Microbial composition affects the performance of an artificial Tephritid larval diet
By: Rempoulakis, P., S. Sela, E. Nemny-Lavy, R. Pinto, A. Birke, and D. Nestel. Bulletin of entomological research 108, no. 4 (2018): 434-441. | Find with Google Scholar »
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Hi All
Another busy week flies by. Next week heralds a new semester, and the return of our fearless leader.
I hope you all got along to the REP Outlook Conference this week. The diversity and quality of the presentations was fantastic and it was truly a thought provoking two days. Thanks to Michael, Mariella and Wade for another successful Outlook Conference.
Please see all the goodness below, and particularly to academic staff, our need for more advisors for open day.
Happy Reading,
Grant
Save the Date
This coming week 30th July – 3rd August
Wed 1st: Department Morning Tea; 10.30am – 11.00am; The Hill.
Wed 1st: No Department Seminar This Week.
Thu 2nd: Australian Red Cross Blood Donation Drive, 9.00am – 2.00pm, MQU Library.
Following week 6th – 10th August
Tue 7th: S2 Student Welcome Sausage Sizzle; 12.00pm – 1.00pm; Biology Courtyard.
Tue 7th: FSE Town Hall Meeting; 1.00pm – 2.00pm; W2.4A Macquarie Theatre – 21WW.
Wed 8th: Department Morning Tea; 10.30am – 11.00am; 14EAR (E8A) 280 Biology Tea Room.
Wed 8th: Dr Benjamin Kear, Uppsala University; 1.00pm – 2.00pm; 14EAR (E8A) 280 Biology Tea Room.
Thu 9th: aaRgh – R drop-in help; 3.00pm – 4.00pm; 14EAR (E8A) 280 Biology Tea Room.
Thu 9th: Biology Social Club; 5.00pm – 7.00pm; Biology Courtyard (or Tea Room if it’s wet).
Future Events
Aug 14th: Department Meeting; 1.00pm; Biology Tearoom E8A (14EAR) 280.
Sep 19th: Biological Sciences Graduation Ceremony; 2.30pm; Great Hall, MQU.
Sep 21st: Frank Mercer Garden 40th Anniversary; 12.00pm – 2.00pm; Frank Mercer Garden, behind Biology Courtyard.
General News and Announcements
Open Day Academic Advisors Urgently Needed
We are urgently seeking more of our Academics to provide academic advising at Open Day on Saturday, 18 August 2018 from 9.30am to 4 pm. If you are available on the day and can help us out, please contact Jenny Donald <jenny.donald@mq.edu.au>.
Got Blood? Don’t need all of it? Consider donating. Every donation can save 3 lives!
Blood collection by the Australian Red Cross is taking place at the Library, this Thursday, 2nd August, 9am – 2pm. Give if you can.
Indoor Plant Workshop – Want to have an office or living room like Rekha and Mariella, but don’t know where to start, or need a little motivation? Rekha and Masood are offering to run a workshop on creating a beautiful indoor plant display. All materials and tools provided. Minimum of 10 people required to run the workshop. There is only one workshop, but 4 possible dates (11, 12 or 13 Sept, or 3 Oct). Register your interest, so we can select the best date: https://doodle.com/poll/38fhcg2tbistc69a
Calling All Marine Fieldworkers! The marine fieldwork management team would like your feedback on the various inductions we conduct at the University and how we can improve them. If you have completed a snorkelling, boating, or diving induction with us in the last 5 years please take a few minutes to give us anonymous feedback by clicking here:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSCFV6L
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Welcome
Bhavana Penmetcha has joined the Ecological Neuroscience group for a MRes2 program. She has a background in computational neuroscience specialising in insect sensory systems. Here, she will be supervised by Yuri Ogawa and Ajay Narendra to investigate the physiological adaptations and behavioural functions of the simple eye in ants. Bhavana will be based at W19F. Please make her feel welcome!
RESEARCH STORIES, OUTCOMES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Would you like the opportunity to sail on the R.V. Investigator?! CAPSTAN – Chief Scientist, Trainers and Student Participant Applications are now open! The 2nd CAPSTAN voyage is scheduled to depart from Hobart, Tasmania 29th April, arriving in Fremantle, Western Australia, 9th May, 2019 and it is time to crew the voyage! The following positions are now available.
Chief Scientist – Applications open 10th of July, close 15th of August 2018. Trainers – Applications open 15th of August, close 30th of September 2018. Student participants – Applications open 15th of August, close 30th of September 2018. For more information visit our website: https://goto.mq/6g nquiries: <fse.capstanenquiries@mq.edu.au>.
New HDR Student Social Group – The Macquarie Student Group is a new social group for all HDR and other students from all Faculties and Departments across Macquarie University. The group focuses on creating a healthy student culture, improving student wellbeing, and providing support for each other however we can, sharing thoughts and ideas, planning social events and for having fun at the same time! The Macquarie Students Group meets in person every Tuesday at 12 pm near the lake for a chat, to meet other students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, throw around a frisbee and take a bit of a break from the computer/lab, so please feel free to come and say hi. There is a Facebook Group you can join <https://www.facebook.com/groups/2058880210996438/> for discussions and sharing ideas and social events, as well as a Google Group. Please contact April Foote <april.foote@hdr.mq.edu.au> for access to the Google Group and for more information.
Funding opportunity for PhD and ECRs – The department is now accepting applications for the Milthorpe Memorial Award (up to $2500). Applicants must be either PhD candidates or Level A-B ECRs. These funds can be spent on travel or research expenses for any research topic related directly OR indirectly to plants (this includes plant biology/ecology, plant-insect interactions, plants as habitat, etc), and must be spent this year. Please fill out the attached application form and email to HoD by 31 July 2018. Milthorpe Award Application_2018
2018-19 Fisheries Scientific Committee Student Research Grant round now open – Visit the FSC website to access the online application form. Applications close 11.59 pm (AEDT) on Tuesday 31 July 2018.
LEARNING AND TEACHING
Wuyagiba Study Hub – Macquarie University has been working with members of Ngukurr and Numbulwar communities of south east Arnhem Land to establish a remote Study Hub at Wuyagiba outstation. We are doing a funding drive to try and get some basic infrastructure, funding for local Aboriginal staff and equipment so we can Trial the idea in Sept-October this year. Follow this link to access the Wuyagiba Study Hub website https://www.wuyagibastudyhub.org/
Macquarie has received applications from 25 students from Ngukurr for the Trial Tertiary Preparation Course. The Wuyagiba Study Hub website has more information about Our Journey, Our Plan and a link for donations. Funding for this Trial will be housed at Macquarie University’s Aboriginal Student Support Unit, Walanga Muru. All donations are tax deductible. We have already received some substantial donations and support from Macquarie University but we need about $50,000 more by September to cover all expected costs. The Study Hub will be free to students and all equipment provided.
Please pass on this information to anyone who you think might be keen to support Aboriginal students from remote south east Arnhem Land gain access to this unique and locally driven two-way University education on Country. Any donations would be gratefully accepted! We need your help! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Emilie Ens, PhD <emilie.ens@mq.edu.au>.
Session 2 iLearn Drop-in Clinic – The iLearn Drop-in Clinic is back for Session 2, 2018 where help is on hand for all things iLearn. It will be open 10am – 2pm weekdays from 16th July – 3 August 2018. Get help with:
- iLearn – Editing and building your unit
- iTeach – iLearn Spaces (in plain English, creating/activating your iLearn unit for the new session)
- iTeach – Unit Guides
- Echo360 and Active Learning Platform
- Turnitin and Feedback Studio
Drop in any time at the following locations:
Monday 30 July – Friday 4 August: 12WW G23 (formally E7A G23)
No need to register, just turn up during the opening hours. Visit teche.mq.edu.au for more updates and tips.
Need help with unit development or anything L&T? Talk to our friendly Faculty L&T team contact – Natalie Spence (x1943, <natalie.spence@mq.edu.au>).
BLOGS AND OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST
Plant of the Week
This week: In winter, Pyrostegia venusta – Orange Bignonia – gladdens our souls with spectacular displays of brilliant orange flowers. However, this climbing vine also raises a perennial question. Do climbing plants climb in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction? Ecologists Wil Edwards, Angela Moles and Peter Franks have come up with some intriguing answers.
Some Topical Reading for Your Week
https://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_feldman_barrett_you_aren_t_at_the_mercy_of_your_emotions_your_brain_creates_them/ https://theconversation.com/why-i-joined-500queerscientists-98314
Ally Training provides participants with an overall understanding of why LGBTIQ inclusion is important to the Macquarie University community and explores challenges often faced by people who identify as LGBTIQ and the impact of Homophobia, Transphobia & prejudice. Participants who complete the training will be able to join the MQ Ally Network if they so wish.
Key Takeaways:
- Introduction to the diversity of identities within the LGBTIQ+ community
- Gain an understanding of discrimination and bias that affect people in the LGBTIQ+ community
- Know what the Ally Network is and what it takes to be an active and effective Ally.
- Develop your skills to actively speak out against Homophobia, Transphobia and prejudice
- Learn to refer people to appropriate local resources, support services & assistance
If you’d like to attend Ally training please complete this poll so that we can find an appropriate time. https://doodle.com/poll/qpzsmvaq4enu5n45 Each session will run for approximately 2 hours. For more information or if you have any questions please contact <workplacediversityinclusion@mq.edu.au>.
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
Biological Sciences Weekly Seminar
Date/Time/Venue: Wednesday, 8th August 2018, 1 – 2pm, 14EAR (E8A) 280 Biology Tea Room.
Speaker: Dr Benjamin Kear, Uppsala University. Title: Digging deeper into Australasia’s Age of Dinosaurs. More information at https://goto.mq.edu.au/biologyseminar2018-abstracts
MolSci Weekly Seminar
Date/Time/Venue: Tuesday, 31st July 2018, 1 – 2pm, 4WW (F7B) 322 Seminar Room.
Speaker: Dr Juanfang Ruan, Electron Microscope Unit, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, UNSW. Title: Architecture of the flagellar apparatus of magnetotactic bacteria revealed by cryo electron microscopy. More information at https://goto.mq/6k
Conference on Light Pollution – Dr. Richard McDermid (MQ Dept. of Astronomy) is organising a small conference in the Warrumbungles around the topic of light pollution this September. The conference website is here: http://www.fredwatsontours.com.au/dark-sky-conference.html. The main motivation for this is around the creation of Australia’s first ‘Dark Sky Park’ – an accreditation given to the Warrumbungle National Park in 2016 by the International Dark Sky Association. Since then, MQ has had some involvement there, including a number of PACE projects around measuring light pollution, and school outreach, mainly with an astronomy focus. However, given the ‘multi-disciplinary’ nature of this topic,broader engagement with research from departments such as Biology is welcome.The idea of this conference is to bring together different light pollution stakeholders, including health professionals, lighting industry, ecology, community representatives, etc. in an attempt to find some common ground and possible ways forward e.g. around technology solutions, monitoring, research efforts, standards and guidelines, etc.
For more details, contact: Dr Richard McDermid <richard.mcdermid@mq.edu.au>.
aaRgh (ask an Rgeek for help) – Second Thursday of every month 3 – 4pm, Biology Tearoom – 14EAR (E8A) 280. Frustrated? Having an R-related problem? We will also run regular afternoon tea sessions where you can get one-on-one help, or just introduce yourself and chat. Snacks provided!
Department Writing Workshops for HDRs and ECRs – Running weekly for most of the year: Fridays 2-4pm in room E8B 111. Those interested in attending a session should email Ken Cheng <ken.cheng@mq.edu.au> by Wednesday 12:00-noon, preferably with a draft attached of what they are working on and some indication of what they especially need help with.
Peer Writing Assistance Session – Are you a HDR? Need help with your writing? Unsure how to structure your argument? Want advice on how to handle HDR life? If you answered yes to any of these questions then come along to a Peer Writing Assistance session! Peer Writing Assistants are current PhD students and HDR Mentors at Macquarie University that are a ‘fresh pair of eyes’ to look over your work and provide constructive advice. We are also available to talk about any aspect of the HDR experience. Sessions can be booked on the HDR workshops page.
Social Network Analysis Mini-conference & Workshop – When/Where: 10 – 13 September 2018, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Attendance is free but places are limited so register soon! Flyer_SNA_NA_final For details of content – https://sites.google.com/site/drfarine/teaching/sna_workshop For inquiries & registration details – Nicolette Armansin (Macquarie University), <nicolette.armansin@mq.edu.au>.
MQ Quantitative Advice Forum returns – http://quantitative-advice.gg.mq.edu.au/ – We are pleased to announce that the Quantitative Advice Forum is once again up and running. This forum is for any and all questions about stats, maths, and programming, at all levels from basic to advanced. The format is similar to StackExchange and similar forums, but you’ll be talking with people from within the Macquarie community in a more relaxed environment. You can buy them a coffee if they really help you out! Ask your own questions, or share your knowledge and help your colleagues.
SUSTAINABILITY
Recycle Nook – books books books! The Recycle Nook has been rearranged so that academic texts are on the top shelf and fiction and general interest are on the lower shelves. There are a number of recent and ‘historic’ texts on the top shelf, esp Microbiology, Zoology and HSC Science. Have a browse and see if these are of interest and value to anyone you know. Any text published prior to this century will be recycled on Friday 10th August (giving you 3 weeks of browsing pleasure). Also in the recycle nook are a number of printer cartridges, blank CDs/DVDs, and miscellaneous other items. These printer cartridges will be recycled on 10th August, if they have not found a new home.
Kangaroo Island Crown Coastal Conservation Reserve – The SA Government has previously attempted to sell Crown Coastal Conservation Reserve on Kangaroo Island to golf course developers. That consultation was eventually won and the government backed down. This is because there were 780 submissions with 775 against the golf course being on that land. The SA government then changed in April and unfortunately the new Environment Minster David Speirs rezoned the crown land allowing almost all of it to be leased to developers, plus another coastal parcel to the west. The Minster keeps saying that the land is “highly degraded” which is completely disingenuous. We know that 80% of the land is very high quality remnant linking the eastern Dudley Peninsula with the rest of the island at an isthmus. The vegetation is cliff-top coastal grasses (virtually untouched) and, sand dunes and shrubs. I reattach the photo I sent with my first email of some dunes. None of this land has been subject to an EIS because it was only acquired as part of an “amendment” to the originally approved development which was on cleared freehold farmland. Dr Julian Monfries from Adelaide (GP and Secretary Friends of Heysen Trail), has started an online petition to again try and stop the crown land being used. There are already about 400 signatures and I urge you to sign as well if you feel it is a worthy cause. Just need name, email, postcode (there is space to write comments also). Link here: https://www.communityrun.org/petitions/save-the-kangaroo-island-coastline
ADMIN THINGS
Admin Alert! Admin workload is particularly high, so this is a reminder to submit your Absence on Duty early. Please give a minimum of 3 weeks before you travel domestically, and 6 weeks internationally, for approvals to be processed and bookings made for you. The more notice you give, the easier it is, and the better prices you can get. Any last-minute travel requests may not be processed.
Photo Competition – AUGUST 2018 – go into the draw to win a $100 Gift Card this month! This month’s theme is Landscape! Your images could be used on our Department website, this newsletter, on our social media and in other biology publications. A lucky person’s name will be drawn each month, and they will receive a $100 Gift Card! Criteria: you must provide caption information including details of what/where/who(names of people)/date & you must have taken all photos & the image must have been taken in the last five years. Please follow the dropbox file request link to submit your images.
Submission close: 31 AUGUST 2018. You can enter as many photos as you like – one entry to the draw per photo with caption info, good luck!
We have the draw winner for the June 2018 category – Black & White, congratulation to Theo Colin! Here is a selection of some of the entries submitted.
PURE Training – The PURE system is used to manage researcher profiles, outputs including publications, funding applications, awards, projects and reports. Do you feel like you could use some more PURE training? Please register your interest via an email to <jenny.ghabache@mq.edu.au>.
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
Location-W (Fauna Park) Admin Support – Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 10am – 1pm in W19F.
Deliveries – You will notice that we have placed a red “transfer Box” in W19F, put anything in this box that needs to be delivered to the E8 area location. We also have a red “Transfer Box” in E8B Level 2 location, which is for goods to betaken to the W location. These boxes will be emptied every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am. Deliveries from the main “MQ” store will be delivered daily. Any questions please contact Sharyon O’Donnell.
Building Name Changes – Cheat Sheet – If you are trying to identify buildings on campus with new names or old names, please use this link to convert them from old to new or vice versa.
Correct Method for Submitting to Department Matters
Department Matters submissions now have their own email address. Please send all future submissions to the newsletter to <fse.bionewsletter@mq.edu.au>!
Also, please see the following to correctly format your additions, and keep them rolling in!
You may have noticed that we try to keep all the articles to the same format for the Department Matters, however, rest assured, they do NOT all turn up in this format! To help keep your Department Matters looking as good as possible, when sending in additions to the Newsletter, please try to keep these formatting guidelines in mind.
- Please write in third person. The information is coming from the Newsletter, not directly from you.
- Do not use fancy text formatting. Bold heading, normal text, and only italics or bold to highlight. No font size changes will make it through, sorry.
- If sending via email, set your email output to basic. HTML output will add all sort of formatting that will have to be removed before your article can go into the newsletter.
Keeping to these guidelines will streamline your article’s addition to the newsletter. Thank you.
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New Publications
Effects of El Nino Southern Oscillation on avian breeding phenology
By: Englert Duursma, Daisy, Rachael V. Gallagher, and Simon C. Griffith. Diversity and Distributions. | Find with Google Scholar »Tracking antibiotic resistome during wastewater treatment using high throughput quantitative PCR
By: An, X.L., Su, J.Q., Li, B., Ouyang, W.Y., Zhao, Y., Chen, Q.L., Cui, L., Chen, H., Gillings, M.R., Zhang, T. and Zhu, Y.G., 2018. Environment international, 117, pp.146-153. | Find with Google Scholar »The links between leaf hydraulic vulnerability to drought and key aspects of leaf venation and xylem anatomy among 26 Australian woody angiosperms from contrasting climates
By: Blackman, Chris J., Sean M. Gleason, Alicia M. Cook, Yvonne Chang, Claire A. Laws, and Mark Westoby. Annals of botany (2018). | Find with Google Scholar »Trophic transfer of metals in a seagrass food web: Bioaccumulation of essential and non-essential metals
By: Schneider, Larissa, William A. Maher, Jaimie Potts, Anne M. Taylor, Graeme E. Batley, Frank Krikowa, Aaron Adamack, Anthony A. Chariton, and Bernd Gruber. Marine pollution bulletin 131 (2018): 468-480. | Find with Google Scholar »Does size affect orientation using celestial cues
By: Palavalli-Nettimi, R., and A. Narendra. Insectes Sociaux (2018): 1-6. | Find with Google Scholar »In the Media
Michael Gillings provided comment to Essential Kids
Distinguished Professor Michael Gillings from the Department of Biological Sciences provided comment to Essential Kids about the risks associated with wearing shoes inside the home.
Jonas Wolff was interviewed on SBS German
Dr Jonas Wolff from the Department of Biological Sciences was interviewed on SBS German about the glue spiders use in their webs.
Culum Brown and Catarina Vila Pouca were featured in Inquisitr
Associate Professor Culum Brown and Catarina Vila Pouca from the Department of Biological Sciences were featured in Inquisitr regarding research into sharks’ ability to associate jazz music with a food reward.
Michael Gillings was interviewed on 2SER FM
Distinguished Professor Michael Gillings from the Department of Biological Sciences was interviewed on 2SER FM about the upcoming Outlook Conference.
https://2ser.com/outlook-conference-macquarie-university/