CSIRO Flagship Visiting Fellowship Awarded to Materials Professor
National Research Flagships are large-scale multidisciplinary research programs initiated by CSIRO in 2003 to deliver scientific and technical solutions that tackle Australia's major challenges and opportunities. The CSIRO Light Metals Flagship aims to develop new technologies that will help Australian industry to produce aluminium, magnesium and titanium, and the products made from these light metals at reduced costs and pollution, and with improved performance. A three-month CSIRO Flagship Visiting Fellowship was awarded to Professor Yi-Bing Cheng of Materials Engineering in 2007, enabling him to engage with the research team at the Minerals Division for the development of sidewall refractories for aluminum smelting cells. During the Fellowship visit, Professor Cheng was involved in the development of new grain boundary phases for silicon carbide based refractories and understanding the corrosion mechanisms of non-oxide refractories in molten cryolite salts. A number of grain boundary phases were investigated, aiming to produce new silicon carbide refractories with long service life and low material and fabrication cost for future energy efficient electrolytic cells. The Flagship fellowship provided an invaluable opportunity for his involvement to a key national research project and enhanced his interactions with researchers at CSIRO. It has also paved the way for future collaborations in the area of refractory materials.
Honorary Doctorate from the Russian Academy of Sciences
Professor Yuri Estrin, who joined the Department last year on a shared appointment with CSIRO, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor honoris causa) from the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). This is one of the highest distinctions with which the Russian Academy of Sciences awards foreign scientists, and it has been a result of a long, multi-stage process, starting from Yuri’s nomination by the Section of Chemistry and Materials Sciences of RAS and finishing with an election at its General Assembly through a secret ballot and final endorsement by the Presidium of the Academy. This is the only honorary doctorate that was given by the Academy in this round within the area of Chemistry and Materials Science.
The citation reads: ‘This honorary doctorate has been awarded to you in recognition of your world-class achievements in Materials Science and Engineering, particularly in the areas of physical metallurgy, materials modelling, and development of new materials’. Yuri, who received his PhD degree from one of the institutes of the Academy of Sciences some 30 years ago, is heading to Moscow end of May to receive this award in a special ceremony. He will also give a talk at the Assembly of the Section of Chemistry and Materials Science of RAS and do some collaborative work with his colleagues in Moscow.
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Australia-China International Centre for Light Alloys Research (ICLAR)
The Centre’s efforts to establish a strong international collaboration with the Aluminium Corporation of China Ltd (CHALCO) received a major boost this year with a visit to Melbourne by the President and CEO, Dr Xiao Yaqing on 26 March, 2007. Dr Xiao visited Monash University, CSIRO and the Australian Synchrotron Facility, before meeting with the then Victorian State Treasurer and Minister for Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, Mr John Brumby. Minister Brumby was witness to the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Dr Xiao and Monash Vice Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins, committing CHALCO and Monash University (on behalf of the ARC Centre) to strengthening long-term cooperation in research and development of light metals, and joint efforts to establish the Australia-China International Centre for Light Alloy Design.
As a result of subsequent negotiations, on the 29th of September 2007 Professor Larkins signed an agreement with Dr. Yaqing Xiao to establish the Australia-China International Centre for Light Alloy Research (ICLAR)This agreement was strongly endorsed by the then Australian Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop and the then newly appointed Premier of Victoria, John Brumby.
The signing was a very high-profile event at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, attended by Vice Ministers from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, and State Council, and various other senior officials from China. Australia was well-represented by senior officials of the Australian Embassy and the State Government of Victoria., as well as the Director of the ARC Centre, Professor Barry Muddle, and Monash University’s DVC International, Professor Stephanie Fahey.
Under the terms of this agreement, Monash University and CHALCO are the lead institutions, but the agreement makes provision for member institutions within the ARC Centre and for CSIRO to be engaged as founding partners.
To further develop this collaboration, the CoE has offered an Honorary Appointment as ‘Senior Advisor – China International Relations’ to Professor Yi-Bing Cheng from Monash University. Professor Cheng has been instrumental in fostering this initiative to date and will continue to provide invaluable assistance in developing the Centre’s engagement with China.
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Professor Richard Larkins (Vice-Chancellor, Monash University), Mr. John Brumby (Premier of Victoria) and Dr. Yaqing Xao (President of CHALCO) at the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony. |
Monash Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins at the signing ceremony for the Australia-China International Centre for Light Alloy Research |
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