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Professor Peter Fensham cuts the ribbon at the official ceremony to name the Faculty of Education's science laboratories the Peter Fensham Science Education Laboratories. With him are, from left, Faculty of Education dean Professor Dick White, Faculty of Education Professor Dick Gunstone and Mrs Christine Fensham. |
The Faculty of Education recently honored its former dean, Emeritus Professor Peter Fensham, by naming its science laboratories the Peter Fensham Science Education Laboratories.
At the naming ceremony, current dean Professor Dick White paid tribute to Emeritus Professor Fensham, saying his contributions to science education both within Victoria and Australia as well as internationally, had been "quite extraordinary".
"There are a number of areas of science education where Emeritus Professor Fensham is a genuine global leader, and has been for many years," Professor White said.
This year, Emeritus Professor Fensham became the first Australian to receive the Distinguished Contributions to Science Education through Research Award from the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NRAST).
NRAST, a US-based body, is the oldest and largest organisation concerned with science education research. It gives the award to honour the highest levels of contributions to science education research.
According to Professor White, from the time Emeritus Professor Fensham was appointed to Monash in 1967 as Australia's first professor of science education, he set about developing a research culture not only within Monash but also in Australia.
"At Monash, he helped to create a culture of collegiality in research that I have not found anywhere else in the world," Professor White said.
"He also created the first Australian postgraduate tradition in science education - in 1990 one quarter of all science education PhDs in Australia came from Monash."
Emeritus Professor Fensham's awards for outstanding achievement in his field include Member of the Order of Australia, Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences of Australia, and the Distinguished Service Award from the International Council of Associations of Science Education, the first Australian to receive this award.
Although he retired in 1992, Emeritus Professor Fensham continues to be active in science education, both in Australia and overseas.
Baby health research gets a boostResearch into improving the health of newborn babies has been given a boost by a generous bequest to Monash's Institute of Reproduction and Development from the estate of the late Dr Blair Ritchie. At a recent function held at the division of the institute now known as the Ritchie Centre for Baby Health Research, Monash vice-chancellor Professor David Robinson accepted a cheque for approximately $3 million from Mr Lindsay McDowell, who is acting for the estate's trustees. Professor Robinson said both the university and the community would benefit for generations to come from "this most generous boost to research funds provided by the estate of a man who was devoted to supporting baby health research". Dr Ritchie joined Monash as a senior lecturer in the Department of Medicine at Prince Henry's Hospital in 1967. His vision for an institute devoted to developmental physiology and medicine helped establish the Centre for Early Human Development at Queen Victoria Medical Centre in 1978, together with founding director and current Monash deputy vice-chancellor Professor John Maloney. Professor Maloney said this was a unique centre in Australia at the time, concentrating on baby health research including sudden infant death syndrome. It was a joint centre involving both Monash and Melbourne universities and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and was a forerunner for many of the collaborative research endeavours now considered in vogue. The centre was expanded in 1991 into the Monash University Institute of Reproduction and Development. Centre director Associate Professor Adrian Walker said Dr Ritchie had, throughout his life, displayed generosity, enthusiasm and loyalty. "His passion for research into developmental physiology was inspiring and we are delighted to be continuing this work under his name."
At the recent function where a cheque from the estate of the late Dr Blair Ritchie was handed to the university are, from left, Ritchie Centre for Baby Health Research director Associate Professor Adrian Walker, trustee of the estate Mr Tom Cuthbertson, vice-chancellor Professor David Robinson and trustee of the estate Mr Lindsay McDowell. |
Botanical artist Ms Celia Rosser is to leave Monash after completing the task of painting all 76 known species of banksia.
Ms Rosser, who is now the world's first botanical artist to have painted all species of banksia, started her work in 1970 when she accepted a position as artist in the Science faculty at Monash.
At her official farewell from Monash, deputy vice-chancellor Professor John Maloney congratulated Ms Rosser on her outstanding achievement.
"Monash is proud to have been associated with this truly enormous task, which is attracting international attention," he said.
Ms Rosser was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1995 and the Jill Smythies Award for botanical illustration by the Linnean Society of London.
Deputy vice-chancellor Professor John Maloney farewells botanical artist Ms Celia Rosser at a function held at the university last week.
Getting ready for the GSTFirst there was the challenge to be Y2K-ready, now several areas across the university are facing the challenge to be GST-ready. Monash Unicomm Pty Ltd has already begun assessing the impact of the GST on its operations and services across all campuses. Chief executive officer Mr Joe Curtis said Unicomm's goal was to have in place a range of systems, infrastructures and training programs by the end of the year to ensure that the company is GST-ready by 1 July 2000. "The GST is a new experience for everyone, but by establishing processes to help us work through the issues systematically we will be well placed to respond to this significant reform to Australia's tax system," he said. Starting this month, an assessment will be carried out into the implications of the GST on the company's retail and merchandising operations, catering and functions, facilities management, student employment, career counselling and education operations. Further information about the GST project can be obtained from the Monash Unicomm corporate affairs adviser and project convener Dr Gail Ellis on extn 54362. |
Changes for Business
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Large book saleThe large book sale commences on 20 September in the Hargrave-Andrew Annex (formerly the Biomedical Library). All books will be priced at $2 each. Books on sale will include duplicate copies and superseded texts in the life sciences and medical subject areas. |
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