After 10 years at the Australian Maritime College, including over five years at the helm as Principal, Professor Neil Bose is leaving to take up the role of Vice-President (Research) at Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador’s university.
It represents somewhat of a homecoming for Professor Bose, whose stellar academic career included 20 years at Memorial University, a term he concluded as the Canada Research Chair in Offshore and Underwater Vehicles Design in 2007.
Professor Bose arrived at AMC in May 2007 to manage the Australian Maritime Hydrodynamics Research Centre, before being appointed Director of the National Centre for Maritime Engineering and Hydrodynamics. He has led the College as Principal since January 2012.
University of Tasmania Provost, Professor Mike Calford, said Professor Bose has had a profound impact during his time at AMC, lifting the profile and sharpening the focus of its research mission and wider academic contributions.
“Professor Bose leaves the organisation positioned as a centre of national excellence and of world standing in maritime engineering,” he said.
“In recent years, he has been key to the development of new transformative partnerships which are critical to AMC providing leadership in maritime design, technology and research; with a strengthening focus on defence applications, polar research and marine resource management.
“The contribution of AMC to the Antarctic Gateway in collaboration with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Sciences (IMAS), and other key partners, is another landmark project.”
Professor Bose’s term has been marked by several key initiatives including:
- the commissioning of the AMC cavitation tunnel, the most advanced medium-sized cavitation tunnel in the world, which has attracted an increase of defence-related research
- the initiation and expansion of AMC’s Autonomous Underwater Vehicle capabilities, now recognised as being at the cutting edge nationally
- the ongoing upgrade and associated increase in commercial use of the College’s maritime simulation facilities.
External relationships have been a key aspect of his time with the College, reflected in his role as Chair of the International Association of Maritime Universities.
An international search is being undertaken to find Professor Bose’s successor, who will be responsible for delivering the next phase of the AMC’s future.
In the meantime, Professor Nataliya Nikolova has been appointed Interim Principal commencing 30 October 2017 and will oversee further transformation of AMC’s teaching programs.
Published on: 28 Sep 2017
