The year in review – alumni news

January 2008

Professor Tim Flannery - Australian of the Year 2007

So what made the news in 2007? This edition of Monash Alumni eNews reports on the major news highlights of 2007 about the University’s progress, research outcomes and alumni achievements.

University-wide news in 2007 included Monash’s involvement in a joint water initiative and the establishment of a new Problem Gambling and Treatment Centre. Monash also became the first Australian university to gain access to the Shoah Foundation Institute Visual History Archive.

From the faculties, an Economist Intelligence Unit survey ranked Monash’s MBA course as the highest in Australia and 43rd in the world, Professor Adam Shoemaker was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) and the Faculty of Information Technology launched VLAB - Monash University’s virtual laboratory. The Law School announced it would offer bursaries to high-achieving rural students, the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences trialled a new blood test to detect early warning signs of heart failure and a Faculty of Engineering researcher warned of the fading mining boom in Australia.

Also in 2007, The Faculty of Art and Design launched Australia’s first Architecture course in 20 years, to commence in 2008. Faculty of Science researchers used Argentine ants to monitor crowd control and traffic behaviour in panic situations and the Faculty of Arts held its first successful ‘Arts in Action’ festival featuring prominent alumni such as children’s author Andy Griffiths (BA(Hons) 1985).

Several alumni received accolades in 2007. Along with those named in Australia Day and Queen’s Day Honours, graduates publicly rewarded for their talent included Australian of the Year Tim Flannery (MSc 1981), Young Global Leader Andrew Cohen (BEc 1989) and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Carolyn Creswell (BA 1995). Other high achieving alumni in the news were Fulbright Scholarship recipients Danny Gelman (BSc(Hons) 2005), Daniel Mitchell (BE(Mech)(Hons) 2006, BTech(Aerospace) 2006) and Robin Brimblecombe (BSc(Hons) 2003).

Last year saw the establishment of an alumni body representing Monash’s global alumni – the Monash Alumni Advisory Group. Lastly, the global alumni survey in early 2007 prompted recommendations to further improve services for alumni in 2008 and beyond.

Keep in touch with University and alumni news in 2008 through Monash Alumni eNews.