october 2014 www.tcetoday.

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Nottingham green chemistry
lab burns down
GSK-funded research centre destroyed before opening
building, that thankfully no one
was injured, and that the fire
was prevented from spreading
further on to campus, says
Nottinghams registrar, Paul
Greatrix.
He explains that the new
building wasnt due to be
opened until next year and as
such the chemistry department
while understandably
disappointed by this loss
wont have either its teaching or
research affected.
This is a setback for us but
Australian teaching union
warns of A$100,000 fees
AUSTRALIAS National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has
warned that by the end of the decade some degrees could
cost as much as A$100,000 (US$90,000).
The union modelled potential increases in fees assuming
that universities are planning to recoup the costs of a recent
A$1bn funding cut. Alongside the imposition of real interest
charges on student loans, the NTEU estimated that if
universities are to break even, the cost of an average degree
will climb to just over A$47,000. Engineering degrees which
are generally more expensive would cost almost A$74,000.
On top of this, the NTEU model assumed that most
universities will be looking to make a proft on the courses
they teach. It would take only a 10% increase in fees over the
breakeven point for dentistry and medical degrees to cost
more than A$100,000, with engineering and science requiring
an increase of just under 40%.
The NTEU is not claiming that the cost of every university
degree at every university will cost A$100,000, the union
writes in its fndings. However, as the analysis [] clearly
demonstrates, degrees costing students A$100,000 or more
will be a reality.
The Australian government announced a 20% cut to
university funding last month and has already scrapped
controls on the fees universities can charge. However,
education minister Chris Pyne claims that the reforms will
result in a much fairer situation for higher education.
Australian university graduates on average earn up to
75% more than those who do not go on to higher education
after secondary school, he says. Over their lifetime
graduates may earn around A$1m more than if they had not
studied at university.
It is only fair that graduates pay an equal share of
theircosts.
Manchester to get graphene
innovation centre
THE University of Manchester,
UK, is building a new 60m
(US$97m) centre to develop
commercial applications
for graphene and related 2D
materials.
Manchester says that the
new Graphene Engineering
Innovation Centre (GEIC)
will bridge a crucial gap in
2D material research. It will
look at pilot production and
characterisation, and develop
applications in composites,
energy, solution formulations
and coatings, electronics, and
membranes.
The work of GEIC will
complement that of
Manchesters existing National
Graphene Institute (NGI),
which focuses on fundamental
research and new applications.
The university says that jointly,
the two facilities will ensure
that Manchester remains a
global leader in graphene
research.
Funding for the GEIC
will come from a variety of
sources. The Higher Education
Funding Council for Englands
UK Research Partnership
Investment Fund (UKRPIF)
will provide 15m, the
Technology Strategy Board will
provide 5m, and Abu Dhabi
renewable energy company
Masdar will provide 30m.
Masdar Institute, a graduate
university that is a key part of
Masdars research work, and
Manchester have also agreed
to collaborate in graphene
application research, and are
identifying joint research and
fellowship programmes.
Research and development
in graphene and 2D material
applications will transform
the world, says Manchesters
vice-president and dean of
engineering Colin Bailey.
The world-leading
knowledge base is here in
Manchester and to harvest this
knowledge, for the benefit of
the economy and society more
widely, urgent infrastructure
facilities are required.
THE University of Nottingham
has vowed to rebuild its
sustainable chemistry lab, after
the GSK-funded building was
completely destroyed by a fire
before it even opened.
The blaze struck late on 12
September, and despite the
efforts of more than 60 fire
fighters the 20m (US$32.5m) lab
was left a smouldering ruin by
the morning.
To put this loss into
perspective, we need to
remember that this was one
one from which we have no doubt
we will recover, Greatrix adds.
The lab was designed to be
carbon neutral over its lifetime
and incorporated several natural
materials in its construction,
including a timber frame.
However, Nottingham has made
it clear that the lab was designed
to meet stringent fire regulation
requirements.
The university adds that at this
stage, it has no idea what caused
the fire, and may not know for
some time until the fire service is
able to complete an investigation.
Right: Fire destroyed the lab but
will not disrupt teaching or R&D
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