BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT MATTERS | December 18, 2015

Dear all,

Thanks to all who came along and joined in the biology christmas party fun – we had a huge turnout of people to enjoy the food, drink and games. Special thanks to our organisers from the Wright and PIREL labs who did an outstanding job.

Only 7 sleeps to go and things are definitely winding down here. I encourage you to make the most of the holiday break and to book in extra leave to recharge your batteries ready for 2016!

The admin team are taking a well-earned break next week and offices will be closed, though Sharyon is contactable for anything urgent. There will be a few role changes in the admin office in 2016 due to the departures of Teresa, Marie and Anne Marie but rest assured everything will still run smoothly.

This is the last Newsletter for 2015 and there will be a bit of a break in January as so many people are away. I wish you and your families and friends all the best for Christmas.

cheerio

Michelle

General News and Announcements

Austral Ecology Early Career Reviewer Scheme

Austral Ecology has a new scheme to include early career ecologists in a panel of manuscript reviewers. Manuscript reviewing is an essential part of building a track record in scientific service. If you are interested please see attached and chat with Rachael Dudaniec who is on the editorial board.

Early Career Reviewer Scheme 2016

Office 365 Update – Department Calendars:

With the migration of our emails to Office 365, we have relocated the department calendars to Office as well and will remove the old google calendars early 2016. Access to the department calendars in 2016 will be restricted to Admin staff only. The Biology Department events calendar will again be made public to feed through to our webpage. Read only permissions will be made, on request, to arrange suitable times for your room bookings, however, the room bookings must be made by Admin staff. There have been some problems with the migration of our mailing lists and we are working on sorting these out. Please email <sci.bio-adm@mq.edu.au> if you would like to make a room booking or view a calendar.

Potential Work Experience Applicant

“My name is Carly Hayles and I recently graduated from the University of Bath in England with a BSc (Hons) degree in Biology. I am currently looking to gain some experience working in the field of Biology overseas, specifically in Marine Biology. I have previous experience working in the area of Marine Biology, and I am hoping to expand my knowledge and develop my skills in a more hands-on environment in order to eventually conduct my own research on the subject. I worked at a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension teaching Environmental Education to students from all over the state of Georgia and neighbouring states as part of my placement year at University. I worked full time during this period teaching Coastal and Maritime Ecology to large groups of children varying in age, including children with disabilities. I assisted with facility management and became experienced in animal care, in particular with reptiles and aquarium care.   If you have any opportunities available please contact me at: <carlyhayles@hotmail.co.uk>.”

Research Tool Training and Community Building

Apply now to attend ResBaz Sydney!

Would you like to learn how to use R or Python for your research? Or perhaps you’d like to learn to mine text, to use Excel to manage your data more wisely, or get a better grip on using social media for research impact.

The Research Bazaar Sydney (ResBaz) is a free conference held 1, 2, and 3 Feb, 2016, aimed at equipping researchers with digital skills and tools to do their research better, faster, and smarter. ResBaz is designed to build a stronger community of researchers who believe in open, reproducible, quality research.

ResBaz Sydney is sponsored by the University of Sydney, with contributions by Macquarie University and UTS.

See the tentative programme and apply to attend.

WANTED!  Water baths for experiments

I am hoping to run some critical thermal maximum experiments early in January. I was wondering if anyone has water baths capable of: 1) temperatures of 45 degrees and 2) holding one or more buckets of 21cm diameter. I was also hoping to borrow several accurate digital thermometers. The plan is to run all experiments in January, so all equipment should be returned by the beginning of February. If you can help with either/both of these, please contact Dan Bateman on 0425204656 or email: <daniel.bateman@mq.edu.au>

Technician’s family Xmas party a giggling good time

As you may know, there is something in the water around the technical group.  We have had may new additions to the families of the tech staff in the last 6 years, and to celebrate, we got as many as we could together for a Christmas party on Thursday.  It was a wonderful time, and we plan on doing it every year!

Looking for work

Culum’s partner, Laura, is looking for work after 6 years of child rearing. Laura has a PhD from the School of Medicine at USyd, more than 10 publications and has tutored in a range of subjects from first year biology to 3^rd year medicine. She worked as a post-doc with Jane for a while and the CNR in Italy. She’s looking for something part time. Could be research assistant, tutor or even administrator. Her interests are marine, neuro and molecular.

Contact: <elia@anatomy.usyd.edu.au>

Position vacant: NSW Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools Project Officer

CSIRO Education and Outreach’s Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools project is seeking to fill the following vacancy:

NSW Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools Project Officer (Full time; specified term to 30 June 2016) Job Ref – 8363

Applications close Tuesday 12 January 2016.

The role is part of a national team, implementing the successful Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools program.  Through creating and supporting partnerships between volunteer teachers and scientists, mathematicians and ICT professionals, this initiative brings real-life practice into primary and secondary classrooms, engaging teachers and students with research, applications and careers.  More information is available at www.scientistsinschools.edu.au

AUGEN (Geoscience) 2016 Abstract & Travel Grant Deadline

Abstracts and travel grant applications  for the 2016 AUGEN (Australasian University Geoscience Educators Network) meeting are due on Dec 20.

Please consider suggesting that colleagues and students register for the meeting (with or without an abstract).  We need registrations by Jan 7 for catering purposes.

The meeting details are below and the circular and abstract template are attached.

The 2016 AUGEN meeting is –

Aimed at: First-time and experienced educators, students, postdoctoral fellows, professional society representatives, high school science teachers, plus academic, industry and government geoscientists

When:  January 28 through 29, 2016

Where:  The Australian National University, Canberra

Registration: Free and includes tea/coffee and lunch.  Register HERE <www.eventbrite.com.au/e/2016-augen-conference-tickets-19160041199>

Abstract deadline: December 20, 2015

Abstract guidelines: Please see the attached template.

Abstract acceptance: Presenting authors will be notified whether their presentation will be in the oral or poster sessions by December 22, 2015.

More details: Are found in the attached SECOND CIRCULAR and in the attached Microsoft Word ABSTRACT TEMPLATE file.

This year’s workshop has six main themes:

1. Strategies for supporting success in earth science education

2. Creating opportunities for work-integrated learning (WIL) in earth sciences

3. Earth science education and literacy inside and outside university walls

4. Research in the classroom and laboratory

5. Improving quantitative approaches in earth science teaching and learning

6. Tomorrow’s global geoscience workforce

2016_AUGEN_Abstract_Template
AUGEN_2016_Second_Circular

New Publications

In the Media

Recent Completions