15/06/2009 04:20 PM
Jerry Watkins Interview

 

Senior Lecturer at Swinburne's Faculty of Design, Jerry Watkins was interviewed on Thursday June 11 by ABC Radio National's 'Future Tense' program about the future of Internet technology for rural and remote communities. In this interview Jerry discusses his current research project 'Moving Content', which investigates innovative digital technology projects in rural India. 'Moving Content' is a collaboration between Swinburne University, QUT, and the Intel Corporation.

Future Tense: From little things...  (recorded 11 June 2009)

It's the little things that can sometimes make such a big difference to our future. There are numerous small-scale technology initiatives generating real change in the developing world. We'll highlight several, and we'll also question the west's preconceptions about the future technological needs of the world's poor.  http://www.abc.net.au/rn/futuretense/

 

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01/06/2009 02:56 PM
Community Need Designs Water Management

Water management design inspired by community need

Giving green thumbs access to a water supply anytime has won Swinburne University design student Ching Tan a joint Award of Excellence in the Australasian Student Design Competition.

When looking for a project, Tan didn't beat around the bush. He went straight to a community plot, asked the gardeners what they needed most, and set about making it happen.

"I found there was a demand for a water system that would conserve the resource as well as allowing people to use it at any time of day", Tan said. "Current water restrictions mean that people are getting up early on certain days of the week just to water their plants, which is very time-consuming".

The 'Aqua Anytime' system collects grey water and rain water from various catchment points. It calculates the amount of water before dividing it equally among the residents, who can then water their plants at any time of day. When their water allocation is finished, the system shuts off the water supply.

At the moment, 'Aqua Anytime' is only a concept, but Tan is confident it has potential.

'It would be great to have it developed", Tan said.

As well as tying for the overall winner, Tan's 'industrial design' category award has earned him a one-year Design Institute of Australia membership, a $1000 voucher for art and design supplies sponsored by the Institute, and an Eco-Design Internship at WSP Group, a leading design consultancy.

Nazia Kachwalla from the Victorian University of Wellington tied with Ching Tan for the overall Award of Excellence.

ENDS
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Media Contact: Emily van der Nagel (03) 9214 4812 or 0424 136 898

25.05.2009

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29/04/2009 03:48 PM
Introducing Kok Leong Chai

Alumni and Development is pleased to announce the appointment of Kok Leong Chai who has taken up the new position of International Alumni Officer.

Chai completed a Bachelor of Multimedia Design (Honours) at Swinburne in 2002 and a Master of Multimedia in 2004. During this time he was co-founder and president of the Swinburne International Student Association (SISA) and served on the University?s Academic Board. He also worked as a casual administrative assistant at Swinburne International.

After graduating, Chai managed and operated his own multimedia business, Mesh Interactive, in Singapore.

He is looking forward to increasing our engagement with overseas alumni, through online social networking, new benefits and services and visits to key overseas locations.

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23/04/2009 09:31 AM
New York Independent Film and Video Festival Best Soundtrack Award Won By Swinburne Graduate

A documentary on Melboune Hip Hop culture by Swinburne Film and Television graduate, Thabiso Maretlwaneng (pictured second from left) has won the Best Soundtrack Award at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival held in March 26 2009.

Head Up features 15 soundtracks recorded by Melbourne Hip Hop groups and artists, including 360 (Mike Justice,Chapter One), Fela B, Ras Christial, Kritical, and Dust.

The excited Thabiso said, "It was a great trip and good experience. This is just the beginning for better things to come in my film career.

I am looking foward to doing a sequel. Hopefully a production company in Australia will now be interested in collaborating with me to do the next documentary about Australian Hip Hop.

People in America were delighted and wanted to know more about Aussie Hip Hop. Head Up was a good introduction to them," Thabiso said.

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16/03/2009 03:12 PM
New York Film Festival Screens Swinburne Hip Hop Doc
  

In a true fusion of cultures, a young Botswanan will have his film about Australian hip hop screened at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival this week.

Thabiso Maretlwaneng, who moved to Australia to study film and television in 2003, created 'Head Up' in 2006 for his final year project at Swinburne University.

Believed to be Australia's first African hip hop documentary, Head Up follows the lives of a group of talented young immigrants who have resettled in Melbourne, and are pursuing their dreams of becoming successful hip hop artists.

"The film documents their experiences and struggles in trying to break through into Australia's commercial hip hop industry," Maretlwaneng said.

As a foreigner living in Australia, the young filmmaker said he felt particularly close to his subjects, as he had an understanding of what they were going through.

"This is what inspired me to make this documentary. I knew what it was like being away from home, and could really relate to the artists I interviewed."

According to Maretlwaneng, the film aims to highlight the difference between the experiences of immigrant rap artists and those who were born in Australia.

"It seemed very difficult for immigrant hip hop artists to get publicity or record deals, despite their music being really good. They just didn?t have the right connections," he said.

Maretlwaneng, who returned to Botswana after finishing his degree, is thrilled his film has been selected to screen at the New York festival. "It's an opportunity of a life time, and a chance for the world to see my work."

"Here in Africa film production is a small industry and we don't get any funding. So this platform will help me get some recognition and get my name out there," he said.

Established in 1993, The New York International Film and Video Festival is the largest independent film festival in the world, annually screening over 200 feature films, documentaries, short films and animations. It will be held between 19 and 26 March.

Given the new-found success of Head Up, Maretlwaneng hopes to return to Australia to shoot a sequel to the documentary.

"I'd love to come back and interview the guys from part one and see how far they have progressed."

ENDS
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Media Contact: Crystal Ladiges (03) 9214 5064 or 0416 174 880

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