23 March 2005
23 March 2005
It is wonderful to see the university come to life with the return of the students. There is no doubting the excitement of O-week and the first week of term.
One of the best aspects is the enthusiasm with which students, both new and returning, embrace the multitude of campus-based clubs, societies, theatre, debating and sporting activities.
We have indicated in our Monash Directions document that we wish to remain a campus-based university. We believe the educational experience for university undergraduates is much more than can be acquired in lecture theatres, from text books or from the internet. It also consists of the broadening experience that comes from social interactions, sporting activities and extracurricular activities in clubs and societies that expand perspectives, build intercultural understanding and develop life-long friendships and interests.
It is disturbing, therefore, that these activities are threatened by the Minister for Education Dr Brendan Nelson's stance on what he likes to call Voluntary Student Unionism. Most of the activities listed above are funded in part or in whole by funds collected as amenities fees and made available to the student associations.
Although Dr Nelson and some others would argue that these activities should be supported on a user-pays basis, the viability of many of the activities would be undermined and many students who would otherwise have taken part in campus-based activities would no longer do so, either because of the deterrent effect of fees or because these activities were no longer available.
Just as we feel it is appropriate to pay rates to our local councils and receive in return the opportunity of affordable or free access to libraries and sport and recreational facilities, so it is reasonable that the cost of desirable infrastructure for the student experience be spread amongst the student body, allowing and encouraging equitable access for all.
Portraying the activities of the student associations as predominantly political and akin to a union is trivialising their substantial contributions to student life and the student experience.
Elected student bodies funded through the amenities fees also allow a workable method for the university administration to consult the student bodies and to achieve student representation on relevant committees. The senior management of the university is allied with the student associations and the National Union of Students in opposing the legislation foreshadowed by the Minister.
Other changes in university governance and regulations are also being foreshadowed, including changes to workplace relations regulations, the Commonwealth taking over the statutory control of universities and the introduction of teaching-only universities. Also, a committee has been established to explore the desirability of some form of research assessment exercise to determine allocation of research infrastructure funding. The long-awaited review of indexation of the Commonwealth operating grant is due to be released in April and is of critical importance.
Altogether, far from quieting down after the passage of the Higher Education Support Act in December 2003, we can anticipate further tumultuous times.
23 March 2005
More than 12,000 people visited the Australian Synchrotron at an open day at the university's Clayton campus last weekend.
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The open day was the only opportunity for the general public to walk inside the synchrotron machine tunnels before construction of the machine commences next month.
A synchrotron uses beams of light a million times brighter than sunlight to probe the physical structure of materials down to the level of atoms and molecules.
The open day marked the official completion of the building that will house the synchrotron.
Vice-chancellor Professor Richard Larkins, who welcomed visitors to the site, said the synchrotron was important to the scientific, industrial and economic development of Australia.
"Having the synchrotron here will lead to developments in biotechnology -- where the synchrotron is central to drug design and manufacture -- materials engineering and nanotechnology, a new area of science," Professor Larkins said.
Victorian innovation minister Mr John Brumby said the synchrotron would revolutionise science.
"All Australians can look forward to huge benefits from the research that will be done here by our scientists -- groundbreaking discoveries that save lives, create new products and grow the industries of the future," Mr Brumby said.
The Australian Synchrotron is expected to be operational in 2007.
23 March 2005
Monash's first computer has been cleaned up, ready for its new home in the Monash Museum of Computing History at the Caulfield campus.
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| Volunteer Dr Peter Thorne, a pioneer in computer science in Victoria, cleans the memory cabinet of the Ferranti Sirius, Monash's first computer. |
A team of volunteers rescued the Ferranti Sirius from its resting place in a boiler room at the Caulfield campus last week.
The computer arrived at Monash from England in 1962 and was first housed in the Mathematics department at the Clayton campus.
It cost the university £25,000 and was one of only four such models brought into Australia.
The Ferranti was the university's only computer until the mid-1960s and was also used by industry groups that at the time had no other computer access.
It was last used in the mid-1970s and was moved to Caulfield after the merger between Monash and the Chisholm Institute of Technology in 1990.
A team of six volunteers last week spent four days cleaning the Ferranti and other historical computer equipment. It will be moved to the new Monash Museum of Computing History in time for the museum's opening in early May.
Museum curator Ms Sarah Wolf said the volunteers all had an interest in computing and many had also worked to restore CSIRAC, Australia's first computer.
"Some of the volunteers have knowledge of the Ferranti and are helping us to document its uses," she said.
"The Ferranti is a very important machine for Monash and we need to record its history."
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| A Ferranti Sirius model, similar to the first computer at Monash, being put to use.
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23 March 2005
Monash University has received a major endowment to establish a research chair in modern Israel studies in the university's Australian Centre for the Study of Jewish Civilisation.
The endowment was made by Ms Lee Liberman in memory of her late husband, Leon, who was a prominent Australian businessman and graduated from Monash with a Bachelor of Economics in 1969.
Ms Liberman expects the person holding the research chair will head projects of national and international significance and will play a key role in advanced study and the training of masters and doctoral students.
"The chair of modern Israel studies will also advance the development of a rounded and multi-dimensional understanding of one of the most diverse and complex of modern societies," Ms Liberman said. "It will be a resource of major significance for Australian society."
Vice-chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said the Leon Liberman Chair in Modern Israel Studies would enable the university to position itself as a major international research centre for the study of Jewish civilisation.
"Monash wishes to make a substantial contribution to the study of Jewish history, language, religion and culture and to build substantial education, research and trade links with the modern state of Israel. This generous endowment will play a critical role in allowing us to do this," Professor Larkins said.
He said the gift provided an opportunity for Monash to lead the way to an era where public philanthropy toward universities became recognised as an important and worthwhile activity that allowed universities to flourish.
In support of Ms Liberman's gift, the Australian Centre for the Study of Jewish Civilisation will provide research infrastructure to the position.
The director of the centre, Professor Andrew Markus, said he was looking forward to a continuing association with Ms Liberman to realise the vision of a centre of international standing in research and teaching at Monash.
Monash joins leading overseas universities, including Harvard University, the University of California at Berkeley, Georgetown University, Brandeis University, New York University and the University of Toronto, which have in recent years established visiting and continuing professorships in modern Israel studies.
23 March 2005
A Monash research team is part of a new $52 million Cooperative Research Centre that aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of people with asthma.
Professor Robyn O'Hehir, from the Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine at Monash and The Alfred hospital, is leading the Monash team that joins seven other groups in forming the CRC for Asthma and Airways.
The cooperative, comprising research groups from Monash, the University of Western Australia, the University of Newcastle, the University of Sydney, the Woolcock and Garvan institutes and industry partners, has developed from the CRC for Asthma and will address issues relating to asthma and other airway diseases.
The national team will study treatment methods for asthma, monitor and develop new diagnostics and study the health consequences of adverse air quality.
The Monash team is focussing on vaccines that switch off the allergic responses that are important triggers for asthma.
They are already working on a vaccine for treating rubber latex allergies -- a major cause of occupational allergy for healthcare workers, scientists and other people who regularly use latex gloves.
The vaccine is expected to go to clinical trials within three years.
Professor O'Hehir said asthma was one of the most common chronic diseases, affecting more than two million Australians.
"Australia has one of the highest prevalences of asthma in the world," she said. "There is a recognised need for new treatments, and this funding will allow us to make advancements in these areas."
23 March 2005
Monash's new disability plan, which is aimed at identifying and reducing barriers at the university for people with a disability, has been launched at the Clayton campus.
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| (Clockwise from top left): Professor Graham Webb; Ms Amber Collings, senior disability liaison officer; Professor Richard Larkins; and Ms Kay Gardner, Monash Equity and Diversity Centre manager. |
The Inclusive Practices: Disability Plan 2004--2008 is designed to implement Monash's Global Equal Opportunity Policy and demonstrate the university's commitment to supporting access to education and employment on the basis of merit.
Professor Graham Webb, chair of the Inclusive Practices Advisory Committee and pro vice-chancellor (Quality), said the plan aimed to improve accessibility for students and staff.
"This plan will help ensure that all university planning, including the physical environment for education and research, identifies and eliminates barriers to the participation of all, including those with a disability," Professor Webb said.
"Ensuring accessibility in the early stages of planning will eliminate the need for later and more costly action to provide equity and access for which we are legally liable."
Monash vice-chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said addressing barriers to participation for people with a disability was the responsibility of the entire Monash community.
"The provision of equal opportunity is an essential element of an organisation that operates on a global basis," he said.
"Equal opportunity engenders an environment which promotes innovation and creativity, supports excellence in education, research and management, and sustains a diverse community.
"Implementation of the plan will demonstrate Monash's commitment to social justice and human rights," Professor Larkins said.
For further information, contact the Equity and Diversity Centre on extn 55704, or visit the centre's website at www.adm.monash.edu.au/sss/equity-diversity/.
23 March 2005
Seventeen senior Monash academics and managers last week took part in this year's first leadership program.
The Leadership for the Future program was introduced in 2004 and focuses on the leadership skills required of academic heads of departments, senior managers and heads of administrative units.
Deputy vice-chancellor (Resources) Mrs Alison Crook said the program was designed to help the university meet its strategic challenges. "Senior managers play a crucial leadership role in the university and need to be equipped with the skills and tools to lead transformational change," Mrs Crook said.
Monash senior managers, speaking after the first day of the program, commented on the value of stepping away from day-to-day tasks and taking the time to think about doing things differently.
One said it provided an opportunity to share the vision of the university and build relationships between academics and central managers.
Another said participants had benefited from meeting and hearing the views of a diverse range of individuals across the university and that the program had benefited from including both general and academic staff.
Staff who attended the program were:
The program's facilitators, Mr Richard Jones of Oxford Organisational Consulting and Mr Larry Marlow of Marlow Hampshire, will work with about 200 senior university staff over the next two years.
Participants in the Leadership for the Future program are nominated by deans, pro vice-chancellors and divisional directors. For information about the program, contact Ms Elenore Videion on 9905 2005 or email elenore.videion@adm.monash.edu.au.
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23 March 2005
Monash has signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the university deliver a master of nursing program in Macao, on the south-east coast of China.
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| From left: Macao Polytechnic Institute vice-president Eric Chao, Deputy vice-chancellor (Academic) Professor Alan Lindsay, and head of nursing Associate Professor Tony Barnett. |
A delegation of academics from the Macao Polytechnic Institute last week visited Monash's Clayton campus to meet deputy vice-chancellor (Academic) Professor Alan Lindsay and the head of nursing, Associate Professor Tony Barnett.
Professor Lindsay and Macao Polytechnic Institute vice-president Eric Chao signed the memorandum, which will have Monash providing the only postgraduate nursing opportunities in Macao.
Professor Lindsay said he looked forward to a close and productive collaboration between the two institutions.Dr Barnett said the memorandum would further strengthen the links between Monash and the Macao Polytechnic Institute.
"The memorandum allows Monash to contribute to the strengthening of Macao's healthcare sector and will open research opportunities within this environment," Dr Barnett said.
"Macao is striving towards a better quality healthcare system and, with the huge number of tourists who visit every year, it is imperative that it is of an international standard.
"This partnership will also provide Monash students with the opportunity to gain clinical experience in another country and the opportunity for Macanese students to study in Australia."
23 March 2005
Monash University Accident Research Centre researcher Ms Fiona Clay is one of only 10 people worldwide to have won a place in a Canadian university's work disability prevention program.
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Ms Clay (pictured), who is investigating the factors that affect people's return to work after injury, will leave for the University of Sherbrooke, in Quebec, in June.
Program participants attend summer schools at the university annually for three years.
The Canadian government-funded program was established after concerns that more than one million Canadians suffer work injuries every year, while many others have non work-related diseases or injuries that prevent them from working.
Ms Clay was researching the molecular biology of colon cancer but changed direction after being involved in a car accident in 1997. The accident left her with spine fractures, soft tissue injuries and post-traumatic stress.
"While I was undergoing a long rehabilitation, I noticed that some people went back to work very quickly while others did not -- I wanted to understand more about this," Ms Clay said. "I believe my experiences may have played a role in being accepted into the Canadian program, as they look for people with a range of backgrounds."
Ms Clay said the program would make a huge contribution to her PhD research and could open opportunities for the Accident Research Centre.
She will graduate from the program with a Canadian diploma of work injury prevention.
23 March 2005
The Monash Community Family Cooperative at the Clayton campus has reached two milestones -- it has been awarded for improving child nutrition, and renovations to indoor play areas have been completed.
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| Staff, parents and children celebrate the completion of renovations at the Monash Community Family Cooperative. |
The completed renovations were celebrated this month at a function attended by families, staff, friends and the head of the university's Family and Child Care Service, Ms Jennifer Weber.
Ms Weber said the renovations to the indoor play areas for children aged three to four had delivered a best-practice, open-plan learning environment. "This and other recent renovations at the co-op will help the qualified staff and assistants continue to provide quality programs for the children in their care," Ms Weber said.
Co-op coordinator Ms Helen Coffey said she was pleased the children could now better enjoy the centre's indoor environment.
Ms Coffey said she was also pleased the centre had been accredited under the Victorian Government's Start Right Eat Right program.
"Although nutritious hot meals and healthy snacks have always been a feature of the co-op, this award recognises our commitment to positively influence children's attitudes towards food and eating choices and habits," she said.
Monash staff and students are the primary users of the co-op, which offers 50 places for children from 12 weeks to school age. For more information, visit www.users.bigpond.com/mfco. For general inquiries about the family and child care service, visit www.adm.monash.edu.au/community-services/family/.
23 March 2005
Researchers from the School of Political and Social Inquiry yesterday launched a report criticising the Victorian Government's Melbourne 2030 planning scheme.
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| From left: Professor Kevin O'Connor from the University of Melbourne and Ms Virginia Rapson, Dr Ernest Healy and Dr Bob Birrell from Monash University's Centre for Population and Urban Research. |
The report by Dr Bob Birrell, Ms Virginia Rapson and Dr Ernest Healy from Monash and Professor Kevin O'Connor from the University of Melbourne said the government's plan failed to deal with the economic and demographic realities facing the city.
They said the plan to increase high-density living could damage the city considerably.
Dr Birrell, the director of the Centre for Population and Urban Research at Monash, said the Bracks Government should acknowledge the weaknesses of Melbourne 2030.
He said assumptions that older households would move to medium-density housing in activity centres were incorrect.
"Few will be able to afford the high price of such housing, and even fewer show any inclination to move from their detached house into crowded activity centres," Dr Birrell said. "The reality is that most of Melbourne's additional population will be forced into new 'infill' housing in established suburban areas."
For copies of Melbourne 2030: Planning Rhetoric Versus Urban Reality, visit http://publications.epress.monash.edu/loi/m2/index.html.
23 March 2005
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| From left: Professor Graham Webb, Professor Merran Evans and Professor Ed Byrne. |
A Monash delegation has returned from a trip to the UK where they explored possible medical and scientific research collaborations in Britain.
Pro vice-chancellor (Quality) Professor Graham Webb, director of the Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories Professor Alan Trounson, dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Professor Ed Byrne and pro vice-chancellor (Planning) Professor Merran Evans made the trip last month.
They visited the British Minister for Science, Lord Sainsbury, and Prime Minister Tony Blair's senior advisor, Mr Nick Rowley, at Number 10 Downing Street.
23 March 2005
Monash PhD researcher Mr David Menzies has been awarded the Australasian Ceramic Society and the Ceramic Society of Japan joint award for his research into dye-sensitised solar cells.
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| PhD researcher Mr David Menzies will further his solar cell research in Japan. |
Dye-sensitised solar cells can produce electricity at a lower cost than traditional solar cells. They are expected to be the next commercial generation of solar energy devices.
Mr Menzies, from the School of Physics and Materials Engineering, will travel to Japan to visit research laboratories and attend a nanotechnology conference as part of his award.
The annual award was established to enhance cooperation between Australia and Japan.
"Japan has some really good laboratories that I am keen to visit to pick up further ideas for my research," Mr Menzies said. "I also hope to develop collaborations with Japanese researchers working in this field."
Mr Menzies will travel to Japan in June.
23 March 2005
Monash researcher Associate Professor Frank Ng has been appointed to the scientific advisory board of Australian medical research company Dia-B Tech Limited.
Dr Ng, who has 38 years' experience as a diabetes researcher, will provide scientific advice to Dia-B Tech project managers and research scientists.
Dr Ng's research into diabetes has led to the development of three different families of anti-diabetic substances.
One of these is ISF402, Dia-B Tech's most advanced project.
Developed with Professor Paul Zimmet, also from Monash, the substance could help type 2 diabetes sufferers lower their blood glucose levels and enhance the potency of insulin as a treatment.
Dr Ng said he was delighted to be appointed to the scientific advisory board.
"Diabetes continues to be a massive public health issue throughout Australia," he said. "We need to continue to undertake research in this area to overcome this problem."
23 March 2005
The healthcare industry needed to adopt more technology if the health system was to improve, leading technology and health expert Dr Caroline Kovac told an InnovationXchange Blue Sky Forum at Monash earlier this month.
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| Talking up IT in healthcare: Dr Caroline Kovac and Mr Jonathan Sanders. |
Dr Kovac, head of IBM's Life Sciences division, told the 80-strong audience that the healthcare industry was still largely paper-based.
"This is a shock to us as we are living in the information age," she said. "Technology gets blamed for driving up the cost of healthcare but although new technology is expensive, it brings real value."
Dr Kovac is a visiting international fellow of the InnovationXchange network and has spoken at Blue Sky forums across Australia.
Monash Commercial hosted the Victorian forum, which included a panel discussion by Professor Ian Smith and Professor Michael Georgeff from Monash, Dr Tim Littlejohn from IBM Australia and BioInformatics Australia and Dr Andrew Campitelli from MiniFAB.
The panel discussed technology as a solution to the increasing stresses on the healthcare system.
Monash Commercial chief operating officer Mr Jonathan Sanders, who welcomed guests and speakers, said events such as the Blue Sky Forum helped boost local innovation.
"Monash is always interested in interaction between the university and industry," he said. "Blue Sky Forums are just one of the many ways we promote that interaction."
23 March 2005
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| Clean shave: (back) Mr Rod Gillett, Ms Jen Fenner and Mr Dale Cary; (front) Mrs Preetika Blanathan, Ms Rebecca Craythorn, Mr Russell Paulin and Mr Cameron Ingham. |
Eight Monash staff had their heads shaved or their hair sprayed in bright colours recently as part of the World's Greatest Shave to Care and Cure event.
The staff, from the Monash Institute of Medical Research, were raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation.
The money will go towards caring for patients and families living with leukaemia and funding research into better treatments and cures.
Donations will continue to be accepted until Thursday 24 March and can be made by contacting Mr Rod Gillett on 9594 7140 or by email to rod.gillett@med.monash.edu.au.