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The University of Melbourne Research Review August 2010.
Published by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) through the Marketing and Communications Office
Level 3 – 780 Elizabeth StreetThe University of MelbourneVictoria 3010
ISSN 1441–3302
Enquiries for reprinting information contained in this publication should be made through the Editor Research Review.
Marketing and Communications OfficeLevel 3 – 780 Elizabeth StreetThe University of MelbourneVictoria 3010
t +61 3 8344 5267 f +61 3 9349 4135
A complete listing of University of Melbourne research projects is available at: www.research.unimelb.edu.au/rpag/reports/research
Editor: Silvia Dropulich
Design: Darren RathPhotography: Fred Kroh (p4, p10, p24), Louis Porter (p22)Artwork: Chris Dyson (p6, p13)Writers: Silvia Dropulich, Nerissa Hannink, Catriona May, Zoe Nikakis, Emma O’Neill, David Scott, Rebecca Scott, Sally Sherwen, Katherine Smith.
Views expressed by contributors to Research Review are not necessarily endorsed or approved by the University. Neither the University nor the Editor of Research Review accepts any responsibility for the content or accuracy contained in this publication.
© The University of Melbourne
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
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3 Introduction and overview
Features
4 Artoutoftheshadows
7 Decisions,decisions:howyourbraincontrolsyourbehaviour
8 Expertstotackleaquaticpollution
10 Whatdrivesgeneticdifferences?
12 SPECIAL REPORT: Our Centres of Excellence target priority areas of research
14 Studyshowsmismatchbetweenwomen’seducationlevelsandworkplaceparticipation
17 Thegiftofsight
18 NewMelbourneBrainCentretargetsneurodegenerativediseases
20Learningtolivewithfire
23 IndigenousidentityinMelbourne
24Child’splay
25 The University at a glance
26 RESEARCH NEWS
32 UpdateonInstitutes
CONTENTS
1
researchinstitutes.melbourne.edu
World-class expertise and knowledge -
all in the one place.
Our Research Institutes are taking new directions,
applying new ways of thinking, and bringing together
the best minds from over 50 disciplines. From energy
and sustainability, to biotechnology and neuroscience,
we’re all working together to make a positive
contribution to the world and provide cutting-edge
opportunities for the next generation of researchers.
The answers to some of the world’s most challenging problems lie in cross-disciplinary research.
A Global Research Powerhouse
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
2
DISCOVERy IS A gREAT HUmAN EFFORT.
Agreatdiscoveryoftenstartswithoneidea,whichistransformedbyvigour,persistenceandcollaboration.ThiseditionofResearch Reviewcelebratesdiscoverythroughpartnerships.
TheUniversity’slinkswithleadinginstitutionsaretestamenttoitsforwardthinking,community-mindedstrategyandvision.TheselinksprovidetheUniversitywithresources,financialsupportandindustry-basedexpertise.
ThepartnershipsfeaturedinthiseditionofResearch Reviewshowhowworkingtogethercanleadtoextraordinaryoutcomes.
Highlightsinclude:
+ theARCCentreofExcellenceforFreeRadicalChemistryandBiotechnologyisworkingwiththeUniversity’sCentreforCulturalMaterialsConservationtofindouthowtopreventmicroorganismsdamaginghistoricalitems.
+ thenewlyformedVictorianCentreforAquaticPollutionIdentificationandManagement(CAPIM),ledbytheUniversityofMelbourne,whichisdevelopingnoveltechniquestomanagepreviouslyundetectedpollutants.TheCentre’sresearchersworkcloselywithexpertsfromMelbourneWater,theVictorianDepartmentofPrimaryIndustries,theEnvironmentProtectionAuthority(EPA)andRMIT.
TheUniversitymaintaineditsexcellentresearchperformanceduring2009withsuccessinwinningcompetitivegrantsaugmentedbysignificantexternalfundingtowardsmajorinitiativesthatpositionourprogramsandresearchersforfutureachievement.Ofparticularnoteistheawardof$42millionfortheBionicEyeprojectledbytheUniversity.Pages16–17providesasnapshotofthekeyplayersinvolvedinthisprojectfromtheCentreforEyeResearchAustraliaandtheMelbourneMaterialsInstitutetotheBionicEarInstitute,theUniversity’sDepartmentofElectricalandElectronicEngineeringandmanyothers.
TheSpecialReportonpages12–13providesanoverviewofourARCCentresofExcellence.TheUniversityofMelbourneisaleadparticipantinfoursuchCentresandakeycollaboratorandpartnerinafurther12.
AkeyplatformoftheUniversity’sresearchstrategyisthedevelopmentofstrongcollaborativepartnerships.TheUniversity’spartnershipwithIBMhasseentheestablishmentofa‘collaboratory’whichhasthepotentialtofast-trackresearchintomajorhealthconditions.ThepartnershipwilldramaticallyincreasetheresearchandsupercomputingcapabilitiesoftheUniversityofMelbourne-led$100MVictorianLifeSciencesComputationalInitiative(VLSCI),establishedin2008tostrengthentheresearchcapabilitiesandoutcomesofVictorianlifesciencesresearch.
AnewresearchpartnershipbetweenBellLabs,theresearcharmofAlcatel-Lucent,hasledtotheestablishmentofanewresearchfacility,theCentreforEnergy-EfficientTelecommunications(CEET).The$10Mcentre’sresearchwillfocusonthecontinuingdevelopmentoftelecommunicationsnetworks,whilereducingtheenergyconsumptionandcarbonfootprintofthesetechnologies.
Research Reviewisastimulatingandinspiringpublication.Therearewonderfulopportunitiestointeractwithusortobecomepartofthe‘MelbourneExperience’.Ihopeyouwillbeasexcitedasweareabouttheseopportunities.
Professor Peter Rathjen Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Welcome to the 2010 Edition of Research Review
3
NEW RESEARCHattheUniversityofMelbourneusingfreeradicalstopreventmicro-organismdamageofhistoricalitemsishelpingtobringartoutoftheshadowsandintoview.
TheresearchisbeingcarriedoutbyCarolineKyi,adoctoralresearcherintheARCCentreofExcellenceforFreeRadicalChemistryandBiotechnologyandtheUniversity’sCentreforCulturalMaterialsConservation.
MsKyiisexploringhowthefreeradicalnitricoxidecanbeusedtopreventthegrowthofharmfulaggregationsofmicro-organismscalledbiofilmsonculturallysignificantartworksandmonuments.Biofilmgrowthonorganicartsurfacesandsubstrates,suchaspaintandvarnish,paper,stoneandwood,isdifficulttoremovewithoutdamagingtheartandoftencausesthesurfacetofade,crackorstain.
“Innature,nitricoxideisusedwithinbiofilmcoloniestocommunicateinformationaboutthesurroundingenvironment.Insituationswheresustenanceforthemicro-organismsisscarce,morenitricoxideisreleasedtosignalthattheorganismsinthebiofilmshoulddisperseratherthanremainaggregated.InmyresearchIamtakingadvantageofthisnaturalprocessbydevelopingmethodologytoartificiallyencouragebiofilmdispersaland,therefore,preventbiofilmgrowth,”sheexplains.
“Inadditiontocausingstainingonpaintingsforinstance,orunwantedchangesinpigmentationlikefadingordarkening,biofilmscanalsocreatenicehabitatsforhigherorganismssuchasmouldorfungitodevelop,whichifleftuncheckedcanactuallycoloniseorgrowintothesubstrateofthework,andcausehugeproblems.”
“Micro-organismgrowthisonereasonwhymanyoftheworld’sgreatartworksarekeptinhi-tech,controlledmuseumlocations,butI’mparticularlyinterestedinoutdoorimmovableculture,andcontrollingbiodeteriorationofobjectsindiverseenvironments,”MsKyisays.
Aspecialistinwallpaintingsandmonuments,MsKyicitesamuralina13thcenturychurchinCypressonwhichsheworkedasanexampleofbiologicaldecay.Thesepiecesappearedfaded,andhadyellowedandtrappeddirtasaresultofexposuretohundredsofyearsofnearbycandleburningandlong-termvariationsinhumidityandtemperature,conditionswhichenhancebiodeterioration.
Inartconservancy,removalofdetritus,ormaterialsthataren’toriginaltotheartwork,isoftenacompromisebetweenensuringthattheobjectcanbeappreciatedvisually,andavoidingover-treatingordamagingthematerialsthroughouttheremediationprocess.
“That’swherescienceandartmeetinconservation.Scientificresearchinvestigatingthecompositionoftheoriginalmaterialsandtheirqualitycanrevealmuchabouttheconservationtechniquethatshouldbeemployed.Inthecaseofmyresearchandbioremediation,themoreweunderstandabouthowtheorganismdevelopsandwhatdamageitcouldpotentiallydototheartthemorelikelywearetodeveloptechnologytopreventorreversethedamage.”
“Societycan’tvalueaworkiftheycan’tseeit,”MsKyisays,“sopartofmyworkasascientistandconservatoristoinvestigatehowtoreinstateitsvalueusingimprovedmethodologyandminimalintervention,andallowthearttoemergefromtheshadowsoftime.”
Formoreinformation,see:www.freeradical.org.au
“Society can’t value a work if they can’t see it.”
5
THE SCARECROWfromthechildren’sclassicThe Wizard of Ozwasfamousforhiscatchcry“IfIonlyhadabrain!”Thequestionis:Whatwouldhedowithit?Howwoulditaffecthisbehaviour?Andwouldhisemotionsgetthebetterofhiminthesupermarket?
CognitivescientistDrPhilipHarrisandeconomistDrCarstenMurawskifromtheFacultyofBusinessandEconomicsarepartofauniquecross-disciplinaryteamlookingatjustthat:whichbrainprocessesunderliefundamentalhumandecisionmakingandwhatistherelationbetweenemotions,impulsivityandmoredeliberateprocesses.
“Understandingtheseinteractionshassignificantpolicy-makingimplicationsinabroadrangeofAustralianeconomic,socialandenvironmentalcontexts,”saysDrHarris,“fromthepromotionofsavingsforsuperannuation,toabstinencefromaddiction-relatedbehaviourandthemaintenanceofhealthylifestyles.”
The$50,000project,beingcompletedthroughtheMelbourneInterdisciplinarySeedFundingScheme,alsofeaturesthreeacademicsfromtheFacultyofMedicine,DentistryandHealthSciences:ProfessorGaryEgan,fromtheUniversity’sCentreforNeuroscience,perceptualconsciousnessexpertDrOliviaCarterandaddictionspecialistDrRobertHester.
Thecurrentviewindecision-makingresearch,accordingtoDrMurawski,isthatmultiplesub-processesareatworkinthebrainwhenwearemakingdecisions.
“Atleastoneoftheseheavilyinvolvesthelimbicsystem,thepartofthebrainthatprocessesaffectoremotions,”hesays.
“Weknowthataffectplaysanintegralpartindecisionmaking–peoplewithlesionsintheareasthatprocessaffecttypicallyaremuchpoorerdecisionmakers–butwedon’tquiteunderstandwhatexactlythatroleis,akeychallengeindecision-makingresearchrightnow.
“Ourresearchisinvestigatingtheneuralprocessesthroughwhichemotionsinfluencecertainfundamentalaspectsofeconomicdecisionmaking,preferencesfortime,andriskpreferences,”saysDrMurawski.
Atfirstglance,neuroscienceandemotionswouldseemtobefarremovedfromthefieldsofbusinessandeconomics,butDrMurawskibelievesthatthethreehavemoreincommonthanyoumaythink.
“Economistshavestruggledtocomeupwithmodelsthataccuratelydescribehumanbehaviour,”hesays.“Thebehaviourofhumansseemstodeviatesystematicallyfromthepredictionsofclassicaleconomicmodelsbasedonrationality.
Forexample,manyofusbehavemoreimpulsivelythantherationalmodelspredict.Andmanyofusseemtooverweighsmallprobabilitiesandunderweighlargeprobabilitiesofdecisionoutcomeswhenfacedwithrisk.”
“Economicmodelsofdecisionmaking,forexamplehowwetradeoffconsumptionnowagainstsaving(consumptionlater),orhowmuchriskwetake,actuallyhaveratherlowexplanatorypowerofactualbehaviour,andwehopethatstudyingtheneuralbasisofthosedecisionswillprovideuswithvaluableinsightstoimproveourmodels.”
“Economicmodellinghasalreadyhelpedtobetterunderstandcertainbasichumanbehaviourlikeeyeandhandmovement,”saysDrMurawski.“Nowthechallengeistoachieveasimilarunderstandingofmorecomplexbehaviour,includingeconomicdecisionmaking.Theideaistouseeconomicmodellingtechniquestomodelbrainactivation,andinsightsfromneurosciencetobuildbettermodelsofeconomicbehaviour.”
Decisions, decisions: how your brain controls your behaviourBy David Scott
7
RESEARCHERSattheVictorianCentreforAquaticPollutionIdentificationandManagement(CAPIM)aredevelopingnoveltechniquestoidentifyandmanagepreviouslyundetectedpollutantsandovercomelimitationsincurrentmonitoringtechniques.
Inthepast,scientistsfacedsignificantchallengeswhenattemptingtomonitoraquaticpollutantlevels,includinganinabilitytodistinguishwherethepollutantiscomingfromandaninabilitytomeasurepollutantsatavarietyofconcentrations.CAPIMwillusehighlysophisticatedmonitoringapproachesbroadlybasedaroundmacroinvertebratesandbiomarkerstotackleVictoria’saquaticpollutionproblemhead-on.
CAPIMCEODrVincentPettigrove(picturedright)believesthatdrought,climatechange,theincreasinghumanpopulationanddemandsonourwaterresourcesmeanthatwefacegreatchallengestomaintainhealthyaquaticecosystems.
“Pollutionisamajorthreattothesesystems,butcurrentlyitisdifficulttoknowwhateffectpollutionhasonaquaticecosystemhealth,whatspecificpollutantsarecausingstressandwhatcanbedonetoreducepollutionimpacts.CAPIMbringstogetherworld-classresearcherstouseavailabletechnologiesanddevelopnewwaystoisolatepollutionimpacts,”saysDrPettigrove.
“Wedidn’thavetherighttoolstobeabletoidentifycertaintoxins,butthenewmonitoringapproachesdevelopedatCAPIMallowustomeasurechemicalsthathaveneverbeenmeasuredbefore.
“CAPIMbringstogetherawiderangeofexpertisetotackleouraquaticpollutionproblem–zoologists,entomologists,geneticists,chemistsandecotoxicologistsareallmembersoftheteam,”saysProfessorAryHoffmann,theResearchDirectorofCAPIM(seeProfileonpage10).
“TheCentreprovidesanopportunityforpartnerstodevelopnewresearchtoolsformonitoringpollutionandidentifyingremediationstrategiesinwaterways,usingthelatestchemicaldetectionmethodsandnewbiologicalapproachesthattakeadvantageofrapidadvancesinDNAandproteintechnologies.Theresearchteamwillworktoprovideadeepunderstandingofpollutionproblemsinfreshwaterandestuarinesystems.”
TheCentrewillbeledbytheUniversityofMelbourne(withthemainresearchcentrehousedintheBio21MolecularScienceandBiotechnologyInstitute),workingwithexpertsfromMelbourneWater,theDepartmentofPrimaryIndustries(Vic),EnvironmentProtectionAuthority(Vic),andRMIT.
Inadditiontoenvironmentalbenefitsassociatedwithhealthierwaterways,Victoriaislikelytobenefiteconomicallyaswell.Victoria’sinlandwaterwaysandestuariesprovideanestimated$368millionofbenefitsayearasasourceofrecreationalactivitiessuchasfishing,watersportsandcamping,withriver-dependenttourismandfishingexpenditureworthanadditional$533millionayear.
TheCentrewillreceive$2.94millionofVictorianScienceAgendaInvestmentFundingoverthreeyearsfrom2010withadditionalfundingbeingcontributedbypartnersMelbourneWater,DPIVictoriaandEPAVictoria.
Thefirstscientificresultsonthehealthofsomeofourwaterwaysareexpectedtobereleaseintheupcomingmonths.
Experts to tackle aquatic pollutionBy Sally Sherwen
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
8
“The first scientific results on the health of some of our waterways are expected to be released in coming months.”
9
ProfessorAryHoffmann(picturedleft),ARCLaureateFellow,DirectorofMelbourne’sCentreforEnvironmentalStressandAdaptationResearch(CESAR),FellowAustralianAcademyofScience,ResearchDirectorVictorianCentreforAquaticPollutionIdentificationandManagement.
PROFESSOR HOFFmANNhasalwaysbeeninterestedinnaturalvariationamongorganisms,howitcreatesthediversityoflifeandhowitisharnessedinourfoodproduction.Itishisdrivingpassion.
Hetracesthispassiontogrowinguponafarmandseeingfirsthanddifferentvarietiesofvegetablesandcropsandinsects.
“Iwasalwaysinterestedinvariabilityandevolution–howorganismsfittheirenvironment,”ProfessorHoffmanntoldResearch Review.
“WhatIamexcitedaboutatthemomentistryingtounderstandwhatmakesoneorganismbecomeveryrestrictedandverythreatenedandstuckinoneenvironmentwhileaverycloselyrelatedspeciesthatgeneticallymaynotdifferthatmuchmaybeabletotolerateawiderangeofenvironments.
“WhatI’mtryingtodoistotryandunderstandwhatmakesthosedifferencesatageneticandphysiologicallevel.”
ProfessorHoffmann’sresearchaddressesthewayorganisms(particularlyinsects)dealwithenvironmentalstresses.Hehaspublishedwidelyonthegenesinvolvedinadaptingtowarmingandcoolingclimates,thewaystressfulenvironmentsinfluenceevolution,andtheuseofinsectsasawayofmonitoringstressfulconditionsincludingthoseduetopollutants.
ProfessorHoffmann’steamiscurrentlytestingwhatdrivesgeneticdifferencesandhowinsectsadapttostressfulconditions.
“Wethinkithasalottodowiththefactthatwhenanorganismfindsitselfinoneenvironmentforalongperiodoftime,itsgenesstarttodecay.
“WesuspectthatbiodiversitymayactuallybedrivenbyaDNAdecayprocess.”
Ifthisturnedouttobethecaseitmightbepossibletopredictwhetheranorganismisparticularlysusceptibletonotbeingabletosurvivecertainenvironments.Itwillalsohelpidentifyorganismsusefulformonitoringenvironmentaldeterioration.
UsingdifferentspeciesofAustralianvinegarfliesasmodels,scientistsattheUniversityofMelbournehavealreadyfoundthatthecommonspeciesisabletoevolveandadapttoclimatechangebuttheircousins–whoonlyinhabittropicalrainforest–arenotableto.Theyarenowalsotestingthisideainalpinegrassesandaquaticinsects.
“Thedangerthatspeciesinthreatenedenvironments,liketropicalrainforestsandalpinemeadows,maynotsurviveclimatechangenowappearsmoreacutethanpreviouslythought,”ProfessorHoffmannsaid.
ForProfessorHoffmann,theworkheisengagedinmakeshimappreciatethedetrimentaleffectsthathumanactivitiesarehavingontheenvironment.Onelessonthatwiderengagementhastaughthimisthatscientificapproachescanbeusedtodevelopcreativesolutionstomanyproblemsfacinghumanitybutyoustillneedpoliticalsolutionstoimplementthem.
“Byusingnewgenetically-basedtechniqueswewillundoubtedlybecomebetteratsuppressingpestpopulations,butimplementingthesetechniqueswillbechallengingbecauseoftheinherentfearofthesetechnologies”ProfessorHoffmannsaid.
“OneofthethingsIfeelquitestronglyaboutismaintaininggeneticandspeciesbiodiversityforfuturegenerations.Mostofusliveinsterileurbanenvironmentswherewearedisconnectedfromthediversityoflifethatprovideswater,food,andotheressentialsforoursurvival.
“Wehaveshownthatbiodiversityhelpstokeepthepestsinourenvironmentincheck,andthatgeneticdiversityisneededforallsortsoforganismstoevolveandpersistunderclimatechangeandotherstresses.Yetitisdifficulttogetmanagersanddecisionmakerstothinkaboutthevalueofthisdiversity.
ProfessorHoffmannsaysthatthehumanspecieshasalreadydoneanawfullotofdamagetotheenvironment,notjustthroughdestroyingnaturalhabitatsbutalsobyintroducinginvasivespecies,disruptingnaturalecologicalandevolutionaryprocesses,andreleasingpollutants.
“IfyouconsidertheStateofVictoria,thenmostitsnaturalenvironmentsareundersomeformofstressatthemoment.
“Andyetwedon’tquiteappreciatethatweneedtheseenvironmentsforourlifesupportsystems.Wesimplydon’tplaceenoughvalueonthem.”
ProfessorHoffmann’sresearchhasledtonewmethodsofusinggenesandinsectstomonitorforenvironmentalpollutants,newwaysofcontrollingpests,andnewwaystopromotetheconservationofspeciesandcommunitiesthreatenedbyclimatechange.
“…the human species has already done an awful lot of damage to the environment…”
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TheARC’sCentresofExcellenceprogrammaintainsanddevelopsAustralia’sinternationalstandingintheCommonwealthGovernment’sdesignatedPriorityAreasofResearch:
+ Nano-MaterialsandBio-Materials(NBM)+ Genome/PhenomeResearch(GPR)+ Complex/IntelligentSystems(CSI)+ PhotonScienceandTechnology(PST).
TheUniversityofMelbourneistheleadparticipantinfouroftheseCentres:theARCCentreofExcellenceforParticlePhysicsattheTera-Scale;theARCCentreofExcellenceforFreeRadicalChemistryandBiotechnology,theARCCentreofExcellenceinCoherentX-rayScience,andtheARCCentreofExcellenceforMathematicsandStatisticsofComplexSystems.Melbourneisalsoakeycollaboratorandpartnerinafurther12centres:ARCCentreofExcellenceinDesigninLightMetals;ARCCentreofExcellenceinOreDeposits;ARCCentreofExcellenceforIntegrativeLegumeResearch(UniversityofQueensland);ARCCentreofExcellenceforQuantumComputerTechnology(UNSW);ARCCentreofExcellenceforKangarooGenomics(AustralianNationalUniversity);theARCCentreofExcellenceinBiotechnologyandDevelopment(UniversityofNewcastle);ARCCentreofExcellenceinPlantCellWallBiology(UniversityofAdelaide);ARCCentreofExcellenceforQuantumComputationandCommunicationTechnology(UniversityofNewSouthWales);ARCCentreofExcellenceforClimateSystemScience(UniversityofNewSouthWales);ARCCentreofExcellenceforAll-skyAstrophysics(UniversityofSydney);ARCCentreofExcellenceforEnvironmentalDecisions(UniversityofQueensland);andtheARCCentreofExcellencefortheHistoryofEmotions(UniversityofWesternAustralia).
ARC Centre of Excellence for Free Radical Chemistry and BiotechnologyTheARCCentreofExcellenceforFreeRadicalChemistryandBiotechnologywasestablishedin2005throughtheawardofanAustralianResearchCouncilgrantworth$12millionoverfiveyears.Atthebeginningof2009,theCentrewasawardedafurther$9.8milliontocontinueitsgroundbreakingfreeradicalresearch.
TheCentreisacollaborativeventurebetweentheUniversityofMelbourne,theAustralianNationalUniversity,theUniversityofSydney,theHeartResearchInstitute,MonashUniversityandtheQueenslandUniversityofTechnology.
TheCentreishometoover140researchers,drawingtogetherauniquegroupingoffundamentalchemists,medicinalchemists,biochemists,biologistsandmaterialsscientistsdedicatedtotheunderstandingandapplicationoffreeradicalchemistry.
OrganisationsthatareaffiliatedwiththeCentreinclude:BluescopeSteel,PPGIndustriesAustraliaPtyLtd,theCentreforCulturalMaterialsConservation,theEnvironmentalBiotechnologyCo-operativeResearchCentre,OsakaPrefectureUniversity(Japan)andtheRudjerBoskovicInstitute(Croatia).
TheaimoftheCentreistoexpandthefrontiersoffreeradicalchemistryandbiotechnology,anddevelopadvancedmaterialsandtechnologiesforbuildingandtransformingindustry.
TheCentre’sresearchprogramisbroad,encompassingfundamentalandappliedfreeradicalchemistryresearchrelevanttohealth,theenvironment,andmaterialstechnology.
Forexample,theCentrehasmadesignificantadvancementsinareassuchas:
+ diseasepreventionandpharmaceuticaldevelopment
+ custom-designedplasticsandsurfacecoatings
+ newtechnologyforthepreservationofpaints,plasticsandculturallysignificantartwork
+ thecharacterisationoffreeradicalsintheatmosphereandtheireffectonhealth
+ ‘virtuallaboratory’freeradicalchemistryusingsupercomputers.
Web:www.freeradical.org.au
ARC Centre of Excellence for mathematics and Statistics of Complex Systems (mASCOS)Complexsystemsplayakeyroleinavastrangeofactivitiesvitaltothefunctioningandwellbeingofsocietyandhumanity,inboththenaturalandconstructedworld.
TheARCCentreofExcellenceforMathematicsandStatisticsofComplexSystems(MASCOS)stimulatesandhonesresearchactivityinordertounderstandandmanagethesecomplexsystems.
Suchresearchfocusesonthreeflagshipapplicationsthatreflectkeysocietalconcernsunderpinnedbycomplexsystems:accurateassessmentoffinancialrisk;securityoflargeengineeringgrids;andcontrolofemergingpests,diseasesandpathogens.Tacklingtheseandotherkeyapplicationssuchasclimatemodellingdrawsuponavarietyofmathematicalandstatisticaltechniqueswhichformthebackboneofresearchintothesolutionoftheflagshipapplications.
MASCOSisengagedinanextensiveandvigorousoutreachprogramencompassing
SPECIAL REPORTOur Centres of Excellence target priority areas of researchCompiled by Silvia Dropulich
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
12
schools,commerce,industry,andthebroaderresearchcommunity.ItisintendedtoraisetheprofileandreinforcetheimportanceofthemathematicalsciencesacrossthespectrumofAustralia’sscientificandtechnologicaldevelopment.
MASCOSoperatesfromfivenodes:TheUniversityofMelbourne,TheAustralianNationalUniversity,TheUniversityofNewSouthWales,LaTrobeUniversity,andTheUniversityofQueensland.
Web:www.complex.org.au
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science (CXS)
TheARCCentreofExcellenceforCoherentX-rayScience(CXS)bringstogetherleadingAustralianresearchersinthefieldsof:X-rayphysics;thedesignanduseofsynchrotronradiationsources;andthepreparation,manipulationandcharacterisationofbiologicalsamples.
CXSpartnersincludetheUniversityofMelbourne,LaTrobeUniversity,MonashUniversity,SwinburneUniversity,GriffithUniversityandtheCSIRO.
CXSaimstoopenanewfrontierinbiotechnology–thenon-crystallographicstructuraldeterminationofmembraneproteins.Theseproteinsmediatetheactivityofpharmaceuticalsinhumanmedicaltherapies.Theirstructures,however,arestillmostlyunknownbecausetheydonotformcrystalssuitableforanalysisusingtheconventionalcrystallographictechniquesthathavedrivenalmostalltheprogressinstructuralbiology.Abreakthroughinthisareawouldrevolutioniserationaldrugdesignthroughtheinsightgainedintothefunctionofmembraneproteins.Thiswouldhavefar-reachingconsequencesforthepharmaceuticalindustry.
CXS’sresearchisdrivenbyitsaccesstoexistingthird-generationsynchrotronlightsourcesandtotheAustralianSynchrotron.TheCentreisalsoexploringtheapplicationtoimagingproblemsofshortwavelengthhigh-harmonicgenerationsourcesandfree-electronX-raylasersthatareunderdevelopmentworldwide.
Whencombinedwithnon-crystallographicdiffractiveimagingtechniques,thebrightnessandintensityofthesesourcesprovidestheopportunitytotakesnapshotsofbiomolecules.
CXSisexploringthefundamentalissuesintheuseoftheselightsources,includingthenatureoftheinteractionbetweenintensecoherentX-raysandelectronicmatter.Theefficiencyofdiffractionprocessesinthesehighlycoupledlight–mattersystems,thedetectionofthescatteredlight,thepreparationandhandlingofsuitablebiologicalsamples,themanagementofradiationdamagethroughouttheinteraction,andthedesignofalgorithmstoextractstructuralinformationfromdiffractiondataisalsounderexploration.
Itisanambitiousinterdisciplinaryprogramofresearch.
Web:www.coecxs.org
ARC Centre of Excellence for Particle Physics at the Tera-Scale
TheARCCentreofExcellenceforParticlePhysicsattheTera-Scale*willbringtogetherinternationalexperimentalandtheoreticalparticlephysiciststofocusaworldwideeffortintheeraofdiscoverythattheLargeHadronCollider(LHC)willbring.
LedbytheUniversityofMelbourne,theCentrehasrecentlyreceived$25.2millionoversevenyearsandinvolvesninecollaborating
andpartnerorganisations:UniversityofAdelaide;UniversityofSydney;MonashUniversity;UniversityofPennsylvania;CambridgeUniversity;I’UniversitedeGeneve;AlbertLudwigsUniversitaetFreiburg;INFNSezionediMilano;andDukeUniversity.
“Thegiantparticlecollidernowunderwayattheinternationallaboratory,CERN,inGeneva,isthelargesteverscientificexperimentdesignedtoreproducetheconditionsoftheUniverseafractionofasecondaftertheBigBang,”saysCentreDirectorProfessorGeoffreyTaylor,fromPhysicsattheUniversityofMelbourne.
“Bydoingso,rareparticlesthatnolongerexistinourUniversecanberecreatedandstudiedinordertounderstandtheveryoriginsofthefundamentalparticlesthatmakeupthematteraroundus.”
TheCentre’sfocusonhighenergyphysics,advancedcomputingandacceleratorsciencewill,forthefirsttimeinAustralia,bringtogethertheoreticalandexperimentalphysicistsasasingle,nationalteamwhosecombinedstrengthswillcreateapowerfulcapabilityinfundamentalscience.
Opportunitiesforresearchstudentsattheinternationalleadingedgeofphysicswillopenup.Amajoroutreachprogramwillbedevelopedtobringthisexcitingfieldtothepublic.Linkstoadvancedcomputing,astrophysicsandcosmology,andadvancedacceleratorphysicswillbedeveloped.*‘Tera-Scale’referstotheenergyfrontierthat
theLHCwillexplore.Theenergyof1TrillionelectronVoltsisreferredtoas1Tera-electronVoltorsimply1TeV.
Artwork Chris Dyson
13
Study shows mismatch between women’s education levels and workplace participationBy Catriona May
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
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AUSTRALIA’Slongest-runninglongitudinalpanelcohortstudyofthelivesofyoungpeople,LifePatterns,issheddinglightontwogenerations’hopes,goals,successesandstruggles.
ThestudyfollowsaGenerationXgroup,wholeftschoolin1991andarenow37andaGenerationYgroup,wholeftschoolin2005andarenow22.Itprovidesauniqueinsightintotheimpactofmassivechangesineducationparticipationandworkforcepolicyinthe90sonGenerationX,aswellastheabilitytocomparetheexperiencesandcharacteristicsofthetwogenerations.
ItslatestfindingsshowthereismuchtobelearntfromGenerationX’sexperiences.
Duringthe1990s,unprecedentednumbersofyoungwomenparticipatedinhighereducation,withdisciplinessuchaslawandmedicineenrollingmorewomenthanmenforthefirsttime.However,amongsttheGenXLifePatternsparticipants,only38percentofwomenwhogainedatertiaryqualificationareparticipatingfulltimeintoday’sworkforce.Thiscompareswith90percentoftertiaryqualifiedmen.
ProfessorJohannaWyn,DirectoroftheMelbourneGraduateSchoolofEducation’sYouthResearchCentre,leadsthestudy.ShebelievesAustralia’slackoffamily-friendlyworkplacesistoblameforthelowparticipationratesofhighlyqualifiedwomenintheworkforce.
“Backintheearly90s,whenthiscohortwereintheirmid-20s,womenwhohadgainedtertiaryqualificationswerethemostlikelyofanygrouptoputthehighestpriorityongainingacareerposition.
“Ifwefast-forwardto2010,themajorityofthesewomenarenolongerparticipatingintheworkforce.Indeed,full-timeemploymentforwomen,13yearsafterleavingsecondaryschool,isinverselyrelatedtolevelofeducationalqualifications.
“Wehaveamismatchbetweeneducationalandworkplacepolicies.Whileouryoungwomenareencouragedtoexcelacademically,whenitstimetostartafamily,thereisverylittlesupportavailablefromemployers,andmoretraditionalattitudestogenderrolesseemtoprevail.Sounfortunately,wefindourworkforcelosinghugenumbersoftalentedindividuals.”
Mostrecently,ProfessorWynhasbeenworkingwithProfessorLesleyAndresfromtheUniversityofBritishColumbia,wholeadsasimilarCanadianstudy.Comparisonsbetweenthetwostudies’findings,whicharecontainedinanewbook,The Making of a Generation: The Children of the 1970s in Adulthood,revealevenmoreabouttheimpactofAustralia’slabourmarketpoliciesinthe1990sonindividuals’personallives.
TheyoungAustralians(allofwhomareVictorians)whowereseekingemploymentinthenewlyderegulatedworkforceofthemid-90sfoundtheywereworkinglonghourswithlittlejobsecurity.AlthoughtheyoungCanadianswerealsosubjecttolabourreforms,workingconditionsinBritishColumbiawerelessseverethaninVictoria.Asaconsequence,theresearchshowstheCanadianswereabletoestablishlong-termpartnerships,marryandhavechildrenearlierandingreaterproportionsthantheirAustraliancounterparts.TheCanadianswerealsolesslikelytoreportmental(andphysical)healthproblemsthantheyoungAustralians.
It’snotallbadnewshowever.Thestudy’sGenerationXparticipantshavedevelopedstrategiestodealwiththechallengesthey’vefaced.Manyhaveshiftedtheirfocustooneofbalance,whereworkplaysalessimportantroleintheirlivesthanfamilyandleisurepursuits.Manyhavealsochosentodownsize,inordertobeabletospendlesstimeatworkandmoretimewiththeirfamily.Andthereisageneralbeliefthatifajobisdetrimentaltoone’shealth,thebenefitsofleavingitoutweightherisks.Educationisseenasalife-longpursuitandanessentialresourceforestablishingagoodlifeinuncertaintimes.
Lastyear,LifePatternsreceivedanAustralianResearchCouncilDiscoveryGrantof$1,118,858tocontinueitsworkwithbothcohortsfrom2010to2014,whencohort1willbeagedaround41andparticipantsincohort2willbeagedaround27.
Thestudy’sinitialcomparisonsbetweenthetwocohortsshowthatGenXandGenYreportsimilarlifeaims,sharethesameexpectationsofhavingmorethanonecareerinlife,andbothunderstandthatfull-time,permanentemploymentisdifficulttoattain.Thestudy’sfocusoverthenextfiveyearswillbeonexpandingthesefindings.
FormoreinformationonLifePatterns,see:www.education.unimelb.edu.au/yrc
15
TRANSMITTER COILCAMERA
98 ELECTRODE ARRAY
SCLERA CHOROID
VISION PROCESSOR
ELECTRONICS UNIT
CHOROID
SCLERA
WHAT WILL I SEE? WHAT WILL I LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS IMPLANTED?
MelbourneMaterials Institute
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
NICTA
CERA UNSW
BEI
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
16
THE ABILITytoseealovedone’sfaceissomethingmostofustakeforgranted.ButforRetinitisPigmentosapatientLeightonBoyd,seeingthesmilesofhisfamilyandfriendsisadream.AsakeymemberofBionicVisionAustralia(BVA),theUniversityisplayingitspartintryingtomakeLeighton’sdreamareality.TheBVApartnershipinvolvesworld-leadingAustralianresearchinstitutionscollaboratingtodevelopanadvancedretinalprosthesis,orbioniceye,torestorethesenseofvisiontopeoplewithdegenerativeorinheritedretinaldisease.
Emma O’Neillreportsonthekeyplayersinthisgroundbreakingproject.
CERA
TheCentreforEyeResearchAustralia(CERA)isdevelopingthesurgicaltechniquesthatwillensureasafeandeffectivedeviceforhumantrials,andfeedingbackclinicalinputintothedevicedesign.Itisalsoworkingtodeveloppre-implantingprotocolstodeterminecurrentlevelsoffunctionandretinalhealthandforpatientselection.CERAandtheDepartmentofOphthalmologyattheUniversityofMelbournewillalsoworkwiththeRoyalVictorianEyeandEarHospitaltoprepareforthefirstclinicaltrialssetfor2013.
UNSW
In1997AssociateProfessorGreggSuaningandProfessorNigelLovellfromtheUniversityofNewSouthWalessetouttodevelopavisualprosthesisforthetreatmentofdisorderscausingblindness.DuringthepasttenyearsinvestigatorsattheUniversityhave
carriedoutnumerousresearchprojects,notablythesuccessfuldevelopmentofasophisticatedneurostimulator(nowinitssecondgeneration)knowntobecapableofelicitingresponseswithinthevisualcortexthatareconsistentwithlightperception.
melbourne materials Institute
TheMelbourneMaterialsInstituteattheUniversityofMelbourneisworkingonproducingabiocompatiblediamondelectrodearraythatwillformonepartofthebioniceyeprosthesis.Diamondsareverystableandlikelytobewelltoleratedbythehumanbody,andtheteamarecurrentlyworkingonoptimisingtheshape,spacing,sizeandcompositionoftheelectrodesforrobustmechanicalpropertiesandeffectiveneuralstimulation.Whenthisisresolved,theelectrodeswillbebondedtothewirelesscontrolchipthatisbeingdevelopedbyresearchersinNICTAandElectricalEngineering.
Bionic Ear Institute
TheresearchteamattheBionicEarInstitute(BEI),ledbyProfessorRobShepherdandAssociateProfessorChrisWilliams,havebeenworkingonpre-clinicalsafetytrialswhichincludedevelopingthewide-viewelectrodearrayincollaborationwithUNSW,andahigh-densityarrayincollaborationwithNICTAandtheUniversityofMelbourne.BEIisconductingsurgicalsafetytrialswithCERAinadditiontochronicpassivematerialsandactivestimulationtrials.BEIhasalsobeencarryingoutelectrophysiologicalstudiesconductedtodetermineefficacyofthebioniceye.
NICTA
NICTA(NationalICTAustralia),Australia’sInformationandCommunicationsTechnology(ICT)CentreofExcellence,isworkingonthevisionprocessingaspectofthebioniceye.Thisisoneofthekeycomponentsofthebioniceyeasitenablesefficientencodingofhighresolutionimagesintoasetofstimulationsignalsonaretinalimplant.Thewirelesscommunicationofinformation,requiredtomakethebioniceyeasuccess,isanotherresearchfocusofNICTA,andtheteamarecurrentlyworkingonaradiotransmitterthatisabletoconductdataputonglassesandsenditwirelesslytocoilswhichareimplantedintheeye.
University of melbourne’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
ResearchersfromtheUniversityofMelbourne’sDepartmentofElectricalandElectronicEngineering,incollaborationwith(NICTA),aredevelopingtheneurostimulatordevicesothatithastentimestheresolutionoftheexistingprototypes.Itisanticipatedthatthedevicewillprovideenoughvisiontoreadlargeprint,furtheraidmobilityandrecognisefaces.ItisanticipatedthatthefirstchipwillbefabricatedinAugustofthisyear,withthechipbeingreadybyOctober.Workisalsounderwaytodevelopanelectricalstimulationstrategysuitableforthehigh-acuityelectrode.Thiswilloptimisethetypeofvisualexperiencethatthepatientwillreceivebyprovidinganinterfacewiththesurvivingnervesintheretina.
The gift of sight
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IN WHAT WILL BEthebiggestbrainresearchcentreintheSouthernHemisphere,thenewMelbourneBrainCentrewillhelptreatandpreventcommonbraindisordersthataffectmillionssufferingfromconditionssuchasAlzheimer’sdisease,Parkinson’sdisease,andothers.
TheMelbourneBrainCentreisacollaborationbetweentheUniversityofMelbourne,theMentalHealthResearchInstitute,theFloreyNeuroscienceInstitutes,AustinHealthandMelbourneHealth.
TheCentrewillcomprisetwonewstate-of-the-artresearchfacilitieslocatedattheUniversityofMelbourneinParkvilleandtheAustinHospitalinHeidelberg.
Thenewfacilitieswillaccommodateover700staffandincludelaboratories,researchoffices,magneticresonanceimagingsuitesandabrainbank.
TogetherwiththeCentreforTranslationalNeuroscienceattheRoyalMelbourneHospital,theCentrewillprovidelatestbenchresearchtoleadingclinicalbedsidecare.
Neurodegenerativeresearchconductedbyworld-leadingresearcherswithinthecollaborationisrevealingpromisingtargetsforAlzheimer’sandParkinson’sdiseases.
TheAlzheimer’sresearchgroupledbytheMentalHealthResearchInstituteandUniversityofMelbourne,alongwithitsinternationalcollaborators,areinthetopfivepercentofresearchinthefieldintheworld.
LaureateProfessorColinMastersisExecutiveDirector,MentalHealthResearchInstitute(MHRI)andLaureateProfessorattheUniversityofMelbourne.Heandhisteamof65researchersareworkingtodevelopaneffectivetreatmentforAlzheimer’sdisease.Atthesametimetheyaresearchingforabiomarkerthatwillallowthediagnosisofthediseaselongbeforesymptomsappear.
ProfessorMasterssaysinthenextfiveyearstheyexpectthesegoalstobeareality.
“WealreadyknowthatsubstantialdamagehasbeendonetothebrainbeforepeopledisplaysymptomsofAlzheimer’sdisease.
“Soitisimportantthatwefindameanstodiagnosetheillnessearlyenoughforanydrugthatisdevelopedtobeeffective,”hesaid.
AcentralprobleminAlzheimer’sdiseaseresearchistounderstandhowthenervecellsdeteriorateasthediseaseprogresses.TheaccumulationoftheAßamyloidproteinistheprincipalmarkerofthedisease,buttheexactformofthismoleculewhichcausesdamagetothenervecellsynapsesisyettobeidentified.
ItisanticipatedthisresearchwillresultinagreaterunderstandingofhowtheAßproteinbehavesinAlzheimer’sdisease.Thisinformationcanthenbeutilisedtodesigndisease-specificdrug-basedtherapies.
CurrentresearchisadvancingunderstandingofthemechanismofanovelclassofcompoundwhichincludesPBT2,adrugundergoingclinicaltrialsforAlzheimer’sdisease.
Parkinson’sdiseaseisthesecondmostcommonneurodegenerativedisorder,affectingonepercentofthepopulationoverage65.
ResearchledbyProfessorMalHorneattheFloreyNeurosciencesInstitutesinconjunctionwithMHRIandUniversityofMelbourne,isinvestigatingthespecificproteina-synucleinthatiscloselyimplicatedwiththecauseofParkinson’sdisease.
Studieshaverevealedthereisadirectcorrelationbetweenahighorabnormallevelofthisproteinistypicallyexpressedinthebloodofpatientswhohavethedisease.
“Asaresultofourcollaborativeeffort,wehavedevelopedamethodformeasuringa-synucleinlevelsinblood.ThisisanELISAmethodandusesanewantibodydevelopedexpresslyforthispurpose,”ProfessorHornesays.
“Wehopethiswilldevelopinthenextfewyearsintoaclinicalbiomarkerforthepredictionoftheonsetofthedisease,butthereisstillalotwedon’tknow.
“Itisthroughcollaborativeresearchwithourworld-leadingpartnershipsthatwewillbeabletoansweranumberofthesequestions.”
New Melbourne Brain Centre targets neurodegenerative diseasesBy Rebecca Scott
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
18
New Melbourne Brain Centre targets neurodegenerative diseasesBy Rebecca Scott
“Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, affecting one per cent of the population over age 65.”
19
BUSHFIREisanintegralpartoftheAustralianlandscape,buttolivewithfireweneedtounderstandmoreaboutit.DrKevinTolhurstfromtheSchoolofLandandEnvironmentspentlastsummertriallingPhoenixRapidFire,apredictivebushfiremappingprogramdesignedtohelpreducetheimpactofbushfires.
“Informationispower,”saysDrTolhurst.Andhisbeliefisevidentfromthe30yearshehasspentstudyingandcommunicatingbushfirebehaviourandmanagement.
DrTolhurstfirstexperiencedbushfireasafirefightingcrewmember,acommunicationsofficerandfirecontrollerattheForestsCommissionVictoria,beforebecomingaseniorlecturerinfireecologyintheDepartmentofForestandEcosystemScienceattheUniversityofMelbourne.
“Firemanagementisamassivelycomplextask,compoundedbytimepressures,”saysDrTolhurst.
“OuraimforPhoenixRapidFirewastodesignaprogramtohelpdeterminewherebesttosendresourcestominimiseafire’seffects,andtoquantifyhowdecisionsmadebyfireagenciescanchangetheprogressionoffires.Wealsowantedtoprovideabetterbasisforpublicwarningsystems,enablingpeopletobeasself-reliantaspossible.”
Intendedforusebyfireagencies,landmanagers,townandlandplannersandpolicymakers,theprogramwasdevelopedbyDrTolhurstandMrDerekChongfromtheDepartmentofForestandEcosystemScience,aspartofaBushfireCRCprojectwithadditionalfundingfromtheDepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironment.
DrTolhurstseesfireasawholelandscapeissue,soPhoenixRapidFirehasbeendesignedtoshowtheprogressionoffireacrossanentirestate,andnotjustalocalarea.Inthiswaythelimitedfiresuppressionresourcescanbemosteffectivelyallocatedtoreducetheimpactoffire.Theprogramalsoenablesmanagerstobetterpredictwhenandwherefiresmayjoinupandproducefirestorms,asoccurredonBlackSaturday.
TheteamimplementedtheprogramduringtheVictorianbushfireseasonoverthe2009/10summer,whereitwasrunintheStateControlCentre.Everyfirereportedwasmodelledforsixhoursaheadtoprovideabasisforpublicwarningsandforsettingfirefightingpriorities.OndaysofExtremefireweather,aclusterof10computerswasusedtosimulatethousandsoffiresacrosstheStatetoidentifyareasofhighpotentialhouseloss.
Theprogramgeneratesacolouredmapofthestateinagridwithavisual
representationofthebushfiremovingacrossthelandscape.Thefire’spotentialispredictedusingawidevarietyofinputsincludingfirehistoryofthearea,topography(heightandslopeoftheground),fueltypes(suchasvegetation),roadproximityandfirebreaks.
Theimpactofthefireisthenpredictedbasedonthefirecharacteristicsandthevaluesandassetsinthelandscape,suchashouses.Forexampleunderdifferentsituations,theprobabilityofhouselossmaybe10,100or1000,whichisshowngraphically.
“Althoughotherfirebehaviourmodelsexist,PhoenixRapidFireisuniqueintheworldbecauseofitsabilitytorespondtodynamicorchangingfactorsintheenvironmentsuchastheweather,fuelandsuppressionresources.”
DrTolhurstisnowanalysingthesimulationsrunduringlastsummerbuthashadagoodinitialresponsefromStateDutyOfficersandtheStateController,whosaytheprogramwashelpfulfordecisionmaking.Theprogramwasrunbeforeafireeventusingforecastconditionsandthenagainafteritusingtheactualinputsandtimingsfromtheday.Theresultstodatehavebeenveryencouraging.
21
Photo by Louis Porter
“Places are complex entities not necessarily defined by a physical structure...”
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
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CREATINgormakingasenseofplaceisthecentralaspectofdesignformostarchitects,butit’snotalwaysaneasytask,accordingtoaresearchteamfromtheUniversity’sFacultyofArchitecture,BuildingandPlanning.
“Placesarecomplexentities,notnecessarilydefinedbyaphysicalstructureorgeographiclocation.Becauseofthis,thewaysofmakinga‘place’aremanyanddiverse,”saysDrJanetMcGaw,aseniorlecturerinarchitecturedesignandpractice.
Theconceptanddesignofplaces,particularlyforMelbourne’sIndigenouscommunity,isthefocusofanAustralianResearchCouncil-fundedprojectinvolvingtheUniversityandpartnerorganisationsMelbourneCityCouncil,ReconciliationVictoriaandtheVictorianTraditionalOwnersLandJusticeGroup(VTOLJG).
DrMcGawandUniversityofMelbournecolleaguesDrAnomaPierisandEmeritusProfessorGrahamBrawn,aswellasDrEmilyPotterfromDeakinUniversity,arebeginningthethree-year$243,000studyexaminingIndigenouscultureandidentityinMelbourne,andhowthiscontributestomakingaplaceofbelongingandculturalexchangeforandwithIndigenousAustraliansinthecity.
TheinspirationcamefromanideatochallengeagroupofMastersstudents.“IwasteachingaMasterofArchitecturedesignstudioin2008andwaslookingforacomplexurbanprojectformy
studentstotackle.ThroughaseriesofcoincidentalconnectionsIdiscoveredthatGaryMurray(VTOLJG)hadbeenpromotingtheideaofamajorcivicprecinctforAboriginalcontemporaryculture.
“HeagreedtobriefmystudentsabouthisdreamandtoeducatethemaboutAboriginalhistoryandcultureinVictoria,andtheideagrewfromthere.”
DrMcGawobservesthatwhilenon-IndigenousAustralianhistoriesofplace-makinghaveprovedlargelydamagingtoIndigenousplacesandtheircultural,socioeconomicandpoliticalsignificance,arangeofinnovativeprojectsandpracticeshavesoughttolocatetheintersectionoftheseplace-makinghistories,andtofindacollaborativecommongrounddesignedto‘makeplace’innon-destructive,ethicallyguided,andpoliticallyeffectiveways.
AspartofacampaigntofurthertheideasofIndigenousplace-makingincentralMelbourneDrMcGawandDrPierisorganisedasymposiumattheendofJunetohearfromIndigenousandnon-Indigenousexpertsfromaroundtheworldabouttheirexperiencesofmakingplace,aswellascontinuingdiscussionsaroundMelbourneasthehostofaVictorianIndigenousCulturalEducationandKnowledgeCentre.
“TheaimofsuchaprecinctwouldbetocentraliseAboriginalculturalactivitiesinamorevisibleandinclusivewaythancurrentlyexists.ForexampleBunjilakaattheMuseumofMelbourneholdsaverysignificantcollection,butisontheoutskirtsofthecity,”saysDrMcGaw.
“TheVTOLJG’shopeistobringtogethercontemporaryculture,knowledgeandeducationintothecivicheartofMelbourneandontheedgeoftheYarra.
“Howsuchacentremaywork,particularlygivenissuessuchasthediversitywithintheVictorianAboriginalcommunityandtheproposedlocationonWurundjeriland,andwhatstoriesthecentremaytell,arekeytothesediscussions.”
Indigenous identity in MelbourneBy David Scott
23
A mULTIDISCIPLINARyresearchteamisproducingthefirstcomprehensivenationalanalysisofthecontinuityandvariationofAustralianchildren’splaylorefromthe1950stothepresent.
“Theprojectmakesamajorcontributiontointernationalplayandculturalheritagestudies,andtoAustralianhistoriesofchildhood,”saidtheproject’sleadingchiefinvestigator,ProfessorKateDarian-Smith,fromtheAustralianCentre,SchoolofHistoricalStudies,attheUniversityofMelbourne.
“WehaveconductedfieldworkdocumentationatprimaryschoolsacrossAustralia,lookingatchildren’splayactivitiesatlunchandrecess.OuranalysiscomparesandcontrastspreviousplayloreresearchinAustralia,sowecanconstructlongitudinalcultural‘maps’ofchildren’splaywithintheirwiderdemographic,socialandenvironmentalcontexts,”shesaid.
Dochildrenstillplaythewaytheyusedto?“Yesandno”,saysProfessor
Darian-Smith(picturedbelow).
“We’vefoundcontinuityovertimeintraditionalplaysuchasclappingandskippingrhymes,formsof
runninggameslike‘Chasey’andinthe
children’scapacityforimaginative
play,”shesays.
“Buttherehavebeenchangesovertimeaschildren’splayloreadaptstonewtechnologies,andastheattitudesofeducationauthoritiesandschoolstowardsplay,andthephysicalspaceoftheplayground,havealtered.”
TheresearchprojectisfundedbytheAustralianResearchCounciloverfouryears(2006–10).Aresearchteamofscholarsofinternationalrepute,inpartnershipwiththeNationalLibraryofAustraliaandMuseumVictoria,hasdevelopedaninnovativeapproachtotheexaminationofadiverserangeofmaterials,whichincludesaural,visual,object-based,textualandarchivalresourcesaboutAustralianplaylorenowandinthepast.Itwilldrawonimportantstudiesofchildren’splaycarriedoutinschoolsinthe1950s,70s,80sand90s.Informationonplaytraditionshasalsobeengatheredfromteachersandthewidercommunity.TheprojectisbasedattheUniversityofMelbourne,whereProfessorDarian-Smithisjoinedbythenotedchildren’sfolkloristDrJuneFactorandprojectofficerDrNikkiHenningham.TheresearchteamalsoincludesProfessorWilliamLoganandDrGwendaDaveyatDeakinUniversityandProfessorGrahamSealatCurtinUniversityofTechnology.BoththeNationalLibraryofAustraliaandMuseumVictoriahaveextensivehistoricalcollectionsofchildren’splaylorethatareofworldsignificance,andhavebeenindustryactivepartnersintheproject.
“Australiahasbeenaninternationalleaderinplayloreresearch,”explainsProfessorDarian-Smith.
“Earlierstudieshaveenabledauniquehistoricalanalysisofchildren’splay,lookingatsuchissuesasculturaldiversitywithintheschoolplayground,”shesays.
“Thereisglobalinterestinmanyissuesrelatedtochildren’splay:theimpactoftechnologyonchildren’sphysicalactivity,increasedchildhoodobesity,andbroadersocialattitudestowardschildrenandrisk-takingplay.
“Ourmultidisciplinaryresearchisofinternationalsignificanceinaddressingsuchconcerns.”
Projectoutcomeshavealreadyincludednumerousscholarlyarticles,conferencepapersandpublicforums,andthedevelopmentoftheAustralianplaylorecollectionsattheNationalLibraryofAustraliaandMuseumVictoria.Theresearchmaterialshavebeenenteredintoalargedatabase,andarecurrentlybeinganalysedbytheteam,whoaimtoproducefurtherpublications,includingabook.TheresearchwillalsoprovideevidencetoassisttheAustralianGovernmentandUNESCOinidentifyingsignificantintangibleculturalheritageinAustralia.
Forfurtherinformationsee:www.australian.unimelb.edu.au/CTC
Child’s playBy Silvia Dropulich
Schoolgirls play a game of Kuncklebones at a Melbourne school, 1955. Source Museum
Victoria. Photographer Dorothy Howard.
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
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Vision
Tobeoneofthefinestuniversitiesintheworld.
History
TheUniversityofMelbournehasbeenacentreoflearningsince1855.ThemainParkvillecampusontheedgeofMelbourne’sCBDisafocusoftheCity’s‘KnowledgePrecinct’andtheprestigiousmedicalresearch‘ParkvilleStrip’.
Melbourneisaleadingresearchuniversity,widelyrenownedforitsteaching,researchachievementsandsocialandeconomiccontributions.TheUniversity’sperformanceininternationalrankingsputsitattheforefrontofhighereducationintheAsia-Pacificandbeyond.
Times Higher Education QS, World University Rankings (2009)
+ No.36intheworld+ TheonlyAustralianuniversitytorankinthetop30inallfivecoresubjectareas,withthreesubjectareasrankedinthetop20
+ RankedNo.17forArts&Humanities;No.29forEngineeringandIT;No.13forLifeSciences&Biomedicine;No.23forNaturalSciences;andNo.20forSocialSciences
+ No.6intheworldandtheleadingAustralianuniversityasrankedbyemployers
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2009, Academic Ranking of World Universities
+ No.6intheAsia-Pacificregion+ No.75worldwide
Locations
Maincampus:Parkville.Othercampuses:TheVCAandMusiccampusatSouthbank,Bio21Institute,Hawthorn,Burnley,Dookie,Werribee,Creswick,Shepparton.
Research and Research Training
+ TheUniversityhasconsistentlyrankedfirstorsecondonallmajornationalresearchindicatorsofincome,publications,researchhigherdegree(RHD)loadandRHDcompletionssince1996.
+ In2009,theUniversityagainreceivedthehighestallocationofFederalGovernmentfundsawardedonthebasisofresearchperformancethroughtheResearchBlockGrant(RBG).TheUniversitygained$147.7millionfromtheRBGcomprising:InstitutionalGrantsSchemefunding($36.4million);ResearchTrainingSchemefunding($68.2million);ResearchInfrastructureBlockGrantsSchemefunding($29.1million);AustralianPostgraduateAwardsfunding($13.5million);andCommercialisationTrainingSchemefunding($0.6million).
The University at a glanceFacts and Figures
CATEgoRy 2008 2009
Median ENTER Student 93.9 94.1
Student Enrolments (EFTSL)
Total Load (EFTSL) 35,474 35,909
Research Higher Degree 3,167 3,186
Postgraduate Coursework 6,742 7,404
Undergraduate 25,565 25,320
% Female Enrolment 55.3% 54.3%
International Load (EFTSL) 9,895 10,133
% International 27.9% 28.2%
Award Completions
Research Higher Degree (excl Higher Doct) 720 770
PG Coursework 4,512 4,699
Undergraduate 8,038 7,939
Total 13,270 13,408
Staff (FTE) (March, including casuals & excluding TAFE)
Academic (All) 3,326 3,347
Professionals (All) 3,964 3,978
Total 7,289 7,325
Student:Staff Ratio (August)
T&R Faculty Staff 17.9 17.8
All Academic Faculty Staff 10.8 10.9
Research Expenditure ($ million) $708.8 764.5 (est)
Research Performance Indicators
Research Income ($ million) 382.5(1) 363.7 (prel)*
Research Publications 4,317(1) 4,565 (est)
Research Load (EFTSL) 3,168(1) 3,186
Research Completions (eligible)** 720(1) 770 (est)
Numbers in brackets are Melbourne’s National Rank, based on the proportion of the national total for each category.
* Includes all income deemed eligible under the HERDC Regulations.
** Eligible completions means those included in RTS Formula; excludes Higher Doctorates by Publication.
Two-year Statistics (Financial)
CATEgoRy 2008 2009
Financial Data ($ million)
Consolidated Income 1,530.6 1,588.2
Consolidated Expenditure* 1,776.3 1,545.1
Net Result before Income Tax -245.7 43.1
Net Result after Income Tax -245.7 43.1
Sources of Income (%)
Australian Government Recurrent Financial Assistance** 22.4 22.8
Other Australian Government Financial Assistance*** 24.0 19.4
HECS-HELP (Government and Student Payments) 7.6 7.8
State Government Financial Assistance 3.3 2.7
Fees and Charges and Other Income 32.8 31.7
Investment Income 5.5 9.5
Grants, Donations and Bequests 4.4 6.1
Total 100.0 100.0
* Includes impairment of Available-for-Sale Financial Assets.
** Australian Government Recurrent Financial Assistance includes Commonwealth Grants Scheme, Institutional Grants Scheme, Research Training Scheme and Research Infrastructure Block Grants.
*** Includes FEE-HELP.
NOTES:
1. Following a review of the University’s accounting of its investment portfolio, in 2008, the University reported that it had adopted a different interpretation to the accounting standard in relation to gains and losses upon de-recognition of Available-for-Sale Financial Assets. This resulted in the overstatement of the Available-for-Sale Revaluation reserve and understatement of Investment Income. The 2007 comparatives were restated to reflect the new accounting treatment.
2. The University has a policy of deferring as a liability Government grants which have outstanding performance or return conditions in accordance with AASB 118 Revenue. Prior to 2008, only Government grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and a small number of large grants were deferred. A review was undertaken in 2008 of all Research Grants which has resulted in an increase to the Income in Advance liability. The 2007 comparatives were restated to reflect the deferral of all reciprocal research grants.
25
RESEARCH NEWS
WhO ARE WE ShARINg ThE PLANET WITh?
RESEARCh CENTRE TO BUILD gREEN NETWORkS AND TEChNOLOgIESTHE UNIVERSITy OF mELBOURNE,Alcatel-Lucent’sresearcharm,BellLabs,andtheStateGovernmenttodaylauncheda$10millionCentreforEnergy-EfficientTelecommunications(CEET).TheCentre,tobebasedattheUniversity,willfocusonincreasingtheenergyefficiencyofnetworksandtechnologies.
ProfessorRodTuckerfromtheUniversityofMelbourne’sDepartmentofElectricalandElectronicEngineeringsaysthattoteamupwithBellLabs,world-renownedforitsabilitytogeneratebreakthroughinnovations,isanexcitingstepfortheUniversity.
TheCentrewillconductresearchonabroadrangeoftelecommunicationsnetworkinfrastructureelements,andwillfocusonhowtheseelementscanbemademoreenergy-efficient.CEETwilldrawonBellLabs’decadesofachievingbreakthroughinnovationsanditsextensiveexperienceinmanagingcollaborativeresearchprojectsaswellasontheUniversity’sownworld-classresearchintelecommunicationsnetworkinfrastructure.
BoththeUniversityofMelbourneandBellLabsaremembersoftheGreenTouch™initiative,aglobal,industry-wideconsortiumformedtoimproveenergyefficiencybydrivingaradicalredesignofcommunicationsnetworks.Accordingly,theresearchactivitiesundertakenbytheCentrewillbeusedtofurthertheGreenTouchinitiativeanditsobjectives.
NEW CALCULATIONSrevealthatthenumberofspeciesonEarthislikelytobeintheorderofseveralmillionratherthantensofmillions.Thefindings,fromaUniversityofMelbourne-ledstudy,arebasedonanewmethodofestimatingtropicalinsectspecies–thelargestandoneofthemostdifficultgroupsontheplanettostudy–andhavesignificantimplicationsforconservationefforts.
DrAndrewHamiltonfromtheUniversityofMelbourne’sSchoolofLandandEnvironmentandateamofinternationalresearchershaveappliedprobabilitymodellingtechniques(modelsoftenusedinfinancialriskestimates)todatafromnumerouspreviousstudies.Theyfoundthatthereisa90percentchancethatthereissomewherebetween2and7milliontropicalarthropodspecies,withabestestimateof3.7million.
Withtheadditionofapproximately50,000vertebrates(birds,mammals,amphibiansandreptiles),400,000plantsandpossibly1.3millionotherorganisms(mostlymicroorganisms,butexcludingthebacteriaaboutwhichweknowverylittle),thisleavesuswithabestestimateofaround5.5millionspecieswithwhomweshareplanetEarth.Furthermore,thestudyfoundthatthereislessthana0.001percentchancethattheoften-quotedvalueofatleast30milliontotalspeciesistrue.
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
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NhMRC AWARDS ThE UNIvERSITy Of MELBOURNE MORE ThAN $35 MILLION TO IMPROvE hUMAN hEALTh
Thousands of children part of ambitious early childhood study
THE UNIVERSITy OF mELBOURNEhasbeenawardedmorethan$35milliontoimprovethelivesofpeoplesufferingAlzheimer’sdisease,epilepsy,kneeosteoarthritisandbacterialinfections.
Thefundingispartof$150millionallocatedbytheFederalGovernmentinprestigiousNHMRCProgramGrantstoboostthenation’shealthandmedicalresearchefforts.
UniversityofMelbourneresearchersProfessorSamBerkovic,aworldleaderinthefieldofneurobiologyandepilepsyresearch,received$16.4millionandProfessorColinMasters,renownedforhisadvancesintreatmentsforAlzheimer’sdisease,received$14million.
TheyaretwooutofseveralUniversityofMelbournemedicalresearcherswhohavebeenawardedgrantsaseitherchieforprincipalinvestigators.
mORE THAN 2,500three-year-oldsattendingover250educationandcareservicesinVictoriaandQueenslandarenowpartofAustralia’slargest-everearlychildhoodeducationstudy.Thestudyispartlyfundedbya$2.2mLinkageGrantfromtheAustralianResearchCouncil(ARC),thelargestARCgranteverawardedtoaneducationstudy.
TheE4Kidsstudy,ledbytheUniversityofMelbourne’sGraduateSchoolofEducationinpartnershipwiththeQueenslandUniversityofTechnology,theQueenslandandVictorianGovernments,RoyalChildren’sHospital(Melbourne),theUniversityofTorontoandtheInstituteofEducation,London,aimstohelpimproveearlychildhoodeducationandcareinAustralia.
FiftyresearchersstartedworkingwithchildrenattendingawiderangeofchildcaresettingsattheendofMarch.Thefive-yearinternationalstudywillexplorehowAustralianearlychildhoodeducationandcareprogramscontributetochildren’slearninganddevelopment.Theresultswillinformthe$3.3billioninvestedannuallyinearlychildhoodeducationandcare.
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The complex lives of bubbles revealedTHE mySTERysurroundingwhathappenswhenbubblescollidehasfinallybeenbusted.InresearchledbytheUniversityofMelbourne,andrecentlypublishedonlineintheProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences(PNAS),ateamofchemicalengineers,chemistsandmathematicianshaveunitedtomeasuretheforcebetweenbubblesduringacollision.
AssociateProfessorRaymondDagastinefromtheParticulateFluidsProcessingCentre(PFPC)intheDepartmentofChemicalandBiomolecularEngineeringattheUniversityofMelbournesaysknowledgeofhowbubblesmoveandcollidewillimpactnumerousindustries.
“Byunderstandinghowbubblesbounceoffeachotherandmouldtogether,wewillbeabletoimprovethingslikethestabilityofice-creamandthestabilityofbubblesinchampagne,”hesays.
Theforcebetweenbubblesduringcollisionwaspreviouslytoosmalltomeasure,howeverthankstoadvancesintechnologysuchasnano-fabricationfacilitiesandtheAtomicForceMicroscope,theteamwereabletostudybubblescollidingatvariousspeeds.TheprojectalsoincludedresearchersfromIMRE,IHPCandICESinSingapore.
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSESAUSTRALIANbusinesseswillneedtoengageinsustainabilityreportinginthefuturetoremaincompetitive,accordingtoanewreport.
Thereport,entitledPeople.Productivity. Planet – Business Sustainability Report,isthebiggestAustraliansurveyonbusinessleaderandemployeeattitudestosustainabilityreporting,andwasconductedbytheNossalInstituteforGlobalHealthattheUniversityofMelbourne,BeatonandWellmarkPerspexa.
Sustainablebusinesspracticecoversfivemajorareasofoperations–environment,communityandsocial,workplacepractices,marketplaceandbusinessconduct,andethicalgovernance.Morethan10,000leadersandemployeesinarangeofAustralianbusinessesandindustriesparticipatedinthesurvey.
DrGeorgeBeaton,ExecutiveChairmanofBeatonResearchandConsultingandExecutiveDirectorofWellmarkPerspexa,saidtheresultsdemonstratedthehugelatentpotentialforsustainabilityreportinginAustralia–thewillisthere,butasubstantialproportionoforganisationsareyettofindtheway.
AssociateProfessorGrantBlashkioftheNossalInstituteforGlobalHealthattheUniversityofMelbourne,ProfessorDannySamsonoftheDepartmentofManagementandMarketingintheUniversity’sFacultyofBusinessandEconomicsandMsMaiaGouldofBeatoncoauthoredthereport.
RESEARCH REVIEW 2010
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mELTINg SEA ICEhasbeenshowntobeamajorcauseofwarmingintheArctic,accordingtoaUniversityofMelbournestudy.FindingspublishedrecentlyinNaturerevealtherapidmeltingofseaicehasdramaticallyincreasedthelevelsofwarmingintheregioninthelasttwodecades.
LeadauthorDrJamesScreenoftheSchoolofEarthSciencesattheUniversityofMelbournesaystheincreasedArcticwarmingwasduetoapositivefeedbackbetweenseaicemeltingandatmosphericwarming.
“TheseaiceactslikeashinylidontheArcticOcean.Whenitisheated,itreflectsmostoftheincomingsunlightbackintospace.Whentheseaicemelts,moreheatisabsorbedbythewater.Thewarmerwaterthenheatstheatmosphereaboveit.”
“Whatwefoundisthisfeedbacksystemhaswarmedtheatmosphereatafasterratethanitwouldotherwise,”hesays.
UNIvERSITy RESEARChERS PUBLISh LANDMARk BOOk
TWO UNIVERSITyacademicshavepublishedanewbookthatassesseseconomicreformsinChinaoverthepast30years.
AssociateProfessorYingZhuandProfessorMichaelWebberfromtheUniversityofMelbourne,incollaborationwithJohnBenson(UniversityofSouthAustralia),aretheauthorsofEveryday Impact of Economic Reform in China: Management Change, Enterprise Performance and Daily Life.
ThebookistheproductofworkcompletedaspartofanARCDiscoveryGrantawardedtotheteamforthe2003–05periodandshowcasestheauthors’manyyearsofcollaborationonthestudyofeconomicreform,management,andtheruralandurbanworkforceinChina.
MELTINg SEA ICE MAjOR CAUSE Of WARMINg IN ARCTIC, NEW STUDy REvEALS
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PROfESSOR RIChARD SINNOTT APPOINTED NEW eRESEARCh DIRECTORLEADINg COmPUTER SCIENTISTProfessorRichardO.SinnotthasbeenappointedastheeResearchDirectorfortheUniversityofMelbourne.ProfessorSinnottwillworkintheUniversity’sResearchportfolioandalsoholdanadjunctappointmentintheDepartmentofComputerScienceandSoftwareEngineering.HewilltakeovertheDirectorshipfromProfessorLeonSterling,whoheldthepositionfromJuly2007toDecember2009.
eResearchisacriticalenablerforstrengtheningmultidisciplinaryresearchandcollaborationbetweenresearchersnationallyandaroundtheglobe.TheUniversityofMelbourneplaysamajorroleinanumberofnationalandglobaleResearchprojects.Forexample,theUniversity’sSchoolofPhysicsisoneofonlytwoAustralianuniversitydepartmentstobeinvolvedintheGeneva-basedLargeHadronColliderandtheAtlasExperimentdelvingintohighenergyparticlephysicsandthebeginningsoftheuniverse.
vICTORIAN LIfE SCIENCES TO BENEfIT fROM UNIvERSITy Of MELBOURNE AND IBM PARTNERShIP
VICTORIAN LIFE SCIENCESresearcherswillbenefitfromapartnershipbetweentheUniversityofMelbourneandIBMannouncedearlierthisyearbythePremierofVictoria,theHon.JohnBrumby.
ThepartnershipwilldramaticallyincreasetheresearchandsupercomputingcapabilitiesoftheUniversityofMelbourne-ledVictorianLifeSciencesComputationInitiative(VLSCI).
TheVictorianGovernmentandtheUniversityestablishedthe$100millionVLSCIin2008tostrengthentheresearchcapabilitiesandoutcomesofVictorianlifesciencesresearch.Underthepartnership,IBMwillestablishanIBMCollaboratorywithleadinglifesciencesandcomputationalspecialistsattheUniversityofMelbourne.
ItisthefirsttimeIBMhasestablishedacollaboratoryinlifesciencesanywhereintheworldanditisthefirstIBMresearchcollaboratoryinthesouthernhemisphere.
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BUTTERFLIESareemerginginspringover10daysearlierthantheydid65yearsago,ashiftthathasbeenlinkedtoregionalhuman-inducedclimatechangeinaUniversityofMelbourne-ledstudy.Theworkrevealsforthefirsttimeacausallinkbetweenincreasinggreenhousegases,regionalwarmingandthechangeintimingofanaturalevent.
Thestudyfoundthatovera65-yearperiod,themeanemergencedateforadultsoftheCommonBrownbutterfly(Heteronymphamerope)hasshifted1.6daysearlierperdecadeinMelbourne.
ThefindingsareuniquebecausetheearlyemergenceiscausallylinkedwithasimultaneousincreaseinairtemperaturesaroundMelbourneofapproximately0.14°Cperdecade,andthiswarmingisshowntobehuman-induced(anthropogenic).
Leadauthorofthestudy,DrMichaelKearneyfromtheDepartmentofZoology,UniversityofMelbourne,saysthefindingscouldhelpourabilitytoforecastfutureimpactsofclimatechangeonbiodiversity.
ThebutterflyemergenceworkwasconductedbyDrKearneyandPhDstudentNatalieBriscoe.ProfessorDavidKarolyfromtheSchoolofEarthSciences,UniversityofMelbournecontributedtheclimatemodellingwork.Co-authorsincludeDrWarrenPorter(UniversityofWisconsin)andDrsMelanieNorgateandPaulSunnucksfromMonashUniversity.ThestudywasfundedbyanAustralianResearchCouncilgranttoMonash,MelbourneandWisconsinUniversities.
fIRST STUDy TO LINk EARLIER BUTTERfLy EMERgENCE WITh CLIMATE ChANgE
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melbourne Neuroscience Institute
ThenewestinstitutetobeaddedtotheUniversityofMelbourne’sstableofcross-disciplinaryresearchinstitutesistheMelbourneNeuroscienceInstitute.MNIwillfocustheUniversity’sneuroscienceresearchactivitiestooptimiseproductivityandimpact,increasefundingforresearchinthisareaandenablemoreefficientuseofexistingfacilitiesandinfrastructure.Theinstitutewillberesponsibleforenhancinginterdisciplinarityinneurosciencethroughstewardshipofcross-facultyactivitieswhichinvolvecollaborationwithresearchersfromareassuchasEngineering,OptometryandVisionSciences,Ophthalmology,Law,Economics,andSocialSciences.Itwillprovideaninternationalneuroscienceresearch-basedfocusthatwillattractandretaintalentedresearchersfromaroundtheworldinadditiontothebestpostdoctoralresearchersandresearchhigherdegreestudents;developnewresearchventurestoaddresssignificantgapsintheUniversity’sknowledgebaseintheneurosciences;andenhancetheUniversity’sconnectivitywiththecommunityandwithkeystakeholdersinordertooptimiseresearchoutcomesandknowledgetransferandmaximisethetranslationofneuroscienceresearchtoclinicaloutcomes.EndeavoursthatMNIisalreadysupportingincludetheCentreforNeuralEngineering,thesoontobelaunchedCentreforMusic,MindandWellBeingandamultidisciplinarystemcellinitiative.
TheInstitutewillworkthroughasmallcoreunitthatwilldrawtogetherkeyresearchersandadministratorswhoseactivitieswillbeenhancedtomeetabroaderobjective;namelytopromoteinterdisciplinaryresearchintheneurosciencesacrosstheUniversityofMelbourne.ThecoreunitwillcreateopportunitiesforlinksbetweentheUniversity’sresearchersinareassuch
asdiseasesofthebrainandmind,socialcontext,andhealthcosts,thusstrengtheningUniversity-wideresponsivenesstoneuroscience-relatedmatters.TheInstitutewillalsoprovideafocusedopportunitytocollaboratewithinstitutional,hospitalandcommercialpartners,inordertomaximiseresearchoutcomes,facilitateknowledgetransferandstrengthenthestandingoftheUniversityofMelbourneasaleaderinresearchintheneurosciencesnationallyandinternationally.ProfessorTrevorKilpatrick,aworld-renownedMSresearcher,hasbeenappointedastheinauguraldirectorforthisinitiative.
The Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society
TheactivitiesoftheInstituteforaBroadband-EnabledSociety(IBES)coverawiderangeoffieldsandsinceitsinceptioninJuly2009IBEShasfosteredcollaborativeresearchideasacrossawiderangeofdisciplines,includingeducationandlearning;healthandwellbeing;networkdeploymentandeconomics;socialinfrastructureandcommunities;andserviceandbusinesstransformation.
TheInstitutewasestablishedasacross-disciplinaryresearchinstituteattheUniversityofMelbournededicatedtoaligningresearchandindustryintereststodriveinnovationinbroadbandapplicationsanddeliverseamlessexperiencesforthebenefitofAustraliansociety.
AkeycomponentofIBESisitsresearchanddevelopmentTest-Bedinwhichbroadbandtechnologies,services,andapplicationswillbedesigned,tested,andevaluated.TheTest-Bedwillenableresearchersandindustrypartnerstotestnewideasonrealbroadbandequipment,andparticipateincollaborativeresearchfocusedonpracticaloutcomesofdirectrelevancetotheNationalBroadbandNetwork(NBN).
TheIndustryPartnerProgramisanotherkeydistinguishingfactorbetweenIBESandothercommunicationsinstitutesandcentresinAustralia.ItprovidesaneutralgroundfordiscussionsanddebateonissuesrelatingtoBroadbandinAustralia,betweenindustrystakeholdersandresearchers.IBEShasover15industrypartnersincludingAlcatel-Lucent,Cisco,HuaweiandHybridTVServicesamongstothers.
IEBSalreadyhasanumberofcollaborationsunderwaywithitsindustrypartners,includinganewglobalresearchconsortiumcalledtheGreenTouch™.ThisinitiativeaimstobringtogetherleadingInformationandCommunicationsTechnology(ICT)industryplayersandresearcherstofundamentallyre-inventtelecommunicationsnetworksandreducetheirenergyconsumption.ThisworkrecognisestheworldleadingresearchunderwayatIBES,whichisinvestigatingwaystoreducetheenergyconsumptionoftheinternet.
RelatedtothisistherecentlyannouncedcollaborationbetweenAlcatel-Lucent’sresearcharm,BellLabs,theUniversityofMelbourneandtheVictorianStateGovernment,whoareteaminguptoestablishthe$10millionCentreforEnergy-EfficientTelecommunications(CEET)attheUniversityofMelbournethatwillbedevotedtoinnovationinenergy-efficientnetworksandtechnologies.CEETwillconductresearchonabroadrangeoftelecommunicationsnetworkinfrastructureelementsandwillfocusonhowthoseelementscanbemademoreenergy-efficient.Thisisanimportantobjectiveinlightoftheexponentialgrowthintheusageofthosenetworksthatisresultinginarapidincreaseinenergyconsumption.
Update on Institutes
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A Global Research Powerhouse
The melbourne materials Institute
TheMelbourneMaterialsInstitute(MMI)hasbeeninstrumentalindrivingsuccessfulpartnershipswithinnovativeorganisationssuchasBionicVisionAustralia,wheretheInstitute’sworkisfocusedondevelopinganadvancedretinalprosthesis,andBetterPlace,whichisfocusedonpreparingourinfrastructureforthemassadoptionofelectricvehicles.
Suchcollaborationsprovidethebasisfornewindustries,whichwillarisefromfundamentaladvancesinmaterialsandprocessing.
Advancesandinnovationsinmaterialsscienceareessentialifwearetosolvethegreatproblemsofourcenturyincommunications,medicine,energyandsustainability.
“Theseproblemsarebig,complicated,andmultifaceted,andresearchonsuchlargepublicissuescannotbetackledeffectivelybyresearchersworkingwithinsingledisciplines,”saysProfessorStevenPrawer,DirectorofMMI.“Astheseproblemsaredrivenbyexternalneeds,theyrequirelarge-scale,sophisticatedinterdisciplinaryresponses.”
TheaimoftheInstituteistoworkwithkeypartnerstoprovidebreakthroughsinfundamentalsciencethatwillanswerthesequestions.
TwoemergingpartnershipsbeingdrivenbytheMIMarewithCSIROandDSTO.Thefirstcameaboutthroughasharedrecognitionthatthematerialschallengesrequireacriticalresearchmasscapableofbridgingbothorganisations.MMIisbridgingthisbyco-fundingandco-supervisingsixPhDstudentsinthematerialsscienceandengineeringfields.ThesecondpartnershipemergedthroughDSTObeingchargedwithaten-yearplanto‘future-proof’Australia’sdefence.
Althoughaseriesofindividualresearchprojectsexistwiththeuniversity,DSTOsawthevalueofacoordinatedapproach.
melbourne Sustainable Society Institute
MelbourneSustainableSocietyInstitute(MSSI)isaportalandplatformforsustainabilityresearchattheUniversityofMelbourne.In2010MSSIhostednumerousoverseasacademicsandgovernmentleaders,facilitatedtheUniversity’sdelegationtoCOP15andputoninfluentialforumssuchasaroundtablewithdiplomats,academicsandkeyjournalists,‘AfterCopenhagen:TheFutureofClimateChangePoliticsandPolicyaftertheUnitedNationsClimateSummit’.MSSI’sMelbourneAcademyforSustainabilityisinitsfirstyear,andprovidesnewopportunitiesforsustainabilityleadershipforresearchhigherdegreestudents.
MSSIinconjunctionwithMurrupBaraksponsoredanAustralianYouthClimateCoalitionIndigenousrepresentativetotheCOP15.NationalClimateChangeAdaptationResearchNetwork(SocialEconomicandInstitutionalDimensions)isannouncingitsfirstfundingcall.VictorianCentreforClimateChangeAdaptationResearchhasprovided$954,000ofVictorianGovernmentfundingforthinktanksandclimatechangeresearch.
ACampusSustainabilityCentretoshowcaseUniversityofMelbourneresearch,teachingandoperationalachievementsisindevelopment,incollaborationwithPropertyandCampusServicesandtheOfficeforEnvironmentalPrograms.Someof2010’snotablegrantstouniversitysustainabilityresearchersareon:watersecurity,networkedirrigationcontrol,thelinkbetweenchemicalweatherandclimate,configuringlowcarboncitiesinChina,remotesensingofsoilmoisture,greenroofsandcatchmentmanagement.
murrup Barak, melbourne Institute for Indigenous DevelopmentKnowledgeisakeyplankinIndigenousdevelopment,accordingtoProfessorIanAnderson,directoroftheMurrupBarak,MelbourneInstituteforIndigenousDevelopment.
TheInstitutewasestablishedin2009tocoordinateactivitiesacrosstheUniversityinIndigenouslearningandteaching,researchandknowledgeexchange.ItspurposeistostrengthentheUniversity’spartnershipswithIndigenouscommunities,and,importantly,boostIndigenousstaffandstudentnumbersacrosstheUniversity.
Approximately200UniversityofMelbourneacademicsciteaninvolvementinIndigenousstudiesamongtheirresearchandteachingactivities.
TheUniversityhasfiveformalprogramswhichcontributetoIndigenousstudiesandresearch:theCentreforIndigenousEducation;OnemdaVicHealthKooriHealthUnitwithintheSchoolofPopulationHealth;theWilinCentreforIndigenousArtsandCulturalDevelopmentwithintheFacultyoftheVCAandMusic;AustralianIndigenousStudieswithintheSchoolofCultureandCommunicationintheFacultyofArts;andtheAcademyofSport,HealthandEducationbasedinShepparton,apartnershipbetweentheGraduateSchoolofEducationandtheRumbalaraFootballandNetballClub.
TheInstitute,whosenamemeans‘thespiritofBarak’intheWoiwurunglanguage,honoursthememoryofvisionaryleaderWilliamBarak.
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Graduate Research Training.
Join Australia’s Best.� e University of Melbourne is seeking high calibre PhD students to contribute to projects at the forefront of international research.As one of Australia’s leading research universities, at the University of Melbourne you will become part of a dynamic research community, working alongside the best and brightest researchers and students in the country.Our generous scholarship programs provide students with � nancial support and opportunities for international � eldwork and travel.To � nd out more about undertaking a graduate research degree at Melbourne, visit www.unimelb.edu.au/graduateresearch