From Kate.Brooks at csiro.au Mon Jan 21 07:45:34 2013 From: Kate.Brooks at csiro.au (Kate Brooks) Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2013 07:45:34 +1100 Subject: [ASA] ANU Siding Spring Observatory Fire - Staff Emergency Relief Fund + Fundraising Dinner Message-ID: <67C24FC7-44C6-4AA7-80E7-2AA52AC5AA94@csiro.au> Dear ASA members, ANU has established a Staff Emergency Relief Fund to assist the ANU Siding Spring Observatory staff and their families who were affected by the recent Wambelong fire in NSW. Priority will be given to those with the most urgent needs. Excess funds will be applied to the restoration of the Observatory site. Donations can be made online or using a donation form. See the following link for further information: http://philanthropy.anu.edu.au/philanthropy/donate-online/search/?cause=anu-siding-spring-observatory-fire-staff-emergency-relief-fund University House, with the generous support of its suppliers, is hosting a Bushfire Appeal Dinner in support of the staff members and their families who have been affected by the Wambelong fire at Siding Spring Observatory. The 3 course dinner with selected wines will be held in the Great Hall on Friday 25 January at 6pm. The cost is $75 per person, which will go to the ANU Siding Spring Observatory Bush Fire Staff Emergency Relief Fund and the Australian Red Cross. For further information visit the University House website: http://www.anu.edu.au/unihouse/ Kind regards, Kate Brooks ASA, President From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Mon Jan 21 08:44:02 2013 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:44:02 +1100 Subject: [ASA] ANU Siding Spring Observatory Fire - Staff Emergency Relief Fund + Fundraising Dinner In-Reply-To: <67C24FC7-44C6-4AA7-80E7-2AA52AC5AA94@csiro.au> References: <67C24FC7-44C6-4AA7-80E7-2AA52AC5AA94@csiro.au> Message-ID: <768BC699-43D7-46BB-A836-D0BE1D558A72@sydney.edu.au> This begs the question if the ASA is doing anything and may pre-empt any attempt by us to raise funds from members (they may have already donated to ANU). I think we should now say what, if anything, we plan to do. John On 21/01/2013, at 7:45 AM, Kate Brooks wrote: > Dear ASA members, > > ANU has established a Staff Emergency Relief Fund to assist the ANU Siding Spring Observatory staff and their families who were affected by the recent Wambelong fire in NSW. Priority will be given to those with the most urgent needs. Excess funds will be applied to the restoration of the Observatory site. Donations can be made online or using a donation form. See the following link for further information: > http://philanthropy.anu.edu.au/philanthropy/donate-online/search/?cause=anu-siding-spring-observatory-fire-staff-emergency-relief-fund > > University House, with the generous support of its suppliers, is hosting a Bushfire Appeal Dinner in support of the staff members and their families who have been affected by the Wambelong fire at Siding Spring Observatory. The 3 course dinner with selected wines will be held in the Great Hall on Friday 25 January at 6pm. The cost is $75 per person, which will go to the ANU Siding Spring Observatory Bush Fire Staff Emergency Relief Fund and the Australian Red Cross. For further information visit the University House website: > http://www.anu.edu.au/unihouse/ > > Kind regards, > Kate Brooks > ASA, President > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > ASA mailing list > ASA at physics.usyd.edu.au > Change membership status or contact information via ASA's Edit Membership page > http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~asamail/asa_membership/asa_members_user_edit.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Kate.Brooks at csiro.au Mon Jan 21 15:01:38 2013 From: Kate.Brooks at csiro.au (Kate Brooks) Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:01:38 +1100 Subject: [ASA] ANU Siding Spring Observatory Fire - Staff Emergency Relief Fund + Fundraising Dinner Message-ID: <79B02F6C-AB08-4B5E-9D18-DC790A9D1DB8@csiro.au> Dear members, I must add that the ANU Staff Emergency Relief Fund is meant for ANU staff, students and alumni to contribute to, not the general public. ASA members can contribute instead to the Warrumbungle Shire Mayor?s Bushfire Appeal: http://www.warrumbungle.nsw.gov.au/News/Articles/Warrumbungle-Shire-Mayor-s-Bushfire-Appeal ASA will be providing support to members who are affected by the fires. We are in the process of identifying the best way to ensure that support is in the most direct and useful way possible. Cheers, Kate Brooks ASA, President From bryan.gaensler at sydney.edu.au Mon Jan 21 12:59:41 2013 From: bryan.gaensler at sydney.edu.au (Bryan Gaensler) Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:59:41 +1100 Subject: [ASA] PASA is now published by Cambridge University Press Message-ID: Dear ASA members, As was announced in July 2012, your society journal PASA has now commenced a new five-year publishing contract with Cambridge University Press (CUP). We are very excited to be partnering with such a prestigious publisher, and look forward to working with CUP to continue growing PASA's reach and standing. The first issue of PASA published by CUP is now available at http://journals.cambridge.org/pas . Please check it out, and let me know if you have any trouble accessing this content with your existing institutional subscription. Content from 2012 and earlier is gradually being moved over to this new site also. All ASA members get two immediate benefits from our CUP partnership: * ASA members now get a 20% discount on all Cambridge University Press book publications. I'll be emailing details on how to claim this discount shortly. * Free personal subscription to PASA. We assume that most ASA members will use their institutional subscription to PASA, and that you won't need or use details of your personal subscription. However, if you do not have access to an institutional subscription and want a personal subscription, please reply to this email and I will organise this for you. PASA is run by a hard-working and proactive editorial board. We are eager to hear your suggestions on things we can do to continue to improve the journal, and we welcome enquiries as to possible papers or special issues that you might be interested in submitting or developing. Bryan Gaensler Editor-in-Chief, PASA From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Mon Jan 21 15:19:24 2013 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:19:24 +1100 Subject: [ASA] A Neapolitan of Masers - Workshop at CASS Message-ID: This is a preliminary announcement for a maser workshop which we will be hosting from 20-22 May 2013. The workshop will focus on three key areas of maser science and techniques: Variability, Magnetism and VLBI (further details are listed on the webpage http://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/workshops/2013/maserworkshop2013/index.html). This workshop will take place at the Australia Telescope National Facility in Sydney, part of CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science. We are currently in the process of inviting speakers, with the workshop consisting of invited talks, contributed talks and discussion, with three days of scheduled programme and two optional days for participants to engage in further discussion and collaborations. The aim of the workshop is to bring experts in the field together to review the current standing of each topic, discuss latest results and foster collaborations to address the remaining questions. Kind Regards, Yiannis Ioannis Gonidakis Post Doctoral Fellow in High Resolution Science Astronomy and Space Science CSIRO E ioannis.gonidakis at csiro.au T +61 2 9372 4718 Crn Vimiera and Pembroke Rds, Marsfield, NSW 2122 http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Yiannis.Gonidakis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Tue Jan 22 17:27:23 2013 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:27:23 +1100 Subject: [ASA] ASA 2013 Special Sessions Message-ID: <78E48A6F-D38B-43FF-AE85-9DB8FB53FB7B@sydney.edu.au> Dear ASA Members The ASA 2013 SOC is soliciting requests for special sessions for ASA 2013. This includes science sessions and other sessions (some of which may occur during lunch or tea breaks). If you wish to organise a special session, please email a short description (<1 page) of the special session to Michael Brown (SOC chair, Michael.Brown at monash.edu) before or on Friday 1 February 2013. Please include details such as the session title, purpose, duration, format (e.g., lecture, moderated discussion), potential speakers and session organiser/chair. There has already been significant interest expressed by the community regarding special sessions for ASA 2013, so we expect to be oversubscribed. Regards, Michael Brown. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 bryan.gaensler at sydney.edu.au Tue Jan 22 13:36:27 2013 From: bryan.gaensler at sydney.edu.au (Bryan Gaensler) Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:36:27 +1100 Subject: [ASA] PASA, ARC and open access Message-ID: Hi again everyone, A few people have written to me asking what the ARC's new policy on open access publication means for PASA papers published by Cambridge University Press (CUP). The bottom line is that it will be trivially easy to publish papers in PASA (and in most other journals) while adhering to the ARC's new requirements. Here is a brief summary: * The ARC's new open access policy came into force on 1 Jan 2013, as described at http://www.arc.gov.au/applicants/open_access.htm . Publications that meet the criteria described in this policy must be deposited into an open access institutional repository within 12 months from the date of publication. * If you publish a paper in PASA that falls under the ARC's open access policy, there are four different ways you can meet the ARC's requirements: 1. You can post the accepted version of your paper on arXiv.org (which most of you probably do anyway). Your institutional repository then need only host the article metadata, with a link to the paper on arXiv. 2. You can submit the accepted version of your paper to your institutional repository. Note that the accepted version of your paper is NOT the same as the published version of your paper. The former is the manuscript you submit to the journal and which many authors will also choose to post to arXiv.org (e.g. a PDF file generated by you from a LaTeX template); the latter is the typeset version published by the journal. 3. You can have your PASA paper published by CUP as open access by paying an article processing fee (this means the paper will be freely available to anyone, regardless of whether they have a subscription to PASA). For 2013, this fee is US$2700. You can then choose whether to submit the published version of the paper to your institutional repository, or to have the repository host only the article metadata plus a link to the paper on the CUP WWW site. 4. As Editor-in-Chief, I get to designate an additional six PASA papers per year as open access without any article processing fee. If you submit an awesome paper to PASA, I may designate it as open access. You can then choose whether to submit the published version of the paper to your institutional repository, or to have the repository host only the article metadata plus a link to the paper on the CUP WWW site. * When you publish in PASA, CUP will supply you free-of-charge with a PDF version of the published typeset paper. However, unless your paper is published as open access, the copyright agreement that you sign has restrictions on the use of this PDF file: - You can post the PDF file on your personal or departmental WWW site, to be freely downloaded. - You can make hard copies of the PDF for use by you and your students. - You CANNOT submit the PDF file to an institutional repository or link to it from such a repository until 12 months have elapsed. After that time, you can replace the preprint from options (1) or (2) above with the published PDF file if you wish. Please let me know if you have any questions as we move into this brave new ARC-mandated era. regards, Bryan Gaensler Editor-in-Chief, PASA From director at aao.gov.au Wed Jan 23 15:01:29 2013 From: director at aao.gov.au (Andrew Hopkins) Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:01:29 +1100 Subject: [ASA] Suspension of access to Siding Spring Observatory until 18 February Message-ID: <50FF6099.7060200@aao.gov.au> SUSPENSION OF ACCESS TO SIDING SPRING OBSERVATORY UNTIL 18 FEBRUARY ANU and AAO announce that the suspension of access to the Siding Spring Observatory, and all associated observing activities, will be extended until 18 February 2013. Now that the danger from fire has passed, an environmental assessment of the Siding Spring Observatory site is being carried out. There are still residual hazards that affect the safety of the site, including the danger of falling trees, land-slips and potentially hazardous materials. Specialist contractors are working this week and into next week to ensure the safety of the site before staff return to the telescopes. Once the site has been made safe for staff, we anticipate a two to three week period during which insurance loss assessors will inspect the site and facilities, and staff will complete essential cleaning and repairs, assessing the telescopes, instruments and systems and working to return the observatory to full operation. Observing will begin again once all systems are ready and available, and staff are in a position to provide the necessary support. We currently forecast that this will be on or around 18 February, but at present this date is provisional - we will be continuing to advise all involved as the situation evolves. NOTE THAT UNTIL THE SITE IS FORMALLY DECLARED OPEN AGAIN FOR OBSERVING, ONLY SPECIFICALLY AUTHORISED ACCESS TO THE SITE WILL BE PERMITTED. This applies to all ANU, AAO and other observatory staff as well as all visitors. Because of the destruction of the Lodge there will need to be interim arrangements for accommodating observers and technical staff visiting the site; these will also be advised in due course. Matthew Colless, RSAA Director Andrew Hopkins, Acting AAO Director -- A.Prof. Andrew Hopkins, Acting Director Australian Astronomical Observatory P.O. Box 915, North Ryde, NSW 1670, Australia ph: +61 2 9372 4849 fax: +61 2 9372 4880 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Kate.Brooks at csiro.au Thu Jan 24 17:45:19 2013 From: Kate.Brooks at csiro.au (Kate Brooks) Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:45:19 +1100 Subject: [ASA] News update Message-ID: Dear members, I am pleased to pass on two good news stories from this day 24 January 2013: Distinguished astrophysicist Professor Warrick Couch has been appointed as Director of the Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO). http://minister.innovation.gov.au/chrisevans/MediaReleases/Pages/ProfessorWarrickCouchtoheadAustralianAstronomicalObservatory.aspx Australian astronomer Professor Ken Freeman has been awarded the American Astronomical Society's top prize - the Henry Norris Russell Lectureship http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-24/anu-researcher-wins-top-science-prize/4482442 Please join me in congratulating Warrick and Ken for their achievements. I wish Warrick all the very best in his new role as AAO Director. Cheers, Kate Brooks ASA, President From thill at museum.vic.gov.au Fri Jan 25 16:43:31 2013 From: thill at museum.vic.gov.au (Hill, Tanya) Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:43:31 +1100 Subject: [ASA] Bok prize - closes 31st January Message-ID: <7A64CF74085EDA4E93CEF1089F043E4517A3D7DC44@RAKALI.mv.vic.gov.au> A reminder that nominations for the Bok Prize must be received by Thursday 31st January. The Bok Prize is for outstanding research in astronomy by an Honours or eligible Masters student at an Australian university. Eligible Masters students are those who have entered their Masters degree from a 3 year undergraduate degree. Students who completed an Honours year before entering the Masters degree are not eligible for the Bok prize. Degree requirements must have been completed in 2012. The nomination guidelines can be found at: http://asa.astronomy.org.au/bok.html regards, Tanya Dr Tanya Hill Planetarium Manager | Senior Curator, Astronomy Melbourne Planetarium, Scienceworks MUSEUM VICTORIA | GPO Box 666, Melbourne 3001 t: 03 9392 4503 (Wed, Thurs and Fridays) | e: thill at museum.vic.gov.au | w: museumvictoria.com.au/planetarium Museums Board of Victoria ABN 63 640 679 155 is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient. All gifts of $2 or more are tax deductible. [cid:imagea66e4b.jpg at 4608b76d.4fec4379] Melbourne Museum Major Tourist Attraction museumvictoria.com.au This e-mail is solely for the named addressee and may be confidential. You should only read, disclose, transmit, copy, distribute, act in reliance on or commercialise the contents if you are authorised to do so. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, please notify postmaster at museum.vic.gov.au by email immediately, or notify the sender and then destroy any copy of this message. Views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender, except where specifically stated to be those of an officer of Museum Victoria. Museum Victoria does not represent, warrant or guarantee that the integrity of this communication has been maintained nor that it is free from errors, virus or interference. Please consider the environment before printing this email. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: imagea66e4b.jpg at 4608b76d.4fec4379 Type: image/jpeg Size: 2845 bytes Desc: imagea66e4b.jpg at 4608b76d.4fec4379 URL: From Kate.Brooks at csiro.au Sun Jan 27 14:32:02 2013 From: Kate.Brooks at csiro.au (Kate Brooks) Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2013 14:32:02 +1100 Subject: [ASA] Australia Day Honours List 2013 Message-ID: <4257DA80-576C-44B0-9789-D7FC70438B0D@csiro.au> Dear colleagues, I am proud to report that three members of the Astronomical Society of Australia are among more than 500 people recognised yesterday in the Australia Day Honours List. Professor Brian Schmidt - For eminent service as a global science leader in the field of physics through research in the study of astronomy and astrophysics, contributions to scientific bodies and the promotion of science education. Professor Michael Dopita - For significant service to science in the field of astronomy and astrophysics. Professor Brian Boyle - For outstanding public service to Australian astronomy and for leadership of the Australian team bidding to host the international Square Kilometre Array facility. Brian Schmidt and Michael Dopita have been appointed to the Order of Australia. In the Australian honours system, appointments to the Order of Australia confer the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service. There are two divisions of the Order of Australia: the Civil or General Division and the Military Division. The General Division of the Order of Australia has four levels: - Companion of the Order (AC) - Officer of the Order (AO) - Member of the Order (AM) - Medal of the Order (OAM) Brian Schmidt was awarded Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia. The Companion of the Order is awarded for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or humanity at large. The Companion is Australia?s greatest civic honour. Brian's appointment is a testament to the outstanding achievements he has made in astronomical research as well as his tireless commitment to popularising science in our community and highlighting the importance of science education and research funding. The Companion of the Order of Australia is a beautiful badge with a gold insignia of the Order in the centre. It will sit very well alongside Brian's Nobel Prize medal and the many other medals and awards he has received and richly deserved. Michael Dopita was awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. The Member of the Order is awarded for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group and confers Mike's significant achievements in the fields of theoretical and observational astronomy and his service to the science community. Mike has been a Professor of Astronomy at the Australian National University since 1975 and was Head of the Astrophysical Theory Centre between 1999 and 2007. His major research contributions have been recognised by the award of the ISI Citation Laureate in 2001, the Award of the Australian Centenary Medal in 2003, and by the award in 2001 of an inaugural Australian Federation Fellowship. He was the President of Division VI of the International Astronomical Union (1997-2000) and has served on many international peer-review panels and policy-advice committees. Mike is Treasurer of the Australian Academy of Science and is Editor-in-Chief for Astrophysics & Space Science. Brian Boyle was awarded a Public Service Medal. The Public Service Medal recognises outstanding service by employees of the Australian Government and state, territory and local government employees. This award recognises Brian's tremendous service to the Australian astronomy community over the past sixteen years in his roles as Director of the Australian Astronomical Observatory (1996 to 2003) and Director of CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility (2003 to 2009) before his appointment to CSIRO SKA Director in February 2009. The award acknowledges Brian's tremendous leadership in securing Australia's important role in the SKA project and setting the science direction for Australian astronomy through leading the development of the Australian Astronomy Decadal Plan 2006-15. Brian was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003 for services to Australian Astronomy and is currently the Project Director for the Australia & New Zealand SKA project (anzSKA). I congratulate both Brians and Mike on their well-deserved accolades. I am proud to be part of a society that has so many amazing astronomers who inspire and drive such scientific excellence. Kate Brooks, ASA, President