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Issue # 14 - October 2009

In this Issue:

Hunt for clean energy warms up

Premier responds to NSW research and business leaders

New research facility to help prevent atherosclerosis

Climate change increases asthma and allergies

Who says long distance relationships can’t work?

NSW Government Initiatives

NSW making headlines

Research News

Locust researcher wins NSW Scientist of the Year 2009 award

Calendar of Events

Director's Message

I’m delighted to welcome you to the 14th issue of OSMR’s e-newsletter.

I invite you to take part in Science EXPOsed 2009 which, for the first time in its six-year history, is open to the public this Saturday, 31 October, at the Powerhouse Museum. Further information about this event is contained in this e-newsletter.

The NSW Scientist of the Year Awards were held at the Powerhouse Museum in September. I would again like to congratulate Professor Stephen Simpson, who was named 2009 NSW Scientist of the Year for his research tackling human obesity and locust swarms.

I draw your attention to two innovation prizes which will be opening soon. The NSW Energy Challenge Prize is one of the world’s most generous prizes in this field and will assist in putting this State at the forefront of the clean energy industry. The apps4nsw competition, which is due to open later this year, will offer $100,000 in prizes for winning ideas on new and innovative ways to store, use and analyse government data.

Gerard Cudmore
Acting Director
NSW Office for Science and Medical Research

News

Hunt for clean energy warms up

NSW may lead the world in finding innovative solutions in the provision of clean energy thanks to a $5 million international prize announced by Premier Nathan Rees at the University Government Business Forum in July.
Read more >>

Premier responds to NSW research and business leaders

The Premier has released the final report of the University Government Business Forum. The report outlines several initiatives the NSW Government is undertaking to address major challenges facing the state by enabling more effective collaboration between the sectors.
Read more >>

New research facility to help prevent atherosclerosis

Research into the prevention of atherosclerosis, or the thickening of the arteries, has been given a boost with the opening of a new Heart Research Institute facility which may enable researchers to better detect and treat the condition.
Read more >>

Climate change increases asthma and allergies

A NSW researcher who identified an increase in allergens due to climate change has been awarded the OSMR Jamie Callachor Eureka Prize for Medical Research. Dr Paul Beggs from Macquarie University has sparked a worldwide debate on whether climate change is causing the global increase in asthma.
Read more >>

Who says long distance relationships can’t work?

Relationships between world-leading Chinese and NSW researchers have been strengthened with over $600,000 in funding provided by the NSW Government to support three medical research projects in areas including cancer and stroke research, under the pilot round of the China-NSW Collaborative Research Program.
Read more >>

NSW Government Initiatives

You, your family and friends are invited to take part in a fun day of discovery at Science EXPOsed 2009. For the first time, this exciting annual science event has been extended to Saturday. Perfect for families with children interested in science (aged 11 to 15 years).

Workshops are free with Museum admission. In a very special offer, Industry & Investment NSW is giving away 30 family passes to the Powerhouse Museum for people attending Science EXPOsed.

To take advantage of the family pass offer and find out more about the event, visit the Science EXPOsed web site >>

Software developers will have an opportunity to win $100,000 in a competition announced by the Premier in September. apps4nsw is set to open later this year and aims to encourage the development of “apps”, or applications, for modern technology, such as iPhones, that use data generated by Government offices.

To find out more visit the apps4nsw web page >>

ClinicalTrials NSW invites researchers to visit their new web site which has been recently launched. The new site includes additional features such as information for people curious about participating in clinical trials and how to get involved.

Visit the ClinicalTrialsNSW web site >>

NSW making headlines

Solar car 'uses less power than toaster' (Yahoo 7 News)
It's lean, green and can run on less energy than it takes to power the family toaster.

Heart breakthrough 'will save lives' (The Age)
Australian scientists have found a way to extend the time a donated heart can be kept on ice, and available for transplant.

Mini sats to improve Earth observation (ABC Science)
A constellation of miniature satellites working as a group could better monitor disasters, map the planet and help improve climate predictions, says an Australian engineer.

Revealed: the hidden toll of brain injuries in sports (Sydney Morning Herald)
Mild traumatic brain injury is emerging as a major public health issue for all high-contact sports in Australia, with many of the hundreds of concussions each week going undiagnosed and untreated.

Research News

Chinese herbal medicines for diabetes show promise
University of Western Sydney

Dust storm brings benefits for carbon capture
University of Sydney

Microgravity a health hazard
University of NSW

Amber find rewrites botanical history
Macquarie University

You can stop rock and roll
University of Technology, Sydney

Locust researcher wins NSW Scientist of the Year 2009 award

A scientist who discovered a link between locust swarming and the obesity epidemic has received the honour of being named the NSW Scientist of the Year 2009 and $60,000 in prize money.

Professor Stephen Simpson’s research has had a significant impact on several scientific fields. As well as providing fundamental insights into the human obesity epidemic and the aging process, his research is helping to: predict and manage locust outbreaks; minimise the environmental impacts of the aquaculture industry; and help conserve endangered species such as the Kakapo parrots.

Professor Simpson is an ARC Federation Fellow in the University of Sydney’s School of Biological Sciences.

The Minister for Science and Medical Research, Jodi McKay MP, presented the awards for the NSW Scientist of the Year at a ceremony held at the Powerhouse Museum on 10 September. In addition to the NSW Scientist of the Year award, 6 prizes of $5,000 each were awarded to the following category winners:

Environment, Water and Climate Change Sciences: Professor Brett Neilan
Physics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry and Astronomy: Dr Linlin Ge
Biomedical Sciences: Professor Jürgen Götz
Plant and Animal Sciences: Professor Stephen Simpson
Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Sciences: Professor Gernot Heiser
Leadership in Teaching Secondary Science & Mathematics: Mr William Adams

Media release >>

Calendar of Events

29 – 31 Oct
Science EXPOsed 2009

30 Oct
Climate change through the lens of the geological record

9 – 13 Nov
eResearch Australasia 2009: No Boundaries

19 Nov
Evidence for Murder - How physics convicted a killer

19 Nov
Physics in Industry Day 2009

20 Nov
Thank You Day

26 Nov
Climate Change Adaptation Forum and Workshop

15 Dec
My Genes Made Me Eat That!

16 – 18 May 2010
Lowy Symposium: Discovering Cancer Therapeutics

VISIT OUR WEBSITE CALENDAR OF EVENTS >>

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