17 June 2009
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| Giant eucalyptus camaldulensis or river red gums. |
Changes to river flows and relentless dry conditions have taken their toll on Australia's iconic river red gums, but a new monitoring program will help guide the return of precious water to where it is needed most.
The largest river red gum forests in the world line the banks of the Murray and Darling Rivers. Floodplains such as Barmah Forest provide habitat for a diverse range of species, yet up to 75 per cent of these important forests are stressed, dead or dying.
River red gum forests often occur on land that is frequently flooded. Increasing extraction of water from the Murray River for irrigation in the last half a century and the current dry conditions are stretching the time between floods and impacting upon the trees' ability to survive.
Dr Shaun Cunningham from the Australian Centre for Biodiversity is leading a satellite mapping project in a bid to save these iconic forests.
"If we can identify those regions most at risk, environmental flows can be restored to target those areas," Dr Cunningham said.
Dr Cunningham's team will use an extensive ground survey, remote sensing and advanced modelling methods to build a tool that predicts the condition of forests across the floodplain.
He is optimistic that with the ongoing information provided by the tool, large areas of river red gum forest can be saved with targeted flooding.
"We're contributing to science that goes beyond academia, providing accurate information to the authorities that will ultimately determine the fate of these forests," Dr Cunningham said.
"Perhaps the outcomes of this project will lay the foundations to ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of these magnificent forests."
The project is funded by the Murray Darling Basin Authority and has the cooperation of government agencies across three states.
17 June 2009
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| Associate Professor Geoff Rose takes a driver from Blue Circle through the eco driving techniques. |
A Monash pilot study has found "eco driving", a technique that emphasises smoother driving behaviour, has the potential to dramatically cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions in heavy vehicles, and that the lessons can be adopted by all motorists.
The study found drivers of fully-laden 68 tonne B-double trucks reduced their fuel consumption by 27 per cent simply by anticipating traffic flow, skipping gears, changing gears at lower engine revolutions, and braking less forcefully and often.
The 12-week study, conducted at Blue Circle Southern Cement in Victoria, also found eco driving saved wear and tear on vehicles and didn't add to travel times.
Associate Professor Geoff Rose from the Department of Civil Engineering and Dr Mark Symmons from the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences assessed the eco driving training course.
"Australia's road transport system produces about 80 million tonnes of greenhouse gas each year with light commercial vehicles and trucks responsible for 38 per cent of those emissions," Associate Professor Rose said.
"The fuel savings and lower maintenance costs gained through eco driving translate into significant savings for the industry and the environment."
Blue Circle Southern Cement Victorian Distribution Manager Ian Duncan said the results had encouraged the company to train its entire staff in eco driving.
"Blue Circle uses approximately 1.5 million litres of diesel fuel a year -- a significant proportion of our operating costs," Mr Duncan said.
"Even a one per cent reduction in fuel consumption would save about $15,000 per annum for the company and reduce our CO2 emissions by about 40 tonnes."
Wayne Striplin, who designs eco driver training programs, said the techniques were not limited to heavy vehicles and the transport industry.
"With 11 million cars on our roads, unstable oil prices and Australia's carbon emission reduction targets, eco driving is something we can all adopt to save money, the environment and reduce stress," Mr Striplin said.
17 June 2009
 Upgrade / install Flash player for optimum video viewing or refer to the alternative versions below. Distinguished alumni awards videoAlternative versions: |
Monash has celebrated the achievements of six outstanding alumni with the awarding of the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
The awards commenced in 1993 to recognise and celebrate the contribution of the University's most outstanding graduates.
This year's recipients are Dr Fritz Balkau, Professor Susan Davis, Alan Ramadan and Professor Julian Savulescu. George Pappas received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award, and Hugh Evans was recognised with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award.
The Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority Dr Christine Nixon APM also presented a special award to recognise the contribution of the Monash alumni community during the Victorian bushfires.
The award was accepted on behalf of the alumni community by alumnus, staff member and captain of the Churchill CFA Steven Barling.
A researcher, educator and communicator Professor Julian Savulescu promotes public discussion around the ethical issues of everyday life, from embryonic stem-cell research to the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport.
"It's a great honour and a privilege to receive this award -- I feel very grateful to Monash for helping me to go forward into my career," Professor Savulescu said.
IT innovator Alan Ramadan is a consultant and executive mentor for the investment community in the Silicon Valley, US.
Professor Susan Davis is a leading women's health researcher. In 2005 she became the inaugural Chair of Women's Health in the Monash Department of Medicine at the Alfred Hospital.
"Being a recipient of this award makes me feel incredibly honoured, very humble and, because of what it represents to me, very emotional," Professor Davis said.
Dr Fritz Balkau is a leading expert on environmental management policy. From 1999 to 2005 he was Head of Sustainable Production and Consumption with the United Nations Environment Program in Paris.
Hugh Evans founded youth-run aid and development organisation The Oaktree Foundation and was one of the leaders of Australia's Make Poverty History campaign.
George Pappas is a prominent Monash volunteer, drawing on expertise gained over his career in business and consulting to give advice to senior Monash staff.
"To receive this award is an enormous honour, and also a surprise because there are so many alumni that Monash has produced, and so many of them have done amazing things for the University," Mr Pappas said.
Previous recipients of the awards include Tim Flannery, Julian Burnside AO QC, Susan Lim and Mick Dodson AM.
For more information visit the Monash Alumni website.
17 June 2009
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A Monash study has helped put Queensland firefighters at ease after a recent cancer scare.
The study was undertaken at the request of the Queensland State Government following a local study in 2008 that found an elevated rate of brain cancer amongst staff at the Atherton Fire station.
It examined the incidence of cancer among 7504 operational full-time and auxiliary firefighters between 1995 and 2006, and compared it with cancer rates in the wider Queensland community.
The results of the Monash study showed that the rates among Queensland's firefighters were no higher than in the state's general population and the incidence of several specific cancers including malignant and benign brain tumours were not significantly elevated.
There was however an increase in the rate of melanomas among active male firefighters, which was "borderline statistically significant" when compared with the expected rate in the Queensland community.
Dr Deborah Glass from the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health said the results helped alleviate concerns about increased risk of brain cancer among Queensland firefighters.
"Although this is a small study, it should provide reassurance that the overall cancer rate among firefighters is similar to the rate in the general population," Dr Glass said.
The study recommended that a national study of cancer incidence and mortality would provide more power to investigate firefighters' risk of cancer and would provide more information about the exposures that might increase cancer risk.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Acting Commissioner Iain MacKenzie said a national study would provide more definitive direction on the potential for increased risk of cancer among firefighters.
“We will continue to work with world-recognised researchers at Monash and take on board any necessary action to ensure we are providing the safest possible environment for our staff," he said.
17 June 2009
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| Deputy Premier and Attorney General Rob Hulls presents Mr Hooper with the scholarship. |
Monash Arts/Law student Chris Hooper has received the 2009 Justice Disability Scholarship from the Victoria State Government.
The scholarship, which is valued at $20,000 for two years, recognises exceptional students with disabilities and aims to give them the opportunity to prepare for employment and leadership roles after the successful completion of their study.
Mr Hooper hopes to use the scholarship to pursue a career in community law, specifically in local capacity building and community development.
"This scholarship will relieve the pressure of having to balance work and full-time study and allow me to focus my attention on reaching my full potential.
"It will also allow me to attend personal development seminars and advocacy classes that will hopefully allow me to become a better advocate for the rights of others."
Mr Hooper chose to study law at Monash because he believes the source of individual and group rights is best fought through the avenues of the law.
"The law articulates our rights and responsibilities," Mr Hooper said.
"I hope to be able to contribute to framing it in a way that makes the best possible allowance for social justice."
Mr Hooper, who is in his second year of law and third year of arts, said studying at Monash had been a great way to meet like-minded people and provided the opportunity for him to pursue his passions.
For information on studying a double degree at Monash visit the Double degrees website.
17 June 2009
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| Professor John Redmond |
Dean of the Faculty of Art and Design Professor John Redmond has been recognised by the Design Institute of Australia with a Hall of Fame award for his achievements and contribution to Australian and international design and education.
He joins a list of esteemed recipients including Alberto Alessi, automotive designer Phillip Zmood, graphic designer Ken Cato, theatre designer John Truscott, and industrial designer Carl Nielsen.
Professor Redmond has been an active member of the institute for many years and acted in the role of federal secretary, NSW state president and state secretary. In recognition he was awarded his fellowship of the institute in 1985.
Professor Redmond said he was honoured to be included in the institute's Hall of Fame.
"The acknowledgement of one's professional peers is particularly gratifying and I was very pleased to accept the honour," Professor Redmond said.
Professor Redmond is a graduate of the Royal College of Art in London and a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia. He has had a wide involvement in industrial design research and practice and has undertaken projects for Australian and international companies, as well as industry research corporations.
He was appointed by the Attorney General as a consultant to the Law Reform Commission's review of the Design Act, and was a member of the design committee for the Sydney Olympic Games. He was also appointed as a delegate to the 2020 Summit.
His recent work has focused on the development of the Monash University Museum of Art, the Faculty of Art and Design, and particularly the recent introduction of a new architecture course.
17 June 2009
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| Marc Orlando |
Award-winning translator Marc Orlando has gained a reputation for bringing the realities of war to a global audience.
Now he is leading a unique new course in translation studies in the Faculty of Arts in partnership with Jean Moulin University, Lyon III, in his native France.
A former English teacher in France, Mr Orlando was working as a freelance translator and interpreter in New Zealand in 2005 when he was asked to translate into French a report in New Zealand's Metro magazine by Iraq-based independent war correspondent Jon Stephenson.
The duo's collaboration culminated in Mr Stephenson winning the prestigious 2006 Bayeux-Calvados award for war correspondents, while Mr Orlando's translation was recognised with a 2007 award for excellence in translating by AUSIT, the professional association for translators and interpreters in Australia.
"It was an incredible encounter," Mr Orlando said. "He had spent four months in Iraq as a non-embedded journalist, hiding in caves and with local people.
"We worked together for three months and really polished a translation that eventually competed against original French articles."
That success and Mr Orlando's personal connection with Jean Moulin University, Lyon III aided the establishment of the new Double Master of Translation Studies in French and English at Monash.
The course allows students to immerse themselves in two distinct cultures, as they spend a year in Australia and a year in France, and graduate with degrees from the two universities.
During the course students will be offered an internship with a company in France, and can be recommended for accreditation as a translator in Australia.
The School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics currently offers masters studies in 11 languages and plans to establish similar double master partnerships with universities in Italy, Germany and Latin America.
The Double Master in Translation Studies will commence in the second semester of 2009.
17 June 2009
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| Adrian Cameron |
PhD student Adrian Cameron, whose research into metabolic syndrome has helped doctors better predict Type 2 diabetes, has received the 2009 Premier's Award for Medical Research.
Mr Cameron received $8000 and a certificate from the Premier of Victoria at a ceremony at Government House earlier this month.
Metabolic syndrome is a collection of disorders that occur together and increase a person's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, stroke or heart disease.
Through his work, Mr Cameron, a PhD candidate in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, is helping shape the way obesity is tackled in Australia.
Mr Cameron said urgent action was needed to help people control their waistlines.
"The consequences of obesity are serious, and can include the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and premature death," he said.
"Obesity is a major risk factor; as a society, we need to prevent it developing in children and young people to avoid the heart attacks and diabetes that can occur if they don't control their weight."
Using data from the landmark Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab), Mr Cameron's research has provided key national information on the level of obesity in Australia and its health consequences.
In 2004/05 the AusDiab study showed that every day in Australia, 275 adults developed diabetes. The study also showed the average increase in waist circumference in Australians over five years was 2.1 centimetres.
His work has answered important questions on the role of abdominal obesity in metabolic syndrome, and how it can be used to predict the development of diabetes -- a question of relevance to both clinicians and researchers.
His findings have been published in 22 top-ranked international journals and he has been invited to speak at major international conferences and expert committee meetings on obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
17 June 2009
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More than 600 students attended the University's first Health Professionals Fair at the Peninsula campus last month.
Hosted by Employment and Career Development, the event gave students an insight into graduate and "earn while you learn" opportunities in their discipline.
Representatives from 26 organisations were in attendance to provide students with information about undergraduate and graduate career opportunities.
The event was particularly suited to students in the areas of sport and outdoor recreation, health science, community emergency health and paramedic, nursing and midwifery, and occupational therapy.
Peninsula careers education consultant Lisa Schilling said the campus bistro was a buzz of activity.
"The feedback was hugely positive, with employers very enthusiastic about speaking to our talented students," Ms Schilling said.
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences manager Andrew Evans said the response was impressive, demonstrating the strong relationship between the faculties and industry partners.
"The fair represented an important transitional stage between studying at Monash and entering the health profession," Mr Evans said.
Employment and Career Development will be hosting several other careers fairs and expos in 2009. These include the Berwick campus Careers Expo, which will be held on 23 July and the Gippsland campus Careers Expo on 28 July.
For more information on other upcoming careers events visit the Employment and Career Development website.
As this is my last Ancora Imparo before I retire from Monash on 5 July, it is a time to reflect on the past six years since I began at Monash in 2003.
It has been for me an intensely rewarding and stimulating time. My personal experience is best summarised by the motto of the University and the name of this column, Ancora Imparo or "I am still learning". I have learnt an enormous amount as Vice-Chancellor of Monash University.
I have discovered the breadth and depth of innovative and creative research and scholarship that is being undertaken. Whether this is in medieval history, economic modelling, light-alloy design, structural analysis of proteins, transmission of disease, accident research, drug design and drug candidate optimisation, fuel cells, climate change, human rights or countless other areas, we have world leading researchers contributing to knowledge and to the solution of problems.
I have learnt of the innovation that our educators are implementing so that the transition from the passive transmission of information to the active involvement of students in their own education is enhanced by the application of technology in exciting ways.
I have witnessed the development of our two international campuses from their embryonic stages with a small number of pioneering students and staff to bustling research active campuses delivering high quality education and research and building invaluable links and a high reputation in their host countries.
I have suffered the frustrations and enjoyed the excitement during the development of our joint venture research academy with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
I have gained a deeper understanding of China through the work of our international office and faculties to develop an in-depth relationship with Sichuan University and a number of exciting initiatives in Beijing and Shanghai.
I have realised how our centre in Prato could be used as a venue where students and faculty from many universities around the world can be brought together for the mutual benefit of all involved in a truly international educational forum.
I have been privileged to learn so much from the best university senior management team in the country and from the Deans and Divisional Directors and staff at all levels who have rejected the cynicism that can so easily infect many in all walks of life. Instead, they have been inspired by the role they are playing in educating the leaders of the future and in advancing the knowledge and scholarship we will need to solve the problems facing the planet and in enriching all lives.
Most of all, I have learnt from the students at our campuses in Australia, Malaysia and South Africa. I have learnt of their desire to have a real impact in making the world a better place. Many of our students are working on environmental issues, on community development and foreign aid and local welfare through voluntary organisations of many types. It is quite inspirational. The Monash Passport emphasises educational opportunities that come from volunteering, leadership experience and international engagement and our students are taking full advantage of these opportunities.
I leave Monash with an enduring admiration for the people who make it the great institution it is – its staff and students. I know that it will be in good hands. Ed Byrne and his colleagues will ensure that the University continues to excel in all areas of academic endeavour.
I wish you all well and thank you for the privilege of being part of this wonderful institution. There is much more to do, but Monash's trajectory, international footprint and most of all its people, ensure that it is destined to be one of the great universities of the world.
17 June 2009
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Name: Lynette Phuong
Course: Bachelor of Arts/Commerce
Year level: Four
Mode: Full-time
What is it about your course and the University that helped you choose Monash?
Monash was a perfect choice for me. Not only is it just a bus ride away from home, it offered German -- during high school I had big hopes to further study the language and spend some time over there. Last year I received a scholarship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst and spent the summer at the University of Freiburg. My course allows me to pursue my interests while enabling me to specialise in areas such as international commerce, German and Spanish.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Spanish -- I always look forward to class. This enthusiasm stems from the teaching staff, in particular Marisa Cordela from the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics. She teaches with a warm passion. As learning Spanish and German allows me to experience the beauty of another culture.
What challenges are ahead for you this year?
Time management. I'm greedy. I love my studies, position in retail and volunteering with the Australian Red Cross. I also love spending time with my family and friends, shopping and having fun. The challenge for me is wanting it all and making it all work. Sometimes I wish time could freeze so I could catch up on things missed.
What will be your ideal career when you graduate?
As convener of the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Youth Holiday Program and with my parents being once refugees, I am determined to pursue a career that enables me to help the world's most vulnerable people. If that entails empowering women in the Middle East, or teaching kids the importance of education in South East Asia or helping build a water sanitation system for a community, then so be it, that's where I will be.
Can you tell us about your involvement in the Red Cross Victorian Advisory Committee?
The Victorian Youth Advisory Committee is an advisory committee of the Australian Red Cross Board with a focus on youth opportunities, programs and policies in our local community. My work on the committee has provided me with the exciting opportunity to attend the World Red Cross and Red Crescent "Youth on the Move" conference in Solferino, Italy.
What do you want to achieve while in Solferino?
I go to Solferino optimistic about the future direction of the Australian and International Red Cross and Red Crescent Society. As a young humanitarian, I want to know that my volunteering efforts are contributing to positive change on a global platform. I want to build strong working relationships, international friendships and humanitarian ideals with delegates from other national societies, and hunger to learn and grow from the experience.
What is your favourite destination and why?
Santorini, Greece, it must be my obsession for the beautiful blue ocean view. Nha Trang, Vietnam, is another favourite. The island is spectacular. I've only been there once but I long to go back.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
It's up to you to write the music to your encore and then go out and dance to it.
What is something about yourself that most of your fellow students wouldn't know?
I'm naturally left-handed. I 'converted' so to speak at the age of six, however, use my left hand for pretty much everything - yes that makes me ambidextrous.
17 June 2009
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More than 4000 students, staff, alumni and their families and friends ran, cycled and swam at significant sporting events in 2008 as part of TeamMONASH™, raising more than $150,000 for organisations such as the Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Monash Sport organises a number of events and programs at the University's Victorian campuses to support the wider community.
For more information visit the Monash Sport website.