The Biodiversity and Climate Change Virtual Laboratory: Where ecology meets big data
By: Hallgren, Willow, Linda Beaumont, Andrew Bowness, Lynda Chambers, Erin Graham, Hamish Holewa, Shawn Laffan et al. Environmental Modelling & Software 76 (2016): 182-186. | Find with Google Scholar »
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Dear all,
Not much to report this week – we are busy finalising budgets for committees this year now that the department budget has been signed off. Most academic staff workloads are completed now so can I just remind everyone to please review your 2015 PDR plan so I can sign off on it, and then you can make a start on your 2016 PDR plan! We’ll try to have these finalised by end of March – book in a chat with me if you would like or else drop me an email that you have submitted your 2016 plan.
cheerio
Michelle
General News and Announcements
Contacting the HoD office
If you want to contact the HoD office eg to book an appointment, then please use the HoD email fse.bio-hod@mq.edu.au. For non-admin things, contact Jen or Michelle directly. We’ll trial this system to see if it works!
Faculty of Science and Engineering Tutor Induction
If you are considering tutoring this year it is STRONGLY recommended that you enrol in this module which is part of the Genes to Geoscience Enrichment Program and teaching allocation preferences will be given to those who have completed this module. It is taught by A/Prof Melanie Bishop and is designed to enhance your confidence in, and develop your awareness of, issues in teaching small groups (such as in a prac class or tutorial). We will cover topics such as: effective questioning, encouraging equal participation, managing student behaviour, and giving and receiving feedback. This module will be of interest to new and experienced tutors alike.
When: Feb 24 and Feb 25 from 9am- 12noon (both sessions are compulsory) [note these times may change due to a clash with central commencement program and teaching lab induction]
Where: EMC-G240
Limit: 50
Registrations close Feb 22nd, 5pm. Please register through here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/faculty-of-science-engineering-tutor-induction-tickets-21327637538
Tea/coffee & biscuits available
Contact: g2g-admin@mq.edu.au
Macquarie University eResearch Discussion Paper
Please find attached the Macquarie University eResearch Strategy Discussion Paper for your reference, review and feedback. Also attached is a copy of the message from Prof. Peter Nelson, PVC Research Performance and Innovation, summarising Paper details and the process that its undergone so far.
We would really appreciate if you could please provide your feedback to Melanie Bishop <melanie.bishop@mq.edu.au> by close of business Monday, 14 March.
Macquarie University eResearch Discussion Paper January 2016
Questions for comment and feedback
Biology garden working bee
We had a great turn-out to last week’s working bee in the Frank Mercer garden. A big thanks to everyone who contributed time and tools to the garden. Gold stars all round. We also had helpers from Sustainability and CBMS. This is almost the end of phase 1. Phase 2 will be edging, pathways and extra furniture. See the pdf for pictures.
United Nations Association of Australia – 2016 World Environment Day Awards Entries
Each year on United Nations World Environment Day (June 5) the United Nations Association of Australia seeks to focus world attention on the environment, particularly on innovative programs that protect and restore our world’s natural heritage, through its World Environment Day Awards. The UNAA has actively promoted this important day through the World Environment Day Awards program since 2000. The Awards recognise the environmental achievements of individuals, community groups, local councils, schools, businesses and the media.
As a non-profit, non-government association we rely on the generous support of organisations such as yours to get the ‘Call for Entries’ message out to the Australian community. Please find attached our 2016 World Environment Day Awards publicity flyer. We would greatly appreciate if you are able to help us promote the Awards by displaying this flyer on your website, or sharing it through your members and networks.
Alternatively, if your organisation has implemented outstanding environmental initiatives or demonstrated environmental leadership then you may be eligible to enter the Awards! You can view a full list of Award categories and eligibility requirements here.
For more information please email awards@unaavictoria.org.au or call us on 03 9670 7878.
Lecture: Patterns of Innovation in Biomedical Sciences; Accelerating the Path of Translation Science
Visiting Professor Fred Ledley is an internationally recognised expert in business models for translational science and developing strategies for more efficient translation of scientific discoveries. This will be a unique opportunity for Macquarie University to engage with an industry leader.
Lecture on Tuesday 23 February from 10am till 11.30am. Building E6A, Room 102, Eastern Road, Macquarie University.
Please RSVP here, as seating will be limited, by 22 February.
DANTA Tropical Biology Field Courses 2016
Do you have an interest in primates, tropical ecology and/or conservation? Are you looking to gain valuable field experience?
Would you like to learn about other cultures? Would you like to learn more about yourself?
Danta is pleased to announce our 2016 summer session field courses in tropical biology. Our course are intended for undergraduates or early graduate level students who have a keen interest in tropical ecosystems and conservation, but have little or no experience of working in a tropical environment. Participants may enroll on either a credit or non-credit basis.
For more information, please visit our website at www.DANTA.info and/or email conservation@danta.info.
WANTED: Two volunteer field assistant positions- Ecology and Conservation of the Regent Honeyeater
Two highly-skilled and motivated field ornithologists are required to assist with research into the ecology and conservation of the critically-endangered Regent honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia.
Time frame: 3 to 6 months from July 2016
Please see here for more information
Volunteer field assistant position
NSW Green Infrastructure Network – 2016
20 Million Trees Project in Penrith
It would be great if any interested academics would be willing to monitor the outcomes from the project. In broad terms:
- Greater Sydney LLS coordinated a bid to the Australian Government under the 20MT program on behalf of four local councils and the Western Sydney Parklands.
- While most of the sub-projects were mainstream revegetation, Penrith Council submitted three sub-projects that all supported their “Cooling the City Strategy”.
- Two of these were successful in attracting funding which will see the establishment of 99,000 plants on approximately 5 ha of council owned open space at Emu Plains (3000 plants) and South Penrith (96,000 plants). These sites are currently mowed grassy areas.
Please contact Leigh Staas, our local rep<leigh.staas@mq.edu.au>
Project Manager position
The Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) has been awarded funding by the Sydney Coastal Councils Group from the Australian Government for its Connected Corridors for Biodiversity project. They are currently advertising for a skilled Project Manager on a part-time contract basis for a period to the end of 2016. The position will be responsible for managing the project, engaging with multiple stakeholders, taking guidance from a panel of experts, and ensuring that high quality project deliverables are produced on time and within budget. Information package from www.ssroc.nsw.gov.au, (02) 8396 3800 or ssroc@ssroc.nsw.gov.au. Email applications to ssroc@ssroc.nsw.gov.au. Closing date is 2pm on Monday 22 February 2016.
Guest Talk: Urban Forests for Urban Futures – the contributions of trees to place, space, resilience and governance.
Presented by: Professor Cecil Konijnendijk
25 FEBRUARY 2016, 4‐6pm
Conference Room 449, Madsen Building, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney
Is this your jacket?
This jacket has been hanging in the E8A 2nd floor hallway since the beginning of the year (2016), if it is yours please come and collect it from the HoD office (E8B206) within the next week or it will be donated to charity.
New Publications
Differential controls by climate and physiology over the emission rates of biogenic volatile organic compounds from mature trees in a semi-arid pine forest
Eller, Allyson SD, Lindsay L. Young, Amy M. Trowbridge, and Russell K. Monson. Oecologia 180, no. 2 (2016): 345-358. | Find with Google Scholar »Physical Isolation of Endospores from Environmental Samples by Targeted Lysis of Vegetative Cells
By: Wunderlin, Tina; Junier, Thomas; Paul, Christophe; et al. JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS Issue: 107 Article Number: e53411 Published: JAN 2016 | Find with Google Scholar »Five Years of Experimental Warming Increases the Biodiversity and Productivity of Phytoplankton
By: Yvon-Durocher, Gabriel, Andrew P. Allen, Maria Cellamare, Matteo Dossena, Kevin J. Gaston, Maria Leitao, José M. Montoya, Daniel C. Reuman, Guy Woodward, and Mark Trimmer. PLoS Biol 13, no. 12 (2015): e1002324. | Find with Google Scholar »First records of winter sea ice concentration in the southwest Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean
By: Ferry, Alexander J., Xavier Crosta, Patrick G. Quilty, David Fink, William Howard, and Leanne K. Armand. Paleoceanography 30, no. 11 (2015): 1525-1539. | Find with Google Scholar »Fifth Polar Marine Diatom Taxonomy and Ecology Workshop, University of Salamanca, Spain, 19-24 July 2015
By: Hoff, Ulrike; Rigual-Hernandez, Andres S. DIATOM RESEARCH Volume: 30 Issue: 4 Pages: 343-344 Published: OCT 2 2015 | Find with Google Scholar »LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONS FOR 29 DEMERSAL FISHES CAUGHT BY SMALL OTTER TRAWL ON THE SOUTH-EASTERN COAST OF KOREA
By: Park, Joo Myun; Huh, Sung Hoi ACTA ICHTHYOLOGICA ET PISCATORIA Volume: 45 Issue: 4 Pages: 427-431 Published: 2015 | Find with Google Scholar »Do land surface models need to include differential plant species responses to drought? Examining model predictions across a mesic-xeric gradient in Europe
By: De Kauwe, M. G., S-X. Zhou, B. E. Medlyn, A. J. Pitman, Y-P. Wang, R. A. Duursma, and I. C. Prentice. Biogeosciences 12, no. 24 (2015): 7503-7518. | Find with Google Scholar »In the Media
In the Newsroom: Ian Jonsen on Where will the Weddell seals go? Deciphering the movements of marine predator
Where will the Weddell seals go? Deciphering the movements of marine predator
Simon Griffith spoke to 105.7 ABC Darwin’s Saturday Breakfast show on the increasing frequency and severity of heat waves and zebra finch eggs to hatch early.
Professor Simon Griffith from the Department of Biological Sciences spoke to 105.7 ABC Darwin’s Saturday Breakfast show in ongoing coverage of his research which found that the increasing frequency and severity of heat waves could cause zebra finch eggs to hatch early. See page 14 of the report.
Recent Completions
PhD submission for Patrick Mark Smith “Paleontology, taxonomy and biostratigraphy of Cambrian assemblages from the Pertaoorrta Group, Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory”
Supervised by Glenn Brock