26 November 2008
26 November 2008
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Monash University and the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay (IITB) have opened a new chapter in Australia-India relations with the formal launch of a joint-venture research academy.
In what is thought to be a unique research collaboration, an innovative research plan has been developed at a newly created IITB-Monash Research Academy which enables doctoral students to undertake research projects and receive a dual, accredited PhD degree from both Monash University and IIT Bombay.
Each student will be simultaneously enrolled in both institutions, have a supervisor from each institution and will study primarily in India with a minimum six month period spent in Australia.
Monash University Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said the Academy, located in a purpose-built A$5 million facility on the IIT Bombay campus, would build on the combined and complementary strengths of both institutions and benefit business and communities in India, Australia and across the world.
"Monash University and IITB have joined forces to create a cutting-edge research facility that is working towards sustainable water resources, clean, cheap and reliable energy supplies and the development of new and effective vaccines," Professor Larkins said.
"This academy will be a training ground for the next generation of researchers and is an extremely important investment for Australia and Monash given the number of multi-national companies operating in India and others interested in setting up research and development centres in India.
"It once again puts Monash University on the world stage and has the potential to be one of the most significant research institutions to have been established in recent times."
The start of the joint venture and the construction of a purpose built facility at the Powai campus of IIT Bombay, was marked with an official opening ceremony followed by three days of thematic workshops.
The Academy has been made possible by a generous strategic grant from the Australia-India strategic research fund. There are 36 research projects already underway which include:
When fully operational the Academy will support nearly 400 research projects each year, focussing on six key themes of interest to both countries, including computer engineering, infrastructure engineering, clean energy, water, stem-cell research, and nanotechnology.
These themes address future research and development challenges of several industry sectors including petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, infrastructure, biotechnology, life sciences, IT, and financial markets.
Monash University Dean of Engineering Professor Tam Sridhar said the Research Academy would seek to meet the future talent and research challenges of India and Australia by producing a constant supply of highly qualified, skilled and trained PhD students. The Academy connects Monash researchers to the multi-national research labs in India.
"The Academy will be a high-quality research institution that will grow the Indian talent pool while, simultaneously, contributing to the research challenges and needs in Australia," Professor Sridhar said.
The Academy will be a not-for-profit, autonomous institution with an independent Governing Board and a high-powered Advisory Council, which includes captains of industry and research luminaries.
Mr Narayana Murthy (former CEO and chief mentor at Infosys) is the Chairman. Other members include Dr Pawan Goenka (managing director Mahindra and Mahindra), Mr Prasad Menon (managing director Tata Power), Dr V Rao Aiyagiri (Department of Science and Technology), Sir Gus Nossal (Former President of the Australian Academy of Sciences), Dr Ramesh Mashelkar (Former Director-General CSIRO), Dr Swati Priamal (director Piramal Healthcare) and Dr Edwin van Leeuwen (BHP Billiton).
The Vice-Chancellor of Monash University and the Director of IIT Bombay are ex-officio members of the Advisory Council.
26 November 2008
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Monash University has established the largest zebra fish research facility in the Southern Hemisphere.
The multi-million dollar aquarium, housing thousands of the six-centimetre-long tropical fish in 6500 tanks, could help researchers find better treatments for incurable diseases such as muscular dystrophy and heart disease.
The Victorian Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings last week officially opened the $5.4 million facility, located within Monash University's Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) at the University's Clayton campus.
Zebra fish have become one of the key research models for scientists because of the species' distant genetic connection to humans and their ability to regenerate muscles and organs.
ARMI Deputy Director Professor Peter Currie said the new facility would place Monash at the forefront of regenerative medicine research in Australia and across the world.
"Fossilised fish relics show that humans evolved from fish and at a genetic and developmental level, there are still many similarities," Professor Currie said.
"The zebra fish has become one of the most important model organisms to study biological processes in vivo, allowing us to study how genes control embryonic development.
"This research has the potential to solve some of the questions surrounding human diseases that are couched in genetic make up."
Professor Currie said one of the key areas of research was in determining how muscles grow and develop.
"Zebra fish can not only repair damaged tissue like humans, but they can go far further, regenerating new muscle fibres, such as skin, fins, the heart and in the larval stage, the brain," Professor Currie said.
"The long term research goal is to learn how to help people with muscle wasting disease or who have lost or damaged muscle through injury. Heart attack survivors could also benefit, because their damaged heart muscle could be regenerated."
Zebra fish fast facts
26 November 2008
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More than 80 Faculty of Information Technology students who demonstrate leadership qualities, good interpersonal skills and strong academic results will participate in the faculty's industry-based learning program in 2009.
Students selected for the program are awarded scholarships of up to $36,000 over three years.
These students undertake full-time 22-week placements at industry partners, such as Accenture and IBM, Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers, ANZ Bank and National Australia Bank, working in business assurance and advisory, project support, business analysis, marketing and sales support, desktop support and software development.
The placements confirm and extend the students' academic learning. They learn "by doing" and develop business skills.
Dean of Information Technology Professor Ron Weber said the program had been boosted by the announcement of new industry partners Streamline Solutions, Thales Australia and Unisys.
"After recruiting five new industry partners last year, we have recruited a further five industry partners this year," Professor Weber said.
"These extra industry partners will help us with placements for students in the Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems, who will start placements for the first time in the second half of 2009.
"From 2009 onwards, our industry-based learning program will cover all our undergraduate degrees."
For more information about industry-based learning visit the Faculty of Information Technology website. .
26 November 2008
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In a potential breakthrough for the racing and polo industries, scientists from the Monash Institute of Medical Research aim to harness stem cells to repair tendon, ligament, cartilage and bone damage in horses.
Dr Paul Verma is working with US company ViaGen Inc to develop equine embryonic stem-cell lines with the aim of creating a 'bank' of genetically matched stem cells for individual horses.
Tendon, ligament and cartilage injuries can range from minor inflammation to a complete rupture, which can result in permanent lameness and the end of a horse's competitive life. Bone damage also varies in severity, with the most serious cases resulting in the euthanisation of the injured horse.
"Our research has the potential to reverse this damage," Dr Verma said.
"We have already created a number of equine embryonic stem cell lines, so our next step is to develop these cells into tendon, ligament, cartilage and bone cells.
"Once we can coax the stem cells into 'becoming' the appropriate tissue cells, we will look at ways the regenerated cells can be transplanted to replace damaged tissue," he said.
The natural source of therapeutic cells developed by Dr Verma will be recognised by a horse's immune system as its own, which means there will be no risk of horses rejecting the tissue generated from the stem cells.
Dr John van Veenendaal, specialist equine surgeon, said having ready access to a bank of individually-tailored equine cells would speed up the rehabilitation process.
"Current stem cell therapies involve aspirating bone marrow cells from the injured horse," Dr van Veenendaal said.
"The cells are then sent to a laboratory and grown into the required tissue cells; a process that takes three weeks.
"Having access to a less invasive, faster method of treating injured horses would be fantastic, and beneficial to owners of race horses, polo horses and horses kept as companion animals."
26 November 2008
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| Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker (centre) with members of the winning team Glen Wilson, Csilla Papp, Tracie Cox and Joanne Tyler. |
Monash University's Employment and Career Development unit has aced the field to win the 2008 Award for Best Careers Service for Employers at the Australian Graduate Recruitment Industry Awards.
The awards are held annually by the Australian Association of Graduate Employers, a national body that aims to contribute to the increased effectiveness of graduate recruitment in Australia.
More than 120 local and national graduate employers voted to give Monash the big win, with awards presented at a ceremony last week.
Employment and Career Development Director Joanne Tyler said the award positioned Monash well in what was forecast to be a difficult year ahead for the labour market.
"We will highlight this recognition in our promotion of our 2009 Careers Fairs, which are the University's highest profile graduate recruitment activity," Ms Tyler said.
"The award helps us to grow relationships and run even bigger and better events across Monash."
The Employment and Career Development unit links employers to the University through a range of student and faculty focussed activities.
"We are often the first point of contact, and work hard to ensure that linkages we set up lead to satisfied employers," Ms Tyler said.
"That translates to great graduate outcomes."
Visit the service for employers page within the Employment and Career Development website.
26 November 2008
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| Professor Mark Peel |
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| Professor Jeff Goldsworthy |
Monash Professors Mark Peel from the Faculty of Arts and Jeff Goldsworthy from the Faculty of Law have been elected Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA).
The academy was established in 1971 and is devoted to the advancement of knowledge and research in the various social sciences.
Fellows are elected by their peers based on their contribution to one or more of the social sciences, and their standing internationally.
Professor Peel, from the School of Historical Studies, said election to the academy was a great honour.
"It signals that the senior scholars in your field know of and respect your work and your contributions to your discipline which is fantastic," Professor Peel said.
"Membership of the academy also provides an opportunity and a responsibility to participate in strengthening the links between academic scholarship, public debate and public policy."
Professor Goldsworthy said a fellowship in one of the "learned academies" had always been regarded as an honour, because it was recognition of scholarly excellence.
"It also provides an opportunity to participate in a body that represents scholars and defends the values of their profession in providing advice to government," Professor Goldsworthy said.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Rae Frances said admission to the academy was recognition of the quality contribution of the individual by the highest body of academic peers in Australia.
"There are a limited number of academics admitted to fellow status, and only after rigorous consideration of their work by members of the Academy," Professor Frances said.
"It is a testimony to the high regard in which Monash scholars are held nationally that so many of our academic staff are already members of the relevant academies and that more are being admitted every year."
26 November 2008
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More than 250 of Australia's brightest chess stars from 51 schools around Australia will descend upon the Clayton campus next week for the 2008 National Interschool Chess Championships.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker will open proceedings, testing his chess prowess against one of the competition's champions.
Staff and students are encouraged to come along and watch the Monash-sponsored event, which will run for two days from Monday 1 December in the Dining Hall of the Campus Centre.
Staff and students can attend free chess lecturers by 'Grandmaster Antic', former Monash student and 'International Master Jamieson', and 'National Master Depasquale' at 11 am and 3.30 pm Monday and 10 am and 2.30 pm Tuesday.
This is the third year Monash has hosted the event, which is run by Chess Kids, a chess coaching company that offers a wide range of chess services and products to schools.
Professor Shoemaker said Monash was proud to support the tournament.
"Playing chess encourages students to develop problem-solving abilities, think critically and concentrate, all of which are fantastic skills for their continuing education," Professor Shoemaker said.
Chess Kids founder David Cordover said the championships were the highlight of the year for participants.
"More than 9000 players start this event at a regional level with only 250 or so getting to play in the championships," Mr Cordover said.
"It's been great to see the massive growth in chess at the school level over the past decade.
"Obviously chess is a highly engaging game for kids, but what we really are passionate about is that the leaders of the future are building their mental muscles."
The event runs from 9 am to 6 pm Monday 1 December and 8.30 am to 3 pm Tuesday 2 December.
26 November 2008
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| From back left: Director Audit and Risk Management Greg Connell and Deputy Chancellor Paul Ramler with the South African student team. |
Monash South Africa has celebrated the University's 50th Anniversary with a Cultural Day at the campus in Ruimsig.
The celebration included a cooking competition that saw 24 teams made up of staff, students and their families produce either a potjie (a stew cooked in a three-legged cast iron pot on the fire) or a cultural dish.
Music provided by a DJ and performances by cultural groups and societies added to the festive feel of the day.
Monash South Africa Director Advancement Mr Andre Lubbe said the Cultural Day was a great way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary.
"This occasion also created an opportunity for staff and students to celebrate the diversity of cultures at the South African campus and to socialise with those they hadn't seen for some time, get to know each other better and more importantly, have fun," Mr Lubbe said.
26 November 2008
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| Elaine Coyne and Mui Gee Na at the Peninsula campus. |
This year more than 50 University staff experienced Monash from another perspective, thanks to the cross-campus mobility program and offers are now being made for 2009.
The Cross Campus Staff Mobility Program is offered to enhance inter-campus movement between Monash’s Australian, South African and Malaysian campuses, and the Monash Centre in Prato, with an emphasis on strengthening the quality, value and impact of academic outcomes.
In 2009 travel to identified key partner or internationally renowned institutions will also be considered. The Travelling Fellowship Award is open to professional staff and is aimed at enhancing opportunities for participation in professional development in Australia or overseas.
Mui Gee Na from Counselling Services at the Sunway campus was one of the 2008 Cross Campus participants, travelling to the University's Australian campuses.
"The Cross Campus program provides a valuable channel to share information and skills that can be applied at the campus one works at," Mui Gee Na said.
"The program instilled a sense of belonging to the University."
The Cross Campus Staff Mobility Program and Travelling Fellowship Award are funded by the Offices of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) and the Vice President (Administration).
Successful Cross Campus Staff Mobility applicants will receive funding up to $6000 and Travelling Fellowship Awards will receive funding up to $4000.
For more information about these programs, eligibility and selection criteria and details on how to apply, visit the Staff Mobility at Monash website.
Closing date for applications is Tuesday 6 January, 2009.
5 November 2008
Much has been happening over the last month in every sphere of activity for Monash University.
As indicated in last month's AI, the Australian University Games were held with Monash as the principal partner university. They were a great success, although the tragic death of a Griffith student as an innocent and random victim in a senseless road accident put a dampener on the celebrations of the event. Monash University's team was placed first, narrowly beating the University of Melbourne with the University of Sydney a distant third. Martin Doulton, the Director of Monash Sport and the whole of Team Monash are to be congratulated. While speaking of sport, more than 400 Monash students, staff and friends took part in the Around The Bay in a Day event.
Monash researchers received their largest ever share of ARC Linkage grants and NHMRC Project grants although the ARC Discovery Grants announced were $6m less than last year's record. Altogether, it was a strong performance, although there is still room for improvement.
The Monash Passport was successfully launched with much positive publicity. The educational reputation of Monash University is rising rapidly as shown by the initial indication of preferences by students through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre where Monash was the most popular Victorian university for both first preferences and total preferences with an increase of 16% in first preferences.
The shortlisting of 14 of the 55 of the Higher Education Endowment Fund was brought forward to 22 October as one of the steps taken by the Federal Government to stimulate the economy by capital expenditure. One of Monash University's two applications, The New Horizons Centre, was shortlisted. New Horizons is a visionary project which, if funded, will play a critical role in the ongoing objective to establish Monash University's Clayton campus as the centre of the most significant technology innovation hub in the Southern hemisphere. It provides a wonderful opportunity to co-locate 500 Monash and CSIRO engineers and scientists in state-of-the-art facilities alongside existing major infrastructure including the Australian Synchrotron, the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, the Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy and the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute.
The Legislative Assembly of the Victorian Parliament had a regional sitting at our Gippsland campus on 15 October. The new auditorium was rearranged to be a most authentic chamber. I was asked to address the Parliament and was able to describe some of the contributions made by our Gippsland campus to the local economy and the cultural life of the region as well as the broader role of universities in the community. The campus staged the sitting superbly and it was a great public relations exercise.
In the face of all these achievements we are attempting to complete the process of setting the budget for 2009. As previously reported, the Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding is only to increase by 2.1% (with some additional funds for new Commonwealth supported places partly to substitute for lost full-fee paying domestic undergraduates and for some transitional funding to compensate for the loss of fees). The international financial turmoil makes prediction of international student numbers difficult, although initial indications suggest continuing strong demand. Ongoing capital commitments make the cashflow situation particularly difficult. However, the Prime Minister's Science Engineering and Innovation Council, and particularly the Prime Minister himself, responded positively to the recommendations of the Cutler Review of Innovation and we await the Bradley Review of higher education. It is to be hoped that the Government response to these reviews will address the inadequate funding of research costs and the need for more dollars per student for undergraduate Australian students.
So next year will be very tough, but there is hope that there will be some resolution of the financial issues facing all Australian universities in the foreseeable future.
26 November 2008
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Name: Dr Francesca Collins
Org. Unit: School of Political and Social Inquiry, Faculty of Arts
Title: Lecturer
Dept: Behavioural Studies
How long have you been with Monash University?
I started at Monash as a student in 1994. Along the way I’ve been a sessional tutor, and have been in my current position as a lecturer since 2003.
Prior to working at Monash, where were you located and what was your role?
It's such a long time ago... I have a faint memories of selling light fittings at an iconic Melbourne department store.
What challenges are ahead in your current role?
Making the most of my upcoming sabbatical during which time I will write up the research that has been piling up in my office and in my head over the last couple of years.
On my return in Semester 2, 2009, I will be launching a new unit, 'Digital Selves', which will be open to all Monash final year students and delivered entirely in online virtual world, Second Life, via my avatar, Curiosa Paravane. I'm very excited about “in world” education and the teaching and research opportunities it will open up.
What is it about your job that holds your interest or is particularly satisfying?
More than anything I love telling people stuff, especially stuff about human behaviour, human nature and the mind. As a lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, I'm very fortunate to be able to do just that through teaching, research and conferences. It's really satisfying to see undergraduate students get the research bug then accompany them through the wild and woolly world of the Honours or PhD project.
What is your favourite place in the world and why?
Wherever my family are is the funniest and, hence, my favourite place to be. There's usually good food around too. If my family isn't available, Paris will do. Ditto about the food.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
A drawing teacher many years ago advised me to draw what I see, not what I want to see or what I think I should see. I've adapted this advice and carried it with me into my research and university teaching practice.
What is something about yourself that most of your colleagues wouldn’t know?
I won a Paddle Pop-eating contest when I was nine. This probably won't come as a surprise to my colleagues.
26 November 2008
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Monash University has a new stormwater harvesting project in the engineering precinct at Clayton campus that will save more than 2.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools of potable water per annum.
The harvesting project will allow for the collection of more than five million litres of stormwater and rainwater a year for use as cooling water, toilet flush, cooling tower makeup and irrigation.