Adelaidean Volume 10 Number 5 News from Adelaide University June 2001 INSIDE Your new home Cult and culture Siberian river for the Fringe of anorexia adventure page 3 page 5 page 9 New plan of attack to force greenhouse gases underground A MAJOR proportion of greenhouse Technology for removing huge quantities of gases may be pumped underground if a emissions in “CO2 sinks”, as they’re called, is new national research program involving currently being developed and trialled in Adelaide University is successful. Norway. However, Dr Lang said Australia was leading the way in this research. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are not only caused by fuel consumption, they are also a “We’re investigating the means by which this byproduct of petroleum production at oil and can be done safely and in sufficient quantities gas fields, adding to the global greenhouse to dwarf other available methods. This may problem. prove to be one of the only ways of reducing emissions at a great enough rate,” he said. Now a $1 million study at Adelaide’s National Centre For Petroleum Geology & Geophysics The outcomes, if successful, would (NCPGG) is investigating ways of removing complement other methods of greenhouse those emissions by injecting the CO2 back gas reduction, such as tree planting, improved Professor James Paton examines a cell culture in the Department of Molecular Biosciences. into the ground where it came from. energy efficiencies, reduction in the use of Photo: Rob Morrison. coal as an energy source, and shifting to new The work puts the centre, based at the gas and fuel cell technologies. University’s Thebarton Campus, at the international forefront of greenhouse The national project is called GEODISC research. It is hailed as one of the most (Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide), also Professor sounds warning practical, environmentally sustainable and known as “Geological CO2 Sequestration”. economically feasible solutions to the world “The idea is to find places where we could wide greenhouse gas problem. store hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 on infectious diseases “This technology has the potential to make a injected at high rates for many years, and it parasites continue to kill more people than substantial difference to global greenhouse appears that Australia has several sites where “ON ONLY two occasions in the history any other disease group, according to emissions,” said the coordinator of the project this may be feasible both technically and of human life on this planet has the Professor Paton, and globally account for in Adelaide, Associate Professor Simon Lang. economically,” Dr Lang said. human population actually decreased,” says Professor James Paton of the 30% of all deaths. Greenhouse gas emissions are expected to “Sequestration is intended to be permanent, Professor Paton will address this topic in his lead to global warming of between 2-4 and the economics would be dependent on Department of Molecular Biosciences. free public lecture at Adelaide University on degrees Celsius on average over the next the economics of carbon-credit trading “On both occasions it was an infectious Friday, 22 June: Treatment and prevention of century. offsetting the relatively large costs. At this disease that did it—the Black Death in the infectious diseases: challenges for the 21st stage the project concerns itself solely with “Even if we make major reductions to 14th Century, and influenza just after the century. CO2 sources from emissions from existing or First World War.” emissions, global warming will still occur but “One shouldn’t ignore what is seen as at a lesser rate. Finding solutions to reduce future oil or gas fields, where CO2 is a natural Influenza is caused by a virus; the Black product and would normally be vented unfashionable areas of research,” said the emissions is vital if we are to avoid Death was a bacterial infection. Infectious Professor Paton. potentially destructive climate change,” Dr directly to the atmosphere.” diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and Continued Page 5 Lang said. Continued Page 4 $35m project welcomes Adelaide to the wireless age NORTH Terrace in the city of Adelaide Centre for Telecommunications Information will become a $35 million wireless Networking (CTIN)—is one of the founding precinct for new technology developers. partners of the mNet project, along with the The advanced communications precinct, to University of South Australia, Agile Pty Ltd, be known as mNet, will be the first of its type DSpace Pty Ltd, Playford Centre, Telstra, in Australia and one of only a few in the and the City of Adelaide. world. The University is also a key participant in Telstra is a founding partner of the project, mNet Corporation, the consortium which which will enable other high-profile IT will implement mNet along North Terrace. companies such as Cisco and Motorola to mNet also complements Adelaide work with smaller startup content developers University’s participation in the newly to research and test the latest wireless internet established Cooperative Research Centre for applications along North Terrace. Smart Internet Technology. Wireless internet applications are mainly CTIN Director Professor Reg Coutts said aimed at smaller devices such as mobile North Terrace was an ideal location for the phones and personal organisers, although project, as it is one of the few precincts in the they can be applied to laptop computers. At world with so many major institutions in their most basic level they include the close proximity to one another. facilities to surf the internet and check email, He said the project would also boost the but at a more advanced level include State’s IT reputation, and provide more applications such as voice communications, opportunities for local startup companies to location-based services, navigation, and incubate and grow in the competitive IT financial services. field. Adelaide University—primarily through its Continued Page 4 Professor Reg Coutts, Director of CTIN. Photo courtesy of CTIN. Approved For Print Post 565001/00046 For Print Post Approved PAGE 2 JUNE 2001 ADELAIDEAN $50,000 in prizes – are you up to the challenge? The road ahead PEOPLE with smart ideas for new visionary ideas with some of the country’s encourage students to turn bright ideas The challenges facing South business ventures are being sought for best business minds. into business ventures. Australia’s three universities have a new competition launched by “The Challenge is for those students who “Adelaide is the only Australian university been brought into focus by two Hewlett-Packard Australia and embody the spirit of inventiveness, that offers a Masters in Science & important reports published Adelaide University. innovation and enterprise. Most Technology Commercialisation degree recently. One is the Strategic The $50,000 Entrepreneurs’ Challenge importantly, the pre-requisite for entrants course, a program run in conjunction with Review of the South Australian Higher Education in the Entrepreneurs’ Challenge is a vision the University of Texas in Austin. Our Sector, undertaken on behalf of the business group, aims to stimulate business enterprise in South Australia by encouraging for the future,” Mr McCann said. Commerce and Research Precinct at South Australian Business Vision 2010; the other is Thebarton also provides a range of the mid-term review of Education Adelaide, participating teams to explore bright “The Entrepreneurs’ Challenge is programs aimed at helping students conducted by John Dawkins. business ideas with industry mentors, supported through our worldwide e- management consultants, academics and scholarship program which sponsors key convert ideas into business enterprises. Two of the key messages to emerge from these other key supporters. business plan competitions linked to These include our Graduate reports are (1) that each of the South Australian universities around the world.” Entrepreneurial Initiative Scheme and universities is performing “above its weight” in Over a six-month period, teams will be Graduate Industry Linked research terms (when compared with other required to conduct market research, carry Adelaide University Vice-Chancellor Entrepreneurial Scheme. universities in its category—Go8 members in the out feasibility studies and draw up Professor Mary O’Kane said the case of Adelaide, for example); and (2) that by business plans for their concepts (each Entrepreneurs’ Challenge was an exciting “The Entrepreneurs’ Challenge will about 2006 changing demographics will start to team must also include at least one opportunity for South Australian students further promote the spirit of enterprise at present a serious threat to local enrolments at the Adelaide University student). to enhance their entrepreneurial skills. the University and in South Australia three universities. generally, and I encourage all students The winning team will be awarded prizes “Working with mentors from industry will interested in pursuing a business idea to Independent acknowledgement of our research to the value of $30,000, with prizes valued give teams a real insight into what it takes form teams and enter the competition.” performance is important. It underscores the at $15,000 and $5000 for second and third to succeed in the commercial world,” she economic contribution which the three universities placed teams. said. Further information on the Entrepreneurs’ make to South Australia and demonstrates why we Challenge is available from: <www. Managing Director of Hewlett-Packard