2011RMIT Teaching and Research

AwARds

sTAnd

PROGRAM30 november 2011

OUT

RMIT UnIveRsITy TeACHInG AnD ReseARCH AWARDs 2011

PROgRAM

Welcome Professor Colin Fudge Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, RMIT University

Presentation of the University Research Awards Professor Daine Alcorn Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and Vice-President, RMIT University

Presentation of the Teaching Awards Professor Gill Palmer Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and Vice-President, RMIT University

Presentation of the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching and Research Awards Professor Margaret Gardner AOVice-Chancellor and President, RMIT University

From the Vice-Chancellor

Welcome.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 2011 RMIT University Teaching and Research Awards. This ceremony acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of RMIT teaching and research staff and RMIT research students, whose work has been recognised as exemplary. These achievements span a diversity of disciplines and demonstrate the passion and strong commitment of our staff and students, as well as showcasing the vitality of academic life and culture at RMIT University. I am sure you will join with me in congratulating all recipients of today’s awards.

Professor Margaret Gardner AOVice-Chancellor and President, RMIT UniversityNovember 2011

RESEARCH

MAlCOlM MOORE

InduStRy RESEARCH

AwARd

IAn PERMEzEl

MEMORIAl AwARd

Dr Minh Phuong Doan School of Economics, Finance and MarketingThesis title: The Roles of Systematic Skewness and Systematic Kurtosis in Asset PricingDr Doan’s research focused on investigating factors used to price stocks on the Australian stock market. Specifically, the factors underpinning stock market returns. Her research showed that it is not sufficient just to consider the mean and variance of returns as investors also price skewness and kurtosis (a measure of excessive large and small returns). When these factors were considered the pricing models performed better, especially in bull and bear markets. Supervisor: Dr Heather Mitchell, RMIT University

Dr Nicholas MurraySchool of Architecture and Design Thesis title: Sound and Space: An Architect’s Investigation Murray researched a positive role for acoustics in architecture, a field in which acoustics are usually applied to suppress unwanted sounds. He developed the concept of an acoustic landscape, profiled in sound contours that would enable groups of learners to work in open plan, sometimes all linked in lecture mode, but also within their own acoustic containers. He prototyped a segment of this landscape and demonstrated it at work. The research has profound implications for the design of learning environments.Supervisor: Professor Leon van Schaik, RMIT University

Dr Judith HartSchool of Health Sciences Dr Judith Hart’s dissertation explored the question: What is the structure of the lived experience of feeling grateful? in relation to health and quality of life. The Parse research method, underpinned by the ontology of humanbecoming guided this study. The participants were 10 individuals in the community. Feeling grateful was experienced as: potent elation amid tribulation arising with the assuredness-unassuredness of benevolent alliances. These findings contribute new nursing knowledge and further expand the humanbecoming school of thought.Supervisors: Dr Phil Maude, RMIT University; Dr Anthony Welch, CQU; Dr Rosemarie Rizzo Parse, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Loyola University of Chicago

Dr Sharath SriramSchool of Electrical and Computer EngineeringDr Sriram undertakes research is in novel materials and micro-devices with applications in energy, sensing, and memory technologies. These areas are aligned to RMIT University’s research focus area of Smart Technology Solutions. The Ian Permezel Memorial Award provides him with a valuable professional development opportunity. Through this award, he will participate in the 2nd NanoToday Conference, where he will be presenting two papers highlighting outcomes from his current ARC Australian Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

Dr Olivia Guntarik School of Media and Communication Dr Olivia Guntarik has published in the fields of memory studies, and indigenous and multicultural history and heritage. This project aims to promote greater understanding around how Vietnamese, Sri Lankan and Turkish families rebuild their lives in the post-resettlement years. The research will contribute directly to policy debates about the support services for and development of migrant and refugee communities.

unIvERSIty RESEARCH PRIzE

vICE-CHAnCEllOR’S SEnIOR RESEARCH FEllOwS

“The Malcolm Moore Industry Research Award is a wonderful opportunity to build on experience I’ve acquired working in the cultural heritage sector over the years. The grant will enable me to document the experiences of migrants and refugees who’ve come to Australia.” dr Olivia guntarik

Dr Tania Lewis School of Media and Communication

Dr Jared ColeSchool of Applied Sciences

Dr Steffen WaltzSchool of Media and Communication

tEACHInG

Food technology and nutrition students undertake

work integrated learning.

wORk InTegRATed LeARnIng

Dr Bee May Ms Prue BramwellSchool of Applied Sciences

For the development and successful implementation of an innovative new work integrated learning course in food technology with strong industry involvement.

InTeRnATIOnALIsATIOn

Mr Ian WoodruffSchool of Management

For innovation in the design, delivery and evaluation of locally sensitive and globally relevant learning resources in the field of leadership and management.

eARLy CAReeR ACAdeMIC

Dr Shanthi RobertsonSchool of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning

For the implementation of interactive and collaborative learning encounters that value diverse student experience and enable critical understandings of theory and practice in global studies.

TeAChIng LARge CLAsses

Dr Richard GuySchool of Medical Sciences

For outstanding, student-centred, innovative approaches to large class teaching in the field of human anatomy and physiology.

BIOLOgICAL sCIenCes, heALTh And ReLATed sTUdIesincluding Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Medicine, Nursing, Psychology and Disability Studies

Dr George Lenon School of Health Sciences

For innovative, student-centred teaching of acupuncture theory and practice as the basis for life-long professional development.

hUMAnITIes And The ARTsincluding Design

Dr Mandy OakhamSchool of Media and Communication

For an outstanding track record in curriculum innovation which keeps pace with a rapidly changing journalistic professional environment and provides optimum motivation for a wide range of students.

LAw, eCOnOMICs, BUsIness And ReLATed sTUdIes

Dr Foula KopanidisSchool of Economics, Finance and Marketing

For sustained commitment to fostering inclusive learning and teaching, which engages the diversity of individual learners in marketing, and enhances their personal and academic success.

sOCIAL sCIenCesincluding Education

Mr Peter MeaneySchool of Education

For sustained excellence in teaching in the area of physical education.

TeACHInG exCellenCe HIGHeR eDUCATIon

OUTsTAndIng TeACheR/TRAIneR Of The yeAR

Ms Hazel Sims School of Business TAFE

For developing industry and community relevant learning experiences for students through action learning projects that cultivate students’ work readiness, critical thinking and social responsibility.

OUTsTAndIng TRAInIng InITIATIve Of The yeAR

Mr Justin Compton School of Design TAFE

For fostering student learning and the organisation of student engagement in real-life industry situations through the creation of projects with various companies in the retail, events and exhibition industries for the Diploma of Visual Merchandising.

TAFe AWARDs

Country Road window designed by visual merchandising students

as part of the Keeping it Real initiative.

OUTsTAndIng sessIOnAL TeAChIng AwARd hIgheR edUCATIOn

Ms Karen Elgar School of Health Sciences

For increasing student engagement in undergraduate psychology by applying and modelling evidence-based practice.

OUTsTAndIng sessIOnAL TeAChIng AwARd TAfe

Ms Elizabeth Eades School of Business TAFE

For commitment to engaging students and contributing to their work-readiness by designing learning and assessment practices that are set in the work integrated learning context.

OUTsTAndIng sessIOnAL TeAChIng AwARd TAfe

Mrs Jenni Woods School of Design TAFE

For combining technology and practice to create a learning environment which challenges and supports students as self-reflective learners and practitioners prepared for industry.

TAFe AnD HIGHeR eDUCATIon sessIonAlTeACHInG AWARDs

“I genUIneLy sAw TeAChIng As The OPPORTUnITy TO shARe My exPeRIenCe And knOwLedge wITh The nexT geneRATIOn Of desIgneRs And TO, seLfIshLy, COnTInUe My Own LeARnIng exPeRIenCe.” MRs JennI wOOds

AssessMenT And feedBACk

Sonja Cleary

Sharee Griffiths

Leonie Murphy

Dr Mee Young Park

Faye Partridge School of Health Sciences

For excellent application of the Practice Based Simulation Model, a curriculum innovation focused on improving feedback and assessment of clinical reasoning in undergraduate nursing.

edUCATIOnAL PARTneRshIPs And COLLABORATIOns wITh OTheR ORgAnIsATIOns

Mrs Robyn Lang

Mr Robert Sheen

Mr Andrew Webster School of Business TAFE

For developing and implementing an effective program for an industry partner which met the demand for high quality, contextualised, legal service training for their staff.

The fIRsT yeAR exPeRIenCe

Dr Bernie HollandSchool of Medical Sciences

For excellence in sustained commitment to the first year experience through an engaging, work related, socially connecting learning experience.

“ThIs PROJeCT Is A sUCCess BeCAUse The nATURe Of The TRAInIng Is sO ReLevAnT TO

whAT The sTUdenTs dO In TheIR eveRydAy JOBs.”

MRs ROByn LAng

pRoGRAMs THAT enHAnCe leARnInG

InnOvATIOn In CURRICULA, LeARnIng And TeAChIng

Associate Professor Margaret Jollands

Mr Luis Alban

Dr Nhol Kao

Professor Tom Molyneaux (not pictured)

Dr Raj Parthasarathy

Professor Doug Swinbourne

Dr Liam WardSchool of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering

For an innovative and integrative program that engages and motivates students to learn about engineering design in teams that foster generic skills demanded by employers.

IndIgenOUs edUCATIOn

Mr Wayne Ellerton

Mr Geoff Burns

Mr Warren James

Mr Geoff Mason (not pictured)

Mr Geoff Steel (not pictured)

Mr Greg Tink

Mr Glen WoodsSchool of Engineering TAFE

For innovation in indigenous education through the university’s plumbing program.

POsTgRAdUATe edUCATIOn

Associate Professor Terrence HallahanSchool of Economics, Finance and Marketing

For outstanding work in developing students’ behavioural capabilities around soft skills within the Master of Finance program, to meet clearly expressed industry requirements.

IndIgenOUs edUCATIOn

Mrs Robyn Blaikie School of Education

For establishing excellence in education for indigenous cohorts and meeting their needs.

pRoGRAMs THAT enHAnCe leARnInG

School of Applied Sciences

For an outstanding example of widening participation in the RMIT Bachelor of Science in biology and biotechnology through Open Universities Australia.

Professor Ann Lawrie Ms Faye CampbellMr Nigel CurwellMs Eva DomalewskaMs Robyne Drysdale (not pictured)Dr Danilla GrandoDr Tien HuynhDr Neale Jackson (not pictured)Ms Danka JoveticDr Belinda KennedyAssociate Professor Gina NicolettiProfessor Dayanthi NugegodaDr Greg Nugent (not pictured)Professor Eddie PangDr Jeff ShimetaAssociate Professor Peter SmookerMs Angela SmythAssociate Professor Trevor StevensonMs Helen WilliamsMs Lynda Wilson (not pictured)Dr Liliana Zalizniak

wIdenIng PARTICIPATIOn

oUTsTAnDInG ACHIeveMenT In TeACHInG AnD ReseARCH

Associate Professor John Reece School of Health Sciences

For outstanding academic achievement in psychology, which embodies the teaching-research nexus through sustained, exemplary and inspiring teaching, and high levels of research performance, particularly in the areas of methodology and data analysis.

“when I ThInk ABOUT The qUALITy Of MAny Of The ACAdeMICs heRe AT RMIT, I feeL InCRedIBLy hOnOURed And hUMBLed TO hAve ReCeIved ThIs AwARd.” AssOCIATe PROfessOR JOhn ReeCe

Dr Madhu Bhaskaran School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr Bhaskaran’s research has focused on functional materials to enhance electronic

devices, with a specific focus on piezoelectric materials to harvest electrical energy from mechanical pressure. Dr Bhaskaran is an ARC Post-Doctoral Fellow and has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications in the last 5 years. Her work on nanoscale energy generation properties of piezoelectric thin films has received widespread, international media attention for which Dr Bhaskaran was recently awarded the RMIT Media Star Award 2011 for Research.

tHE vICE-CHAnCEllOR’S

AwARd FOR ReseARCh

exCeLLenCe

Professor Charlie Xue School of Health Sciences

Professor Xue’s research has focused on taking an evidence-based rigorous approach to systematically evaluate major traditional and complementary medicine interventions for common chronic respiratory diseases and pain conditions. These research activities have been supported by over $8 million in research grants from the NHMRC and major international grant schemes. To date, our findings have showed that acupuncture and herbal medicine are beneficial for hayfever, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease as well as chronic and acute musculo-skeletal pain.

tHE vICE-CHAnCEllOR’S

AwARd FOR eMeRgIng

ReseARCheR

Dr Rick Franich School of Applied Sciences

Dr Franich’s research in medical physics is focused on improving the accuracy of radiation delivery in radiotherapy and medical

imaging, while minimising the radiation dose to healthy tissue. This goal is achieved by developing novel systems and techniques for accurately measuring and calculating the radiation exposure distribution in patients’ anatomy. Dr Franich’s research includes the world’s first 3-D deformable radiation detector, and a system for real-time feedback of radiation dose during treatment of prostate cancer.

tHE vICE-CHAnCEllOR’S

AwARd FOR OUTsTAndIng

ThesIs

Dr Nicole Pepperell School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning

Nicole Pepperell’s Disassembling Capital highlights the use of irony and parody in Marx’s Capital, in order to explore better ways of theorising complex and dynamic social environments. A revised version of the thesis has been accepted for publication with Brill’s Historical Materialism series.

Supervisors: Dr Peter Marden, RMIT University; Dr John Jackson, RMIT University; Dr Robert Briggs, Curtin University

tHE vICE-CHAnCEllOR’S

dIsTIngUIshed TeAChIng AwARd

Associate Professor Christopher Ziguras School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning

For sustained commitment to excellence in international education, through exemplary teaching practice, academic leadership and research.

THe vICe-CHAnCelloR’s AWARDs

“This award is a recognition of team work, research

leadership and it is a great encouragement for new

researchers to develop their research in new and distinctive areas at RMIT.”

Charlie xue

www.rmit.edu.au/teachingawards

www.rmit.edu.au/research/awards