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Welcome to Issue 07 of Habitat 2014

Take Part in Subject Experience Survey to Improve Your Subjects & Bank Balance!

Survey cllosing date: Sunday 8 June

Your Subject Experience Survey (SES) is available now. This is your chance to not only provide feedback on your learning experiences in subjects, but also a chance to win $500 cash!

Each survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete, and is completely confidential. You can complete your SES by either going to the survey website or via your 'My Home' tab on the LMS.

The new ABP Building - a lecture by joint architects Nader Tehrani and John Wardle

Date: 6.00pm - 7.00pm, Tuesday 27 May
Venue: Charles Pearson Theatre, ERC
RSVP: No bookings required

With completion of the new ABP Building only a few months away, ABP students and staff can look forward to moving into their new home soon. On May 27, the building’s architects Nader Tehrani (NADAAA, Boston) and John Wardle (Melbourne, JWA) will talk about all facets of the new building, and how its stunning design will impact teaching and learning for generations of students to come.

This will be the last opportunity before building completion to hear both architects speak about the design process and academic purposes of what is one of the University’s most exciting building projects in decades.

Visual Programming with Grasshopper3D: New Studio AIR Tutorials

Studio AIR open-access online tutorials have been viewed some 400,000 times and played about 110,000 times since they were first produced in March 2013. They emphasize the use of visual programming as a flexible platform for all types of architectural applications and can be used in a variety of studios.

New additions include:

  • 07.16 Isosurfacing and Minimising with Millipede: Mark Fornes - Under Tension
  • 07.15 Structural Analysis with Galapagos: Bollinger and Grohmann - Skylink
  • 07.14 Live Data Feeds and Responsive Geometry with Firefly: dECOi Architects - Hyposurface
  • 07.13 Extracting Open Street Map Data - Elk
  • 07.12 L-Systems and Loops - HoopSnake
  • 07.11 Particle Trajectories and Loops with Anenome: Robert Stuart-Smith Design - Helsinki Public Library

Click 'More information' for a full list and support files.

Academic Skills: Here to help you prepare for exams & improve your academic writing

At this busy and demanding time of semester, Academic Skills can help students develop exam preparation and writing skills. Book an individual tutorial with an Academic Skills adviser through the Student Advising System. Make sure to book early!

Undergraduate students can also attend the Academic Writing Drop-ins to get quick feedback on written drafts. No bookings required. Drop-ins are available:

Climate Research Connections

Date: 9.00am - 12.30pm, Tuesday 3 June
Venue: Yasuko Hiraoka Myer Room - 1st Floor, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, 761 Swanston Street

The Climate Research Connections events aim to expand opportunities for University of Melbourne staff and post-graduate students working on climate change related issues to share information about their research and to explore potential links and connections.

Participants are invited to present a very brief (2 slides; 2 minutes) presentation of their current climate change related research, and include a poster and/or one page summaries of their research for display and distribution. The program will include time for questions and conversation among researchers as well as a briefing on relevant research funding opportunities.

Upcoming due date: Exchange applications for Semester 1, 2015

Do you have an average of 65% or more? Interested in studying overseas in semester 1 2015? You may be eligible, apply now!

Due Date: Friday 4 July

All students applying for an exchange must attend a myWorld First Step session as an application requirement. RSVP here.

Careers & Employment

Job Search Intensive Seminar for recent graduates

Date: 9.00am - 3.00pm, Friday 20 June
Venue: Room 123, Level 1, Alan Gilbert Building, Grattan Street
RSVP: Book Online

The Job Search Intensive (JSI) for recent graduates of the Bachelor of Environments, MSD and MSLE is specifically designed for University of Melbourne graduates who have experienced difficulty in securing employment after graduation.

This intensive program provides information on the employment market and how you can better target your applications and improve your chances of getting a job in the current challenging market.

We will look at what employers look for in candidates, how to revise your documents like your CV, cover letters and selection criteria and then look at ways to improve your performance at interview.

Places are limited.

Careers Appointments

Date: Weekly on Tuesdays
Venue: Baldwin Spencer Building
RSVP: Student Advising System

B Envs students can book appointments to see Careers Consultant Graham Habgood in the Baldwin Spencer Building (Room G46).

Half hour appointments will be available each Tuesday morning, with bookings made through the Student Advising System. Appointments are available on other days in the Alan Gilbert Building (Level1).

Student Connect appointments

First year students - have you had your Student Connect appointment yet? Student Connect meet with all first year students to discuss your study, life and goals at university.

If you haven’t seen a Student Connect adviser, please book your first appointment through the Student Advising System. Alternatively, call 8344 0100 to arrange an appointment on a day that suits you.

Here’s what other students have said about their appointments this year:

“This session was really helpful for me in working out ways to be focused on my study and get the support I need”

“A good opportunity to widen our view on our careers and what we may want to do in the future”

Safety on and off campus

At night time there are fewer people on campus, so you need to be more aware about your safety. With the end of semester fast approaching, and some of you studying on campus until the early hours of the morning, please consider some simple actions which can help to keep you safe on and off campus.

Did you know that campus security patrols are available to escort you to your car, public transport, colleges or other location in the near vicinity of Campus?

It is recommended that you pre-book this service. Contact Security on  8344 4674 or Free call 1800 24 6066.

Driving at night
If you are thinking of driving home after studying late at night, be aware of the dangers of driving when you are tired.  Caffeine can pep you up but you need to give yourself at least 20 - 30 minutes for it to take effect.

Taking public transport at night
When waiting at the train, tram or bus stop late at night, position yourself wherever you feel the safest. Know the timetable so you avoid long waits. Try to stay in a well-lit area near other passengers or the ticket office/guard/driver.

Governor-General's Prize 2014 now open

Closing date: 30 June 2014
Prize: total prize pool in excess of $10,000

The Governor-General's Prize is a prestigious essay competition open to Australian citizens and permanent residents who are enrolled in an undergraduate degree at an Australian university.

Every year the competition is judged by a panel of distinguished individuals including a High Court Justice. The competition provides students with the opportunity to be further recognised for their academic skill, talent and research.

This year, the Governor-General’s Prize is supported by Reconciliation Australia, and the essay competition gives students the opportunity to choose from a range of questions relating to recognition of Indigenous Australians.

Essays should be 2,500 words in length and answer one of the six prescribed essay questions, which relate to law, politics, history and social justice.