From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Wed May 9 00:21:00 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Wed, 9 May 2012 00:21:00 +1000 Subject: [ASA] SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE - Government gets the smarts: maths and science education recognised in Federal Budget In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <3A3726B2-354E-4BB5-8FEF-6306FC121521@sydney.edu.au> Government gets the smarts: maths and science education recognised in Federal Budget Science & Technology Australia welcomes the strategic investment in science and maths education and measures to boost funding for science and research in the 2012/13 Federal Budget. ?I commend the Chief Scientist on his comprehensive recommendations to the Prime Minister which have brought about the measures that recognise the critical role science and maths play in our future prosperity, said Professor Michael Holland, STA President. ?Skilled science and technology professionals are a critical component of innovation and a knowledge based economy. ?So many industries rely on a workforce with science and maths skills. We know that a robust manufacturing industry and the mining sector rely on scientists and engineers. ?I am pleased to see that the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council have also had their funding protected. ?While the budget measures are welcome and necessary, Australia must get better at converting its research strength into innovations that fuel the economy and improve our quality of life. ?The commercialisation of Australian research that has lead to WiFi technology has already earned the nation ($420m) 3 times the amount of additional money invested in science and research in this Budget alone ($126m). ?Australia?s greatest resources are more likely to be found above ground that below it. ?It?s time we made good of Australian genius and developed a strong commercialisation environment that includes a well-developed innovation strategy; better collaboration between researchers and industry; strategic investments to support the development of new technologies; and measures to forge strategic partnership with our international counterparts.? _______ Media contact: Anna-Maria Arabia 0412 940 921 Released: 8 May 2012 www.sta.org.au www.respectthescience.org.au -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image.png Type: image/png Size: 14705 bytes Desc: not available URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Wed May 9 10:43:07 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Wed, 9 May 2012 10:43:07 +1000 Subject: [ASA] URGENT: TODAY - supplementary DECam time Message-ID: The AAO is calling for supplementary proposals to use 2 nights with DECam on the NOAO/CTIO 4 m telescope in semester 12B. Information about DECam can be found at http://www.aao.gov.au/astro/apply/ATAC_AAT.html and http://www.ctio.noao.edu/noao/content/dark-energy-camera-decam Proposals are limited to one page and should include a Title, Team members' contact information, scientific justification, all necessary technical information, as well as time justification with positions and magnitudes of target(s). The maximum time request is 2 nights but smaller proposals, including fractional nights, are welcome. Observations will be carried out in Service mode. Observers who applied for time with DECam at the recent March 15 2012 AAO call for proposals may apply for more time. The deadline is 23:59 Wednesday 9 May (this is very soon!). The one page PDF proposals should be emailed to aatts at aao.gov.au . -- Gayandhi de Silva AAT Technical Secretary aatts - at - aao.gov.au From ahopkins at aao.gov.au Wed May 9 17:02:07 2012 From: ahopkins at aao.gov.au (Andrew Hopkins) Date: Wed, 09 May 2012 17:02:07 +1000 Subject: [ASA] UPDATE: Deadline Friday 11th: - supplementary DECam time Message-ID: <4FAA166F.9040601@aao.gov.au> ******************************** DEADLINE: 23:59 Friday 11th May ******************************** The AAO is calling for supplementary proposals to use 2 nights with DECam on the NOAO/CTIO 4 m telescope in semester 12B. Information about DECam can be found at http://www.aao.gov.au/astro/apply/ATAC_AAT.html and http://www.ctio.noao.edu/noao/content/dark-energy-camera-decam Proposals are limited to one page and should include a Title, Team members' contact information, scientific justification, all necessary technical information, as well as time justification with positions and magnitudes of target(s). The maximum time request is 2 nights but smaller proposals, including fractional nights, are welcome. Observations will be carried out in Service mode. Observers who applied for time with DECam at the recent March 15 2012 AAO call for proposals may apply for more time. The deadline is 23:59 Friday 11th May (this is very soon!). The one page PDF proposals should be emailed to aatts at aao.gov.au . From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Thu May 10 13:15:47 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 13:15:47 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Call for Nominations for Prestigious CODATA Prize References: <01cc01cd2e0a$abc816a0$035843e0$@dial.oleane.com> Message-ID: <961F8616-97A2-4FB3-9B33-DA71423A526C@sydney.edu.au> Australian nominations are invited for the prestigious CODATA Prize, which is a major biennial prize awarded by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology, an interdisciplinary body of the International Council for Science, ICSU. This award: ? Acknowledges outstanding achievement in the world of scientific and technical data ? Is for a one time achievement or an achievement over time ? Is given preferentially to an individual ? Recognises work carried out in fields of importance to S&T data, such as data management, evaluation, dissemination, access issues, international cooperation, knowledge discovery, archiving or related subjects The deadline is 25th May 2012 and further details and a nomination form are available from http://www.codata2012.com/page/codata-prize-deadline-is-25th-may-2012 Cheers Ray Ray.Norris at csiro.au CSIRO Astronomy & Space Science PO Box 76, Epping, NSW 1710, Australia Tel: +61 417 288 307 http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/rnorris --------------------------------------------- Sample Ray's novel "Graven Images" on http://www.amazon.com/products/dp/0980657016/ From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Thu May 10 13:21:40 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 13:21:40 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Reminder - ASA Factsheet - Transit of Venus, 6 June 2012 Message-ID: <025C80A4-E21A-4860-9730-47EDA0C1A5EE@sydney.edu.au> A timely reminder for those enquiries about the upcoming Transit of Venus: An ASA Factsheet is available, describing the Transit of Venus on 6 June 2012. It can be found on the ASA's Australian Astronomy web site (http://www.astronomy.org.au). The specific link is: http://www.astronomy.org.au/ngn/engine.php?SID=1000011&AID=100326 . The sheet may be freely copied for wide distribution provided the Australian Astronomy and ASA logos are retained. This information is provided by Nick Lomb (Sydney Observatory) and Martin George (Launcestion Planetarium) as initiative of the ASA Education and Public Outreach Chapter. Nick also has a book out on the subject - see http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/2011/transit-of-venus-the-book/ John O'Byrne ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JOHN O?BYRNE Associate Head (Teaching & Learning) Chair, School Teaching & Learning Committee Secretary, Astronomical Society of Australia Inc. Sydney Institute for Astronomy School of Physics | Faculty of Science THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Rm 568, Physics Annexe A29 | The University of Sydney | NSW | Australia | 2006 T +61 2 9351 3184 | F +61 2 9351 7726 E john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au | W http://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/~obyrne CRICOS 00026A This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This email uses 100% recycled words and ideas. Do you really need to print it? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Fri May 11 12:24:22 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Fri, 11 May 2012 12:24:22 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Early registration for the ASA closes next Monday, 15th May Message-ID: <9540F28D-C783-40E8-9628-3EE8FBD3FD3D@sydney.edu.au> Hi All, This is just a friendly reminder that the ASA ASM early registration finishes next Monday, 15th May. See http://www.asa2012.phys.unsw.edu.au/ to register. Best wishes, Maria and Lucyna (on behalf of the organising committees). ========== Best wishes, Maria =============================== Dr Maria Cunningham maria.cunningham at unsw.edu.au Senior Lecturer School of Physics, UNSW, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Fri May 11 17:37:41 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Fri, 11 May 2012 17:37:41 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Second Announcement: 2012 Astronomical Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting Message-ID: Second Announcement: 2012 Astronomical Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting Please note the Early Bird Registration Deadline is 15th May 2012 (i.e. next Monday). The ASA ASM will be hosted by the University of New South Wales, Sydney, from the 2nd to the 6th July 2012. The Welcome Reception starts at 6pm on Sunday 1st of July. The Harley Wood Winter School will be held immediately before the ASM, in the Blue Mountains at Wentworth Falls, from 28th June to 1st July 2012. We hope to welcome many of you here at UNSW in July. Maria Cunningham and Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer (on behalf of the organising committees) Please read the information below, which gives a summary of what you will find on the website of the meeting (http://www.asa2012.phys.unsw.edu.au/). Check the website frequently for updates and additional information. Dates and Deadlines: * Early registration: 15th May 2012 * Abstract Submission Oral: 15th May 2012 * Abstract Submission Poster: 15th June 2012 (Poster requests will be considered after this date, but this is the deadline for abstracts to be included in the conference booklet.) * Release of program, including contributed talks: 1st June 2012 * There is still some reserved budget accommodation available in New College (everyone is welcome to book it now, please indicate your interest by e-mail to ASA2012 at phys.unsw.edu.au ) Interactive Posters: Thanks to Kooaba and their image recognition technology, this year, poster sessions at the ASA AGM will be interactive. By taking a picture with their smartphone, attendees will be able to share posters of interest, access additional material such as videos, images and the original PDF, or import it to their Mendeley library. Simply use the Kooaba's Shortcut app' to recognise the posters during the conference. Detailed information on how to upload their poster to the server will be sent to the poster authors closer from the AGM. Invited Speakers Dr Tamara Davis (University of Queensland) Dr Mike Keith (CASS) Professor Karl Glazebrook (Swinburne University of Technology) Dr Jose Bellido Caceres (University of Adelaide) Dr Christoph Fedderath (Monash University) Professor Tim Bedding (University of Sydney) Dr Holger Baumgardt (University of Queensland) Dr Daniel Bayliss (ANU) Professor Tim Slater (University of Wyoming) Dr Magda Arnaboldi (ANU) Dr Lisa Fogarty (University of Sydney) Dr John Morgan (ICRAR) Dr Lisa Harvey-Smith (CASS) Harley Wood Lecture (Public) Prof Chris Tinney (UNSW) A Wealth of New Planets Tues. 3 July 2012, at 7 pm UNSW Physics Lecture Theatre Special attractions A tour of the Aboriginal Astronomy Sites in the Kurringai National Park guided by Dr Duane Hamacher Saturday 7th July 2012 at 10am (estimated time back in Sydney 3pm limited capacity (<70 people) Cost $20 (includes transport and packed lunch) Registration Abstract Submission and Registration for the ASA ASM is accepted online. Follow the link: http://www.asa2012.phys.unsw.edu.au/registration/ . To register for HWWS go to http://www.asa2012.phys.unsw.edu.au/HWWS/registration/. Note: Authors presenting papers at the ASM are generally restricted to financial ASA members (paid up by 30 June). However authors may present a paper once as a non-member. Multiple posters or oral+poster contributions are also acceptable. Please include additional abstracts in the box provided on the registration form, or send them directly to ASA2012 at phys.unsw.edu.au. Please provide the abstract and title of your presentation during the registration process. However if this is not possible make sure to indicate the type of presentation and preliminary title. All abstracts should be submitted before deadlines for a specific types of presentations (e-mail them to ASA2012 at phys.unsw.edu.au) Prices Registration includes the opening reception, the conference dinner, lunches Monday to Thursday, and morning and afternoon tea. Early Registration (until 15th May) student $290.00 member $390.00 non member $440.00 non member student $340.00 invited speakers No charge Registration (after 15th May) student $340.00 member $440.00 non member $490.00 non member student $390.00 invited speakers No charge Making Payments The registration and abstract submission form includes a link for making payments. Payment can be done by either cheque or credit card. For departments wishing to make bulk payments, please ask people to register individually, choose "cheque" as the payment method, and then follow the instructions. There is a page to print out that needs to be sent to UNSW with payment, and a booking reference number which should be recorded and included. One payment can include as many individual registrations as needed. Remember, the deadline for early registration is 15th May, whatever method is used. For more information, please contact ASA2012 at phys.unsw.edu.au. At the completion of payment you have the option of printing out a tax invoice, by clicking a button. We strongly advice you do it. Note that this is your only record of transaction provided by the UNSW. Accommodation University Accommodation There are a small number of low cost rooms ($50-90/night) available at UNSW campus which will preferentially be given to students, if you are interested in these rooms please contact Maria via the ASA organising committee email address ASA2012 at phys.unsw.edu.au. New College (priority for students was given until 30th April 2012 - now everyone is welcome to request the booking) We have reserved 50 rooms in New College, on the UNSW campus. The cost per night is $65 including continental breakfast. The rooms have shared bathrooms. Alcohol consumption and smoking are not permitted within the college. However, there are several excellent pubs nearby. There is more information on our website, and at the New college website - http://www.newcollege.unsw.edu.au/sydney/casual-accommodation. Shalom College (available to students and non-students) There are also rooms available in Shalom College at UNSW.The cost for these is $70 for a shared bathroom and $90 for a private bathroom, including continental breakfast (costs subject to change), and the minimum stay is 2 nights. The number of rooms will not be clear until around 1st June, when the college finds out which students will be away for the winter break, but we expect around 25, with a mix of shared and private bathrooms.See http://www.shalomcollege.unsw.edu.au/Casual-Accommodation/default.aspx To reserve a room in Shalom College please email ASA2012 at phys.unsw.edu.au and state that your request if for Shalom college. Once again, booking will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. The first 25 are fairly well assured of a place, so when you request a reservation we will let you know where in the queue you are. General Accommodation There is a large range of accommodation available close to UNSW, and some suggestions are given on our website. Attendees are responsible for organising and paying for their own accommodation. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Sun May 13 23:36:04 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 23:36:04 +1000 Subject: [ASA] AAT Service Observing - Call for Proposals Message-ID: AAT SERVICE OBSERVING - CALL FOR PROPOSALS The Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO) operates a service observing programme at the 4-metre Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) for proposals requiring less than 6 hours of observing time. The next deadline is *** Friday, 1 June 2012, at 23:59 *** (Australian Eastern Summer Time, i.e. UTC + 11 hrs) Applications are welcomed from all astronomers, worldwide. The following instruments are available for service observations: AAOmega, IRIS2, UCLES/UHRF, SPIRAL. ************************************************************************* NOTE: Calls for AAT Service Time are now THREE times per year: 1 October, 1 February, 1 June (AAOmega fld file deadlines still follow 6 weeks after each proposal deadline on 15 November, 15 March, and 15 July.) Service Programmes expire after 18 months. Current programmes submitted before 01 August 2010 will be purged from the queue. If you have an existing programme in this category, you are invited to resubmit this round. ************************************************************************* (The number of service nights allocated per instrument is set each semester by the Australian Time Assignment Committee (ATAC).) Please see http://www.aao.gov.au/local/www/service/service.html for more information about the AAT Service Programme and application forms. Andy Green (service @ aao.gov.au) Helen Woods -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: