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Science, engineering, information technology and medical research at Monash received $14 million in State Government research grants last week.
State and Regional Development Minister Mr John Brumby visited the Clayton campus to announce the grants, which were part of a $54 million funding pie allocated for 14 science, technology and innovation projects in Victoria.
Monash was the most successful research institution, attracting a share of the funds in five of the grants, either in its own right or as part of a consortium.
The biggest slice of the pie went to the Victorian Neuroscience Consortium (VNC), incorporating the Monash Institute for Neurological Diseases, which was allocated $13.34 million over three years.
VNC will focus on key areas such as neuro-degenerative diseases, brain cell development, clinical science and animal behaviour.
Monash Medical School is a major player in the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct which received $8 million over three years to fund the ongoing development of the Alfred Hospital.
The Victorian Bioinformatics Consortium, including Monash's faculties of Medicine and Information Tecnhology, received $4.89 million over three years to fund the newly emerging field of bioinformatics research combining IT, applied mathematics, molecular biology and genetics.
The Monash Research Cluster for Biomedicine was allocated $2 million to foster developments between academic researchers and the biomedical industry through new medical imaging facilities, a structural biology facility and advanced DNA capabilities.
The National Printing Laboratory, a collaborative venture between Monash and leading print industry players, was given $910,000 over three years, which will facilitate access to the latest research developments in printing technology.
Speaking to an audience of 100 people, Mr Brumby said the funding for Monash and other research institutions was a $54 million vote of confidence in research and innovation within the state.
"The Bracks Government is totally committed to positioning Victoria as a national and world leader in these areas and supports the concept of building a knowledge economy and society," he said.
Mr Brumby said the projects reflected the current worldwide shift from the "information revolution" to the "biotechnology revolution", with grants allocated to biomedicine, bioinformatics and bioscience.
Deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Peter Darvall welcomed the "constructive actions of the Victorian Government".
"Australia must head in the direction of innovation in all these research areas which have been funded, or risk going backwards," he said.
Victorian Minister for State and Regional Development Mr John Brumby (centre) celebrating the grants with Monash researchers (from left to right) Department of Physiology head Professor Warwick Anderson, Microbiology Professor Ross Coppel, Australian Pulp and Paper Institute director Professor Robert Johnston, associate head of the School of Computer Science and Software Engineering Associate Professor Trevor Dix, Monash Institute for Neurological Diseases director Professor Malcolm Horne, and Faculty of Medicine dean Professor Nick Saunders.
Festival of original plays
About 250 Victorian students took part in the recent Monash Schools Drama Festival, attended by almost 1200 people. Festival coordinator Mr Tim Clarke said 19 groups from 17 schools produced 25-minute plays for the festival. "The dramas have to be original but having said that, anything goes," he said. War, apocalypse, identity, missing people and domestic violence were some of the issues that were explored throughout the week-long festival. Each group comprised 12 students - 10 on stage and two technicians for sound and lighting. Mr Clarke said the festival gave secondary students throughout the state a chance to come to Monash, find out about its performing arts courses and see and use the university's drama facilities. "It is hoped that the experience they have here at Monash will not only encourage them to return but will also facilitate an easier transition from secondary to tertiary study," he said.
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South
African judge visits law schoolSouth African High Court judge Justice Frans Malan (pictured) recently presented the Monash Law Faculty Foundation keynote speech at law firm Minter Ellison.
His speech, titled 'Banking and Commercial Law - Contemporary Issues in South African Law', examined how banking and commercial transactions in South Africa are affected by English law concepts and the provisions of the country's constitution and Bill of Rights.
Justice Malan was brought to Australia by Monash's NAB Banking Law Centre and the ANU's Commercial Law Centre to speak to lawyers, regulators, bankers and academics about South Africa's banking system.
Justice Malan is highly respected as a scholar and academic in the field of banking and commercial law.
Prior to his appointment, he was a professor at Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) in South Africa, where he also acted as its Law dean.
Graduating students from the Department of Applied Arts will hold an exhibition of ceramics, glass and metal at Caulfield campus from 22 November to 3 December.
The exhibition, titled Insert, will be held on level 7, building B, at Caulfield campus. The opening will be at 7 pm on 21 November.
For further information, contact extn 32276.
Ms Lisa Cahill preparing one of her works for the exhibition Insert.
Health and safety - get involvedIf you have a keen interest in OHS issues and wish to contribute to the health and safety of your work area, why not nominate for one of the university's Health and Safety Representative positions. A health and safety representative represents staff in an area known as a Designated Work Group (DWG). The term of office for all health and safety representative positions will be 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2002. Your strong commitment to OHS issues and sound communication and negotiation skills will equip you with the skills to effectively fill the position of health and safety representative. To find out more about the role of a health and safety representative and to obtain a nomination form, go to the OHSE website at www.adm.monash.edu.au/ohse/ Completed nomination forms must reach the returning officer, OHSE, Clayton, by noon on Wednesday, 29 November 2000. Withdrawal of nominations can be made up to 5 pm on Friday, 1 December 2000. For further information, contact extn 51013. |
Fire, Earth and Acts of Faith is a new exhibition opening at the Monash Short Courses Centre on 23 November.
The Christmas display and sale will showcase the works of the centre's tutors and students, which includes pottery, sculpture and mosaics.
Pieces by artist-in-residence and Golden Ceramic Award winner Ms Hui-Fen Deng, pottery and mosaics tutor Ms Jennifer McNabb, and sculpture tutor Ms Gaye Roberts will be on show.
The exhibition will take place in building 51, Clayton campus. The show will run until 9 December and entry is free.
For further information, contact extn 53180.
Ms Jennifer McNabb with pottery for the show.
Monash will once again play host to Year 11 students from across the state at this year's Camp Monash, which will take place from 27 to 29 November on Clayton campus.
Schools programs coordinator Ms Natasha Alexander said the three-day residential camp, hosted by Monash staff and current students from various campuses, would include almost 250 students from 80 schools.
"We invite every school in the state and some interstate schools from NSW and Tasmania to participate, with a maximum of five from each school," she said. "The ratio is about 50 per cent regional and 50 per cent metropolitan."
Students can choose which faculties they are interested in and participate in the activities offered by those faculties.
Ms Alexander said that those academics who volunteer their time to be involved in Camp Monash often design a program specifically for the event.
"We also take students off campus for activities relating to art and design and nursing, so that those interested in these courses can get maximum benefit from Camp Monash."
Students sleep in the Halls of Residence, enabling them to participate fully in uni life. The event also includes a sporting afternoon, a trivia night and a dance party.
The School of Chemistry is holding a retirement dinner for three long-serving staff members.
Associate Professor Frank Burden, Dr Ernie Nunn and Mrs Diana Gatehouse will be leaving Monash at the end of this year.
The farewell function will be held at the Monash University Club on 8 December at 7 pm. The cost is $35. To RSVP, contact Mrs Sharlie Cousland on extn 54546.
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