The University of Queensland's winning SunShark team returns to Brisbane today, Wednesday, August 6 afterSunShark won its class and was fifth overall among 80 entries at the World Solar-Car Rally in Akita, Japan, from August 1 to 3.
The SunShark completed a total of 35 laps of the Ogata-Mura racetrack to claim the stock class for solar cars with commercial grade lead-acid batteries and solar cells.
The team overcame pre-race motor problems and a minor electrical fault on the final day of racing to prove more than competitive against vehicles representing some of Japan's biggest corporations.
The SunShark , the only non-Japanese entry in the race, recorded an overall average speed of slightly over 47km/h, completing 12 laps on the each of the first two days of competition , and 11 laps on the final day.
The result was a repeat of the SunShark's effort in last year's Darwin-to-Adelaide World Solar Car Challenge.
Second in the stock class was Team Jona Sun with a total of 31 laps, ahead of Kira Kira Fighter III which was a lap behind in third.
First overall was Club Nakayoshi (free class), with a total of 40 laps and an average speed of around 50km. It was two laps ahead of second-placed Osu model S, while Mitsubishi Sun Challenger was a further lap behind in third.
SunShark team spokesman Stephen Goodwin said cloudy weather at times had turned the rally into ' a battery race of sorts', with the vehicle's distinctive aerofoil shape again providing an important advantage.
'Strategy also had a lot to do with performance, with the teams who went out hard at the start finding it hard to cope at the end of the day when all their power dried up,' he said.
He said the team had been given enormous support by the Japanese teams and spectators, with driver Caroline Airey finding herself in the middle of a huge crowd and popping champagne corks at the finish of the race.
For further information contact the University of Queensland solar racing team, telephone 07 3365 3771; fax 07 3365 4999, Stephen Goodwin at 015 809 936 or visit the SunShark World Wide Web site - http://www.uq.edu.au/~zzmrobin/sunshark/
g in regular school settings, in contrast to the children in 1977 and 1978 who more regularly attended special schools. With this move to more inclusive schooling, it is very important that the children learn to manage their own behaviours in these settings.'
Dr Jobling is currently looking at health knowledge and behaviour as well as safety awareness in adolescents as they develop independent living and life skills.
'There are also issues such as the effect of television advertising on diet and lifestyle, including the use of cigarettes and substances such as alcohol,' she said.
'We are looking at their development as they age,with many of our original samples now in the 20 to 25 age group. We are continuing to assess their motor skills, height, weight, and activity levels since they left school and at their work placements.'
Researcher Dr Monica Cuskelly said one of the aims of the study had been to examine the myths surrounding Down syndrome.
'Educators and people in health services consider that children with Down syndrome have a certain set of characteristics, learning abilities and family functions,' she said.
'Down syndrome is only a genetic description...and really the only thing these children have in common is the extra chromosome. There is as much individuality and variation among children with Down syndrome as there is among any other group of children.'
Each year the Centre runs a Family Information Day in conjunction with the Down Syndrome Association to talk about research and other areas in which families have an interest, including subjects such as the law, sexuality, and DNA testing.
'It is an opportunity to catch up and one of the ways in which we can thank families for their help to us,' said Dr Cuskelly.
'The families are extremely important to us; without them there is no research.'
Dr Cuskelly and Dr Jobling said the family picnic day on Sunday, September 21 during the 20th anniversary celebrations was designed both to 'thank and involve' the families.
For more information, contact Dr Anne Jobling on (07) 3365 6405.
d Professor McIntosh are Fellows of the Australian Academy.
For more information, contact Professor Irwin from Monday, September 29-October 3 (telephone (08) 9245 1000) or afterwards (telephone (07) 3365 2790).
