From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Wed May 15 10:32:01 2013 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 10:32:01 +1000 Subject: [ASA] News bulletin from STA at Federal Budget lockup! Message-ID: <12D3EE82-DA40-4DF7-BA5F-B19A6C6B6D3E@sydney.edu.au> Dear Colleagues, Below you will find a release issued late last night outlining our disappointment with the approach to science and technology in this year's Federal Budget and links to the documents themselves. There are few surprises - but in broad terms there is little strategic vision and long-term planning to be seen. STA will continue to sift through the papers on your behalf in coming days and bring you any new information that can be drawn from the fine detail. We will continue talking to the media - and as always will be working to keep science and technology high on the agenda. I have also included a list of links to all the Budget papers, for those who would like to go direct to the documents. As always any feedback or input is much appreciated and encouraged. Regards, Catriona Jackson Chief Executive Officer Science & Technology Australia Science and Technology loses out in budget Tonight's Federal Budget holds little for science and technology - with a reprieve for mid-career fellowships and critical infrastructure funding - but scant long-term vision on display. Science & Technology Australia CEO Catriona Jackson said: "It is pleasing to the see the Government has recognised the importance of both the mid-career fellowships offered by the Australian Research Council and big infrastructure, with funding to operate and maintain critical projects. "However these measures come in addition to the very damaging $3.8 billion in university cuts. The exact impacts are not yet known, as universities struggle to slash their budgets, but one thing is certain - the cuts will do real damage to Australia's science and technology workforce and to national productivity and innovation. "They will compromise the capacity of the nation to match it with the best - to keep pace with international advances in science and technology. "The cuts will damage the quality of education and research universities can provide. This is bad for students, researchers and the communities they serve. "Private sector knock-on effects will also result, with at the very least damage to the kind of collaborative work that tackles critical national and global issues. "STA welcomes the one additional year of support for the ARC's Future Fellowships, with around 150 five-year grants, worth $135 million available in 2014. But a longer term restoration must be seriously considered if we are to keep the nation's outstanding mid-career researchers living and working in Australia. "Also $185 million will go to fund two more years of support for major national research facilities, without which much cutting edge research simply cannot take place. The National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme ended in 2011, leaving many huge projects in limbo. It is difficult to overstate how important sustained backing for these landmark facilities is. Without a long-term plan, up to $1 billion of Government investment is at risk," Ms Jackson said. Other Budget measures for science and technology include: $12 million for CSIRO to trial the new research vessel the RV Investigator; $8 million to cover costs at ANSTO's OPAL nuclear reactor, and $30.9 million over four years to boost marine research at AIMS. Further examination of the Budget documents over coming days may reveal further important detail. ENDS There are several additional issues of great concern in the lead up to the election. Significant public service cuts, which are on the agenda for both of the major parties in the Federal arena, will very likely mean job losses in science and technology. STA will be keeping a very close eye on this issue, and bring you any further information as soon as it comes to hand. ???????.. BUDGET LINKS www.budget.gov.au/ If access is slow due to high demand, the Budget papers will also be available via: http://budget.australia.gov.au/ www.finance.gov.au http://www.treasury.gov.au/Policy-Topics/BudgetingAndExpenditure www.aph.gov.au Treasurer Wayne Swan www.treasurer.gov.au/Main.aspx?PageID=089&min=wms Minister Penny Wong http://www.financeminister.gov.au/ Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/Main.aspx?PageID=089&min=djba Minister Bill Shorten http://mfss.treasurer.gov.au/Main.aspx?PageID=089&min=brs Parliamentary Secretary Bernie Ripoll http://parlsec.treasurer.gov.au/Main.aspx?PageID=089&min=bfr Treasury http://www.treasury.gov.au/PublicationsAndMedia/MediaReleases http://www.treasury.gov.au/PublicationsAndMedia/Publications Finance http://www.finance.gov.au/ PRIME MINISTER http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & FISHERIES Minister Joe Ludwig http://www.daff.gov.au/ludwig/media_office/media_releases Parliamentary Secretary Sid Sidebottom http://www.psmaff.gov.au/media-releases Departmental http://www.daff.gov.au/about/media-centre/dept-releases/2013 AID Minister Bob Carr http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/ Parliamentary Secretary Matt Thistlethwaite http://ministers.dfat.gov.au/thistlethwaite/ CLIMATE CHANGE Minister Greg Combet http://minister.innovation.gov.au/gregcombet/MediaReleases/Pages/default.aspx Parliamentary Secretary Yvette D?ath http://minister.innovation.gov.au/yvettedath/MediaReleases/Pages/Default.aspx Departmental http://www.climatechange.gov.au/media/whats-new.aspx DEFENCE Ministers and Departmental http://www.defence.gov.au/media/index.cfm EDUCATION Ministers Peter Garrett, Bill Shorten, Kate Ellis and Julie Collins, and Parliamentary Secretary Jacinta Collins http://ministers.deewr.gov.au/ Departmental http://deewr.gov.au/news Minister Craig Emerson http://minister.innovation.gov.au/craigemerson/MediaReleases/Pages/Default.aspx Minister Sharon Bird http://minister.innovation.gov.au/sharonbird/MediaReleases/Pages/Default.aspx ENVIRONMENT Minister Tony Burke http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/burke/2013/index.html Parliamentary Secretary Amanda Rishworth http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/rishworth/2013/index.html Departmental http://www.environment.gov.au/about/media/dept-mr/index.html FAHCSIA Minister Jenny Macklin http://jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/ Minister Mark Butler http://markbutler.fahcsia.gov.au/ Minister Julie Collins http://juliecollins.fahcsia.gov.au/ Parliamentary Secretary Melissa Parke http://melissaparke.fahcsia.gov.au/ HEALTH Minister Tanya Plibersek http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/MediaReleases-TP-1 Minister Mark Butler http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/MediaReleases-MB-2 Parliamentary Secretary Shayne Neumann http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/The+Hon+Shayne+Neumann+MP+-+Parliamentary+Secretary+for+Health+and+Ageing-1 HEALTH/INDIGENOUS Minister Warren Snowdon http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/MediaReleases-WS-1 Departmental http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Home HUMAN SERVICES Minister Jan McLucas http://www.mhs.gov.au/media/media_releases/index.php Departmental http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/ ICT/MEDIA Minister Stephen Conroy www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media Departmental http://www.dbcde.gov.au/newsroom INFRASTRUCTURE Minister Anthony Albanese http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2013/May/index.aspx Minister Catherine King http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/ck/index.aspx Departmental http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/releases_speeches.aspx Infrastructure Australia http://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/media/ INNOVATION/RESEARCH/INDUSTRY Minister Greg Combet http://minister.innovation.gov.au/gregcombet/MediaReleases/Pages/default.aspx Minister Craig Emerson http://minister.innovation.gov.au/craigemerson/MediaReleases/Pages/Default.aspx Minister Gary Gray http://minister.innovation.gov.au/garygray/MediaReleases/Pages/Default.aspx Minister Kate Lundy http://minister.innovation.gov.au/katelundy/MediaReleases/Pages/Default.aspx Minister Don Farrell http://minister.innovation.gov.au/donfarrell/MediaReleases/Pages/Default.aspx Parliamentary Secretary Bernie Ripoll http://minister.innovation.gov.au/bernieripoll/MediaReleases/Pages/Default.aspx REGIONAL/LOCAL GOVERNMENT/ARTS/SPORT Minister Anthony Albanese http://ministers.regional.gov.au/honourable-anthony-albanese-mp Minister Tony Burke http://ministers.regional.gov.au/honourable-tony-burke-mp Minister Kate Lundy http://ministers.regional.gov.au/senator-honourable-kate-lundy Minister Catherine King http://ministers.regional.gov.au/honourable-catherine-king-mp Parliamentary Secretary Michael Danby http://ministers.regional.gov.au/honourable-michael-danby-mp Departmental http://www.regional.gov.au/department/statements/index.aspx Regional Australia Institute http://www.regionalaustralia.org.au/rai-media RESOURCES & ENERGY Minister Gary Gray http://minister.ret.gov.au/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/GaryGrayMediaReleases.aspx Departmental http://www.ret.gov.au/Department/pub-and-rep/Pages/PublicationsandReports.aspx LIBERAL PARTY http://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/ AUSTRALIAN GREENS http://greensmps.org.au/latest-news NATIONALS http://www.nationals.org.au/News/LatestNews.aspx Catriona Jackson Chief Executive Officer Science & Technology Australia Giving voice to Australian Science & Technology for over 27 years www.sta.org.au www.respectthescience.org.au catriona.jackson at sta.org.au T: 02 6257 2891 M: 0417142238 PO Box 259 Canberra City ACT 2601 -------------- next part 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URL: From agreen at aao.gov.au Wed May 15 15:45:57 2013 From: agreen at aao.gov.au (Andy Green) Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 15:45:57 +1000 Subject: [ASA] AAT Service Observing - Call for Proposals Message-ID: <459E9726-3FEC-4570-A30B-EE7791E37E41@aao.gov.au> 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 *** Saturday, 1 June 2013, at 23:59 *** (Australian Eastern Standard Time, i.e. UTC + 10 hrs) Applications are welcomed from all astronomers, worldwide. The following instruments are available for service observations: 2dF+AAOmega, IRIS2, UCLES/UHRF, SPIRAL+AAOmega. NOTE: For the period 21 October to January 2014, only 2dF+AAOmega will be available for service observing. Service Programmes expire after 18 months. Current programmes submitted before 1 Aug 2011 will be purged from the queue. If you have an existing programme in this category, you are invited to resubmit this round. 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 AAT Service Coordinator service at aao.gov.au -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Thu May 16 12:32:12 2013 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 12:32:12 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Next ATUC Meeting: 11/12th June 2013 Message-ID: Apologies if you receive multiple copies of this message and the late announcement. Dear Users of the Australia Telescope National Facility, The Australia Telescope Users Committee (ATUC) meet regularly to discuss issues that affect users of the ATNF. The next ATUC meeting is to be held at the ATNF headquarters in Marsfield on the 11h and 12th June, 2013. Exact meeting times will be posted on the ATUC webpages a week or two before the meeting. On the morning of the 11th, an Open Session will be held that consists of reports and updates on the various aspects of ATNF operations. All users are welcome to attend the Open Session which usually goes to mid afternoon. An agenda for the Open Session will be made available on the ATUC web page. In the afternoon and on the 12th, ATUC hold a Closed Session, during which a report to the ATNF Director is drafted. If you, as a user (or potential user) of the ATNF, are aware of any issues that need to be raised at the next ATUC meeting, would like to present a short topic for discussion, or would like to offer praise for the many ATNF achievements, please contact any member of ATUC over the next few weeks. Information on ATUC and how to contact its members can be found at: http://www.atnf.csiro.au/management/atuc (ATUC reports, responses, online feedback form) Regular ATUC summaries are in the ATNF newsletter http://www.atnf.csiro.au/news/newsletter Regards, Chris Phillips (for) John Dickey ATUC Chair ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 222, 44-70 Rosehill St Redfern H90 (see map) | (alternate: Rm 205, Physics Building A28) Postal address: School of Physics | 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 Sun May 19 13:49:05 2013 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 13:49:05 +1000 Subject: [ASA] ASA constitutional changes Message-ID: To All ASA Members, You will recall that a postal ballot was held some weeks ago to vote on changes to the ASA Constitution. The primary focus of the changes was to allow electronic voting in future ballots. In addition, the Council took the opportunity to propose some changes to the Council itself to improve its operation and a minor change regarding Corporate members. Also, a number of By-Law changes were proposed, many required because of the Constitutional changes. It is not necessary to vote on By-Law changes but it is a requirement that the Council notify members of such changes. I am pleased to report that all constitutional amendments have been supported in the ballot of members. There were 63 valid votes cast and 4 informal votes (no name and signature). The ballot scrutineer was Andrew Cole from the University of Tasmania. The ballot for electronic voting amendments was passed unanimously. The ballot for council restructuring was passed with 62 votes in favour and 1 against. The ballot for publication distribution modification was passed unanimously. I apologise for the delay in announcing the result of the ballot. Initially we had to confirm eligibility of several votes and more lately I have just been a bit slow! The new constitution is now on-line at http://asa.astronomy.org.au/constitution.html I hope you will agree that this is a good result which should make life somewhat easier for the Society in the future. best wishes, John ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 222, 44-70 Rosehill St Redfern H90 (see map) | (alternate: Rm 205, Physics Building A28) Postal address: School of Physics | 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: