[ASA] Decadal Plan February update

Tue Feb 4 12:06:46 AEDT 2014

Dear colleagues,

This is the first of the monthly emails that the National Committee for Astronomy will distribute summarising events associated with the 2016-25 Decadal Plan for Australian Astronomy.

* Demographics Survey

During February, we will see the launch of the Australian astronomy demographics survey. The purpose of this survey is to understand the current state of the Australian Astronomy workforce, including its diversity, and to assess its scientific impact. An important aspect of the Decadal Plan is comparison with results of demographics surveys from past Decadal Plans, which allows our community to assess its strengths and more effectively plan for the future. There will be two parts to the survey: one for individuals working in Australian astronomy, as well as one for institutes which will be forwarded directly to heads of departments.  The NCA strongly encourages all members of the community to complete this survey.  The individual survey can be found here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AustraliaAstronomyCensus-INDIV

We request all people working in Australian Astronomy to please complete their surveys by the 1st March 2014. Further details regarding the surveys will be forthcoming from the Demographics Working Group chair Sarah Maddison.

* Town Hall meetings

A primary method of community consultation during the decadal planning process is via a series of town hall meetings. The first 10 of the 28 planned town hall meetings will be held during February. Details for these February town hall meetings are listed below. Attendance and contribution to these meetings is open and encouraged; please contact the working group chairs if you would like to make a presentation.

WG 1.2  Stars and Planets  Chair:  Michael Ireland<mailto:michael.ireland at mq.edu.au>
14th February,  9.00am-12.30pm, Rm G29/G30, New Horizons Centre, Building 82, Monash University  (organiser Alex Heger)
27th February,  1:30pm - 4:00pm, Room 64 (common room), School of Physics, University of NSW,  (organiser Chris Tinney)
28th February,  10.00am-12.30pm, Duffield theatre, Mt Stromlo Observatory, Australian National University, (organiser Michael Ireland)

WG 1.3  The Galaxy  Chairs: Jill Rathborne<mailto:Jill.Rathborne at csiro.au> and Naomi McClure-Grifiths

26th February,  9:30am - 12:30pm, Room 121 (seminar room), Physics Building, University of Adelaide  (organiser Gavin Rowell)
27th February,  9:30am - 12:00pm, Room 64 (common room), School of Physics, University of NSW,  (organiser Michael Burton)
28th February,  1.30pm-4.00pm, Duffield theatre, Mt Stromlo Observatory, Australian National University, (organiser Martin Asplund)

WG 1.4<http://burst.sci.monash.edu/wiki/index.php?n=DPWG14.Home>  High Energy and Fundamental Astrophysics  Chair: Duncan Galloway<mailto:Duncan.Galloway at monash.edu>

14th February,  1.30pm-5.00pm, Rm G29/G30, New Horizons Centre, Building 82, Monash University  (organiser Alex Heger)

25th February,  10.00am-1.00pm, ground floor seminar room, ICRAR, University of Western Australia  (organiser Eric Howell)

26th February,  1:30pm - 4:30pm, Room 121 (seminar room), Physics Building, University of Adelaide  (organiser Gavin Rowell)

WG 3.2<http://www.aao.gov.au/ncaed/>  Education, Training and Careers  Chairs: Amanda Bauer<mailto:Amanda.Bauer at aao.gov.au> and John O’Byrne

18th February  3:30pm - 5.00pm, SIfA Boardroom, 44-70 Rosehill St Redfern H90, University of Sydney (see the map at http://tinyurl.com/lmyzrf4) (organiser John O’Byrne)

In addition to these February meetings, a further 18 town hall meetings are planned for locations around Australia during March and April. For information please visit AustralianAstronomyDecadalPlan.org<http://australianastronomydecadalplan.org/>.

Best regards,

Stuart

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Professor Stuart Wyithe
Australian Laureate Fellow
Chair, National Committee for Astronomy
School of Physics
University of Melbourne
Vic, Australia  3010

Phone:  +61 3 8344 5083
Fax:  +61 3 9347 4783
Email: swyithe at unimelb.edu.au<https://evserver2.unimelb.edu.au/EnterpriseVault/swyithe@unimelb.edu.au>

science.org.au/natcoms/nc-astronomy.html<http://science.org.au/natcoms/nc-astronomy.html>
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