Finding The Next Widget Research

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday October 25, 2005

Dr Andrew Minett is working in the field of bionics - where biology and electronics meet. It requires the design and development of new materials that enable bio-functions to be monitored and controlled. He's based at the University of Wollongong's Australian Research Council.

MY RESEARCH passion derives from a curious mind. Particularly, I want to know how and why things interact. I try to develop methods to understand the interactions scientifically between "entities" - for example, molecules, polymers or biological moieties - with nanoscale materials including nanotubes and nanowires (one nanometre is one billion times smaller than a metre or 50,000 times smaller than a human hair!).

Once some understanding of this behaviour is achieved, I try to make use of this knowledge by developing new directions in novel device manufacture. It's really about finding the next ultimate widget!

I'm working at UOW's Intelligent Polymer Research Institute in collaboration with other Australian scientists, to develop bionic technology for a variety of life-changing applications. One of the first steps will be to make bionic ears with near-normal hearing which could be a reality within five years.

This is only one such project. I also work with scientists from Germany, Ireland, England and the United States on other related projects.

Some examples of devices we are researching include wearable electronics, flexible electronics, smart sensors, smart materials (ie: materials and sensors that interact with their environment) as well as the nanobionics.

Will it save the world? Yes, no, hopefully. While my research is primarily fundamental in nature (trying to understand and manipulate the interactions of two entities, one of which is nanometres in size), the end goal of my research is to apply that fundamental knowledge to developing material world devices. Those that can sense and react to the environment around them.

Imagine the healthcare of human diseases when we can create devices that give radical improvements in point-of-care or in-situ diagnosis. Or the impact on technology with the creation of flexible electronics. It may not save the world, but there are important outcomes for the research.

Years spent trying: Almost six years since I finished my PhD research; 10 years including those.

Are you getting anywhere? It is a long road! Commercialisation of actual devices is a few years down the track, but we need to know what works and why, and I'm helping to build that knowledge base. It's a research area that Australia is interested in and investing in.

Best part of your research? The opportunity to meet like-minded individuals with curious minds, to travel to meetings and visit colleagues in other parts of the world. This rich social aspect does not limit one's vision of their own research. That is, it opens up your own research to a much wider scientific point of view.

Funniest moment: By far the funniest moment, was during my doctoral studies when a "well-known" chemistry professor who worked within the research group came running into my work/office space excitedly beginning to explain his "Eureka! I found it!" moment. He had with him a large "ball and stick" model which he threw on the ground and proceeded madly to flip the orientation of the model this way and that while kneeling this way and that over the model, never looking up for close to 30 minutes.

Eventually he did look up, after explaining his theory and said "Hey, you're not Simon", grabbed his model and ran off looking for the person he thought I was.

For years, this professor mixed up who we were. We look nothing alike. It still brings a smile to the face at every re-telling of the story, for it shows the passion he holds for his science.

Have you had a true "Eureka! I've found it!" experience? No, but have been involved in quite a few - see above.

Has it made you rich? No, you don't "do" science to become rich - you "do" science for the excitement tomorrow may bring, and who knows, tomorrow may make you rich!

What did you want to be when you were a kid? You would have to ask my parents. Later on I wanted to be a chef, but my Year 11 chemistry teacher piqued my interest in science, and it sort of blossomed from there.

Has your career followed a straight line? More of a circle at the moment, as after almost six years overseas I have returned to Wollongong university, where I started my undergraduate studies.

What would you change? Not much. Nothing inside of what I have achieved - apart from the ability to write journal papers, which is something that is always sitting over my head needing to be done.

Advice for young researchers: Don't turn down an opportunity to continue your research in a country where you might be afraid to travel to, that you don't speak the language and don't know anyone. Don't lose track of that which is outside of your research and don't get too confined in your vision of what you are doing. Be open to others opinions and continue to be curious.

Next adventure: Just getting over the last one, but who knows in five years time - the world is a large place.

Website for further information: www.uow.edu.au/science/research/ipri

and www.uow.edu.au/science/research/nsem

Dr Minett has worked in Ireland and Germany for six years. He has returned to Wollongong after winning an Australian Research Council QEII grant. Twelve grants were awarded last year.

© 2005 Illawarra Mercury

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