16 March 2005
16 March 2005
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| Dr Kellie Tuck is looking to develop non-addictive painkillers. |
Projects that will investigate non-addictive pain-killers, improvements to aluminium alloys for industrial use and the movement of gas in coal seams have begun with funding from the Monash-CSIRO Collaborative Research Program.
The program was launched last year and provides scientists from both institutions with up to $50,000 to pursue joint research projects.
Deputy vice-chancellor of research Professor Edwina Cornish said the program aimed to boost collaboration between the two institutions and attract more external funding to both the university and the CSIRO.
"The research funded in this first round of grants demonstrates the potential for Monash and CSIRO to significantly advance fields as diverse as drug development and the industrial uses of alloys," Professor Cornish said.
Five research projects have so far been funded, for collaborations between Monash and the CSIRO divisions of Molecular Science, Health Science and Nutrition, Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology, and Petroleum Resources.
The funded projects went to:
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| Dr Ranjith Pathegama Gamage and Dr Xavier Choi are investigating how gases migrate in coal seams. |
Applications for the second round of funding close on 17 March.
For further information, go to Collaborative Research Support Scheme website.
16 March 2005
The Malaysian Minister for Education Dr Haji Shafie Bin Haji Mohd Salleh and his 11-member entourage visited the university's Clayton campus on Saturday.
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| Site tour: Dean of Medicine Professor Ed Byrne discusses biotechnology initiatives with the visiting Malaysian contingent. |
The group was welcomed to Monash by the chancellor Mr Jeremy Ellis and the dean of medicine Professor Ed Byrne as well as the director of the Australian Synchrotron project Mr Garry Seaborne.
The official tour started at the Australian Synchrotron site where the group inspected how the construction of the synchrotron building was progressing.
This was followed by a discussion at the Monash Science Technology Research and Innovation Precinct on research and commercialisation biotechnology initiatives between Monash University and Malaysia.
16 March 2005
Monash terrorism expert Dr David Wright-Neville has told an international terrorism summit that poverty needs to be addressed as one of the causes of terrorism.
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"We need to consider issues of poverty and inequality in our fight against terrorism," Dr Wright-Neville told the Madrid summit, called to mark the first anniversary of the terrorist train bombings in the Spanish capital. "These are some of the root causes of terrorism, but are being overlooked in our current response."
Dr Wright-Neville and former foreign minister Mr Gareth Evans were the only Australian representatives at the summit, whose delegates included heads of state and government, senior international policy makers, leading scholars and business and religious leaders from around the world.
Dr Wright-Neville's invitation to the summit followed his collaboration with Dr Karin von Hippel, a research fellow in the Department of Defence Studies at King's College London.
A proposal by Dr Wright-Neville and Dr von Hippel titled 'Terrorism: the view from the south' has been awarded the inaugural 2005 Monash-King's College London Conference Grant. That conference will be held at the Monash Prato Centre in July.
The Madrid summit, held last week, explored the causes and factors leading to acts of terrorism.
The event was organised by the Club of Madrid -- an influential and independent organisation dedicated to strengthening democracy. Its members include former US president Mr Bill Clinton, former president of Ireland Ms Mary Robinson, former president of the Soviet Union Mr Mikhail Gorbachev and former Prime Minister of Britain Mr John Major.
16 March 2005
Victoria's International Education Week is underway, and Monash -- as the largest provider of international education in Australia -- is a key participant.
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| Mr Parinya Patracharukul |
As part of the week, from 14 to 20 March, Monash is featuring entertainment at its Clayton, Berwick and Caulfield campuses, including traditional Thai dancing and talks by international students who attend Monash.
Mr Don Gregg, acting chief executive officer of Monash International, said the learning experience of all university students was enriched by cultural diversity.
"All students benefit from a cross section of ideas in the classroom," Mr Gregg said. "This in turn leads to a greater understanding between different nationalities and races."
Electrical Engineering student Mr Parinya Patracharukul said his parents were so impressed with the Australian education system they sent all three of their children to undertake higher education studies here.
As their youngest child, 19-year-old Mr Patracharukul said he relished the opportunity to live and study in Australia.
"Australia is a great place to study, especially in terms of the facilities," he said. "And the culture and the people are really nice. You meet a lot of people from different backgrounds -- for example from Africa, Asia and from Australia itself -- which encourages you to interact and have a different kind of experience than you would at home."
Monash educates more than 15,000 international students.
16 March 2005
Monash University's electronic publishing service, ePress, was launched this week to an enthusiastic reception at Clayton campus.
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From left: Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree, Ms Michele Sabto, Professor Graeme Davison, Monash vice-chancellor Professor Richard Larkins and guest speaker at the ePress launch Dr Barry Jones. |
The ePress was set up in 2003 to streamline and promote academic publishing. The first four ePress titles -- three online journals and a book -- have been released as part of the launch.
University Librarian Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree said the library had created ePress in response to interest from the university's academic community.
"Our aim is to use technology in innovative ways to showcase Monash's research activities," Ms Harboe-Ree said. "We will do this while retaining a commitment to quality through traditional peer reviewing."
The titles released by ePress this week were:
For information, visit the e-Press website.
16 March 2005
The newly formed Monash Quality Network met for the first time last week to discuss quality initiatives at the university.
The network, which includes about 50 staff and students from across the university, was established by the Centre for Higher Education Quality (CHEQ) late last year.
It brings together the Support Services Quality Network and Faculty Quality Coordinators' Network, which have been active for several years.
The centre's quality adviser, Ms Robyn Harris, said staff and students would use the network to discuss quality and quality improvement within the university.
"There are plenty of quality initiatives under way at Monash," Ms Harris said. "Meetings will be used to showcase this work and allow members to learn from one another."
The network has an important additional role as the university's Audit Reference Group and will help prepare Monash for the coming audit by the Australian Universities Quality Agency.
The network's chair, Professor Graham Webb, pro vice-chancellor (Quality), said the network would take on a vital role as the university prepared for the national quality audit.
Presentations from the meeting and other information about the network can be found at the Monash Quality Network website.
16 March 2005
Two business development managers have joined Monash Commercial to promote research and the commercialisation of intellectual property in the arts and medicine faculties.
Ms Rosalind King will head a new research office in the arts faculty while Ms Tina Rankovic will manage commercialisation opportunities for the School of Biomedical Sciences.
Ms King came from the University of Melbourne where she worked with Melbourne Enterprises International as the business development manager with the education faculty.
Ms Rankovic was previously employed as the head of commercialisation at the Baker Heart Research Institute.
Both women are keen be pro-active in approaching development of intellectual property at Monash as well as establishing strong contacts with researchers.
Ms Rankovic will focus on research, encouraging scientists to approach the office with projects of potential commercial interest.
"We have identified opportunities for the strategic development of intellectual property and I will try and build strong networks with the researchers to draw on this," she said.
Ms King said she would try to ensure an effective flow of information and support arts faculty academics, helping them achieve higher rates of success in grant applications.
"Our aim is to remove the obstacles and make it as easy as possible for the staff to get down to the business of research," she said.
16 March 2005
An exhibition of works by 18 Australian artists who have participated in a residency at the British School in Rome is on display at Monash's Caulfield campus from 17 March to 13 April.
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| Euan Heng, 'Hocus-Pocus', 2004, oil on linen, 128cm x 183cm. Image courtesy of Australian Galleries. |
The exhibition, called Academici, showcases artists who were awarded the Australia Council Visual Arts/Crafts Board Rome Studio Residency between 1999 and 2004.
Those featured at the Faculty of Art and Design gallery include Associate Professor Euan Heng from Monash's Department of Fine Arts, Sebastian di Mauro, Alex Pittendrigh, Christine Morrow, Tom Alberts, Catherine Truman, David Keeling, Timothy Horn, Angela Cavalieri and Nell.
Academici curator and drawing studio coordinator Mr Kit Wise said the exhibition, financed by an Australia Council grant, highlighted the significance of interdisciplinary exchange for generating original discussion and research.
"This show presents work by some of Australia's leading contemporary practitioners, representing a cross-section of current cultural practice at the highest level across disciplines such as film, installation, photography, painting, sculpture and jewellery," Mr Wise said.
Professor Bernard Hoffert, associate dean, International, and head of Fine Arts, said the exhibition further strengthened the faculty's links with Italy and with Mediterranean culture.
"Academici demonstrates the valuable research that can derive from our collaboration with the British School and is a showcase for Australian creative achievement," Professor Hoffert said.
Academici will travel to the British School Gallery in Rome from 19 May to 5 June.
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| David Keeling, 'Narawntapu-90°', 2004, oil on linen, 182.5cm x 213cm. Image courtesy of Liverpool Street Gallery and Niagara Galleries. |
16 March 2005
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| Mrs Alison Crook, Professor Rob Lewis and the technical director of the Australian Synchrotron Project Mr Alan Jackson at the function to welcome the synchrotron's first tenants. |
The Australian Synchrotron, at Monash's Clayton campus, has its first tenants.
Close to 40 engineers from Major Projects Victoria moved on to the site late last month to build the machinery that will be the synchrotron.
They have been given synchrotron affiliate status with the university, which gives them access to the library and other facilities.
The staff were welcomed to the university community last week at a function attended by Mrs Alison Crook, deputy vice-chancellor (Resources); Professor Rob Lewis, the director of Monash's Centre for Synchrotron Science; and Dr Elane Zelcer, the executive director of the Monash Science Technology Research and Innovation Precinct.
16 March 2005
Several Monash scientists are members of a new network that brings together Australia's leading researchers in fluorescence technologies.
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| From left: Dr Don McNaughton, Dr Ian Harper (standing) and Dr Mark Prescott are members of the fluorescence applications network. |
The Australian Research Network for Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences has been established with $2 million in funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council. It was launched at Macquarie University at the end of February.
Dr Mark Prescott, from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Professor Alan Trounson and Dr Ian Harper from the School of Biomedical Sciences, Dr Don McNaughton from the School of Chemistry, Associate Professor Morry Silberstein from the Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences and Dr John Beardall from the School of Biological Sciences are among more than 60 researchers from across Australia involved in the network.
Convened by Associate Professor Ewa Goldys of Macquarie University, the network is designed to coordinate research programs relating to the applications of fluorescence -- a process in which molecules and chemicals emit light when illuminated by light of a specific wavelength.
Fluorescence applications enable researchers to track the movements of cell proteins so that the progression of drug therapies can be monitored.
Dr Prescott said the network was unique in that it sought to distribute funding among its members to help promote research in the area.
"This is not just a talking forum," he said. "It is a dynamic network that will help advance work in fluorescence applications."
For more information on the network, go to Fluorescence Applications website.
16 March 2005
Thirty-two students from Monash College attended a certificate presentation ceremony last week to receive their diploma testamurs.
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| College ceremony: Wai to Victor Lau, Lidyawati Santosa and Ms Sue Bell. |
Pro vice-chancellor Professor Phillip Steele presented the certificates in what college principal Ms Sue Bell said was the first ceremony at the college in years.
Professor Steele congratulated the students on their achievements and welcomed them into the next phase of their lives in the Monash community.
Ms Bell said the students had completed diplomas in art and design, information technology, business and engineering.
A dux student from each faculty was honoured with flowers and a pen. They were Wai to Victor Lau (art and design), Lidyawati Santosa (business), Ze Nong Liu (information technology) and Kam Po So (engineering).
The certificate presentation ceremonies will become a bi-annual event at Monash College, and will take place each October and March.
Ms Bell said she was extremely proud of the students' achievements.
"Attending Monash College was a decision that has changed the future direction of their lives," she said.
"Their commitment has allowed the students to move through an open door to Monash University, and I wish them all the best with their future studies."
Students who achieved the required academic standard are now completing courses at Monash.
16 March 2005
Two young neuroscientists from the Monash Centre for Brain and Behaviour have been selected to attend the inaugural Australian Advanced Neurosciences Research Initiative.
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| Ms Candice Rodricks and Dr Wah Chin Boon. |
Dr Wah Chin Boon and Ms Candice Rodricks are two of only 12 scientists from Australia and New Zealand to attend the initiative, which aims to emulate Woods Hole and Cold Spring Harbour -- two esteemed neuroscience research and training programs in the US.
Dr Boon, from Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, and PhD student Ms Rodricks, from Monash's Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, will attend lectures and laboratory sessions during the three-week course.
It will give them a chance to work in small groups with leading Australian and overseas scientists to develop skills in new disciplines and experimental techniques.
Dr Boon, who is researching the effect of oestrogen on the brain, said the initiative would give her the chance to learn new skills, and she hoped to use it to establish research collaborations with students and instructors from around Australia.
Ms Rodricks, a third-year PhD student, is studying how conditions that occur during pregnancy affect the development and structure of the brain.
She said the course would enable her to expand her knowledge for her future career in developmental neuroscience.
"I am looking forward to the new learning experience and to being taught by leading national and international neuroscientists," Ms Rodricks said.
The research initiative is being held in Queensland from 3 to 22 April.
16 March 2005
Cash-strapped students -- and the environment -- are getting help from Monash students who are repairing and selling discarded bicycles.
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| Getting into gear. Monash students Mr Tom McKendrick, left, and Mr Ian Adams with Mr Rob Prain in the background, restore discarded bikes. |
The Monash Student Association's Transport Collective at the Clayton campus has been scouring rubbish tips and receiving donations of discarded bikes that they transform, with a little elbow grease, into transport for students on a budget.
Last year, with support from Monash's Alternative Transport Fund, the group conducted a feasibility study into repairing and selling 'pre-loved' bikes. During last month's Orientation Week, it put the idea into practice and sold more than 20 bikes.
Indigenous studies honours student Mr Ian Adams, computer science PhD student Mr Rob Prain and student association bike mechanic Mr Tom McKendrick were among those who worked over summer to find and fix dozens of bikes.
Mr Prain said the group had received donated bikes and found several others at municipal tips, and the next stage would be to ask university staff and students to donate old bicycles.
"We sell them as cheaply as possible, for between $30 and $50, which is much less than the standard price of $150 for a second-hand bike," he said. "Sometimes the donated bikes just need a puncture repaired or the gears adjusted.
"A lot of the throw-outs are because people have lost the skills to fix them. The transport collective here will teach bike repair skills to anyone who is interested."
People who wish to donate bicycles can contact the Monash Student Association on extn 54134.
16 March 2005
Four teams of Monash students have scored highly in an international contest that challenged them to manage virtual companies for six weeks and generate maximum profits.
The Monash teams were ranked first, third, fourth and seventh in the competition, in which 70 players responded to computer-generated scenarios.
Each team began the contest with $40 million virtual cash and a simulated company. Over six-weeks, scaled to represent five years of trading, the players plotted corporate expansion, launched products, resisted take-overs and fought share market slumps.
The Monash players were strategic management students from the Faculty of Business and Economics. Department of Management associate professor Dr Sonja Petrovic-Lazarevic introduced the contest -- the Foundation Business Simulation program -- during the summer semester. Monash was the only Australian university to enter the competition, which attracted players from the US, UK and Canada.
Dr Petrovic-Lazarevic said the first-placed Monash team finished with $46 million profit, out-manoeuvring the game computer in the process.
She said its success had a lot to do with team management and how the members interacted. "Students were challenged and excited by experiencing true team work," Dr Petrovic-Lazarevic said.
Monash strategic management tutor Mr Zaffer Khan said the students had learned a lot by putting theory into practice. "The students role-played in areas such as research and development, production, human resources, finance and marketing," he said.
More Monash teams will take part in another simulation contest later this semester.