BioQuest Results are in – Macquarie takes Third and Second Places! For the 2019 University BioQuest, the Macquarie University team took out 2nd place for identification and 3rd place for spotting. Jenny Donald placed third on the individual tally for both spotting and identifying. Congratulations to Jenny Donald and all who participated in the Macquarie University team. See the media release for more highlights https://questagame.com/storyposts/2019/5/24/sri-lankan-team-sweeps-to-victory-in-the-2019-university-bioquest

We’ve improved on last year, let’s hope next year is even better. Mark April for BioQuest in your 2020 calendar now!!

Global Plastic-Free Lunch a Success! The Global Plastic-Free lunch was a successful gathering of people and dishes from many countries, including Denmark, Argentina, France, South Africa, Poland, India, Lebanon, and Australia and New Zealand, with plenty to share.

Although it was a small gathering, it was very relaxed and friendly. Desserts dominated and there was a call to hold a similar event soon, but as a morning tea. Start planning your next dish!

A big thank you to everyone who contributed.

Claire and Sam had their bamboo cutlery sets.

We included a mini farewell to Darius (who’s moving from Science It to Central IT) with a slice of dessert on an edible plate!

Thanks to Jenny for the photos.

Next we start preparing for Plastic Free July. Stay tuned for more information.

Science in the City Festival Display – We are looking for students and staff who would like to create an interactive display about science and their research for this year’s Science in the City (Sydney Science Festival) https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/teachers/science-in-the-city/. This is an excellent opportunity to promote your research, develop your science communication portfolio as well as inspiring the general public. We have 2.5hr time slots available on the primary school (8th August), high school (13th August) and general public (10th August) days of the expo. If you’re interested in being involved please contact Vivian <vivian.cumbo@mq.edu.au>, or Juliano <juliano.morimoto@mq.edu.au> before June 21. The early date is because we wish to help foster your science communication skills. Prior to the event we will meet twice to help you develop ideas and ways to effectively communicate your display.

Plant of the Week – will return next week!

New University RPA (Drone) Policy Incoming – A new remotely piloted aircraft (drone) policy is in preparation at Risk and Assurance. For anyone who is currently using or is planning to use drones in their research and are unaware of the upcoming changes and how they will affect you, please contact Nick Harris <nick.harris@mq.edu.au> to discuss how this new policy will affect you and if there are any added approvals you will be required to complete.

Call for Research and Professional Development Workshop Suggestions The Department is compiling a program of workshops focused on research and professional development for postgraduate students and ECRs in the Biological Sciences, and we want your suggestions! Perhaps there is a particular skill you want to develop or advice that you are seeking. Or you may want to deliver a session on something relevant! This could range from writing and data analysis, to publishing and interview skills, and anything in between. We are looking for suggestions of workshop topics as well as nominations for people or groups to run them.
Please submit your suggestions via this google form: https://forms.gle/KaYnCr4fp2b1ucWm8

OPPORTUNITIES

Higher Education Academy Fellowship Program Now Open for Mid-2019 Applications – Macquarie educators interested in having their professional practice in higher education teaching, learning support, and leadership recognised, can now register to apply for HEA Fellowship. Applicants must first attend a 1-hour information session; sessions will be held between 29 May and 15 July – register and see more information: https://teche.mq.edu.au/2019/05/macquarie-hea-fellowship-program-now-open-for-mid-2019-application/

Faculty Staff (Professional & Academic) Travel Grants – support for staff travel is now provided centrally by the Faculty.  Funding is available for ECR travel, international collaboration, teaching and professional staff development. If you would like to apply, please discuss with your supervisor and A/Prof Andrew Barron (for research travel) or Dr Drew Allen (for teaching travel). Research Eligibility and application details can be found here.https://staff.mq.edu.au/intranet/science-and-engineering/faculty-awards,-schemes-and-procedures
Two rounds remain for the rest of the year:
– Round 3 closes Friday 27 September 2019
Apply as soon as possible for any travel you intend on taking in 2019, that meets the criteria. Funds awarded must be spent in 2019 and will not be carried into 2020.

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

Venue: 14EaR/E8A 280, Biology Tea Room
Date & Time:Tue 11th June, 12:15-1pm– to immediately follow HDR Conference talks, so a light lunch will be provided.

For those interested in supervising or co-supervising PhD or (particularly) Masters of Research students, please come along! A/Prof Ashraf will be giving an overview of the HDR programs at MQ, what’s required to become a supervisor, and opportunities for professional development. The rules and categories of supervision can be difficult to penetrate, but experience in supervising students is almost essential in academic promotions.
Previously, an academic needed to be on a contract of 3 or more years – now, the policy is much more permissive for staff on shorter contracts; plus, it’s straightforward to supervise an MRes student, as their program runs for 10 months only (Jan-Oct, or July-Apr).

Please RSVP (for catering): <julian.may@mq.edu.au> by Tue 11th June, 9am. All welcome!

For further information on HDR Supervision training, see: https://staff.mq.edu.au/research/managing-graduate-researchers/supervisors-enhancement-program

Venture Café – Want to know more about innovation, and how to achive it?  Come along to the Venture Cafe, Thursday, 3pm – 8pm, 58 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park, NSW (map). Find out what is on each week here – https://venturecafesydney.org/

R-Users Group (RUG) Fortnightly Help Sessions – Do you have a problem with data analysis? You might want to give R a go which is a fantastic analytical and plotting tool. For all your R-related queries, drop by ‘Ask An R Geek for Help’ (aaRgh) session where you can get one-on-one assistance. No registration is required and there will be snacks and beverages (BYO mug). Date: 13 June, 2019. Time: 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Venue: Continuum Room (75 Talavera Road, room 3114).

Workshop on ‘Maps and spatial analysis in R’ by Matthew Kerr. Description: “People tend to use R for their stats, but move to GIS when it comes to anything spatial. Here’s the secret – R has many powerful tools for implementing spatial data into your analyses, without the need for learning a whole new piece of software! We will briefly go over a few major spatial functions, including reading and writing raster files in R, before looking at how ggplot and base R can be used to create publication-ready maps for any situation you may bump in to.“ Presenter: Matt is a PhD student in the palaeobiology lab with John Alroy, working on spatial trends in coastal molluscs. He has used R for several very different projects and is yet to find his favourite package. Date: 27 June, 2019. Time: 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Venue: Continuum Room (75 Talavera Road, room 3114).

Wildlife at the Watering Hole – 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm @ Botany View Hotel, King St Newtown!

HDR NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Fulbright 2020 Program provides prestigious, high-quality, transformative exchange experiences to Australian students wishing to conduct research in collaboration with US institutions. In 2019 they have doubled the number of Fulbright Scholarships on offer to Australian applicants. Open to: Postgraduate, Postdoctoral, Scholar, or Distinguished Chair positions.

The 2020 round of Fulbright applications will remain open until 15 July 2019, for programs to commence June/July 2020; see application information here: https://www.fulbright.org.au/applicants/australian-applicants/
NOTE: Applicants must hold Australian citizenship, and not be dual-Australian-US citizens.

An information session recording can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/QpLRAMpvyl0

PhD Students: got a grant? Dept. will co-fund up to $1500 – The Department would like to encourage students to seek external sources of funding, and has a small budget with which to support successful candidates.New limits from 2019:PhD students ONLY: Dept. will match up to $1500 of external (non-MQ) funding ONCE during the student’s candidature.

Are you a HDR student? Need help with writing? HDR Mentors in collaboration with HDR Learning Skills is running another round of Peer Writing Assistance (PWA) for the rest of the year! This program is designed to support MRES and HDR candidates in managing thesis writing and research-related concerns. All peer writing assistants have undergone training for their role and are current PhD candidates at Macquarie.
The PWA program is based on the principle of collaborative learning in which a more experienced research student helps you develop stronger academic and research skills. Peer Writing Assistants are not teachers. Rather, they are trained to function as a ‘friendly audience’ or ‘fresh pair of eyes’ to help you gain new perspectives on your writing or research ideas.
Registrations are now open for individual consultation bookings. If you are interested, please go to book in for a 45-minute session with a PWA here.

And:

ADMIN THINGS

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

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.

THIS AND THAT

Better News About Bibliometrics – These affect all of us, as this brief article says:  Destructive ‘thinking with indicators’ (that is, choosing research questions that are likely to generate favourable metrics, rather than selecting topics for interest and importance) is becoming a driving force of research activities themselves.

But the bibliometrics are being re-examined and this may help everyone:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01643-3?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=b5b7d42a54-briefing-wk-20190531&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-b5b7d42a54-42951679

Call for Yellow Pages Books: Any unwanted yellow pages books old or new can be donate to PGF. Pages will be used to line pots. Kindly leave them outside office 14EAR(E8A)-175.

Harvest Hub – great food that doesn’t cost the earth

Do you want:

• To eat with the seasons?
• Have fresh fruit and veg delivered weekly?
• Buy from local growers and support local farmer more directly?
• Access weekly specials and a flexible, easy to use ordering system?
• Have produce delivered to you at work?
• Buy grains and cereals too?

Then try Harvest Hub www.harvesthub.com.au

Hub name: MACQUARIE04  F: @harvesthubau  

More information?

• Check out the website
• Talk to Samantha Newton <samantha.newton@mq.edu.au>.
• Orders are delivered weekly, on Tuesdays

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