From Cathryn.Trott at curtin.edu.au Mon Jun 8 09:14:05 2020 From: Cathryn.Trott at curtin.edu.au (Cathryn Trott) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2020 23:14:05 +0000 Subject: [ASA] Professor Tamara Davis AM Message-ID: Dear ASA Members, Please join me in congratulating Professor Tamara Davis from UQ for being awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020. Tam receives this award as recognition "for significant service to astrophysical science, to education, and to young astronomers." This is an extremely well-deserved award. Tam is a very active and engaged member of our community, inspiring and educating scientists and the public alike. Congratulations Tam! Regards, Cathryn _______________________________________________________ Cathryn Trott Associate Professor ARC Future Fellow President, Astronomical Society of Australia ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D (ASTRO 3D) International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research Curtin University Bentley WA, Australia cathryn.trott at curtin.edu.au -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From eleanor.sansom at curtin.edu.au Tue Jun 9 17:13:13 2020 From: eleanor.sansom at curtin.edu.au (Ellie Sansom) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2020 07:13:13 +0000 Subject: [ASA] PhD projects at Curtin's Space Science and Technology Centre In-Reply-To: <6843ccc40143f11c169688440..20200609070955.6a8e3af57c.169974a6@mail121.sea41.rsgsv.net> References: <6843ccc40143f11c169688440..20200609070955.6a8e3af57c.169974a6@mail121.sea41.rsgsv.net> Message-ID: View this email in your browser [https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/lHFZCK1DvKTAPv3BFvCKV1?domain=mcusercontent.com] [https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/WFsCCL7EwMfoVpEmsPvyz_?domain=mcusercontent.com] [https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/NJ6iCMwGxOtoD0ERsWZZ7x?domain=mcusercontent.com] Consider applying for a PhD position at the School of Earth and Planetary Science at Curtin University, and join a diverse team of earth and planetary scientists in the Space Science and Technology Centre that is looking to expand with new PhDs. We have multiple projects in the field of planetary science, for students with backgrounds in astronomy, data science, geology, engineering, computer science, physics, maths. Dedicated projects using the large scale observational facilities are outlined below, with others available on the SSTC website. For all projects we would like to receive expressions of interest by the end of June in order to conduct interviews prior to RTP scholarship deadlines. If you would like to work with us, and your ideal project is not described below, please still get in touch. Merit based RTP scholarships are available for Australian students. More about the host institution: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/I_VzCNLJyQUnJrvEirHoPs?domain=sstc.curtin.edu.au Expression of interest deadline: June 30, 2020 [https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/WyRqCOMKzVTPl9q0T5c_G9?domain=mcusercontent.com] SSTC has pioneered the development of large networked facilities using hardened autonomous observatories. The Desert Fireball Network (DFN) has 50 autonomous stations across Australia. It has been observing ~2.5 million km2 of Australian skies since 2015. It provides a spatial context for meteorites ? we can track a rock back to where it originated in the solar system, and forward to where it lands, for recovery by a field party. The database of >1400 meteoroid orbits is larger than the combined literature dataset for >70 years of observation, providing a unique window into the distribution of debris in the inner solar system. With 14 international partners, and facilitated by NASA, the project has recently expanded to a global facility. The Global Fireball Observatory (GFO) will cover x5 the observing area of the DFN, able to track debris entering our atmosphere 24 hours a day. These networks informed the development of a satellite tracking network ? FireOPAL ? with Lockheed Martin. Although designed for satellite observations, FireOPAL also happens to be a world-class astronomical transient observatory. The DFN, GFO, and FireOPAL are helping us answer fundamental questions in planetary science and astronomy. If you would like to be part of this team, and work with colleagues in universities around the world, at NASA, and in industry, read on. Large scale searches for astronomical transients Whether looking for meteorite or tracking satellites, the Desert Fireball Network continuously scans large areas of the night sky, compiling a unique archive of the entire visible sky at an unmatched cadence. At any point the DFN is probing 20,000? of sky down to vmag=8 (30 second cadence), and 2,500? down to vmag= 15 (10 second cadence). This opens up a new area in time-domain astronomy, and allows detection of the fastest optical transient phenomena. This PhD project will focus on the development of a data pipeline that will open up these facilities for astronomical research, and then an exploration of those new research possibilities. In building the software that will identify non-local astronomical anomalies (supernovae, flaring stars, gravitational waves counterparts, exoplanets) the student will: have access to all of the DFN output; the ability to test computational approaches on a lab-based system and upload new iterations of software remotely to deployed observatories; and the full 6-year dataset from the entire network (~2000TB) stored at the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre. [https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/W9PxCP7LAXfD9ryoiBQqHj?domain=mcusercontent.com] Background preferred: Data science, astronomy Main supervisor: Dr. Hadrien Devillepoix Strengths of meteoroids in the upper atmosphere Recent space missions to asteroids have gathered detailed information not just on the composition of these bodies, but also on their material properties ? e.g. their strength, and whether they are a rubble pile or a single monolithic rock. But we know very little about the strength of small objects in the metre to 10s meter class. This project will look at the breakup of meteoroids in our atmosphere to calculate the bulk strengths of these objects. It will also look at the origins of this material to determine if there is a correlation between strengths and any specific orbits or regions of the Solar System, or specific asteroids and their families. The results will inform our understanding of the asteroid hazard (do small objects all generate airburst ?Tunguska-like? explosions), the lifetime of debris in the inner Solar System, and how we date the ages of planetary surfaces. This specific project may be more suited to a background in astronomy or physics, though we will consider applications from other backgrounds if suitable. [https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/NfqQCROND2uKok7RsX3TNo?domain=mcusercontent.com] Background preferred: Astronomy, physics Main supervisor: Dr. Eleanor Sansom The rate of impacts on Earth How much material is bombarding the Earth on a daily basis? The dataset is well constrained for large (>10s m sized) objects, as well as the small, dusty material, but the cm-m size range is poorly known. The DFN dataset contains the largest and most complete record of the flux, size distribution, and orbits of material intersecting out planet. This project will use the DFN?s orbital database to answer the fundamental question: how often do we get impacted? This will place a critical constrain on the impact hazard (there is an order-of-magnitude variation in estimates of Tunguska-class impactors). These data can also be used to model the flux of material into the inner solar system in general. How much material might be expected on the Moon, or even Mars? This specific project may be more suited to a background in astronomy, physics or statistics, though we will consider applications from other backgrounds if suitable. [https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/G1M8CWLVXkUpZglPtrLZXl?domain=mcusercontent.com] Background preferred: Astronomy, physics, statistics Main supervisor: Dr. Eleanor Sansom Debris streams in the inner Solar System Meteor showers are typically associated with smaller, cometary material. Despite the DFN being tuned to brighter fireball events, we do observed events with meteor showers arising from known cometary parent bodies. Asteroid Bennu was recently visited by NASA?s OSIRIS-REx, where material was seen being spun off the surface. This project will investigate if there are any objects in the DFN data that could have originated from such a body and assess the likelihood of asteroid streams. For showers known for having larger material, is this an indication of different production mechanisms possibly associated with asteroid break up or spin-off debris rather than from a comet? This specific project may be more suited to a background in physics, astronomy or statistics, though we will consider applications from other backgrounds if suitable. [https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/RdvxCXLW2mU6jypqUEQlEp?domain=mcusercontent.com] Background preferred: Data science, astronomy Main supervisor: Dr. Hadrien Devillepoix PhDs. Starting 2021 Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships will be available to apply for 1st July, with projects starting end 2020/early 2021. We want to start the conversation with you today. Email the primary supervisor listed to start an incredible science journey. View this email in your browser [GFO site] [Twitter] [Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin University] [Space Science and Technology Centre Instagram] Copyright ? 2020 Space Science and Technology Centre, All rights reserved. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Tue Jun 9 22:04:45 2020 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2020 12:04:45 +0000 Subject: [ASA] Welcome and Support for our Black Community from the new IDEA Chapter Steering Committee Message-ID: <8290875D-D37A-4FB2-A5E6-07734EBBF32B@sydney.edu.au> Dear ASA members, My name is Katie Jameson, I am currently a Bolton Fellow at CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science (Kensington) and I have just recently taken over as the new Chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Astronomy (IDEA) Chapter Steering Committee. The overarching objective of the IDEA Chapter is to achieve an environment in all institutions associated with Australian astronomy that is welcoming and supportive of all academic staff, professional staff and students, regardless of gender and sexual identity, ethnic and cultural background, disability, age, family/carer responsibilities, political affiliation, and religious belief. This will be my third year serving on the IDEA Chapter Steering Committee and I am excited to take the lead and continue supporting and encouraging progress and improvement in our community. Joining me are the following members on the Steering Committee: Devika Kamath (Deputy Chair; Macquarie), Yuanming Wang (student member; Sydney Uni), Michael Brown (Monash), Daniel Zucker (Macquarie), Andrew Cole (U Tasmania), Jimi Green (CSIRO), Kate Chow (CSIRO), Ahmed Elagali (CSIRO). As the first act of the new IDEA Chapter Steering Committee, we would like to express our support for our black students and colleagues given the recent tragic and brutal murders of Black Americans Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor in the US, which add to a long list of similarly tragic murders of black people by the police including over 434 Indigenous Australians since the year 1991. We recognise and empathise with our different experiences and reactions to these events. We stand together with our black students and colleagues. The IDEA Chapter is committed to making a positive difference within our community, and we will continue to work towards that goal through the actions of our Chapter. We will be reflecting on all of this as we draw up our plans for the next year and decide on what action we plan to take. Look to hear from us in the next few weeks with an update. One of the main ways those of us that identify as allies can start to dismantle systemic racism is to commit ourselves to anti-racist work. A good first step is through education. There are many resources and lists of resources available on the internet, a few good places to start are the following: Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES FROM AUSTRALIA AND BEYOND How Can We Support Black Astronomers? Education is only a first step, we must all reflect and determine what action we can take towards dismantling the existing systems rooted in racism. We would call to your attention the academic strike in support of Black Lives Matter taking place this Wednesday, 10 June (https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/1TQ1C2xMQzix78X8I9Tjnw?domain=shutdownstem.com) - see https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/knNjC3QNPBi8Z2l2SvhCo6?domain=particlesforjustice.org for a discussion of the use of this strike. Finally, let us always be mindful of the unseen challenges those around us may face and aim to provide support and compassion at all times. Sincerely, Katie Jameson On behalf of the IDEA Chapter Steering Committee -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From celine.dorgeville at anu.edu.au Wed Jun 10 09:51:22 2020 From: celine.dorgeville at anu.edu.au (Celine D'Orgeville) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2020 23:51:22 +0000 Subject: [ASA] Optical engineer & Sr Project Manager recruitment @ ANU AITC/AAO-Stromlo Message-ID: ***Please circulate widely to your networks, thanks!*** The Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre (AITC) at the Australian National University (ANU) is looking for highly motivated candidates to apply for a couple of exciting staff opportunities: an Optical Engineer to oversee optical engineering activities and a Senior Project Manager to lead the project management team at the ANU AITC. The positions are based at the Mount Stromlo Observatory near Canberra. As a member of the Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) consortium, the ANU AITC is also known as AAO-Stromlo. For more information and to apply please access the full announcement and position descriptions at: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/j5p8CVARKgC41AmGiG9NUm?domain=jobs.anu.edu.au https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/Ov8VCWLVXkUpvBZJcxW3nG?domain=jobs.anu.edu.au The application deadline for the optical engineer position is the 28th June 2020 and the project manager position is the 21st June at 11:55:00 PM AUS Eastern Standard Time. IMPORTANT: Please note that in order to apply, candidates must be able to demonstrate that they already have rights to live and work in Australia. [cid:309C21F2-764C-4C53-A2ED-269955716DDC] ********************************** Professor C?line d?Orgeville Australian National University Translational Fellow Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre Adaptive Optics Group Manager ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics Mount Stromlo Observatory, Cotter Road, Weston Creek, ACT 2611, Australia Phone: +61 2 6125 6374 E-mail: celine.dorgeville at anu.edu.au https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/QB3_CXLW2mU63YjwUDTjB0?domain=researchers.anu.edu.au Pronouns: she/her [cid:1B7381B3-2082-4567-B188-4838224309E7] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: JuneIsPrideMonth_Small320.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 15422 bytes Desc: JuneIsPrideMonth_Small320.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PastedGraphic-1.png Type: image/png Size: 18491 bytes Desc: PastedGraphic-1.png URL: From Cathryn.Trott at curtin.edu.au Wed Jun 10 15:53:32 2020 From: Cathryn.Trott at curtin.edu.au (Cathryn Trott) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2020 05:53:32 +0000 Subject: [ASA] Jean-Pierre Macquart Message-ID: Dear ASA members, It is with sadness that I deliver the news of the passing of Associate Professor Jean-Pierre Macquart yesterday. J-P was at the peak of his research career, publishing in Nature this past week the first measurement of the missing cosmic baryons via the observed dispersion of Fast Radio Bursts, and featuring heavily in the media to announce this exciting result. J-P undertook his PhD at the University of Sydney, studying scintillation in pulsars and quasars, and beginning an academic journey to explore the structure of the interstellar medium. He graduated in 2000, before taking positions at the Kapteyn Institute in the Netherlands, and as a National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Jansky Fellow at Caltech, USA. He joined the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research in 2009, where he led the research group studying fast transients and scintillation in radio sources. J-P was instrumental in developing and pursuing the Commensal Real-time ASKAP Fast Transient (CRAFT) Survey, which has detected and localised FRBs emitted from the distant Universe. He led early scientific exploration on key aspects of the survey, advised the engineers on technical means of detection, and developed the theory to interpret the temporal smearing of FRBs. With optical follow-up, the host galaxies of the FRBs have been imaged for the first time, providing certainty of the cosmological distance of these sources, and allowing them to be used to measure the baryons in the intervening intergalactic medium. J-P will be remembered as an exceptional scientist and theorist, with the ability to turn his hand equally to observation and engineering. He was most happy doing pen-and-paper calculations, having robust scientific discussions with colleagues, and teaching his students. He was a brilliant man with a satirical sense of humour, and a passion and excitement for his science. Those of you who had the good fortune to know J-P know that he had a singular personality. He was equally at home discussing fundamental physics as he was imitating Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets. Beyond this, J-P was a very kind person and a devoted family man. He was a great friend for many of us over many years, and our community has lost a great scientist and a dear friend. Our thoughts are with J-P?s wife, Sherine, and his children. Curtin University will hold a memorial for J-P at a future date. Regards, Cathryn _______________________________________________________ Cathryn Trott Associate Professor ARC Future Fellow President, Astronomical Society of Australia ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D (ASTRO 3D) International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research Curtin University Bentley WA, Australia cathryn.trott at curtin.edu.au -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From simon.otoole at mq.edu.au Thu Jun 11 15:43:17 2020 From: simon.otoole at mq.edu.au (Simon O'Toole) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2020 05:43:17 +0000 Subject: [ASA] Data Central for Teams: Store your data now! Message-ID: Are you running an astronomy survey or planning to start one soon? Do you have data that needs a permanent home? Data Central can help run your survey, store your data and provide access for the astronomical community! We will accept data sets of any size and shape. With your data in Data Central you can cross-match against a growing number of datasets, including the recently release OzDES DR2, as well as upcoming GALAH and SAMI data releases. Some of the features of the Data Central ecosystem include: * The main portal for querying and other data services: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/E0NICE8wmrtAQ84oFNAfnn?domain=datacentral.org.au * The ability to manage your documentation: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/kpaJCGv0oyCyVN3Zh7dkwC?domain=docs.datacentral.org.au * Cloud Storage for your team: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/q4tKCJyBrGf47W9LczMm2j?domain=cloud.datacentral.org.au * A wiki to run your survey: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/cHlhCK1DvKTAjy7xFAYZJE?domain=yoursurvey.datacentral.org.au * A portal to manage (and start) your team: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/gMInCL7EwMfoJDBMhj5wKP?domain=teams.datacentral.org.au And coming soon: * Private team data access * Mailing list management * New visualisation tools If you need any encouragement, this is what Caroline Foster, PI of the MAGPI team had to say: The MAGPI Survey team relies on Data Central services: cloud, wiki and data archive. The Data Central team has been very responsive to the MAGPI team?s feedback from the moment our collaboration started and dedicated to provide bespoke services. The recent addition of the Data Central teams app now offers increased visibility and independence with managing access to the various Data Central MAGPI-specific functionalities. Having all these services under one provider also saves time by minimising redundancies. I do hope that this ?partnership" with the MAGPI team has also been useful in achieving the Data Central goals, I know I am still blown away at the trust and level of service we have received from your team, so thank you truly! So please get in touch by requesting a team at https://teams.datacentral.org.au! Thanks, Simon [Data Central] Simon O'Toole ? Senior Research Systems Engineer ? Data Central Project Scientist datacentral.org.au ? Australian Astronomical Optics, Macquarie University ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: