The Postgraduate Student Organisation (PSO), Central Queensland University Student Association hosted the CQU Postgraduate Symposium last Friday.

Eighteen students studying in either Honours, Masters by Research, Doctor of Philosophy and Professional Doctorate programs drawn from the five Faculties at Central Queensland University presented their work throughout the day. There was great variety in the research presented and each paper generated questions from the audience. The research students used a variety of visual and presentation styles to engage the audience in their research work. The Harvard Lecture theatre was also conducive to closer interaction between presenters and audience and the PSO timekeepers kept the research students to their allotted 20-minute presentations throughout the day.

Prior to the evening session, the PSO hosted a function for the research student presenters and invited guests. Two recent CQU Doctor of Philosophy awardees, Doctors Jennifer Klotz and Barbara Webster, shared their reflections on studying for a PhD with the participants at this function. The recipients of the best paper presentation for each Faculty and the best overall symposium paper presentation were also awarded. The award recipients are listed below.

The supervisor of the year and runner-ups were also announced. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Research), Professor Ron Davies attended and introduced the evening seminar speaker, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki presented a lively seminar entitled “Great Moments in Science”. This seminar was open to the public and some 350 people were in attendance.

President of the PSO, Julie Reis, and PSO members Aslam Kabir, Mary McDougall, Sandrine Makiela and Mark Walters were responsible for the planning, organisation, facilitation and conduct of both the postgraduate symposium held during the day and the postgraduate symposium seminar held in the evening. Ian Bone, General Manager of the Student Association, and Paris Guest, Academic Advocacy Support Manager were also instrumental.

The award winners are.

Faculty of Business and Law Best Paper Presentation Award: Gemma Clissold (PhD Candidate) 'Stress and Safety: A Conceptual Framework'.

Faculty of Education and Creative Arts Best Paper Presentation Award: Leone Hinton (Professional Doctorate Candidate) 'Reconceptualising Nursing Education - What Makes a Professional?' .

James Goldston Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems: Josi Flavio Guerra Machado Coelho (PhD Candidate) 'Performance Evaluation: A New Approach For Integrated Management Systems Based On The AS/NZS ISO 14031:2000'.

Faculty of Informatics and Communication Best Paper Presentation Award: Noel Patson (PhD Candidate) 'Optimal Processing of Massive Digraphs using a Decompositional Approach'.

Faculty of Arts, Health, and Sciences Best Paper Presentation Award: Louise Schofield (PhD Candidate) 'Descriptive Study Of Pedometer-Determined Ambulatory Activity, Body Mass Index And Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a Defined Population of Older Adolescent Girls'.

Overall Postgraduate Symposium Best Paper Presentation Award: Noel Patson (PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Informatics and Communication) 'Optimal Processing of Massive Digraphs using a Decompositional Approach’.