•    Resources and energy
•    ICT and emerging technologies
•    Health
•    Sustainable development

These areas capture the multidisciplinary nature of the University’s research programs, which are accessible across all of its four academic faculties – Science and Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities and Business.

RESOURCES AND ENERGY
Curtin’s pragmatic approach to international linkages demonstrates how China’s emergence as a science and engineering powerhouse naturally complements Australia’s leading role in energy resources production and related research. In particular, Curtin’s new partnerships with Chinese research institutions demonstrate confidence in the ability of the two nations to lead in the development of new, ‘green’ energy technologies.

During 2009, Curtin’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket visited China to establish formal research linkages in the area of energy research. The first of the agreements reached was with the Institute of Process Engineering within the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences. The two institutions will jointly undertake research in areas such as biomass and coal gasification, carbon capture and storage, and the development of fuel cells.

Another key achievement of Professor Hacket’s visit to China was the establishment of the Curtin–Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) Joint Research Laboratory for Coal and Biomass Utilisation, which unites the Curtin Centre for Advanced Energy Science and Engineering (CCAESE) with the State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion at HUST.

The Joint Research Laboratory is progressing projects that focus on harnessing new (biomass) energy sources, and developing technologies to reduce emissions from coal combustion. One of the biomass projects focuses on advanced biomass co-firing in conventional coal-fired power stations. The project is being funded under the Australia–China Special Fund for Science and Technology Cooperation, established by the Federal Government and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

These collaborations will greatly contribute to the development of advanced clean coal and biomass technologies in Australia and China.

CURTIN RESOURCES AND CHEMISTRY PRECINCT
Curtin’s leading role in resources and energy research is also clearly demonstrated by the new Curtin Resources and Chemistry Precinct at the University’s Bentley Campus. The $116 million development is funded by Curtin, BHP Billiton, ChemCentre (WA’s flagship chemical science facility) and both the Federal and Western Australian governments.

During 2009, Curtin research teams have been relocating to the precinct, and will soon be utilising its advanced laboratories. These include the Nanochemistry Research Institute, the WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, the Curtin Water Quality Research Centre, and the WA Corrosion Research Group. ChemCentre has also relocated to the precinct, adding to the hub of expertise for collaborative research. Ultimately, more than 200 professional scientists, engineers and staff will occupy state-of-the-art facilities for chemistry and energy-related research.

Further endorsement of Curtin’s research capabilities in resources and energy-related fields was seen recently with the announcement of the Cooperative Research Centre for Deep Exploration Technologies. Curtin’s involvement in the CRC will be through its Centre for High Definition Geophysics, where research focuses on developing new seismic technologies to detect mineral resources.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable development is a strategic priority for Curtin, and renewable energy is one area in which the University continues to strengthen its research contribution.

Reflecting this, the Federal Government recently awarded Curtin $2.5 million to investigate the sustainable production of high quality second-generation transport biofuels from mallee biomass. The program will be conducted at the Curtin Centre for Advanced Energy Science and Engineering (CCAESE), which is one of 16 centres under the research umbrella of the Australian Sustainable Development Institute (ASDI) at Curtin.

Curtin was the only WA university to receive funding from the Government’s $15 million Second Generation Biofuels Research and Development Program, and it confirms the University’s role – and that of the CCAESE specifically – in the development of renewable energy sources that reduce CO2 emissions.

ICT AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
Curtin has continued to build impressive capabilities in radio astronomy, and develop advanced projects for the highly coveted international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.

Through the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (CIRA), the University is positioning radio astronomy as a science and technology strength for WA. CIRA is jointly led by Premier’s Research Fellow Professor Steven Tingay (astrophysics and technical astronomy research) and Professor Peter Hall (engineering research and industry collaboration), who is the only Chair in Radio Astronomy Engineering in Australia.

In August, WA Premier Colin Barnett launched the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) in Perth – a $100 million joint venture funded by the WA Government, Curtin and The University of Western Australia, with CSIRO and iVEC as collaborating partners. ICRAR’s leadership team, drawn from both universities, includes Professors Tingay and Hall.

Complementing the ICRAR initiative, the new Pawsey Centre for High-Performance Computing and SKA Science was launched in September by the Federal Minister for Science and Innovation Kim Carr, at Perth’s Technology Park, adjacent to Curtin’s Bentley Campus.

The $80 million Pawsey Centre is funded under the Government’s Super Science program. At the launch, Senator Carr emphasised the Pawsey Centre’s focus on radio astronomy that will help demonstrate Australia’s readiness to host the SKA, and its close linking “with the leading-edge Australian SKA Pathfinder radio-telescope being built in WA as a precursor to the SKA project”.

At CIRA, Tingay and Hall are now coordinating several key pathfinder radio telescope projects; foremost among these is the Murchison Wide-field Array (MWA). Resulting from a major collaboration between Australia, the US and India, the MWA will survey the entire sky at a far greater speed than existing instruments, and reveal new information about the Universe and its radio phenomena.

The development of next-generation information and communication technologies remains an area of exciting opportunities for researchers.

For example, an inspirational collaboration between WA’s Main Roads authority and two Curtin research teams will realise a next-generation traffic management and control system. The project involves the Digital Ecosystems and Business Intelligence Institute (DEBII), the Planning and Transport Research Centre (PATREC) and Main Roads WA.

DEBII’s research expertise lies in determining how to process and utilise data, and how best to derive meaning and provide context to information. Technical innovations being designed and developed by the DEBII team for the project are considerable, and will exploit the capabilities of the next-generation internet, known as the ’Web of Things’.

The new devices will collect traffic data, via compact sensors implemented through programmable logic arrays, encapsulated and deployed as monitors. Each will have an IP address, providing it with a logical location aligned with a geographical location (supplied by GPS), and therefore have the flexibility to be either stationary or mobile monitors. Relevant data will then be transmitted wirelessly to monitors at Main Roads’ control centre. Benefits for road-users will be reduced congestion, a shortened travel time, a safer road environment, and less pollution as result of vehicles being on the road for less time. The Australian Research Council is supporting the research with a three-year Linkage Project grant.

HEALTH
Chronic conditions now dominate health-care spending in Australia. Accordingly, health research must look closely at preventative care and long-term health maintenance. To address the issue, Curtin has established an integrated health research institute – the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI).

CHIRI’s programs respond astutely to the shifting health care patterns of ageing populations, and of societies that suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Curtin is providing more than $60 million for new infrastructure, and research programs for evidence-based solutions to contemporary health challenges. CHIRI’s outstanding capabilities are drawn from respected research groups in the Faculty of Health Sciences. These include the Centre for Research into Ageing, Centre for Developmental Health, Centre for International Health and the National Drug Research Institute.

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH
These examples demonstrate Curtin’s commitment to providing outstanding opportunities for researchers seeking to engage in and advance both academically rigorous and internationally relevant research. This commitment attracts many high-calibre researchers to Curtin’s centres and institutes, and enhancing the University’s vibrant research culture that is characterised by dedicated research staff, their programs, and our partnerships.

•    Resources and energy
•    ICT and emerging technologies
•    Health
•    Sustainable development

These areas capture the multidisciplinary nature of Curtin’s research programs, which are accessible across all of the University’s four academic faculties – Science and Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities and Business.

THE AUSTRALIAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

Curtin recently launched its new multi-million dollar Australian Sustainable Development Institute (ASDI). Sustainable development is becoming increasingly important to individuals, communities, business and industry, and policy-makers at all levels. Recognising this, Curtin has stepped up its commitment to sustainable development as a research priority.

Combining the resources and brainpower of 16 research centres, ASDI’s programs will target issues associated with climate change, resource scarcity and population growth. ASDI comprises a range of expertise necessary for high-impact and interdisciplinary research in environmental, social, economic and governance areas. ASDI’s research capabilities are more comprehensive than any other sustainability institute in Australia – and include the highly regarded Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute that was established in 2008.

Guided by the Chair of ASDI Mr Keith Spence (formerly Woodside’s Executive Vice-President, Enterprise Capability) Curtin will be a major research provider in sustainable development, providing the best possible scientific and policy advice to government, industry and the wider community.

RESOURCES & ENERGY

Curtin’s leading role in resources and energy research is clearly demonstrated by its most important initiatives: the Resources and Chemistry Precinct.

The Resources and Chemistry Precinct is funded by Curtin, BHP Billiton, ChemCentre (WA’s flagship chemical science facility) and both the Federal and Western Australian governments. Advanced laboratories are being outfitted for research teams preparing to move into the $116 million development during 2009. These include the Nanochemistry Research Institute, the WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, the Curtin Water Quality Research Centre, and the WA Corrosion Research Group. ChemCentre will relocate to the precinct this year, adding to the hub of expertise for collaborative research across these disciplines. Ultimately, more than 300 professional scientists, engineers and staff will occupy the Precinct’s state-of-the-art facilities for chemistry and energy-related research.

Curtin’s research capabilities in resources and energy-related fields are well utilised by industry. Expertise within the WA Corrosion Research Group, for example, is in demand by oil and gas companies that require solutions in the assessment and control of corrosion. For that reason, Woodside Petroleum and Chevron Australia have jointly funded a Chair in Corrosion Research at Curtin.

Curtin’s capability to establish partnerships with major international companies is further illustrated by the Rio Tinto Centre for Materials and Sensing in Mining, which is undertaking strategic research for optimising open-pit mining operations.

Excellent prospects for industry-supported projects are also found in minerals exploration and processing. The Centre for High Definition Geophysics, for example, is developing new seismic technologies to detect mineral resources. The mining industry also maintains high demand for innovations in hydrometallurgy that enable the viability of low-grade ores or untapped mineral deposits.

ICT & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

The International Year of Astronomy is an ideal time to commend Curtin’s Institute of Radio Astronomy for the pace of its progress and achievements on major international projects.

The December launch of the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (CIRA) was a highlight for the University. Combining physics and engineering in the field of astronomy, CIRA became the first cross-disciplinary research centre of its kind at an Australian university – and demonstrated Curtin’s determination to position radio astronomy as a science and technology strength for Western Australia.

CIRA is jointly led by WA Premier’s Research Fellow Professor Steven Tingay (astrophysics and technical astronomy research) and Professor Peter Hall (engineering research and industry collaboration), who is the only Chair in Radio Astronomy Engineering in Australia.

Tingay and Hall have been capacity-building Curtin’s expertise in radio astronomy since joining the University within the past two years. CIRA will soon have about 25 researchers focusing on the development of pathfinder technologies for the proposed international €1.5 billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.

Australia’s case for hosting the SKA project has been strengthened by the Federal Government’s budget announcement that $80 million will be allocated to a new Australian National Centre for SKA Science to be established in Perth. This follows a recent $20 million investment by the WA Government into the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). Hall and Tingay are Deputy Directors of ICRAR, which is an equal joint venture between Curtin and UWA that is focused on technical astronomy, science and engineering aspects of the SKA.

Tingay is also Project Manager for the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) project under development at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory. The MWA will be a completely new type of radio telescope. Rather than an array of dishes, the MWA will be a configuration of ‘tiles’ each consisting of 16 antennas. The project is a major international collaboration between a number of US, Indian and Australian research teams.

Curtin’s advances in radio astronomy demonstrate the University’s ability to identify progressive research areas, and embark on strategies for research forays into areas of opportunity.

The development of next-generation information and communication technologies remains an area of exciting opportunities for researchers. Curtin maintains excellent research programs in pattern recognition, spatial science, wireless telecommunications, e-business and digital ontologies.

The Institute for Multi-sensor Processing and Content Analysis, for example, undertakes cutting-edge research that continually attracts industry and government funding. In collaboration with Digital Technology International, new technologies that were developed in projects supported by the Australian Research Council are now being deployed in intelligent systems that improve industrial efficiency and enhance security in complex environments such as public transport.

At Curtin Business School, research in ICT and emerging technologies is also intensifying. In particular, the Digital Ecosystems and Business Intelligence Institute (DEEBI) is advancing novel technology infrastructure, including web services, new ontologies in data mining, text mining and cyber security. DEEBI’s work is in demand in areas as diverse as commerce, transport communications, logistics planning, mining, healthcare and education.

HEALTH

Chronic conditions now dominate health-care spending in Australia. Accordingly, health research must look closely at preventative care and long-term health maintenance. To address the issue, Curtin is building a bold, integrated and relevant health research institute – the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI).

CHIRI’s programs respond astutely to the shifting health care patterns of ageing populations, and of societies that suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Curtin is providing more than $60 million for new infrastructure, and research programs for evidence-based solutions to contemporary health challenges. CHIRI’s outstanding capabilities are drawn from respected research groups in the Faculty of Health Sciences. These include the Centre for Research into Ageing, Centre for Developmental Health, Centre for International Health and the National Drug Research Institute.

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH

These examples demonstrate Curtin’s commitment to providing outstanding opportunities for researchers seeking to engage in and advance both academically rigorous and internationally relevant research. This commitment attracts many high-calibre researchers to Curtin’s centres and institutes. The University’s vibrant research culture is continually enhanced by the quality of its researchers, programs and partnerships.

Curtin understands that high-impact research is multidisciplinary in nature, and it promotes collaborative projects that will contribute to the sustainable environmental, economic and cultural development of communities worldwide.

Weighing only 16 kg per square metre on the roof (compared to up to 100 kg/sqm with conventional flat panels systems) the system is particularly well suited to meeting industrial and commercial static loading limits. The panels have been tested to withstand wind speeds up to 209kph and do not require rooftop penetration, attachments or ballast. The panels can be swiftly connected through a series of clicks, thereby greatly reducing installation time and costs.

Installed horizontally, the panels cast no shadow across vacant roof space, increasing useable roof space. The lightweight and self ballasting feature allows for easy manoeuvring – panels can be placed over previously unusable parts of the roof such as air ducts and other piping. For access, panels are simply moved aside.

Phoenix Solar testing has shown the energy yield of the Solyndra panel to be competitive with conventional modules mounted at about the latitude angle. Overall, Solyndra’s system can provide higher electricity output per rooftop. The commercial and industrial application of this new technology from Solyndra has the potential to greatly assist local industry with its peak daytime electricity needs, thereby reducing the risk of summer black outs making electricity supply more reliable during hot summer periods.

Kevin Inkster with his award winning invention, the Petrol Allsaw

Western Australia’s traditional strengths in mining and agriculture have provided a strong and sophisticated foundation for significant advances in research and development (R&D), sparking a wealth of activity in many new industries. Some of these industries include information and communications technologies (ICT), renewable energies and biotechnology.

Strong government support has and continues to create a nurturing environment for R&D. The Department of Commerce, through the Science, Innovation and Business Division, works to assist industry to commercialise innovative ideas and increase awareness of innovation and scientific endeavour in Western Australia.

The Division strives to make Western Australia a competitive environment for innovators, innovative companies and entrepreneurs alike by facilitating their access to capital, human resources, management expertise and R&D skills.

Western Australia’s Innovation Centre, located at Bentley Technology Park, works with the State’s creative minds to provide support and guidance on how to turn their ideas into reality.

The State’s innovative capacity is growing and its creative minds are helping to ensure it will continue to do so.

A week of innovation

Last year, the State Government coordinated ‘Brilliant West Week’, a week of events designed to develop and promote innovation and creativity in Western Australia.

Brilliant West Week brought together primary, secondary and tertiary students as well as researchers and business people with a keen interest in innovation. The week encouraged students to think about careers in science and provided a platform for the development of knowledge, skills and networks for researchers and businesses looking to take new ideas for products and services to the market.

Brilliant West Week’s main event was the Leading Lights Innovation and Investment Conference. The two-day conference built links between innovators and financiers to explore pathways to commercialisation and showcased innovations from the State’s emerging industries.

The Leading Lights conference brought local entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and business people together in one location to learn about and create business partnerships.

Creative minds recognised

Brilliant West Week also showcased the entries of fi nalists for the 2008 WA Inventor of the Year Award. The Award program targets products and services at the pre-commercialisation stage and is one of Australia’s richest innovation competitions, with a total prize pool of $418,200.

The Award recognises and rewards people who are creating products or services at one of the three stages of concept development: Early Stage, Development and Ready for Market.

The WA Inventor of the Year Award has uncovered hundreds of innovations with the potential to change the way we live.

Last year’s overall and Development category winner was the Petrol Allsaw, developed by Kevin Inkster from Arbortech Pty Ltd. The Petrol Allsaw is a revolutionary and safe power tool that can cut through some of the toughest brick and stone products as well as remove tree stumps.

The Allsaw is a hand-held, petrolpowered tool with two forward-facing, oscillating blades that create a hammering and cutting action. The tool can be adjusted to cut hard materials but will not easily cut softer materials, and therefore creates a safer working environment for those who use it.

Kevin Inkster, Chief Executive of Arbortech Pty Ltd, says he came up with the concept for the Petrol Allsaw in 1985 when he had an accident with a chainsaw.

“I wanted to make a machine that didn’t have the back exposed and was safe to use,” he recalls. “It has taken nearly ten years but it finally has happened.”

The competition awarded Mr Inkster more than $100,000 for developing the revolutionary technology. He hopes to use the prize money to expand the company’s presence in the US market by developing the Petrol Allsaw prototype through the tooling stage and onto the retail fl oors of the world’s largest commercial market.

“The Allsaw has been a very big project with a huge potential return for Australia and in particular Western Australia,” he says.

The two other winners of the 2008 WA Inventor of the Year include:

Tony Wright, one of the inventors of the Cold Pain Test Kit

Winner – Early Stage category Cold Pain Test Kit Tony Wright, Heather Benson and Penny Moss, School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology

Conditions such as arthritis or whiplash can induce unusually high levels of pain unresponsive to everyday painkillers. Th e Cold Pain Test Kit is a simple diagnostic test that enables General Practitioners (GPs) to quickly identify patients that are at risk of developing severe chronic pain through a simple and inexpensive method involving a single-use, adhesive patch containing a plant extract substance. Using an electronic scale and software, GPs can make an immediate decision on which pain medication should be prescribed to such patients.

The award winning HEA mesh can help to improve safety on mine sites

Winner – Ready for Market catergory HEA Mesh
Mr Yves Potvin, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, the University of Western Australia

The HEA Mesh is designed to absorb the energy of seismic events such as rock bursts and collapses during underground mining, and to significantly improve surface support technology over the existing rock. As mines go deeper to explore for resources, the stability of underground operations becomes increasingly problematic. Th e HEA Mesh system provides a number of advantages over existing underground stabilisation technologies, including improved energy absorption, flexibility and easy installation.

For more information or to be a part of Western Australia’s innovative future visit:

Website: www.innovation.wa.gov.au
Email: innovation@commerce.wa.gov.au

republished from Australian Innovation 2009 – the print publication