28 October 2009
|
Ryan Lee |
He started his business juggling credit cards to pay staff wages. Now Monash Master of Applied Economics graduate and self-confessed gadget nut Ryan Lee is a multi-millionaire selling tiny speakers to the world.
Sitting in his office in Singapore's Chinatown, Ryan smiles as a distorted song (turned up full-volume) blasts from the inbuilt speaker of his portable media player.
His smile widens as he connects his invention – a small but high-quality portable speaker dubbed the X-mini – to the digital player. The tune becomes progressively clearer and louder with each speaker he connects, until sound from the tiny device fills the room.
At 32, Ryan is the CEO of XMI, the company he founded in 2006. At first he survived on savings and juggling bank credit. This year the company has more than a dozen staff and is expected to turn over $SG12 million.
The key to his success is the speaker's design, which features a patented vacuum tube that expands like an accordion, providing greater low-end bass response. It can be collapsed for storage and travel.
With an estimated one billion portable devices across the world, Ryan has tapped a massive market.
The speakers sell for about A$50 and are available in 58 countries. They have been sold to companies like Nokia, Google, Apple, Vodafone, O2, RIM and Canon.
Multiple speakers can be connected together like a daisy chain. Ryan is considering a Guinness book of World Records attempt after successfully connecting 200 speakers to one digital player.
Ryan says he enjoyed his masters study at Monash University in 2001, particularly its strong focus on practical learning.
"I think the degree has definitely helped in running the business and understanding the economics of that side of things,” he said.
Ryan's blend of business sense and creativity means he is already working on a number of ideas to capture new niche markets and hoping to bring a smile to the face of the next generation of gadget lovers.
Ryan's story features in the October edition of Monash Magazine.
28 October 2009
|
| Professor Martin Lackmann |
A team of international molecular scientists led by a Monash researcher has discovered a new mechanism by which cells communicate change - such as their location during spreading of a cancer - to adjacent cells.
The discovery sheds new light on cell behaviour and could lead to the development of new drugs to combat diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's disease.
The team led by Associate Professor Martin Lackmann found that for one particular communicator between cells, an enzyme known as A-Disintegrin-And-Metalloprotease 10 (ADAM10), a change in the shape of its contender (communication partner) will start the communication process.
Scientists are interested in ADAM10 - and the proteins that are split by this protease - because it is critical in cellular mechanisms that underlie several major diseases.
"This communication process between cells forms the basis for the way in which certain diseases progress," Associate Professor Lackmann said.
"This new concept in understanding of how cells communicate identifies a process that is much simpler than previously thought and which will profoundly impact the direction of future biomedical research in this area."
The research team found that instead of using complex signalling pathways, this communication system is very direct and simple. In this case it is a transient switch in the overall shape of the contending cell surface receptor itself that activates the ADAM10 protease to communicate this change and its functional consequences to a neighbouring cell.
"The discovery of this switch opens new avenues for the development of drugs that recognise this changed shape and prevent the signalling to other cells, thus slowing or even halting the spread of disease," Associate Professor Lackmann said.
The discovery was made using fluorescence and electron microscopy techniques, which allowed the observation of the changes in the shape of the cell surface receptor that occur during cell-to-cell communication.
28 October 2009
|
Ground-breaking optical fibre technology developed by Monash researchers could drastically boost the capacity of strained broadband networks and improve download times around the world.
The innovation, pioneered by Professors Arthur Lowery and Jean Armstrong from the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, is known as optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing, or oOFDM.
The technology applies ADSL principles – already used to expand the capacity of data transfer over traditional copper and wireless broadband – to optical fibre cables, potentially increasing their data capacity tenfold.
Professor Lowery said there was an exponential growth in data-intensive internet applications.
"More and more people are accessing broadband internet and using it for data-heavy activities, such as video," he said.
"This poses a major challenge to the existing optical fibre infrastructure unless the capacity or bandwidth on existing fibres can be augmented
"The appeal of oOFDM is that it offers an inexpensive means of dramatically increasing long-haul capacity from the current transmission rate of 10 Gigabits per second to more than 100 Gigabits per second, over new and existing optical fibre."
Professor Lowery said the innovation would allow the world's telecommunications carriers to meet a growing consumer demand for faster download speeds without major cost.
"Standard data transmission is equivalent to transmitting a series of single notes, but oOFDM is more like transmitting the notes grouped together in a chord," he said.
"Since more data is packed into the chord, more information can be sent that is less prone to technical issues, as each signal travels down the optical fibre."
The technology, which is patented by Monash, is being commercialised by Ofidium Pty Ltd. The company is backed by venture capital firm Starfish Ventures and has recently secured an additional $250,000 investment from the Trans Tasman Commercialisation Fund (TTCF) – a new Melbourne-based $30 million seed investment fund.
28 October 2009
 Upgrade / install Flash player for optimum video viewing or refer to the alternative versions below. Teddy Bear Hospital videoAlternative versions: |
Medicine students from the University's Gippsland campus have opened a Teddy Bear Hospital to help alleviate the anxiety children often feel when visiting a doctor.
With help from students at Morwell Park Primary School, the Monash students are setting out to change children's perceptions and make them more comfortable when visiting their doctor by helping them understand what happens behind the scenes in medical settings.
The hospital includes 10 different stations that "parents" (the school children) and their teddies move through. These stations range from scrubbing up to surgery, holding Teddy's hand in an ambulance, through to learning about nutrition and exercise from the friendly doctors.
Program co-director Sarah Cain said the primary school students become parents for the day and bring their teddies, as children, to visit the Teddy Bear Hospital.
"In this unthreatening environment these young people gain understanding about what doctors do when people and teddies are sick or need their help," Sarah said.
"We are involved at each stage of the process to show our young patients that hospitals and seeing the doctor can be a positive experience."
The idea of the Teddy Bear Hospital was introduced to the Gippsland Medical School by Irum Sunderji and Pri Vijayakumar, students from The Imperial College of London.
For more information visit the Teddy Bear Hospital website.
28 October 2009
 |
| Dr Erol Harvey from MiniFAB/STC, Professor Edwina Cornish, Knox City Council mayor Cr David Cooper, Director CSIRO Future Manufacturing Flagship Clive Davenport, and City of Kingston mayor Cr Arthur Athanasopoulos with Minister Jennings (front). |
South-east Melbourne is set to become internationally recognised as the innovation, business and knowledge capital of the Asia-Pacific with the launch of the South East Melbourne Innovation Precinct (SEMIP).
The precinct, which covers the local government areas of Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Knox and Monash and takes in the University's Clayton campus, is a unique partnership between Monash, the Victorian Government, CSIRO, Australian Synchrotron, Small Technologies Cluster and local councils.
The group will work together with business and industry to establish a dynamic, vibrant hub of manufacturing, services science, advanced materials, engineering, and medical/health knowledge intensive industries.
SEMIP's reach will encompass 40 per cent of Victoria's manufacturing activities and more than 56,000 businesses.
Monash Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish said the SEMIP would become a precinct of international importance.
"The effectiveness of the collaboration is a testament to the commitment of all the parties involved and provides us with a fantastic opportunity to enhance our already strong capabilities in scientific research and technological innovation," Professor Cornish said.
"It will also build on our state's existing strengths and drive the economy, not only of Victoria, but of Australia."
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed last week by Victorian Minister for Innovation Gavin Jennings and the SEMIP partners to formally launch the precinct and strengthen collaborative arrangements.
In formally launching the precinct Minister Jennings said the SEMIP would create long-term job opportunities.
He said that by creating a centralised cluster environment for innovation and business, companies and research organisations could benefit from networking opportunities, shared knowledge and information.
For further information please visit the South East Melbourne Innovation Project website or email enquiries@semip.org.au.
28 October 2009
 |
| Krishna Khetia and Petunia Mpoza |
Two Monash South Africa students have been awarded the prestigious Mandela Rhodes Scholarships for 2010.
The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship honours the legacy of leadership and reconciliation embodied by Nelson Mandela, and the legacy of education and entrepreneurship of Cecil John Rhodes.
This year 30 Mandela Rhodes Scholarships were awarded to students from across Africa with scholastic, intellectual and leadership potential. The scholarships will allow the students to study towards a postgraduate degree program at a South African tertiary institution.
Final-year arts student Krishna Khetia said the scholarship would provide her with a great new opportunity to be exposed to "amazing people, to share experiences and to learn from them".
Arts student Petunia Mpoza will undertake an honours degree in international relations and continue studying towards a PhD.
"I believe that achieving academic excellence gives credibility, which can then be used to make a difference in one's chosen field," she said.
Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash South Africa Professor Tyrone Pretorius said he was proud to have three MSA students receive the prestigious scholarship, particularly as it was a relatively small campus.
Monash Deputy Chancellor Paul Ramler said the students' success was "a great achievement for all at this campus in a relatively short space of time".
The recipients of the Mandela Rhodes scholarships receive in-residence leadership and mentoring programs as part of their scholarship.
28 October 2009
 |
| Vicki Hutton |
Monash PhD student Vicki Hutton is exploring the role of companion animals for people living with HIV in an Australian-first study.
The behavioural studies student will survey people with HIV about their feelings of wellbeing and social inclusion and for those with pets, the impact the pet has on their lives.
She will then interview pet owners to discuss in depth their experiences of pet ownership and living with HIV.
"Research over the last few decades has confirmed that becoming attached to a pet can offer physical, psychological and social benefits," she said.
"During my honours year I explored the role of pet ownership among older people finding that for some, pets played a significant role in their overall wellbeing, especially those at risk of social isolation.
"For some, the responsibility of pet ownership provided a reason to get up in the morning."
Vicki said her PhD research would build on this, focusing on people with HIV, another population group at risk of social isolation.
"Being diagnosed with HIV does not mean an automatic death sentence. This highlights the need to understand, maintain and improve quality of life, especially where a person perceives a stigma, or blame, attached to their condition," Vicki said.
"Results from a national study about living with HIV in Australia found almost half of all participants lived with a pet and among these more than 60 per cent rated their pet as providing a lot of support, second only to partner/spouse, and above doctors and close friends.
"While it's still early in my research, the depth of feeling in comments I have received from participants so far indicates that on an individual level at least, pets can play an important role for those living with HIV."
Vicky will be discussing her research today at the annual postgraduate symposium hosted by the School of Political and Social Inquiry at the Clayton campus. All are welcome to attend. For more information visit the Symposium website.
Vicki is being supervised by Dr Francesca Collins from the School of Political and Social Inquiry in the Faculty of Arts.
28 October 2009
 |
| Professor John McNeil |
Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences have attracted more than $1.4 million from the Rudd Government's first round of national Partnerships for Better Health Grants.
This funding scheme, announced by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), helps researchers work directly with health organisations to achieve research outcomes that can be applied directly to real challenges faced by the community.
Professor John McNeil from the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine was awarded $900,000 and will work in partnership with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service and the Victorian Government Department of Human Services to address the gaps in understanding of transfusion medicine.
Dr Lesley Day from the Monash University Accident Research Centre will use her grant of $400,000 to collaborate with the University of Ballarat, Latrobe University, University of Sydney, and the National Ageing Research Institute to develop strategies to prevent falls among older people.
Associate Professor Karin Leder from the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine received $173,240 to establish Australian health-based targets for microbial water quality. Associate Professor Leder will partner with Water Quality Research Australia Limited, New South Wales Health, Water Services Association of Australia, Department of Health, and South Australia and Water Futures Pty Ltd to address this issue.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish said she was extremely pleased with the outcome of this new round of research funding.
"Monash led the state of Victoria in this round of funding, which is an admirable result," Professor Cornish said.
"This success is confirmation of Monash University's aim to work with government and health organisations to provide outcomes that will benefit the community."
28 October 2009
 |
More than 90 Year 11 students from 53 schools across Victoria have tested their chemistry skills as part of a recent two-day workshop at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Parkville campus.
Participants were introduced to university-level chemistry through a mix of laboratory sessions, lectures and tutorials, covering topics such as physiology, pharmaceutical biology, medicinal chemistry and formulation science.
Participants also heard about research being undertaken at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (MIPS).
The institute is the largest and most experienced group of pharmaceutical scientists in Australia, working on projects including medications for cancer and malaria.
Armed with a basic knowledge of skin structure and how moisturisers work, teams from each school were challenged to create a moisturiser by working out the ingredients and processes that make the best formulation.
The faculty's marketing and student experience coordinator Jessica Dobbie said the workshop gave students the opportunity to experience university life, exposing them to the opportunities available in the field of pharmaceutical sciences.
"It is a fantastic opportunity for students to experience a university environment - for many it's for the first time," she said.
"They get to spend time with university students on campus, can meet the lecturers and see the laboratories and wonderful facilities."
Ms Dobbie said the students spent the majority of their visit in laboratories learning how to create a pharmaceutical product.
"Many students left saying the experience had furthered their desire to study pharmaceutical science once they complete their VCE, which is very encouraging," she said.
28 October 2009
 |
Name: Al Threlfall
Org. Unit: Faculty of Education
Title: Technical Officer – Sport and Outdoor Recreation
Campus: Peninsula
How long have you been with Monash University?
18 months.
Prior to working at Monash, where were you located and what was your role?
I was the operations manager for Santa Sabina College's outdoor education campus in the Southern Highlands of NSW.
What challenges are ahead in your current role?
The increasing number of students' enrolled in the Sport and Outdoor Recreation degree has meant that in the last four years we have doubled the amount of days that we have students' in the field on experiential learning programs. This means that we have to find venues and dates that will accommodate this increase in numbers as well as juggling the students other studies in education and business.
What is it about your job that holds your interest or is particularly satisfying?
The transition of our students from novices to leaders, leaders that are comfortable and confident in operating in the outdoors.
What is your favourite place in the world and why?
High on a mountain with a beautiful view and a nice ski run below.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
KISS: keep it simple stupid
What is something about yourself that most of your colleagues wouldn't know?
I'm afraid of heights
28 October 2009
 |
Well-known English broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough is set to make a documentary based on a book by Monash palaeontologist Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich.
Professor Vickers-Rich recently received the Premier's Literary Award for science writing for The Rise of Animals: Evolution and Diversification of the Kingdom Animalia, an account of the emergence of animal life in the cold and inhospitable Precambrian period.
Production of the documentary series has begun in Newfoundland with other locations expected to include South Australia's Flinders Ranges, the Russian tundra and African deserts.