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Research centres and institutes

The University’s significant research institutes and centres include the Institute for Advanced Study, which has been established on the Bundoora Campus and is a focal point for visiting scholars. The Institute houses the internationally renowned Research Centre for Linguistic Typology.

The University’s research profile is enhanced by the presence at Bundoora of an extensive Research and Development Park. The Technology Enterprise Centre, which is on the Park, nurtures ‘start-up’ technology companies.

University-wide centres and institutes

La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS)

La Trobe University is establishing a new Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS).

La Trobe has established itself as a world-class research leader in the areas of molecular science, biotechnology and nanotechnology. In the Federal Budget La Trobe University was the recipient of $64.1 million of funds through the Education Investment Fund, which will be used to establish the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS).

LIMS, along with partners in the broader Northern Melbourne Science Precinct, will train the next generation of scientists with skills to facilitate the development of a robust biotechnology industry. The Institute will support, expand and extend the teaching and research work of the School of Molecular Sciences at La Trobe University. Different disciplines (Biochemistry, Chemistry, Genetics, Plant Biology, Physiology, Physics, Molecular Archaeology) will intermingle in shared work-space to achieve aims that would not be possible in traditional academic settings. Postgraduate and postdoctoral scientists will work in an environment in which basic research findings are pursued, but also successfully translated into commercial products, such as therapeutic and diagnostic reagents for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease.

Acting as a hub, LIMS will provide infrastructure for collaborative projects involving partners that include the CRCs for Biomarker Translation and Cancer Therapeutics, the Victorian AgriBioscience Centre, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent Xray Science, and the Biosciences Research Institute.

LIMS will be vertically integrated and will work to expose secondary school students to university research and higher education, to provoke their interest in science, and to inspire them to consider careers in science. It will integrate undergraduate and postgraduate teaching together with research using the same space and equipment. A key focus will be the provision of opportunities for training of laboratory heads. This will enable capacity building by targeting researchers who have completed one or two post-doctoral appointments, and need experience that will prepare them for independent positions as academic and research laboratory heads or managers. The project will address the immediate critical shortage of bioscientists.

Further information email: n.hoogenraad@latrobe.edu.au

AD Trendall Research Centre for Ancient Mediterranean Studies

Professor AD Trendall believed that Australian and New Zealand scholars had made, and could continue to make, a significant contribution to our understanding of the ancient cultures that bordered the Mediterranean. To assist in this continuing endeavour he bequeathed his large personal library of books, journals and offprints, as well as his extraordinary archive of photographs of south Italian red-figure vases, to La Trobe University in order to provide the basis for a research centre in the broad area of ancient Mediterranean studies.

When the residual estate was handed over to La Trobe University in November 1998, a research centre was established with a director and managerial board under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor of the University. The Centre is at present located, according to Trendall’s expressed wish, in his former apartment above the south wing of Menzies College.

The Centre is normally open to scholars and students (honours and graduate only) on Wednesday from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 to 5.00 pm (or at other times by arrangement with the Director, Dr Ian McPhee). Further information is available on the website: www.latrobe.edu.au/trendall/

Centre for Technology Infusion

The Centre for Technology Infusion is a University-based Research and Product Realisation Centre located at the University’s R&D Park. The Centre’s vision is to be a driver in the knowledge-based economy by creating a lively and state-of-art environment for academic and commercially relevant research, innovation and development targeted towards high impact and strategic growth areas in Information and Communication Technologies and Micro/Nanotechnologies.

The Centre exists to:

• Engage in strategic and translational research and transition the outcomes of research & innovation into the public & private sector;
• Provide access to technologies, design tools, infrastructure and methodologies for research, education, innovation and product realisation;
• Develop collaborative relationships across faculties and with the stakeholders;
• Provide advice on project feasibility and qualification, infrastructure support and expertise to technology start-ups;
• Facilitate and engage in the training and professionalism of industry-focused undergraduate, Masters and PhD graduates
• Undertake demonstration projects to develop this professionalism and to transfer knowledge and capability to collaborating industry partners
• Undertake commercial design and development projects within its area of competence
• Work with faculties to ensure the industrial relevance of their education programs through access to the Centre’s infrastructure and involvement in relevant design projects
• Undertake workshop, seminar and course activities as appropriate in order to disseminate knowledge to the community

Core research activities of the Centre are in micro-technology, nano-electronics, wireless systems and sensors, RF/analogue/mixed-signal/ASIC design, embedded and System-on-Chip design. The Centre has established industry standard design and test facilities to address its objectives.

Facilities include the Microsoft Centre, Home Automation Innovation Centre, Product Realisation facilities and Sparx Systems platform. The Centre is also a partner in a number of collaborative networks including National Networked TeleTest Facility (NNTTF) for Integrated Systems, Victorian Industry Collaboration IPv6 (VIC6), BizSpark program and the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN). One of the strategic priorities of the Centre is to develop collaborative relationships across faculties and with the stakeholders including universities, research institutes and business.

Further information is available on the website: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/tech-infusion/

Information and Communication Technology Centre

The Bendigo Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre was established in 2002 through funding granted to La Trobe University Bendigo Campus from the Victorian Government Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

The emphasis at the centre is on:

• showcasing and applying leading-edge technology for regional businesses and the broader community via collaboration with the local IT community
• providing a focal point for development of software and telecommunications applications for local, national and international use
• undertaking research and development into the application of information and communication technologies.

The ICT Centre provides a high-level technology environment for targeted high-growth IT businesses which are using technology effectively to make a positive difference to regional Victoria. It is located in a prominent position within the Bendigo CBD and forms part of the Bendigo campus of La Trobe University. Further information is available on the website: www.latrobe.edu.au/ict/

Information and Knowledge Transfer Division

The Innovation and Knowledge Transfer (IKT) Division was created in order to consolidate the commercialisation and industry liaison services of La Trobe University, providing a meeting place where industry and researchers can work collaboratively. We aim to contribute to State and National economic growth by supporting new technology-based businesses, facilitating translational research, and encouraging the transfer of technical and business expertise to the wider community. The Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Division includes:

• University R&D Parks and Business Incubators
• Commercialisation Services i.e., management and commercialisation of University intellectual property, tenders and research contracts and
• Innovation programs i.e. student business planning competitions, Young Achiever Australia Biotechnology Program and Innovation programs for staff and students.

Institute for Advanced Study

The Institute for Advanced Study aims to bring together outstanding scholars – individuals at the cutting edge of research and leaders in their discipline. Fostering research activities that otherwise might not take place is a high priority. Fellowships are open to senior researchers of exceptional distinction and junior post doctoral researchers of high promise in disciplines represented at La Trobe University. Fellowships are by invitation, nomination or application.

The Director of the Institute is Professor Gilah Leder, who may be contacted on (03) 9479 3461. Further information is available on the website: www.latrobe.edu.au/ias/ or by emailing ias@latrobe.edu.au

Italian Australian Institute

The Italian Australian Institute (I.A.I.) is a research centre responsible for collecting and making available cultural material which bears witness to the Italian presence in Australia, so that it will be preserved for subsequent generations and made accessible for scholars, researchers, historians and the wider public.

The I.A.I. is a non profit organisation operating under the auspices of the Grollo-Ruzzene Foundation in partnership with La Trobe University and with the support of community organisations such as the Associazione Nazionale Aplini. Its aims are to encourage and support the study and research into all areas, historical, cultural, social and political, of the Italian presence in Australia.

The premises of the I.A.I. are on the campus of La Trobe University, which has been involved with Italian studies for a long time and boasts a long tradition of teaching Italian language and culture and of research into many aspects of the two hundred years of the Italian presence in Australia. The Italian Australian Institute is also interested in today’s relations between Italy and Australia, especially those regarding the new generations.

In fact one of the fundamental aims of the Institute is to motivate, to encourage and to give greater and greater support to the younger generation in all their research into the field of Italian studies in Australia. This is done by awarding scholarships to young research students specialising in the above mentioned fields of study, by organising conferences and seminars, and by the publication and distribution of pertinent material from present and past research.

The I.A.I. houses a large library. This allows it to gather, besides the thousands of volumes and documents which it has already acquired, the books and papers which the Italian community and other organisations intend to donate and which would otherwise be lost or destroyed, as is happening all too often at the present time.

The I.A.I. is responsible for keeping and looking after any material which bears witness to Italian culture n Australia, so that it will be accessible for the new generations and for all those who may need it for research purposes.

In the State of Victoria alone there are more than three hundred regional social clubs, professional associations, returned soldiers’ associations etc., only about ten of which have their own premises. Another aim of the I.A.I. is to be a magnet for these Organisations, to give them a place where their committees can meet and where they can store, if necessary, the documents pertaining to their activities, for which at the present time, for various reasons, it is difficult to find a place in the already existing organisations.

The main office of the Institute is within a vast area of buildings and gardens protected by the National Trust. The wide open spaces and a large theatre will host both social and recreational activities. Serviced by suburban public transport and furnished with the large parking areas, this venue is highly suitable for community gatherings and social activities.

The Director of the Institute is Dr. Pietro Genovesi. The Curator of the collections is Dr. Gerardo Papalia, who may be contacted on (03) 9479 6430 Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm. Further information is available on www.iai.com.au/

La Trobe University Research and Development Parks

La Trobe University Research and Development Parks provide a home for a variety of businesses from start up enterprises to multi-national companies and include those involved in AgriBioscience, mining and exploration, information and communication technology, and biotechnology. The parks provide a centre for R&D excellence and industry collaboration and an environment that encourages the development of key technologies in all areas of the University’s research areas. Support services are provided to tenants and researchers through seminars and incubation programs that facilitate the interaction between academic units, industry, government and the community.

National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research

The National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research seeks:

• to maintain and develop the Greek language and culture and the Hellenic civilisation to the broader Australian society as well as the second and consecutive generations of Australia’s Hellenes
• to study and promote the history of Greek expatriation in the Diaspora
• to develop and maintain strong academic links between metropolitan Hellenes and the Hellenes of the Diaspora, particularly those living in Australasia and Latin America
• to promote Hellenic studies and research by encouraging interchange of staff and students with those in Greece and Cyprus, promoting projects, seminars and conferences highlighting significant Hellenic themes, fostering local and international Greek literature, assisting in the maintenance of and loyalty to the Greek language, and enhancing productive interaction between the University and the community.

The Director is Professor Anastasios Tamis. Further information is available on: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/nhc/index2.php

Research Centre for Linguistic Typology

The Research Centre for Linguistic Typology (RCLT) is a University Research Centre under the leadership of the Director, Professor Randy J. LaPolla. The Centre also has the honour of having Professor RMW Dixon and Professor Alexandra Y Aikhenvald as full-time researchers at the Centre.

The main business of the Centre consists in documenting and describing under documented languages, and putting forward inductive generalisations about human language. During the year, various seminars and workshops are held at the Centre.

The RCLT has a number of fixed-term post-doctoral and postgraduate positions which are advertised as they become available. Each year there is also a number of visiting fellows who contribute to the highly intellectual ambience of the Centre. Scholars from other universities who undertake research on language description and in typological issues are encouraged to consider spending their sabbatical at the Centre.

Further information is available on the website: www.latrobe.edu.au/rclt/

Centres and Institutes of the Faculty of Education

Adult Migrant English Program Research Centre

Australia’s AMEP Research Centre provides research, professional development, publications and information services to the Adult Migrant English Program nationally.

The Research Centre brings together the resources and expertise of Macquarie University’s National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research (NCELTR) in Sydney and La Trobe University’s Faculty of Education in Melbourne.

Research Centre services for the Adult Migrant English Program include:

• conducting research into language and literacy education
• coordinating a national research program for the AMEP
• conducting professional development programs and activities for AMEP teachers
• conducting a national AMEP conference each year
• maintaining the Professional Connections website which provides news, information and access to online professional development for AMEP teachers across Australia
• providing, through its Resource Centre, a comprehensive range of library and information services on all aspects of English language education and applied linguistics
• publishing and distributing research reports and associated teaching and learning materials
• publishing Prospect, the internationally recognised journal of the AMEP.

Further information can be obtained from the website at: www.ameprc.mq.edu.au/

Centres and Institutes of the Faculty of Health Sciences

The Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care

The Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care (ACEBAC) is a multidisciplinary research and development unit of La Trobe University located at Bundoora Extended Care Centre in Melbourne. ACEBAC’s mission is to make a significant contribution to knowledge and practice in evidence based care and care delivery models related to the longer term health conditions of ageing.

ACEBAC focuses on ageing and associated care interventions and care delivery models, to:

• work collaboratively with key stakeholders to achieve our vision and mission;
• promote and facilitate the integration of evidence into interdisciplinary practice;
• develop, identify and disseminate evidence and translation strategies;
• inform policy and practice;
• achieve long term sustainability.

Further information can be obtained from www.latrobe.edu.au/acebac/

Australian Institute for Primary Care

The Australian Institute for Primary Care conducts research, consultancy and education in community health services development, health promotion and social issues in health; in particular in the areas of primary health and aged care.

Our goal is to make a significant, positive and enduring impact on the way health and community care is delivered and accessed. Most of our activities are conducted through specialist core units:

• Centre for Health Systems Development
• Centre for Quality Improvement Research and Practice
• Lincoln Centre for Research on Ageing.

The Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group is also located within AIPC.

We provide independent research, expert advice and practical resources to help build better health systems and services.

Further information available from www.latrobe.edu.au/aipc/

Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society

The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) was established as the Centre for the Study of Sexually Transmissible Diseases, in 1992, as an independent research unit within the Faculty of Health Sciences. ARCSHS has a multidisciplinary team of staff with qualifications and expertise in psychology, anthropology, sociology, public health, health promotion, methodology, epidemiology, education, women’s health, consumer advocacy and health policy.

Further information can be obtained from www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/

The Bouverie Centre

The Bouverie Centre, Victoria’s family institute, is a state-wide integrated clinical, academic and consultation agency specialising in family approaches in mental health service provision. The Bouverie Centre provides a range of programs to individuals and family members, service providers and agencies. Further information can be obtained from the website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bouverie/

Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors

The Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors (CEHF) is located in the School of Human Biosciences, where it originated in 1987. It is currently under designation as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre in Occupational Health. Its purpose is to promote occupational and community health and safety by applying a systems-based approach to enhance physical, psychological and organisational aspects of system functioning. Current activities focus on: assessment and control of both physical and psychosocial hazards to prevent work-related musculoskeletal injuries and other stress-related disorders; occupational health and safety implications of age-related differences in worker characteristics; and design of occupational health and safety management systems to suit varying hazard profiles and socio-economic conditions. Further information can be obtained from www.latrobe.edu.au/ergonomics

Mother and Child Health Research Centre

Mother and Child Health Research (MCHR) – formerly Centre for the Study of Mothers’ and Children's Health – was established in 1991 with a program grant from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and research grants from a range of agencies. The Centre has been a part of the Faculty of Health Sciences at La Trobe University since 1994.

The primary research focus of MCHR is in the following areas:

• Health services for pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period;
• Perinatal and infant outcomes;
• Cross-cultural issues around pregnancy, birth and early motherhood; and
• Women’s health and reproduction.

MCHR has a broad public health and population focus taking account of the social aspects of health and medical care, valuing the contribution of a range of disciplines, seeing the health of mothers and babies as integrally related, and taking the health concerns of women themselves seriously. MCHR emphasises the need for research, service development, evaluation and policy to be linked.

MCHR has a strong interest in health services research, building on observational studies to design and implement intervention studies in hospitals, primary care and community settings. Evaluation methods include health outcome assessment, and process and impact measures, making use of both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Further information can be obtained from the website at www.latrobe.edu.au/mchr/

Musculoskeletal Research Centre

The Musculoskeletal Research Centre (MRC) draws together researchers, academics and clinicians from a range of schools at the University, the La Trobe University Medical Centre and other healthcare institutions in order to conduct research into the causes, impact and treatment of arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders. The MRC provides a central focus for research and education to advance knowledge in this increasingly important area of healthcare. The MRC consists of six research groups: (i) Bone, cartilage and tendon; (ii) Gait, balance and falls; (iii) Knee orthopaedics; (iv) Foot and ankle; (v) Prosthetics and orthotics; and (vi) Muscle function and rehabilitation.

Further information can be obtained from www.latrobe.edu.au/mrc/

National Institute for Deaf Studies and Sign Language

The National Institute for Deaf Studies and Sign Language Research is located at the Melbourne (Bundoora) campus. NIDS provides a national focus for research into the Australian Deaf community, its language Auslan, its culture and the education of Deaf students. The institute is involved in the coordination of a wide range of teaching and research projects and works closely with the Deaf community. NIDS offers undergraduate units, graduate and postgraduate courses in Auslan and Deaf studies at the Bundoora and Bendigo campuses.

Further information can be obtained from www.latrobe.edu.au/nids/

Palliative Care Unit

The Palliative Care Unit is a unit within the Department of Health and Social Care, located at the City campus, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne. Established in 1998, the Unit provides education and training, consultancy and social research. Courses coordinated by unit staff include a graduate entry Bachelor of Pastoral Care program and a graduate certificate/postgraduate diploma in health promoting palliative care. Staff also supervise master and doctoral research projects. Training or consultancy is provided upon request to Victorian palliative care services and other groups involved in end-of-life care, while staff offer regular one or two-day professional development workshops in the field, often in partnership with the Centre for Professional Development. Research interests and staff publications cover: pastoral care and spiritual care, bioethics, social experiences of living with cancer, social aspects of death, dying and mystical experiences, service delivery models in palliative care, and public health palliative care policy. The Unit premises are located on the second floor of the Melbourne (City) campus.

Further information can be obtained from the Unit office or website www.latrobe.edu.au/pcu

Centres and Institutes of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Australian Institute of Archaeology

The Australian Institute of Archaeology was founded in 1946 as an organisation to facilitate and monitor the scientific study of the Biblical period. To assist in this process the Institute has developed a significant archaeological library and a noteworthy museum collection comprising near Eastern artefacts.

The Institute provides resources for those who study the Ancient Near East generally. The library is available for reference by students and teachers and the replica collection and illustrative material may be accessible for teaching.

The artefact collection provides material for students of archaeology to study by way of a hands-on introduction to the discipline and as the basis for research. The artefacts include many sherds and samples of archaeological material.

The Institute also arranges public lectures, sponsors exhibitions, promotes research and produces occasional publications. It also publishes a journal, Buried History containing papers that utilise the results of historical research shedding light on the ancient Near East for a general readership.

The Institute was established with a conservative tradition illustrated by such people as William Ramsay and Flinders Petrie. It aims to draw upon all means of study, geographical, epigraphical, geological, ethnographical and archaeological, to encourage an informed understanding of the Biblical story, which is integral to many aspects of civilisation as we know it, and more generally to promote a credible view of history.

The Institute is situated in the Mont Park complex near La Trobe University. Our building is adjacent to the National Centre for Hellenic Studies and is currently under renovation. The new home of the Institute is large enough to house the artefact collection and to allow for the re-establishment of the museum. The Institute library has been unavailable while the move is undertaken however, from February 2006 it has been open to researcher and students. Further information can be obtained from www.aiarch.org.au/

Centre for Dialogue

The Centre for Dialogue was officially launched in August 2006 at the National Gallery of Victoria by the Hon. John Pandazopoulos MP representing the Premier of Victoria. The Centre is also supported by a nine member Board of Management and a twenty-nine member Advisory Board with representatives from academia, community and religious groups, the media, business and legal professions. This is a major initiative which will have international as well as local and national significance.

Headed by Professor Joseph Camilleri, the orientation of the Centre for Dialogue is inter-cultural and inter-disciplinary.

The Centre serves several interrelated functions:

• Pure and applied research
• Educational projects
• Community engagement
• International networking
• Policy advice

The Centre also fosters interaction and dialogue between organisations representing diverse religious traditions, professional associations and non-governmental organisations more generally, research institutions, think-tanks, and representatives of key constituencies, including government, industry and international organisations.

The Centre seeks to establish a Global Network for Dialogue – with Melbourne as one of its central locations – comprising of partner organisations, principally research institutes and university-based centres. To date, projects that have been running include:

• Australia’s handling of tensions between Islam and the West since September 11
• Religion and Conflict: implications for Southeast Asia and Australia
• Education Dialogue Project designed to assist teachers to develop intercultural study programs informed by the dialogue method
• A series of consultations and workshops involving key sectors of the community, including educators, religious and community organisations, and media
• Europe and Asia: between Islam and the United States
• Leadership Training Program for Young Muslims (organised with the Islamic Council of Victoria and supported by the Government of Victoria)
• Developing an Interfaith Network for Melbourne’s Northern Region
• La Trobe Cyprus Project (fostering interaction between the two Cypriot communities).

For further information contact:

European Union Centre

La Trobe University is the leading institution in a national European Union Centre, funded by the EU. The Innovative Universities European Union Centre (IUEU Centre) is based on a network of six Australian universities. The development of this Centre has enhanced opportunities for postgraduate research on European topics at La Trobe. One PhD scholarship is offered each year through the La Trobe node of the Centre, and there is now increased provision for supervision of European research topics. In particular, the appointment of Dr Stefan Auer, an expert on central and eastern European politics, has helped consolidate a strong core of European researchers in history and politics. In addition the Centre will facilitate co-supervision by relevant experts from the other universities in the network.

The Centre will also be developing a La Trobe Masters by coursework program in which students will be provided with opportunities to select from a wide range of units offered through the network of universities. Enrolling for the degree at La Trobe, they will all take a fully online core unit and then select electives from amongst those offered in any of the six universities, depending on accessible modes of delivery such as online, distance or block teaching.

The object of postgraduate programs offered through the Centre, either by research or coursework, is to open up career opportunities in the European Union or in related enterprises in Europe or Australia, to enhance the expertise of those already in relevant business or government employment, and to stimulate and sponsor high quality academic knowledge.

The European Union has taken a strong interest in La Trobe’s programs of study on Europe, and has established a prize for the top students in the undergraduate subject on the European Union. It is hoped that these developments will consolidate La Trobe’s position as a centre for European studies, thus making it an attractive choice for those wishing at postgraduate level to build up their knowledge of Europe and the European integration project.

For further information contact:

Institute of Latin American Studies

The Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS), founded in 1975 with the help of a grant from the Myer Foundation, coordinates Latin American teaching and research at La Trobe University. The Director of ILAS is Dr Ralph Newmark.

In addition to fortnightly seminars, ILAS organises conferences and sponsors visits by Latin Americanists from the Spanish, Portuguese and English-speaking world. Members of ILAS recently organised a major international conference at La Trobe which was the inaugural meeting of a new Asia Pacific Network of Latin American Studies, CELAO. The conference attracted over 100 speakers from nearly 20 countries in Asia, Latin America and the Pacific and was held at the Institute of Advanced Studies, at the University’s Melbourne (Bundoora) campus. The Institute also runs summer and winter schools that deal with Latin American history.

Members of ILAS publish regularly and present their research to national and international audiences. Other activities include editing and producing JILAS, Journal of Iberian and Latin American Studies, the journal of the Association of Iberian and Latin American Studies of Australasia (AILASA).

An important recent initiative by ILAS is the Centre for Mexican Studies. The Centre was launched in September 2006 with a conference and the arrival of the Centre’s first Visiting Fellow, Dr Guillermo Palacios, from El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City.

Other recent projects undertaken by ILAS include: a web-based guide to video and film resources in Victoria dealing with Latin America; project working with Australians Studying Abroad (ASA); cultural and historical tours of Mexico and Cuba; collaboration with Filmoteca, a Melbourne group showing Spanish and Latin American films at ACMI�??ILAS and Filmoteca arranged a retrospective exhibition of screenings of the film work of the Mexican director Arturo Ripstein. ILAS also sponsored a visit to La Trobe by the distinguished prize-winning US Mexicanist, Eric van Young of the University of California, San Diego.

For more information visit the ILAS website at: www.latrobe.edu.au/history/ilas/

Research Centre for Linguistic Typology

The Research Centre for Linguistic Typology (RCLT) is part of the Institute for Advanced Study and is primarily concerned with the fundamental business of linguistics. Members undertake intensive studies of previously undescribed (or barely described) languages, focussing in particular on the languages of Amazonia, the Papuan languages of New Guinea and nearby islands, and the Aboriginal languages of Australia. The Centre eschews eclipsing-type formalisms (which are inherently transient), instead working in terms of basic linguistic theory, the cumulative model which is employed in most linguistic descriptions. All of the Research Centre’s work has a sound empirical basis but also shows a firm theoretical orientation�??it seeks for explanation hand-in-hand with description.

Research at the Centre looks at the ways in which languages influence each other – what kinds of words, or grammatical categories, or construction types, are likely to be borrowed between two contiguous languages, and under what social circumstances? Diffusion of grammatical systems and the spread of languages within a particular geographical area are also research concerns of the Centre.

The Research Centre for Linguistic Typology has a range of Research Fellows and PhD students. Each year a number of leading international scholars spend periods of between three to six months in the vibrant intellectual atmosphere of the Research Centre.

The Centre also organises a biennial international workshop on topics in typological theory as well as various seminars and workshops throughout the year.

Further information is available at: www.latrobe.edu.au/rclt/

Philippines Australia Studies Centre (PASC)

The aims of the Philippines Australia Studies Centre (PASC) are:

• to encourage the development of Filipino and Australian research through publications, workshops, forums and conferences;
• to encourage Filipino students to enrol in Australian postgraduate programs and vice versa; and
• to encourage student exchanges between the two nations through La Trobe University and Ateneo de Manila University.

Since its inception in 2003, La Trobe University staff and postgraduate students have formed strong connections with Filipino universities through the important links and networks that the Centre has created internationally. The international connection has been further enhanced as a result of PASC donating nearly 1000 books to the Ateneo de Manila University library.

In June 2007, the Centre led a 12-person delegation to Manila, Philippines to present at a series of colloquium, public lectures and art exhibition entitled Palimpsest: Mapping, Imagining, and Moving Antipodean Landscape. The delegation consisted of academics, postgraduate students and researchers and the event was hosted by the Ateneo de Manila University.

The Centre also has links with Barangay Australia, a local network of Pinoy Postgraduates from all Victorian Universities. Barangay Australia facilitates a cultural bridge between local and international students through social activities, and provides assistance in various ways to newly arrived students.

For more information about the Philippines Australia Studies Centre go to: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/pasc/

Refugee Health Research Centre (RHRC)

The Refugee Health Research Centre (RHRC) at La Trobe University is located in the School of Social Sciences, Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus and is affiliated with the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (VFST) in Brunswick. Professor Sandy Gifford is Director of the Centre at La Trobe.

The RHRC promotes the health and well-being of refugee communities through applied and foundation research, teaching, continuing education and professional development. Funding has been provided by La Trobe University, Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House) and research project grants from a number of other agencies.

The Centre aims are to:

• undertake multi-disciplinary research into the social determinants of health and well-being of people from refugee backgrounds
• provide post-graduate education in refugee health and resettlement
• provide expertise upon which other organisations can draw to assist them in health promotion, service delivery, and research and policy development
• contribute to community debate and awareness raising.

The RHRC represents an innovative partnership between a university and a non-profit community organisation, integrating research and education with service delivery and community development. Established in 1987, Foundation House is an independent, non-profit community organisation. It provides services and support for both adults and children who have fled persecution, torture and war-related trauma in order to find safety in Australia. Foundation House is recognised internationally for its model of service delivery and resources in refugee health and resettlement.

The work of the RHRC contributes to improving access to health and social services for refugee communities and informs strategies for promoting participation and social inclusion in Australian society. The RHRC builds public awareness and contributes to community debate about issues relating to refugee health and settlement both in Australia and globally.

The RHRC conducts research in four key areas:

Young people

Focusing on the social determinants and contexts that promote health and well-being for young people from refugee backgrounds, with particular attention to key transitions in education and the workforce.

Emerging communities

Focusing on the social contexts that promote health and optimal settlement for newly emerging refugee communities. Investigating the backgrounds of refugee communities including their culture, health beliefs and practices, the impact of refugee experiences on successful settlement, the establishment of social connections, and access and use of health services.

Refugee protection

Focusing on the policies, contexts and factors that constitute protection for people seeking asylum, and the influence of various kinds of protection on the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities.

Service innovation and community strengthening

Focusing on health services and community development research including access to health care, needs assessment and evaluation, and research into community development and strengthening.

RHRC Locations

The RHRC has offices in both the School of Social Sciences at La Trobe University (Bundoora campus) and at the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (VFST in) Brunswick.

Additional information can be obtained from the RHRC website: www.latrobe.edu.au/rhrc

Thesis Eleven Centre for Critical Theory

The Thesis Eleven Centre for Critical Theory, formally established in 2001, is located in the School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University. It is closely aligned with the international journal Thesis Eleven: Critical Theory and Historical Sociology. It aims to encourage the development of social and political theory throughout the world through publications, workshops, forums and conferences, facilitate international exchanges of internationally recognised scholars in the field of social and political theory, attract overseas students to enrol in the Faculty’s postgraduate programs in the field of social and political theory, and to encourage a local postgraduate research culture and scholarly research in this field.

The Centre focuses on organising four kinds of events:

• annual and public lectures by leading and renowned intellectuals and scholars, both in Australia and overseas
• full day seminars on the work and thought of such intellectuals with them present and working in conversation with a range of local interlocutors and discussants of their work
• half day seminars on particular themes with invited speakers
• symposia and colloquia in other cities either connected to the work of the journal or to international social theory and social science conferences.

In June 2007, the Centre organised a series of colloquium, public lectures and art exhibition entitled Palimpsest: Mapping, Imagining, and Moving Antipodean Landscapes in Manila, Philippines, and another series of colloquium and public lectures in Bangkok, Thailand, entitled Cartographies of Culture, Religion and Thought. A 12–person delegation attended the events and consisted of academics, postgraduate students and researchers.

For more details about the Centre, visit the website at: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/thesiseleven/

Visual Arts Centre

Located in the heart of Bendigo’s arts precinct at 121 View Street, Bendigo, the La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre is a contemporary visual arts facility that houses a print workshop, a 67 seat auditorium, public exhibition space, art studios and an artist’s residence. The Centre hosts a range of public programs that aim to support the production and promotion of contemporary Australian art and the exchange of ideas through studio practice, academic research and exchange opportunities.

For more information go to www.latrobe.edu.au/vacentre/

Centres and Institutes of the Faculty of Law and Management

Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities

The Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities (CSRC) is an active community development and partnership agent that develops and supports partnership projects with communities. The Centre was established by La Trobe University in 1998 to support regional and rural communities grow in the face of economic, environmental and social challenges. The CSRC is located at the Bendigo Campus. Further information can be obtained from the website at: www.latrobe.edu.au/csrc/

Public Sector Governance and Accountability Research Centre

The Public Sector Governance and Accountability Research Centre, located at La Trobe University's Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, is an exciting concept aimed at improving the capacity of elected representatives to carry out their role of scrutiny of the actions of executive government.

ccountability is central to democratic government. It can remove the 'mystique' of government and open it up to its citizens. Accountability can lead to better decision making by government, and can be a significant factor in minimising the potential for mismanagement and corruption.

The PSGARC is international in outlook, and is unique in two ways. Firstly, its primary focus is on legislators, rather than on the bureaucracy. Secondly, it involves both academics and legislators within the Centre, so that it can offer 'peer' support to those wishing to use its services. This is because the Centre results from an initiative of legislators themselves.

• To conduct and promote research into issues of accountability and governance within the public sector, and especially of the role of Members of Parliament in these issues.
• To conduct seminars and training workshops for the members and staff of Public Accounts Committees, and especially for those of Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region, aimed at promoting practice that contributes to accountability, openness and transparency of governments.
• To facilitate the study of such issues by staff and postgraduate students at La Trobe University.

The PSGARC is located at the Bendigo Campus. Further information can be obtained from the website at: www.latrobe.edu.au/psgarc/

Research Centre for Computers, Communication and Social Innovation

The Research Centre for Computers, Communication and Social Innovation (RECCSI) was established in March 2009.  La Trobe University, NEC Corporation (NEC) and Kyoto University are collectively supporting research at RECCSI.  The centre functions as an Australian-based resource centre linking Melbourne-based researchers with NEC scientists and researchers from Kyoto University in Japan.  It is a collaborative hub for researchers from the three institutions working in the design and development of emotionally intelligent systems for computers.

The centre’s broad objectives are: To promote inter-disciplinary research in social sciences and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to shift the design focus away from convenience towards social innovation leading to the sustainability of human society.  To conduct research and training in socially intelligent ICTs which model and correlate verbal, non-verbal and written forms of human communication between people, teams and communities.  To develop ICTs in health care, aged care, human resource management, education, security, e-tourism, autism, and bushfire and critical event management.  To nurture collaboration nationally and internationally, with other research centres and institutions.  To leverage the global reach of research partners for research, development and commercialisation.  To organise international conferences and seminars in human-computer interaction, intelligent systems, and related areas.  To facilitate knowledge transfer to practitioners in the field.

The Director of the centre is Dr. Rajiv Khosla, Associate Professor, School of Management.  The Research centre is located in the Technology Enterprise Centre at La Trobe’s Research and Development park. http://www.latrobe.edu.au/reccsi

Centres and Institutes of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering

ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science

The Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science was established in 2005 with a grant of $9 million from the Australian Research Council over five years and $1.8 million from the Victorian Government’s Science Technology and Innovation Initiative. The Centre was reviewed at the end of 2008 and was renewed and extended until the end of 2013. The Centre brings together physicists, chemists and biologists to develop fundamentally new approaches to probing biological structures and processes. It combines world-class expertise in imaging, structural biology, laser science and molecular theory. The Centre’s mission is to be a world leader in the development of coherent X-ray diffraction and other cutting edge techniques for the imaging of biological structures. The Director of the Centre is Professor Keith Nugent, Federation Fellow in Physics at the University of Melbourne. Professor Tilley, Department of Biochemistry, LaTrobe University, is Deputy Director, while Associate Professor Andrew Peele (Physics) and Associate Professor Mike Ryan (Biochemistry) are Project Leaders.

Further information can be obtained from the website at www.coecxs.org

ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematics and Statistics of Complex Systems

The Australian Research Council (ARC) has established Centres of Excellence to maintain and develop Australia’s research output in four designated areas:

• Nano-Materials and Bio-Materials
• Genome/Phenome Research
• Complex/Intelligent Systems; and
• Photon Science and Technology.

These Centres are also expected to generate economic, social and cultural benefits for Australia.

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematics and Statistics of Complex Systems comprises 14 chief investigators from La Trobe University, The University of Melbourne, Australian National University, The University of New South Wales, and The University of Queensland, all of whom have international reputations for their research in mathematics and statistics. The Centre’s mission is to stimulate research activity in mathematical and statistical modelling of complex systems.

Further information can be obtained from the website at http://www.complex.org.au/

Centre for Materials and Surface Science

The Centre for Materials and Surface Science (CMSS) is an interdisciplinary research centre involving staff from the departments of Physics, Chemistry, Electronic Engineering and Pharmacy.

CMSS research activities are predominantly within the areas of materials and surface science involving significant interaction with both local and international industrial and academic research organisations. The Centre aims to:

• promote cooperative activities and programs in education and research
• encourage collaboration between local and international organisations
• provide, receive and disseminate information in the areas of the centre.

CMSS operates one of Australia’s major surface analysis facilities, incorporating state-of-the-art X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and optical contact angle analysis. The facility serves around 25 universities and research organisations from Australia and the Asia Pacific region and 40 companies.

CMSS hosts the La Trobe node of the Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing (VCAMM), a state government funded, multi-institutional research centre committed to assisting companies with advanced research and development activities.

Further information can be obtained from the website at www.latrobe.edu.au/surface/

Graeme Clark Centre for Bionic Ear and Neurosensory Research

La Trobe University has particular research strengths, which contribute to the Graeme Clark Centre for Bionic Ear and Neurosensory Research (GCC_BENSR).. The GCC_BENSR aims to facilitate cross-disciplinary fundamental research and its application to the development of treatments of hearing and other neurosensory disorders. This includes: the further development of the Bionic Ear incorporating better interface with auditory neurons and a new generation of �??hi-fi�?? cochlear implants; improved sensory integration with bionic devices - biophysical and chemical approaches will be utilised together with new smart materials to improve the electro-neural interface; facilitation of optimal information flow, in the case of Bionic Ear Implants, hearing in noise, music appreciation, better language development and speech understanding; and top-down in addition to bottom-up brain processing deficits will be explored by utilising cognitive approaches to further understand information processing and sensory integration by the brain - important aspects to consider for language and speech development. Furthermore, the Centre will explore the workings of other sensory systems and how they integrate information as a whole to formulate a higher-level cognitive awareness of oneself within the world. This forms the basis on which we behave, interact and communicate with others.

The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre

The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC) is an unincorporated joint venture between CSIRO (through its Division of Land and Water), the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, and La Trobe University. Additional investment is provided by the Australian Government through the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

The MDFRC has a vision of ‘healthy and productive aquatic ecosystems in the Murray-Darling Basin’. In targeting this vision, the overarching mission of the MDFRC is ‘the generation, synthesis and communication of freshwater ecological science fundamental to the protection and enhancement of the natural assets of the Murray-Darling Basin, while supporting sustainable use of the Basin’. The MDFRC is a multi-disciplinary centre which undertakes research into environmental flows, biological and chemical monitoring, nutrient ecology and algal blooms, fish and invertebrate ecology, macro and microinvertebrate taxonomy, and water quality assessment. MDFRC operates two regional laboratories, strategically based in the Murray-Darling Basin, at Albury-Wodonga (established for 23 years) and Mildura (established for 13 years). Both laboratories are co-located on the campuses of La Trobe University. MDFRC employs over 60 scientific and support staff and has within its structure: an established NATA accredited chemical laboratory, an invertebrate taxonomy voucher collection housing approximately 2500 species, an interactive guide and resource for the identification and ecology of Australian freshwater invertebrates, a microbiological laboratory (enumeration and identification of bacteria using both traditional and molecular techniques) in aquatic ecosystems.

The Centre’s Director is Dr Ben Gawne, and further information can be obtained from the website at www.mdfrc.org.au/

Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology

The aims of the Centre are to undertake research and scholarly activity that will gain and communicate an understanding of the ecology of alpine landscapes that can be used for their wise and sustainable management. Specifically, the Centre conducts research based on the research needs of alpine landscapes and ecosystems, attracts research funds from governments and industry, and attracts researchers and postgraduate students.

The Centre consists of 20 La Trobe staff and eight research students drawn from the departments of Botany, Zoology, Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Management and Ecology (Wodonga) and Geology (Bendigo). Researchers from other organisations such as University of Melbourne and CSIRO collaborate on specific projects. The researchers involved in the Centre have a disciplinary breadth and experience of working in the alps that is not found in any other Melbourne institution.

Current research is wide-ranging and includes post-fire regeneration in alpine and sub-alpine landscapes, the ecology and genetics of Burramys parvus (Mountain Pygmy possum) populations in the Victorian alps, the ecology of alpine peatlands and their restoration, the ecology, taxonomy and conservation of alpine invertebrates, and the use of plant functional types to understand long-term vegetation change.

A collaborative project with the University of Melbourne is assessing the potential impacts of climate change on vegetation in the Victorian Alps. This research, funded by an ARC Grant, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, and Parks Victoria, is linked to the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX). In February 2007, the Centre hosted the Annual Meeting of ITEX, drawing researchers from overseas and Australia.

The Centre conducts the Alpine Ecology Course each summer and specialised land rehabilitation courses.

The Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University

The Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre was established following a generous donation by a private individual, and a matching contribution by La Trobe University. This is the first research facility in Australia dedicated to autism research. The Centre was established as a joint initiative with Austism Victoria, is named in recognition of the major initial donor. It is situated within the School of Psychological Science in the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering.

The mission of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre is to advance research into the nature, causes and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The Centre focuses on both basic and applied research, and provides the vehicle for both community service provider links and links with other centres/universities involved in Autism research both in Australia and overseas.

The objectives of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre are to:

1. Facilitate large and/or ongoing research projects.
2. Facilitate collaboration with other research centres both nationally and internationally.
3. Foster and support a National Research Network investigating the cause and management of ASD.
4. Conduct campaigns to improve the public profile of Autism Research.
5. Provide opportunities for student based research and mentoring programs, and
6. Foster knowledge transfer to practitioners within the field.

Associate Professor Dissanayake is the Director of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre. The centre has a representative Advisory Committee of academic and community specialists, and works in partnership with autism organizations and other appropriate state and federal bodies. Thus while community based, the Centre also has a national focus. For more information visit: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/otarc/

Cooperative Research Centres

The University is also a participant/member of the following centres/institutes:

Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute

Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre

Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health

Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Automotive Technology

Cooperative Research Centre Biomarker Translation

Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism

eWater Cooperative Research Centre

Key Centre for Statistical Science

Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity

Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication