New common room aids postgrad researchers

Left: photo common room - with Professor Masud Behnia and the Associate Dean Michael Field

The newly refurbished postgraduate common room at the Northern Clinical School is uncommonly good. Known as ‘Common Room 31’ as it is located in Building 31 at Royal North Shore Hospital, the new facility boasts an impressive array of facilities for the 120 postgraduate students based at the University of Sydney’s northern suburban teaching and research facility.

This development was made possible by a successful application for funding from the University’s inaugural Research Postgraduate Infrastructure Scheme in 2004. The project was managed by the Northern Clinical School Postgraduate Research Student Society (PReSS), under the supervision of Associate Dean Professor Michael Field.

“Our postgraduate research students studying at the Royal North Shore Hospital work at all corners of the hospital campus, and the provision of a centrally-located common room to bring them all together for both scientific and social purposes, is a very welcome development”, Professor Field said .

Outgoing PReSS President and PhD student Scott Stanners managed the project and was delighted with the outcome. “The intended result was to enrich the student experience at the Northern Clinical School by providing a central place where students can gather, interact and relax,” said Scott. “You can already see the positive impact this is having on the students,” remarked Chris Scarlett, incoming PReSS President.

Special thanks are also due to Professor Masud Behnia, the University’s Dean of Graduate Studies for promoting the Research Postgraduate Infrastructure Scheme 2004, to Deborah Latta, the RNSH General Manager for the space, Tim Palmer from University of Sydney Clubs and Societies for their support, and to Michael Leung, the architect who generously donated his time and design skills.

Active support was also provided by Professor David Burke, the Dean of Research and Development for the College of Health Sciences, and Professor Andrew Coats, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.