THE MAGAZINE OF CURTIN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY ISSUE 13 SUMMER 2008/09 Gen Y Shaping the future workplace? Spatial revolution Science for the new generation Elite athletes Balancing their sporting and scholarly ambitions summer 2008/09 cite 1 Cite (s∂ it)v. To put forward Editor in chief Contributors Val Raubenheimer thought-provoking arguments; David Black is a political commentator and Curtin’s to offer insightful discussion and Editor Emeritus Professor of History and Politics. A historical Margaret McNally new perspectives on topics of consultant to the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Editorial team Library and a Parliamentary Fellow (History) at the social, political, economic or Laraine McClelland, Ann Paterson Parliament of Western Australia, he taught history environmental relevance; to report Creative direction and politics at WAIT and Curtin from 1968 to 2001. on new thinking. Sight (s∂ it) n. Sonia Rheinlander Claire Bradshaw is a freelance writer and editor. A feature or object in a particular Design She has worked for many years in communications, place considered especially Manifesto Design including eight years in Curtin’s corporate communications area. worth seeing.v.To frame or Contributing writers scrutinise community, research David Black, Claire Bradshaw, Sue Emmett, Sue Emmett is a freelance writer and photo- journalist, with special interests in science, and business initiatives; to present Andrea Lewis, Tony Malkovic, Isobelle McKay, Max Noakes technology, WA business, education and the points of view on current issues. marine environment. Contributing photographers Site (s∂ it) n. The location of a Adrian Lambert, Sam Proctor, James Rogers Andrea Lewis is a freelance writer and editor. She was formerly publications manager in Curtin’s building or an organisation, esp. Cover photography corporate communications area. as to its environment. v.To place James Rogers Tony Malkovic is a freelance writer, with a special or position in a physical and Print interest in writing about science, technology and Scott Print social context. the environment. Editorial Enquiries Isobelle McKay is a freelance journalist, who has Margaret McNally written broadly for newspapers and magazines. Corporate Communications She is a Curtin graduate, with a degree in journalism Curtin University of Technology and professional writing. GPO Box U1987, Perth WA 6845 Max Noakes is a freelance arts and music journalist. Tel: +61 8 9266 2200 He graduated from Curtin with a Bachelor of Art in Email: [email protected] creative and professional writing. Cite is available in PDF at curtin.edu.au/news and in alternative formats on request. For more information, contact Margaret McNally on +61 8 9266 2200 or [email protected] curtin.edu.au ERS G RO ES M NNES-BROWN I A J VASHTI VASHTI ERS G RO ES M A J COVER STORY 17 Scene at the gallery 13 The rise of the 4 Gen Y: it pays to Cite goes behind the scenes at the graphic novel John Curtin Gallery to show just understand them Graphic novels are coming into what it takes to put together their own, earning a place on Generation Y is sometimes derided a major exhibition, like WA fashion shelves in mainstream book as the ‘spoilt’ generation. Yet this designer Ruth Tarvydas’ 40th shops, and sometimes even group of 18 to 30 year-olds is the anniversary retrospective of on the silver screen. youngest segment of our workforce. her work. New research sheds light on 16 Breathing easy Gen Yers and explains why it pays 24 Sport and study: A new drug treatment for to understand them. a winning combination respiratory diseases aims to help FEATURES Where to for elite athletes when sufferers better manage their their competition days are over? condition, thanks to the work 10 Mapping the future Collaboration between universities of researchers in Curtin’s School Spatial science plays an important and sporting institutes provides of Biomedical Sciences. role in our everyday lives, without assistance to athletes who wish many of us realising what it is and to achieve academic excellence REGULARS what it does. Western Australia while pursuing their sport. 2 VC’S VIEW is leading the nation in spatial technology, and its applications SNAPSHOTS 3 NEWS IN BRIEF reach far and wide in this rapidly 8 A much-needed boost 7 ALUMNI emerging science. Medical microbiologist and Keith Rowe talks about how he became involved in finding 14 Driving the price of oil immunologist Dr Trilochan Mukkur, from Curtin’s School of Biomedical the HMAS Sydney II. Oil and petrol prices go up and Sciences, has developed a new down – mostly up. But does the 9 CAMPUS LIFE vaccine to help eliminate a highly high cost of petrol at the pump contagious and potentially fatal 28 PERSPECTIVE affect our driving habits? Professor disease – whooping cough. Emeritus Professor David Black of Energy Economics Tony Owen, is a name synonymous with from Curtin Business School, Australian history and politics – suggests it doesn’t. and he is vocal about Australia becoming a republic. summer 2008/09 cite 1 VC’S VIEW THE best measure of Curtin’s vision of being a leading university in education and research is its students. While the University continues to tailor courses and target research to improve the educational and research outcomes for students and the community, it is the students, by their commitment to scholarship, who embody the University’s vision. Curtin strives to prepare its students for a future beyond tertiary studies because it is these students who will one day shape the future in business, industry, government and the wider community. A significant portion of our student cohort lies in the 18 to 30 demographic – otherwise known as Generation Y – and I’m pleased to see that this group weaves a common thread through this vibrant issue of Cite. Learn more about the often-misunderstood Gen Y, particularly their workplace aspirations, in ‘Gen Y: it pays to understand them’. Gen Yers are highly educated and ambitious, with great expectations – characteristics they are sometimes derided for. But these are precisely the qualities Curtin encourages in its students. The spatial sciences are revolutionising the technology that maps place, space and location, with applications ranging from the everyday GPS navigation systems in our cars to geographic information systems which help us better understand global warming and climate change. Generation Y, having grown up with technology and the internet, is at the forefront of this rapidly emerging science which you can learn more about in ‘Mapping the Future’. From science to sport, Curtin’s Elite Athletes program supports the sporting and academic pursuits of athletes, in preparation for a life with and beyond sport. Curtin is proud of the more than 30 elite athletes – again, mainly Gen Yers – who study at the Bentley Campus, among them Olympians past and present, including several who attended the Beijing Games. ‘Sport and Study: a winning combination’ provides an insight into the flexible program that brings balance to the lives of these gifted students, and offers a glimpse of the commitment required by them to achieve their dual goals. Curtin’s scholarly offerings and cutting-edge research initiatives are made possible only by the dynamic academics and researchers who are at the vanguard of their discipline. Political commentator and historical consultant at the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library Emeritus Professor David Black engages in the Australian republic debate with an impassioned perspective on page 28. And I invite you to read about the important developments by health science researchers in the treatment of whooping cough and asthma. Finally, you will notice the pages in this issue of Cite have switched from gloss to satin stock. The reason is twofold: non-reflective paper aids readability because it reduces light reflecting off the page and, in turn, complies with the University’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP). Curtin’s DAIP outlines the strategies we will undertake to provide an accessible and inclusive environment for our students, staff and visitors with disabilities, including vision impairment, and non-reflective paper is recommended in the Disability Services Commission’s guidelines for accessible printed information. So happy reading. It’s been an exciting year at Curtin. As 2008 draws to a close, I wish you all a peaceful and prosperous holiday season, ahead of another year of opportunities and challenges in 2009. TOR C RO Professor Jeanette Hacket M P VICE-CHANCELLOR SA CURTIN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2 summer 2008/09 cite NEWS IN BRIEF SEE AN L A Artist’s impression of Curtin Singapore ERS G RO ES M A J RITH F ERT B RO From Left: Moses Tadé; Michael Alpers; Zheng-Xiang Li; and James Semmens The John Curtin Gallery - BEAP 2002 Immersion exhibition Academics at the top Curtin Singapore Gallery on Show Several of Curtin’s researchers from Geoscientist Professor Zheng-Xiang Li Curtin has ratified a 20-year relationship In celebration of the John Curtin Gallery’s spatial sciences, engineering, health sits in the top one per cent of scientists in with Singapore by establishing a (JCG) 10th anniversary, Gallery Director and geoscience have received prestigious his field for receiving one of the highest comprehensive teaching facility which and Dean of Art Professor Ted Snell has recognition as leaders in their field. average citation rates of a published paper will receive its first intake of students in compiled Gallery – a tribute to the JCG Curtin has received its first Australian over a 10-year period to 2007. December 2008. and those connected with it since its Research Council (ARC) Federation His outstanding record in the geosciences Professor John Neilson has been establishment in February 1998. Fellowship, awarded to spatial scientist includes 66 published papers cited 1,231 appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin “Not only does it showcase our major Professor Peter Teunissen.