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Staff Bulletin
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RESEARCH OFFICE REPORTOn 15 April, Dr Bob Hall, Visiting Fellow in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (H&SS) presented a paper at 'The Vietnam War Thirty Years On: Memories, Legacies and Echoes' conference convened by the University of Newcastle's Research Group for War, Society and Culture. The paper, co-authored by Bob Hall and Andrew Ross, was titled 'Beyond Long Tan: 1ATF Land Operations in Vietnam , 1966-1972'. The paper argued that our understanding of the Vietnam War tends to be dominated by a relatively small number of 'landmark' battles like the battle of Long Tan, and the battles at Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral. Although these battles may have demonstrated the high professional skills of 1ATF, they were atypical. They occupied in total perhaps no more than 15 or 20 days in a war that lasted 7 years. Therefore there is a need to analyse the much larger number of smaller and often apparently inconclusive battles that were more typical of the war. The paper describes the statistical analysis of over 4500 contacts by the Australians in Vietnam and shows that the typical contact was at very short range, lasted only a few minutes and involved few Australians and even fewer enemy. These small battles - 'firefights' is a more appropriate term - had wide-ranging implications for operations. The paper also described some of the implications for manoeuvre and direct and indirect fire support. Before the observation – the instrument!!Staff in the Research Office often come across remarkable stories about research and researchers at UNSW@ADFA. When we began hearing about ‘DAWGS' and ‘Streamers', though, it appeared to be a story too good to overlook, so we went investigating! We discovered that a group of researchers from the ANU built a digital receiver which converts radio signals to numbers which are streamed to computer disks where ANU software analyses the frequency and time variability of the signals. This highly-portable system, affectionately known as "the Stromlo Streamer", was designed for just this type of radio astronomy experiment - specifically, the study of the Epoch of Reionization from remote sites. The Canberra Data Acquisition Working Group (DAWG) includes researchers from the ANU, ADFA and the University of Sydney 's Molonglo Radio Observatory, where the Streamer has been making studies of radio interference for over a year. So where, specifically was the ADFA link?About seven years ago, Glen Torr (electronics technical officer in the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ITEE) TST Electronics workshop) was employed by Dr. Krishna Shankar of ACME to do the electronics for one of Dr Shankar's research projects. This experience led to Glen's infection with the research bug, and inspired him to commence a Science Degree at ANU in 2002 as a mature age student majoring in maths and physics. (Brave person!) While undertaking a third year research subject in Astrophysics, Glen was contacted by Professor Frank Briggs who wanted part of a Radio Astronomy Receiver system designed and built to look specifically for low frequency radio signals from the Epoch of Reionization. After the project finished Prof Briggs and Glen continued to evolve the streamer design which was becoming more popular, resulting in one being built for the University of Tasmania which is being used to observe the pulsar "Vela". When Prof Briggs became involved in the Mileura Widefield Array the streamer fit the bill as a data acquisition tool and the original was sent to Haystack Observatory at MIT in preparation for the WA tests. Glen also built an additional streamer for the University of Melbourne for their use in connection with the Mileura project. Glen frequently expresses gratitude to ADFA and ITEE for all the support provided during the course of his studies and is enthused by the possibilities for ADFA participation in this type of research. Glen believes that this project will have a significant influence on the future Square Kilometre Array for radio astronomy. Further information on this project may be found at:http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/news/thismonth.php back to topStaff BulletinsIf you have something you would like to contribute, please download and complete the submission form and email the information to newsletter@adfa.edu.au. Indoor Sports Centre (ISC) Operations - 07 -21 May 05:The ISC will be available for use on weekdays from 0700 h - 1700 h;
"Creating a Teaching Portfolio" Interactive Workshop May 12-13 Room 154, Building 15, UNSW@ADFAA teaching portfolio is a document that systematically presents your learning and teaching activities and achievements within the context of your learning and teaching philosophy, its application, and its outcomes. A teaching portfolio enables you to document scholarly teaching in tandem with your documentation of scholarly research. Scholarly teaching is an approach to teaching that focuses on the learning experience of the students, where teaching skills are continuously improved through reflection, knowledge of current ideas about teaching, and peer collaboration. The scholarship of learning and teaching takes this process a step further, involving more active investigation, critique, and evaluation by peers. The process of writing your UNSW teaching portfolio will provide you with the added bonus of developing your scholarly approach to teaching. The Teaching and Learning Committee of UNSW@ADFA have arranged a workshop to assist ADFA academic staff to develop their Teaching Portfolio. The workshop will be conducted over two days and the broad agenda will be: Thursday 12 May (1pm - 4:30pm)In this half-day workshop participants will not only explore aspects of compiling/writing a teaching portfolio – learning and teaching philosophy, kinds of evidence, self-reflection – and how a teaching portfolio might be used, but how to get support from colleagues in reviewing and improving a portfolio. Participants will be introduced to a “coach” who can help review their portfolio. Friday 13 May (9am - 12pm)An essential component of improving your teaching at UNSW is through evaluation and reflection. CATEI represents only one form of (summative) student evidence. This workshop explores how you might profitably use CATEI to improve your teaching, what other forms of evidence you might use from students, peers, and self-reflection, and how to reflect that evaluation and improvement in your Teaching Portfolio We will also be conducting a plenary session in the afternoon of 13 May. This session offers the opportunity for everyone to discuss the issues arising from the previous two workshops in the special context of ADFA and with reference to the place of teaching in the new UNSW promotions policies. Participants will be able to create a draft of their own portfolios in the workshops to allow direct experience of the concepts outlined. The workshop will also introduce participants to ‘coaches' who have volunteered to assist individuals in developing their portfolio beyond the limited exposure of the workshop. For more details on Teaching Portfolios at UNSW, visit: http://www.ltu.unsw.edu.au/ref3-3-5_teaching_portfolio.cfm To register for the workshop, contact Anne Green (a.green@adfa.edu.au or x6189) by close of business 6 May 2005. Notice to all Military & University Staff - Carpark 91 - Exit/EntryOn numerous occasions vehicles have been seen exiting carpark 91 past the ‘no exit' sign onto Tobruk Road. This location was changed from being exit/entry to an entry only point for safety reasons. Not only are people, who ignore the signage endangering their lives and that of others, they are making an illegal exit. Cars and buses use Tobruk Road and those that are familiar with the road configuration would not be expecting a car to exit from this point. The exit point for car park 91 is on Kapyong Road. Any cars seen leaving by the no exit point will be reported and action will be taken. GPCAPT Loch Mitchell 4 May - Flu injectionsOnce again the University is giving staff the opportunity to be vaccinated against influenza. Health Services Australia advises that the antibodies only last about six months, so they will be given on the afternoon of Wednesday May 4 in room SR101. For further details and booking information please telephone Jacqui Jillard on ext. 8707. ------------------------------------------- ClassifiedsIf you have something you would like to contribute, please download and complete the submission form and email the information to newsletter@adfa.edu.au FOR SALEBedroom suite – white with blue trim – includes chest of draws with mirror, wardrobe and desk. Would suit child or young adolescent. Good condition. $100. Call 0404 091 491. Dining Suite - High quality timber square (1500cm x 1500cm) eight seater dining table and eight chairs. For sale for $800.00. Phone 0404 091 491. WANTEDWanted packing boxes for house move. Contact Gill ex 8335. FREE PALLETSWooden Pallets, free to good home. They are located outside at the back of the Main Store. Feel free to collect them at anytime at your convenience or contact Canh Do ext. 8185 or Gerry Coogan ext: 8370. Free Community LecturesNo free lectures this week------------------------------------------------- Important Dates
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