Wollongong students France bound for research
29-November-2002

Pictured just before their departure to France are Tegan Morrison (left) and Begonia Palominos with Associate Professor Bill Zealey (second left) and Professor Jim Hill

Two University of Wollongong students have left for France this week as part of an international research collaboration.

Begonia Palominos is undertaking a Mechanical Engineering degree and she will be working in an experimental program of research involving the mechanics of fine powders, while Tegan Morrison, who is an Advanced Project student in the School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, will be working on the mechanics of ultra fine particles, sometimes referred to as nano particulates.

They are both going to undertake research work for a period of three months at the Albi School of Mines, located near Toulouse in the South of France.

The Albi School of Mines is an elite institution that is funded by the Ministry of Industry, and is designed primarily to undertake industry related research, and to prepare a small number of exceptionally talented undergraduate individuals who intend working in an industrial context.

There are only 400 undergraduate students (four years each with 100 students) and each year these 100 students are selected from a staggering 10,000 applicants. As part of their conditions, the undergraduate students are not allowed to stay on for the PhD. Accordingly, the School of Mines also has a very generous vacation work scheme, which is designed to attract prospective PhD students.

The two UOW students are being supported on this basis, in that all their living expenses, along with a small gratuity, have been provided. They will have access to some of the best equipped laboratories and research workers in the world.

Professor Jim Hill, of the School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, said the students were prime examples of females excelling in non-traditional areas.

He said it was a great opportunity for the students to participate in an institution, which plays a major role in industrial development, and to witness first hand how Mathematics and Engineering facilitates this development.

Professor Hill has several close colleagues at the School of Mines, and the intention is that both students, who have just completed their third year, will continue the work undertaken there for their Honours projects next year.

The air fares for the two students were each provided by the two deans of their respective faculties at UOW, and Associate Professor Bill Zealey was also helpful in ensuring this outcome.

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