Einstein sparks inspiration for refugee to graduate from UQ

A Sudanese refugee inspired by Albert Einstein will graduate from The University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Science with Honours tomorrow (Friday July 22).

Moses Nyara was 17 years old when he moved to Australia with his Uncle in 1998 under the United Nations refugee program.

He said he was motivated to learn to speak English and study science after hearing the translation of one of Einstein’s famous quotes.

“I come from an environment where there is war, and not very much of anything positive in daily life,” he said.

“I was very moved when I heard Einstein’s quote ‘Where the world ceases to be the scene of our personal hopes and wishes, where we face it as free beings admiring, asking and observing, there we enter the realm of Art and Science’.”

The mid-year graduation ceremonies will to be held in the UQ Centre, Union Road, at the University`s St. Lucia campus in Brisbane.

Moses is unable to attend the graduation ceremony but will be available for media interviews at telephone 0401 907 414.

Other graduates include:

• Misook Kim will be awarded a PhD in plant genetics at the 11am ceremony. Misook studied the ginger plant specifically, and found that ginger can be used successfully as a meat tenderizer. Her research outcomes are now being expanded on by the Sunshine Coast’s Ginger Factory. Misook moved from South Korea to Australia in 1992 and is now working on a molecular biology and protein biochemistry post-doctorate at the CSIRO. Telephone (07) 3214 2544

• 22 year-old Jonathon Dingle will receive a Bachelor of Mechanical and Space Engineering at the 2pm ceremony. Jonathon was offered numerous job opportunities as a result of widespread interest in his final thesis project. Jonathon designed a computer program that models pedestrian movement in crowds and the way people respond to panic situations and the way they move through spaces such as small doorways. The outcomes of his thesis are considered enormously beneficial to engineers designing exits in buildings such as Manhattan’s new "Freedom Towers" to be build on the site of the former World Trade Centre. Phone: 0421 063 947

Guest speakers at tomorrow`s three graduation ceremonies are:
— 11 am ceremony: Professor Melissa Little from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience will attend the 11am ceremony for the Faculties of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences. Professor Little is the recent recipient of the GlaxoSmithKline Australia Award for Research Excellence for her contribution to the development of new treatments for renal disease. She is only the third woman in history to receive the award.

— 2pm ceremony: Professor David N. Jamieson, Director of the Microanalytical Research Centre at the University of Melbourne will address the Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture ceremony at 2pm.

— 6pm ceremony: Chair of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and former Director-General of Arts Queensland, Ms Margaret O’Donnell will present the guest oration at the Arts Faculty graduation ceremony which will conclude the ceremonies at 6pm.

For more information contact: Senior Communications Officer, Tiffany Lippett, Phone: (07) 3365 2049