[ASA] Call for nominations to the National Committee for Astronomy (NCA)

[Virginia Kilborn]

Dear all,



The National Committee for Astronomy (NCA) is one of twenty-two National Committees of the Australian Academy of Science (AAS). The NCA exists to foster astronomy in Australia, to liaise with international scientific bodies, and to advise the Council of the Australian Academy of Science on relevant matters. One of its main activities is to oversee the Decadal Plan process for Australian Astronomy. In the coming few years the NCA plans a strategic white paper on opportunities in the changed (and changing) landscape within space science and astronomy in Australia (e.g. with the detection of gravitational waves, and the new Australian Space Agency), and this will lead into the mid-term review of the astronomy decadal plan.



The NCA is made up of eight members appointed by the Executive Committee of the Academy. The current members of the committee are listed at https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/XBBRCzvOWKiNERpzi4WTDT?domain=science.org.au<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/XBBRCzvOWKiNERpzi4WTDT?domain=science.org.au>



There are three vacancies on the NCA this year: One vacancy from July 2018 to replace Professor Warrick Couch, and two further vacancies from 31 December 2018, to replace Professor Lisa Kewley & A/Professor Gavin Rowell who all complete their terms this year.



To make the process of selecting new members as open as possible, the NCA is calling for nominees from the broad astronomy community. Members of the NCA should be respected members of the Australian astronomy community with a broad spread of institutions and specialisations. Interest in these new appointments from women and under-represented groups is encouraged to ensure a diversity of experience of the National Committee. The committee will seek at least one Australian Academy of Science member to sit on the NCA.



The National Committee guidelines can be found at https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/K0VyCANZvPiJB935c8pq7M?domain=science.org.au<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/K0VyCANZvPiJB935c8pq7M?domain=science.org.au>

The guidelines relating to membership can be summarised as follows:



* Members should be scientists active in the field

* Membership shall be appropriate to 'the best interests of Australian science'

* Membership will not usually exceed 8 people

* Members will usually be appointed for up to 3 years

* Re-appointment for one further year is possible in ‘exceptional circumstances'



Note that all appointments are made by the AAS Executive Committee on the basis of a nomination forwarded by the Chair of the NCA.



Nominations will be reviewed by a panel consisting of Professor Virginia Kilborn (Chair),  Professor Chris Tinney, and one Fellow of the Academy who is not an NCA member, Professor Elaine Sadler.



This review panel (in consultation with the Academy's Secretary for Physical Sciences) will make a recommendation on the vacant positions, which will be forwarded to the AAS Executive Committee for approval.



Please send your nominations by email to the NCA (nc at science.org.au<mailto:nc at science.org.au>) with the subject line "NCA nomination" before 5pm (AEST)  on 20 June 2018.



Nominations can be brief (name, institution and a very short outline of expertise are all that's needed, and self-nominations are acceptable).



Kind regards


Virginia

Prof. Virginia Kilborn
Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Centre for Astrophysics & Supercomputing
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology
Swinburne University of Technology
Ph (w) +61 (0)3 9214 4380
WWW: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/XuFlCBNZwLiJ0V9NcNzGQD?domain=bit.ly






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