Dec 9 2009
Monash University's state-of-the-art electron microscopy research facility has been awarded the Australian Institute of Architects 2009 National Award for Public Architecture.
The innovative and visually striking MCEM building, which was designed by Architectus Melbourne, houses highly sensitive electron microscopes and protects them from mechanical, acoustic, thermal or electro-magnetic interference. The centre's instruments and building are worth over $37 million and were made possible with funding from the Victorian Government and the Australian Research Council.
MCEM boasts one of the world's most powerful microscopes, the FEI Titan 3 80-300 FEG-TEM, a $9 million super-microscope that enables atoms to be seen with unprecedented clarity.
The award is not the first for the Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy (MCEM): it has received an assortment of honours since its construction was completed in November 2007, including Engineering Australia's Engineering Excellence Award for Infrastructure and the Excellence in Acoustics Awards from the Australian Acoustics Society.
MCEM Director Joanne Etheridge said the most recent honour was a welcome addition to the collection of awards the Centre had received.
"We are very proud of this facility. Monash University has established a world class research centre in electron microscopy which is enabling researchers to solve critical problems in science and technology." Dr Etheridge said.
"The exceptional stability of this building ensures we can examine the finest details of atomic structures. This is essential for understanding the fundamental workings of nature and for the development of new technologies, ranging from energy-efficient transportation to biomaterials and nanotechnology."
MCEM has attracted leading researchers in microscopy from around the world and is utilised by hundreds of scientists and postgraduate students from within and beyond Monash University.
Monash Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish said the award-winning centre demonstrated the University's commitment to providing staff and students with state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities that make pioneering research possible.
"Monash researchers are helping discover solutions to some of the major challenges facing our world. Centres like MCEM support their research efforts and give our students unparalleled learning opportunities," Professor Cornish said.
Monash University was ranked 45 in the world in the most recent Times Higher Education Supplement rankings. The University has campuses based around Melbourne, as well as regional Victoria, Malaysia and South Africa.