19 October 2005
19 October 2005
Monash researchers have been awarded more than $24 million in the latest round of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grants, announced last week.
The funding will support 35 projects, 14 research fellowships and four career development awards. It includes funding for Monash researchers to investigate factors that cause brain injury in sleep and establish how bacterial toxins cause the disease known as Buruli Ulcer.
Nationally, Monash was fourth behind the universities of Melbourne ($42,704,750), Sydney ($31,313,298) and Western Australia ($27,186,979).
Monash's deputy vice-chancellor (research), Professor Edwina Cornish, said she was pleased with the university's performance, which was an increase of almost $10 million on last year.
"There are some terrific success stories in these results," Professor Cornish said. "Our researchers are to be congratulated on their efforts."
A team led by Dr Lesley Day, a senior research fellow at the Monash University Accident Research Centre, received $869,450 to investigate whether exercise can delay the onset of disability in older people.
The project, which will start next year, will recruit 500 people over the age of 70 from retirement villages throughout Melbourne and randomly assign them to receive one of two exercise programs -- Tai Chi or a stretching and relaxation program -- for 48 weeks.
The groups will then be compared to determine if there is any difference in the development of disability as well as a range of functional outcomes such as strength, balance, depression, arthritic symptoms and falls.
Dr Karin Leder, from the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, received $844,313 to determine whether drinking unboiled water from rainwater tanks posed a significant health risk.
"Current recommendations state that rainwater can be safely used for purposes other than drinking," Dr Leder said. "But because of potential contamination and limited evidence regarding safety, drinking unboiled rainwater or using it for purposes where inadvertent consumption may occur is not approved by state health departments.
"This study will provide a better understanding of the relationship between rainwater consumption and human health and will provide data regarding safe uses of this alternative water source."
Professor Bruce Tonge, head of the Department of Psychological Medicine, is leading a team that received $962,250 to study the course of emotional and behavioural problems in young people with intellectual disability.
After more than 10 years at Monash Professor John Anderson, foundation pro vice-chancellor of Monash South Africa, will this week retire from the university.
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Professor Anderson (pictured) joined Monash in 1994 as Professor and head of the School of Business at the Gippsland campus.
In 1996 he was appointed campus director of the Berwick campus and in 1997 was appointed campus director jointly of the Gippsland and Berwick campuses.
In 2002 Professor Anderson took up one of his greatest challenges as foundation pro vice-chancellor of Monash South Africa.
He returned to Australia as pro vice-chancellor (business and industry) earlier this year.
Vice-chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said Professor Anderson had made an exceptional contribution to Monash's international expansion.
"He established the South African campus from scratch in a difficult and complex national and international environment," he said.
"And has overseen strong growth at the campus with the most recent student projections indicating that the campus will have more than 1000 students in 2006.
"During his 11 years at Monash, Professor Anderson has made an outstanding contribution across the university, particularly at our regional and international campuses."
19 October 2005
Monash Bachelor of Industrial Design honours student Adam Ty Dean Smith has taken out the 2005 Wheels Automotive Design Award for young designer of the year.
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| Wheels Automotive Design Award winner Adam Ty Dean Smith. |
The award was announced last week in Sydney at the start of the Australian International Motor Show. Three Monash students were highly commended in the competition.
Mr Smith, who studies at Monash's Caulfield campus, won from a field of 10 finalists -- nine of whom were from Monash. His prize included a nine-month contract, starting in January 2006, to work in design with Ford Australia.
Mr Smith designed a futuristic car named 'Punk', which is friendly to the driver, passengers and the environment and can be used as a campervan. The car, an adaptation of an off-road ambulance design Mr Smith is working on for his honours project, was judged by a panel of leading Australian design experts and a Wheels magazine reader.
The highly commended awards were presented to Mr Max Tran and Mr Drew King, both fourth-year (honours) industrial design students, and Mr John Leung, who is in his third year of an industrial design/engineering (mechanical) double degree.
Mr Smith said he was thrilled to have won the award. "The competition was very strong, so I was surprised but at the same time very honoured," he said.
Art and design lecturer Mr Mark Richardson -- who heads the transport design component for the industrial design course Mr Smith is undertaking -- said he was delighted with the outcome.
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| Mr Max Tran (left) and Mr Drew King received highly commended awards. |
"This is a fantastic opportunity for Adam to break into the industry," Mr Richardson said. "The award is well recognised in the automotive and design industry, and we are thrilled he has been selected as the winner and that nine of our students were finalists.
"These students have been waiting all their lives to design cars, so to make it this far in a national competition is a dream come true. The result further cements Monash's reputation for producing Australia's top transport designers."
Monash's industrial design course offers transport design as an elective component in third year and is the only course in Australia to offer it as a fourth-year studio specialisation.
The Wheels Automotive Design Awards are developed by Wheels magazine in collaboration with the Australian Design Awards and Ford Australia.
The designs of all 10 finalists will be on display at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney from 14 to 23 October and showcased in the Wheels November issue.
19 October 2005
Monash has committed to a target of a 20 per cent reduction in energy consumption across its six Australian campuses by 2010.
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| Professor Larkins, Associate Professor Frank Fisher, Environment Victoria executive director Mr Marcus Godinho and Mr Barton. |
A 10 per cent reduction will be achieved through infrastructure improvements and a further 10 per cent through a cultural change program involving staff and students.
Vice-chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said the program would encourage staff and students to identify energy reduction initiatives and incorporate a comprehensive educational component.
"Monash has committed to establishing a university fund to improve the environmental practices of the university," Professor Larkins said.
"The fund will be used to improve Monash's environmental performance, including the purchase of additional renewable energy, the investment in energy-efficient infrastructure and the investigation of on-site energy generation opportunities."
The manager of the Occupational, Health, Safety and Environment unit, Mr Paul Barton, said Monash was proud to be recognised as a leader in environmental sustainability.
"We believe that universities have a critical role to play in environmental management," Mr Barton said.
Professor Larkins and Mr Barton were two of four guest speakers at Monash's Sustainability Forum at the Clayton campus last week, titled 'Meeting the energy sustainability challenge: the Monash response?'.
The forum was part of a monthly series co-hosted by the Monash Environment Institute, Monash Environmental Alumni, the School of Geography and Environmental Science and associated graduate students.
Forum co-chair and senior lecturer with the School of Geography and Environmental Science Dr Peter Cock said the forum had been very successful.
"We had a great turnout of about 90 people, and everyone seemed very interested in what the speakers had to say," Dr Cock said.
"It was a great collaborative effort between the university and students and an extremely energetic forum to discuss energy initiatives.
"It was clear from the forum that Monash is serious about meeting the challenge of sustainability."
19 October 2005
Young people in the Latrobe Valley often find it difficult to achieve their goals, a situation Associate Professor Harry Ballis is determined to change through his involvement with the Gippsland Education Precinct.
Associate Professor Ballis, head of Humanities and Arts at the Gippsland campus, has been part of the precinct project since it began more than a decade ago and last month took up the role of executive director.
The precinct brings together Monash University, GippsTAFE, Gippsland Group Training, and the senior campus of Kurnai College.
Associate Professor Ballis said the precinct aimed to address problems facing young people in Gippsland, including low educational and employment statistics, high youth disengagement and low transition from schools to tertiary education, training and employment.
In his new role, Associate Professor Ballis will bring the partners together under a new business-type structure.
"I'm very confident that the project will prove effective, enrich the partners and be a major strength for Gippsland," he said.
"There's a significant demand in the area for a whole range of skills and professionals, and I'm optimistic the precinct will attract students to the region and retain them. The intention is also for the precinct to attract international students."
Students from Gippsland Group Training and GippsTAFE are already on the university's Gippsland campus, while senior secondary students from Kurnai College will be making the transition to the new facilities later this year.
19 October 2005
Almost 200 Monash staff, students, alumni and Monash Sport members took part in Bicycle Victoria's Around the Bay in a Day challenge on Sunday 16 October.
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| Members of Monash's Around the Bay in a Day team. |
It was the second time a dedicated Monash team had entered the annual event, with the number of participants almost doubling this year.
More than half of team Monash completed the 210-kilometre circuit, cycling from Melbourne to Sorrento, where they boarded a ferry to Queenscliff then cycled back to Melbourne.
About 60 opted for the Century Challenge, which saw them start in Sorrento and cycle the 100 kilometres to Melbourne.
The Half Century Challenge was introduced this year, and 18 Monash participants chose this option. The ride started at the Docklands, took cyclists across the West Gate Bridge to Altona and back to Docklands.
The university's participation in the Around the Bay in a Day challenge was coordinated by Monash Sport, as part of Monash's 2005 Community Fitness Events Program.
Monash Sport Caulfield and Peninsula site manager Mr Glen Cormick said the challenge had been a fantastic day and everyone involved had a great time.
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| Senior deputy vice-chancellor and Monash's Around the Bay in a Day patron Professor Stephen Parker. |
"Most riders chose the longer-distance rides, which is a huge effort," he said.
"There were quite a few Monash participants who had never done long-distance rides before, so it was a real achievement for them.
"Other participants were envious of Monash's team spirit, with more than 20 Monash volunteers cheering our cyclists on and providing them with refreshments."
The Around the Bay in a Day challenge began in 1993 with all money raised donated to The Smith Family's Learning for Life program, which provides financial, educational and personal support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Monash Sport will coordinate the university's participation in the Portsea Swim Classic in January next year.
Further information is available at the Monash Sport website.
19 October 2005
Professor Gordon Whyte will oversee the running of the new Monash medical course at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, after being seconded to the university and appointed dean of the medical college.
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| University of Sharjah. |
Professor Whyte, who was previously director of the Monash Bendigo Regional Clinical School, started at Sharjah in September, the beginning of the academic school year.
In his new role, Professor Whyte will oversee the installation of the five-year medical course at Sharjah.
Monash signed an agreement with Sharjah in December 2004 to provide medicine and pharmacy degrees at the University of Sharjah.
As part of the agreement, Monash is providing its medicine and pharmacy curriculum and course material, helping recruit senior staff, and designing and staffing a new teaching hospital.
The course has about 60 students enrolled, which is expected to grow to 120 next year.
Professor Whyte said the Sharjah University Medical College was one of a suite of initiatives by the Ruler of Sharjah, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, and the UAE to develop the Emirates as a centre for health and education as well as tourism and business.
"The opportunity for Monash is to build collaborative research programs to match the teaching programs going into place in medicine," Professor Whyte said.
"My role is to assist Sharjah to build a reputation for excellence in medical education and build local collaborations.
"This is also an opportunity to build lasting relationships between Monash and Sharjah and then into the Middle East and India and Pakistan. My role is to set the scene at this stage, then to create further opportunities between the two organisations."
19 October 2005
Services on the Berwick campus are being transformed with the creation of new Library and Learning Commons, due for completion by February 2006.
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The new facilities will incorporate the Berwick Library, the ITS computer labs and service desk, and a room for IT and library training.
Library project coordinator Ms Janette Burke said the project aimed to provide a better, more convenient service and facility for users.
"Staff at the combined service desk will provide answers to both library and IT questions, and the Commons will provide resources, both electronic and print, in a single, purpose-built space," Ms Burke said.
Library and computer lab users would benefit from the improved layout; access to a single, integrated service point; staff 'roaming' the space and providing on-the-spot assistance; and improved security, furniture and laptop facilities, she said.
There will be minimal disruption to services and facilities during the construction period, which is scheduled for the 2005--2006 summer-semester break.
The library will maintain its normal opening hours, and computers will remain available throughout the renovation.
The project is a joint initiative of the Student, Community and Shared Services Division, Facilities and Services, the Berwick campus, ITS and the Library.
Further information is available at the Berwick Library and Learning Commons website.
19 October 2005
The Monash-Oakleigh Legal Service has more than doubled the number of weekly sessions offered and can now take on additional clients.
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| Monash Law students Ms Julia Sheinina (back) and Ms Rachel Fletcher discuss a client file with their supervisor Ms Kate Seear (centre). |
The service is operated by Monash's Faculty of Law, with final-year and graduate law students offering legal advice and running files under the supervision of qualified solicitors.
Free legal advice is offered to those who are unable to afford private legal assistance and those who cannot access the legal system because of a language barrier or other disadvantage.
Sessions are offered every weekday, with additional evening sessions available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Service director Ms Fay Gertner said it was the university's way of giving back to the community, while the students gained valuable practical experience.
"It's very empowering for students to meet with clients and work hands-on with them to solve their legal problems," Ms Gertner said.
"After four or five years of theoretical learning, the students are able to apply their knowledge in a practical setting, where both the client and student benefit.
"The students rate the experience very highly, with many continuing to do volunteer work after completing their studies," she said.
The service offers legal advice on criminal charges, motor vehicle accidents, consent orders in family law, divorce, neighbourhood disputes, wills, power of attorney and fines.
Funding is provided by the Monash Law School, Victoria Legal Aid, the Commonwealth Government and the City of Monash.
The service started as the Monash Legal Service in the 1970s -- the first program of its kind in Australia -- with students offering legal advice from a room in the Law School building.
19 October 2005
Simply Poetry!, a book of poetry for young children by Mrs Ellinor Campbell of the Monash Children's Centre, has won an award for excellence in educational publishing.
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| Mrs Ellinor Campbell reads her poetry book to Sebastien and Jemarod. |
The book, part of a series aimed at pre-school children, was one of 75 entries in 18 award categories.
The prizes are awarded annually by the Australian Publishers Association.
Mrs Campbell, who has worked in the early childhood field for 40 years, teamed up with her husband, David, to write the book.
She said she was excited to receive the award, especially because of the joy the book brought to the children from the Monash Children's Centre who had contributed to it.
"The children's reactions to the poems and illustrations played a significant and formative role in the development of the book," Mrs Campbell said. "Their delightful quotes, which are included in the book, provide a fascinating insight into the world of children and are an important factor in its success."
Simply Poetry!, which is designed to encourage a love of poetry in young children, explores the world of young children through short verses of poetry.
It also features comments from children at the centre and has been colourfully illustrated to appeal to children as young as one.
Mrs Campbell said she hoped the book would fill a gap in the market, as poetry for young children had been largely neglected.
"It's great to interest children in poetry from a young age as they just love the rhythms and rhymes, and adults can often use actions to illustrate the verse."
Simply Poetry! is available at the Monash University bookshop.
19 October 2005
The second international Conference on Training, Employability and Employment has been held at the Monash University Prato Centre.
The conference was organised by the university's Events Management Office on behalf of Monash's Centre for the Economics of Education and Training. It followed the success of the first Conference on Training, Employability and Employment at the Monash London Centre in 2002.
More than 50 participants from academia, government, training bodies and unions attended last month's conference to examine the nature and role of training and development in restructuring of work and employment.
Prato centre director Dr Annamaria Pagliaro said the conference had been a great success.
"Dr Richard Cooney, from Monash's Department of Management and the conference organiser, has been approached by local institutions in Prato to discuss possible research collaborations," Dr Pagliaro said.
"He has also been invited to an international conference organised by the Prato provincial government, in collaboration with other EU countries, to be held at the Monash centre in November.
"The high standard of papers presented at the conference has led to the commissioning of a special issue of the Industrial Relations Journal -- which covers industrial relations research around the world -- focusing on training and employment relations."
Forty-five papers were presented by representatives from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and Qatar.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Gerhard Bosch, a professor of sociology at Duisburg-Essen University, Germany, and vice-president of the Institute for Work and Technology at Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
Professor Bosch presented a comprehensive overview of recent developments in employment education and training in Europe, many of which are being examined by governments in Australia and New Zealand.
The Centre for the Economics of Education and Training is a joint venture of the Australian Council for Educational Research and Monash's faculties of Education and Business and Economics.
It specialises in research on the economic and social consequences of education and training and the internal efficiency of education.
Academics from across Malaysia have attended a workshop for research supervisors at the Monash University Malaysia campus.
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| Professor Amrik Sohal (centre) with some of the workshop participants. |
The workshop -- for higher-degree research supervisors interested in improving their supervisory skills -- attracted 90 participants, mostly academics and postgraduate students from institutions including Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang and Mantissa Institute.
Speakers at the 27 and 28 September workshop included Professor Max King, pro vice-chancellor of research and research training, and Professor Amrik Sohal, associate dean of research in the Faculty of Business and Economics.
Professor Sohal said the workshop had generated considerable interest from participants, who shared their experiences and ideas, particularly on how best to produce quality research theses.
"One major focus of the workshop was how supervisors could balance their teaching workload with their supervisory work without compromising on quality," Professor Sohal said. "This seems to be a recurring theme in our discussions, as some feel that supervising puts a strain on their workload."
Dr Chua Chong Keow from Mantissa Institute said he found the workshop enlightening as it had provided Australian and Malaysian perspectives on how postgraduate supervision was conducted.
Dr Norizah Mohamad, from Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, said she found the opportunity to meet with other academics fruitful.
"The opportunity to interact allowed me to understand the constraints other academics face in their supervisory work," she said. "It also presented opportunities for future collaboration with academics who share the same research interest."
19 October 2005
Third-year science/engineering student Ms Dilani Kahawala has recently returned from representing Monash at the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering's winter school.
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| Dr Trevor Hicks (left) and Monash student Ms Dilani Kahawala. |
Monash is one of 38 AINSE council members, each of which is able to nominate a senior undergraduate student with an interest in nuclear techniques to attend the winter school.
The school is held each year at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, which houses the country's only nuclear reactor.
Monash's AINSE council member and recently retired School of Physics reader, Dr Trevor Hicks, nominated Ms Kahawala to participate in the winter school, from a field of six applicants.
He said the program was a great way for students to learn about a career in nuclear research.
"The facilities are first rate and can't be found anywhere else in Australia, so it's a real opportunity for students to experience something they wouldn't normally come across," Dr Hicks said.
Ms Kahawala, who is undertaking a major in physics, said the five-day experience had been an eye-opener.
"We attended a number of lectures, experimental sessions and demonstrations, and we also had the chance to talk with guest speakers and researchers," she said.
Ms Kahawala said she was fascinated to learn how the instruments worked, particularly from an engineering perspective.
"We were able to participate in a number of hands-on experiments. I learnt a great deal about the applications of neutron scattering, which involves sending neutrons through an object to see its structure.
"I was particularly impressed with the tours of the reactor and the accelerators."
The dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Rob Norris, will take over as Monash's AINSE council member from next year.
19 October 2005
Mr Bobo Dube has been confirmed as the new president of the Monash South Africa Students' Association following elections last month.
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| Professor Tyrone Pretorius (right) congratulates Mr Dube. |
More than 60 per cent of Monash South Africa students voted in the elections. In some cases there were as few as four votes separating the winner from other candidates.
The elections were supervised by the Community Services office.
Pro vice-chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius congratulated the new representatives on their achievements and wished them a successful year ahead.
He also thanked the outgoing members for their constructive contribution to Monash South Africa over the past year.
Candidates for 10 of the 11 Student Association portfolios have now been elected. The current Academic Development Programme (ADP) representative, Mmoloki Mogotsi, remains in office until a new representative is elected in the first semester of 2006.
The results for the executive members are:
The results for the non-executive members are:
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| The newly elected Monash South Africa Student Association, top row from left: Mr Eddie Mwiti, Mr Eric Dadru, Mr Moses Chipanda, Mr Bobo Dube (president); Front row from left: Ms Michaela Piel, Ms Tshimologo Sono, Ms Natasha Omokhodion, Ms Heather Bangwayo (vice-president), Ms Georgina Stavriou; seated: Mr Sammy Njuguna. |