 |
||
 |
 |
      |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
||
Peter Cullen joins Deakin academics in quest for sustainable future
Professor Peter Cullen, one of Australia’s most eminent thinkers, will head a stellar line-up of speakers as Deakin University explores new ways to create a sustainable future.
Professor Cullen, a member of the Wentworth
Group of Concerned Scientists, will join with Deakin's own Associate Professor
Geoff Wescott and Dr Anne Wallis in the public forum entitled:
YES IT IS UNSUSTAINABLE BUT IT IS NOT MY FAULT,
to be held at St Michael's Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne
at 6pm on Tuesday, October 9.
"We are thrilled that Professor Cullen has agreed to take part," said Professor David Stokes, Deakin's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
"He has become an important voice, not just in Australia but globally, as we try to grapple with issues like climate change, the lack of water and creating industries that are sustainable.
"Quite obviously, and as the title of the forum suggests, much of our current lifestyle in Australia is unsustainable.
"The big thing for us all now, from individuals to major corporations, is to come up with new ways of thinking so that we can enjoy our current way of living, but without it costing the earth."
Admission is free and bookings are not essential.
The forum is being recorded for broadcast on ABC Radio National’s Life Matters program later this month.
For further information about the forum, ring (03) 5223 2918.
Deakin University is doing its bit to reverse the brain drain, bringing home – literally – Professor Andy Bennett.
After a first degree at University of Adelaide, and then a D.Phil. at Oxford with an 1851 Science Research Scholarship, since 1998, Professor Bennett has been based at one of Britain’s leading research institutions, the University of Bristol, where the group of which he is a leading member achieved the highest grade attainable in the UK Research Assessment Exercise.
However,
the bulk of his ground-breaking work in the field of ultraviolet vision
and how colour is assessed and considered in ecology, evolutionary biology
and animal behaviour has been on Australian animals.
“I already spend much time in Australia, running field projects in SA, Victoria and NSW” Professor Bennett said.
“Now I can do that on a permanent basis at Deakin, something I am really looking forward to. In addition, the trajectory of the university, and the can-do attitude of so many staff has impressed me. It’s a wonderful opportunity and it’s great to be on board at Deakin at this time.”
Professor Bennett’s choice of Deakin is a fascinating one for more than the obvious reason of being attracted to the young, dynamic research institution.
He is a great grandson of Alfred Deakin, the former Australian Prime Minister after whom the university is named and Andy and his family will in fact initially live in the old Deakin holiday house home near Geelong when he returns to Australia early next year.
“My third initial is D and yes, it stands for Deakin,” Professor Bennett said.
That third initial has been a handy part of life at Bristol which has another Andrew Bennett.
And there’s another Andrew Bennett at Deakin, one who has already made a global name for himself in wildlife ecology, conservation biology and landscape ecology.
The Andrew Bennett returning from Bristol is also a world expert in his field.
Andy’s research has been cited more than 1800 times and incorporated into popular science books and textbooks.
Andy’s research is often reported in the media including The Economist, Washington Post, The Sunday Times, New Scientist, and in various BBC natural history programs and the ABC’s Science Show.
He is on the editorial board of the Proceedings of the Royal Society (Biological Sciences) and has been editor at American Naturalist and has also led, on behalf of Bristol University, regular lecture tours to the Galapagos Islands.
“My research work in biology is multi-disciplinary” Professor Bennett said.
“It spans from the neural and molecular level to behaviour, ecology and evolutionary biology and involves neuroscience, physiology, and the physics of light reflecting and absorbing structures.”
Professor Bennett has in particular
been investigating:
• Vision and colouration of animals, particularly of birds
• Spectrometry and spectrofluorometry to characterise animal pigmentation
• Origins and maintenance of trait variability in ‘ring species’
• Sexual selection
• Effects of development stress
• Bird pollination and co-evolution with plants
• Nanostructures producing colouration and the type of information
conveyed
• Evolutionary biology and ecology of Australian animals
• Animal welfare
• Pest management of birds utilising knowledge of their sensory
abilities
“Andy Bennett will be an extremely valuable addition to our research capabilities,” said Professor David Stokes, Deakin’s DVC Research.
“He is a plumb signing for us, even without the wonderful connection to Alfred Deakin.
“I am really looking forward to him joining us next year.”
EVENTS
Smart Geelong Network Research and Learning Expo -
18 to 26 August 2007, including Researcher of the Year Awards Dinner celebrating
the achievements of Geelong's most talented researchers. The guest speaker
is Professor David Stokes, Deakin University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Research).
To find out more: www.smartgeelongnetwork.com.au
or call 5226 7707
Research Services Division:
Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds
Pigdons Road, Geelong, Victoria 3217 Australia
Telephone: +61 3 5227 2673 Facsimile:
+61 3 5227 2175
Email: dvc-research@deakin.edu.au
www.deakin.edu.au/research
Deakin Research Updates - back copies
Back issues of Deakin Research Updates are available at: www.deakin.edu.au/research
Biodiesel the way to go says Professor Leigh Ackland
Next time you're stuck in traffic behind a big diesel truck belching smoke into the air, you have every right to be fuming, too!
Researchers at Deakin University have found that diesel exhaust is far more damaging to our health than that from biodiesel, the plant-based fuel.
Associate Professor Leigh Ackland, Associate Head of Deakin’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences has led a team of researchers who compared the effects of diesel exhaust and biodiesel exhaust on human airway cells.
Professor Ackland’s team found diesel exhaust damaged and killed the cells, while biodiesel exhaust had little effect.
“Australia's escalating need for fuel is posing a major health problem,” Associate Professor Ackland said.
“The fumes from burning fuels, including diesel, contribute to pollution and can cause heart disease, bronchitis and asthma.
“Efforts are underway to replace petrol and diesel with cleaner biofuels, such as biodiesel, but there is considerable resistance to this.
“This study provides clear evidence that diesel exhaust is more harmful to our health than biodiesel exhaust.”
As it is not possible to study in real time what happens in the real human airway, the researchers conducted their research on human airway cells grown in a culture.
The cells were exposed to the particulate matter emitted in diesel and biodiesel exhaust fumes.
“Particulate matter is the burnt material, including carbon particles, emitted into the air. This particulate matter is part of biodiesel and diesel fumes but the particles produced from biodiesel were much less damaging to the cells than particles produced from diesel,” Associate Professor Ackland explained.
“Our research found that the particulate matter from diesel exhaust stimulated a ‘death pathway’ response that the body uses to dispose of damaged cells. This response caused the airway cells to fuse together and die.
“We saw hardly any cell death after treatment with biodiesel particulates.”
Associate Professor Ackland said that the results of the study provide support for calls to move towards replacing petrol and diesel with cleaner biofuels.
“It is clear that breathing in diesel fumes is going to have a far more detrimental effect on our health than biodiesel. Given the level of cell death we have found, diesel exhaust could be the cause of respiratory disorders such as asthma and could even be implicated in cancer,” she said.
The study has been published in the lastest edition of the international journal Immunology and Cell Biology.
Wei Duan improves survival chances of brain tumour sufferers
Associate Professor Wei Duan from Deakin University’s Medical School has secured his second national competitive grant since moving to Deakin – an NHMRC project grant that looks into novel treatment options for highly malignant brain tumours.
"Most people with malignant brain tumours die within a year after diagnosis due to the difficulty in effectively delivering drugs to the tumour cells," Professor Duan said.
"We aim to develop a safe and novel drug delivery system to effectively deliver anti-cancer drugs and novel anti-cancer agents to brain tumour cells that remain in the brain after surgery.
A full report on the forum!