20 February 2008
20 February 2008
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The Koori mural at the Monash Gippsland campus. The Koori Mural was designed by Marlene Drysdale and Lynne Holten and was created by a large group of artists made up of Aboriginal students from the Morwell KODE school, Monash Gippsland Campus staff and students at the CAIS Centre and elders and community members from the region. The Theme of the mural is "Reconciliation through Education". |
Celebrations were held across three campuses last week in recognition of the Prime Minister's parliamentary apology to the stolen generation.
Over 200 staff members attended a celebration at the Clayton campus organised by the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies (CAIS). Similar celebrations were held at the Berwick and Peninsula campuses.
Director of CAIS and Deputy Dean of Arts, Professor Lynette Russell said the response to the breakfast was overwhelming.
"I've had dozens of emails from colleagues who have expressed their thanks to the Centre for arranging the get together," Professor Russell said.
"They were pleased to share the event in the company of colleagues.
"I was thrilled we were able to come together as a group and experience this historical day."
Professor Russell said the Prime Minister's apology vindicated the work of the Centre.
"It was a deeply moving apology and much more heartfelt than I'd anticipated," Professor Russell said.
"It went beyond the stolen generation issue and engaged with social injustices that Aboriginal people have experienced for over 200 years.
"It was clear that somebody had read the work that academic researchers have done and that their research has a social context."
Professor Russell said the University's response was remarkably honest and totally unexpected.
The Monash University Council passed a resolution echoing the sentiments of the parliamentary apology and reaffirming "its role to advance the educational and career aspirations of Indigenous Australians".
The resolution went on to say that this role would "occur on every one of Monash's eight campuses and in our staffing, educational and research programs".
"It was heartening to see Monash contribute to such an important debate and highlights its support of the work CAIS is doing," Professor Russell said.
20 February 2008
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Director of CDCO, Associate Professor Susan Charman, has welcomed the new E notebook system that will lead to improved research efficiency at the College. |
The Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation (CDCO) at the Victorian College of Pharmacy is one of the first Australian education institutions to adopt an electronic lab notebook system to capture and centralise research data.
The selected electronic lab notebook (ELN), which is the same system also used by large global pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and AstraZeneca, replaces traditional paper lab notebooks, providing one integrated framework for data management throughout the Centre.
Director of the CDCO, Susan Charman, said the ELN would greatly facilitate data collection, storage and retrieval.
"The ability to easily and securely store and retrieve data will lead to improved efficiency and enhance the decision making process," Associate Professor Charman said.
The ELN was partially funded by an eResearch mini-grant awarded to the CDCO to promote the implementation of electronic solutions to everyday research issues. For more information please contact: Caroline Laverty, Principal Scientist at the CDCO.
20 February 2008
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Monash Sustainability Institute Director, Professor Dave Griggs, welcomes the Institute's move to a more eco-friendly building. |
Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI) has kicked off 2008 by relocating into a building at the Monash Science Centre that was specially renovated to make it environmentally sustainable.
MSI relocated into the centre, which is at the Clayton campus, from another building at the Clayton campus.
Each step of the renovation and relocation was carefully considered to ensure that it could be carried out in a sustainable way. MSI kept the existing floor coverings at their new home and used second-hand furniture. Ceiling fans were installed to negate the need for airconditioning and wall panelling was produced from recycled soft-drink bottles.
"The move to our new location fits in extremely well with the Institute's philosophy and projects the correct image, allowing us to lead by example," said MSI Director, Professor Dave Griggs.
"The Science Centre has welcomed us warmly and the move has been an extremely positive experience for MSI."
Professor Griggs revealed that he has had a great time since joining MSI as Director five months ago, after relocating from the UK where he was Director of the highly-respected Met Office Hadley Centre, the UK's official centre for climate change research.
"I definitely arrived at the right time," Professor Griggs said. "The change of government and the increased awareness of the need for sustainable solutions have made this a very exciting time. There is so much we can do. Our only challenge is finding the time to accomplish everything that we would like to."
MSI has three main focuses throughout 2008: research, education and implementation.
"In regard to research, we will bring together interdisciplinary teams to look at questions relating to sustainability, such as climate, energy, water, transport and biodiversity," Professor Griggs said.
"Another of our goals is to embed attention to sustainability throughout the curriculum at Monash, so that we help to develop environmentally responsible citizens as graduates."
Professor Griggs sees MSI as a driving force in the implementation of sustainable practices at Monash.
"MSI will play a strong role in making Monash campuses more sustainable, so that as a community we can achieve our goals of reducing our energy consumption by 20 per cent by 2010, managing our waste and water consumption and improving public transport to our campuses," he said.
To help him in his quest, Professor Griggs is looking for researchers throughout Monash who are interested in sustainability.
"Our expertise lies in putting research teams together," explained Griggs. "MSI is interested in facilitating research in all aspects of sustainability such as science, technology, economics, social and institutional. Please contact MSI if you are looking for other researchers to work with in this area. "
For more information on MSI please call: +61 3 9905 9323 or email: enquiries@msi.monash.edu.au.
20 February 2008
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Sylvia Docker Award: Rebecca Allen, Senior Lecturer, Department of Occupational Therapy, Peninsula campus. |
Department of occupational therapy senior lecturer Rebecca Allen has received the Sylvia Docker award. The award is the highest recognition given to occupational therapists in Australia to honour those who have outstanding contributions to occupational therapy.
Ms Allen is based at the Peninsula campus.
Colleague Pamela Kirke said the whole occupational therapy department is delighted for Rebecca and proud of the department's achievements.
"Given only five awards are made across Australia in each decade we can be proud of the fact that we now have two recipients of the Sylvia Docker award in the department at Monash University." Ms Kirke said.
Associate Professor Louise Farnworth was awarded the Sylvia Docker lectureship in 2003.
One award is made every two years in association with the profession's biannual national occupational therapy Conference. This year the Australian Occupational therapy conference will be held in Melbourne.
The Sylvia Docker lecture was established by the Australian occupational therapy profession in 1964 to honour Sylvia Docker who established the first training school for Occupational Therapists in Sydney in 1941. The first Sylvia Docker lecture was delivered in 1966.
20 February 2008
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Research by Monash scientists has confirmed an alcohol-free pregnancy is the safest option for expectant mothers. |
A thirsty nine months is the safest choice for expectant mothers, say senior developmental researchers at the Monash School of Biomedical Sciences.
Research by Professors John Bertram and Richard Harding shows that even moderate levels of alcohol consumption during the third trimester can hinder fetal development in organs including the kidney, lungs, brain and blood vessels, and that fetal blood-alcohol-concentration matches that of the mother.
The researchers recommend women consume no alcohol during pregnancy -- a stance that supports the recent NHMRC draft guidelines on alcohol consumption during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
"We don't really know the full extent of alcohol damage or how little is a safe amount. In view of that, this is a solid recommendation," says Professor Bertram.
The new guidelines have met with broad approval from scientists, doctors and social workers since their announcement in October. And although some critics claim that they scare-monger women, Professors Bertram and Harding have found widespread alcohol impairment to body functions not measured within the definition of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
"We're concerned about the less obvious effects of alcohol. If you've got a child in school who's not learning properly, who's got clear facial problems and other symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, that's quite easy to identify. However, it's the tip of the iceberg. We need to look very hard to find the true extent of these things and what happens with moderate alcohol consumption," says Professor Bertram.
Professor Bertram and PhD student Stephen Gray presented findings of stalled kidney development at a recent international conference on early human development in Perth.
Their studies found that nephrons -- the functional units of the kidney -- are especially vulnerable to alcohol damage. The final number of nephrons each person has per kidney is determined by the time of birth.
"The kidneys of fetuses of sheep models exposed to alcohol have about an 11 per cent lower number of nephrons than the control group, and they're not going to make any more, because the process of making these nephrons has finished," Professor Bertram said, pointing out that a lower number of nephrons is now thought to correlate with susceptibility to kidney malfunction and disease.
Professor Bertram and Dr Karen Moritz of the University of Queensland recently received a grant that will run from 2008 to 2010 and help them refine their studies of the effect of alcohol on the kidney. They will test the effect of moderate consumption over a 40-day period on the kidneys of animal models.
Their recently presented nephron study formed part of a whole-body experimental program conducted from Professor Harding's laboratory, which treated sheep models with ethanol to bring blood concentration levels to a 0.1 per cent spike every day over a 33-day period.
Most other alcohol studies focus on binge-drinking rather than regular, low-level consumption.
Working with Professor Sandra Rees, a Melbourne University neuroscientist, Professor Harding's group has uncovered effects in the sensitive white matter of the brain following only a three-day period of drinking.
"We found that in at least half of the fetal sheep, there was significant white matter injury in the cerebral hemispheres. And we also found injury in the cerebellum which is the part of the brain that's responsible for control of body movements," he says.
Associate Professor Helena Parkington who works with the team to focus on blood vessels, has found stiffening in the walls of blood vessels in fetuses exposed to alcohol - a factor that could contribute to high blood pressure.
Just how much women can drink before they alter the development of their babies may never be tested, due to the variables in each woman's health situation and the ethical barriers to testing alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
But although we don't yet know how much will cause damage, we are finding out just how deeply that damage can go.
"It's proof of principle," says Prof Bertram.
20 February 2008
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The Maintenance Technology Institute continues to receive significant support from industry. |
The Maintenance Technology Institute's (MTI) competitive grant success continues with them winning three nationally competitive grants from the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP).
The value of the grants exceeds half a million dollars and includes significant in-kind contributions from industry.
Three research projects were awarded:
Director John Rucinski congratulated the researchers involved in the preparation of the proposals, particularly Dr Daya Dayawansa and Henry Bartosiewicz, and thanked their collaborators, Industrial Catalyst Composites.
"The Institute has a history of success with ACARP competitive grants. These projects form part of MTI's broad spectrum research approach to achieve the vision of continuous improvement and effective problem resolution in asset maintenance and performance," Mr Rucinski said.
"This latest success demonstrates MTI's commitment to delivering innovative and relevant competitive research outcomes which contribute to the competitiveness of the Australian Coal and Mineral Industry, an area of national importance."
(MTI) was established as a joint initiative between BHP and Monash University.
The objective of MTI is to provide focused and comprehensive Research and Development and high level technical services for heavy engineering industries.
20 February 2008
The office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) is urging Monash researchers to visit the Monash Research Prizes and Awards Calendar 2008 for information on how to submit entries for the many research-related awards on offer throughout 2008.
In March 2008, submissions close for the:
Please visit the Monash Research Prizes and Awards Calendar for further information on award opportunities during 2008.
20 February 2008
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Professor Amanda Lynch, recently presented with the Priestley Medal. |
Professor Amanda Lynch from the School of Geography and Environmental Science has been awarded the Priestley Medal by the Australian Meteorological and Oceanic Society, for her achievements in meteorological and climatic research.
The assessment for the Priestly Medal is based primarily on the quality of research publications and the initiation of significant new areas of research.
Professor Lynch received an inscribed medal, together with a prize of $1000 provided by CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research in recognition of her achievement.
20 February 2008
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Professor Patricia Rich (seated front row far right) attended a UNESCO conference highlighting the need to increase the popularity of science worldwide. |
Head of Paleontology and Founding Director of the Monash Science Centre, Professor Patricia Rich, was recently invited to attend the Asia-Pacific regional forum on the popularisation of science.
The theme of the conference was 'Fostering the role of science culture in a knowledge-based society'.
The forum was held in Seoul, Korea last month and hosted by the Korea Science foundation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The meeting had four targeted sessions: Global challenges and perspectives on science popularisation; Governance issues of science centers and museums; Science Education for youth; and Popularisation for the public at large.
The Monash Science Centre was asked to give a public presentation on the popularisation of science and specifically comment on what catches people's attention in the transfer of scientific research to the non-scientist.
Science Centre Director, Professor Pat Rich said the conference saw the establishment of a permanent forum appointing Dr Doe Sun Na as President.
"The forum will set up a website, publishing an online newsletter. The next meeting will be held in Brunei in November 2008. In the meantime, the secretariat based in Seoul will strive to help support, network and encourage local activities in the region," Professor Rich said.
"Members of ASPAC, which is an association of the Asia Pacific Science Centre, have been invited to the next forum so that communication can be assured.
UNESCO has offered strong support to the development of the local network with unique solutions to science communication across a great variety of cultures in local areas around the globe," Professor Rich said.
20 February 2008
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Three trophy winners from TeamMONASH. |
An inspiring double victory in the open mens and junior mens events for teenager Sam Sheppard capped off a successful day for TeamMONASH™ at the 2008 Portsea Swim Classic on Saturday 19 January.
Sheppard swam the 1.2km distance to win the junior 12-17 years event early in the day and backed up to also win the open category. Participation for TeamMONASH™ in the 2008 Classic was almost double last year's numbers with 152 swimmers registered. Monash University first entered a team of 40 swimmers in the 2006 event.
Twenty-five volunteers also lent a hand to support the swimmers.
Event patron and Berwick and Peninsula campus Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Phillip Steele was on hand to witness some fantastic performances from the team and said the event was a great chance to show Monash to the community.
"It's a tremendous testament to Monash. There's people from all parts of Monash, they've prepared during the year, they work hard and represent the university well," Professor Steele said.
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TeamMONASH was well supported on the day. |
Fiona Sanson placed third in the 30-39 female age group and Sharon Newstead was third in the 40-49 female division. Adam Bretel was the winner of a random $1,000 prize draw.
TeamMONASH™ participants praised the support of staff and volunteers in helping make the day a great experience.
"It was a brilliant day and a wonderful atmosphere in the team tent - it was amazing how mutually supportive, considerate and good-humoured the helpers, staff and participants all were," one participant said.
The Portsea Swim Classic is one of the largest open water swims held in Australia and raises money for Portsea Life Saving club.
Swimming groups train throughout the year to prepare for the next event. The Tri-Swim Squad is designed for masters, triathletes, open water swimmers and those who can swim at a reasonable level.
Anyone interested in taking part in the next TeamMONASH™ event can start training for the Mothers Day Classic, which is on Sunday 11 May. The event offers an 8km run, 4km run and 4km walk.
More information is at the Monash Sport website.
20 February 2008
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The creative woodwork of Monash Master of Visual Arts student Michael Gallop is featured in the latest exhibition at Gippsland's Switchback Gallery. |
The Switchback Gallery at the Gippsland Campus will feature work by Master of Visual Arts student Michael Gallop from 11 February.
Michael's detailed carvings of animal life convey the importance of freedom and movement to the sense of self and also raises questions as to the ability of people to deal with issues of power and helplessness.
Switchback Gallery Director, Rodney Forbes said Michael is in his final year of studies at Gippsland Centre for Art and Design and has really developed a skill for using a range of exotic woods and is able to push the boundaries of woodcarving.
"These works make you marvel that they were carved in wood but they are much more than exercises in technical virtuosity. They make you ponder our relations with animals but also wider notions of freedom and captivity," Mr Forbes said.
The public opening of the exhibition will be held Tuesday 4 March at 5pm.
20 February 2008
I trust that everyone has returned refreshed by the Christmas break. Although many of us have been fortunate to have some holiday and family time over January, for others it has been an extraordinarily busy time.
An exceptional storm selectively affecting the Clayton Campus on the last day of the university year at 4 p.m. on December 20 led to significant damage to over 80 buildings on the Clayton Campus. I would like to acknowledge the superb efforts of the Facilities and Services team in restoring the Clayton Campus to working order in time for the commencement of the university year. Many staff worked tirelessly over the Christmas break to achieve this outcome.
Particular tribute should also be paid to the staff involved in the processes of recruitment and selection of students, both at the central administrative level of the University and in the Faculties and Campuses. These activities have been carried out very efficiently by the highly expert teams involved and the outcomes have been very positive for Monash University.
Despite a substantial fall in demand for university places in Victoria, the demand for Monash University remained strong. For the second year in a row, Monash was the most popular university in the State as indicated by the number of first preferences for our courses. Our new degree in Architecture, as well as offerings Law and Engineering, were particularly popular. In fact, with a 'Clearly-in ENTER' score of 91.3, Engineering accepted students with a cut-off score more than five points above any other Engineering program in Victoria. At the same time, all of the programs in the Faculty of Law were stand-outs, with the ENTER score for Law single degrees rising to 99.3 and double degrees involving Law ranging from 99.05 to 99.5. Demand for places in the new Graduate Entry Medical Course at our Gippsland Campus was also very strong.
Demand from international students has also remained very buoyant and despite capping the number of students in the most popular courses in Business and Economics, our overall international student targets will be comfortably reached.
During January I visited the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Like Monash University, it is celebrating its Golden Jubilee and to mark this event it held a Vice-Chancellors' Conclave with university VCs/Presidents from 27 universities around the globe taking part. The theme of the Conclave was international education and research collaborations. It gave a chance to compare notes with universities in the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia.
One point was abundantly clear. Australia must improve the resourcing of our universities if we are to remain competitive. One comparison will be sufficient to demonstrate this. Washington University, St Louis is not regarded as an especially privileged or rich university in comparison with the "Ivy League". Yet with a student headcount of 12,000 it has an annual budget of US$2b, a student:staff ratio of 2:1 and an endowment of US$7b. Comparable figures for Monash University are a student headcount of 55,000, an annual budget of A$1.3b, a student:staff ratio of 20:1 and Foundation holding A$270m. Of course Washington University's endowment pales into insignificance compared with Harvard's which is over US$30b. It illustrates the necessity for the "Education Revolution" foreshadowed by the Rudd Government to translate into a substantial increase in university funding and I will use my position as the Chair of Universities Australia to try to achieve this.
Following the Conclave, the first meeting of the Scientific Advisory Council of our joint Research Academy with IITB was held. It was chaired by Mr Narayana Murthy, the renowned founder of Infosys. Arrangements for the Academy are proceeding well and it should prove a very effective way for us to engage with the excellent research and research students in India and to tap into substantial industry funding.
I then visited the University of Sharjah for a meeting of the Board of Trustees, presided over by the Ruler of Sharjah, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi. It gave me an opportunity to see the progress made by the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy both established under contract by Monash University and now functioning extremely well. The Vice-Chancellor for Medical Colleges Affairs, Dr Hossan Hamdy will be visiting Monash University next month and a warm and collaborative relationship has continued. Negotiations with the Ruler are proceeding in relation to establishing a Sharjah Chair of Islamic Studies at Monash University.
In December, David Pitt as Chair of the Board of Monash IVF oversaw the sale of Monash University's shareholding in the company to ABN-AMRO with a return of $100m to Monash University. This is a superb outcome and represents one of the most successful examples of commercialization of IP developed in a university in Australia. $4m of the proceeds will be used towards the funding of The Carl Wood Chair in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (with another $1m to be raised from philanthropy) and the remaining money will build the funds in the Foundation allowing an extra $5m to be donated to the University from the Foundation each year to be used to support our capital development program.
I am looking forward to a most exciting and productive year for Monash in 2008. The 50th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Monash University Act in the Victorian Parliament promises to be a year in which Monash University makes further progress in achieving excellence in education and research and continues its remarkable contribution to Victoria, Australia and the world.
20 February 2008
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Name: Ilana Snyder
Org. Unit: Faculty of Education
Position: Associate Dean, Research Degrees & Induction
How long have you been with Monash University?
Since 1991.
Prior to working at Monash, where were you located and what was your role?
Before I began my PhD full-time at Monash in 1987, I was a secondary English teacher at Presbyterian Ladies College.
What exciting challenges are ahead in your current role?
As the Associate Dean, Research Degrees & Induction, a key aim is to recruit high quality research degree students who will become part of the next generation of research leaders in education.
What is it about your job that holds your interest or is particularly satisfying?
Perhaps it was because I began my career as a school teacher, but I love working with the research students, trying to ensure that their experiences at Monash are positive and rewarding. My career also enables me to pursue other interests such as research and writing. My most recent book has just been released Literacy Wars: Why teaching children to read and write is a battleground in Australia.
Of all the places in the world you would like to visit/re-visit, where is your favourite destination and why?
Brazil. I'm going again this year to continue my work with colleagues in Sao Paulo on an international research project. Although I've seen very little of this vast country, I love its vibrancy, multi-culturalism and intriguing history.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Stop and think before you blurt out an instant response.
What is something about yourself that most of your colleagues wouldn't know?
I was living in Israel during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. I was working for El Al airlines and witnessed some very moving scenes at the airport. Parents waited for days hoping to see their sons, who were returning from studying abroad to join their army battalions. Some parents did not see their sons at the airport or ever again.
20 February 2008
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On 23 February, 1998, the Malaysian Ministry of Education forwarded Monash University an invitation to set up a campus in Malaysia jointly with Sunway Group.
Monash University Sunway campus was established in 1998 and is the first off shore campus of Monash University.
For more interesting facts celebrating Monash University's jubilee year, visit our 50th Anniversary wesbite.