1. science
2. engineering

B ROADCAST
F A C U LT Y U P D A T E
MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
WELCOME
PROFESSOR
IVEN MAREELS, DEAN,
MELBOURNE SCHOOL
OF ENGINEERING
Feeling the heat
A
n
major new collaborative research
centre led by engineers at the
University of Melbourne, and
drawing on capacity and expertise across
the University, will revolutionise the way
we respond to natural and man-made
disasters.
In the wake of ever-frequent extreme
natural events and man-made disasters,
the Centre for Disaster Management
and Public Safety (CDMPS) will conduct
multi-disciplinary research and training
in disaster management to build resilient
societies adept at responding to these
major challenges.
The Centre sees the University of
Melbourne partnering with a range of
high profile government and industry
bodies, including IBM Research,
the Association of Public Safety
Broadcast_Engineering_2015.indd 1
Communications Officials and the United
Nations Initiative on Global Geospatial
Information Management.
Director of the Centre, Professor
Abbas Rajabifard (PhD 2002), said that
the Centre would conduct research aimed
at creating a knowledge base to assist
policy makers to build safer communities
that are able to respond to and recover
quickly from disasters.
“In the last few decades, countries all
over the world have experienced many
natural and man-made disasters that
have affected millions and cost trillions
of dollars of damage to infrastructure
and property,” he said.
“The Centre’s research focuses on
themes associated with preparing for,
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Fo r n e w s f ro m a l l o u r f a c u l t i e s v i s i t u n i m e l b .e d u . a u / 3 0 1 0
RESEARCH PROFILE
New research centre to be a world leader
in disaster management and public safety
We always enjoy
the opportunity to
connect with our
alumni. Alumni form
after all the most
significant part of
our community.
It is our pleasure to
continue to engage
with you throughout your professional lives.
The Melbourne School of Engineering has
a tremendous legacy of impact not in the
least through the achievements of its alumni.
We all can take pride in the achievements of
the School and its alumni.
Looking towards the future, the School
has identified a number of priorities to help
us build on this important legacy. A key
element to maintain and to enhance our
reputation in an increasingly international
environment is to ensure that the School
has both sufficient breadth as well as depth
across engineering and IT. Size matters in
the international context.
Going forward, our research efforts
contribute to three broad themes: the
optimisation of resources and infrastructure
to enhance resilience and sustainability
of our society; the role of networks and
data in society; and the convergence of
engineering and ICT with the life sciences.
Initiatives such as the Centre for Disaster
Management and Public Safety profiled
within these pages demonstrate how we
presently contribute in these key areas.
Continuing and deepening our
engagement with industry is another
important focus of the School. This ensures
our graduates are ready for immediate
entry and success within the workforce
and gives us all the opportunity to pursue
innovation that would otherwise be out
of reach.
Finally, my thanks to each and every
one of our alumni and friends who have
supported the School’s priorities through
Believe – the Campaign for the University
of Melbourne. Our community of donors
makes a real difference to the School.
Most recently, the commitment from the
Clifford family to support the Centre for
Neural Engineering is an outstanding act
of generosity and we are grateful for their
leadership and support.
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2
MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Feeling the heat
FROM PAGE 1
responding to, recovering from, and
mitigating against these incidents.”
CDMPS researchers work across
disciplines, addressing a range of critical
areas:
n Understanding natural disasters
n Improving strategic decision-making
during periods of high stress
n The application of new technologies to
disaster management
n Building community resilience to reduce
the impact of disasters
n Effective mission critical communications
n Effective disaster management policy.
The Centre’s Manager, Ged Griffin, said
a series of major inquiries into disasters
including the Black Saturday bushfires,
Queensland floods and Tasmanian fires,
had issued repeated recommendations for
a more coordinated approach to research
and training in disaster management.
“There was seen to be a demonstrated
need to establish a dedicated Centre for
Disaster Management and Public Safety,”
he said.
CDMPS researcher Dr Katie Potts
(BGeomE 2010, PhD 2014) said that
industry and government partners were
able to help shape the Centre’s research
from the earliest stages.
“This means that when we are
developing projects and submitting grant
applications, the project is informed by
an identified need from industry, and our
research is addressing a real problem.”
Research Advisor for the Centre, David
Williams, formerly of Victoria Police, said
that the number of industry participants
meant that research was grounded
in the real world. At the same time,
partners benefit from access to the latest
interdisciplinary research and training.
The CDMPS is now developing a
unique Masters program in Disaster
Management, to train future practitioners
in this increasingly important sector.
The Centre is also developing an
international research portal, through
which academics working in disaster
management and public safety around the
world can connect and facilitate crossdisciplinary collaboration.
During 2015, the CDMPS will be laying
the groundwork for its future operations,
formalising new national and international
partnerships and coordinating a number
of international workshops in Chile, Japan
and China.
More information cdmps.org.au
Broadcast_Engineering_2015.indd 2
Shine
Technologies
Co-founder
giving back
ALUMNUS PROFILE MARK JOHNS ON B E Hons (M
A
n
lumnus Mark Johnson is hoping to
help improve access to educational
opportunities for students who may
not otherwise be able to pursue their dreams.
Mark is Co-founder and Principal of
Melbourne-based Shine Technologies,
a successful digital consultancy that has
worked on high-profile software projects
for major clients such as Coles, Energy
Australia and NAB.
Yet it is his interest in philanthropy
that has seen Mark and his wife support
scholarship efforts at the Melbourne School
of Engineering, and primary and secondary
educational opportunities for disadvantaged
children via The Smith Family, as well as a
number of environmental causes.
“My wife and I are both very conscious
that we have been very lucky with the
education our parents provided for us, and
we are at a point where we can give back,
which is why we are taking that opportunity
with our involvement with the University
of Melbourne and The Smith Family,”
Mark said.
“We are very focussed on education as
an effective way to improve people’s lives.”
Mark said that he was particularly
compelled to support scholarship efforts
at the Melbourne School of Engineering
because he believed there should be a
greater focus on science and engineering
in our society, and increased rates of
participation for female engineers and
technology professionals.
“I think Australia is well placed to be
a leader as a clever country. In order to do
that, I think we need more engineers and
more people who can work in the area of
science and technology,” he said.
“In terms of the scholarship support,
it is certainly our hope that we can make
that education available to everyone, not
just the people who can afford it.”
Mark completed his Bachelor of
Engineering with Honours (Mechanical)
in 1991, moving immediately into a
graduate role at Andersen Consulting,
which became Accenture. At Andersen,
Mark met his soon-to-be business partner,
Adam Kierce, and after travelling overseas,
the pair began to devise plans to launch
their own consultancy, Shine Technologies.
“It was a good time for us. We didn’t
have kids at that stage, so there was not as
much to lose,” he said.
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3
MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
N E W S U P D AT E
Visit The Melbourne Engineer for the latest
Engineering and IT news at the University
of Melbourne: themelbourneengineer.
eng.unimelb.edu.au
GENEROUS GIFT
FIRES UP ENGINEERING
I N N O VAT I O N I N
H E A LT H C A R E
A major donation to the Centre for Neural
Engineering will provide critical funds to
advance links between engineering and
life sciences in order to drive the next wave
of medical breakthroughs in Australia.
Mr Leigh Clifford AO, Mrs Sue Clifford and
their family are donating $5 million to the
University to endow The Clifford Chair in
Neural Engineering. Mr Clifford, the current
Chairman of Qantas Ltd and former CEO of
Rio Tinto, is an engineering alumnus from
the University (BE (Mining) 1968, MEngSc
1971, International House) and Deputy
Chairman of Believe – the Campaign for
the University of Melbourne.
ons (Mechanical) 1991
“I would like to say that we had a great
business plan, but we just thought we knew
what we were doing and backed ourselves.
We also got the timing right, as it was a
growth period in the IT industry.”
placed to be a leader as a
clever country. In order to
do that, I think we need more
engineers and more people
who can work in the area of
science and technology.”
The decision to launch the company
in 1998 was certainly a positive one for
Mark and Adam. Shine Technologies now
employs over 70 staff in its Melbourne office
and the company’s energy software products
are used by the majority of Australia’s
energy industry. Recently they have also
launched a rapidly growing team sports
platform, TeamStuff.com.
Broadcast_Engineering_2015.indd 3
HAND HUB RESEARCH
TO AID STROKE RECOVERY
Researchers in the Department of
Mechanical Engineering have been
working with the Royal Melbourne
Hospital as part of the Hand Hub, helping
people recover more quickly after a
stroke. The team has developed a robotic
exoskeleton to help stroke patients regain
movement in their arms and hands,
by correctly supporting the arm and
measuring the amount of movement the
patient is able to exert with the help of
video games.
Fo r n e w s f ro m a l l o u r f a c u l t i e s v i s i t u n i m e l b .e d u . a u / 3 0 1 0
“I think Australia is well
Mark said that the most valuable
lesson he had taken from his time
at the University of Melbourne was
an understanding of how to learn, a
skill that has stood him in good stead
throughout his career.
“This has been an especially useful
skill for working in a consulting
role, where you have to pick up new
technologies and processes very quickly.”
Outside of his business interests,
Mark has been supportive of a number
of environmental organisations,
including his work as a Director of the
Sea Turtle Foundation, which he said
prompted his interest because it offered
a completely different set of problems to
those that he deals with on a day-to-day
basis.
“I find it really interesting to be
involved with an ecological group and
working with the scientists there who
are dealing with some very big issues.
Sea turtles are a litmus test for the health
of the environment. The work of the
Sea Turtle Foundation also has aspects
related to global warming and other
issues that I’m interested in.”
TO P I N T E R N AT I O N A L P R I Z E
F O R M A R I TA C H E N G
Airbus and the Global Engineering Deans
Council have honoured Marita Cheng
(BE (Mechatronics)/BCS 2014, Janet
Clarke Hall) with the 2014 GEDC Airbus
Diversity Award, for her ongoing work
to promote engineering and technology
careers to young women. The prestigious
international award recognises those
who have worked to promote diversity in
engineering schools and universities.
Marita founded Robogals at the
University of Melbourne to promote the
study of engineering and technology
to girls in high school. In just six years,
Robogals has become an international
organisation in 20 locations and has
reached over 20,000 female students
worldwide.
The Award is the latest in a range
of impressive achievements for Marita,
who was also the 2012 Young Australian
of the Year.
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4
MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
COMING EVENTS
More information on events for
Engineering and IT alumni and friends:
eng.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/news-events
ALUMNI REUNIONS
40 Year Reunion – Class of 1975
Thursday, 27 August 2015
Classmates from 1975 are invited to
celebrate 40 years since completing their
degree with a reunion tour and dinner.
50 Years and Over Lunch
Wednesday, 30 September 2015
The annual lunch for those who completed
an engineering degree in 1965 or earlier.
30 Year Reunion – Class of 1985
Friday, 16 October 2015
Classmates from 1985 are invited to
celebrate 30 years since completing their
degree with a reunion tour and dinner.
Biomedical
engineering:
making a
difference
M E L B O U R N E AC C E L E R ATO R
PROGRAM 2015
MAP15 Master Classes
Fortnightly sessions providing practical
advice to early-stage startup founders on
the challenges of running a business. MAP15 Velocity Series
Entrepreneurial boot-camps and
Startup 101 workshops designed to
up-skill and connect those interested
in entrepreneurship.
MAP15 Public Forums
Tuesday, 4 August 2015
Thursday, 24 September 2015
Unique insights into some of the most
innovative minds, who share their
stories to inspire the next generation
of entrepreneurs.
MAP15 Demo Day
Thursday, 8 October 2015
The 2015 Entrepreneurial Fellows present
their ventures to the public.
More information
map.eng.unimelb.edu.au
OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS
University of Melbourne Open Day
Sunday, 16 August 2015
openday.unimelb.edu.au
Endeavour Exhibition
Thursday, 22 October 2015
Meet our final year students and check
out their innovative engineering and IT
capstone projects. From the bionic eye to a
student-built race car, see how engineering
and IT can change our daily life. Open to the
general public in Wilson Hall.
endeavour.unimelb.edu.au
Broadcast_Engineering_2015.indd 4
I
n
n 2013, Melissa Louey completed
a Master of Engineering
(Biomedical) after studying a
Bachelor of Biomedicine majoring in
bioengineering systems at the University
of Melbourne.
Today, Melissa works as a Gait
Analysis Engineer at the Royal Children’s
Hospital in Melbourne. Typically,
Melissa works with children experiencing
difficulties with their functional mobility,
such as those with cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term
for people with disabilities that affect
movement and posture caused by damage
or dysfunction to the developing brain.
Cerebral palsy may affect muscle control,
coordination and balance, often causing
unsteadiness and an increased likelihood
of falls.
Melissa said that by using
computational models to study how a
child walks in the gait laboratory, a team
of medical and allied health professionals
can better understand the movement
disorder of individual patients.
“These computational models guide
the team toward establishing an effective
treatment plan,” Melissa said.
Another project that she has been
working on involves enhancing how the
foot is currently modelled.
“I am trying to encapsulate more of
the clinical features that can be found in
foot deformities, to enable better clinical
outcomes for patients,” she said.
When asked what her favourite part of
her work was, Melissa said it is getting to
hang out with the kids. “I feel inspired when
I meet children, who have been through
medical hardships, but can still demonstrate
such happiness and resilience.”
Thanks to the generosity of the
Melbourne School of Engineering’s
donors, Melissa received a Master of
Engineering Foundation Scholarship at
the commencement of her studies with
the School.
S T A Y I N T O U C H Engineering Advancement Office
Melbourne School of Engineering, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010
TELEPHONE + 61 3 9035 9704
EMAIL [email protected]
WEBSITE eng.unimelb.edu.au/alumni
NEWS BLOG themelbourneengineer.eng.unimelb.edu.au
FACEBOOK facebook.com/engunimelb
TWITTER twitter.com/engunimelb
DONATE alumni.online.unimelb.edu.au/mse
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