Professor Rhys Jones chooses VPAC

Professor Rhys Jones, a global leader in designing programs for computers to test the strength and durability of engineering components, could have gone anywhere internationally for his sabbatical.

But rather than some exotic – and warm - location far afield, the eminent researcher from Monash University chose to stay in wintry Melbourne.

By so doing, he is not only helping to keep Victoria at the forefront of both the automotive and defence industry, he has provided a ringing endorsement for VPAC.

“There are always a variety of reasons you might choose to go somewhere for your sabbatical,” said Professor Jones, the soft lilt of the valleys of Wales still evident in his voice even after four decades in Australia.

“I guess the reasons I chose VPAC are the facilities, the people and the vision the organisation has.

“One of the things we are doing is making a bid to the Defence Material Organisation to participate in the Joint Strike Fighter program in the areas of light weight design and also corrosion prognosis.

“This is a very important project for Australia and also for us to be involved in it.”

The Joint Strike Fighter program is a collaborative effort led by the United States that also includes Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark and Norway.

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FROM THE CEO

VPAC, the Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing, is playing a crucial role in supporting the growth of cutting edge research in Victoria, Australia and in international collaborations.

As the name suggests, VPAC provides world class, super-computing facilities to our Member Universities, to Government and to industry.

However, there is considerably more to VPAC than that.

We are a one-stop shop for a wide range of research and business organisations working on the science and the industries of the future.

We actively seek out opportunities to bring together researchers and industry to enhance innovation. We provide assistance to researchers seeking out and applying for grants to fund their projects.

And we have developed our support systems in a way that allow scientists whose field of expertise ARE not necessarily in advanced computers, to also make full use of our systems and to increase their productivity.

That has broadened considerably the projects in which VPAC and its facilities can be involved.

In some senses VPAC is almost like a new business model. We are a combination of a profit and a not for profit organisations focussed on research and development services and research and development support.

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VPAC’s hearts and minds approach impresses AutoCRC boss

As state of the art as they are, it’s not just VPAC’s computers that impress Dr Matthew Cuthbertson.

“My summary of VPAC is that there is a lot of capability there and a lot of hardware and equipment and that’s fine but it’s hearts and minds and attitudes that make effective collaborations,” says the CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Automotive Technology (AutoCRC).

“And it’s VPAC’s flexibility and entrepreneurial attitude that makes the difference as far as we are concerned.”

VPAC and AutoCRC are working together on more than half a dozen major collaborations, the most high profile of which is the SAFE project – Standardised Approach for Emergency Vehicles.

The aim of this project is to improve the power supply management for multiple in-vehicle technologies, minimise driver distraction and generally make driving emergency vehicles safer.

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VPAC Helps rocketing success of rmit's "little work experience program"

VPAC and Professor Sylvester Abanteriba have established a basis of mutual interest to promote to the world what he lovingly calls his “little work experience program”.

Professor Abanteriba is the Director of RMIT University’s International Industry Experience and Research Program – or to give it its acronym RIIERP.

This is the only program of its type in Australia aimed at giving students the chance to work overseas in industries relating both to their studies and their future employment.

In Australia 80 per cent of employers surveyed said they would favour applicants who had worked overseas. In addition, the satisfaction levels among the international companies taking students under the program are so phenomenally high that it is not unusual for RMIT graduates to be offered high-paying jobs or extended research opportunities at the end of the placements.

“It really just started out as a work experience program for a few of my students when I came to RMIT’s Department of Aerospace Engineering in 1991,” said Professor Abanteriba.

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