Human occupation, impacts and environmental management of Bunger Hills
By: Gore, Damian B., and Michelle R. Leishman. Antarctic Science 32, no. 2 (2020): 130-137. | Find with Google Scholar »
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Dear all,
What a new world we are now living in where announcements made last week seem so out of date already! I will try to keep everyone up to date as frequently as I can without inundating you. For this week, please see a summary below.
Huge welcome to Phil Dartnell who has joined the admin team as an Academic Administrator to fill in for Caitlin while she is on parental leave.
Stay healthy and look out for each other,
Michelle
Save the Date
This Week 23rd – 27th March
Wed 25th March 1-2pm – teaching staff casual drop-in zoom session (Linda will send zoom link)
Next Week 30th – 3rd April – no events
Future Events
Tues 9th – Thurs 11th June: HDR Conference; to be determined, may be virtual
Weekly Events
Wed: Shut Up and Write sessions – now online! See below for further details
Wed: Department seminars; Schedule ON OUR WEBPAGE HERE – POSTPONED until further notice
General News and Announcements
COVID-19 update
GENERAL
- Work from home for all staff and students is strongly encouraged. Please send work from home forms to fse.bio-hod@mq.edu.au. However if your home environment is not suitable and your MQ office space is suitable and physical distancing can be managed, then it is OK to stay at work.
TRAVEL
- All interstate domestic travel banned from today
- What does this mean for local fieldwork? Fieldwork is subject to physical distancing rules ie minimise number of people together eg 1-2 people only in a vehicle. Researchers need to make a case that travel is essential – I am currently seeking guidelines on ‘essential’.
L&T
- Online transition plans finalised – massive thanks to Drew & Linda and all S1 unit convenors!!
- Linda will send out info via email to teaching staff provided by the university about the next steps in the transitioning process
- Now we need to support teaching staff to actually do the transitioning!
- Casual academic staff – we were expecting an announcement today but likely that MQ will honour its commitment of hours to each appointee if they are able to work, however the nature of the work may be different eg developing material, helping with iLearn or marking rather than face to face teaching. We will develop a process for this (Linda & Phil are onto this already – watch out for the email) to make sure that all unit convenors have support from the casual academic teaching staff.
- Unit convenors will be sent information about the process for any student learning activities to be done from home (eg risk assessments, ethics approvals)
- Reminder that information about resources for online delivery are available at the FSE000 iLearn site, including the Biology section
- We will organise casual zoom drop-in sessions for teaching staff to exchange ideas and stay connected
- Online invigilation for final exams is being investigated
HDRs
- All new international HDR students have been advised to postpone their studies until October, with the exception of cotutelles who will be considered on a case by case basis
- For international students who need to return home, they can apply for a leave of absence and suspend their studies, or they can apply to work ‘off-site’. Supervisors should work with these students to develop the best plan that adapts to the new situation and be as flexible as possible.
- International/domestic candidates progressing from MRes Y2 to PhD as well as domestic new enrolments are currently being treated as business as usual, but of course this could change.
- all current students should discuss with their supervisors back-up plans for their schedule
RESEARCH
- research facilities are all currently open but please consider whether using the labs is essential at this time, and stay at home if you can
- fieldwork within NSW – see TRAVEL above
That’s all for now – I’ll keep you posted as things change.
cheers
Michelle
Congratulations to HDR student Callum McDiarmid for receiving a 2020 Holsworth Wildlife Research Endownment Grant for his PhD research!
The Biological Sciences Seminars have been postponed for the foreseeable future, as a social distancing procedure in response to COVID-19. However, we are working with the speakers to try to get online versions of their seminars available to the Masters students, along with an interactive discussion, so that the students can maintain access to high quality researchers, and continue their assessment.
Milk – Due to the supply shortage during this time, and hardly anyone being in the biology buildings, we will not be providing milk for the department. Those who are still working in the office will need to bring their own milk for the time being. Apologies for the inconvenience.
Plant of the Week
This week we have: Golden Rain Tree – Koelreuteria paniculata.
The Golden Rain Tree, Koelreuteria paniculata, is a glorious ornamental tree from a number of central provinces of China and also, supposedly, from the Korean Peninsula and Japan. It has great cultural significance in Asia and is planted in gardens of temples and palaces and to mark tombs of officials and scholars, leading to speculation that it may have been taken to, and established on, both the Korean peninsula and Japan for cultural purposes.
OPPORTUNITIES
The Climate Council of Australia is looking for a senior researcher.
The position is for 12 months to replace a staff member on parental leave. For more information on this role, please see the position description on Ethical Jobs.
The 2020 ECA Research Grants are now open!
The Ecological Consultants Association of NSW supports ecological research in Australia and would like to award three grants each year to assist researchers to carry out their ecological projects.
- ECA of NSW Conservation Grant ($2000)
- Ray Williams Mammal Research Grant ($2000)
- Bushfire Ecology Research Grant ($1000)
Download a PDF Information and Application Form – Grant Application 2020
Download a Word Application Form – Grant Application Form 2020
Closing date for receipt of applications is 30 April 2020.
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
Applications Wanted! Friends of Grasslands 2020 Grassy Ecosystem Grants
Friends of Grasslands (FoG) is again offering a small number of grants of up to $1500 each in 2020 to support projects that promote investment in the understanding, conservation and management of grassy ecosystems. Any individual or organisation can apply.
For further information and the 2020 Application Form please check out FoG’s website at http://www.fog.org.au/.
For further information, registration of interest, or discussion of potential proposals please contact FoG at supportedprojects@fog.org.au.
Closing date for applications is Monday 13 April 2020. Applicants will be notified of the outcomes of their applications by the end of May 2020.
For an overview of who we are, how we operate, and what we do you can also check out our 2018 Annual Report, tabled at our March 2019 AGM, at http://www.fog.org.au/AGMs.htm.
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
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
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
Smart Green Cities Quarterly Members Meeting – 2020 April_SGC Members Meeting – Invite.
When: POSTPONED – Date to be advised.
For more information contact: jerusha.beresford@mq.edu.au
Shut Up and Write Sessions now online!
We have a WhatsApp group and we make times as they suit us, so if you’re interested in being involved, pop Lizzy Lowe an email with your phone number and she’ll add you to the group.
NSW Science & Research Breakfast Seminar Series – POSTPONED UNTIL 19 AUGUST DUE TO COVID-19
For further information: events.rsvp@chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9338 6817
Venture Café – will be convening their community online, via Zoom, and offering the #ThursdayGathering programming in a Virtual format.
The Virtual Program 26 March: 3-5pm Book a FREE 20 minute 1-1 mentoring session with HR specialist Jojo Barnes; 3-3.30pm LIVE: Demonstrating Leadership in a Time of Uncertainty; 3.30-4pm Conversation Corner: COVID-19 Everything you wanted to ask but were afraid to!; 5-6pm #StayHomeHack: Ideation Session; 7.30-8pm Virtual Cheers!
For more information visit: https://venturecafesydney.org/whats-on-this-week
HDR NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Fame Lab Semi Final – Fame Lab Semi-Final NSW– Wednesday, 8 April at 6pm – Powerhouse Museum – Julianna Kadar from our department is competing in Fame Lab this year. At this event, researchers present their work in 3-minutes flat and the winner competes nationally. The talks are always engaging, at times funny, and sometimes pretty mind-blowing. Tickets for Fame Lab are available HERE, they get reserved fast so be quick if you want to attend. This event may be cancelled or shift to online
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!
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>.
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
ADMIN THINGS
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
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>
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
Tafoni show postglacial and modern wind azimuths that are similar at Bunger Hills
By: Gore, Damian B., and Michelle R. Leishman. Antarctic Science 32, no. 2 (2020): 130-137. | Find with Google Scholar »Salt, sediments and weathering environments in Bunger Hills
By: Gore, Damian B., and Michelle R. Leishman. Antarctic Science 32, no. 2 (2020): 138-152. | Find with Google Scholar »Spatial distribution of birds and terrestrial plants in Bunger Hills
By: Leishman, Michelle R., John AE Gibson, and Damian B. Gore. Antarctic Science 32, no. 2 (2020): 153-166. | Find with Google Scholar »Invasion syndromes: a systematic approach for predicting biological invasions and facilitating effective management
By: Novoa, Ana, David M. Richardson, Petr Pyšek, Laura A. Meyerson, Sven Bacher, Susan Canavan, Jane A. Catford et al. Biological Invasions (2020): 1-20. | Find with Google Scholar »Niche partitioning within a population of sea snakes is constrained by ambient thermal homogeneity and small prey size
By: Goiran, Claire, Gregory P. Brown, and Richard Shine. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (2020). | Find with Google Scholar »The evolution of polymorphism in the warning coloration of the Amazonian poison frog Adelphobates galactonotus
By: Rojas, Diana, Albertina P. Lima, Paolo Momigliano, Pedro Ivo Simões, Rachael Y. Dudaniec, Teresa C. Sauer de Avila-Pires, Marinus S. Hoogmoed et al. Heredity 124, no. 3 (2020): 439-456. | Find with Google Scholar »A theory of plant function helps to explain leaf-trait and productivity responses to elevation
By: Peng, Yunke, Keith J. Bloomfield, and Iain Colin Prentice. New Phytologist (2020). | Find with Google Scholar »Proteomic Responses to Drought Vary Widely Among Eight Diverse Genotypes of Rice (Oryza sativa)
By: Hamzelou, Sara, Dana Pascovici, Karthik Shantharam Kamath, Ardeshir Amirkhani, Matthew McKay, Mehdi Mirzaei, Brian J. Atwell, and Paul A. Haynes. nternational Journal of Molecular Sciences 21, no. 1 (2020): 363. | Find with Google Scholar »Proteomic Responses to Drought Vary Widely Among Eight Diverse Genotypes of Rice (Oryza sativa)
| Find with Google Scholar »In the Media
Honorary Associate Robert Kooyman has been doing fieldwork and also making public comment about the fires in northern NSW and their relations to Gondwanan rainforests.
Read more »
Leigh Staas was featured on 2SER Talk of the Town presenting TEDx Macquarie University talks.
Read more »
Dr Daniel Natusch contributed the article ‘Snakes make good food. Banning farms won’t help the fight against coronavirus’ to The Conversation.
Read more »
Dr Alessandro Ossola was featured in Cosmos Magazine regarding the benefits of backyard gardens in reducing land surface temperature by as much as 6 degrees.
Read more »