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Curtin University
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The Curtin Wire: Science

Issue s1, term 1, 2011
Spatial science students

Free Spatial Science workshops

The Department of Spatial Sciences at Curtin is offering free Surveying and Geographic Information Science (GIS) workshops to secondary school students.

There are various sessions scheduled from May to September for school groups or for individuals primarily in years 9-11. The workshops will be run as a 2 hour session.

Schools or individuals are welcome to book for a morning session of one workshop followed by an afternoon session of the alternate workshop.

The workshops are held at the Department of Spatial Sciences building 207 on the Curtin Campus.

To find out more about the available sessions, dates and to book a school group or individual group session please contact the Department of Spatial Sciences on +61 8 9266 7566 or email spatial@curtin.edu.au

Contact the department early to obtain your preferred time and date. Sessions fill quickly!

New science degree offers flexibility for environment and agriculture

Curtin has re-structured its Bachelor of Science degree offerings, providing a wider choice, with more options and greater flexibility to students.

The new degree allows students to focus their studies primarily on one area of science (by completing a single extended major) or to study more than one area of science by completing a double major. The new course structure provides students with greater flexibility.

Students studying the agriculture major can also select agribusiness as a second major and graduate with a Bachelor of Agribusiness. The Bachelor of Agribusiness has previously been delivered by Curtin University at the Muresk campus. The new program offers students the opportunity to study within both the School of Science and the Curtin Business School at the Bentley Campus.

Curtin students who will participate in the science forum

Best and brightest attend national science forum

Now in Canberra and Perth, the National Youth Science Forum is the only program in Australia that offers students currently in Year 11, moving into Year 12 in 2012, who wish to follow careers in science, engineering and technology.

It does this by introducing them to research and researchers, by encouraging the achievement of excellence in all their undertakings, and by helping to develop their communication and interpersonal skills.

It also fosters discussion of, and interest in, major national and global issues and emphasises the importance of maintaining continuing active interests in sport, arts and music. All this plus the chance to test-drive a wide range of universities and careers in the sciences via a two week live-in camp.

Applications for 2012 close around May (date to be confirmed).

For more information see the National Youth Science Forum website.

The Science Experience

Three days of hands-on science at Curtin for students who are entering year 10 in 2012. This gives students who have an interest in science an opportunity to engage in a wide range of fascinating science activities under the guidance of scientists who love their work.

Participants perform experiments in the laboratories, meet and hear senior lecturers in the lecture theatres, attend site visits and walk around and experience what it is like to be at university.

Curtin's program is designed to provide information about further studies in science, technology and engineering. It highlights the wide range of careers that allow students to pursue their interest and abilities in the sciences.

For more information see The Science Experience.

Astrofest

With activities, displays and telescopes of all shapes and sizes, Astrofest 2011 is sure to get people of all ages and backgrounds switched on to astronomy and science.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet with local astronomers and scientists as well as experience an AstroArt exhibition featuring the work of WA astrophotographers and artists.

On 12 March the Sun will set just after 6:30pm, with Mercury and Jupiter not far behind. The waxing crescent Moon will be less than a week old, presenting spectacular views of the terminator and craters. To the South will be the Southern Cross, The Jewel Box Open Cluster, Omega Centauri, a globular cluster and our galactic neighbours the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Saturn will also rise just before 8pm.

Before the sun sets, Astrofest will start at 5:00pm with displays, information booths 'space domes' and activities.

Date: 12 March 2011
Time: 5pm onwards
Location: Edinburg Oval - Curtin
Audience: everyone
Cost: Free
For more information: Pete Wheeler: pete.wheeler@icrar.org

Bayliss Youth Lecture

The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc (WA Branch) established the Bayliss Youth Lecture series to pay tribute to the late Eminent Professor Sir Noel Bayliss, Kt, CBE, FAA, FRACI for his contribution to chemistry and education, his encouragement of young students to study chemistry.

Chemistry Matters In this lecture Allan and Jeff will discuss some of the major ways Chemistry has improved our lifestyle and standard of living. These chemical advances will be demonstrated by a series of chemical reactions involving bangs, flashes, flames and fantastic colours.

Date: 11 April 2011
Time: 7pm
Location: Curtin - Ken Hall Lecture Theatre (403:101)
Audience: all
Cost: Free
For more information: Simon Lewis: S.Lewis@curtin.edu.au or +61 8 9266 2484
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$9 million invested in new state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities

The two-storey development at our Bentley Campus is an exciting and long awaited project providing new teaching and learning facilities for its occupational therapy and social work students.

The facility has been designed following extensive research, consultation and planning with staff, students and clinicians; the results are a cutting edge teaching and learning space. The development will use simulated scenarios alongside current technologies, strengthening the competencies of our graduates.

To learn more about this innovative and integrated learning space, visit the School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work.

Helping young people help themselves

Curtin University has developed a free online resource to help community agencies work more effectively with at-risk youth.

The My-Peer Toolkit website launched in 2010 was developed in response to a lack of resources for community agencies working with at-risk youth said Project Coordinator Jonathan Hallett.

The My-Peer Toolkit provides good practice guidelines and resources for planning, implementing and evaluating peer-based youth programs. Contents of the Toolkit website includes:

  • Rationales of why peer-based programs may work
  • Information on program policies, ethical practice, staff recruitment and training and supervision of staff and volunteers
  • Examples of different program strategies
  • Evaluation tools that can be used to measure and monitor the impacts of the program
  • Case studies.

The Toolkit can be accessed at the My-Peer website.

Download PDF [635 kB]

Last year's OT exhibition

Occupational Therapy fourth year exhibition

Come and experience Occupational Therapy in action. Guests will have the opportunity to view and participate in over 15 displays and exhibits, by fourth year occupational therapy students, showing the diverse aspects of this exciting profession.

The exhibition will run from 10am to 1pm on Friday 11 March at Curtin's Bentley Campus, outside building 401, the Atkinson Forum/lecture theatre and the walkways of building 103.

For more information visit the School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work.

Image from the new camera

Catch a falling star

Star-gazing cameras have helped a team of scientists from around the world to discover a new meteorite in Western Australia's Nullarbor Plain.

Adjunct Professor, Phil Bland, of Curtin University's Department of Applied Geology, said images from the cameras would help his team to reveal more about the new 'space rock's' chemistry and original orbit in the Solar System.

"The cameras each take a time-lapse picture every night to record any meteorites which can be identified from the fireballs they form as they travel through Earth's atmosphere," he said.

The cameras are accurate, enabling the researchers to pinpoint the most recent meteorite to within 150 metres from where it had landed.

By using networks of cameras to locate meteorites on Earth, Professor Bland said the research could supplement and provide a low-cost alternative to expensive space missions.

Interprofessional curriculum in the Faculty of Health Sciences

The Faculty of Health Sciences is excited to launch the new interprofessional education curriculum in semester one of this year.

The Faculty is the first in Australia to introduce an interprofessional education curriculum for all first year health science students across all 19 undergraduate degrees. This cutting edge program recognises the need to change the way health professionals are educated to prepare them for the ever-changing health and social demands globally and to improve the services provided to the community.

For more information visit the Faculty of Health Sciences.

International Year of Chemistry Launch

Curtin's Head of the Department of Chemistry, Professor Mark Buntine, was invited to discuss 'chemistry education' at the Australian launch of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011, that took place at Parliament House in Canberra in February.

IYC 2011 celebrated chemists for their leading roles in environmental protection and Australia's economic development. Professor Buntine represented Curtin's Chemistry Department, which is recognised nationally for its high-quality chemical research and education.

Throughout the year the Chemistry Department will be hosting a program of school and public events, and playing a leading role with activities organised by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, including a travelling exhibition on chemistry and food that will tour regional centres throughout WA.

For more information see the International Year of Chemistry website.

Curtin ICT & emerging technology

Curtin University has officially launched its ICT and Emerging Technology research portal as part of the Australasian Computer Science Week Conference. The portal will showcase key research, news and events from the field to over 200 researchers, students, government, industry and community.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jeanette Hacket said information and communication technologies research was particularly important for Curtin as it underpinned the long-term advancement of the University's other key research areas, namely health, sustainable development and minerals and energy.

Associate Director of Curtin's eResearch Project Centre, Peter Hicks, said Curtin had achieved a number of milestones in the area of ICT and emerging technologies in 2010, and welcomed the upcoming opportunity to demonstrate the University's plans to further strengthen and expand upon its commitment to the field.

For more information visit ICT and Emerging Technologies at Curtin