From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Mon Apr 15 14:14:19 2013 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:14:19 +1000 Subject: [ASA] STA media release re: University cuts References: Message-ID: <428813BB-629A-4E22-A5F7-26C9B53E6862@sydney.edu.au> A message from Science and Technology Australia: Begin forwarded message: > From: Catriona Jackson > Subject: STA media release re: University cuts - please circulate > Date: 15 April 2013 12:40:27 PM AEST > To: STA > > Dear Presidents, Secretaries and STA members, where appropriate could you please circulate this note and media release to your members. > > Dear Colleagues, > > Many of you will have read of the Federal Government's cuts to the Higher Education system announced over the weekend. > > Please see attached a media release issued yesterday - protesting the cuts. > > STA is taking a very active role in the lead up this year's Federal Election, and will send members comprehensive details in monthly newsletters at the end of each month. > > Where important issues, such as this, arise between those dates, we will send material as it happens. > > Best wishes, > > 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 > > T: 02 6257 2891 > M: 0417142238 > > PO Box 259 > Canberra City ACT 2601 > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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URL: From vkilborn at swin.edu.au Tue Apr 16 13:33:22 2013 From: vkilborn at swin.edu.au (Virginia Kilborn) Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:33:22 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Director - Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing Message-ID: Director - Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing (Position Number : 20776) - Outstanding research leadership opportunity - Set the vision for one of Australia?s most dynamic astronomy research centres The Director of the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing provides academic and research leadership to one of the highest profile research centres at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. Swinburne?s vision is to be Australia?s leading university of science, technology and innovation by 2020. Relevant and internationally recognised research is at the heart of that vision and the Academic Ranking of World Universities already places Swinburne in the top 100 universities worldwide for physics. The Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing has a strong international research profile in computational, theoretical and observational astronomy which spans the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Priority research areas include galaxy evolution and cosmology, globular clusters, pulsars, star and planet formation, Square Kilometre Array design and astronomy visualisation. The Centre currently supports over 35 staff (academic, postdoctoral, technical and support), 30 PhD students and maintains a vibrant international visitor program. In the 2010 and 2012 Excellence in Research for Australia assessments, Swinburne was given the highest possible rating in both the specific field of Astronomical and Space Sciences and in the broad field of Physical Sciences. Swinburne is part of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO). It operates a significant supercomputing facility with over 400 Teraflops of processing capability and has a formal, long-term collaborative agreement with Caltech which provides Centre staff dedicated observing time on the 10-m Keck telescopes in Hawaii. The Centre is dedicated to inspiring a fascination in the Universe through research and education, offering a Master of Science (Astronomy) online and producing state-of-the-art 3D IMAX and outreach films which are shown in our own virtual reality theatre and in theatres around the world. *Skills and experience* To be successful in this role, you must have: - Excellent academic and professional qualifications coupled with a proven track record in leading the development of research. - An international research reputation in astrophysics as evidenced by publications, research grants and other relevant outcomes. - A track record of successful supervision of higher research degree candidates and mentoring of early-mid career researchers. - Significant involvement at a senior level in professional organisations and societies or in national or international conferences. - A record of achievement in managing a research group or division of a larger organisation. *Benefits * An attractive remuneration package will be negotiated. Swinburne is recognised as an Employer of Choice for Women and offers carer?s, maternity and partner leave entitlements. For position information and to apply online go to: www.swinburne.edu.au/jobs and submit a cover letter, resume and a response to the Key Selection Criteria, as listed in the Position Description. Please do not email or send paper applications, all applications must be submitted online. Further information can be obtained from George Collins, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (R&D) at gacollins at swin.edu.au or +61 3 9214 5210. *Refer to Position Number: 20776* *Applications close 17 June 2013* -- Virginia Kilborn Deputy Director, Centre for Astrophysics & Supercomputing Swinburne University of Technology Ph (w) +61 (0)3 9214 4380 http://www.astronomy.swin.edu.au/~vkilborn/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From matthew.colless at anu.edu.au Thu Apr 18 04:51:16 2013 From: matthew.colless at anu.edu.au (Matthew Colless) Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:51:16 +1000 Subject: [ASA] GMT article in Harvard Magazine Message-ID: <9307FB5D-B3A2-4A48-9F13-32633E374ECC@anu.edu.au> GMT is on the cover of the Harvard Magazine, with an excellent article inside - see the following link: http://harvardmagazine.com/2013/05/seeing-stars ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Professor Matthew Colless FAA FRAS matthew.colless at anu.edu.au Director www.rsaa.anu.edu.au Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics Telephone: +61-2-6125-0266 The Australian National University Mobile: +61-431-898-345 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Thu Apr 18 08:59:29 2013 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:59:29 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Vacancy in 2014 for two Editors in Chief, Astrophysics and Space Science Message-ID: <5479FB19-22B4-4703-A388-36D4C5997BD9@sydney.edu.au> Vacancy in 2014 for two Editors in Chief, Astrophysics and Space Science. ________________________________ Prof. Michael Dopita, AM, FAA Mt. Stromlo Observatory, RSAA The Australian National University Cotter Road, Weston Creek ACT 2611, Australia ________________________________ Home: +61 262 843509 Fax: +61 262 843509 Work: +61 261 250212 ________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Ap&SS_Editors_in_Chief_advert.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 678387 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From duncan.galloway at monash.edu Thu Apr 18 10:26:50 2013 From: duncan.galloway at monash.edu (Duncan Galloway) Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:26:50 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Third Announcement: 2013 Astronomical Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting References: Message-ID: Third Announcement: 2013 Astronomical Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting The 2013 Astronomical Society of Australia's Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) will be held from the 7th to 12th of July, hosted by the Monash Centre for Astrophysics (MoCA) at Monash University's Clayton campus in south-east Melbourne, Victoria. The deadline for early registration and contributed talk submission is tomorrow: ** 5pm AET Friday April 19th ** The program for 2013 is filling rapidly. The special session "A New Era in Australian Radio Astronomy: MWA, ASKAP and SKA" has been provisionally scheduled for Wednesday (10th July) afternoon, and speakers will include Phil Diamond (CASS), Lister Stavely-Smith (UWA), Steven Tingay (Curtin), Lisa Harvey-Smith (CASS), and Rachel Webster (U. Melbourne). Confirmed speakers for the main meeting will include Amanda Karakas (ANU), Markus Kissler-Patig (Gemini), Chris Power (UWA), Alex Heger (Monash), and Stas Shabala (UTas). The meeting will be opened by Dr. Alan Finkel, AM (Chancellor of Monash University, founder of COSMOS magazine & chair of the CAASTRO Advisory Board). The 2013 Harley Wood lecture will be given by Charley Lineweaver (RSAA) on Tuesday July 9th, and the Ellery lecture will be given by Rachel Webster (U. Melbourne). Career and community sessions will include "Speed Meet a Mentor" and "Science Communication in the 21st Century", as well as meetings of the ASA Women in Astronomy, ANITA and EPOC chapters of the ASA. Registrants will also have the option of talking a tour of the Australian Synchrotron (http://www.synchrotron.org.au) at lunchtime Friday. The Harley Wood Winter School will be held from the 4th to 7th July, immediately preceding the ASM, at The Island Accommodation, Phillip Island. The venue is approximately 1.5 hours drive south-east of Melbourne, and is accessible by public transport. Buses will also be provided to transport attendees from Southern Cross station or Monash to the venue on Thursday 4th July, and return on Sunday 7th July, at a small additional cost. This option is available on the registration form. Students are strongly encouraged to register as early as possible to ensure appropriate transport and accommodation arrangements can be made. The theme for this year's Harley Wood Winter School is "Supersize me - Extremely large telescopes, datasets and careers". The presentations will explore what the past, current and future telescopes have to offer for a successful (and even supersized!) career. Confirmed speakers include Tracy Hill (CEA Saclay/ESO), Jill Rathbone (CASS), Michael Murphy (Swinburne), Michelle Cluver (AAO) and Samantha Penny (Monash). Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore Philip Island's many tourist offerings, including the famous fairy penguins and Panny's Chocolate Factory. For further information on the meeting, as well as links to the registration and abstract submission system, visit the meeting website at http://asa2013.monash.edu Twitter users are invited to follow the official meeting twitter account @ASAu2013 for up-to-date information about the meeting. Use hashtag #ASAu2013 at http://twitter.com KEY DATES - MARK YOUR DIARY! Annual Scientific Meeting: Early bird registration deadline: Friday 19th April 2013 Abstract submission deadline (for oral presentation): Friday 19th April 2013 Program release: Monday 13th May 2013 Poster abstract submission deadline: Friday 31st May 2013 Astronomical Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting: 7th - 12th July 2013 Harley Wood Winter School: Early bird registration deadline: Friday 19th April 2013 Harley Wood Winter School: 4th - 7th July 2013 Follow the link to download the meeting flyer for circulation: http://asa2013.monash.edu/assets/Uploads/Flyer4.pdf Duncan Galloway on behalf of the 2013 ASA ASM local organising committee Email contact: asa2013 at monash.edu From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Fri Apr 19 12:36:29 2013 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:36:29 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Fwd: Higher Education cuts update and call for assistance References: <63AC22C9-131C-414D-8D50-4106FDBF97BC@sta.org.au> Message-ID: <00B1B1C8-118D-4E4C-8871-25289CE65F82@sydney.edu.au> To ASA members, The following email is from Science & Technology Australia and includes a request for details of likely impacts of funding cuts, especially on research in universities. John > This is quick note to update you on actions STA is taking regarding the cuts to Higher Education cuts announced by the Government over the weekend, and a call for your assistance in gathering information about the impact the cuts will have. > > You will have seen the media release we issued on Sunday, adding our voice to a rising chorus in the sector and beyond. > > You will have also noted that the author of the schools report, David Gonski, has condemned the use of Higher Education cuts to fund schools reform. > > We are monitoring events very carefully, and will issue statements at strategic moments, including around the COAG meeting this Friday (depending on the outcome). We are keeping the pressure on the Government to reconsider the cuts, but also, very importantly, we are keeping pressure on the Coalition to commit to reversing them should they win office. > > One of the challenges for all of us in the face of University cuts is explaining to the community and to politicians why the cuts matter, and just what it will mean to them. > > Real life examples and information help enormously in telling a story that can cut through. > > This is where information from you is really valuable. > > If you are aware of impacts, especially on research in universities, but also any possible flow on impacts outside, can you send the details via email? > > Examples of important projects and programs that will be cancelled, or deferred, would be very much appreciated. > > I can guarantee that the source of information will NOT be disclosed at any point, to anyone, but you should be ready for STA to use what you tell us in public statements and as information to members. > > I understand it is hard to find concrete information at this point, but whatever you can supply would be very much appreciated. > > Please attach your contact details in case I need to check facts with you. > > We are working closely with other education, research and science peak bodies in the lead up to the Federal Election, and I will update you further on progress in the monthly newsletter which will restart at the end of April. > > Regards > > 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 > > T: 02 6257 2891 > M: 0417142238 > > PO Box 259 > Canberra City ACT 2601 > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 c.tinney at unsw.edu.au Fri Apr 19 15:44:55 2013 From: c.tinney at unsw.edu.au (Chris Tinney) Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:44:55 +0000 Subject: [ASA] URGENT: OTAC seeks community feedback on Large Programmes at Gemini Message-ID: <09BAA12C24AA8E4291B89974D4014A3947DA6519@INFPWXM008.ad.unsw.edu.au> Dear colleagues, Gemini Observatory has been working on developing a model for the implementation of "Large and Long Programmes" across the Gemini Partnership. The Optical Telescopes Advisory Committee has seen and commented on early drafts of the description of how this scheme would work, and now seeks community input on the current form of the proposal (which is attached). OTAC is broadly supportive of the current model, and seeks feedback that can inform Australia's position at the upcoming Gemini Board meeting in May. Comments should be sent to both Chris Tinney (OTAC Chair c.tinney at unsw.edu.au) *and* Yeshe Fenner (AAL Executive Officer yeshe.fenner at astronomyaustralia.org.au) to arrive before before Friday April 26, 2013. Regards Chris Tinney ___________________________________________________________________________________ Professor Chris Tinney | Discovery Outstanding Researcher, School of Physics, UNSW Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Science | Co-Director, Australian Centre for Astrobiology c.tinney at unsw.edu.au, +61 2 93855168, http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~cgt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: largelongprograms.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 72945 bytes Desc: largelongprograms.pdf URL: