Congratulations!

Ms Gertrude Nayak receives a 2011 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Exceptional Performance by Professinonal Staff

The current award was preceded by Gertrude’s 2006 VC award, from Professor Richard Larkins.

A formal presentation of her award by the VC will occur next year.

Associate Professor Cristina Varsavsky receives a Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning

Dr Andrew Prentice receives a Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence

Dr Andrew Prentice (right) receiving the award from Vice-Chancellor Professor Ed Byrne AO

Associate Professor Cristina Varsavsky and Dr Andrew Prentice were among 14 Monash staff members who received the inaugural Vice-Chancellor's Research and Education Awards. This was reported in the 26 October 2011 edition of the Monash Memo newsletter.

Nine Education awards, presented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker, recognised teaching excellence, outstanding contributions to student learning and excellence in honours supervision.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Ed Byrne congratulated award recipients on behalf of the University.

Recipients received a medallion, a permanent citation on the Records and Archives website and a grant.

Dr Todd Oliynyk receives 2011 Australian Mathematical Society Medal

Congratulations to Dr Todd Oliynyk who has received the Australian Mathematical Society Medal for 2011. This is the third year in a row that the medal has been awarded to a Monash mathematician. The Australian Mathematical Society Medal is awarded to a member of the Society under the age of 40 years for distinguished research in the mathematical sciences, and was first presented in 1981. A full list of previous winners can be seen here. Congratulations to Todd on this outstanding recognition.

Danijel Belusic Honoured by World Meteorological Organisation for his Research

Andrew Prentice Received an ALTC Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Joe Monaghan Elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science

In April 2011 Professor Joe Monaghan was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science for his invention and development of a computational method called Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). This method is now widely used for problems involving complicated fluid dynamics (for example waves breaking over a ship), impact and fracture in solids, and the simulation of star formation and the formation of galaxies in an evolving universe. It is also an important tool in the creation of special effects in movies. A feature of SPH that is attractive to the applied mathematician is that the equations can be derived from a particle Lagrangian that is invariant to rotations and translations of the coordinate system, and invariant to more esoteric transformations such as particle relabelling. As a consequence many general properties of the continuum fluid are retained in the particle formulation.

More information: http://www.science.org.au/news/media/24march11.html

Prof Kate Smith-Miles receives 2010 Australian Mathematical Society Medal

Monash Memo article

Kate was presented with a medal at the opening session of the 54th Australian Mathematical Society meeting in Brisbane on 28 September 2010.

This is the second year running that a Monash University academic has been awarded this prize. In 2009, Ian Wanless received this prize.

"The School of Mathematical Sciences is going from strength to strength." "As Head of the School, I am very proud of what we are all achieving."

ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science

The mission statement of the COE is: "Climate change presents an unacceptable risk to the wellbeing and prosperity of Australians. Using the best science to minimize threats and maximize opportunities is a national priority of international significance. We will resolve uncertainties in regional climate science via world-class research within a multi-University centre in partnership with outstanding international and national groups.
Outcomes will be integrated into national frameworks, transforming the foundation for impacts and adaptation research. This will have direct economic, social and environmental benefit by improving advice to all levels of Government and the broader community on the scale, speed and timing of regional climate change."

ARC Centres of Excellence Funded Projects 2011

Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science website

Dr Ian Wanless receives 2009 Australian Mathematical Society Medal

Congratulations to Dr Ian Wanless who has received the Australian Mathematical Society Medal for 2009. The Australian Mathematical Society Medal is awarded to a member of the Society under the age of 40 years for distinguished research in the mathematical sciences, and was first presented in 1981. A full list of previous winners can be seen here. Congratulations to Ian on this outstanding recognition. Ian is pictured with Prof. Nalini Joshi (President of the Australian Mathematical Society) with his medal.

Dr Maria Athanassenas

Congratulations to Dr Maria Athanassenas who received a Vice-Chancellor's
Award for Excellence in Honours Supervision on September 14, 2009 from
Vice-Chancellor Professor Ed Byrne. Read More

2007 Travelling Fellowship Award for General Staff: Ms Gertrude Nayak

The Travelling Fellowship only came about in 2007 when the Mobility Steering Committee decided to review the other two previous award schemes – namely, the RL Martin and Carolyn Chisolm Fellowship awards.

For the Travelling Fellowship Awards for General Staff for 2007, in total (40) applications were received and a total of (13) awards were awarded with (1) being awarded from the Faculty of Science, which went to the School Manager from the School of Mathematical Sciences, Ms Gertrude Nayak.

This Fellowship (funded at the maximum amount of $4,000), enabled Gertrude to visit overseas universities (Cambridge University and University College London) and Australian universities (University of Sydney, ANU and University of Melbourne) in the subsequent 12 months.

The details for these awards can be found at: http://www.adm.monash.edu/staff-development/awards/travel-fellow.html

2006 Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Exceptional Performance by General Staff

Two Monash staff members and three administration units received the 2006 Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Exceptional Performance. The awards recognise contributions made by general staff over a three-year period which exceed the normal requirements of their positions. These awards are equivalent to the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Distinguished Teaching.

An individual award was presented to Ms Gertrude Nayak, School Manager from the School of Mathematical Sciences. Ms Nayak was recognised for her devotion to the welfare of the School and university and outstanding leadership. A total of $20,000 was distributed among the winning individuals and teams.

Ms Gertrude Nayak receiving the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Exceptional Performance from Prof Richard Larkins AO

Ms Gertrude Nayak and the Head of the School of Mathematical Sciences,
A/Prof Alan Pryde