Our place UniviewTHE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA - VOL.45, SUMMER 2020
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Uniview
VOL.45, SUMMER 2020
THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Our place
Message from
the Editor
10
This summer edition of Uniview celebrates our sense of place.
Stories reflect the University’s role in our local community and more broadly in influencing
the social, cultural, economic and geopolitical shape of the region.
This edition, we feature the stunning new Bilya Marlee (River of the Swan) building which
represents longstanding Indigenous wisdom and offers a unique lens through which we
can view and understand our current environment. As the beating heart of our campus,
Bilya Marlee grounds our sense of identity and speaks to the Indigenous knowledge
systems that are woven into the fabric of our place, our campus and our region. Bilya Marlee
14
We also share Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma’s personal passion for nurturing the
potential of our students as contributors to the future of our world, as well as the thinking
behind his ambitious growth agenda for the University.
We showcase the achievements of our students, alumni and research leaders who are
working with industry partners to develop cutting-edge solutions and new knowledge
for the benefit of our broader community.
While uncertainty is now indelibly stamped on our world, we can be proud we have
responded with agility and face the future with a renewed sense of optimism for creation,
bold ideas and change.
We hope you enjoy this edition and encourage you to get in touch with comments
and feedback.
Alison Batcheler
Associate Director, Corporate Communications
Going forward
38
From the
CONTENTS
03 From the Vice-Chancellery 28 UWA Spotlight
Vice-Chancellery
Professor Amit Chakma, Vice-Chancellor
04 In Focus 30 Grad Briefs The University of Western Australia
08 Driving an ambitious change agenda 32 Convocation
Facing the Future with Confidence
10 Features 35 Newsmaker
22 Thought Leadership 36 In the Frame
24 Arts and Culture 38 From the Vault
26 Our Grads Confidence works in mysterious ways. It can be But I also know that hope is essential to all human
the most desirable and undesirable of qualities. If it progress. Without hope, we abandon ourselves and
is to work for us, it must be associated with humility future generations to despair – and nothing good comes
The University of Western Australia acknowledges that its campuses are situated on and realism. from that.
Noongar land, and that Noongar people remain the spiritual and cultural custodians From the vault Today, there are confident predictions of the doom of My hope is grounded upon my awareness of certain
of their land, and continue to practise their values, languages, beliefs and knowledge. universities as we know them. We are confidently told that realities. This is an exceptionally good university, which has
face-to-face teaching is a thing of the past, that we will no consistently produced generations of graduates without
longer have international students, and that the humanities whom the world would be a much poorer place. The effect
Editor: Alison Batcheler
will become less popular subjects of study. of our graduates on Western Australia is incalculable.
Uniview Coordinators: Nicole Ensor, Milka Bukilic The University of Western Australia – UWA Those who make these declarations do not know if any I am hopeful because of the dedication of our staff, who
Editorial: Corporate Communications, The University of
Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009 UWAnews
of these things will happen. They are fears that have been agreed overwhelmingly to sacrifice take-home pay in order
Telephone: +61 8 6488 4206 turned into facts. I prefer hope. to save as many positions as possible.
Design: Nicole Halliday, UWA Digital and Creative Services UWA website: uwa.edu.au/news
Printer: UniPrint, The University of Western Australia
Fears and hopes are feelings about the future, And I am hopeful every time I see the students who
Address changes: +61 8 6488 8000 Front cover: School of Indigenous Studies grounded upon our perspectives of the realities of which have begun to return to our beautiful campus. They are
Email: uniview@uwa.edu.au staff at Bilya Marlee
Photo credit: Alana Blowfield
we are aware and those we are able to understand. here to make the future, just as our alumni have made so
Material from Uniview may be reproduced if accompanied
I am hopeful about the future of universities in general, much of the past and present.
by an appropriate credit. and The University of Western Australia in particular.
Because I am a realist, I know that the road ahead is a very
difficult one.
2 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 3
IN FOCUS IN FOCUS
New exercise program tackles Musicians recognised in
student mental health Australian Art Music Awards
Improving the mental health “The goal of Stride is to help Stride program co-lead Dr Bonnie
and physical fitness of university students feel physically and Furzer hopes other educational The Australian Art Music Awards UWA graduate Cat Hope’s
students is the focus of a new mentally healthier by introducing an institutions will implement similar are presented each year by the Speechless was a joint winner of
mentor-based exercise program at individualised exercise program and strategies. Australasian Performing Right the new Work of the Year: Dramatic
UWA – believed to be the first of its providing an opportunity to develop “Once we are able to fully Association and the Australian category for her work on a wordless
kind at an Australian university. long-term exercise habits,” Associate understand the benefits of Stride, we’d Music Centre, and acknowledge opera with a graphic notation score
Stride is a free 12-week supervised Professor Jackson said. like to see the program implemented James Ledger, the achievements of composers, generated from the 2014 Human
and personalised exercise program for Stride program coordinator and in universities across Australia and Conservatorium of Music performers and educators in the Rights Commission Report about
UWA students experiencing mental internationally,” Dr Furzer said. genres of contemporary classical children in immigration detention.
Accredited Exercise Physiologist
health difficulties, which also provides A world-renowned musician music, jazz, improvisation, sound art UWA graduate Louise Devenish
Conor Boyd, who manages the
an opportunity for Master of Clinical from The University of Western and experimental music. won in the category of Notated Music.
program intake, said the team had Australia who has collaborated with
Exercise Physiology students to gain Musician James Ledger, who The percussionist took out the award
already noticed the benefits students artists such as Paul Kelly, as well as
valuable mentorship experience. heads the composition program at for her musical piece Sheets of Sound.
were receiving. three UWA graduates, have been
Program co-lead, Associate UWA’s Conservatorium of Music, and Fellow UWA graduate Joanna
“Not only are students physically recognised in the 2020 Australian is a mentor to young musicians, won Drimatis received a Luminary
Professor Ben Jackson from UWA’s
active, they are also experiencing the Art Music Awards, receiving awards the award for Work of the Year: Large State/Territory Award for sustained
School of Human Sciences, said
many positive mental health outcomes for their contribution to Australian Ensemble for his Viola Concerto contribution to the performance,
students could be referred to the
Stride program from UWA student that regular exercise provides while music. with the judges calling it a “highly programming and advocacy
support or medical services staff and making a new friend and receiving sophisticated work with innovative of Australian works, and string
could enrol in the program while valuable social support,” Mr Boyd said. harmonic language and beautiful music education.
receiving other support. Dr Bonnie Furzer, Professor Ben Jackson synergy between all its elements”.
and Conor Boyd
Honeybee venom found to kill Federal funding for Australian
aggressive breast cancer cells drug to treat COVID-19
Honeybee venom has been found to induce cancer cell death
in aggressive breast cancer according to new research by the A drug developed by Dimerix, and based
Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and The University of on technology coming out of The University of
Western Australia. Western Australia, has been awarded $1 million
in Federal Government funding to support its
Using the venom from 312 honeybees and bumblebees in Western
inclusion in a global trial to treat patients who have
Australia, Ireland and England, Dr Ciara Duffy tested the effect of the venom
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated
on the clinical subtypes of breast cancer, including triple-negative breast with COVID-19.
cancer, which has limited treatment options. The drug, known as DMX-200, will receive the
Results published in npj Precision Oncology revealed honeybee venom funding over 12 months from the Medical Research
and a component compound, melittin, rapidly destroyed triple-negative Future Fund through the Biomedical Translation Bridge
breast cancer and HER2-enriched breast cancer cells. Program to support development and clinical evaluation
of DMX-200 as a new treatment for respiratory
Dr Duffy said the honeybee venom was extremely potent and a specific
complications as a result of COVID-19 in a global clinical
concentration of venom could induce 100 per cent cancer cell death, while study with a potential fast-track pathway to clinical
having minimal effects on normal cells. practice.
Melittin in honeybee venom was also found to have another remarkable DMX-200 therapy aims to reduce damage It was chosen as part of the Randomised, Embedded,
effect; within 20 minutes it was able to substantially reduce the chemical from inflammatory immune cells by blocking their Multifactorial Adaptive Platform trial for Community-Acquired
messages of cancer cells essential to cancer cell growth and cell division. signalling and limiting subsequent movement. Patients Pneumonia (REMAP-CAP) program, which is endorsed by the
hospitalised with COVID-19 commonly have acute lung World Health Organization and designated a Pandemic Special
Western Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Klinken, said it was
dysfunction due to the immune response to the virus. Study.
an incredibly exciting observation. “Significantly, this study demonstrates
Global experts see DMX-200 as a compelling REMAP-CAP is an international platform trial run by a
how melittin interferes with signalling pathways within breast cancer treatment option to limit inflammation in the lungs network of leading experts, institutions, and research groups.
cells to reduce cell replication. It provides another wonderful example during infection of the SARS-CoV2 virus.
of where compounds in nature can be used to treat human diseases,”
Dr Ciara Duffy, Harry Perkins
Institute of Medical Research Professor Klinken said.
4 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 5
IN FOCUS IN FOCUS
Professor Ryan Lister
EZONE delivers
Scientists recognised in industry-student engagement
Premier's Science Awards A decade in the making, the Figures from Semester 2 show more than 7,000 bookings of group spaces,
new $80 million EZONE UWA with 1,200 unique users each day and 40,000 users each month.
Student Hub has opened to The Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching for the Faculty of Engineering
engineering and mathematical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor Dianne Hesterman, said the
A researcher from UWA who has made significant the theory and effectiveness of a new transdiagnostic
sciences students. facility had been embraced by staff and students.
advancements in understanding the molecular therapy. Ms Harrington has also contributed within the
The University greatly “This year EZONE came into its own with the move to online learning,”
programming in cells which determine how living School of Psychological Science to increase Indigenous
acknowledges the generous support she said.
creatures function has been named joint Scientist content, culturally safe practices and engagement with
and funding made possible through “The video conferencing facilities have allowed students unable to join us on
of the Year in the 2020 Premier’s Science Awards. Indigenous students.
our foundation industry partners, campus to still participate in classes and continue their studies.
Professor Ryan Lister is a pioneer in the field of Dr Chris Brennnan-Jones, a Senior UWA Research
BHP and Woodside, the generous “EZONE is sometimes called a student hub or teaching facility, but I think
epigenomics – the study of the molecular code that Fellow, was named Woodside Early Career Scientist of the
bequest from alumnus Robert a better description is a collaborative space. It enables our students, teaching
controls gene activity. His research into plant and animal Year. Dr Brennan-Jones is an audiologist whose work has
Telford, Eastwood Family Foundation, and research staff, and industry members to come together and collaborate on
systems has revolutionised our understanding of genome led to dramatic cuts in treatment waiting times for children
Harold and Margaret Clough and the big challenges that we face and to work on socially responsible, sustainable
regulation, stem cell biology and brain development. affected by middle ear disease. Former Scientist of the
Giumelli Family Foundation as well solutions.”
Marine Scientist Todd Bond from the UWA School of Year Professor Mark Randolph was also inducted into the
as many other donors and alumni. UWA's Chair in Engineering Education, Associate Professor Sally Male, said
Biological Sciences was awarded joint ExxonMobil Student Science Hall of Fame.
The development of EZONE was the student hub had surpassed her expectations.
Scientist of the Year for using his knowledge of underwater Internationally recognised for his expertise in offshore
led by Faculty of Engineering and “Before construction, students worked with engineers on design projects
video sampling techniques to understand how fish and geotechnics, Professor Randolph founded the UWA
Mathematical Sciences Executive related to EZONE,” she said. “During construction, students worked as student
fisheries interact with oil and gas infrastructure. Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems in 1997, one of
Dean Professor John Dell. engineers, and also shadowed the UWA project manager.
Simone Harrington was awarded the Shell Aboriginal the most sophisticated research and modelling facilities in
Described as a massive
STEM Student of the Year for excellence in her psychology offshore geomechanics and engineering in the world.
intellectual and financial investment
studies. Her PhD research is looking at evidence behind
in WA’s knowledge economy, the I really enjoy coming to EZONE to study, to take
student hub promises a vibrant a break with friends, or simply to have a discussion in a
student experience, leading to
With a passion for Indigenous Overcoming this challenge made her
enhanced graduate outcomes.
nice open space.
health and research into the prevention more determined than ever to succeed.
The facility incorporates three
of dementia, Shondell Hayden is It was her commitment and passion that Danna Torres Bennz (Computer Science and Management student)
world-class engineering laboratories,
determined to make a difference. led Shondell to be awarded the Eva K A
14 flexible learning studios and
Growing up in Exmouth, Shondell Nelson MD Scholarship from a generous
dedicated space for 150 research “Now students continue to learn from EZONE, visiting the construction site
always knew she wanted to work in the bequest left to the University by the late
students. in a 4D learning environment to examine contextual factors and sustainable
health sector, but it wasn’t until she Dr W. A. Nelson for the ‘most deserving
Visitors are able to view the features.”
commenced her undergraduate studies medical student’.
materials testing lab (lucky observers While the building includes various sustainability features – such as solar
in biomedical science at UWA and took Her hard work was also recognised
might see a robot making 3D prints panels, wind turbines and battery storage – one of its most impressive elements
on a role as a research officer working on when she was named finalist in the 2020
of concrete), the hydraulics lab is the inclusion of 2,000 sensors monitoring electricity, light, heating, cooling
two Aboriginal Health projects, that she Premier’s Science Awards in the Shell
(featuring a model of water flow and other building aspects. The result is a ‘digital twin’.
really found her path. Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year
through the Swan River) and other Next year, students will be able to manipulate the digital twin, creating new
Her medical aspirations were dealt a category.
laboratories – all contributing to the operating models to increase efficiencies. The changes, after being submitted to
serious setback when she had to undergo With scholarships and awards under
STUDENT brain surgery in 2017, in what was meant her belt and a strong interest in Aboriginal
demystification of engineering and a panel of academics, will be implemented in real time.
SPOTLIGHT to be the final year of her undergraduate health and ageing, Shondell’s future is
mathematics. The EZONE UWA Student Hub received a 2020 Australian Engineering
In its first semester of operation, Excellence Award.
degree. The surgery affected her memory, shining bright.
the student hub has been a hive of
but with support and rehabilitation,
Shondell Hayden BSc ‘19 Shondell was able to complete her
activity. Nearly 30 student events
were held every week, encompassing
degree in biomedical science and begin
student wellbeing and social events,
the Doctor of Medicine this year.
as well as industry engagement
and professional development
opportunities.
6 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 7
FEATURE FEATURE
“We are trying to grow our
domestic enrolments as I speak
because we can do that now
while COVID is not a problem.
Internationally, though, we can’t do
much about recruiting more students
until the borders open – at this stage
we have no certainty – but I’m hoping
by 2022 borders will open and we
launch into that,” he said.
Having already put in place plans
for structural change, he’s focused
on improving the synergies between
research and teaching.
As well as reshaping the Amit Chakma in Bangladesh in 1975 Amit Chakma as a child
University’s organisational structure
to give schools more autonomy, Despite being in the job for less Having left his native Bangladesh
Professor Chakma is keen to bring than six months, Professor Chakma after receiving a scholarship to
together heads of schools, research has spent his early days getting study engineering in Algeria before
institute directors and prominent to know the people and places migrating to Canada, Professor
scholars as well as administrative that make up UWA. He highlights Chakma is a strong advocate for
Driving an ambitious
leaders to have freewheeling the University’s many strengths – international education.
conversations not constrained foremost among them its people. He is also a champion of equity
by processes. “We have great people. Every of access to education, with his
change agenda
“Just get the ideas out and if we time I visit an academic unit, research parents making many sacrifices to
identify something we want to do, lab, classroom or teaching lab, I come ensure their children were able to
then we charge those who have the back excited. I knew, based on paper attend school and aspire to tertiary
responsibility to get it done,” he said. and my own research, that to be the education.
After migrating from Canada, case but now I have seen it in person “The only way for us to grow is by
W
Professor Chakma and his wife and am convinced. The fundamentals expanding our student catchment
Meena are determined to make the are very strong – our people and our area. If we work within WA by being
most of living in Perth. They made the place,” he said. more inclusive – and that’s our
decision early on that they wanted to mandate, to create opportunities and
live beachside and have now settled
hile new We cannot simply serve the needs of people – then we
in Scarborough with panoramic can also bring in students from across
Vice-Chancellor be a university doing
ocean views. the broader region,” he said.
Professor Amit
While used to entertaining
Chakma may be feeling a little unsure all the things that good Professor Chakma sees UWA’s
and attending regular functions position on the Indian Ocean Rim as
about adjusting to driving on the universities do, we have to
in Canada, arriving in Perth in the a distinct but untapped advantage.
left-hand side of the road, he’s confident
middle of a pandemic has curtailed
he can meet the challenge of turning be more than that; and that “In terms of cultural and economic
the couple’s social activities. growth there is a lot happening in
around the University’s financial situation is the challenge.
“We’re discovering the benefits this region. We’re in the middle of a
within the next two years.
of being empty nesters – we don’t part of the world where a lot of things
By Simone Hewett “When I accepted the role I saw my job as
have children living with us and we Professor Chakma is also mindful are happening. We can create many
that of a builder – I was going to build as much
don’t have to worry about schools. of UWA’s history, its mission and its opportunities for ourselves and we
as I could over a five-year period,” Professor
Living in Scarborough means we role in the development of the state. can make many contributions through
Chakma said. “I was going to spend a year
have everything we need within five “This University occupies an education and research. We can
or so learning about the University, coming
UWA should be the leading to seven minutes’ walking distance,” important place in WA so to me that’s make our impact felt and that is our
up with exciting plans, looking at exciting
he said. an opportunity. It has a long history advantage,” he said.
university in the region with tentacles research opportunities and then launch into a
“The lifestyle here – maybe this is and is a manifest of the aspiration of
series of philanthropic campaigns. “Ultimately if we’re successful
all over and our impact should be felt COVID-related – is different but the the people of WA for generations. (and it will not be within my five-
“Unfortunately because of the situation
demand of the job here is quite a bit We inherit that legacy, to build on,” year term) but 10, 20 years from
everywhere. that we’re facing, the timelines needed to be
different to what it was in my previous he said.
shifted so I’ve given myself a year-and-a-half now, UWA should be the leading
role. We didn’t really have weekends “I like that mission and the university in the region with tentacles
to fix the deficit – or at least to bring it under
to ourselves and there was quite a challenges it throws at us; the all over and our impact should be
control.”
bit of travel but there’s not many of challenge being that we cannot felt everywhere.”
Professor Chakma is now looking ahead to
those calls here – not yet anyway. simply be a university doing all the
2022 to start rebuilding, although he points
I’m using my time on the weekends things that good universities do, we
out that process has already begun.
to learn, slowly, how to drive on the have to be more than that; and that is
other side of the road.” the challenge.”
8 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 9
FEATURE FEATURE
getting qualified people out there “The achievements of people
– including lawyers and doctors – to who are here, the people who are
assist Aboriginal communities and to yet to come and the Elders and
contribute more broadly to the State the communities that support us,”
and the country.” she said.
It symbolises Designed to fit into the landscape Last year, the UWA School
and giving the sense of being of Indigenous Studies reported
everything that we hope
outdoors, Bilya Marlee sends the 247 Indigenous enrolments, 621
to achieve in recognising message that learning is not just enrolments across all major units,
indoors, not just in lecture theatres. 4,738 online students and $6.3 million
Aboriginal rights and
“It’s about being able to move secured for mental health and suicide
embedding Indigenous through different spaces and the prevention research.
protocols and Indigenous spaces are all connected as you
move,” she said.
knowledge across the Professor Milroy said one of
campus. the things she “really loved” about
the new building was that it was
highly visible from a main road and
those passing by could see this
demonstration of what Aboriginal
people could achieve.
Professor Jill Milroy, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education) and Dr Richard Walley, WA Senior Australian of the Year
Culture at the centre
From the first concept drawing to the “We have been teaching here by the river
last smoking ceremony, The University for thousands of generations.”
of Western Australia’s Dr Richard Walley Dr Walley said the extensive consultative
NURTURING WISDOM
has invested many months ensuring that process that led to the design of Bilya Marlee
every part of the new Bilya Marlee building involved a cultural collection of Noongar
S
pays homage to the fact that it is sitting on stories and knowledge – narratives of place
By Marnie McKimmie Whadjuk Noongar land. and function.
A Noongar man and respected lecturer in “This led to the architect and designers
Aboriginal culture, Dr Walley was an invaluable having a palette to draw upon when they were
tretching its wings member of the UWA building steering doing the designs,” he said.
2030 Vision. A commitment to taking “We will be the central point at
across campus, the committee and personally guided the project “The location also was very important. The
the next step forward with us and which Aboriginal programs and future
new Bilya Marlee from start to finish. whole building was designed around a clump
stepping up to another level. changes are nurtured – changes that
(River of the Swan) building of jarrah trees. The focus was to blend it into
“It symbolises everything that will spring from the place that we are,”
stands as a reminder of the highly the landscape and bring functionality from
we hope to achieve in recognising Professor Milroy said. Once you walk into the the landscape. For instance, the ramp near the
valuable knowledge systems that Aboriginal rights and embedding “Bilya Marlee is about saying that
WA’s Aboriginal people have to Indigenous protocols and Indigenous we have a whole lot that we want
place, there is a feeling that this trees that leads to the second floor is a natural
share with the world. place for teaching outside – an amphitheatre
knowledge across the campus.” to contribute – things that we think is significant. where you can sit down, share stories and
“Bilya Marlee is an embodiment From its home base in Bilya are important for everyone to know
of what we, as Aboriginal people, have lunch.
Marlee, the School of Indigenous about on a global scale.
think we can contribute to the “My hope now is that the Bilya Marlee “This whole process has resulted in a
Studies is set to continue to act as the “It’s not just about us ‘receiving’ in
University’s excellence – through our building will be appreciated, utilised and fantastic building. As well as its function, its
'nest' that will nurture these changes education. We can contribute across
students, our research, our teaching respected for what it is – a new place of learning aesthetics, its energy – there is a feeling you
through to 2030. Co-located with it all disciplines, and it’s our knowledge,
and the way we understand the on an old place of learning,” Dr Walley said. can’t describe.
in the new building is the Centre for our stories, our places and all the
world,” said Pro Vice-Chancellor “The whole UWA campus is very important “Once you walk into the place, there is a
Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health concepts that we understand that
(Indigenous Education) Professor Jill in Noongar history and this is one of the closest feeling that this is significant.”
and the Poche Centre for Indigenous will contribute to the vision and
Milroy of the School of Indigenous UWA buildings to the Swan River, which is one
Health. achievements for the University.
Studies. of the oldest teaching areas that we have.
Building design was inspired by “Our programs started formally at
“The building is an Indigenous the swan’s nest – a place of fertility, UWA in 1988 with a bridging course
knowledge gateway to The birth, parenting and teaching and we have come a long way since
University of Western Australia and that offered a safe haven until an our initial key focus was on getting
a permanent visible demonstration individual was ready to go out and Aboriginal people into education and
of the University’s commitment in its create their own nest.
10 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 11
FEATURE FEATURE
ALUMNI STUDENT
SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT
Kamsani bin Salleh (BA, ’16) Sophie Coffin (Juris Doctor)
Kamsani studied communications A shining example of young
and media at UWA and now works as leadership and making her early mark
an artist. in the legal fraternity, Sophie Coffin
Kamsani, also known as Kambarni, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
is a Nimunburr and Yawuru man (majoring in Law and Society, and
from the Kimberley and a Ballardong Indigenous Knowledge, History and
Noongar man from the Perth area. Heritage) and is currently on the path
He had studied architecture first, to complete a Juris Doctor in 2021.
because he always thought that The young Ngangumarta
everyone needed a house to live in Yindjibarndi woman is no stranger
and not everyone needed a painting. to the spotlight having won the title
Now, he is in demand for his artistic of Miss NAIDOC in 2018, and is now
abilities. recognised in the community for
Kamsani works as an illustrator, her strong leadership and public
designer and artist for private, speaking skills.
commercial and government clients. Originally from Port Hedland in
the State’s North West, Sophie is an
More than a building
He uses his artwork as a platform to
share knowledge about Aboriginal active member of the Indigenous
culture. student body on campus and
The painted murals which can be has represented UWA at various
By Juliana Cavoli national and international leadership
seen across Perth and surrounding
suburbs are some of Kamsani’s symposia and events. Last year, she
Located on the eastern side of the Crawley original site, while the grassed ramp to the upper ground
commissioned works. Another closer was invited as a WA representative at
campus, the Bilya Marlee (River of the Swan) floor has been designed as an informal entry to the
to his roots in Broome, was the mural the Uluru Statement from the Heart
building is a stunning addition to the University. building, sitting alongside the ground floor ‘ceremonial’
based on the musical Bran Nue Dae Youth Summit in Cairns.
Bilya Marlee houses the School of Indigenous entry. The landscaping was inspired by the Whadjuk Six
performed in Subiaco this year. Earlier this year, she spent
Studies, Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Seasons.
Kamsani published his first a semester on exchange at the
Health, and Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. Its The building’s environmental impact was reduced
children’s book At the Beach I See University of Groningen in the
design and positioning have been guided by Indigenous through features including water-efficient fittings, an
(by Magabala Books) which made Netherlands to study Human Rights
cultural sensibility, and imbued with the narrative extensive metering system to allow building tuning
the 2018 Australian Book Industry Law, International Criminal Tribunals,
and stories of the Whadjuk country upon which it and optimisation, high-performance double-glazing
Awards longlist for Small Publishers, and Refugee and Asylum Law.
sits, respecting the local flora, fauna and surrounding to minimise heat and maximise natural light, and an
Children’s Book of the Year. Sophie has completed internships
landform. external energy-efficient bespoke glazed curtain wall
In the same year, he was named with various legal firms during the
Designed by renowned architect and UWA graduate system complemented by terracotta façade features – a
WA Young Person of the Year and past few years, and is now interning
the late Kerry Hill AO, the building houses enclosed first in both Australia and the world.
received the Mission Australia with Legal Aid WA.
and open office spaces, flexible learning spaces fitted The alluvial colours of the Swan River (Derbal
Cultural Endeavours Award. Her future aspirations lie in
with technology and furnishings that accommodate a Yerrigan) form the basis of the colour palette, and the
working in intellectual property law,
variety of teaching styles and create different learning Black Marlee (Swan) was an important reference for the
specifically in protecting Aboriginal
environments – including courtyards (for ceremonial internal colour scheme. This also provided a subject
art, artists and artefacts as well as
events and gatherings) with a view to the river and for Danjoo Kaartdijin (Learning Together), an art piece
advocating for Aboriginal rights.
beyond. The building’s main courtyard is topped by by Noongar woman Sharyn Egan that serves as a focal
a canopy of mature marri trees, preserved from the point of the foyer.
12 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 13
FEATURE FEATURE
From crisis comes creation
U nlike financial crises, which can often be
remedied emotionally by restoring people’s
confidence in the markets, physical crises
like COVID-19 can only be truly mitigated by addressing
their root physical causes. Can we then, as individuals,
governments, companies and civil societies, realise
this and use the current pandemic as an opportunity to
reimagine the way we operate?
Some people tell me this crisis will only move us backwards:
the very low oil prices will delay our transition to clean energy,
nationalism will become exacerbated, and the overall decrease
in wealth will make investors even more short-term risk-averse, DR JULIA R E I S S E R , RESEARCH
F E L L O W, U WA O C E A N S I N S T I T U T E
pushing the much-needed low-carbon revolution further away
from us.
But I am with those who see the glass half-full, and realise
that this crisis may act as a catalyst for change and positive Let’s use this forced
disruption.
We may finally realise the world in which we now live is overly disruption to do what we
susceptible to widespread physical crises, making us rebuild our should have done already;
businesses with more transparency, modularity and decreased
Scope 3 carbon emissions. work hard towards building
Going forward:
Perhaps our investors will take advantage of the rock- a system that puts the
bottom interest rates to invest in climate-proof infrastructures
and low-carbon operations that not only create new jobs, but wellbeing of our kids and
also incubate a cooperative global community that is prepared grandkids at the forefront of
for upcoming climate-driven events.
I believe this pandemic is the start of a widespread everything we do.
understanding of how connected we are as a global community,
leading us to appreciate the importance of scientific expertise,
prioritise environmental resiliency in our recovery plans and act
What have we learned post COVID-19?
upon the largest threat humanity faces: the climate crisis.
What you and I do with our time and resources in the next
couple of years will determine our future. Let’s use this crisis
to breed fresh thinking and implementation of a system-wide
decarbonisation of economies that are much more resilient to
future environmental disruptions.
My personal contribution to creating circular carbon
economies is developing new ways to decouple polymer
production from fossil fuels. This is important because if we keep
business as usual, by 2030 the greenhouse gas emissions from
plastic production will be the equivalent to emissions from 300
new 500-megawatt coal plants, and by 2050 emissions from
plastics will reach 15 per cent of our global carbon budget.
I strongly believe we are inhabiting a unique time in history
when we are provided with a blank page for a new beginning.
Restarting our economy requires courage. Let’s use this
forced disruption to do what we should have done already; work
hard towards building a system that puts the wellbeing of our
kids and grandkids at the forefront of everything we do.
14 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 15
FEATURE FEATURE
Australia is in a good place
A new time for cohesion
and cooperation It has been an extremely difficult time for many
in Australia; but compared with the rest of the world,
the nation – and WA in particular – has done well by
If you had asked me this time last year how I I could continue to go on about lessons we have
virtually all measures, including economic and health.
thought my term as President of the UWA Student learned, but what is more important is ensuring these
Luckily, we remain in a relatively strong position
Guild would go, it couldn’t be further from how 2020 lessons don’t go to waste. During quarantine, we seemed
compared to other countries to deal with the outcomes
panned out. A pandemic was certainly not what I, nor to have a heightened desire to check in with our friends
from this health-induced economic shock. The balance
anyone else for that matter, had in mind this year. and neighbours, but as life returns to normal, we seem
sheets of our Federal Government, central banks, the
UWA has undertaken an extraordinary transformation to be leaving that behind. Why is that? I don’t think it’s
corporate sector and even households remain in a very
of its operations in a matter of months. Suddenly, an because we don’t need those small acts of kindness
strong position vis-a-vis other similar countries. We’re very
organisation that has functioned in a specific way for such anymore. I am sure our COVID experience won’t be one we
fortunate in the sense that we’re well positioned going
a long period of time has had to adapt to a new normal. will quickly forget, but without reflection, it will be easy to
forward.
Ordinarily, there would have been some resistance for the forget the humanity we learned.
types of solutions that were being proposed, but we have Accelerated changes to the way we work
DR MARK BA R N A BA A M C I T WA
witnessed hundreds of units transform from being taught BCOM ‘86, DCOM ‘12 Working from home versus the office, virtual meetings
exclusively on campus to being delivered online in a matter M B A , H A R VA R D B U S I N E S S S C H O O L versus in-person meetings, the propensity for travel, how
of weeks.
we think about collaboration, teams and organisations – all
There are a number of lessons we have learned as a Non-Executive Board M e m b e r, R e s e r v e B a n k of these have been accelerated in their evolution due to
result of this experience. At UWA, what stands out for o f Au s t r a l i a a n d D e p u ty C h a i r, Fo r te s c u e
Metals Group COVID-19. It’s not as if outcomes have occurred which
me, is pursuing ideas and projects without fear of failure,
never would have, but they have been accelerated and
because we choose to aim for good rather than perfect.
compressed. Technology has evolved and habits have
The communication and flexibility across the institution in
formed, and that means that there will be change. In time,
this time has led to a new cohesiveness and cooperation
a new normal will emerge which won’t be what we do
that has undoubtedly made all of our jobs easier and, most
importantly, benefited the student experience. Hope, optimism and today, but neither will it be that of pre-COVID-19. That new
normal will give rise to new lifestyles, new companies and,
inner belief are really powerful in many cases, will really test those who are less adaptive to
BRE SHANAHAN, 2 0 2 0 U WA
I am sure our COVID experience GUILD PRESIDENT remedies in times of crisis. The change.
won’t be one we will quickly forget, but world has shown repeatedly Profound societal change creates both winners
that if you share learnings, and losers
without reflection, it will be easy to forget
Societal change tests very basic human qualities which
the humanity we learned. work constructively together, become essential – resilience, adaptability, persistence and
and throw focus and resources determination. Sadly, good times rarely test or help build
I have also heard a lot this year from members of the these qualities. The organisations, people and families who
behind recovery, then the globe exit this pandemic well will be those who have found a way
UWA community about the importance of the human
experience. Prior to COVID-19, there was a lot of discussion can rebound quickly. to exhibit these essential qualities and a way to dig deep and
among students about disruptive technology and how see the silver lining of a very dark cloud. We can all do it, but
much of our future work could be automated. After if you’ve had sustained periods of good times and success,
experiencing lockdown, I think it’s safe to say that a fully you haven’t had to draw on those types of qualities.
automated future isn’t quite within our sights. While we It’s also in situations like this when friendships,
might continue to strive for efficiency, we have all learned community connectedness, and wider family ties are more
how important it is to us just to have a neighbour to say hi important than ever. Take a little more time to look after
to or some small talk over a water cooler to fill up our days. those you care about. I’ve been reminded that we’ve got
much for which we should be grateful and that it is indeed
true that “a burden shared is a burden halved”.
The world has a remarkable ability to rebound
Hope, optimism and inner belief are really powerful
remedies in times of crisis. The world has shown repeatedly
that if you share learnings, work constructively together
and throw focus and resources behind recovery, then
the globe can rebound quickly. Following the 2008
financial crisis, there was just one year where global GDP
was negative, in 2009, and the year after it was positive.
The OECD just released a report forecasting global GDP
would be down by around -4.5% for 2020. That is a one in
100-year event. But it’s also predicting that next year the
world will grow strongly. The world does rebound quickly;
we are resilient.
16 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 17
FEATURE FEATURE
Research leaders empower
industry partnerships
U WA has a strong
history of pursuing
collaborative
research opportunities,
including with industry to
develop innovative early-stage
UWA Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Research) Professor Tim Colmer
said UWA collaborated with other
research institutions across a
broad spectrum of areas, such as
radio astronomy and data science
technologies. Researchers benefit (playing an integral role in the Square
from interactions with industry Kilometre Array project), offshore
experts, access to industry engineering, marine, environmental
sites and vital research funding and agricultural sciences, arts and
which enables them to translate humanities, and medical and health
research into tangible benefits sciences.
for our industry partners, both in “Our researchers are developing
Australia and around the world. solutions to the key issues the world
The University actively supports faces; a challenging endeavour which
students to become creative, benefits from collaborations with
innovative and entrepreneurial – an their colleagues locally, nationally and
important step as the University internationally,” Professor Colmer
continues to develop the leaders of said.
tomorrow. “We continue to make significant
investment in major research
These facilities infrastructure to establish, across all
disciplines, a network of world-class
attract many researchers platforms and technologies that
to build critical mass, underpin our research effort and
attract and retain the brightest minds
support our research from around the world.
collaborations both “These facilities attract many
researchers to build critical mass,
internal and external, support our research collaborations
and help develop new both internal and external, and help
develop new partnerships, including
partnerships, including with industry.”
with industry.
The University has many
collaborations between researchers,
students and industry; it is home to
a diverse community of some of the
world’s brightest minds, including
those who can provide world-leading
expertise in areas critical to the future
of Australia.
18 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 19FEATURE FEATURE
Industry Chairs
energy sources has the potential to Australian citizenship and rights from
place Western Australia in a position European settlement to the present.
of leadership to support emissions Given that Australia didn’t have
reduction throughout the Asia- a strong tradition of citizenship, the
Pacific region. research team would focus on visual
“The research conducted at the sources such as photos and media
centre will help eliminate the use to explore the concept over time,
of up to 4.4 billion tonnes of coal in Professor Lydon said.
Asia,” Professor Aman said.
“Energy from natural gas
The exhibition will
BHP Fellow for Shell Professor of Chevron Woodside
produces about half the CO2
generated using coal, so its use include an innovative
Engineering for Offshore Engineering Chair in Long Subsea enables real progress to be made in
Remote Operations lowering global emissions as quickly digital mapping tool, new
– Professor Phil Watson Tiebacks as possible, as a tangible pathway to biographical methods,
– Professor Melinda – Professor Zach Aman Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
A globally renowned geotechnical
Hodkiewicz Change targets within the coming archival research and
engineer, Professor Watson is a key
Professor Aman looks after flow
Professor Hodkiewicz leads a researcher within UWA’s world-class
assurance and subsea gathering
decade.” analysis.
Oceans Graduate School, addressing Climate solutions need to
number of engineering programs research within the Fluid Science
challenges and opportunities related consider global drivers and work
aimed at fostering entrepreneurial and Resources Cluster and leads
to offshore energy production. across both the short and long “We’ll be working with the
thinking, technical curiosity and the flow assurance theme within
Professor Watson leads a team terms, as the problem cannot fully be Immigration Museum in Melbourne,
a future-focused collaborative the ARC Centre for LNG Futures.
supported by Shell Australia, and evaluated on a per-continent, per- as well as collaborating with media
approach among students, start-ups He also directs the Centre for Long
is Director of the ARC Research country, or per-state basis. UWA is organisations and communities to
Here we profile some of and industry. Subsea Tiebacks launched by the
Hub for Offshore Floating Facilities. working extensively in multiple areas develop education packages, an
the University’s sponsored One project, the Living Lab, WA Premier in November 2019, and
He will also lead the Transforming such as renewable energy, biofuels, exhibition, and policy outcomes,” she
industry chairs. These research initiated by Professor Hodkiewicz, lectures in both undergraduate and
energy Infrastructure through hydrogen and liquefied natural gas said.
leaders are working with enables WA-based firms to conduct postgraduate coursework in chemical
Digital Engineering (TIDE) Research to help develop the suite of holistic “We hope that this visual
industry partners to carry accelerated life testing on next- engineering.
Hub, which is due to commence in and sustainable solutions that are approach will make this issue more
out cutting-edge research to generation sensing systems using the Subsea tiebacks are an offshore
2021 and is also supported by the required to solve a global problem of accessible to the wider community
address various constraints UWA campus equipment, facilities development concept, whereby
Australian Research Council and this magnitude. and will prompt debate about what it
faced by industry, producing and students. operators can submerge gas
industry partners. means to be an Australian citizen.”
new knowledge and significant “The Living Lab program is collection systems to the sea floor,
Combining Australian Professor Lydon, from UWA’s
benefits to the sector and our run by a team of talented student utilising advanced technology to
and international expertise in School of Humanities, will also lead a
broader community. engineers ready to help companies combat hostile deep-sea conditions.
mathematics, statistics, decision- research group that’s been awarded
test and demonstrate their electronic Over the past five years, UWA
making and machine learning with $660,000 over three years to rewrite
solutions for real-world industrial has become a world leader in the
world-leading research talent in Australian history by revealing the
sites. The program also provides research portfolio required to
oceanography, hydrodynamics and hidden story of our links to British
valuable work integrated learning for unlock subsea tiebacks, including
geotechnics, the project will enhance slavery.
our engineers-in-training,” Professor the development of the world’s
industry knowledge of complex By exploring the movement of
Hodkiewicz said. first biocompatible chemistries
offshore environments, in order to capital, people and attitudes from
The Living Lab is a partnership (reducing or eliminating toxicity
improve the operation and future slave-owning Britain to WA before
with Core Innovation Hub, and with fit-for-purpose management
design of energy infrastructure. and after the time of the abolition
together they are developing an chemicals), complex multiphase flow
ecosystem in WA to enable rapid “The TIDE Research Hub will
mathematics, and collaborations to Wesfarmers Chair in of British slavery in 1833, the project
analyse historical and future data aims to reveal slavery’s Australian
testing and deployment of next-
provided by industry partners,
deploy advanced and sustainable Australian History legacies.
generation sensing systems. These materials to the subsea environment.
products will improve remote integrating this with physics-based
The University’s investment in
– Professor Jane Lydon “Our project aims to
models in order to characterise communicate this new history to a
monitoring and hence reliability this area aligns with its commitment Professor Lydon’s research
the ocean environment, improve mainstream audience through an
of the assets used by a range to the environment and contributing centres on Australia’s colonial past
predictions of infrastructure online exhibition at the Australian
of resource and infrastructure to action on climate change. These and its legacies, and particularly the
response, and develop tools and National Maritime Museum,”
companies. research efforts are combined ways that popular culture has shaped
approaches that will result in Professor Lydon said.
The project received launch with advanced carbon capture ideas and debates about race,
improved decision making and “The exhibition will include an
funding from the BHP Fellowship via technologies to deliver low- identity and culture that persist today.
streamlined operations,” Professor innovative digital mapping tool,
the BHP Social Investment program emissions LNG for global export as a Professor Lydon was recently
Watson said. new biographical methods, archival
and the federally funded METS critical accelerator to reducing coal awarded Australian Research Council research and analysis.”
Ignited Collaborative Project Funds. utilisation, and further unlock a new Discovery Project funding for two The Wesfarmers Chair in
METS Ignited supports industry-led wave of blue hydrogen for the North projects, including $501,000 over Australian History was established as
projects to improve the productivity, West Shelf. When combined with three years to investigate the ways part of the University's New Century
competitiveness and innovative co-located offshore green hydrogen that visual images have defined, Campaign.
capacity in the Mining Equipment, generation, this suite of advanced contested and advanced ideas of
Technology and Services (METS)
sector.
20 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 21THOUGHT LEADERSHIP THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
LOOKING IN,
LOOKING OUT
After considerable tension, the Elsewhere, the State has considerable
electoral dust has now settled on the know-how in stimulating its blue
US Presidency, and early in 2021 an economy and in aquaculture in particular.
internationalist, bipartisan-minded 46th Underdeveloped regional economies
President will take up the reins. This will require a different approach if they
and getting to work in 2021 represents a significant inflexion point
for the US across the globe, ending a
are to succeed in attracting and retaining
talented workers.
notably irritable period of isolationist and Finally, the expansion of WA’s higher
nationalist policies and rhetoric. American education sector counts as a substantial
influence as a would-be force for the priority given the high quality of teaching
global rules-based order will be on display, and research facilities and a massive
but it would be myopic to believe this latent international student market across
reset moment will be either simple or easy southern and Southeast Asia.
to effect. The new economy is one of five core
In the meantime, Canberra must priority areas for the UWA Public Policy
focus on limiting any further points of Institute in 2021. Refreshing our economic
tension with Beijing and also give a much competitiveness is central to assuring a
stronger lead to diversifying the economy prosperous future. But WA is also facing a
post-pandemic. WA’s part in this involves number of policy challenges beyond next
diversifying what its own economy does year. Four stand out, and these constitute
and creating better international partners the remaining focal points. The State’s new
and markets that are relatively insulated legislation to strengthen environmental
from geo-political competition between protection is one of these, and the task
the US and China. will be to ensure that the policy levers
W
are understood and acted upon by all
By Professor Shamit Saggar, Director of the UWA Public Policy Institute
Refreshing our economic stakeholders. Another policy area will be
a new bill to protect Aboriginal cultural
competitiveness is central to heritage – the importance of which was
assuring a prosperous future. painfully illustrated earlier this year. Thirdly,
estern Australia normality in high-density parts of Perth the State’s mental health track record
approaches will be with us for a while. Meanwhile, the WA will elect a new State Government suggests that many individuals’ needs
2021 in a national restrictions on immigration are in 2021, and big choices for the future of are falling between the cracks of existing
comparatively favourable position beginning to have a negative impact as the State will be at stake. Investing in a policies and programs – with the added
given the disruptions of 2020. It is clear WA experiences fresh skills shortages more resilient and future-proof economy stressors of a global pandemic presenting
that the State’s isolation domestically and a mini real estate revival. will be the main aspect of the debate. Fresh only the tip of the iceberg. And finally,
and internationally has worked in The year has seen a parallel escalation ideas have emerged in recent years to use some of WA’s democratic institutions and
its favour, drastically reducing the in trade and security tensions between State funding to establish a new enterprise processes appear in need of modernisation
COVID-19 pandemic’s impact; and Australia and its dominant export agency that would both invest and take to ensure that public understanding and
it's demonstrated that it is possible, partner, China. No one is remotely a stake in new businesses that have been support are not taken for granted.
despite the odds, to seal off a territory certain which way the relationship will impeded by a market failure. Shared critical Each of these policy areas will feature
considerably larger than most countries. head next, with a former Ambassador to minerals processing infrastructure could be in the UWA Public Policy Institute’s
The easing of State borders will be Beijing, Geoff Raby, recently suggesting a prime candidate. forthcoming report A Public Policy
followed by international ones as that China’s leadership has all but Agenda for WA 2021.
Australia’s safety gap to the rest of the given up on Australia. Notwithstanding
world is tested. The likely rollout of record production and buoyant prices
various vaccines in the coming year will at present, the prospects are gloomy
make that gap narrower in any case. for mineral and energy exports – South
Significantly, the State has not tipped America and Central African sources
into recession at any point of the pandemic coming onstream cannot be ignored, and
so far, although hospitality and similar China’s investment in those regions has
industries were forced to take a haircut attracted significant local champions.
during lockdown. The hesitant return to
22 | Uniview Uniview The University of Western Australia | 23You can also read
