newsUWA6 March 2000

➥ ■ Page 5 Sport and science combine ■ Page 7 H2O art exhibition ■ Page 11 The chemistry experience

Children’s games, using both real and virtual

animals, form the basis of exciting research at

UWA that is adding an important dimension to widely

accepted psychological theory.

Associate Professor Steve Houghton and PhD studentVivienne Lawrence from the Graduate School ofEducation’s Attention and Related Disorders ResearchClinic, have spent two years working with 124 children,gathering evidence to test current theory on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

They have used tasks imposed on usual video gameplay and set tasks while on an outing to the zoo to testtheir theories.

Their research challenges some areas of the widelyaccepted theories of world ADHD expert, Professor RussellBarkley. It also provides support for other areas.

The Massachusetts professor of neurology andpsychology produced the most comprehensive theory ofADHD to date in 1997: that children with ADHD hadimpaired executive functioning (that is, they show aninability to self-regulate their behaviour).

Ground-breaking researchinto attention disorder

The University of Western Australia Volume 19 Number 1

Continued on page 4

The attention … the skills … and the pure joy of success.

by Lindy Brophy

“We found that the use of traditional psychologicallaboratory tests provided support for the theory,” MsLawrence said. “But then, we were watching children playcomputer games and we realised that the games weretesting those functions just as well as our lab tests…andthe children were able to use these functions!”

Dr Houghton and Ms Lawrence gathered 124volunteers, half of the children diagnosed with ADHD, theother half providing a control group.

They set up two types of computer games: the first asimple target game to test eye-hand co-ordination and thesecond a typical “arcade” game, called Crash Bandicoot.

They imposed their own rules on the game, so thechildren had to make Crash Bandicoot run from the startingpoint to a checkpoint, avoiding the dangers confronting thebandicoot en route and remembering and following theimposed game rules.

Graduate School of Education

2 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

VCariousthoughts …

ice-Chancellors are used to being blamed for

everything — from a lack of Commonwealth

funding to a parking fine on campus.

I was therefore not at all surprised to hear angrydenunciations, at the recent National Innovation Summitin Melbourne, of the ‘VCs’ who were, this time,apparently responsible for the lack of successfulResearch and Development resultsin Australia.

Ah, yes, I thought, anotherchallenge in my 2000 duties...

But, after a while, I learned thatthere exists a far more importantclass of criticised professionalfigures known as the ‘VentureCapitalists’. I could relax and learn about the failings ofanother, and newer group of ‘VCs’!

The issue arose at many points in the plenary andworking sessions of the summit as entrepreneurs,economists, scientists and inventors debated the issueof why our country has not been more successful in itstransformation to the ‘knowledge economy’ that willapparently dominate this new century.

Specifically, the new VCs found themselves criticised fora timidity in not backing new ideas with productivepotential such as is happening in America and Europe. Inreply, VCs pointed to a considerable range of inhibitors— starting with our tax structure and the regulatoryvehicles necessary to facilitate a new knowledge/newproduction revolution.

I left them arguing as I sought fellow ‘Educational VCs’at the summit to reflect on where our sector stood inrelation to the challenges of Australia developing aknowledge economy which can surround, support andultimately transform our essentially resource and labour-based export economy.

Many glib things are being said about harnessinguniversities to the national ‘innovation’ endeavour. Andso we must be both thoughtful and creative in ourresponse to the challenge which obviously faces ournation.

Yes, we do need to capitalise a great deal more than wedo on the knowledge developed in our universities,giving Research and Development a new impetusthrough strengthened links with industry andgovernment.

For that very reason we are about to circulate acomprehensive policy paper, based on our reviewprocess of last year, projecting a future UWA innovationstrategy.

But we will do so mindful of the continuing importanceof carrying out our abiding mission of undertakingfundamental research in crucial generic areas of scienceand the humanities. That will provide the vital base forthe celebrated ‘new knowledge’ of application anddevelopment. A recent major study in the US has shownthe overwhelming degree to which invention andinnovation grows out of basic research.

The knowledge economy will alsoincreasingly rely on high qualitygraduates with the kind ofsignificant transferable skills ableto lead and develop the learningorganisations which willcharacterise that new andglobalised world of economicgrowth.

Indeed, the Educational VCs concluded that we didindeed face yet another challenge, that is bringing to ouruniversities a sense of the new environment, nationaland global, in which the knowledge economy is arising.And to do so in ways which balances the vital role ofbasic research with industry partnerships.

That summit was a major aspect of my summer and satalongside the personal pleasure of enjoying themillennium period in our lovely city — including thatwonderfully memorable WASO Concert on CottesloeBeach as the sun set on the old century.

I hope you also had a memorable and refreshing summerand have returned to the new academic year ready forthe challenges of 2000, including innovation and theknowledge economy.

Deryck M. Schreuder

Vice-Chancellor and President

vc@acs.uwa.edu.au

V

The

New VCs

UWA news 3

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Australia has one of the biggest offshore zones in

the world yet we have a shortage of graduates in

applied ocean science.

From this year, UWA will be the first Australian universityto train specialised coastal environmental engineers. A newengineering major, Applied Ocean Science, will be offeredto students, from either second or third year.

The programme has been developed by the Centre forWater Research and the Department of EnvironmentalEngineering but it also includes units taught in otherdepartments: Zoology, Botany, Geography, Geology andGeophysics and the Centre for Offshore FoundationSystems.

Course co-ordinator, Dr Chari Pattiaratchi, said theintroduction of the degree was in direct response to theFederal Government’s Marine Science and Technology planwhich identified a lack of graduates in applied ocean science.

“We developed the course from the coastal stream ofthe environmental engineering degree, which has alwaysbeen very popular in our department,” Dr Pattiaratchi said.

“On a global scale, continental shelves, coastal seas andestuaries are a valuable resource, providing a focus foreconomic and social, tourism and recreational activity. Herein Australia, 86 per cent of the population lives within 50kmof the coast and it is estimated that pollution from the landcontributes up to 80 per cent of all marine pollution.

“So it’s critical to accurately predict the consequencesof human impact in estuaries and coastal regions, and tointegrate these predictions into regional managementstrategies — the work of ocean science engineers.”

The new degree seems particularly relevant in Australiawhich has an exclusive economic zone that includes up to5.1 million square kilometres of continental shelf: that’salmost double the area of the Australian land mass.

Environmental Engineering

Dr Pattiaratchi said the course was specifically targetedto understanding the physical, chemical and ecologicalprocesses in these regions and how to implementmanagement strategies to protect them from conflictinguse.

He cited the ‘Cousteau Factor’, the number of studentsattracted to marine biology by beautifully filmed TVdocumentaries, as creating an employment problem.

“What is needed are marine scient ists withquantitative skills and technological skills and expertisein physical and biological interaction. That’s what thiscourse will provide.

“Our graduates will be sought after in a variety of coastaland offshore related projects such as coastline stabilisation,planning and design of marinas, ports and similar offshorestructures, design and impact of ocean outfalls and coastalmanagement.”

The oceans in our exclusive economic zone are

double the area of our landmass.

Dr ChariPattiaratchi willco-ordinatethe newprogramme.

Engineeringthe

continentalshelf

4 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

“The theory says that children withADHD have problems with their workingmemory and ability to inhibit prepotentresponses, problems not observedwhile the children have Crash Bandicootnegotiate the different dangers en routeunder remembered imposed gamerules,” Ms Lawrence said.

Then, they introduced a distraction:a particularly funny episode of TheSimpsons playing on a screen next totheir game screen.

“The theory says the children withADHD, who are high distractable,would not be able to complete thetasks on the video game successfully,”Dr Houghton said.

“But our evidence shows thatalthough the children did glance at TheSimpsons (one child’s eyes flicked tothe other screen 18 times), it did notdetract from their performance.”

But it still wasn’t the real world. SoDr Houghton and Ms Lawrence lookedfor something similar to CrashBandicoot in real life, and came up witha route through the Reptile House andthe wetland area of Perth Zoo.

“We said that we were going tofollow a route like Crash Bandicoot didin the game play and go from a startingpoint to different checkpoints and thenback to the starting place as quickly aspossible (walking not running!),” MsLawrence said.

“We told the children individuallywhat we wanted them to do, showedthem photographs to help identify whatthey had to visit on their route, thenfollowed them through the ReptileHouse, one at a time, with a videocamera.”

The Reptile House is humid and hotwith a noisy waterfall, lots of writhingsnakes and subdued light: in short, fullof distractions. The wetland arearesembles the terrain in the gameCrash Bandicoot with the child walkingon a path which also has highlydistractable surroundings with real- lifebirds, animals and other pedestrians.

What the researchers found wasthat ADHD children diagnosed with the

hyperactive subtype appear to haveperformed the tasks better than thechildren with the disorder’s passiveinattentive subtype.

“All the literature so far shows thatthe hyperactive children are far moreat risk than the passive children, butour research so far shows that thechildren with the ADHD passiveinattentive subtype appear to be justas much at risk and, on occasion, maybe more so,” Ms Lawrence said.

Continued from page 1

“…I think we will flip

this theory on

its head”

Earlier literature cites people withcombined type ADHD as many timesmore likely to be involved in motorvehicle accidents, to contract sexuallytransmitted diseases and end up inprison. (Up to 70 per cent of childrendiagnosed with ADHD carry theirdisorder into adulthood.)

“But I think we will flip this theoryon its head,” Dr Houghton said. “Atleast our research will raise someinteresting questions regarding thechildren’s ability to perform tasks inreal-world settings,” he said.

“It’s exciting because so much workon ADHD is done in laboratory settingsbut people don’t live in laboratories andmore research is needed on people’sability to perform in real-worldenvironments,” Ms Lawrence said.

They have 40 three-hour videotapesand are now into the data coding andanalysis stage.

Professor Russell Barkley is inconstant communication with theteam, as are researchers from Europeand England.

While there is still a lot of workahead of them Dr Houghton and MsLawrence wanted to thank the peoplewho had so far supported theirresearch: Sony for supplying PlayStations and games, Hungry Jack’s, thePerth Zoo and PhD student John West,who helped with the computer gamesection.

They are working in conjunction withProfessor Kevin Durkin from theDepartment of Psychology and DrGraham Douglas from the GraduateSchool of Education, who have assistedwith both the computer game and thezoo sections of the research.

Ground-breakingresearch into attention

disorderVivienneLawrence andAssociateProfessor SteveHoughton arefast expandingone of thelatest theorieson ADHD.

Nick is one of 124 childrentesting the theory with computergames and the ‘real-life’ version,at the zoo.

UWA news 5

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The Department of Human Movement and Exercise

Science, in conjunction with the International

Olympic Committee (IOC) and Sports Medicine

Australia, recently ran the fifth IOC World Congress on

Sports Sciences in Sydney.

The department’s own students and graduatesdominated the podium with their winning research projects.The theme of the congress was science and medicine ofskilled performance: optimisation, injury prevention andrehabilitation.

Thor Besier (pictured) won the inaugural Prince deMerode Award for the best paper in the physical sciencecategory. He also won one of the two Young InvestigatorAwards from Sports Medicine Australia for his outstandingresearch into the biomechanics of knee injuries.

Dr Besier is a research associate with the departmentand, with the support of an NHMRC grant, is looking at thedevelopment of osteo-arthritis in the knee, in conjunctionwith Dr David Lloyd from the Department of HumanMovement and Exercise Science and Professor GwidonStachowiak from the Department of Mechanical andMaterials Engineering.

“There are only a few places in the world you’d considerstudying postgraduate biomechanics, and this departmentis one of them,” said Dr Besier, who returned to Australiaafter 12 years in New Zealand to complete his PhD.

The department also has a grant from the AustralianFootball League (AFL) to study non-contact knee injuries,which have afflicted so many players in recent years.

“We are concerned with training methods that alter theway muscles protect the ligaments of the joint. If we canbetter understand the mechanisms of injury, then we havea better chance of preventing it” Dr Besier said.

“That just about sums up the whole department: we’reinterested in primary prevention, not just how to rehabilitatefollowing injury.”

Dr Andrew Lyttle, a former PhD student at HumanMovement and Exercise Science, who now works at theWA Institute of Sport, and Dr Andrew Cresswell, a formerMSc student and currently an associate professor at theKarolinska Institute, Sweden, were both short-listed for thephysical science paper award.

Dr Simon Green, a former Human Movement andExercise Science PhD student, now a lecturer atQueensland University of Technology, won the Prince deMerode Award for the best paper in the biological sciencecategory, and current PhD student Andrew Maiorana wasshort-listed for the medical science award.

These accomplishments are all the more memorablewhen you consider that the conference was attended by1300 international delegates with 500 free papers beingpresented.

Department of Human Movement and ExerciseScience Head Professor Bruce Elliott was the CongressChair, Associate Professor Tim Ackland, the Program Co-ordinator and Leanne Lind, the Congress Administrator.

Human Movement and Exercise ScienceOurscientistspave way

forathletes

The Sydney Olympics will be showcasing

Australia’s best sportsmen and women,

but the people behind the scenes, the

sports scientists, are already having their

talents acknowledged.

6 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

P lainsong, the modern/medieval

mystery play, produced for the

Festival by Black Swan Theatre/WA

Academy of Performing Arts/

Skadada, was anything but plain.

The biblical spectacle illuminated thebeauty of Winthrop Hall and itsgrounds, drawing attention to aspectsof the architecture and landscapewhich are so often taken for grantedby those who study and work oncampus.

The audience became part of theplay as it wended its way around thecampus — breaking bread in theopening monastic scene in WinthropHall and experiencing the seduction ofEve by the serpent amongst theluscious foliage of the Tropical Grove— watched serenely by God from anearby tree.

Plainsong was an event to beremembered, from the raunchy songand dance routine of Noah’s Ark in theUndercroft to the dulcet tones of theangel in the annunciation to Mary(suspended on a swing from WinthropHall ceiling).

When Herod and Pilate finishedstrutting their stuff across the SenateRoom balcony above the Great Court,the crowd jostled behind Christ with hiscrown of thorns as he made his way to

The elusive angel(UWA graduate,Taryn Fiebig), God(Rohan Nicol) andfriend (KatieWilkins).

Logistical feat in Festival treatbe crucified in Whitfield Court(mockingly displayed on a televisionscreen for the 6 p.m. world news).

The fires of Hell were reflected inthe Whitfield Court pond as Jesuscalmly walked across water and Luciferlazed in the shadows of the archesabove. Periodically the angel wouldmaterialise, singing gaily from theWinthrop Tower or the rose window.

When a production of this nature isstaged on campus, as with the Frenchstreet theatre production ofMephistopheles (1998 and ’99), thesupport provided by Universitydepartments is not always apparent.

Preliminary meetings on campus toensure the success of the productionstarted as early as July, and UniversityTheatres co-ordinated the productionwith Black Swan — providing the usualtechnical and front-of-house staffduring performances, monitoringinstallations to ensure health and safetyrequirements were met, hiringequipment, storing vehicles andproviding crowd and damage control.

Planning and Design approvedinstallations for the event, namely theraising of the cross in Whitfield Court,the placement of a steel walkway in theReflection Pond for Jesus’ walk and thesuspension of sets and swings from

the ceiling of Winthrop Hall. The entireelectrical network was also checked toensure the safety of the audience andperformers.

Unigrounds removed turf, prunedtrees, provided logs and approved thescaffolding in the Tropical Grove. Theelectricians from the MaintenanceWorkshop provided 3-phase power andarranged for staff to assist after hourswith pre-production trials.

Uniclean was of course, active incleaning Winthrop Hall and theUndercroft after each performance andthe Security and Parking Officeprovided access for vehicles tountoward sites and the WinthropTower, provided signage and afterhours personnel to assist with parking,gave advice on security issues whenrequired, stored firearms for the castbetween performances and arrangedfor fire sensor alarms in Winthrop Hallceiling to be immobilised as the firesof Hell raged in the foyer.

It is a tribute to the excellence of theplayers, the beauty of the venues andgrounds of the campus, the co-ordinationskills of University Theatres and the staffof the Office of Facilities Managementwho provided support behind the scenes,that a production of this magnitude couldbe staged on campus.

byShobhaCameron

UWA news 7

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Fiona Camarri has

found her niche

in publishing.

Graduate’sachievements rewardedTwo years ago, Fiona Camarri had her sights set on a legal career. Today

she is happily ensconced at UWA Press, embarking on management

courses and looking forward to a long career in publishing.

The UWA arts graduate decided part-way through her law degree that shewanted a change. After just two weeks work experience at UWA Press underthe guidance of her second-year History teacher, Press Director Dr JennyGregory, Ms Camarri was offered a part-time job, which has now become afull-time one, as acting editorial co-ordinator.

Her change in direction was recently rewarded by the AustralianInstitute of Management, which named Ms Camarri as their YoungAchiever of the Year.

“I nominated myself, just for the experience, and when I wasinvited to the presentation evening, I found myself surrounded bywonderful inspirational women who have achieved so much,”Ms Camarri said.

“Many of them won awards in different categories and I wasjust thinking how privileged I was to be there, meeting them,hearing their stories, when they announced me as Young Achieverwinner: it was totally unexpected.”

Dr Gregory says UWA Press is very fortunate to have Ms Camarrion its staff.

“She has great analytical skills and her ability to get right to theheart of an issue is a result of her university training in critical analysisof the arts,” Dr Gregory said.

Ms Camarri has won $1000 worth of courses at the AustralianInstitute of Management.

UWA Press

Just as water covers a huge are

of the earth’s surface, so the

current exhibition at the Lawrence

Wilson Art Gallery, H2O, covers an

enormous area in art.

The works, from Kerry Stokes’collection, use the Perth InternationalArt Festival’s water theme, rangingfrom historical mariner’s logs andcharts to contemporary Aboriginalinterpretations of water.

There are even somecoins from the wreck of the Batavia thatKerry Stokes himself retrieved.

Two rooms of the gallery aredevoted to this extraordinarily diverseshow. The gallery’s director, Dr AnnaGray, and its new education officer, DrStephanie Green, say that Universitystaff and students will be able to findsomething relevant to every area ofstudy on the campus.

One room is devoted to older, more

classical works of arts, including threeimpressive studies of clouds overbeachscapes, by Monet, Courbet andBoudin.

The other room has more modernworks, dominated by an installation inthe centre of the room by local artistJulie Wilson Foster.

She has created what looks likewater lilies floating on a pond from thebottoms of plastic milk bottles —unfortunately the sort of debris you’relikely to find in and around Perth’swaterways.

Next Tuesday, March 14, KerryStokes’ curator, John Stringer, will talkin the gallery about realism andabstraction in the exhibition. H2Ocontinues until April 2.

Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery

The gallery’s neweducation officer,Dr Stephanie Green,admires the Monet.

From Monet to milk bottles

8 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Tuesday 7 March

LAWRENCE WILSON ART GALLERY

“Frank Sheehan: religion and art”. Inassociation with the current exhibition of Therewas war in Heaven, a set of five cartoons byHenry Holiday created as designs for stainedglass windows at St John’s in Somerset, FrankSheehan, Chaplain of Christchurch GrammarSchool Centre for Ethics, talks about art andreligious imagery. 1 p.m., Lawrence Wilson ArtGallery.

SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANTNUTRITION

“Integrated nutrient management research inCambodia”, Dr Peter White, Pulse Productivityand Industry Development, AgWEST. 4 p.m.,Agriculture Lecture Theatre.

Wednesday 8 March

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor DeryckSchreuder, invites all University staff to amorning tea to celebrate InternationalWomen’s Day. Associate Professor MargaretSeares will launch the database on skills andexperience of women at UWA. Billie Court willalso be performing a selection of songs tocelebrate International Women’s Day. 10 a.m.,Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery. RSVP tovanessa.chatel@uwa.edu (but only if you areattending).

ZOOLOGY SEMINAR

“The quantitative genetics of sexual attractionand attractiveness”, Dr Rob Brooks, JamesCook University, North Queensland. 4 p.m.,Jennifer Arnold Lecture Theatre.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Blessing of Ashes and Mass. 5.15 p.m., Chapelof St Thomas More College (also at 1 p.m. inthe Chapel on campus, Floor One, South Wing,Guild Village). Enquiries to Catholic Chaplain,Gerald Brennan, on ext. 2405.

Thursday 9 March

FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERT

Recently returned from the US, Alan Lourenspresents works for euphonium and piano byBowen Sparke Gregson and Jan Bach. Alan isaccompanied by Stewart Smith. 1.10 p.m.,Octagon Theatre.

Friday 10 March

MICROBIOLOGY SEMINAR

“Cytomegalovirus mechanisms of immuneevasion”, Dr Mariapia Degli-Esposti,Department of Microbiology. 9 a.m., SeminarRoom 1.1, First Floor, L Block, QEII MedicalCentre.

CENTRE FOR ARCHAEOLOGY

“Fieldwork on the Pilbara Coast: a progressreport”, Genevieve Clune, Centre forArchaeology. 4 p.m., Room 2.02, Third GeneralPurpose Building.

SCIENCE AT THE NEW MILLENNIUM

“Listening to gravitational waves: Einstein’sSonglines from the Universe”, Professor BarryBarish, Director, LIGO Laboratory, CaliforniaInstitute of Technology. 8 p.m., OctagonTheatre. Bookings can be made through UWAExtension.

Monday 13 March

HISTORY SEMINAR

“Der Fall Sparbier or The Woman Who DefiedHitler”, Professor Frank Broeze. 4.30 p.m.,Postgraduate Lounge, Hackett Hall.

SCIENCE AT THE NEW MILLENNIUM

“Galileo, Pisa and the nature of gravity”,Professor Adalberto Giazotto, VIRGO Project,University of Pisa. 8 p.m., Octagon Theatre.Bookings can be made through UWAExtension.

CampusDiary

UWA Newsis published fortnightly.

Information for the publicationdated 20 March should be

forwarded to Joanna Thompson,Publications Unit,

extension 3029, fax 1162,email:

uwanews@publishing.uwa.edu.au

NO LATER THAN 5 P. M.

ON 8 MARCH

Media enquiries toPublic Affairs on 9380 2889.

Unless a restricted audience

or charge is specified, all the

events/exhibitions listed here

are free and open to all and may

attract media interest.

Tuesday 14 March

LAWRENCE WILSON ART GALLERY

“John Stringer: realism and abstraction inH2O—observation and imagination in changingrepresentations of water, from the 1700s tothe present day”. John Stringer talks about theway artists have oscillated between realismand abstraction over time. 1 p.m., LawrenceWilson Art Gallery.

SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANTNUTRITION/CENTRE FOR LANDREHABILITATION

“Jarrah Dieback—how to kill a jarrah tree”, DrElaine Davison, Environmental Biology, CurtinUniversity. 4 p.m., Agriculture Lecture Theatre.

SCIENCE AT THE NEW MILLENNIUM

“Black holes and the Gamma Burst mystery”,Professor Remo Ruffini, International Centrefor Relativistic Astrophysics, University ofRome. 8 p.m., Octagon Theatre. Bookings canbe made through UWA Extension.

Wednesday 15 March

PHYSIOLOGY SEMINAR

“The sub-cellular calcium levels in normal anddystrophic skeletal muscle”, Renzhi Han,Department of Physiology. 5 p.m., PhysiologySeminar Room.

MUSIC MASTERCLASS

Visiting artist from the SydneyConservatorium, Margaret Crawford, presentsa masterclass on advanced techniques andrepertoire for the flute. Public admission is $10and $15 available at the door, WAIM studentsfree. 5.30 p.m., Callaway Auditorium.

Thursday 16 March

FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERT

Pianist and Head of the School of Music, MarkCoughlan, presents an exciting programme ofworks by Liszt and Brahms. 1.10 p.m.,Octagon Theatre.

ZOOLOGY SEMINAR

“Axonal survival and repair followingseverance: cellular/molecular mechanisms,behavioural consequences and evolutionaryimplications”, Professor George Bittner,University of Texas. 4 p.m., Jennifer ArnoldLecture Theatre.

Friday 17 March

MICROBIOLOGY SEMINAR

“The identity of sulphate reducing bacteria inanaerobic groundwater at Eden Hill (WA) andtheir possible role in the in situ bioremediationof aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants”, WendyRobertson, CSIRO Land & Water. 9 a.m.,Seminar Room 1.1, First Floor, L Block, QEIIMedical Centre.

ANTHROPOLOGY SEMINAR

“Hasab a nasab wa dakr: hierarchy, authorityand legitimacy in southern Morocco”, JohnLaurence, Department of Anthropology. 12noon, Anthropology Conference Room.

CENTRE FOR ARCHAEOLOGY

“The archaeology of culture contact in late pre-colonial eastern Indonesia”. Peter Lape,Australian National University. 1 p.m., Room2.02, Third General Purpose Building.

UWA news 9

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Associate Professor King Ngan

(pictured) has been honoured

by his international colleagues with

his recent election as a Fellow of the

Institute of Electronic and Electrical

Engineers (USA).

Dr Ngan is also a Fellow of theInstitution of Electrical Engineers (UK)and a Fellow of the Institution of

E n g i n e e r s(Australia) butelection to theUS fellowship isoffered to fewerthan one in a1000 members.

It is for his“contributions

to the theory and applications of visual

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Congratulations to Professor

Chris Powell, who has been

awarded the 2000 Mawson Medal,

in recognition of outstanding

contributions to earth science in

Australia.

The medal honours Sir DouglasMawson, the Adelaide geologist andexplorer who led a study expedition toAntarctica from 1911 to 1913.

Professor Powell will be presentedwith his medal at the AustralianAcademy of Science annual generalmeeting in May.

Geology and Geophysics

One in a thousandsignal processing and communi-cations.”

His Visual CommunicationsResearch Group is working in two mainareas: visual signal processing andvideo communications. The firstconcerns the processing visual signalsgenerated by vision sensors; videocommuni-cations deals with the trans-mission of visual signals over disparatecommunication networks.

Dr Ngan said that visualcommunication had become an integralpart of any modern communicationsystem, not only enhancing the quality ofcommunication services but, in somecases, becoming essential in effectinginformation transfer.

CENTRE FOR STAFFDEVELOPMENT

Staff Development Grants

for General Staff

The Staff Development Grants Schemeprovides assistance to members ofgeneral staff who wish to attend externalworkshops, conferences and other staffdevelopment activities.Closing dates for 2000 are:• Wednesday 29 March• Wednesday 5 July• Wednesday 4 OctoberGuidelines and application forms areavailable at: http://www.acs.uwa.edu.au/hrs/policy/part06/5.htm or from CSD onext. 1504 or csdoffice@csd.uwa.edu.au

What’s on Next

Places are available in the followingworkshops due to close within the nextmonth. Further details are available onthe CSD Web page:http://www.csd.uwa.edu.au/programme/ or by con-tacting CSD on extension 1504 orcsdoffice@csd.uwa.edu.au.

• Career Moves for Women: ValuingSkills, Planning Futures

• Conference Presentations withImpact

• Contract Management:Outsourcing, Contract Researchand Consulting

• Feeling Comfortable at YourWorkstation

• Fire Warden Training• General Staff Development Review:

Workshop for Supervisors• How the University Works: A Basic

Guide to UWA’s Organisational andCommittee Structures

• Improving Client Service Throughthe Telephone

• Introduction to Teaching Portfolios• Managing Your Time• Practising Safe Computing: How to

Avoid Computer Virus Infection• Programme in Animal Welfare,

Ethics and Sciences (PAWES)• Providing Services to Students:

Cross-cultural Communication• Providing Services to Students:

Ensuring Support and Access forStudents with Disabilities andMedical Conditions

• Providing Services to Students:Perspectives on Diversity

• Stress Management• Students in Crisis: What to Do• The Role of the Committee

Secretary• Understanding Intellectual Property

On demand

• Information Session on Studentswith Disabilities and MedicalConditions

• Introduction to Student Perceptionsof Teaching (SPOT)

• Making the Best Use of Your SPOTResults

• Personal Safety and Security onCampus

• Project Management

Closing date: Friday 24 March 2000.

Down toearth

winner

Local historyrecognised

Our own history may not seem as

exotic as events that took place far

away and very long ago.

But it is usually much moreimportant to us and, recognising this,a new award designed to encourageand publish key works in the field ofWestern Australian history, has beenestablished.

The Western Australian HistoryFoundation Award is an initiative ofthe foundation, in partnership withthe UWA Press.

The winning work will be publishedby UWA Press with the support of a$5000 publication subsidy from theWestern Australian History Foun-dation (WAHF).

Entries for the inaugural awardmust be book-length works bypreviously unpublished authors andmust reach UWA Press by April 1,2000. The winner will be announcedby June 30, 2000. The award will bepresented biennially.

Entry forms for the WAHF Award,which contain all the conditions ofentry, are available from thefoundation on 9360 2535 or UWAPress on ext. 3187.

10 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The International Standard BookNumber (ISBN) is a 10-digitnumber that uniquely identifiesbooks and book-like productspublished internationally. At therequest of the Australian ISBNAgency, the Publications Unit isresuming the self-allocation ofISBNs for the University.

A fee of $15 is payable for eachISBN assigned and applicationsmust be accompanied by a T-formfor that amount. All applicationsfor ISBNs with author’s name, titleof book and contact details shouldbe sent to Caroline Thompson,Publications Unit (ext. 2970, email:caroline.thompson@uwa.edu.au).

The University’s Uniview

magazine has been awarded

the 1999 Alex Harris Memorial

Award for Science and Environment.

Uniview has previously won awardsas the best national and statetertiary publication and sharesthis latest gong with localconsultant ecologist MikeBamford.

The memorial medal issponsored by the CSIRO andThe West Australian in memoryof the late Alex Harris who pio-

“There are enormous advantages in being exposed to adifferent way of thinking from that encountered inundergraduate and honours degrees,” he said.

He said he was proud of UWA’s reputation as a research-intensive institution, putting a particular focus onpostgraduate studies, which accounted for about 11 percent of enrolments.

The students’ summer programme was co-ordinated byDr Sato Juniper, learning skills adviser and education officer(postgraduates) with the University’s Student Services.

Dr Juniper said one of the participants had decided totransfer the final stages of her arts degree from the

University of Adelaide toUWA, where she willalso do postgraduatework; another willreturn to UWA topursue a PhD inchemistry.

Students from the eastern states crossed the rabbit-

proof fence this summer for a west coast

experience at UWA...and at least two of them have

decided to stay.

The University’s inaugural Vacation ResearchScholarships enabled 19 postgraduate students fromaround Australia to experience a Perth summer while doingsix weeks of intensive research.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deryck Schreuder, saidthe aim of the scholarships was to encourage interstatestudents to do postgraduate studies here.

He urged the participants toconsider the great benefits ofattending another university for

their higher degrees.

Postgraduatestudents, Rebecca

Jackson (Universityof Tasmania) and NeilBrown (University ofMelbourne) evaluate

their stint with Dr SatoJuniper (left).

WEST IS (one of the)(one of the)(one of the)(one of the)(one of the) BEST

Public Affairs

Student Services

neered science andenvironment writingin The West.

Uniview editorTrea Wiltshire saidshe felt stronglythat not onlyshould goodscience happenat universities but

that it should be effectivelycommunicated beyondcampuses.

Uniview is sent to morethan 40,000 graduates, toall WA secondary schools

and libraries, the media,funding bodies and govern-

ment departments.

Medal formagazine

Publications

Allocation of ISBNs

UWA news 11

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Chemistry, botany and physics were the most

popular alternatives to surfing and skateboarding

for 147 WA teenagers this summer.

The group spent three days at UWA in January, on theUWA Siemens Science Experience and voted the chemistry,botany and physics workshops the best.

The event, which is held every year, was so popularstudents had to be turned away and the Faculty of Sciencehopes to cater for 200 Year 10 students next year.

The Siemens Science School began at MonashUniversity in 1990 and is now held on 30 campusesacross Australia, including three WA universities.

Khim Harris from Chemistry and Dr Colin Taylorfor Physics jointly directed this year’s school. Theysaid it gave students an opportunity to learn of

Faculty of Science

ÒTotally,The Chemistry Experience.

the extensive opportunities that a UWA science degreecould offer and should help in making UWA “first to mind”when students consider university entrance.

An evaluation showed a high degree of satisfaction withthe event, with 94 per cent of students rating Dr AllanMcKinley’s ‘Enlightening Chemistry’ presentation asexcellent or very good and 92 per cent giving a similar ratingto Professor Mike Gore’s lecture, ‘Unexpected Science’.

“I think that the Siemens Science Experience was afantastic thing. It totally made me obsessedwith doing science at UWA!” was one of manyvery positive comments from the students.

The directors hope to increase corporateand Rotary Club sponsorship for next year’sevent.

Watching the AFL can be an

expensive business…and

that’s without even buying a

seat!

Viewing an AFL game last

season on the Web cost a

University department dearly.

Administrative Computing

Services Head, Bruce Kirkby, has

urged staff to be aware of the costs

associated with accessing services

on the Web.

“The audio and visual broadcasts

may not require direct payment, but

they do attract a traffic charge,” Mr

Kirkby said.

“Listening to music from an audio

station some-where on the Web will

be charged at about 0.07c per

second. This adds up to something

Watch that hidden Web cost

wickedÓlike,

like $3 an hour. Video is

significantly more expensive.

“Getting data via the Web

costs approximately 17¢ per

megabyte.

Determining the cost in advance

is very difficult, so any transfer of

data that appears to involve a large

transfer should be treated with

caution,” he said.

12 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Woodside Energy has renewed

its support for the University

through the Centre for Oil and Gas

Engineering.

At a recent industry function at UWA,the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, ProfessorAlan Robson, joined Director of thecentre and Woodside Chair ProfessorBeverley Ronalds (pictured) in thankingWoodside for its ongoing support.

From the centre’s establishment in1995, Woodside has invested $1million over five years to set up aprofessorial Chair in Oil and GasEngineering; provided renewedfinancial support of the chair from 2000;played a key role in securing an industryendowment of $660,000 to create theNorth West Shelf Venture Chair in Oiland Gas Process Engineering; andsupported a further industry donation of$450,000 to fund undergraduate

Professor Paige Porter (pictured

below) is the University’s new

Executive Dean (International

Relations), relinquishing her

position as Executive Dean of the

Faculty of Economics, Com-

merce, Education and Law

(ECEL).

The Vice-Chancellor, ProfessorDeryck Schreuder, said the two-year project was an importantinitiative designed to build on, andadvance, the University’scommitment to quality with aninternational focus.

It follows last year’s majorreview of internationalism.

Professor Porter, educated atStanford University, a world leaderin overseas exchange programs,has led ECEL since 1994, withstrong international links throughstudents, teaching and learning andresearch activities.

Dr Paul McLeod, ECEL’s DeputyExecutive Dean, has become thenew Executive Dean.

Centre for Oil and Gas Engineering

scholarships to encourage the study ofoil and gas process engineering at UWA.

“Industry support for universityteaching and research is vital toencouraging increased internationalinvestment in the Australian petroleumindustry,” Professor Robson said.

“Woodside’s foresight and practicalsupport as a founding partner andsponsor of the Centre for Oil and GasEngineering is a clear indication ofthe company’s faith in the potentialof the Australian hydrocarbonindustry,” he said.

Research + publication = top rank

Our Department of Mathematics and Statistics has been ranked first

in Australia and 14th in the world in terms of publications in

probability theory.

Head of Department, Professor Adrian Baddeley, said the figures came froman authoritative bibliometric survey of research in probability theory and statistics.

“We are the only University in Australia — indeed in the southern hemisphere— to appear in this list of the world’s top 25 departments which publish inprobability theory,” Professor Baddeley said.

The index was designed to give higher scores to departments with “fertileresearch environments” rather than prolific isolated individuals.

Mathematics and Statistics

Legendary Prime Minister John

Curtin has been digitally

immortalised.

The John Curtin Prime MinisterialLibrary sought the help of UniversityArchives to help them complete theirhistoric project of digitising all the recordsrelating to Curtin’s life and times.

Archives were able to supplymaterial dating from 1918 to 1933which related to Curtin’s support for a

Digitising John CurtinArchives and Central Records

Diploma in Journalism at UWA.The Electronic Research Archive has

more than 10,000 images and texts,including nearly 600 editorials writtenby John Curtin for the WestralianWorker, photographs from the Curtinfamily album, oral histories, copies ofofficial documents, letters and otherpersonal papers.

You can relive John Curtin’s life athttp://john.curtin.edu.au

Well done Woodside! Newtop spot forExecutive

Dean

UWA news 13

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF COLIN CAMPBELL-FRASER

Tel.: 9380 2889 Fax: 9380 1020Email: cam@acs.uwa.edu.au

EDITOR LINDY BROPHYTel.: 9380 2436 Fax: 9380 1192Email: lindy.brophy@uwa.edu.au

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JO THOMPSONTel.: 9380 3029 Fax: 9380 1162

Email: uwanews@publishing.uwa.edu.au

PRODUCTION OFFICER STEVE BARWICKTel.: 9380 3688 Fax: 9380 1162

Email: steve@publishing.uwa.edu.au

Ride a bike tobreakfast

The University’s annual Bike to

Breakfast is coming up again on

Wednesday 22 March.

UWA Sports, UWA Bicycle UserGroup (BUG), UWA Cycle Club and theOffice of Facilities Management arecombining its resources to provideanother fabulous free breakfast andprizes for staff who cycle to work onthat day.

Make up a team from section ordepartment or come on your own butbe at the Sports Centre tennis courtsbetween 7.30 and 8.30 a.m. to reapthe (added) benefits of your exercise.

TO LET

NEDLANDS, house for rent. Owners onsabbatical from April 13, 2000 to February 1,2001 (negotiable entry). 3 bedrooms, fullyfurnished, suit visitors on sabbatical withchildren. House is behind QEII, 10 mins fromUWA. Ring pager on 9480 4039 or mobile on0407 202 776.

SPACIOUS MODERN HOUSE, available tolet, 2/3 bedrooms, study, courtyards, fullyequipped incl. computer and fax. Ownersoverseas from March 31 to June 17, 2000.Close to UWA, QEII, river, Kings Park. Rent$250 plus gas/elec. Call Romola on 9386 6140.

SHARE IN SOUTH PERTH/COMO with aUWA female staff member. Fully-furnishedunit, 2 bedrooms, in quiet location and near topublic transport. $75 per week and $210 bond.Female preferred and favourable rate will begiven to a person who can stay more than 3months. Please ring ext. 3506 if interested.Available now.

DAGLISH, fully furnished and equipped home,close to bus and train routes, available to letto visiting academic family from April 1 to mid-July, 2000. Dates slightly flexible. PhoneBronwyn on 9382 4994 (a/h).

COTTESLOE, large and completely renovatedcharacter house, bay window, high ceilings,polished jarrah boards, 3 big bedrooms, largestudy (or 4th bedroom), formal lounge, family-dining room, 2 bathrooms, brand new kitchen,2 car lock-up garage, plus other on-site parking,outdoor entertaining, pleasant spaciousgardens all on auto retic., tastefully fullyfurnished and fully equipped incl. rugs/carpets.Full gardening service also available. Rentnegotiable (but will be very reasonable). Willconsider unfurnished/unequipped. ContactRob on 0403 128 041.

WANTED TO RENT

UK VISITING ACADEMIC seeks rentalproperty near UWA from June 26 toSeptember 2, 2000. Need furnished home,with 3 bedrooms or more. Please reply to TimUnwin at t.a.unwin@liverpool.ac.uk.

FOR SALE

PUBLIC ADDRESS UNIT, Liberty 4500(Anchor), portable, $450. Contact StephanieGreen at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery onext. 3709.

KENWOOD MIXER and liquidiser, mincer,potato peeler. Good condition. $100 ono.Telephone 9316 4449.

SIDEBOARD, teak, English. Bargain at $100.Telephone 9316 4449.

MEN’S NAVY BLUE PURE WOOL BLAZER,size 102 (42) L. Single breasted. Never used.$60. Telephone Kate on ext. 3703 or 9364 1181.

CLASSIFIEDS

newsUWA

ANNUAL ELECTION OF ONE MEMBER OF SENATE

BY CONVOCATION,THE UWA GRADUATES ASSOCIATION

Candidates in this election are:• Julie Michelle BEECK

• Lesley Ann CALA

Voting papers must reach the Returning Officer,The University of Western Australia,

Hackett Complex, Nedlands, WA 6907no later than

5 p.m., Tuesday 14 March 2000

UWA News,

Public Affairs,

Hackett Hall, UWA,

Nedlands WA 6907

Dear Reader,

Are you going overseas or interstate (or

even to Albany!) for work or pleasure?

Now you can economise on your postcard

postage by having your message printed

in UWA News.

Staff, students and friends and

associates of the University are invited

to send postcard messages, be they

humorous, heartfelt or just a seminar

update to Public Affairs or via email:

lindy.brophy@uwa.edu.au

Hope to hear from you soon, Lindy

POSTCARDS HOME

THANK YOUChartered accountants BDO

Nelson Parkhill have donated

a new prize for under-

graduates.

The company has put up a$300 award for the student withthe highest aggregate marks inManagement Accounting 112,Management Accounting 203and Management Accounting323, on completion of aBachelor of Commerce degree.

The Department ofAccounting and Finance thanksthe firm for its commitment andsupport.

14 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Redundant Equipment for SaleITEM PRICE AGE COND. CONTACT EXT DEPTARTMENT

Power Mac 6200/75. $400 ono 4 3 Jan 3743 Indigenous History and the Arts2 x Digital Computers, $600 each 3 2 Valerie 2024 PublicationsPentium 120, 48 MB RAM,1.2 GB HDD, Ethernet card,Windows 95, 15" monitor,keyboard, mouse.Digital Computer, Pentium 100, $400 3 2 Valerie 2024 Publications64 MB RAM, 1.2 GB HDD,Ethernet card, Windows 95(without monitor, keyboard ormouse)35 x PowerMac 6100 $400 4.5 2 Con 3184 Mathematics and Statistics25 x PowerMac 6200 $400 4 2 Con 3184 Mathematics and Statistics2 x Computer, Comdek $550 3 2 Glenys 2920 Economics180/32/1GBComputer, Total Peripheral $350 4 2 Glenys 2920 Economics133/32/1GB/RomComputer, Compucon 100/16/1GB $400 3 2 Glenys 2920 EconomicsComputer, Total Peripheral, $375 4 2 Glenys 2920 Economics90/16/1GB/RomComputer, Total Peripheral. $350 4 2 Glenys 2920 Economics90/16/850Printer, AppleLaserWriter 8500,48 MB, 20 ppm, suitable for dept. $750 3 2 Glenys 2920 Economicsto networkApple Imagewriter II offers — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Various PC Keyboards offers — faulty Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Various Mac connections etc offers — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 282217 x Cartridge Cases Plastic offers — 2 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Hayes Optima 288 modem offers — faulty Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Hayes Optima 288 modem offers — — Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822IBM Golfball Elec Typewriter offers — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Delni give away — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822DSV200/dl give away — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822DSV200/mc give away — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822DSV200/dl give away — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Terminal Arms give away — 2 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Mac LC offers — 2 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Dec Hi-Note Ultra II offers — not working Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Dec PC lpv 466d2 offers — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS(monitor not working, processor offers — — Sue 2822ok, no kb or mouse)Apple Powerbook Duo offers — — Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Volksnet Hub offers — suspect Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 28222 x Apple keyboards offers — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Apple mouse — — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Dec LA120 Printer offers — not working Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Dec Laptop PC425slc offers — suspect freezes Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Sharp Laptop offers — — Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822La75 Printer offers — 3 Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822Dec PC Lptv 466D2 offers — — Bruce 2818 ACS

Sue 2822

UWA news 15

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Bids should be accepted by Monday 20th March with departments to have first option

Professor R. G. Goldie and Dr L. B.

Fernandes, Pharmacology: ‘Respiratorysyncytial virus modulates endothelin receptor-effector systems’—$42,285 (2000).

AUSTRALIAN BIOLOGICALRESOURCES STUDY

Dr J. A. Chappill, Botany: ‘Taxonomic revisionof Gompholobium Smith and SphaerolobiumSmith (Leguminosae)’—$28,000 (2000).

AUSTRALIAN FLORAFOUNDATION INC.

Professor J. T. Lambers and Dr E. V.

Veneklaas, Agriculture: ‘Is rarity of species inthe Banksia genus associated with highlyspecialised nutrient-acquisition mecha-nisms?’—$6500 (2000).

AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC

Miss D. R. Newbound, Zoology: ‘The potentialfor the use of Pandarus Rhincodonicus as abiological tag for whale shark migration’—$2000 (1999).

AUSTRALIAN ORTHOPAEDICASSOCIATION

Dr D. J. Wood and Dr M. H. Zheng, Surgery:‘Towards understanding the molecular eventsof histogenesis and biological behaviour ofgiant cell tumour of bone’—$1500 (2000).

AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL

Dr A. Savkin, Electrical and ElectronicEngineering: ‘Analysis and synthesis of hybridcontrol systems’—$56,000 (2000); $58,000(2001); $60,000 (2002).

Professor R. J. Bosworth, History: ‘BenitoMussolini: a new biography’—$53,000 (2000);$32,000 (2001).

Dr A. Savkin, Electrical and ElectronicEngineering, and Professor I. R. Petersen andDr C. D. Charalambous (external): ‘Controland state estimation via limited capacitycommunication channels’—$50,000 (2000);$52,000 (2001); $53,000 (2002).

Dr B. D. Nener and Dr T. Fisher, Electrical andElectronic Engineering: ‘Determination offundamental electronic parameters of MOCVDgrown semiconducting Gallium nitride’—$90,000 (2000); $55,000 (2001); $56,000(2002).

Dr B. Rasmussen, Geology and Geophysics:‘Early-diagenetic phosphates: their impact onmarine phosphorus and rare-earth cycles, andpotential for high-precision dating of biologicaland environmental events’—$45,000 (2000;2001; 2002).

Professor D. G. Blair, Physics: ‘High per-formance seismic isolation with ultra-lowresidual motion’—$115,000 (2000; 2001;2002).

Professor S. D. Bradshaw, Zoology and Dr N.

Dytlewski (external): ‘Nitrogen metabolismand reproductive energetics of the marsupialhoney possum, Tarsipes rostratus’—$74,000(2000); $78,000 (2001); $80,000 (2002).

Dr B. Martinac, Pharmacology and Dr E.

Perozo (external): ‘Structural assembly anddynamics of MscL of Escherichia coli studiedby electron-paramagnetic resonancespectroscopy’—$80,000 (2000); $78,092(2001); $77,954 (2002).

Redundant Equipment for Sale

Departments are reminded that all University equipment available for sale must be advertised in the UWA News. Receipts should bePeopleSoft account coded 490 (computing with barcode), 491 (non-computing with barcode) or 493 (items with no barcode). If equipment

has an existing barcode please contact extension 3618/2547 for details.

CONDITION refers to the general condition of item ( 1 = as new; 2 = good; 3 = serviceable; 4 = unserviceable).

AGE refers to the nearest year.

Watch out for more

Research Grants and Contractsin the next issue of UWA News.

ResearchGrantsContracts

&ACIAR—ILRI VIA CSIRO

Dr P. E. Vercoe, Agriculture, and Dr C. S.

Sweeney, Dr J. Brooker and Dr L. Blackall

(external): ‘Managing the rumen ecosystem toimprove utilisation of thornless acacias’—$10,000 (1999; 2000; 2001); $7375 (2002).

ALCOA

Clinical Professor A. W. Musk and Dr N. H.

de Klerk, Public Health: ‘Health effects fromliquor burning unit in an alumina refinery’—$51,348 (1999).

AINSE RESEARCH TRAINING

Dr C. A. Musca, Electrical and ElectronicEngineering: ‘Characterisation of dopingmechanisms in reactive ion etching processedHgCdTe using secondary ion massspectroscopy’—$11,292 (2000).

Professor J. R. Dodson, Geography: ‘Environ-mental history and prehistory in southwesternAustralia’—$4800 (2000).

Professor S. D. Bradshaw, Zoology, and Dr

N. Dytlewski (external): ‘Measurement ofbody protein in native animals by ion-beamanalysis’—$5000 (2000).

Professor S. D. Bradshaw, Zoology, and Dr

N. Dytlewski (external): ‘Measurement ofoxygen-18 in a particle accelerator’—$6637(2000).

ARC STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPSWITH IND-RESEARCH/TRAINING(SPIRT)

Professor J. T. Lambers and Dr J. Eastham,Agriculture: ‘The ecophysiology of restorationsof arid-zone mine sites: a case study in theGreat Sandy Desert’—$55,000 (2000);$40,000 (2001); $43,000 (2002).

ASTHMA FOUNDATION

Mr H. Vally and Associate Professor P.

Thompson, Medicine: ‘Wine-induced asthma:role of the sulfite additives’—$25,400 (2000).

Dec PC450 D2LP offers — — Bruce 2818 ACSSue 2822

Dec PC 466D2LP offers — — Bruce 2818 ACSSue 2822

Dec Venturis 466 offers — — Bruce 2818 ACSSue 2822

Dec Workstation offers — — Bruce 2818 ACSSue 2822

3 x 14inch PC Monitors offers — 3 Bruce 2818 ACSSue 2822

TK50 tape drive offers — 2 Alan 3895 ACS

XSI dat drive offers — 2 Alan 3895 ACS

CD ROM RDD offers — 2 Alan 3895 ACS

Dec W/Stn offers — 2 Alan 3895 ACS

Dat tape drive offers — 2 Alan 3895 ACS

16 UWA news

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Next time someone suggests that working in a

University is a doddle, drop the following

message into your standard reply!

You are subject to more laws and rules and held to ahigher standard of behaviour than any average man orwoman in the street!

As an academic, professional or other employee of this(or any) University you are not only subject to the usualraft of Federal, State and local government laws as acitizen or resident in this state, but are also subject tothe many University statutes and by-laws which haveforce of law by virtue of the University’s governing Act ofState Parliament, as well as itsregulations which bind all staff andstudents. Add your employer’slawful directives and all thepolicies and guidelines adopted bySenate and then wonder ifanything you do here is free ofsome or other law or rule!

In addition to all of that, the criminal law has a specialclass of offence for unwanted behaviour in the exerciseof your duties as a staff member of a public university,that is within state law, as a public officer.

“Corruption” is the result of the fracturing of the tensionimplicit in public office between public and privateinterest.

Take the simple example of a worker in private industrytaking tools belonging to his or her employer home for

the family garage. This is stealing. If that worker is aUniversity employee, it is also corruption. It is not in anemployer’s interest for an employee to take theemployer’s property for his or her own private benefit.Additionally it is not in the public interest that a publicofficer, as one holding public office, serving a publicpurpose or having a public duty, commits a crime.

More startling perhaps is that any otherwise non-criminalactivity by a public officer, (a University employee),which justifies dismissal, for example, dereliction ofemployment duties, also constitutes corruption and assuch becomes in that public context, a criminal offence.Again there is a public interest in those holding publicoffice, serving public purpose or having a public duty,discharging or fulfilling that office, duty or purposeproperly.

This double layer of criminal liability awaits all of ourcolleagues who behave in this way. As public officers we

are held to a higher standardof behaviour.

All universities in stateswhere there are regulatorybodies established for theinvestigation and dispositionof corruption, that is NSW(Independent Commission on

Corruption) Queensland (Criminal Justice Commission)and WA (Anti Corruption Commission), have reportingobligations for any conduct which is reasonably believedto constitute corruption or, in WA, serious improperconduct. Universities are loosely controlled workplacesand their activities are very diverse. There are nocommon substantive corporate objectives and the verynature of scholarship and research mitigates againstcorrupt behaviour.

Ian Temby QC, a UWA graduate, once said as FederalDPP, that wherever there is government money there isfraud. With dwindling non-competitive governmentfunding there is more incentive for research andscientific fraud. Certainly too there is more opportunityfor self interest to arise in the increasing interface withand reliance on business and commerce for funding.Shareholdings, directorships, consultancies and otherarrangements for personal benefit open potential forconflicts of interest and opportunities for corrupt orserious improper behaviour.

There is a real risk that the relatively low incidence ofcorruption in Universities will grow.

This constitutes an additional challenge flowing from thecurrent changes in tertiary sector funding.

“Oh what a tangled web

we weave, when first we

practise to deceive.”

(Sir Walter Scott)

… the last word

Linda KeyUNIVERSITY SOLICITOR

CorruptionCorruptionCorruption