Faculty of Science

The ancient cultures of Aboriginal Australians have a strong astronomical component, linking their stories and ceremonies intimately with the sky, often in beautiful and fascinating ways. There are "constellations" such as the "emu in the sky" formed from the dark places between the visible stars. Songs and stories about the Sun, Moon, planets and stars connect ceremony and law to celestial cycles, providing essential tools for navigation, calendars, and life.

So were Aboriginal Australians the world's first astronomers? We are trying to answer this question, using information from two main sources.

One source consists of the thriving and vibrant Aboriginal cultures in the Top End of Australia, which embody an intimate knowledge of the sky. For example, the beautiful "morning star ceremony" is timed for the rising of Venus, while other stories explain tides and eclipses. Often the rising of particular stars or constellations were used to set the calendar, or warn when it's time to move camp to harvest a seasonal food.

The other source consists of the artefacts of Aboriginal people of South East Australia. For example, crescent moons can be seen amongst the Sydney rock engravings, and an emu engraving seems to portray the "emu in the sky" rather than a real-life emu. One stone circle in Victoria appears to be oriented on the solstices and the equinox, and other stone arrangements seem carefully aligned on the cardinal points.

Aboriginal Astronomy is a new research field, but one which is rapidly growing, and perhaps helping us understand the depth and richness of Australian Indigenous cultures.

More information: http://asa2009.science.unimelb.edu.au/Site/Public_Lecture.html

Presented by the The Astronomical Society of Australia Inc

Join Chris KP and friends in a cabaret about pheromones, emotions, beauty and the chances of finding a partner in the first place.

Entertaining and informative, ‘Pre-Coital’ is a hilarious mix of music, stand-up comedy, sketches and science. This unique show offers an understanding of life's most powerful forces and society's most tantalising topics. A scientific perspective with heavy doses of humour gives a very different take on some familiar topics. Add some great live music and it has to be seen to be believed.

Science meets music meets the dating game - a love triangle with a difference.

This is a National Science Week preview event. Written and performed by Chris Krishna-Pillay (Manager, CSIRO Education Victoria) and friends.

Seats are limited so book now for this one-off event at http://register.trickytix.com.au/precoital

More information available at: http://www.scienceweek.gov.au/yourstate/vic

Professor Bruce McKellar (School of Physics) The Importance of Being Almost Symmetric.

Dr Melanie Bahlo (Bioinformatics Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute) Hunting for Genes Involved in Disease.

Professor Paul Mulvaney (School of Chemistry) Not All That's Gold Does Glitter.

Professor Frank Caruso (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) Nanoengineered Materials for Biomedicine Applications.

A/Prof Jeffrey Walker (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering) Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture on Planet Earth.

Ms Marnie Blewitt (Post-Doctoral Fellow, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute) Differences Between the Sexes: More Than Just Genetics.

A/Prof Stuart Wyithe (School of Physics) The First Galaxies.

Event will conclude at 7:30pm.

For further information, contact Mrs Kerry Greiser:

Email: kerryh@unimelb.edu.au

Stretching over a continent and comprised of over 5000 antennas, the Square Kilometre Array is proposed to be the world's largest radio telescope and one of the most ambitious pieces of scientific infrastructure ever built. It will address some of the key questions of 21st century astronomy and physics and act as a scientific icon for generations to come.

I will outline the international project which aims to build this telescope by the end of next decade, and describe some of the transformational scientific projects that will be done with the telescope. I will also describe current SKA activities in Australia developments, including construction of the Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope at the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory in Western Australia over the coming four years. With Southern Africa, Australia is currently one of two countries short-listed to host this mega-science facility.

The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) is one of the proposed next generation of extremely large optical telescopes. It will have a main mirror consisting of seven segments each of 8 metres diameter - so it will have seven times the collecting area and three times the spatial resolution of today's best telescopes. GMT will be used to study planets around other stars, the formation of stars from clouds of gas and dust, the assembly of the first galaxies in the early universe, and the intriguing mysteries surrounding black holes, dark matter and dark energy. Australia is aiming for a 10% share in the GMT, which is being built by an international consortium also involving major US institutions and Korea. It will be located on one of the world's best observing sites at Las Campanas Observatory, in the foothills of the Andes mountains in northern Chile. The GMT is currently in the design development stage and construction will take a further 10 years at an estimated cost of US$600M. Together with the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, GMT will give Australian astronomers access to the world's best research facilities.

Advances in nano-scale materials are envisioned as the solution to some of the dominant technological problems facing our world-conservation of energy and environment, water purification and propagating the information revolution.

This talk highlights research directed to these advances, including new results in organic electronics, nano-scale desalination and the sophisticated control of materials interfaces for efficient energy use. But, as in all research, it is the future serendipitous discoveries of creative young scientists at well-prepared institutions that will extend the revolution to new ways of thinking and breath-taking new technologies.

More information available here: http://physics.unimelb.edu.au/Community/Newsroom/Events/Public-Lecture-The-Materials-Revolution

A seminar examining issues surrounding information leakage in the modern work environment and outline strategies to improve security.

Seminar runs from 8.30am - 5pm

For more information and to register, download flyer: http://www.asli.com.my/documents/Inf%20Security%20050609.pdf

Evidence has been accumulating for several decades that many galaxies harbor central mass concentrations that may be in the form of black holes with masses between a few million to a few billion time the mass of the Sun. I will discuss measurements over the last decade, employing adaptive optics imaging and spectroscopy on large ground-based telescopes that prove the existence of such a massive black hole in the centre of our Milky Way, beyond any reasonable doubt. These data also provide key insights into its properties and environment. Future interferometric studies of the galactic centre black hole promise to be able to test gravity in its strong field limit. I will also briefly discuss the cosmological evolution of massive black holes.

Visit us in New Zealand to learn about the many graduate study options available at the University of Melbourne. Our Graduate Schools deliver over 340 graduate programs with unique opportunities for both career entry, career change and professional development.

Located within one of the world's most vibrant and liveable cities, the University of Melbourne provides unparalleled career opportunities and is ranked number 10 in the world for employability of its graduates.

Visit us at our information session to learn how the University of Melbourne can help you go further, faster.

Auckland Tuesday 4th August 4 - 6pm

Wellington Wednesday 5th August 4 - 6pm

Dunedin Thursday 6th August 4 - 6pm

More information and to register your attendance: http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/events/grad/nz.html

More information is available at: www.openday.unimelb.edu.au