Jennifer Riesz

• Name: Jennifer Riesz
• Date of Birth: 2nd May 1982
• E-mail: riesz@physics.uq.edu.au

Jenny is currently doing a PhD in Biophysics at the Physics Department at UQ. Her research project is studying the biological pigment melanin, known to be involved in melanoma formation.

Academic Qualifications:

• Completed Bachelor of Science (Hons I) in Biophysics at University of Queensland , 2003.
• Currently a PhD student at University of Queensland , Department of Physics, working with Dr. Paul Meredith on the physics and chemistry of the biological pigment melanin (primarily advanced spectroscopy with some condensed matter and computational physics). My research relates to melanoma prevention and detection, and to developing cost effective solar cells from the melanin pigment.

Awards:

• University Medalist, University of Queensland , BSc (Hons I) 2003.

• Australian Institute of Physics Prize 2003 (awarded to the student completing the BSc (Physics) with honours who obtains the highest aggregate mark).
• Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) for PhD study in biophysics at UQ (2004).
• $800 scholarship from the Institute of Advanced Studies , University of Western Australia , to attend Klaus Schulten's "Computational and Theoretical Biophysics" workshop (June 2004).
• $5000 top up scholarship for PhD from Condensed Matter (theory and experimental) Group at UQ (2004).
• Australian Students Prize recipient 1999.
• Queen's Scout Award, April 2001.
• Venturer Scout Youth Leadership Award, August 2000.
• Awarded scholarships (to the value of approximately $3000) to complete several undergraduate research projects in the area of biophysics.

Publications:

• P. Meredith and J. Riesz (2003) "Radiative Relaxation Quantum Yields for Synthetic Eumelanin" Photochemistry and Photobiology, 79(2) 211-216.
• J. Riesz, J. Gilmore and P. Meredith (2004) "Quantitative photoluminescence of broad band absorbing melanins: a procedure to correct for inner filter and re-absorption effects". To be submitted by end of June.
• P. Meredith, J. Riesz, C. Giacomantonio, S. Subianto, G. Will, A. Micolich and B. Powell (2004) "The Melanins - A Class of Bio-organic Conductor". Proceedings of the International Conference on Synthetic Metals (ICSM).
• P. Meredith, B. Powell, J. Riesz, R. Vogel, I. Kartini, G. Will, S. Subianto , "Broadband Photon Harvesting Biomaterials and Biomaterial Analogues for Photovoltaics" (2004) Proceedings of the First Boden Conference on Artificial Photosynthesis.
• Jennifer J. Riesz, Joel B. Gilmore and Paul Meredith (2004) "Quantitative Emission and Excitation Spectroscopy of Synthetic Eumelanin".  Proceedings of the 48th Annual Biophysical Society Meeting, Pge 607a, supplement January 2004, V86, No. 1, Part 2 of 2.

Academic Experience:

• Biophysical Society Meeting 2004 in Baltimore (USA): Presented poster "Quantitative Emission and Excitation Spectroscopy of Synthetic Eumelanin".
• Visited Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (Chemistry and Physics Departments) for two weeks to work with Prof. John Simon and his group (melanin research), and with Prof. Henry Everitt and his group (ultrafast pump probe spectroscopy), 2004.

Science Communication Achievements:

University of Queensland Physics Demo Troupe

Co-coordinator (with Joel Gilmore) from February 2002 to present.

Involves extensive performing, and coordination of other university students to perform physics demonstrations and shows for university lectures, school groups, and other applicable audiences. We have built the Troupe from the ground up, and our focus on excellent presentation skills has generated an exponentially growing interest in our activities. Some performances I personally coordinated and presented in are as follows:

• Numerous lecture demonstrations closely connected with course syllabus for four different first year physics subjects at UQ (Feb 2002 to present).
• Brainwaves Festival for National Science Week 2003 - four 1hr shows over two days for the general public (audiences between 60 and 80 people).
• Sunnybank Baptist Church youth program - 1hr show for 40 children aged 6-12 (2003) encouraging interest in science.
• Extensive performances with PAIN Physics Students' Society (UQ) for Orientation week to encourage interest in physics among the general university community (2003, 2004).
• Engineering Links Camp - 1hr show for approximately 60 Yr 11 and 12 students visiting UQ for a 1 week workshop, encouraging enthusiasm for science (2003).
• Display at Centennary High School for the District Science Forum (2004) to encourage teachers from local schools to invite us to perform for their students.
• Ran UQ Quasar Club (physics enrichment group for Year 11 and Year 12 students) 'Gyroscopes' workshop, 2004.

I have been invited to travel to Townsville with Joel Gilmore to perform shows for the top scholar Yr8 students in Townsville at Kirwan High school on the 19 th and 20 th July for their 'Thinking Festival'.

University of Queensland PAIN Physics Students' Society

• President 2002, 2003.
• During these two years PAIN was the most active that it has ever been, with science based and social activities every week, and larger outings such as the weekend Astrocamp (in conjunction with the Brisbane Astronomical Society) and a sleepover at Underwater world. PAIN also experienced its highest membership and funding levels ever. These were all directly motivated and run by myself, with the assistance of my executive committee.
• During this period I also co-ran a series of interactive seminars on 'The physics of the senses' (biophysics) for PAIN members and the general university community.
• Social Convenor 2001.
• I was responsible for running the weekly science and social activities for PAIN, in conjunction with Joel Gilmore (also social convenor). These activities included 'Liquid Nitrogen Icecream', 'Complex Maths in the Real World' and 'Sonoluminescence'. During this year we ran a 1hr science activity each week.
• Dedicated member 2000.

Tutoring

• Employed by UQ (2001-2003) to tutor numerous subjects, including first year maths and physics, and 'Physics for Physiotherapists'. I always received the highest feedback from students, and was particularly noted for being enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
• Employed privately to tutor numerous high school students in physics, maths and chemistry (2001-2002).

Guest Speaker in Hong Kong

I was invited to speak at the Australian International School of Hong Kong (AISHK) to a group of senior students about careers in science, and my experiences studying at UQ.

Junior Physics Olympiads (JPhO)

• (2001, 2002, 2003) I assisted as a volunteer in the running of the JPhO 1 week camp for year 10 students, tutoring and running activities. I will be assisting again in this coming year.

Other Interests:

Scouting

• Dedicated member of the scouting movement 1996 to 2002
• President of Venturer Group 1999 and 2000.
• Adult Scout Leader 2002.
• Completed numerous leadership and teamwork qualifications.

Choral Singing

• I have been a committed member of various excellent choirs in Brisbane from 1996 until the present, including the St. Peters Chorale (toured Scandinavia in 1999), The Lucian Singers, and the University of Queensland Concentus .
• Currently a member of Emily Cox's Canticum. We have been invited to sing at the World Symposium in Japan next year.

Swing Dancing

• I have a deep love of swing dancing of various styles.
• I attend classes three nights a week, and social dancing once a week.
• I am a part of the Swing Dance Brisbane Performance Troupe (weekly rehearsals, and regular performances).
• I am placed in competitions.
• I am a valuable and proactive member of the swing dancing scene in Brisbane .

Photography

• I very much enjoy my membership in the Queensland Camera Group
• I enter photographs in their monthly competitions.
• I attend photo-shoot outings on a regular basis.
• I enjoy sharing my scientific understanding of photography with others in the club.

My views on science communication:

Everyone acknowledges that science and technology are becoming increasingly important in today's society. We live in an exciting world where humanity's technological abilities increase perceptibly by the day. Computers, digital cameras and mobile phones become obsolete more and more rapidly, as increasingly superior models take their place on the market. Medical technology leaps ahead, so that more patients can be treated far less invasively, and healed far more rapidly. It is thrilling to know that these advances are based not on chance, but on the continued efforts of the world's scientific community.

Many technologies in common daily use are now so complex that most people actually have no idea how they work. In many cases, a lack of clear understanding of technology has lead to fear and mistrust of the science behind it. Genetic engineering, electromagnetic radiation, stem cell research and nuclear power generation are excellent examples of technologies that could potentially offer great benefit to humanity, but have faced huge prejudice. Checks and safety measures are certainly required to regulate all of these (used in the wrong way they could indeed be very dangerous!), but in many cases society's fears are not grounded in truth. This indicates to me a clear and increasing need for science education of the general community. All of these technologies can be explained in a way appropriate for the general public, without the hype and biases that are commonly introduced by the media and political bodies. This would enable people to make clearly informed choices, and remove the ungrounded fears so commonly encountered. It would also make more clearly apparent the genuine dangers of these technologies, allowing more intelligent regulation.

I have often sensed a feeling that science, and particularly physics, is difficult to understand, and therefore only 'smart' people need attempt it. This is probably founded in part by the way that these subjects are taught at school. The excitement of the science is lost, and students become bogged down in dull rules and calculations. Science does not have to be taught this way! All science is fascinating, and nearly everyone is fascinated by it when it is presented in the right fashion. People need to see the bigger picture that it fits into, and the reasons for understanding it. The rules and calculations are certainly important, but it is ultimately the results that they lead to that we are interested in.

The feeling that science is 'too hard' is probably compounded by the fact that those who work in science find it difficult to talk about their research at a level appropriate for a general audience. They either use language that only an expert could understand, or speak down to their audience, not giving any real information at all. There is a clear need for good 'science communicators', who can understand the science at a high level, and effectively communicate it in the context of the bigger picture. Rather than explaining the nitty-gritty detail, they need to talk about why the discoveries that have been made are exciting and important.

This is a role that I could see myself excelling in. I am keen to combine my love of science with my strong interpersonal skills. I enjoy coordinating teams of people to work towards a common goal, and I believe that I exhibit excellent management skills. I also have an infectious enthusiasm for science, which is apparent whether I am tutoring students in fundamental physical principles, or presenting my scientific research to a group of colleagues. I believe that this combination of abilities will lead me towards a career both practicing, teaching and promoting science to people of a wide range of backgrounds. I would love to share my love of science with people of all ages, making high level science available to everyone.