杏吧原创

ANTIPODEAN computer skills are starting to be recognised internationally,
says Malcolm McRobbie, chief executive officer of the CRC in Advanced
Computational Systems in Canberra. He should know. He has just been appointed
Vice-President in charge of Information Technology for the eight campuses of
Indiana University and leaves for the US in January.

But he doesn鈥檛 regard his departure as part of any brain drain. 鈥淚t can only
be good for Australia that a big American university can recruit someone from
here for this position.鈥� His international experience, especially in the
Asia-Pacific region was a real advantage. 鈥淭he university believes information
technology is fundamental to its future, and is looking to increase its
international involvement in the area. I intend to maintain contact with the CRC
and with several other groups in Australia.鈥�

As if to confirm McRobbie鈥檚 view of the increasing globalisation of senior
research appointments, Chuck Shoemaker has just arrived from the US to
become New Zealand鈥檚 National Science Leader in parasitology. As such, he will
coordinate the country鈥檚 research effort into parasites from the Wallaceville
Animal Research Centre in Upper Hutt, just north of Wellington.

Shoemaker hails from Boston, where he is an adjunct professor at Harvard
University, and has worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and as a
senior scientist in the biotechnology company, Genetics Institute Inc. His
research will be aimed at indentifying proteins on parasitic worms that can
serve as targets for vaccines and therapy. Apparently, Shoemaker鈥檚 move to
Wallaceville has already stimulated an outbreak of another debilitating
disease鈥攆risbee throwing.

We would like to hear about interesting and important appointments. Send
details by e-mail to ianand@ozmail.com.au