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.”

Ancient microscopic organisms could become the tools of the future when it comes to advancing material science in areas such as solar cell technology.

Furthermore, a 2008 Honours student has published his proof of the concept in the renowned Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS).

Jeremiah Toster, who was in the first cohort of Bachelor of Science students to study nanotechnology, has successfully manipulated the silica shells of diatoms so they can be used as platforms for developing useful materials in areas of health, energy and the environment.

In early October, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson, officially launched the presence of UWA in the acclaimed interactive 3D virtual world of Second Life.

The dream to recreate the beautiful, picturesque grounds of the University of Western Australia in virtual 3-Dimensional glory began in May 2007 and resulted in creation of the UWA Virtual Universe & UWA’s triumph in the Google Earth ‘Build your Campus in 3D’ competition. This dream moves into a new dimension, as creators of the Virtual Universe, Dr Chris Thorne (School of Physics Honorary Research Associate) and Jay Jay Jegathesan (School Manager), have teamed up with 3D visualisation guru, Paul Bourke, Senior Research Fellow with UWA’s Western Australian Supercomputer Program (WASP) to bring UWA into Second Life, a virtual world accessible via the Internet which enables its users to interact with others through avatars and they are able to socialize and participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade virtual property and services or travel throughout the virtual world.

Dr Mark Wood’s hands-on puzzles have been the biggest sellers in a couple of Australia’s leading department store toy sections for the past five years and have won numerous awards here, in the US and the UK.

However, they are more than just a stimulating way to spend a Sunday afternoon; they’re helping create new research opportunities.

Dr Wood, who has a background in psychology and education, creates the puzzles with his research partner Frank Dyksterhuis, a mathematician and physicist.

As well as entertaining people, they can also open children’s and adults’ minds to logical and deductive thinking, enhance problem-solving strategies and encourage creativity.