04 March 2010
In The Loop – Issue 2/2010, 4 March 2010
In The Loop is the monthly newsletter from the College of Science, Engineering and Health. This month, read about our staff and student achievements, find out how to book a College pool vehicle, check out the featured website of the month, and more...
Message from the PVC, Professor Peter Coloe
With this week marking the commencement of the 2010 undergraduate year, it is time to brace for the year ahead. The campus is busier this week with classes starting and staff and students alike getting ready to tackle the 2010 academic year.
The arrival of students heralds a busy time for all staff with administrators striving for seamless enrolments and teaching staff putting finishing touches on curriculums and schedules.
The University is also watching closely as the first full cohort of TAFE students arrive ready to complete their diploma and advanced diploma programs under the Victorian Skills Reform. Included in the TAFE profile is the rapid growth in Associate Degrees across the Schools of Life and Physical Sciences and Engineering (TAFE).
Likewise, our researchers are busy as they contribute to 2009 research outputs reporting and collate data for the Government's transparent costing exercise. With high completion targets in front of us, it is gratifying to see researchers helping RMIT to strengthen its position even further through striving for additional funding under the Sustainable Research Excellence (SRE) initiative.
With many external drivers changing the way we do things, 2010 will again challenge us and require us to stay focused and determined to reach our targets and our objectives.
This year the University must also begin to shape its objectives and goals for the coming five years as its existing strategic plan reaches the end of its cycle. Much has been achieved over the past five years and the College is in a strong position to continue to improve its learning and teaching and research performance.
With so much activity going on it's important for staff to try to stay abreast of happenings. There are several news outlets for staff including 'In The Loop' which aims to inform College staff of activities, events, and other news about our own College, but many other online resources are available. Visit 'news for staff' to access links to staff news from across the University.
Additionally, I plan on providing face-to-face updates on our College performance and other matters at SEH PVC Forums – the first to be held in April. Look for invites closer to the time.
I'm sure that 2010 will be another year of success and achievement and I look forward to working with you over the coming academic year.
Professor Peter Coloe
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Science, Engineering and Health)
In this month's issue…
- RMIT leads international consortium in $2.85m Space Research Grant
- Electrical Engineering student wins ABC Women in Broadcast Technology Scholarship
- Captive dingoes smile for the camera in the name of research
- Director, Planning and Resources: Paul Brown appointed
- A message from Research and Innovation Portfolio: Transparent Costing Data Collection, Sustainable Research Excellence (SRE)
- Promoting your research through the media
- Student scholarship and funding opportunities
- Pool vehicles now available for College staff
- Public lecture: How do we supply the world's energy needs?
- Free public event: Graeme Clark Oration featuring Dr J Craig Venter
- Science in Society: second international conference
Regulars
RMIT leads international consortium in $2.85m Space Research Grant
Professor Kefei Zhang led an international consortium, securing funding for the Platform Technologies for Space, Atmosphere and Climate project.
School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences Professor Kefei Zhang has led an international consortium to secure funding in the first round of the Government’s $40 million Australian Space Research Program (ARSP).
The $2.85 million grant, in addition to significant cash contribution from partner organisations, will allow Professor Zhang and a team of international researchers to develop advanced platform technologies for space-related research including in-space tracking and navigation, precise positioning, space weather, atmospheric modelling and climate monitoring.
The consortium includes researchers from the University of New South Wales, Curtin University of Technology, Bureau of Meteorology, Electro Optic Systems Space System, GPSat Systems Australia Pty Ltd, National Space Organisation and National Central University Taiwan, and NOAA's World Data Centre for Meteorology.
Professor Zhang said, "I believe that this consortium brings together key and most qualified researchers, and will address important scientific and technical issues. It will make a significant contribution to our space industry, particularly in the satellite navigation, positioning and tracking, space tracking and future planning, design, launch and operation of Australian micro and nano-satellite missions."
The funding is part of the Australian Government's $1.1 billion Super Science Initiative, which supports projects that build on Australia’s research strengths.
Electrical Engineering student wins ABC Women in Broadcast Technology Scholarship
School of Engineering TAFE student Tseada Zekarias receives the 2009 ABC Women in Broadcast Technology Scholarship from Victorian ABC State Director, Victoria Randal Mathieson (left) and ABC Manager of Technical Services Victoria Donato Morganella (right). Image courtesy ABC.
School of Engineering TAFE Advanced Diploma of Electrical Engineering student Tseada Zekarias was awarded the first 2009 ABC Women in Broadcast Technology Scholarship in February.
The ABC provides up to eight scholarships each year, awarded to women undertaking a technical discipline at a TAFE institution and committed to a career in broadcasting. The scholarship included four weeks paid on the job training in the technical areas of the ABC, and a $1,000 book allowance.
Ms Zekarias is in the final year of her diploma where she has obtained first class results. Her strongest subjects are programming and circuit design though she is interested in branching into an electronics specific course such as the diploma in electronics or a degree in electrical engineering.
Ms Zekarias has already completed her four weeks paid training. Ms Zekarias said, "It was a great privilege to work for such a prestigious and big Australian company. I was able to work at different sights at the ABC and it was very exciting to work in that environment and be in touch with the technology and the company."
The Women in Broadcast Technology Scholarship was originally known as the Women in Engineering scholarship but changed its name to better represent the broadcasting element of the awards. The awards support the ABC's ongoing national initiative to increase the representation of women in technical roles.
For more information about the award, read the media release from the ABC.
Captive dingoes smile for the camera in the name of research
One of the photos taken as part of the study, two of the six captive dingoes at Healesville Sanctuary, Opal (stretching) with Harry in the background. Photo by J Philips and courtesy Zoos Victoria.
A Nikon D700 camera and an innovative approach to observation saw RMIT researchers discover behavioural differences between dingoes kept in captivity compared with their wild relatives.
Collaborating with Healesville Sanctuary, scientific photography student Ms Justine Philips and Professor Dayanthi Nugegoda from the School of Applied Sciences used a Nikon D700 digital camera and recording sheets to document the behaviour of six dingoes held at Healesville Sanctuary. Unaware, the dingoes smiled for the camera every 10 minutes, eight hours a day over six days in May 2009.
Using the data and images the researchers then constructed a written account of captive dingo behaviour. This was used in comparison to previously published accounts of their behaviour in the wild, and their role within human society before and after European contact. The findings confirmed that although they do not need to hunt, captive dingoes retain their irreversible prey drive and are highly tuned in their environment. They enjoy contact with familiar people but remain highly independent, and behave differently to domestic dogs.
Ms Philips said, "It was a fantastic opportunity and this research project has led me to go on to studying a Master of Animal Science in animal behaviour and welfare. Dayanathi taught me biology in second year and I loved the lectures so much, with my third year research project I was excited to able to combine biology and scientific photography and to work with Dayanthi again."
The findings of the study are explained further on the Healesville Sanctuary website.
Director, Planning and Resources: Paul Brown appointed
Paul Brown has been appointed as Director, Planning and Resources for the College of Science, Engineering and Health.
Paul is well known to many SEH staff though his time within the former Faculty of Life Sciences and his various positions in the College office such as Project and Resources Manager in the College office.
Paul’s appointment fills the vacancy that emerged with Lois Fitz-Gerald’s move to the Executive Director role in the Research and Innovation Portfolio.
The College's Executive team now comprises:
- Peter Coloe, Pro Vice Chancellor
- James Scott, Acting Associate PVC, Learning and Teaching
- Irena Cosic, Associate PVC, Research and Innovation
- Elaine Saunders, Director, Industry Engagement, Marketing and Development
- Samuel Georges, Deputy Director TAFE
- Paul Brown, Director, Planning and Resources
A message from Research and Innovation Portfolio: Transparent Costing Data Collection, Sustainable Research Excellence (SRE)
All academic staff of the University recently participated in the first week of the Data Collection as part of the Transparent Costing Exercise.
The PVC Research and Innovation would like to thank everyone who took the time to not only participate, but to give feedback on how to improve the process in the future. We understand that staff have many commitments and we appreciate you taking the time to complete the spreadsheet.
This year the Data Collection will be run over four separate weeks. Week Two will run from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 March 2010. The dates for weeks three and four are yet to be determined; however we anticipate that it will be in the middle of the year. The SRE Project Team will be in contact again soon regarding Week Two.
Further details regarding the Transparent Costing Exercise
Promoting your research through the media
RMIT Media and Communication will host a training session for RMIT academics and teaching staff on working productively with the media.
The training covers strategies for promoting research or events through the media, what makes a good media release, what makes a good media event, advice on what journalists love (and what they hate), plus interactive training to improve your interview skills and boost your confidence when dealing with the media.
The session is aimed at media beginners. It will be useful for academics with little or no media experience who would like to gain confidence and skills in dealing with the media.
Date: 18 March 2010
Time: 9.30 am – 2.30 pm
Location: City campus
For more information and booking details via Open Program
Student scholarship and funding opportunities
Scholarship and funding opportunities are available for commencing and continuing local and international TAFE, undergraduate and postgraduate students. Visit the Science, Engineering and Health Scholarships website for scholarships relevant to College students.
Scholarships currently available include:
- Alcoa Future Leaders of Industry Engineering Scholarship
- Civilian Defence Civil Engineering Scholarship Scheme
- Tony Noon Memorial Scholarship
- Northcote Trust Scholarship
- Philippa McCall Scholarship and Benefactor Bursaries for Postgraduate Coursework Students 2010
More scholarships are listed on the RMIT scholarships website.
Pool vehicles now available for College staff
A number of pool vehicles are available for official College business travel.
Cars can be reserved in advance through GroupWise.
The College 'Guidelines for Intercampus Travel' include information about appropriate use of vehicles, where the cars are located and who to contact to collect keys.
Cars should be left how you find them: rubbish removed, refuelled and tidied.
To book a car:
- Open Groupwise, and select 'File', --> 'New', --> 'Appointment'.
- Select 'Address Book'.
- Type in 'SEH-Vehicle'. A list of available vehicles will appear.
- Select the vehicle you require.
- Enter the day and time required.
- Do a 'Busy Search' to check the vehicle's availability (please wait for the time bar to complete).
- If available, send through the appointment.
- You will receive an email in your Groupwise inbox confirming your booking.
Vehicles currently available are:
- SEH-Vehicle-BundW-Subaru-Forester
- SEH-Vehicle-BundW-Astra-Hatch
- SEH-Vehicle-City-Astra-Hatch
- SEH-Vehicle-SAMME-BundE-Subaru-Forester
- SEH-Vehicle-SAMME-BundE-Subaru-Liberty-Wag
- SEH-Vehicle-SAMME-BundE-Isuzu-Truck
- SEH-Vehicle-SAS-BundW-Subaru-Forester
- SEH-Vehicle-SAS-BundW-Toyota-Hilux
- SEH-Vehicle-SAS-City-Holden-Rodeo
- SEH-Vehicle-SAS-City-Toyota-Hilux
- SEH-Vehicle-SCECE-City-Mazda-Ute
- SEH-Vehicle-SMGS-City-Subaru-Liberty-Sedan
- SEH-Vehicle-SMGS-City-Toyota-Bus
- SEH-Vehicle-SOET-City-VW-Golf-Hatch
- SEH-Vehicle-SOET-City-Subaru-1-Liberty-Wag
- SEH-Vehicle-SOET-City-Subaru-2-Liberty-Wag
For more information, please contact Eileen Box.
Public lecture: How do we supply the world's energy needs?
SEH Research and Innovation and the School of Computer and Electrical Engineering present a public lecture featuring Professor Derek Abbott from the University of Adelaide speaking about the future of the world's energy supply.
Future energy supply is a major global problem. Although no one knows exactly when oil production will cease, its days are undoubtedly numbered and its environmental shortcomings well recognized. Clearly, however, any alternatives that involve extracting resources from the earth will be similarly unsustainable, at best only temporarily deferring the problem.
In this exciting presentation, this question is examined by expanding our vision to consider energy supply on a massive scale - collaboration between electrical engineers, economists, and chemical engineers could potentially provide solutions to power the entire world.
Title: How do we supply the world's energy needs?
Date: Friday 19 March 2010
Time: 12.00 noon – 2.00 pm (Professor Abbott will join in a light lunch for attendees between 12.00 noon – 12.30pm)
Venue: RMIT Kaleide Theatre, Swanston St
RSVP by 17 March to Sandra Pereira.
Read more about Professor Abbott
Free public event: Graeme Clark Oration featuring Dr J Craig Venter
The Graeme Clarke Oration will be held at 6.00 pm on Wednesday 17 March 2010 at the Melbourne Convention Centre and will feature Dr J Craig Venter, one of the world's most influential geneticists best known for his role in sequencing the human genome.
Registration is essential for this free public event.
Dr Venter's lecture, 'From Reading to Writing the Genetic Code', will share his story in digitizing biology, how we are moving from reading the genetic code to create new synthetic species of life and the implications for global problems such a climate change.
Venue: Melbourne Convention Centre, 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf
Date: Wednesday 17 March 2010
Time: 6.00 – 7.00 pm. Refreshments available from 5.15 pm.
For more information visit ICT for Life Sciences
Science in Society: second international conference
The Science in Society Conference is held annually in different locations around the world. The Conference was inaugurated in 2009 at Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK. This year's conference will be held at Carlos III University in Madrid, Spain, from 11 to13 November 2010. The deadline for the next round in the call for papers (a title and short abstract) is 11 March 2010. Full details of the conference, including an online proposal submission form, may be found at the Science in Society Conference 2010 website.
Website of the month: Think Green at RMIT
Concerned about the environment and want to know what RMIT is doing about it? The Think Green at RMIT website showcases RMIT-wide initiatives designed to reduce RMIT's environmental impact and includes ways you can make a difference at work or at home, RMIT's 2020 greenhouse gas targets, and a 'Green Jargon Guide'.
Science, Engineering and Health in the news
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Gold for RMIT graduate
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Paving the way to Games glory
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Collaboration with India continues to grow
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Jason’s jetting to success
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Lab-on-a-chip joins battle against blood clotting
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Upcoming events
There are no upcoming events in March at the time of publication.
How to contribute
Contributions to can be sent as an unformatted e-mail message (no attachments) to sehweb@rmit.edu.au by 5pm on Thursday 18 March. The word limit for contributions is 200 words.
To ensure In The Loop is distributed on time, we cannot accept late contributions.
Please do not send personal items or repeat articles. Only items that relate to the University's core activities will be published, and the In The Loop team reserves the right to edit submissions as appropriate.
In The Loop is distributed on the first Thursday of each month. Next edition: Thursday 1 April.
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