In Brief

Issue 19 | May 2007

Scientists find answers on Andes

A team of researchers, including Dr Dave Stegman from Monash University's School of Mathematical Sciences , has uncovered the secret behind the formation of the longest and one of the highest mountain ranges in the world, the Andes.

The study, published in Nature, used supercomputers to model plate tectonics and understand the evolution of subduction zones, places where one tectonic plate sinks under another.

"As the subducted plate sinks into the Earth, it becomes deformed by surrounding material and curls up like a sheet of paper. This curling is expressed on the surface as the curvature of the subduction zone - producing the arc-shaped segments we see in the Pacific Ring of Fire," Dr Stegman said.

The South American subduction zone is world's longest - 7,400 km from north to south - leading to a unique curvature and central uplift, forming the Andes.

Monash University Archaeology honours student Daniel James examines an Egyptian Ushabti figure of Pa-Abu-Mekh, from the 26th Dynasty, in the department's museum.

Archaeologist as time traveller

Daniel James, 27, who is Monash University's inaugural Homer le Grand scholarship winner, has overcome significant personal hurdles to study Archaeology - which he says is a "passion" and "great way to time travel".

The scholarship, named after the former Dean of Arts at Monash, is awarded to a student who has overcome personal adversity to continue their studies.

The budding professional archaeologist said he was very pleased to receive the award.

"I feel that I've shown what students - who overcome adversity during their first years at university - can accomplish when they truly motivate themselves."

Mr James experienced several traumatic events during his studies, from a suicide in the family to his mother going through total renal failure.

Having first started at Monash University in 1998, Mr James is doing his honours year in Archaeology which he says, in personal terms, has "special appeal".

"It's as close to travelling back in time as we'll ever get, and what's more exciting than holding a piece of pottery, or weaponry, or something ... that was last touched thousands of years ago?"

Monash and Melbourne universities have partnered with the State Government for a research-driven response to the water crisis.

Water crisis funding

Monash University will invest more than $1 million over three years to spearhead a unique research collaboration responding to the current water crisis.

Victorian Minister for Water John Thwaites officially launched Uniwater, the University of Melbourne-Monash University research-driven response on the banks of the Yarra River as part of World Water Day on 22 March.

Monash named Employer of Choice for Women (again)

For the sixth year in a row, Monash University has been declared one of Australia 's most female-friendly employers.

The University received the 2007 Employer of Choice for Women citation from the Federal Government's Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency.

Monash is among a select group of organisations to have received a citation every year since the ranking was introduced in 2001.

Dr Corrie Williams with the 7-metre long replica Cryolophosaurus from the Taiwanese exhibition.

Dinosaur exhibition exported to Taiwan

More than 400 artefacts and replicas from the Monash University exhibition 'Wildlife of Gondwana' have arrived in Taichung , Taiwan and go on public display there until September.

The exhibit showcases a history of reptile life dating back 1.2 billion years, through to the more 'modern' dinosaur from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

After a stint at the National Museum of Science in Taichung , the display will be packed up and shipped home to begin a tour of Australia .

Statistician tips AFL premiers

Forget the last weekend in September, Monash University statistician Dr Michael Bailey already knows the result of the AFL Grand Final.

Dr Bailey has used information from all AFL (and VFL) matches played in the past 100 years -- 12,800 games -- to work out how the 16 teams will fare for the 2007 season.

Using features including home-ground advantage, distance travelled by the opposition, familiarity with the venue and the overall quality of the two competing teams, Dr Bailey has assessed who is most likely to finish in the top four, the top eight and at the top of the ladder at the end of the season.

The numbers say while Brisbane may have the best draw of the season, Adelaide will be victorious, while the Kangaroos will have the first draft pick.

New appointments

Professor Fania Oz-Salzberger

Professor Fania Oz-Salzberger has been appointed to the Leon Liberman Chair of Modern Israel Studies in the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation.

The endowment for the Chair was made by Ms Lee Liberman in memory of her late husband Leon, who was a prominent Australian businessman and graduated from Monash with a Bachelor of Economics in 1969.

Professor Oz-Salzberger will commence her appointment mid year and will continue to work in a number of roles in the School of History , Faculty of Law at the University of Haifa, Israel.

Monash University has also announced the appointment of an eminent academic and researcher to head its world-renowned Accident Research Centre.

MUARC will be led by Professor Rod McClure, who was previously the Foundation Director of the Queensland Trauma Registry and Deputy Director of the Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Simulated patient scenarios at Peninsula campus

The latest simulation technology being developed at the Peninsula campus of Monash University could soon be used to help train health science students.

The Victorian Government has funded a grant for Monash to develop an innovative teaching model through the creation of simulated patient scenarios via a DVD.

The campus' departments of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy together with the School of Nursing and Midwifery are exploring ways of using technology to reduce clinical placement burden on health services.

Cancer research funding for the future

The discovery of new drugs for the treatment of cancer has received a major boost with a new project funded by the Federal Government and industry groups.

The Cancer Research Co-operative (CRC) for Cancer Therapeutics will receive almost $38 million from the Commonwealth CRC scheme to establish a $148 million drug discovery program.

Monash scientists, including Professors Bill Charman, Colin Pouton, Susan Charman, Peter Scammells, will be core members of the CRC drug design teams. Up to 10 researchers will be based at the Victorian College of Pharmacy in Parkville .

The CRC will link several of Australia's leading cancer research organisations including the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute and St Vincent's Research Institute, with internationally recognised pharmaceutical scientists and medicinal chemists from Monash University's Victorian College of Pharmacy, Griffith University, CSIRO and WEHI.