University News

These are exciting days for those of us in science teaching and research – even if the economic news is less than rosy. For instance, this year has seen record enrolments in science at UWA, as well as the launch of several major science projects throughout the State. President Obama’s inaugural speech captured this mood well, when he noted that science is going places: “We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise healthcare's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.”

A new program offered by the Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences is helping first year students adapt to the demands of life as a science student.

The Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) program provides students enrolled in large core units an opportunity to work together in groups under the guidance of study group leaders who have already completed the unit.

PAL provides a nurturing environment for students making the transition from the smaller high school environment to university, where classmates can number in the hundreds. The study groups also give them the chance to meet and interact with fellow students.

Welcome to the latest edition of Science Matters. 2009 is the Chinese Year of the Ox. The Ox, sign symbolises prosperity through fortitude and hard work, and given the financial woes of the world, these characteristics may be in high demand.

The Faculty’s ox-like characteristics will see it take on the challenge of 2009 with the expectation of another successful year for our research and teaching.  I am writing this editorial not long after the inauguration of Barack Obama. His presidency is a cause for celebration and there is sense of expectation of great things to come.

UWA will host a prestigious new International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). The WA Government will fund the new centre and its director will be Premier’s Research Fellow Professor Peter Quinn.

The centre will be a joint venture with Curtin University of Technology and will be a key driver in Australia’s bid to be the site of the $2 billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. The SKA project will be the world’s largest, ground-based telescope array, capable of seeing the early stages of the formation of galaxies, stars and planets.

Chancellor Michael Chaney, Vice-Chancellor Robson and Professor Marshall also met up with more than 100 Alumni and friends who turned out on a wintry October evening to attend the UWA Alumni London Reception.

The exhibition hall at Australia House provided a stunning venue, and it seems to be a favourite with Australians living in London.

Also present were the Dean of the Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences Professor George Stewart; the Director of Development Campbell Thomson; and the Chair of the UWA Friends in the UK Group, David MacKinlay.

“I was particularly delighted to see so many of our younger alumni in attendance. Their enthusiasm about being associated with UWA is very positive and encouraging,” Professor Robson said.

In August, more than 160 UWA Alumni attended cocktail functions in Singapore (at the Singapore Cricket Club) and Kuala Lumpur (the Malaysian Petroleum Club).

Scientists at UWA were invited to join their colleagues at one of China’s most prestigious universities, the University of Science and Technology of China in a joint symposium to celebrate USTC’s 50th anniversary.

USTC is located in the city of Hefei in Anhui Province and attracts the top science students from all over China.

The symposium was organised by the College of Life Sciences with the theme of ‘Frontiers in the Life Sciences’.

A group of Year 11 students from Raffles Junior College in Singapore got a good taste of WA – and UWA – during their short-term study program in November-December last year.

The visit was also successful in broadening the horizons of the 38 students to the possibility of studying science or technology at UWA.

Funds are being sought to develop a centre for rehabilitation research at The University of Western Australia. UWA is in a unique position to host such a centre, as it has considerable expertise in rehabilitation research. The proposed centre would capitalise on existing expertise across the campus, build capacity and – through excellence in research – deliver significant benefits to Western Australia and beyond.

One of the most exciting public events of the year was the Beyond Fibres exhibition hosted by the Faculty in March.