An innovative week at the University of Wollongong

May 01, 2006

The following events have been organised by the University of Wollongong as part of the Illawarra Innovation Showcase being held from Friday 5 – Sunday 14 May

**Illawarra Innovation Showcase Lecture – Friday 5 May at 7pm, Science Centre and Planetarium, Squires Way Fairy Meadow

The 2006 lecture entitled ‘Nanotechnology – will it change the world we live in?’ will be presented by the Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science at UOW, Professor Gordon Wallace. The lecture is FREE of charge and open to the public – bookings are essential by phoning (02) 4286 5000.

“Transparent sunscreens, flexible solar cells, high performance bicycles and elixir guitar strings are just some examples of existing products that use nanotechnology,” said Professor Wallace. “And what’s in the pipeline? Advanced performance batteries, new flat panel displays for next generation TVs, wearable and even implantable fuel cells.”

**Community Tours of Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) – from Tuesday 9 May, 4pm

Professor Gordon Wallace and his team will showcase their pioneering research into electromaterials science and nano (ultra minute) technology. Find out more about smart plastics, plastics that can conduct electricity, textiles that change colour, artificial muscles and research into a new generation of bionic ear. Get the chance to meet the scientists behind these inventions in a guided tour of the research facility. Tours are FREE of charge and will be approx 30-45 minutes in duration. Groups are limited and bookings are essential by calling (02) 4221 3110.

**Innovative Musical Performance -- Tuesday 9 May at 5.30pm, University Recreation and Aquatic Centre (will be repeated on 10 May at 7pm and 11 May at 5.30pm)

The Faculty of Creative Arts at UOW will present a 30-minute original musical performance using mobile phones. The Pocket Gamelan Performance Ensemble will be directed by music and drama lecturer, Janys Hayes, and will play faculty member Greg Schiemer’s Mandala 3 and Mandala 4. The performance is open to the public. For further information contact (02) 4221 5853.

**IT Service, Tools and Usability Testing Demonstration – Wednesday 10 May at 3.30pm, Activity Theory Usability Laboratory, Building 117 (opposite UOW on Northfields Ave)

Open House at ATUL will allow the campus and community to participate in guided tours and view ongoing demonstrations which aim to answer a number of questions about the usability of websites, software and e-commerce applications. The event is FREE of charge and members of the public are encouraged to attend. For more information contact Helen Hasan on (02) 4221 3757 or Craig Peden on (02) 4221 5407.

**Trailblazer Competition

Trailblazer is an innovation competition open to researchers and students at UOW. The competition has a prize-pool worth $14,000 and is designed to foster innovation, progress ideas, inventions or research outcomes as well as reward UOW researchers. For further information visit: Trailblazer

For more information on Innovation Week 2006 visit UOW Innovation

For further information on the Illawarra Innovation Showcase – visit Illawarra Innovation

-RP

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128