An Overview of Research and Development in 2009
The Curtin Resources and Chemistry Precinct officially opened in November 2009. The precinct is a $116 million investment, primarily funded by Curtin, with financial contributions from BHP Billiton, and the Federal and WA governments. It accommodates Curtin's Department of Chemistry and the WA Government's ChemCentre, and is adjacent to the Australian Minerals Research Centre. This vibrant research environment, with more than 200 scientists and engineers, provides a community of practice centred on fundamental and applied science, and science education related to minerals energy and chemistry. With the cooperative energy and expertise of our partners we have, together, created an important gateway to the University, and a world-class collaborative scientific resource for the community.
Also in 2009 we welcomed our first ARC Federation Fellow to Curtin. Professor Peter Teunissen is leading a high-quality team of researchers to improve Australia's capability in utilising a modernised Global Position System and Global Navigation Satellite Systems by addressing critical theoretical and modelling issues. His research will ultimately lead to improved geospatial information for future geospatial technologies such as vehicle navigation, automated machine guidance and location base services.
We congratulate Associate Professor Tony Butler, from Curtin's National Drug Research Institute, who received an ARC Future Fellow grant - one of only 200 fellowships awarded nationally - to explore the causes of violent criminal behaviour, and the health- and drug-related problems experienced by prison populations. Also, the National Health and Medical Research Council announced Tony's successful application under its Partnership Project scheme, to investigate whether Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors can reduce repeat violent offending by reducing impulsive aggression.
Professor Chun-Zhu Li, Director of the Curtin Centre for Advanced Energy Science and Engineering, together with other partners, received $2.5 million to investigate the sustainable production of high-quality, second-generation transport biofuels from mallee biomass.
In the second half of 2009, Curtin signed an agreement with the prestigious Chinese Academy of Science's Institute of Process Engineering. The agreement involves the joint development of cooperative research in areas such as biomass and coal gasification, carbon capture and storage, and the development of fuels cells.
Curtin has also signed an agreement with Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) to establish a new laboratory for research into innovative energy technologies. The Joint Research Laboratory for Coal and Biomass Utilisation will combine the research capabilities of both Curtin and HUST to develop low-emission energy technologies. We are excited about these collaborations, knowing that together we can provide the technologies needed to create a greener future for Australia, China and the rest of the world.
In July, we celebrated the launch of the Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC), based at Curtin. A crucial role for C-MARC will be the provision of knowledge, research and evidence to assist in developing and delivering effective road safety initiatives across metropolitan, regional and remote WA, in line with the state's road safety strategy, Towards Zero.
The above represent only a few of the major research achievements in 2009. Curtin has had an extremely productive year and is looking forward to building on these achievements in 2010. I invite you to explore Curtin's research website, particularly the publications of the Office of Research & Development, such as R&D Now, which provide greater detail of the outstanding work being undertaken by Curtin researchers.
Professor Linda Kristjanson
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Research and Development
.
