Formulating success

With fresh perspectives and

a strong research background,

Professor Vicki Chen is ready

to take the lead

ingenuityA UQ EAIT Publication

Editorial teamPaige AshbyHelen Burdon Vicki ChenStuart CrozierTrent LeggattCormac MurphyPeter SuttonTillie WalshGenevieve Worrell

Contributing WritersPaige AshbyVicki ChenBruce ConnellJo-Anne DudleyPeter KnightsPauline PoundsSuzanne ShubartTillie WalshGenevieve WorrellTyson Yates

Photography

Inside front cover: Yong’s Photography

Internals:Judit LoshYoungHooi Goh

Cover:Executive Dean Professor Vicki Chen. Photo by Judit Losh

DesignLiz Christiansen

ContactTillie WalshDeputy Director, Engagement and PhilanthropyT: +61 7 3346 7533E: t.walsh4@uq.edu.au

CRICOS Provider Number 00025B

Contents //

04 / Welcome

04 / Q&A with Professor Vicki Chen

06 / Building brighter futures

10 / Mentoring and support: The key to gender diversity

12 / A drone by any other name

14 / Floating into the future: creating cities on the sea

18 / High tech dreamers

22 / Busting mining myths

24 / Virtual reality recreates architectural history

26 / Turning weaknesses into strengths

28 / Sapphires: providing more than just shine

32 / Wake up to Design Thinking

34 / Build a bridge and get over it – in just three days?

37 / Impact: Donor Report 2017-2018

Welcome It is a great pleasure to introduce this edition of ingenuity magazine. The past year has delivered exciting innovations and collaborations across the Faculty, from renewing major partnerships with The Dow Chemical Company to revolutionising the way we construct vital city infrastructure. In this edition, we bring you the latest work from our outstanding students and academics, who are paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient future. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank those who generously contribute to our Faculty’s success as donors and mentors.

During my time as Executive Dean, I have been privileged to meet amazing people who are dedicated to supporting our students and research. Their generosity allows us to reach greater heights, and without their support, so much of what we do would not be possible. In this year’s Impact: Donor Report, we acknowledge the many people and organisations who make it all possible.

As I return to my role as Head of the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, I am pleased to report that the Faculty is on a great trajectory. I would like to welcome Professor Vicki Chen as our new Executive Dean and I look forward to seeing her take this great enterprise of schools and centres to the next level.

Professor Michael Bruenig Executive Dean (Acting) // Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

It has been an incredibly exciting time to join the Faculty with so many amazing events and achievements taking place. I would like to thank Professor Bruenig for his hard work and dedication in the lead up to my appointment. Shortly after joining UQ, I was lucky enough to take part in this year’s Open Day and it was great to see hundreds of prospective students tour our precinct with the hope of pursuing a career in engineering, architecture or computing.

It was also very pleasing to see that our mineral and mining programs have ranked number one in the world, in global subject rankings released earlier this year. This is just one of the many ways our Faculty is taking the lead when it comes to teaching, learning and research.

We have also seen the deconstruction of the former Frank White Building, as we make way for a brand new education hub, a generous gift from alumnus and global business leader Andrew N. Liveris. This building will provide students and researchers with change-making opportunities and will help to create and nurture leadership, as our next generation of engineers work together to solve the world’s most complex problems. More on this exciting development is featured throughout this edition.

I hope you enjoy reading our magazine. If you have any thoughts or comments about anything featured or the Faculty more generally, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Professor Vicki Chen Executive Dean // Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

//

Q&Awith Professor

Vicki Chen

/ 04

What sparked your interest in chemical engineering? My interests in design, physical sciences and biological sciences is what led me to explore a career in chemical engineering. My father’s work as a chemical engineer also helped me to realise that following in his footsteps would allow me to pivot to different areas, from micro-to macro-scale processes. Not only that, I realised it was a career that could take me around the world and allow me to work in a wide variety of industries.

What have been some of your research focuses?After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), I undertook my PhD at the University of Minnesota. My thesis focussed on colloid and surface science. I later joined the Centre for Membrane Science and Technology at UNSW as a researcher in membrane separations. I focussed primarily on bioseparations and water treatment in my earlier work, but this eventually expanded to cover surface functionalisation, nanocomposite materials and hybrid biocatalytic systems. My research has involved major collaborations with industry partners such as BASF, Australian Low Emission Coal R&D, Dairy Innovation, Coal Innovation NSW, Bluescope Steel, Beijing OriginWater, Printed Energy, and Sydney Water, as well as three Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) and the National Centre of Excellence for Desalination.

What have been some of your career highlights?A particularly proud moment was when chemical company BASF took up new materials based on work I was involved in with the Cooperative Research Centre for Polymers. I also worked on new nanocomposite materials for gas separation, which is currently being tested with real flue gases. Finally, I’ve really enjoyed working towards understanding and controlling fouling in membrane systems, particularly complex mixtures that are relevant for water and wastewater treatment.

What do you hope to achieve as the new Executive Dean of the Faculty?I want to realise the extraordinary potential of UQ to contribute to the Australian and global stage. How we design, build, and operate is changing rapidly in both the technological as well as societal context. This poses both challenges and opportunities to prepare our students to successfully make a positive impact over their careers. Similarly, we want a culture and ecosystem where our researchers and academics can flourish and contribute to the global thought leadership of their disciplines as well as translating the outcomes of their work to the wider community.

Professor Vicki Chen is an experienced researcher

known for her strong leadership and industry

collaborations. As a chemical engineer, she has

previously held the position of Director of UNESCO

Centre for Membrane Science and Technology

and has close to 7000 citations to her name. This

year she joined The University of Queensland as

the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering,

Architecture and Information Technology, where

she hopes to continue building on the Faculty’s

collaborations and partnerships and increasing

UQ’s standing as a global university.

/05

The heart of UQ’s Engineering and Computing Precinct at St Lucia is about to change forever with the construction of a new education hub that will shape and nurture the next generation of designers, thinkers and engineers.

The Andrew N. Liveris Building will stand 11 storeys high and will be the new home of chemical engineering and the Liveris Academy, where researchers, students and industry leaders will come together to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.

It was made possible thanks to a multimillion-dollar donation from UQ Alumnus and Global Business Leader Andrew N. Liveris and his wife, Paula Liveris. Their generosity has funded an innovative space, purposely designed to create a home for culture and collaboration.

The building was designed by architect firms Lyons and m3architecture, who wanted to create a physical environment and identity that would allow the School and the Academy to excel in areas of strength and build on weaknesses.

“We have proposed an architectural design that will become a powerful ‘culture builder’ for the School, expanding its traditions of connectivity through a unique horizontal and vertical integration within a compact building footprint,” m3architecture’s Michael Christensen said.

“Outwardly, the building is open and transparent with a sense of shared discovery by ‘doing’ engineering and experimenting together.

“Inwardly, it is intense and focused."UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said

UQ’s School of Chemical Engineering ranked number one in Australia in the 2018 QS World University Rankings. With a new collaborative and inspirational space like the Andrew N. Liveris Building, the possibilities for the School are endless.

“Everything about this latest addition to the UQ St Lucia landscape has been methodically planned and purposefully developed to allow students, staff, industry and researchers to steer the engineering breakthroughs that will help change the world for the better,” he said.

The idea behind the design.

Building brighter futures

//

/ 06

“It will add to the unique and inspiring

landscape of the St Lucia Campus.”UQ VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT PROFESSOR PETER HØJ

/07

/ 08

The fast facts// The building contains

more than 12,500 sqm of usable floor area

// More than a quarter of that is dedicated to teaching and learning spaces

// 26.5 per cent of the building is dedicated to research laboratory facilities

// It will house a nine bay Pilot Hall with three storey, two storey and one storey height spaces

// 5 x 470 sqm flexible wet chemistry research laboratory spaces

// Heavy equipment laboratories and specialist spaces for pyrometallurgy, flotation, crushing and sampling.

The features – a homage to the pastThe attention to detail in this design goes beyond functionality and learning spaces. Architects have purposely designed a structure that captures the best parts of UQ’s iconic Great Court, while also creating what they’re calling the green “learning landscape” in the heart of the precinct. They have chosen to pay homage to the sandstone and granite that UQ is known for, while reflecting a popular chemical engineering process.

“The building’s main external visual element is the glass façade which evolves the campus traditions of sandstone to a glass building, through the idea of turning sand into refined glass using the process of chemical engineering,” Mr Christensen said.

“The glass façade is a variety of colours, being a contemporary reference to the sandstone of the Great Court. Its patterning is in response to the requirements of concealment, ventilation, sun control and identifying social activities behind the façade.”

The building’s atriums also reflect the Great Court’s shape and geometry, a move architects made in an attempt to capture the role it plays in social life at St Lucia.

“At the lowest level of the atrium, the geometry of the Great Court is utilised in the buildings internal plan form, with the central portion of the space conceived as a landscape social space. The corners of the atrium open into student learning spaces and external social balconies in a similar manner to the Great Court.

The predecessor – a history of Frank WhiteWhile the University prepares to make way for the Andrew N. Liveris Building, it will say farewell to the long-standing Frank White Building, which first opened its doors more than 25 years ago. It was formally the home of mining and metallurgy. The building was named after UQ's first mining Professor, Frank White. He dedicated more than 20 years of his life to the University and his work and legacy will live on within the precinct and UQ community.

Dow Partnership A $4.4 million investment from The Dow Chemical Company will power UQ research to deliver new technologies and processes to improve the sustainable production and use of chemicals, energy, transportation, and other key areas of focus for both the company, University and societal needs.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said the contribution builds on UQ’s longstanding partnership with Dow that has already delivered innovative research in low-carbon dioxide (CO2) steel and next-generation fertilisers.

Top image: Exterior glass façade on building

Middle and base image: Internal learning spaces

/09

Mining engineer, Jo-Anne Dudley explains why mentoring and

career-long support is vital to retaining women in the engineering industry.

Mentoring and support:

//

The key to gender diversity

/ 10

Jo-Anne Dudley's mining engineering degree has taken her around the world. Starting out as an underground mining contractor, then moving to Northparkes Mines in New South Wales where she spent 10 years, Jo has experienced the mining industry in South Africa, Namibia, Canada and Arizona, Salt Lake City in the USA, the UK and across Australia.

The Brisbane-based mother of two is currently the Senior Manager – Strategic Mine and Resources Planning with Rio Tinto and regularly travels between Australia and Mongolia, managing 30 people across three locations: Brisbane, Ulaanbaatar and the Oyu Tolgoi mine.

As a passionate advocate for gender equality in engineering, Jo works hard to encourage young women in the sector, and helps to develop a pipeline of talented female graduates through her work with local high schools and her position on the board of the UQ Women in Engineering program.

“Earlier in my career, I used to lament the lack of women entering STEM, and in particular, the engineering side of the mining industry, and think ‘they’ should do something about it,” Jo said.

“As I started leading teams, I realised I could do something about it!

“Later, when I became a parent, it dawned on me that schools and parents are the real ones who influence what their children grow to choose as a profession. So, over time, I have been involved in a number of initiatives that I felt could increase the pool of women who might make engineering their careers.”

Jo believes that in order to retain women in the industry, mentoring and career-long support is vital.

"To get more women in technical, engineering roles we need to have a multifaceted approach: encouraging more women into engineering studies, supporting them while at university and early in their careers, and continuing to provide quality career opportunities as they develop."

Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ) is a supportive network that organises regular events for women to meet like-minded professionals, as well as providing inspiration through engaging speakers and enabling introductions to potential mentors.

“I have been involved in WIMARQ Mentoring for three years and have provided mentoring to four wonderful women in my area of underground mining,” she said.

“I really enjoy being a mentor and believe it not only keeps women in the industry, but prepares them for their next career steps and allows them to find a strong network.

“As a bonus, I get to develop relationships with really interesting, passionate young women who are carving out their own unique careers.”

With young children and a busy career, Jo has often sought advice from her mentors on how to survive and thrive, during those busy years.

"Mentors have played an important part in my career, with the best ones able to see more in you than you can in yourself."

Jo has now been honoured for her contributions, too. Jo was named Queensland Exceptional Woman in Resources in 2018 by the Minister for Women at the annual Resources Awards for Women event organised my WIMARQ and the Queensland Resources Council earlier in the year.

"It was humbling to receive the 2018 IWD Award that has enabled me to ask others to join me in encouraging more young girls to consider engineering. Together we can make a difference."

Recent studies have consistently shown that diverse teams make for an innovative, successful and profitable workforce, and Jo agrees that the change can be felt on the ground.

“Just having women present in a workplace makes it a more positive place to work for me personally; the workplace starts to reflect how a healthy society looks and that makes for a healthier workplace,” she said.

“Young men also want the flexibility that attracts women to a workplace, so catering to a perceived need from women may also attract high-calibre male talent.”

"Young girls need to see women are suitable candidates for all jobs. We need to make sure that, as they enter the later high school years, they can see themselves in engineering roles and have the self-belief to pursue studies and subsequent careers. Once into engineering studies, we can provide guidance, mentoring and prepare them for the workplace, but you can only support and encourage those who walk through the door."

“Earlier in my career, I used to lament the lack of women

entering STEM, and in particular, the engineering

side of the mining industry, and think ‘they’ should do

something about it. As I started leading teams, I realised

I could do something about it!”JO-ANNE DUDLEY

/11

Eons ago, back in 2002 when I was a young and energetic undergraduate student, I was introduced to a curious class of flying gizmo called an “X-4 flyer”. This queer little beastie had four rotors and an X-shaped frame, hence the name. Through changing the rotor speeds, it was able to loft itself into the air and even manoeuvre somewhat. The archaic technology meant that an expert pilot was required to give it any semblance of flight control. Even then, a sophisticated (now laughably dated) gyroscope feedback system was required to control it at all. But to an aspiring neophyte engineer, it was captivating.

Since then, the name and technology have changed, but the attraction of the little machines persists. Today, I call it a quadrotor, even if others insist on the linguistically-tortured portmanteau of quadcopter*. There was a period where every research group on the planet insisted on calling it different things, and even the same thing with different spelling: quadrotor, quad rotor, quad-rotor, quadcopter, quad copter, quad-copter, X-4 flyer, X4-Flyer, Roswell Flyer, Draganflyer, and the much more pragmatic “four rotor helicopter”. As it was, just as the research field finally settled on ‘quadrotor’ (one word, no spaces), the media caught wind and immediately leapt upon the name “quadcopter”, which seems to have gained popular currency.

I tracked down the antecedent term used to describe this type of aircraft. Although the earliest examples of flying contraptions with four rotors, such as the Breguet-

Richet Gyroplan 1 and Oehmichen No.2, were named, their inventors never (to my knowledge) categorised the vehicle class itself. The earliest usage I found was the Convertawings Model A Quadrotor**. The aircraft is referred to as the Model A, while similar concepts are called “quadrotors”. Thus, I would argue, ‘quadrotor’ has the virtues of both primacy and correctness!

The word ‘drone’, likewise, has a history. Among academics, ‘drone’ is used to describe remote-piloted – especially radio-controlled – aircraft. I hesitate to use it, as it calls to mind mindless, stinging insects – pests – especially when ‘drone strike’ is synonymous with extrajudicial killing of individuals. But few recall that the name comes from early work with modified Fairey IIIF float planes, called the Fairey Queen – radio-controlled aircraft, launched from ships. This led directly to the de Havilland Tiger Moth biplanes, specialised radio-controlled aerial targets. Called the DH.82 Queen Bee, the aircraft was perhaps the first truly successful, mass-produced, unmanned aircraft. Following its popularity, such aircraft were dubbed ‘drones’ as they were all the offspring of the queen bee!

Today, people use ‘quadcopter’ and ‘drone’ interchangeably – without regard for what the terms of art mean, or even linguistic sensibility – but I cannot blame them. ‘Quadcopter’ is fun to say, and ‘drone’ is incidentally descriptive of the humming buzz of their rotors. The fascination of and the public’s intersecting passion and anxiety for miniature flying things means that we will not stop talking about them for a long time to come.

*quad, of course, is Latin for four, and rotor is Latin for spinning-thing. Copter is, in fact, a mangling of the Greek helico-pter meaning "helix wing", and so the name would more be properly rendered as tetrapter.

** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJB0lJA0w0U

A drone by any

other nameWritten by Dr Pauline Pounds

//

/ 12

1907 Breguet-Richet Gyroplane 1

1922 Oehmichen No. 2

1931 Fairey IIIF Queen

1935 DH.82 Queen Bee

1956 Convertawings Quadrotor

1999 Roswell Flyer and Draganflyer

2002 X-4 Flyer Mk I

HIS

TO

RY

OF

TH

E D

RO

NE

Dr Pauline PoundsPauline is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Information Technology

and Electrical Engineering. She has pioneered research and development in drone technology. She works in dynamics, control and

propulsion of unmanned aerial vehicles, specialising in rotorcraft.

Artist: James North

/13

Urban sprawl, rapid population growth, rising sea levels: when it comes to tackling the problems of

tomorrow, science fiction often has us looking to the stars for solutions. But UQ Professor Chien Ming Wang

has been floating an idea closer to home.

Floating into the future:

creating cities on the sea

//

/ 14

Cities on the sea. That is, floating structures on a scale large enough to support urban populations and all the industry and infrastructure that comes with them is not just a research topic for the Transport and Main Roads Chair and Professor in Structural Engineering, it’s a way of life. One that has seen him become the world’s leading authority in Very Large Floating Structures (VLFS).

It’s a passion sparked almost 20 years ago when he was introduced to Japan’s groundbreaking Mega Float project. Headed by the Technological Research Association of Mega Float, the project was the first of its kind in the world and sought to determine if a large-scale floating structure could function as an airplane runway at sea.

A one kilometre-long structure was built on location in Tokyo Bay between 1995 and 2000, where it was concluded that the ocean’s movement had minimal effect on sensitive navigation equipment due to the sheer mass of the structure. This meant such structures were not only viable, but potentially liveable.

With an estimated 4.9 billion people set to be living in cities by 2030, and the geographical limitations of Earth’s landmass, the world’s oceans seem like the next logical step for human habitation to Professor Wang.

Covering 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, Professor Wang says it’s time to make the most of our oceans.

“We have created entire civilisations on land, but we have not utilised the ocean anywhere close to our capability,” Professor Wang said.

“Right now, scientists say only five per cent of the ocean has been explored. It’s just a speck.”

And oceans can provide everything we need to survive.“We can harvest energy from waves, wind and tidal

currents. There’s also abundant solar energy stored in the surface of the water. We can treat sea water to produce potable water, and we’re even developing optimised commercial fishing methods that would allow us to not just survive on the sea, but thrive.”

Throughout his career, Professor Wang has been no stranger to testing the limits of structural engineering.

Before joining UQ in 2017, he worked as a consultant for the Defence, Science and Technology Agency of Singapore on the country’s Marina Bay Floating Platform – the world’s largest floating stage.

This time around, it is the sheer scale of his proposed projects and the economic feasibility for mass construction that has Professor Wang and his research team at the forefront of floating structure innovation.

“We’re looking to create a standardised modular system. In the same way shipping containers revolutionised the way we transport goods, we can also have a floating module with a standardised connector system that would make the manufacturing process cheaper and easier,” he said.

“So it is just like a LEGO set, we want to pick and choose, and have a play around with the pieces.”

But before interchangeable ocean cities can take shape, first must come the ‘land’.

Photo credit: Blue Frontiers

/15

It’s a challenge that takes Professor Wang and his multidisciplinary team of researchers around the world, collaborating with institutions in Norway, Japan and Singapore.

Together they are set to explore everything from functional, cost-efficient systems of manufacturing to optimal shape and sizing of floating modules. Also crucial is the development of inter-modular connector systems and new concrete composite materials with high durability in marine environments. Then there’s flexible systems for mooring solutions, construction, installation and structural solutions adapted to changing loads.

According to Professor Wang, technological advances are just now giving us the ability to focus on VLFS.

“We have recently seen rapid development in the construction materials available in the market that are suitable for construction of this scale on potentially remote, salty sea water,” Professor Wang said.

“Not only are the materials and technical innovations catching up to our dreaming, we now also understand how to do sophisticated hydrodynamic analysis, even for very complex structures.

“The world is more open to the idea of moving towards the ocean now, more than ever before, because we are discovering we have problems.

“I can’t imagine why we would move our land-based civilisations off our shores unless we had a serious problem. But tough times lead to innovation. We’ve been forced to think outside the box.”

According to the World Economic Forum, the biggest challenges facing humanity over the next 50 years will include energy, water, food, poverty, environment, war

“We will be much richer

in terms of new energies

available, living will be

clean, and farming could

change in ways we never

thought possible.” PROFESSOR C.M. WANG

Photo credit this page and opposite: Blue Frontiers

/ 16

and terror, disease, education, democracy and population. Of these 10 major challenges, Professor Wang believes VLFS’s will solve at least eight.

“These structures can be used for climatic refugees for example,” he said.

“Think about the Maldives, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, French Polynesia – if we continue to see a rise in sea levels, there will come a time when they will lose so much of their land that to accommodate their people they will either need to reclaim or use very large floating structures.”

Professor Wang and his structural engineering research group from UQ’s School of Civil Engineering are exploring the full gamut of sustainable life at sea, as they develop large-scale offshore floating fish farms that could form the main food sources of these new-age communities.

The team’s Floating Forest project will see an offshore break wall protect sensitive coastlines from wind and wave erosion.

Professor Wang and his team have received support from the Australian Research Council to the tune of $688,000 to further develop these break wall systems, showing the Australian Government’s confidence in these new approaches to everyday living.

Whether VLFSs are used for industry, environmental crisis, farming or population expansion, Professor Wang’s imagined future is one of sustainable energy, organic living and ever-changing borders.

“First of all, the world map will be very, very different with floating lands,” Professor Wang said.

“We will be much richer in terms of new energies available, living will be clean, and farming could change in ways we never thought possible.”

Professor Chien Ming WangC.M. Wang joined UQ's School of Civil Engineering, in January 2017 as the Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Chair and Professor of Structural Engineering. He is a Chartered Structural Engineer, a Fellow of the Academy of Engineering Singapore, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Singapore and a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers. He has provided consulting services and served as an expert in structures and very large floating structures to many public and private organisations, including JTC Corporation, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Housing Development Board, Defence Science and Technology Agency, Jurong Consultants, Surbana International and Singapore Cruise Centre.

/17

High tech dreamersThe University of Queensland has been producing students who stand on the front-line of computer evolution for more than half a century.

//

1958

A committee is established under

Sydney A. Prentice to study the possibility of installing an automatic digital computer within

the University.

1962

The General Electric GE225 Computer is

installed in the Hawken Building (now called the Prentice Building) under

the direction of R.E. Kelly, the first

Computing Officer of the University. The formal name of the Unit is The

University of Queensland Computer Centre.

1968

A dual processor multi programmed PDP-KA10

is delivered by Digital Equipment Corporation.

It is ordered to meet growth of 30 per cent pa

and represents a new approach to “time sharing.”

1970

The Computer Centre becomes a separate entity. Professor Rose continues

as Director.

1973/1974

The Centre’s scope of operations increases to provide services to the

newly established Griffith University. Student admission

processing initially known as the Joint Admission Centre established –

later to become QTAC.

1961

Order placed with the Australian General Electric company for the supply of a GE225 Automatic Digital

computer. At the same time, work also proceeds

on the construction of a suitable area to house

the equipment.

1965

The staff of the Centre offer the first formal

qualification in computing technology in Qld and one

of the first in Australia. This is the Postgraduate Diploma in Automatic

Computing. A second formal course,

the Postgraduate Diploma of Information Processing

is offered in 1968. These courses move to

the Department of Computer Science when

it is formed in 1970.

1969

The Department of Computer Science is established with

Professor G.A. Rose the inaugural Chair.

The Computer Centre is transferred from the

Department of Electrical Engineering to this new department. Three full time programmers are

employed by the Centre. Sixteen remote terminals

for interactive time sharing are installed on the PDP-10.

1972

Alan Coulter is appointed full time Director of the

Computer Centre.

Further remote batch stations are installed

and connected to the DEC PDP-10.

19761975

University Senate approves the name “Prentice

Computer Centre”. First remote job entry batch

station installed at Griffith University allowing users to submit card decks and receive print out from the PDP-10 without travelling

to St Lucia.

A history of computing at UQ

/ 18

A Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-10 KL-1090 Computer is installed. A total of

170 remote terminals now connected to the PDP-10s.

Large purchase of PDP-11s for departmental use.

Queensland’s first Unix-based system (PDP 11/34) installed in CS department

honours/research lab.

19781977

The GE225 is decommissioned

and presented to the Queensland Museum.

Most Computer Science department

staff moved from huts to Hawken (now Prentice)

building. Pascal replaces FORTRAN as first-year

teaching language with UQ-designed and implemented mark-sense cards.

1980

Personal computers begin to make an appearance at the

University. Computer Science department

installs TRS-80-based computer lab.

1979

A Mini/Micro Support Group is established in the Centre to assist Departments.

Dr Larry Reeker succeeds Professor

Gordon Rose as HoD of Computer

Science. First PhD graduate in

Computer Science (Dr Mike McLean).

Dreamers were abundant in the middle of the last century – and the brilliance of their ideas illuminated the path for UQ. But not even Professor Sydney Arthur Prentice, the father of computing at UQ, could have imagined how far we would come by 2018.

Professor Prentice was instrumental in the University acquiring its first computer – the behemoth GE 225 Automatic Digital Computer – in 1961. According to the UQ Computer Centre manual, it was “fully transistorised, consists of a Central Processor with a control console and typewriter. Both paper tape and punched card input/output are provided with an auxiliary arithmetic unit and a high speed printer”.

Fast forward to 1968 and computing had already become an integral part of the University’s future plans. Two postgraduate computer courses were offered, the Diploma in Automatic Computing in the Faculty of Science and the Diploma of Information Processing in the Faculty of Commerce and Economics.

But computers and computing still found critics. A 1969

letter to the editor of the computer centre bulletin (Vol 2, Number 10, October 1969) from Malcolm A. Colston said that it seemed ludicrous that he had to wait longer for his data cards to be prepared than it took to fly to the moon or travel around the world.

“If the University is able to spend a large sum on a modern computer, surely it should be possible to provide those ancillary services necessary to ensure its efficient use. If one has to wait for over two weeks to have one's data prepared, efficient use of the computer is not being made.”

It took two weeks and five days to prepare Mr Colston’s data cards, but just four minutes to run through the GE225. (Mr Colston went on to represent Queensland as a Federal Senator).

In California in October 1969, two computers spoke to each other – one at Stanford Research Institute and one at the University of California. This game-changing event ignited passions in researchers and students at UQ.

By 1970, there were 79 students studying in UQ’s Automatic Computing and Information Processing diploma courses.

1983

A Computervision CAD/CAM system for

computer aided design, improved plotting and printing facilities and a phototypesetter are

installed. Hardware and software services are

extended to support 16 bit micro-computer systems.

1986

Apple Macintoshes replace TRS-80s in Computer

Science department labs.

1988

A three year old IBM 3081 processor system replaces

the IBM 3083 providing additional processing power and disk space. The Centre makes a major contribution

to the development and operation of the Univations Pavilion at World EXPO 88.

Professor Andrew Lister wins Dept of Computer Science designation as Key Centre for Software Technology. Bachelor of Information

Technology degree introduced.

1982

The PDP KL1090 System upgraded to a dual processor configuration.

MICOM circuit switching and DECNET packet switching systems upgraded.

By the end of 1982 there are 500 communications lines connected to the Centre operating at transmission

speeds from 300bps to 9600bps. A second Data Centre (DC2) is

established at UQ.Gateways to external networks are

installed providing access to CSIRO, other Australian Universities and to

North America and Europe. An experimental Local Area Network (ETHERNET) operating at 10 million

bps is installed late in the year.Information Systems sub discipline established in Computer Science

with appointment of Professor Shir Nijssen. Andrew Lister appointed

HoD of Computer Science.

1984

An IBM 3083 System is installed. Griffith University contributes capital

funds to reserve 12 per cent of

capacity for its own use. DEC KA-10 is decommissioned

after 16 years of service.Computer Science

Dept moves into new

Computer Science building.

1987

A DEC 8550 computer system is installed to replace the DEC PDP

KL-1090 system.

1990

Mr John Noad appointed as Director of Prentice

Computer Centre.

/19

1999

Nick Tate joins as first director of ITS.

Ipswich Data Centre is commissioned. 6500

Cisco multilayer switch introduced to the Ipswich campus.

Full-fee revenue to Department of Computer

Science and Electrical Engineering tops $1m (mostly from electrical

engineering and IT students from Singaporean

polytechnics). Master of Info

Tech launched.

2001

UQconnect, The University’s very own ISP is launched.

Managed 155Mbps services from AAPT installed from St Lucia to Ipswich and St

Lucia to Gatton. UQ deploys a tiered architecture to its

network, replacing previous collapsed backbone. First

IP phone introduced – on a stand at Questnet, trunked from gold coast to UQ. ITS deploys a centralised UQ Active Directory domain. Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

renamed School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ITEE).

Boeing Chair in Systems Engineering established

(Professor Peter Lindsay).

2000

Sun Enterprise 10000 system installed

comprising two chassis and 96 processors. Also included is 5 terabytes

of disc space. Over 1200 modems now installed.Professor Simon Kaplan

appointed HoD Computer Science and Electrical

Engineering.

Enrolments increased as computer fever took hold. The GE225 was retired in 1977, and by 1980 the advent of the personal computer was changing how computing was taught. The Computer Science department installed a computer lab filled with Tandy Corporation TRS-80 computers.

Courses included more than just programming, encompassing networks, graphics and even artificial intelligence. UQ was embracing the future, ensuring students would graduate and guide the next generations of computer evolution. Courses offerings expanded to include Bachelor degrees and a Masters of Information Systems.

UQ research and courses were at the forefront of technological advances, and in 1980 student enrolment was growing rapidly.

In 1981, the University installed the Southern Hemisphere’s first 10 Mbps “experimental” local area network, allowing data to flow around the campus at high speed. A year later the first computer virus was set free. Elk Cloner, written by an American high school student, was injected into a computer game in 1982 and spread.

Networks were all the rage and, while the Internet was still a dream to be realised, networking in Australia was taking shape. Since that first communication between computers in the US in 1969, Australia’s universities had not been idle. The country was littered with small networks built on the back of expanding university and commercial computer systems.

But it was not until 1986 when the director of the UQ computer centre (now called the Prentice Centre), Alan Coulter, rallied Australian and New Zealand universities that the South Pacific Education and Research Network (SPEARnet) was created. By 1989, with the inclusion of CSIRO, this was renamed the Australian Academic Research Network (AARNet).

Students and researchers now had access to state-of-the-art technology and a network connecting them around the globe. The Internet was in its infancy, but computer viruses and hackers were popping up everywhere. Hacking and viruses where usually innocuous, with bragging rights being of more importance than any malicious act.

The Audio Visual Department is transferred to the Prentice Computer Centre resulting in a name change to “The Prentice

Centre”. Access to Network infrastructure is funded centrally.

Software Verification Research Centre

established under direction of Professor

John Staples.

1991

A Cray Y-MP Supercomputer is leased to replace the IBM 3081. A

MASPAR parallel high performance computer

is relocated from the Department of

Electrical Engineering. SERT (Security

Emergency Response Team) established as a joint operation by

UQ, QUT, and Griffith universities. Forty-eight

dial-in modems now installed.

1993

A Silicon Graphics Power Challenge Supercomputer is installed to replace the CRAY Y-MP. It provides approximately 10 times

the processing capacity of the Cray. GDC ATM switch and Wellfleet Backbone

Concentrator nodes installed to provide significant increase

in UQ backbone network bandwidth. Upgrade of links

to QUT and Griffith to 34Mbps point to point microwave.

New Cisco routing equipment is installed at the Queensland

hub within the Prentice Centre. The link to the Gatton

Campus is upgraded from 2Mbps to 34Mbps.

Professor Paul Bailes appointed as HoD Computer Science.

1995

Graham Rees and Jennie Perry-Smith appointed

co-Directors of The Prentice Centre.Departments of

Electrical and Computer Engineering and of Computer Science

reunited as Department of Computer Science and

Electrical Engineering. Bachelor of Information

Environments introduced at UQ Ipswich (evolved

into Bachelor of Multimedia Design

at St Lucia).

19971992

The DEC PDP KL1090 is retired. UQ hosts the 1992

AARNet Network shop.Cooperative Research Centre for Distributed Systems Technology

established.

1994

SERT renamed AUSCERT following the award of a contract to provide security services to

AARNET and to avoid confusion with the US

based CERT.

1996

DEC Alpha Stations are purchased as the new standard platform for

Central Network Services to the university. 180 dial-in modems now installed.

1998

Review of Information Technology at the

University leads to the formation of ITS. Silicon Graphics Origin 2000

supercomputer installed. GPN1 Data Centre is

commissioned.Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering) introduced. Department of Computer Science and

Electrical Engineering moves into new GP

South building.

/ 20

2003

Altex supercomputer with IA64 processers

installed as part of the High Performance

computing cluster. Linked IT program established with

Universitas Indonesia. ARC Centre for Complex

Systems established under direction of Professor

Peter Lindsay.

2006

Sun Enterprise 25000 (E25k) is installed. Core

routing protocol changes to OSPF. ITS deploys its

first highly-available SQL server failover cluster.

GPN1 Data Centre capacity is increased from 80 kVA

to 160 kVA.

2009

GPN2 Data Centre is commissioned. Spark T Enterprise series Server

boxes installed in ITS. Phoenix Program created to upgrade UQ’s network infrastructure.

The program purchases 3500 wireless access points, 2171 Network switches and

$2.7m in core equipment. UQ voice network central control

equipment is converted to VOIP. Sun Enterprise 25000 (E25k) removed. StorageTek

"powder horn" tape silo replaced with SL8500 units

located at St Lucia and Ipswich campuses. Capacity of 2.5

petabytes (with dual copies). NICTA relocates to UQ St Lucia

collocated with ITEE.

2002

Silicon Graphics Origin 3000 supercomputer

installed. 40th anniversary of installation of first digital computer in Queensland.

Dark Fibre installed to connect St Lucia to Herston, PA and Mater

Hospitals, Dentistry and Customs House.

Rollout of the central ‘UQAPS’ Citrix Farm

offers University-wide multi-platform application

deployment.

2005

Silicon Graphics Origin 3000 supercomputer retired. AARNet link

upgraded to 1GB. Microsoft Exchange central

University mail system rolled out. First Storage

Area Network (SAN) array deployed.UQ (ITEE and Psych)

joins NICTA.

2008

AARNet link upgraded to 10GB. First iPhone

purchased in University fleet. CCR Herston Data Centre is commissioned.Microsoft is engaged for

large-scale hosted Student Mail solution hosting

approximately 150,000 student mailboxes.

Linked IT and software engineering programs

established with Ho Chi Minh City

University of Technology. Inaugural Sino-Australian

IT research forum.

Analogue IPTV is decommissioned.

Streamed digital TV is introduced. ITS has 1.6PB of disk storage capacity across various systems (equivalent to a stack of CD's 4.5km high).

Professor Stuart Crozier wins Clunies-Ross award.

Linked masters in information security

established with ESIEA (Paris).

2012

Introduction of the Master of Data Science.

20172011

Core videoconferencing system is developed at UQ. January floods devastate much of UQ. Damages to telepresence, satellite and

outdoor fibre totals $800k. Damages to buildings result in an additional

$250k of replacement IT equipment.

UQ identified among world’s top 40 IT programs.

2014

Web and Software Services within

ITS began a process of transforming

how prospective and current students interact

with UQ’s web and digital presence.

2018

Introduction of the Bachelor of

Computer Science.

Over the coming decades computers spread beyond laboratories and into every part of university life. Technology advanced at an astronomical pace. People were connecting in every way, from Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) to real-time video conferencing.

The connectivity and the ubiquitous nature of computers have had a dramatic effect on society. People have become dependent on computers to communicate, for social interactions, and for business. Short delays in the download of a web page elicit Colston-like frustrations.

Viruses are now more destructive and have been joined by attacks from ransomware. Hackers and cybercriminals make large amounts of money with data and identity theft. Safety and security become increasingly challenging in our connected world.

A long list of threats now hangs over the Internet and, aside from the hackers and viruses, we now have cyberbullying, fraud, identity theft, phishing scams, copyright infringement, hacking and even cyber warfare.

AI and thinking machines are becoming commodity

items, with systems appearing in living rooms to respond to voice commands, predict actions and offer advice.

UQ continues to project into the future, planning courses and research around the needs of tomorrow. More than 1100 students are preparing to take on future challenges, arming themselves through courses that teach machine learning, data analysis, human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, and more. These students will leave UQ well equipped to invent new ways for humans and computers to work together, safely and securely.

Graduates can now leave with majors in Cyber Security, Data Science, Programming Languages, Machine Learning and Scientific Computing.

New dreamers are appearing to help take us to the next phase of people-computer interactions. These are researchers, students, innovators and creators who will make sure that the computer-human relationship is safe – that everyday people can enhance their lives without fear and with confidence that their information will not fall into the hands of nefarious characters.

// High tech dreamers

/21

//

Busting mining mythsIn a world where news comes in thick, fast and fake, trying to decipher fact from fiction is becoming increasingly challenging.

The issue is compounded in the field of careers in mining engineering, with perceptions that all mining is unsustainable and environmentally damaging.

Professor Peter Knights from the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering aims to debunk common mining myths and clarify the state of the sector.

with Professor Peter Knights

/ 22

Autonomous-haulage trucks and remote-control centres are prevalent throughout the mining industry. As with any industry, changes in technology require a shift in the type of people being employed.

Professor Knights believes there has been a conversation ‘shift’ in mining.

“From 2013-17 the discussion in mining circles was all around costs and productivity. Now it has moved to the use of technology to increase productivity,” he said.

This refocus fits well with the skills that UQ mining engineers develop while at university.

“Mining companies are looking for graduates who are

systems thinkers – who can recognise the importance of new technologies and see how they fit within the mining industry,” Professor Knights said.

New technologies are changing the face of mining and creating opportunities for graduates. Far from replacing jobs, the technology shift is reshaping the mining industry and requires intelligent, innovative engineers to help mining take advantages of these changes.

“This is why UQ graduates are in such demand,” Professor Knights said.

“Our courses keep pace with industry and, as such, UQ mining engineers are being snapped up by companies.”

Myth 2 // Technology is replacing jobs

The transition to renewable energy production and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is effecting the introduction of new energy coal mines in Australia, but other areas of mining are set to reap substantial benefits.

Technology forecasters predict a world in which electric vehicles are prevalent. Electric vehicles cannot be built without the products of Queensland’s mining industry. This includes lightweight aluminium for car bodies, copper wiring in electric induction motors, steel in the chassis and lithium batteries.

Queensland’s metalliferous (ores that contain metal) and other non-coal related mining is poised to flourish. Between March 2017 to March 2018, Queensland exported

more than $8 billion worth of metalliferous material from mines not associated with the coal industry.

Queensland mining operations produce metal and minerals that are used in everything from jewellery to medicines and jet engines, and new uses are being found all the time.

That’s not to say that coal mining will disappear. Coal will remain a major export for many years and is still needed for the production of iron and steel. Australia is the world's largest coal exporter and is known for producing the cleanest coal in the world.

The move to renewable energy sources presents opportunities for mining and the production of minerals used in the technologies associated with clean energy production.

Myth 3 // Renewable energy means the end of mining

Professor Knights is quick to jump to the reality of the boom-bust cycle of mining. When a new mine starts there is a flurry of capital works resulting in some exciting news for local, state and federal politicians and the media. Employment statistics rise as capital projects get moving. This is sometimes seen as a boom time for mining, the reality is that this phase is just setting up for the real success to start.

“When the build is completed there are often construction job losses due to that phase of the mining ending,” Professor Knights said.

“However, there remains behind a lucrative and vibrant industry which continues to be productive for many years.”

This productivity and the use of technology that amplifies efficiencies is seeing some exciting times in the mining industry.

According to the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Minerals, Queensland is one of the world’s largest producer of metallurgical coal and the second largest producer of lead, and features globally in third place for zinc and fourth place for bauxite. And it’s Australia’s largest producer of silver and second largest producer of copper.

More than 59,000 people were employed in the Queensland mining sector in the 2016-17 financial year. Between March 2017 and March 2018, mining exports were valued at $37 billion – accounting for more than half the State’s $71 billion total export value.

Mining is alive and well.

Myth 1 // Mining is dying

/23

Virtual reality recreates architectural history

//

/ 24

Virtual reality has taken members of the public on a journey through Brisbane’s oldest standing structure, thanks to University of Queensland researchers.

Using 3D scanners, a group led by the School of Architecture’s Dr Kelly Greenop recreated the experience of exploring Brisbane’s Windmill Tower, built by convicts in the 1820s.

Dr Greenop said the project would give the public access to a building that is nearly 200 years old and is rarely open.

“This is a really great way for people to get a taste of it,” she said.

“It might not be the same as going there, but people can get a good impression and see what it’s really like inside.”

The building is four stories tall and has steep staircases, which make it difficult to navigate.

Its walls are lined with pencil graffiti, dating back more than 100 years.

Master of Architecture student Jay Stocker and PhD candidate Pat Manyuru managed to recreate the current structure as well as a second version, which features the building restored to its original form – complete with the windmill’s original mechanical workings.

“We’ve made the colonial version from back when convicts operated a treadmill to process wheat and corn crops,” Dr Greenop said.

She said the team worked to capture every texture and detail to ensure the recreation is as accurate as possible.

“It’s really important that it looks realistic so it’s not only authentic, but historically useful.

“This is just one way we can use digital infrastructure as a way of exploring the past, present and future.”

The project was showcased at Brisbane’s Open House Weekend and at an historian’s workshop.

Top image: Virtual reconstruction of interior machineryBottom image: Virtual reconstruction of the windmill in 1840

“It’s really

important that

it looks realistic

so it’s not only

authentic, but

historically

useful.” DR KELLY GREENOP

/25

Sean Johnston is paving the way for new medical possibilities, through metal biocorrosion – a move that could revolutionise the way our bones heal.

Sean is a PhD student at UQ’s School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering and he’s been working to understand how magnesium alloys break down in the human body, and if this could be used to a medical advantage.

Well known for their high-strength to weight ratio, pound for pound magnesium alloys is significantly stronger than steel. However, they are also quite reactive, meaning it can corrode easily in many environments. But what if this weakness was really a strength in disguise? Sean says that is exactly what it is.

“I’ve always loved the idea of finding strength or opportunity in a perceived weakness. My little sister isn’t short, she’s fun-sized. My uncles not bald, he’s aerodynamic,” Sean said.

Sean says biodegradable metals such as magnesium could be the perfect candidate for temporary medical devices. He says magnesium alloys could potentially be used as medical implants replacing screws and plates.

“When something in the body breaks, it is common to use implants to help support that part of the body as it heals,” he said.

“What if we could make these implants out of safe, absorbable materials, which can slowly corrode into the body: getting weaker, as the body gets stronger?”

If implants were able to be safely absorbed by the body, it would eliminate the need for a second surgery. For this to work the corrosion would need to be slow, controlled, and predictable. Otherwise the implant could fail before the body has fully healed.

During his research journey, Sean has managed to better understand the influence of various organic materials and chemical ions on magnesium biocorrosion. He has also developed surface treatments, which can slow the corrosion rate by almost 50 per cent aiming to match body tissue healing rates. He identified ways to safely sterilise magnesium alloys, without harming their corrosion rates. This proved vital during a live animal trial where, in a global first, he compared the corrosion rates of samples implanted in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. During this trial, with the grateful help from UQ vets and imaging specialists, he has discovered that the samples implanted in females corrode more quickly than those implanted in the males, possibly due to the consumption of bodily magnesium stores during the females’ menstrual cycle.

“I plan to use this research to develop the next generation of absorbable medical implants made with magnesium components. Turning this material’s greatest weakness into its greatest strength,” he said.

Turning weaknesses

into strengths

//

/ 26

Sean Johnston Sean is a PhD student and tutor at The University of Queensland.

He participated in the 2017 Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology Three Minute Thesis final, where he came second after

presenting his research on magnesium alloys.

“What if we could make

these implants out of safe,

absorbable materials, which

can slowly corrode into the

body: getting weaker, as the

body gets stronger?”SEAN JOHNSTON

/27

Sapphires:Providing more than just shine

Walking through a village in Madagascar, UQ researcher Lynda Lawson is on a journey to discover the world of gemstone mining.

/ 28

It’s a project she’s immersed herself in for the past four years, uncovering how these beautiful, rich resources make their way from the ground to our high-end jewellery.

Madagascar is considered to be a poor nation, but it is a nation teeming with resources. The artisanal sapphire mines of south-west Madagascar have produced many of the world’s most precious sapphires since the first deposits were found there, some 20 years ago. And it’s the local women who are playing a vital role in the industry.

“Reports and documentaries about the trade portray the area as a predominantly male frontier society with little mention of the contribution of women miners and traders, and the impact of the sapphire rushes on women in the area. Yet for many thousands of predominantly rural women, sapphire mining and trading has provided a lifeline,” Lynda said.

While thousands of women are involved in work with sapphires and other gemstones, there are very few opportunities for women to participate in the gemstone trade beyond sieving tailings in the river, surface mining and the sale of small stones by traders known as the ladies in hats.

Working at UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), Lynda is dedicated to educating women miners and traders on how to best identify the stones they mine, and the characteristics of a stone that make it more valuable – making sure these women are getting more bang for their buck.

“In focussing on the lives of women in mining and trading of gemstones, we can provide valuable information for those involved in planning and capacity building to promote better life outcomes for women and their children.”

Lynda worked with UQ trained geologist and gemologist Charles Lawson to conduct courses for the women miners, supplying them with a basic gemmology kit of a loupe, tweezers, a torch and a guidebook. These women are now in a position to turn their knowledge into power.

Top image: Woman miner learning to use equipment after training. Source: Lynda Lawson

Bottom image: Woman miner holding sapphires. Source: Charles Lawson

/29

Not only is Lynda working alongside these women, she has also played an integral role in establishing an online knowledge hub, a digital encyclopaedia for coloured gemstones. It’s an initiative made possible thanks to a grant from the iconic Tiffany & Co. Foundation.

“This project is part of UQ’s and SMI’s vision of creating change for responsible resource development. The study of gemstones can also provide a window of knowledge into geological processes occurring on earth many millions of years ago.”

The work in Madagascar and the creation of the Gemstone Hub are just the first steps forward in Lynda’s vision of creating a sustainable and safe approach towards the sale and trade of coloured stones. Through spreading awareness and investing in education not only is she working to improve the industry, but better the lives of those who live in it.

“In focussing on the lives of women in mining and trading

of gemstones, we can provide valuable information for those

involved in planning and capacity building to promote better

life outcomes for women and their children.”LYNDA LAWSON

Lynda LawsonLynda is a PhD student at The University of Queensland and is currently working at UQ’s Sustainable Mineral Institute as the Training and Knowledge Transfer Manager. She has extensive experience working with government, the resources sector and civil society across Africa. She has specialist knowledge and experience in working in the gemstone sector, small scale mining and with women in mining.

/ 30

Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

Executive Education

In an environment of rapid change, it is essential to embrace life-long learning and

regularly update your knowledge and skills in order to maintain pace within your

field, stay relevant, and provide the best possible service to employers and clients.

The Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology Executive

Education delivers a diverse portfolio of education opportunities, with flexible

delivery options designed to meet your ongoing demands, on time and budget.

Our offerings include:

• Continuing professional development (CPD) workshops,

masterclasses and courses,

• Corporate in-house training and support,

• 5-day post graduate level workshops.

All courses are produced and presented by internationally recognised industry

leaders, experts and practitioners. Topics include petroleum engineering,

sustainable energy, data science, radar and electronic warfare and antenna design.

Contact us to find out moreeait.uq.edu.au/cpd cpd@eait.uq.edu.au

UQ ALUMNI RECEIVE 10% DISCOUNT!

/31

Wake up to

Design Thinking

//

If you think you already know the solution, chances are you haven’t yet found the right problem.

That’s because our own narrow perspective can blind us to what’s going on around us. And it’s often the little thing we miss that could make the biggest difference to a project’s outcome.

No matter where you work or what you do, Design Thinking will open your eyes to what users truly want, and lead you to create a product or service that brings them satisfaction. With that, your competitive edge will soon follow.

The concept of designing to satisfy human desire goes way back. In the early 1900s, husband and wife team Charles and Ray Eames shaped chairs to fit our bodies for maximum comfort. Several decades later, Milton Glaser

conceived the iconic I ♥ NY logo on a scrap of paper while riding in a Manhattan taxi. He once famously said, “We’re always looking, but we never really see.” Glaser believed that truly paying attention lies at the heart of understanding.

One of the first models for this creative process came from Nobel Prize laureate Herbert Simon in 1969. He lay the groundwork for the standardised system of Design Thinking, which academic institutions worldwide, including The University of Queensland, now teach as a formal method. Employers, too, recognise its value. That’s why more than 60,000 Australians list ‘Design Thinking’ in their LinkedIn profiles.

/ 32

How does Design Thinking work?Although Design Thinking has a few variants, let’s break down its framework into these six phases: empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test and implement.

A framework with flexibilityDesign Thinking may appear to have a set sequence, but in practice it’s actually quite flexible. You can use the system in whatever way works best for you. Shuffle the order. Get different team members to carry out different phases at the same time. Repeat a phase until you’re totally satisfied with the outcome. Or go back to a previous phase once you’ve got more information. You can even add a twist. Each project has its quirks so always be prepared to adapt. Whether you play by the rules or break them, Design Thinking will give you the focus and freedom to make things that matter.

Engage with users to understand their needs.Step outside yourself. Spend time with actual users of a product or service to find out what they think and feel.Abandon all preconceptions! What motivates them? What frustrates them? What do they really want? Watch them perform a task, or interact with an object. Do this in their home or workplace, somewhere that’s relevant to the activity. Encourage them to talk you through each step. Above all, listen. And make sure to ask them why. A real conversation can foster empathy, as well as bring surprising and powerful insight.

Explore all sorts of possible solutions then pick a few.Now let yourself go. Bounce ideas off team members. No matter what the problem, remain open to all sorts of crazy solutions. Don’t overanalyse. Make mistakes. Don’t try to come up with the right idea, but go for the broadest range. (No judging! The best solution will come later.) As a team, vote for a few categories, such as ‘most fun’, ‘most practical’ and ‘most surprising’, and take all the winners into prototyping. That way you’ll keep the innovative juices flowing.

Get feedback from users.First think about how to test. Best to set this up in the context of a user’s life where you’re most likely to get true spontaneous reactions. For example, a user may try out a gadget as part of their normal routine. Don’t immediately explain how a prototype works. Simply note how the individual interacts with it. Again, listen to what they say. Does it meet their needs? Is it easy to use? Does it give them pleasure? Also let them compare different prototypes. Testing gives you an opportunity to come up with a better solution. Even if this means going back to the drawing board.

Create things people can interact with.

Create some quick and cheap prototypes. Things people can interact with.

A gadget. A role-playing activity. A storyboard. Whatever you do, don’t

get too attached to any one idea. Share all options within the team, or

even with small groups outside the team. Remain open to feedback. This is your

chance to discover what works and what doesn’t. Make changes and try again. By

the end of this phase, you’ll have a clearer idea of how real users might engage with

the product or feature.

Execute your idea. Make it real.

Make your vision a reality. You’ve come up with a solution to improve the lives of others. Now’s the time to execute it and get your innovation out into the world.

Maybe it’s not perfect, but no doubt it’s better than what came before.

Review what you’ve learned to find the right

problem to solve.Review the observations you’ve

gathered and try to make sense of them. Put stuff on a wall. Photos of users,

quotes on sticky notes, whatever visually communicates your impressions. Then

look for common threads amongst users. Define the human-centred problem you

wish to solve – state exactly what you seek to improve. The narrower this is, the

better. You can never develop a concept that means all things to all people. A specific goal

will generate more ideas of higher quality.

1Empathise

3Ideate

5Test

2Define

4Prototype

6Implement

/33

When travelling through Brisbane’s CBD and outer suburbs chances are you’ll come across plenty of construction and congestion. It’s time

consuming, expensive and inconvenient. But, a UQ-led design team are hoping to change all that, following an exciting engineering breakthrough.

Today it takes anywhere between three months to three years to complete the construction of an urban bridge. On top of that, costly and lengthy detours need to be put in place to allow traffic to continue to flow. A recent example – an overpass bridge on Main and Kessel Roads in Brisbane took three years to complete and cost $300 million. But, this doesn’t have to be the case.

Dr Dilum Fernando and his team have revolutionised bridge building, creating a design that is lighter, stronger and faster to put up than anything currently available. Their groundbreaking technique won the inaugural BERD-FEUP Prize for World Innovation in Bridge Engineering (WIBE) award earlier this year.

Dilum said by using innovative hybrid fiberglass-concrete-steel elements, the team was able to be one step ahead of the curve. His team created a prototype that is three times as strong as conventional reinforced concrete bridges, yet only one third of the weight.

“Because it’s light, the bridge can be prefabricated and transported to site where it can be installed very quickly. This means projects that previously caused up to six months of disruption can now be completed in just a few days."

It all started when Brisbane-based company RocketC approached Dilum. From there a design team was established, including global engineering consultancy Arup and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The collaboration provided the perfect team to create an award-winning design capable of speeding up construction time and saving money.

Arup Fellow Mr Peter Burnton said the research would solve many of the challenges that come with constructing expensive and heavy bridges across our roads and waterways.

“This project has also given excellent practical experience to many students who have helped fabricate, test and interpret the test results in the fantastic laboratories at UQ,” he said.

Dilum said the team’s hard work truly paid off, after they secured $50,000 funding boost from the inaugural WIBE award, knocking out other designs involving more than 200 inventors from 50 countries. He says the money they have managed to secure will contribute to further research into applications and improvements for the bridge technology, taking it from strength to strength.

Build a bridge and get over it –

in just three days?

//

/ 34

Dr Dilum FernandoDilum is a Senior Lecturer working in the School of Civil Engineering. His research

focuses on structural rehabilitation, innovative applications of emerging materials, advanced numerical modelling, sustainable design and

management of infrastructure assets.

/35

UQ Engineering Reunion Day

The 2019 Engineering Reunion Day will be held on Saturday 7 of September

– for more information and to register your interest to attend, please contact

Prue Roche on prue.roche@uq.edu.au.

Thank you to all of our alumni who attended the 2018

Engineering Reunion Day. Photos from the event can be found

in our photo gallery by visiting eait.uq.edu.au/community.

//

/ 36

ImpactDONOR REPORT 2017–2018

Together, our greatest days lie ahead

//

/37

Advancing philanthropy

On behalf of the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology, we warmly acknowledge and

thank each of our donors and volunteers for the incredible generosity that they have shown over the past year.

//

Through your gifts, together, we are making a difference not only in the lives of many individual students, but in the capacity to build great leaders who will make this world a better place in the future.

Thanks to the kind support of alumni and friends of the Faculty, we have been able to create opportunities to transform the learning experiences for hundreds of students here at UQ. Your commitment to advancing education means that our graduates have the confidence and support to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Scholarships and prizes continue to provide a group of gifted, underrepresented and financially disadvantaged

students across all disciplines the opportunity to pursue study in their chosen field. Your contributions mean that more talented young people will now have the financial support to choose UQ, and make the most of a world-class education, irrespective of their backgrounds. In addition to this, philanthropy is helping to fund life-changing research that will have impact all over the world.

Philanthropy makes all of this possible. By giving a gift to the Faculty, you’re setting an example that helps us build a culture that will inspire generosity in the UQ community for generations to come.

Thank you.

/ 38

FEBRUARY–JULY

• Women in Engineering ‘Celebrating Success’ Breakfast: Friday 22 February – Mercure Hotel, North Quay Keynote speaker: Wendy King

• Brisbane Alumni Drinks, Thursday 28 February• Brisbane Alumni Drinks, Thursday 30 May

AUGUST–DECEMBER

• Engineering Reunion Day: Saturday 7 September• Friends of Chemical Engineering Thank You event:

Friday 25 October• Women in Engineering ‘Celebrating Diversity’

Cocktail event: Thursday 14 November• End of year Alumni Drinks and welcome to

new Graduates event – Thursday 28 November

// 2019 Events Calendar

// Thank you from your Advancement support team

To find out more and register for upcoming events visit eait.uq.edu.au/alumni-events

Tania FortuneEvent Officer

Jodie ChellewAdvancement Coordinator

Dana LutatStewardship Officer

Cormac Murphy Director of Advancement

Tillie WalshDeputy Director,

Engagement and Philanthropy

Kyle WilliamsSenior Alumni and Community

Engagement Officer

/39

TRANSFORMING TEACHING AND LEARNING

$84,000+ received in 2017Lectureship, infrastructure and chairs to create and contribute to innovative learning environments

EMPOWERING STUDENT SUCCESS

$588,000+ received in 2017Scholarships and prizes to support access to education, residential or travel costs

DRIVING DISCOVERY AND IMPACT

$2.84m+ received in 2017Research support helps us nurture cross-disciplinary teams who are working towards solving the great challenges facing humanity

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In 2017, donors directed their support to:

Your support allows

exceptional people to flourishLike you, we believe that lifelong success is fostered through great education – inspiring students to think differently, ask the difficult questions, be a positive disruptive influence and fulfil every ounce of their potential.

3.5mfunds received

620 gifts received (+50 from 2016)

410donors(+10 from 2016)

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Photo credit: Yong's Photography

Thank you to our alumni and friends who made a gift to the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology in 2017 and so far in 2018. We appreciate your continued support of the University and our students and researchers.

To view the 2017 Donor Roll, please visit eait.uq.edu.au/donor-roll

The Donor Roll

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Making history Global business leader and alumnus Andrew N. Liveris AO and his wife

Paula Liveris are spearheading positive social change across the

globe through an historic donation to The University of Queensland

for research to help create a sustainable future.

UQ graduate Andrew N. Liveris has never forgotten his roots, calling out to the wife of his late mentor and legendary chemical engineering industry figure, Professor Don Nicklin, during the official announcement of the Liveris family’s generous $13.5 million gift to the University in April.

Mr Liveris acknowledged the great impact his UQ days had on him personally and professionally, remembering fondly with the small audience how Don had encouraged him to pursue a career with The Dow Chemical Company, a company he would later lead as its global Chairman and CEO.

“I’ve haunted this place a little bit; there are ghosts of me everywhere here,” Mr Liveris laughed, admitting he had goosebumps being back on campus to talk about the new 11-storey Andrew N. Liveris Building, which will house the Liveris Academy, and his passion for seeking and empowering positive change in the world.

The new engineering education and research hub will be built at the St Lucia campus and will also be the new home for the UQ School of Chemical Engineering. Construction started in July 2018 and is expected to be completed for Semester 1, 2020.

The Liveris Academy will teach and develop future generations of leaders, equipping them to discover and implement technology-driven innovations that address the world’s greatest sustainability-related challenges, including clean water, clean energy and food security.

Mr Liveris talked about his vision for how these challenges should be tackled.

“With optimism, [through] problem solving, and by bringing together [different] disciplines and technological innovation,” he said.

UQ’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said naming the building after Mr Liveris was a fitting acknowledgement of one of UQ’s most successful alumni.

“We’re honouring his exceptional career and his role as a consistent, visible and enthusiastic advocate for UQ,” said Professor Høj.

As a part of this gift, the Liveris family has also pledged to raise an additional $26.5 million dollars to support UQ’s Not If, When philanthropic campaign.

“I have always remembered the sacrifices of the people who have gone before me and what it means to give back and have an impact,” Mr Liveris said. And we’re thankful that he has.

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“I have always remembered the

sacrifices of the people who have gone

before me and what it means to give

back and have an impact.” ANDREW N. LIVERIS

Image: Andrew N. Liveris Building breaking of the ground ceremony

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Meet a Mentor

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The Meet a Mentor program is an exciting initiative for students in their final years of study in engineering, architecture and computing

programs to gain experience and establish connections with alumni and industry professionals. The program supports students with their career development and transition from university into the workforce, engaging

business professionals in mutually beneficial partnerships.

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Mentee:“A mentor is someone who lights up

the path and brings the best out of you. The mentoring experience helped me successfully land a graduate position

before I graduated! I am grateful to my mentor who played a big role in that. It is a two-way relationship and the

more effort you put in, the more benefits you can reap from it.”

VILAIWAN SUVANMANI

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) '17

Mentor:“It is very satisfying to be able to help the next generation of leaders in the industry. As a mentor, I found it incredibly rewarding being able to support the mentees I have worked with to provide advice and share my experiences. This has been particularly fulfilling when I have been able to support my mentee with feedback on job applications, how to prepare for interviews and what to expect when working in the industry.”

LACEY FILIPICH

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) '03

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Scholarship support makes a differenceIn 2017, thanks to the generous support of our alumni and industry friends, we were able to award more than $360,000 in scholarships and prizes to some of our brightest young minds in the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology.

“When I received the Leeanne Bond Scholarship for Women in Engineering I was extremely grateful for the financial support, however, over the past year I have realised the priceless personal and academic benefits a scholarship creates. Leeanne's mentoring helped me make a great start to university, providing me with invaluable advice that will stay with me for years to come. I couldn't be more thankful to be a scholarship recipient, and I am glad that with continued support others will be able to grow from similar opportunities.”

ALEXANDRA CRAWLEY

Scholarship recipient, current engineering and mathematics student

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“I have always been interested in how things work and the ‘magic’ in computer hardware

and software. This motivated me to study engineering and IT at The University of

Queensland. I am thoroughly enjoying my program and have been very fortunate to

be an ICT Excellence Scholarship recipient. Not only has this scholarship assisted me

financially, but it has also provided me with many networking opportunities with alumni,

staff and industry partners. I am extremely grateful for the support offered to me and look forward to my continued studies and

future career in this field.”

CALLUM BREETZKE

Scholarship recipient, current electrical and computer engineering student

“The Order of Australia Association Foundation Scholarship has been a tremendous opportunity for me as a student living away from home whilst supporting myself. The generous donation by Professor Brian O’Keeffe has provided the financial freedom for me to focus completely on my academic and professional development and to be able to undertake a semester of study abroad. This scholarship has also opened the door to a vast group of highly respected people across all industries. Their experiences and wisdom have been instrumental in my career choices and I am sure they will continue to provide guidance and mentorship in the coming years. I am extremely grateful to the Foundation for this invaluable gift, and I look forward to fulfilling the potential it has recognised in me.”

KAVERI PATHAK

Scholarship recipient, current electrical engineering student

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Help us

create change

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The Faculty attracts hundreds of applications each year for scholarships and prizes that support the brightest and most deserving students from

across Australia and around the globe.

A suite of discipline-based philanthropic programs, focused on engineering, architecture and computing, allow our alumni and friends to designate their gift

to an area that resonates with them.

By making a modest or more substantial tax-deductible contribution to one of these funds, your gift will join with dozens of others to make a significant impact

in priority areas identified by our Heads of School and Centre Directors. Gifts made to the Faculty's priority giving funds will focus on enhancing undergraduate,

postgraduate and early career researcher experiences.

For more information on how you can support UQ's undergraduate students and early career researchers, please visit eait.uq.edu.au/giving.

Thank you for supporting UQ.

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INNOVATIONS IN WATER – RESEARCH START-UP FUNDThe Innovations in Water Fund has been established to enable UQ alumni, industry partners and friends who are passionate about making a difference to our 'water future' to philanthropically support the next generation of emerging talent. Funds raised will be used to support outstanding postgraduate and early-career researchers to translate their innovative ideas into applied research projects under the guidance of leading academic and professional experts.

awmc.uq.edu.au/innovations-water-research-startup-fund

A DVA N C E D WAT E R M A N AG E M E N T C E N T R E

RJ 'GUS' WILES SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUNDIn honour of our friend, colleague and valued teacher, UQ is continuing to seek philanthropic support that will see Gus's legacy live on in perpetuity as part of the UQ Chemical Engineering student experience. Established in 2010, the RJ 'Gus' Wiles Scholarship Endowment Fund enables two annual travel scholarships to be offered to talented but financially disadvantaged students.

chemeng.uq.edu.au/gus-wiles

C H E M I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G

UQ SOCIAL OUTREACH STUDIO FUNDThe UQ Social Outreach Studio Fund supports current architecture students to deliver, through great design solutions, real benefits for people facing social or economic disadvantage. Funds will be used to assist students with the cost of materials, travel, exhibitions and community reporting in program areas undertaken in rural, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and Pacific Island communities.

architecture.uq.edu.au/giving

A R C H I T EC T U R E

THE ICARUS PROGRAMNot all students respond to education in the same way. The Icarus Program within the School of Civil Engineering blends traditional civil engineering learning with research-focused project activities, providing an alternative pathway for students whose learning needs and interests extend beyond a traditional classroom environment. Philanthropic support at all levels will play an important role helping to develop the program now and into the future.

civil.uq.edu.au/icarus/support-icarus

C I V I L E N G I N E E R I N G

Priority giving funds

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WOMEN IN ACTION FUND The Women in Action Fund supports female engineering, design and technology students to engage in community and industry-based experiences through study tours, student exchange, and short-term professional and personal development experiences. By mobilising our best and brightest female talent, we hope to nurture young women who aspire to careers in these fields, and encourage diversity beyond the university environment.

eait.uq.edu.au/women-action-fund

D I V E R S I T Y

ICT ALUMNI ADVANTAGE SCHOLARSHIPAimed at promoting diversity within the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, the ICT Alumni Advantage Scholarship Program focuses on encouraging students from non-traditional backgrounds into ICT programs, with a particular focus on attracting female students, rural and Indigenous Australians, and students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Scholarships are awarded to successful candidates to reduce financial burden, enabling deserving and talented students to more fully realise their potential at UQ.

itee.uq.edu.au/ict-scholarship

I N F O R M AT I O N A N D C O M M U N I C AT I O N T EC H N O LO G Y

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING ALUMNI ADVANTAGE SCHOLARSHIP

The Electrical Engineering Alumni Advantage Scholarships are making a difference in the lives of aspiring electrical engineers. Designed to encourage and support students where financial, gender, geographic or cultural disadvantage provides a barrier to aspiring to tertiary studies. Scholarships are awarded to successful candidates to reduce financial burden, enabling deserving and talented students to more fully focus on their studies and realise their potential at UQ.

itee.uq.edu.au/ee-scholarship

E L EC T R I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G

JOHN SIMMONS STUDENT MOBILITY FUNDWhether it is participating in the Mining Games, heading overseas on an internship, or launching a new student society, the John Simmons Student Mobility Fund will have a huge impact on the lives of young people with drive and ideas in the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering. The fund is used to distribute small annual grants to help undergraduate students get more from the extracurricular activities that make university such a life-changing experience.

mechmining.uq.edu.au/john-simmons-student-mobility-fund

M EC H A N I C A L A N D M I N I N G E N G I N E E R I N G

To make a difference in the lives of students like Kate, please visit giving.uq.edu.au.

Together, we can support students to unlock their potential

alumni@eait.uq.edu.au

+ 61 7 3346 7533

eait.uq.edu.au/community

Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology