Professor David Lowe
Engineering and Information Technologies
University of Sydney
Australia
Biography
Professor David Lowe is currently Associate Dean (Education) and Professor of Software Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies at The University of Sydney. Before this he was a Director of the Centre for Real-Time Information Networks (CRIN) - a designated research strength at the University of Technology, Sydney focused on blending embedded systems and telecommunications in addressing real-world problems. From 2002-2008 he was the Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning) for the Faculty of Engineering, UTS. He was also previously the CEO of the not-for-profit organisation The LabShare Institute, and President of the Global Online Laboratory Consortium. Professor Lowe has published widely during his more than 20 year teaching career, including three textbooks.
Research Interest
Being able to carry out laboratory experiments is central to any science student's education, but it can be very costly for every school and university to provide access to its own suite of well-equipped science labs. The work of Professor David Lowe, a world-leading researcher into the design and use of remote laboratories, offers an innovative solution whereby many schools can share access to a small number of remote laboratories, providing students with highly engaging science experiences well beyond those that could feasibly be offered by any single school. "Historically, in order to control or use any physical system, we all had to be located in the same place as that system. But high-speed networks are increasingly allowing us to monitor and access systems without being physically near them. My research involves exploring these interactions, and finding ways to best take advantage of the opportunities created. "A good example is the use of laboratories in education. Rather than having science equipment in each school, which is used only for short periods by science classes and otherwise sits idle for most of the year, remote access allows this equipment to be used across many schools. "It also means that the equipment becomes accessible 24/7, allowing students the flexibility to carry out experiments in their own time as well as repeating experiments for better understanding and outcomes. "Possibly most significantly, remote laboratories provide opportunities for access to truly innovative experimental environments. "I have been working in engineering research and education for around 20 years, and researching remote laboratories for the past 10. I believe that remote laboratories have the potential to lead to significantly improved science and engineering education, enhanced accessibility and flexibility, and students who are better engaged in their learning."
Publications
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Being able to carry out laboratory experiments is central to any science student's education, but it can be very costly for every school and university to provide access to its own suite of well-equipped science labs. The work of Professor David Lowe, a world-leading researcher into the design and use of remote laboratories, offers an innovative solution whereby many schools can share access to a small number of remote laboratories, providing students with highly engaging science experiences well beyond those that could feasibly be offered by any single school. "Historically, in order to control or use any physical system, we all had to be located in the same place as that system. But high-speed networks are increasingly allowing us to monitor and access systems without being physically near them. My research involves exploring these interactions, and finding ways to best take advantage of the opportunities created. "A good example is the use of laboratories in education. Rather than having science equipment in each school, which is used only for short periods by science classes and otherwise sits idle for most of the year, remote access allows this equipment to be used across many schools. "It also means that the equipment becomes accessible 24/7, allowing students the flexibility to carry out experiments in their own time as well as repeating experiments for better understanding and outcomes. "Possibly most significantly, remote laboratories provide opportunities for access to truly innovative experimental environments. "I have been working in engineering research and education for around 20 years, and researching remote laboratories for the past 10. I believe that remote laboratories have the potential to lead to significantly improved science and engineering education, enhanced accessibility and flexibility, and students who are better engaged in their learning."
