20 May 2009
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| An artists rendering of the Monash Health Research Precinct, which is expected to be built by the end of 2012. |
A new A$71 million health research centre will be established at the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton. Funding for the Monash Health Research Precinct (MHRP), a partnership between Monash, the Monash Institute of Medical Research, Southern Health and the Prince Henry's Institute, was announced in last week's 2009-2010 Federal budget.
The MHRP's focus will include inflammatory and infectious diseases, men's and women's health, and cancer and stem-cell technologies.
Monash Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said the facility would further strengthen research infrastructure in and around the Clayton campus and was a tribute to the hard work of Monash staff who worked on the concept with their partners over several years.
Monash Institute of Medical Research director Professor Bryan Williams said the facility would provide an exceptional opportunity to accelerate basic laboratory observations into clinical practice, improving patient care and disease prevention.
Professor Larkins also welcomed an $8 million budget allocation to help establish the European Molecular Biology Laboratory at the Clayton campus. This facility will provide access to world-leading research expertise in bioinfomatics, training and research commercialisation.
An additional $48 million has been allocated to rapidly advance the development of the Australian Data Commons through broad engagement with the research sector. This is expected to be achieved through the Australian National Data Service.
Professor Larkins said the budget responded to many recommendations made in the recent Bradley and Cutler reviews.
"I particularly welcome the commitment to the proper indexation of the Commonwealth Grants Scheme and the move towards funding the full cost of research," Professor Larkins said.
Professor Larkins said the budget also recognised the need for additional university places, particularly in the crucial areas of teaching and nursing.
"I also applaud the additional equity measures contained in the budget, which mean more students from lower socio-economic areas will be able to access higher education and the stipends for postgraduate research students, which will help us to continue to attract and support top-quality researchers,” Professor Larkins said.
20 May 2009
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| The Chinese college, located in the centre of the island. |
A new virtual island has been developed in Second Life - an online 3D virtual world - in line with innovative teaching practices in the Faculty of Arts.
The Monash Chinese island simulation represents an important development in the international relationships, research and teaching being developed by the University and the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics.
The island, launched on 8 May by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Stephanie Fahey, includes a Chinese college, inn, train station, bus loop, bank, courtyard, house, canal boats, medical clinic and airport.
It is used as a basis for Chinese language and culture classes for first-year Chinese and Chinese Media Studies students.
Chinese studies lecturer Scott Grant said the island was a great opportunity to use cutting-edge technology to broaden students' learning beyond the classroom.
"The island brings formal learning alive for students through context-based practice in realistic settings and interaction with their peers and native speakers," Mr Grant said.
"By engaging students ‘in-world' they can practice what they have learned in an environment that simulates aspects of what they would encounter in real life."
Mr Grant said virtual teaching was designed to complement traditional classroom-based teaching.
"Students have different learning styles," Mr Grant said. "Some are more comfortable with lecture-based learning while others thrive more with hands-on learning such as visiting a country or completing tasks that require the use of the language.
"Our challenge is to provide students with a range of learning environments that are mutually complementary rather than being mutually exclusive."
Professor Fahey said the island highlighted the University's strong focus on internationalisation, by allowing students to interact in real-time with native speakers to learn and practice Chinese language and culture.
Monash has used Second Life since 2007 for a number of projects. For further information visit the Second Life web page.
20 May 2009
 Upgrade / install Flash player for optimum video viewing or refer to the alternative versions below. Lizard gender videoAlternative versions: |
Fourth-year radiography student Gina Westhorpe from the Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences has teamed up with the Royal Melbourne Zoo on a world-first study that uses ultrasound to determine the sex of juvenile and adult lizards.
As these reptiles take a number of months or years to reach sexual maturity, improved gender identification methods are needed to facilitate breeding across zoos and research facilities around the world.
The trial will determine whether ultrasound can be used successfully to determine the sex of several lizards including the sail-tailed water dragon, green iguana, frilled lizard and the Fijian crested iguana - all of which are poorly sexually differentiated as juveniles and/or adults.
Ms Westhorpe said the technique had not been tried before due to limited access to equipment and qualified operators.
Fourth year radiography students can choose to do coursework or a research project.
With an honours degree in zoology already under her belt, Gina was keen to undertake research that combined her skills, contacting the head veterinarian at Royal Melbourne Zoo, whom she knew shared an interest in the area.
"It is an ideal project," Gina said. "The identification of gender in lizards is critical to managing lizard populations.
"The zoo had a number of lizard species that could be investigated and Monash was able to provide the equipment and expertise."
The technique was trialled for the first time earlier this month.
"We found that ultrasound was fantastic for sexing adult lizards, however the juvenile lizards, being no bigger than your palm, are too small," Gina said.
"We are going to continue to scan the juvenile lizards once a month until we determine a benchmark age for scanning each species.
"I hope that we'll find that ultrasound provides an easy, non-invasive solution to determining gender during the juvenile period, and in doing so help zoos and facilities around the world to better plan their breeding programs."
20 May 2009
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| Associate Professor John Dixon |
Doctors find it difficult to raise the issue of childhood obesity with parents even though they might be aware of the importance of managing the problem according to Monash University research.
The research also shows that this is despite the fact that parents want their GPs to raise the issue, provide advice and help them to manage their child's weight.
To help overcome this stigma, researchers from the Department of General Practice are working with parents to remove some of the hurdles they experience when seeking GP support.
"We want to talk to parents with children who have a weight problem about their views and needs, and the type of advice and support they have received or would like to receive from their GP," Associate Professor Dixon said.
Associate Professor Dixon said the number of obese children in Australia had risen dramatically over the last 15 years, with one in five now overweight and up to six per cent obese.
"Childhood obesity is an issue demanding urgent attention, with studies showing that rates are increasing across most of the world," Associate Professor Dixon said.
"The identified health problems, stigmatisation and costs of this epidemic are significant, both now and into our children's future.
"While state and local governments are providing important funding for programs with a focus on prevention of obesity, this is only part of what is needed to help many families and children who are dealing with this chronic condition now."
Parents can participate in the study by calling Dr Kay Jones on +61 3 8575 2224 or Leah Falkingham +61 3 8575 2223.
20 May 2009
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| Professor Christophe Marcelle with ARMI director Professor Nadia Rosenthal |
A world-leader in the application of developmental biology to the study of muscle growth has joined the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute at Monash (ARMI).
Professor Christophe Marcelle will join Monash from mid-2009 as group leader at the institute.
Professor Marcelle currently leads a research group at the Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille Luminy (IBDML) at the University of Marseille in France.
ARMI director Professor Nadia Rosenthal said Professor Marcelle was an outstanding researcher in embryonic development.
"His work has illuminated key aspects of how muscle precursor cells form in the early embryo and how they contribute to muscle growth throughout life," Professor Rosenthal said.
"His team discovered how stem cells develop into specific muscle cells and the biological environment required for this to occur."
Professor Marcelle's work at ARMI will continue his focus on muscle development and stem cell biology, with the ultimate aim of understanding how the muscle organ system forms.
Professor Marcelle said he was excited about his move to Australia and joining ARMI.
"The format and spirit of the institute, along with its selection as headquarters for European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) was instrumental in my decision to relocate my research group," Professor Marcelle said.
"The EMBL model is a proven way to drive excellence in science and scientific collaboration. These are crucial to the success of a modern research laboratory."
20 May 2009
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| Southern Health executive director Neth Hinton and Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences dean Professor Steve Wesselingh sign the agreement. Also pictured: manager social work Glenda Bawden, Department of Social Work head Margaret Alston and School of Primary Health Care deputy head Associate Professor Neil Spike. |
Monash has formed a partnership with Southern Health in Victoria that will see the appointment of a new Associate Professor of Social Work.
The Associate Professor of Social Work will work between the Department of Social Work in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Southern Health on joint research projects, funding applications, professional development opportunities for staff and student placements.
Situated in Melbourne's south east, Southern Health is Victoria's largest metropolitan health service, serving a population of more than 866,000. It integrates primary, secondary and tertiary health services, as well as world-renowned research and teaching facilities.
Head of the Department of Social Work Margaret Alston said the partnership would give Monash significant standing in social work health research.
"This agreement extends our area of expertise into direct practice in health and health research," Professor Alston said.
"It also opens up possibilities for student placements and for medical centre staff development in the area of health research."
Southern Health executive director Continuing Care Neth Hinton welcomed the agreement.
"The appointment will offer significant benefits to both organisations and will provide great opportunities to staff and students of both our organisations," Ms Hinton said.
20 May 2009
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| Gabriella Mangano and Sylvana Mangano, Between near and far 2008. Video still. Courtesy the artists and Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne. |
An intriguing exhibition featuring the collaborative work of artists and twin sisters Gabriella and Sylvana Mangano will open at the Art and Design Faculty gallery at the Caulfield campus on Monday 25 May, 2009.
The exhibition features performance, drawing, video, sound and installation work created by the pair over the past several years.
Curator Geraldine Barlow from the Monash University Museum of Art said the exhibition offered the opportunity to view the poetic and enigmatic work of the Mangano sisters in great depth.
"The Mangano sisters draw together in space: in the studio, with chairs on some days and with pencil on others, they draw with paper, they draw on film and in fields of grass, with lengths of black crepe streamers flying in the wind," Ms Barlow said.
"A number of the sisters' video performance works explore both their intuitive responses to drawing and to each other's movements.
"They display an uncanny ability to communicate silently. Their gestures appear at the same time highly-choreographed and entirely spontaneous.
"Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to view a major new and hypnotic ceiling projection."
Monash staff and students are invited to attend the opening celebration that will be held at the gallery on Wednesday 27 May from 5 to 7 pm.
The gallery is located in the Art and Design Building at Caulfield campus and is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. The exhibition will run until 3 July.
For further information, visit the Monash University Museum of Art website.
20 May 2009
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The Peninsula campus will host a health professionals careers fair for students on Tuesday 26 May.
Representatives from a diverse range of organisations (Monash only) will be attending to provide students with information about undergraduate and graduate career opportunities.
The event is open to students in all year levels, particularly those in the areas of sport and outdoor recreation, health science, community emergency health and paramedic, health, nursing and midwifery and occupational therapy.
Employer relations consultant Csilla Papp from Student and Community Services said the fair would help students and graduates increase their awareness of employment opportunities in their field of study.
"Students can also discover 'work while you learn' opportunities, seek advice on recruitment and application processes and gain confidence by speaking directly with employers prior to an interview situation," Ms Papp said.
The fair will be held from 1 pm to 3 pm in the cafeteria/bistro area of Building U at the Peninsula campus.
Students from other metropolitan campuses may travel to Peninsula via the inter-campus shuttle, or alternatively check possible carpooling arrangements.
For more details, visit the Employment and Career Development website.
20 May 2009
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| Monash staff member Tricia Thorne with her mum, daughter and grand-daughter at the event. |
More than 1000 students, staff, alumni, family and friends participated in the Mothers Day Classic as part of TeamMONASH on Sunday 10 May.
The Mothers Day Classic is the biggest community fundraising event for breast cancer research in Australia, giving people the chance to make a difference to the lives of those diagnosed with breast cancer.
Monash has been involved in the event since 2005 when 180 people signed up for the walk/run event.
For Monash staff member Tricia Thorne the day brought together her 87 year-old mother, her daughter and grand daughter.
"It was fantastic to be part of our own family team while also part of the larger Monash team," she said.
"The organisation of the event was perfect, even down to the weather; it was a beautiful day."
The largest family team entry came from Monash staff member Michael Scorgie who brought 29 family members to the event.
TeamMONASH received two awards on the day: the UniSuper Tertiary Team Award - Largest Tertiary Team, Victoria and Largest Tertiary Team - National.
Upcoming events for TeamMONASH include the Monash Games in Melbourne and the Walk the Talk fun walk in Johannesburg, both held in July.
For more sport news, visit the Monash Sport website.
In April, I attended my last Board meeting of Monash University Sunway campus Malaysia. It was held at Johor Bahru, on the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula, at the site of the Clinical School of the Medical School. The facilities there are excellent and the enthusiasm of the staff and students we met was quite inspiring.
It has been great to see the progress of our Sunway campus. It now has seven Faculties represented, with Pharmacy starting successfully this year. The Law Faculty intends to send students to the campus in 2010 to study Asian law along the model of the very successful Prato law programs so there will then be eight faculties represented on the campus. The number of students from Monash campuses outside Malaysia studying at the campus has increased markedly, with 49 students from Monash Australia and six students from Monash South Africa at the campus for semester 1 and 83 students from Monash Australia planned for semester 2. The feedback from the students has been extremely positive and attractive travel and accommodation packages have been provided by the Sunway campus.
There are now over 4400 students at the campus. The new purpose-built campus is stunning. It is operating at a surplus which is returned to the campus to enhance its research activities and to provide for further physical expansion of the campus. Monash University in Australia receives a royalty which is based on the revenue attracted. This amounts to approximately $6m per year, two thirds of which is directed to the relevant Faculties represented on the campus. This recognises the role of the Faculties in supporting the campus, particularly in providing educational resources and quality control.
Other activities over the last month have included a visit to Beijing to sign a collaboration agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This academy represents the foremost researchers in science and technology in China and has a substantial intramural program with several associated institutes. A number of our researchers already have a relationship with the Academy and the agreement foreshadows dual site and joint PhD programs, postdoctoral fellowships and other research collaborations and exchanges. While in Beijing, I was an invited speaker at the Asia Pacific Association for International Education. This is an organisation which is growing in significance. It is planning an initiative where funds will be obtained to support the brightest students in the Asia Pacific region to undertake exchanges to leading universities in the region to undertake PhD and postdoctoral studies - the Asia Pacific Leaders program. This will be along the lines of a regional Rhodes Scholarship and recognises the need for countries in our region to look to each other rather than only concentrating on North America and Europe.
I was also an invited keynote lecturer at the World Universities Forum in Belgrade. I took the opportunity to visit the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg as Monash is to be the lead participant in the Australian associate membership of EMBL. EMBL is the most productive molecular biology laboratory outside the US, is supported by 20 European countries and has five outstations or nodes in other European countries. It comprises teams which include PhD students led by star young scientists who have a maximum period of nine years in EMBL before leaving to populate the leading research institutes and universities around Europe and the rest of the world. It has been a highly successful model.
Most staff (with the exception of some senior staff) received a two per cent salary increase in the first pay after 1 April. Our negotiating team has had positive discussions with the NTEU concerning a new Enterprise Agreement and have agreed on most points. Some issues remain concerning sessional staff, which we hope to be able to resolve. There is also a significant discrepancy in the claim of the NTEU in relation to salaries. We hope to be able to reach a fair and affordable resolution of the differences.
Monash University is fortunate in having a highly skilled and committed workforce. Those negotiating the Enterprise Agreement for the University wish to recognise this by arriving at an Agreement which is as generous as it can be in the prevailing circumstances. It is also essential that the agreement is financially responsible and ensures a continuing bright future for the University with the best possible educational outcomes for our students.
20 May 2009
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Name: Maria Lugaro
Org. Unit: Faculty of Science
Title: Dr
Dept: School of Mathematical Sciences
How long have you been with Monash University?
Since November 2008 but I also did my PhD at Monash, from August 1997 to February 2001.
Prior to working at Monash, where were you located and what was your role?
After my PhD, I worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Cambridge (UK) for three years and at the Astronomical Institute of the University of Utrecht (The Netherlands) for another three years.
What challenges are ahead in your current role?
To became a research leader and learn to manage a research group, while still enjoying research and keeping my stress under control.
What is it about your job that holds your interest or is particularly satisfying?
I am very curious and like to learn about many different topics. This is why I like nuclear astrophysics, which is a multidisciplinary field involving astronomy, astrophysics, nuclear physics, as well as chemistry and planetary science. I try to understand where the elements that make us and our world come from. I like to be able to spend my day just thinking about why nature behaves the way it does. It is a very creative activity, almost like performing an art.
What is your favourite place in the world and why?
The valley of the Matterhorn in the Valle D'Aosta region of the Italian Alps. This is where I spent most of my holidays as a child and I still like to go there whenever possible. The landscape is incredible in all the seasons of the year and there are beautiful skiing and walking tracks. You can walk up to above 3000 metres and feel on top of the world, sunbathe by little hidden alpine lakes, or stroll in the red and yellow leaves of autumn.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Two pieces of advice from my supervisor in Italy, Professor Roberto Gallino: Never worry about making mistakes because who does not work, does not make mistakes; and never believe anyone, always think for yourself. I think this applies well to all situations in life.
What is something about yourself that most of your colleagues wouldn't know?
As a child I wished to be a dancer and used to go to dance class everyday. I still enjoy dancing flamenco.
20 May 2009
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More than 8000 Monash students from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong are enrolled in off-campus (distance education) studies in 2009.
The Bachelor of Business and Commerce is the most popular course for returning students, while the Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice has been the most popular choice for new students in 2009.
Off-campus students come from all walks of life - some combine work and study, some have family commitments, some live in remote areas and are unable to access a Monash campus.
About 150 courses can be taken via distance education. For more information visit the Off-Campus Learning website.