Linkage mapping of a polymorphic plumage locus associated with intermorph incompatibility in the Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae)
By: Kim, K. W., S. C. Griffith, and T. Burke. Heredity (2016). | Find with Google Scholar »
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Dear all,
Please join me for the department meeting next Tuesday 1-2pm in the tearoom – there will be the usual updates, news and discussion on topics that affect us all!
cheerio
Michelle
Save the Date
This section will keep you informed of the events and meetings that are of specific interest within the Department.
This coming week 4th – 8th April
Tue 5th; Biology Department Meeting; 1:00 – 2:00pm; E8A-280 (tea room).
Wed 6th; Department Morning Tea and building plans update; 10.30 – 11:30am; The Hill.
Wed 6th: Department weekly seminar; 1:00 – 2:00pm; E8A-280 (tea room).
Thu 7th; Biology Social Drinks; 5pm onwards; E8 Biology Courtyard.
The following week 11th – 15th April
Tue 12th; Eppendorf Morning Tea; 10:30am – 11:30am; E8A-280 (tea room).
Wed 13th; Department Morning Tea; 10.30 – 11:00am; E8A-280 (tea room).
Coming up
Wed 15th – Fri 17th June; 2016 Annual HDR Conference; 9am onwards each day; Location TBA.
Aug 15th; Open Day
General News and Announcements
Strategic research funding outcomes
The following applicants were successful in their applications for funding under Round 1 of the department’s strategic grants for 2016.
Glenn Brock: Funding to travel to China to participate in a working group on “Cambrian Explosion of Metazoans: their diversity, systematics and stratigraphic correlation”, develop, build and strengthen research collaborations with Chinese researchers, and participate in a field trip.
Michelle Power: Funding to travel to the USA to establish a new collaboration on “Zoonotic Parasite Transfer via domestic ungulates in Kenya”
Martin Whiting: Funding to develop a robo-lizard that will form the basis of future PhD projects and research collaborations
Grant Success
Maria Vozzo has been successful in gaining funding from the Vickery Scientific Research Fund. Congratulations!
Library Content Review
The Library is now carrying out 3 yearly evaluation reviews of all its major resourcing products and has begun with products that are performing very poorly in terms of usage.
EOLSS (Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems) is now currently being reviewed prior to the end of its current licencing contract. As part of the evaluation they would like to know why and how the Department uses EOLSS and if there is any other product that could replace it that we may know of for our purposes.
Specifically:
- who uses EOLSS?
- why or how do they useEOLSS?
- do they know of any other product on the market (other than EOLSS) that could achieve a similar function?
I need replies by next Wednesday (6th April) to <kate.barry@mq.edu.au>.
Visiting Professorship (open rank) position in Animal Behavior (2016-7) at Hunter College, Dept. of Psychology, City University of New York
We seek a full time Visiting Professor (open rank, non tenure-track) of Psychology in Animal Behavior and Conservation for the 2016-7 academic year at Hunter College. The appointee will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in animal behavior, comparative cognition, and conservation. This faculty member will also coordinate Master’s student research placement and help to supervise students in the Animal Behavior and Conservation MA program (www.hunterabc.org). We seek an individual with a strong commitment and ability to work with diverse student populations.
The successful candidate will be expected to conduct her/his own research and participate in scholarly activity. This position has a teaching load of 21 credits with research productivity and allocation for mentoring of research and thesis students included as part of this teaching load.
Requirements: A doctorate in Psychology, Biology, or related discipline, a record of scholarly productivity, three years of teaching experience as an instructor of record, and the ability to teach a variety of courses in comparative psychology are required. Experience in mentoring students and working with educational technology is desired.
To Apply: Please send your CV, the names and email contacts of 3 potential referees, and a statement of teaching and research interests as a single PDF file to <abc.director@hunter.cuny.edu>. Review of applications will begin on April 1, 2016 on a rolling basis.
Plant of the week – Cymbopogon refractus – Barbed Wire Grass
Barbed Wire Grass, Cymbopogon refractus – a native grass from Eastern Australia, closely related to Lemon Grass, Cymbopogon citratus, a popular addition to many Asian dishes.
Smith Family Mentoring Scheme
Kate Barry is mentoring high school and uni students for the Smith Family mentoring scheme for kids from low socio-economic backgrounds, and needs years 7-12 maths textbooks and exercise books (e.g. Excel books). If anyone has old maths books they can donate, it would really help these kids with their studies. Please contact Kate @ <kate.barry@mq.edu.au> if you can help.
Invitation: “Gayby Baby” Documentary – 7th April, 5:00-8:30
I am very happy to invite you to a screening of the documentary ‘Gayby Baby’, hosted by the Macquarie University Atheist League, and supported by Campus Engagement and the Queer Collective. The documentary follows 4 children being raised by Gay and Lesbian parents, and provides a unique insight into the lives of same-sex families.
Following the screening, there will be a panel of speakers including:
. Maya Newell (Director of Gayby Baby)
. Dr. Shirleene Robinson (MQ Academic)
. Tatiana Lozano (MQ Equity & Diversity)
. A representative from the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
The screening will be held from 5:00pm on Thursday, 7th April, Level 3 of the Campus Hub. The panel will follow after the screening, with the event ending sometime around 8:30pm. Though tickets to the event are free, the organizers have requested that you register your interest here for catering purposes: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/gayby-baby-documentary-screening-and-qna-tickets-22605638072
Light canapes will be served, with drinks available for purchase.
Call For Participants In PhD Project
Please consider the attached call for participation in research experiment. It seeks interview participants who are interested in discussing their perceptions of peer review of teaching for a PhD project.
information sheet and consent form, vs. 4
Invitation from the Community Environment Network: Networking Event – Nature Education on the Central Coast
Join us for a brainstorming session about nature education in our community!
*How do we engage our community (especially adults) in nature?
* What would we like to be doing – or doing more of – in this space?
* How can we develop our skills and knowledge in this area?
The NSW Chapter of the Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEENSW) is offering free professional development for environmental educators who are interested in adult-based education and who would like to collaborate with others involved in nature education on the Central Coast.
Enjoy some wine and nibblies while we explore the possibilities!
When: Thursday 7th April
Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Where: Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre, 11 Terrigal Drive, Terrigal.
Join our online community at https://facebook.com/Central-Coast-Environmental-Education-Network-1377558109150345/
The Community Environment Network is an alliance of community and environment groups from Gosford, Wyong and Lake Macquarie.
Click here to register (http://www.cen.org.au/events)
Baby News!
Gurpeet and Rubal are now proud-parents of a little baby girl, Eersheen, who arrived Wednesday morning weighing 3.31 Kgs. Everyone, especially mum and bub are doing fine just very tired.
Exercise Mats – Free To A Good Home
Monika King has 8 exercise mats she want to get rid of from F7B as they take up too much space and are to hard to get up and down from the top of the cabinet. They are still in good condition, although slightly dusty.
They are free to staff who might want to use them at home (they would be good for camping or for kids to play on in a rumpus room).
Please email Monika on <monika.king@mq.edu.au> if you are interested in rehoming one or more of these mats.
If there are no takers Monika will have to throw them out be the end of next week.
April Conservation Cafe
Just a quick reminder that Sydney Society for Conservation Biology’s next Conservation Café tomorrow at 10am @ the Education Precinct in Centennial Park.
We will learn about how every one of us can help the survival of our beautiful native species using our backyards.
It will be a wonderful sunny day in the park tomorrow, we will have free coffee, tea and snacks and we will go for a walk after the talk to look at examples of things that Chad will tell us about.
Please download our flyer (375KB PDF file) for details.
and RSVP on eventbrite (https://conservationcafeapril16.eventbrite.com.au)
New Publications
Compound eye and ocellar structure for walking and flying modes of locomotion in the Australian ant, Camponotus consobrinus
By: Narendra, Ajay, Fiorella Ramirez-Esquivel, and Willi A. Ribi. Scientific reports 6 (2016). | Find with Google Scholar »In the Media
Culum Brown was referenced in the Newcastle Herald, the Burnie Advocate and the Launceston Examiner
Professor Culum Brown from the Department of Biological Sciences was referenced in the Newcastle Herald, the Burnie Advocate and the Launceston Examiner in relation to eating fish for Easter and his research on the cognitive abilities of fish.
Recent Completions
Sarah Jacquet submitted her PhD thesis entitled “Systematics, biostratigraphy and taphonomy of early Cambrian molluscs from South Australia.”
Supervised by Associate Professor Glenn Brock; Co-Supervisor: Matthew Kosnik.
Marissa Bettts submitted her PhD thesis entitled “Fossils, rocks and Cambrian clocks: A multi-proxy approach to chronologically subdividing the lower Cambrian of the Arrowie Basin, South Australia.”
Supervised by Associate Professor Glenn Brock; Adjunct Supervisor: Professor John Patterson (UNE)