11 March 2009
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Monash Sustainability Month – under the banner Sustainability Matters – runs from Monday 16 March to Thursday 9 April.
Bringing sustainability to the forefront, Sustainability Month aims to ask the big questions and focus on turning words into action.
Director, Office of Environmental Sustainability Paul Barton said Sustainability Month offered a fantastic opportunity for Monash staff, students and the wider community to start tackling issues such as climate change and water shortages head on.
"Covering the spectrum from the global perspective to personal choice, Sustainability Matters has something for everyone," Mr Barton said.
"Staff and students can engage in the debates, workshops activities and action and be entertained with music, demonstrations, and an art exhibition."
The series of events is headlined by an environmental sustainability conference on Tuesday 24 March, which includes guest speakers Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision Australia, Jon Dee, Founder of Planet Ark, and Aaron Wood, the 2007 Prime Minister's Environmentalist of the Year.
As part of the conference SBS 'Dateline' presenter George Negus will host a debate on the topic: "Conservation will always win out over technology for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions."
Other events include public lectures, tradeshows, a careers expo and a sustainable food expo featuring cooking demonstrations by celebrity chef Tobie Puttock from restaurant Fifteen.
For more information and to register for any of the events visit the Sustainability Matters website.
11 March 2009
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A Monash geoscientist and a team of international researchers have discovered evidence of links between New Caledonia and New Zealand, areas of the South Pacific thought to be geographically isolated.
Using computer modelling Wouter Schellart and the team reconstructed a prehistoric cataclysm that took place when a tectonic plate between Australia and New Zealand sank 1100 kilometres into the earth's interior and at the same time formed a long chain of volcanic islands at the surface.
Mr Schellart conducted the research in collaboration with Brian Kennett from ANU (Canberra) and Wim Spakman and Maisha Amaru from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
"Until now many geologists have only looked at New Caledonia and New Zealand separately and didn't see a connection," Mr Schellart said.
"In our new reconstruction we saw a large number of similarities between New Caledonia and northern New Zealand in terms of geology, structure, volcanism and timing of geological events.
"We then searched deep within the earth for proof of a connection and found the evidence 1100 kilometres below the Tasman Sea in the form of a subducted tectonic plate."
Mr Schellart said the new discovery diffused debate about whether the continents and micro-continents in the Southwest Pacific had been completely separated since 100 million years ago.
"We are now able to say a tectonic plate about 70 km thick, some 2500 km long and 700 km wide was subducted into the earth's interior, providing a geographical connection between New Caledonia and New Zealand between 50 and 20 million years ago by a long chain of volcanic islands," Mr Schellart said.
"This discovery could be important for the migration of certain plant and animal species at that time."
11 March 2009
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| Students from Australia and South Africa are settling in to their studies at the Malaysia campus as part of the Monash Abroad program. |
More than 50 students from Monash University's Australian and South African campuses have begun their 2009 studies at the Sunway campus in Malaysia.
They join more than 900 students beginning their university journey at the Malaysian campus this year.
The students will complete either one or two semesters at the campus as participants in the Monash Abroad program.
The Intercampus exchange program in 2009 includes free airfares and accommodation and is open to Australian and South African citizens and permanent residents.
Students going on intercampus exchange to Sunway are also eligible for grants of up to A$3500 for one semester and A$4000 for two.
Pro Vice-Chancellor and President (Malaysia) Professor Robin Pollard said it was important to encourage students to gain an international education at Monash University.
"There are high expectations in Malaysia that Monash can make the international university vision a reality by encouraging bi-directional student mobility," Professor Pollard said.
"Until now very few students from Australia have spent time on exchange in Malaysia.
"We are helping to reverse that trend in support of Malaysian national objectives and to broaden the experiences of all Monash students."
Monash University Student Association (MUSA) President Mr Yeong Yung Lin said orientation events helped introduce new students to the campus.
"We also hope to provide them with opportunities to make new friends and sign up for activities organised by the various clubs and societies on campus," he said.
11 March 2009
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| Monash alumnus, artist Peter Trusler has recreated the likeness of the placoderms, an extinct group of fish from the Middle Palaeozic era. |
New research by Monash University honorary researcher Dr John Long of the School of Geosciences, reveals that vertebrates have been having sex for more than 375 million years – making sexual intercourse more ancient than scientists first thought.
The evidence of the first vertebrate sex has been confirmed in a fossilised fish, which was named last year after the British naturalist David Attenborough.
Dr Long said the latest revelation proves that the sexual activity of the first vertebrates involved copulation, shifting the evolutionary origin of this mode of reproduction further back in time.
"Further investigation of the fossilised remains of the placoderm, or armoured jawed fish, have revealed they had pelvic fins with structures similar to claspers, as in modern sharks, confirming the way they had sex involved internal fertilisation," Dr Long said.
The findings were made using the same fossil that last year made world-wide headlines and became known as world's oldest mother, Materpiscis attenboroughi, a placoderm fish with embryo and umbilical cord attached.
"The discovery of Materpiscis attenboroughi confirmed animals were reproducing 375 million years ago, but we didn't know how this was happening. Our study of the fossil shows that reproduction was achieved through intercourse," Dr Long said.
The placoderms are an extinct group of jawed fish that were the dominant group of vertebrates through the Middle Palaeozic era. The placoderms, often referred to as the 'dinosaurs of the seas', were the rulers of the world's lakes and seas for almost 70 million years.
Dr Long is renowned as one of the world's leading palaeontologists and is Head of Sciences at Museum Victoria. His latest research was conducted in partnership with Dr Kate Trinajstic from the University of Western Australia and Dr Zerina Johanson from London's Natural History Museum.
11 March 2009
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| Dr Loretta Baldassar |
Monash University's Prato Centre in Tuscany, Italy, has a new director.
Dr Loretta Baldassar will commence in the role next month.
Dr Baldassar is currently an associate professor in anthropology and sociology at the University of Western Australia.
She brings to the role a distinguished record of leadership and scholarship in Italian and migration studies.
Monash established the Prato Centre in 2001 to develop and expand Australia's connections with universities, governments, cultural organisations and industry in Europe.
The centre also provides the opportunity for Monash and other Australian students to study overseas.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Stephanie Fahey said Dr Baldassar had strong links within Italy, chairing the Cassamarca lectureships committee, a key Italian studies committee within Australia.
Until recently she also chaired the key national group Australasian Centre for Italian Studies (ACIS).
"Dr Baldassar brings to Monash a wealth of relevant experience," Professor Fahey said.
"I look forward to working with her as we move into the next stage of the Prato Centre's development."
Dr Baldassar succeeds Dr Annamaria Pagliaro who is undertaking a research project in 2009 after concluding her term as director of the Prato Centre in December 2008.
Professor Fahey commended Dr Pagliaro on her contribution to the centre.
"Dr Pagliaro oversaw important growth in the teaching, research support and community engagement activities of the Prato Centre," Professor Fahey said.
"More students and departments are accessing and benefiting from the centre than ever before."
11 March 2009
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| Associate Professor Ian Pettigrew |
Associate Professor Ian Pettigrew from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has received a President's Medal, the highest individual award bestowed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Associate Professor Pettigrew, who is attached to the Mildura Regional Clinical School, has had a long and outstanding career in medicine.
After graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1968, Professor Pettigrew went on to complete obstetrics and gynaecology training in 1977. He practiced in many rural settings in Victoria including Hamilton (1977-1984) and Warrnambool (1984–2002).
Associate Professor Pettigrew said it was an honour to be given an award "by your colleagues for things you like doing."
"I will go about doing what I have done for the last 30 years and continue to pursue a career in regional areas," Associate Professor Pettigrew said.
"I will also continue to campaign for the medical needs of country towns and encourage young doctors to consider a move to regional areas."
Associate Professor Pettigrew said the biggest challenge facing the rural sector was the recruitment of medical, nursing and para-medical staff.
"The medical workforce is ageing, particularly the obstetrics and gynaecology workforce and there is the same problem with midwives," Associate Professor Pettigrew said.
"State and Federal government need to take action to ensure that all students receive high-quality medical education and have postgraduate positions made available."
11 March 2009
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| Tim Leach |
Final year Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) student Tim Leach recently returned from a two week, fully paid tour of Japan.
Tim was selected from more than 100 Monash applicants for the Mistui Educational Foundation tour.
The Foundation selects a total of 10 students a year from ten universities around Australia to participate in a tour of Japan.
The tour introduces students to various aspects of Japanese culture, history, business and contemporary lifestyles.
Tim said participating in the Mitsui Education Foundation study tour was an incredible experience.
"Every day we made new and intriguing discoveries and were exposed to an incredible mix of traditional, contemporary, corporate and technological elements of Japanese culture," Tim said.
The students visited famous Japanese brands including Toyota, Sharp, and Nippon Steel as well as Tokyo and temples in Kyoto and Nara.
The packed itinerary included a homestay with a Japanese family allowing the students to appreciate daily life in Japan.
"Our visit to Hiroshima was deeply moving - from the place where humankind unleashed one of its greatest evils, such a determined message of unity has arisen," Tim said.
Tim said the study tour opened his eyes to the diversity of opportunities available outside Australia.
"Japanese industry operates on such a large scale and it was great to be exposed to their vast, yet efficient, business practices," Tim said.
"The trip has really inspired me to pursue a career abroad particularly in the industrial and financial sectors.
"I am very grateful to the Monash Scholarships Department and Mitsui for making the whole amazing experience possible - I cannot recommend it enough."
For more information about the Mitsui Education Foundation Tour visit the Monash scholarships website.
11 March 2009
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Monash staff at the Parkville campus now have access to the latest phone technology after moving to the new Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone system.
The roll-out at Parkville is a major milestone for the Integrated Collaboration Environment (ICE) program and the VoIP team.
Over the course of 2009, 5000 staff will be introduced to the new IP system at Monash, with a further 5000 PABX phones changed over to the VoIP system by the end of 2010.
A modern new IP phone voicemail service will also be made available.
"2009 is going to be a big year for our team so it's great to have such a positive start," VoIP project manager Rob Jamieson said.
"We're really happy that the Parkville rollout, our largest rollout so far in the project, was such a straightforward and efficient transition for everyone concerned."
Program manager Daryl Wood said the VoIP system would complement other initiatives being rolled out including Lotus Notes email and calendar.
"Staff members from all areas of the University stand to reap huge benefits from the resulting opportunities to connect, collaborate and engage with others anywhere, anytime," he said.
Staff at Parkville are adjusting well to the new phone service.
"Everyone here really likes the new phones," executive assistant Marian Glennon said.
"The design is user-friendly and the functionality straightforward."
The VoIP team are currently installing the IP telephony infrastructure in Building 77 at Clayton, with the Berwick rollout scheduled for April.
For more information visit the ICE Program website or email communicate@its.monash.edu.au.
11 March 2009
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A new initiative aims to encourage staff and students to enjoy the benefits of exercise and take up walking.
Participants will be asked to go for a 30-minute walk at least once a week and will be paired with a walking companion on campus.
Free starter packs, training and ongoing support will be provided.
Caulfield manager Health, Wellbeing and Development Suzanne Wolf said the program would suit both motivated participants and those who may need a little bit of encouragement and motivation.
“This is a great program that both staff and students can become involved in,” Ms Wolf said.
“Research shows that a 30-minute walk has many health benefits including disease prevention and improvements to physical health, mood, energy levels and sleeping patterns.”
Get Up and Go, which commences on Monday 23 March, is being piloted at the Caulfield campus and may be extended to other campuses in the future.
For more information on the walking buddy program visit the Health, Wellbeing and Development website.
February was dominated by the tragic bushfires. Many from the Monash community were affected. One staff member and one student lost their lives. A number of staff members lost their homes. Many others lost friends and relatives. Our Gippsland campus was most directly affected. Having been at the centre of firefighting relief and evacuee emergency accommodation and care one week earlier, the campus came under direct threat during the savage fires of February 7 and the following days. The staff of the campus responded magnificently. Once again, the campus became the centre of the firefighting and relief efforts. Several of our staff were directly involved in fighting the fires with the CFA. Everyone who contributed in some way is both thanked and congratulated.
One aspect of the tragic fires provided an illustration of the benefits that come to Australia from the international activities of Monash University. A team of experts came from Indonesia to help with disaster victim identification. Several of these experts had taken part in two training workshops conducted in Indonesia (in Bandung and Surabaya) by the Victorian Institute for Forensic Medicine (VIFM), which is affiliated with Monash University and headed by a Monash professor, Professor Stephen Cordner. When I met with the Indonesians to thank them for their participation, they emphasised the warm and collaborative relationship they have with Monash through the Institute and the mutually supportive activities of the two groups responding to disasters, whether natural or man-made in Australia and Indonesia.
The senior management summit was held in February. There were three major themes. The first was sustainability. There were three major parts to this -- the incorporation of sustainability themes into educational programs, coordination of research in sustainability and the environmental sustainability of Monash campuses. The Vice-Chancellor's Group (Environment) will oversee the preparation of a strategic plan for each of these with the education and research component being prepared and implemented in collaboration with the Academic Board and the campus environmental sustainability component in collaboration with the Strategy and Resources Committee.
The second theme was the identification of a simple and meaningful set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and targets for the education, research, international, environmental, equity, administrative and financial performance of the university. While as Einstein said “everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted” the University does need a set of indicators by which it can track its performance against its aspirations. For the last five years we have somewhat crudely set our target as being in the top three of the Group of 8 for a variety of indicators of varying validity. In many cases, the Group of 8 is not our most appropriate benchmark -- sometimes we should set our targets in absolute terms and sometimes we should benchmark against best practice internationally or in other Australian universities outside the Group of 8 or indeed sometimes we should benchmark against non-university institutions if they are performing better than the university sector. After much useful discussion, the KPIs and targets will now be worked through by a small committee.
The third theme that was discussed jointly with the University Council, was the future of the higher education sector following the Bradley and Cutler reviews. An excellent presentation by David Phillips of Phillips KPA introduced the topic and there was then a valuable panel discussion. This theme will be taken up further by the inaugural Universities Australia higher education conference to be conducted from March 4 to 6 when I will have the opportunity to present a National Press Club address.
Monash graduation ceremonies were held in Johannesburg and in Beijing in February. In Johannesburg, 230 students from Monash South Africa graduated in a moving and exciting ceremony. 2700 students are expected at the campus this year -- a far cry from 360 in 2003. In recognition of the increasing number of students at Monash from mainland China, we held our first graduation ceremony in Beijing. This was a wonderful occasion with the relatives of the graduands clearly appreciative of the opportunity to attend. The graduation address was delivered by the Australian Ambassador, Mr Geoffrey Raby, who also hosted a dinner for Monash and relevant local education and research authorities. Valuable meetings were held with the Chinese Scholarship Council, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Science and the Ministry of Education and I was able to attend the opening of the conference of the Australia China Centre of Excellence in Stem Cell Sciences, a collaboration funded between Monash and Peking University Health Science Centre.
It is very clear that international activities such as these are very important in building research and education collaborations and in attracting high quality international students to Monash.
11 March 2009
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| Dr Agnes A Babugura |
Name: Dr Agnes A Babugura
Campus: Monash South Africa
Title: Dr
Dept: Geography and Environmental Science
How long have you been with Monash University?
Two and a half years.
Prior to working at Monash, where were you located and what was your role?
I was a PhD student at the University of Witswatersrand (South Africa). I was also doing some consultation work.
What challenges are ahead in your current role?
Fully focusing my teaching in subject areas that I am passionate about and building and improving collaborative links with my colleagues at the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences in Australia.
What is it about your job that holds your interest or is particularly satisfying?
Interacting and sharing knowledge with my students.
What is your favourite place in the world and why?
My favourite place in the world is Uganda. That is my home and it has the some of the most beautiful scenery. The people are very hospitable and I love the food.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Love yourself and you will be able to love other people, for you cannot give love if you do not have it. Also to have faith in yourself because anything is possible.
What is something about yourself that most of your colleagues wouldn't know?
I have a very soft heart for children and those who are living in poverty. Some times I wish I had special powers (more like magic) to protect children from abuse and wipe poverty from the face of the earth.
11 March 2009
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In 2009 Monash Alumni Relations is piloting an alumni–student mentoring program to support final-year Monash students as they plan their transition from university study to a professional career.
For more information visit the Alumni Mentoring Program web page.