| Executive Research Director of ARC Centre of Excellence for Electroma... Executive Research Director of ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science Professor Gordon Wallace with Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton, CEO of the Australian Research Council Professor Margaret Sheil and the inventor of the Bionic Ear, Professor Graeme Clark. |  | One of the speakers, Professor Adam Heller from the University of Tex... One of the speakers, Professor Adam Heller from the University of Texas, discussed how a new diabetes monitoring system can reduce the risks associated with excessively high or low glucose levels in diabetics. |
Nanobionics symposium begins new era of innovation at UOW
23 Jun 2008 | Kate McIlwain
Leading researchers from around the world gathered at UOW’s newly established Innovation Campus last night (Sunday June 22) for the opening of the first Asia-Pacific Symposium on Nanobionics.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton said the symposium set history by being the first event held at the new campus and that he looks forward to seeing the Innovation Campus (iC) become an important part of Wollongong and the University.
Although the new campus is due to open officially on Friday June 27, the Symposium represents a partnership between research, industry and commerce, which are three key aspects of the idea behind the iC.
CEO of the Australian Research Council, Professor Margaret Sheil gave the opening address and the inventor of the cochlear ear implant, Professor Graeme Clark, gave a Public Plenary Lecture about “Connecting the world to human consciousness.”
The field of nanobionics is the merging of biology and electronics using the most recent advances in nanotechnology, so the cochlear implant is a prime example of successful nanobionics. The ‘Bionic Ear’ uses an electrode array inside the cochlea to electrically stimulate nerve endings to transmit the appropriate signals to the brain.
When introducing Professor Clark, the Vice-Chancellor said that he had made an astounding contribution to tens of thousands of people around the world by giving them the ability to hear.
“Graeme Clark is a fine human being. There are very few people who have made a contribution remotely close to his,” Professor Sutton said.
Professor Clark, who has been awarded a Companion of Australia, five Honorary Doctorates and Australian Father of the Year, said that the field of nanobionics is particularly important because it can help to restore the human senses.
He discussed how new developments in the field could be used to treat drug resistant epilepsy and to reduce inflammation in artery stents. He also said that using intelligent polymers and nanobionics to restore movement and touch through spinal cord repair is on the horizon.
The symposium continues until Wednesday June 25 and is being hosted by ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES). The centre has its headquarters at UOW with Victorian nodes at Monash University, St Vincent’s Hospital and the Bionic Ear Institute.
Speakers from Ireland, France, Italy, UK, US, Singapore, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand will explore the latest developments in nanobionics.
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