• Science Week crowds

Around 300 people, largely from the local community, crowded into South Lecture Theatre on Clayton campus during National Science Week for an evening lecture hosted by the Faculty of Science.

The lecture, delivered by mathematician Dr Andrew Prentice, centred around Dr Prentice's theory about how our solar system was formed and recent discoveries made by NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

Dr Prentice is well known for his successful prediction of several moons orbiting Uranus and Nepture, and for his calculation of the composition of Jupiter's atmosphere and the structure of the planet's four large Galilean satellites.

Dr Prentice said he was delighted at the number of people from the local community who came to the lecture: "They were very keen to know all about what is happening out in space."

The lecture concluded with a session on career opportunities in science.

• Yeah, folks, it's a big, big world

Monash artists reveal what they think about the state of the world this month as part of Victoria's Next Wave Festival.

A Big, Big World, showing at the Faculty Gallery until 3 June, features work by 20 undergraduate and postgraduate students from across the Faculty of Art and Design.

Exhibition curator Nadine Sawyer described the show as an eclectic mix, ranging from paintings and sculpture to graphic design and ceramics.

"The theme is about now and what it means to each student," she said. "It's a very personal view of the new millennium and its uncertainties and challenges."

The state government-funded Next Wave Festival, held every two years, is regarded as an important showcase for emerging artists from the performing and visual arts.

Ms Sawyer said Monash students had to undergo a competitive process to be selected for the festival.

"It's a very worthwhile exercise, even for those students who weren't selected," she said.

"The whole process of submitting their CVs and presenting their work is great experience, and for those students whose work has been included in the exhibition, the exposure is brilliant."

The Faculty Gallery is open Mondays to Fridays, 11 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays, 2 pm to 5 pm.

• Project manager South Africa

Mr Robert Reid Smith has recently taken up the position of project manager South Africa.

Mr Reid Smith's role, in the Office of Pro Vice-Chancellor South Africa Professor John Anderson, involves coordinating the various areas and the three faculties involved in setting up the Monash campus in South Africa.

Mr Reid Smith has been involved with several other projects in South Africa, most recently on the implementation of a road safety plan in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Mr Reid Smith can be contacted on extn 55937.