14 October 2009
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Monash has improved its position in the prestigious Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings, moving up two places to be ranked number 45 in the world.
Monash Vice-Chancellor Professor Ed Byrne welcomed the University's climb up the world ranking list.
"Monash University is a world-class university that will continue to get better," Professor Byrne said.
"This improvement in world ranking is a tribute to the hard work of many talented, dedicated teachers and researchers across the University.
"Monash is a new type of Australian university, with a strong international focus and a commitment to delivering the solutions to many of the problems facing societies across the globe.
"I am very proud of our past and equally excited about the contribution Monash will make in coming years."
Monash ranked in the Top 100 for all the five discipline areas:
Monash is Australia's largest research-intensive university. It has campuses situated in and around Melbourne as well as in Malaysia and South Africa, with construction of a postgraduate campus about to get underway in India.
Last year the University celebrated the 50th anniversary of its establishment. Monash is one of the youngest universities to regularly feature in the list of top 50 universities in the world.
14 October 2009
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| Professor Tony Tiganis and researcher Kim Loh |
An international team of scientists has found that anti-oxidants commonly touted for their health-promoting benefits, could contribute to the early onset of Type 2 diabetes.
The team, led by Professor Tony Tiganis from the Monash Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has found that molecules known as Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) may play a protective role in the early stages of Type 2 diabetes by enhancing insulin action. Anti-oxidants prevent the beneficial effects of ROS.
The findings, published in Cell Metabolism, challenge the widely-held view that ROS are always harmful and that anti-oxidants are always beneficial.
"ROS molecules, such as hydrogen peroxide, are important for normal cell function; We have shown that ROS present in muscle, enhance insulin action and help lower blood sugar levels," Professor Tiganis said.
Professor Tiganis said the study did not negate the role of ROS in late-stage disease.
"There's a ‘yin and yang' relationship that takes place, wherein ROS are beneficial in the early stages of Type 2 diabetes and shift to being harmful at later stages of the disease," he said.
"We are now trying to find out when ROS make the switch from being good to bad."
Professor Tiganis said that although more research needed to be done, the results indicated that the widespread use of anti-oxidants by the general public as a preventative measure was something that should be discouraged, particularly if people were otherwise healthy.
"Eat healthy and exercise as this is a natural source of ROS that promotes insulin action," he said.
Diabetes is Australia's fastest growing disease, with an estimated 275 people developing the disorder each day.
Professor Tiganis led a team of 12 Monash researchers, scientists from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, University of Melbourne, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in the US.
14 October 2009
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| Professor Elizabeth Blackburn |
Monash has congratulated Professor Elizabeth Blackburn on becoming Australia's 11th - and the country's first female - Nobel Prize winner.
Professor Blackburn is a Sir Louis Matheson Distinguished Visiting Professor in the University's School of Biomedical Sciences. She is a regular visitor to Monash and contributes to the school through student lectures, mentoring and research advice. She is scheduled to visit early next year.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish congratulated Professor Blackburn.
"It is important to recognise the enormous achievements of Elizabeth to human understanding of chromosomes, but also the important role she has played inspiring early career researchers and female scientists in Australia and across the world," Professor Cornish said.
Professor Blackburn was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, along with Carol Greider and Jack Szostak of the US, for discovering an enzyme that helps chromosomes in cells stay eternally young.
Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences Professor Christina Mitchell said Professor Blackburn had greatly contributed to the school and its students.
"She inspired us to improve our PhD student experience and our graduate programs," she said.
"She actively engaged with PhD students, attended their PhD seminars and met with them one on one, and for all it was an extremely exciting and valuable experience."
Biomedical sciences PhD student Michele Davies met Professor Blackburn during her visit to Monash in 2005.
"I knew Professor Blackburn was an extraordinary scientist and we were often taught her work in lectures and I had read much of her research, so it was a real honour to meet her," Ms Davies said.
"I was impressed with how generous she was with her time; she was very supportive and keen to talk about our research and how we were managing work-life balance."
Earlier this year Professor Blackburn was listed among Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in The World.
14 October 2009
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| The hair-like structures (in green) are the subject of the study |
A Monash study has shed new light on the microscopic antennas in the kidney that are involved in the organ's repair process.
The work may be a crucial step towards a cure for polycystic kidney disease, a potentially fatal disease that affects more than one in 1000 people.
The study, led by Dr James Deane from the Centre for Inflammatory Disease, showed how kidney repair processes are controlled.
"We have shown for the first time that the hair-like structures on kidney cells, called cilia, change their length in response to injury in human patients," Dr Deane said.
"These cells grow up to four times their original length in the later stages of kidney repair and are similar to antennas, increasing their length to amplify the signals they send to kidney cells at vital stages of repair.
"We think this is how they turn off the repair process when it is complete and allow the kidney to start working normally again."
Dr Deane said if the switching on and off of the repair process was not properly controlled, rapidly reproducing cells would distort the tubes of the kidney, preventing them from functioning properly. This is what appears to happen in people that have polycystic kidney disease, a condition which is currently untreatable.
"Our research helps put a logical framework behind what is happening in polycystic kidney disease, as the mutations that cause the disease can damage the hair-like structures of kidneys cells," Dr Deane said.
"We hope that this work will lead to new ways of treating both kidney injury and polycystic kidney disease."
The findings have appeared in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
The research was funded by donations from the Wodonga Rotary Club and the CASS Foundation, and grant support from the National Health and Medical Research Council.
14 October 2009
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| Dr David Zyngier |
A curriculum program developed by Dr David Zyngier from the Faculty of Education at Peninsula campus has won a national award that honours excellence in collaborative teaching and learning.
Dr Zyngier developed the ruMAD (Are You Making a Difference?) program, which aims to help teachers inspire in students an awareness of themselves as active citizens and agents of change.
The program, which is supported by the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), recently received the 2009 Garth Boomer Award, a national award sponsored by the Australian Curriculum Studies Association and the Curriculum Corporation.
"The program has been developed over two years and embodies a vision of what can be achieved when students give back to their communities and strive to make a difference to real-world problems," Dr Zyngier said.
"It focuses on student engagement, organisation and decision-making, and links particularly to middle years initiatives that emphasise active citizenship."
As well as promoting resilience, leadership skills, self esteem and literacy among students, the program is effective in fostering school-community partnerships and curriculum development.
"The ruMAD program is a dynamic mix of education, action, advocacy and events. It is like a toolkit that enables young people to lead social change and become active citizens. It is led by students but benefits the whole community," Dr Zyngier said.
The program runs throughout the academic year and participants can access information and resources through the dedicated ruMAD website. The FYA holds introductory workshops for teachers who are interested in using the program in their classrooms.
The program is already being used by more than 1500 schools around Australia, inspiring active citizenship in 10,000-plus students.
14 October 2009
Past and present Monash staff and students have offered their tributes to Emeritus Professor Lance Endersbee AO, who died last week.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Tam Sridhar said Australia had lost one of its most visionary leaders in engineering.
"Professor Endersbee was an outstanding engineer whose career in industry, research and teaching demonstrated a great passion for open-minded inquiry and discovery," Professor Sridhar said.
Professor Endersbee, who was Dean of Engineering at Monash from 1976 until 1988 and Pro-Vice Chancellor from 1988-89, was involved in the development of critical infrastructure in Australia and around the world.
He worked on the Snowy Mountains Scheme (while still a student), on Tasmania's hydroelectric system, on dam construction in the Mekong, and on a range of projects in the US.
His fields of expertise included the design of major economic development projects, water resources, energy engineering and transport. He produced many designs that were inspired by an understanding of the importance of nation-building infrastructure.
He was also an internationally-recognised authority on rock behaviour and tunnelling. .
He was a former president of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and a recipient of its highest honour, the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal.
In his retirement he continued to consult on national and international infrastructure needs and self-funded many trips around Australia to assess these projects. He published a book in 2008 called A Voyage Of Discovery.
14 October 2009
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| Tessa O'Brien |
Monash student Tessa O'Brien is looking forward to the opportunity to put theory into practice as one of 12 IBM Future Leaders Scholarship students.
The scholarship provides students with $27,000 over 18 months and the opportunity to complete a unique program of study that includes two complementary majors, one offered by the Faculty of Business and Economics and one by the Faculty of Information Technology.
It is designed to produce employment-ready graduates who have the discipline-base and personal skills required to lead cross-disciplinary teams in a rapidly changing business environment.
Although Tessa originally enrolled in a Bachelor of Marketing with public relations as one of her majors, she thinks the change from public relations to information technology actually makes more sense.
"Thanks to development in the technology of customer relationship management systems, marketers are able to pinpoint exactly who their customers are and provide more targeted and customised offerings," she said.
"IT knowledge is increasingly relevant as more people use the web as a source of information."
Tessa is confident the 22-week, full-time, industry-based learning project with IBM will provide the necessary work experience and employment skills to give her a competitive advantage.
Another feature of the program is the opportunity it provides for students to develop and hone leadership skills as part of the co-curricular and extracurricular learning program.
For students who are contemplating undergoing the IBM selection process in the future Tessa's advice is to "think about instances where you had to use your leadership skills and think outside the box."
"If you're the sort of person who excels in those situations, you will enjoy the program," she said.
For more information on this program contact Fiona Bertoli on +61 3 9902 6713 or Fiona.bertoli@buseco.monash.edu.au
14 October 2009
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Monash researchers have delved into the history of Melbourne and Geelong focusing on changes from the 1970s until the present day.
The research looks at the two cities' reinvention after factories and warehouses were closed down and operations moved overseas.
As a result, the cities were left with large, empty industrial spaces. With consumption the key driver, these spaces were then transformed into chic and stylish residential properties.
Dr Seamus O'Hanlon from the School of Historical Studies in the Faculty of Arts said these buildings were a rich historical resource.
"While our research focused on local areas around Melbourne and Geelong, the results play an integral role in the story of economic and social change that was occurring on a global scale," he said.
The study examined areas around inner-city Melbourne such as Southbank, Docklands, Fitzroy, Prahran and South Yarra, as well as the Waterfront in Geelong.
Outcomes from the research were then compared to a similar study conducted on inner London by geographers at King's College, London.
"Looking at this phenomenon at an international level provided a deep insight into why it occurred, the similarities and differences between the cities and what this means for the future of our urban spaces," Dr O'Hanlon said.
"Another interesting element to the research was its multi-disciplinary nature.
“We had researchers from different faculties and different disciplines all contributing their expertise."
The other key researchers on the project were Professor Tony Dingle from the Faculty of Business and Economics, who investigated the economic reasons behind the transformations of the cities and PhD student Adrian Regan, who covered the Geelong region.
Other researchers from the geography, sociology, history, economics and architecture disciplines also participated.
14 October 2009
Monash architecture students have designed and launched the school's first large-scale design project – an open-air community centre at a temporary housing village in fire-ravaged Kinglake in Victoria.
The 20 enthusiastic students were at Kinglake to witness the launch of the centre earlier this month.
The Kinglake Temporary Village is one of three that has been established by the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority in response to the devastating bushfires that occurred in regional Victoria in February this year.
The multi-purpose community centre includes a performance space, barbeque shelter and seating area, providing residents of the village with a space to discuss the future rebuilding of the town as well as a place to host social occasions and events.
It includes one large structure, with a second, smaller seating area and fire pit on the lower site. It is lined with shipping palettes (doubling up as planter boxes) to the north and west, providing protection from the prevailing winds in the area.
The project was led by Professor Silvia Acosta and Adrienne Benz from the Rhode Island School of Design in Rhode Island, US, both of whom have extensive experience in disaster-relief housing.
Lecturer Ross Brewin from the Monash School of Architecture was also a key player in the project.
Although the planning process took two months, the structure itself was built over a two-week period using a variety of donated materials including laminated veneer lumber, roof sheeting and a water tank. Much of the process involved pre-fabricating elements of the building within studio space at the University's Faculty of Art and Design at the Caulfield campus prior to transporting it for assembly at Kinglake.
The 20 students then erected the structure on-site, often working 10 to 14 hour days in pouring rain to get the project completed on time.
Architecture program coordinator Diego Ramirez-Lovering said the students benefited greatly from being able to use their skills to help the community
"Following the success of the Kinglake project, we now hope to take students to Mexico and southeast Asia to work with non-profit organisations where there is a dire need for housing," Mr Ramirez said.
In only its second year of operation, the University's new architecture school has sought to offer practical experience to students, including an emphasis on the environment and sustainable design.
14 October 2009
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Name: MacKenzie Ludgate
Course: Pharmacy
Year level: 2
Mode: Full-time
Campus: Parkville
What is it about your course and the University that helped you to choose Monash?
The pharmacy program at the Parkville campus is one of the best in the world. It is home to the top researchers in pharmaceuticals and medicinal chemistry and contains state-of- the-art facilities. Monash also gives students opportunities to be involved in international exchanges, leadership programs and unique employment opportunities.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Integrated therapeutics of cardiovascular diseases. Learning about different types of diseases and how different pharmacological treatments work is interesting and I can apply this information to my current and future jobs. We also learn how to develop medical management programs unique to patients, which is an essential component of a pharmacist's responsibilities.
What challenges are ahead for you this year?
I am currently involved in the Burundi Universities Development Program through the International Professors Project. The aim of the program is to provide infrastructure and develop university courses that will help Burundi academically and aid in generating employment opportunities for its citizens. In the next six months we hope to make significant progress.
What will be your ideal career when you graduate?
My ideal career will most likely be in an area where I can control the day-to-day activities and will include the overall goal of helping the disadvantaged.
What is it about your course that holds your interest or is particularly satisfying?
What is interesting about the pharmacy course is the connection with the Monash Passport program. The possibilities seem to be endless and with the help of the program students are able to achieve any goal they have.
What is your favourite place in the world and why?
A few years ago I visited Rome and the Vatican. Rome is an area rich in history and architecture. Inside the Vatican is the stunning Sistine Chapel and home to some tasty gelati! More than one trip is needed to appreciate significance of these places.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
You only live once. So if you have a dream or a goal, do it.
What is something about yourself that most of your fellow students wouldn't know?
I have an identical twin brother.
14 October 2009
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The Strip 2 Building (Building 76 and 77) at Clayton campus has taken out the recent 2009 Master Builders Excellence in Construction Awards in the category of Commercial Buildings $30 million to $80 million.
The award recognised the building’s high degree of engineering, which meets the stringent requirements needed for research, while offering a pleasant and functional space.