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":-6 NOV
Technology Newspaper
Issue N
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31Queensland Institute of Technology 2 George Street Brisbane Q. 4000 Telephone (07) 223 2111
Registered by Australia Post - Publication No. QBF 4778 30 October 1987
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Testing begins for backyard inventor's new engine design
QIT helps preserve unique WW1 tank
QIT and a Melbourne company with $300 000 venture capital are taking up the cause of a Gladstone 'backyard inventor' to build and test what could eventually become a new type of internal combustion engine.
Mr Hank Van Meegan tried for three years to get backing to develop what he calls a Z-crank piston machine.
He believes it has a future as an internal combustion engine but has failed to convince Federal or State governments of the machine's potential.
However, principal lecturer in mech- anical and manufacturing engineering at QIT, Dr Will Scott, has faith in the invention, although he has reservations about developing it as an internal combustion engine at this stage.
Dr Scott, an authority on fire resistant hydraulic fluids, thinks it may be better developed first as a water-operated hydraulic pump/
motor or as an air compressor.
Applications for this type of machine would be for mining or excavating equipment.
I
"What we will do is to investigate the kinematics of the Z-crank piston machine and see exactly how we can develop it," Dr Scott said.
Dr Scott will be technical director of the Q IT team which is planning to get the project underway late this year. Other team members will be Dr Doug Hargreaves, a senior lecturer in thermal fluids whose specialty is tribology, and Dr Gary Chadwick, a lecturer in applied mechanics who specialises in stress analysis.
Technician Mr John Maxwell will work on building the machine.
Through project managers, Q SEARCH, QIT will also employ an experienced mechanical engineer, Mr Derek Anderton, to undertake full-time research and development on t~e project. He will use the research phase as a basis for a masters thesis.
Mr Van Meegan is now completing the development of a working model of the machine and Dr Scott is confident that by the end of 1988, QIT will come up with a prototype.
The Queensland Museum wiD take the advice of a QIT authority on metallic corrosion to conserve the world's only surviving World War I German tank.
Lecturer in physical chemistry and corrosion scientist, Dr Paul Schweins- berg inspected the A 7V Kampfwagen 'Mephisto' at the Museum's request in mid-September.
Museum Curator of History and Technology, Mr Mark Whitmore said conservation would be based on Dr Schweinsberg's detailed report.
Apart from exterior repainting the German 'battle wagon', now nearly 70 years old, has never had a major overhaul and the lecturer says there is extensive corrosion in the exteriors of the engine and gearbox.
The armoured hull is in "relatively good condition".
The Kampfwagen is now located beneath the Museum-Performing Arts Centre pedestrian overpass at South Brisbane.
In the past, 'Mephisto' has been
develop medical test kits
QIT and Agen Ltd announced, on 23 October, the formation of a new company to develop improved diagnostic testing methods for human and veterinary applications.
The company, GeneCo Pty Ltd, plans to raise $6 million initially through private placement for research over the next five years to develop quick, inexpensive medical tests based on DNA gene probe technology.
While the State Education Act does not permit QITto enter directly into the venture, its fund raising arm, the QIT Foundation will take equity based on intellectual property con- tributed by QIT staff. Agen has taken five percent equity, with an option to take up to nine percent over the next five years.
GeneCo chairman, Mr Bill Blair, said Agen and QIT together already had a successful track record in
developing new applications for biotechnology.
"A number of veterinary tests and a test for thrombosis in humans are now being successfully marketed in Australia, the USA and Europe,"he said.
"QIT are building considerable expertise in the area of molecular biotechnology and have demon- strated they can come up with the goods."
Students can't wait for new swim pool
Students can't wait to use the new indoor swimming pool on campus, due for completion by June next year. In the meantime, from left, Garnett Stegemann, Patrick Feeney, Fiona Ritchie, Emma Cummings, Robe~ Newton and Michael Borck find other ways to cool off on the 25 metre pool construction site between the John Kmdler The~tre and Community Building. The pool is being funded by the QIT Union, the Institute and the QIT Foundatton.
Coca-Cola Bottlers (Brisbane) Ltd made a splash last month with a $10 ~0 contribut!gn to the Foundation towards the pool complex which will also house two squash courts. Other contnbuttons have come from students and staff.
partly exposed to wind and rain, and although the present location gives some protection, the tank is still not protected from driving rain.
Among Dr Schweinsberg's recom- mendations is that it be housed in a low humidity enclosure as soon as possible.
To Mr Whitmore's knowledge, Mephisto is the only survivor out of about 20 German tanks manufactured for World War 1: detailed drawings made by a German Military University professor last year are expected to be used to produce at least one or two full-scale replicas for museums there.
The Kampfwagen has been a permanent exhibit with the Queens- land Museum since 1919.
It was captured south of Villers Bretonneux in France in 1918 by the
AIF's 26th Battalion in which Queens- landers predominated.
Dr Schweinsberg, an armchair historian as well as a corrosion expert, describes the tank as an important example of the engineering technology of the First World War period.
Ironically, what was then advanced technology, the use of the aluminium alloy, duralumin in the engine, has contributed to the rate of corrosion.
"Aluminium alloys containing copper are very prone to corrosion due to formation of small microcells and this is reflected in the extensive pitting observed on components manufactured from this material,"
Dr Schweinsberg said.
Mephisto is short for Mephisto- phales, the German name for the Devil.
Corrosion expert Dr Paul Schweinsberg with the unique World War I German tank "Mephisto": his expertise will aid the Queensland Museum's conservation program.
Transport project attracts $81 000
teaching company
The Federal Government has awarded QIT another teaching company scheme, this time an
$81 250, two and a half year research project to benefit the transport industry.
The scheme was one of only 10 granted in the last round of awards made on 22 September and the only one to go to Queensland.
It brings the total value of five schemes awarded to QIT over the past three years to $337 750.
The aim of the program is to facilitate the transfer of either new technology or advanced management practices from a tertiary institution to private enterprise. The Common- wealth and the chosen company divide the cost of employing a research associate who is supervised for the project by the institution's professional staff.
In the latest scheme, Q IT will help the Queensland-based carrier Merrick Transport of Archerfield to investi-
gate. future demand in order to develop a strategic business plan. It will develop appropriate management information systems to monitor the implementation of the business plan.
The academic side of the project will be headed by transport economist, senior lecturer, Mr Alan Williams with input from senior lecturer Dr Chad Perry (operations, research and small business management), and lecturer, Mr Terry Euler (strategic planning).
According to Mr Williams, the project represents several firsts for the Australian transport industry: it is the first time a relatively small company has sought to implement advanced management planning tech- niques, and the research associate, yet to be appointed, will be Merrick's first graduate employee.
Mr Cec Maddox, of project -managers, Q SEARCH, said he anticipated the scheme would be in . operation by the end of the year.
CTEC supports QIT growth
CTEC's latest advice to the Federal Government (Volume II) with respect to funding for 1988-90 provides for modest QIT growth in student numbers and in building accommodation. However, proposed funding for equipment and minor works is well below needs, at a similar /eve/ to recent years.
Growth in funding for 1988, based on planned enrolments for 1987 rather than actual, allows for five percent (plus or minus within a planning band) more students next year. This includes new students and the effect of larger groups moving into later course years. New students will be funded at a marginal rate of 48 percent of the 1987 average cost per student.
In 1987, QIT responded to pressure for tertiary places by taking 300 more than the government's planned number of new students and is presently operating above the maximum number of students for which it is funded. This will have some restraining influence on the actual number of new students accepted in 1988.
The CTEC report supports the move of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music to a position near the Performing Arts Complex after World Expo 88. A/so, a new Information Technology/
Engineering building to be located on the river bank on the site of the QIT Workshop was supported in capital funding proposals.
Given that QIT has a backlog of new equipment and ageing equipment replacement needs and that older buildings require higher maintenance, funds for these areas will be well below requirements.
The shortfall in equipment underlines the need for fundraising to satisfy student and research needs.
Of course, the federal government still has to agree to CTEC's funding proposals.
Dr Dennis Gibson
Overseas student officer is appointed
QIT has appointed an overseas students officer to deal with enquiries from potential overseas students.
Ms Janet Murphy, previously administration officer for the Faculty of Science, has been seconded to the new position for one year.
Her main task will be to answer overseas enquiries and advise potential students about the systems enabling them to study in Australia.
Admissions Section head, Mr Paul Abernethy, said she would also counsel students with financial difficulties and deal with non-quota course applications.
Full-fee courses offered at QIT range from $6300 for law, and $8000 for accountancy to $13 SOOforenviron-
mental health.
The Institute's Admissions Section receives more than 3500 written enquiries each year but Mr Abernathy believes this could double, or even treble, next year.
"We anticipate, with Q SEARCH's drive in South East Asia to attract full-fee paying overseas students, that
the number of enqumes should increase dramatically," he said.
"There's already been a noticeable increase."
Mr Abernethy said projections by Q SEARCH based on data from their sources indicated an enrolment of 39 full-fee paying students in 1988.
Ms Janet Murphy
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Council Profile - Dr Mary Mahoney
Dr Mary Mahoney, State Director of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' Family Medical Program, has been appointed a member of QIT Council.
The FMP trains new medical graduates for general practice by conducting courses on practical skills like suturing, and interpersonal skills like counselling. It also arranges for new doctors to spend three-month periods in private practice where they are supervised by an experienced GP.
Funded by the Federal Govern- ment as part of the Community Health Program, the FMP began in 1973. Dr Mahoney became involved the following year as an area coordinator.
In January 1976, she was appointed assistant state director, becoming state director in August the same year.
She is also a member of the AMA's State Council (elected 1978) and the Creche and Kindergarten Association Council, as well as a part-time medical officer at the Royal Brisba,Pe Hospital and t~or to first and fifth year medical students. Other community activities include an active interest in the Zonta Club, a business and professional group devoted to raising the status of women and fund-raising.
In May this year she joined
Dr Mary Mahoney
Channel O's daytime 'Living'program to give short monthly talks on medical topics.
A 1963 University of Queensland MBBS graduate, Dr Mahoney spent three years at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, the final year (1966) as paediatric registrar, resigning to start a family.
Four children in four years ("twins in the middle") interrupted her career but by 1970 she was doing refresher courses and back to work.
Dr Mahoney has both a strong professional and a strong personal interest in education.
Her present administrative job with the RACGP Family Medicine Program allows her to influence medical education and she had a number of points to raise to the
national committee which is due to report to Federal Health Minister, Dr Blewett towards the end of the year. Her submission on behalf of the FM P stressed the importance of training young Queensland doctors for country, rural, and isolated practice.
"There are many one-doctor towns in Queensland and young doctors need very thorough training in such fields as anaesthetics and obstetrics before going into their own practices,"
she said.
Dr Mahoney is married to Dr Patrick Mahoney, Medical Officer in Charge of Royal Brisbane Hospital's Occupational Health Department.
Their eldest daughter, Deidre, 20, is a journalist with the Canberra Times Newspaper. Stephen, 19, is a second year medical student at the University of Queensland and his twin, Roseleen, is a second year nurse at RBH. Elizabeth, 17, is in her first year of economics at Queens- land University.
Dr Mahoney will serve on the Biomedical Ethics Committee at QlT.
Law studies connected with a medical administration degree she has started with the University of New South Wales dealt with a spectrum of ethical issues like invitro- fertilisation and she is widely read in medical ethics.
Chairman backs Dawkins plan New principal lecturer for civil engineering
Recent Federal Government initi- atives would help higher education foster the "high technology renais- sance" needed to prevent Australia's economic submergence, recently appointed Chairman of QIT Council, Mr Vic Pullar told October graduation.
Mr Pullar said government now recognised the critical need to advance technological and professional stand- ards, to produce more graduates in the business, law and technological disciplines, and to concentrate academic research effort in areas which would assist Australian business and industry to compete on world markets.
While there was little extra money
to be provided by the Federal Govern- ment to achieve these strategic ends, the new Minister for Education, Mr Dawkins, had adopted "a very prag- matic and sensible approach to achiev- ing better value for expenditure of the tax dollar on tertiary education and research."
In particular, ending the binary system of funding universities and CAEs would enable leading QIT- industry research projects to compete for government support.
The Federal Government planned to rationalise course offerings and duplication, focus enrolment growth in disciplines supportive of economic growth at cost effective institutions, concentrate research effort, reform
New manager for Institute Books hop
The Institute Bookshop has a new manager.
He is Mr Peter Newman, pre- viously General Manager of Ancol.
Mr Newman has 27 years experi- ence in retail management, sales and marketing.
He succeeds Mr Ross Goos, now a financial consultant for Davey and Associates.
The bookshop operation now has annual turnover exceeding $2 million.
Mr Peter Newman
the tenure system for greater flexibility and require improved accountability and reward systems for staff.
Institutions would define their individual roles in achieving national priorities and seek an increasing share of their revenue from private sources.
Mr Pullar said that QIT, with encouragement from the State Minister for Education, had already created a model for an educational regime within the administration, staff and students that required little or no adjustment of its mode of operation and its corporate mission to be compatible with the Dawkins plan.
"In many respects, QlT is setting the pattern and the pace for many other Australian universities and colleges of advanced education both older and younger to emulate," he said.
The new Chairman told graduating students that they were likely to easily attract employment in today's declining labour market, command higher than average salary levels and have attractive career prospects.
However, they should not be com- placent and should continue to develop themselves professionally.
"lt will be the expertise of the new tertiary graduates in the professional fields of higher education such as you who will be the elite shock troops in the task force for the Australian counter-attack against economic submergence," he said.
Dr Gerald Brameld, formerly senior lecturer in structural engineer- ing, has been appointed principal lecturer in the QlT School of Civil Engineering.
He held the position of senior lecturer from November 1974, having joined the institute's full-time staff as a lecturer in June the same year.
Before that he lectured part-time from 1967.
Dr Brameld's doctorate was awarded by Queensland University last year for a thesis on highway bridge live loads.
He started his PhD in 1978 examin- ing general aspects of bridge design but in 1981 when he joined the national committee rewriting Aust- ralia's Highway Bridge Design Code he began to concentrate his research on load levels.
The national committee was set up under the auspices of the National Association of State Road Authorities which has jurisdiction over all high- way bridge design in Australia. Its purpose is to undertake the first ever major review of the Australian Highway Bridge Design Code.
Committee deliberations revealed a scarcity of data about bridge loads.
Dr Brameld's thesis has updated information by successfully combin- ing traffic and structural engineering concepts.
He said six months PEP leave
spent with the Melbourne-based Australian Road Research Board provided much of the 'inspiration' for the thesis.
'Gerry' Bra meld's life-long interest in bridge design has been a case of following in his father's footsteps.
The late Mr Humphrey Brameld helped design the Story Bridge, was chief designer for the Victoria and Captain Cook Bridges, and until his retirement from the Main Roads Department in 1975 was regarded as Queensland's chief bridge builder.
Between them, Dr Brameld and his father were involved in the design of bridges constructed since the 1930s for every major Brisbane River crossing.
Mr Gerry Brameld
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CSR invests $70 000
in Qld crayfish studies
QIT Foundation Christmas cards in corporate style are now on sale at the Institute Bookshop.The price is $5 for a packet of ten or 60c a card, including envelopes.
CSR Ltd has invested $70 000 through the QIT Foundation in a study of the biology of a Queensland species offreshwater crayfish with a view to possible commercial development.
A QIT aquaculturalist will spend two years investigating aspects of the biology of the Red Claw, a crayfish species found in far North Queens- land, the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea.
Department of Biology and Environ- mental Science lecturer, Dr Chris Austin has laid the groundwork for the project.
The study follows a severe blow last year to the incipient Queensland freshwater crayfish industry. Some 40 licensed farmers, mainly in the south east of the State had attempted commercial Marron crayfish pro- duction during the past five to six years.
However, the Marron is native to the temperate south west of Western Australia and according to Dr Austin, those being farmed in Queensland apparently could not stand up to last summer's hot, dry conditions.
"It's a great pity that Queenslanders rushed into importing an inappropri- ate species before looking at the crayfish in their own backyard," he said.
"A lot of interest has been generated in the Red Cia was a possible alterna- tive to the Marron since the crash of Marron fanning but no real biological research has been done on the Red Claw.
"The northern distribution of the Red Claw indicates that it tolerates warm temperatures and from the marketing point of view, it is an attractive animal."
Dr Austin said proper research was needed to gauge the Red Claw's commercial potential.
The initial study over two years would evaluate the aquaculture potential of different wild stocks of the species focusing principally on
reproductive characteristics and the survival and growth of juvenile cray- fish under different environmental conditions in the laboratory. Any second stage would look at pond production performance.
He cautioned farmers not to rush into Red Claw production prema- turely. One problem with Marron farming had been lack of information on the animal's likely performance in Queensland.
Some earlier Foundation Christmas cards are being offered half-price.
* * *
The Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contmctors Association announced details of
a
$10 000 bursary for mechanical engineering students at QIT, DDIAE and Queensland University on 21 October.However, while making a preannouncement visit to campus, the ACMCA representative lost the hubcaps from his car.
Chinese Government funded scholar first to study at Institute
The first Chinese-Government funded research scholar to study at QIT will arrive in February next year.
He is Mr Zhang Zixin, 34, currently a lecturer in electrical engineering at Guangxi University.
During his year at QIT, Mr Zixin who specialises in the engineering application of computers, will research the problems of electrical power distribution in China.
His visit to QIT was organised by Q SEARCH and principal lecturer in electronic systems engineering, Dr Col Chesmond.
In addition to his research work, Mr Zixin may be offered employment as a part-time tutor to supplement his Chinese Government stipend.
impending visit as a breakthrough in QIT's relationship with China which would help the Institute attract more students as well as more research staff.
"This is a concrete step in the marketing of QIT internationally and in building its recognition as a desirable place to study," he said.
"Mr Zixin will also contribute to our knowledge of instructional tech- niques in electrical engineering in China.".
Mr Maddox said Q SEARCH was now liaising with two more potential visiting scholars from China, this time from Beijing.
"In general terms, we do know that it achieves a relatively large size and that it is capable of producing multiple broods ofyoung(the Marron
breeds only once a year). Dr Chris Austin with a Red Claw specimen.
Q SEARCH spokesman, Mr Cec Maddox described Mr Zixin's
FOOTNOTE: Q SEARCH has set up an informal relationship with members of Cathay Club to help the Institute welcome students from China.
Q IT biola ist ights rabbits in far S.W. Qld
A QIT biologist is investigating how to stop rabbits destroying cattle lands in arid regions like Queensland's far South West.
Population biologist, Mr John Wilson heads the QIT
I
Rural Lands Protection Board research team undertaking the project at the request of the Stanbroke Pastoral Company, owners of Bulloo Downs.The company has provided a grant to fund research being done over 14 weeks at the I 0 000 square kilometre property which is among the largest in Australia.
However, findings will also benefit the long term conservation of fragile ecosystems in stock lands throughout Australia's drier pastoral zones.
Mr Wilson believes that eliminating rabbits is impossible. But he is confident the current study will produce a detailed control plan to stop what could amount to complete devastation of properties.
"It's been estimated 100 rabbits consume as much fodder as a yearling steer," Mr Wilson said. "However, the physical degradation of pastures, crops, shrubs and trees by rabbits in the drier regions can cause a long term reduction in the stock carrying capacity far greater than the so- called rabbit/ cattle equivalent."
Although the mosquito-carried virus, myxomatosis, has limited rabbit numbers in Australia since the 1950s, many of the animals have now devel- oped a certain immunity and high populations still occur from time to time for this and other reasons.
The biologist says that although rabbits reduce pasture, their long term presence can have more cata- strophic effects.
In mulga country, they can destroy the acacias which are cattle lifesavers in drought. Rabbits warren beneath mulga and feed on the moist roots.
The result literally can be a desert of denuded sand dunes.
The trial control phase of the Bulloo Downs project is three- pronged.
The research team has released myxomatosis on a large scale; it is developing techniques for aerial bait- ing; and advising on manual methods of control around areas like bores and dams.
Mr Wilson said to be effective, myxomatosis had to be released just after good mosquito-encouraging rains to ensure that rabbit kittens did not first catch sub-lethal field strains and develop immunity.
Aerial spotting and spotlighting are being used to gauge rabbit numbers. Some indication of the problem is that the research team one night counted 700 per kilometre.
Another part of the study involves assessing damage to mulga.
Mr Wilson, who recently spent three weeks at Bulloo Downs, will return in late November or December to assess the effectiveness of the control program and discuss ongoing control procedures.
Final recommendations will in- clude advice about mulga protection.
The rabbit project team comprises QIT Department of Biology and Environmental Science research staff, Mr Steve Cantrill, Mr Stephen Oliver, and officers of the Rural Lands Protection Board including chief rabbit control officer, Mr Bill Brassington.
Dive trail is Australia'
QIT industrial design staff and students have developed Australia's first dive-trail, an underwater equivalent of a nature trail.
Research work was undertaken for the National Parks and Wildlife Service which has already set up the first trail near Lady Elliott Island on the southern-most tip of the Greater Barrier Reef.
The project was the result of approaches to Institute lecturer in industrial design, Mr Dennis Hardy by chief research officer for the
NPWS's Rockhampton Division Dr Jim Davies.
Dr Davies said novice divers could often lose direction underwater and in some instances had been totally disoriented on surfacing.
The QIT team designed a system with signposts which tell divers where they are in relation to the local reef, where they have been and where they can go.
A major part of the project was to develop design and production strategies for the manufacture of an
environmentally sensitive underwater signpost. The result was a UV resistant PVC sign.
Mr Hardy said the Marine Park Authority for some time had recog- nised the need for underwater signage systems in sections of the Great Barrier Reef but QIT research had found that envisaged systems were inadequate and had tried a new approach.
Three campuses will offer public health
masters starting 1989
Since the initial report, Mr Hardy has had enquiries from South Africa's marine reserve about assistance to develop that country's expertise in underwater f(\cilities. Negotiations are proceeding.
Mr Hardy believes further local research and development of such facilities could djake Queensland a world leader in underWfter recreation and would have a signtficant impact on reef management and'conservation in much the-' same way that land based nature trails are now effective.
Q IT, the University of Queensland and Griffith University are planning a unique cooperative venture to improve public health and preventive medicine in the State.
They hope, from 1990 to be able to offer a multicampus masters program in public health in which the core subjects will be covered at all three institutions but students will specialise in a particular field at one of the institutions.
The postgraduate program for qualified health professionals would only bring Queensland in line with other Australian states.
However, the steering committee for the Queensland program claims that the combined resources and cooperation of the three tertiary institutions and the State Health Department will make it the best in the nation.
The proposed introduction of the program follows a review of public health commissioned by the Federal Government.
The. Commonwealth provided funding for all existing master of public health programs within six
months of the January 1986 report by then Deputy Director of the Rockefeller Foundation (now con- sultant), Professor Kerr White.
The Queensland program is being developed jointly by Dr Ian Ring of State Health (chairman), Griffith University's Professor Arthur Brownlea, QIT senior lecturer in 'health administration, Mr Paul Hindson, and Drs Chris Bain and Ian Riley of Queensland University's Medical School.
QIT's Faculty of Business will offer specialties in health adminis- tration and health economics with its Faculty of Health Science con- centrating on expert fields like public
·health nursing and public health laboratory techniques.
The masters program will be avail- able either for two years full-time study or four years part-time.
Core subjects will be epidemiology, biostatistics, behavioural aspects of public health, and program planning,
management and evaluation. This system shows divers where to According to Mr Hindson, funding go, where they have been and will determine the number of student where they are in relation to the
continued on page 7. island.
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INSIDE' CllT, 30'0ctober, 1981. Page3Life fe ll ow awarded Masters student pioneers
~~~,~~?.n~:.~ ~ -~~~,~ ~~!~~~. trace elements study
on 14 October at the Performing wasrnadeinhonourofhisoutstanding Arts Complex for 270 QIT students contribution to the advancement of who completed courses mid-year, the Institute.
bringing total graduates for the year A QIT Foundation sponsored to more than 1700. graduation dinner at the Greek Club As part of the ceremony, Mr Ian after the ceremony with Mr Greg Cameron who retired as Chairman Chappell as guest speaker was of QIT Council in June, was awarded attended by 225 people.
QIT Life Fellow, Mr /an Cameron (right) receives his award from Director, Dr Dennis Gibson.
A QIT masters student who pioneered research into the nutritional significance of certain trace metals was among graduating students on 14 October.
Karen Roesch, the first sugar industry postgraduate scholarship holder at QIT, found that elderly people in institutions and adolescent females were at highest risk of deficiency.
Trace elements are vital primarily for maintaining enzyme activity in the body.
Karen's studies concentrated on the analysis of copper, zinc and iron in the diet. She also examined the appropriateness of recommended chromium intakes.
She said elderly people were more susceptible to deficiency due to depression caused by institutional environments.
"Those in hospitals and nursing homes may have high drug intake levels which affects absorption of trace elements into the blood stream.
Long stay patients are particulary at risk," Karen said.
Although the "right foods" were served at institutions, many elderly people refused to eat.
The second group at risk of de- ficiency was adolescent girls who went on fad diets.
"Adolescents are not fully aware of the dangers of fad diets which often lead to anorexia nervosa. They develop bad eating habits and eat more junk food, thus eliminating the nutritious elements," she said.
They needed to be better educated about the nutritional value of foods.
Karen works as a scientist with the Department of Health.
QIT takes engineers' award again
A QIT final year student, Ian
·Bruinsma, has won an Institution of Engineers Australia electrical engin- eering award for his presentation on a numerically-controlled lathe.
The ongoing project involves conversion of an existing Harrison lathe into one which is computer- controlled.
The planned system will involve a 68 000 micro-processor driven unit controlling two DC Servo motors and a tool change system.
The 68 000 will do all real time calculations and provide the control
needed to manufacture a required part.
Ian's presentation won the 1987 lEE Queensland Overseas Committee Student Award as the best of four student talks on their final year projects. A panel of judges makes an assessment from four presentations - two from QIT and two from the University of Queensland.
Ian is an electronic systems engin- eering student. The winning project has had input from both electrical and mechanical engineering.
QIT also won the student prize
last year. /an Bruinsma
Karen Roesch
Health and safety
umbrella organisation is formed in Qld
QIT was strongly represented at a recent meeting to form an umbrella organisation for professional people involved in various aspects of occupational health and safety in the State.
The Queensland Forum for Occu- pational Health and Safety held its inaugural meeting on 22 September.
Membership comprises occu- pational health nurses, physicians, engineers, hygienists and others
employed by health departments, hospitals, indus try, and tertiary institutions which promote health and safety at work.
At the invitation of the Institute's Faculty of Health Science and Department of Public Health and Nutrition, the meeting, described as 'very successful,' was held on campus.
P up pets tea ch good nut riti on
Present were QIT Director, Dr Dennis Gibson, Health Science Dean, Dr Tony Webber,and Public Health and Nutrition head, Dr Co nor Reilly.
The State Health Minister, Mr Mike Ahem assured the gathering of his Department's support for the new organisation.
A QIT masters student project has won the Institution of Engineers Australia award for railway engineering.
Mr John Muller, a civil engineer with Queensland Railways, designed a more durable pre-stressed concrete railway sleeper.
His employers sponsored the pro- ject which was supervised by Dr Gerry Brameld, principal lecturer in civil engineering.
It is estimated the new design saves Queensland Railways at least
$100 000 per year in both manufacture and maintenance.
The Institution described the development as "a significant contri- bution to Australian railway engineer- ing", and American railway companies have asked Mr Muller to assist with various design problems.
The award was made during the lEA annual railway engineering conference held this year in Perth.
Good and bad puppets were used recently at preschools in West End and Darra to teach children to eat healthy snacks.
The shows are part of a pilot study aimed at steering youngsters away from junk-food snacks.
It is being undertaken by QIT Public Health and Nutrition tech- nologist, Dr Carla Patterson with assistance from nutrition and dietetics
student, Julie Brimblecombe, and Vietnamese students who voluntarily translate and interpret.
The aim is to educate both children and parents, particularly those from non-English speaking backgrounds like Vietnamese, to consume more nutritious snacks.
The puppets depict evil (e.g. sweets) versus good (fruit) and after each show parents are sent 'good snack'
Good and bad food puppets are introduced to preschool children by technologist, Dr Carla Patterson (kneeling) and QIT nutrition and dietetics student, Julie Brimblecombe.
Page 4 INSIDE QIT, 30 October, 1987.
follow-up letters in both English and Vietnamese.
Although the project does not finish until November, Dr Patterson says there has been a noticeable change in the types of foods the children bring to pre-school.
To complement the puppet shows, Dr Patterson has also arranged to have a dentist instruct youngsters on dental hygiene.
QIT has a strong interest in occu- pational health and safety through many of its teaching programs, from nursing studies to engineering and environmental health.
Depending on funding, it is hoped to offer a graduate diploma in occu-.
pational health and safety in the foreseeable future.
Engineering students win all major prizes in lEA competition
QIT students won all major prizes in a recent competition held by the Institution of Engineers to coincide with Professional Engineers Week.
The competition was open to all undergraduate students enrolled in tertiary engineering courses m Queensland.
The aim of the contest was to produce a working model, static or computer display which illustrated an important engineering principle or technique. The model also had to appeal to the general public, in particular, to high school students.
First prize of $500 went to Eric
Sonego and Anthony Rasmussen for their project entitled 'Watt Can You Generate'.
The display simulated the physical effort needed to operate domestic electrical appliances in use today.
Sina Azad and Mark Jacobsen won second prize of $200 for their model which showed how transducers control water levels.
Third prize of $100 went to Craig Simpson and Mark Johnson for their model which showed how hot water systems can be controlled by superimposed high frequency signals on power lines.
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.f'Students make robot move in circles
After three years, final year students at QIT have engineered a mobile robot which goes round in circles by itself for no particular reason but with a very serious purpose.
The robot did not actually move independently until this year when final year electronic systems engineer- ing student Tony Partridge, building on the work of previous students, got it into action.
The robot was originally dubbed K9 and at one stage sported an RACQ sticker.
Despite the light-hearted approach, project supervisor, lecturer, Mr Paul Wilson, says the ongoing student project is extremely important.
Our aim is not so much to teach basic engineering or to produce a finished design or product but to practise real-life engineering in a
controlled environment.
"Final year projects teach students self -confidence in solving difficult technical problems by themselves,"
he said.
"If a useful design does emerge, that's a bonus. A final year project greatly influences the new graduate's chances of getting a job since it is usually the only evidence of work experience. And that experience certainly shows how well they are likely to fit into the real engineering world."
At least one graduate has returned to see how K9 is getting on and future students will develop the robot further.
Mr Wilson says as time goes, with a little help from its friends, K9 should become more and more intelligent and independent.
QIT immunologist speaks in China
Department of Medical Labora- assisting at the workshop.
tory Science senior lecturer, Dr John "Despite the language barrier, Aaskov visited China recently to many students became highly give a series oflectures and to conduct · . competent in the procedures being a workshop in advanced immuno- taught," Dr Aaskov said.
logical techniques. "The language barrier was circum- This followed an invitation from vented in part by preparing both Beijing's Institute of Virology to English and Chinese versions of the speak to Chinese arbovirologists. workshop manual."
Arboviruses are those like dengue Negotiations are now underway feverwhicharecarried by mosquitoes, in an effort to arrange a working ticks or other arthropods. visit to Dr Aaskov's QIT laboratory All lectures and discussions were by one of the Chinese postgraduate given in English and then translated students who participated in the by one of the Chinese scientists workshop.
When not concentrating on virology, Dr Aaskov managed visits to the Great Wall of China, the Ming Tombs, and other landmarks.
79 Eagle St. Brisbane. Telephone (07) 229 9100
GRADUATES ...
... the whole world's at your feet (well for six months at least)
If you wish to work at the pavilion of the world's leading computerfirm, read on ...
we are
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HOSTS/HOSTESSES
for the duration of the World Expo from April to October 1988, 10.00 am- 10.00 pm 7 days/week. Shift work will apply.
If you are interested, please contact Aver or Lyndie at Metier Personnel on (07) 229 9100.
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Engineers propose high power lab. with QEC
A high-power electricity develop- ment laboratory proposed by a Q IT- QEC committee will prove a boon to Australia's electrical manufacturing industry by offering a unique range of equipment development and testing facilities.
The facility will provide three phase short circuit test currents to 63 000 amps at 415 volts and 25 000 amps at 1100 volts.
While the estimated 'new' cost would be well over $1 million, it is anticipated actual costs, with support equipment and services, should be substantially less.
The facility is proposed for a large, QEC-owned site adjacent to the Commission's Richlands high voltage sub-station, 14 kilometres south of Brisbane.
The establishment proposal has been developed over the past 18 months by a steering committee set up by the QEC and QIT and compris- ing representatives from QEC, QIT, SEQEB, GEC (for the Queensland electrical manufacturing industry), and QIT's research marketing arm, Q SEARCH.
A prospectus issued in mid- September seeks support from all major Australian electricity supply organisations and manufacturing
·concerns.
The main purpose of the laboratory is to undertake applied research and product development for, and in conjunction with, Australian electrical manufacturers.
In addition, the laboratory will conduct basic research in related areas and undertake commercial testing to help fund its operation.
The facility also will prove useful for undergraduate and postgraduate education.
The new facility's short circuit testing and product design services to industry will complement existing QIT programs. It is envisaged that a range of electrical testing facilities now available at QIT will be relocated to the Richlands site.
The prospectus says preliminary
surveys of manufacturing organis- ations in Queensland have shown that remoteness from the existing short circuit testing facility in Sydney virtually excludes experimental testing from being part of the development of new Queensland products. It says establishment costs for the new high power development laboratory will be kept to a minimum to ensure testing facilities can be made available at affordable rates.
Organisations interested in making use of the laboratory are being invited to offer contributions to its establish- ment in return for priority access, lower testing charges and a say in laboratory management. Contri- butions can be of cash or design and installation services, or equipment.
QIT-QEC steering committee member, Mr Graham Littler, of the Institute's School of Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering, said plans would be explored for a company operation.
Research work would be under-
taken by the school's staff and students.
"Over the past two decades, QIT has developed considerable experi- ence in high power testing," Mr Littler said.
"The heavy current and high voltage laboratories are registered with NAT A The heavy current laboratory operation already is a well-established national centre for temperature rise and high current withstand testing, and is widely used by electricity supply authorities and manufacturers from all eastern states.
"It has developed rapidly in recent years and now has about 30 clients and an anticipated 1987 income of around $100 000."
Mr Littler said once the steering committee had collated responses to the prospectus, a report would be submitted to both the QEC and QIT. After firm industry backing was confirmed, it was expected to take about a year to set up the new facility.
Principal lecturer, Mr Graham Littler and senior lecturer Mr David Birtwhistle, In OfT's heavy current testing laboratory. Mr Birtwhistle has been chiefly responsible over the past decade or so for developing the laboratory to its present stage.
QIT Union Shop parades all the latest fashions on campus
QIT's Courtyard Shop held a fashion parade on campus on 7 October to show off clothing and accessories available for sale to students and staff.
The Queenslar.d Chamber of Mines says a report by QIT School of Management Head, Dr Peter Coaldrake, will add significantly to the literature on the I 987 federal election
The study commissioned by the Chamber of Mines, detailed the sig- nificance of the environmental vote in the election.
Dr Coaldrake is well known as a political scientist and commentator.
The Chamber's Executive Director, Mr Michael Pinnock, said it provided a good assessment of conservation groups' claims to have won the federal election for the ALP.
"Clearly Dr Coaldrake found no evidence to support that assertion.
Rather, he confmned that the environ- ment was one of several important factors but lagged behind leadership and taxation as major election issues,"
he said.
The range, including QITT-Shirts in various colours, was paraded by students and Q IT Union staff during the lunch hour. All stock is available at a markup of only 30 percent.
Courtyard Shop Manager, Gayle Pitty, said many students were unaware of the range of clothing and often purchased the same garments up town at a much higher price.
Student George Carpathios (right) and Union employee, Jackie Leaves, show off the Ql T tee-shirt available in a variety of colours at the Courtyard Shop.
INSIDE QIT, 30 October, 1987. Page 5
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Law school reaps more funds for new building
Mr Peter Cooper (centre) and Mr Andrew Wood (right) of Cooper, Grace and Ward present a cheque to Mr Tom Cain, Dean of Faculty of Law, in front of the new law school.
Mr Cain says the law appeal through the QIT Foundation is gaining momentum. Among other incentives, sponsors are given naming rights to lecture rooms.
QIT nursing head wants state to accept federal CAE funding offer
Head of QIT's Nursing Studies Department, Ms Ailsa Curran, says it is vital for the State Government to accept the Commonwealth offer of partial funding for college-based nurse education.
The QIT Department is the only one of its type in Queensland which is the only state to refuse the Common- wealth offer.
Ms Curran says continued delay in transferring pre-registration nursing education from hospitals to colleges will have far-reaching effects
on health care and will disadvantage nurses in this state.
"Senator Susan Ryan, as acting Employment, Education and Training Minister, recently referred in Federal Parliament to the Queensland Govern- ment's 'obdurate attitude'in relation to the transfer. Ms Cameron-Hill, a nurse consultant in Victoria warned of serious effects both on nursing education and nursing care in Queens- land if the current situation is allowed to continue," Ms Curran said,
"All other states and territories
Nursing conference attracts fifty plus
More than 50 people from as far afield as Rockhampton and Northern New South Wales attended a recent one-day conference organised by third year QIT nursing students.
One of the main aims of the 10 October conference was to outline educational prospects and career opportunities.
Speakers included QIT Head of Nursing Studies, Ms Ailsa Curran,
senior lecturer, Ms Joan Penridge and Ms Fran Sanders of the RANF.
Clinical psychologist, Ms Amanda Gordon spoke about support net- works and coping strategies for nurses.
Student spokesman, Mr Mark Thompson, said a number of registered nurses along with students from both the college and hospital- based courses took part in the program.
have signed agreements with the Commonwealth accepting the 1984 offer of partial funding during the transfer period to 1991.
"At QIT at present we have only 60 places in the pre-registration course.
"The Commonwealth has offered a number of places to Queensland each year since the original announce- ment. However, the State has rejected all these offers and the places have been allocated to other states. To date, Queensland has refused 550 places."
According to Ms Curran, the Queensland position is that the Commonwealth is discriminating against nurses in offering only partial funding during the transfer period.
"But as the State is currently funding the education of more than 2000 students in hospital programs, it is a reasonable expectation that these funds be applied to the transfer,"
she said.
Ms Curran says the increasing complexity of health care has made traditional, hospital-based training, where students must work as well as attending lectures, inappropriate for a rapidly-changing field.
Charge depts. for space: dean
A QIT Dean wants the Institute to charge different departments and sections for the space they use.
Science Dean, Dr Ron Gardiner, believes the move would lead to more economic use of cramped accom- modation on the inner city campus.
The campus is already congested with an overall 10 000 students and staff, with numbers projected to increase to 16 000 by the year 2000.
Dr Gardiner's suggestion is that rent for various Institute cost centres be assessed by taking into account
all costs apart from charges like water, electricity and telephone connections.
The total of charges from cleaning to security, including rates and insurance, would then be divided by the number of square metres of useable accommodation to work out rents.
Dr Gardiner believes having to pay for accommodation would lead to immediate changes in attitudes towards space in much the_ same way, he says, that faculty funding
has led to a change of attitude about new appointments: "Having to pay for it yourself is a big incentive to economy."
The idea is not new. According to Dr Gardiner, it is already being used successfully at Shrivenham and Cranfield in the UK.
Nor does he think QIT is more wasteful of space than any other tertiary institution.
It is just that this campus has a bigger problem than most.
Industrial design student commended Tech. award change opens career doors
Final year industrial design student at QIT, Mr Fausto Cavarzan was commended by the Packaging Council of Australia at its 30 September national packaging design awards ceremony in Sydney.
Mr Cavarzan redesigned the pack- aging of 'PlastiBond' which is used as a filler for cracks, holes and splits in a host of materials.
He improved the design by reduc- ing the packaging to a single dispenser and provided a disposable mixing plate and spatula not originally offered.
The original design had three packages.
Mr Cavarzan said his design would ensure the correct amount of hardener to filler was applied.
He completes his graduate diploma at the end of this year.
QIT represented at international
contact lens conf.
QIT Optometry Department head, of visual attributes with spectacle Mr Ken Bowman, and lecturer, Mr bifocals and contact lens bifocals in Mike Collins were among speakers tasks simulating the cockpit at the 6th International Contact environment.
Lens Congress on the Gold Coast MrCollins'papergavedetailsofa this month. QIT
f
University of Melbourne study The week-long congress held at of compliance among contact lens Jupiters Casino also celebrated the wearers. It looked at how a patient's 25th anniversary of the Contact Lens non-compliance with instruction Society of Australia. related to having difficulties in wear-Mr Bowman's paper dealt with ing contact lenses.
the suitability of contact lens for use About 500 delegates and visitors by older aircraft pilots on the flight from throughout Australia and over- deck. The project measured a range seas attended the conference.
Page 6 INSIDE QIT, 30 October, 1987.
Fausto Cavarzan with PlastiBond designs.
QIT technicians and instructors have a better chance of quick advancement following a change in the Professional and Technical Employees' Award for CAEs.
Previously, staff in these classifi- cations could be promoted only after the resignation or retirement of more senior staff.
They can now progress if they have spent 12 months at the top of their existing grade, have their departmental head's support, and can convince a Technical Pro- gression Committee they meet the criteria set down in the award. The Institute Director must give final approval.
The committee, chaired by
Engineering alumni formed for graduates
Queensland engineers who gradu- ated from QIT have been urged to get together with their former college mates by joining the Institute's new Engineering Alumni Association.
The Association was formed under the aegis of the QIT Foundation on 26 September and held its first com- mittee meeting on 21 October.
Inaugural president is Mr Chris Murphy, a 1974 civil engineering graduate now with Crooks Michell Peacock Stewart (Qld) Pty Ltd who are currently managing the Logan Motorway project.
Mr Murphy is contracts engineer
for the $70 million toll road scheme.
The Engineering Alumni Associ- ation has professional, self- development and educational aims but Mr Murphy says engineers will also be able to take part in a number of social gatherings.
The first meeting of the Association was a dinner and a 'Back to QIT' day.
It is hoped to swell inaugural membership to more than 1000.
People interested in joining the Alumni Association should phone Barbara Hosegood on 223 2322."
Personnel Manager, Mr Michael T ~ohey, currently is examining about 30 cases for progression.
QIT Optometry Department staff recently conducted courses and workshops at the invitation of Australian Optometrical Associ- ation divisions in three other Australian states.
Senior lecturer, Ms Jan Kitchin, conducted one-day courses in Perth and Adelaide on the management of patients with the eye disease known as age-related maculopathy (ARM).
Ms Kitchin is an international authority on low-vision and on ARM.
At the request of the AOA's Tasmanian division, senior lecturer Mr Peter Swann and lecturer, Ms Christine Wildsoet ran a weekend course in Launceston on eye diseases and the use and effect of pharmaceuticals in the eye. Mr Swann's main teaching area is ocular diseases and Ms Wildsoet has an honours degree with a major in pharmacology as well as optometry qualifications.
