Feeling queasy after looking at this image?
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If so, then you're probably not a health professional.
Jessica Stokes-Parish tells us she's never come across any health professionals who are squeamish. Which has to be a good thing for obvious reasons.
And which makes us wonder, is there some kind of anti-squeamish gene? It would make sense from an evolutionary perspective.
Anyhow, Jessica is an expert in "simulation and moulage". She works at John Hunter Hospital and is a Hunter Medical Research Institute [HMRI] researcher.
Moulage - a French word - refers to the art of applying fake injuries to actors and mannequins for training purposes. We're talking wounds, gashes, burns and bruises. Which begs an obvious question.
Topics: "Have you ever used moulage on yourself to get out of something?"
Jessica [giggling]: "I put a cut on my hand and ran down to the office and said, 'Oh my goodness, somebody help me, has anyone got a bandaid?'
Her co-workers fell for it. They were ready to take her to the emergency department.
Topics: "Have horror-movie producers tried to sign you?"
Jessica: "Unfortunately not. They use a lot of special effects make-up artists. This is a little bit different."
Nevertheless, Jessica did create a "triage tent" known as "Blood and Guts Central", which features in this photo. The tent will be part of HMRI's open day on Friday.
"We'll be giving kids an opportunity to do wound decorating [as opposed to cake decorating]," Jessica said.
"It's almost like face painting, but to the extreme."
Youngsters will also learn a bit about health and science. Who knows, they might even be inspired to seek a career in the sector. If they carry the non-squeamish gene, that is.
Another exhibition is the so-called "Poo Room". It gives kids the chance to make poo and learn how it's made.
This sounds pretty disgusting but, then again, our bodies do it every day. So who are we to judge? Plus, it's all about research to understand and find ways to treat - and hopefully cure - disease.
A focus on the gut and its contents relates to the microbiome - a buzzword in health circles over the past few years. It's now well known that gut health is crucial to overall health - physical and mental.
But let's not forget about the brain. It's just as important as the gut. That's why the open day will feature a "Brain Room" and public seminar talks on "The Wonders of the Brain" and "The Mysteries of the Brain".
For more details on the open day, visit hmri.org.au/events/hmri-open-day-2019.
Making Frens
The famous Fren family star in a new advertisement for Newcastle Airport.
The Fren family are known for their unique sense of humour, which has been delightfully displayed for the past few years on NBN's reality series Travel Guides.
Mark and Cathy Fren, and their grown-up children Victoria and Jonathon, own Bavarian restaurant Oma's Kitchen on Watt Street in Newcastle.
When they're not running the restaurant, they're gallivanting around the globe for Travel Guides, giving playful and honest opinions on destinations far and wide.
We reckon the "Park and Relax" slogan hits the mark. Travelling to Newcastle Airport is undoubtedly better than battling the traffic to get to Sydney Airport.
Question is, what now for the Frens? Could they end up with their own show?
Global Megatrends
We like the word megatrend. Global megatrend is even better.
Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, of CSIRO's Data61 initiative, was in Newcastle on Thursday to talk about this subject at the Smaller & Smarter Cities international symposium that Hunter Research Foundation Centre hosted.
Dr Hajkowicz co-authored a report for CSIRO, titled Our Future World.
"A megatrend is defined as a major shift in environmental, social and economic conditions that will substantially change the way people live. Megatrends are relevant to contemporary decision making and may prompt a rethink of governance models, business processes and social systems," the report said.
The megatrends pinpointed in the report include the ageing population, new patterns of chronic illness and rising healthcare expenditure; rising demand for experiences over products and the rising importance of social relationships; increasing demand for limited natural resources; challenges from declining ecology, biodiversity, superbugs and climate change; and rapid economic growth and urbanisation in Asia and the developing world.
"People of the future will have expectations for more personalised, better and faster services," the report said.
"Social relationships will hold increased importance, given the potential for social media and digital communication burnout and the desire for face-to-face interaction."