Prof C. Paul Bonnington

The Monash e-Research Centre unveiled a new 40 megapixel OptiPortal — a tiled LCD wall that displays complete microscope images at a high resolution.

The screen, the result of an ARC collaborative grant between Monash and Leica Microsystems, allows the user to focus on details at maximum resolution while also allowing them to view the entire image.

Separate and related images can be shown on all or on some screens, or a single image can be displayed across the entire OptiPortal wall.

“A growing world-wide ‘OptiPortal collaboratory’ could revolutionise cancer research by connecting experts from across the world, enabling them to work together on a single project,” Professor Bonnington said.

Visiting Professor Larry Smarr, founding director of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, San Diego, said high-performance internet connectivity in Australia was necessary to ensure a robust public research sector.

(From Multimedia Victoria website)

Media release - 1 October 2008

The Brumby Government is investing $1.45 million toward a $3 million High Performance Computing Facility at the Australian Synchrotron in Clayton.

Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings told today’s eResearch Australasia 2008 Conference that the funding will take medical imaging in Victoria to the next level.

“Our $1.45 million investment will be used to develop the high performance computing facility to support imaging beamlines at the Synchrotron along with funding from the Australian Synchrotron, the CSIRO, Monash University and the Victorian Partnership for Advance Computing (VPAC),” Mr Jennings said.
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(Reproduced from the Monash Memo.)

Conductor Anthony Pope leads the Monash Brass Ensemble via video link.

Academics and students from the Monash School of Music participated in a musical master class with a difference as part of Educate08 activities last week.

In an experiment organised by the Monash e-Research Centre (MeRC) the Monash Brass Ensemble, on stage at the Robert Blackwood Hall, was led by conductor Anthony Pope from another building at Clayton through the use of high definition video technology (HDV). The ensemble performed the ‘Fanfare’, especially composed to celebrate the University’s 50th anniversary.

MeRC Director Professor Paul Bonnington said the technology had the potential to transform research and classroom teaching. Read more »

(The following is a reproduction from Monash Memo)

The Monash e-Research Centre (MeRC) showcased its innovative and practical ICT solutions for Monash researchers during an e-XPO in August.

The e-XPO, which included seminars from 12 e-Research leaders and a technology and applications exhibition, was designed to promote e-research opportunities available to Monash researchers from all faculties and disciplines.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish, Associate Professor Ashley Buckle, MeRC director Professor Paul Bonnington, Dean of IT Professor Ron Weber, and Associate director MeRC Professor David Abramson.

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From The Monash University Chancellor’s column - “Technology-enabled collaboration” Dr Alan Finkel AM, Chancellor, Monash University

In his October column, Monash University Chancellor Dr Alan Finkel AM writes about the use of technology to enable high-quality international collaborations at Monash.

“I have seen the future, and it is now,” said Nam June Paik, the Korean artist who invented video art.

I attended a seminar held by the IT faculty in September. In all respects but one it was what you would expect….

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