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I
have a small research group looking at the role of viruses in
various human cancers. We are 2 Ph.D. students, 1 Honours student,
research officers and myself). In addition, I am employed to
lecture (mostly cell biology and molecular biology) but my teaching
load has been significantly reduced since I took up the position
of Associate Dean of Education for the Faculty of Science, UNSW.
I see this role as initiating, coordinating and supporting the
many really great learning and teaching initiatives going on
within the Faculty, the University and other Universities. An
important part of this is helping with the implementation of
policy that impacts on learning and teaching. Fortunately, I'm
assisted in this endeavor by a fantastic team; The EdSquad.
This is a group of four people (including myself, Dr. Will Rifkin,
Dr. Helen Dalton - who is replacing Dr. Sally James who is on
maternity leave, and Michelle Kofod) that work tirelessly on
learning and teaching initiatives for the faculty. For most
of the EdSquad, this is in addition to their normal activities
for the University. We do it because we believe it is important.
April 15th saw me leaving home at 7am for my usual 45 minute
walk (through Centennial Park) to work. 8 - 9am I spend 15 minutes
answering emails that have arrived during the night (there were
just 14 this morning - good as I need to modify my lecture).
Today I have the last of a series of four lectures on molecular
techniques to a third years Science course. The students have
a detailed handout that covers the content but I want to cover
the final bit of content by working through examples of exam
questions: the type of questions that I have set for their exam.
This will address the emails I've received during the week asking
for clarification of some material already covered as well as
asking for "exam hints". You've got to love them!
9 - 10:30am
The lecture goes well and I get a lot of questions and responses
to my questions. I really love the interaction if I can get
it during a lecture. I have a number of questions at the end
of the lecture and spend approximately half an hour answering
questions and alaying fears about the exam. The biggest problem
is a student that missed a lecture and turned up late to the
ones that they did attend
11am - 12pm
I try to swim everyday but it is not always possible; today
it is. I swim for fitness, stress relief and physiotherapy.
I broke my shoulder a year ago (motor cycle accident) and need
to increase and now maintain the strength behind my shoulder
to support the shoulder. This means that I've had to introduce
backstroke into my regime; I don't like it but and It seems
to be working as my shoulder gives me no problems at all.
12 - 2pm
I meet with my research students individually during the week
and we have a whole lab meeting every Friday afternoon. This
is a combined lab meeting with Dr. Louise Lutze-Mann. Louise
and I work on similar areas (Louise works on the effect of mutant
p53 on mutation rate; p53 is arguably the most important tumour
suppressor gene in human cancer) and we work well together.
Each of the students and research workers presents what they've
done during the week and we try to problems solve. This is a
fun meeting and we spend as much time socialising as we do discussing
science. The yummy pastries and cups of tea don't hurt either
(thank you Wendy!).
2 - 2:30pm
A collaborator on my projects (emeritus Prof. Jim Lawson) and
I discuss strategies for continued research funding support.
This involves trying to arrange a meeting with the CEO of the
NSW Cancer Institute to discuss our project. Unfortunately,
he is unavailable so I leave my number and hope that he calls
back.
2:30 - 3pm
I make the final arrangements for today's Faculty Board meeting
and I go to the Lecture Theatre early to make sure
that my presentation works on the computer and projector in
that theatre!
3 - 5pm
Today is the Faculty Board meeting which is a meeting to which
all academic staff are invited. It serves as an information
session as well as a chance to dicuss academic (and other) issues
as a whole Faculty. Most choose not to attend. The Presiding
Member of the Faculty, the Dean and the Associate Deans all
make or table reports. As the Associate Dean (Education) I am
expected to table a report of my activities since the last meeting.
I have also arranged for the tutors that have completed the
Faculty Tutor Training course to be awarded a certificate at
the Faculty Board meeting by the Dean of the Faculty (Prof.
Mike Archer). I also use this meeting as an opportunity to present
the Faculty's contextualised Graduate Attributes and supporting
documentation that have been designed to help all academic staff
to integrate the teaching and assessment of these attributes
into the curricula. These are the attributes that we believe
all graduates from the Faculty should have. The attendees engage
in the discussion and some important details are added to the
description of the Graduate Attributes.
5 - 6pm
There is a social session after the Board Meeting for all staff
that attended. The discussions continue over wine and nibbles.
I have to leave early this time as my partner feels that she
should have some time with me too. I don't mind leaving early
as I've had a long week; in fact, today was the shortest work
day for a long time.
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