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RSC NEWS 15 April 2005 |
Vol 36 : Issue No. 3 |
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Editors -- Marilyn Holloway and Sue Riches
Sincere thanks to all who have contributed to this 3rd edition of the RSC News. Once again we encourage staff and students to send in contributions, either by email to asec@rsc.anu.edu.au or delivered in person to the Academic Secretary's Office by cob on Wednesday of each off-pay week. We would welcome any interesting or amusing articles, poems, limericks, For Sale notices, announcements of births or marriages. Photographs and drawings would also be welcome.
An article in the Autumn 2005 edition of the ANU Reporter detailed the development of a new very large bowl-shaped molecule by Dr Mick Sherburn and colleagues. The molecule, shaped like a miniature football field and named "Superbowl", is capable of capturing and releasing drugs and chemicals and has the potential for removing environmental toxins, catalysing chemical reactions and allowing new chemical purification. The results were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society and have appeared in the popular press in Australia and overseas.
A book co-edited by Mr Michael Smith, THE NATURAL ADVANTAGE
OF NATIONS, Business Opportunities, Innovation and Governance in the
21st Century, had its Canberra launch recently at the
National Press Club. Congratulations, Michael!
Congratulations in duplicate go this week to Professor Richard Welberry who celebrated his 60th birthday on 13th April and 30 years at RSC on 15th April. Professor Welberry is claiming his entitlement to "collect $10 from each player!"
Item 1
A successful Pizza and Beer function to welcome and inform new students
was held on Tuesday 12th April. Approximately 50 students
attended and enjoyed the cultural entertainment provided by Professor Ray
Withers.
Item 2
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.
The sand is everything else - the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Recent Arrivals
A sincere welcome is extended to the following people who arrived since our last issue:
Dr Jennifer Beck from University of Wollongong is renewing her collaborative contact with RSC as a Visiting Fellow with Dr Dixon's group (room E202, extension 54181).
Following the completion of his PhD studies, Dr Franciscus Brink is continuing his collaboration with Professor Withers as a Visiting Fellow until the end of this year.
Mr Laurent Clapet from the National School of Engineering, Caen, France is with Dr Sherburn's group until the end of July as a Visiting International Scholar (room 21, extension 53763).
Professor Tom Goodwin from Hendrix College USA is currently with Professor Banwell's group as a Visiting Fellow (room 245).
Mr Paul Lloyd has commenced PhD studies with Dr Oakley (room E216, extension 55012). Paul's time will be shared between RSC and BAMBI.
Dr Peter Mahon has joined Professor Krausz's group as a Research Fellow (room 27, extension 54028)
Professor Albert Padwa from Emory University USA and currently from University of Melbourne, spent a week as a Visiting Fellow with Professor Mander's group.
Dr Madhavi Srinivasan from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore is spending two weeks with Professor Withers' group as a Visiting Fellow (room E8, extension 55408).
Dr Ronald Steffen has joined Professor Krausz's group as a Postdoctoral Fellow (room 3, extension 53572).
Departures
Farewell and best wishes to the following who have left the School since our last issue:
Dr Elizabeth Barrett and Dr Craig Turner both of whom have left to take up positions at the Scripps Research Institute in California.
Dr Guiseppe del Signorewho has returned to Italy.
(Temporary closure due to complete loss of memory)
Owing to the absence on leave of the Academic Secretary there will be no stroll down Memory Lane in this issue.
As there are no LUSH notes, patrons of Bramley's will have to find something else to toast.
