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Pip, Pip, Hooray!
Professor
Pip Hamilton A.M., who retired in August, has made an enormous contribution
to turning Deakin University into a genuine research institution.
“Under Pip’s leadership, Deakin’s research performance and research profile have improved greatly,” said Deakin’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sally Walker, at a well-attended formal farewell at the Management Centre at Waurn Ponds on August 8th.
“His strategy has been to encourage and facilitate the development of research concentrations, aligning a critical mass of researchers into Research Priority Areas.
“These Research Priority Areas have contributed to the creation of a stimulating research culture and an excellent environment for research training; they have encouraged the optimal use of infrastructure and scarce resources.”
Pip Hamilton was appointed to the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Deakin in 1997; he became Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) in 2002.
During Pip’s tenure, annual research income has grown from $2 million in 1996 to $22 million in 2005. This rate of research growth far exceeds the average annual rate of growth for the higher education sector.
His contribution to developing a culture of research at Deakin University is demonstrated by other performance measures: publications in the national collection have grown from 350 in 1996 to more than 1,000 in 2005, higher degree by research completions have grown from 54 in 1996 to more than 140 in recent years.
Pip’s contribution to Deakin goes way beyond figures though.
Deakin’s first Federation Fellow, Professor Peter Hodgson, said it was his personal touch, his ability to walk the university and talk to potential researchers, that really won the respect and support of staff.
“It was amazing the way he went out into the schools and spoke to the staff,” Professor Hodgson said. “That would be unheard of in other universities, but that’s the sort of person Pip is.
“He was instrumental in me applying for my Federation Fellow. He not only talked me into it, but gave up his time on weekends to read and re-read my submission.
“It’s that sort of dedication that has helped changed the university’s approach to research.
No longer is it just an add-on to teaching work, it is part of the culture.”
Alison Hadfield, Director of Research Services, said Pip was a wonderful team player.
“He has the ability to put his ego in his hip pocket when it comes to the good of the cause,” she said.
YES I AM FAT, BUT IT IS NOT MY FAULT!
Deakin
University continues to take the pre-eminent role in the fight against
obesity, not just in Victoria, but nationally and internationally.
Professor Boyd Swinburn’s Be Active - Eat Well project based around a study of residents of Colac in the Western District attracted media coverage as far afield as India, the United States and London in August.
Professor Swinburn, an acknowledged world leader in this field, is the only Australian taking part in the McGill University Think Tank on Obesity to be held in Canada in October.
The Colac project will be high on the agenda there and may become the template for a community-based approach towards combating obesity for the rest of the world.
The McGill Think Tank will also be attended by billionaire benefactor Bill Gates and the former president of the United States, Bill Clinton, as well as some of the world’s leading medical experts and economists.
As Professor Swinburn has pointed out many times, the fight against obesity will not be won just by the nutritionists, but the regulators and economists will also have to play a considerable part.
Which is why Professor Richard Ingleby from Deakin’s Law School has joined the many partnerships at Deakin looking for ways to prevent today’s young people from becoming the first generation to die before their parents.
Professor Ingleby will be a key speaker in another Deakin initiative aimed at raising awareness about the need to take action now to end the obesity epidemic.
YES I AM FAT, BUT IT IS NOT MY FAULT! – a panel discussion involving some of Australia’s best minds - will look at just whose responsibility it is to deal with obesity.
Is it the role of the individual, as some in Government claim?
Is it the health experts, the regulators, the economists or all of the above?
The panel discussion will take place at the beautiful St Michael’s Church in Collins Street, Melbourne, on October 17, starting at 6pm, and coincides with Professor Swinburn’s visit to McGill University.
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
The touch of paradise
In the ancient Persian language, Minoo means "Paradise".
Talk even for just a few moments with Deakin PhD student Minoo Naebe and it doesn’t take long to realise she believes she has found another paradise in her new country.
“The great art of Australia,” she says, “is to make a foreigner feel welcome.
“Two years ago, I arrived in Australia, a young person abroad for the first time without much English, at 1am. There was a person there from Deakin to pick me up.
Tong Lin's taking Deakin to the world
The miniscule fibres produced by the tantalising science of nanotechnology promise many things - better, stronger, cleaner materials; exciting medical advances that include the re-generation of skin for burn victims without scarring, and even safer air-conditioning systems.
They’re also - as Dr Tong Lin proves in his softly spoken way - a powerful symbol of the global village. If not exactly at the nanoscale yet, the world of research is getting smaller.
- Making our water safer
Events
Friday 15 September 2006
Join Deakin University winemaker, Duncan McGillivery at the launch
of Waurn Ponds Estate's exciting range of premium wines from the 2006
vintage.
When: 1pm Official opening. Tastings
and sales available from 10am-5pm
Where: The Winery, Geelong Technology Precinct
Cost: Free
More info:
john.paxton@deakin.edu.au
Tuesday 17 October 2006
YES I AM FAT BUT IT IS NOT MY FAULT! - Professors David Penington,
Richard Ingleby and Louise Baur and Dr Francis McNab look at whose role
it is to combat the obesity epidemic.
When: 6pm
Where: St Michael's Church, Collins Street, Melbourne
Cost: Free
Info: warwick@gsdm.com.au