From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Tue May 1 11:52:24 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 11:52:24 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Call for Proposals for 2.3m telescope time Aug-Oct 2012 References: Message-ID: -------------------------------------- Dear Observer, The closing date for observing proposals for time on the ANU/RSAA 2.3m telescope at Siding Spring Observatory (SSO) in the quarter AUG - OCT 2012 is 23:59 May 15, 2012. Instruments available: Nasymth A: WiFeS [see below] Nasymth B: Imager or echelle. WiFeS upgrade: In the current schedule for the WiFeS upgrade work the exact date that the instrument will become (temporarily) unavailable for observing is uncertain, but it may occur during in the August-October 2012 quarter. Observers should therefore plan their proposals accordingly. Specifically, it is likely that any WiFeS programs awarded time in this quarter, particularly in the latter part of the quarter, will be provisional allocations only and may be withdrawn depending on the progress of the upgrade work. In these cases specific backup programs that use the echelle or the imager will be identified. The echelle and the imager will be available for the entire quarter. Observing proposals must be submitted electronically via the RSAA web pages. Full instructions are available at http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/observing/. You will need the most recent versions of the template and style files which can be obtained from the web pages. *************************** PLEASE NOTE *********************************** (1) WiFeS users are requested to indicate on the proposal form whether they will be present at the telescope or observe remotely. Remote observing is available only to experienced WiFeS observers. It is possible that remote observing (from Mt Stromlo only) will also be available in this quarter for the echelle and the Imager, under limited circumstances. If you would like to observe remotely with the echelle or the Imager, assuming it is possible, then please indicate this iin your proposal. Similarly, if you intend remote WiFeS observing from sites other than Mt Stromlo, please indicate this in your proposal so that we can ensure it's technically feasible. (2) Proposals for use of the 2.3m will only be considered if the PI is from the ANU or from another institution that contributes financially or has contributed financially and directly to the building and/or operations of the 2.3m telescope and its commissioned instruments. These institutions include those that collaborated on the successful ARC LIEF bid to fund the Blue Arm of the WiFeS spectrograph and the successful ARC LIEF bid for the WiFeS upgrade. All such proposals will be judged on their scientific merit alone. There will be no quotas placed on the amount of time available for qualifying institutions. These policies will remain in place for the present. Currently eligible (non-ANU) institutions are the AAO, UQld, UNSW and USyd as well as Swinburne, Monash and Macquarie. (3) The WiFeS instrument is performing well although there remain issues with the CCD in the red camera. A workaround has been implemented in which in which the frame is readout through one amplifier instead of four. For a full frame (complete spatial and spectral coverage, x2 binning) the readout time is approximately 3 minutes. For half the frame (50% spatial coverage but full spectral coverage) the read out time will be approximately 90sec. Observers will need to take this extra overhead into account. PIs of successful proposals will be notified if there is any change in the status of the red camera CCD. The Blue camera is working normally. The upgrade work will replace both detectors with new E2V 4k x 4k CCDs. (4) Limited first night support at the telescope is now provided to new observers. Nevertheless new observers are strongly encouraged to be present at the telescope at least one night before their observing run to familiarise themselves with the telescope and instrument operating systems. The current version of the WiFeS Observing Manual can be found at http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/observing/wifes/WiFeS_Obs_Manual.pdf. This manual and other information on WiFeS (see http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/observing/ssowiki/index.php/WiFeS_Main_Page) are updated regularly. Information on using the echelle is available at: http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/observing/ssowiki/index.php/2.3m_echelle (5) Proposers are reminded to limit their scientific case to TWO pages, including figures and references. *************************************************************************** If you have technical problems in using the web-based submission process, please email tacinfo at mso.anu.edu.au. Gary Da Costa Chair, RSAA TAC --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof Gary Da Costa Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics, ANU Mt Stromlo Observatory via Cotter Rd, Weston Creek, ACT 2611, Australia Phone: +61 2 6125 8913 Fax: +61 2 6125 8913 E-mail: gdc at mso.anu.edu.au ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Tue May 1 13:30:35 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 13:30:35 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Nominations for 2012-2013 ASA Council Message-ID: <00172A08-A9A2-432C-9E22-5C27FE9E25C4@sydney.edu.au> To ASA voting members, (sorry, that excludes Students and Associate members) All voting members are invited to nominate another member for the 2012-2013 Council (or get themselves nominated). As required by the Constitution, the current Council has prepared a full list of candidates, as listed on the attached nomination form. Any further nominations must be received on paper by either Marc Duldig or myself on or before 29 May 2012. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Marc Duldig (Marc.Duldig at utas.edu.au) or myself (john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au). 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 568, Physics Annexe A29) 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: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2012_Council_Nominations.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 150744 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Fri May 4 12:21:39 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Fri, 4 May 2012 12:21:39 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Developing an evaluation framework for mobile learning: Post Doc and PhD scholarships In-Reply-To: <1539C070706C8544BF0C41BF06DC99A3506E0BFF56@EXCHMB.usq.edu.au> References: <1539C070706C8544BF0C41BF06DC99A3506E0BFF56@EXCHMB.usq.edu.au> Message-ID: From Bard Carter at USQ: Collaborative Research Network Post Doc and PhD Australian Digital Futures Institute, University of Southern Queensland The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has been successful in receiving funding of $5.1M under the Commonwealth?s Collaborative Research Networks scheme for the Digital Futures ? Collaborative Research Network (CRN) program. Partners in the network are the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of South Australia (UniSA). The Digital Futures (CRN) program will explore the future in a digital age within three specific sub-themes: ? social and policy challenges in a digital future ? participation in higher education ? technology rich learning environments One of the projects that has received funding under this scheme is Developing an evaluation framework for mobile learning. A global trend towards widespread and highly functional mobile computing offers many new opportunities for devices such as smartphones and tablet computers to be used in a range of educational settings. Given the importance of education to the wealth, economic productivity and political engagement of both developed and developing nations, mobile computing holds promise as a way to increase the quality and quantity of education in many nations to produce a range of positive benefits. Nevertheless, a crucial issue is how most effectively to use current and likely future mobile computing technologies for maximum educational benefits. This project aims to build a framework for evaluating mobile learning technologies ? a crucial enterprise, given that the authoritative evaluation of mobile learning is still an emergent scholarly discipline. Post Doc Information The core focus of the project entitled Developing an evaluation Framework for Mobile Learning is to develop a framework for evaluating learning through the use of mobile technology (Smartphones, tablets, etc). A half-time or full-time, level A or level B Post Docposition is available for the project. The suitable candidate will have education research experience in one of the following areas: digital futures, education, science, mathematics and computing, or business. For more information: http://bit.ly/IBCRPc PhD scholarship information This is a rare opportunity for students looking to progress their career by engaging in research in digital futures, one of the most quickly developing areas of social interaction and impact in society today. Successful applicants will contribute to the enhancement of world class research programs at USQ in collaboration with experienced, high quality researchers at ANU and UniSA. Collaborative Research Network PHD scholarships carry a stipend of $30 000 per annum to the successful applicant. Payments are made on a fortnightly basis over the year. The period of the tenure for the award is three years. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree will be deducted from the period of tenure. Successful candidates will be enrolled full time on campus at USQ. It is expected that successful projects will advance research collaboration between USQ, Australian National University (ANU) and the University of South Australia (UniSA) and as a result may involve joint supervision between the partner institutions. Recipients of the award will work across collaborative projects and may spend some time at the partner institutions. For more information see: http://bit.ly/JwLUNu For more information about the project, contact Project Leader, Dr Helen Farley: helen.farley at usq.edu.au Dr Helen Farley Senior Lecturer (Digital Futures) Australian Digital Futures Institute University of Southern Queensland Q 4350 Australia Ph: +617 4631 1738 Mob: +61 401 878 880 Email: Helen.Farley at usq.edu.au Skype: helenf5300 Second Life: Helen Frak ADFI Blog: http://adfi.usq.edu.au/starlog/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3795 bytes Desc: not available URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Fri May 4 12:23:43 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Fri, 4 May 2012 12:23:43 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Session of interest to astronomers at MetSoc Message-ID: <7192D36E-A14D-443A-8C34-B9A572294D2F@sydney.edu.au> Dear astronomers, We would like to bring to your attention that at the Meteoritical Society meeting in Cairns, 12-17 August, just after NiC6, there will be a special session to bring together astronomers and planetary scientists: "From Dust to Planets - The Formation of Solar Systems" A coherent understanding of planetary system formation and evolution requires us to combine information from many scales, both observation and theory: meteorite analysis, planetary astronomy, the dynamical modelling that shows major planetary architectural rearrangements have led to the Solar System we see today. To aid in building this community understanding of planetary systems, our own Solar System's history, and the origin of the Earth, we invite talks on all aspects of theoretical and observational protostellar disks and planetary formation, dynamics, geomorphology, astronomy, and big-picture meteorite studies, particularly approaches linking meteoritical and astronomical data. Abstracts are due by 29 May. We hope to see you there! Sincerely, Michele Bannister and Raquel Salmeron, convenors. http://shrimp.anu.edu.au/metsoc2012/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 568, Physics Annexe A29) 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: