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Funding boost for UNSW researchUNSW researchers have been awarded more than $65 million in funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council. The University has been awarded $33 million in the latest round of Australian Research Council funding. For more information about the ARC funding, go to: http://www.arc.gov.au/arc_home/default.htm The University has also been awarded almost $35 million in funding for its medical research from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). This represents more than a quarter of the total funding allocated to New South Wales-based research institutions from the prestigious funding body. A total of 42 grants were awarded to UNSW. The funding includes a $14.5 million five-year program grant to a team lead by Professor Colin Chesterman from the Centre for Vascular Research (CVR) at UNSW. This is a continuation of one of the largest and longest-running program grants ever awarded by the NHMRC. For more information about the NHMRC funding, go to: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/ Kids learn to grow in their own gardenIt’s easy being green for the youngest members of the UNSW community. Children at UNSW’s child care centres will learn how to grow their own organic vegetables, raise animals, protect flora and fauna and recycle when the centres gain access to the Ecoliving Centre’s permaculture garden later this year. New management arrangements will provide the University’s child care centres with exclusive and protected access to the Arthur Street garden, which sits on their property. The new arrangements follow a plan to move the Ecoliving Centre from its Arthur Street residence to new facilities with its parent Environment Unit on the University’s western campus. “The children and their families will learn about sustainable food production, caring for chickens and native fauna such as frogs and birds. They’ll also be able to eat the organic seasonable vegetables they’ll grow in their own garden,” said Sylvia Turner, Director of Tigger’s Place Child Care Centre. “This is an exciting opportunity to provide the children with practical environmental education and the garden will now be incorporated into the children’s daily program of activities.” A separate organic garden for students is being considered for the main campus in the New Year, expanding the University’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices. Students will be encouraged to contribute to the new garden’s design process. “The Ecoliving Centre’s move to main campus has given us a great opportunity to expand our environmental education activities across the University,” said Ecoliving Centre Manager Cameron Little. “We will continue to provide guidance, where needed, to the child care centres as part of a continuing environmental action plan, and will also be undertaking new initiatives for UNSW and the wider community.” Every drop counts at UNSWUNSW has reduced its consumption of potable water by a third over the past seven years, and is planning to cut this figure by half over the next four years thanks to a plan designed to increase the University’s environmental sustainability. Last month the University’s Chief Operating Officer, Peter Graham, signed off the Water Saving Action Plan, prepared by UNSW Facilities Management for the NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability. The plan outlines where savings have been made since 1999, through borewater substitution, installation of water-saving devices and an active maintenance program. It also provides a framework for continued improvement of water efficiency and waste minimisation that focuses on increased borewater substitution for uses such as toilet flushing and cooling towers, and leak detection and replacement of inefficient infrastructure. In a further move towards environmental sustainability, the University will also be replacing most of the water it is pumping out, following the installation in August of a percolation chamber to recharge the aquifer from which our borewater is drawn. The Water Saving Action Plan identifies further annual savings of nearly 168 megalitres (more than 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools) as a result of these measures. In dollar terms, this represents savings of $350,000 each year for an upfront cost of about $1.37 million, giving a payback period of less than four years. Facilities Management Director Alan Egan congratulated the team responsible for pulling the plan together, and emphasised the importance of continuing to conserve Australia’s most essential resource. “UNSW has demonstrated that both cutting edge technologies and simple commonsense attitudes to the way we work can make a significant difference,” he said. “I’m sure that implementation of this plan over the next few years will continue to derive significant benefits – environmentally, financially, and to the University’s reputation.” Message from Peter Graham, Chief Operating OfficerIn the past, the University has held a UNSW Expo every four years where the campus was open to the wider general public. Please be advised that we will no longer hold the Expo day events in the future and the large financial outlay (over $400,000 per event) will be directed to higher University priorities. Every year Courses & Careers Day (C&C Day) is successfully hosted by the University. During the years that the UNSW Expo has been held, C&C Day was incorporated into the event. C&C Day very effectively targets potential undergraduate students and their parents, therefore it will continue as a stand-alone event each year. Should you have any queries, or require any further information on this decision, please contact Sue-Anne Chew, Acting Director, Marketing Services, sue-anne.chew@unsw.edu.au Breaking new ground in ChangiUNSW Asia took the first step towards construction of its Changi campus last week, with earth works commencing at the greenfield site. Earth moving equipment has been brought in to set ground levels before the foundation for Stage One of the development is laid next month. An on-site nursery has also been established to ensure that the campus has a sufficient supply of mature trees for landscaping. Stage One, which is expected to be completed in late 2008, includes the library, science/engineering building, academic and administrative facilities, teaching suites and research laboratories. “After more than two years of planning and hard work by many within the University community, it is great to see work start at the Changi campus site. As we finalise the design and documentation of the buildings, we look forward to having the main construction works commence early next year,” said Tony Inglis, the Changi Project Director. An inspired response to its environs, the UNSW Asia Changi campus will provide the best in world-class teaching and research facilities in a design that seeks to dissolve the boundaries between the built and natural environments. Internationally acclaimed Singapore-based firm, Kerry Hill Architects, has designed the campus master plan and main building for the new campus. Sydney architects Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW) will join with Singapore-based firm Team 3 to design the Science and Engineering Laboratory building, which will provide high-quality undergraduate teaching facilities, research labs and office accommodation. George Williams to deliver terrorism lectureUNSW’s Professor George Williams will discuss five years of Australian anti-terror legislation in the sixth and final Brain Food lecture for 2006. What price security? will examine the effectiveness of Australia’s laws dealing with terrorism. “Until September 11 2001 Australia had no national laws dealing with terrorism. Since then we have enacted 37 new laws, or a new law around every seven weeks. New laws were needed to deal with terrorism. A legal response was required to signal that as a society we reject such violence and to ensure that our police and other agencies have the powers they need to protect the community,” Professor Williams said. “However, five years down the track it is time to ask how effective these laws have been in protecting the community and whether we have undermined some of the very freedoms that the laws are designed to protect. In fighting the “war on terror” we must not become the victims of our own fears.” George Williams is the Anthony Mason Professor and Director of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the Faculty of Law. The Brain Food lecture series is presented by the UNSW Alumni Association. What: Professor George Williams delivers the Brain Food lecture on What Price Security? When: 6pm for a 6.30pm start, Wednesday 25 October 2006. Tea and coffee will be served prior to the presentation. Where: The Galleries, The John Niland Scientia Building Seats are strictly limited. RSVP essential by Friday, 20 October Contact: ph9385 3279, alumni@unsw.edu.au or visit www.alumni.unsw.edu.au |