University of Adelaide sees collaborative research with S'wak on biomedical, biotechnological science

By Wilson Luke

KUCHING: University of Adelaide, one of Australia's most prestigious and oldest universities, looks forward to conduct collaborative research with Sarawak on biomedical and biotechnological science.

Professor John Taplin, the university's head of Department of Psychology, believes that this can become a reality as he sees several ways in which the University of Adelaide and Sarawak can collaborate and cooperate.

"The first is actually in research. We can do research which has relevance to Sarawak as well as to Australia," he said when met recently together with Professor Pat Buckley, who is the Associate Dean and head of Discipline of Physiology School of Molecular and Biomedical Science.

"We see the University of Adelaide, which is one of Australia's top research universities a very important link between research and teaching because the students and the people who are doing the research are contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the fields through which they are learning," said Taplin.

Both professors were in the State recently to conduct a forum on "Improving Life in the New Millennium" on the invitation of the Sarawak Alumni of the University of Adelaide (SAUA).

The SAUA deputy president Dato Sri Adenan Haji Satem who is also the Minister for Agriculture and Food Industries also attended the forum, which attracted more than 60 participants.

"Sarawak is showing interest as the Minister (Adenan Satem) had spoken on the need to restart the conversation about how the links between Sarawak and Adelaide could be redeveloped, and particularly hopeful in science and health science which hold great potential," said Buckley.

Taplin also disclosed that Adenan might visit the university in October this year to follow up on the research activities at the university.

At this point, Buckley cemented the idea saying; "I think that it would be true to say that Adelaide University is now looking quite seriously at the various arrangements like Curtin (University) and Swinburne (which have established their presence in Sarawak), with a number of areas to be looked into."

She added that there was tremendous interest in biotechnological science where the university would be keen to identify various possibilities such as through twinning or articulation arrangement.

"That is something we will continue to investigate behind the scene, to identify partnering institutions of similar mind, to work together to develop programmes which in overall terms offer the quality of education," said Buckley.

The main areas of focus would likely be in the biomedical and biotechnological science, she added.

Buckley is no stranger to this field of knowledge as she is currently focusing a world leading research into neuro science, particularly into adult stem cells in which could one day could help patients to recover from injuries affecting their central nervous systems.

"Specifically, we are trying to determine at how stem cells are created in one part of the brain to replace other damaged cells in the human body," she said.

The ongoing research is being conducted at a special research Centre for the Molecular Genetics of Development in the university.

If successful it will be a very significant research, especially to those who have suffered brain damage, by offering a way to help recovery due to stroke or other kind of injuries.

Buckley said, "The research is not a `closed book' yet, as there are still chapters to be written. " Asked about her visit to Sarawak, she said she met people who had studied at Adelaide University and whose children also studied in the same institution, as well as their grandchildren.

"So there is quite a long standing relationship that already exists between the two areas," she said.

At the same, she also had the chance to meet young people interested in the areas of research conducted at the university. Meanwhile, Taplin said the university offered quality education programmes in many fields and would be interested in developing a relationship with Sarawak students wishing to obtain high quality university education.

He also added that University of Adelaide valued the relationship with its alumni graduates who he described as the "walking products" of the university. Former students of University of Adelaide include Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is also SAUA president. The university, Australia's third oldest, is a leading centre of academic learning and research.

With 16,000 students including 2,000 from 70 nations, the University of Adelaide has produced two Nobel Prize winners and various other awards of recognition. Its research is at the leading edge of knowledge and the University of Adelaide consistently ranks high among the top universities in the Asia-Pacific region in winning research funds.

Established in 1874, the University of Adelaide is committed to producing graduates recognised worldwide for their creativity, knowledge and skills as well as for their culture and tolerance.

It offers courses in medicines, dentistry, psychology, various sciences including biomedical sciences, biotechnology, engineering, commerce, law and various other professions plus the study of Asian languages.

"Malaysia is the largest country represented at the university second to the number of Australian students," said Taplin, adding that the students came from various parts of the country.

According to him there were also many imminent graduates form Sarawak. The current Vice Chancellor and CEO of the university is Professor James McWha.

Although it was the first time Taplin set foot in Sarawak, he wanted to see a continuation of the relationship developed in the future.

"It will evolve because of the changing needs of Sarawak and the changing needs of Sarawak and the growing capabilities of the University of Adelaide which contributes to the solutions,” he said.