3 December 2008
3 December 2008
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| The Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication is expected to be completed by the end of 2009. |
The first sod has been turned on the purpose-built Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN), which will be developed next to Monash University’s Clayton campus.
The MCN is the Victorian node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility, (ANFF), an organisation which aims to boost Australia's presence in the rapidly growing nano and bio-nanotechnological markets.
Located on the corner of Wellington and Blackburn Roads, the facility will provide Australia’s leading scientists and engineers, including those from Monash, with the tools to build miniature devices that could potentially revolutionise the health care and environmental maintenance sectors.
State-of-the-art instrumentation for nano and micro scale fabrication – that is, for fabrication at the scale of 1/100,000 and 1/10,000 of a human hair – in purpose-built laboratories will allow researchers to develop more effective devices for drug delivery, diagnostics and water sensing.
The MCN is a collaborative initiative between the Victorian and Federal Government, CSIRO, Monash University, Deakin University, La Trobe University, Swinburne University, the University of Melbourne and RMIT. Monash is the lead agency for the project.
MCN Interim Director Dr Abid Khan said the MCN would cement Victoria as a centre of excellence in nanotechnology.
"The facility will be open to national and international research and industry users who will be able to collaborate with other scientific disciplines and institutions such as Monash," Dr Khan said.
"The MCN will also act as a training ground for the next generation of researchers wanting to study advanced micro/nano manufacturing."
As part of the project, each MCN participant partner has agreed to make their own key nano-related facilities available to researchers.
Construction is expected to start in the New Year. The facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
3 December 2008
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| Professor Stephen Barkoczy |
Monash University Law Professor Stephen Barkoczy has won the 2008 Prime Minister's University Teacher of the Year Award.
It is only the second time that a Monash academic has been honoured in this way and the first in a decade.
Professor Barkoczy was recognised for making the difficult subject of taxation law interesting and engaging for students. He was presented with the prestigious award at a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra last week.
Professor Barkoczy was chosen from 22 university teachers who this year received an Australian Award for University Teaching from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC).
The $50,000 Prime Minister's Award is reserved for outstanding teachers who have an exceptional record of advancing student learning, educational leadership and scholarly contribution to teaching.
The quality of candidates this year was so high that two PM's Awards were given: one to Professor Barkoczy and one to Macquarie University historian, Marnie Hughes-Warrington.
Professor Barkoczy has been a teacher and researcher at Monash University for 20 years and is also a consultant to major Australian law firm Blake Dawson. His main areas of expertise are taxation law, superannuation law and venture capital law.
Professor Barkoczy said he actively blended his research and practice into his teaching and focused on illustrating to students how complex taxation principles were applied commercially.
"I make an effort to bring the issues I come across through my consulting and research into the classroom," Professor Barkoczy said.
He said he often used public commercial documents, in addition to his textbooks, to illustrate how tax law is applied in practice.
"In my advanced tax classes, we often work from the documents back to the law rather than concentrate purely on theory," Professor Barkoczy said.
"I try to make it real for the students and get them to think laterally and creatively about how the law is applied."
Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker congratulated Professor Barkoczy on his achievements.
"This is wonderful recognition for an outstanding University teacher," Professor Shoemaker said.
"I am sure I speak for all of Stephen's friends and colleagues and, of course, the Dean of Law, Professor Arie Freiberg, when I say this reward is well-deserved,"
The Australian Learning and Teaching Council promotes excellence in higher education by recognising, rewarding and supporting teachers and professional staff through a suite of award, fellowship and grant schemes.
Faculty of IT academic, Angela Carbone, was the only previous Monash University recipient of such an award in 1998.
3 December 2008
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| Benjamin Yeo, Shiau Tan, Elizabeth Chisholm, and Benjamin Fohner. |
Four Monash University postgraduate students have been named recipients of the 2008 nabCapital Science in Business Awards.
The awards are a joint initiative between Monash and nabCapital -- the capital markets division of National Australia Bank.
The students Benjamin Fohner, Elizabeth Chisholm, Shiau Tan and Ben Yeo have each received $A10,000 for research commercialisation projects undertaken as part of a Master of Business (Science and Technology) at the Monash University Asia Pacific Centre for Science and Wealth Creation.
As part of the unique course, science graduates learn the business, economics, legal and management acumen required to commercialise leading-edge medical, scientific and technological research.
Subjects include law, patents and marketing, but unlike other courses, the aspiring entrepreneurs also got hands-on experience, being assigned to work alongside some of the University's elite teams of researchers to develop real commercialisation plans for emerging research.
Monash Chancellor Dr Alan Finkel said he was extremely impressed by the high standard of projects produced by the winning students.
"These students have successfully put the skills gained from this degree to a practical and commercially viable use," Dr Finkel said.
"Research can be of little benefit to the community if it remains locked within the University.
"Innovation is only made accessible to the people who need it when it is out in the marketplace."
The winning students worked closely with researchers and industry to develop commercialisation deals for the following innovations:
Dr Finkel congratulated award recipients and thanked nabCapital for their continued support and encouragement in developing Australia's future research innovators.
3 December 2008
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| Director MUARC Professor Rod McClure, Director Prato Centre Dr Annamaria Pagliaro, President of the Tuscany region Claudio Martini, Ambassador of Australia to Italy Amanda Vanstone, Associate Director MUARC Europe Professor Brian Fildes. |
The Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) has established a satellite node at the Monash University Prato Centre in Italy.
MUARC Europe was launched at a ceremony at the Monash Prato Centre last month by the President of the Regione Toscana, Claudio Martini. A number of key international guests, including the Australian Ambassador to Italy Amanda Vanstone, attended the launch.
MUARC is recognised internationally for its research into the prevention of injury across a range of settings including the road, workplace, home and school.
In addition to the Prato node, MUARC has offices in Kuala Lumpur, Johannesburg and Melbourne.
The Prato node will focus on research in injury causation and prevention across Europe, as well as teaching programs and community engagement.
Associate Director of MUARC Prato, Professor Brian Fildes said partnerships with local and European individuals and groups would be critical for the success of MUARC Europe.
"We have already approached a number of universities and researchers in Italy and other European countries to form agreements for collaborative work to address the global problem of injury," Professor Fildes said.
A Research Advisory Committee comprising prominent European and Australian experts will also be formed to help guide the direction of research undertaken by MUARC in Europe.
Director of Monash Prato Dr Annamaria Pagliaro welcomed the establishment of a MUARC research node at the Prato centre.
"It will expand the scope of the University's activities and strengthen its commitment to the Prato region and to Italy," Dr Pagliaro said.
Monash Prato opened in 2001 at Palazzo Vaj in the heart of Prato's historical centre. Monash secured the location with support from the Region of Tuscany and the local government of Prato.
The Prato centre aims to develop and expand Australia's connections with universities, governments, cultural organisations and industry in Europe and provide opportunities for Monash and other Australian students to study and work overseas.
3 December 2008
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Monash has partnered with The Myer Foundation to form a new $4.6 million initiative, ClimateWorks Australia.
ClimateWorks will encompass the Monash Sustainability Institute, delivering solutions to key climate change and sustainability challenges through action, research and education.
The new organisation will carry out projects that deliver substantive and lasting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, maximising environmental, social and economic sustainability.
ClimateWorks Australia CEO Professor David Griggs said the partnership between The Myer Foundation and the University was unique.
"ClimateWorks Australia will draw on the enormous intellectual resources that sit within Monash plus the wider scientific community, so actions will be informed by the best available scientific research," Professor Griggs said.
ClimateWorks Australia Chairman Professor John Thwaites said it was an exciting opportunity to convert breakthrough research on climate change into on-the-ground works.
"ClimateWorks Australia is about delivering solutions to meet sustainability problems," Professor Thwaites said.
3 December 2008
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Monash has received $2.3 million from the Australian Research Council (ARC) as part of their Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme.
The LIEF scheme fosters collaboration through its support of the cooperative use of national and international research facilities. The scheme provides funding for large-scale cooperative initiatives so that expensive infrastructure, equipment and facilities can be shared by researchers in partnered organisations.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish said the University's success in this current round of LIEF grants was vital for the research being carried out at Monash.
"Monash is already home to world-class research infrastructure such as the Centre for Electron Microscopy and the Australian Regenerative Medicine Research Institute's zebra fish research facility, which is the largest one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere," Professor Cornish said.
"This support from the ARC enables the University to continue to provide its researchers with the best research facilities available."
Three proposals from Monash were successful in receiving a LIEF grant. The largest grant of $1.4 million will see the development of the Melbourne Bimolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Network.
The NMR Network will enable researchers to develop a better understanding of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of numerous diseases using metabolomics studies, reverse chemical genetics approaches, structural and dynamics studies.
The other two successful proposals were:
3 December 2008
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| Professor Mick Dodson |
Three members of the Monash community have won state and territory honours in the 2009 Australian of the Year awards.
Monash alumnus Professor Mick Dodson AM (BJuris 1974, LLB 1978) has been named 2009 ACT Australian of the Year.
His brother, Indigenous leader Patrick Dodson, was named Western Australia's Senior Australian of the Year 2009. Mr Dodson is a member of the advisory board of Monash University's Castan Centre for Human Rights Law.
Band leader John Layton Hodgetts OAM (BA 1979) was announced as Tasmania's Local Hero 2009, recognising his extensive contributions to music and his local community.
Professor Dodson, Mr Dodson and Mr Layton Hodgetts each become one of the eight finalists in their Australian of the Year award category. The awards are announced on the eve of Australia Day.
Academic and Indigenous issues advocate Mick Dodson is currently director of the ANU's National Centre for Indigenous Studies. Professor Dodson received a Monash University Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997/98.
In making the announcement, the ACT's Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said that Professor Dodson was known nationally for his leadership.
"Professor Dodson has spent decades in pursuit of justice and reconciliation through education and awareness-building and inclusive dialogue with all Australians," Mr Stanhope said.
Other Monash alumni were state and territory finalists in the awards, including:
The 2009 finalists were chosen from more than 3300 nominations received from around Australia.
Monash University has a number of connections with the Australian of the Year awards. The trophies were designed by glass artist and Monash alumna Kristin McFarlane (BA(GraphDes) 1994, GradDipA(CeramicDes) 2003, MFA 2005).
Professor Tim Flannery (MSc 1981) was Australian of the Year 2007 and Hugh Evans (BSc 2008, LLB(Hons) 2008) was 2004 Young Australian of the Year.
In 2006, Toni Hoffman AM (BNurs(PostRed) 1998, MBioeth 2003) was named Australia's Local Hero, recognising her role raising concerns about patient safety at the Bundaberg Hospital.
For more information about the awards visit the Australian of the Year website.
Read Professor Mick Dodson's profile on the Monash prominent alumni website.
3 December 2008
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| Sarah Meyer |
Monash students Sarah Meyer and Sarah Lenthall will travel overseas next year after winning prestigious awards.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) student Sarah Meyer will complete her PhD at Johns Hopkins University in the US as one of eight winners of the 2009 General Sir John Monash Awards.
The awards, presented last week at Government House in Canberra, fund students for three years of study at a major international university.
Ms Meyer will complete a PhD in public policy relating to health and humanitarian issues, with particular emphasis on the needs of refugees and people displaced by conflict, natural disasters, human rights violations and environmental catastrophes.
She aims to help develop more effective programs for dealing with these tragedies.
Ms Meyer is currently in New York as education officer with the American Jewish World Service. This is an international development organisation that seeks to alleviate hunger, disease and poverty in the developing world.
The awards, first granted in 2004, are the only national postgraduate study awards offered across Australia, covering all disciplines.
They are inspired by the life of Sir John Monash whose contribution to Australia extended from commanding the Australian Imperial Forces in World War One, through working as an engineer to develop the electricity industry and promoting public service and education.
Meanwhile, Monash Arts/Law student Sarah Lenthall will tour Gallipoli and the Battlefields of the Western Front in France after winning the Great Ocean Road Memorial Prize essay competition.
The competition was initiated by the Order of Australia Association (Victoria Branch) to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the conclusion of WWI in 1918 and the 75th anniversary of the construction of the Great Ocean Road. The Great Ocean Road was built over a 13 year period by returned servicemen as a permanent memorial to those who died fighting in WWI.
Ms Lenthall was chosen as the winner from a shortlist of four students for her essay on the topic 'Why did young Australians enlist in the Australian Defence Forces to serve overseas in WWI?'.
In addition to the battlefields tour, Ms Lenthall will also receive a return around-the-world airfare and $5000 spending money.
Ms Lenthall was presented with her travel prize at the Order of Australia Association's Annual Dinner at the RACV Club last week in the presence of over 200 guests.
The essay project is sponsored by the Order of Australia Association (Victoria Branch) and the RACV.
3 December 2008
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| Sandy Roberts with Hall of Fame inductee Kate Quigley. |
Monash has paid tribute to its sports stars, recently announcing the winners of the 45th annual Monash University Sport Awards.
Hosted by Sandy Roberts, the awards also celebrated the University's recent win in the 2008 Australian University Games.
Vashon Weaver won Male Athlete of the Year for efforts in basketball, while Netballer Johannah Curran took out Female Athlete of the Year.
KC Chong won Club Person of the Year for her tireless efforts with the Uni Blues Volleyball Club and the 2008 Australian University Games Badminton Team won Team of the Year, after winning both Men's and Women's gold at the games.
For the second year running the Club of the Year award was taken out by Monash University Swim Club, which also won the Australian Unity Club of the Year at the Telstra Swimmer of the Year Awards Night.
Volunteer of the Year Jessica Davidson from Monash Sport was acknowledged for her magnificent effort and countless extra hours in volunteering across a range of TeamMONASH™ events.
Sport Manager of the Year went to Australian University Games TeamMONASH™ captain Dale Stephenson.
A new award, TeamMONASH™ Champion, was won by David Pawley for his outstanding commitment and participation in events.
The 2008 Monash Sport Awards also included the induction of past students into the Monash Sport Hall of Fame.
This year's inductees were Australian Softball representative Kate Quigley, and former Australian Test Cricketer Tony Dodemaide.
The awards night also raised more than $1200 for the James Macready-Bryan Foundation.
For information visit the Monash Sport website.
3 December 2008
I am writing this final edition of Ancora Imparo for 2008 in Hyderabad while attending the Association of Commonwealth Universities Council meeting and conference. Before coming to Hyderabad, I had taken part in the highly successful launch of the IITB-Monash Research Academy in Mumbai. As you all know, Mumbai was the target on that evening of a terrible terrorist attack. The members of the large Monash delegation attending the scientific thematic symposia for the opening of the Academy were all a long way from the sites of the attack and were safe. We offer our most sincere condolences to everyone in Mumbai who was affected by these terrible events and also extend our sympathy to any of our students from India whose family may have been affected.
The crisis has strengthened our relationship with IITB and I am sure that the Academy will be a centre of excellence in research and research training. It is a unique partnership model which will benefit both institutions as well as providing high quality research addressing the needs of industry and some of the most pressing problems facing our two nations and the planet.
I am delighted to be able to congratulate Professor Stephen Barkoczy on being the joint recipient of the Prime Minister's Teacher of the Year Award. In recent years we have had a number of recipients of prestigious research awards, but I am particularly pleased that on this occasion one of our staff has been recognised for teaching excellence. I also have great pleasure in congratulating Anthea Lindquist, a final year medical student, on being the recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship for Victoria this year.
As this is the last Ancora Imparo for 2008 I will provide a brief summary of the year. It has been another very successful year for Monash University. Ultimately we exist to provide a high quality educational experience for our students and to advance knowledge for the benefit of humankind through research and scholarship. Essential ingredients are to provide an environment whereby we can attract, retain and develop the best possible staff and provide opportunities for the best students from diverse backgrounds to achieve their potential. We must also have sound financial management and administrative capability aligned to the objectives of the University.
Despite an extraordinarily difficult external environment we have continued to work towards achieving our major objectives in research and education. The University's research performance has been strong and has continued the momentum of recent years although there is still room for improvement, particularly in achieving a greater level of success in ARC Discovery Grants. Major new research platforms have been delivered including the Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy, the Monash Antibody Technology Facility, the robotic protein crystallography facility and the Zebra fish facility. A number of leading researchers have been attracted to Monash, partly because of these platforms and partly because of the reputation that Monash has gained as a good place to work. The capital program has progressed satisfactorily with the STRIP 2 building close to completion.
With respect to education, the Monash Passport, a major refocussing of our educational programs, has been launched successfully. The unit evaluations by students have steadily improved and the University had a 16 per cent increase in first preferences through the initial choices from the VTAC system, making it easily the most popular Victorian university.
Our international campuses in Malaysia and South Africa have had excellent years. Monash University’s Sunway campus, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, goes from strength to strength with almost 4000 students, improved research performance and good educational outcomes. The Monash South Africa campus has once again exceeded its student number target and now has 2300 students and is likely to better its budget target once more.
The program to celebrate fifty years since the formal foundation of Monash University has been very successful with the public lecture series being outstanding and the Gala Dinner where the public phase of the Fund-Raising Campaign was announced was a very high profile, memorable event. Already more than $A70m of a target of $A200m has been raised since this campaign began in 2006.
In many ways, the most significant event in the 50 year celebrations was the staff celebration on 2 December where the role of the staff in the outstanding achievements of Monash University in 50 short years was recognised. Monash has been characterised since its foundation by bold, innovative and committed staff and its incredible progress is entirely attributable to this.
I was delighted to learn that Professor Ed Byrne has been appointed to replace me when my term finishes on 30 June next year. Many of you will know Professor Byrne from his time at Monash as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. He has all the qualities to provide outstanding leadership to the University and I am sure it will continue to go from strength to strength under his guidance.
I wish you all a peaceful and restful holiday break.
3 December 2008
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Name: Suree Lekawanvijit
Course: PhD
Year level: First year
Mode: Full-time
What is it about your course and the University that helped you to choose Monash?
I am interested in research in the cardiology field. I searched for PhD programs and found several satisfactory courses. There are many reasons I chose Monash, my supervisor's profile, teamwork, research facilities, Monash itself and its location (Melbourne).
What is your favourite subject and why?
Molecular biology, since there's always something new in this field to explore and it is one of the key tools to get scientific answers for research questions/health problems.
What challenges are ahead for you this year?
I would like to publish my presented work.
What will be your ideal career (and what will it involve) when you graduate?
My background is as a pathologist. When I worked at Chaing Mai University in Thailand, I realised that just giving diagnoses for patients is not enough since it can not help these patients in the future or new patients. Doing research might be another way. After I graduate I will look at choosing careers where I can use both my pathology background and research skills and experiences.
What is it about your course that holds your interest or is particularly satisfying?
My research topic, pathophysiology of cardiorenal syndrome, is very interesting. It will have a big impact for patients with heart and/or kidney failure. The collaborative environment and lab facilities is helping me progress quickly.
What is your favourite place in the world and why?
I love travelling but my most favourite destination is home or anywhere with my family.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
From my parents: do your best, try to be on your own and think about others.
What is something about yourself that most of your fellow students wouldn't know?
Not sure. I am usually willing to tell people about myself if they ask.
3 December 2008
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The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences interviews about 650 domestic and international applicants each year for positions in its Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery degree at the Clayton campus.