Monash University Science Faculty
Encyclopedia
The Monash University
Faculty of Science is one of the largest science faculties in Australia, with about 3,500 students. It offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, from bachelor's degrees through to PhD. Originally, it was based entirely at Monash's Clayton campus
, but since the 1990s it has extended to Gippsland and Malaysia.
The faculty offers units of study in biological sciences, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, and physics, among others. The School of Chemistry within the faculty was ranked the best in Australia for both teaching and research in 2009.
Associated with the faculty are a number of student societies, including the Monash Science Society, the Biological Society, the Biomedical Society, the Monash Environmental Science Students Association, Monash University Geology Students, the Society of Physics and Mathematics and the Monash Weather and Climate Society.
The faculty has been strengthened by the opening of the Australian Synchrotron
at the Clayton campus (open 31 July 2007), and the establishment of the Monash Centre for Synchtrotron Science, with which the faculty is affiliated. However, The Sunday Age recently reported that because of uncertainty around state and federal funding, the facility may be closed as of 2012 . The faculty operates a number of other major research facilities such as the Monash University wind tunnel
at the Clayton campus, the Monash Antibody Technology Facility, and two observatories.
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
Faculty of Science is one of the largest science faculties in Australia, with about 3,500 students. It offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, from bachelor's degrees through to PhD. Originally, it was based entirely at Monash's Clayton campus
Monash University, Clayton campus
Monash University, Clayton Campus is the main campus of Monash University located in Clayton, which is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, in the state of Victoria....
, but since the 1990s it has extended to Gippsland and Malaysia.
The faculty offers units of study in biological sciences, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, and physics, among others. The School of Chemistry within the faculty was ranked the best in Australia for both teaching and research in 2009.
Associated with the faculty are a number of student societies, including the Monash Science Society, the Biological Society, the Biomedical Society, the Monash Environmental Science Students Association, Monash University Geology Students, the Society of Physics and Mathematics and the Monash Weather and Climate Society.
The faculty has been strengthened by the opening of the Australian Synchrotron
Australian Synchrotron
The Australian Synchrotron is a 3 GeV synchrotron radiation facility built in Melbourne, Victoria and opened on 31 July 2007.The circular building was designed by Architectus in conjunction with Thiess, while the lattice design was performed substantially by Professor John Boldeman.The Synchrotron...
at the Clayton campus (open 31 July 2007), and the establishment of the Monash Centre for Synchtrotron Science, with which the faculty is affiliated. However, The Sunday Age recently reported that because of uncertainty around state and federal funding, the facility may be closed as of 2012 . The faculty operates a number of other major research facilities such as the Monash University wind tunnel
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
at the Clayton campus, the Monash Antibody Technology Facility, and two observatories.
Financial Exigency Issues
As of 2010 and ongoing into 2011, the Monash Faculty of Science entered a period of 'financial exigency' that led to forced severance of tenured staff. In August 2010, Monash announced the appointment of a new Dean of Science, Scott O'Neill. However, the Faculty of Science was not able to avert further budgetary problems, so that additional forced severances were required mid-2011. This resulted in news media- and union-publicised friction between researchers and the Faculty of Science management.. Given that Monash University has been unable to successfully manage the ongoing financial crisis, it is unclear if additional funding and staff cuts will be required into 2012.Notable alumni
The Faculty of Science has produced a number of notable graduates who are leaders in their field, including:- Greg AyersGreg AyersGreg Ayers is an Australian atmospheric scientist and current Director of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.Prior to his current role, Ayers was Chief of Marine and Atmospheric Research at the CSIRO, where he had worked since 1975....
- Director of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Peter Carey - Booker prize-winning novelist
- Damian ConwayDamian ConwayDamian Conway is a prominent member of the Perl community, a proponent of object-oriented programming, and the author of several books. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University....
- Computer scientist - Hugh Evans - Young Australian of the Year and founder of the Oaktree Foundation
- Tim FlanneryTim FlanneryTimothy Fridtjof Flannery is an Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmentalist and global warming activist....
- Writer, scientist, Australian of the YearAustralian of the YearSince 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...
2007 - Gail GagoGail GagoGail Elizabeth Gago is an Australian politician, and an Australian Labor Party member of the South Australian Legislative Council since being elected in 2002...
- South Australian Minister for Environment, Conservation and Mental Health - Lauren HewittLauren HewittLauren Katherine Hewitt is a track and field sprinter from Australia. She competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996, and won the bronze medal in the women's 200 metres at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.-References:* * *...
- Australian athlete - Geoff HuntGeoff HuntGeoffrey Brian Hunt, MBE , is a retired Australian squash player who is widely considered to be one of the greatest squash players in history....
- World champion squash player - Paul McNameePaul McNameePaul McNamee is a retired Australian tennis player and prominent sports administrator.-Tennis career:...
- Former tennis player and sports administrator - John ThwaitesJohn ThwaitesJohn Thwaites may refer to:*John Thwaites *John Thwaites *John Anthony Thwaites , British art critic and author*Jack Thwaites, British-Australian conservationist...
- Former Deputy Premier of Victoria and Minister for Environment, Water and Climate Change - Anna WilsonAnna MillwardAnna Millward, née Wilson, is an Australian female cycle racer. She holds an LLB/BSc degree from Monash University . During her cycling career, she won the overall UCI points title in 2001, and twice was UCI overall World Cup points champion, winning a total of 5 World Cup races in her career...
- World champion cyclist - Greg WiltonGreg WiltonGregory Stuart Wilton was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Isaacs, from 1996 until his suicide at the age of 44...
- Politician - Michael WooldridgeMichael WooldridgeMichael Richard Lewis Wooldridge is an Australian doctor, company director, and a former politician. He was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Liberal Party representing the Division of Chisholm, Victoria, between 1987 and 1996, and representing the Division of Casey,...
- Former Australian Minister for Health and Chairman of UNAIDS