/af WW Wednesday, Number 17,1994 NIVERSITY Xy 20 July UY170LL0NG0NG

hlev/ institutes focus University^ research strengths The University of is establishing research Interest in the launch by community and industry lead­ institutes in areas of major strengths that will draw to­ ers and enthusiasm around campus was such that the gether across the campus research activities with a com­ function had to be relocated to a larger venue in the Keira mon theme. View Building. The first group of institutes to be established were The multidisciplinary structure of the institutes is held launched at a function on 30 June by the Chief Scientist, by many to be the way forward for research in a university Professor Michael Pitman. environment. The following three institutes were launched on 30 June. Plans are well underway for the launch of further institutes in the near future.

The Environment Research Insti­ tute (ERI) - Director, Professor John Morrison For more than 10 years the Univer­ sity of Wollongong has been carrying out teaching, research and consul­ tancy activities with an emphasis on understanding and management of the world around us and has gained a reputation for innovative teaching and quality research on environmen­ tal issues. The ERI has been established to enhance this activity and to extend the very successful policy of encour­ aging researchers to work collabora­ tively to facilitate greater efficiency in the use of resources. Some of the current research activi­ ties are: • climate change impacts on coastal processes; • assessment of national drinking water quality standards; • research on composition of bushfire gases; • utilisation and management of waste materials; • mine site investigation and reha­ bilitation; • legal and fiscal policy instruments Chief Scientist, Professor Michael Pitman, launching the first group of institutes Continued page three Apprentice bowls them gramme during their first year of Organic Chemistry study. conference overseas This applies to all undergraduate Carpentry and Joinery Apprentice, The first RACI Division of Organic students, including those enrolled in Chemistry conference was held at the Brad Hampson, has been selected to computing subjects. represent in the world FIQ from 3-8 Students can satisfy the requirement Youth Championships of tenpin July. either by completing a short written bowls in Mexico in August. More than 300 participants from test or attending an Online Catalogue He has previously represented Aus­ Australia and overseas attended. class. Plenary lecturers were: Associate tralia in Guam, Hong Kong and New Catalogue classes are scheduled for Zealand winning several gold med­ Professor M. Banwell (Australia), Dr the first two weeks of Spring Session M. Brimble (New Zealand), Professor als. Brad is a recent addition to the (18-29 July). Times are advertised in staff of Buildings and Grounds. M.N. Paddon-Row (Australia), Dr S.E. the Library foyer. Evening classeswill Thomas (UK), Professor Dr G. Boche be available at 5.30pm on 25 and 27 (Germany), Professor G. Solladie Review of Department of July. Inquiries: Information Desk (ext. (France), Dr B. Maryanoff (USA), Pro­ Philosophy 3548). fessor D.L. Boger (USA), Professor V. In accordance with the University's Directory of Asia-Pacific Reutrakul (Thailand), and Associate Professor D. Ridley (Australia). review procedures for academic units, expertise the Vice-Chancellor has initiated a The winner of the Organic Chemis­ review of the Department of Philoso­ The Centre for Multicultural Studies try Medal for excellence in organic phy. has published an inventory of exper­ chemical research. Professor L. The review will take place in Sep­ tise which documents the wide range Mander (ANU), also gave a plenary tember 1994. of work relevant to the Asia-Pacific lecture. Region being carried out across the Submissions to the Review Panel The areas of contemporary interest faculties at the University of Wollon­ are invited from the campus commu­ covered included organic synthesis, gong. nity. Submissions, which will be bio-active compounds, natural prod­ treated as confidential, should reach It is a valuable resource for anyone ucts, structure-propertyrelationships, Peter Wood, Academic and Student seeking to put together research or theoretical organic chemistry, and Services, no later than 31 July. consultancy teams, planning to un­ aspects of chemical education. dertake some activity in a specific The conference was sponsored by country or looking for comments on Sigma Aldrich Pty Ltd, BHP, Bruker Important note for events in the region. (Australia) Pty Ltd, GIG Ltd, ICI Aus­ students The directory demonstrates the tralia, Johnson & Johnson Research Students enrolled in undergraduate University's excellent record of in­ Pty Ltd, Varian (Australia) Pty Ltd, courses are required to complete the volvement in the region and signifi­ Lab Supply (Unanderra), Selby Sci­ Library Skills Component of the Uni­ cant potential for developments in entific, Thomas Nelson Australia and versity's Computer Literacy Pro­ the area. National Australia Bank. Measuring research in ecologically-sustainable development

A team based at the Centre for Research Policy (CRP) is under­ from the CRP study will be useful beyond ARC research pro­ taking a four-month study that wUl make an important contri­ grams and have utility in other research funding and perform­ bution to the goalof ecologically-sustainable development (ESD). ing agencies as well. This research also will link with two The team, including associate researchers from the Universi­ components of the international activities of the CRP. ty's Department of Science and Technology Studies and the As ttie regional focal point for the UNESCO-based Science CSIRO, has been contracted by the Austialian Research Council and Technology Policy Asian Network (STEFAN), the CRP has (ARC) to investigate the nature and level of research relevant to been invited to present a regional perspective on indicators for ecologically-sustainable development funded under ARC re­ ecologically-sustainable development at an international con­ search programs. ference on ecological economics in October. This work will be an important part of the implementation of The team will discuss their findings as a model for integrating the National Strategy for ESD, and will also feed into ESD- ESD indicators and R&D indicators. related activities in the Asia-Pacific region and into an interna­ As the national office for the APEC Human Resources Devel­ tional forum on sustainable development in October this year. opment Industiial Technologies Network, the centre will also This will be the first Australian systen\-wide study of the link the research to the development of future directions in extent to which government-funded research is oriented toward human resources development policy in the Asia-Pacific Re­ achieving ecologically-sustainable development. gion. The network will be involved in the development of Knowledge about the level and nature of research relevant to tiaining programs for industrial technologists where environ­ ESD is an important first step in developing policies geared to mental studies form the core element. meeting the broader objective of ESD and in suggesting areas The CRP research team consists of Professor Stephen Hill, where further research effort will be important. Associate Professor Tim Turpin and Mr Adrian Deville, and However, this project will go further and set up a classificatory includes as associate researchers senior lecturer. Department of system for monitoring and evaluating the level of 'ESD-ness' in Science and Technology Studies, Dr Sharon Beder, and from the future research funding. CSIRO Institute of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Manager, Apart from providing a picture of how much money and Terrestrial Projects, Dr Trevor Redhead, and Manager, Policy effort in ARC-funded research is relevant to ESD, the output and Planning, Dr Andrew Pile. Institutes focus research strengths From page one tein synthesis,enzyme catalysis,DNA clude many forms of media such as replication, the immune response, speech, video, data and image. molecular transport and drug action. The discontinuity represented by Research will focus on the follow­ these changes provides an opportu­ ing areas of fundamental importance nity for Australia to become a signifi­ and of benefit to industry, especially cant participant in the new industries in the pharmaceutical and biomedi­ that will emerge in order to support cal areas: the new environment. • intelligent biomaterials; TITR is focused on providing the • controlled release of drugs; technological and human infrastruc­ • receptor recognition; ture that will enable Australia to capi­ • protein structure and function. talise on this change. The major groups involved in the Institute are: • The Switched Networks Research Centre - A Telecom Centre of Exper­ tise; • Telecommunications Software Research Centre - also funded by Telecom; • Computer and Communications Security Research Group; • Wireless Technology Group - supported by Canon and Nokia; • Neural Networks Research Group Professor John Morrison - funded by the international tel­ for biodiversity conservation; ecommunications organisation, SIT A; • genetic and evolutionary conse­ • Speech Processing Research quences of different breeding systems; Group; • energy use in land freight trans­ • Applied Statistics Research port; Group; • dust collection system design; • applications of telecommunica­ • interactive multimedia environ­ tions; mental education materials; • multimedia research activities. • policy issues relating to maritime zone management; • assessment of community per­ Professor Leon Kane-Maguire ceptions on environmental issues. The Institute for Telecommunications Research The Institute for Molecular (TITR) - Director, Professor Hugh Recognition (IMR) - Director, Bradlow Professor Leon Kane-Maguire The telecommunications industry An exciting initiative that focuses is undergoing a dramatic transition. on understanding the full spectrum The changes are driven by the in­ of molecular interactions from small creasingly important role of informa­ to large macromolecules and their tion in society and the global economy, applications in industry and medi­ as well as changes in technology. cine. In order to keep up with the acceler­ The institute provides a bridge be­ ating pace of development, the indus­ tween the disciplines of Chemistry, try is undergoing significant Biology, Biomedical and Materials restructuring through government Science. deregulation and the emergence of The ability of small and large mol­ new participants. ecules to recognise and interact with These factors lead to an expectation each other lies at the heart of all chemi­ that by the end of the decade we shall cal and biological activity, and has see dramatically different telecommu­ major implications in science and nications services and new ways of medicine. providing them. For example, recognition plays a Major trends involve increasingly crucial role in processes such as pro­ mobile communications which in­ Professor Hugh Bradlow Professor Christine Ewan (centre) presents the Frameworks packages to Pauline Mitchell (Lake Heights PS) and Stan Warren, PhD student and Principal, Nareena Hills PS. Another step forward for Frameworks Teachers will be able to continually to control the outcomes standards of Education, and 300 teachers in NSW evaluate not only children's progress the new NSW English syllabus. and Victorian schools already have but their own performance thanks to Frameworks has received interna­ used the program. a new assessment and evaluation tional acclaim, especially in the USA The University of Wollongong also module of Frameworks, developed where more than 1000 teachers from provides academic credit to successful in the Faculty of Education by Dr 20 states have been trained and it has facilitators in the Australian program. Brian Cambourne, Dr Jan Turbill, been successfully trialled in both NSW The module was launched by Pro- Andrea Butler and Gail Langton. and American schools. Vice Chancellor (Academic), Profes­ This intensive staff development The program has also been adopted sor Christine Ewan. program aims to challenge teachers' in Papua New Guinea and Canada Managing Director, Tech- beliefs and practices with respect to and negotiations are under way with nology Corporation (ITC), Jim their teaching of literacy. Saudi Arabia and Mexico. Langridge, spoke about the history of The assessment and evaluation mod­ Both Frameworks and the new the Frameworks project and ITC's role ule unpacks the knowledge, skills, module package have been accred­ in its continuing growth both in Aus­ understandings and values they need ited by the NSW Department of School tralia and overseas. Civil engineering research helps community Fog lifts on a traffic problem New structures appearing at BuUi Tops on the F6 Southern Two research projects undertaken in the Department of Civil Expressway are the subject of research by a PhD candidate in and Mining Engineering show the community nature of Civil Engineering. Head of the Department, Professor R.N. Singh the Department of Civil and Mining Engineering, Mr Graham said: 'Civil Engineering by name and by nature Is closely Brisbane. connected with community Interests'. He said that was Motorways show a worrying incidence of multi-vehicle reflected In the following Items. accidents in poor weather, adding dramatically to commu­ nity concern about traffic safety in foggy conditions. Curiously, for conventional roads the indications are that cause severe degradation of creeks and rivers andbring about the presence of fog may reduce the fatality rate. community opposition to future development activity. To reduce accidents and improve vehicle operator behav­ Postgraduate research based on data obtained from sur­ iour in foggy conditions the effect of a driver aid system veys of an urban water drainage basin in the CronuUa- recently installed on the expressway is being studied. Sutherland area is well advanced. The system will ultimately use 24 'intelligent' variable At West Dapto three of \i\e Department's 56 PhD students message signs to display information to vehicle operators. are surveying a catchment in its rural state, with the aim of Costing $4 million, it can collect information on hazards monitoring water quality during the construction of a large including visibility, fog type and density, rainfall, as well as housing estate. speeds and headway ('tailgating') distances used. Thanks to the combined efforts of the developer, Wollon­ The work is at the forefront of this type of traffic research gong City Council and other interested parties, automatic and will lead to techniques for modification of driver behav­ sampling stations have been set up in the catchment to iour resulting in increased safety for road travellers. continuously record run-off water quality and flow. Water samples are collected automatically and analysed at Urban water quality studied the Department to monitor any changes in water quality as Clean water is an issue important to everyone, whether from development proceeds, providing a unique opporturuty to the domestic tap or in urban waterways. study the effectiveness of the strategies used for protecting The effect of urban development on run-off water may the catchment. Resource University of Wollongong Environment Research Institute Newsletter No. 4, July 1994 Institute moves into action in 1994 After spending much of 1993 getting out areas on Nauru, development for the ERI Strategic Plan and manage­ From the the Illawarra Catchment Management ment structure prepared and accepted Director's desk Committee of guidelines for the prepa­ by the University, 1994 has seen sig­ ration of urban catchment management nificant progress in initiating activi­ In addition, a number of grant appli­ plans, and preparation of management ties. cations are being prepared on 'Green­ plans for NSW south coast lakes. Following acceptance of the Strate­ house' strategies (Technology and The Centre for Maritime Policy gic Plan at the end of 1993, a Senior Environmental Strategies group), rem­ hosted in May two very successful Fellow, JohnHibberd, was recruited to nant vegetation on roadsides (Austral­ workshops in Canberra and Sydney work with members on the develop­ ian Flora and Fauna Program), coastal on security and management issues ment of research project applications zone management in ASEAN coun­ relating to coastal zone management. and the establishment of consultancy tries (Environmental Science). The Centre, together with the Centre teams. Discussions are in progress with a for Natural Resources Law and Policy John has considerable experience in number of universities and state land and the Department of History and this type of activity and his initial ef­ management agencies for the develop­ Politics will be offering, in August, a forts led to the award of two recent ment of a Graduate Diploma in Forest series of short courses on Law of the research contracts from DEST for stud­ Resource Management. Sea, Exclusive Economic Zone Man­ ies on health implications of climate This would build upon existing agement and Maritime Enforcement. change. AIDAB overseas training courses As noted elsewhere in this issue, a One project is coordinated by Pro­ which already involve ERI members. successful seminar series is continuing fessor Dennis Calvert (Environmental In addition to carrying on produc­ and the small grants scheme initiated Health Unit) on Disease Surveillance tive research within their research at the end of 1993 has been extended Networks for early warning of changes groups, ERI members are continuing into 1994. in climate related disease incidence, work on the public consultation and Interactions with industry and gov­ and the other led by Professor Rob assessment of the 1994 National Drink­ ernment agencies have been further Whelan (Australian Flora and Fauna ing Water Guidelines for NHMRC; enhanced in 1994 partly through stu­ Program), investigating Climate members are also involved in work for dent projects and partly through direct Change and Pollen Allergens. AIDAB on the rehabilitation of mined- contacts initiated by the ERI. Projects involvingcollaboration with such organisations now exceed 50. 1993 ERI Small Grant to Institute members to Congratulations to Associate Pro­ assist in research fessor Philip Laird for the award of the Australian Institute of Engineers Na­ Phil Broadbridge and Tim Marchant were grateful recipients of a grant of tional Paper Prize (National Commit­ $1500 to produce new realistic exact solutions of the time-dependent unsatu­ tee on Transport), to Associate rated flow equation. Professor Barry Harper and members We negotiated with a Melbourne supplier for a site licence for MAPLE on of the EnvironmentalEducation group a SUN Sparc workstation, at the price of $1500, considerably lower than other for the award of the ATOM prize for quotes. the "Investigating Lake Iluka" inter­ MAPLE is a powerful compu ter algebra package that can carry out symbolic active CD-ROM package, to David calculations in calculus and algebra. Griffith (Environmental Chemistry) Over the summer session, the Department employed recent graduate Jacqui for the award of $25,000 from the Na­ Kearton to construct a computer algebra program which takes solutions of the tional Greenhouse Gas Inventory linear diffusion equation as inputs and transforms them, through a compli­ Committee for studies on greenhouse cated parametric transformation, to solutions of the realistic nonlinear gas emissions, and to the Water Engi­ unsaturated flow equation. neering and Geomechanics Research This program is carrying out its function but the solutions that we have Program for the award of a DITARD obtained so far are notbelievable. The problem is about to be rectified by PhD grant to promote international re­ student Maureen Edwards who has found that we inadvertently fed a singu­ larity into the input. Broadbridge found also that the input leads to more than search collaboration with the Public one branch in the output solution. There is no real barrier to further progress Works Institute, Japan under the Bi­ and we expect to publish our results by the end of the year. lateral Science and Technology Col­ laboration Program. Resources ERI SEMINARS Seminars have been presented over recent months jointly hosted by the Institute and various Departments. The economic approach to unlikely to replace regulation as the main means of envi­ ronmental control in the foreseeable future. environmental issues The EPA was also increasing its regulative powers. David Bemauer and Walter Moore from the Economic Half the divisions staff were involved in scientific data Assessment and Monitoring Division of the NSW collection and assessment and monitoring duties. Environmental Protection Authority Good scientific data was essential before an economic approach can be considered. Late in 1993, David Bemauer and Walter Moore from the Economic Assessment and Monitoring Division of the Atmospheric CFC slowdown: the NSW Environmental Protection Authority visited the University of Wollongong. result of the Montreal Protocol At a talk presented to the Environmental Research Insti­ Dr Jim Elkins is currently chief of the Nitrous Oxide and tute, they outiined the EPA's approach to economic as­ Halocarbons Division, of the National Oceanographic and sessment of environmental issues. Atmospheric Administration's Climate Monitoring and Pressures for a more consistent integration of economiic Diagnostic Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. and environmental assessments began with the Brundtiand World Conservation Strategy, 1980. Dr Elkins is recognised as a world authority in the area of Similar themes can be detected in the recent Rio de atmospheric research and has been actively measuring the Janerio UN Conference on Environment and Develop­ effects of CFCs and halons on the atmosphere for more ment and the Australian Inter governmental Agreement than a decade. on the Environment. Dr Elkin's recent trip to Australia was a side trip from This approach is reflected in the NSW Legislation estab­ New Zealand, where he is involved in a major measure­ lishing the EPA which replaced the SPCC in 1992. ment campaign looking at the Antarctic "ozone hole" and Other pressures which are moulding the Division's related processes. work program are the Report on Indicators of environ­ He was in Australia primarily to inspect the facilities mental conditions inNSW, the NSW Treasury's Economic and perform measurements at the Cape Grim Basehne Air Appraisal Guidelines and the NSW regulations regarding Pollution Station atmospheric research centre in Tasma­ Impact Assessed Statements. nia. These regulations require that environmental factors be However, we were fortunate that he chose to add the taken into account when assessing major projects. University of Wollongong to his itinerary in order to have However, any serious inclusion of environmental fac­ discussions with members of the ERI. tors in economic analysis is limited by the lack of suitable Dr Elkins began his talk by providing a brief account of tools by which environmental impacts can be measured in the reasons why CFCs were chosen to replace ammonia as economic terms. refrigerants, and for their widespread use in other areas Thus one of the major tasks of the Division in its first year such as aerosol cans and the manufacture of insulating of operation has been to derive a methodology by which foams in the plastics industry. environmental factors can be given some positive price or He then discussed how the "ozone hole" over the Ant­ value in these studies. arctic was discovered in 1985, and the chemistry behind its They are producing a database of materials on environ­ creation. mental monetary values and measurement and estimates Recognition of the existence of the ozone hole led to a of valuations for environmental effects which can be used major meeting of government and scientific bodies in 1986 in such studies. which put forward a series of guideUnes (Montreal proto­ The data base currently includes around 700 studies. col) for the phasing out of the use of CFCs and their Other projects have included a benefit/cost study of replacement by safer alternatives. lead concentrates in petiol and its effect on children's The Montreal meeting was followed by similar meet­ health, case studies relating to the use of tradeable eco­ ings in London (1990) and Copenhagen (1992), which nomic permits in relation to river pollution and smog, and accelerated the phase out of CFCs. a study on the use of load base licensing to control dis­ While this was certainly to be commended, Dr Elkins charges while providing incentives to reduce omissions pointed out that due to the complex nature of events in the below statutory requirements. atmosphere, we cannot be totally sure that some of the The results of these studies are not yet available. materials introduced to replace CFCs would not at a later The Division is also required to vmdertake five yearly stage be shown to creating new problems, hence the need assessments of all environmental regulations. for continued vigilance. A recent jmalysis of the regulations affecting radiation Dr Elkin's concluded by presenting some of the results from medical equipment concluded that the health ben­ of his own research performed at 7 sites spread across the efits from the controls exceeded the costs. globe, showing us that the rate of increase in the mixing All such regulations will be continually subjected to ratios of the major CFCs were slowing. rigorous assessments. This welcome sign of adherence to the international The visitors concluded that economic investments were protocols has still not halted the increase, but calculations Resources indicate that this might happen as early as 1996. processes involved, in order to gain insight into the rela­ The next couple of years, he said, should provide clear tive effects of diffusion, advection and reaction. evidence of whether the guidehnes for the phasing out of The results show that mangroves can greatly increase CFCs put forward by the Montreal protocol, has started to the soil salinity in and below the root zone, even many have a major effect. metres below the roots. This may happen over a time scale of around 40 years. A model for salt transport in the This seminar generated considerable interest from the mangrove root zone geomorphologists present, as itis commonly believed that the high salt concentration observed in deep soils near Seminar presented on 31 March, by DrJohn Knight, CSIRO mangroves has a more ancient geomorphological origin. Centre for Environmental Mechanics. When challenged, Dr Knight couldn't explain the salin­ ity of soils measured by Wollongong geomorphologists in Mangroves grow on saturated soils subject to regular tidal flat areas removed horizontally from mangroves. inundation by saline sea water. This raises new challenges for both the mathematical Mangrove roots take up water and leave behind most of modellers and the geomorphologists. the salt, which diffuses back up to the soil surface against Perhaps both are right and there are more than one the net flow of water to the root zone, and so the salt contributing mechanisms. concentration in the root zone rises until the diffusive and E>r Knight will visit again to confer with Phil Broadbridge advective salt flows are equal and opposite, and a steady and Wayne Read, a visitor on study leave from James state is reached. Cook University of North Queensland. John described a model due to Passioura, Ball and Dr Read found a series method for obtaining exact himself, for salt transport in the mangrove root zone, solutions to Laplace's equation in arbitrary geometries. which assumes that there is an upper limit to the soil This has direct applications to steady saturated flow in salinity at which the roots can take up water, and that soils. below this value the water uptake is proportional to the Usual classical methods of separation of variables apply difference between the local soil salinity and the assumed only to simple geometries such as rectangular, cylindrical upper limit. and spherical systems. However, Read found a way to Recently Knight and C.J. van Duijn, a visitor from Delft, extend this procedure to arbitrary geometries. generalised this model to allow the root water uptake Phil Broadbridge pointed out that the steady equations function to vary with depth, and to depend on a general for unsaturated flow can be transformed to linear convec­ power of the saUnity difference. tion-diffusion equations and that the same analytical tech­ The time evolution of the soil salt concentration is de­ niques should be extendible to these. scribed by an advection-diffusion-reaction equation with At the moment, we are implementing the procedure to linear diffusion, nonlinear nonlocal advection, and a solve a practical unsaturated flow problem of slow re­ nonlinear nonhomogeneous reaction term. charge into an acquifer. They found a steady state, a travelling wave and another At high recharge rates, a water table will form, and we special case analytical solution for this equation, which would need to determine the position of the free surface they used as a guide in finding numerical solutions for the for the water table. general equation. This is a tougher problem that we can still solve by They used a "mean transition time" defined by Prof. matching fluxes between the saturated and unsaturated Alex McNabb (1975), another recent visitor to Wollon­ zones, in which two different types of elliptic partial gong, to study the characteristic times for the various differential equation apply.

Working Paper Series 1, Environment Research Institute, March 1994 Energy use in Australian land freight

ABSTRACT tralia, and the electric coal trains of In this paper, an update is given of ERI PUBLICATION Central Queensland. a report (Laird and Adorni-Braccesi, about 151 Petajoules (PJ) of primary World class examples of road freight 1993, Land Freight Transport Energy energy (3400 million litres (ML) of may be found in Northern Territory Evaluation, Energy Research and diesel and 243 ML of other fuel), whilst road trains and many selected articu­ Development Corporation, Can­ rail freight used about 28 PJ of pri­ lated truck operations in Eastern Aus­ berra). mary energy (some 550 ML of diesel tralia. AustraHa's land freight task of ap­ fuel, and 620 Gigawatt hours of elec­ On the other hand, many land proximately 184 billion tonne km tricity). freight operations in Australia dem­ (btkm) in 1990-91 comprised 67btkm Many Australian rail and road onstrate considerable room for im­ for articulated trucks, 28 btkm for freight operations demonstrate provement in energy efficiency. rigid trucks, 52 btkm for government "world best practice" in energy effi­ In road freight, there is scope for rail freight and 37 btkm for non-gov­ ciency. some articulated truck operators to ernment rail freight. These include the iron ore railways reduce their use of diesel fuel with the The 1990-91 road freight tasks used of the Pilbara region of Western Aus­ Continued page four Resources

From page three about 125 million litres a year by the freight transport in Australia. aid of on-board vehicle monitors. year 1999-2000. Rail electiification of UPDATE: Apelbaum Consulting A five percent increase in average Sydney-Melbourne and the main Group Pty Ltd (1994, The Australian energy efficiency of articulated trucks Hunter Valley coal rail lines could Transport Task and Primary Energy would save about 100 million litres of offer further diesel savings of about Consumed; The 1990-91 Compen­ diesel a year. 100 million Utres per year. dium, Cth Dept of Primary Ind ustries In inter-city freight, the largest scope At present, Queensland's progress and Energy, Canberra) notes respec­ for improvement would result from in improving the efficiency and com­ tive government and non-govern­ upgrading the existing Brisbane - Syd­ petitiveness of rail freight is someway ment rail freight primary energy ney - Melbourne mainline railway by ahead of that of . efficiencies of 2.21 and 7.79 net tonne a series of deviations and minor track It remains to be seen if this gap will km per MJ. upgrading to ease ruling grades and be narrowed by the year 2000, and AUTHOR: P.G. Laird, Department tight radius curves so as to increase what will be the role of the National of Mathematics, University of Wol­ rail's efficiency and competitiveness. Transport Planning Task Force in longong 2522. PHONE 042 213 421 This could result in diesel savings improving the efficiency of land FAX 042 214 845. CONFERENCES South Pacific countries tackle vs^aste issues ERI Director, John Morrison, recently chaired a meeting of draft project document to address the issues of waste experts to review a Regional Pollution and Waste Man­ management and pollution prevention and control. agement Program for the South Pacific under the aegis of Both land-based and shipping-related pollution prob­ the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme lems are included and a major focus is also on the protec­ (SPREP). tion of freshwater resources. The meeting was held at SPREP Headquarters in Apia This project will follow on from and significantly ex­ and involved 10 participants from seven countries. pand work completed in the SPREP POLMarine Pollution SPREP is an intergovernmental agency established to Assessment and Control project coordinated by Professor coordinate environmental technical assistance, training, Morrison from 1988-92. education and cooperation involving 22 countries in the The revised project will be presented to a Regional Pacific and a number of associated metropolitan countries Meeting of Government Technical Officers in Tonga in including Australia. August and if accepted will go the SPREP Annual Meeting The work program covers the whole spectrum of envi­ in September for final approval and submission to aid ronmental issues including work on international and donors for financial support. regional treaties and conventions. Anyone wanting further information on this should The Apia meeting was to provide technical review on a contact John Morrison, phone (042) 214 134. MEMBERS/GROUPS RESEARCH A Brief Report to ERI on the Project 'Wave Refraction and Di ffraction in Coastal Regions' An efficient numerical model for simu­ Songplng Zhu acknowledged in the publication [3]. lating the combined refraction and Department of Mathematics, Relevant Publications: diffraction of water waves propagat- University of Wollongong, 1. Zhu, S. A New DRBEMModel for ingin coastal regions [1] has now been Wollongong, NSW 2522, Wave Refraction and Diffraction, En­ extended in modelling short waves. gineering Analysis with Boundary Ele­ With only the boundaries of a com­ ments, 1993, Vol.12, Nom.4,261-274. putational domain being discretised racy as well. 2. Zhu, S. and Zhang, Y. Combined and some internal collocation points Since modelling short waves (waves Refraction and Diffraction of Short being distributed as required by the with their wavelength to depth ratio Waves Using The Dual Reciprocity DRBEM (The Dual Reciprocity Bound­ being less than approximately 20) has Boundary Element Method, /. Com­ ary Element Method), Zhu [2,3] com­ always been a challenging problem munications on Boundary Elements (ac­ pared some of his preliminary results for coastal engineers, Zhu has con­ cepted). with some other previously pubHshed tributed significantly to this area 3. Zhu, S. Modelling The Combined numerical and experimental model through his recent research and the Refraction and Diffraction of Short results and found that the model can relevant publications [1-3]. Waves With The Dual Reciprocity not only offer excellent accuracy and However, such a contribution could Boundary Element Method, Proceed­ efficiency in modelling long waves as not have been made without the par­ ings of the International Symposium demonstrated in [1], it can also be tial support from the Environmental Waves-Physical and Numerical Model- used very efficiently in a short wave Research Institute at the University of /OT^, Vancouver, Canada, August 1994 modelling exercise with a high accu- Wollongong, which was gratefully (accepted). Resources

The following projects are currently being undertaken by the Environmental Health Unit: Port Kembia lead study This study was launched on 7 June. The aim is to investi­ pational and medical history (as far as relevant) of the gate the blood lead levels in children one to six years of age parents. in the Port Kembia, Warrawong and Cringila area. A tooth lead study will be undertaken also as this would All children living in the area will be contacted with a allow monitoring of lead levels without having to take door-to-door visit. blood samples. They will be invited to come to the Port Kembia Hospital The individual results should be available this year with where a blood sample will be taken. the evaluation of the distribution of the lead levels in The sample will be analysed for lead level and indicators relation to exposure and confounding variables available of anaemia. at the end of 1995. Parents will be asked to fill in a questionnaire concern­ A further evaluation of the exposure to lead and other ing residential and medical history of the child and occu­ metals will be considered. The Hunter and lllavs^arra Study on Airvsrays and Air Pollution (HISAAP) The Illawarra Public Health Unit to­ (Kemblawarra, Kembia Grange, pate in Phase 2. Phase 2 Part 1 is being gether with the University of Wollon­ Gwynneville and Albion Park) have conducted. gong and the Hunter Area Public been selected for this study. Half of thechildren previously iden­ Health Unit together with the New­ The first phase consisted of a ques­ tified were asked to participate in a castle Toxicology andRespiratory Unit tionnaire sent to all children aged eight six-months study filling out diaries are conducting a study on the occur­ to 10 years of selected schools in the and doing lung function tests twice rence of episodes of asthma in relation area. daily. to ambient air pollution. Those who answered according to The second part will take place in Several sites in the Newcastle area preset criteria indicating an increased the second part of the year and other and four sites in the Illawarra risk of asthma were asked to partici­ children will be invited to join. Environmental Science students at the University of Wollongong contributing to environmental research This is the second year that students in their fourth year of In this way the students, the host organisations and the the Bachelor of Environmental Science Degree at the Uni­ University have gained a broader understanding of the versity of Wollongong have been placed within external range and the interrelationship of environmental issues organisations to complete professional work experience requiring study in this region. The scope of the projects for in the form of an honours research project/report 1994 can be seen in the table starting on this page. (ENVI403). Although the projects were intended to be situated in The environmental research projects are put forward by the Illawarra region, the Environmental Science Unit has the host organisation and are in one of the four areas of found that the program has also raised interest beyond the degree specialisation (Earth Sciences, Land Resources, local area. Life Sciences and Pollution Control). Some projects are centred around Sydney, regional NSW, The student is co-supervised by a member from the host Melbourne and various places in the Northern Territory. organisation and a University academic from the depart­ Student numbers have quadrupled since last year with ment most relevant to the topic. This program has been 41 students enrolled in ENVI403 in 1994. very successful in developing links between the Univer­ Planning strategies implemented in the last few years sity and other research organisations, government bodies seem to indicate that student numbers will level off at and industry. about 25 per year in the next few years.

ENVI403 RESEARCH REPORTS 1994 student Name (Specialisation*) Project Title Host Organisation

Mattliew Imber (ES) Environmental Baseline Study: Pride of Frogmore CRA Exploration Pty Limited

IMarl( Mum'e (ES) Productive Capacity of Deep Water Lalie Sediments: Northern NSW Public Works

Marraci( Payne (ES) Productive Capacity of Deep Water Lake Sediments: Southern Lake Illawarra NSW Public Works

Conrad Smith (ES) Environmental Baseline Study: Frogmore CRA Exploration Pty Limited

Jennifer Atchison (LR) Geoarchaeological Analysis of Jinmium Site, NT Australian Museum

David Clarltson (LR) Inputs to the Inner Hartx)ur: Hyrddogical Study BHP Steel Slab and Plate Products Divisbn Resources

Maria Coleman (LR) inputs to the Inner Harbour: Sediment Transport Characteristics BHP Steel Slab and Plate Products Division

Katherine Day (LR) Past, Present and Potential Land Use for Red Point Water Board, Illawarra

Heidi Fenech (LR) Identification and assessment of Estuarine Wetlands and their Status Council within Sutherland Shire

Felicity Hargraves (LR) Decline of Seagrass in the Shoalhaven and Crookhaven Estuaries NSW Fisheries

Rhys Jenkins (LR) A Profile of Potentially Contaminated Land within a Local Government Area Sutherland Shire Council

Melanie Johnson (LR) Potential for Natural Regeneration at Red Point Water Board, Illawarra

Lara Odell (LR) Identification and Assessment of Riparian Wetlands and their Status Sutherland Shire Council within Sutherland Shire

Damian Paynter (LR) Comparison of Acid Sulphate Soils in Wollongong and Shoalhaven Districts NSW Conservation and Land Management

Debra Rae (LR) State of Environment Reporting Process - an Appraisal for Kiama Council Kiama Municipal Council

Kim Riordan (LR) Environmental Audit of the Water Board's Wollongong Sewage Treatment Works EPA

Jeanette Schwarz (LR) Image Analysis of Vegetation Patterns-Alligator Rivers Region Mining Operations Ansto

Mark Stratford (LR) Image Analysis of vegetation Patterns- Rum Jungle Mining Operations Ansto

Chris Togher (LR) Historic Mapping of Escarpment Vegetation NSWNPWS

Marina Van Vliet (LR) Contaminated Waste Management Audit of the Illawarra Area Health Service at Illawarra Regional Hospitals: Cytotoxic Waste and Sharps and Related Waste Illawarra Area Health Service

Russell Wilson (LR) Contaminated Waste Management Audit of the Illawarra Area Health Service at Illawarra Area Health Service Illawarra Regional Hospitals: Radioactive Waste and Contaminated Waste other than Sharps

Sally Anderson (LR) An Assessment of Habitat Corridors for Kiama Municipal Council OEM Kiama Municipal Council

Lyall Bogie (LS) Fuel Accumulation Rates for Catchment Vegetation Water Board, Catchment Services

Suzanne Crosthwaite (LS) A Comparative Study of Koala populations at Mt Keira and Nattai Reserves NSWNPWS

Caria Ganassin (LS) Value of Seagrass Wracks as a Habitat and Foodsource: Implications for Management NSW Fisheries

Michelle Jallard(LS) Study of Intertkial Rocky Foreshore in Relation to Discharged Sewage Effluent Water Board, Illawarra

Elvira Lanham (LS) Bird Populations in Urban Forest Fragments: A Historfcal Study State Forests of NSW

Paul Mooney (LS) Fire and Swamp Community Interactbns Water Board Catchment Services

Tara Patel (LS) Review of Data and Further Investigatfon of the Effect of the Mittagong and/or the Berrima Bypass Constructfon on the Wombat Population RTA

Murray Schofield (LS) Bird Populations in Urban Forest Fragments: A Field Study State Forests of NSW

Andrew Holloway (PC) Inorganfc Arsenic Speciation by Ion Chromatography Ansto

Mark Bergild (PC) Analysis of the Metals Cu, Ni & Cr in Shellfish as an Indication of Contamination from Sewage Treatment Plants Wollongong City Council

Osvaido Perez (PC) Chemical Investigations Abbot Australasia Ry Ltd

Tanya Branson (PC) Trends in CFC Emissions from Melbourne CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research

Michelle Bruce (PC) Tin Mill Sludge as a Soil Conditioner BHP Steel Slab and Plate Products Division

Caroline Griffiths (PC) Study of Water Quality within the Catchment Shellharbour Municipal Council Kim Marshall (PC) Analysis of the Metals Zn, Cd & Pb in Shellfish as an indication of Contamination from Sewage Treatment Plants Wollongong City Council

Perry Rennex (PC) A Review of all Available Data Relating to Water Quality of the Watenways within the City of Wollongong Wollongong City Council

Gregory Watkins (PC) Primary Clarifier Effectiveness Australian Paper

Jennifer Watson (PC) A Waste Stream Management System for Grinding Coolants BHP Steel Slab and Plate Products Division

David Blackmore (PC) Environmental Impact of Vanadium and its Treatment in an Research & Technology Centre, Industrial Waste Stream BHP Sheet & Coil Products Div

* ES-Earth Sciences, LR-Land Resources, LS-Life Sciences, PC-Pollution Control General Petra Davis (violin). Heather Lee, (so­ What's On prano). Conductor: JWD. University 23-24 July: The Campus Alumni Book­ Singers. Conyngham 'Matilda' (for shop monthly book sale from l-5pm EC's SOtii b'day); Bruch Violin Con­ at Campus East, Fairy Meadow. The seminar program to accompany his certo Nol, Arias from 'Don Pasquale', stock of used books covers science, lecture series. The program, called 'Capulets and Montagues', 'Don engineering, social sciences, arts, mu­ 'The Ethics of Multiculturalism: Con­ Giovanni', Dvorak Slavonic Dances. sic, education, fiction, non-fiction, flict and Peace in an Inter-religious All concerts at 1MB Theatre, IPAC, on young readers stories and classics. Ethos', will run on Tuesdays from Saturdays at 8pm. Adults $20, con­ 15-19 August: SRC Blue Stocking Week. 4.30-6.30pm in Tutorial Room, Ivl 3, cession $17, family of four $64, stu­ 28 August: University Open Day. Bid 11.203. The dates are: 26 July, dent rush $10. 30 August-3 September: Union Week. Sectarianism: Northern Ireland; 2 4 September: Graham Park, Shoalhaven, August, Communalism: India and Sri The Art of Lunch Open Day. Lanka; 9 August, Fundamentalism: The Illawarra Committee for Overseas A Pan-Religious Phenomenon; 16 Au­ A series of one-hour performances in the Students (ICOS) upcoming events: gust, Pluralism: Australia in the Asia- Music Auditorium (University Build­ July 23 and August 6: Snowy Moim- Pacific Region; 23 August, Engaged ing 24.GDI) on Thursdays at 12.30 tains one-day trip $25 (coach only). Buddhism: Thailand in Transition; during session. Admission: Free Department of Business Systems semi­ 30 August, Postmodernism: The De­ nars: Friday 22 July, Mr Wei Dai, cline of the West? Enquiries: David Long Gallery Telecom Research Laboratories, Mel­ Muscio, phone (042) 21 3073. bourne. Integration of expert systems Cell and Molecular evening seminar se­ Until 24 July: NAIDOC Show, curator techniques into conventional soft­ ries run by the Department of Bio­ Trish Woods. Kath Woof. ware environments. 12.30pm, Kemira logical Sciences. July 25: Prof Kevin 29July-21Aug: TAFE/Artist Books Exhi­ Room 3, University Union. Friday 29 Lafferty (Director, John Curtin School bition. July, Dr Stephen Little, Department of Medical Research, ANU) Held at 25 Aug-18 Sept: Turkish Exhibition, stu­ of Business Systems, University of 7.30pm in Building 35, Room 105. En­ dent/community. Wollongong. Emerging forms of or­ quiries; Phone (042) 213 013, Fax 22 Sept-12 Oct: Postgraduate Show, ganisation in a networked world. (042) 214 135. Leonard Smith, Catherine Kay. 12.30pm, 67.101 Keira View Build­ 16 Oct-6 Nov: Bronzes, Ken Stone, Lynn ing. City of Wollongong Symphony Brunet. DrJohn D'Arcy May, 1994 Etiiel Hayton Orchestra Concerts For further information please contact Fellow in Religious, Spiritual and ElizabethJeneidat the Faculty of Crea­ Contemplative Studies, presents a 13 August: Past Eisteddfod Winners, tive Arts, phone (042) 21 3048.

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