SCM News Bulletin Vol 2 - Issue 1 - March/April 2010
SCM News Bulletin ISSN 1837-4875
Volume 2 - Issue 1 - March/April 2010
New Staff Appointments
In late 2009 and early 2010, the School of Computing and Mathematics welcomed the appointments of two new lecturers at Parramatta campus:
Dr Laurence Park joined UWS following his prior appointment at the University of Melbourne, where he was a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering. In 2004, he completed a PhD in Electrical Engineering at The University of Melbourne. He is currently teaching Computational Mathematics and Statistical Methods at UWS.
Zhi Jun Guo joined UWS from the University of New South Wales, where he recently completed his PhD in Financial Mathematics. He has completed a Bachelor of Commerce(Finance)/Bachelor of Science(Mathematics) degree with first-class honours in Statistics from UNSW. This Autumn semester, he is teaching Financial Mathematics.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to both staff members, and look forward to working with them both in future semesters!
SCM Graduates in the Spotlight
Submitted by Tracey Hanson
On Thursday, 22 April 2010 Marianne Oswald and I attended the graduation ceremony for the School of Computing and Mathematics at Parramatta campus. Whilst we were working hard to finalise the touches on their graduation gowns, and ushering the guests into the main auditorium, we also had the pleasure of watching our very own students make that long awaited walk across the stage to receive their graduation testamur. Amongst this semester’s graduates were some of our students who are now undertaking their honours program at Campbelltown and Parramatta campuses.
It never ceases to amaze me how nervous the students are just before they walk out onto the stage, worried that they might trip or fail to dock their trencher at the appropriate moment. During the course of their studies, they have no doubt experienced assessment tasks that involve presentations; but when it comes to being on stage to receive their degree, the nerves seem to overcome them.
It was a very special day, and as usual a happy and emotional day to see the families all there sharing in their son or daughters achievement. It really is an occasion that should be celebrated not only by the students but by the staff as well.
Congratulations to all 147 students who graduated in April 2010!
Outstanding Students Receive Awards
Over fifty students and their guests attended the School Award Ceremony on Thursday, 8 April 2010 in the Vice Chancellors Room at Campbelltown campus. Special Guest Speakers who congratulated the students included College Dean Professor Branko Celler, Mr Douglas O’Hara representing the Australian Computer Society Foundation (ACS Foundation), as well as our very own Head of School, Professor Simeon Simoff. All students who received the highest mark in a unit in 2009 Autumn and Spring not only received awards of certificate, but also the recognition of their high performance from family members and peers who attended the Ceremony. Several Associate Heads of School and numerous staff from the School of Computing and Mathematics were also present to congratulate the students in person.
A number of special awards with gift vouchers were also presented to the following students who topped three units or more in each semester:
Autumn 2009
Al Kenneth Cervantes; Liang Yu
Spring 2009
Mitchell Imer; Robert Foy; Andre Kollel
The Ceremony was a joyous occasion to recognise the students who have worked tirelessly to achieve incredibly high results. It also provided a unique opportunity for students to hear about how the ACS Foundation can assist students in the ICT field who are interested in gaining scholarships, and being involved in research and training programs in the workplace.
Congratulations to all our outstanding students once again!
UWS Engineering & IT Careers Expo
Submitted by Leanne Rylands
The UWS Engineering and IT Careers Expo was held in Building Z at Kingswood on Wednesday, 7 April 2010. It was a great success this year, with as many as four times more students than last year in attendance. The Expo, which is an annual event at UWS, is aimed at students primarily in their final year in IT and Engineering courses, however students from all years are also welcome to attend. The event provided an invaluable opportunity for students to network face-to-face with potential employees, as well as get advice about career opportunities and pathways. Students were able to speak to employers from a range of organisations about graduate programs, internship and vacation schemes, and what employers are looking for when hiring graduates. In the past, some students have even been been lucky enough to gain recruitment as a result of attending the Expo.
Many thanks to Steve Rawling, Terrie Smith and Elien Week, from Careers & Cooperative Education for making the event happen!
Industry Engagement at Full Steam Ahead with IBM
Submitted by Athula Ginige
At the end of 2009, the School of Computing and Mathematics and IBM had a series of discussion to explore various ways that IBM Engineers can get involved in learning and teaching activities of the School to enhance student learning. Some of the identified possibilities were for the IBM Engineers to provide guest lectures, mentor students, especially those who are working on computing projects and to be a members of the School External Advisory Board.
In 2010, we implemented these identified possibilities. In March, John Schilt, Manager of the IBM Innovation Centre gave a guest lecture on "Skills for a Smarter Planet" to the students in the Information Systems in Context class. A few student groups were linked up with other IBM Engineers to seek guidance and assistance for their computing project work. We also now have an agreement with IBM for students to download and use various IBM software applications for educational purposes.
At the Forefront of eHealth
Submitted by Anthony Maeder
Over Easter I attended an invitation workshop on eHealth System Architecture for Developing Countries, hosted by the World Health Organisation at Villa Bellagio in Italy. It was held in a reclusive lakeside property run by the Rockefeller Foundation to support various types of global improvement activities.
During the intensive five-day “lockup” with eHealth experts from 12 countries, we produced a draft high level system specification allowing separation and prioritisation of different components during development of new eHealth infrastructure. This work was informed by previous reviews of national eHealth systems status in a cross section of developed and developing countries, and by current work on implementation of eHealth infrastructure in Rwanda.
The documents will next be submitted for consideration by the Health Informatics Committee (TC-215) of the International Standards Organisation, for adoption as a technical specification to encourage widespread distribution and use.
Microsoft eHealth Workshop
Submitted by Anthony Maeder
Professor Anthony Maeder was invited by Microsoft Australia to attend the Microsoft Research Asia eHealth Workshop in Beijing from 4-5 February 2010. This was attended by over eighty eHealth research leaders from ten countries in the region, including three from Australia, and numerous Microsoft research staff from Beijing and Seattle. The event gave a unique opportunity to learn about Microsoft’s interests and strategic directions on eHealth and other related areas such as eScience. Anthony presented a poster paper on the “Future Health Smart Space” research lab which is currently under construction in the School of Computing and Mathematics.
Best Paper Award Won at Australasian Computer Science Week
Submitted by Anthony Maeder
Three staff members from the School of Computing and Mathematics attended the 2010 Australasian Computer Science Week (ACSW) Conference held at Queensland University of Technology from 18-21 January 2010. ACSW is an international multi-conference event targeted at Computer Science professionals, researchers and students. Head of School Professor Simeon Simoff participated in the Heads and Professor of Computer Science meeting; Professor Anthony Maeder chaired the Workshop on Health Informatics and Knowledge Management, and Ms Heidi Bjering received the Best Paper Award for her publication, “A Multidimensional Temporal Abstractive Data Mining Framework” (co-authored with Carolyn McGregor).
Congratulations Heidi on your outstanding paper!
A Mother and Son's Moment of Glory
Submitted by Marianne Oswald
Tracey Hanson - SCM Admin Officer - Extraordinaire! After six long years of part-time study, Tracey has finally graduated. This was quite a remarkable achievement for someone who juggled numerous other daily tasks; including full-time employment, caring for a family, fostering needy puppies, participating in regular fitness activities, and being a great friend to anyone in need.
Tracey's graduation day was an extra special occasion, since her son, Clarke Hanson, also graduated in the same ceremony on Saturday, 17 April 2010. For both mother and son, it was a “first”, and the event was celebrated joyfully with their family and friends. Tracey has obtained a degree in Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology, and her son, Clarke, a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Languages.
A big congratulations to both Hanson's on their outstanding achievement!
