rr_2010

Discovery through partnerships…

RESEARCH REVIEW 2010

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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


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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

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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


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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

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Art out of the shadowsBy Katherine Smith


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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.”

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Artwork Chris Dyson


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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

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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


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“The first scientific results on the health of some of our waterways are expected to be released in coming months.”

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What drives genetic differences?By Silvia Dropulich


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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


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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

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Study shows mismatch between women’s education levels and workplace participationBy Catriona May


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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


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

17

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


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

Learning to live with fire

By Nerissa Hannink


20

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...”


22

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.


24

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.


26

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.


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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

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