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Institute Ian Wark IAN WARK RESEARCH INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2007 The TM 2 Advisory Board Report 3 Director’s Report 4 Management Structure 6 Staff 8 Postgraduate Students 12 Major Research Sponsors 13 Research Funding 14 Research Highlights 45 Research Projects 50 Honours and Awards 53 Seminar Program 56 Visitors to the Institute 58 Conference Attendance and Invited Lectures 62 Publications 66 Graduates 68 International Collaborators Ian Wark Research Institute ARC Special Research Centre for Particle and Material Interfaces University of South Australia Mawson Lakes Campus Mawson Lakes Blvd Mawson Lakes South Australia 5095 Australia T +61 8 8302 3694 F + 61 8 8302 3683 E [email protected] W www.unisa.edu.au/iwri CRICOS provider number 00121B The TM Dr Tim Barnes using the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D). This allows us to determine the kinetics of adsorption at a solid-liquid interface by monitoring changes in the sensor crystal oscillation frequency. For example, we are investigating PEG surface coatings to understand their resistance to protein adsorption, of interest for applications such as medical imaging and biodiagnostic devices Ian Wark Research Institute Annual Report 2007 Advisory Board Report The Advisory Board commends the thirteenth The membership of the Advisory Board will Annual Report of the Ian Wark Research Institute go through significant change in the coming (The WarkTM) to the Council of the University of year. Departing members - Prof Tom Healy, Dr South Australia. Brian Hickman, Dr Ray Shaw, Dr Megan Clark and Dr Jurgen Michaelis – all made outstanding Mineral processing research remains one of the contributions to The Wark’s progress. We gratefully mainstays of The Wark, and its outstanding quality acknowledge the support by them and their was highlighted in the fifth review of research by employers. Excellent replacements have agreed to the Research and Technology Advisory Committee join us. (RTAC). Our basic and applied research in other areas is also growing very strongly. The Wark has The Advisory Board continues to appreciate its developed a major strategic plan to 06, with the constructive relationship with the Director. full support of RTAC and the Advisory Board. Issues concerning future scientific leadership, the stability Our warmest congratulations go to the recipient of of funding, the necessity for senior appointments the IWRI Medal for 007, Dr Alan Kanta. and the formation of a substantial stabilization fund, are very important elements. Dr S M Richards, AM FTSE The Wark is a vital, even critical element in the Chair standing of the University of South Australia. The relationship is mutually beneficial, but both are June 008 affected by any funding adversity. The annual revenue for 007 was $7.5M. The Wark generated the bulk from external sources (43.4% from State/Federal Governments, .5% from industry). The cessation of major funding blocks (such as the Special Research Centre) without immediate replacement provides a significant challenge. Clearly we need the further support of the University, and our principal sponsors, to ensure the uninterrupted progress of The Wark. At another level, The Wark Fund is established under the chairmanship of Antony Simpson; it will take time to have a serious impact. Director’s Report It is a great pleasure to present my report for 007, the part of a national facility in nanofabrication and is thirteenth in the series. funded with contributions from the Federal and State Governments as well as from the University (see page In our complement of 5 staff and students, thirty 7 for further details). Excellent collaboration with seven different nationalities are represented. The the University of Tokyo enhances our capabilities in Wark attracts excellent postgraduate students and, in microfluidics in particular. addition, some twenty international visiting students spend periods of six to twelve months with us as part The second year of research under the Australian of their formal education. Some of these visitors return Mineral Science Research Institute (AMSRI) umbrella for formal PhD studies. We have many international has been excellent. The Wark is the headquarters researchers spending time with us and our research for AMSRI, a partnership with the Universities of staff frequently work in international laboratories and Melbourne, Newcastle and Queensland, with funding industrial operations. Our staff and students continue from the Australian Research Council, AMIRA to receive national and international recognition International, the four universities and the state for their efforts. Our immensely strong network of governments of South Australia and Victoria (for colleagues, scattered over all continents is a wonderful further information see page 4). resource. From an application perspective, our P60 project During 007 we welcomed the following new staff: funded since 988 and continuing even more strongly Mr Paul Byrne, Research Degrees/Project Officer; Mr today, has made a significant contribution to the Dom Davda, IT Officer; Mr Louie Del Castillo and efficiency of mineral sulphide flotation worldwide. Ms Maria Sinche Gonzalez who are both Research The Wark has been involved in this project since its Assistants within our Mineral Processing Sector; Dr inception. In 007, an evaluation study of the P60 Renate Fetzer from Saarland University, Germany, Ms series of projects was conducted by RMDSTEM Ltd, Tracy Greeneklee, Dr Marta Krasowska from the Polish a specialist management consulting group with Academy of Sciences and Dr Mihail Popescu from the capabilities in the evaluation of R&D predominately Max Planck Institute of Metals Research Stuttgart, in the resources sector. Results show $436 million who will all be working within AMSRI (for further has been added to the minerals industry through the information see page 4); Ms Kim Gauci, who will give research outcomes of P60. Our ARC SRC research much needed administrative support to our Mineral in soft and hard interfaces provides the intellectual Processing Sector; Mr Colin Hall from Advanced underpinning to allow our research across The Wark Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering within to continue to blossom and be enriched. Our insights UniSA; Dr Dusan Losic, ARC Australian Research Fellow into antibacterial coatings, using nanoparticles for from Flinders University; Dr Hui Tan from the University immunotargetting, developing nanotube membranes of Melbourne; Dr Su Nee Tan a former PhD student for molecular separations, probing the colloid stability who rejoins us from BASF, France; Dr Eric Tavenner a of nanoparticles of gold, exploring the limits of fine recent graduate of University of Queensland and native and coarse particle flotation, understanding the slip of the USA and Ms Tosha Tichy who has joined us after conditions for liquid flow over surfaces, and exploring working in industry for many years. the composition of fuel cell membranes and studying liquid structure at interfaces all owe their impetus to We also acknowledge the fine contributions from our our Special Research Centre support. departing staff: Dr Holly Aiqun to industry; Dr Kristen Bremmell to the University of Adelaide, Dr Andrew We are now engaged in setting firm plans in place Lewis and Prof Peter Majewski to the Division of ITEE that will ensure a bright future for The Wark in the in UniSA; Mr Frank Peddie to the Division of Health decades to come. The University, Advisory Board and Sciences within UniSA; Dr Damyanti Sharma to the the Research and Technology Advisory Committee are University of Wollongong; Dr Krasimir Vasilev to the all playing a splendid role in ensuring that the future is Mawson Institute and Dr Marek Zbik to QUT. indeed a bright one. Our infrastructure base has expanded in 007 with the John Ralston opening of a new suite of laboratories (600 m) and Director offices (30m) to accommodate our new research thrusts. We now occupy two and a half buildings, June 008 including our highly sophisticated pilot plant and a joint surface engineering laboratory, the latter shared with the new Mawson Institute. We are constructing a new, state-of-the-art nanofabrication and microfluidics facility which will be completed in 008. This forms Ian Wark Research Institute Annual Report 2007 3 Management Structure The Ian Wark Research Institute’s management structure draws together four core research sectors along with a scientific services sector which supports all research activities. The Wark’s activities are overseen by an Advisory Board having strong industry representation and being responsible to the Council of the University of South Australia. The Research and Technology Advisory Committee is created by the Advisory Board and comprises internationally recognized academic researchers with strong industry experience and credibility. The Advisory Board reports directly to the University of South Australia Council and advises the Director on research activities and directions. l) University of South Australia Council Office of the Reseach and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Advisory Technology (Research Board Advisory Committee and Innovation) Director Laureate Professor John Ralston Corporate Services Executive Scientific Services Bio and Polymer Colloids and Materials and Mineral Processing Interfaces Nanostructures Environmental Sector Sector Sector Surface Science Co-ordinator Co-ordinator Co-ordinator Sector Co-ordinator A/Prof Stephen Grano Prof Clive Prestidge A/Prof Daniel Fornasiero A/Prof Bill
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