FREE Publication November 2008 | Volume 17 | Number 9 inside this issue 5 PM’s science prize Institute’s early health focus shines light on 7 research The good oil: making a difference to premature babies 11 Enjoyment the key to success for new Rhodes Scholar 13 Physics for Innovation, Industry, Science & Above: Group defi es Research Senator Kim Carr. This new class of optical fi bres has a variety species loss Professor Monro is Director of of medical and defence applications University of Adelaide physicist the Centre of Expertise in Photonics Professor Tanya Monro has been within the University of Adelaide’s Professor Monro said she was awarded a Prime Minister’s Science School of Chemistry and Physics “absolutely thrilled” to receive Prize for 2008. and, at just 35, is already regarded what she regarded as the highest Professor Monro has created as one of the world’s leaders in recognition possible by this stage in a new class of optical fi bres with optical fi bre technology. Earlier this her career. innovative potential applications in year she was awarded one of the “It’s recognition that the research medical research, defence, industry 2008 Australian Research Council I and my fabulous team are doing and environmental science. (ARC) Federation Fellowships. is of world-class quality and She has been awarded the This new class of optical fi bres, importance,” she said. Malcolm McIntosh Prize for containing air holes and made from “We are not just concentrating Physical Scientist of the Year which soft glass, is broadening the role of on a narrow area of science. What recognises outstanding research of optical fi bres from communications we are doing is bringing together a global importance by early-career to areas such as diagnostics range of expertise to solve specifi c scientists. This was one of fi ve – detecting trace quantities of problems with great potential Prime Minister’s Science Prizes chemicals or biomolecules – and benefi t for industry, health and the awarded last month by Prime a variety of medical and defence environment.” Minister Kevin Rudd and Minister applications. continued on page 4 Adelaidean Adelaidean is the offi cial newspaper of the University of Adelaide. It provides news and information about the University to the general public, with a focus on Life Impact. Circulation: 11,000 per month From the Vice-Chancellor (March to December) Online readership: 90,000 hits per month (on average) www.adelaide.edu.au/adelaidean The current fi nancial crisis means that economics is Australia’s fi rst agricultural college. It is an excellent Editor: at the forefront of the news – and our minds – on a daily example in itself of an institution that has contributed David Ellis basis. Economics (or perhaps I am just talking about greatly to industry, government and society over time. Design and Layout: Chris Tonkin money!) is extremely important in every aspect of our Over the past 125 years, Roseworthy has developed Writers: lives, and there’s no exception for Australian universities, an international reputation for excellence in research Candy Gibson which must continue to fi nd ways of doing more with and teaching in dryland agriculture, natural resources Robyn Mills less federal funding. management, winemaking and animal production. There Contributors: Claire Oremland We all must pay great attention to the fi nancial have been no shortage of challenges over the years – as Lana Guineay situation and respond accordingly, whether that be on an agricultural college, Roseworthy has had to weather Charmaine Newton a personal level or an institutional level. And although times of drought as well as the Great Depression, Deadline for December issue: Friday 7 November, 2008 funding is extremely important to education, not waxing and waning interest in agricultural studies, and Editorial/Advertising enquiries: everything can be measured in fi nancial terms. Tertiary changes to academic programs. Tel: +61 8 8303 5414 education is highly valuable and intrinsic to society, In its 125th year, Roseworthy is looking strong. The Fax: +61 8 8303 4829 Email: [email protected] but it often defi es the best efforts of accountants new Veterinary Science school has brought with it and economists to quantify, and perhaps that’s not renewed interest in studies at Roseworthy, and the Mailing address: a bad thing. relevance of the campus to animal science education, Adelaidean Marketing & Strategic Take, for example, the University of Adelaide’s history research and innovation in this State is at an all-time Communications, and its enormous contribution to society over more than high. Roseworthy has been and will remain an Australian University of Adelaide, SA 5005 130 years. While it might be possible for someone to and world leader in dryland agriculture and animal Australia attempt to estimate what the University of Adelaide has science. Through the new Vet School, Roseworthy will Material may be reproduced without contributed back to society – to government, industry also become known as a leader in animal health, with a permission but acknowledgement must be given to the Adelaidean. and the community – it would be impossible to know strong emphasis on the relationship between veterinary Printed by: just how huge that contribution really has been. and human medicine. Lane Print & Post Consider some of the early “fi rsts” that the University The Roseworthy Campus, like the University itself, Distribution: Lane Print & Post was responsible for: the fi rst university in Australia to continues to prove that tertiary education is one of the Passing Out Distribution Co. grant degrees in Science; the fi rst Australian university greatest investments any society can make. Education Registered by Australia Post to admit women to academic courses (in 1881, ahead of is, if you like, a blue chip investment that always provides No 565001/00046 Oxford, which didn’t do so until 1920, and Cambridge, a return to society. Such investments are very hard which admitted women for the fi rst time in 1948). to fi nd. Do you receive too many These and many other major achievements have had an I join with all my colleagues in the University in Adelaideans? Not enough? Want to be added to our mailing list? astonishing impact on society, not just within Adelaide congratulating Roseworthy on 125 years of success. Contact us to let us know. or the State, but across the nation and even around the world. Whenever I consider the University’s history I also invariably think of the unique contributions of each of its individual campuses. This year, the University of Adelaide is celebrating 125 years of Roseworthy. Established in 1883, Roseworthy College (now the JAMES A. McWHA Roseworthy Campus of the University of Adelaide) was Vice-Chancellor and President Art & Heritage Collections The University of Adelaide’s Visual Art Collection includes seven Centi Anni (1973, screen works by the respected Adelaide artist Franz Kempf AM. The artist’s print) by Franz Kempf long association with the University reaches back to 1970 when The was commissioned as part of the University’s Contract (1969, oil on canvas), a painting depicting an Old Testament centenary celebrations in scene, was purchased for the collection. 1974 and is part of a folio Now, almost 40 years later, Franz Kempf has generously donated of prints by fi ve different 25 of his paintings and drawings to the Elder Conservatorium of artists. Several folios, now Music to raise funds for the development of music in this State. collector’s items, are still available for purchase The works are for sale at a special exhibition, Drawing for Music, at from the Art & Heritage Heysen Frames, 110 Finniss Street, North Adelaide, 11am- 4pm every Collections offi ce, Room day from 8–23 November. This is an excellent opportunity to acquire 538, Wills Building, North works by this noted artist and support South Australian music. Terrace Campus. Mirna Heruc, Manager, Art & Heritage Collections 2 Adelaidean Volume 17 | Number 9 | November 2008 News in Brief Adelaide student wins global moot court prize University of Adelaide Law student Georgia Lloyd, 23, has been awarded second prize in a global moot court competition held in Washington DC, United States. More than 1000 delegates from more than 100 countries attended the Advocates International Fifth Christian Lawyer Global Convocation at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill last month. The event focused on themes including justice and compassion, peace and reconciliation, religious freedom, and integrity in law. Georgia and team-mate Inez Fainga’a from Brisbane competed against other teams of two from around the world. The two fi nalist teams presented their argument in front of the Convocation audience, which consisted of judges, solicitors and prosecutors. The Moot competition judges told Georgia that her oral presentation was the best of the whole competition. Georgia, who will be in her fi nal year of Law next year, is hoping to extend her interest in working with children by practicing in the Family Robot to the rescue Law Court. She has worked part-time at the University of Adelaide for a number of years at Unibooks, as team wins prize and is involved in a wide range of community activities. A team of University of Adelaide “It was a great result, refl ecting Below: Engineering Georgia Lloyd at Capitol Hill, Mechanical Engineering students the dedication and talent of these Washington DC has won a national design and students and, more generally, Above: build competition with an all-terrain shows the high level of technology ‘ARTHUR’ with the winning disaster-relief robotic vehicle named and innovation that underpin the designers: (from left) Eric ARTHUR. School’s degree programs.” Parsonage (team captain), The second-year students were The annual competition centres Bryn Crawford, Shane competing against 13 other fi nalist around designs involving rescue of Fitzgerald and Tristan Goss teams from universities across the threatened inhabitants of the Australia, and teams from Malaysia planet “Gondwana”.