Professor Ian Gibbins
BSc(Hons) Melb, PhD Melb, FilDr(hc) Gothenburg
Current position:
Head, Anatomy & Histology
Location:
Room 6E121
Flinders Medical Centre
Bedford Park SA 5042
Postal Address:
Anatomy & Histology
Flinders University
GPO Box 2100
Adelaide SA 5001
Australia
Phone: (08) 8204 5271
Fax: (08) 8277 0085
Email: ian.gibbins@flinders.edu.au
Research Interests
Ian has been researching the nerves that control and monitor the activity of the internal organs for more than 25 years. His work uses combinations of advanced microscopic and electrical recording techniques to study how these nerves communicate with each other and their target organs throughout the body. Much of this work has focused on the roles of neuropeptides as chemical messengers. Ian’s specific expertise is in microscopy, electrophysiology and statistics. For current research projects see the Autonomic Neurotransmission Laboratory.
His research has been recognised by an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Lawrie Austin Lecture at the Australian Neuroscience Society.
He is Convener of the Flinders Microscopy and Image Analysis Facility (Flinders Microscopy), a long standing member of the Flinders Centre for Neuroscience, and on the Executive of the South Australian Neuroscience Institute.
Teaching and Learning
Ian teaches widely on functional anatomy, embryology, neuroscience, microscopy and statistics. He was heavily involved in the design and implementation of the Graduate Entry Medical Curriculum (GEMP). Within the GEMP he coordinates MusculoSkeletal System and teaches significant components of Human Homeostasis, Human Life Cycle and Brain & Behaviour. Outside the GEMP, he coordinates and teaches Body Systems, a 3rd year biomedical science topic. He also coordinates and teaches in the Graduate Certificate in Neuroscience (Learning), a unique postgraduate program developed in collaboration with neuroscientists at the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia.
His teaching is highly regarded and, although not a clinician, he won a Burns-Alpers Ward for Clinical Teaching, as voted by the medical students.
Creative Works and the Wider Community
Ian actively promotes science to the community, and regularly collaborates with artists and performers in public events bringing together science and art, such as the SA Government sponsored “Science Outside the Square” events. He shared a Science Week for this work Prof Marcello Costa in 2008. He writes regularly for “Australian Book Review” and gave the 2007 ABR / Flinders Annual Lecture. Ian is a published poet, including being selected for “Best Australian Poems 2008”. His poetry and electronic music was featured on ABC Radio National’s “All in the Mind” program in 2008 (replayed summer 2009).
More information on creative works...