VESKI in the Community
Bug Blitz – Opportunities in Science
VESKI Innovation Fellow Dr Gareth Forde has some diverse scientific interests from green algae to DNA but he had his work cut out for him recently when he took time out from his busy research schedule in November 2007 to encourage some Victorians students about opportunities in science – while they were checking out some most unusual ‘bugs’.
In fact they were taking part in a ‘Bug Blitz”. The Narmbool Bug Blitz is a three-day outdoor education program led by a team of scientists and educators working alongside students. Victorian students investigate biodiversity ‘hot spots’ in Narmbool (near Ballarat) and collect, describe, record and compare the living and non-living things in that spot!
Dr Forde joined the scientists and students at the end of a long Bug Blitz day to explain his work and the opportunities for secondary school students in a career in science.
A large group of Year 9 students from three schools had some interesting questions for our highly successful VESKI Innovation Fellow.
“They were really attuned to their environment and socially aware about the concerns of climate change and sustainability, “ said Dr. Forde.
“They posed questions from how soon will we be able to purchase Biofuels in Melbourne to what do we need to do to save our planet?”
This raised many more questions that lead to discussions on the role of animals in our food chain... definitely some budding scientists on the way!
“The energy and interest from the group was well worth the effort.”
The Bug Blitz is the idea of renowned naturalist and scholar, Professor Edward O Wilson of Harvard University. The Hugh DT Williamson Foundation, The Sovereign Hill Museums Association and Museum Victoria provide Victorian school children with the opportunity to participate in Bug Blitz at Narmbool.
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VESKI Provides Rare Science Insight For Students
VESKI in collaboration with Monash University, Invest Victoria and Federation Square hosted an Opportunities in Science Symposium on the 19th June 2007 at BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne.
This joint initiative offered a unique opportunity for over 135, Year 10 - 12 Victorian students, with a particular passion for science, to hear first hand of the guest speakers experience in pursuing a career in science.
Professor Elizabeth Blackburn addresses students at the Symposium.
Key note speaker Professor Elizabeth Blackburn, the Louis Matheson Distinguished Visiting Professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University delivered an insightful presentation to the students on aging and her discovery on telemerase.
The following panelists accompanied Professor Blackburn in delivering presentations:
- Dr Alyssa Barry - VESKI Innovation Fellow, Senior Researcher, International Health Research Group, MacFarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health;
- Dr Leslie Yeo - Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University; and
- Professor James Whisstock - NHMRC Principal Research Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University and recipient of the Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist for 2006.
From left: Professor James Whisstock, Professor Elizabeth Blackburn,
Dr Alyssa Barry, Dr Leslie Yeo
Following the individual presentations, the students formed break out groups in which each group, posed one on one questions with each guest speaker. These breakout groups proved to be very successful with the students constant array of questions for the panelists - often making it hard to wrap up the sessions within the allocated time.
The majority of the students indicated that the Symposium helped confirmed their thoughts about pursuing a career in science, expressing that they found the panelists to be very interesting and informative.
A Collision of Unlike Minds
In conjunction with the Alfred Deakin Innovation lectures, the Victorian Schools Innovation Commission (VSIC) organised three days of school seminars entitled A Collision of Unlike Minds. The seminars gave 250 Year 11 and 12 students the opportunity to exchange ideas, thoughts and debate with prominent speakers from the lecture series.
VESKI Fellows Professor Marcus Pandy and Dr Gareth Forde, both speakers in the lecture series, joined tables of 15 students. It was a valuable opportunity for both VESKI Fellows to engage with potential students of undergraduate courses they had either written or were about to write for the intake of 2005/2006.
Professor Pandy and Dr Forde both developed powerpoint presentations that show opportunities for undergraduate students in multidisciplinary courses including biomedicine and biochemistry.
Please click here to view Dr Forde's presentation: Collision of Unlike Minds
Please click here to view Dr Pandy's presention: Biomedical Engineering
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VESKI Young Foreign Designers School Program
VESKI sponsored a schools program for the returning exhibition of The City of Milan 2005 Award for Young Foreign Designers which opened as part of the Melbourne Design Festival in July 2005.
This initiative allowed 150 students from Government and independent schools to view the exhibition, meet with the 17 young designers, and hear about how they developed their response to the Milan brief.
Students were divided into tables of 10-15 and invited to participate in informal discussions and ask designers about their experiences. The workshop gave valuable academic and career insights while celebrating the creative process.
Young Foreign Design Award Winner, Linda Jukic, addressed the forum and was among the designers who held sessions for students to share their transition from university to career. Students said that it was a great way to learn about the choices available in the design industry.
“Our five students returned to school absolutely enthused. They thought the
experience was fantastic. Thanks for organising the program.”
Teacher at Camberwell Girl’s Grammar School, Tricia Hunt
Reflections from Linda Jukic
Winner - City of Milan Young Foreign Designers Award 2005
In April 2005 I was awarded the City of Milan, Young Foreign Designer’s Award at the Triennale, in Milan. A whirlwind week there during the infamous Salone del Mobile was as exciting and inspiring as anything could be for a young designer from Australia. It was completely absorbing and compelling. I returned in September to Milan and although the city was more familiar, I was a tad nervous.
My residency was in an area of the city called Navigli, which is old, charming and a little bohemian. It is an area filled with many cafes, restaurants, bars and people and there was always something happening, somewhere to go and people to see. I took to the Milanese culture quite quickly - particularly gelaterias and aperitivo hour, a happy hour which is all about delightful Italian finger food accompanied by alcoholic beverages.
I committed myself to two design placements. The first was at a highly reputed studio called Fragile, which specialises in corporate identity and brand development, and has a great mix of well-known clientele. This was familiar territory for me and I worked on active projects with the designers and studio directors for furniture and fashion clients. I was absorbed in the way they approached design, their processes, visions, outcomes, even their design values. There were many similar approaches, but also great differences.
Elle Décor magazine was my next stop. I love furniture, furnishings and interior design - something, which the Italians know and do exceptionally well. There I was working at a leading international design magazine; the content was exciting and stimulating, the people gorgeous, and although I was in an unfamiliar design environment, it was an area I was truly interested in.
The team there were very supportive and involved me in the complete process so I could understand not only all the design components, but also how editorial and advertising influenced the design of the magazine. My 'hands on' experience in Milan taught me a lot about the state of design in both Italy and Australia. In Europe, design is highly respected, and highly regarded as a profession in the community. It is more accessible and not restricted to a niche audience. Australia has a way to go. But this experience reinforced that Australians are good designers, and there is a lot of talent here that is doing work as good, if not better, than work I saw in Europe. Sometimes we are overlooked because of where we are. We dont have the chance to expose our talents to the rest of the world, and they don't check on us because they believe we are far away and so far behind. Little do they know!
Linda Jukic returned to Australia and continues her design practice and teaching third year students at UTS in Sydney. She said this award renewed her confidence and reinforced that her design discipline visual communication,can be as powerful as the other more common expressions in fashion, interior, industrial or architecture.
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