Advance your career or move towards a new one with postgrad study.

Academic and professional staff will give advice about 2013 courses at this special event in the CBD, presented by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Education and Social Work.

To register or for more information, visit the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences website.

Participate in a study looking at healthy brain maturation in young adulthood.

This study, conducted by the Brain Dynamics Centre at Westmead Hospital, involves an MRI scan, an EEG scan, questionnaires and the provision of a saliva sample. A follow-up session approximately 1.5 years later will involve completing the same components to assess the brain development changes that have taken place between your first and second visit.

To be eligible you must be physically healthy, aged between 8 and 38, and have no current or previous history of mental illness. Please contact Cassie Antees on 9845 8160 for more information.

Are you currently suffering an acute episode of low back pain (LBP)?

Researchers from the Faculty of Health Sciences will investigate differences in the sensations of warmth and cold in patients with and without acute LBP. The researchers will perform several well-established tests to assess your sensory perception of warmth and cold over a 60 to 75-minute visit. Participants will be offered a reimbursement of $30. 

For further information please contact Dr Markus Huebscher on 9351 9013.

Are you concerned about your weight and physical fitness? Would you like to receive free exercise therapy?

The Faculty of Health Sciences and the Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition and Exercise are conducting a study that aims to compare different exercise strategies in reducing liver fat. To participate, you must be aged between 29 and 59 with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25.

To participate or for more information, contact Shelley Keating on 0405 735 200.

Do you carry that little bit of extra weight? Take this opportunity to learn more about your health.

Researchers from the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Heart Research Institute (HRI) are looking for volunteers to take part in a 12-week diet supplement study focusing on men's health – no change to your diet or exercise habits are required! Tests are at no cost to you, and include blood tests at HRI (Newtown) and MRI scans at your choice of Camperdown or Hornsby. Participants will be reimbursed for their time.

For more information, please contact Helen Parker on 0401 834 392.

Do you have a close relative who is depressed?

First-degree relatives (parents, siblings or children) of people with major depression (unipolar) are needed for this study. Participants must be in good health, aged between 18 and 65, and not have experienced depression themselves. 

Participation will involve approximately six hours of voluntary assessments, including an MRI scan, EEG recording (both non-invasive brain measures), computer-based activities, questionnaires, and a blood test. You will be reimbursed for your time. 

If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Joanne Carpenter at the Westmead Millennium Institute on 9845 8179. Thank you to all who have participated so far.

This is a unique opportunity for postgraduate students and early-career researchers to speak candidly with former politicians and gain insight into how to embark on policy-relevant research. 

The Sydney Health Policy Network Postgraduate Student Special Interest Group invites postgraduate students and early-career researchers to the forum ‘Strategies to Influence Policy’. The forum will include presentations by three former politicians: the Hon. Dr Geoff Gallop (former premier of Western Australia); the Hon. John Della Bosca (former minster in the NSW government) and Ms Lis Kirby (former member of the Legislative Council of NSW).

Event details
When: 1.30 to 5pm, Thursday 11 October
Where: Marjorie Oldfield Lecture Theatre, Edward Ford Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free
RSVP: Shauna Downs by 5 October

For the full program and more information, see the online invitation.

Watch Barack Obama and Mitt Romney go head-to-head for the first time.

All screenings will include a pizza lunch, and US Studies Centre experts will be on hand to provide analysis and answer questions after each debate.

Event details
When: 4, 12, 17 and 23 October
Where: The US Studies Centre, Institute Building (H03), Darlington Campus

Registrations are essential.

How have globalisation, migration, the global financial crisis, increasing inequality and individualisation affected democracy? 

Professor Wolfgang Merkel, one of Germany’s best-known political scientists, examines the quality of our current democracies in light of recent events, such as the Eurozone crisis.

Event details
When: 6 to 7.30pm, Thursday 4 October
Where: Foyer, New Law Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free, no booking required

For more information, visit the Sydney Ideas website.

Risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age, but are older people receiving appropriate care?

In this presentation Dr Jesse Jansen, a postdoctoral research fellow within the Screening and Test Evaluation Program at the Sydney School of Public Health, will discuss how she will examine decision-making and communication aspects of absolute cardiovascular disease risk assessment and management among older adults (over 75 years old).

Event details
When: 1pm, Tuesday 9 October
Where: Norman Gregg Lecture Theatre, Edward Ford Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free

For more information, visit the Events website.

How does the test of ‘national security’ and ‘national interest’ affect foreign investment in Australia and China? 

Professor Vivienne Bath, Sydney Law School's Director of the Centre for Asian and Pacific Law at the University of Sydney will examine what impact public opinion and the concepts of national interest and national security have on foreign direct investment.

Event details
When: 6 to 7pm, Thursday 11 October
Where: Foyer, New Law Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free, registration essential

To register or for more information, visit the Sydney Law School website.

Optics and photonics researchers from around the world will gather on campus for this symposium.

This symposium will focus on the application and future directions of the mid-infrared, terahertz waves and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. A key goal is to seek ways to bridge the gap between near infrared photonics and the optics at these longer wavelength regions, critical to many existing and future applications.

Event details
When: 5 and 6 November, registration from 9am
Where: Webster Theatre, Veterinary Science Conference Centre, Camperdown Campus
Cost: free, registration essential

Organised by the Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS). For more information, visit the IPOS website.

This is a unique opportunity to hear from three former chairs of health reform initiatives in hospital care, prevention and primary care.

The conference speakers – Professor Christine Bennett, Professor Rob Moodie and Dr Anthony Hobbs – chaored health reform initiatives commissioned by the Australian government in 2008 and 2009. They will offer their views on what has been achieved, what remains to be done, and what we have learned from the organisational upheaval and realignment.

Following the presentations, conference participants will have an opportunity to ask questions in a discussion facilitated by Professor Geoff Gallop, Director of the University's Graduate School of Government. Participants will then be invited to join workshops exploring key health policy issues.

Conference details
When: 8am to 6pm, Wednesday 14 November
Where: New Law Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: $275, concession $165

To register or for more information, visit the Sydney Health Policy Network website.