Transport designs win favour in Europe

Europe might be the centre of automotive design in the world, but the concepts of two Monash University industrial design honours students stood out at a recent forum in Germany.

Organisers of the inaugural German Transportation Design Forum in Pforzheim invited students from six international design schools to present innovative and futuristic design proposals for an individual and a public transport vehicle.

Industrial design course coordinator Mr Mark Wilken said the European designers had responded positively towards the contributions of Monash students to the forum.

"We walked away feeling that our standard of work and our presentation was just as good as some of the best schools in the world who specialise in transportation design," he said.

Monash student Mr Kurt Ramholdt produced a concept for a private vehicle for urban use in 2010 called Joee, which he described as being "like an extension of the house".

When Joee is not on the road, the front windscreen converts into a video screen for videos and internet access. The car incorporates a removable personal computer, which can be networked to play games with friends in other cars.

Fellow student Mr Michael Buffington came up with Shuttle Express, a public transport vehicle which carries up to 12 people on a shuttle service in and around large cities.

Shuttle Express, made of recyclable raw materials, allows passengers to move around the cabin and interact with each other.

The forum included work from Australia, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, the United States and Germany and attracted automotive designers from BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Porsche, Volkswagon, Audi, Fiat and Mazda.

Student Kurt Ramholdt and industrial design coordinator Mr Mark Wilken take a look at Joee on their return from the German Transportation Design Forum.

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Science faculty safety awards

The inaugural Faculty of Science Workplace Safety Awards were awarded recently by the interim dean of Science, Professor Homer Le Grand.

The awards have been introduced to celebrate individuals and workgroups in the faculty who have excelled in creating and maintaining a safe and healthy workplace consistent with university policies.

The workgroup award was presented to safety officer Ms Jodie Weller and health and safety representative Mr Peter Fell from the Department of Biological Sciences.

Working together, Ms Weller and Mr Fell have solved many safety issues in their area in an open, cooperative manner, maximising communication within the department and with other safety units in the university.

Deputy safety officer Mr Doug Rash, from the Department of Chemistry, received the individual award for 2000.

His extensive knowledge of occupational health and safety legislation and chemical safety issues has been a driving force behind the development of a positive safety culture within the department.

Interim dean of Science Professor Homer Le Grand (second from right) presents workplace safety awards to Ms Jodie Weller, Mr Peter Fell and Mr Doug Rash.