CECS - CECS News

Connecting Research to Business

2009-06-25 09:00:00

On 22 June 2009, eighty research students presented their research in an illustrated poster, and talked to visitors about their research.

Congratulations to our prize-winners who each won financial assistance for conference travel.

1st Prize: $1000

2nd Prize: $500

3rd Prize: $250

The judges were impressed with:

the originality and aesthetics of the poster design, including the effectiveness in attracting attention

the clear information structure, including the efficient use of imagery

the suitability of the poster content for the intended audience (technically interested but not specialist)

the outstanding research results the posters reported on

the overall presentation of a succinct, well contextualised story

the provision of clear links to further information

Judges included: Professor Brendan McKay (CECS), Dr Jochen Trumpf (CECS), Mr Simon Yates (Graphic Ark).

Congratulations to all participating students. View posters.

View 'On Campus' article.

Impressive students

2009-06-25 09:00:00

Business mentor and global software founder, Brand Hoff, presented research students at the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science with their prizes for the three best posters at the College's first poster exhibition on 22 June 2009.

At a business networking function sponsored by the Canberra Business Council and ANU Exchange, Mr Hoff invited the students to have their five minutes of fame in a 30-second sales pitch to more than a 100 guests from Canberra's public and private sectors.

They did an impressive job.

"Innovators impress investors", The Canberra Times, 25 June 2009

Powering up solar collaboration

2009-04-02 09:00:00

The very first Singapore-Australia Solar Energy Workshop was held at The Australian National University in Canberra, on 30 and 31 March 2009. The purpose of the workshop was to explore and develop substantial research, commercial and governmental solar energy collaboration between Singapore and Australia, and stemmed from discussions between Professor Andrew Blakers and Professor Joachim Luther (CEO of the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS)) in January.

"The workshop was a considerable success," said Professor Blakers. "Twelve respected Singaporeans attended representing key research institutions and organisations, together with 38 Australians from national solar research centres and businesses."

"At the workshop dinner, Dr Andy Hogg from the Research School of Earth Sciences gave a well received, and scary, talk on the ever-more alarming news from climate science," he said.

Thirty-five presentations covering photovoltaic, solar thermal, institutional and government policies contributed to a much-improved understanding by participants of solar energy R&D, and funding in the two countries.

"It is likely that substantial future cooperation will flow from the workshop," said Professor Blakers. "For ANU, closer cooperation with SERIS and UNSW in particular is likely."

A 2nd workshop may be held in 2010 or 2011 in Singapore.

Indian students engineer exports

2009-04-02 09:00:00

Vasha Vankadesh is the new face of Australia's export economy, according to an article in today's (2 April 2009) Australian newspaper, "Indian students boost the export economy". Vasha is an engineering student in the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science.

"Our international students make a wonderful contribution to both the academic and cultural life of the College, and we look forward to welcoming many other students like Vasha to Engineering in the future," said Mr Paul Melloy, Manager of Student Services in the College.

"International student numbers in engineering continue to grow rapidly reflecting the strong interest in our degrees," he said.

View article

Cadets commence

2009-02-24 09:00:00

Six undergraduate students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science are participating in the APS ICT Cadetship Program in 2009. They were formally welcomed into the program on 9 February by Mr Peter Dale, Branch Manager in the Governance and Policy Branch of AGIMO.

The program complements the ICT apprenticeship program which places students into different Commonwealth agencies. Mr Dale has championed both programs that aim to recruit skilled ICT staff into the public sector.

"Programs like this create opportunities for people to enter the Australian Public Service workforce with a recognised qualification, armed with valuable work experience, and with bright career prospects ahead of them," said Mr Dale.

New undergraduate scholarship opportunities

2009-02-13 09:00:00

Professor Ian Chubb signs the agreement. Photo: Stuart Hay

A new partnership between ActewAGL, ACTEW and The Australian National University was launched at a brief ceremony in the grounds of University House on 12 February 2009. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Chubb, said the partnership was a welcome example of ANU and industry working together.

It is also very good news for CECS 2nd year undergraduate students in 2009, and postgraduate students in 2010.

"Finer details on the partnership are being finalised, however, it will provide two undergraduate engineering scholarships from first semester this year, with preference for one of the scholarships to be awarded to a female student. Each scholarship is worth $12,500 a year," said Dr Andrew Smith, Executive Officer (Education) in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.

"Scholarship winners may also have the opportunity to work at ACTEW during vacation periods," he said.

The partnership also offers scholarship opportunities for undergraduate IT students commencing in 2010.

Media Release

E: Student Services

CECS 'green team' winners

2009-02-13 09:00:00

A 2008 Eckermann-TJA prize for ideas on using broadband communications to assist in promoting sustainability has been won by a team from CECS for their idea to use electric cars (to reduce greenhouse emissions) that can act as storage nodes to plug in to the electricity grid. The prize is awarded by the Telecommunication Society of Australia, which this year attracted several international entries.

Eckerman-TJA Prize

Dr Mike Dennis in the Department of Engineering, and ICT student, Bethany Thompson, co-authored the paper that will be published in the TSA journal soon, and which brought $10,000 in prize money.

Congratulations to both from staff and students in CECS!

Cool air from solar not hot air

2009-02-03 09:00:00

Dr Mike Dennis

Mike Dennis from the Solar Thermal Group in CECS talks about how solar energy to power air conditioners can relieve the burden on our electricity grids, and help to prevent black-outs.

ANU Reporter Autumn 2009

ABC News read and listen here

Spray-on material to lead to cheaper solar panels

2009-01-21 09:00:00

A new spray-on material that could make solar panels cheaper is being developed in a joint research effort announced today by The Australian National University (ANU) and Spark Solar Australia.

See media release here

Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson launches the Australian Solar Institute

2009-01-16 09:00:00

The Australian National University is one of three founding partners in the Australian Solar Institute (ASI) that will be headquartered at CSIRO in Newcastle. At ANU we research photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies that turn solar radiation into electricity. Our first foundation project funding of $5M from the ASI will go towards building a new national research facility at ANU.

View SBS World News Story here

"Solar funds ray of light for research", The Canberra Times, 16 December 2009

CECS shares in 2.7m grant for solar research with Chinese

2009-01-15 09:00:00

CECS has received $349,000 from the Australia-China Special Fund for Scientific and Technological Co-operation, as part of the International Science Linkages program, to work with Tianjin University on research that aims to produce more efficient solar cells. The grants were announced by the Minister for Science, Senator Kim Carr, yesterday.

''It is part of a $1.8million project with Tianjin University and this money will allow us to go to the next stage of building an immersed linear concentrator,'' said Dr Igor Skyrabin, Business Development Manager in the Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems.

"$2.7m for research with Chinese", The Canberra Times, 14 December 2009 [see article]

More to maths than meets the eye

2008-12-15 09:00:00

Prof Richard Hartley

While Professor Richard Hartley's analysis of surveillance footage of a crime that resulted in the death of an innocent victim in the US may have stayed the alleged murderer's execution, the mathematics that he uses in his research has many other applications. Nyssa Skilton at the Canberra Times reports, "Linking image and reality", The Canberra Times, 14 December 2008.

Read article here

Have degree, will travel

2008-12-15 09:00:00

Software engineer, Rebecca Marshall, is one of only two female students to graduate with a Bachelor of Software Engineering in 2008. According to Rebecca, software engineering is not only interesting, but she feels she will always be able to get a job because computers are such a major part of our everyday lives. She also studied Japanese and has applied for a Japan Exchange and Teaching Program place in 2009. After this she hopes to find a job in software engineering in Japan. "Software engineer takes to the sword," The Canberra Times, 12 December 2008.

Read article here

CECS and UniSA win $3.8M bid for engineers

2008-12-11 09:00:00

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today announced funding of $111.5M to encourage greater specialisation among higher education providers and promote diversity across the sector. More than 30 universities will receive funding for 49 projects through the latest round of the Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund.

The ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science has won a $3.8M bid, in partnership with the University of South Australia, for The Engineering 'Hubs and Spokes' Project. The project aims to provide engineering students with a greater choice of specialisations at ANU and UniSA without replication of resources while allowing students to stay in their home institution.