CQU's Dr Lee Di Milia, Senior Lecturer at the School of Management and Project Leader for the CRC in Integrated Engineering Asset Management will spend the next 3 months in the U.S. as a Research Scientist looking into sleep-related vehicle accidents in Connecticut.

Dr Di Milia, who has conducted a wide range of research here on the contributing factors to driver fatigue and road accidents will work closely with University of Connecticut Emeritus Professor Don Tepas, widely regarded as an international expert on shiftwork and fatigue. In addition to sleep related accidents, Professor Tepas and Dr Di Milia will commence work on developing an algorithm to compare accident risk across transport modes.

While his priority is research, Dr Di Milia will also deliver the occasional seminar on completed research. The University of Connecticut's Industrial/Organizational Psychology faculty in the Department of Psychology has sponsored Dr Di Milia's visit.

"There are a number of similarities between the road infrastructure of Connecticut and Queensland. In terms of population the two states are similar and they both serve as heavily used corridors for both freight and personal travel. Deaths from traffic accidents are a major concern in both countries. Last year over 42,000 Americans lost their lives in vehicle accidents and 294 occurred in Connecticut. Australian road fatalities were 1635 and 310 of these occurred in Queensland. In percentage terms it seems that Queensland has a higher risk of road fatality.'' The University of Connecticut is ranked in the top 10% of US public universities. In the year 03-04, the psychology department attracted about $10 million in competitive grants, published 134 refereed articles (most in top tier journals) and conference papers, and had over 157 doctoral students.

"This is a stimulating environment and an opportunity to build links between our organizations," explained Dr Di Milia.

Following Connecticut, Dr Di Milia will spend a week with the Institute of Work Psychology at the University of Sheffield.

"The CRC in Integrated Engineering Asset Management has received funding for a collaborative research project with Sheffield to examine knowledge management practice between Australian and British asset management companies. During the visit, the partners will work on defining the parameters for the study and setting out a project plan for completing the study. Once again we are working with another world-class organization and strengthening our international linkages," Dr Di Milia added.