Torture, politics, protests and Indigenous literature – get inspired at these free Sydney Writers’ Festival events.

Our academics, researchers and alumni are involved in a range of fantastic events at this year’s festival. Coming up this week:

Turning the Tide
Larissa Behrendt, Lionel Fogarty, Ali Cobby Eckermann and chair Peter Minter discuss the state of Indigenous Australian literature.

When: 6.30 to 7.30pm, Thursday 17 May
Where: The Great Hall, the Quadrangle, Camperdown Campus

Occupy
Loretta Napoleoni (Italy), Chad Harbach (USA) and John Keane talk to Simon Tormey about the ‘Occupy’ Movement.

When: 8 to 9.30pm, Thursday 17 May
Where: The Great Hall, the Quadrangle, Camperdown Campus

Preventing Torture
Former CIA interrogator Glenn Carle talks with Danielle Celermajer about the use and prevention of torture.

When: 2.30 to 3:30pm, Friday 18 May
Where: Sydney Dance 2, Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay

Who’s POTUS?
Joe McGinniss, David Smith and Anne Goer (The Washington Post) cast their predictions for the next President of the United States.

When: Friday, 18 May, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Where: Sydney Dance 2, Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay

Proudly presented by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. For more information, visit the University's Sydney Writers' Festival hub website.

Congratulations to Jennifer Blow, who has been selected for the London 2012 Australian Paralympic squad.

Jennifer, a Sydney University Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder, will compete in the first Goalball team to represent Australia in more than a decade. Read the full story.

Last month student Jess Fox was announced as a member of the Australian women’s kayak slalom team. Read her blog post about the journey to London.

Find out how to graduate sooner, or resit a failed subject in three weeks.

From 2 to 28 July, Winter School offers 55 intensive undergraduate and postgraduate subjects, including: 

• mathematics
• corporate finance
• international accounting
• various law subjects
• languages (French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Arabic)
• data analytics and business intelligence
• peace through tourism
• moral psychology
• Buddhist philosophy. 

Several design subjects are also offered online, and FEE-HELP is available.

Online enrolments are open. Visit the Sydney Summer and Winter School website for more information.

Learn practical strategies for coping with the upcoming exam period.

When: 1 to 2pm, Thursday 22 May

No enrolment is necessary, just head to Room 513, Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building, Darlington Campus. For more information, call 8627 8433 or 8627 8437.

And check out psychology honours student Alex blogging about self-control.

Researchers in the School of Molecular Bioscience are seeking participants for a study investigating people’s attitudes and behaviours around buying and eating vegetables and take-away meals.

The study is open to anyone aged 18 to 39 years, who is in any form of part-time or full-time paid employment.

Participation involves completing an online questionnaire, and you will be reimbursed for your time.

The questionnaire asks about what impacts your food choices, your opinions about increasing or decreasing these foods, and your feelings, thoughts and behaviours about eating these foods.

To enquire about participating, please contact Amelia Cook on 9351 4672.

Contribute to research that aims to improve your health, without changing diet or exercise habits.

Do you carry a bit of excess body weight, and would like to improve your health, but don't like the idea of changing your current diet or exercise habits? Males aged 18 to 60 years are invited to volunteer for this 12-week diet supplement study.

Conducted by Faculty of Health Sciences researchers, through the Heart Research Institute (Newtown), with MRI scans at either Hornsby or RPAH Medical Centre in Camperdown. Participants will be reimbursed for their time.

For more information please contact Helen Parker or 0401 834 392.

KPMG forensic accounting graduate positions now open!

Does being a ‘white collar detective’ sound like your ideal career? If so, consider applying for KPMG’s Forensic Accounting graduate program. As a part of KPMG Forensic, you’ll be helping to prevent financial fraud and solve corporate crime! If you’re studying an ICAA accredited degree, apply now. See the full job ad on the Careers Centre website.

The AGM, the elections, the soapboxes and the results party! 

Notice of Annual General Meeting
The University of Sydney Union Annual General Meeting will be held at 11am on Thursday 31 May 2012, at Manning Bar, Manning House.

Elections 2012
Download the 2012 Candidate Booklet and get the latest updates on the USU elections.

Candidates Soapbox
Hear the USU board candidates speak about their policies and answer the tough questions ahead of the elections. Starts at 12.45pm on Wednesday 16 May at Manning Bar.

Election Night Party
Free entertainment and live updates as the votes are counted. From 7.30pm on Wednesday 30 May at Hermann's Bar.

During National Reconciliation Week, the Sydney University Medical Society will be hosting a screening of the documentary Our Generation.

This must-see documentary shines a light on the current state of Indigenous relations in Australia, highlighting the ongoing struggle for culture, land and basic human rights.

The screening will be followed by a guest speaker on reconciliation, and is open to all students.

Event details
When: 6pm, Tuesday 29 May
Where: Old Geology Lecture Theatre (opposite Footbridge Theatre) near Parramatta Road, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Gold coin donation to local Indigenous organisation ‘The Redfern Foundation’.

For more information, contact Sally Plunkett, SUMS Indigenous Health Officer.

Technology, art, design, music – and the chance to win an Xbox Kinect!

This month, Sydney Uni has teamed up with Microsoft to bring you ‘Ideas Fest 2012’, showcasing technology that can help you reach your potential.

Each Friday over the next three weeks, the Tech Lounge (Room 221B, Level 2, JFR Building, behind Subway) will host events that bring technology, art, design and music together.

Kicking off this Friday (18 May), Chris Reeves discusses the shift from physical records to digital music, followed by live sets by Peppercorn and DJ Felix Lloyd. Attend this great event for your chance to win an Xbox Kinect!

For more information, visit the Student IT website.

Professor Shane Houston believes the valuable, culturally diverse experience of tertiary education can help more Indigenous graduates become leaders and role models.

What is the University of Sydney doing to make a difference in this area?
What examples have you seen of education making an impact?

Professor Houston is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services). If you have questions for him, send them to what.matters@sydney.edu.au, or post them in the comments section of his 'What Matters' page, where he'll respond during a live online forum next Tuesday.

Event details
When: 12 to 1pm, Tuesday 22 May
Where: What Matters website

Hear how alumna Shu-Cheen Yu went from student to opera star. 

Shu-Cheen Yu was already famous in her native China when she migrated to Australia in 1987. Eager to expand her musical horizons, she enrolled in an Opera and Arts course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, to learn how to sing in Italian.

20 years later, Shu-Cheen has performed with Opera Australia and the Sydney Symphony, and released three best-selling albums.

Shu-Cheen will give a public talk at Camperdown Campus on her musical journey, followed by a concert at the Conservatorium of Music.

Talk details
When: 6pm, Thursday 24 May
Where: Lecture Theatre 351, Education Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free
Book now

Concert details
When: 2pm, Sunday 27 May
Venue: Sydney Conservatorium of Music, corner Bridge and Macquarie Streets, Sydney
Cost: $15
Book now

For more information, visit the Confucius Institute website.

Hear from the Sydney Uni researchers who transcribed The Hanging Garden at this special event.

The recent publication of Patrick White’s novel was due in part to the work of Professors Margaret Harris, Elizabeth Webby, and research assistant Jennifer Moore, who transcribed the work from manuscripts in the National Library of Australia. Their Australian Research Council project freshly illuminates White’s career.

Event details

When: 6 to 7.30pm, Wednesday 6 June
Where: Foyer, New Law Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free, but please register as seats are limited
RSVP: library.rsvp@sydney.edu.au or phone 9114 086