LA TROBE UNIVERSITY Bulletin NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2002 CO-EXISTENCE IN A TROUBLED WORLD Why young hearts CAN FAIL A long look at SEX AND HEALTH NewNew PLANTPLANT BIOSCIENCESBIOSCIENCES FACILITYFACILITY LA TROBE UNIVERSITY NEWS Bulletin IN THIS ISSUE Cover story: Work will begin Hi-tech library boost next year on a new $17million Plant Biosciences Facility on the University’s Research and Development Park, see page 3. for Albury-Wodonga education Also, more than $7.4 million in Australian Research Council (ARC) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) research funding was received by the University late this year. La Trobe ranked in the top nine universities in the country in the numbers of ARC awards received. Fourteen of these went to the humanities and social sciences – testimony to the University’s pre- eminence in this sector. In ‘Research in Action’, starting page 10, science writer, Noel Carrick reports on four studies into key issues facing the world today – from militant Islam to the spread of AIDS. He also looks at two NHMRC projects, the causes of heart disease in young people, page 5, and a $2.25 million study into links between sexual problems and public health, page 6. $2.6m for NHMRC grants 4 Why young hearts can fail 5 Sex and health 6 Realising a vision: Mr Mann, left, with Vice-Chancellor Three new professors 7 Osborne and Chancellor Public lectures 8 Millis after the opening of the David Mann Library at Albury-Wodonga. Research in Action Photo courtesy Border Mail. The impact of militant Islam 9 Co-existence in a troubled world 10 A new $5.5 million library on the Albury- University and the Wodonga Institute of Passages to India 11 Wodonga campus – named after well- TAFE. Politics of AIDS epidemic 12 known local business man and campus ‘The new library, partly funded by Regional Advisory Board member, David Wodonga Institute of TAFE, consolidates Southern struggles 13 Mann – was opened by the Chancellor of the relationship forged over the past Young women of the Civil War 14 La Trobe University, Emeritus Professor decade and continues to be an outstanding Concrete cancer ‘cure’ trials 15 Nancy Millis, in October. example of co-operation between two Law as a ‘helping’ profession? 16 The two-storey library incorporates the education sectors,’ Professor Osborne said. People 17 latest technology in electronic learning and Commenting on the naming of the library, Obituary: Ian W B Thornton 18 service delivery, shared study areas, and he praised Dr Mann for his support of La Trobe Law – ten years on 19 will house collections of monographs and higher education in the Border area and, in Award for dramatic direction 20 journals. particular, of La Trobe University. It follows the recent completion of a ‘Many of David Mann’s community University-wide a microwave link to the interests have proved to be important links campus, which has brought faster delivery in the development of the University’s The La Trobe Bulletin is published by the Public Affairs of electronic services for staff and students Office, La Trobe University. programs in the region,’ Professor Osborne at Albury-Wodonga. Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. said. Photographs can be supplied. La Trobe Vice-Chancellor, Professor ‘With his family, David Mann has Michael Osborne, said: ‘The move to the Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, endowed the annual Jonathan Mann La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086 Australia new library will further improve access to Memorial Lecture concerning the Murray Tel (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 the extensive resources of the La Trobe and its people.’ Ⅲ Email: [email protected] University network’. See page 8 for this year’s Mann Lecture: Design: Campus Graphics, (Job No 46721) He said the library replaced a joint facility Environmental Action-Young people have La Trobe University. established in 1991 under a memorandum their say. Printed by Vaughan Printing Pty Ltd. of understanding between La Trobe Website: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin 2 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2002 NEWS Work begins on new $17 million Plant Biosciences Facility Work will begin next year on a new $17 It will help raise the quality of agricultural Other members of the Plant Biosciences million Plant Biosciences Facility on the produce – grains, pastures and horticulture Facility consortium are La Trobe La Trobe University Research and – protect the environment, and improve the University; Florigene Ltd, a division of Development Park, situated on the main productivity and incomes of farmers and Nufarm Ltd, which will be moving from its Melbourne campus at Bundoora. workers in regional and rural Victoria. present location in Collingwood; and This follows recent State government Key partner in the venture is the Plant RMIT and Monash universities. approval of a $7.8 million Science and Biotechnology Centre of Agriculture Professor Smith said the new facility will Technology Innovation Initiative grant. Victoria, part of the Department of Natural provide the latest technology, in both The facility will comprise new technical Resources and Environment. The centre hardware and software, and will encourage and laboratory buildings, glasshouses and has been based at La Trobe for the past greater scientific interaction between ancillary equipment. A joint government, eight years. Led by Professor German government, industry and university university and industry initiative, it will Spangenberg, it has grown from ten researchers. eventually house around 100 scientists and scientists in 1994 to 60 people this year. With increased emphasis on patenting and support staff. La Trobe scientists and postgraduate licensing of technology, the facility also La Trobe Deputy Vice-Chancellor, students work closely with the Plant aims to boost the numbers of commercially (Research) Professor Fred Smith, Biotechnology Centre through the successful Australian products and described it as an exciting development for University’s Centre for Sustainable Plant enterprises. It will co-operate closely with the University. He said the facility will be Production. This collaboration also the University’s Technology Enterprise one of the major centres of plant involves links with Agriculture Victoria’s Centre, located nearby on the La Trobe biotechnology research in Australia – the field research stations in Hamilton, R&D Park to support the development of other two being in Queensland and South Horsham, Rutherglen and Tatura. spin-off companies. Australia. An important component of the facility will be a ‘Research Hotel’, based on a Canadian model, for the temporary accommodation of promising new biotechnology ventures. This will enable small research groups to access specialised equipment and expertise not otherwise available to them. Approving the grant, State Minister for Innovation, John Brumby, said the economic future of regional Victoria relied, in part, on developing high value, globally competitive produce. ‘The Bundoora Plant Biosciences Facility will ensure that there is a next generation of Victorian agriculture by researching the use of plant biomarkers, plant specific Professors Spangenberg, left, and Parish. Continued page 4 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2002 3 NEWS $200M expansion for $2.6m for La Trobe R&D Park three NHMRC grants The new Plant Biosciences Facility is part engaged in mining, medical and of a $200 million expansion program for biotechnical research and environmental La Trobe University gained three grants the La Trobe University Research and and forensic sciences. The Victoria totalling $2,643,000 in the National Development Park over the next seven Forensic Science Centre adjoins the Park. Health and Medical Research Council years. La Trobe and CRI Australia Pty Ltd Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (NHMRC) funding round for projects have entered into an agreement, appointing Professor Fred Smith, said the Park is an starting in 2003. CRI as developer of the Park. integral part of La Trobe, one of The NHMRC allocated a total of $150 As well as the scientific support outlined in Australia’s largest multi-campus million of which $55.5 flowed to the main article, previous page, La Trobe universities, known for excellence in universities and institutes in Victoria. will contribute to the new Facility teaching and research in the biological, Winners at La Trobe University were: expertise it has gained over the last six computing, engineering, health and years in developing and managing new environmental sciences. Dr Anthony Smith (Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and technology enterprises in its Technology It differs from most other technology parks Society): $2,250,000 over five years for Enterprise Centre. in its three-level approach to tiered ‘An Australian longitudinal study of Already the preferred location for more business development. health and relationships’. than 30 technology tenants, the La Trobe The levels are: Incubator Suites offering Dr Graham Lamb (Department of Park covers 50 hectares, and is one of office and laboratory space for start-up Zoology): $300,000 for research over Australia’s largest and most prestigious businesses in the TEC; facilities for middle three years on ‘Normal and aberrant technology parks. stage growth and small mature technology behaviour of ion channels regulating Other major occupants of the La Trobe companies; and Major Tenant Areas calcium release and contraction in the University R&D Park include Rio Tinto designed for large technology businesses heart’. Technical Services, scientific laboratories with custom designed buildings of 2,000 - of the Environment Protection Authority, 10,000 square metres. Ⅲ Professor Judith Lumley (Centre for the Study of Mothers’ and Children’s the Walter & Eliza Hall Research Institute Contact: Tel. (03) 9479 1949 Biotechnology Centre, and the CARM Health): $93,000 over two years for a Centre, as well as other companies study on ‘Perinatal outcomes following treatment for cervical dysplasia’. at certain stages of a plant’s development, Reports on Dr Lamb’s and Dr Smith’s New Plant or under certain environmental conditions, projects appear on pages 5 and 6.