The effect of spatially restricted experience on extrapolating learned views in desert ants, Melophorus bagoti
Deeti, Sudhakar, Kazuki Fujii, and Ken Cheng. Animal Cognition (2020): 1-8. | Find with Google Scholar »
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Dear all,
If you are reading this then you have survived week one of Session 1 for the year under our new curriculum – well done! The advising team and our academic administrators have been working very hard to get through the deluge of student enquiries – many thanks to all of you (you know who you are!). Next Tuesday is the monthly Dept meeting where we will be discussing what’s ahead for the year – see you there.
cheers
Michelle
Save the Date
This week 2nd – 6th March
Tues 3rd Mar: Monthly Department meeting; 1-2pm 14EAR-280 (Biology Tearoom)
Wed 4th Mar: Department Seminar – Tim Landgraf, Free University Berlin 1pm – 2pm; 14EAR-280 (Biology Tea Room)
Fri 6th Mar: International Women’s Day at the National Maritime Museum; 10am – 3pm National Maritime Museum, Sydney
Following week 9th – 13th March
7-12 Mar: Gender Equity Week on campus
9 – 13 Mar: Careers Week on campus
Wed 11th Mar: Department Seminar; 1pm – 2pm Biology Tearoom E8A 280
Wed 11th Mar: Undergraduate Student Welcome BBQ; 12pm-1pm Biology Courtyard
Wed 11th Mar:Women in Science: 100 Inspirational Lives; 4-5pm; Level 8 Conference Room, 12 Wally’s Walk
Fri 13th Mar: Board Games Social; 3pm – 4pm Biology Tearoom E8A 280
Future Events
Fri 27th Mar – Board Games Social; 3pm – 4pm Biology Tearoom E8A 280
Fri 3 April: Exchange Fair 2020 18 Wally’s Walk
Wed 22nd Apr: Graduation Ceremony; 6-8pm
Weekly Events
Wed: Department seminars; 1-2pm; Biology tearoom. Schedule ON OUR WEBPAGE HERE
Wed: Shut up and Write Sessions; 11.00am – 12.00pm; 6WW(E8C)-212 or 14EAR(E8A)-360A.
Fri: Writing Workshops with Prof Ken Cheng – to support HDRs and ECRs with scientific writing; 2 – 4pm; Ken’s office at 205b Culloden Road, G12.
General News and Announcements
This week’s Biological Sciences Seminar – Date/Time: Wednesday, 4th March; 1pm – 2pm. Speaker: Prof. Tim Landgraf, Free University Berlin. Title: Drones, bees and robofish – adventures in biorobotics. Venue: Biology Tea Room. More information on this and all department seminars click here!
Plant of the Week
This week: Guzmania lingulata – Scarlet Star
Tank bromeliads, such as Guzmania lingulata, have tightly overlapping leaves that enable them to capture water and provide a habitat for a range of invertebrates, vertebrates and microorganisms including fungi, algae and protozoa. These, in turn, provide nutrient resources that benefit the bromeliads. Phytotelmata (singular phytotelm), is a technical term for a water body enclosed within a living plant, and the water-holding wells of bromeliads are recognised as a specialised form of phytotelmata.
OPPORTUNITIES
Calling all optimistic conservation researchers!
Get your good news story out by giving a 3 minute talk at our upcoming Earth Optimism Australia event at Taronga Zoo on April 22nd. Please contact Rachael Gallagher who is on the local organising committee with questions if you need.
We are looking for positive stories of change that will engage an audience of age 12+. Talks must be 3 minutes in length and can be accompanied with a maximum of ONE visual aid (e.g. a PowerPoint slide or photo).
How to get involved:
This session will have 8-9 speakers and we aim to represent a diversity of backgrounds (e.g. types of organizations, solutions, personal backgrounds, demographics). We will select final speakers on the basis of ensuring we have a diverse and engaging panel for the audience.
To be considered for inclusion in the session please send your name, short bio and a summary of your success story along with a short (~30 second) teaser video clip to earthoptimism@scboceania.org by March 14th. All successful applicants will be notified by March 24th so that they can prepare their full talk for the April 22nd event.
More information can be found at 3MT Earth Optimism call for nominations.
Upcoming Early Career Researcher and Practitioner Event: Beyond SDG11
In 2020 Future Earth Australia will be hosting a number of Early Career Researcher and Practitioner Events. Our first is Beyond SDG11: a focus on environmental sustainability and liveable cities, in partnership with Western Sydney University at their Parramatta city campus. This event encourages applications from any early career researcher and/or practitioner whose work aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities. This can include but is not limited to those conducting research/practising in engineering, science, urban planning, the built environment, social sciences, public policy, economics and business.
Applications close on 3 March – find out more information about the event here: https://www.futureearth.org.au/events/ecrp-event-beyond-sdg-11-focus-environmental-sustainability-and-liveable-cities
Hansjorg Eichler Research Grant
The next round of the ASBS Hansjörg Eichler Scientific Research Fund applications are due on 14 Mar 2020. This is a generous scheme providing up to $5000 for research projects. All current ASBS members are welcome to apply, with preference given to students, recent graduates, newly-established botanists and non-salaried researchers. Guidelines, essential criteria and application forms are available here: http://www.asbs.org.au/asbs/hesrfund/index.html
Winston Churchill Trust is offering funding to do research overseas
See the Churchill Trust website to apply. Closes 30 April
Note: NOT suitable for HDR candidates
Aurora Internship Program in Indigenous-sector organisations
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous students and graduates are able to apply for 4-6 week internships working with organisations across Australia with an indigenous focus.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and graduates are also eligible to apply for scholarships. Applications close Friday 27 March 2020
See the website for more information
2020 Eureka Prizes program announced
The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are back – and in 2020 we’re marking 30 years of celebrating outstanding scientific achievement. This year, there are 17 prizes on offer across the categories of Research & Innovation, Leadership, Science Engagement and School Science.
Prizes cover a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines, aiming to recognise the work of scientists, researchers and science communicators at all career stages. There’s a prize pool of $170,000 to be shared between winners, and it’s free to enter!
Entries open Wednesday 4 March
Taronga Conservation Society Australia are excited to announce the HATCH: Taronga Accelerator Program!
Through this program Taronga aims to help drive innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing conservation and environmental challenges. If you have a brilliant idea or product that you think will be the next game changer for the planet, or know someone who does, Taronga wants to hear from you.
The HATCH program will provide participants with:
- The opportunity to receive up to $50,000 in funding at the end of the Accelerator program
- $2,000 seed funding for all participating teams
- The opportunity to develop their brilliant idea into a not for profit or social enterprise venture
- Access to top mentors and subject matter experts, including Taronga’s experts in conservation, science, education and community engagement
- A peer group of like-minded innovators and thought leaders
For more information visit the HATCH webpage, sign up to the mailing list to receive program updates, and join the program community on LinkedIn. If you have any questions you can contact the HATCH team at hatch@zoo.nsw.gov.au.
Applications are now open and will close on 24 March 2020. Now’s the time to start thinking about your brilliant idea for the planet!
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
Shut Up and Write Sessions – every Wednesday 11am. It’s pretty simple, we shut up… and we write. Using the pomodoro technique we’ll meet at 11am to write, stop 25 minutes in for a 10 min break, then settle down again for another 25 minutes of writing. You’ll be amazed how productive you can be. More details on the concept here: https://thesiswhisperer.com/shut-up-and-write/
Room will be either 6WW(E8C)-212 or 14EAR(E8A)-360A, email <lizzy.lowe@mq.edu.au> to confirm or with any questions.
All welcome!
6th National Postgraduate Training Workshop in Systematics by the University of Adelaide (14 -19 June 2020)
The workshop is designed for PhD students in the first half of their project, but applications will be accepted from anyone who is still within candidature. It is specifically designed for students undertaking projects that have a biological systematics component or are broadly relevant to systematics. There is a maximum of 30 places – available only to students enrolled in Australian and New Zealand Universities, on a first come basis. The registration fee is $400 but this will be reduced when the amount of sponsorship received is known. For more information, see the PhD Workshop Flyer 2020
Venture Café – Want to know more about innovation, and how to achieve it? Come along to the Venture Cafe, Thursday, 3pm – 8pm, (map). Find out what is on each week here – https://venturecafesydney.org/
This week: Thursday 5 March – 3.30pm – 5pm Do Tank: Accelerating Investment in Female Founded Startups; 5pm – 7pm Office Hours: Rashid Kotwal & Barbara Sauter, Prospecting/Marketing/Selling (Copy); 5.30pm – 6.30pm Women in Tech: A Day In The Life; 6pm – 8pm Panel: Women in Renewables
Wildlife at the Watering Hole – 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm @ Botany View Hotel, King St Newtown!
HDR NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Research Enrichment Program (REP) Workshop Series – The Department’s research enrichment program for 2020 will commence soon – you can find out about upcoming workshops in the coming weeks. All HDR students are encouraged to attend several of these workshops each year to develop their skills and track record for the post-PhD world. Supervisors please encourage your students!
Val Williams Scholarship 2020 – The North Shore group of the Australian Plants Society invite Masters, Honours and PhD students of Botany to apply for the Val Williams Scholarship (worth up to $3000).
The important criteria are that the project must contribute to the knowledge of the ecology, conservation, or propagation of native plants in the Sydney and surrounding region; must be carried out within this region; and the applicant must be attached to an Australian research institute.
Applications close Friday 8 March 2020 and all applicants will be informed of the result by 17 April 2020.
STEP’s John Martyn Research Grant for the Conservation of Bushland in Sydney is now open for applications.
To apply, complete the application form electronically, save it and email it to <secretary@step.org.au> by 31 March 2020. We will announce the winner by 30 April 2020.
For more information go to http://step.org.au/grants and if you have any queries please email Helen Wortham <secretary@step.org.au>.
ADMIN THINGS
Call out for Volunteers – Biology Social Club – Thursday Drinks
The Biology Social Club is looking for volunteers to help host Thursday Drinks. To be able to run Thursday Drinks each fortnight we will need 3 or 4 additional volunteers that can commit to hosting 3 or 4 times this year.
For more information please contact <O365-Group-biosocialclub@mq.edu.au>
Volunteers – Are you looking for an extra pair of hands to help in the lab, field, etc? We have a huge list of volunteers who are keen to get experience in a range of biological science fields, so if you are looking for some free help, please contact Calli <calli.miller@mq.edu.au> for the latest Volunteers List.
Research Subjects – Blue Tongue Lizards! – Your Help Needed! If you happen to see a fat blue-tongue skink that looks like it might be pregnant, or happen to have a resident in your garden, please contact Martin Whiting. We only need to borrow them for a brief behavioural experiment (about 4-6 weeks) during which time they will be very well cared for! Think of it as a holiday. Mum and babies will then be returned to their site of capture. <martin.whiting@mq.edu.au>.
Need to Contact the Biology Admin Team via Email? Please send your email to <fse.bio-adm@mq.edu.au> or drop in and see us. The old google group (sci.bio-adm) email no longer works, if you have this email as a remembered address please delete.
Social Media – Have you participated in some exciting field work, biology-related events, or would like to share your research, and publications via Social Media?
Please send photos and a little blurb to Calli Miller: <calli.miller@mq.edu.au> so that your work can be promoted on the department social media pages.
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
THIS AND THAT
Board Games Social
The Biology Social Club and the ECR committee have combined our forces to bring you a new initiative for 2020.
We will be running a friendly board games session every second Friday in the Biology tea room from 3 PM to 4 PM. There will be plenty of board and card games to choose from and you are very welcome to bring your own games too. Of course, you can join in anytime during the hour and the session can be extended later into the afternoon depending on participants’ enthusiasm. It will be a great opportunity to get to know your fellow Biology colleagues while forming some secret alliances or battling for world domination (or obliteration!). As per the social afternoons, there will be snacks and drinks available on donation.
Will be on the 13th and 27th March.
Please feel free to contact Lizzy (lizzy.lowe@mq.edu.au) or Shubham (shubham.chhajed@mq.edu.au) with any queries.
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>
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.
- Keep your submission short and direct (two paragraphs) and if possible provide a document, email or link where readers can get more information. Any long submissions will be cropped.
Keeping to these guidelines will streamline your article’s addition to the newsletter. Thank you.
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
Brachiopods from the Byrd Group (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) Central Transantarctic Mountains, East Antarctica: biostratigraphy, phylogeny and systematics.
By: Claybourn, Thomas M., Christian B. Skovsted, Lars E. Holmer, Bing Pan, Paul M. Myrow, Timothy P. Topper, and Glenn A. Brock. Papers in Palaeontology (2020). | Find with Google Scholar »Applying skin-size limits for management of trade in Asian reptile skins
By: Natusch, Daniel, Jessica Lyons, Awal Riyanto Mumpuni, and Syarifah Khadiejah. | Find with Google Scholar »Long-term trends and a risk analysis of cetacean entanglements and bycatch in fisheries gear in Australian waters
By: Tulloch, Vivitskaia, Vanessa Pirotta, Alana Grech, Susan Crocetti, Michael Double, Jason How, Catherine Kemper et al. Biodiversity and Conservation 29, no. 1 (2020): 251-282. | Find with Google Scholar »Taxonomic shortfalls in digitised collections of Australia’s flora
By: Haque, Md Mohasinul, Linda J. Beaumont, and David A. Nipperess. Biodiversity and Conservation (2020): 1-11. | Find with Google Scholar »In the Media
Jennifer McGowan was featured in New Scientist regarding little-known animals that could become ‘icons’ for conservation.
Read more »
Dr Robert Kooyman was featured in The Atlantic regarding the Gondwana rainforests that were destroyed in the recent bushfires.
Read more »
Professor Culum Brown provided comment to Yahoo News identifying a creature found on the beach as a sea hare.
Read more »
Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes provided comment to the Sydney Morning Herald about a petition calling for Unisuper to divest from fossil fuel industries.
Read more »
Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes, was featured on Smooth FM News regarding the emissions target needed to meet the Paris Agreement.
Read more »
Jennifer McGowan was featured by the BBC regarding little-known animals that could become ‘icons’ for conservation.
Read more »
Leigh Staas from the Department of Biological Sciences was interviewed on ABC Radio Sydney Breakfast regarding the project ‘Which Plant Where’ which identifies plant species that will survive in urban landscapes in the wake of climate change.
Read more »
Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes provided comment to the New York Times regarding climate change causing multiple severe weather events recently.
Read more »
Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes, provided comment to the Sydney Morning Herald about the emissions target needed to meet the Paris Agreement.
Read more »