UWA NEWS22 March 2010 Volume 29 Number 2

In this issue P7 OCEANS RESEARCH P8 FUTURE FARM P12 DIVERSITY TOOLS

continued on page 2

If gravity waves are eventually to be detected, then this surely is giving it the best chance ever: five physicists, all graduating this year with their PhDs, after devoting about 20 years in total to the goal.

Record-breaking researchers reach into the future

by Lindy Brophy

Five fellow physicists: Eric Howell, Slawek Gras, Jean-Charles Dumas, Andrew Sunderland and Pablo Barriga celebrate their work with Winthrop Professor David Blair

They were all co-supervised by David Blair and it is a record for the School of Physics, and probably for the University.

Winthrop Professor Blair describes how their research projects complemented each other in the quest for the elusive gravity waves: “Jean-Charles Dumas has worked for five years to help create ‘the quietest place in the universe’.

“This place is inside vibration isolators where freely-suspended mirrors move extremely slowly. The vibration forces acting on the mirrors are less than if they were floating in interplanetary space.

“Pablo Barriga helped to control the vibration isolates and worked out how to build special optical cavities that purify laser light by freeing it of all the fluctuations that could make gravitational wave detectors give false readings.

“Slawek Gras worked out how to reduce instabilities in gravitational wave detectors which otherwise could make them whistle uncontrollably.

“Eric Howell found a new method of estimating how many gravity wave signals there would be and how they were distributed in space.

“Finally Andrew Sunderland helped to develop an instrument called a magnetic gradiometer which can detect minerals far underground – making gravity waves useful!”

Einstein predicted gravity waves, generated by the formation of black holes in the universe. While physicists agree the theory is sound, nobody has detected them yet.

Professor Blair and his team are among the world leaders in the race to detect the waves, despite other countries spending hundreds of millions of dollars more on their research.

“I don’t know what difference the discovery of gravity waves will make to humanity,” he said. “But Heinrich Hertz, who discovered electromagnetic waves, could not have imagined the mobile phone and all the other devices of our current electronic revolution either!”

The five physicists came to UWA to do their PhDs with Professor Blair from five different universities: Dr Dumas did his undergraduate studies at UWA, while Dr Barriga came from Universidad de Chile; Dr Sunderland from the University of New South Wales; Dr Howell from Cardiff; and Dr Gras from Poland.

While they are quite different personalities, they became firm friends during their research and enjoy playing soccer together.

Dr Dumas said that one of the problems that limited gravitational wave detectors (interferometers) was the noise of the earth’s seismic activity as well as human-generated activities, so he set about creating his advanced compact vibration isolator prototype, two of which are now being used at the observatory in Gingin.

Dr Barriga addressed the key technologies required to improve the sensitivity of the next generation of interferometric detectors. His work included a study of thermal effect due to high circulating power, and a separate study of a vibration isolation system.

Dr Gras said that advanced detectors required an extremely high optical power to improve the coupling between the gravitationial wave signal and the optical field. “My thesis can be considered as a pathway towards providing a tool for the analysis of the parametric instabilities in the next generation interferometers,” he said.

Dr Howell summarised his work as investigating the gravitational wave signals from populations of highly energetic and violent explosions throughout the Universe.

And Dr Sunderland’s thesis described a magnetic gradiometer that could be used for geophysical exploration. “The project was a spin-off of UWA’s gravitational wave group that utilised our existing technology and detection techniques,” he said.

Two fathers and their children are studying medicine together at UWA this year.

And all of them were admitted to the medical school through the rural program: a tribute to the work of Sue Pougnault, student support coordinator with the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

“Sue is brilliant,” said first year student Ethan Fitzclarence. His father Graeme, in the final year of his graduate degree said Mrs Pougnault was responsible for at least half of the incentive for prospective rural students to study medicine. But Ethan disagrees “Much more than half!” he said.

Ethan’s mother and Graeme’s wife, Cherelle Fitzclarence, is a doctor in Broome where Graeme worked as a registered nurse and both parents home-schooled Ethan and his two siblings.

“I did rather badly in high school because Dad was away a lot, working as an industrial medic on mine sites, and then he came down to Perth to study medicine,” Ethan said. “So I went to Broome Senior High School and I was determined to do well. Mum knows Sue, and I’d been allowed to go to her information sessions every year since I was 12. Talking to Mum and learning from and being inspired by Sue, I knew I wanted to study medicine.”

Graeme said he worked as a panel beater and spray painter to support his wife while she was studying medicine. “Now it’s her turn to support me,” he said. Unlike many of the graduate students, Graeme has not had to work during medical school, other than to manage the family’s real estate and property investments.

Family medicine begins in the bushRecord-breaking researchers reach into the futurecontinued from page 1

Sue Pougnault

UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 The University of Western Australia2

Family medicine begins in the bush“Ethan used to say he was sure he’d get into medicine because they let anybody in (meaning me) these days. Now I say to him, yes they do!”

Ethan, left, and Graeme Fitzclarence

Geoff and Jessica Hillwood

Graeme said he wanted to take the next step up from nursing, so applied for a rural bonded place and started his studies in 2005.

Geoff Hillwood, the other father sharing his studies with his offspring, has a similar reason for moving into medicine. Geoff was a paramedic for nine years. “I got a bit sick of ambo work. I guess I just wanted to finish it up,” he said.

His daughter Jessica is in second year. Although the family now lives in Perth, they both qualified for entry under the rural program because of their many years in Geraldton.

Geoff has been in the army reserves for 11 years and is a qualified army medic. His studies are sponsored by a Royal Australian Air Force bursary. He did his first year of medicine in 2004, then took a few years off to finish his science degree.

“I had wanted to study medicine since I was in year 10,” Jessica said. “But I didn’t tell anybody, in case they told me I wouldn’t be good enough.

“When I applied I didn’t know that Dad was going back to finish his medical degree. So I didn’t really follow him; we just ended up here at the same time!.”

Sue Pougnault’s job is to spread the word among rural communities about studying medicine and dentistry at UWA, to encourage prospective students and their parents, to help them with the application process, to advise and counsel, to help them settle in if they are accepted, then to ensure they are coping with life in the city and to help them to apply for scholarships.

She travels thousands of kilometres each year, conducting workshops and information sessions across the state. Ms Pougnault insists she is just one of a team at the Faculty but she is the face of the program and admits to becoming closely involved with prospective students and sharing their delight when they are successful.

“This is the first time we’ve had two families of students from rural areas,” she said. “I’m as thrilled as they are.”

New Courses 2012Staff information on the New Courses

2012 is available from:

http://www.futureframework. uwa.edu.au/staff

The University of Western Australia UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 3

Doctor of human rightsA final year medical student has won the Young People’s Human Rights Medal.

Vinay Menon’s national award was in recognition of his voluntary advocacy work with refugees, Indigenous communities and children living with a disability.

The annual medal was presented to Vinay in December last year by Human Rights Commission President Cathy Branson QC.

“The judges were particularly impressed with Vinay’s passionate human rights advocacy, evident since the age of 15, and the recognition of his commitment reflected in his appointment as National Youth representative of the Australian Red Cross,” she said.

A co-founder of the World Aware program, working to help people from refugee backgrounds, Vinay’s address to the Human Rights Awards audience was about Aboriginal disadvantage in Australia.

“On one hand, you always feel uncomfortable accepting an award like this. It’s never an individual effort and I am lucky to have worked with an awesome team at the Red Cross,” he said. “On the other hand, it’s good to be able to raise these issues at this level,” he said.

Vinay said his volunteer work gave him hope for the young people of the world. He is planning to work in primary care and community medicine when he graduates – where he can “make a difference”.

Alan Robson Vice-Chancellor

Vinay Menon

Two events occurring on the same morning and only a couple of hundred metres apart on campus recently provided another example of the breadth and depth of our University’s rich heritage and innovative future.

One was the launch of an Australia-first trial to monitor the performance, environmental benefits, policy, infrastructure and practical implications for electric vehicle fleets.

The other was the celebration of a support group that, over four decades, helped hundreds of University families new to Perth and Western Australia to find their feet. A tuart sapling was planted and a plaque unveiled on Riley Oval to commemorate the Tuart Club.

The first exemplifies our research and collaboration for the benefit of the community.

We have joined forces with the private sector and State and local

Sustainability and friendshipall part of the UWA experience

governments to help demonstrate the potential for widespread use of electric vehicles. The trial will involve UWA’s Renewable Energy Vehicle Project and vehicles specially converted to electric power from some of the largest government and industry fleets in the State.

The collaboration, which includes The West Australian newspaper, RAC, Telstra, Main Roads WA, City of Perth, City of Swan, Water Corp, Landcorp, Department of Environment and Conservation, and Department of Transport, illustrates the University’s ability to forge links which will being real benefit to all concerned.

It is also another instance of our University’s vital contribution to local, national and global communities. As the world seeks ways of living more sustainably, it is this kind of research which is providing the solutions to significant community issues.

Our University is leading Western Australia in the development of technologies that will ensure that society works with our natural environment in new

and intelligent ways.

The second event epitomises the strength of support on which our University was built and on which we still rely.

The Tuart Club was formed in 1948 to provide informal inter-faculty gatherings, entertain University visitors and take an interest in community affairs. Its last meeting was held in 1989.

The Club exemplified the generosity of spirit of our University community – a spirit still very much in evidence.

We are a University blessed with a myriad of loyal graduates and supporters who donate materially and who give of their time and experience.

The Club was innovative in its understanding of the importance of inter-State and international staff joining our University. Today, of course, we have built on that strong foundation to become a truly international University.

UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 The University of Western Australia4

Ricky Maynard was a shy 16-year-old when he was recruited from his Tasmanian home by the Hawthorn football team.

“I trained with the Hawks and played in senior practice matches for three years with AFL heroes such as Peter Hudson and Leigh Matthews,” said the celebrated photographer.

“In those days, all of us had to have a job as well as playing football, and they apprenticed me to a pastry cook but I didn’t like that so I found my own job. I answered an ad in the paper for a darkroom assistant and from day one I was smitten with photography.”

After three years in Melbourne, Ricky was homesick and went back to Tasmania where he could not get a job in photography for another 10 years. “But I was still taking pictures with my 35mm camera. Although I was self-taught, I was pretty good.”

In the early 1980s, Ricky submitted his portfolio for a job. “But somehow, it went to the wrong address, and I had a call from

Photographer documents Aboriginal life

the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. They said ‘we gotta get this guy’ and they offered me a traineeship in Canberra.

“I was photographing artefacts for archives and they also gave me professional training. I ended up as one of 20 photographers who worked on the book After 200 Years, which I think was the most significant photographic project in Australia.”

The first chapter in the book was Ricky’s story, of going home to Flinders Island and hunting mutton birds with his people.

That story is one that is told through black and white photographs in his exhibition, Portrait of a Distant Land, which is currently on show at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery.

Ricky describes himself as a documentary photographer. Another story in the exhibition is his struggle with alcoholism, along with other Indigenous men photographed at a St Kilda rehabilitation centre.

There is also a documentary on Indigenous people in gaol. The prison series was shot in 1993, a couple of years after the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. “But still nothing was being done,” Ricky said.

His portraits of the people of Aurukun were taken just after the 1996 Wik decision in the High Court to recognise native title on pastoral leases. “Everybody heard about the decision but nobody knew who these people were that the agreement was about,” he said.

Portrait of a Distant Land continues at the gallery until May 2.

Ricky Maynard with some of his work

The University of Western Australia UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 5

and became a valuable staff member of the School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, especially for her award-winning work with final year students and their Professional Practice program. She is now also Director of Unigym.

Professor Suzanne Baker a graduate and staff member of UWA, has been a member of the Council of Convocation for more than 25 years. She was the second longest-serving Warden of Convocation in the organisation’s history and during that time, she established relationships with postgraduate students, the Research Committee, the Guild and the Sports Association. From these partnerships came scholarships and prizes. There are now more than 90 scholarships and prizes awarded annually by Convocation.

Using their initiative to benefit the University is a common thread that unites the three winners of the Chancellor’s Medals at this season’s graduation ceremonies.

University’s supporters decoratedLance Maschmedt has been on the technical staff of the School of Physics for 45 years. Driven by an enduring desire to engender in young people a love of and curiosity about science, Lance began bringing school groups to the University almost a decade before the current out-reach programs began. He was in huge demand for his Julius Sumner-Miller style science shows and worked on many ABC TV children’s science programs as well.

Kerry Smith became involved with UWA as a volunteer and parent of a child in the Unigym program. It is a community-based rehabilitation program for children with movement difficulties. Kerry organised, developed and administered the program for 25 years

(Suzanne Baker’s husband, Barrie Purser, was awarded a Chancellor’s Medal in 2005, also for his contributions to Convocation.)

Honorary Doctorates are presented this season to eight supporters of the University.

Geologist Emeritus Professor David Groves was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science shortly after receiving the Penrose Gold Medal from the Society of Economic Geologists in the US for his outstanding contributions to Earth Sciences.

Former Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Margaret Seares was awarded an honorary Doctor of Lettters; Professor Anne Dell received an honorary Doctor of Science degree; President Obama’s science adviser and a collaborator with the School of Physics, Professor S. James Gates was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science; former CEO of Kings Park and Botanic Garden and now Director of Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, Professor Stephen Hopper, was made an honorary Doctor of Science.

This week, former Federal Government Minister and champion of Indigenous people, Fred Chaney, will be made an honorary Doctor of Letters; Emeritus Professor Barry Ninham, leading physical chemistry scholar, becomes an honorary Doctor of Science, as does astronomer and astrophysicist Professor Garth Illingworth.Kerry Smith Suzanne Baker

Lance Maschmedt at work

UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 The University of Western Australia6

Western Australia has 40 per cent of the nation’s coastline, two of its biggest ports (Dampier and Port Hedland) and, consequently, suffers the lion’s share of Australia’s marine and ocean problems and threats.

The newly-formed Oceans Institute (OI), a major interdisciplinary institute fully funded by UWA, is poised to take on all the problems and offer solutions.

Bringing together 80 UWA staff and postgraduate students, the Oceans Institute now has a critical mass, representing marine scientists from across the campus.

The faculties of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, Computing and Mathematics are joined (to a lesser degree) by Life and Physical Sciences and Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, together with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) to take on what have been identified as the five most significant broad-scale threats to marine biodiversity.

These are climate change, resource use, land-based impacts, marine biosecurity and marine pollution.

The Institute will be officially opened this week by one of US President Barack Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Professor S. James Gates.

“This is a major initiative to co-ordinate marine research at UWA for better outcomes for the State and the nation,” said Professor Gary Kendrick, acting director of OI.

“We have brilliant people here at UWA: national leading researchers such as Winthrop Professor Chari Pattiaratchi and Professor Anya Waite, along with Winthrop Professor Greg Ivey, Associate Professor Ryan Lowe and Dr Nicole Jones,” he said. “And these, some of the best marine scientists in the country, have recently been joined by two WA Premier’s Fellows, Winthrop Professors Shaun Collin, a fish neurobiologist, and Malcolm McCulloch, an expert in coral calcification and ocean acidification.”

Professor Kendrick himself has an outstanding international record of research in seagrass and seaweed

Seas of expertise for oceans research

ecology and benthic marine biology and strong links with industry and community groups.

“Working together we will be more able to address large-scale questions about the functioning of the oceanography and marine biology of the eastern Indian Ocean and to manage our economic growth with other aspirations through ocean engineering, management and conservation,” he said.

Marine ecology is emerging as another strength within the Institute, linking industrial developments and resource extraction to broad changes to the distribution and abundance of fish. Professor Jessica Meeuwig, Associate Professors Euan Harvey, Kimberly Van Niel and David Sutton join Professor Kendrick in this area of research.

Ocean Engineering also features prominently with the WA-ERA Facilities Program leader Professor Krish Thiagarajan and the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, under the directorships of Winthrop Professor Mark Cassidy, also linking their research expertise with the Institute

Marine management and conservation is addressed with Assistant Professors Bryan Boruff and Julian Clifton and Professor Jessica Meeuwig interacting with economist Professor Atakelty Hailu to both direct research and to integrate research into management outcomes.

“None of us can do it alone,” Professor Kendrick said. “All the different individuals in research centres and schools at UWA combined with AIMS make the Oceans Institute more than a sum of its parts. Together we can address the right scale of questions and issues facing the WA community into the future.”

Professor Gary Kendrick

The University of Western Australia UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 7

8

The population of the world is tipped to reach nine billion by 2050 and UWA is already working on developing the best farming methods to help feed that many people.

The University’s new research farm near Pingelly will be developed as self-supporting, sustainable, clean, green and ethical: in short as a best practice farm for 2050.

“We have tried to imagine what that will be in 2050 and work towards it,” said Professor Graeme Martin, head of the School of Animal Biology. “Hence the name WA Future Farm 2050.

“This is the most exciting thing I have ever done in my research career. We can make a difference to the world.”

The 1,600 hectare property, officially opened at the end of last year, has already started pooling expertise from across three faculties: Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Engineering Computing and Mathematics, and Architecture Landscape and Visual Arts.

Plant and animal biologists are working on restoring the farm’s natural ecosystem; agricultural scientists are planning crop and animal enterprises; architects and environmental engineers are designing efficient buildings and water and energy management systems.

The clean green and ethical journey to 2050

the farm of the future

L-R: Winthrop Professor Kadambot Siddique, Professor Lyn Beazley (Chief Scientist WA), Mr Rob Delane (Director General Department Agriculture and Food), Robyn McSweeney (Minister for Community Services), Cr Ray Marshall (Shire of Pingelly) and UWA Vice-Chancellor Alan Robson

UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 The University of Western Australia8

The Future Farm aims to integrate the cropping, livestock and native ecology and to be carbon neutral by 2020.

A high priority is to contribute to the community and to be a good neighbour. We have been working hard on the same goal for almost 30 years at our other farming property, Allandale, near Wundowie. However, Allandale had become difficult to manage in recent years.

“Allandale was a successful research station, supporting dozens of postgraduate programs,” Professor Martin said. “But the world has changed. The surrounding farms were all carved up into hobby farms, so that we ended up having 70 neighbours, and, for example, each time the farm manager Steve Gray wanted to put out fox baits,

he had to get permission from all of them. It became a management nightmare.

“It also became too small for our needs. And Allandale is in an area only suited to animals and not suited to cropping research.”

The Future Farm is an exciting new project for UWA at a time when other universities and institutions are pulling out of their rural research stations. Curtin University of Technology is closing Muresk, and CSIRO and the WA Department of Agriculture are backing away from regional research stations. Adelaide University is selling several properties.

“So it goes against the trend for us to buy a new farm. However, we need to do the research to be able to make a difference to the community and we want to remain relevant in rural areas,” Professor Martin said. “This is why we’ve taken on this huge project full of potential. That said, this project must be very different from the traditional research station”

“It can’t become a black hole for money. The farm has to be fully self-supporting, making an income to support a manager

This is the most exciting thing

I have ever done in my

research career. We can make

a difference to the world.”

Professor Graeme Martin, School of Animal Biology

“

continued on page 10

Future Farm under construction

Architect’s models for farm buildings

The University of Western Australia UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 9

or maybe even two managers and their families and still generate enough to renovate itself.”

How is this going to be done?

“First of all, we will restore large tracts of the natural ecosystem,” he said. “There is not much of it left but we are lucky that the original owners protected some areas and the property is next to Boyagin Rock Nature Reserve, from which we can learn what the land was like before it became a farm.

“We also happen to have one of the best ecosystem restoration experts in the world on our staff, Professor Richard Hobbs, whose team will oversee this part of the project.”

Plant ecologist Rachel Standish and animal biologist Nicola Mitchell will be working with Professor Hobbs, advising the farm committee on ecosystem restoration.

“We don’t know yet how much of the farm can be restored. Initially it will be the areas that are non-productive and we will also need to look at the road verges,” Professor Martin said. “There is already probably 10 years work just for those areas.”

The best news for this team is that a hatchling long-necked tortoise was recently found in the creek, proving that although the area looks totally degraded, animals are still living and breeding there.

Assistant Professor Standish and Assistant Professor Mitchell have been visiting the farm to assess its biodiversity. They and their students have found seven different species of amphibians, four gecko species, the long-necked tortoise, carpet pythons, dugites and legless lizards, and plant communities that are under-represented in the region.

A/Professor Standish said the first task was to fence remnant vegetation to stop grazing animals from degrading it.

“We have made an arrangement with Carbon Neutral for Men of the Trees to

plant a mix of trees on the property for us this year,” she said. “We are trying to be pragmatic. We know that biodiversity matters in the long run but the challenge is trying to come up with options that are financially viable as well as having outcomes for biodiversity”

“Some of the trees may be oil mallees, which are a cash crop, although not so useful for biodiversity. But the farm must pay its way.”

A/Professor Mitchell is taking groups of students studying ecology and conservation biology at UWA to the farm this year to begin collecting baseline data from which to assess changes in the biodiversity as trees are planted on the property.

If the trees to be planted are really going to make a difference as carbon offsets, the University must agree to have that land under trees for 100 years, a requirement of farming carbon.

Helen Whitbread, UWA’s Acting Associate Director of Environmental Sustainable Development, said the trees to be planted had been selected because of their ability to regenerate after a fire. “If there is a bushfire, it means we won’t lose our carbon farming enterprise,” she said.

The cropping project, which will generate a major part of the farm’s profits, is being run by Ken Flower (Plant Biology), who is a devotee of the ‘no-till’ method of agriculture.

“Instead of ploughing, then waiting for the weeds to come up and ploughing again before you sow a crop, you simply use a herbicide to kill the weeds and sow straight into the soil,” Dr Flower said.

“Ploughing exposes the soil to erosion, particularly by wind. By not ploughing, the farmer saves time and money (no fuel needed for the tractor), organisms are built up in the soil and the land stays productive.”

Dr Flower said farmers on the south coast of WA, where there are sandy soils and strong winds, started using the no-till system in the early 1990s. “It caught on quickly and now about 90 per cent of farmers across the State use the method.

“Western Australia has the highest adoption of no-till farming around the world. It’s a system that really suits our winds and fragile soils.”

He said the pesticides used to kill the weeds before sowing were all developed to prevent any toxic residue in the crop. “Most farmers are already conscious of

the farm of the

futurecontinued from page 9

Hatchling long-necked tortoise

Professor Robson inspects the crop

The opening launch

Combine harvester at work

UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 The University of Western Australia10

health and environmental benefits these days,” he said.

The Future Farm’s neighbours are using no-till practices on the land they lease from UWA for cropping.

Professor Martin said the animal enterprise fell into the ‘clean green and ethical’ production ethos that drove all the teaching and research on animal industries at UWA.

“Clean refers to chemical-free animal production; green is about the ecological issues; and ethical refers primarily to animal welfare. A big ecological problem for Australian and the rest of the world is methane produced by grazing animals. Dr Phil Vercoe has been working with the CSIRO, Meat and Livestock Australia and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to develop management systems in which sheep and cows produce less methane.

“This is not only good for the atmosphere, but the energy the animals would otherwise lose is retained in increased production of wool and meat.”

UWA agriculture graduate Kristy Glover is living on the Future Farm as the interim farm manager, linking up with the local community and channelling through it as much business as possible.

She is living in the old farm house while a new efficient sustainable one is already being constructed on-site to specifications by Patrick Beale and his colleagues in the Advanced Timber Concepts research centre in Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts. It is known as the ‘ALVA House’.

Domenic Trimboli, a research assistant in the centre, chose the site for the farmhouse, along with architect Paul Odden and colleagues from FNAS. “It faces north, is protected from the prevailing southerly winds by being just over the brow of a hill, has stunning

views and is protected from the hot easterlies by a rocky outcrop on its western side,” Mr Trimboli said.

The timber-frame house is a recycled project. Professor Beale acquired it five years ago when its life as a demonstration home was over.

“It was a pre-built module in 12 parts, which we redesigned to suit the site, then trucked it to the farm and unloaded the parts with a crane,” he said. “We are cladding the frame with a new fibre-cement sheeting, created and donated by BGC. This is its first application. It protects from fire, is strong and easy to use in construction.”

The eaves and underside of the house are completely enclosed as further protection against bushfire. The house is heavily insulated, designed so it can be easily ventilated and has a Thermatech Colorbond roof (sponsored by BlueScope Steel) which also helps with insulation. “The house is made to a novel design and is set on stumps which were sourced in South Australia. They are galvanised steel for both insect and corrosion protection,” he said.

The architects worked with UWA Electrical Engineer Professor Jasmine Henry to design the smart wiring for the electrical system. Sponsors Light Application and Brightgreen have helped with rewiring and the provision of LED lighting, which is low energy and long lasting.

“The lights can be turned on from any part of the house and can be programmed to turn off two minutes after the room becomes empty,” Mr Trimboli said.

“The residents will be able to switch appliances on and off remotely, which reduces energy use as well as being convenient,” Professor Beale said.

The ALVA house will collect all its own water, with rainwater tanks holding more

than 100,000 litres, a third of which will be permanently set aside for fire fighting.

Professor Beale said the builders, Bill Pitt and Sons, were excited by the project. “You know you’re on to something good when the builders get excited,” he said.

He said he hoped the centre would be able to create some furniture for the house.

“The basic house was free and we’ve worked hard with sponsors to keep the costs right down, so it would be great if we could afford to showcase our furniture designs inside,” he said.

A software engineering honours student is creating a website for the Future Farm, while 15 architecture honours students are designing a multi-purpose building that will be a shearing shed, a research facility and a community learning centre.

The School of Environmental Systems Engineering will assess the hydrology of the landscape, develop a farm water management plan and establish a system for monitoring hydrological processes. The School of Earth and Geographical Sciences will quantify the land resources, including undertaking soil analysis, to aid decision-making.

As well as collaborations across campus and with government departments, the Future Farm has international connections with Oxford University’s research farm.

“Their motto is economical, ethical and environmental – similar to our clean, green and ethical,” Professor Martin said. “They are doing what we’re doing, only they introduced the new concepts to an old farm. When they did, they went from making a loss of 70,000 pounds per year loss to a profit of 70,000 pounds per year.”

It bodes well for the future of the Future Farm.

We are trying to be pragmatic. We know that biodiversity matters in the long run but the challenge is trying to come up with options that are financially viable as well as having outcomes for biodiversity.”

Assistant Professor Standish

“

The University of Western Australia UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 11

Cultural competence, inclusive practice: they are words that we hear and read a lot around the University.

Now there is a ‘toolkit’ to help all staff to understand what those phrases really mean.

The Cultural Diversity and Inclusive Practice Toolkit is a resource designed to support staff in their interactions with students and colleagues, with practical information and advice contained in one folder and on one website.

It covers areas including guidance on naming systems, managing controversial issues in the classroom, teaching offshore, religious diversity and belief systems in the classroom, and supporting people experiencing culture shock.

Some examples from the kit:

• Theimpactofreligiousdiversityandbeliefsystemsontheteaching and learning environment should be considered. The kit details the development of ethical and moral reasoning to help both teachers and students with the challenge.

• Teachingandlearningtopicsincludesuggestionsonteaching small groups and managing controversial issues. Suggestions are offered on ways that controversy can be handled constructively and ways to manage inclusive discussions.

• Studentsandstafffromdifferentculturesmayexperienceculture shock in their first weeks or even months at UWA. The kit points out that this can move from bewilderment and uncertainty to discouragement and homesickness before a gradual recovery and an equilibrium in attitudes, feelings and responses. It provides staff with advice on how to deal the situation.

The kit has come out of the teaching and learning portfolio through the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL).

“It’s something new for CATL, as it is not only focused on teaching and learning,” said the Centre’s Jacq Flowers. CATL director Professor Denise Chalmers said the project’s focus was initially on teaching and learning but they realised it needed to be broader.

New tools for the job of inclusive practice

“Dr Erica Lewin was our project officer for six months and she did a wonderful job of gathering information from and checking it with a vast number of people in different areas across campus,” Professor Chalmers said.

“The core kit was licensed from Flinders University, then we particularised it,” she said. The project was supported with $51,000 from the Teaching and Learning Committee’s strategic funds.

“We added a section on race, power and privilege that was not in the Flinders model, sourced from Malcolm Fialho’s Courageous Conversations program.”

This section defines race privilege in Australia as coming from an Anglo-Christian background. In higher education, these people generally do not fear rejection from colleagues or classmates; do not suffer from an absence of role models; will be familiar with the language of education and business; will not be excluded from social activities; will not be expected to advocate for their race nor have their behaviour judged as representative of all their race. Malcolm Fialho will be promoting the toolkit as part of his UWA Teaching Fellowship program to expand the Courageous Conversations program.

“It will contribute to a more nuanced way of looking at diversity and inclusivity at UWA,” Professor Chalmers said.

All the printed documents in the toolkit are on the web, but there is still work being done on the design of the site to make it more accessible. The website also has more information relating to specific religions.

“The website will be changed and updated as is needed, so we only printed a limited number of the toolkit packs,” Ms Flowers said.

“We welcome feedback from any staff members if they find an obvious gap in the information,” Professor Chalmers said. “Please come to us with your suggestions.”

The Cultural Diversity and Inclusive Practice Project is at www.cdip.staff.uwa.edu.au

UWA staff and students come from 80 different countries

UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 The University of Western Australia12

About 160 staff from UWA gathered in the Tropical Grove to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Former Premier of WA, Winthrop Professor Carmen Lawrence, from the School of Psychology, gave the IWD address. Professor Lawrence is establishing a centre to research the forces driving significant social change in key areas of contemporary challenge as well as exploring our reactions to that change.

The theme of IWD this year is: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all.

Professor Lawrence said that a vast number of the world’s women still lived in poverty and were still treated as second class citizens, lacking resources and power.

“Women account for a growing proportion of those people who are income poor, comprising the majority of the world’s estimated 1.4 billion poor (living on less than $1.25 a day) and two-thirds of those who cannot read or write.

Professor Lawrence said poverty was not just about inadequate income, but also poor health and nutrition, limited education, and the lack of other elements of wellbeing, including leisure time.

“In the face of a warming planet and the likely effects of climate change, there is an even greater imperative (for us) to take action.

“The poor, particularly in developing countries, will face the most damaging effects of a changing climate: they are more likely to live in flood prone areas and to depend on agriculture and fishing for a living. Among the poor, as we know, women are especially at risk.

“Women’s greater participation in addressing the climate issue is vital. Whether as scientists, community activists, or negotiators, women can improve the world’s response to climate change, adding to the diversity of perspectives on how to address the challenge.

“Certainly, if we fail to confront this problem seriously, it is women – particularly in poor nations – who will bear much of the brunt of climate change.”

Call for women to confront climate change

From beginners to Rottnest Channel seasoned campaigners, Uniswim has programs for every swimmer.

Started in 1980 by Emeritus Professor Brian Blanksby and his wife Jeanette, Uniswim originally provided classes for children in one pool.

Now 30 years on, there are three pools, and classes and squads for all levels of proficiency, as well as open sessions for public swimming. The newest pool is dedicated to water polo.

Sports Science graduate Sam Alexeeff is Uniswim co-ordinator and is keen to promote adult classes. “Some people don’t realise they can learn to swim as an adult,” Sam said.

Private one-on-one lessons are $36 for 45 minutes or $12 for 45 minutes in groups of up to six. These classes are usually conducted on Mondays and Wednesdays between 1pm and 6pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 6pm. Private classes may be able to be arranged outside these hours.

Staff and students are welcome to do some laps before work, after work or at

Get in the swim on campus

lunchtime. The pools are open from 6 to 7.45am Monday, Wednesday and Friday; noon to 2pm seven days a week; and Monday to Thursday from 6 to 7.30pm (until April 1). It costs $3 a session.

Adult squads train on Tuesdays and

Thursdays throughout the day, up to 7pm and on Saturdays at 2pm.

For more information on adult swimming at Uniswim, call Sam on 6488 2277 or at alexeef@cyllene.uwa.edu.au or go to http://uniswim.uwa.edu.au

Winthrop Professor Carmen Lawrence

The University of Western Australia UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 13

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AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE: INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMSAssistant Professor Richard Dodson, School of Physics: ‘Travel Grant Scientific Visits to Korea 2010’ – $3,320 (2010-10)

AUSTRALIAN FOUNDATION FOR DIABETES RESEARCHProfessor Grant Morahan, UWA Centre for Medical Research: ‘Pathways Involved in the Directed Differentiation of hESC-Derived Pancreatic Progenitors into Mature ß Cells’ – $200,000 (2010-11)

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY EX ARC LIEFProfessor Ping Koy Lam, Winthrop Professor Michael Tobar, School of Physics: ‘Ultra Precision Lathe for the Fabrication of High Q Crystalline Resonators’ (2010)

AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION (ANSTO)Assistant Professor Richard Dodson, School of Physics: ‘Polarised GMRT Observations of the Vela PWN’ – $3,315 (2010)

COUNCIL OF GRAIN GROWER ORGANISATIONS LTD COGGO NPZ PEA FOUNDATIONAssociate Professor Wallace Cowling, Dr William Erskine, Winthrop Professor Kadambot Siddique, School of Plant Biology: ‘NPZ Pea Foundation – A Foundation Grant to Intercross Pea Lines in Preparation for a Future ARC Linkage Research Project and Variety Release’ – $50,000 (2010)

DIISR ISL FAST (FRENCH-AUSTRALIAN S AND T PROGRAM)Winthrop Professor Michael Tobar, School of Physics: ‘Towards a New Generation of Frequency Standards: Atomic Oscillators’ – $20,000 (2010-11)

DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION (DSTO)Dr Cara MacNish, School of Computer Science and Software Engineering: ‘Literature and Computational Tool Review for Red Teaming’ – $10,000 (2010)

ELETTRAAssociate Professor Peter Hammond, School of Physics: ‘Elettra – Picosecond Timing of Photoelectrons’ – $70,000 (2009)

FLINDERS UNIVERSITY EX DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATIONA/Professor David Powers, Professor Thomas Braunl, Dr Adrian Boeing, School of Electrical, Electronic, and Computer Engineering, Flinders University: ‘Linking Structural Architecture with Hydrothermal Footprints in the St Ives Belt Kambalda Western Australia’ – $56,595 (2010)

FORTESQUE METALS GROUP LTDDr Renee Firman, School of Animal Biology: ‘Sociality and Sperm Competition in a Native Australian Mouse’ – $21,390 (2010)

Whatever you need to print, UniPrint can print it. From a newsletter to an annual report. A brochure to a flyer.

What’s more, we can also design it, create quality artwork and see the whole job through from start to finish.

See UniPrint too for all your copying and binding needs. UniPrint is your printer on campus.

6488 7790uniprintjobs@admin.uwa.auuniprint.uwa.edu.au

Print?

UniPrint-it!

When life is not plain sailing ...

The Employee Assistance Program offers free confi dential counselling to UWA staff & immediate family, for personal or work problems.

To arrange an appointment contact one of the following service providers

PPC Worldwide

Level 16, 251 Adelaide Tce, PerthTel 1300 361 008 (24hrs)Web www.au.ppcworldwide.com

UWA Counselling & Psychological Service

2nd Floor, South Wing, Guild Village Tel +61 8 6488 2423 (Offi ce Hours)Web www.counselling.uwa.edu.au

For further information on the UWA Employee Assistance Program seewww.safety.uwa.edu.au/policies/eap

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NOTICES

UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA ACADEMIC STAFF

ASSOCIATIONElection of Officers pursuant to section 69(4) of the Industrial

Relations Act 1979

ELECTION NOTICENominations are called from eligible

candidates for the election of:

President (1)Vice President (1)

Secretary (1)Treasurer (1)

Ordinary Member of the Committee of Management (6)

The above positions are for a one year term commencing from 1 July 2010.Nominations will be accepted from Friday 12 March 2010.Nomination forms are to be completed in accordance with the Rules of The University of Western Australia Academic Staff Association and must reach the WA Electoral Commission by 12pm on Wednesday 31 March 2010.Nomination forms and lodgement instructions are available from the UWAASA office: uwaasa@cyllene.uwa.edu.au: www.uwaasa.uwa.edu.auWayne NicholsonRETURNING OFFICER

RESEARCH GRANTS AND CONTRACTS

Grants awarded between 20 February and 8 March 2010

A FOUNDATION BUILDING STRENGTH INCProfessor John Hartnett, School of Physics: ‘Scientific Visits to Europe – Development of Ultra-low Noise Frequency Transfer for Atomic Clocks Using a Cryonginic Sapphire Oscillator’ – $8,100 (2010)

AINSE RESEARCH TRAININGAssistant Professor Grzegorz Skrzypek, Dr Pauline Grierson, School of Plant Biology: ‘Trans-Latitude Migration of Climatic Zones During Last Millennia: Inferences from Stable Isotopic Composition of Peat Cores (Radiocarbon Dating).’ – $9,455 (2010)Winthrop Professor Roger Watling, Adjunct Associate Professor Roger Price, Ms Charmaine Jeffery, Centre for Forensic Science: ‘Radiochemical Separation of 64Cu and 55Co from Proton Bombarded natNickel Via Non Aqueous Ion Exchange Chromatography’ – $12,770 (2010)

UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 The University of Western Australia14

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REDuNDANT EquIPMENT

ITEM PRICE AG

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SECTION CONTACT

100 x Desktop PCs AMD ATHLON 3000+, 1G RAM, 80G HD, DVD ROM/CD-RW, LG 17” LCD, keyboard, mouse

$250 ono (bulk discounts available)

5 3 Mathematics and Statistics Roman Bogoyev Ext 3379roman.bogoyev@uwa.edu.au

GOLD FIELDS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITEDProfessor John Miller, Professor Thompson McCuaig, School of Earth and Environment: ‘Linking Structural Architecture with Hydrothermal Footprints in the St Ives Belt Kambalda Western Australia’ – $13,858 (2010)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDProfessor Wallace Langdon, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine – $27,990 (2009)Winthrop Professor Gary Hulse, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences – $11,260 (2009)Winthrop Professor David Badcock, School of Psychology – $18,675 (2009)Winthrop Professor Alan Harvey, School of Anatomy and Human Biology – $13,871 (2009)

TRANSLUCENT INCAssociate Professor Gilberto Umana Membreno, School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering: ‘Investigation of Rare Earth Oxide Dielectric Films in MIS Structures’ – $10,062 (2009)

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY EX CHEVRONWinthrop Professor Charitha Pattiaratchi, School of Environmental Systems Engineering: ‘SERPENT - Exmouth Plateau Greater Gorgon’ – $154,000 (2009-12)

UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA EX GRAINS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONAssistant Professor Michael Renton, School of Plant Biology: ‘Simulation Modelling Using ROOTMAP for Assessing the Potential Contribution of Different Nitrogen and Phosphorus Sources to Crops in South Eastern Australia’ – $26,520 (2010)

WA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD (DAFWA)Dr Natasha Teakle, School of Environmental Systems Engineering, School of Plant Biology: ‘Physiological and Genetic Basis of Salt and Waterlogging Tolerance in Hordeum Marinum Accessions Wheat and Their Amphiploids’ – $20,000 (2009)

WA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHWinthrop Professor Jonathan Emery, Professor Cashel Holman, Winthrop Professor Christobel

Saunders, Dr Fiona Walter, Associate Professor Rachael Moorin, Professor Kirsten Auret, Associate Professor David Preen, Adjunct Professor Mahesh Bulsara, School of Surgery, School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care, School of Population Health: ‘A Partnership Intervention Trial to Redress Treatment Delay & Improve Outcomes in Rural Cancer Patients’ – $150,000 (2010-14)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE SERVICEMs Judith Fordham, Centre for Forensic Science: ‘Specialist Crime Portfolio and Academic Development – Jury Intimidation Project – Jury Experience Project’ – $15,000 (2009)

STAFF ADS

Classified advertising is free to staff. Email: staffads@uwa.edu.au

FOR SALE2000 FORD ExPLORER 4x4. $7,950 ono. Excellent condition. Always fully serviced, 173,000kms. Recent new Pirelli tyres, recent new front and rear brakes. Recent new clutch, Alpine stereo. Rhino roof racks. Great tow vehicle. Cruise control, powerful 4.0

Free Banking for UWA StaffUnicredit is your free on-campus banking service.*

There are no transaction fees for counter service, and when you’re not on campus, you’ll have free access to the second largest ATM network in the country: rediATM and NAB ATM networks.

Everyone can join Unicredit, and as a ‘mutual’ organisation, all profits are retained in the Society to the benefit of all members.

- Friendly personal service on campus - no long queues- Visa Access with no application or ongoing fees- No hidden fees for internet transfers and bill payments

Call into your UWA branch for friendly personal banking service, phone 9389 1011 or find out more atwww.unicredit.com.au

UWA Branch Nedlands Branch1st floor, Guild Building 80 Broadway11am - 3pm, Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm, Mon - FriPh 6488 1218 Ph 9389 1011

* UWA Staff who open a new membership are exempt from member maintenance fees for the first year. Thereafter a $2 monthly fee applies only if total balances are less than $500. Offer available for a limited time and subject to change, terms apply. This information does not take into account your personal needs or financial circumstances and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. To decide if a product is right for you, Unicredit recommends you read our Terms and Conditions and fees brochures which are available from www.unicredit.com.au or by visiting a branch. The University Credit Society Ltd. AFSL/ACL 244168

Car Loans - Home Loans - Term Deposits - Xmas Saver - Financial Planning - Insurance - Visa Access

litre engine. Ready for the beach. Contact: Daniel on 0403 004 127.

TO LETFREMANTLE: House to rent. A quaint weatherboard cottage – Forrest street, Fremantle. Tenants who have been there long term are going overseas. Looking for new tenants from 1st April. The rent is $370.00. It has 2 bedrooms, lounge, dining, family, small sunroom – very pleasant neighbourhood. Don’t mind pets, it has wooden floors throughout. Contact Kevin Croft on 9224 0275, or kevin.croft@uwa.edu.auFRANCE – South West Holiday accommodation. Self-contained apartment in a beautiful Medieval Village of the Perigord Noir, BELVES. For more details see website: www.belves.info or contact Susana Melo de Howard. Tel: 9246 5042 or susana@belves.info

HOUSESITTINGHOUSE SITTER WANTED. Our house in Nedlands will be vacant in June and July. It would suit a visiting academic with a family. No rent is required but the tenant would be responsible for basic maintenance and care of a very friendly dog. Contact: patricia.price@uwa.edu.au

The University of Western Australia UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 15

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EDITOR/WRITER: Lindy Brophy, Public Affairs Tel: 6488 2436 Fax: 6488 1020 Email: lindy.brophy@uwa.edu.au

Hackett Foundation Building, M360

Director of Public Affairs: Doug Durack Tel: 6488 2806 Fax: 6488 1020

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UWAnews online: http://uwanews.publishing.uwa.edu.au/

UWA NEWS

Dr Andy SierakowskiDirector, Office of Industry and Innovation

Getting research out there with renewed vigourThere’s no denying that signs of economic recovery are emerging.

As the team that connects researchers and their technologies with investors and industry partners, the Office of Industry and Innovation (OII) has certainly experienced the downturn of the past 18 months or so, but we have started 2010 with plenty of enthusiasm as we also see increased activity across the commercialisation sector.

As with basic research it is a competitive landscape when it comes to funding commercialisation projects. These can be projects involving our own intellectual property (IP), which is our primary focus, but it also includes sponsor companies tapping into UWA’s research expertise to develop and validate their own ideas or products. OII’s role continues to be in adding value to UWA researchers through effective technology transfer and related interactions with the private sector.

Despite the recent downturn, OII was kept busy in 2009 – we received 34 invention disclosures from across UWA, filed 12 provisional patent applications, helped researchers secure 21 research contracts and industry grants (worth more than $5million), and facilitated numerous local and international collaborations through inter-institute agreements, material transfer agreements and the like.

In fact, just as it is for researchers who have collaborators across the globe, the Office has increasingly worked with other university technology transfer offices as a result of such collaborations. For example, we have joint research and commercialisation projects currently under way with other universities including Urbana-Champaign, Missouri, Glasgow, Tennessee and British Columbia as well as many in Australia.

Already in 2010 the OII Project Managers, Russell Nicholls and Simon Handford (Life Sciences) and Tom Schnepple and Geoff Pocock (Physical Sciences) have deals on the table for projects that have come from various parts of UWA such as Medicine/WAIMR, Plant Biology, Engineering and Chemistry to name a few. Many of these deals have associated industry partners keen to work with the UWA researchers to develop and share in the commercial opportunity.

In fact it is this involvement with industry which can really make a difference to researchers’ abilities to diversify their funding, as well as potentially providing an outlet for their research to make a difference in the private sector.

An ongoing but deepening initiative for OII this year is to promote the benefits of schemes like ARC-Linkage Projects with industry partners and our researchers. This is a very attractive scheme whereby an industry partner agrees to support a research project by providing cash and in-kind support. We can assist with negotiating an intellectual property position that is consistent with the national principles of IP management for publicly funded research and any conflict of interest that needs to be declared: both are important points to settle prior to an application being submitted. In fact, if we have

an IP position developed at UWA which interests an outside partner, our experience is that the chances of fruitful negotiations and success are greatly increased. As always, talk to us early so we can develop a plan together.

In addition, this year we have two new funding sources that we can access for our projects. Firstly, the recently established federal scheme Commercialisation Australia will provide proof-of-concept and related grants. Secondly, we have good ties with a recently approved local venture capital fund called Yuuwa which will have access to a total of $40 million. We would be particularly keen to look at projects from UWA which might first qualify for OII’s Pathfinder funding and then leverage these other sources. Support such as this has been particularly important to fledgling companies like Sensear, TheBuzz, Dimerix and Orthocell – all of which were established on technologies developed at UWA.

So, my message is that we want to hear about research projects where OII can add value at some part of the commercialisation continuum, whether that be through external research contracts, licensing technologies or spin-out company formation.

UWA NEWS 22 March 2010 The University of Western Australia16