Adelaidean Volume 11 Number 11 News from the University of Adelaide December 2002 INSIDE Andy Thomas New urban Theatre Guild drops in environment centre turns 65 page 6 page 7 page 10 Control your power costs How research is impacting on the future of your power supply THE BUZZING sound from the black Mr Vowles said people do not see these price box on the television could not have come signals so they keep their air conditioning on at a worse time. It’s 3:00 on a sweltering during the highest temperatures of the day. Sunday afternoon. The family is relaxing Both researchers caution that change is in the lounge enjoying the cool air coming and with it, lifestyles will be altered. generated by the welcome air conditioner. Adapting to such changes in the supply of This temporary utopia is about to be electricity is a feature of the group’s research. disrupted: the household has a decision to They are currently working with seven make and the quicker they respond, the Australian power companies to improve the quicker they’ll be able to continue with their operation and reliability of the power supply lives. But it won’t be the same. that could potentially save the industry The buzzing sound is to advise them of millions of dollars. an electricity price increase and the family has The project hinges around its title: “to to decide to keep the air conditioning on and enhance the dynamic performance of large absorb the additional cost, or suffer in silence. power systems by means of automatic “Welcome to the world stabilising controllers”. To of Demand Side make this happen, and to Management,” says principal In the peak of develop the necessary research engineer David summer you would be techniques and software, the Vowles, who, along with better off cooling your group is benefiting from a Associate Professor Michael three-year R&D contract Gibbard, have been working home in the morning worth almost $500,000. ‘and letting thermal together for the past 10 In explaining the concept, Dr years in the School of inertia of the house Gibbard said the controllers Electrical and Electronics keep it cool the rest are fitted not only to Engineers’ Power Systems of the day. individual generators, but also Dynamics Group. to high-power electronic New horse research initiative “If we move the clock forward devices that are used to 10 years, this type of metering will be a part of facilitate the transmission of power in the grid. A NEW horse research group is to be Hynd said. “It's a significant industry and our lives. We have the technology and it’s now “Because the Australian power grid is a long established at the University of success is very much driven by the health of a question of time when this will occur,” said and skinny system, extending from Roxbury Adelaide's Roseworthy Campus. The the animal, which is also a key focus of the Dr Gibbard. Downs’ in South Australia through Victoria move builds on successful research into Livestock Systems Alliance based at equine health over the last two years. Roseworthy Campus.” Mr Vowles adds that the consumer must learn and NSW to Cairns in North Queensland, it to make better use of power and be is inherently unstable without the use Professor Phil Hynd, Head of the The equine research group will work more efficient. of properly designed automatic controllers. Department of Animal Science, says the within the Livestock Systems Alliance, the And it’s the instability that results in black new focus has the enthusiastic support of “The actual price paid by the consumer for largest gathering of livestock researchers in outs,” he said. Thoroughbred Racing South Australia, electricity is not truly reflected as we pay over Australia. Partners include the University Dr Gibbard said the interconnection between South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders of Adelaide, the South Australian Research a given period, and not when we consume it,” Inc and high profile racing and breeding Mr Vowles said. the Queensland grid and the southern states in and Development Institute, Primary 2001 was made possible using the design experts Lindsay Park Racing Stables. Industries and Resources SA, and the “Therefore, in the peak of summer you would techniques and a software package “The equine industry is worth over $8 Murray Institute of TAFE Faculty of be better off cooling your home in the that evolved from research undertaken by billion annually to Australia,” Professor Primary Industries. morning and letting thermal inertia of the the group. house keep it cool the rest of the day.” continued on page 10 PAGE 2 DECEMBER 2002 ADELAIDEAN From the Dazzling future for Colgate centre Vice-Chancellor What we contribute The value of higher education to the State was an issue raised recently in a new report by the State Government's Economic Development Board. The Higher Education Status Report, as it's known, recommended some key changes to the way the three South Australian universities are run, including a proposed framework for closer collaboration. The report quite rightly recognises the role of universities in economic development. After all, this university alone contributes more than $630 million annually to the economy, we employ more than 2000 staff, have spin-off companies, export earnings and $500 million in assets. We are a highly complex Professor Mark Bartold. Photo: Howard Salkow. organisation, and our capability to drive all of these activities (not least of all our huge research output and IT’S not hard to understand why Professor Mark • Investigate new materials and techniques; teaching) in a manner both efficient and effective is Bartold is passionate about the Colgate Australian • Liaise with the dental industry. often under-estimated. Clinical Dental Research Centre (CACDRC) and his The centre’s presence is also an excellent example of the Perhaps more importantly, universities such as ours role as director. University’s strong relationship and commitment to working make an invaluable contribution to the social and Based at the University’s Dental School and described as the with private enterprise. cultural fabric of society. It is vital that, if we are to most advanced dental research and clinical facility of its kind in “Colgate has had an on-going association with the Dental maintain our ability to be the critic and conscience of the Southern Hemisphere, Professor Bartold has a clear vision School since the early 1960s. In the case of the centre, Colgate where he wants to take the centre over the next few years. society, to pursue the truth and to communicate that is looking to not only maintaining, but also more importantly, without favour (or fear), then we need to maintain our “Since its official opening in April 1998, the centre has grabbed continuing to build its support for an on-going period,” he said. a great deal of interest across the world,” the University of autonomy. Without autonomy we will not be free “Initially, the support extends over 20 years and they have Adelaide-educated Professor Bartold said. “It is well known for already given direct financial support of more than $1 million to critically and objectively appraise all aspects of its state-of-the-art facilities, outstanding personnel and to the research centre. This clearly shows how important it is society. When I say “we”, I mean all universities. regularly entertains overseas researchers.” for universities to work with the private sector in research and Our role in society is a unique one, and it is one that we And after only a few months in the position, Professor Bartold other areas.” are proud of. has already identified a number of key areas where the Colgate centre can enhance its position in the marketplace. He adds that the centre readily adheres to two provisos laid out Clearly an issue of importance for the Economic at the introduction of the partnership. “We exclusively use Development Board is one that the University of “There are a number of products that are difficult to obtain in Colgate products and we do not undertake any research that Adelaide is already committed to—that is, working Australia and we would like to find ways to import and competes against their products. This is an extremely fair distribute these materials,” he said. “If we can overcome this more closely with the other South Australian arrangement,” he says. challenge, we would be helping dentists by providing them with universities. I believe that together the universities can state-of-the-art material. Another passion for Professor Bartold is his on-going work in help to create a more vibrant South Australian periodontics, his area of specialty. “And,” he says with conviction, “as a long-term objective, I community. However, I am disappointed that the would like to see the centre operate with a full team of dentists Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums around the teeth report does not give a strong sense of understanding of and research students.” and the deeper tissues that hold the teeth in place. The main what is already happening by way of cooperation Professor Bartold’s progressive thinking is echoed in the cause of this disease is dental plaque, a sticky, colourless film between the three universities. It is also disappointing centre’s strategic plan for 2003-2007. Its mission statement is containing millions of bacteria that remain on teeth when they that the Board has not consulted with us in developing clear: “The mission of the CACDRC is a commitment to are not cleaned thoroughly. Approximately 90% of adults have its report, especially the proposed model for dental research, education and service and will be focused on some periodontal disease.