Online Archives Search

The Science Course covered subjects taught by several faculties. Together with the Arts Course the Science Course differed from most other courses in the University in as much as it allowed a wide choice of different subjects. The Archives currently only holds items from this series for the years 1972 - 1973. It is unclear if issues for other years were ever published.

On 4 November 1997 the Academic Board gave its endorsement to the establishment of the Centre for Research on Provincial China as a joint research centre of the University of New South Wales and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) (resolution AB97/139). At UNSW it was a centre of the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, while at UTS it was a centre in the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. The Centre was run by a committee elected by its fellows every two years (UNSW-UTS Centre for Research on Provincial China 1998 Annual Report, file 2004/1663). The first Director of the Centre was Associate Professor Hans Hendrischke. On 26 July 2005 the centre was disestablished (letter from Deputy Vice-Chancellor Les Field to Vice-Chancellor Mark Wainwright, file 2004/1663). Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 04/11/1997-26/07/2005

The Food Industry Development Centre was established as the result of funding by the Australian Government as part of its Key Centres of Teaching & Research Program. This was formally announced by the government on 31 May 1988 and the creation of the Centre within the Department of Food Science & Technology in the School of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Applied Science, was formally approved at the 14 September 1988 meeting of the Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee. The initial director of the Centre was Professor R. B. H. Wills (file 880435). Following a government review in May 1994, it was determined that funding for the Centre would cease at the end of 1995. Consequently the Centre ceased to exist from this date (file 880435). Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 14/09/1988-31/12/1995

On 14 January 2008 the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) approved the establishment of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMART) (file 2008/0244). On 4 March 2008 the Academic Board noted this establishment (resolution AB08/15). The main research aims of the Centre were to find ways to reduce the environmental impact and enhance community benefits associated with materials-related industries and related technologies by developing novel and innovative materials and processes through world-class research. The Centre was located in the Faculty of Science and the first director was Professor Veena Sahajwalla (file 2008/0244). In 2010 the director of the Centre remained Professor Veena Sahajwalla. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 14/01/2008-

On 7 May 1996 the Academic Board gave its approval for the establishment of a Centre for Olympic Studies (resolution AB96/25). The first director was Associate Professor Richard Cashman. Although the faculties of Arts & Social Sciences, Built Environment, COFA, Commerce & Economics and Professional Studies had all given their support to the proposal, the centre appears to have been administratively primarily centred in the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. The Centre for Olympic Studies (COS) was launched on 21 May, 1996 by the Vice-Chancellor. Its aims were: - To coordinate and publicise university research and teaching on the Olympics - To ascertain areas where the University can assist in the successful organisation of the Sydney Olympics - To create contacts with academic institutions and with industry and government in the area of the Olympics - To develop Centre projects and to support consultancies by University staff to enable the Centre to become self-funding - To project the University's involvement in the Olympics, and other similar international events, as a form of community service - To gather information about the organisation of the Sydney Olympics, and other major international events, which will provide a research data base to assist in the organisation of similar future events In 2003 UNSW introduced a new policy that no Centre can exist on a continuing and permanent basis. It was deemed by UNSW that having contributed to research on the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Centre should cease to operate effective 31 March, 2004. The School of Leisure, Sport & Tourism at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) did, however, take over some of the work of the UNSW Centre, including the web site, library and archival collection. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 07/05/1996-31/03/2004

At its annual meeting in Adelaide in 1955 the Australian Automobile Association passed a resolution calling for active steps to be taken in the training of traffic engineers. The Association also resolved to fund a Chair of Traffic Engineering to a sum of 25,000 pounds through an annual grant of 5,000 pounds for five years at a university to be nominated by the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. Mr Menzies selected the New South Wales University of Technology as the site for the new program. (SRF - Highway and Traffic, Schools of) On 12 March 1956 Council approved the appointment of W. Ross Blunden, Scientific Adviser to the Australian Military Board, as Foundation Chair of Traffic Engineering. (resolution 687) Professor Blunden commenced his duties on 20 August 1956. He then spent approximately three months at the Institute of Transportation and Traffic Engineering at the University of California - Berkeley and afterwards visited other universities in the United States as well as traffic agencies and research organisations in Washington DC. He also visited a number of city and state traffic departments and various automobile and traffic control equipment manufacturers. (BRF - Blunden; CN956/30 File: 5601071E) The School of Traffic Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering was approved by Council on 13 May 1957 (resolution 57/64). From the time of its inception the School was primarily postgraduate in character. It defined traffic engineering as the science of measuring traffic and travel, the study of the basic laws relating to traffic generation and flow and the application of this knowledge to the professional practice of planning, designing and operating traffic systems to achieve safe and efficient movement of persons and goods. The School's primary objectives were: (1) The evolution of a basic technical discipline for the phenomena of traffic and travel; (2) The application of this in the whole field of transportation, seeking integrated solutions to transport problems of all kinds. (The University of New South Wales, c.1961: 122) Each year the School offered a full-time course of 14 weeks duration in traffic planning and control. The course also included introductory material on statistics, the theory of traffic behaviour, town planning and road traffic law. By the early 1960s over 90 students had undertaken the course from Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and India. Extension courses were also taught in cities throughout Australia. (The University of New South Wales, c.1961: 122) In 1959 a Master of Technology degree program was introduced for students with undergraduate degrees in engineering or science. It consisted of formal lectures in the theory of statistics, the theory of traffic behaviour, the application and practice of traffic engineering, operational analysis, data reduction, road location and design, town planning, and traffic law. There was also a thesis component which consisted of a specific traffic study. (The University of New South Wales, c.1961: 122) On 13 November 1972 the name of the School was changed to the School of Transportation and Traffic Engineering to broaden the focus of the school. (resolution 72/225; SRF - Highway and Traffic, Schools of) At a meeting on 17 January 1977 Council resolved (resolution 77/4) that the School of Transportation and Traffic Engineering and the School of Highway Engineering would form a new School of Transport and Highways, effective from 25 July 1977. The School as a separate entity thus ceased to exist from this date. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 13/05/1957-25/07/1977

In 2004 UNSW Council decided to establish a UNSW research and teaching campus in Singapore. Known as UNSW Asia, this was to become Singapore's first comprehensive private university to open for business in 2007. (Council resolutions CL 04/47, 04/122, 05/14). The venture also had unanimous support from the Academic Board whose members saw it as an opportunity to attract quality staff and raise UNSW's academic standing. The university already had a long term relationship with the region and felt it was important to have an educational presence in Asia. It was expected that the university's profile would be greatly enhanced by being the first foreign university in Singapore. Singapore at the time was pursuing a long term plan to establish itself as a major educational hub in the region with its government investing substantial funds in education. As part of this plan the Singaporean government had approached several foreign universities gauging their interest in setting up a university in Singapore and subsequently invited UNSW to establish a campus there. Following its decision to establish a campus in Singapore the university signed an agreement with the Economic Development Board of Singapore for financial and other support for UNSW Asia over its initial years of operation. UNSW Asia was fully owned and operated by UNSW which set up UNSW Asia Limited as a company for the purposes of establishing and operating UNSW Asia. (CL05/14, 05/49). In October 2005 UNSW announced the appointment of Professor Greg Whittred, then Dean of the faculty of Commerce and Economics at UNSW, as the first President of UNSW Asia. Professor Whittred took up his position as inaugural President in November 2005. UNSW Asia was set up to be fee based with instruction in English. The university expected to make losses in the first few years of operations, but expected UNSW Asia to carry itself within ten years. The initial enrolment was expected to be around 300 students in first semester with about 500 students in second semester growing to 15,000 students within 15-20 years. Academic courses were to be based on three academic clusters: science, engineering, technology and health; commerce, humanities, media and design; and a graduate school. A permanent home for UNSW Asia was planned as a garden campus in South Changi with construction starting in 2006 and the campus to open in 2009. UNSW Asia commenced operations at Tanglin Campus, Kay Siang Road, Singapore, former home of the Republic Polytechnic. UNSW Asia opened its doors as planned with its first intake of undergraduate students commencing their courses in March 2007. Initial student enrolments only reached half the estimated numbers. Overall enrolment numbers for 2007 did not reach UNSW's expectations causing the university to revise its projections. As a result the university took the decision to close UNSW Asia at the end of first session on the 28th June 2007. This decision was announced to staff at UNSW Asia on 22 May and by media release and an email to all UNSW staff on 23 May 2007. Students enrolled at UNSW Asia in session one 2007 were offered a place in an equivalent program at UNSW Sydney from session two 2007, and scholarships to help with travel and accommodation costs. Students who transferred to UNSW Sydney received full credit for the studies they undertook at UNSW Asia, and retained credit for any advanced standing already granted. Tuition fees for these students were set at the publicised UNSW Asia rates. The three Singapore Universities - National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) - and some Singapore private education providers extended their deadline for application for the academic year 2007 to 4 June 2007 for the affected students enrolled in or who had accepted offers from UNSW Asia. Emeritus Professor Mark Wainwright was Acting President of UNSW Asia during its wind down. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 30/08/2004-28/06/2007 controlled entity

After meetings held with Unisearch (Later NewSouth Innovations) staff Professor Bob Clark and Gillian Turner, and Semiconductor Research Corporation, IBM, and Intel in June 2003, Qucom Pty Ltd was activated to capitalise on commercialisation opportunities associated with quantum computing [Shadow Board Papers 12 August 2003]. A ‘shadow’ Board was formed in order to progress the company planning prior to formal approvals and consents. Originally named ‘Qucom’ and registered in 1999, the company changed to ‘Qucor’ in September 2003 to avoid brand confusion or litigation by a similarly named IT company based in America. The company was officially launched on 19 December 2003. Gillian Turner was Chair of the Board and Richard Sharp was Managing Director at launch. The founding shareholding of Qucor was 30% Unisearch, 30% UNSW, and 40% held for the benefit of the researchers. Qucor was the commercialisation agent for quantum computing research at UNSW and the Centre for Quantum Computer Technology (CQCT), the latter being funded by an Australian Research Council (ARC) grant. Qucor was the registered holder of all Intellectual Property (IP) of CQCT. IP protection was not covered by the CQCT’s ARC grant. Qucor placed significant focus on finalising a Bonus Unit Plan (BUP), to give an opportunity for CQCT researchers to receive potential future dividends from the commercialisation of the IP, but this was never realised. Qucor, UNSW, University of Melbourne (UM) and NewSouth Innovations (NSi) were parties to this agreement. Qucor provided Chief Operating Officer services to CQCT, performed by their Managing Director, Dr Richard Sharp, until he resigned from the position on 12 January 2007. He was replaced by David Varvel as CEO in mid-2007, and UNSW Faculty of Science began funding the CQCT COO position in November 2008, enabling the role to continue. Varvel was terminated from CQCT in October 2010 and from Qucor in September 2010. Qucor was working with IBM on developing a fast voltage pulse generator. IBM withdrew from this project. Qucor had many dealings with UM, who were assigned a 10% shareholding of the company in December 2006 in exchange for their IP. One of their joint projects was Quantum Communications Victoria (QCV). This was an unincorporated Joint Venture established after an agreement was signed on 24 November 2005 for a prototype single photon source project used for secure communications [Preliminary QCV Company Business Plan, Board Papers 6 June 2006]. Qucor were the commercialisation agent for the JV, holding a 30% stake in QCV. Other signatories to this agreement were: MagiQ Technologies, Inc. University of Melbourne School of Physics, and Silicon Graphics Inc. QCV was not able to maintain funding in 2008 and ceased operations as of end July 2009. A three year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between UNSW, UM, Qucor, and Sandia National Laboratories was signed on 16 September 2008, in order to utilise the latter’s semiconductor fabrication plant and begin engineering on the quantum computing designs. Although Qucor pursued investment from venture capital firms, UNSW assessed the company to be too strategically important to allow external funding, which could reduce UNSW equity in Qucor. UNSW funded Qucor until 2010 through a Convertible Note, after which Qucor entered into a loan with NSi. On 1 January 2013, Qucor appointed NSi as its commercialising agent, giving them the right to commercialise certain Intellectual Property Rights created at CQCT. By 2015, Qucor was operating as the IP holding company for the legacy IP with Professor Andrew Dzurack as its sole director. CQCT had been replaced by a new iteration, Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC2T) in 2011. CQC2T holds no IP or commercialisation associations with Qucor. Qucor attempted to launch another commercialisation entity called Qucor 2 for the patents developed through CQC2T but the partner universities did not reach agreement. The CQC2T CEO, Barry Wong, was hired as a consultant pro bono in June 2011 to manage the maintenance of the patent portfolio [Board Minutes 17 June 2011]. The company Silicon Quantum Computing Pty Ltd (planned under the name Quantum NewCo) was created in 2017 with UNSW Innovations (formerly NSi), Telstra, Commonwealth Bank and Commonwealth Government as shareholders, and involved Qucor’s legacy IP.

In 1985 the Australian Research Grants Scheme (ARGS) introduced a new requirement that grant applications where the researcher intended using ionising radiation, would require an approval from a University radiation committee. In compliance, the University Safety Committee (USC), at its meeting on 18th April 1985, established the Radiation Safety Committee. The objective of the Committee was to assess ARGS applications for approval. (File #00008559) The inaugural meeting of the Radiation Safety Committee was held on 17th July 1985 with Dr R Rosen, the Radiation Safety Officer, as chairman. (File #850559) It appears that initially the Radiation Safety Committee may have been a Sub-Committee of the USC, and gradually adopted a more advisory role. (File #900400) In 1990, the Committee expanded its terms of reference to the following - i) to advise the Vice Chancellor on matters of radiation safety within the University, ii) to recommend institutional clearance for research grant applications as required for radiation work, and iii) to assist the University Safety Unit by providing radiation safety expertise as appropriate. (File #00085558). In 2004, the Presiding Member of the Radiation Safety Committee was A/Prof. Vincent Murray, of the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science in the Faculty of Science. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 18/04/1985-

On 5 September 1951 the head of Applied Chemistry, Professor Alexander, presented a report to the Personnel Committee of the Professorial Board, in which he outlined a proposed arrangement of his school into five departments - including the Department of Analytical Chemistry. Although this was not formally approved by the Professorial Board, this arrangement seems to have been adopted by the school shortly afterwards, with the first head of department being A. Bryson (CN980/6 - 00046006). Sometime in late 1957, the School of Applied Chemistry had its name changed to the School of Chemistry. On 14 April 1998 it was noted at the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Science & Technology that the Dean had indicated to the Vice-Chancellor that the School of Chemistry intended to disestablish its departments. This appears to have occurred shortly afterwards and thus the department ceased to exist. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - c. 05/09/1951-c. 14/04/1998