FREE Publication AdelaideanNEWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE Volume 12 • Number 8 • September 2003 inside this issue Green light for new $10m PAGE 3 New programs out of this world road safety research centre PAGE 8-9 Graduation feature PAGE 10 Cool ideas for EChallenge PAGE 11 University Open Day 2003 PAGE 4 New study aims to improve quality of later life PAGE 5 Book takes author from Photo Mark Trumble pub rock to PhD A new $10 million Automotive Safety Research PAGE 6 Water-saving study centre at the University of Adelaide will focus yields high hopes on improving safety for all road users. PAGE 7 US$1.2m grant to study “stress” on eggs South Australian Premier Mr Mike • Continuing to conduct “This new project with Mitsubishi and embryos Rann said the Motor Accident commissioned safety research is an excellent example of how the Commission and Transport SA CASR will work collaboratively with PAGE 12 Meet the new for such organisations as Roseworthy Director would provide $1 million per year Transport SA, the Motor Accident local manufacturers for the benefit of for 10 years towards the Centre for Commission and the Australian all road users,” he said. PAGE 13 American fellowship for Automotive Safety Research (CASR), Transport Safety Bureau; and “CASR researchers will be working Adelaide graduate to be located on the University of with Mitsubishi engineers in • Developing research training Adelaide’s North Terrace campus. Australia and Japan to add to our PAGE 16 ASQ’s new journey programs in road safety for The CASR will incorporate the understanding of what happens in graduates from Australia university’s internationally renowned the unfortunate event of a pedestrian and overseas. Road Accident Research Unit. impact with a vehicle. We aim to use The Director of the CASR will be simulation and modelling to help The new centre will work closely current Road Accident Research Unit contribute to the development of with local car manufacturers, Director Professor Jack McLean. better pedestrian protection devices.” other universities and government The University of Adelaide’s Vice- organisations. The broad operating Professor McLean said the new Chancellor, Professor James The University of Adelaide aims of the CASR include: centre would build upon the is Australia’s third oldest McWha, said the State Government’s university and is known • Working with local automotive considerable achievements of contribution to the university was internationally for excellence manufacturers to enhance its predecessor, starting with a in research and teaching. a timely reminder of the value of automotive safety and South $343,000 two-year research partnerships between universities, Australia’s capabilities in project to be done in conjunction governments and industry. www.adelaide.edu.au automotive safety research; with Mitsubishi. continued on page 4 Adelaidean News from the University of Adelaide Volume 12 Number 8 September 2003 Adelaidean News from the University of Adelaide Volume 12 Number 8 September 2003 Adelaide changes fee- Five-star rating based entry for 2004 for prestige The University of Adelaide has received a positive rating in the The University of Adelaide latest Good Universities Guide. is making fee-based entry Widely recognised as the “bible” for those choosing a university course or campus, the more accessible for South 12th edition says the University of Adelaide Australian students. has a “very good combination of student services and a staff-student ratio to be proud of and snares the highest proportion of top- scoring South Australian school leavers”. The move gives SA students greater opportunity The university receives five-star ratings for to attend one of the nation’s most prestigious its prestige status, student demand and staff- universities. student ratio, and four stars for research grants, research intensity, and a “toughness” This means that from 2004 local students who to get in. take up a fee-based place will have the same opportunities to study at the University of Adelaide In highlighting historical data such as as international students currently do—with the Australia’s third-oldest university and the same cut-off scores for entry. (Previously, cut- first to teach women on equal terms with off scores for Australian fee-based students were men, it adds: “the main campus has the kind higher than those for international students.) of setting that all universities should have, in the thick of the city action”. The advantage of fee-based places is that students who meet the required cut-off score are guaranteed The Guide also reflects the quality of a fee-based place in the degree of their choice. Adelaide’s students, showing that a high With HECS (Higher Education Contribution proportion of undergraduates go on to do Scheme) places, because of limited supply and honours and postgraduate work. high demand there is no guarantee that students “It is always encouraging to be viewed in who meet the cut-off will automatically be accepted this fashion and in a medium that is well into their chosen degree program. researched by potential students,” said the Another benefit is that students who enrol in a university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor fee-based place will free up HECS places for other James McWha. students who need them. Professor McWha said the University of Adelaide Story by Howard Salkow Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha said was committed to equity of access, and already many bright and capable students in South offered scholarships to worthy students who were Australia were currently missing out on university studying in HECS places. Adelaidean study under the HECS system. This was because In addition to those scholarships, the university the cut-off scores for entry merely reflected supply would provide new scholarships to support up to Editor: David Ellis and demand for HECS places, rather than the 10% of Australian students who took up a fee- Writers: Ben Osborne, Howard Salkow, David Ellis required academic standards. based place at Adelaide. Design: Chris Tonkin Contributors: Helen Simpson, Nicole Stones, Rochelle “We know that there are students who achieve “These scholarships will be reserved for students Flynn, Celia Brissenden, Kate Kennedy excellent results at Year 12, but many of them with high academic standards who also meet the Printed by: Lane Print Group cannot make the high cut-off scores required for criteria for financial need,” Professor McWha said. Distribution: Lane Print Group some degrees. Even if they do meet those cut-offs, Passing Out Distribution Co. “This is just one of the many ways in which the Advertising: KRL Media Tel: +61 8 8231 5433 there is no guarantee they will gain entry to their University of Adelaide is working to improve the Fax: +61 8 8212 1238 chosen degree because of the limited HECS places Email: [email protected] accessibility to university study for bright students available,” Professor McWha said. Coming Events: in South Australia. Please send all coming events to the editor at the address “We believe that talented students who have “Offering more opportunities for study means that below. There is no charge for coming events, but they the desire to go to university, and the ability to must be university related. we are offering more South Australians a future in successfully complete their studies, should not be Deadline for next issue: Tuesday, September 18 their chosen field of interest.” disadvantaged simply because they do not achieve Room G07 Mitchell Building, South Australia, 5005. the HECS cut-off, or because of a lack of Adelaide has offered fee-based places to Australian Tel: +61 8 8303 5174 students since 1998, with fee-based entry available Fax: +61 8 8303 4838 HECS places. Email: [email protected] in all of the university’s undergraduate degree “Fee-based places will enable students who meet www.adelaide.edu.au/pr/publications/Adelaidean/ programs except Medicine. our academic standards to bypass the HECS Material may be reproduced without permission but acknowledgement must be given to the Adelaidean. system, giving them the opportunity to study the More information about fee-based entry to the Registered by Australia Post degree of their choice, while at the same time University of Adelaide can be found at this website: No 565001/00046 www.adelaide.edu.au/afbs/ freeing up HECS places for students who McWha’s Words will return in November need them.” Story by David Ellis 2 3 Adelaidean News from the University of Adelaide Volume 12 Number 8 September 2003 Adelaidean News from the University of Adelaide Volume 12 Number 8 September 2003 New programs are out of this world The countdown is on for the University of Adelaide’s range of new undergraduate degrees and academic programs for 2004. The university has a host of new Another range of combined programs across all faculties, offering Engineering degrees will also be on something for everyone. offer in 2004, this time involving the Bachelor of Engineering (Petroleum): The space industry is ever-growing and a new Engineering degree is • Bachelor of Engineering designed to propel students into (Petroleum)/Bachelor of this exciting industry and other Science (Physics); associated high-tech fields. • Bachelor of Engineering The Bachelor of Engineering (Petroleum)/Bachelor of Science (Aerospace) is a four-year degree (Geology and Geophysics); covering high-tech materials, • Bachelor of Engineering aeronautics, space science and (Petroleum)/Bachelor of astrophysics, space vehicle design, Engineering (Mechanical); aerospace propulsion, hypersonic Photo NASA • Bachelor of Engineering aerodynamics, and guidance and (Petroleum)/Bachelor of control. Engineering (Chemical). • Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor • Bachelor of Science (Animal This degree will also be available as of Mathematical and Computer Science); A Bachelor of Teaching will be Sciences; part of a combined degree, giving available at the University of Adelaide • Bachelor of Science (Agricultural Science); even more flexibility and options to from 2004, and will take the form of • Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor the career paths you want to take.