy is still on it). They told of their experiences of being a parent of a newborn, of the support they received from the University in taking leave, and how to maintain contact with colleagues during leave. The morning tea was also enhanced by some delicious baking by the biologists.

The faculty committee is chaired by Professor Judith Dawes and Professor Rob Harcourt, who captured this beautiful photo.

Another successful CAFRAL program concludes

Strategy and Leadership in the Digital Age was the focus for Macquarie Business School’s annual professional development program in partnership with the Reserve Bank of India’s Centre for Advanced Financial Research and Learning (CAFRAL) earlier this month.

The week-long event saw the School host a delegation of senior officers and executives from India’s major banks and financial institutions. The program focused on the fast-developing Australia-India relationships between governments, entrepreneurs, financial services and banks. The week of intensive dialogue has set the scene for further engagements between the Business School, its experts in banking and finance, and the Indian banking sector.

“This is a very important opportunity for Macquarie Business School to work on strategic issues with senior bankers in India,” says Professor Philomena Leung. “We were thrilled to receive very positive feedback on the timeliness and relevance of the topics and the quality of the content.”

L-R: Professor Matt Bower, Dr Anja Augsdörfer, Professor Sakkie Pretorius (Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research) and Kate Roth (Deputy Director, HDR Partnerships and Scholarships)

German Visiting Research Fellow explores teacher education through technology

Macquarie is currently hosting Dr Anja Augsdörfer from the University of Hamburg as a Joint Post-doctoral Research Fellow. Associate Professor Matt Bower and Anja are working on a project sponsored by Google to increase the understanding and utilisation of video in the training and development of teachers.

This project links areas of research strength in education at Macquarie University and the University of Hamburg and contributes to world-leading research in linking educational pedagogy to computational language.

Macquarie stars shine at Global Young Academy

The University was represented by two honoured staff members at this year’s Global Young Academy – Professor Anina Rich and Dr Shima Taheri.

The Global Young Academy (GYA) was founded in 2010 with the vision to give a voice to young scientists around the world. The GYA empowers early-career researchers to lead international, interdisciplinary, and intergenerational dialogue by developing and mobilising talent from six continents.

During the week, delegates met with many distinguished parties including the Secretary General of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and senior Members of the German Parliament.

Professor Rich participated in many activities across the itinerary such as acting as a mentor/facilitator during new member training, moderating member talks, and facilitating interactive sessions on the panels.

Congratulations to Anina who was also re-elected to the Executive Committee.

(Photo credit: Markus Scholz)

MQ swim team competes with the best!

Twelve Macquarie University students recently competed in the UniSport Swimming Nationals which was run as a combined meet with the Sydney Open. This meant the team competed against the top clubs and universities in Australia as well as an invitational team from Japan.

In a spectacular three days of swimming, the team made the finals for 19 events, coming away with two silvers and one bronze medal:

• Thomas Peregrina (400IM, Bronze)
• Natasha Ramsden (50m Freestyle, Silver)
• Finn O’Connor (200m Breaststroke, Silver)

(L-R): David Malouf, Judith Crispin, Juno Gemes and Robert Adamson. Photo: Effy Alexakis, photowrite.

Renowned authors open Macquarie University Art Gallery’s latest exhibition

Three of Australia’s most eminent authors made a special visit to the Macquarie University Art Gallery earlier this month for the opening of the Gallery’s latest exhibition celebrating photographer Juno Gemes.

David Malouf, Judith Crispin and Robert Adamson performed special readings in honour of the Hungarian-born photographer, who is known for her literary portraiture and works exploring social justice.

Juno Gemes: The Quiet Activist A Survey 1979-2019 is open at the Macquarie University Art Gallery until 28 June 2019.

Why was last year’s flu season so bad?
Seasonal flu epidemics are usually caused by a mix of different flu viruses. Last year, the mix involved predominantly influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B. H3N2 viruses are typically more severe and cause more hospitalisations and deaths. As well, last year’s vaccine wasn’t as effective as hoped. Flu viruses mutate very quickly as they adapt to escape our immune systems. The flu virus seemed to have changed, unavoidably, during vaccine production.

Can I get the flu from holding one of the poles on a busy bus or train?
There is more evidence that flu viruses are spread mainly by aerosol droplets (through sneezing and coughing). In general, very little is known about how long viruses can survive on environmental surfaces without a host. Of the few studies on this topic, it has been suggested that influenza might survive for around 12 hours on some materials, but this was in laboratory-based conditions.

Can I get the flu by shaking the hand of someone who’s sick?
Direct human contact is more likely to transmit the virus, yes.

What are the best ways to avoid contracting the flu?
Avoid contact with people who are sick, always get the flu vaccine and practice good health habits like washing your hands regularly.

Is there an ideal time to get the flu vaccine?
Typically, flu season affects Australia from June to September, with the peak being August. The best time to get a flu shot is anytime you can. Waiting for the ‘perfect’ time could cause you to procrastinate and miss the benefit of a yearly vaccination against the flu.

What should I do if I contract the flu?
Always limit contact with people when you suspect you have the flu to decrease the chances of infecting anyone else. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Stay home and rest, and seek medical attention if needed. 

What is the difference between the flu and a cold?
The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by very different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are more intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu.

Protect yourself, your family and your colleagues from the highly contagious influenza virus by taking part in Macquarie’s 2018 flu shot program. Free flu shots are available to all full-time, part-time and casual Macquarie staff. Book your free flu shot appointment now.

Work stuff

I’ve been at Macquarie for…
6 years

In a nutshell, my job is to…
Research, conduct field work (I get to watch whales!), run experiments and produce scientific papers.

The question I hear most often in my work is…
How did you use a drone to collect whale snot?

The top three things on my to-do list today are…
Read, write and write.

I get my campus coffee fix from …
I don’t drink coffee, I love green tea.

Personal life

My ethnic heritage is…
Maltese and Italian. My father was born in Malta and my mother’s family is from Italy. They emigrated here post-war and I was born here in Australia.

My favourite subject at school was…
Science and technology in primary school and biology in high school. I had a really wonderful biology teacher in Years 11 and 12. I have always wanted to thank her for being so encouraging and to tell her that I am nearly finished my PhD!

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A dolphin trainer. I did achieve this goal however, I soon realised that I wanted to pursue an academic career.

The most amazing place I’ve ever visited is…
Antarctica! I was the marine mammal observer on the RV Investigator during a Macquarie lead research voyage last year. I saw the southern lights for the first time and humpback whales swimming and feeding around ice. It was amazing!

If I could have dinner with anyone (living or dead) it would be…
David Attenborough. He is a great science communicator and has done great things for wildlife conservation.

Check out some of her media action here:
Sydney Morning Herald
Australian Geographic
Business Insider Australia

Evie’s question is super interesting. I have spent many years studying and working with different kinds of bees and I’ve never seen a bee accidentally sting another bee – but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. So, I’ve done some reading to try to find out if anybody else has.

There are many different kinds of bees and some live in groups. The most famous of the bees that live in big groups are honey bees (probably because their honey is so tasty).

Honey bees that live in the same hive are called nestmates because they share a nest. The queen bee lays all the eggs in the hive and has mostly daughters. So usually nestmates are sister-bees that get along very well. They cooperate to feed their little sisters and brothers, collect food, build and protect their nests from animals (or bees from other nests) that want to eat them or their honey.

Because sometimes honey bees steal nectar (the main ingredient for making honey) from other nests, some bees, called guard bees, stand at the door and sniff the bees that land there with their antennae. If the newly landed bee smells like she belongs in the nest, the guard lets her nestmate in. If not, the guard will bite and sting the intruder bee, preventing the intruder from entering the nest.

In experiments where scientists investigate how bees tell whether a bee is their nestmate or not, bees sometimes fail to recognise their nestmates and end up accidentally stinging their sisters! They also sometimes let bees into the hive that are not their nestmates.

So yes, when trying to defend their nests from intruders, bees sometimes accidentally sting their nestmates, but only because they mistake their sisters for intruders.

I can’t say that I blame them. I’m not sure I’d be so good at recognising my sisters if I had thousands of them.