Faculty of Veterinary & Agricultural Sciences

B ROADCAST
F A C U LT Y U P D A T E
FAC U LT Y O F V E T E R I N A R Y & AG R I C U LT U R A L S C I E N C E S
Historic Graduation
12 December 2014 was a memorable day in the Faculty’s history — it saw the
first graduating class of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM).
The new graduates are pictured here with Dean Professor Ken Hinchcliff.
W E LCO M E
PROFESSOR
KEN HINCHCLIFF
D E A N , FA C U LT Y
OF VETERINARY
& A G R I C U LT U R A L
SCIENCES
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Much is happening in the new Faculty of
Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences.
In December we had our first combined
graduation, which was made doubly special as
it included the first graduates of the Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine.
This year has seen the new faculty’s first
intake of students, with 153 commencing the
Bachelor of Agriculture (a 63 per cent increase
over last year) and 130 students commencing
the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
I find it heartening that there is such strong
demand for an education in agricultural and
veterinary sciences, which provide graduates
with the foundation for rewarding lifelong
careers.
These careers include the opportunity to
improve human and animal health through
production of food and fibre in a sustainable
manner and ensuring the health and wellbeing
of domestic and wild animals, while at the same
time respecting the environment.
I look forward to seeing their contributions
to the industries we serve, in Australia and
abroad.
In this Broadcast, you’ll read of research,
upcoming events and the achievements of
out remarkable students and alumni. It is an
inspiring introduction to the new Faculty.
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FAC U LT Y OF V E T E R I NA RY A N D AGR IC U LT U R A L S C I E NC E S
Aashima Auplish speaking to school students in Sikkim.
Class is in for dog health
A
n
team of students is working
to improve public health and
animal welfare in Sikkim, in the
Himalayan foothills.
Developed and delivered in
collaboration with Australian-based Vets
Beyond Borders (VBB), the pilot project,
which built on the highly successful
Sikkim Anti-Rabies and Animal Health
Program (SARAH), was funded through a
University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor’s
Engagement Grant.
Far from the expected classroom sizes
of around 30 pupils, team member and
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student
Aashima Auplish says many of the
participating schools had several hundred
students in each session. In just two weeks
the project reached an audience of more
than 8700 people.
The focus was on identifying
dog behaviour, rabies treatment and
identification, and rabies prevention –
followed up with a section on general
Broadcast_Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences_2015.indd 2
dog health and wellbeing, and how these
approaches impact on individuals and
pet owners.
The project team – Aashima Auplish,
Alison Clarke, Trent Van Zanten and
project leader Dr Kate Abel – worked
on developing content for around eight
months. The material included slide show
handouts, skits, inflatable dogs and a
number of pre-prepared videos.
Dr Charmaine Tham, President of
VBB, says the SARAH project offered a
great opportunity to explore the inclusion
of an education program across the
organisation’s work in other countries.
“The SARAH project was established
in 2006 and is very much a collaborative
effort between VBB, our funding body,
Fondation Brigitte Bardot in France, and
the local Sikkim government to run these
animal health, desexing and vaccination
programs, mainly to reduce rabies,”
Dr Tham says.
“The challenge for volunteers and
staff across the world is to develop and
deliver engaging education programs,
which take into account factors like the
language barrier or in-country limitations.
The student team did a wonderful job
of transcending these challenges and
they created a very impressive program.
The quality of work they delivered was
outstanding.”
Already the project has sparked interest
from other organisations. Ms Auplish
has recently completed an internship
in Geneva with the World Health
Organization, largely from connections
made in Sikkim.
“It’s important that we map the impact
of our work,” she says. “NGOs and their
funding bodies need solid evidence to
support these programs, so we hope to
illustrate that impact through the methods
we used.”
Read more at: voice.unimelb.edu.au/
volume-10/number-11/class-dog-health
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FAC U LT Y OF V E T E R I NA RY A N D AGR IC U LT U R A L S C I E NC E S
STUDENT PROFILE
S A R A H F U S I N ATO
3
N E W S U P D AT E
NEW MASTERS IN 2015
The Master of Food and Packaging Innovation is a new
cross-disciplinary degree for those working in the food
packaging industry. The course is an initiative of the Faculty
and Mondelēz International, whose brands include Cadbury,
Vegemite, Kraft and Nabisco, and is supported by the
Victorian Government.
For details visit: fvas.unimelb.edu.au/study/courses/
master-of-food-and-packaging-innovation/overview
An interest in dairy herd health, calf rearing and growing up on
the family’s dairy farm, have influenced Sarah Fusinato’s career
planning.
Currently a first year Bachelor of Agriculture student, she plans
to major in animal health and production and then going on to
study a Master of Food Science. She feels this background will be
ideal to working in new product development, in animal health or
managing the family farm.
Sarah (pictured) is the first in her family to study at the
University. The Faculty has awarded her a scholarship, allowing
her to live in college and making the transition from school to
university easier.
BRONZE PLAQUES
The careers of two former deans, Ken Jubb
(Veterinary Science 1969–1990) and Sam
Wadham (Agriculture 1927–1957), have been
honoured among a series of bronze plaques,
now a feature of Professors’ Walk. The
plaques record recipients of the University of
Melbourne Award, which recognises those
individuals who have made an outstanding
and enduring contribution to the University
and its scholarly community.
The Faculty is also working with Mondelēz on a joint
research project that has attracted funding from the
Australian Research Council. This will gain insights into
Asian consumer behaviours; inform ingredient use,
consumer experience and product design and packaging;
promote Australia as a producer of quality food; and
increase exports and commercial rewards.
AUSTRALIAN HONOURS
The Faculty congratulates its alumni and friends whose
contributions have been recognised in the 2015 Australia
Day Honours list.
Dr Brendan Crabb AC
For eminent service to medical science as a prominent
researcher of infectious diseases, particularly malaria, and
their impact on population health in developing nations,
as an advocate, mentor and administrator, and through
fostering medical research nationally and internationally.
John Freney AO (dec)
For distinguished service to conservation and the
environment through research into greenhouse gas
production, climate change and the efficient use of
nitrogen fertiliser.
Dr Barbara Maddern-Wellington AM
For significant service to veterinary science, to professional
associations, to animal welfare, and to the community.
Frank Mickan PSM
For outstanding public service to the primary industry
sector in Victoria, through the introduction of strategies
to improve dairy farming practices.
Alison Teese OAM
For service to conservation and the environment in Victoria.
SUPPORT FOR EQUINE RESEARCH
The Myer Family has generously provided funds that
have allowed the purchase of an additional large animal
ventilator. This equipment provides the necessary
breathing support to horses when under anaesthesia,
and its purchase benefits the Faculty’s equine research
and treatment.
Sir Samuel Wadham (1891–1972)
Kenneth Jubb (1928–2013)
Pictures: Courtesy of the University of Melbourne Archives.
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SCHOLARSHIP FOR GV STUDENTS
Retired local farmer Betty Thornton has established the
Warren Thornton Memorial Scholarship, in memory of her
brother. The scholarship is for a student undertaking the
Bachelor of Agriculture, who comes from the Goulburn
Valley and who has an interest in dairy production.
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Read all citations at: our-history.unimelb.edu.au
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FAC U LT Y OF V E T E R I NA RY A N D AGR IC U LT U R A L S C I E NC E S
COMING EVENTS
BAGRSC 1965 REUNION
Contact: Peter Bailey
pjbail@yahoo.com
BAGRSC 1975 REUNION
Contact: Alison Stawell, 0408 185 329
astawell@bigpond.com
BAGR 2005 REUNION
Contact: Nigel VanDen Bosch
nigel.vandenbosch@gmail.com
DDA 1963-1965 3–4 October
Contact: Murrough Benson
bensonmj@bigpond.com
Alumna wins
top US award
VETERINARY SCIENCE REUNIONS
Class secretaries will be planning events
for 10, 20, 30 and 40 year reunions.
VETERINARY ALUMNI
COCKTAIL RECEPTION
Pan Pacific Veterinary Conference
Monday, 25 May, Brisbane
ava.com.au/asava/upcoming-event
OPEN DAY 2015
Visit us on Open Day and discover the
courses offered by the new Faculty.
Sunday, 16 August
Information on upcoming events
may be found at:
fvas.unimelb.edu.au/events
MISSED A LECTURE?
Catch up on recent Dean’s Lectures.
Professor Alan Olmstead from University
of California, Davis.
Arresting contagion – easier said than done
Professor Aalt Dijkhuizan from
Wageningen University.
The Internationalisation of Agriculture
Associate Professor Chris Whitton from
the University of Melbourne.
The science of horsemanship: working
with bone to prevent injury
Visit: fvas.unimelb.edu.au/events
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE
FACULTY OF VETERINARY
AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
WEBSITE:
fvas.unimelb.edu.au
FACEBOOK :
facebook.com/fvasunimelb
TWITTER :
twitter.com/fvasunimelb
YOUTUBE :
youtube.com/user/FVASunimelb
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C
n
alifornia-based alumna Dr Alison
Van Eenennaam (née Balson,
BAgrSc(Hons) 1983) has
received the prestigious Borlaug CAST
Communication Award.
The Council for Agricultural Science
and Technology (CAST) presents this
award annually to a specialist who
communicates the importance of food
and agricultural science to the public,
policymakers, and news media.
Dr Van Eenennaam, now a faculty
member at the University of California,
Davis, fits this description perfectly.
As one nominator said, “Dr Van
Eenennaam has distinguished herself
and her university by tireless effort in the
pursuit of science and communicating
the importance of science in improving
the quality of human life”.
Science and communication are
the hallmark of Dr Van Eenennaam’s
work. She has an active research and
extension program – but she also
has the ability to relay important
information about agriculture and food
production. She has given more than 250
presentations around the world and has
appeared on US media outlets including
the Dr Oz Show, Animal Planet, and
National Public Radio.
She has also served on advisory
committees both in the US Department
of Agriculture and the US Food and Drug
Administration to provide expert counsel
on animal biotechnology, and has been
the recipient of numerous distinguished
honours.
The author of many articles and book
chapters, Dr Van Eenennaam led the Task
Force teams for two important CAST
publications: The Science and Regulation of
Food from Genetically Engineered Animals,
a Commentary; and The Potential Impacts
of Mandatory Labeling for Genetically
Engineered Food in the United States, an
Issue Paper.
The Borlaug CAST Communication
Award honours Nobel Prize winner
Dr Norman Borlaug (1914–2009) who
has been called “the Father of the Green
Revolution”, “agriculture’s greatest
spokesperson” and “The Man Who Saved
a Billion Lives”.
15/04/2015 3:10 pm