Introduction

Welcome to the latest issue of Research@UNSW, a biennial publication highlighting the breadth of important research taking place across the University of New South Wales.

We’ve focused this issue on our industry, business, government and community partnerships that are so vital to our research effort – whether it be in medicine, science, engineering or the arts.

As you would be aware, UNSW is one of Australia’s top universities – a member of the Group of Eight and of the prestigious international network U21. The only Australian research-intensive university established with a scientific and technological focus, UNSW continues to build on its reputation for world-class research in areas critical to the future, with close links to industry and an emphasis on practical application and impact.

If you are already involved in research collaboration with our institution, you may see opportunities for further involvement – if not, you may see an opportunity to become involved. The publication is also aimed at keeping key stakeholders in government and the higher education sector informed, as well as outlining opportunities for students interested in pursuing postgraduate research at UNSW. “We’ve focused There are contact details at the back of the publication for anyone interested in pursuing a this issue on our partnership or collaboration, or postgraduate study. You are also more than welcome to contact the individual researchers whose work is highlighted in these pages. industry, business, government UNSW shares with its many partners a commitment to pioneering research and innovation, so important to the long-term welfare of the nation. I hope you find Research@UNSW an inspiring and community showcase of some of the outstanding examples of our research partnerships in action. partnerships.”

Photo: Grant Turner, Mediakoo

Les Field Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) The University of New South Wales Contents

Technology 4 Environment 14 Health 22

Atomic action 6-7 Let all the rivers run 16-18 Kids cancer: the good fight 24-25 Solar flair 8 Toxic terminators 19 The silent assassin 26 A Living Laboratory 9 Climate collaborators 20 Radiation rescue 27 Top tech for hire 10 Change by a whisker 21 Cracking the drug culture 28 Out of this world 11 HIV’s stolen decade 29 Safety in 3D 12 Eye on the future 13

Society AND THE ECONOMY 30 Research Outcomes 38

Easing the big squeeze 32-33 To market, to market 39 For video about these Learning the lessons of the GFC 34 A sturdy partnership 40-41 projects go to: Forensic fallacies 35 Nurturing talent 42 www.research.unsw.edu.au/research-magazine Centre of change 36 Fighting for refugee rights 37 Contacts 43 Research@UNSW

The hope for a better future lies in new technology. To ensure research breakthroughs translate into real-world applications, UNSW has forged partnerships with some of the world’s leading players, from NASA to China’s solar power giant, Suntech.

Partners in...

Technology technology Atomic action

Brave new world ... Professor Michelle Simmons, Director, ARC Centre of Photo: Anthony Johnson, Excellence for Quantum Computing and Communication Technology fairfaxphotos.com

Exponentially faster and far more secure. National University, Griffith University and Of course, the need for a quantum internet These are the exciting promises of the University of Queensland are laying the hinges on the successful development of a quantum computing and communications, groundwork for an ultra-secure quantum practical quantum computer. which could revolutionise the future of “internet” that will link these computers of information processing beyond anything tomorrow around the world. UNSW researchers are also leading this we can imagine. race, embedding single phosphorus atoms Quantum communication uses particles of in silicon to create quantum bits, or qubits, By harnessing the unusual properties of light called photons to transmit information, which are the fundamental components of quantum physics and building atomic-scale similar to the way today’s internet uses optical quantum computers. electronic devices, researchers at UNSW are fibres, with one key difference: the quantum making major inroads towards developing a nature of single photons will make this Silicon offers the advantage of being scalable quantum computer. transmission totally secure. widely used and understood by computer manufacturers and should be easier to “We aim to develop quantum computers with While early systems allow point-to-point data transfer to industry. In addition, electron the potential to fundamentally transcend the transmission along dedicated optical fibre spins can be maintained for much longer in limitations of conventional supercomputers,” lines over distances nearing 100 kilometres, silicon than other materials, meaning more says Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons, researchers in the Centre are looking to calculations can be performed before the Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for extend this to the national and global scale. information encoded on that spin is lost. Quantum Computing and Communication Working with an Australian company called Technology (CQC2T) at UNSW. Quintessence Labs, the Centre’s aim is to In silicon quantum computing, data is develop a multi-party network. encoded on the rotational spin of an Together with Scientia Professor Andrew electron, bound to a single phosphorus atom. Dzurak, Professor Sven Rogge and The unique combination of secure A clockwise spin represents a zero and a Dr Andrea Morello, she is leading a team communications and ultra-fast computation counter-clockwise spin represents a one – of researchers working at the forefront of has garnered interest from military and but in the slippery quantum realm, particles physics, nanotechnology and engineering. government, as well as multinational exist in two different states at the same time, And the vision extends further – CQC2T corporations and financial institutions that meaning they can represent both numbers researchers based at the Australian want to safeguard valuable information. simultaneously.

6 Research@UNSW 2012.13 Research@UNSW

“[Our] device represents the ultimate in precision engineering. “ It’s the first time anyone has been able to show this level of control of a single atom.”

Professor Michelle Simmons Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computing and Communication Technology

Following on this success, researchers in the “The path is most Centre developed the world’s first atomically precise single-atom transistor, which was likely to succeed detailed in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. beyond laboratory This is the key advantage of quantum While a few single-atom devices had been demonstrations and computers. Current supercomputers work by developed previously, these had a relatively wiring up thousands of individual processor large error in the positioning of the atoms, become a technology chips, with each processor working on one an essential drawback limiting their overall with dramatic possible solution to a given problem. functionality. capabilities.” “In contrast, quantum computers have an “[Our] device represents the ultimate in inherent ability to solve problems in a parallel precision engineering,” says Simmons, John Randall way, trying out trillions of different solutions who was named the 2011 NSW Scientist President, Zyvex Labs at the same time, with the same physical of the Year. “It’s the first time anyone has processing unit,” says UNSW’s Australian been able to show this level of control of a National Fabrication Facility Director Andrew single atom.” Dzurak, from the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications. In addition to gaining recognition from Developing feasible, cost-effective high-profile international journals, the manufacturing processes for these devices is It means they’re perfectly suited for solving research has also spawned some promising a significant challenge that must be overcome. extremely complex, data-intensive problems, industry partnerships. These collaborations are an important bridge with implications for disciplines ranging from to moving the technologies forward. “Working medicine to finance. The Centre is working with US-based with industry partners allows us to observe Zyvex Labs to transition these single-atom how industrial processes work so that we can International attention on work at the fabrication technologies to an industrial scale. use their tools and engineer their scalable CQC2T is growing with the recent publication designs into our architectures,” says Simmons. of critical breakthroughs in the field by “There are easier paths to demonstrate Centre researchers. qubits, but the path chosen by Simmons, “At the same time it allows our industry while extremely ambitious, is in our opinion partners access to the latest technologies In January 2012, PhD student Bent Weber was the most likely to succeed beyond laboratory in fabrication, measurement and design. first author on a study in Science, detailing the demonstrations and become a technology We’re developing systems that are roughly creation of the world’s narrowest silicon wire – with dramatic capabilities,” says Zyvex Labs 10 to 100 times smaller, that simply don’t exist just four atoms wide and one atom tall. president John Randall. in their production lines.”

Despite having a diameter roughly 10,000 The Centre also has a strong partnership times thinner than a human hair and being with Sandia National Laboratory in the US, invisible to the naked eye, the wire can a government laboratory specialising in Project partners: conduct electricity as well as copper. defence science. Professor Simmons partners with: Quintessence Labs // Zyvex Labs // This is an important find, as future “The collaboration with Sandia is important Toshiba // IBM atomic-scale electronic circuits needed because it maintains a silicon microfabrication Professor Andrew Dzurak partners with: for quantum computers will require similarly plant … that can help us move technologies Sandia National Laboratory sized interconnecting wires that maintain from the concept phase to prototypes and real their functionality. systems,” says Dzurak. technology

“The Sun King”... UNSW alumnus and Photo: David Mariuz, fairfaxphotos.com Suntech founder, Dr Zhengrong Shi

One of UNSW’s key industry partnerships is “Through our unique with solar-energy giant Suntech Power, based in China. Suntech was founded by UNSW collaboration, UNSW Solar alumnus Dr Zhengrong Shi, utilising expertise developed on campus at the University. students and staff flair are involved in the “Suntech has been very innovative in its commercialisation processes,” says Centre complete technology- Once thought of as an expensive and Director, Scientia Professor Stuart Wenham. development process...” shaky source of power, solar energy “It is very good at adapting our laboratory is making a charge as a reliable and technology to suit commercial-type processes, Dr Zhengrong Shi increasingly competitively priced option based on the use of industrial equipment.” UNSW alumnus and Suntech founder for countries seeking to reduce their reliance on fossil-fuel-driven forms of Dr Shi says the partnership between Suntech power generation. and UNSW has been a major step forward in the global search to find renewable energy. And UNSW is at the cutting edge of solar-cell research, working with a global set of industry “Through our unique collaboration, UNSW leaders to build on its established successes students and staff are involved in the complete needs. Such collaborative research programs and create the next-generation low-cost, high- technology-development process, and we can be worth several million dollars and have efficiency solar-power technologies. are able to transfer new technologies to delivered further boosts to the progress of the commercial production in a relatively short solar industry worldwide. For over two decades, the University has held time,” he says. the world record for solar-cell efficiency. The team at UNSW’s ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Another key industry partnership is with Excellence has a track record in developing Sunrise Global Solar Energy in Taiwan. world-leading, high-performance laboratory UNSW offers special intellectual property Partners in the Centre technologies, and collaborating with quality (IP) rights to the company, allowing Sunrise to of Excellence: industry partners to put these innovations into use the IP for free in exchange for access to Suntech Power // Roth & Rau // Guodian Solar // real-world use. the company’s production facilities. Wenham Centrotherm // Tianwei // Optomec // Sunrise // says this “win-win” partnership allows the Global Solar Energy // Sunergy // CSG Solar // The potential of the solar-electricity industry University to tailor its technologies to suit E-Ton Solar // Coherent // Spectraphysics // is enormous. Analysts report a 140 per cent commercial equipment and the commercial Hyundai Heavy Industries // LG Electronics // increase in photovoltaic solar-panel production environment. Meyer Burger // Apollon Solar // DuPont // worldwide in 2010, and a 60-fold increase in Heraeus // Chinalight // Corum Solar // Advent the decade since the year 2000. The uptake These partnerships are in addition to Solar // Shinsung // JA Solar // Yunnan Tianda of solar power is tipped to grow most strongly other relationships where companies have in the developing world, among fast-growing approached UNSW to develop solar-cell nations such as China and India. technologies to suit their specific commercial Research@UNSW

Riding a wave ... (l-r) Dennis Else, Brookfield Multiplex and Professor Graham Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly Davies, Engineering Dean at the Tyree Energy Technologies Building

“The aim is for UNSW to be the first A living point of contact for any The building, designed by architects Francis- Jones Morehen Thorp, boasts a six-star laboratory issues relating to energy-efficiency rating and incorporates a suite of renewable energy technologies energy – its supply, use, developed by UNSW researchers in its Standing as an architectural focal point at economics and policy.” design. These include a roof-mounted solar UNSW’s main entrance on Anzac Parade, photovoltaic array, sustainable construction the Tyree Energy Technologies Building Graham Davies materials, and innovative heating, cooling, (TETB) is a world-leading facility in terms of Engineering Dean lighting and ventilation systems. its environmentally friendly design and its state-of-the-art laboratories. But TETB is more than an environmentally friendly research hub; it collates data on The facility is part of a holistic approach energy efficiency and occupant behaviour that at UNSW to developing renewable energy researchers and students can interact with technologies, and integrating them into and ultimately learn from. Australia’s power grid so they are cost- Director of the Australian Energy Research effective and overcome the challenge of Institute at UNSW. By measuring things like temperature, comfort intermittent generation. level, power consumption and productivity It will also provide a forum for new, in these so-called living laboratories, “The aim is for UNSW to be the first point of multidisciplinary research collaborations the building’s occupants can gauge their contact for any issues relating to energy – its across these areas. environmental impact and explore ways to supply, use, economics and policy,” says improve these systems in future designs. Engineering Dean Graham Davies. “This facility “We’ve moved away from the old model of will be a beacon for renewable energy.” having people confined to school-specific The builders, Brookfield Multiplex, introduced buildings and sectioned-off research silos,” this idea during construction as a means to The building is named after UNSW alumnus says Agelidis. “We now have a wide open help students engage with the site, and and philanthropist Sir William Tyree, who gave space where people can connect more.” witness the theories they were taught in the $1 million towards the building and has pledged classroom in action. an additional $10 million. The TETB, which also The TETB will house the School of received $75 million in funding from the Federal Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy “Our challenge is to apply this evidence base Government’s Education Investment Fund, will Engineering, the School of Petroleum to create buildings that not only consume less support ongoing research into record-breaking Engineering, the Centre for Energy and energy but also deliver measurably higher solar photovoltaic technologies, smart grids, Environmental Markets and the newly formed human performance in terms of health, energy storage, carbon capture and storage, Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Low collaboration and productivity,” says Professor and importantly, energy economics and policy Carbon Living. It will also support new research Dennis Else, General Manager, Sustainability, analysis, says Professor Vassilios Agelidis, into geothermal energy and biofuels. Safety and Health at Brookfield Multiplex. technology

Professional touch ... Associate Professor Grainne Moran, Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre

Top tech microscope unit to investigating how “[The benefit] certain materials behave in the company’s for hire products, to looking at alternative ways of is having someone making things. there who understands

Sometimes, even a global leader like Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre Executive the equipment, can Cochlear needs a bit of help. Director Associate Professor Grainne run it and help us Moran says the motivation behind the Centre The company, an innovator in hearing was to have a facility for expensive equipment interpret the data.” implants, has been a regular visitor to that could be utilised by researchers across UNSW’s Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, the University. Martin Svehla using cutting-edge technology to assist the Cochlear development of its unique products. “Because the instrumentation is complex and you need support staff, it doesn’t Cochlear’s Implant Technology Group Manager always make sense for people to have is Martin Svehla, a former PhD student at their own equipment in their own research UNSW. He says the UNSW Centre provides lab,” Moran says. “If we could bring together valuable research expertise and facilities, equipment previously scattered around which have been integral to certain projects. the University, we would have a critical mass, and instead of each of us having “One part is having access to the equipment,” to look for money, we’d all be working Svehla says. “We’ve got some capability together.” Centre’s commercial arm, the Chemical in-house, although in some cases we don’t Consulting Laboratory and through have the right equipment.” The Centre now consists of six areas, collaborations with academic staff. including the electron microscope unit, a Another benefit is having access to world- nuclear magnetic resonance facility, a mass “A lot of our instrumentation makes leading experts. spectrometry facility, and the solid state and measurements that are very valuable to elemental analysis unit. The most recent industry,” Moran says, adding the Centre is “It’s actually having someone there who growth has been in biomedical research often approached to do complex analyses, understands the equipment, can run it and with the Centre taking on the management particularly where multiple techniques are help us interpret the data,” he says. “Some of instrumentation ranging from cutting- required to solve the problem. samples are quite small and quite challenging edge fluorescence microscopy to magnetic to measure. It’s not just a matter of putting resonance imaging. Cochlear’s Svehla says his company prefers a sample into a piece of equipment and to conduct extra analysis locally, rather than pressing a button.” “Our role is about coordinated access, it’s working with overseas institutions. “There are about training and support for students, significant benefits communications wise, and The activities Cochlear has undertaken researchers and industry,” Moran says. with turnaround times, in dealing with a local at the Centre range from using the electron Industry can access the facility through the centre,” he says. Research@UNSW

Up, up and away ... UNSW Canberra links with NASA to launch Photo: AFP balloons as big as the Melbourne Cricket Ground

researchers from each partner spending time Out of “There has been a in the laboratories of the other,” says Dr Carl Pilcher, Director of NASA’s Astrobiology Institute. this world fruitful exchange of personnel, with students Ballooning partnership

Long-term collaborations with NASA and researchers Associate Professor Ravi Sood, of the are helping to unravel the mysteries of spending time in the School of Physical, Environmental and our universe. Mathematical Sciences at UNSW Canberra laboratories of the other.” has long collaborated with NASA to launch In the search for life on other planets, the Mars massive balloons from Alice Springs to carry meteorite ALH84001 was as exciting as it gets. Dr Carl Pilcher instruments to the top of the atmosphere. Aged about 4 billion years, the softball-sized NASA Astrobiology Institute Director rock was found in Allan Hills, Antarctica in 1984 The two-tonne balloons, with skins as thin by a team of US meteorite hunters. More than as plastic wrap but the size of the Melbourne a decade later it was reported to carry with it Cricket Ground, enable heavy instruments to evidence of former life on Mars. be taken to a height of 40 kilometres, where Projects are underway in the Pilbara and at they measure gamma rays and X-rays to So extraordinary was this finding, NASA Shark Bay. Research on the organisms in Shark further astrophysics research. established the NASA Astrobiology Institute Bay could reveal markers that may be used to in California to answer the two big questions: identify life on other planets, says Walter, the Space travel what is the origin of life on Earth and is there Director of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology. anything else out there? UNSW researchers piggyback on the flights “What the collaboration with NASA brings to study black holes, supernovas and fast- At the same time, NASA also turned to to UNSW is that we can mount much bigger spinning neutron stars, some of which emit Australia for help: our land boasts convincing projects, for example, core drilling is very very little visible light but can be observed in evidence of the oldest life on Earth – fossils expensive but we can do this in the Pilbara gamma rays and X-rays. in the Pilbara dating back 3.5 million years together,” says Walter. and the world’s most-ancient living organisms, Associate Professor Andrew Nealy, of the microbes still found today in Shark Bay, The collaboration between NASA and UNSW School of Engineering and Information Western Australia. dates back more than 30 years, spanning Technology at UNSW Canberra, is also part the study of hypersonics, the use of high- of a collaboration investigating the physics of Ironically, the theory that ALH84001 altitude stratospheric ballooning, the sharing hypersonic-separated flow with personnel at contained evidence of life has since been of expertise on space shuttle flights and the NASA’s Langley Research Center. largely disproved, but the collaboration development of missions to probe new planets. between UNSW and NASA has thrived, It is a project that could one day inform the says UNSW’s Professor Malcolm Walter, “There has also been an extremely fruitful development of spacecraft and space planes an expert in geological evidence of early exchange of personnel over the years, with for scientific and military missions and even life on Earth. students as well as early-career and senior space tourism. technology

Future perfect ... Professor Dennis Del Favero Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly in the virtual-reality mine

Safety “We see the sale to China as in 3D demonstrating how high-tech art can yield China has a new weapon in the fight export success for Such partnerships are characteristic of the against mine disasters: a virtual-reality Centre, a joint venture between UNSW’s “mine” developed by UNSW’s iCinema Australia.” College of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Centre for Interactive Cinema Research. Engineering, that brings together academics Professor Dennis Del Favero and students across digital art, artificial Once reliant on textbooks, trainees at iCinema Director intelligence, computer science and engineering the Shenyang Research Institute of the to push the bounds of the possible. China Coal Technology & Engineering Group (SYCCTEG) will now learn to recognise the iCinema Director Professor Dennis Del signs of impending disaster in an underground Favero says interest is growing in interactive mine almost identical to the one they will visualisation systems. be working in – except mistakes here are not fatal. Zhao Jiancun, an assistant engineer with “We see the sale to China as demonstrating SYCCTEG, says iCinema’s AVIE is “exactly how high-tech art can yield export success for The “mine” combines a wraparound the product we wanted” because its advanced Australia,” Del Favero says. 360-degree screen with 3D graphics and technology made “people think they were interactive film technology to create a life-size, truly underground”. SYCCTEG hopes to roll AVIEs have also been used in the ABC’s walk-through, virtual-reality cinema called out AVIE systems to mines across China Voyage to the Planets series, by the Dutch an Advanced Visualisation and Interaction “in order to better guarantee people’s safety,” Broadcasting Company VPRO for the Biennale Environment or AVIE. says Zhao. of Architecture Rotterdam and have been bought by the City University of Hong Kong, The purchase by one of China’s leading UNSW’s School of Mining Engineering Museum Victoria and ZKM Germany. mine-safety institutes is the first in what is head Professor Bruce Hebblewhite says the expected to be a series of sales under a technology represents a “quantum change” in iCinema researchers are also working on deal struck between SYCCTEG and iCinema’s mine-safety training. other applications including a joint proposal commercial arm, Immersive Realisation. with Brookfield Multiplex for an AVIE that The Chinese deal also follows the installation The mine-safety AVIE was built by the iCinema will replace traditional architectural models of four of the 360-degree simulators and a Centre in collaboration with the UNSW School with life-size, virtual-reality buildings that can further 13 smaller systems on mine sites of Mining Engineering and the Australian be modified before their real-life counterparts across NSW. mining industry. are complete. Research@UNSW

Sharing the vision ... the bionic eye should be ready for use by 2013

The BVA consortium involves researchers Eye on from UNSW, the Centre for Eye Research Australia, the Bionics Institute, the University the future of Melbourne, the National ICT Australia (NICTA) and the University of Western Sydney. As well as helping patients who can’t heal themselves, this discovery may lead to a better The University of Melbourne’s Professor understanding of conditions where the healing It’s one of the most anticipated projects Anthony Burkitt says the research, which process is out of control such as fibrosis or in modern science – the creation of received $42 million from the Federal cirrhosis of the liver, says Whitelock. an implantable electronic device that Government in 2009, has the potential to help could restore the sight of patients with hundreds of thousands of people. Robots to the rescue degenerative vision loss. “The first-generation device will be used in In another project that has the potential to Australian researchers have been working on people with retinitis pigmentosa who have save lives, Professor Claude Sammut, head of the bionic eye for more than a decade, and it no light perception at all. But as the technology the Artificial Intelligence Research Group should be ready for use in patients by 2013, develops, the improved implants are going in the School of Computer Science and says Associate Professor Gregg Suaning to be able to help a wider group of blind Engineering, is creating robots that sense the from the Graduate School of Biomedical people,” he says. environment around them and make decisions Engineering. about what to do, without the need for human Healing wrapped up control. This will allow them to be used in There are two bionic eye prototypes – the disaster zones that are too dangerous for high-acuity neurostimulator device, which Another bioengineering partnership at UNSW humans to explore. will help those with macular degeneration involves the US biotech company, Synedgen. and be implanted in patients in 2014 and the It builds on work developed by medical wide-view neurostimulator device, which helps company HemCon, which found one of its patients with retinitis pigmentosa and will be bandages designed to stop bleeding on the Project partners: launched first. battlefield also seemed to improve wound Associate Professor Gregg Suaning’s healing. But no-one was sure why. team partners with: “That initial implantation will be a massive Centre for Eye Research Australia // Bionics milestone, but beyond that we have to prove A collaboration with Professor John Whitelock Institute // University of Melbourne // National the device does what we hope it will do. That from the Graduate School of Biomedical ICT Australia // University of Western Sydney might be a long road because we may not Engineering revealed that when blood cells Professor John Whitelock’s team partners with: yet have discovered how best to stimulate soaked into the bandage – which is made up Synedgen // HemCon the retina using the device,” says Suaning, of chitosan, a molecule sourced from prawn who leads the wide-view device program with shells – it encouraged the cells performing the Bionic Vision Australia (BVA). healing to live longer and make more collagen. Research@UNSW

From monitoring the effects of climate change in the Antarctic to investigating bugs that clean up pollution, UNSW researchers are working with key environmental players to secure the planet’s health.

Partners in...

The environment the environment Let all the rivers run

Water wise ... Professor Richard Kingsford, Director of the Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre Photo: Grant Turner, Mediakoo

Living in one of the world’s driest The top priority is to restore the “The Government is spending billions of continents, Australians understand the environmental balance of the Murray–Darling dollars on restoring the Murray–Darling value of water conservation, and in parts Basin. Its 23 rivers span four states and through water buy-backs and building more of the country have also felt the wrath of sustain roughly 39 per cent of the country’s efficient infrastructure,” says Professor Richard dangerous floods and coastal erosion. agricultural production, but important wetland Kingsford, Director of the Australian Wetlands ecosystems that rely on the basin’s water and Rivers Centre. “We want to ensure the At UNSW researchers are examining are under considerable pressure due to money is being well spent in terms of the water from every angle to ensure the best over-extraction. environmental outcomes.” management strategies possible are employed to keep our communities safe, protect To counteract this, the Government has Kingsford and colleagues from the School of the integrity of our water resources and committed $3.1 billion for the purchase of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences environment, and promote sustainability. With water entitlements from irrigators, which (BEES) at UNSW have been conducting climate change threatening the availability of can be used as environmental flows to fieldwork on the basin’s Macquarie River, water resources, the Federal Government has help restore rivers and wetlands. Additional which flows into the Macquarie Marshes implemented a comprehensive reform program funding will help build more efficient irrigation in central northern NSW – an ecosystem called Water for the Future. infrastructure. Australia has promised to safeguard under a Research@UNSW

“The Government is spending billions of dollars on restoring the Murray–Darling through water buy-backs and building more efficient infrastructure. We want to ensure the money is being well spent in terms of the environmental outcomes.”

Professor Richard Kingsford Director of the Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre

Going to ground

The Connected Waters Initiative (CWI) at When it rains UNSW has received multi-million-dollar funding to investigate groundwater and The Water Research Laboratory (WRL) in global environmental treaty known as explore the extent of its connectivity with Manly Vale has a 53-year track record of the Ramsar Convention. surface water hydrology. expertise and cutting-edge research in coastal engineering, environmental modelling and Working in partnership with the NSW Office In collaboration with the National Centre hydraulics, and continues to forge major of Environment and Heritage, NSW Office of for Groundwater Research and Training, partnerships with government and industry. Water and the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, the UNSW team is characterising Australia’s UNSW scientists are examining key ecological aquifers to get a better understanding of how “We’re solving the key contemporary water- indicators such as fish, frogs and waterbirds water travels through these systems and how related problems in Australia through a to gain a better understanding of how these long they take to replenish. combination of professional engineering organisms respond to different water regimes. expertise, research and innovative education One project involves the use of an programs,” says Associate Professor Bill And this year there was cause for optimism. environmental “time machine” known as Peirson, Director of the WRL. The result of an annual aerial waterbird survey a geotechnical centrifuge, which measures Kingsford has been leading for nearly 30 years, the hydraulic conductivity of aquitards – One such problem that has weighed heavily revealed widespread flooding throughout the these are dense beds of silt and clay that on the Australian psyche in recent times Murray–Darling had rejuvenated rivers and often separate and surround aquifers. is flooding. Researchers at the lab have wetlands, causing an explosion of life. Water can pass through them but only constructed a physical model of a Newcastle very slowly, making it difficult to assess neighbourhood hard hit by flash flooding that With more than a million waterbirds counted, recharge rates. followed the June 2007 storm that led to the it was the third-highest tally on record, and grounding of the Pasha Bulker container ship. also showed significant diversity of species – By taking a sample from a borehole and another good sign. spinning it on the centrifuge, researchers can Representative of urban settings across essentially speed up time by increasing the Australia, the 3D model has helped validate “We have got data for the past 30 years on force of gravity. numerical models, which are commonly 2000 wetlands,” says Kingsford. “We surveyed used to map flood plains and offer crucial again in 2011 and 2012 and found there has “It means we can drain water from an information about flow behaviour, and hazards been an incredible bounce-back in numbers. In aquitard in a few hours, speeding up a such as rising water levels and velocity. the Murray–Darling Basin a lot are going back, process that could take hundreds of years in but not to the same level as the 1980s.” reality,” says Professor Ian Acworth, Director The research is part of a $20 million overhaul of of the CWI. the Australian Rainfall and Runoff Guidelines, But managing visible surface water is only half funded by the Federal Department of Climate the battle; Australia also has vast groundwater This offers a preview of how aquifers might Change and Energy Efficiency and coordinated resources contained in subterranean aquifers respond over the long term to activities such by Engineers Australia. It will inform future policy that need to be carefully studied before they as coal seam gas mining and will help inform around residential construction, planning in flood can be sustainably harvested. future management strategies. plains, and emergency management protocol. Continues story from previous page

Recycling water “The project effectively “This has a much lower Researchers at UNSW are also looking at ways that water can be recycled using doubled the amount of energy cost, making advanced treatment processes. recycled water going water recycling more

A high-pressure membrane filtration process into the river.” financially viable.” known as reverse osmosis makes it possible Peter Cox Dr Stuart Khan for high-quality water to be produced from Sydney Water Water Research Centre treated sewage, which can be used for farming, industrial purposes, and even to supplement drinking water supplies – a major selling point for a country prone to extended periods of drought.

An added bonus is that it keeps all the “During the last drought, the NSW Government The project effectively doubled the amount of pollutants in treated sewage from being decided there was a very clear need for recycled water going into the river, freeing up discharged into the aquatic environment, says putting water back into the river to maintain water that would have otherwise been sourced Dr Stuart Khan, an environmental engineer at its health,” says Peter Cox, Sydney Water’s from Warragamba Dam, says Cox. the UNSW Water Research Centre. Program Manager for water quality and public health. “We called Stuart [Khan] in because Khan is studying how trace chemicals, at the time this was something that had never PARTNERS: including pharmaceuticals and pesticides, been done before and we needed an expert in Professor Richard Kingsford partners with: behave during treatment under different chemical risk assessment.” NSW Office of Environment and Heritage // operating conditions. The goal is to refine NSW Office of Water // Murray–Darling the reverse osmosis process to build greater Through work that spanned four years, Basin Authority confidence in the outcome. Khan’s team helped identify the critical points Professor Ian Acworth partners with: in the treatment process where chemicals of National Centre for Groundwater Research “Reverse osmosis has a much lower energy concern could enter the system if it were not and Training, Flinders University // cost than thermal distillation, making many carefully managed and where they needed to Cotton catchment communities CRC // water recycling projects more financially be removed. NSW Department of Primary Industries viable,” Khan says. Dr Stuart Khan partners with: He also offered professional advice around Sydney Water The research has already paid dividends for the construction of the new advanced recycled Associate Professor Bill Peirson partners with: Sydney Water, which enlisted Khan in 2006 to water treatment facility at St Marys, and on Engineers Australia // Australian Wetlands and help with a project where recycled water would its completion, successfully transitioned the Rivers Centre be introduced to the Hawkesbury-Nepean monitoring of that plant from UNSW engineers River to boost natural flows. over to the team at Sydney Water.

Recycling water ... Peter Cox, Sydney Water with Dr Stuart Khan, Water Research Centre Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly Research@UNSW

Cleaning up ... Associate Professor Mike Manefield at Botany Bay, Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly one of the contaminated sites where his work is being used

Food safety “[Bioremediation] should be more cost- Companies in water, meat and dairy industries Toxic have also chosen to partner with the CMB. effective, provide a better Centre Co-Director Professor Staffan Kjelleberg terminators is looking at how biofilms – naturally occurring, environmental solution surface-associated communities of bacteria – and help reduce can be removed from equipment without the UNSW researchers are at the forefront of use of toxic chemicals. clean-up times.” collaborations to keep our land, food and Bryan Goodwin, water free of toxins, harnessing naturally Biofilm communities have traits that give them an Dow Chemical occurring bacteria and the sun to deliver advantage over single bacteria. They can be cost-effective cleaning tools. beneficial and dangerous and Kjelleberg is working to understand how to harness their power for good. In a partnership between Dow Chemical, Coffey Environments Australia, Orica and Clean water UNSW, the destructive power of bacteria is Marine life being used to clean up contaminated land and Purifying drinking water is another challenge, groundwater through a process known and South Australia Water has partnered with On a larger scale, the NSW Government has as bioremediation. Professor Rose Amal at the School of Chemical partnered with the CMB to restore the health of Engineering to develop a more efficient method Sydney’s coastal marine life. “There are bacteria out there that were born of removing organic matter. to break these pollutants down,” says CMB Co-Director Professor Peter Steinberg Associate Professor Mike Manefield, Deputy At present a process known as coagulation is and his team have transplanted populations of Director of the Centre for Marine BioInnovation used, but it only removes around 20-30 per cent kelp – large, habitat-forming seaweeds – back (CMB) at UNSW and a world leader in of organic matter in water and leaves a sludge along sections of Sydney’s coast where it has bioremediation technology. that then needs to be put into landfill. been absent for 30 years.

Up until a few years ago, the right bacteria Amal and her team are working to combine This could help to restore entire marine had not been identified in Australia. But using coagulation with a technique known as photo- communities, including valuable species such molecular techniques, Manefield and his group catalysis, which converts the energy from sun- as lobster and abalone, says Steinberg. tracked down suitable cultures and bred them, light into energy that destroys organic matter. creating an army of home-grown, pollutant- eating bacteria. She believes the approach will increase the percentage of organic matter removed to Project partners: “Ten years ago we weren’t thinking about 50 per cent or more. New South Wales Government // bioremediation, but … today it’s a very Dow Chemical // Coffey Environments Australia // promising option – it should be more cost- The Water Corporation in Western Australia Orica // Water Corporation of Western Australia // effective, provide a better environmental is also collaborating with Amal’s team, which South Australia Water // Organisations in the solution and help reduce clean-up times,” is looking at ways to control nitrifying bacteria meat and livestock industry says Bryan Goodwin, Remediation Manager in water pipes with the regulated release of at Dow Chemical. zinc particles. environment

Leading the way ... Professor Andy Pitman, from the ARC Photo: Belinda Mason Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science

Climate Last year, for example, CECSS, the CSIRO’s Centre for Australian Weather and collaborators Climate Research and the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et I’Environnement in climate change,” says Professor England. France combined forces to study the climate “The partnership reaches across the United From an increase in the intensity of implications of land-cover change, where they Kingdom, the United States and Europe. tropical cyclones to rising sea levels and made “ground-breaking progress”, according Nationally, it brings in the CSIRO, the Bureau the problems marine ecosystems face as to the CSIRO’s Professor Ying-Ping Wang. of Meteorology and also the university sector oceans acidify, climate change is a global into a world-class team.” issue that requires cooperation between Using the Mk3L climate model designed by national and international experts to Dr Steven Phipps, a scientist in the Centre Research partnerships enable the scale of understand its full impact. of Excellence, the team demonstrated that research to be greatly expanded. “Climate in order to accurately understand the impact science has for at least a decade been At the forefront of this effort are two of land-cover change on a region’s climate, beyond the capacity of one country,” says centres based at UNSW: the ARC Centre one must first accurately simulate how rainfall Professor Pitman. “Without internationalising of Excellence for Climate System Science changes with increasing carbon dioxide levels. our science, we simply aren’t relevant. It is (CECSS) and the Climate Change Research the only way 21st century climate science Centre (CCRC). Another climate-modelling tool, the Australian can operate.” Community Climate and Earth-System CECSS is led by UNSW in partnership Simulator (ACCESS), also highlights the with the Australian National University, important role research partnerships play. Monash University, the universities of The Centres’ partners: Melbourne and Tasmania, alongside partner Most of its sub-models – of oceans, Monash University // University of Tasmania // institutions such as the CSIRO and the atmosphere, land and ice – were drawn from The Australian National University // The Bureau of Meteorology locally, and NASA separate international partners and adopted University of Melbourne // Australian National and major laboratories in the UK and by the Australian climate change community Data Service // The Centre for Australian France internationally. Its research focus to build one complete model of the climate Weather and Climate Research (CAWCR) – A is on atmosphere, ocean and land, and system. The land sub-model, however, builds partnership between the CSIRO and the Bureau the interactions between those three. on a decade of Australian research led by of Meteorology // National Computational CSIRO and aided by university researchers. Infrastructure // NSW Department of CCRC has a broader focus, extending its Environment and Heritage //Geophysical research from the underpinning science into CCRC Deputy Director Professor Matthew Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton // Met the effects of climate change and aspects England currently has an ARC Laureate Office Hadley Centre, UK // Laboratoire de of how we might adapt to the changing Fellowship to research the impacts of climate Meteorologie Dynamique/Centre National de la environment. change on the oceans. His work and many Recherche Scientifique, France // other projects undertaken by the CCRC benefit NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, US // “We have formally partnered with world- from the widespread partnerships that helped National Center for Atmospheric Research, US // leading groups, but we are [also] working bring about the ACCESS model. National Centre for Atmospheric Science, UK // to extend partnerships with institutions that University of Arizona, US have particularly refined capacity in certain “A lot of our research uses [the ACCESS] aspects of the science that we’re doing.” model to understand projections of future Research@UNSW

The spots are changing ... the leopard seal’s environment is Photo: Nathalie Michel, Getty Images undergoing transformation

Change “You can work out how long those rocks have been exposed to the surface,” says Professor by a whisker Turney. “You can then work out the change in the ice sheet over time by the rocks’ different ages.” Antarctica is a vast scientific resource, helping solve problems as diverse as With no research station based on the WAIS, climate change and the birth of stars. if you have a captive animal on which you can the team relies on logistics tour operator validate your interpretation of your results.” Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE) to fly The leopard seal’s whiskers are providing them directly onto the ice. a window to the past. Associate Professor “[The partnership] has made our research Tracey Rogers, from UNSW’s Evolution and very strong,” says Professor Rogers, who They visited the region in January 2011 and Ecology Research Centre, has partnered also partners with the Argentinian Antarctic 2012, and additional visits are planned over with biologist Dr Dave Slip, from the Taronga Division, Cambridge University and the the next five years as part of an Australian Conservation Society, to examine the effects of Environmental Isotopes commercial laboratory. Research Council Linkage Grant with ALE. climate change on these creatures, using their whiskers to look back 100 years to identify On thin ice Antarctica is also central to the work of changes in their diet, size and population. Professor Michael Ashley from the School Most of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) of Physics. Working with the University of By extracting the stable isotopes found in the is grounded on seabed. If the seawater was to Arizona, his team has installed and deployed whiskers of the leopard seals in captivity at warm just a few degrees centigrade, the entire an unmanned telescope in the remote Taronga Zoo, they were able to reconstruct ice sheet could be destabilised. Ridge A region of Antarctica to monitor the the animals’ diets. They then applied this skies throughout 2012, giving new insights technique in the wild, comparing leopard seal The Climate Change Research Centre’s into how stars are formed. populations in Western Antarctica, where the Professor Chris Turney and Dr Chris Fogwill impact of climate change has been significant, have commenced field research to reconstruct with those in Eastern Antarctica, where the the changes to ice sheets in the past and also change has been minimal. to retrieve climate records to see what drove Project partners: those changes. Associate Professor Tracey Rogers partners with: “We found that in the East there hasn’t been Taronga Conservation Society // Argentinian much change, while in the West the leopard They use exposure-rock dating to calculate the Antarctic Division // Cambridge University, UK // seals are not eating at the top of the food chain size of the WAIS. This involves collecting rocks Environmental Isotopes anymore, they’re eating krill,” says Professor from the mountain’s surface, which have a Professor Chris Turney partners with: Rogers, indicating that climate change is different geology to the local bedrock. Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions destabilising the Antarctic ecosystem. Professor Michael Ashley partners with: These displaced rocks – erratic rocks – have University of Arizona // Hatz Australia (diesel- “We benefit from the expertise at the arrived in the foreign locale due to ice melting. engine distributor) // Tritium (Australian high-tech University and we have a facility that’s of When deposited on the surface, they absorb electronics company) // Astronomy Australia benefit to the University,” says Dr Slip. “If you high-energy particles from space, changing Limited // Fibreglass Engineering Industries work on marine mammals in the field, often their chemical composition to eventually your answers are difficult to interpret. It’s nice develop rare elements. Research@UNSW

With support from industry, government and the not-for-profit sector, our researchers are making remarkable progress in the fight against debilitating diseases as well as pioneering breakthroughs such as the bionic eye.

Partners in...

Health health Kids cancer: the good fight

New approach ... (l-r) Peter Neilson, Kids’ Cancer Project CEO and Professor Peter Gunning, Oncology Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly

Researchers have known for 40 years Through basic science conducted in the with the biotech company Genscreen, which that a missing link in cancer treatment laboratory, he discovered a handful of these provided access to the drug design capability was the ability to target the architecture building blocks – called tropomyosins – that turned the project into reality. of the cancer cell. In an extraordinary were common to all cancer cells but did collaboration between UNSW, a small not exist at the same levels in other cells “Childhood cancer is the largest killer of biotech company and a charity, that in the body. “We realised that cancer cells Australian children from disease today, but it’s missing link has been found. become highly dependent on them, and if you not well funded,” says Peter Neilson, CEO of compromised them the cancer cell would be the Kids’ Cancer Project. Professor Peter Gunning, head of the in big trouble,” he says. Oncology Research Unit in the School of “The survival rate has increased to about Medical Sciences, has developed a family Once that discovery had been made, the 80 per cent, but three children a week are of drugs that potentially have the capacity next logical step was to develop drugs to taken by cancer in Australia. The only way to to treat any form of cancer. Currently in pre- target tropomyosins in cancer cells. The cure them is through research; this project clinical tests, these drugs could one day offer central problem was that of funding: previous promised a whole new way of treating cancer, an entirely new type of chemotherapy. attempts to attack the architecture of the so we had to support it.” cancer cell had been unsuccessful, so “Attacking the architecture of the cancer cell nobody was willing to take the chance. Collaborations such as this will become has long been an obvious target, but attempts increasingly important as the pharmaceutical always failed because the building blocks of The Kids’ Cancer Project (formerly the industry finds it harder to fund the the architecture of the cancer cell are also Oncology Children’s Foundation) took a risk development of blockbuster cancer drugs. used to build the heart and muscle, and so and agreed to fund the research. The next the toxicity was unacceptable,” says Gunning. stage was forging a commercial partnership

24 Research@UNSW 2012.13 Research@UNSW

“Three children a week are taken by cancer in Australia. This project promised a whole new way of treating cancer, so we had to support it.”

Peter Neilson Kids’ Cancer Project CEO

National and international collaboration “We realised that cancer between researchers has always been central to the development of new treatments: it is the cells become highly only way to gain the numbers of participants studies need to achieve significant findings. dependent on [these Microscopic detail building blocks] and if Switching off cancer genes you compromised them Pharmaceutical companies are now looking more and more at early-stage collaborations One such collaboration with universities and the cancer cell would be with academics in universities and institutes family cancer clinics across Australia has to find new cancer therapeutics, says Lowy resulted in a better understanding of why some in big trouble.” Cancer Research Centre Director Professor people develop cancer at a young age. Professor Peter Gunning Philip Hogg. Oncology Research Unit The study, led by Professor Robyn Ward, head “Forging relationships with industry, of the Prince of Wales Clinical School, has government and other universities nationally found that predisposition to cancer is not purely and internationally is part and parcel of our due to genes, but to the cellular environment in business,” he says. which those genes exist. It’s this environment that activates the gene to develop cancer. such as fatigue and mental cloudiness A recent example of this has resulted in the associated with treatment, as well as long- installation at the Lowy Centre of a super- “Your genes are hard-wired, you can’t undo term “survivorship” problems such as infertility, resolution fluorescence microscope, developed your genes. But the local cellular environment osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. in partnership with the company Carl Zeiss. can be modified by drugs,” says Ward. Cancer survivors are offered assessment and The microscope has enabled scientists to see “If we can use drugs in the future to stop these lifestyle interventions, while they enable the the workings of cancer cells as never before, chemicals attaching to the bad DNA, we might Centre to research a range of issues. One resulting in a major breakthrough last year, mitigate the risk of cancer developing.” recent large prospective cohort study published published in the journal Nature Immunology, in the Journal of Clinical Oncology mapped that overturned prevailing understanding of how While the study was conducted among people out the natural history of fatigue in women who T-cells influence the immune system. who had developed bowel cancer at a young have been cured of early-stage breast cancer. age, the information will inform the way all “This partnership worked for us and for them: cancers are managed. “This study helped us to identify those who it meant we got to develop the sort of machine are most likely to be troubled by persistent we needed for our research and the company “The family cancer clinics are able to use our fatigue,” says Cancer Survivors Centre Director got the chance to work with some of the best findings immediately,” says Ward. Professor Andrew Lloyd. researchers in the field,” says Hogg. Helping survivors The Lowy Cancer Research Centre operates Project partners: with a broad range of partners to translate Community engagement is also an important Professor Peter Gunning partners with: discoveries made in the laboratory to clinical plank of the work of the newly formed NSW Kids’ Cancer Project // Genscreen practice. It has recently partnered with other Cancer Survivors Centre based at UNSW. Professor Philip Hogg partners with: universities, oncologists and teaching hospitals Carl Zeiss // NSW Government across the state to win two of four coveted The Centre is working with the Cancer Council Professor Andrew Lloyd partners with: Translational Cancer Research Centres offered NSW and other partners to foster awareness Cancer Council NSW by the NSW Government, which will boost of, and research into, cancer survivorship research into both adult and childhood cancer. issues, including the high incidence of problems HEALTH

Pointing the way ahead ... Professor Maria Kavallaris Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly with Peter French , Benitec CEO

“The discovery fits perfectly with our “I see amazing opportunities here not only The silent to improve survival rates but also to develop technology.” less toxic, more targeted therapies for cancer assassin medicine,” says Professor Kavallaris. Peter French, Benitec CEO

Testing times Collaborations between nanotechnology researchers at UNSW and industry partners In another ACN-industry partnership, are driving the development of smarter Co-Director Professor Justin Gooding treatment methods. Using gene-silencing technology, it aims aims to make diagnostic tests cheaper and to put a stop to the production of disease- more efficient by using nanotechnology to By the age of 85, half of all Australians will be causing genes, such as those responsible for manufacture biosensors to detect low levels diagnosed with cancer. And while survival rates chemotherapy resistance. of disease cells or molecules. are increasing, common treatments such as chemotherapy can cause severe side effects While Benitec had already developed the Working with a prominent sensing company, and do not work on all types of the disease. appropriate technology, it was Professor he is developing more-detailed diabetes tests Maria Kavallaris, ACN Co-Director and head that provide results on the spot. In future, Drugs are therefore needed not only to destroy of the Tumour Biology and Targeting Program these biosensors may also be used to detect cancers resistant to current therapies, but also to at CCIA, who identified and created the cancer cells. reach diseased cells directly, in order to reduce short strand of RNA (one of the three major harm to the rest of the body that untargeted macromolecules, along with DNA and proteins, Finally, combining forces with the Westmead treatments such as chemotherapy cause. essential for all known forms of life) that would Millennium Institute, ACN Co-Director turn off the drug-resistant gene and make lung Professor Tom Davis and his team are While most researchers focus on just one of tumours more responsive to chemotherapy. currently engineering vehicles for inside the these challenges, the Australian Centre for body to deliver drugs directly to the cells NanoMedicine at UNSW (ACN) – a unique “The discovery fits perfectly with our responsible for causing cirrhosis of the liver. research centre that brings chemists, medical transformational gene-silencing technology,” researchers and engineers together – is says Benitec CEO Peter French. “Lung working with industry to develop a product cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide capable of overcoming both. and the combination opens the door to the Project partners: development of a novel therapeutic approach Professor Maria Kavallaris partners with: Together with biopharmaceutical company and could eventually bring new hope to the Benitec // Children’s Cancer Institute Australia Benitec and the Children’s Cancer Institute very large number of sufferers.” Professor Tom Davis partners with: Australia (CCIA) based at UNSW’s Lowy Westmead Millennium Institute Cancer Research Centre, ACN is developing Clinical trials in humans are planned for a product targeting the most common type the near future and this technology could of lung cancer. eventually be developed to treat other cancers. Research@UNSW

In the wake of a catastrophe ... checking for radiation Photo: Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images after the Japanese tsunami and nuclear crisis

“Industry partners Radiation are essential in getting a project Riesen and Dosimetry & Imaging also secured rescue commercially ready.” an ARC Linkage Grant to explore how the technology can be applied in radiotherapy and Professor Hans Riesen, UNSW Canberra industrial applications. When the Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster occurred in March 2011, an “Industry partners are essential in getting a immediate concern centred on the level of project commercially ready,” Riesen says. radiation exposure of nearby residents. “In a university we like to talk about how difficult it is to get money from the Australian While dosimeters can be brought in to radiation-monitoring device to large Research Council, but the commercial world is measure radiation, the technology has numbers of people. much tougher.” serious limitations: it can be very expensive, can be damaged by water and has to be sent Riesen says defence forces in Australia Consultant Anthony Ujhazy was Dosimetry & away to a centralised laboratory for testing. and the US have been interested in the Imaging’s founding chief operating officer and This can mean a period of weeks between development, which could provide crucial early CEO for 18 months. obtaining a reading and receiving details of detection of radiation exposure. radiation exposure. He says the company played an important role “The defence forces are interested in some- in forming linkages with established firms in Professor Hans Riesen and his team at UNSW thing which is very light, and can be carried the marketplace and has also worked closely Canberra have been working on a quicker around,” he says. “If you get to a place where with Riesen to align his work to the needs of way to assess radiation exposure and through there’s possibly been some contamination, the market. a partnership with Dosimetry & Imaging, the including dirty bombs, you can quickly get an commercialisation of the technology could assurance that you didn’t get exposed, or you “This has been in terms of tuning and targeting soon be realised. could check your potential exposure.” his R&D efforts,” Ujhazy says.

Riesen has developed a dosimeter the size of In 2007 NewSouth Innovations (NSi), UNSW’s a USB stick. One end of the stick measures commercialisation company, founded Dosimetry X-rays; the other end measures gamma rays. & Imaging to bring Riesen’s development to Project partners: The dosimeter is then plugged into a reader market. The company was established with the Dosimetry & Imaging // NewSouth Innovations unit about the size of a netbook, allowing an backing of two venture capital firms. instantaneous reading of radiation exposure. NSi General Manager Graham Morton, a Considering current dosimeter readers can be Director of Dosimetry & Imaging, says NSi is the size of a cabinet, the innovation represents continuing to work with the company to see the a huge leap in providing a manageable research fulfil its commercial potential. HEALTH

A quick delivery ... texting and social media Photo: George Logan, Corbis are giving dealers a much wider market

Cracking the “[Our] teams collaborate with service groups “[Our] teams collaborate across Australia to monitor drug patterns and drug culture to get a picture of where we need to focus with service groups our energies; to determine where are the across Australia to developing problems,” says NDARC’s In today’s world of internet, social media, Director, Professor Michael Farrell. monitor drug patterns smartphones and text messaging, illicit- and get a picture of drug dealers have found a new niche. It has For example, one new project will look at become an international cause for concern, whether offering financial counselling to where we need to as highlighted by the European Monitoring smokers could help them quit; another will focus our energies.” Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in see how parental supply of alcohol influences teenagers’ drinking patterns. Lisbon recently. Professor Michael Farrell National Drug and “It’s an emerging trend governments will NDARC has recently partnered with Mission Alcohol Research Centre need to take into account in their monitoring Australia to evaluate The Michael Project, systems,” says Dr Lucy Burns, a senior an initiative that provided core services to lecturer with the National Drug and Alcohol address the health, accommodation, literacy Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW. and individual practical needs of 250 homeless men in greater metropolitan Sydney. The work Collaboration between NDARC, the Federal ties in with NDARC’s focus on substance “It has broadened our own understanding and Government, research funding bodies and use due to the high rates of drug and alcohol given us the ability to understand how our service providers nationally results in high problems among the homeless. clients compare with the population. It’s no quality research that can be used to develop surprise our clients experience considerable better approaches to the prevention and treat- “We found the group’s demographic profile is trauma and distress, and now we are able to ment of addiction-related problems and inform not just in one environment, they move between show measures of that distress.” policy under Australia’s national drug strategy. couch surfing to supported accommodation to rough sleeping on the street,” says Dr Burns. NDARC’s monitoring of patterns of drug use in Australia has found that while heroin use The results showed that many of those continues to fall, new designer drugs such as recruited to the study had better housing and Centre partners: the stimulant methadrone and psychotropic employment prospects, as well as improved National Drug Research Institute at Curtin 2C-B are becoming more popular, along with health and less social isolation 12 months after University // The National Centre for Education prescription opioids such as oxycodone. taking part in the study. and Training on Addiction // The World Health Organization // The UN Office on Drugs and To counter these new issues requires “This is a groundbreaking research project Crime // The Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS // international cooperation, and NDARC and the results are being communicated to The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and collaborates widely with international bodies Government to influence national approaches to Drug Addiction // Mission Australia and other including the World Health Organisation and the reducing homelessness in the future,” says Eleri NGOs throughout Australia United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to Morgan-Thomas, General Manager of Social research and monitor drug and alcohol trends. Advocacy and Public Affairs for Mission Australia. Research@UNSW

Human rights defender ... Professor David Cooper with an Photo: Tamara Voninski, fairfaxphotos.com artwork created by his daughter about the HIV epidemic

HIV’s “We have a really The study will look for biomarkers for the diseases affecting people with HIV, and then stolen decade strong collaboration will use linkage and other national databases with the Kirby to look at their outcomes. “We expect this study will take about five years to get sufficient Anti-retroviral treatments mean people [Institute] and have data to allow valid conclusions,” says Cooper. with HIV are no longer likely to die of done for the course infections – but as the affected population The findings will enable state governments ages, a new problem is emerging. of the epidemic.” to project the health needs of HIV-positive people as they age. The health departments of People with HIV are more likely to die of Jo Watson NSW, Victoria and Queensland, the states with cardiovascular, liver and kidney disease and National Association the highest numbers of people living with HIV, cancer, though no-one knows why. Accelerated of People Living with HIV/AIDS are also partners in the project. development of the diseases of older age is also being seen in HIV populations in Europe The Kirby Institute coordinates national and North America. surveillance programs, clinical research and trials. In 2011, it was given a $10 million “There’s about 10 years shaved off their donation from Chuck Feeney, founder of the life expectancy compared to the non-HIV- US-based charity The Atlantic Philanthropies affected population ... the average HIV- The Kirby Institute has a long partnership with and it receives Commonwealth funding. positive man is living, or is expected to live, the National Association of People Living with It is directly affiliated with the UNSW Faculty to about his late 60s, compared to the late HIV/AIDS (NAPWA), which represents the of Medicine. 70s for his HIV-negative opposite number,” community around the country. says Professor David Cooper, the Director The Institute also conducts collaborative of the Kirby Institute, which is based “This is of great interest to us because our programs in Thailand and Cambodia and at UNSW. population is ageing and we have one of the works with a wide range of partners in world’s most treatment-exposed and longest- Australia and internationally. One theory is the treatment for HIV living populations,” says NAPWA Executive predisposes patients to other diseases, Director Jo Watson. another is that living with the virus for many years, even though it’s suppressed, could “We have a really strong collaboration with have some biological effect that causes ill Kirby and have done for the course of the health in later years. epidemic. It’s important that community The Institute partners: participation is seen as more than a token UNSW Faculty of Medicine // National It’s an issue of great concern to Australia’s consultative process.” Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS HIV-affected community, which approached (NAPWA) // Queensland Health // the Kirby Institute to investigate the issue The Institute and NAPWA are collaborating to NSW Health // Health Department of Victoria using its large databases, containing set up an ageing cohort of people with HIV and information on many aspects of the disease to match them with HIV-negative people of the collected since the epidemic began. same age, lifestyle and sexuality. Research@UNSW

How to make the cities of the future sustainable? Could Australia play a role in preventing another global financial crisis? UNSW is working with business, government and the community to find solutions to complex social and economic challenges.

Partners in...

Society and the economy society and the economy Easing the big squeeze

The high life ... (l-r) David Ferguson, Strata Community Australia (NSW), Professor Bill Randolph, City Futures Research Centre Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly

As Australia’s highly urbanised population Urban planning, housing, design, development 85 per cent of them reporting one or more nudges 23 million, questions about how and social policy are all part of the Centre’s brief. defect and of that group, 75 per cent say the to house people comfortably, while still defects have still not been fixed. The most keeping the environment in mind, become More recently it has partnered with groups common of these were internal water leaks, more pressing. such as Macquarie Bank, the Department of cracking to internal or external structures Planning (NSW), the City of Sydney and Strata and water penetration from the exterior of The City Futures Research Centre (CFRC) in Community Australia (NSW) to research the the building. UNSW’s Faculty of Built Environment is focused issues affecting strata management in high- on providing practical solutions by working with density residential developments. The project The Chair of Strata Community Australia leading universities, government agencies, explores how effective owners’ body corporates (NSW), David Ferguson, says the partnership industry stakeholders and community groups. and strata managers are in managing and provides much-needed assurance. governing property. “You have to talk to the key stakeholders,” “The directions we take as an industry need says Professor Bill Randolph, who heads the One of the most striking findings was the extent to be made with clear information,” says CFRC. “Our role is to provide better information of concerns around building defects. In the Ferguson. “Partnering with UNSW has about how our cities are performing. There are survey of owners, almost three-quarters of ensured that the decisions we make today multiple problems, such as high-density living, people report one or more major problems at are robustly supported.” economics of land use, housing affordability, some stage. The situation is worse for buyers and sustainability.” of buildings constructed since 2000, with

32 Research@UNSW 2012.13 Research@UNSW

“Our role is to provide better information about how our cities are performing. There are multiple problems, such as high-density living, economics of land use, housing affordability, and sustainability.”

Professor Bill Randolph City Futures Research Centre

“Partnering with UNSW With a total expenditure of $104 million the Australian Housing and Urban Research ($28 million from government grants and Institute. has ensured that the the remaining $76 million committed by decisions we make the Centre’s partners), the CRC will devise Sustainable city living is also being explored innovative ways to reduce the building through the creative industries. Curating Cities today are robustly industry’s carbon impact without risking the is a five-year research project being conducted supported.” $150 billion-a-year construction industry. by the National Institute of Experimental Arts (NIEA) at UNSW’s College of Fine Arts (COFA). “A lot has been done on sustainability in David Ferguson different circles,” says Professor Prasad. Led by NIEA Director and COFA’s Associate Strata Community Australia (NSW) “The CRC brings together this national and Dean (Research) Jill Bennett in partnership with international experience, knowledge and the City of Sydney, the project examines how learning in a common platform. We believe the arts can encourage environmental change this integrated approach will make the next and also influence the development of green big jump in performance.” infrastructure. Eco-friendly living Commencing in July 2012, the CRC will “Our research team is developing innovative Environmental pressures are also affecting seek input from its partners across three curatorial projects to demonstrate the role that housing developments. core research programs: integrated building art and creative thinking can play in enhancing systems to make low-carbon building city space and promoting sustainable living,” One of the biggest opportunities for affordable; low-carbon precincts that make says Bennett. emissions reductions is in buildings, which such infrastructure desirable; and engaged is where the new Cooperative Research communities that enjoy the freedom to inform Centre (CRC) for Low-Carbon Living, led and empower their decision-makers. by UNSW, comes in. PROJECT PARTNERS: Creative downsizing City Futures Research Centre: “The built environment is responsible for Strata Community Australia (NSW) // Owners 40 per cent of energy use and Australia’s The reluctance of older Australians to downsize Corporation Network // Lannock Strata Finance // homes account for 16.5 per cent of our into smaller dwellings, and therefore contribute Macquarie Bank // NSW Land and Property emissions in electricity use alone, without to the sustainable city, is another concern for Management Authority // NSW Fair Trading accounting for energy embodied during the researchers. Cooperative Research Centre for Low-Carbon production and disposal of building materials,” Living has major industry, government and says CRC head Professor Deo Prasad from UNSW’s Enabling Built Environments Program, university partnerships. the Faculty of Built Environment. led by Associate Professor Catherine Bridge Associate Professor Catherine Bridge and her is conducting ground breaking research in team partner with: “Unless we have carbon-positive products, it will the area of ageing and the built environment. Federal Government’s Department of Health and be difficult to have carbon-positive buildings,” Example projects include an ARC-Linkage with Ageing Home and Community Care Program // he says. The CRC is a national consortium with GWA (Caroma/Dorf) Australia’s largest supplier Caroma // University of Western Sydney // 50 participants from local, state and federal of kitchens and bathrooms products; the Home Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute governments, as well as Australian companies Modification Clearinghouse Service supported Professor Jill Bennett and her team partner with: ranging from property developers, materials by the Department of Health and Ageing City of Sydney // Object: Australian Centre for suppliers, energy specialists, architects and Home; and a project led by Professor Bruce Design // Carbon Arts engineers, to industry groups, professional Judd investigating the motivations, obstacles bodies, and local and international universities. and consequences of downsizing funded by society and the economy

Making sense of the numbers ... Photo: iStock why Australia fared better during the GFC

centres, including NYU’s Salomon Center and “We will identify Learning the Volatility Institute and UCLA’s Fink Center, opens lessons of the GFC the way to collaborations with Nobel Laureates. leaders from industry, “The strength of the Centre will come from the government and collection of information from those groups in academia who One of the significant insights of the global terms of major challenges and issues,” says financial crisis (GFC) was that Australia’s Cameron, a member of the Centre’s governing can work together regulatory environment had helped create Board. “It will concentrate on issues that carry to ensure cross- a financial space that was more robust than risk and impact for the broader economy: other nations. how does appropriate regulation manage and fertilisation occurs in a mediate risk without stifling economic growth? disciplined fashion.” This awareness led to government and There is great interest from all of the partners academic interest on understanding exactly why in getting this right.” Peter Mason our economy was more resilient. AMP Chairman The calibre of the Board is impressive. Peter To further mine this issue, the Centre for Mason, chairman of AMP and Senior Advisor to International Finance and Regulation (CIFR), UBS Investment Bank is Chairman, with other led by UNSW’s Australian School of Business Board members including Secretary to the and Faculty of Law, was established. Treasury Dr Martin Parkinson, UNSW Vice- Chancellor Professor Fred Hilmer, and Steven The Centre’s multidisciplinary research will “There has been interest in understanding Harker, CEO of Morgan Stanley Australia. cover five broad areas: examining financial what were the trends and developments in Banking and finance law specialist Ros Grady market developments; managing regulatory international finance that had such an effect on has taken on the role of chief executive. responses; fostering prudent decision- the mainstream economy: what was appropriate making; economic stability and growth; and legislative or regulatory intervention and what “It is well known there is a gap in translating understanding systemic risk. was the consequence of that?” says Alec academic research into industry and Cameron, Dean of the Australian School of government practice,” Mason says. “We Business. will identify leaders from industry, government and academia who can work together to “There was a view that we had something ensure that cross-fertilisation occurs in a Centre partners: to say globally given that our economy seemed disciplined fashion.” Macquarie University // The University of to be faring better than others during that Sydney // University of Technology Sydney // period.” The Centre also creates a great opportunity for ANU // The University of Melbourne // Capital Australia to enhance its role as a financial centre Markets CRC Ltd // SIRCA // NYU’s Salomon Based in Sydney’s CBD, the $41 million in the greater Pacific region, Mason says. Center and Volatility Institute // UCLA’s Fink Centre is sponsored by the Federal and NSW Center // The Commonwealth Bank governments and brings together experts and “The Centre can help to build on the lessons of Australia // Macquarie Group // KPMG // senior executives from universities, government, learned during the GFC and to grow the The Federal Treasury and NSW Government. regulators and the finance industry. Its capacity of the Australian financial services partnership with international finance research industry,” he says. Research@UNSW

Questioning the science ... Professor Gary Edmond, Director Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly of the Program in Expertise, Evidence and Law

Forensic “The work is vital in Helping the marginalised resolving doubts over Fellow UNSW researcher Eileen Baldry has also fallacies the use of forensic tackled issues within the criminal justice system. science.” She is examining the experiences of Indigenous When Professor Gary Edmond examined the Australians and people with a disability in the use of expert witnesses in criminal trials, Dr Simon Walsh system. he was mortified by what he saw. Australian Federal Police The ongoing research has been undertaken with “I just thought there were really poor quality a long list of industry partners, and has been expert opinions being allowed into court,” he critical in identifying instances where organisa- says. “These opinions weren’t being adequately tions can work more closely together in sharing addressed by counsel for the defendants or the information and resources, to help rehabilitate judge. They were being allowed and the jury some of Australia’s most marginalised people. was hearing them.” including the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Spain’s national police force, the Guardia Civil. “No-one has gathered all this information Around the same time, question marks were together in this way, and been able to provide being raised in the US over the scientific validity Dr Simon Walsh, the AFP’s Coordinator of agencies and governments with this level of the use in criminal trials of various forensic- Biometrics, in the Forensic and Data Centre of information and understanding which will science techniques, including fingerprint and Portfolio, says the work is vital in resolving hopefully lead to more helpful support and ballistics analysis. doubts over the use of forensic science. interactions,” she says.

Following these events, Edmond, an Australian “The research is addressing the issue of Research Council Future Fellow, turned his forensic evidence interpretation, and clearly PARTNERS: attention to improving the quality of forensic this is something that is fundamental to the Professor Gary Edmond and his team partner with: techniques in a bid to prevent questionable application of forensic science,” he says. “This The Australian Federal Police // State-based evidence seeping into trials and to reduce the is because it goes to the credibility and reliability Australian police forces, including those in incidence of mistaken identifications. of the conclusions that experts draw, which Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria // subsequently supports criminal investigations National Institute of Forensic Service Australia // Edmond is Director of the Program in and prosecutions.” Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency // Expertise, Evidence and Law in the School Australasian Speech Science and Technology of Law at UNSW. With an interdisciplinary The AFP provides support financially and in kind, Association // Guardia Civil // Universidad team – including experimental psychologists, as well as in providing an “operational relevance” Autonoma de Madrid forensic scientists and lawyers – he is trying to to direct the research towards practical Professor Eileen Baldry and her team partner with: better understand the ways forensic science applications and solutions for use in the field. NSW Police // NSW Department of Corrective is used and how it might be improved in both Services // Juvenile Justice NSW // Ageing, investigations and criminal proceedings Edmond is also part of a team trying to improve Disability and Home Care, Department of understanding of the source of identification Families and Community Services, NSW // The research has attracted high-level industry errors with a focus on fingerprint and other Housing NSW // Justice Health // Legal Aid NSW partners from Australia and around the world, comparison forensic sciences. society and the economy

The path less travelled ... Regina Osten, NSW Health Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly with Dr Kristy Muir, Social Policy Research Centre

“The results were quite social issues and to help inform the solutions,” Muir says. remarkable – an Centre Recent solutions to which SPRC research 81 per cent reduction has contributed include a boost to the of change in hospitalisation minimum wage in 2004, changes to child protection in NSW, a review of Australian is huge.” family law, greater protection for vulnerable It is an award-winning scheme that has children in China and a 2009 increase in the Regina Osten been copied across Australia. aged pension. NSW Health But without researchers from UNSW its impact SPRC boasts expertise in, among other fields, might never have been so far-reaching. disability, inequality, poverty, families and mental health, with several of its researchers The NSW Housing and Accommodation serving on policy advisory councils. Support Initiative (HASI) sounded good in theory: identify people with severe mental Its broad sweep of expertise makes for some illness living in hospitals, boarding houses, interesting lunchroom conversations and for refuges, crisis accommodation and prison then “The results were quite remarkable – an research that examines social problems from set them up in social housing and surround 81 per cent reduction in hospitalisation is different angles rather than in isolation, them with social support and health services. huge,” says Regina Osten from NSW Health’s says Muir. Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Office. But no-one knew whether it actually worked. This, she says, is important, because life The SPRC’s evaluation “made a substantial does not occur in compartments. “Unless you To solve this mystery the NSW Government contribution to the expansion of the program think holistically you’re not going to have the called on UNSW’s Social Policy Research because we were then able to demonstrate outcomes you want,” adds Muir. Centre (SPRC). that it worked and that it was a good investment’’, Ms Osten says. Primary researcher Dr Kristy Muir, Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Arts and Founded more than 30 years ago, the SPRC is Centre partners: Social Sciences, was shocked by her findings. one of the leading forces behind social policy Federal Department of Families, Housing development in Australia – and increasingly in Community Services and Indigenous Affairs // “I thought we’d made a mistake with the countries like China. Department of Education, Employment and analysis,” she recalls. Workplace Relations // Australian Institute Pick any current social issue and it’s a fair of Family Studies // Ageing, Disability and That analysis revealed HASI participants were bet the Centre’s researchers either identified it Home Care, NSW // NSW Health // Victorian not only enjoying better mental and physical as a problem, are working on its solution or Department of Human Services // Queensland health and spending more time with their are evaluating the policies that address it. Alliance // beyondblue // Campbell Page // families; they were also spending 81 per cent UNICEF less time in hospital – saving the government “The aim of the SPRC is to make a money as a result. contribution to how we understand complex Research@UNSW

A bold direction ... Eileen Pittaway (at left) and Linda Bartolomei, Photo: Paul Henderson-Kelly Centre for Refugee Research with Richard Towle, UNHCR

are able to test their theories with good field She has also been at the forefront of the experience. We find this invaluable in helping to development of Australian legislation on shape UNHCR’s policies and operations to deal complementary protection, which took effect Fighting for with these global challenges.” early in 2012, entrenching in domestic law Australia’s international obligations to protect refugee rights Another of these academics is Professor Jane asylum seekers from being returned to torture, McAdam. As the Director of the International inhuman or degrading treatment, and other Refugee and Migration Law Project at the forms of serious harm. UNSW’s Centre for Refugee Research is Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at internationally recognised for its work. Its UNSW, in 2009 McAdam was asked to “I think that’s where my work has had a tangible latest success was to expose widespread advise the UNHCR on climate change, forced impact and now puts Australia in line with sexual harassment of women in refugee displacement and international law. international law on this issue,” she says. camps, a cause fully endorsed by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). “Climate change is certainly impacting on people’s ability to remain where they are, The UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner but the cause–effect relationship is far more Centre partners: for Protection, Erika Feller, invited the Centre’s complex than that,” she says. The Centre for Refugee Research Eileen Pittaway and Linda Bartolomei to have partners with: a dialogue with refugee women in seven Studies show that most displacement will be UNHCR // ANCORW – The Australian National countries: Colombia, Zambia, Thailand, Finland, within countries rather than across international Committee on Refugee Women // DIAC – The Jordan, India and Uganda. borders. This is a crucial consideration when Department of Immigration & Citizenship // it comes to shaping appropriate legal and AMES – Australian Multicultural Education “We were committed to getting these people policy responses. Services // STARTTS – The NSW Service for heard by the governments concerned through the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and the UNHCR,” says Dr Bartolomei. “At times there can be a disconnect between Trauma Survivors // Relationships Australia // what is happening on the ground and what Amnesty International // ACT for Peace – The issues ranged from harassment to access policy makers assume are the relevant issues. National Council of Churches to sanitary napkins and attitudes towards I try to convey what I have learned from local Professor Jane McAdam and her team lesbians and older women in the camps. communities into the international conversation partner with: about how to create workable, human-rights- UNHCR // International Organization for “Partnerships are critical in the work that we sensitive approaches to climate change and Migration // The Brookings Institution, do. We are not service providers, we are forced migration.” Washington DC // Refugee Studies Centre, academics and in order to access refugees, University of Oxford // Refugee Review we need good partners,” says Dr Bartolomei. McAdam is also a leader in her research on the Tribunal // Refugee Council of Australia and feasibility of the relocation of whole communities other NGOs // Refugee Advice and Casework “In our operations we have to grapple with the in the Pacific region, which won her a prestigious Service // International Association of Refugee human reality for people who have been forcibly Australian Research Council Future Fellowship Law Judges // Auckland District Law Society // displaced. Academics tend to take a more ‘arms in 2011. Her reputation in this field led to her Australian Government // Government of the length’ and theoretical view,” says Richard appointment in 2012 as a Non-Resident Senior Maldives // UK Government Towle, Regional Representative of UNHCR in Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington Australia. “But the most effective academics DC – the world’s leading think-tank. Research@UNSW

Our partners are valuable at all stages of the innovation process, from supporting original research to helping commercialise research outcomes.

Research Outcomes

@UNSW Research@UNSW

A brighter future ... Kevin Cullen from NewSouth Innovations Photo: Patrick Cummins wants the University’s research in the public domain

To market, “Easy Access IP is all of great University ideas,” UNSW’s Vice- to market President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor about universities (Research) Professor Les Field says. reclaiming their UNSW is ready to sign away its rights to The adoption of the Easy Access IP approach research discoveries in a revolutionary purpose to create adds to a long list of efforts by NSi to put bid to bring economic and social benefits and disseminate increasing amounts of on-campus research to the public. into practical use. knowledge.” In laboratories on campuses worldwide, NSi has played a key role in the establishment researchers are often driven by the desire Dr Kevin Cullen of spin-off companies, such as BT Imaging, to answer some of life’s most challenging NewSouth Innovations a venture-capital-funded start-up that has questions in the hope of making real differences developed a suite of high-tech inspection tools to people’s lives. Yet it is estimated about 80 per for the photovoltaic manufacturing industry. cent of the intellectual property they generate never finds its way into productive use. NSi also commercialised Professor David with ROAM Consulting, a Brisbane-based firm Taubman’s Kakadu Software, a program that In a revolutionary bid to put more on-campus specialising in energy market modelling. helps develop applications to compress or research into practical use, UNSW is now manipulate digital images, and it has been offering nearly all of its intellectual property to “Easy Access IP has allowed ROAM purchased by Google, Disney, Pixar business for free under an approach known as Consulting to develop Wind InsightTM, a wind- and Apple. “Easy Access Intellectual Property”. power forecasting tool that provides alerts and animations for potential large rapid changes “Easy Access IP is all about universities in wind-power generation,” says Dr Nicholas reclaiming their purpose to create and Cutler, an engineer at ROAM Consulting. disseminate knowledge,” the architect of “Power system operators can use Wind Examples of NSi’s involvement Easy Access IP, and the head of UNSW’s InsightTM to help them manage large amounts in UNSW’s commercialisation and commercialisation company, NewSouth of wind generation.” spin-off activities: Innovations (NSi), Dr Kevin Cullen says. The new approach gives industry greater Kakadu Software Under Easy Access IP, universities decide incentive to take a chance on early-stage BT Imaging (pages 40-41) which IP to commercialise in-house, and developments and work with UNSW’s CIMTECH (page 41) which developments to offer to the private researchers to harness the commercial iCinema Centre’s virtual reality sector. Academics have the choice on whether potential of their discoveries. mining project (page 12) to have their IP included under the Easy Green steel innovation (page 40) Access IP model. “In the process, we hope to see a much deeper engagement between UNSW and In December 2011, NSi inked its first Easy our industry partners and the end result will Access IP deal in the area of clean energy be better research and a smoother uptake Research Outcomes

Steely resolve ... Professor Veena Sahajwalla with Photo courtesy of OneSteel Paul Vielhauer, OneSteel

researchers engage with as many levels of the A sturdy company as possible. partnership “It’s about aligning your plans with the company’s perspective,” she says.

UNSW’s researchers have a long and OneSteel’s Strategic Marketing Manager successful history in commercialising Darren O’Connell says the partnership with discoveries made in the lab. Professor Sahajwalla is a “real opportunity” to build on her ideas around using recycled UNSW Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla materials and develop innovative solutions to Bright sparks is one of them. She was confident from the reduce cost and improve productivity in the first that the science behind her “green steel” company’s steel-making facility. Another excellent example of the University’s technology was valid. She had done more than success in commercialising its research is with enough to know that her process of turning But this industry partnership has evolved to solar-cell technologies. industrial waste, such as tyres and plastics, become so much more than just science being into resources for metals processing was given a practical application. Thorsten Trupke arrived at UNSW around a successful. decade ago, taking a post-doctoral position “We feel we have built a successful model in the field of photovoltaics after completing a But she wanted to take it one step further: “I for academic and industry collaboration that PhD in Germany. wanted to know how we were going to make has benefited both UNSW and OneSteel,” the engineering work and prove the science O’Connell says. Ten years on, Associate Professor Trupke could work in the real world. Around that time, and fellow inventor Dr Robert Bardos, OneSteel said, ‘OK, let’s get on with it.’” Aside from the technological developments, also from the School of Photovoltaic and the financial support provided by OneSteel Renewable Energy Engineering, have The partnership between Professor Sahajwalla has sponsored both Masters and PhD been involved in the creation of start-up and the mining and materials group has now students, as well as the OneSteel Chair in company BT Imaging, which has successfully stretched for eight years with three successful Recycling Sciences, which supports Professor commercialised their work in identifying Australian Research Council Linkage Grants. Sahajwalla’s research into recycling waste. deficiencies in solar-cell products.

Professor Sahajwalla, who is the Associate The company has also provided opportunities Known as photoluminescence imaging Dean for Stategic Industry Relations for the for UNSW students and academic staff to gain technology, the work can immediately show Faculty of Science, has significant experience experience at OneSteel facilities, leading to the up flaws in solar cells and problems with the in working with industry and says it is critical employment of a number of UNSW graduates. quality of the materials used. Research@UNSW

“I wanted to know how we were going to make the engineering work and prove the science could work in the real world. Around that time, OneSteel said, ‘OK, let’s get on with it.’”

Professor Veena Sahajwalla Associate Dean for Strategic Industry Relations, Faculty of Science

Traditional healing “We feel we have built CIMTECH is a company that has used the a successful model for know-how and experience at UNSW to academic and industry commercialise its unique technology. collaboration that has Founder Graham Matheson completed his Deficiencies in a solar cell can be lethal for doctoral research at UNSW in assessing the benefited both UNSW efficiency. “And solar-cell efficiency is what it medical benefits of traditional plant-based and OneSteel.” all boils down to,” says Professor Trupke. remedies long used by the Koutu Nui tribal chiefs of the Cook Islands. Darren O’Connell Previous methods to diagnose flaws threw up OneSteel an unenviable set of trade-offs. Bringing his discovery to UNSW, Dr Matheson worked closely with Professor Bill Walsh from “Before, we had very fast methods that only the Surgical and Orthopaedic Research gave us a single value for a specific sample Laboratory at the Prince of Wales Clinical or we had spatially resolved technology School to develop commercial applications in that took several hours to produce results,” the fields of skin and bone technology, and the Professor Trupke explains. “Our technology effects of ageing. (the membrane covering the brain and the marries the two things.” spinal cord, and lining the inner surface of Cook Islands Medical Technologies (known as the skull), as well as for operations involving He and Dr Bardos worked closely with CIMTECH) was established as the commercial the eye. NewSouth Innovations, UNSW’s venture to capitalise on this technology and commercialisation company, to create counts the Koutu Nui and NewSouth Innova- Partners in the research include the McGowan BT Imaging and take the intellectual property tions as its key partners and shareholders. Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the out of the University. NSi was also involved in University of Pittsburgh. putting the fledgling company in contact with The first commercial application of the venture-capital firms. technology will be released in late 2012, Professor Foster says the ocular applications when CIMTECH launches a cosmetic line. present the most promising commercialisation BT Imaging has experienced commercial Other commercial applications, including potential for SurgiLux. A pilot trial with success with its current suite of tools, which bone regeneration, are being explored on an humans could begin by the end of 2013. help engineers to quickly assess the quality ongoing basis. of materials being used in the production process, from silicon wafers to solar cells. Surgery without stitches R&D engineers can remove the materials from production lines, analyse them using SurgiLux is a thin-film surgical adhesive, THE PARTNERS: BT Imaging’s tools and quickly gain a series which has the potential to replace sutures in OneSteel // McGowan Institute for Regenerative of measurements to identify any flaws. operating rooms. It was developed by UNSW’s Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh // Save Bio/Polymer Research Group, headed by Sight Institute at the University of Sydney // Trupke says the next stage for the company Associate Professor John Foster. CIMTECH // Koutu Nui // NewSouth Innovations is to move towards products that assess the quality of materials as they are moving through Professor Foster’s team has been examining production lines. applications for SurgiLux in the dura mater Research Outcomes

Professor Marie-Paule Austin holds the country’s first The position allows Austin to focus solely on women’s Photo: Grant Turner, Mediakoo Chair of Perinatal and Women’s Mental Health, a mental health issues, particularly those associated partnership between St John of God Hospital and UNSW. with childbearing.

Macquarie Bank Foundation Chair in In addition to Schizophrenia Research, UNSW Medicine Nurturing with Neuroscience Research Australia and partners mentioned the Schizophrenia Research Institute in the stories, UNSW talent Mitsubishi Chair in Sustainable Mining Practices, Faculty of Engineering acknowledges OneSteel Chair in Recycling Sciences, support from the UNSW has sealed long-standing Faculty of Science partnerships with business, industry and Rio Tinto/Northparkes Chair in Australian Research government through the establishment Mine Geotechnical Engineering, of Professorships dedicated to furthering Faculty of Engineering Council and the research, policy and education. National Health and Professorships sponsored by government Professorships sponsored by business and and NGOs in partnership with UNSW: Medical Research industry in partnership with UNSW: Council for many of

Australian Ireland Fund Chair in the projects featured Anthony Mason Chair in Law, Gilbert + Tobin Modern Irish Studies, Faculty of Arts and in this publication. Lawyers, Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Law, UNSW Social Sciences Ausgrid Chair in Electrical Power Economics, Brien Holden Vision Institute Chair in Faculty of Engineering Experimental Optometry, Faculty of Science Commonwealth Bank Chair in Finance, Chair in Intellectual Disability Mental Health, Australian School of Business NSW Government, UNSW Medicine Evans & Peck Chair in Transport Innovation, Chair in Forensic Mental Health, Faculty of Engineering Justice Health, UNSW Medicine Cure for Life Foundation Chair in Neuro KPMG Chair in Taxation Law, Chair in Ophthalmology, Royal Australian and Oncology, UNSW Medicine Australian School of Business New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, HammondCare Chair in Positive Ageing Macquarie Group Foundation Chair, Centre for Medicine UNSW and Care, UNSW Medicine Social Impact, Australian School of Business Chair in Schizophrenia Epidemiology and RTA Chair in Road Safety, Faculty of Science Macquarie Group Chair in Financial Services, Population Health, Schizophrenia Research St John of God Health Care Chair in Perinatal Australian School of Business Institute, UNSW Medicine and Women’s Mental Health, UNSW Medicine If you would like to collaborate with Students interested in pursuing a For information on commercialisation UNSW researchers and/or would like postgraduate research opportunity and other partnerships with the University to explore the possibility of an industry should contact: please contact: partnership please contact:

Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Graduate Research School NewSouth Innovations

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) is The Graduate Research School is the central NewSouth Innovations works with responsible for driving the strategic research administrative and support unit for all students researchers, business and the community direction, in particular, maintaining and advancing enrolled in PhD, MPhil and Masters by to provide easy access to world-class the University’s profile in research and research Research higher degrees at UNSW and their research and cutting-edge technologies training, as well as technology transfer. supervisors. developed at UNSW.

Room 137, The Chancellery, UNSW Phone: + 61 2 9385 5500 Phone: + 61 2 9385 5008 Phone: + 61 2 9385 2700 Fax: + 61 2 9385 6238 Fax: + 61 2 9385 6600 Fax: + 61 2 9385 8008 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: grs.unsw.edu.au Web: nsinnovations.com.au Web: research.unsw.edu.au

Postal Address: UNSW Foundation The University of New South Wales UNSW SYDNEY NSW 2052 The UNSW Foundation Limited, a registered Australia charity, is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in 1988, the company is linked Research Partnerships Unit to the University by a trust deed and is the principal vehicle for UNSW’s fundraising The Research Partnerships Unit facilitates activities. It oversees the raising of and enables successful and sustainable philanthropic gifts for scholarships, research partnerships that aim to deliver high-quality and capital projects. outcomes for our partners and UNSW. It is responsible for the identification, establishment Phone: + 61 2 9385 3202 and effective management of Australian Fax: + 61 2 9385 3278 and international research partnerships with Email: [email protected] industry, governments and affiliated institutions. Web: giving.unsw.edu.au

Phone: +61 2 9385 7929 Fax: +61 2 9385 6545 Email: [email protected] Web: research.unsw.edu.au/units/ research-partnerships

Produced for the UNSW Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) by the UNSW Media and Communications Office

Managing Editor: Judy Brookman ©UNSW 2012 Editor: Susi Hamilton Deputy Editor: Fran Strachan Sub-editor: Dani Cooper and Nadine Tuback CRICOS Provider No: 000098G Proofreader: Pam Dunne ISSN: 1836-1978 (Print) Contributors: Myles Gough, Janaki Kremmer, Fiona MacDonald, ISSN: 1836-1986 (Online) Chris Sheedy, Helen Signy, Annabel Stafford, Alexander Paper: Novatech gloss Symonds, Louise Waterson, Louise Williams. artboard & Nordset Cover photo and section openers: Paul Henderson-Kelly Design and production: Synsation.com.au