Faculty news (2006 semester 2)

Eureka nomination for environmental work

Faculty researcher Dr Andrew Hamilton has been shortlisted as one of three finalists for a prestigious Eureka Prize sponsored by the British Council (Australia), for leadership and innovation in environmental science.

Dr Hamilton has been nominated for developing two models that help natural resource managers make important, environmentally sustainable decisions. One of Dr Hamilton's models helps farmers reduce the use of pesticides. The other helps in the safe operation of recycled water schemes, and improves the efficient use of freshwater resources through recycling.

The Studio – vast modern studio gives students dynamic, creative space

The vibrant new 1050 square metre Studio at Deakin's Waterfront Campus on Corio Bay at the edge of the Geelong City Centre is open to Architecture and Construction Management students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A vast modern space with a 12 metre high roof, uninterrupted by posts, partitions or ceiling, the Studio retains the unique industrial character of the old Dalgety Wool Store building, whilst allowing maximum flexibility for creative work.

This dynamic environment allows close collegiality where students of all year levels work in the same studio and are able to easily attend each other's presentations. Construction Management students take drawing classes and feel free to discuss designs with architecture students.

The studio also serves as a teaching and research laboratory for measuring sustainable use of energy, keeping students in touch with the School's cutting edge research in built environment design and building technology.

Underwater Marine Vehicle – revolutionises learning for Marine Biology students

From 2007 a state of the art remotely operated underwater vehicle will revolutionise learning about the underwater marine environment for Marine Biology students at Deakin by beaming images into the classroom, as they are being generated on the seafloor.

This system, currently being trialled with honours and research students, sends video images in real time to screens in our laboratories at Warrnambool and Burwood. Students in our marine biology classes will be able to have the underwater experience at first hand whilst still in our classrooms.

Students can participate in activities such as identifying marine plants, such as algae and marine animals in their native habitat, rather than in a dish in the classroom, bringing the marine environment to life. Students can see with their own eyes how plants grow, see the diversity of species and identify them, as the underwater vehicle runs across a reef or along the seabed.

The underwater vehicle will provide a unique link for undergraduate students to research being undertaken at the University, by leaders in their field. A whole class could be linked to say, a crew of whale researchers using the underwater vehicle, observing whales from the seafloor. The direct real-time link means that researchers could explain the whale activity that the class is seeing and students could ask the researchers questions. Students can have an immediate interactive experience with a window to the underwater environment and first class research.

Forensic Science Equipment and Research - converting crime scene clues into evidence

Using the very latest in technology, forensic scientists convert the clues collected from a crime scene into evidence admissible in a court of law.
Deakin Forensic Science students have access to a full suite of forensic instrumentation for learning and research unique within the Victorian tertiary sector;

• Applied Biosystems 3130 DNA Analyser
• Digital VSC-1 – Visual Spectral Comparator – Uses Visible and IR light source and filters; visual comparison and differentiation of inks (writing, stamps, printer etc.) with accompanying manipulation of such images for comparison purposes (i.e. side by side, overlay etc.). Additional longwave UV source for the detection of security features and paper comparisons in documents. Incandescent and transmitted light source also available.
• GRIM 2 – Glass Refractive Index Measurement system for determination and comparison of glass fragments using the oil immersion method. This system analyses glass fragments using a phase contrast microscope – temperature and refractive index measurements are captured using the GRIM2 software program: operation of microscope, cooling/heating graphs, quantitative results and full file management system.
• ESDA – Electrostatic Detection Apparatus – Detection, recovery and development of indented impression of writing (or other). Kit comes complete with overlay acetate film, toner beads, toner and fixing film. The unit can develop impressions utilising the bead cascade method or vacuum unit (cascade recommended and standard).
• Sanyo-Gallenkamp Fingerprint Development Chamber
• A variety of forensic light sources and other crime scene equipment
  

Vital Research

It is widely recognised by the forensic community that research is vital for the future successful detection of crime. While at Deakin students will have the opportunity to carry out research at the undergraduate and postgraduate level in a variety of forensic areas. This research is carried out in collaboration with a wide range of forensic scientists and organizations such as the Victoria Police Forensic Services Centre, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, the Australian Federal Police and Forensic Science South Australia.

Research projects are currently proceeding at Deakin in the areas of:

• Chemiluminescence detection of illicit substances
• Forensic Applications of Luminescence Spectroscopy
• Forensic Entomotoxicology
• Novel Reagents for the Visualisation of Latent Fingerprints
• Arson Investigation
• Forensic Analysis of Automotive Paint Traces
• Applications of Raman Spectroscopy to Forensic Analysis
• Forensic Entomology
• Decomposition Chemistry

Forensic science is used in everything from roadside blood-alcohol testing to murder investigations. Science is applied to crime fighting more now than ever before. As people find new ways to commit crimes and new ways to cover their tracks, scientists develop new techniques to prove their guilt.

Design Innovation Award – Deakin students design and build award winning racing car

A team of Deakin Engineering students was awarded The Continental AG "Most Innovative Chassis Design" award at this year's inaugural German Formula Student competition in August 2006 in Hockenheim, Germany.

The team of students, drawn from all years and streams of the Engineering degree, worked together to build a ground breaking Formula-SAE racing car. Drawing on the world class knowledge and expertise of researchers in the Centre for Material and Fibre Innovation, the students designed and built a carbon fibre mono-cockpit. Not only did they create a revolutionary moulded carbon fibre shell chassis, they built their own low temperature oven to cure the shell. Another unique feature of their car is the design of the carbon fibre wheel rims, thought to be the only ones of their kind ever built into a car.

The SAE car project is run annually and gives students the opportunity to learn the practical aspects of automotive design, manufacture, testing and competition. As well as Engineering students, the team involves IT, accounting and PR students working together to take the project through from concept to race day. Along the way, students will develop project management, communication and financial management skills, as well as a solid understanding of product and process modelling and designing for sustainability.

Exploring Technology – Deakin students enjoy "Lord of the Rings" style technology

Deakin IT students now have the opportunity to work collaboratively with performing arts students on the kind of equipment used by the makers of Lord of the Rings in bringing Tolkein's fictional characters to the screen.

Deakin's brand new Motion Capture Laboratory at its Melbourne Campus at Burwood houses the latest optical motion capture technology, offering students in the Bachelor of IT (Games Design and Development) and Bachelor of IT (Multimedia Technology) the tools to create lifelike animation characters and realistic special effects and the opportunity to do it in a cross Faculty collaborative environment.

All IT students have the opportunity to take an elective from a range of units that involve use of the motion capture technology. Access to this creative technology is open to undergraduate and postgraduate IT coursework and research students alike. Whilst the facility is housed at the University's Melbourne Campus at Burwood, Students from the Waurn Ponds campus are also offered the opportunity to access the Burwood facility.

See more information about the Motion Capture Laboratory.