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Associate Professor Barbara Junghans Dr Wallace Bridge

Two science faculty staff have been recognised for their commitment to student learning by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council.

The ALTC has awarded Barbara Junghans and Wallace Bridge with citations for outstanding contributions to student learning. They are among seven individuals and one team from UNSW to receive ALTC citations in 2008.

Announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, the awards acknowledge staff who've made a sustained contribution to the quality of student learning.

The Director of UNSW's Entrepreneurs in Science Unit, Dr Wallace Bridge received his Citation for "developing and teaching a Diploma in Innovation Management that enthuses science students to create the entrepreneurial mindset required to put scientific discovery into practice."

Dr Bridge established UNSW's Diploma in Innovation Management in 2001. Since then it has been recognised internationally as a best practice model for developing business acumen and expertise in undergraduate science students.

The diploma program teaches students the skills to translate research into a viable business enterprise, including intellectual property management, commercialisation, government regulation, business ethics, business concepts, market research, project management, and business planning.

Today, Diploma in Innovation Management graduates are working in IP management, high technology finance, scientific communication, government policy, product development, high technology sales and marketing, clinical trials management, and business management.

Associate Professor Barbara Junghans received her Citation for "sustained inspirational teaching, academic mentoring and leadership in the scholarship of learning and teaching in the field of optometry."

A researcher and teacher of clinical optometry for more than 30 years, Dr Junghans has a reputation as an inspiring teacher, mentor and leader who has had a lasting impact on more than half of Australia's practising optometrists.

"I specialise in teaching basic clinical routines used in the consulting room but I believe that I have to inspire students to go beyond learning mere procedures," Dr Junghans says. "Students need to understand many things - the science that underpins clinical optometry, to think like an optometrist, to behave ethically and professionally, and to have a desire to be up to date with the latest research."

A 12-year association with a parent-run 'alternative' school influenced her teaching philosophy. "It was there that I noticed and admired the mutual respect between young learner and teacher," she says. "As a teacher, my responsibility is to stimulate students to be curious, competent, skilful, and to grow."

The recipient of a UNSW Postgraduate Teaching Award and a Carrick Discipline Review Grant, Dr Junghans is involved in a host of outreach activities, including UNSW's Vision Education Centre that has offered science excursions and eye-health services to 14,000 primary school children since its establishment in 1990.

Click here for more information about UNSW's support for reaching excellence and this year's winners.

Media contact Dan Gaffney, 0411 156 015