March 2009 - Issue #5
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Laser metal repair ready for world power
A science–industry partnership has helped commercialise a technology with the potential to save electricity companies millions of maintenance dollars.
Information delivery drives Australia’s internet use
Whether checking the weather, doing their banking, or searching for recipe ideas, Australians are using the internet as an important information resource.
Research and education focus drive rapid development
Tertiary education and research are the intellectual foundation on which Australia’s future rests and the motivation driving Swinburne University of Technology’s rapid development.
Plastic iron breaks the mould
The steel moulds used to make common plastic products are effective but time-consuming and expensive to develop. A new composite of iron and plastic could change that and provide a boon for plastics manufacturing.
Photosynthesis comes into the light
In one-quadrillionth of a second a plant can take the sun’s light and transfer it to the chlorophyll molecules in its light-harvesting centre, which give the plant its green pigmentation. Swinburne researchers are trying to better understand this critical component of photosynthesis, is the most efficient energy-transfer process known.
Libraries turn a digital page
Derek Whitehead, head of Swinburne's libraries, discusses the quiet revolution bringing libraries into the digital age.
On the surface it’s a love of engineering
A year 12 art subject ignited a passion for bioengineering for Sally McArthur. Now, the recently appointed Swinburne Associate Professor plans to explore bio-mimicry, where natural effects are recreated synthetically.
Gap in social options raises ‘pokie’ appeal
New research into the appeal of poker machines shows there may be much more to ‘problem gambling’ than the bedazzle of spinning fruits.
Astronomers discover galactic ‘missing link’
A dwarf galaxy, far brighter and more massive than the clusters of stars that usually surround galaxies, could help astronomers better understand the universe’s very early stages.
Saturn storm-bringer has a hard-earned cosmic thirst
A gigantic storm, larger than the area of Australia and sparkling with vast electrical discharges, was raging across the sky of Saturn and Trevor Barry was elated: for the second time in less than a year he had been one of the first humans to observe the rare event.
Just a click and 3D pages come to life
Peer-reviewed journals, the unforgiving stage that spells success or failure for research scientists, could become a more collaborative process through advances in electronic publishing and, in particular, new ways to produce interactive 3D images.
Brave spirits step lightly between commerce and culture
As well as the normal hurdles facing any new business, Indigenous entrepreneurs also have to take account of cultural values that are important to their communities.
The internet ‘road gang’ fixes network potholes
Swinburne researchers are looking at how the internet's underlying engineering can be improved to address service failures and intermittent connections.
Business born from ‘real-world’ degrees
People can leave uni with a lot of theoretical knowledge only to start their first job and find themselves thrown in the deep end. Not so for Swinburne alumni Zoe Warne and Matt Agar who attribute much of their subsequent success to Swinburne’s Industry-Based Learning (IBL) program.
Learning space turns school design inside out
Progressive schools are ditching the traditional classroom in favour of purpose-designed learning spaces, and a new Swinburne-led project is examining whether there is a link between classroom design and innovative teaching.
Football numbers man brings players to account
The reputation of Swinburne’s Sports Statistics Unit was the catalyst for a young mathematician – and Rugby League fan – to move to Melbourne and along the way revolutionise the way players are valued in Australian Rules Football.
Commercialisation opportunities
Swinburne is seeking industry or venture partners to work to progress commercial projects, which, although at various stages of development, demonstrate the real-world relevance of the university’s research.
Window opens to a wood revival
Good design is often frustrated by the limitations of available materials, but an exciting new landscape unfolds if the designer gets to influence research into the way materials, such as wood, perform.
