The IET SA&NT

The Chairman & Committee invite you and your partner to the 2008 IET SA & NT Local Network Annual General Meeting.

When: Friday 10th October 2008, 7pm to 9:30pm
Where: The Historian Hotel, 18 Coromandel Place, Adelaide. Upstairs Function Room
Dress code: Neat Casual / Informal Attire
Cost: Free for student members. For other members, guests, and non-member students a cost will apply to cover drinks and nibbles. Further details to be announced.
RSVP: Required by 26th September
Further information: To be announced early August. Please visit http://sant.theiet.org.au/2008AGM for further announcements.

Dear members of the IET SA & NT Local Network,

The SA & NT Local Network Executive Committee is currently seeking nominations for the position of Northern Territory Representative, which Anjan Kundu has held for many years. Please contact Anjan in the first instance for any queries or nominations for this position.

Tom Bammann
Honorary Secretary, YM Secretary, & Website Administrator
The IET SA & NT Local Network

A much anticipated event for our younger members, the 2008 Ale Appreciation Tour, organised by engineering students at UniSA.

When: Friday 16th 23rd May, 7pm onwards
Where: Starting at P.J. O’Briens, click to enlarge shirt below for details. Note that Church Nightclub has unfortunately closed down, and that the alternate venue will be announced on the night (or before).
Who: Everyone of course! Including your friends, or just make some on the night.
Cost: Approximately $10 for t-shirt, available at UniSA by contacting Kosta or by attending one of the UniSA engineering BBQ’s.

Dear all,

The Adelaide & Darwin time for The Great Environment Briefing web-cast event on 10th April was previously incorrect due to not considering the end of daylight savings. The Great Environment Briefing will commence from 3:30am Adelaide & Darwin time for a 4:30am start. This error has been amended on this website although unfortunately the email all members have received will still be incorrect. Apologies for any confusion.

Note: Darwin does not participate in daylight savings, therefore Adelaide will become Darwin time as of 3am Sunday April 6th when Adelaide turns our clocks back to 2am.

Regards,
Tom Bammann
Honorary Secretary
IET SA & NT Local Network

Flinders University has positioned itself to make a major contribution to the most dynamic sectors of the State’s economy with plans to offer five new Bachelor of Engineering courses in 2009, according to the Chancellor, Sir Eric Neal.

The new courses will build on the University’s teaching and research strengths in biomedical, robotics, electronics, computer systems and software engineering and will equip graduates for careers in such diverse industries as medicine, mining, defence and industry,” Sir Eric said.

For further information visit Inspiring Engineering.

Extract from Vice-Chancellor’s letter:

I am very pleased to advise you that Flinders University has positioned itself to make a major contribution to the most dynamic sectors of the State’s economy by offering five new Bachelor of Engineering courses in 2009. The new courses build on the University’s teaching and research strengths in biomedical, robotics, electronics, computer systems, and software engineering and will equip graduates for careers in such diverse industries as medicine, mining, defence and industry. Flinders’ strong commitment to teaching engineering reflects the current and anticipated high demand for highly skilled professional engineers across the private and public sectors of the economy.

South Australia is witnessing extraordinary growth in the defence and mining sectors which are establishing long term design and construction capabilities in this State. Flinders intends making the maximum contribution possible to the skills and experience required for this emerging and highly sophisticated industrial base. The University is also an active supporter of efforts by the State and Federal governments and the business sector to stimulate new and expanded small to medium enterprises in Adelaide’s southern regions. Boosting the available pool of engineering graduates will ensure that the required skills are available in a post-Mitsubishi era as new business and employment opportunities are explored and realised. It is clear from student admissions information that a recent State-wide lift in interest in engineering courses is not reflected by applicants from the southern region of Adelaide, suggesting the absence of some courses in this area is affecting the first course preferences of some students.

The five new Bachelor of Engineering courses to be offered by Flinders will address that unmet need. Flinders’ nationally recognised industry placement program provides students with 20 weeks of structured industrial work experience with one of 100 local, national and international organisations - often leading to an ongoing employment with that company. This element of our engineering program distinguishes Flinders’ courses from their counterparts and is well regarded by students and host companies alike.

The new courses are:

• Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Systems)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Software)

Further detailed information on the new courses, and the other engineering courses offered at Flinders can be found at: www.flinders.edu.au/engineering.
Flinders looks forward to working with you in an exciting period ahead for universities, engineers, the business sector and the State economy.

Yours sincerely,
Professor Michael N Barber
Vice-Chancellor

Mechanical & Manufacturing Joint Technical Programme Event.

University of South Australia, School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering, Mawson Campus (download map for printing)

UniSA Mawson Lakes Campus Map

File Size: 644.2 KB

M2‐12 (M Building, Level 2, Room 12) – meet in front of M Building, (Tan square, N.E. area of Map).

Note: Please park in University Boulevard car park, see attached map. Bring small change for parking meter fee: 10c per hour. Enclosed shoes must be worn.

All members of the respective Engineering Institutions, University Staff & U/G’s and visitors are welcome to attend.

RSVP to brochure below for RSVP instructions by 7th March.

UniSA Electric Vehicle Site Visit Flyer

File Size: 147.2 KB

Download flyer for full details of the JTP at http://sant.theiet.org.au/2008/01/joint-technical-programs-for-2008/

“The paradigm shift required for a more sustainable environment”

The IET Berkshire Network Committee would like to invite you to the upcoming event. Joint IET, IMechE, ICE and IChemE Event: Great Environment Briefing, chaired by Professor Brian Hoskins, Imperial College and Reading University.

When (UK time):
Wednesday 9 April 2008, 18.00 for 19.00

When (Adelaide & Darwin time):
Thursday 10 April 2008, 03:30 for 04:30

Where (for non web-cast attendees in UK):
The Town Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading RG1 1QH

Where (for web-cast attendees in UK and abroad):
Refer to email you receive after registration at http://www.iethampshirenorth.org.uk/eventmanagement/apply/GEnvB/

Australians (IET membership is not necessary) have the opportunity to attend via webcast, at 3:30am for a 4:30am start on Thursday 10 April 2008, but registration is essential (see below for details). It’s not too early to be awake, just a minor change in the regular Australians sleeping pattern.

Climate change is the variation in the Earth’s global climate or in regional climates over time. It involves changes in the variability or average state of the atmosphere over durations ranging from decades to millions of years.

These changes can be caused by dynamic process on Earth, external forces including variations in sunlight intensity, and more recently by human activities. This event will investigate many of the aspects that contribute to climate change as well as looking at the environment generally.

Scope of Meeting:

The protection of the environment is now firmly a mainstream consideration in all our lives. This briefing will focus on the challenges associated with human interaction and exchanges with the environment in the World.

The timeframe is to 2050. Reference will be made to more macro environmental issues throughout the world.

Climate Change: What is the evidence? – What is causing it? – What could happen in the future?
Energy: What are the sustainable options for energy; transport, heat, cooling and electricity generation. Demand reduction, energy efficiency, energy mix, CO2 sequestration, decentralised power and heat generation.
Water: What are engineers doing to reduce and reuse water whilst protecting potable water supplies. Leakage/ contamination. Desalination. Grey/ Black water.
Waste: What is waste? Waste hierarchy; reduce/ reuse/recycle/energy recover– then landfill? What are the options to reduce waste at each level?
Air Quality: What are the major polluters, what is being done to reduce pollution in to the air – particularly in urban environments and from energy generation.

Chaired by Professor Brian Hoskins, jointly affiliated to Imperial College and Reading University

Also in attendance will be: Dist. Professor Roland Clift, Surrey University Peter Fraenkel, Technical Director of MCT Prof. Peter Matthews, Past President and joint founder of SEnv Jeff Cooper, President of CIWM Dr Tim Chatterton, Bristol University.

Registration is essential. Please visit http://www.iethampshirenorth.org.uk/eventmanagement/apply/GEnvB/ to
register and for further details visit http://www.theiet.org/local/uk/thames/berks/env-debate.cfm

For further information please contact the South East Regional Co-ordinator Julie Hudson. Email: mailto:jhudson@theiet.org, Tel: 00 44 1438 767285.

Download the “Great Environment Briefing” poster to stick up in your workplace, university, or fridge at home. Even put it in your neighbours letterbox.

The Great Environment Briefing Poster

File Size: 479.6 KB

Please click below to enlarge the death notice of Prof Kevin McDermott.

Kevin’s funeral is to be held at Centennial Park’s Florey Chapel, on Monday 17th December 10am.

A history of Kevin and words of appreciation for his contribution to the IEE / IET will appear here in due time.

As you may have noticed around campus there are posters advocating a Farnell initiated competition call LIVE-EDGE!

This is an environmental electronic/engineering/science design competition, where any idea to benefit the globe is valid to enter.

On the website you’ll find all the details including a presentation from our Farnell’s CEO Harriet Green giving an overview of the competition.

Basically anyone can enter it is not restricted in anyway - students, professionals, amateurs, individuals and companies alike, all the opportunity to win this prize and see their environmental invention grow!

Go on - register today, even if your design/idea is not finalised - there’s nothing to lose and no time to waste!

www.live-edge.com

The IET Local Network would like to offer the family and former colleagues of Ben Bayer our deepest sympathy. Anne Bayer has kindly informed the Local Network how he died peacefully, on Sunday 11 February surrounded by all his loving family. The IET Local Network is grateful for Ben’s enthusiasm over the years.

On December the 8th, an announcement was released to staff of Flinders University from the Vice Chancellor of the university:

This message is from the Vice-Chancellor to all staff. If you are not a member of staff at Flinders University please ignore this message.

The University has been concerned about the situation with respect to engineering for a number of years. Flinders has employed different strategies aimed at increasing demand however student interest and enrolments in engineering continue to remain low.

I am writing to advise that after careful and deliberate consideration and evaluation, Flinders University Council at its meeting on December 7, as the governing council of the University, gave in-principle agreement to a plan for Flinders to refocus the activities of its Faculty of Science and Engineering, with the emphasis on science and technology.

The University established courses in engineering in the early 1990s but, while the courses are highly regarded professionally, they have not been attracting high enough numbers of students in recent years to continue to be sustainable. The University will not have an intake into engineering courses (other than software engineering) in 2007.

Flinders is examining the implications of this situation for the staff and the students and for the University and today affected School staff and all other School and Faculty staff have been advised of the Council’s decision.

The University will be developing plans to manage the future and will ensure that all students enrolled in these courses will be able to complete their degrees.

Professor Anne R. Edwards
Vice-Chancellor
Flinders University

The committee of The IET responded to this by writing a letter, which you can read below:

Engineering at Flinders Letter

File Size: 130.9 KB