Industry News

An international team of researchers led by the University of Melbourne has used new technology to fast track the discovery of a breast cancer risk gene which could assist in the discovery of other cancer genes.

Professor Melissa Southey of the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology at the University of Melbourne, who led the study, said it was a significant discovery and the first breast cancer risk gene to be discovered using the latest genetic sequencing technology.

“The mutations in the newly identified gene XRCC2, although rare, explain another proportion of breast cancers that run in families where there is no known genetic cause and that particularly occur at an early age,” she said.

“We identified this gene quite quickly using genetic technology called massively parallel sequencing, which enables sequencing of large amounts of human DNA at high speed.’

 “Due to these results and our methodology we believe that further breast cancer risk genes will be identified at a faster rate than before and potentially for other cancers such as colorectal and prostate cancers,” she said.

Professor Southey said the discovery could help manage the risk of breast cancer for families with a strong history of the disease and no known genetic cause.

“This discovery will assist some families to determine individual risk and which family members are at high risk of contracting the disease,” Professor Southey said.

“Unaffected relatives of people with a mutation in this gene could also be offered predictive testing, subsequent genetic counselling and ongoing clinical management on the basis of their mutation status.’

“People whose breast cancer is associated with XRCC2 mutations could also benefit from specific treatments that target the genetic fault,” she said.

Currently, only about 30 per cent of the familial risk for breast cancer has been explained, leaving the substantial majority still unaccounted for.

“Research indicates that no single gene is likely to account for a large proportion of the remaining unexplained genetic susceptibility to breast cancer,” Professor Southey said.

“Although mutations in XRCC2 are rare, it is most likely that the remaining unknown breast cancer susceptibility genes will account for similar small proportions of the disease.”

Initially, using massively parallel sequencing, researchers identified XRCC2 mutations in two families (in Melbourne and the Netherlands).

This was followed by a larger series of studies using DNA from blood samples of 689 families with multiple members affected by breast cancer, and from 1308 women who were affected at an early age by breast cancer and recruited from the general population, as well as 1120 controls. More XRCC2 mutations were detected in the breast cancer cases but not in the controls.

These additional studies were conducted in Melbourne and at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in France.

Co-first author Dr Daniel Park of the University’s Department of Pathology (with Dr Fabienne Lesueur of IARC) said the study demonstrated the power of massively parallel sequencing for discovering susceptibility genes for common, complex diseases like breast cancer.

“Our study approach could be applied to many other common, complex diseases with components of unexplained heritability, such as colorectal and prostate cancers,” he said.

Professor Southey oversaw this work with two long-standing collaborators and experts in the field of breast cancer genetics, Associate Professor Sean Tavtigian and Professor David Goldgar at the University of Utah.

The research was conducted in a large collaborative network including researchers from the Huntsman Cancer Institute, The University of Utah, USA, The Breast Cancer Family Registry, Australia, the Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative, hosted by The University of Melbourne, The International Agency for Research on Cancer, France, The Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer and The Cancer Council Victoria, Australia.

The work was supported by The Cancer Council Victoria, The National Institutes of Health (USA) and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

The study was published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

A pilot trial of the membrane distillation process demonstrated treatment of industry wastewater producing high quality water using minimal electricity.  

This Smart Water Fund (Victorian Government) and WQRA funded project, in partnership with City West Water and GWM Water (Victorian water authorities) aimed to demonstrate the potential of the membrane distillation process to exploit waste heat from a natural gas fired power station to treat saline effluent, producing high quality water for on-site reuse. 

Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermally based desalination process that differs from other membrane separation technologies in that the driving force for desalination is the difference in vapour pressure across a membrane rather than total applied pressure as used in Reverse Osmosis processes. As a result, the process can treat water using low grade heat, such as solar or waste heat, and avoid the high electricity demands of RO, with its associated greenhouse gas emissions.  In this instance, treatment of effluent from an industry generating the waste heat, producing distilled water for reuse thus substituting precious potable water and reducing discharge volumes to sewer. 

The project featured a three month site trial of Victoria University's most recent membrane module design at Ecogen Energy's Newport Power Station treating their effluent stream.  The pilot plant was constructed with a multilayered flat sheet PTFE membrane module in the Direct Contact MD configuration and with all necessary controls and datalogging for unattended operation.  The trial successfully treated the power station's effluent continuously from September to December 2011. 

Analysis of the performance data has shown the MD plant, using very low grade heat between 30 and 38 °C, desalinated the 4,000 mg/L TDS effluent producing distilled product water at between 2 and 3 L/hr, 24 hours per day over the duration of the trial.  The maximum water recovery achieved was 93% with a reject water concentration of greater than 70,000 mg/L and salt rejection of 99.97%. 

The experiment successfully tested the MD process' longevity and robustness, demonstrating a system driven by waste heat at input temperatures as low as 30°C, which achieved permeate flux of 3 - 4 L/hr/m² (water produced per area of membrane used), of highly desalinated water.  This strengthens the assertion of MD being a viable treatment technology for industrial effluent to recover potable water without an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Federal Government has announced $8.56 million in funding from the Urban Waterways Renewal project to assist in improving water quality of the Swan and Canning Rivers.

"These projects will refurbish existing drainage lines and restore natural drainage features to improve water quality and environmental flows," Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water Senator Don Farrell said.

The construction phase will include the realignment of stream banks and riffle construction to reduce water velocity.

"Establishing native plants throughout the catchment will improve water quality by intercepting and drawing nutrients out of the water and will also improve habitats."

"In addition to improving water quality, these projects will enhance the environmental qualities of urban areas and restore natural habitats, improve biodiversity and reduce erosion."

The project is supported by the Australian Government through the Water for the Future initiative under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program.

An additional $4.5 million has been provided (in cash and kind) by state government initiatives, Water Corporation and the local governments of Armadale, Gosnells and Canning.

ACT Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe has advised that a prohibition notice has been issued for work to cease at an ACT construction site following safety concerns. 

WorkSafe ACT today inspected the Kenoss Contractors Pty Ltd site in Molonglo and issued a prohibition notice preventing further work on that site by Kenoss.  The notice prohibits all work by Kenoss on the site until such time that WorkSafe ACT is satisfied with the systems of work in place.

“After visiting the site in Molonglo, WorkSafe ACT found a number of safety concerns.  The recent incident at Kenoss’ Turner site is a stark reminder of just how dangerous construction work can be,” said Mr McCabe. 

“Kenoss’ work at Molonglo will stay closed until we are fully satisfied with the safety systems in place on site.”

The site closure follows an incident at another Kenoss worksite, where a worker was found collapsed beside his tip truck last Friday. WorkSafe issued a Prohibition Notice on further work on that site from Saturday 24 March.  That Notice is still in place.

Find more information here.

The Victorian Government has announced the reappointment of Llew Vale as chairman of Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) for another two years.

State Water Minister Peter Walsh said while Mr Vale's term as chair did not expire until September this year, the decision was made early to provide continuity and certainty during the critical period of integrating the Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project (NVIRP) into GMW as well as the development of GMW's Water Plan 3.

"Since first being appointed as chair in February 2011, Llew Vale has addressed concerns about the governance and financial sustainability of GMW and has provided confidence to its customers, stakeholders and regional communities within GMW's footprint," Mr Walsh said.

"Llew is well respected in the water industry and I am confident he will continue to lead GMW out of its previous position and re-establish GMW as a regional water authority that is responsive to its customers' needs."

Mr Vale has been a primary producer in Toora for 35 years and was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2002 for services to the water industry and community. His term as GMW chairman will run until 31 August 2014.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has warned that overskilling is continuing to persist in the education sector

The centre released The Persistence of overskilling and its effects on wages, examining the effects of overskilling on school, vocational education and training and university graduates over several years and its impact on their wages.

The report found that overskilling is persistent, and individuals who have been overskilled in the past three years are significantly more likely to hold a job where they are overskilled than their peers who are in positions where they making full use of their skill set.

However, this difference varies a great deal by education level, with it being 33.4 percentage points for university graduates, and over 50 percentage points for VET diploma and certificate III/IV graduates.

“We find evidence that overskilling can last for years and that it can be a trap similar to long term unemployment. It clearly shows the importance of finding a job that is well-matched to people’s skills”, said Professor Mavromaras, from the National Institute of Labour Studies, at Flinders University.

The study found that university graduates were the most likely to sustain the worst wage losses.

In comparison, the pay of VET graduates is largely unaffected by overskilling, as are the wages of workers who haven’t finished school.

“Put simply, the stakes are higher for university graduates to find the job that best matches their skills, particularly those aspiring to the better paid jobs”, said Professor Mavromaras.

Copies of The persistence of overskilling and its effect on wages are available fromwww.ncver.edu.au/publications/2471.html 

The Victorian Government has hit out at the recently announced 3-year rollout plan of the National Broadband Network (NBN), saying that the state has been duded.

State Technology Minister Gordon rich-Phillips said Victoria has received less than 20 per cent of program funding, giving a disproportionately low amount of funding for the state that is home to a quarter of the country’s population.

Mr Rich-Phillips said although there had been a slight increase to Victoria, the rollout still clearly favoured the Labor-held states of South Australia, Tasmania and ACT.

"Although South Australia has just 7.3 per cent of national population, it is receiving 9.2 per cent of the funding. Tasmania, which represents just 2.3 per cent of population is receiving 5.9 per cent of the program funding,” Mr Rich-Phillips.

"With only 19.5 per cent of the premises in the total plan allocated to Victoria, our share of NBN construction activity is still too low given we represent a quarter of the national population."

NBN Co recently announced that Stage 1 of the large-scale rollout of the National Broadband Network is now underway and will see of the fibre optic component of the network delivered or be underway to areas of the country containing 3.5 million premises in 1500 communities in every state and territory in Australia, comprising one third of the nation’s homes and businesses.

Across Australia, the numbers of homes, businesses, schools and hospitals that will see construction begin or be completed by mid 2015 are:
·         1,010,700 in New South Wales
·         691,600 in Victoria
·         678,600 in Queensland
·         429,200 in Western Australia.
·         327,300 in South Australia
·         135,300 in the ACT
·         65,200 in the Northern Territory
·         209,100 in Tasmania

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has released a report on exchange traded funds, outlining how the growing industry is regulated in Australia and the impact if proposed international principles to address concerns by overseas regulators. 

“Identifying the regulatory risks arising from potentially complex financial products, such as ETFs, is part of ASIC’s role to promote confident and informed investors and fair and efficient financial markets. ASIC has a range of regulatory powers relating to ETFs that help to promote these objectives,” ASIC Commissioner Greg Tranzer said.

The ETF industry attracts significant funds. As at 2012, approximately $4.3 billion, based on ASX data, is invested in ETFs in Australia, with a high level of retail participation (50-75% across most types of ETFs). The ETF industry continues to expand at a rapid rate in Australia, with new types of ETFs and new issuers continuing to emerge.

“The regulation of ETFs in Australia is in line with proposed international standards and reflects consideration of the issues identified in IOSCO’s consultation. Our view is supported by surveillance of current ETF issuers in Australia and discussions with industry participants,” Mr Tanzer said.

‘”In developing this report and considering how to use our powers, we have been involved in ongoing consultation with the ETF industry and will continue to liaise with the industry in the future, including with the ASX in relation to their rules on ETFs.

‘”In addition we conducted surveillance visits on the current ETF issuers, and will continue to watch this area closely to help reduce some of the complex regulatory risks that continue to emerge.”

The report can be found here

http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/pdflib.nsf/LookupByFileName/rep282-published-29-3-2012.pdf/$file/rep282-published-29-3-2012.pdf

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has released its first report detailing its enforcement actions for the period 1 July to 31 December 2011.

The report outlines categories of gatekeepers against whom ASIC has taken action including financial advisers, responsible entities, credit licensees, market participants, directors, company officers, insolvency practitioners and auditors.

ASIC Chairman Greg Medcraft said, ‘Broadly, there are four principles of conduct gatekeepers must observe. They must display honesty by respecting other people’s property and not using a position of trust for self-advantage; diligence by applying due care and skill to advice or decision making; competence by meeting any applicable conduct, licensing, registration and training obligations; and independence by managing conflicts of interest appropriately.”

‘When gatekeepers do not demonstrate these behaviours, we act. We are committed to tracking down and punishing wrongdoers and deterring further misconduct. No one is beyond the law, and we have the resources to take on the big cases where it is in the public interest to do so,’ he said.

The enforcement outcomes set out in the report relate to a wide range of matters from offences attracting significant penalties to record-keeping type offences grouped under the heading compliance and deterrence. They include 355 enforcement outcomes, including 252 criminal actions, in the six-month period.

The report can be found here 

The Office of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate will replace the Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) affecting the building and construction industry.

The bill is known as the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Transition to Fair Work) Bill 2012.

The new inspectorate retains coercive powers to compulsorily obtain information or documents relevant to investigations. Some safeguards, however, will be put in place, such as the right to have a lawyer present and the right to refuse to give information on the grounds of legal professional privilege and public interest immunity.

The ACTU supports the change despite the coercive powers.

Employer representative Ai Group opposed the bill.  It wants the Government to consult industry on the appointment of the Independent Assessor, who will have the power to switch off the Inspectorate’s compulsory interrogation powers for particular projects, and the appointment of members of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate Advisory Board.

 For more information, click here.

The Federal Government has announced it will invest $719 million to deliver improved primary health care and increase access to dental and allied health care services as part of the Strong Futures package.

The funding will be delivered over the next 10 years with an aim to improve the health and wellbeing of 65,000 Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, which is set to include new alcohol and drug treatment services.

The Australian Government will continue to fund Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and the Northern Territory Government to deliver primary health care services, which involves more than 250 full-time staff delivering medical, nursing and allied health services in 80 primary health care clinics. 

The Government is also providing funding for more than 2000 hearing checks and follow up services, including for children in remote communities, as well as a community education program to educate families about their children’s ear and hearing health.

The funding will also deliver four new community mental health services in the territory between 2012 and 2014.

South Australian doctors are set to benefit from the state’s first doctors only clinic which is set to open in the coming week.

Staffed by up to 15 doctors, the clinic, in the south of Adelaide’s CBD, will only treat their GP colleagues.

"There are doctors who are quite happy seeing other doctors, and other doctors who may be a little bit uncomfortable about it," Dr Roger Sexton, one of GPs who will staff the clinic, told the ABC.

"Those doctors who don't have their own doctor clearly need something more than just their own treatment."

Dr Sexton said the clinic was established to reverse the alarming trend of South Australian GP’s generally not having their own doctor.

"Things like being embarrassed, for example, knowing when the right time is to go see the doctor," Dr Sexton said.

"There's also issues about doctors who work very hard and who may not have the time in the daytime to go to a doctor, so there's a number of things that have stopped doctors having their own doctor."

The Dow Chemical Company and The University of Queensland have unveiled a strategic partnership that will establish the Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation.

Funded through a Dow contribution worth $10 million over the next six years, the newl Centre will pursue a program of research and collaboration aimed at harnessing solutions to the sustainability challenges of the 21st Century.

“This is a lighthouse initiative - hot-housing innovation at the urban energy, water and carbon nexus, which will attract international attention to the issues of sustainability and position Dow and UQ as leaders, achievers and contributors to society,” Dow Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Liveris said.

 “The Center confirms our mutual commitment to sustainability through its focus on high impact outcomes of global significance and delivery of knowledge and leadership for future generations within an operational framework that provides economic prosperity while respecting community values and the environment.”

This is the first time Dow has signed such an agreement with an Australian university.

“Dow and UQ are natural partners,” Mr Liveris said. “The University's strategic intent and core strengths in science and engineering align well with those of Dow. Dow's culture of discovery and innovation, a focus on advanced manufacturing and new markets, and a commitment to sustainability are closely matched by the new initiatives driven by global sustainability challenges that are defining UQ's strategic direction.”

UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said The Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation would be a driving force of the University's sustainability agenda.

 d

“We expect the Centre to become a magnet for talented staff and students and to affirm UQ's leadership in the fields of science and engineering.”

Sydney doctor and philanthropist Tom Wenkart has donated $4 million to endow the University of Sydney Wenkart Chair in Endothelium Medicine at the Centenary Institute.

The inaugural Chair is Jennifer Gamble, Professor of Vascular Biology and one of the pioneers of endothelium research.

Professor Gamble's work has already transformed our understanding of the role of endothelial cells.

"Fifty years ago we just regarded blood vessels as simple pipes," she said. "Today we know that they're much more complex - a living, changing organ that rapidly reacts to threats.

"You prick your finger on a rose thorn - within the hour the wound is inflamed and itching as your body mobilises to fight infection. That's the endothelium in action," says Professor Gamble.

These same endothelial cells are implicated when things go wrong in atherosclerosis and auto-immune disease. And tumours need endothelial cells to form blood vessels - without new blood vessels, tumours won't grow.

We each have within us some 80,000 kilometres of pipelines, that carry the essential supplies needed to all parts of our body. The endothelial cells that form this network of blood vessels are essentially a hidden organ weighing about one kilogram.

The endothelial cells maintain these perfect, smooth pipelines year after year but then, when there's an accident they turn into traffic police within minutes, allowing white blood cells to pass through the wall of the blood vessels, and giving emergency services access to the scene.

In 1985, working in Seattle and Adelaide, Professor Gamble showed that if endothelial cells are stimulated then white blood cells bind to them - the start of inflammation.

Now we know much more about the role of these cells in immunity, heart disease, cancer and other conditions. But Professor Gamble says it's still early days in this field of study.

"I hope that, over the next decade or two we'll be able to understand and control the endothelium in diseases — especially inflammation and those associated with ageing such as atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's."

Tom Wenkart says that's what excites him about this field of research. "These endothelial cells play a critical role throughout the body. I believe they're the key to understanding heart disease, for example. What is happening in my body today that could lead to a heart attack in 20 years?"

The Centenary Institute, University of Sydney is an independent leader in medical research seeking improved treatments and cures for cancer, cardiovascular and infectious diseases.

Dr Bates Gill, formerly Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.

Dr Gates, who will succeed Professor Geoffrey Garrett,  is a distinguished think tank leader with strong policy links in the United States, Asia and Europe. His previous positions include serving as Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and as inaugural Director of the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution, both in Washington DC.

An expert on American defence and security issues in East Asia with a focus on China, Dr Gill has overseen the publication of the last four SIPRI Yearbooks on Armaments, Disarmament and International Security, all published by Oxford University Press. He is also author of Rising Star: China's New Security Diplomacy published by the Brookings Institution Press.

Dr Gill is expected to take up the appointment in October. Until then, Professor Garrett will continue to serve as CEO of the US Studies Centre in addition to his new duties as Dean of the University of Sydney Business School.

The University of Sydney has appointed two internationally regarded experts to head up its China Studies Centre.

Dr Kerry Brown  will take up the role of Professor and Executive Director of the Centre, and Professor David Goodman will become the Academic Director of the Centre.

Dr Brown is currently Head of the Asia Programme at Chatham House and Leader of the Europe China Research and Advice Network (ECRAN), funded by the European Union and offering advice directly into the External Action Service.

Dr Brown has held a number of high level diplomatic, government and think tank posts as well as holding affiliations with various academic institutions in China, at Cambridge, the London School of Oriental and African Studies and Nottingham University. He was previously Head of the Indonesia, Philippines and East Timor Section at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, Head of Policy at UK Visas, First Secretary at the British Embassy in Beijing, and worked in the China Section at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Professor David Goodman is currently the Acting Director of the China Studies Centre and Professor of Chinese Politics at the University. He was previously the Director of the East Asia Centre at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Chair of the Asian Studies Program and Director of the Asia Research Centre at Murdoch University. At University of Technology, Sydney he established and developed the Institute for International Studies and later became Pro Vice-Chancellor, and then Deputy Vice-Chancellor International. More recently, he was the Director of the University's Institute of Social Sciences and Associate Dean International within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

"With his track record of academic leadership Professor Goodman is the ideal person to steer the research and teaching programs of the China Studies Centre", said Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence. "We are delighted to have secured his expertise."

Professor Goodman has a PhD in Chinese Politics from the London School of Oriental and African Studies. He has been involved in course and program design of numerous degree programs at three different universities in the last 25 years. He has taught undergraduate and postgraduate students in Chinese politics, history, language and literature.

The University of Sydney China Studies Centre is dedicated to working for the mutual benefit of Australia and China. Established in 2011, it has more than 130 academic staff engaged in the study of China and facilitates cross disciplinary research and teaching as well as extensive public programs.

 The William Angliss Institute has been announced as the successful applicant for a million dollar Strategic Tourism Investment Grant, and will develop and deliver a tailored business skills curriculum through the Indigenous Land Corporation's (ILC) National Indigenous Training Academy at Ayers Rock Resort.

The William Angliss Institute is the largest specialist single purpose provider of tourism, hospitality and foods training in the Southern Hemisphere and has experience in delivering Indigenous training in Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

This grant builds on the work by the Institute, in partnership with the ILC, to train Indigenous trainees at the Ayers Rock Resort through the Australian Government's Indigenous Employment Program.

The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson said that using the National Tourism Accreditation Standards, the training by William Angliss will include customer service and understanding customer expectations, preparing plans for business, marketing, environmental management and health and safety.

"Importantly it also includes a mentoring program which will match students with mentors who have hands-on business experience," said Minister Ferguson.

"There is a lot of local interest in this training and over the long-term it is expected to improve the Indigenous tourism experience in the region by not only increasing a trained local workforce, but also expanding the diversity and quality of Indigenous businesses.

Strategic Tourism Investment Grants under the T-QUAL Grants program offer funding to eligible tourism projects aimed at delivering three key national priorities - Indigenous tourism, economic development and tourism employment.

More information on the T-QUAL Grants – Strategic Tourism Investment Grants is available at http://www.ret.gov.au/tourism/business/tq/tgrants/stig/Pages/default.aspx

The University of Tasmania has received a $3 million philanthropic grant from the JO and JR Wicking Trust to support research on dementia.

The grant builds on the original $1.5million given by the Trust in 2007 for the establishment of the UTAS Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre in the UTAS Faculty of Health Science.

The second grant will enable the further growth and development of the UTAS Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre for the next five years.

Instigators and Co-Directors of the Wicking Centre, Professor Andrew Robinson and Professor James Vickers, said the grant will allow them to continue translational research, which focuses on dementia, looking at the biological basis of the diseases that cause dementia and the development of health services provided for people with dementia and their carers.

Prof Robinson said the Centre’s goal is to prepare Tasmania and Australia for the increased number of people with dementia.

“As our population ages and one million people in Australia are projected to have a dementia by 2050, we need to explore ways in which we can better support people with dementia and their carers, both in the community and in residential aged care.”

Prof Vickers said being supported by the Wicking Trust to 2017 allows the Wicking Centre to build capacity and capability.

“This funding will allow us to attract more high profile researchers in neuroscience and nursing to better understand the causes of and treatments for dementia,” he said.

Teresa Zolnierkiewicz, Head of Philanthropy for ANZ Trustees which administers the JO and JR Wicking Trust, said the UTAS Wicking Dementia and Research Education Centre grant is a flagship grant of the Trust, which since 2005 has made grants totalling $33mill to address issues of ageing, Alzheimers and dementia.

 “The benefactors, John and Janet Wicking, had the vision to devote their Trust to these issues, and would be proud of the world class work carried out by the Centre. We have been impressed with the Centre’s achievements over its first five years and are delighted to support them for a further five years.

For more information about the UTAS Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, visit http://www.utas.edu.au/wicking/

The University of Wollongong and BlueScope Steel have joined forces with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute, one of the world’s leading renewable energy and sustainable building research organisations, in a new solar technology research and demonstration project with the support of $477,000 from the Australian Solar Institute.

Research will be undertaken into optimised configurations for a unique arrangement of solar cells that will not only provide solar electricity but also assist in heating and cooling the buildings they are fitted on.

The focus of the partnership will be the development of Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal (BIPVT) configurations suited to existing buildings, which aligns with retrofitting as the major focus of the University’s Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC).

The BIPVT retrofit system involves refurbishment of an existing roof by adding a new roof deck above the existing roof surface. The new roof deck incorporates solar cells, and air then flows in the duct created under the new roof surface.

This air flow will not only help cool the solar cells during warm weather, improving generation efficiency, but it will also help to heat and cool the building. Warm air generated in winter is used for heating, and as heat is radiated from the cells on summer nights, cool air is then supplied to the building, increasing overall energy efficiency.

“The ultimate goal of the collaboration with BlueScope Steel and the Fraunhofer Institute is to develop design and decision-support tools to optimise the system for retrofitting to a wide range of building types and climates,” Director of the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre, Professor Paul Cooper said.

“We will also be studying ways in which we can incorporate new phase-change materials to further improve the efficiency of these BIPVT systems.

“We are focussing on retrofitting because less than 2 per cent of existing building stock in Australia is replaced in any given year.

“New system configurations will not only be tested in laboratory settings but will also be demonstrated on the roof of our new Research Centre and other buildings in the Illawarra region as part of our Living Lab project to work out the best way to install the newest of technologies on older buildings,” Professor Cooper said.

“The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre building, which is under construction on the Innovation Campus, is targeting net zero energy use and we will be using the BIPVT technology to help us achieve that goal.”

The University of Wollongong’s Sustainable Buildings Research Centre will play a major role in the national research effort required to develop new technologies that help to reduce carbon emissions from existing homes and buildings.