UNSW@ADFA Weekly News

August 10 2006

Next Newsletter published 24 August

Message from the Rector

Dear Colleagues,

A reminder that the ADFA Performing Arts Company will be performing the 2006 production of “GUYS AND DOLLS” on the nights of 10-12 August, in Adams Hall.

Vice Chancellor's Visit to UNSW@ADFA

The UNSW Vice Chancellor, Professor Fred Hillmer met with staff from UNSW@ADFA on Tuesday 8 August. This was the VC's second visit to our campus and part of a strategy to meet on a regular basis with each Faculty.

In his presentation, Professor Hillmer outlined his view for the future of UNSW. It was noted that he had already revised a range of operational activities which had previously fallen under the jurisdiction of the Council. In addition, the VC had made a number of changes to the Chancellery structure reducing senior staff to two Deputy Vice Chancellors and a Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Professor Hillmer raises the point that the operational coal face of the University is not in the Chancellery and has streamlined his department accordingly.

Professor Hillmer's focus will be on increasing the high profile of UNSW as a leading research intensive university. He believes that there are four criteria by which UNSW can achieve this outcome. Firstly, he argues that there needs to be an increase in the number of staff engaged in quality research and a research culture that continues to grow the research funding base across UNSW. Secondly, the VC believes that UNSW needs to attract the top students at all levels, UNSW needs to be the destination of choice by School leavers. Thirdly, the staff profile needs to show that UNSW attracts quality staff with appropriate qualifications. Lastly, the University needs to be seen as actively engaging with the community.

The Vice Chancellor provided staff with the opportunity to put forward concerns or raise questions. He indicated that staff input was welcomed and that he would like to hear about issues that impacted on the operation of the University. Professopr Hillmer also indicated that some of the operational changes that he envisaged would take time to implement and that funding was being sought from DEST to implement some of these changes.

Professor John Baird
Rector

If you have something you would like to contribute, please download and complete the submission form and email the information to newsletter@adfa.edu.au by 12 noon on the Wednesday prior. The website will be changed to reflect Fortnightly news rather than weekly as show above.

NEXT PUBLISHED CAMPUS NEWSLETTER THURS 24 AUG 2006.

The ADFA ISC squash courts will be closed on Wed. 16 and Thur 17 August due to the Interservice men's and women's squash competition.

Women in Science Exhibition

As part of National Science Week 06, UNSW@ADFA is holding an exhibition, in the Academy Library, showcasing the achievements of Women in Science.

Permission to display a range of spectacular posters emphasising the achievements of women in science has been generously given to us by the Fachhochschule Lübeck, Germany. Dr Heiko Timmers, from PEMS (School of Physical, Mathematical and Environmental Sciences) saw the exhibition in Lubeck and undertook the arrangements which enabled UNSW@ADFA to host it in Australia.

The exhibition showcases the work of nineteen women scientists, ranging from Maria Sibylla Merian, discoverer of metamorphosis, to Rosalind Elise Franklin, discoverer of DNA. It includes the first female Nobel Prize winner, Marie Curie, Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911; Gerty Theresa Cori, Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology, 1947; Maria Goeppert-Mayer, first US woman to win Nobel Prize in Physics, 1963; and Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1964.

Part of the exhibition includes examples of the work of current women researchers at UNSW@ADFA in areas as diverse as oceanography, quantum computing, and fluvial geomorphology. Another area of the exhibition includes a display featuring Women in Antarctica, using material from the Elizabeth Chipman and other collections held by the Academy Library.

Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of Sustainable Materials Processing Research in the School of Materials Science, UNSW, will open the exhibition on Tuesday 15th August at 10.30am in the Academy Library.

Professor Sahajwalla's research focusses on the sustainability of materials processing, including the novel recycling of waste plastics in steel making. Among many achievements and appointments, Professor Sahajwalla received an award in Australia’s inaugural Fresh Innovators competition in 2004 and was also the 2005 winner of the Eureka Prize for Scientific Research, awarded for outstanding curiosity-driven scientific research, undertaken in Australia by an Australian scientist under the age of 40. In her 'spare time' she is also a judge on the ABC TV show, "The New Inventors".

The exhibition will be on display in the Academy Library from

12 August - 1 September 2006.

For further information please contact Sevi Esat, Liaison Librarian, on extn: 88495 or email: s.esat@adfa.edu.au

Nominations are called for the Rector’s Commendations

Students and staff are invited to recognize excellence in an aspect of teaching by nominating UNSW@ADFA academics for the mid 2006 round of Rector’s Commendations. Rector’s Commendations recognise excellence in one aspect of teaching, rather than the overall general excellence in teaching required for the more comprehensive UNSW@ADFA Teaching Awards.

Nominations will be accepted in, but are not restricted to, the following categories.
(A)Excellence in Classroom Teaching
(B) Excellent Innovation in Teaching
(C) Excellent use of Technology in Teaching

Team nominations will be considered where the teaching initiative has involved group effort and development of team approaches.

Nominations, identifying the category of teaching excellence, should be sent to the Presiding Member of the UNSW@ADFA Teaching and Learning Committee before 14 August 2006.
Dr James Warn, School of Business, j.warn@adfa.edu.au

Based on received nominations, the TLC will invite short-listed staff to provide a brief document (2 pages) outlining their teaching methods and achievements and, after consideration of that evidence, will recommend to Rector those staff whom it believes should receive an award. Recipients will be awarded their $500 prize and certificate outlining the basis of the commendation at a UNSW@ADFA Academic Board meeting.

Download the official guidelines from http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/learning_teaching/commendations.html

ADFA OPEN DAY - 26 AUGUST 2006

The ADFA Open Day will be held on Saturday, 26 August. Everyone is invited to come and share in the activities which are scheduled throughout the day from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm.

There will be a tour through Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering buildings, as well as Library tours and Interactive Displays.

Open Day will include an aircraft aerobatic display performed by the Air Force Aerobatics Team - The Roulettes. Attendees can also observe the Army parachuting Team - The Red Berets and walk around Navy Seaking and Seahawk helicopters and Army vehicles as well handle small arms weapons.

ADFA midshipmen and officer cadets will be on hand to talk about life at ADFA, as well as demonstrate the use of the above pool obstacle course, abseiling, rock climbing, precision drill team and military self defence display. Cadet accommodation will also be available for inspection.

All UNSW@ADFA staff are encouraged to be involved in Open Day. This is an opportunity for staff to discuss undergraduate, postgraduate coursework and research studies opportunities with potential applicants and to engage in the promotion of UNSW@ADFA .

6th ITET FELLOWSHIPS

It is proposed to offer a sixth ITET Fellowship, commencing in Semester 1, 2007. The Fellowship will support projects selected and agreed by Faculties to address their learning and teaching priorities.

The Fellows must be able to be released from at least 50% of their routine duties in Session 1 2007 to work on innovating their teaching using educational technology. Throughout Session 2 of 2007, there will be support for implementation and evaluation of the ITET projects.

Benefits from participation in the program include development of the skills and strategies required for contributing to curriculum development, integrated and customized educational and medial development support and support for career progression though scholarship in teaching.

Please circulate this invitation among your colleagues and encourage them to indicate their interest in the Fellowship.

Closing Date: 31st August.

Carol Russell, Faculty Liaison Manager, EDTeC, will be in touch very shortly with further information on the Fellowship or Carol can be contacted directly on extension 53150 or carol.russell@unsw.edu.au.

Please register your interest to attend the next UniSuper Seminar to be held on

Friday 8th September 12.30- 1.30pm approx in LT7.

The seminar topic to be discussed will be

'Contribution Flexibility' and will explain the options members have to vary their 7% member contributions to UniSuper effective from 1 July 2006. Previously the 7% member contribution was a fixed rate for Defined Benefit and Accumulation 2 members.

This seminar will explain the options these members have, outline the implications of reducing contribution levels and introduce access to an 'E-learning' module accessible on the Unisuper Web site http://www.unisuper.com.au/.

Classifieds

If you have something you would like to contribute, please download and complete the submission form and email the information to newsletter@adfa.edu.au by 12 noon on Wednesday prior.

For Sale

Young Chang U121 Upright Piano. In excellent condition with matching stool. Brilliant Ebony finish. Serial # 0062987. We have owned this piano since new and it has only been moved once in that time (shortly after it was bought). - Height: 121cm / 48" - Width: 153cm - Depth: 63cm - Weight: 228kg. $2100. Call Michael on 88266.

RESEARCH & RESEARCH TRAINING OFFICE REPORT

Congratulations on successful ARC Linkage Project grant

Professor John Baird, Rector UNSW@ADFA, extends his sincere congratulations to Professor Joseph Lai (ACME) and A/Prof Don Fraser (ITEE) on their recent success in the Linkage-Project application round. Together with their collaborator Dr Theo Evans from the CSIRO and Dr A Tirkel from JI Peston, the researchers were awarded a total of $163,650 for the project Listen and see: Remote sensing and imaging of insect pests

Professor Lai would like to thank Dr Alistair Drake and A/Prof Glen Stewart from the School of PEMS for instigating the collaboration which led to the successful application. This is another example of how collaboration across the campus can lead to positive outcomes for all concerned.

Project Summary: Australia is the third largest market for termite control, after the USA and Japan . It has been estimated by CSIRO that about one in three Australian houses will be attacked by termites at some stage. Currently, an Australian designed, patented and manufactured product is the only reliable termite detector. This research, developing a novel sensor array and imaging technology, will further consolidate Australia 's world leading position in termite detection technology, revolutionise how termite behavioural research will be conducted and significantly increase the world-wide capability in termite control and hence reduce the costs of termite damage. It will deliver significant economic and environmental benefits to Australia .

UNSW@ADFA Travel Support Report

Every year the Research and Research Training Office awards a limited number of travel grants to postgraduate students. These competitive grants have been established to assist full-time postgraduate research students to travel overseas to conduct activities that are relevant to the completion of their research. Activities may include presenting papers at international conferences, undertaking a research field trip or undertaking collaborative research with other Universities and Research Institutions. Application forms will be available on the RRTO website in late October.

Sean Farrell, from the School of PEMS was awarded one of these grants last year, and has recently submitted the following report...(but staff in the RRTO could have thought of many other things to do in Sicily rather than talk about stars....)

REPORT : From the 11 th – 25 th of June 2006 I attended an international astronomy conference in Cefalù , Sicily . The conference theme was The Multicoloured Landscape of Compact Objects and their Explosive Origins which integrated very well with my research into the multi-wavelength behaviour of X-ray binaries. The topics covered were Gamma Ray Bursts, Magnetars, and Supernovae in the first week followed by Neutron Star & White Dwarf Systems (observation vs theory plus correlated temporal & spectral variability), X-ray & Radio Millisecond Pulsars, Secular Evolution of X-ray Binaries, Compact Binaries as Sources of Gravitational Radiation, Accretion onto Black Hole Microquasars & Ultraluminous X-ray Sources, Interacting Binaries, and Active Galactic Nuclei in the second week. Throughout the conference I presented a poster summarising the major results of my doctoral research, entitled “A Multicoloured View of 2S 0114+650 – an unusual X-ray binary” (Farrell, O'Neill, Sood, Dieters & Manchanda) which we will submit for publication in the refereed conference proceedings with a possible follow up paper to be submitted later to MNRAS.

I gained a great deal from attending this conference, not least of which was a wonderful cultural experience. I met a number of researchers from around Europe (including from SRON, Oxford University and Open University) who are interested in forming collaborations with our group. One of these potential collaborators has offered to provide 4.5 Million seconds of timing & spectral data on 2S 0114+650 from the INTEGRAL space telescope, which will allow us to constrain the properties of this source to an even higher level. I learnt a lot about the numerous research areas that are closely linked to my own field, giving me a much improved understanding of the field of High Energy Astrophysics. I also raised the profile of my research and in doing so also raised the profile of my institution and that of Australian Astronomy & Astrophysics in general. Finally, the feedback from discussions of my work with the leading researchers in my field was incredibly beneficial and will be incorporated into the final steps of my project and will heavily influence the writing of my thesis.

Faculty Seminar 15 Aug - Professor Emeritus W. Greg Jackson

Abstract:What chemists do. Tell someone in a social context you are a chemist and they think you are a pharmacist. So what is the real difference? This seminar will take a look at what we chemists at universities do and why we do it. An attempt will be made to give an overview of what different kinds of chemist do and how we rely upon each other for a wider picture of things chemical. A personal bias will be introduced that concerns left and right handed molecules, how fast and how slow chemical reactions can be, and one that might raise a healthy awareness of common misunderstandings about ‘chemicals', such as the distinction between ‘synthetic' and ‘natural'.

Professor Jackson was appointed to a lectureship at the Faculty of Military Studies (UNSW) at Duntroon in 1977, and transferred to the newly established University College in the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1986. In 1978 he was awarded the Royal Australian Chemical Institute's Rennie Memorial Medal for outstanding contributions to original research. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1982, elected Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute in 1988, and promoted to full Professor in 1991. He was awarded the DSc degree from UNSW for research by published work in 2005.

Please note change of venue: this Faculty Seminar will be held in SL5 (Bld 21). Refreshments will available in SL5 from 3:15 and the seminar commence at 3:40pm. After the presentation, time will be available for questions and feedback. All staff and research students are encouraged to attend as Faculty Seminars provide a great opportunity for networking across all Schools at UNSW@ADFA .

(And despite our similarities to Don Quixote when it comes to success in eliciting compliance with the request for an RSVP, we are still tilting away at those windmills!! We would like to emphasise that RSVPs are greatly appreciated –makes catering so much easier.)

Welcome to new staff member in the Research and Research Training Office

Professor Joseph Lai, Associate Dean (Research) would like to extend a very warm welcome to Mr Douglas Macnicol, the new Administrative Officer in the RRTO. Douglas will join Vera and Danica in managing the host of activities undertaken in the RRTO and the look of relief on their faces is palpable already. Please feel free to introduce yourselves to Douglas, a multi-talented individual who is not only a professional musician but knows his chemistry and has already exhibited quite an interest in Shlieren photograpy. You can contact Douglas on extn 89585 or email d.macnicol@adfa.edu.au

UPCOMING EVENTS

DATE	TITLE	VENUE
10-12 Aug	Guys and Dolls - 2006 Production	Adams Hall
26 Aug	Open Day	ADFA
14 Sept	University Lecture	Adams Hall - 6.00pm
13 Dec	Degree Conferrals	Adams Hall

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