At Murdoch we understand that it takes different types of thinkers to make an idea happen. We actively support and encourage our community to share ideas, pool their knowledge and find new ways of thinking to help make the difference.<br/><h2>Practical</h2><b>Turning algae into fuel</b><br />It's slimy, green and could change how the entire world consumes fuel. Murdoch's Professor Michael Borowitzka believes algae is the key  no competition with food production, can grow in sea water and produces 10-20 times more oil than other crops. 20 scientists will oversee large-scale ponds of algae in Australia, India and China.<br /><br /><b>Building better builders</b><br />Don't just do engineering. That's what we tell our students. Do Engineering & Commerce. Why? Because we're free thinkers. And because the real world demands it. With our flexible course structures, we bolt science and humanities together. Our graduates leave armed with practical skills, as well as financial, risk and management foresight. <br /><br /><b>Bridging the tyranny of distance</b><br />How can we offer face-to-face counselling to people thousands of kilometres away? The Murdoch Psychology team has come up with the answer. Theyve worked together to establish an on-campus remote video-connection with regional and rural communities. <br /><br /><h2>Compassionate</h2><b>Sustaining reconciliation in Rwanda</b><br />In partnership with Rwandan genocide survivor groups and other agencies Murdoch University is helping to sustain reconciliation and reconstruction in Rwanda by building capacity for trauma counselling, documenting and recording the effects of the 1994 genocide and boosting social connectivity through new mobile technologies. <br /><br /><b>Giving yourself good PR</b><br />Murdoch University's public relations students are opening their minds to the real world. They are honing their professional skills by developing communication strategies for local groups. Ninety students are working with sixteen Perth organisations, including McDonald's Camp Quality, Cityfarm and MS Society Read-a-thon.<br /><br /><b>Chiropractic students lend a hand in India</b><br />'Rock breaking' is a shocking trade that has recently surfaced in India. For the past 3 years, Murdoch Chiro students have paid their way to India to run special camps. In the first year over 400 people were treated for various ailments including cuts, bruises, fever and back ache. Another trip is planned this June. <br /><br /><h2>Visionary</h2><b>What happens when great minds connect?</b><br />One of the world's biggest break throughs in the fight against infectious diseases. Professor Simon Mallal's team is developing personalised medicine that individually tests to see if a person will negatively react to the anti-HIV drug Abacavir. This breakthrough opens doors to medicine in other disease areas.<br /><br /><b>Science meets literature</b><br />"I mean where else can you do maths and physics majors with a minor in creative writing? It suits me because I want to keep science alive for kids." Our flexible course program creates innovative avenues for tomorrow's leaders - a direct response to demands and needs of a changing world. <br /><br /><b>Closing the gap</b><br />The Mungullah-East Carnarvon Primary project is a collaboration that supports young Aboriginal children's successful transition to school. Focussing on cultural awareness, literacy and numeracy as well as social and emotional wellbeing is helping to strengthen family participation and educational outcomes for kids.<br /><br /><h2>Creative</h2><b>Thought clouds</b><br />Professor Tom Lyons has made an interesting climatic discovery. He noticed blue sky over cleared farmland on one side of a fence and big clouds over native vegetation on the other. He concluded that native plants produce moisture that lifts and forms clouds. His belief - introduce more native plants to agriculture and you'll get more clouds.<br /><br /><b>A sustainable future</b><br />"Sustainability, its 1/3 business and 2/3rds science-based.we all realise that the limitations of our disciplines dont take us far enough" Globally, more businesses are turning to sustainability. Our flexible course combinations arm students with skills that will make a difference in corporations and communities the world over.In light of peak oil, loss of biodiversity and global inequality, more and more businesses and governments are turning to sustainability. Murdoch has responded to this demand with key discoveries and practices by our esteemed environmental scientists being implemented in corporations, councils and communities the world over.<br /><br /><b>The Dolphin Centre</b><br />A team of Murdoch scientists and the local community are getting their hands wet at their new dolphin research and volunteer building, recently opened at the Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre. It will house the Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit (MUCRU) with the 100 plus Centre volunteers. <br /><br />