The Global Urban Tree Inventory: A database of the diverse tree flora that inhabits the world’s cities
By: Ossola, Alessandro, Malin J. Hoeppner, Hugh M. Burley, Rachael V. Gallagher, Linda J. Beaumont, and Michelle R. Leishman. Global Ecology and Biogeography. | Find with Google Scholar »
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Message from the HoD
Dear all,
This week was busy with modelling and planning for various coursework suite scenarios in light of the proposed changes to the curriculum brought about by the new Operating Plan and of course the immediate budget situation. Watch this space for further information. I hope you managed to have some time to enjoy the wonderful spring-like weather this past weekend.
Best wishes,
Nathan
Save the Date
This Week
Tues 1st Sept: Department Meeting, 1pm – 2pm (via Zoom)
Wed 2nd Sept: Research Training Certification Program Launch, 10am (via Zoom – more details below)
Wed 2nd Sept: Department Seminar, 1pm – 2pm (via Zoom – more details below)
Future Events
15 August – 15 September: Sydney Science Trail (online)
Weekly Events
Wed: Department Seminars ARE BACK via Zoom
Wed: Shut Up and Write sessions – now online!
General News and Announcements
Baby News!
Jane AL Kouba and partner Joe welcomed their new baby girl, Octavia Hanna to the family on 18/08/2020. Mum and baby are both doing well.
Wear it Purple day and the Ally Network challenge
Friday (August 28) was Wear it Purple Day – a day of visibility for LGBTIQ+ youth and aims to foster an inclusive, safe, supportive and empowering environment.
Over the years the Biology department has showed enormous support for LGBTIQ+ staff and students. From the early involvement with Ally Network training, through the marriage equality vote and events and activities for other LGBTIQ+ visibility days.
The MQ Ally Network is running the WiP 2020 Challenge (see attached schedule) where every day we can take on a small educational task and post a message / comment on the Ally Facebook.
So Biology – are you up for the challenge? let’s see how many representatives from Biology participate and meet the WiP challenge!
A reminder to clean meeting rooms after use
Please be reminded to clean meeting rooms, such as the Tearooms after use. This includes wiping down surfaces and used equipment like computers and keyboard.
Please do your part to look after the health of the University.
Plant of the Week
For this week – Acacia – What’s in a name?
There are about 1,300 species of what used to be collectively known as Acacia. Of these, about 1000 come from Australia, 150 from Africa, and a few from south-east Asia and the Americas. Molecular studies have shown that Acacia should be divided amongst 5 new genera. An international code sets out the rules for naming plants and up until 2011, it seemed likely that most Australian Acacia would be renamed Racosperma.
OPPORTUNITIES
Recruiting Mentors for the BioTech Future Challenge
The BIOTech Futures team are academics to mentor high school students under the BIOTech Futures Challenge 2020, a large outreach event hosted by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Innovative BioEngineering (Director: Prof Hala Zreiqat), in conjunction with our many partner institutes and centres.
This is a fantastic opportunity for academics, postdocs and research students (all can be mentors) to work together with high school students and inspire the next generation of young scientists. As an academic mentor, you will be guiding one to several teams of high school students on an innovative project in science, engineering, medicine, etc. that is related to your research area. The teams will conduct their research and design for the project, and present their ideas and findings in a short presentation at our end-of-year symposium.
Please find some additional information regarding the event below. For more detailed information about our expectations for mentor commitment, please see the attached “Final Statement of commitment” document. More information can be found on the website https://biotechfutures.org/ or contact biotech.futures@sydney.edu.au.
Please register as a mentor through our Google form. Mentors have the choice of submitting possible projects or to work with students who develop their own project. https://forms.gle/q5wRkHzeCca8gn7p9
Working With Children Check (WWCC). This is not required for registration – we will ask you to update when we’re allocating projects. You can apply or renew at https://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-organisations/working-with-children-check (free for volunteers).
Superstars of STEM & Indigenous Scientists/STEM Network
Yuuma! Calling Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people in STEM (science, technology, engineering or maths) who would like to join discussions about forming an Indigenous Scientists/STEM Network.
The initial leadership group on this project is Kamilaroi water scientist Associate Professor Brad Moggridge (University of Canberra), Quandamooka First Nations man Professor Chris Matthews (President of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance and Associate Dean for Indigenous Leadership & Engagement in the Faculty of Science at the University of Technology Sydney), and Kamilaroi scientist Corey Tutt, founder of Deadly Science, University of Sydney).
The aim is to create a space for Indigenous STEM leaders and practitioners – especially Indigenous scientists – to gather virtually to discuss aspirations for this network.
Science & Technology Australia – the peak body for the nation’s STEM workforce – is supporting this initiative by helping to coordinate a first virtual gathering. To get involved, please email ceo@sta.org.au and we’ll connect you in.
And to follow the discussion and Indigenous STEM content: @bradmoggo at @drchris_maths @atsimaAU @corey_tutt @DeadlyScience @ScienceAu.
Hort Innovation Leadership Fund Grant for young scientists
Hort Innovation is partnering with the 2021 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, a competitive grant program that seeks to advance the careers of young researches, scientists, producers and innovators aged between 18 and 35 years by funding research projects that benefit Australia’s primary industries.
This year, Hort Innovation is the official Science Award partner, offering a grant of $22,000 (incl. GST) through the Hort Innovation Leadership Fund, to a young Australian with an innovative research idea for the horticultural sector. The horticulture category winner will also be invited to apply for the Minister of Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management’s Award, granting an additional $22,000 (incl. GST) to extend the project.
Applications are now open and close Friday 2 October at 5:00 pm AEST with winners to be announced at the ABARES Outlook event in March 2021.
For more information visit the website.
2021 Science and Innovation Awards – now open
Applications are now open for the 2021 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, a competitive annual grants program supporting young Australians aged 18-35 by funding projects that will benefit Australia’s primary industries. In partnership with research and development corporations and industry associations there are 10 award categories worth up to $22,000 each.
1. Go to GrantConnect, log in and search for GO4188 to access the sample application form and link to the application portal.
2. Read through the sample application form to see what’s involved.
3. Check out our handy questions and answers for applicants.
5. Read the Science and Innovation Awards partner profiles to find out what they are looking for.
6. Discover what projects were successful in previous rounds.
7. Prepare, save and submit your application online!
For further information and enquiries:
scienceawards@awe.gov.au, 02 6272 2260 or 02 6272 2303
Applications close 5:00pm AEST Friday 2 October 2020
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
Biological Sciences Seminar
Date/Time: Wednesday, 2nd September; 1pm – 2pm.
Speaker: Dr. Iliana Medina Guzman
Title: In living colour: how do traits evolve before and after metamorphosis?
Venue: Zoom link will be sent out via email prior to Seminar.
205B PC2 & PC2 Insectary Inductions
Inductions have been scheduled for the rest of the year, see dates below.
205B PC2: Tuesdays @ 9:30AM – 25th Aug, 22nd Sep, 20th Oct, 17th Nov, 15th Dec
PC2 Insectary: Wednesdays @ 1PM – 26th Aug, 23rd Sep, 21st Oct, 18th Nov, 16th Dec
All induction pre-requisites must be completed and provided prior to the induction.
Contact Josh Aldridge <josh.aldridge@mq.edu.au> with enquiries.
Online Statistics Workshops
Insight Research Services Associated is proud to be presenting three workshops online in October/November 2020. 2020.11 Insight Online
* October 24/25: A Gentle Introduction to Statistics in SPSS and R
* October 28/29: Introduction to Linear and Logistic Regression
* November 4/5: Introduction to Longitudinal Data Analysis
These workshops are aimed at non-statisticians as well as statisticians new to these fields. Please read the attached flyer for more information, or visit our website at <https://insightrsa.com/workshops/upcoming>. For questions please contact Mark Griffin at m.griffin@insightrsa.com or by phone on 0448 176 926.
To keep up to date with the training programs being delivered by Insight please consider joining our email list at <https://insightrsa.com/connect-with-us>.
Venture Café – will be convening their community online, via Zoom, and offering the #ThursdayGathering programming in a Virtual format.
For more information visit: https://venturecafesydney.org/whats-on-this-week
HDR NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Research Training Certification Program Launch
On Wednesday in the tea room with the help of Adele Thomas and Catherine Ennis from the HDRO, Simon Griffith launched the new RTCP for the Biology students. Unfortunately only four students turned up to this meeting.
There will be a second launch meeting on Zoom this coming Wednesday (2nd September, at 10am). We would like all PhD students, and 2nd year MRes students to attend this meeting. The details of the Zoom meeting are:
Please click this URL to start or join: https://macquarie.zoom.us/j/97137987590?pwd=T1V3clRrK2pyNkM3aGZ3VTVXVk9oQT09
Password: 170748
Please encourage your students to attend on Wednesday. The RTC program aims to support our HDR students in their development and preparation for their career.
Contact Simon Griffith <simon.griffith@mq.edu.au> (Department Director HDR) for more details.
THIS AND THAT
FEEDBACK REQUIRED
Feedback is required for the database:
And the Journal package: Bioscientifica (European Journal of Endocrinology; Journal of Endocrinology; Journal of Molecular Endocrinology; Endocrine-Related Cancer; Reproduction).
These database/journals have low usage and consequently high cost per use. It is important that funds are used wisely to provide the most value to you – access to resources that are useful for learning, teaching, and research. For this reason, it would be appreciated to provide some feedback about your need (or not) for this resource.
Do you or your colleagues in the Department use this database/journal? How often?
Is it used to support research, or teaching, or both?
Please send your response to Abigail (abigail.baker@mq.edu.au) by Friday 4 September 2020.
We appreciate your participation in the collection management process.
Outreach Activities
Have You Participated in an Activity for Biology Recently? Don’t forget to fill in the super-quick form here – ACCESS OUTREACH FORM HERE
Call out for Social Media Content
We are looking to feature a different student each week on the Biology Social Media accounts. If you would like to share your research or fieldwork with the public, please send photos and a short blurb about your work to Jenny Ghabache: <jenny.ghabache@mq.edu.au>
Correct Method for Submitting to Department Matters
Department Matters submissions now have their own email address. Please send all your news items for the newsletter to <fse.bionewsletter@mq.edu.au>
Have You Missed Out on an Issue of Department Matters? Back issues can be found at this newsletter archive link for your reading pleasure.
New Publications
Response to Luoto’s (2020) “Did Prosociality Drive the Evolution of Homosexuality?”
By: Barron, Andrew B. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 2020. | Find with Google Scholar »Ontogeny and evolutionary significance of a new acrotretide brachiopod genus from Cambrian Series 2 of South China
By: Zhang, Zhiliang, Lars E. Holmer, Feiyang Chen, and Glenn A. Brock. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology (2020): 1-20. | Find with Google Scholar »Salinity and temperature increase impact groundwater crustaceans
By: Castaño-Sánchez, Andrea, Grant C. Hose, and Ana Sofia PS Reboleira. Scientific reports 10, no. 1 (2020): 1-9. | Find with Google Scholar »In the Media
Professor Andrew Barron was featured on Stories of Impact regarding the latest research on honeybees’ brains.
Read more »
Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes provided comment to ABC News about the failings in Australia’s environment protection laws in saving endangered species.
Read more »