NEWS INNOVATIONS COLLABORATIONS CONNECT: RESEARCH & INNOVATION NEWS NOV-DEC 2011
2011 ISSUE #6 HIGH SPEED TRAIN INFRASTRUCTURE EARNS CIVIL ENGINEERING PROF. PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP RESEARCH CRUSADER- VICE CHANCELLOR GERARD SUTTON’S EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY MEDICAL NANOBOTS ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY pRIME MINISTER VISITS iAccelerate
The University of Wollongong ranks in the top 2% of research universities worldwide Source: QS World University Rankings 2011.
Research & Innovation News is the research magazine of the University of Wollongong and is published six times per year. Contact: Research Services Office Building 20, Level 1 University of Wollongong Northfields Ave, Wollongong NSW, Australia, 2522 Publication manager: Sharon Martin Editor: Vicky Wallace vwallace@uow.edu.au +61 2 4221 4126 Writer and designer: Elise Pitt epitt@uow.edu.au +61 2 4221 3761 Subscriptions: Visit www.uow.edu.au/research to subscribe to electronic versions of Research & Innovation News.
Cover image: Amaviael | Dreamstime.com
For daily updates, follow uowresearch
Contents
10 04 News
Civil Engineering Prof. awarded prestigious
fellowship & medical nanobots closer to reality
14 researcher update
Interview with Materials Engineering student Priyanka Jood & Eric Loo’s tales from Malaysia
16 feature
UOW Vice Chancellor, Prof. Gerard Sutton’s
extraordinary research legacy
18
New staff
Prof. Ian Buchanan joins UOW as Director of the Institute for Social Transformation Research
21
grants news
Grants outcomes & upcoming funding opportunities
24
Library news
Research Online news & researcher profile on Prof. Andrew Goldsmith
05
26 commercial research news
27
PM visits iAccelerate & UOW eClub success
PODS news
Networking key to Early Career Researcher success
28 research student centre News
PM’s Australia Asia Endeavour Award winners
29 ethics news
Upcoming meeting dates
30 publications
Outstanding new publications from our top researchers
31 Events
Monash University’s Prof. Paul Bonnington to give eResearch symposium
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
3
NEWS
RESEARCH NEWS Civil Engineering Professor awarded prestigious fellowship Prof. Indraratna is a world leading expert in geotechnical engineering
Prof. Buddhima Indraratna has been elected as a Fellow to one of Australia’s most prestigious professional bodies- The Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). Only a handful of Civil Engineers in Australia have been Fellows of ATSE, and Prof. Indraratna is the first Civil Engineering academic at UOW to be honoured with the fellowship. “ATSE is the highest level of Fellowship for professional engineers in Australia”, says Prof. Indraratna. “Not only is it a great personal honour, but it also reflects the quality of engineering research conducted at UOW over the past two decades”. Prof. Indraratna is considered a world leading expert in geotechnical engineering. Since joining UOW in 1991, he has founded the Centre for Geomechanics & Rail Engineering and been a founding leader of the first Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Railway Engineering in Australia. He is currently the Chief Investigator in 6 ARC projects (2 Discovery and 4 Linkage) and 2 CRC-Rail projects, as well as a Program Leader of ARC Centre of Excellence in Geotechnical Science and Engineering. He is also the Node Coordinator for CRC for Rail Innovation. His groundbreaking work on Rail Track Innovations and Ground Improvement for Infrastructure development earned him the prestigious fellowship. “The main recent research activities that have been ‘hot’ include Rail Track modernisation for High Speed Trains and Offshore Harbour Reclamation projects (For example, Port Kembla and Port of 4
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
Brisbane)”, says Prof. Indraratna. Professor Indraratna’s significant contributions to geotechnical research have been acknowledged through a series of prestigious national and international awards. The latest recognition of his groundbreaking research is the 2011 Transport Medal, presented at the Engineers Australia Civil and Structural Colleges Gala Dinner and awards ceremony held on 27th October. On presenting the award Clive Mottram, Chair of the National Committee on Transport Engineering said that “since the mid-1990s, Prof. Indraratna has pioneered Australian rail track modernisation and has introduced numerous ground improvement innovations for stabilising road, rail and port infrastructure. Professor Indraratna’s latest book on rail track design and construction, based on fundamental and applied research, is the only book on rail tracks by an Australian. Individuals for this award are nominated by state branches of Engineers Australia and Engineers Australia’s National Committee on Transport Engineering. The award seeks to reward and recognize outstanding individual contributions to transport in Australia. Recipients must have at least 10 years distinguished service, a professional reputation, have contributed significantly to Australian transport and have national and international influence in the transport field”. Professor Indraratna’s other contributions to research include over $14 million in research funding; the publication of five books; more than 350 peer-reviewed articles; and over 25 invited keynote lectures in all continents.
Medical nanobots one step closer to reality The possibility of a doctor using tiny robots in your body to diagnose and treat medical conditions is one step closer to becoming reality, thanks to ground breaking research from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES). A collaborative team of researchers from ACES have developed artificial muscles that are small and strong enough to propel the tiny Nanorobots (Nanobots) along. Nanobots have received much attention over the past few years for the potential medical use in the body, such as cancer fighting, drug delivery and parasite removal. However, the challenge of how to propel them through the bloodstream has long stumped scientists. Due to their complexity, conventional motors are very difficult to miniaturise, making them unsuitable for use in nanorobotics. The twisting artificial muscles, on the other hand, are simple and inexpensive to construct either in very long, or in millimetre lengths. The ACES developed muscles use very tough and highly flexible yarns of carbon nanotubes (nanoscale cylinders of carbon), which are twist-spun into the required form. When voltage is applied, the yarns rotate up to 600 revolutions per minute and rotate in reverse when the voltage is changed. “This new, giant, rotating type of actuation will open up lots of new opportunities for micro-machines,” said Prof Geoff Spinks, ACES Chief Investigator. Similar twisting muscles are found in nature. Octopus limbs and elephant trunks are just two examples. The research has been published in prestigious journal Science.
Animation of ACES nanobot
Nanobots could be used to fight cancer, deliver drugs and remove parasites.
‘Slowmation’ research breaks new ground on mission to engage children in the classroom The leading science education journal in the world, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, has published a cover feature on the development of ‘Slowmation’ by UOW researchers. Associate Professor Garry Hoban and Dr Wendy Nielsen (pictured right), members of the Interdisciplinary Education Research Institute (IERI) from the Faculty of Education, along with co-author Professor John Loughran from Monash University, have written the feature article in the November issue of the prestigious journal (ranked 4/177 on the ISI Journal Citation Reports for Education and Educational Research for 2010). Their article ‘Slowmation: Preservice Primary Teachers Representing Science Knowledge through Creating Multimodal Digital Animations’, details a new theoretical framework the researchers have developed to underpin students’
The slowmation website has attracted 5 million hits from 65 countries
learning of science through making a slowmation. Professor Hoban created ‘Slowmation’ (abbreviated from ‘Slow Animation’) six years ago. It is a simplified way for students to make narrated stop-motion animations that are played slowly at two frames per second to explain a science concept. When students create a slowmation, they engage with science content in multiple ways by designing and making a sequence of five representations: : (1) research notes; (2) storyboard; (3) models; (4) digital still photographs; which all culminate in a (5) narrated stop-motion animation, which is a multi-modal representation. The beauty of slowmation lies in its accessibility- an animation can be made using technology most students already have access to- a digital camera, free software and a computer.
Since its inception, Professor Hoban’s technique has won him numerous national and international awards, including an ARC-Discovery Grant, and has received world-wide interest. His team’s website www.slowmation.com has attracted more than 5 million requests from users across 65 different countries since a counter was put on the web site in March last year.
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
5
NEWS
Cleantech hydrogen to tackle climate change
The novel invention from researchers at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) is receiving widespread attention. It was shortlisted as a finalist in the Australian Cleantech Ideas Competition, a Government run initiative to help reduce Australia’s reliance on carbon and aid a future of clean energy efficiency. It was also listed as one of five cutting edge finalists in the 2011 UQ Business School Enterprize Awards. Chris Gilbey, Director of Strategic Development for ACES and the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI), said the device has the potential to transform the energy sector. “The AquaHydrex value proposition is on-site hydrogen manufacturing with a low-carbon footprint,” Mr Gilbey said. “At a cost 50-90 percent less than the current competition it offers both low fixed and variable costs for the customer,” he said. Gilbey believes that making ‘water-
splitting’ commercially viable will mean a more sustainable future for industries worldwide, especially so in a world where hydrogen is worth an estimated $50 billion a year. “The device is targeted at industries that are dependent on hydrogen gas as a chemical feedstock,” Mr Gilbey said. “For every one tonne of hydrogen produced, 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) are released. By making hydrogen production much less CO2 intensive, we can substantially help Australia and the world deliver into their reduced CO2 targets,” he said.
Photo: Melinda Nagy | Dreamstime
An innovative invention by UOW researchers is set to make industry cleaner and greener. AquaHydrex, an inexpensive, integrated solar-powered water-splitting technology mimics the processes in plant photosynthesis.
From food to chemicals and steel, the product’s real selling point lies in its power to significantly reduce carbon footprint size. The petroleum industry, for example, depends on hydrogen to refine its crude oil. “The more oil consumed, the more hydrogen needed,” Mr Gilbey said. “Crude oil has very high sulphur content, which must be removed to meet strict standards that apply to sulphur levels in petrol – that requires hydrogen. “We have looked very closely at markets and their dependencies. The petroleum refining business is one of the biggest consumers of hydrogen,” he said.
“We can substantially help Australia and the world deliver their reduced CO2 targets”
Dr Ken Henry joins SMART One of Australia’s most influential public policy experts, Dr Ken Henry AC (Secretary to The Commonwealth Treasury 2001-2011) has been appointed as Chairman of the SMART Infrastructure Facility Advisory Council. The SMART Infrastructure Facility (SMART) is UOW’s new $62 million world-class research and education centre, which focuses on researching, modeling and promoting holistic and rigorous planning for Australia’s urban and regional infrastructure systems. “SMART is an important national initiative seeking to have a positive impact on how we consider, view, procure, design and manage infrastructure systems. I am looking
forward to contributing to this new and highly relevant area of research”, said Dr Henry (pictured left). “Our ability to be economically productive and competitive in the future depends heavily on having infrastructure systems that are well managed and can support industrial and societal evolution and innovation. “That is why I think there is great value in further developing and championing the research at SMART. It has been set up at the right time and is immediately gaining significant support and engagement with industry and world leading university research centres in the United Kingdom and North America.”
SMART is UOW’s new $62 million world-class research centre for infrastructure development 6
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
CAS researcher discovers early humans understood chemistry
Centre for Archaeological Science researchers Prof. Bert Roberts and Dr Zenobia Jacobs.
Dr Zenobia Jacobs from the Centre for Archaeological Science has coauthored a paper that proves early homo sapiens had basic knowledge of chemistry and had the ability for long-term planning.
formed a composite part of this production toolkit and while the application of the mixture is unknown, researchers speculate possibilities could include decoration and skin protection.
The paper, ‘A 100,000-Year-Old Orchre-Processing Workshop at Blombos Cave, South Africa’, recently published in the prestigious Science, detailed excavations in 2008 at Blombos Cave, South Africa, that revealed a processing workshop where a liquefied ochre-rich mixture was produced and stored in two Haliotis midae (abalone) shells 100,000 years ago. Ochre, bone, charcoal, grindstones, and hammerstones
This is the second time this year that CAS researchers have been featured in the prestigious science journal. In May Dr Jacobs and her partner in the lab and in life, Prof. Richard (Bert) Roberts, were profiled for their revolutionary work in optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating – a technique which allows highly accurate dating of ancient substances, leading to groundbreaking discoveries about human evolution.
Dr Siobhan McHugh gives Harvard seminar Journalism Lecturer Dr Siobhan McHugh recently delivered a seminar entitled Indigenous Voices of Australia: The Stolen Generations and Reconciliation at Harvard University. The seminar
was hosted by Harvard University Native American Program. Dr McHugh also gave well received presentations at Boston University and Concordia University, Montreal.
UOW Postgrad student wins 2011 Prime Minister’s Pacific-Australia Award Naomi Biribo, a Faculty of Science postgraduate student, has been awarded the 2011 Prime Minister’s Pacific-Australia Award (PMPA) for her doctoral thesis on the coastal vulnerability of her island home. Addressing the effect of rising sea levels, it is the first research project of its kind that specifically addresses the potential challenges facing Kiribati’s Tawara reef islands. Part of Ms Biribo’s research, which is being supervised by geomorphologist, and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change lead author, Professor Colin Woodroffe, explores the historical changes to the Kiribati shoreline and the rates and trends of sediment deposition over time. The PMPA Award aims to build the capacity of postgraduate students through leadership development programs and placement opportunities in Australian Government departments. Ms Biribo will use this experience to learn how scientific recommendations can influence public policy. Through the development of island coastal management, Ms Biribo hopes her research might transform entrenched community attitudes and lead to an understanding that every small action has implications. Professor Woodroffe, who first met Naomi in her capacity as a coastal manager with the Government of Kiribati says “I am delighted that she has taken time from that role to pursue research. This award will enable Naomi to supplement the development of her research skills by developing a greater breadth of experience from other coastal management agencies and organisations. It is really important for the effective management of the fragile coastal habitats on these islands, for
enhancing their natural resilience - and developing adaptation strategies for the future - that we build the capacity of individual Kiribati scientists such as Naomi.”
North coast of Tarawa captured by Ms Biribo. Tarawa is one of the 32 atolls (coral island that encircles a lagoon) that make up the Republic of Kiribati and is also the location of the nation’s capital, South Tarawa.
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
7
NEWS
Study finds women more likely to be convicted of fraud
Of the defendants in criminal social security fraud cases 57% are female Researchers from the Social Accounting and Accountability Research Centre from left: Freda Hui, Lee Moerman and Kathy Rudkin
Researchers from the Social Accounting and Accountability Research Centre at the Faculty of Commerce have found that women are more likely to be convicted of social security fraud.
representation given that the percentage of female offenders in criminal courts of all cases is approximately 21%.
The study, Centrelink Prosecutions at the Employment/Benefit Nexus, was carried out by researchers Freda Hui, Lee Moerman and Kathy Rudkin. It examined 56 case files from Legal Aid Wollongong from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010.
The study also provides a breakdown of social security fraud convictions based on the type of benefit. Parenting payments, single and partnered, top the list with 40%. The remainder is made up of Newstart allowance (38%), Disability allowance (12%), other (6%) and Youth Allowance (4%).
One of the major findings of the study was that females dominate cases of social security fraud of criminal cases that are brought to Wollongong court. Of the defendants in criminal social security fraud cases 57% are female. This is an over-
“It can be surprisingly easy for a social security recipient to find themselves under reporting income given that Australia has one of the highest rates of casual employment in the developed world with research claiming more than two million
being casually employed,” says researcher Dr Lee Moerman. While the maximum penalty for social security fraud is five years imprisonment, the bulk of offenders (58%) received a good behaviour bond. Of the remainder (26%) received a community service order and 16% were imprisoned. Social Accounting and Accountability Research Centre researchers also targeted ways to reduce social security fraud. Amongst their recommendations are creating a more flexible Centrelink income reporting cycle and utilising existing data matching technology with the Australian Taxation Office to stop fraud before it happens.
Biomechanics student wins Best New Investigator award Catherine Wild, PhD student from the Biomechanics Research Laboratory, has just returned from Western Australia, having been awarded the premier prize at the Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, held in Freemantle. Catherine was initially awarded the Asics Award for Best New Investigator – Lower Limb, for her paper titled “Does higher anterior knee joint laxity alter landing biomechanics in pubescent girls?”. Although still a new investigator, Catherine’s paper was deemed the best in her category and she was therefore given the opportunity
8
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
to re-present her paper against some of the most experienced researchers in their fields within Australia. Announcing the winner of this prestigious award at the conference closing banquet, a shocked but delighted Catherine, was presented with the ASICS Medal by Mr Mark Doherty, General Manager of Product, ASICS Oceania. As the best new investigator, Catherine was also awarded a presentation package to attend the prestigious American College of Sports Medicine Meeting in 2012 and a guaranteed place in the American College of Sports Medicine program.
From left: General Manager of Product Asics, Mark Doherty, Catherine Wild and her supervisor Professor Julie Steele.
Is there such a thing as an eco-friendly vacation? Left: Coledale Rainforest Retreat is one of Australia’s eco friendly tourism locations.
While there is evidence indicating that there is a market for environmentallyfriendly tourism, research conducted by the Institute for Innovation in Business and Social Research (IIBSoR) in the Faculty of Commerce, has shown that there are few
tools available to tourists to enable them to measure their impact on the environment. Following a study of online content and information provided by tourism authorities and operators, the research team, including PhD student Emil Juvan, revealed that
travel agents and operators often made claims of being eco-friendly which were not substantiated. In reality, true “green” vacations are difficult to find and limited to the dedicated eco-tourism market. Moreover, information on eco-certified travel agents was only available by the members of the Sustainable Tourism Association. On the positive side, however, almost 30 per cent of travel agents identified through the online Google search engine were certified as eco, sustainable, socially responsible or “green”, indicating that environmentally-friendly travel is possible. Professor Sara Dolnicar, Director of IIBSoR, says “we know that there are many people out there who really care about choosing a vacation that has minimal negative environmental impacts. Currently there is no way for them to assess which vacation is truly green. Emil, in the course of his PhD, will hopefully be able to help them out”.
Photo: Olgalis | Dreamstime
The interplay between law and religion A new book, Law and Religion in Public Life, co-edited by lecturers Dr Nadir Hosen and Dr Rick Mohr of the Faculty of Law, throws light on how religious freedoms can thrive in contemporary society. The book represents an interdisciplinary collaboration inspired by Dr Hosen’s personal experiences and examines the interplay between law and religion. As an Indonesian-born muslim of Chinese heritage his experiences living in various countries around the world led him to examine what it
means to live in a multicultural country and the role of law and religion. Concern that public religious debate was being stifled led to Dr Mohr becoming involved in the project. Professor McNamara, Dean of the Faculty of Law, says “we have, for many years at this law school, placed a heavy emphasis on the importance of law engaging beyond its own discipline and profession. We see great value in dialogue and intellectual exchange across disciplines and worldviews”.
The Lost Innocents of Kashmir Dr David Blackall’s latest film, a short documentary on the “Lost Innocents of Kashmir”, had its world premier at the Raindance Film Festival in London on 3 October. The film, which is also narrated by Dr Blackall, is a personal account inspired by archival Super 8 footage shot in Kashmir in Northern India in 1989. Discontent, unrest and the subsequent intervention by security forces
led to acts of terrorism, retribution and torture, forcing many refugees to flee Kashmir. “Lost Innocents of Kashmir” was developed from Dr Blackall’s research around the global agendas of governments and multinational corporations with a context in civil rights journalism. The film has also recently been selected for The Montreal International Documentary Festival.
Dr. David Blackall Senior lecturer and filmmaker Faculty of Creative Arts
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
9
NEWS
Photos: Sergey Kravtsov, piccaya (opposite page) | Dreamstime
Professor Lesley Head awarded esteemed fellowship for her outstanding research career
ARC Australian Laureate Fellow and Director of the Australian Centre for Cultural Environmental Research (AUSCCER), Professor Lesley Head (pictured above, right), is one of twenty-six newly elected Fellows of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. The fellowship recognises Lesley’s distinguished research career in geography. Lesley has a long-term research fascination with human-environment relations, both conceptual and material. That is, she wants to understand how humans are physically changing earth’s systems, how we think about our place in nature, and how these two things are connected. A particular focus – pursed through different disciplinary traditions – is on relationships between humans and plants. In recent years this work has mostly been in cultural geography, with projects on backyard gardens, wheat
and invasive plants. This developed from Lesley’s earlier work on Aboriginal land use, ethnobotany and fire. She started her research career using palaeoecology and archaeology to study long term changes in the Australian landscape, and the interactions of prehistoric peoples with their environments. Her books include Second Nature. The history and implications of Australia as Aboriginal landscape (2000), Cultural Landscapes and Environmental Change (2000), Backyard. Nature and Culture in Suburban Australia (2007, with Pat Muir) and Ingrained: a human bio-geography of wheat (forthcoming 2012, with Jennifer Atchison and Alison Gates). Lesley was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities in 2004, for her interdisciplinary contributions to the archaeological and geographical sciences. Today Lesley is building on this multidisciplinary background in AUSCCER,
where a team of scholars – including a number of Early Career Researchers - is applying cultural research methods to the pressing issues of sustainability and climate change. Collaborative AUSCCER projects are being undertaken in suburban households, on the rural/urban fringe, in country towns and in the Murray-Darling Basin. Examples of AUSCCER projects include Cultural Economies of Households (led by Chris Gibson, ARC Future Fellow), Making Less Space for Carbon: cultural research for climate change mitigation and adaptation (led by Gordon Waitt), Land Use Change and Environmental Conflict in Peri-Urban Areas (Nick Gill), Cultural Geographies of Water (Leah Gibbs), Climate Change and Cultural Diversity (Natascha Klocker), Gender and Bushfire (Christine Eriksen) and Sustainable Food Production in the Murray-Darling Basin (Emily O’Gorman and Catherine Phillips).
Researcher wins Beth Southwell Research Award Dr Jessica Mantei from the Faculty of Education and Associate Member of The Interdisciplinary Educational Research Institute (IERI), has recently been announced as the winner of the NSW Oustanding Thesis Award for 2010 for her PhD thesis titled “The development of professional identity in early career primary teachers 10
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
and its relationship to designing authentic learning experiences”. The Beth Southwell Research Award was named for the well known educator and academic who gave many years of committed service to the NSW Institute for Educational Research. The Award ceremony was held on November 11 at the University of Technology, Sydney.
New consortium to boost strategic local research A new consortium which represents an innovative model for research collaboration and engagement between local government authorities and UOW has been launched. Five keystone councils are committed and actively involved in the consortium for at least a three-year initial period – Wollongong City, Shoalhaven City, Hurstville City, Rockdale City and Camden councils. The Director of the Local Government Research and Practice Development Consortium, Associate Professor Andrew Sense from UOW’s School of Management and Marketing, said essentially the consortium created the supported opportunity for nominated council staff to engage in doing a Masters by Research or a PhD through UOW on projects that are of strategic importance to a council or to the local government sector more broadly. Twelve new research projects across Management, Marketing and
Engineering disciplines are now under way with an additional five to eight new consortium research projects expected to begin each year thereafter. Professor Sense said that all the projects have been endorsed by the respective councils as being of significance and the higher degree research council candidates are generally senior level council staff. A sample of the multidisciplinary diversity in these projects includes: •Engaging the community leaders of the future: constructing meaningful consultation with young people •The behavioural impacts of creating businesses within a council business •Infrastructure priorities for supporting community growth in new release areas: a systems thinking approach.
FIVE MINUTES WITH Dr Nadia Solowij Dr Nadia Solowij is a researcher in the School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, an affiliated scientist of the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute and the Schizophrenia Research Institute, and a world leader in her field. Her internationally recognised research focuses on understanding the shortand long-term effects of cannabis on the brain and its role in triggering psychosis in vulnerable individuals. Recently her research featured in a cover story of the popular Australian science magazine Cosmos and special report on “The Truth about Drugs”. “The widespread use of cannabis, with individual differences in response to cannabis and little known about its effects on the brain, was what prompted me to focus on this in my original PhD research. The fascinating story that has evolved since then, about the brain’s own cannabinoid system, with many unanswered questions about how cannabis affects this and other systems in the brain, has kept me intrigued and continuing to work in this area ever since. The story in Cosmos discussed my team’s findings as the first in the world to identify a reduction in the size of specific regions in the brain involved in memory function in long term heavy cannabis users (published in the Archives of General
Psychiatry). We also showed this reduction in regional brain volume to be associated with both the cumulative exposure to cannabis and the development of subclinical psychotic symptoms in otherwise healthy cannabis users. Our ongoing research will examine individual differences in response to cannabis, looking at cognition, genetic contributions, and various measures of brain structure and function, particularly in light of the now demonstrated association between cannabis and schizophrenia. I collaborate extensively with colleagues at the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne, the University of Newcastle and the Institute of Psychiatry, London and together with my new postdoc, Dr Samantha Broyd, in our latest NHMRC-funded research we will be administering different cannabinoids to humans: THC which is generally the bad guy, and cannabidiol (CBD) which has been shown to have various beneficial properties, such as reducing anxiety and psychotic symptoms and reversing memory impairment associated with THC. This will be a challenging but exciting project that will get underway in 2012 and will be sure to answer a multitude of questions about the effects of cannabis on the brain.”
World leading expert on the short and long term effects of cannabis on the brain, Dr Solowij reveals her latest research.
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
11
NEWS
Tackling the clean energy challenge
was found that 3-dimensional titanium dioxide nanounits could produce nanorods, nanoribbons or nanowires, providing a new way in which titanium dioxide nanomaterials can be synthesised to deliver the structure that maximises the electrochemical performance needed for different applications. This approach was adopted to produce a lithium ion battery with a titanium dioxide nanostructured anode which shows the highest charge capacity ever reported for a battery using titanium dioxide along with a high level of efficiency as measured by the number of charges that enter the battery during charging compared to the number extracted during discharge.
The introduction of carbon pricing arrangements in Australia has prompted even greater interest in tackling the challenges associated with energy generation, storage, transmission, efficiency and conservation in a low-carbon economy. Researchers from the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM) located at the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials on the Innovation Campus are joining with researchers and industry partners from around the globe in an effort to develop new advances in the areas of energy generation, transmission and storage. Superconducting wires can provide up to 150 times the current of copper wire allowing them to be used to increase the efficiency of electricity generation (such as in large scale wind turbines); energy transmission; electric motors and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. However, one of the impediments to its more widespread adoption of the wire has been its cost of production. An international collaboration led by Dr Jun Ho Kim from ISEM has discovered a cheaper method of producing magnesium diborde (MgB2) superconducting wires using carbon-encapsulated boron nanopowder and course magnesium powder. This has the potential to lower the cost of fabricating the wires by starting with much cheaper materials. 12
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
Importantly the change in the starting materials and the fabrication method maintained the critical current density at comparable levels to the best performance reported for wires produced using amorphous boron powder. Advances are being made in the area of low-carbon vehicle technologies. With more than 95 per cent of the vehicles on earth – from cars to jumbo jets – running on oil products as it becomes more expensive there is growing interest in the development of lithium ion batteries with high storage and delivery capabilities for use in electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Titanium dioxide is one of the most promising semiconductor materials for use in photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications because of its low cost and environmental friendliness. However, the performance of titanium dioxide based devices is affected by the shape and size of the nanostructures. Doctors Ziqi Sun, Jung Ho Kim and Yue Zhao and students from ISEM, along with collaborators in Korea, have recently developed a novel approach that provides an effective solution to the synthesis of titanium dioxide nanostructures that could prompt further improvements in the performance and efficiency of titanium dioxide based devices, including vehicle batteries. By adjusting the precursor hydrolysis rate and the surfactant aggregation it
In another advance in the area of battery technology, researchers from Korea and ISEM have teamed up to develop a new approach, underpinned by ab initio calculations, absorption spectroscopy and diffraction, to enhance the transport of positive lithium ions in lithium ion batteries. This work provides new insights that pave the way for new types of cathode materials for batteries. Recently published in Energy and Environmental Science, the result has been greater capacity and a more than two-fold enhancement in the performance of lithium batteries using olivine LiCoPO4 electrodes. The University of Wollongong and the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials are set to be at the forefront of advances in energy technologies into the future. In the most recent round of Australian Research Council grants, ISEM were successful in receiving almost $700,000 to advance their work in superconducting wires and their fabrication. The soon to be completed extension to the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials which adds a processes and devices facility will have one of the most advanced battery testing facilities in the southern hemisphere that will help reshape the processing of electrode and electrolyte materials critical to the development of new energy storage solutions for transport applications and renewable energy generation. To find out more about the advances being made by ISEM in energy generation, storage, transmission, efficiency and conservation visit isem.uow.edu.au.
Prof Tim Coltman’s ARC success Prof. Tim Coltman, researcher and co-director of UOW’s Institute for Innovation in Business and Social Research (IIBSoR), has been awarded more than $650,000 through the ARC to conduct research on the challenges port operators face as they are encouraged to take risks to innovate, but are constrained by the consequences of risk. It is the largest grant awarded to the University of Wollongong, and the fifth largest amount awarded nationally in the 2012 ARC funding round. Prof. Coltman and his colleague, Associate Professor Rajeev Sharma, are working with researchers from several other Australian universities, and partnering with the Port Kembla and Newcastle Port Corporations, on the project, entitled: “Technology and innovation management in high risk situations”. Latest UOW ARC results listed on pages 21-22.
Research to engage local communities The University’s Office of Community & Partnerships has recently announced the recipients of funding for the 2011 round of the Community Engagement Grants Scheme (CEGS). This year six collaborative projects were selected for just over $52,000 in funding from 21 applications. The six grant recipients will receive up to $10,000 each to support educational, research or outreach projects which enhance the University’s engagement with its communities. The following projects were selected for funding in the 2011 round: 1. “Beating breast bounce: an educational resource on breast support for high school students.” UOW Project Leader – Dr Deirdre McGhee, Faculty of Health & Behavioural
Sciences. Community Partners – St Mary Star of the Sea College and Keira High School. 2. “Creativity and expertise: documenting and publishing the life and work of the late Janet Cosh.” UOW Project Leader - Jean Clarke, Faculty of Science. Community Partners – Janet Cosh Herbarium, South Coast Writers Centre. 3. “Engaging smart kids in the University: A pilot program for high school students.” UOW Project Leader – Prof Wilma Vialle, Faculty of Education. Community Partners – NSW Association for Gifted and Talented Children, Illawarra schools and families. 4. “Dementia Online Illawarra: Innovative approaches to supporting the information needs of Dementia service providers in
the Illawarra.” UOW Project Leader – Lyn Phillipson, Centre for Health Initiatives. Community Partners - Illawarra Forum, Illawarra Dementia Services Network, Alzheimer’s Australia, NSW. 5. “UOWTV/Vibewire: Shoalhaven Media Makers.” UOW Project Leader – Shawn Burns. Community Partners - Vibewire Youth Inc and high schools in the Shoalhaven (supported by UOW Shoalhaven Campus). 6. “Sustainable Community Garden Education Project.” UOW Project Leader – Glen Moore, Science Centre & Planetarium. Community Partner - The Disability Trust’s Illawarra Vocational Services.
Siteworks at Bundanon: interdisciplinary research in partnership with UOW Siteworks is an ongoing and unique series of interactive research projects focusing on the unique Bundanon properties overlooking the Shoalhaven River. Throughout the year artists, scientists and scholars (the Siteworks Associates) undertake research and respond to the site through the lens of their specific discipline. Their findings are shared with the public in an annual ‘Conversation’. This year’s Siteworks Conversation discussed the changing landscape. The thematic of ‘passing through’ the land emerged as archeologist Dr Sue Feary revealed the outcomes of her Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management Plan for Bundanon and Human Geographer Dr Leah Gibbs (pictured top left) of UOW’s Australian Centre for Cultural Environmental Research (AUSCER) responded with her research on ‘place and belonging’. Participating artists in this year’s conversation included artists Robyn Backen and Linda Dement, and there were walks to view flora and fauna with Andrew McGahey and discussions about wombat behaviour with Dr Phil Borchard. Led by Siteworks Associates Jim Walliss and Diego Bonetto, artists Steve Russell and Noel Lonesborough from Boolarng Nangamai Aboriginal Corporation, were also in residence to tackle the challenge of making a traditional (Aboriginal) Jervis Bay canoe from the bark of a stringybark tree sourced on the Bundanon property. www.bundanon.com.au/siteworks. R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
13
RESEARCHER UPDATE
STUDENT PROFILE Priyanka Jood What are you studying? I am doing PhD in Materials Engineering from Institute of Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM), Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong. My supervisors are Dr. Germanas Peleckis and Prof. Xiaolin Wang. What does your research focus on? The topic of my research is ‘novel thermoelectric oxides for high temperature power generation’ and it focuses on the fabrication/ synthesis of novel oxide materials with improved thermoelectric performance so that they can be put into application for high temperature industrial applications. My research focuses on oxides because they are non- toxic, cheap, easily available and are best suited for operation under high temperatures (> 600 ºC) due to their chemical stability. Electrical power generation from waste heat, for example, in cars, aircrafts, power plants, requires high stability materials and oxides are best suited for it. But their low thermoelectric performance has kept them from being applicable. The aim of my research is to improve thermoelectric performance of oxides to make them suitable for high temperature applications. How did you come to study at UOW? I always wanted to visit Australia, so I came here to do a PhD. UOW is one of the best universities for engineering research in Australia so it became my first choice. What’s been the highlight of your career so far? I would say coming to UOW for PhD was the best step I took regarding my career.
14
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
UOW gave me incredible exposure in my field. With all the facilities for good research and supporting staff around who are ready to help you at every step, I am definitely in the most healthy and happy environment, thanks to ISEM (UOW). ISEM also gave me the opportunity to work in RPI, NY, United States as a visiting scholar for 1 year which gave an extra boost to my PhD work. It is because of the best guidance from my supervisors and support from my colleagues, that I could perform a good research work. Have you always had an interest in science? I would say yes. I belong to a family with a very strong academic background with both my parents Professors in their respective science fields. Their love for science and their achievements was a big inspiration for me since childhood. So, I would say my parents are a big motivation for me to make a career in science and put in my best and I thank them for guiding me and being by my side throughout. What do you think are the key issues relating to your industry today? The world’s increasing demand for energy is become hard to tackle. Myself, related to the field of energy conversion/ production and storage, I understand how hard the scientists in this area are trying to come up with innovative methods and technologies of producing energy which are environmental friendly as well. But it is not just the scientist’s job, instead, it should be everyone’s concern not to waste energy and make appropriate use of it. Even a
small contribution from everyone can make a huge difference to the environment. What do you plan on doing after the completion of your study? I would definitely love to carry on with research in this field. But I also feel that whatever chances life gives you, you should grab them. So, I am not just focussing on a fixed target as I think I have couple of opportunities ahead of me for example staying in academics or looking out for an industry job. But whatever I do, I want to stay connected with science. What do you hope to achieve in your research/field in the future? I definitely want to keep doing my best. I will consider myself fortunate if I could even make a little contribution towards my research field. I am not a kind of a person who thinks about way ahead in the future. I am enjoying doing research at present and all I know is that I want to keep doing it for now.
RESEARCHER UPDATE
TRAVEL TALE Kuala Lumpur When Malays, Chinese and Indians ‘unite’ in Malaysia. By Dr Eric Loo, Senior Lecturer, School of Journalism Each time I return to Malaysia, friends and kin tell the usual stories about how bleak they see their future. But this time their stories are angrier - more despondent. They tell of how their business and children’s future are being whittled away by race-based politics, systemic corruption, abuse of power by bureaucrats and demagogues. Some hope that in their lifetime there’d be an Aquinolike ‘Yellow Revolution’ as it did in Manila in 1986. That ‘yellow’ campaign, a Malaysian-style ‘walk for democracy’, happened on July 9 this year, three days after I conducted a training workshop on ‘critical research and advanced reporting’ for local journalists in Kuala Lumpur. (I am an external trainer for the Malaysian Press Institute). As always after each training workshop, I mull over how Malaysian journalists can more effectively investigate into the culture of political patronage and corruption where to those with connections, more are given. Where mainstream journalists have fallen short in reporting for the people, an emerging middle-class of activists emboldened by social media to mobilise and circulate, have taken up the cudgel to confront and challenge the state, which is highly significant given the history of government clampdowns on dissenters deemed to be ‘a threat to national security’. An emerging middle-class of activists emboldened by social media to mobilise and circulate have notched Malaysian politics to a different level of engagement, which is highly significant given the history of state clampdowns on dissenters deemed to be ‘a threat to national security’. Indeed, the people’s fear of confronting the government en masse in the public square may be seeing its final days. Malaysians crossed the racial and religious divide to march under the Bersih yellow banner (Coalition for Free and Fair Elections - Bersih means ‘clean’ in Bahasa) on July 9. Estimates by civil society groups ranged from 20,000 to 50,000. Mainstream media reported about 10,000. The police said 6,000. One event. Many interpretations. I tracked the mainstream media reports in the weeks leading up to the protest. Mainstream media portrayed Bersih led by human rights lawyer Ambiga Sreneevasan (who recently delivered a series of public lecture on ‘electoral reform and quest for democracy in Malaysia’ in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra from October 25 to November 1) and her supporters as dissidents, the protest as illegal and seditious. Online media sites portrayed the government as corrupt, authoritarian and out of touch with the people. Mainstream media narrowly framed Bersih as an illegal outfit, a threat to society. The supporters are political agitators, anarchists and ‘un-Malaysian’. NGOs and foreign media read it differently - the government was authoritarian, paranoid and chronically fearful of an emerging people’s ‘yellow’ revolution. Uniformed police and plainclothes were brutal high-handed thugs. The Star, Malaysia’s highest circulation English daily, in its page 1 headline story on July 9 warned Malaysians to ‘Stay Away’. ‘Defiant’ it screamed on July 10 - also on page one. The Star’s text and imageries framed Bersih as an unnecessary inconvenience
to local businesses, a threat to tourism, national security and harmony. To get a clearer picture of the Bersih protest, I put on my journalist hat. I marched with the protesters. I moved with the riot police. Local and the foreign journalists scampered for photos and sound bites. Some anticipated bloody violence. None came. Except for the chaotic chase and inevitable scuffles between citizens and riot police in a street protest standoff. I wondered how Malaysia had fallen into such a dismal state since I left the country in 1986 to work with the papers in Perth. When I marched with Bersih, the police looked like the bad guys. Alongside the anti-riot security personnel, the protesters looked like a very angry volatile mob. One needed to be there to feel the cause, the chaos, and cautious restraints from both the people and the police. The walls of fear, however, are so grounded in the Malaysian psyche that many stayed home. On July 10, the Home Ministry went on a witch-hunt, reportedly reviewing police videos and YouTube clips to nab public servants and students who dared to march (The University and University Colleges Act 1971 prohibits academics and students from taking part in politics – unless approved by the vice-chancellor - or be involved in activities construed as explicitly anti-government). A few Chinese newspaper editors were called up for questioning for their editorial support of Bersih. What Malaysians didn’t get to feel and see from the mainstream media interpretation of the protest they got to see on YouTube, titled ‘Truth that cannot be covered’, which has attracted about one million hits at this time of writing. The 12-minute clip is visually compelling with its cinematic narrative dramatised by sombre background music, tear gas gunshots, frenzied cries, out-takes of the young and old chased down, strapped and hauled away by plainclothes security. Indeed, ‘truth’ is a fluid concept when citizen-generated clips contest with government-controlled media for the public mind. After seeing what I saw at the protest, I wrote my column in Malaysiakini the next day titled ‘One event, many truths’. Part of my column, written for Malaysian readers, said: “The conditions of reporting a highly charged people’s uprising against autocratic governments are laced with dogma, polarised ideologies, and real or imagined fears. Realities are constructed – and manipulated - to mobilise against or reinforce the existing system of repression and power structure. Governments, NGOs and the people saw the ‘truth’ from divergent positions - thus the excesses of government propaganda and the limitations of journalism at the frontline.” R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
15
Research crusader Always a passionate advocate for research, Vice Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton AO leaves an extraordinary legacy behind as he embarks on a new role as the Prime Minister’s Employment Advocate for the Illawarra region. By Elise Pitt.
He’s the man who propelled UOW into the top 2% of research universities in the world, led the development of Australia’s leading infrastructure research facility, SMART, and established the research intensive Innovation Campus (pictured above), where Australian Laureate Fellow Professor Gordon Wallace is pioneering medical bionics engineering. Under his leadership, the university has more than doubled in size and has cemented an international reputation as one of Australia’s leading institutions for both teaching and research. It has twice been named Australian University of the Year (1999-2000 and 2000-2001) as well as the inaugural Commonwealth University of the Year in 2006. Professor Gerard Sutton will leave a remarkable 16 year legacy as Vice Chancellor of the University of Wollongong behind when he retires at the end of 2011. With a background in engineering, Professor Sutton worked as a naval research scientist before moving to more senior administrative posts, which include Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and Deputy Vice Chancellor at UOW.
16
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
Recognised as being a true visionary, Professor Sutton was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2008 for his contributions to tertiary education. The new Vice Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings (formerly Vice Chancellor of Lancaster University in the UK), will have large shoes to fill when he steps up to the top job on January 1, 2012, but Professor Sutton is ever confident in his successor. “I think my time will be remembered for taking the university into the to top 2% of universities world wide and I look to my successor Professor Wellings to take us into the top 1%”, he says. It’s a statistic that has largely been based on research achievements and Professor Sutton says that the university has managed to achieve it by focusing its research and developing interdisciplinary research. “My brief when I came to the uni was to lift research. Teaching was sound, research was not. Research needed a lot of work. The decision was made that we cannot be good at everything and we would have to be selective in which areas of research we would choose to focus on. Then we could aim to be the best in the country and be
FEATURE
internationally competitive. We were probably the first Australian uni to do that”, he says. “The focusing of research was a very clear strategy for the uni and we decided on areas where we had a natural advantage. For example steel and what grew out of that was AIIM (Australian Institute for Innovative Materials). It started with metals and then moved into intelligent materials and the outcome is Professor Dou and Professor Wallace’s teams”.
economic history and geography strikingly similar to Wollongong. Over the last decade Waterloo has transformed itself from a traditional manufacturing economy to an $18B high tech economy, grown from 50 to 750 tech firms, created 28,000 new jobs and become home to household names such as Research in Motion, inventors of the Blackberry. While these proposals are still waiting
“There could be nothing more important to an Australian institution than to be able to ensure the future of the Australian community and research does that”.
Looking to the future, Professor Sutton says that the university will continue to excel in engineering and IT research, but our biggest growth in the future will be in health, centred around UOW’s Graduate School of Medicine and the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI).
Then there’s iAccelerate, the bold new project being developed by the Commercial Research team, which aims to deliver an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry cluster to the Illawarra region through application driven research, creating 500 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs, and attracting $70 million of investments to the region in the first five years of operation. The program is based on the world’s best practice of regional transformation - Waterloo, Canada- a region with an
Embarking on a new chapter in his career, Professor Sutton is charged with the task of broadening the economic base of the region in the Government’s new Illawarra Stakeholder Task Force. “I’m passionate about this city and this region. I think it has an advantage over big cities in that people still care about people.
“The second area [that we focused on], that we didn’t have a natural advantage in, but figured was going to be important, was IT. And now we are one of the strongest IT unis in the country”.
There are already a handful proposals in the works which Professor Sutton will hand down to his successor. For example, there are plans to build a $300 million health and medical precinct on Innovation Campus. Professor Sutton has been involved with discussions with the federal and NSW governments, as well as the NSW Department of Health about the proposal, which would transform the Illawarra’s medical infrastructure, improve the overall standard of health care in the region, attract high-level medical specialists to the area and generate thousands of jobs. The application is currently awaiting funding approval and will not be announced until next year’s budget.
though, if we don’t end up with a stringent measure of research impact either within or beside ERA, then the funding will drive all academic research and won’t necessarily lead to applied outcomes. I think that’s a big risk for this country.”
It is going through a transition period from the traditional industries of steel and coal and my role will be to ensure that the transition is smooth; that we do not loose our traditional industries”, he says.
funding in the current climate of decreasing Government subsidies for research, Professor Sutton believes that the research sector is being very well treated by world standards. “VCs and researchers never have enough money. But by world standards we are being treated well and the overheads for research were delivered by the Government. ARCs have been significantly increased and that’s a real positive”, Professor Sutton says . “What I think is needed for research? Of course more money…..nationally, if we set aside more money for research then ERA has served a useful purpose. Importantly
Professor Sutton has been an inspiring leader in his 21 years at the university. He has instilled in UOW staff a belief that anything is possible and given them the support and resources to deliver the previously unattainable. It is his egalitarian ideals, commitment to research and belief that universities have the ability and means to alter the future of our country for the better that will be instilled into the UOW ethos for decades to come. “To a very large extent, the future of the country rests on the outputs of universities. That’s graduates, but it’s also research”, he says. “So I think there could be nothing more important to an Australian institution than to be able to ensure the future of the Australian community and research does that”. R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
17
NEW STAFF
Dr Viji Gururajan has been appointed as Research Quality Manger with the Research Services Office at the University of Wollongong. As a former academic and a researcher, she also researches in the area of Knowledge Management and has several publications in this domain. Her career history includes working as an Academic in the domain of Computer Science and Information Systems at Edith Cowan University (WA), as a researcher at University of Southern Queensland (QLD) working in the area of Health projects such as Digital Stethoscope, Obesity and Personal Digital Assistants’ for nurses. She had the opportunity to work as ERA officer making a submission for USQ. As a KM researcher, she was interested in Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) complex exercise, which is a form of KM initiative undertaken by the Australian Government. More recently as an ERA officer at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) submitted ERA 2010. “ As a ERA Officer, I have had the opportunity to make couple of ERA submissions for different Universities” with this knowledge and experience I am eager to see what ERA 2012 can provide as a challenge and what best I can do for University of Wollongong. As ERA project manager, I have undertaken processing of UoW research outputs and believe we have the potential to make it more successful this round.”
Sunil Chand has recently joined the Research Services Office as a Research Data Officer. Sunil has come to us from the Queensland University of Technology, where he worked as a Systems Support Officer. Prior to this, he worked with the NSW Commission for Children and Young people as a Child Death Researcher. Sunil has also worked in the area of Health Research in the Pacific and has contributed to National Surveys and Regional Reports on Obesity, Oral Health, Nutrition, HIV/STI and Diabetes. He is looking forward to contributing to the analysis and reporting of UOW’s research data management.
Other staff changes in the Research Services Office •Eve Steinke, Ethics Manager has been seconded to the position of Senior Manager, Research Grants and Development. Eve will be acting in this position for the next 12 months commencing 10 October while Julie Matarczyk is on maternity leave. •Libby McMahon, Ethics Officer has been appointed to act in the Ethics Manager role for 12 months while Eve is on secondment. •Sharon Clarke, Snr Grants Officer has been seconded as acting Grants Manager for 12 months from late July, while Claire Carter is on maternity leave.
18
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
Professor Ian Buchanan is Director of the Institute for Social Transformation Research (ISTR) at the University of Wollongong. Previously he was Research Director for the Centre of Critical and Cultural Theory at Cardiff University in Wales, a position he took up in 2006. Originally from Perth, WA, Ian completed his BA and PhD in comparative literature at Murdoch University. Since completing his PhD in 1995 he has worked at the University of Western Australia, the University of Tasmania, Monash and Charles Darwin University. His research interests are quite diverse – he has written about film, television, literature, architecture, the Internet as well as war and politics, making him well suited to taking on the role of Director of ISTR, which is similarly diverse in its interests. His goal for ISTR is to see it become nationally and internationally recognised for the exciting research its members produce and to become a destination of choice for international scholars visiting Australia. Ian’s recent publications include The Dictionary of Critical Theory (UOP, 2010), which contains over 700 entries on a wide variety of subjects. When not in his office Ian is training to do an Ironman, which he says seemed like a good idea at the time when a friend suggested it but is now much less certain!
Holly Zhu has recently joined UOW’s Innovation & Technology Transfer team as the new Commercialisation Manager for the Faculties of Informatics, Education, Creative Arts and Centre for Medical Radiation Physics. Holly has previously worked with UOW’s Performance Indicators Project team, as well as holding senior positions in the IT industry, both within mature organisations and IT start-up companies internationally. Holly’s extensive business development experience and project management in these settings will be of great benefit to UOW in achieving commercialisation outcomes. Holly’s main focus is to identify, develop and manage intellectual property and associated commercialisation opportunities. The continuing education of faculty staff and students in the commercialisation process is another important role which Holly will undertake.
•James Walsh has been appointed as Research Grants Officer for 12 months from late August, while Sharon Clarke is acting Grants Manager. •Rochelle Waren, who has been acting in the role of Research Development Officer in the Grants team for the past 10 months, has now been appointed permanently to this position. •Elise Pitt is acting in the role of Research Promotions Assistant while Laura Hawes is on maternity leave until mid 2012.
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
19
Research Data - the hidden Opportunities By Katie Elcombe & Despina Clancy It has never been more important than now to ensure that data management is at the forefront of research practices. Trends in the current global research environment have led towards rapid advances in technology that have taken research efficiency and data management to a new level. The US and UK are leading the way in this emerging field by already promoting the sharing and open use of government data. Within Australia, we have seen the creation of the Australian National Data Service (ANDS) which was established to provide best practice around data management and to ensure that research data collections are treated as national resources. Unfortunately, the loss and ineffective management of research data is still a reality. Poor data management practices place research data at risk of theft, failure and misuse which leads to the questioning of methodologies and the validation of results. Through the implementation of necessary data management practices, the possibilities of sharing, re-using and transforming research data presents limitless opportunities. Research data is a valuable asset and needs to be treated as such. Managing Research Data: The Benefits Contributing to the community of thought Sharing data will assist towards speeding up new scientific discoveries. It will enable the easy accessibility of research data which will increase research efficiency and the unearthing of new breakthroughs. Guaranteeing the integrity and security of your work The loss of a researcher’s life work is devastating. Poor data management practices increase the chances of research data loss, corruption, misplacement or perhaps even theft. The building of research data infrastructure and the use of a central repository with continued backups will ensure that does not happen to any researcher. Getting the most from your time Duplication of research data collection will also be minimised. More time can be spent on analysis of research rather than sometimes expensive and needless data gathering activities. Likewise, when data is shared and re-analysed, this will add to the validation of original findings. Increasing the visibility and impact of research Evidence has shown that the sharing of research data can increase citation rates. For emerging researchers, this will be essential in making their mark in an increasingly competitive research market. Enhancing collaboration opportunities Through the use of centralised data repositories, visible data by researchers will certainly increase the impact of their research and open the door towards more collaboration opportunities across disciplines. Satisfying funding requirements Funding bodies and governments are moving rapidly to require sound data management. In the near future the ARC and the NHMRC are likely to require greater evidence of data management planning. Institutions which are ahead of the curve in this space will ultimately benefit. 20
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
Research Data Management at UOW The University is committed to the provision of technology that will grow our already impressive reputation for research excellence. Sharing of knowledge and an investment in tools and services surrounding information management will ensure that UOW retains its position as a leading research institution. The next steps are to coordinate all facets of the research community through engagement and to ensure that the needs of our researchers are met. The recently drafted UOW Research Data Management Policy was developed to be consistent with relevant legislation (i.e. the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2007) and to provide the necessary mandate to establish a best-practice culture within the University’s research community. Concurrently, the SMART Infrastructure Facility has established a data management team to support SMART’s research activities. It is envisaged that, once operationalised, the SMART data management model will be considered as a prototype for potential application to the wider university research community. In addition, at the invitation of DVC(R) Judy Raper, Prof. Paul Bonnington, Director of Monash eResearch Centre (MeRC), will be visiting the University of Wollongong on the 28 & 29 November, 2011. The focus of his visit will be to initiate a dialogue with all levels of the UOW research community emphasising the benefits and opportunities achievable through the use of highly effective eResearch systems. He will cover the many aspects of eResearch including data management, high performance computing and collaborative tools. There will be a special ‘public presentation’ about our future in eResearch for the research community hosted by the SMART Infrastructure Facility, Building 6. For more information, see Events, Prof. Paul Bonnington, Director of Monash e-Research Centre, Monash University. For further information on research data management practices at the University of Wollongong, please contact A/Prof Daniel Saffioti or Katie Elcombe.
GRANTS NEWS
NHMRC grant outcomes The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP, has approved National Health and Medical Research Council funding to commence in 2012. UOW researchers were awarded a total of $2.05M in funding for three Project Grants. Congratulations to the following researchers and their teams: • Prof Nicholas Dixon, Prof Elizabeth Harry, A/Prof Peter Lewis, A/ Prof Aaron Oakley and Dr Ian Grainge received $934,319 over 3 years for their project “Targeting nucleic acid synthesis and cell division in gram-negative bacterial pathogens”. • Prof Xu-Feng Huang, Dr Chao Deng and Dr Francesca Fernandez received $597,987 over 3 years for their project “Schizophrenia: reversal of atypical antipsychotic drug-induced obesity and its related metabolic disorders”. • Prof Anatoly Rozenfeld, Prof Michael Barton, A/Prof Michael Jackson, Dr Marco Petasecca, Dr Michael Lerch, Prof Peter Metcalfe, Prof Wolfgang Tome, A/Prof Martin Carolan and Prof Tomas Kron received $526,325 over 3 years for their project
universities: Prof Kathleen Clapham (Lead Prof Emily Banks, Australian National University) Project title: Longitudinal investigation of health outcomes in urban Aboriginal children: SEARCH follow-up $1,727,460 Prof Alison Jones (Lead A/Prof Peter Schofield, University of Newcastle) Project title: An olfactory ‘stress test’ for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease $743,450 Prof Brett Garner (Lead Dr Anthony Don, UNSW) Project title: Altered Myelin Sphingolipid Homeostasis in Alzheimer’s Disease $608,735 Dr Martina Sanderson-Smith (Lead Dr David McMillan, Queensland Institute of Medical Research). Project title: A polyvalent group A streptococcal vaccine $585,346
“Improving radiation therapy of static and moving targets using high spatial resolution real-time dosimeters”.
UOW was also involved in a successful Centre of Research Excellence grant: Prof Alison Jones (Lead Prof Guy Marks, University of Sydney) Project title: Understanding and ameliorating the human health effects of exposure to air pollution from knowledge to policy and public health practice $2,411,828
UOW was also involved in 4 successful Project Grants led by other
More at www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants/outcomes-funding-rounds
ARC grant outcomes UOW has been awarded $5.87M in funding through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Grant, Linkage Projects and Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Grant schemes. The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim
Carr, announced the grants in Canberra on 1 November. UOW was awarded 11 Discovery Projects (DP), 2 Linkage Projects (LP) and 4 LIEFs to be funded in 2012.
Successful ARC Discovery Projects 2012 (UOW as administering institution) First Named Chief Investigator
Project Title
Total ARC $
A/Prof Steve Blanksby
New laser and mass spectrometry-based tools for comprehensive structural elucidation of lipids and their biomolecular interactions
$380,000
Prof Sara Dolnicar
Reducing the Australian tourism industry’s vulnerability to external shocks: identifying and understanding disaster-resilient tourists
$200,000
Prof Shi Xue Dou
Nanostructure engineered iron-based superconductors
$420,000
Prof Sandra Jones
The nature of alcohol advertising in ‘old’ and ‘new’ media and the impact on young people’s alcoholrelated attitudes, intentions and behaviour
$165,000
Dr James McCoy
New directions in geometric evolution equations
$320,000
A/Prof Allen Nutman
Carbon dioxide sequestration more than 3.7 billion years ago and the oldest climate cycles
$250,000
Prof David Officer
Artificial photosynthesis: developing a simple, functional light harvesting porphyrin-protein ensemble
$350,000
Dr David Pask
Cohomology, symbolic dynamics and operator algebras
$330,000
A/Prof Paul Sharrad
Making a career of it: the literary and cultural production of Tom Keneally
$65,000
Dr Aidan Sims
Invariants for dynamics via operator algebras
$435,000
A/Prof Abba Valadkhani
Does retail petrol price respond asymmetrically to changes in its cost? A modelling framework
$99,204
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
21
GRANTS NEWS
ARC grant outcomes continued Successful ARC Linkage Project 2012 Round 1 (UOW as administering institution) First Named Chief Investigator
Project Title
Partner Organisations
Total ARC $
Prof Timothy Coltman
Technology and innovation management in high risk situations
Newcastle Port Corporation, Port Kembla Port Corporation
$652,367
Prof Shi Xue Dou
Synergetic combination of localised internal magnesium diffusion process with cold compaction technique for fabrication of magnesium diboride (MgB2) superconductor wires
Hyper Tech Research Inc
$270,000
Successful ARC LIEF 2012 (UOW as administering institution) First Named Chief Investigator
Project Title
Total ARC
A/Prof Steve Blanksby
Multiplexed capabilities for surface analysis and imaging by mass spectrometry
$220,000
Prof Elena Pereloma
An aberration corrected analytical Transmission Electron Microscope for nanoscale characterisation of materials
$1,175,000
Prof Xiaolin Wang
A complete thermo-electric characterisation facility for exploration of novel materials and devices at high temperatures
$200,000
Dr Justin Yerbury
Integrated facility for confocal imaging and single molecule fluorescence analysis
$300,000
More details, including other investigators involved in projects, at www.uow.edu.au/research/outcomes
ARC fellowship/award outcomes Twelve highly qualified early and mid-career University of Wollongong researchers have been awarded more than $6M under the Future Fellowships and the inaugural Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRA).
Successful Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRA) DECRA
Approved Project Title/Proposal Title
Total ARC $
Dr Zhenguo Huang
Diammoniate of diborane for hydrogen storage
$375,000
Dr Jan-Hendrik May
The wet and dry of tropical Australia: past, present and future
$375,000
Dr Berwyck Poad
Unravelling the intrinsic structure and stability of multiply charged anions in the gas-phase using photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry
$375,000
Dr Melanie Randle
More foster carers for children in need: understanding heterogeneity among Australian foster carers to increase recruitment and placement success
$375,000
Dr Peter Siminski
Army service, employment incentives and veterans' life outcomes: a natural experiment
$375,000
Dr Frances Steel
Oceanic crossings: cultures of trans-Pacific passenger shipping in the age of steam, circa 1880-1960
$375,000
Dr Justin Yerbury
Are Proteostasis defects responsible for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?
$375,000
22
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
Successful Future Fellowships 2011 Fellow
Approved Project Title/Proposal Title
Total ARC $
Dr Heath Ecroyd
Small heat shock proteins: front-line defenders and therapeutic targets
$654,528
Dr Jung Ho Kim
Development of a solid nitrogen cooled magnesium diboride (MgB2) magnet for persistentmode operation
$708,008
Dr Todd Mitchell
Lipidomics of vision
$707,746
Dr Nadia Solowij
Cannabis and the brain: the good, the bad and the unknown
$818,576
Dr Haibo Yu
Computational enzymology: exploring the free energy landscape of enzymatic catalysis
$584,493
Dr Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn has been awarded an Early Career Researcher Award of $440,863 over 3 years through the ARC Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering (administered through the University of Newcastle). Dr Rujikiatkamjorn’s project is titled ‘Effectiveness of prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) and vacuum application in the stabilization of soft in-situ clays.”
2012 URC Small Grant Scheme 45 applications were successful, with a total of $548,728 in funding awarded across all faculties. For details of successful applications visit https://intranet.uow.edu.au/raid/rso/grantoutcomes/ UOW110976.html
Upcoming funding opportunities Funding Body/Scheme
Opening date
Closing date
BUPA Health Foundation
31 Oct 2011
11 Dec 2011
Centres of Research Excellence
28 Oct 2011
30 Jan 2012
Project Grants
7 Dec 2011
14 March 2012
Research and Practitioner Fellowships
12 Dec 2011
9 Feb 2012
Career Development Fellowships
16 Jan 2012
28 Mar 2012
NHMRC
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
23
LIBRARY NEWS
What’s New on UOW’s Research Online
New Journal: Middle East Media Educator http://ro.uow.edu.au/meme/ The Middle East Media Educator is the latest open access journal to be published on Research Online. Middle East Media Educator (MEME) is a refereed journal published annually at the University of Wollongong in Dubai. It strives to encourage dialogue between industry and academe in a region where informed analysis of the media isn’t widespread. Research articles and commentaries about the state of the media, media professions, media education, and other topics relevant to the region are welcome. New centre page: Shoalhaven Marine & Freshwater Centre The Shoalhaven Marine & Freshwater Centre is using Research Online to host the research outputs of the centre. On their page, http://ro.uow.edu.au/smfc/, they have uploaded Journal articles, data, Reports and theses from authors within the centre. The Shoalhaven Marine and Freshwater Centre (SMFC) is part of the University’s strategy of providing the Illawarra, South Coast and Far South Coast regions of NSW with access to tertiary teaching and research services that meet the regional demands, address global challenges and are of the highest international standards. New book: Installation art http://ro.uow.edu.au/inart/1 Creative arts staff, Agnieszka Golda, Martin Johnson and Jo Stirling have produced a monograph that presents a series of three exhibitions developed collaboratively by Agnieszka Golda and Martin Johnson. Together Golda and Johnson have utilised crocheted and printed textiles, carved wood and painted aluminium to form strange dwellings, figures and passages. It describes a wonderful tracery of not quite recognisable anthropomorphic creatures who inhabit oddly constructed and disjointed spaces. Conference: 2011 SBS Higher Degree Research Student conference http://ro.uow.edu.au/sbshdr/2011/ The Sydney Business School used Research Online’s conference hosting facilities to present the conference program, linked with conference papers. Following the conference, presentation slides will also be available via the site.
24
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
Are you having difficulties with getting published? Book a Research Consultation with an Outreach Librarian who can take you through potential publishing opportunities with the greatest impact for your research career. Request a tailored Research Consultation: www.library.uow.edu.au/researchers
RESEARCHER PROFILE Prof. Andrew Goldsmith New researchers can learn much from Professor Andrew Goldsmith, Executive Director of the Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention, as he speaks to Ainsley Lynch, Library, about the journey to the Director’s position. As a bright young student from a small South Australian country town, Professor Goldsmith set off to the University of Adelaide at 17 to become a lawyer. He lasted 2 years practising in a small law firm in Renmark, South Australia, before embarking on his Masters at the prestigious London School of Economics. Goldsmith saved all his money over those two years in Renmark so that he could spend an entire year in studying London. Deciding to do more study (and more travel) Goldsmith was offered a scholarship by the University of Toronto to research policing accountability and the effect of police unions. Since then he has held positions at Monash University, Flinders University as well as at the University of Warwick and Brunel University, and in January 2009, took up the Executive Director role at University of Wollongong’s Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention. Young researchers can take many cues from Goldsmith, who grabbed every opportunity available to him. At the University of Toronto, he met virtually every important researcher in his field. Meeting such influential people early in his career has granted him many opportunities he wouldn’t have had otherwise, “I attended every lecture offered by authors I admired,” Goldsmith remembers, “I made sure I met them afterwards and asked plenty questions, I guess looking back I was a quite bold at the time.” One of these people was David Bayley (Dean and Professor of the School of Criminal Justice, State University of New York) who later wrote the preface to Goldsmith’s first book, “Complaints against the police : the trend to external review”, which led in part to Oxford University Press (London) publishing it. In 1993, as a result of the book, Goldsmith was invited to Colombia to join a team given the difficult task of reforming their police force, and visited Colombia many times over 12 years to look at transnational crime, including people smuggling and drug trafficking. When asked what advice he would give young researchers, he strongly recommends following your curiosity, “My interest in policing started when I was practising law”, a client’s evidence wasn’t being accepted due to assumptions made by the police, several years later he discovered the academic freedom of writing a scholarly paper on the problem, influencing a change in the system. Goldsmith travelled widely to compare different cultural or government systems which have given him different perspectives on policing and crime. “Travel allows researchers to build networks”, Goldsmith says “talking to leading scholars in your field can open many doors.” “Working with people from different disciplines” is also important to Goldsmith as value to the research, which is also important for obtaining grants. Goldsmith’s is currently finishing up his new book following the successful wrap up of his Australian Research Council Linkage Grant “Policing the Neighbourhood”. Goldsmith who has published
prolifically, may not have been so persistent in resubmitting his papers and books to publishers had it not been for a chance dinner he had in 1985 with respected researcher, David Nelken. Goldsmith mentioned over dinner his disappointment about journals rejecting his papers when Nelken exclaimed that all researchers are regularly rejected by journals. “Sometimes it isn’t the case of failure” Goldsmith says, “sometimes it’s bad timing, or just the wrong journal.” Goldsmith thinks this dinner was pivotal to the progress of his career. Goldsmith’s next project involves looking at the interface between peace keeping and organised crime. He has put together a new interdisciplinary team from people whom he met over the last two decades, while working in Canada, UK and Colombia. For more information on the Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention, go to: http://ctcp.uow.edu.au Professor Andrew Goldsmith’s tips for research students: •Take the initiative to personally meet with respected authors in your field, these relationships will be crucial to your career trajectory if you are able to draw on them later •Travel in order to meet and work with people from different institutions to compare across different boundaries •Collaborate with researchers from different disciplines •Everyone gets rejected by journals, don’t take it personally, keep refining and resubmitting •Investigate journals and publishers with the best fit for your paper or book
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
25
COMMERCIAL RESEARCH NEWS
PM visits iAccelerate iAccelerate, a purpose built structure to house 25 fast growth, hi-tech businesses proposed for Innovation Campus, was launched on October 18 at the at the State of the Illawarra Summit, attended by Prime Minister Julie Gillard. Elizabeth Eastland, Director of Commercial Research and Information and Technology Transfer at UOW explained the project to an impressed Prime Minister. It aims to deliver an ICT industry cluster to the Illawarra region, 500 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs, and attract $70 million of investments to the region in the first five years of operation. Along the way, UOW students and graduates will be transformed into entrepreneurs. iAccelerate is based on world’s best practice of regional transformation - Waterloo Canada - a region with an economic history and geography strikingly similar to Wollongong. Over the
last decade Waterloo has transformed itself in just over ten years from a manufacturing economy worth billions to an $18B high tech economy; grown from 50 to 750 tech firms; created 28,000 new high tech jobs; and home to household names such as Research in Motion, inventors of the Blackberry. iAccelerate will be the only regional accelerator that has direct access to the highest number of ICT graduates from UOW, content provision from world class research centres, coupled with early role out of NBN. Realising the promise of the NBN to deliver a regional economic transformation, the iAccelerate Centre will be a hothouse for NBN application development and provide a test bed for rapid prototype development of broadband applications as well as direct market testing and beneficial engagement with local and national NBN connected communities. More at www.iaccelerate.com.au.
StartPad open for business StartPad, a local ideas incubator located in Wollongong CBD, was launched in October. StartPad provides local entrepreneurs with a space to co-locate their early stage businesses in a peer-to-peer creative environment. StartPad is a collaboration between Wollongong City Council, who provided the top floor of the building, the University of Wollongong, NSW Trade and Investment and Regional Development Australia Illawarra. Within a few weeks, part of the former tourist information centre will become a place for 20 local entrepreneurs to turn their startup idea into reality. More at www.iaccelerate.com.au.
Graduate Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship UOW has just launched an Australian first with a Graduate Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship delivered by the Sydney Business School. The Graduate Certificate gives a foundation in business entrepreneurship to develop the skills together with real life project based experience to maximise the likelihood of a successful an entrepreneurial career. For course inquiries Dr Lee Styger on lstyger@uow.edu.au or 024221 8138.
UOW eClub continues to flourish The UOW eClub held its most recent meeting on 18 October with two inspiring speakers holding the floor. Dr Howard Armitage, Executive Director of the Centre for Business and Entrepreneurship and Technology at the University of Waterloo, Canada and local boy and UOW graduate Tim Berry, co-founder of Tibra Capital. Howard shared his insights into the education process of entrepreneurship in a university environment and some inspiring successes from this process. Tim spoke about the story of Tibra’s meteoric growth, and their strategy for lowering the businesses exposure to risk. Tim also revealed how being involved in a global business from Wollongong provides both challenges and benefits.
26
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
The meeting was a great success with over 80 attendees with strong feedback from participants on how informative and insightful the evening was. The eClub also hosted a workshop on Venture Capital Funding titled “The Down and Dirty of Raising Venture Capital Funds” on 15th November. The workshop was designed to give budding entrepreneurs the inside running on gaining the upper hand when pitching, presenting and applying for funds in the cutthroat world of Venture Capital. To find out more about the eClub contact Melissa Ryan on mryan@ uow.edu.au or follow UOW eClub on Facebook and Twitter.
PODS NEWS
Networking key to Early Career Researcher success
“As the institutional fabric of both academic, research and education continues to change, where interdisciplinary research is not only a desired characteristic of leading universities around the world but is constantly creeping into selection criteria, the role of networking that sits within that is important….” On 10 October, Professional & Organisational Development Services (PODS) hosted a Networking Forum, led by Lorraine Denny (Manager PODS), with three invited panellists, Prof Nick Dixon (Chemistry), Prof Don Iverson (Pro Vice Chancellor Health) and Mr Garry Bowditch (Director, SMART Infrastructure). The Networking Forum forms part of the Early Career Researcher Development Program, supporting academic staff in the early stages of their research careers. Initiating the discussions, Lorraine Denny advised that the Networking Forum came about as a result of a training needs analysis which indicated that networking was an important area of development for many early career researchers. With that in mind, the three panellists kindly offered their time to share experiences and knowledge on how to organise and establish networks and were candid and insightful in their answers to questions posed by Lorraine Denny. In the context of research careers today, networking is a topic of renewed importance given that successful researchers today don’t work in silos and building a successful research career often relies on effective and fruitful networks. “…as the institutional fabric of both academic, research and education continues to change, where interdisciplinary research is not only a desired characteristic of leading universities around the world but is constantly creeping into selection criteria, the role of networking that sits within that is important….”, said Garry Bowditch.
There were three recurring themes for developing successful networking: •Initiative and Curiosity- be proactive and seek new contacts and career opportunities •Communication – be open to sharing information with and listen to others •Charity - don’t only benefit from your networks but contribute to them. The following are some of the networking tips garnered from the event. •If you are an introvert you may need to make the effort to talk to strangers at a networking event. If you are not used to talking to a stranger, strike a conversation by initiating questions that invite the other party to share information about themselves or their work. •If you make a contact at a networking event, ensure that you follow up as soon as possible, ideally in the next couple of days. •Keep in touch with your contact. The key here is to communicate with your contacts regularly. •Don’t make negative comments about colleagues or the networking event you are attending. •As long as you make an initiative to talk and present yourself truthfully, you will leave a good impression. PODS sincerely thank the panellist and all the attendees for their contribution to this event. The forum was recorded and will be available on the PODS website over the coming weeks. R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
27
RESEARCH STUDENT CENTRE NEWS
December graduation Congratulations to the 98 HDR students graduating at the December 2011 graduation ceremonies; 78 doctoral degrees will be conferred and 20 Masters – Research. Totals for each faculty are as follows: Arts – 8; Commerce – 8; Creative Arts – 3; Education – 10; Engineering – 18; Health & Behavioural Science – 9; Informatics – 14; Science – 22; Law – 6.
Annual Progress Report 2011 APRs were released on-line via SOLS to HDR students on 23 September 2011. For further enquiries go to the RSC website or contact Research Student Centre on (02) 42215452 or email research_student_centre@uow.edu.au
Due dates 14 November 2011
HDR Candidates should submit the final version of Section 1 of their progress report to their Principal supervisor.
28 November 2011
Principal Supervisor should complete Section 2 and publish to student.
6 December 2011
HDR Candidate should complete Section 3 and submit the progress report to the Head of Postgraduate Studies.
20 December 2011
The Head of Postgraduate Studies should forward Section 4 of the APR to the Dean of the Faculty
31 January 2012
The Dean of Faculty should return the APR following their recommendation to the Research Student Centre
1–28 February 2012
RSC process HDR re-enrolments, LOA requests etc for 2012 More information at: www.uow.edu.au/research/rsc/
Enrolling and re-enrolling The Research Student Centre will soon commence enrolling, re-enrolling and processing HDR students for Autumn and Spring Session 2012. Re-enrolments and enrolment variations are only processed following a complete and satisfactory 2011 Annual Progress Report. Please ensure that all re-enrolments and variations (Leave of Absence, change of enrolment status etc) reach the Research Student Centre research_student_centre@uow.edu.au
Orientation and Enrolment Day 2012 The HDR Student Orientation Day and Enrolment Day will be held on Wednesday, 22nd February commencing at 9.00 am in Building 20, Lecture Theatre 2. This year the Orientation will coincide with “O Week Festival” so that HDR students can be participate in “O Week” celebrations.
28
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
directly. Requests for variations must be received by the census date of 31 March 2012 – together with supervisor support if submitting these requests separate to the Annual Progress Report. We also ask that, once enrolled, a student should check that all of their enrolment details are correct, if not correct please contact Research Student Centre by email above or phone 4221 5453 immediately.
Endeavour Awards Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Endeavour Award Bronwyn Lang. from the Faculty of Creative Arts (School of Journalism & Creative Writing) has been annouced as the winner of the Prime Minister’s Australia Asie Endeavour Award. She is currently in her first year of the Doctor of Philosophy. Her supervisor is Mr Alan Wearne and her project title is Travelling Light. As a part of the award, Bronwyn will travel to Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research – India with her focus of theoretical research on the life and work of Australian poet Vicki Viidikas (1948-1998) who travelled and wrote throughout India between the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Principal Supervisor Professor Paul Cooper and Co-supervisor Dr Zhenjun Ma Daniel’s research project is: Optimal Retrofit Strategies and Effects of Occupant Behaviour. Daniel’s research fellowship will be with Host Institution the University College of London, United Kingdom. April Ash is in her 3rd year of the PhD in the School of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences. Her supervisors are: Associate Professor Stephen Palmisano and Professor Julie Steele. April’s research project is: An ecological analysis of illusory selfmotion in depth: The role active control, multisensory stimulation and scene consistency. April’s research fellowship will be with Host Institution York University, Toronto, Canada.
ENDEAVOUR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP Congratulations to the follwing recipients of Endevour Research Fellowships. Dr Haiping Du is an Academic Staff member of the School of Electrical, Computer & Telecommunications Engineering, Faculty of Informatics. Haiping’s research will be with Host Institution the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong in Engineering & Related Technologies – Automotive. Dr Sima Aminorroaya-Yamini is an Academic Staff member of the Institute of Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Faculty of Engineering. Sima’s research will be with Host Institution the California Institute of Technology in Engineering & Related Technologies – Process and Resources Engineering. Daniel Daly (pictured right) is in his first year of the PhD in the School of Mechanical, Materials and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. His supervisors are:
ETHICS NEWS
Upcoming meeting dates Agenda deadline
Meeting date
Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) Health and Medical
23 November 2011 18 January 2012
13 December 2011 7 February 2012
Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) Social Sciences
30 November 2011 18 January 2012
15 December 2011 9 February 2012
Animal Ethics Committee
26 January 2011 8 March 2012
16 February 2012 29 march 2012
15 February 2012 16 May 2012
29 February 30 May 2012
Gene Technology Review Committee
More information at: www.uow.edu.au/research/ethics
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
29
PUBLICATIONS
Outstanding new publications Congratulations to the following UOW researchers who have recently had their work published. •Associate Professor Stephen Blanksby (Science) and Dr Todd Mitchell (Health & Behavioural Science) have recently had their research on lipids highlighted in the cover article of the prestigious journal, Chemical & Engineering News. • Three UOW academics have collaborated on a book which synthesises stories of lived experience regarding mental illness to provide a framework for clinical work and research in the field of recovery. The book, Psychological recovery: Beyond mental illness, was written by Research Fellow Dr Retta Andresen, who was part of the team that won a Gold Award at the International Mental Health Services Conference in 2009, Dr Lindsay Oades, Clinical and Health Psychologist and Director of the Australian Institute of Business Wellbeing and Associate Professor Peter Caputi, from UOW’s School of Psychology, who is a consulting editor for The Journal of Constructivist Psychology and The Journal of Psychology:Interdisciplinary and Applied. • Forensic psychiatrist, Associate Professor Robert M Kaplan, from the Department of Psychiatry has recently had a book entitled The Exceptional Brain and How It Changed the World published by Allen & Unwin. Dr Kaplan set out to explore the various brain diseases or conditions that have made some people very famous (or infamous), and often changed the course of history; from da Vinci to van Gogh, Hitler to Howard Hughes. “I set out to write a book about the brain, rather than the mind, without emulating the many excellent books that have already been written”, says Professor Kaplan. “ I ended up by looking at characters throughout history, starting with an unnamed stone age character in Africa, going through to Jack Ruby and Adolf Hitler. I also included five “brain men” who had made important contributions to our understanding of the brain (and often had interesting stories themselves).” Dr Kaplan says that while da Vinci clearly had an exceptional brain, he was not pathological. However, “In the case of Van Gogh, who clearly had some disturbed periods, I avoid making a diagnosis”, he says, “but focus on showing how his creativity manifested”. “ As for Hitler … I have a theory about his behaviour derived from newsreel footage suggesting that he had premature Parkinson’s Syndrome as a result of encephalitis lethargica – but I will leave readers to make up their own minds about that”. • Dr Sarah Sorial, from the Faculty of Law, has had her involved study into free speech published by Routledge. Sedition and the Advocacy of Violence: Free Speech and Counter-Terrorism, argues that people are able to do different things with their speech because of the social positions they occupy. Specifically, speakers with the relevant authority are able to do more things with their words precisely because of who they are. She argues that for this reason, they should be held to different standards of accountability because they have a different level of responsibility in relation to others. 30
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011
EVENTS
Monash’s Professor Paul Bonnington to give e-Research symposium Professor Paul Bonnington and the University of Wollongong At the invitation of DVC(R) Judy Raper, Professor Paul Bonnington, Director of Monash’s eResearch Centre (MeRC), will be visiting the University of Wollongong for two days, 28 & 29 November, 2011. Core to his visit is the initiation of a dialogue with all levels of the UOW research community emphasising the benefits and opportunities achievable through the use of highly effective eResearch systems revolving around data management, high performance computing and collaborative tools. During his time at UOW, he will be giving a one off ‘public’ presentation to our research community at the SMART Infrastructure Facility, Room 105. Monash University is a renowned leader of e-Research within Australia with expertise and leadership not only in the development of research data management programmes, but also of High Performance Computing, Grid Technology, Visualisation, Collaborative Computing and Data Mining. Further information on Monash’s eResearch activities can be found at www.monash.edu.au/eresearch/. As a highly respected researcher in Mathematics, Paul has made substantial contribution to combinatorics, graph theory, discrete and computational geometry, combinatorial computing and surface topology. His research interests have evolved to encompass his passion for high performance computing, collaborative environments and data management. Paul’s extensive publication history can be found at: www.bonnington.org/research.html. Prof Bonnington has a wealth of experience gained through a long and distinguished career in the application of technology to research. Paul has considerable experience in institutions developing and managing eResearch initiatives some of which include his role as Director of eResearch at the University of Auckland and his current role at MeRC.
Professor Paul Bonnington, Director, Monash e-Research Centre, Monash University
What: Our eResearch Future When: November 28, 2011 Time: 12.30 until 13.30, lunch for all those attendees will be available at SMART’s Foyer afterwards. Where: SMART Infrastructure Facility, Room 105
Oxford management scholar to give public lecture The Institute for Innovation in Business and Social Research (IIBSoR) and the Faculty of Commerce are pleased to be hosting world-renowned Management scholar Professor Andrew Pettigrew. Professor of Strategy and Organisation, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Prof Pettigrew will present a public lecture on the topic of Leading Strategic Change: What is a Processual Analysis? In his presentation he will examine what we know about why some organisations are able to adapt and change and others find this difficult. Discussing current thinking about leadership, change and organisational performance, he will illustrate his talk with a variety of examples.
Prof. Pettigrew was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours list for his services to higher education. He is author, co-author or editor of 15 books and has published in many of the top management journals in the US and Europe. He has been awarded many distinctions as a scholar. In 2002 he was the first, and is still the only non North American to be elected the Distinguished Scholar of the US Academy of Management. Time: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Location: Wollongong City Gallery – Bluescope Room RSVP: 02 4221 4437 or iibsor-info@uow.edu.au
R esearch & I nnovation N ews
l
31
Research Services Office, Building 20, Level 1, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522 research@uow.edu.au | +61 2 4221 3386 | www.uow.edu.au/research
32
l
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011