Science at Melbourne

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science (CXS), in collaboration with Santa Maria College in Northcote, has been developing an outreach program – Growing Tall Poppies – with the aim of helping encourage more students, and particularly girls, to the study of physics. Earlier this year CXS put in an application for a “Schools First” grant which is a new grant system being funded by the NAB in a partnership with the ACER and the Federation of Young Australians. Out of over 1500 applications, 68 grants were awarded of which 16 were in Victoria. It was recently announced that the CXS program through Santa Maria College, was a winner and has been awarded a $50,000 local impact grant.

The 16 Victorian winners were invited to a workshop and cocktail party last night in which the winner of the State award was announced and we are delighted to report that CXS were again successful and awarded a further $50,000 for the program. This now puts them in contention for the National Award which would see a grant of $500K – $1M for the program. It will be announced at a dinner with Julia Gillard and other luminaries in late November.

Interested in the science behind Elizabeth Blackburn’s Nobel Prize win? @Google hosted her in August 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irUQEG4BSK4

University of Melbourne Dean of Science Professor Robert Saint has congratulated alumna Professor Elizabeth Blackburn after she became the first Australian woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize.

Professor Blackburn, who is now at the University of California at San Francisco, graduated with Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the University of Melbourne and has gone on to be a leader in the study of telomeres, the protective sections of DNA at the ends of chromosomes. These short sections of DNA are required to maintain the normal structure of chromosomes.

Professor Saint said the impact of Professor Blackburn’s work was far-reaching and has broad implications for human health.

“We are delighted that Professor Blackburn has been awarded the Nobel Prize. Professor Blackburn’s research has contributed fundamentally to our understanding of chromosome structure through the discovery of the nature of telomeres and of the enzyme, telomerase, which maintains them,” he said.

“Telomeres play crucial roles in normal cellular growth and ageing and telomere function impacts on human diseases such as cancer.

“Professor Blackburn showed great foresight in choosing to study a single-celled pond-dwelling organism in order to crack the telomere problem. She then used this information to understand how human telomeres work. It is a wonderful example of basic research leading to a major breakthrough.”

Professor Saint said Professor Blackburn showed enormous courage and leadership in opposing the politicization of science, while she was a member of the US President’s Council on Biological Ethics.

“She is a University of Melbourne graduate of whom we can be tremendously proud,” he said.

Professor Blackburn, and her mother Marcia, a doctor, were both residents of Janet Clarke Hall at the University of Melbourne, Australia’s first university college to admit women.

Professor Blackburn was a scholarship student at JCH for three years from 1966 while studying for her BSc. Those in College at the time describe her as balanced, fun, and adventurous. She played the piano, enjoyed camping and was keenly interested in people.

In 2006, she won two prestigious international awards, the Lasker Prize for Medical Research and the Gruber Prize for Genetics. The citation for the Gruber Prize not only heralded her research, but also her science advocacy. Blackburn also was elected a Fellow of Janet Clarke Hall in 2006.

Professor Blackburn was awarded the Nobel Prize along with colleagues Carol Greider, from Johns Hopkins University’s school of medicine, and Jack Szostak from Harvard University for their discovery of “how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase”.

In addition to lectures and lab classes, Science students also travel country Victoria getting their hands dirty. Student Charles Gianfriddo uncovers the adventurous side of studying geology.

The slideshow clicks over. It’s wonderfully warm in the theatre this freezing winter’s nine o’clock lecture. I sip my coffee and relaxedly slide back into my seat. “Early Devonian Nautiloidea Fossils” the title notates. The slideshow again clicks over. My back suddenly jerks straight. I’ve seen this before…

Standing, shivering somewhat, I stare down from the precariously steep McLarty Ridge, wind and sleet furiously reshaping my hair. Tentatively, we descend. The ground is wet, rotten fallen logs cannot be relied upon. Walking, stumbling, plummeting, boots now indecipherable from mud beneath. A voice rings out somewhere below. We converge. Exhausted, though excited now, all closely examine the whatsit in a classmate’s hand. “Nautiloidea?” someone offers.

For tertiary students of the earth sciences, it is these experiences in the field that give course work real-world context. The monochrome, annotated diagrams of textbooks are brought to life, as the theorems and mechanics of earth sciences physically, and now recognisably, play-out before our eyes.

Fieldwork undoubtedly enhances higher-order cognitive skills and refines observation and inquiry aptitude. As a student, you learn to ‘get your eye in’. More than this, fieldwork gives students confidence in their own scientific capabilities. Suddenly, knowledge acquired in semesters previous is not just somehow usable, but is actually really useful. Students really do start to think like scientists and can begin to see how the practical skills-set they have been building upon may be used in higher academia and even employment.

During field trips students are given real tasks, compiling structural and geological maps for instance, and are taught to plan within a given time frame to best attain results. Completing the task largely independent from demonstrators means there really is a sense of achievement when reports are finally handed in.

Field trips can be challenging. No matter the terrain and weather, you need to persist. Dealing with unfavourable conditions is all part of the learning curve, as you are forced to use initiative and be decisive. A sense of intrepidity and adventure rises, as you hike through wilderness, and explore countryside you may never have had the chance to see. Often you are thrown completely in the deep end. You can feel somewhat overawed by the task at hand and, to be honest, the first few attempts are more often than not disastrous. Slowly but surely, however, the know-how comes and you’re well on your way.

Fieldwork shows students that in science teamwork is pivotal. Students get to know their peers, so that upon returning to class there is a much more comfortable and enjoyable learning environment…not to mention the running jokes! Importantly, students also have the opportunity to get to know their lecturers personally. This then means that students are less reluctant to approach lectures for assistance and advice, particularly with regards to postgraduate intentions.

Within the School of Earth Sciences, there are multiple opportunities to participate in field trips. Most second and third year subjects run single day and/or weekend excursions. There are also subjects whose main component is a 1-2 week fieldwork expedition. These include 625-201 Geology Of Southeast Australia in Torque, 625-223 Earth Surface Processes in Buchan and, in third year, 625-313 Advanced Field Geology in Flinders Ranges.

Congratulations to our Young Tall Poppy Science Award recipients, Dr Alison Funston (Chemistry) and Dr Michael Kearney (Zoology).

Alison is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in our Nanoscience Laboratory. Her current project focuses on plasmonics and opto-electronics, single molecule spectroscopy of metal nanoparticles and fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles, energy and electron transfer in nanoparticle:organic hybrid systems for solar energy conversion.

Michael is a Lecturer in the Department of Zoology and conducts research in their Conservation and Climate Change Group. His research focuses on the impact of climate on animals and the evolution of parthenogenesis. You can hear him discuss the effects of climate change on biodiversity via the University’s upclose podcast series.

The prestigious annual Young Tall Poppy Science Awards aim to recognise the achievements of Australia’s outstanding young scientific researchers and communicators. Selection criteria include outstanding research / academic achievement as well as excellence in communications and community engagement to promote an understanding of science.

The Award winners (‘Tall Poppies’) participate in education and community outreach programs in which they become role models to inspire school students and the broader community about the possibilities of science. This involves a range of other science promotion activities for school students, teachers and the broader community, including visits to schools, educational seminars, workshops, public talks and other activities.