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School of Computer Science and Software Engineering staff on the Clayton and Caulfield campuses can now hold informal discussions over a cup of tea from their respective staff rooms following the official launch of their Virtual TeaRoom.
The Virtual TeaRoom was launched last week simultaneously at the Clayton campus by The Honorable Senator Richard Alston and at the Caulfield campus by campus director Mr John White.
It consists of a room at each campus where staff can meet to discuss ideas. At one end of these rooms is a 24-hour video wall projecting images and transmitting sounds directly from the other site.
The Virtual TeaRoom differs from conventional video conferencing by using leading-edge technology which offers true broadcast quality video-conferencing. The video wall behaves like a window onto the other TeaRoom, creating a large virtual space.
Head of the School of Computer and Software Engineering Professor David Abramson said the Virtual TeaRoom had been designed to allow people to interact as though they shared a single meeting place.
"It's a communications experience that is so seamless and natural that participants tend to lose sight of who is actually in the room and who is at the connected site," he said.
"The project will allow staff to investigate the impact of high-performance, high availability videoconferencing on the staff of a multi-campus school and new uses of high-quality teleteaching systems in higher education."
Professor Abramson said he expected the university's existing teleteaching facilities would be upgraded to use similar technology as they fall due for replacement.
It is not necessary to book access to the video wall - users simply sit down in front of it and communicate immediately with people at the other end. This is very close to the way people interact when they are on the same campus.
Further information on the Virtual TeaRoom can be obtained from Professor Abramson on extn 51183.
Monash sets up a research graduate schoolMonash's Research Graduate School came into being last week, with Professor Max King named the school's inaugural director. Deputy vice-chancellor (research and development) Professor Peter Davall said the creation of a graduate school by Monash was a key strategy for enhancing and coordinating the university's postgraduate research effort and demonstrating the high priority the university placed on this activity. Professor King is currently executive deputy chairman of the university's PhD and Scholarships Committee and head of the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics. "He is a most appropriate choice to lead this important initiative for the university," Professor Darvall said. Professor Darvall said he believed the establishment of the school was timely. "Now that the university consists of seven campuses, there is a real need to ensure equitable provision of postgraduate research training support, resources and facilities on all campuses. "As well, the very clear message from the government's 'Green Paper' is that universities will need to compete quite boldly for both local and international students, and we believe the new school will assist us in this endeavour." The Monash Research Graduate School can be contacted on extn 52009.
Monash Research Graduate School director Professor Max King. |
Chemistry department lecturers Dr Andrea Robinson and Dr Richard Morrison have been inviting Year 10 students from schools across Victoria to participate in solving a Chemical Murder Mystery.
The activity is aimed at encouraging students to continue their science education at senior secondary and tertiary levels and is funded by the Federal Government's Science and Technology Awareness Program.
The day's program of activities concludes with a visit by a guest speaker from the Victorian Police Forensic Science Laboratory.
According to Dr Robinson, the project has been a great success, with 450 students from 80 schools participating.
Further information on the project can be found at http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/cdl/chemystery/main.htm
Chemistry department lecturer Dr Andrea Robinson as the judge in the Chemical Murder Mystery Project surrounded by Year 10 students.
Media advisor for VCGEx-State Government press secretary Ms Anne Stanford has joined Monash as media advisor to the Vice-Chancellor's Group (VCG) to handle issues particularly concerned with policy and strategy. A very experienced journalist particularly in legal matters, Ms Stanford has been attached to the State Government Media Unit in the Premier's Office for the past six years, where her principal role was press secretary to the Attorney General. Welcoming Ms Stanford to Monash last week, vice-chancellor Professor David Robinson said he was delighted she had accepted the position. "The anticipation and handling of high-level media interaction is a vital ingredient in ensuring the university's presentation and success, both nationally and internationally. We look forward to benefiting from Anne's experience in a range of government portfolios," he said. Speaking about her new role, Ms Stanford said her work would complement the activities of the Media Liaison Office, which will remain the university's first point of contact for academic staff contacting the media. "My challenge is to advise the VCG on strategic or contentious matters and to prepare briefing statements on key issues. I'm looking forward to playing a part in putting Monash on the global map and having it recognised as a leading university worldwide," Ms Stanford said. |
Grant outcomes announcedMonash has maintained its overall success rate in Australian Research Council grant outcomes for 2000, announced last week. Monash's success rate of 24.7 per cent is higher than the national average of 22 per cent. It ranks third among GO8 universities and in numbers of awards ranks fifth overall in Australia. There were a number of significant grants made, including one to Professor Roy Jackson and colleagues from Chemistry who were successful in obtaining funding for a Special Research Centre for Green Chemistry. Monash also gained funding as a collaborative partner, with Associate Professor Stephen McKechnie in Biological Sciences assisting La Trobe University in establishing a Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research. An Indigenous Researchers Development Grant, Monash's first under the ARC program, was awarded to Ms Kylie Cripps from the Centre for Indigenous Studies. Ms Cripps aims to examine indigenous definitions of and discourses about family violence and how these inform individual and community interventions. Further information on the Australian Research Council grant outcomes can be obtained from the Research Grants and Ethics Branch on extn 53012. |
Monash's UNESCO International Centre for Engineering is hosting a seminar to be given by Professor Dr Eleanor Baum, dean of Engineering at the Cooper Union for Advancement of Science and Art, New York.
The seminar on 'ABET 2000 Criteria' is part of the centre's Distinguished Visitors program.
Professor Baum will present the results of discussions held recently in the US between engineering educators and industry representatives concerning the attributes needed by engineers in the new millennium.
The results of these discussions have implications for engineering education in Australia, as well as the introduction of new criteria for accreditation of engineering programs by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET).
The seminar will be held on Friday 12 November at 1.15 pm in Engineering lecture theatre E5, on Clayton campus.
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