JULY AUGUST 2007 La Trobe UNIVERSITYBulletin M ISSION not impossible Re - engaging science students GENETIC SWITCH FOR TOP CROPS Looking after Australia’s mothlands La Trobe UNIVERSITY NEWS Bulletin Three men and a great idea La Trobe University graduate and science teacher, Michael Pakakis, space physicist, Professor Peter Dyson, and head of the University’s cutting-edge Games Technology Laboratory, computer scientist Dr John Rankin, have helped develop one of Australia’s most innovative education facilities – the $6.4 million Victorian Space Science Education Centre, VSSEC, see story page 11. IN THIS ISSUE ‘Green Paper’ for new strategic plan 3 Knowledge systems for business and health 4 Bringing back Gene switch to boost plant production 5 Public lectures in science bandicoots and quolls and literature 6 JOINT CONSERVATION EFFORT AT LA TROBE Research in Action Insect studies probe the health of our rivers 7 WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Looking after Australia’s mothlands 8 La Trobe University and the Japan Club years young – said his group had chosen to Challenge to parenting of Victoria are creating a new habitat for plant trees because they will survive past the ‘cycle of violence’ 9 Australian native animals in Melbourne’s 100 years of the current generation. Asylum seekers speak for north – at La Trobe University’s Melbourne The club and Dr Hinohara are also themselves 10 Wildlife Sanctuary on the main campus at contributing to the Sanctuary’s main fund- Bundoora. raising project, a predator-proof fence, to Cover story: Tackling the Mr George Paras, Head Ranger of the ensure that Australians have a lasting legacy science education malaise 11 Sanctuary, said that to assist with this, of native habitat. Law reform work pivotal sanctuary staff and volunteers from the to good government 13 The predator-proof fence will keep out Friends of the Wildlife Reserves recently foxes and other pests. Combined with Buildings named at held an indigenous flora planting day. Other Albury - Wodonga 14 the efforts of the Friends of the Wildlife volunteers from the local community also Study into community violence 15 Reserves, who hold regular working-bees, helped. La Trobe joins TEAMelbourne 16 volunteer days and fundraising projects, it ‘The contribution of volunteers to the will create a safe habitat for animals like sanctuary project helps advance La Trobe bandicoots and quolls. University’s goal of protecting the region’s • The La Trobe University Bulletin is published by diverse flora, and brings us closer to our Marketing & Promotions, La Trobe University. The La Trobe University Melbourne Wildlife aims of introducing rare fauna,’ he said. Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. Sanctuary is open to the public, schools, Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, The Japan Club of Victoria and Dr La Trobe University, Victoria. 3086 Australia and members of the University. For further Tel: (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 Shigeaki Hinohara, Chairman of the New information, please contact Andrew Stocker, Email: [email protected] Elder Citizens League in Japan, have agreed Articles: Rhonda Dredge, Adrienne Jones, Education and Information co-ordinator Tim Thwaites, Ernest Raetz. to plant 1,000 plants over five years. Dr Photos: La Trobe University PDI tel: (03) 9479 1206. Design: Campus Graphics, 78853 Hinohara – who describes himself as 95 La Trobe University. Printed by Work & Turner. Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin 2 La Trobe University BULLETIN July August 2007 NEWS Repositioning La Trobe University New strategic plan for the next ten years La Trobe University’s However, Professor Johnson The sixteen proposals said the context in which Vice-Chancellor, the University will operate in the Green Paper aim to: Professor Paul throughout the next decade • Clarify and document core • Establish and support cross- principles and points of faculty research institutes Johnson, has will be different. ‘There’s a more competitive differentiation • Devise and implement released a ‘Green labour market in which • Establish and support a workload model that Paper’, launching mobility of staff between integrated programs for student recognises different levels of universities is likely to engagement research activity University-wide increase. Students will pay • Review, renew and refresh • Develop and implement consultation to higher fees for their education. content and delivery of mechanism for partitioning develop a new ten- They will expect universities undergraduate programs Commonwealth income into to deliver high quality teaching • Consolidate undergraduate teaching and research year strategic plan. to fit with the changing and programs and reduce teaching • Develop career and more complex work and study time by 25% by 2010. promotion pathways for The University intends to schedules of their lives. • Expand professional academic staff who are implement the plan from the ‘University revenue will development support for teaching-focused start of 2008. become more diverse with sessional teachers • Identify areas of overlap The aim, Professor increased competition for • Expand the range of or duplication in business Johnson said, is to build on public funding and greater graduate programs offered to processes the University’s founding reliance on international and international students • Implement a new budget principles and to renew its domestic full-fees and private model based on full cost unique commitment to socially sector research income.’ • Devise mechanism for promoting inter-faculty trade in allocation responsible, inclusive, relevant ‘We need to ensure that teaching services • Develop a clear policy of and radical teaching, learning La Trobe University will be responsibilities for external and research. in a strong position to respond • Develop partnerships with relations in all faculties, La Trobe University has to these and other changes other tertiary education campuses and units achieved much during its first in ways which benefit our providers, and enhance online forty years, Professor Johnson research, teaching and learning learning, to ensure delivery of • Expand alumni relations and said. activities. quality education in regional fundraising activities. campuses • It has produced more than ‘This means we have to plan 120,000 graduates, thousands in a careful and calculated way of top quality research and harness the considerable publications, and continues resources of the University. to make major and sustained Then, in our 50th anniversary contributions to public debate year in 2017, La Trobe will in Australia and internationally. be an even stronger, more ‘We have physically dynamic, and more successful expanded – on the Bundoora university than it is today.’ campus and by establishing Professor Johnson said five other campuses, in staff briefings and discussion Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton, sessions will take place Albury-Wodonga, and in the during July and August. The Melbourne CBD – thereby final document will go to extending the educational and the University Council in research benefits of higher December for implementation education to a very broad from the start of 2008. community.’ Vice-Chancellor Paul Johnson: renewed commitment to socially responsible, inclusive, relevant and radical teaching, learning and research. La Trobe University BULLETIN July August 2007 3 NEWS ‘ Knowledge systems’ mean better health and business ew technologies things in the future, ’ he said. Nfor improved breast cancer Dr Khosla says Wuxi (a screening and wireless tagging prefecture-level city sometimes of hospital patients are being referred to as ‘little Shangahi’) developed under a recently and JiangYin, in China’s established Australian-Sino southern Jiangsu Province, are Association of Technological two cities experiencing rapid Enterprises (ASATE). economic growth. They are The association is eager to sponsor and promote headquartered at the international R&D exchange Technology Enterprise Centre through seeding finance and on La Trobe University’s industry-matched funds in Research and Development areas including health care, (R&D) Park. It comprises public health policy, business the La Trobe-based Business intelligence and intelligent Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Erich Weigold, signs the MOU. Others, from left, are Systems and Knowledge ISM President, Dr Manchung Chan; Vice Mayor of Jiang Yin, Mr Liang Xue; Jiang Yin transport systems. Modelling research laboratory, Secretary, Mr Min Yang Zhu and Dr Khosla. ‘Both the President and headed by Associate Professor, Vice-President of the Hong- Dr Rajiv Khosla; the Institute stipends and scholarships, memorandum of understanding Kong based Institute of of Systems Management (ISM) encouraging students to take between La Trobe and Systems Management (ISM) affiliated with the Hong Kong up postgraduate research Jiang Yin government, Pro are graduates of La Trobe Polytechnic University; and with cutting-edge, real-world Vice-Chancellor, Research, University,’ says Dr Khosla. Jiang Yin City Technology applications, says Dr Khosla. Professor Erich Weigold, ‘ISM, like our laboratory, Park in China. ASATE, he says, is also said he looked forward to focuses on innovative The Business Systems supported by the China fruitful cooperation between technology development with and Knowledge Modelling Technology Department, the University, its R&D Park applications to health care, Laboratory is a joint the municipal governments and China. Mr Zhu Ming- medicine, business