The Business of Chemical Innovation
The Summer School introduced students to the management of industrial chemical research and entrepreneurial activity. Based one week at the Australian National University and one week at the University of Melbourne, the courses brought together students from the Universities of Newcastle, Queensland and Melbourne, and the ANU. It included visits to industrial sites, lectures and fieldwork. Travel and accommodation was fully funded by the UnIChe Project.
One of the attributes of a chemist or chemical engineer is to have an awareness of the basic economic management, as well as legal, industrial and ethical responsibilities of a professional. This school aimed at providing the basic skills and understanding required of an R & D professional to begin the process of transforming their science into company business. At ANU, the methods of innovation, sustainability, project management and finance that a research scientist or engineer must master to move a laboratory idea to a viable pilot process were discussed. This was followed by practical aspects of safety, legal issues and real plant experience in Melbourne.
A UnIChe Summer School was organised every year from February 2001 to February 2006. A small photoalbum can be seen here. Students from ANU and the Universities of Melbourne, Newcastle and Queensland spent two weeks on modules, lectures, workshops, visits and social events.
The course was divided into six modules, each of which emphasises case-studies and involved practical activity.
| 1. Safety and risk management
Accidents are no longer industrially acceptable and may kill a project. To implement legal and ethical requirements requires a systematic approach. |
4. Sustainability Today's viable project is one that can withstand a complete life-cycle analysis of all its material consequences. |
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2. Intellectual property and other legal issues |
5. Project management and
Entrepreneurship A project will only work if timely decisions are made based on sound analytical methods. |
| 3. Technology and Innovation
management Provides an understanding of the factors required to initiate technical change. |
6. Finance for Scientists |
The Summer School was intended for later year chemistry or chemical engineering undergraduates (2nd/3rd year) or Honours students. Entry to these courses was competitive, based upon academic results.
