The University of Western Australia

Staff from across the University were recognised at state, national and international levels in 2010.  Achievements included:

• Coral reef expert, Premiers Fellow and research leader at The University of Western Australias Oceans Institute, Professor Malcolm McCulloch, was elected to the prestigious Royal Society.
• The American Society of Plant Biologists identified Winthrop Professors Harvey Millar and Jim Whelan among the most highly cited and influential plant scientists in the world. Both researchers are Chief Investigators at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology.
• Associate Professor Wendy Oddy and Professor Grant Waterer were identified as among the top 10 of almost 5000 researchers nationally who applied for National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) funding in 2010.
• Professor Tim St Pierre, a physicist at The University of Western Australia who has researched the magnetic properties of iron in biology and medicine for 25 years, won a Clunies Ross award for his significant and positive influence on the lives of many Australians.
• Australian Laureate Fellow Professor Richard Hobbs was awarded the 2010 Ecological Society of Australia Gold Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the study of ecology in Australia.
• The 2011 Rhodes Scholarship for Western Australia was won by Bachelor of Law (Honours) student Jackie McArthur, who aims to use her education to improve the community as a barrister and academic. Other students recognised included:
  • Samuel Cleary won the Australian Water Association National Undergraduate of the Year.
  • Balarka Banerjee won the Trans-Tasman Three Minute Thesis Challenge.

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Throughout 2010, The University of Western Australia continued to confirm its standing as one of Australias leading research-intensive universities. Highlights from 2010 included:

• The University of Western Australia was allocated 10 new Super Science Fellowships the largest funding allocation given to any Australian university or research institute under the scheme.
• The University of Western Australia is leading or collaborating in seven of the nations 13 new Centres of Excellence ranking it second in Australia in these research ventures. The $24.25 million Centre of Excellence in the History of Emotions represents the largest ever research grant to the humanities in Australia.
• UWA was recognised for the outstanding quality of its medical researchers by receiving more than $9 million in National Health and Medical Research Council funding for three new Centres for Research Excellence.

Other key centres for research launched during the year included:

• Energy and Minerals Institute
• Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre
• Oceans Institute
• Centre for Forensic Science
• Centre for Rock Art Studies.

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The University of Western Australia is committed to being a high-quality, student-centred teaching university, and a high performing research-intensive university, with an international focus for its activities and standards. In 2010 the University and its staff were recognised for their commitment to providing a learning and teaching environment that encourages students to achieve international excellence.

• The high standard of teaching at The University of Western Australia was recognised in the 2010 Australian Awards for University Teaching.
• Six UWA staff members were recognised for their outstanding contributions to student learning in the Australian Learning and Teaching Council awards.
• The University of Western Australias School of Indigenous Studies celebrated 21 highly successful years in 2010.

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International engagement enables UWA researchers to access global networks, leading technologies and unique research infrastructure.

• The disciplines of Life and Agricultural Sciences at The University of Western Australia ranked the highest in Australia and 34th in the world in the prestigious Shanghai Jiao Tong World University Rankings in 2010.
• The University of Western Australia became a founding member of the new international network of high-quality universities across seven nations known as the Matariki Network of Universities.
• The top 10 resource universities in Korea have strengthened ties with The University of Western Australia to develop a global talent in mineral and energy resources development.

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• Perth businessman Mr Charles Morgans philanthropic gift of almost $1million to UWA to purchase high-capacity genome sequencing and genetic analysis equipment has provided new opportunities for research in WA.
• The Elizabeth Rutherford Memorial Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion was officially opened.
• An extremely generous donation from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation has ensured the ongoing funding of Winthrop Professor Catherine Cole in the position of Perron Chair of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology.
• The Lloyd's Register Educational Trust is supporting the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems' $2.4-million program to help provide solutions to the challenges of harnessing resources from beneath our oceans.

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The University continued to engage with the wider community to establish strong links and cement its position as a leading intellectual and creative resource to the communities it serves.

• UWA established a new internet telescope that allows students across the State to conduct significant scientific research.
• The University of Western Australia was highly commended for its outstanding contribution to heritage at the Western Australian Heritage Awards.
• The director of one of the UK's largest and most vibrant arts festivals was appointed as artistic director of the Perth International Arts Festival, founded by The University of Western Australia.
  

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Key appointments during the year included:

• Dr Mary Davies, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (University Librarian and Director (Information Management).
• Winthrop Professor Stuart Kaye, Dean of the Law School.

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In 2010, UWA named several landmarks across campus in honour of past staff members who have made a significant contribution to the University:

• The outstanding contribution of Dr Ken Michael, Governor of Western Australia, and Mrs Julie Michael to The University of Western Australia was recognised with the naming of a building in their honour.
• The General Purpose II building has been renamed the Robert Street Building.
• The Biochemistry building has been renamed the Curnow Building.
• The major thoroughfare leading north-south from near Prescott Court to the Business School has been officially named Underwood Promenade.
• The Molecular and Chemical Sciences Building, has been renamed the Bayliss Building.

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