Adelaidean August 2001 Vol 10 No 7
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Adelaidean Volume 10 Number 7 News from Adelaide University August 2001 INSIDE . Timor’s dental Buffy alive Open Day reconstruction and kicking Sunday 19 August page 3 page 7 European wasps a pest for all seasons other researchers from SARDI (South Australian Research & Development Institute) is hoping to find suitable biological controls for European wasp. He said the wasp’s activity was normally reliant on European-style seasonal changes. "A typical European wasp nest is started in the spring by a single queen emerging from hibernation. She raises the first worker wasps herself, which then help her raise more workers, and so the nest grows through the summer. Come the autumn most workers die out while the newly born queens search for a warm, dark place to hibernate. Professor Peter Rathjen shows Raymond Ryce a sample of stem cell tissue culture. "This life cycle evolved in the wasps' native range of Europe and north Asia. Now introduced into Australia, our relatively mild winters have enabled some wasps to break free from an annual cycle and remain active Parkinson's research throughout the year. While most nests still Worker wasps building a nest. die off by around mid-June, a small proportion survive through the winter and on sparks $100,000 donation into the next summer," Dr Reeson said. IN THEORY, European wasps are These nests can reach considerable sizes and JUST over a year ago, Raymond Ryce anyone could live with that much pain," he meant to be hibernating right about now. contain tens of thousands of wasps; one such had no future to look forward to. said. But tell that to anyone who's lit up a nest dug up in the Adelaide Hills was so A once keen yachtsman and owner of one of It was while lying in bed recovering that Mr barbecue in Adelaide's suburbs during large, it was too heavy for Dr Reeson to lift. winter, and they could give you a different Australia's oldest transportation companies, Ryce saw a television program that would change his life. story. "The success of these 'overwintered' nests for the past 11 years Mr Ryce has been suggests that it is a habit that is likely to fighting a personal battle against "The Four Corners program came on, and "European wasps are a well-known summer spread, which might result in wasps becoming Parkinson's disease. they were doing a story about Peter's pest, disrupting outdoor events such as a more continual nuisance," he said. [Professor Peter Rathjen's] research." barbecues and picnics during the warmer He knew that someday that fight would months. People don't expect to be pestered So what can be done? The team from end—his condition, which had already Professor Rathjen, head of Adelaide by wasps during the depths of winter, but it Adelaide University and SARDI robbed him of his agility and, for a time, his University's Department of Molecular can and does happen," said Dr Andy Reeson Entomology are working to develop new speech, would eventually prove fatal. Biosciences, is spearheading research efforts (Department of Applied & Molecular ways to control problem wasps. One aspect And then in March last year Mr Ryce had a into stem cells. One of the main areas being Ecology). of this work involves searching for biological major accident: he fell over a chair and looked at by the team of researchers is the control agents, naturally occurring parasites fractured his ribs and sternum in 11 places. possible treatment of Parkinson's disease. Dr Reeson is part of a team of European or disease that are capable of killing wasps. wasp researchers at Adelaide University's "The pain was incredible. I didn't believe Continued Page 3 Waite Campus. The team, working with Continued Page 13 Petroleum exec heads school, industry links strengthen BHP Billiton’s Peter Behrenbruch has of British Columbia and Stanford University "Our intention to offer programs with a been appointed Professor and Head of in the US. strong management emphasis as well as Adelaide University's new School of "I’m excited about starting this new position traditional professional petroleum Petroleum Engineering & Management. because I view it as a further consolidation of engineering courses has been well accepted both in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Professor Behrenbruch officially started at the links between education, research and industry," he said. Professor Behrenbruch has demonstrated the University this month. Formerly Chief skills in all of these areas, and his experience Reservoir Engineer with BHP Billiton, he "With 27 years of experience in industry, I will be invaluable as he takes on his new role." has extensive experience in the international have a fair idea of what industry requires petroleum business and brings to the position from the top petroleum engineering Mr Keith Hunter, President of Petroleum expertise in the areas of petroleum graduates and I’ll be looking to ensure that Project Development and Operations with engineering, technology, and the graduates from the new school receive the BHP Billiton, said: "We are pleased that management of reservoirs in geological basins best possible education for their future Professor Behrenbruch has taken up his throughout the world. careers in industry. position at Adelaide, although we are obviously disappointed to lose such a "I am also keen to emphasise the Australian energy company Santos has prominent industry figure. committed $25 million to assist the management component of the school, which University establish this school. The school, as its name suggests, is about more than just "We very much look forward to seeing the which will open in March next year, aims to petroleum engineering." first crop of new petroleum engineering graduates from Adelaide, and to working produce petroleum engineering graduates of Vice-Chancellor Professor Mary O'Kane Professor Peter Behrenbruch. world-class standing for the benefit of the welcomed Professor Behrenbruch's with Professor Behrenbruch on a number of critical research topics." entire Australian and South-East Asian appointment. She said the University was entire oil and gas industry and we are very petroleum industry. pleased to have secured the services of The Managing Director of Santos, Mr John pleased to have attracted a person with such Professor Behrenbruch has a keen interest in someone of his calibre. Ellice-Flint, also welcomed Professor outstanding credentials to the school. Peter education and research. Born in West "To have attracted Peter Behrenbruch to the Behrenbruch as the first head of the new has an exciting challenge ahead of him and Germany, he moved to Canada at the age of position of head of the school gives us an school. we look forward to working with him to 15. After completing his secondary enormous amount of confidence," Professor "I would like to congratulate Peter on his ensure that the school is ready for the first education there, he studied at the University O'Kane said. appointment. This school will benefit the intake of students in 2002." Approved For Print Post 565001/00046 For Print Post Approved PAGE 2 AUGUST 2001 ADELAIDEAN New degrees on offer in 2002 PETROLEUM engineering, media and more double degrees—these are just some of the new degrees and programs Adelaide University is Wanted: a national offering for 2002. vision The most noteworthy new degree is the Bachelor of Engineering (Petroleum), Like several other members which will be offered through the new $25 million School of Petroleum Engineering of the University and Management. community, I had the opportunity last month to Adelaide is already regarded as having one of the best engineering programs of any appear before the Senate Australian university, and demand for the Inquiry hearing into the capacity of public Petroleum Engineering degree is likely to universities to meet Australia’s higher be high. Pre-requisites are Maths 1, education needs. Maths 2 and Physics, plus assumed knowledge of Chemistry. The central point of my comments to the Inquiry was the need for a clear national A 150m oil well has been dug at the site of the school for use in teaching of the vision of what is required of our higher degree, with extensive practical field education system. As I pointed out to the experience also being provided by Committee, many of the major changes petroleum producing companies. within the sector have been made by In addition, eight Santos scholarships default and without a clear explanation of worth $10,000 each will be awarded to how they benefit the national interest. students entering the degree. These "changes by stealth"—almost all of Another exciting new degree is the which have involved funding reductions or Bachelor of Media, which aims to attract funding restrictions—have put enormous students with drive and initiative who Media and Petroleum Engineering are just two examples of new degrees on offer. pressure on the system. They have want to work in media and media-related provoked anger among the student body fields. The Bachelor of Media gives and lowered morale among university staff. students exposure to a range of study Psychology as part of other degrees, 2002, and is offering three main degrees technologies and skills in media, and also such as the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of (with auditions required for each): At the hearing, I answered questions from offers a strong analytical and critical Science Bachelor of Health Science, and • Bachelor of Music: This provides a Liberal and Labor senators of the component, with emphasis on developing Bachelor of Social Sciences. major study in either Classical or Jazz Committee on a range of issues. My creative and innovative approaches. The Students who are interested in studying performance; concluding comment that "we are letting program has a pre-requisite of one Group both Arts and Science will be able to do so • Bachelor of Music Studies: This our great national asset slide into a parlous 1 PES/PAS subject.