Macquarie University researchers continue to provide expert opinion and research findings in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak. Here is a selection of recent stories.

Professor Jennie Hudson from the Centre for Emotional Health spoke to SBS News about how young people are struggling with social isolation during COVID-19.

Vincent Hurley from the Department of Security Studies and Criminology was featured on ABC’s The Drum regarding new police measures to enforce COVID-19 social distancing rules.

Associate Professor Matt Bower from the School of Education provided comment to the Sydney Morning Herald regarding schools’ use of video conferencing to teach children at home.

Professor Anand Deva from the Department of Clinical Medicine and Associate Professor Karen Vickery from the Department of Biomedical Sciences were featured in the Sydney Morning Herald regarding the importance of thorough cleaning and hygiene measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In The Lighthouse

Professor Nick Titov from Macquarie University’s MindSpot clinic explains how the clinic is helping thousands of Australians through the COVID crisis – and shares their top ten tips for coping.

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Professor Amanda Barnier from the Department of Cognitive Science explores why COVID-19 might be triggering a ‘kindness pandemic’.

Read story >>

Dr Troy Sarina from the Macquarie Business School looks at how Australian companies and workers are ‘rebooting and reskilling’ to help replenish depleted supplies like hand sanitiser and face masks.

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If you are interested in learning more about what’s being reported about Macquarie University in the media, you can sign up for the Daily Media Report mailing list by emailing communications@mq.edu.au.

Got a media story suggestion? Submit a request via the Communications Team’s simple online form.

It’s a bugs life – but what does that mean?
Do insects feel joy? Pain? Fear? Perhaps they do. A recent paper by biological scientist Associate Professor Andrew Barron and philosopher Dr Colin Klein led a discussion contemplating whether insects are conscious. Their work was reported on in the New York Times, the Sun Herald, Australian Geographic, ABC Radio National and more.

MND and dementia breakthrough
In an international study led by Dr Kelly Williams and Associate Professor Ian Blair from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, researchers have linked the case of two seemingly unrelated diseases: motor neurone disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia. Channel 9 and Channel 10 News both covered the discovery, as did several radio news programs.

How a small tropical fish might help find a cure for a fatal hereditary disease burdening Indigenous communities

Dr Angela Laird from the Department of Biomedical Sciences is leading a team of neuroscientists who are injecting a mutant human gene into zebrafish embryos in a bid to discover effective treatment of Machado Joseph Disease (MJD),  a hereditary disease mostly found in Indigenous communities that causes sufferers to lose muscle control and balance before becoming paralysed and dying.

Dr Laird undertook media training provided by the Communications Team prior to the news being released, before being featured on ABC News Darwin, ABC News 24, ABC Online, and speaking with numerous radio programs around Australia.

ABC News: Researchers eye zebrafish in bid to cure fatal Machado Joseph Disease

Missed an episode of Pioneering Minds? Find all the Season One episodes on Soundcloud or on iTunes.

We are keen to hear your story ideas so we can potentially tell a wider audience about the good things happening at the University. There are several proactive steps you can take in partnership with the Communications team:

• Are you happy to comment on your area of expertise in the media? Introduce yourself to our team so we can match you up with the right opportunities. Call (02) 9850 6766 or email communications@mq.edu.au and inform us of your area of expertise and current mobile number. We will not share your mobile number with media or others without your permission. This is for us to contact you swiftly as media opportunities arise that are relevant to you.

• Got a specific story you’d like to share?
  Spend five minutes filling in this simple briefing form to get us up to speed – make sure you notify us in plenty of time!

• Do you use a work-associated Twitter handle (eg, @yourname)? Let us know!
  Are you active on Twitter? Knowing your Twitter handle means we can ‘tag’ you in tweets from the popular Macquarie University account, so your work and media successes link back to you. Email mktg.socialmedia@mq.edu.au.

• Does your expertise cover science, technology or health science topics? Register as an expert in Scimex (Science Media Exchange)
  From the Australian Science Media Centre, Scimex is a website for journalists, scientists and research organisations. It offers upcoming news digests to science journalists, and profiles individuals in their field of expertise to encourage accurate reporting of science stories – register your profile now!

• Looking to upskill before speaking to media?
  The communications team, in collaboration with renowned broadcaster Richard Morecroft, offers free media training for staff who engage with media. Register for one of our 2016 seminars: Foundations of Media Engagement. Places are limited.

If you are interested in receiving regular updates on where Macquarie appears in the media, you can also sign up to our daily media report, sent directly to your inbox. Notify the Communications team to join the mailing list: communications@mq.edu.au.

Recent Macquarie stories

Professor David McAlpine, Director of Hearing Research at the Australian Hearing Hub, contributed the article ‘Just turn that music down’ in The Australian, commenting on the dangers to hearing during the music festival season. The opinion piece was widely mentioned across radio and television, and Professor McAlpine was interviewed on ABC News 24 and ABC radio, as well as 2GB’s Sydney Live program and 2UE.

Professor Culum Brown from the Department of Biological Sciences provided comment to The New York Times about his research which tracks the movements of sharks to gain insight into their social behaviour. The research found that sharks appear to seek the company of other sharks. Further coverage then appeared in the Australian Financial Review.