From smaddison at swin.edu.au Mon Sep 3 19:52:44 2012 From: smaddison at swin.edu.au (Sarah Maddison) Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2012 19:52:44 +1000 Subject: [ASA] ASA Women in Astronomy Workshop 2012 - second announcement Message-ID: Second Announcement: *ASA Women in Astronomy Workshop 2012* *10-11 October 2012* *Swinburne University, Melbourne* http://asawomeninastronomy.org/meetings/wia2012/ The second ASA Workshop in Women in Astronomy will be held 10-11 October 2012 at Swinburne University in Melbourne. This 2-day workshop will focus on how unconscious biases in our professional and personal lives affects women?s leadership and participation in the workplace. Over the two days there will be both presentations as well as workshop sessions. These will cover some of the issues and obstacles that women face during their astronomy careers, and strategies that both women and men can use in overcoming them. New initiatives and schemes implemented by institutions over the past 18 months to help improve the status of women in astronomy will be examined. Guest speakers include Mary Crooks, Executive Director of the Victorian Women?s Trust; Barbara Dalton, Coordinator of Women's Leadership & Advancement at the Monash Equity & Diversity Centre; and Alicia Oshlack, Head of Bioinformatics at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. For more details, please see the workshop website: http://asawomeninastronomy.org/meetings/wia2012/ All are welcome! The reduction in the percentage of women at each career step is an issue that affects everyone, as women and men are equally talented and deserve equal opportunity, and full participation of men and women will maximize excellence in the field. With that issue in mind, this workshop is open to all and everyone is strongly encouraged to attend. There is no registration fee to attend the workshop. For catering purposes please email Sarah Brough (sb at aao.gov.au) to indicate your attendance no later than *10 September 2012*. Please circulate this email throughout your department, and encourage all students, postdocs and colleagues to attend. The workshop poster can be found here: http://womeninastronomy.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/wia2012.pdf Kind regards, Sarah Brough (AAO) Kate Gunn (CAASTRO) Virgina Kilborn (Swinburne) Sarah Maddison (Swinburne) Steven Tingay (ICRAR) -- A/Prof Sarah Maddison Associate Professor of Astrophysics Centre for Astrophysics & Supercomputing Swinburne University of Technology PO BOX 218, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, AUSTRALIA t: 61-3-9214 5971 f: 61-3-9214 8797 e: smaddison at swin.edu.au w: http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/maddison/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Tony.Crawshaw at csiro.au Wed Sep 5 16:43:37 2012 From: Tony.Crawshaw at csiro.au (Tony.Crawshaw at csiro.au) Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2012 16:43:37 +1000 Subject: [ASA] SKA role for CSIRO Chief Message-ID: <5346B3A72C6C8442A4B7A5F409095FC3FFF6A91D@EXNSW-MBX01.nexus.csiro.au> For Release: 5/9/2012 at 5pm. Dr Philip Diamond, Chief of CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science, has been appointed as the Director-General of the Square Kilometre Array Project Office - the team that will coordinate global activities for the world's largest telescope. Dr Diamond will step down from his role as Chief of CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science on 12 October 2012 and head back to Manchester with his family to take up the position on 15 October. CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Megan Clark said, "This is an outstanding achievement for Phil and is recognition of his exceptional leadership of CASS and the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) project." "While we will miss Phil's leadership greatly, this is an unprecedented opportunity for him to shape the future of radio astronomy across the globe," Dr Clark said. As Director-General of the SKA, Dr Diamond will provide overall leadership of the pre-construction phase of the SKA with the end goal of realising construction readiness at the end of 2015, and preparing for the construction phase to follow. He will develop and maintain strategic relationships with national agencies, partners, governments, industry and other private sector entities, and all other project stakeholders. Since taking on the role of Chief at CASS on 1 June 2010, Phil, along with his colleagues, has led some high profile and highly successful projects: the delivery of ASKAP (which will be officially opened next month); the 50th birthday celebration at Parkes Observatory; Australia's tracking role in the recent Mars Rover landing and his participation in the team that delivered the SKA site outcome. "He has enhanced CSIRO's reputation for exceptional radio astronomy, and has also maintained the excellent track record that the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex has in supporting NASA's space missions, while strengthening the linkages that naturally occur between astronomy and space science," Dr Clark said. CSIRO will now commence an international search for Phil's replacement. In the interim, Sarah Pearce, CASS Deputy Chief, will take on the role of Acting Chief of CASS, commencing 15 October. --------------------------------------------------- Tony Crawshaw Communication Manager CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science PO Box 76 Epping NSW 1710 T: (02) 9372 4528 F: (02) 9372 4310 M: 0402 770 403 E: Tony.Crawshaw at csiro.au W: www.csiro.au ---------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sb at aao.gov.au Fri Sep 7 07:13:18 2012 From: sb at aao.gov.au (Sarah Brough) Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2012 07:13:18 +1000 Subject: [ASA] New release of 2dfdr data reduction and 2df Configuration software Message-ID: <504911EE.1050000@aao.gov.au> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ausgo at aao.gov.au Fri Sep 7 11:46:47 2012 From: ausgo at aao.gov.au (Australian Gemini Office) Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:46:47 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Call for Gemini, Subaru, and Magellan Proposals in Semester 2013A Message-ID: <50495207.4000205@aao.gov.au> Proposals for Australian access to the Gemini and Subaru telescopes for Semester 2013A (1 Feb - 31 Jul 2013) are due by*5:00pm AEST, Tuesday 2 October 2012* Australian proposals for Magellan time in Semester 2013A (mid-Jan - mid-Jul 2013) are due by*5:00pm AEST, Tuesday 9th October 2012* (These deadlines are slightly later than usual to avoid falling on weekends or public holidays) What's new for Semester 2013A? ------------------------------ * Minor improvements have been made to the completely new Phase I Tool that was introduced in 2012B. *ATAC applicants must now prepare their scientific and technical justification using either the Gemini default LaTeX style file (GemPhase1_13A.sty ) and proposal template (GemPhase1.tex ), or Gemini default Word template (GemPhase1.doc )* as used by all partners except the US, then upload this as a PDF attachment using the PIT. *There is now a limit of one page of text for the scientific justification; up to 2 more pages of figures, tables, and references; and one page for the technical justification*. * The RSAA-built Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI ) on the Gemini Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics System (GeMS ) is being offered for early science from February to April 2013, limiting RAs to 6.5h - 19h, and declination to -70 to +10 degrees. Availability is dependent on successful System Verification (SV) during 2012B. An SV call for 2012B has been issued. 80 to 100 hours are available in 2013A as "shared risk" since instrument availability and data quality cannot be guaranteed, and reduced observing efficiency is expected. * After a major refurbishment in 2012B, GNIRS is available in all modes except those requiring the short red camera. This will exclude science at wavelengths 2.9 to 5.5 microns with the 0.15 arcsecond/pixel scale. Some of this science can be done using the long red camera with the smaller pixel scale (or higher resolution for spectroscopy). GNIRS will be removed at the end of 2013A for a lens replacement; although the exact date will be driven by demand, applicants with targets at RA 22h to 1h are advised to have backup targets available at earlier RA. * This is likely to be the last A semester that NICI will be offered, with the arrival of GPI anticipated midway through 2013. * GMOS-South may be removed at the end of 2013A for replacement of the original E2V CCDs with new red-sensitive Hamamatsu CCDs ; although the exact date will be driven by demand, applicants with targets at RA 0h to 2h are advised to have backup targets available. * A new CCD camera with much-improved red sensitivity for LDSS3 on Magellan is due to be commissioned late in 2012, and available in 2013A. Interested PIs should contact Jacob Bean (jbean at cfa.harvard.edu) before applying. How to apply ------------ Gemini applications must be submitted using the 2013A release of the Phase I Tool (PIT) software. Subaru applications are also submitted using the PIT. For full details on instrument availability and application procedures, please see: http://ausgo.aao.gov.au/cfp.html as well as the official Gemini Observatory Call for Proposals: http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/observing-gemini/2013a-call-proposals Further information about Magellan instrumentation, travel funding, and the application procedure is described at: http://ausgo.aao.gov.au/magellan.html Need help? ---------- For general enquiries about Australian usage of Gemini, Magellan, or Subaru, please contact the Australian Gemini Office (ausgo at aao.gov.au). For technical queries about a Gemini Phase I proposal, please use the Gemini Helpdesk: http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/helpdesk/ Stuart Ryder Australian Gemini Scientist ausgo at aao.gov.au -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Sun Sep 9 22:28:07 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012 22:28:07 +1000 Subject: [ASA] E-Bulletin from Science & Technology Australia In-Reply-To: Message-ID: * For distribution to your members* Dear STA members 1. Science meets Parliament 2012 Thank you all for your overwhelmingly positive response to Science meets Parliament 2012. We have a record number of delegates and parliamentarians attending this year, and a terrific program. We are particularly delighted that Prime Minister Gillard will be addressing delegates this year. 2. Geek the Vote campaign This year we are have asked the wider community to pledge to help get a copy of the Geek Manifesto on every federal politician?s desk by 17 September Science & Technology Australia (and many of our friends in the science sector) were reading ?The Geek Manifesto? and think it is time every MP reads it too. Why? Because even though politicians aren?t obliged to make every decision according to the available scientific evidence and nothing else, they definitely should make sure they take scientific advice on issues when it is relevant ?and let?s be honest there are few public policy issues where it?s not. We would like to send 226 copies of the Geek Manifesto to Federal Parliament ? that?s one copy for every politician in the House. We are half way there but time is running out ? will you and others in your network pledge to buy one copy before 17 September when our 200 scientists go to Canberra to deliver them during Science meets Parliament? Deadline to pledge: 17 September 2012. Cost per copy: $35 (incl GST). Click on www.sta.org.au now to take the pledge and please ask your friends to do the same. 3. Inspiring Australia Survey The Inspiring Australia team from the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) is seeking feedback on the Australian science engagement scene and would like your help. Please find below a link to a five-minute survey which provides an opportunity for you to let us know your thoughts. Inspiring Australia Survey 2012 The survey closes 30 September 2012. 4. Recent reports regarding Federal Government grants You and some of the members of your societies may be concerned about reports indicating a "funding freeze" on federal government grants. Some have speculated that this freeze may apply to ARC and NHMRC grants. Indeed there have been reported comments and concerns from organisations which operate in the science sector and by the Opposition to indicate that this may be or is the case. I wish to provide an update on what is known at the present time following my discussions with senior officials in Canberra. The Department of Finance has been asked to undertake a review of all grants distributed across portfolios so that a careful assessment can be made about how much money is being expended, where it is being distributed, and what might be deemed discretionary. This exercise will take approximately 2 weeks. At this stage there is no indication that it will effect ARC and NHMRC grants. While nothing can be ruled in or out, it is certainly premature to raise alarm bells. That said Science & Technology Australia has and will continue to raise concerns about the long term negative consequences of stop/start funding in research. Encouraging are the recent public statements by the Prime Minister about boosting maths and science education, an area which is increasingly addressed by her. Also, the Prime Minister will address delegates at Science meets Parliament this year speaking about why science matters. I will keep you abreast of any further information I receive. And needless to say if there were cause for concern, Science & Technology Australia stands ready to mobilise our resources to protect research. 5. Events of interest To coincide with activities happening at Parliament House during Science meets Parliament the ANU Colleges of Science have organised complementary events: Science, politics and the public: breaking down the barriers. Event details are available here: http://sciencepoliticsandpublic.eventbrite.com/ And Q&ANU: Academic freedom in a world of cures, cloning and climate: Event details are available here: http://qandanu.eventbrite.com/ Best wishes Anna-Maria _________________________________________________________________ Anna-Maria Arabia Chief Executive Officer Science & Technology Australia Giving voice to Australian Science & Technology for over 27 years www.sta.org.au www.respectthescience.org.au T: 02 6257 2891 M: 0412 940 921 F: 02 6257 2897 PO Box 259 Canberra City ACT 2601 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 22749777-4DC4-4C0C-9894-F502C95BE71F.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 20589 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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