BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT MATTERS | March 8, 2019

Hi all,

Another busy week has flown by as today, International Women’s Day, we reflect on the wonderful women in all aspects of our lives, their achievements and the need for us all to continue to work towards gender equality and recognition.

Our amazing researchers have been highlighted on social media this week (see below). Our congrats to them on their achievements and to all women in our Biology family whose achievements and hard work (publicised or not) make this Department a great place to be.

I hope you have all had a great week. Michelle will be back next week after a week in New Zealand. Thanks to Andy for running the Dept meeting in her absence.

Have a great weekend,

Grant

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Save the Date

This coming week 11th – 15th March

Tue 12th: Welcome BBQ for first-year students; 12pm-2pm, come along and welcome our new cohort of students. Biology courtyard.

Wed 13th: Department Morning Tea; 10.30am – 11am; 205b Colloden Rd.

Wed 13th: Department Seminar – Dr Oscar Perez-Priego, MQU; 1.00pm – 2.00pm; 14EAR(E8A)-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Thu 14th: Ask An R Geek for Help (aaRgh); 3.30pm – 4.30pm; Continuum room (75 Talavera road, room 3114); snacks provided.

Following week 18th – 22nd March

Wed 20th: Department Morning Tea; 10.30am – 11am; 14EAR(E8A)-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Wed 20th: Department Seminar – Dr Melissah Rowe, Natural History Museum and Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis University of Oslo Norway; 1.00pm – 2.00pm; 14EAR(E8A)-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Thu 21st: MRes student Seminars; 9.00am – 4.00pm; 14EAR(E8A)-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Weekly Events

Fri: Writing workshops with Prof Ken Cheng – to support HDRs and ECRs with scientific writing. 2–4pm, at 6 Wally’s Walk (E8C) 212.

Fri: Behaviour and Evolution Journal Club; Friday at 12:30pm (bring your lunch); 205B Culloden Rd Boardroom.

Future Events

Mar 28th: Workshop on Regular Expressions in R; 3.30pm – 5.30pm; Continuum room (75 Talavera road, room 3114); snacks provided.

Mar 28th: Meet the Lord of the Cane Toads – Professor Rick Shine –  Mason Lecture; 6.00pm – 7.30pm; Conference Rooms C & D, Level 3, 18 Wally’s Walk (MUSE)

Apr 16th: Biology ECR Research Showcase; 9.00am – 1.00pm; 14EAR(E8A) – 280 (Biology Tea Room).

June 11th-13th: HDR Conference 2019, 9am-1pm, Panel Interviews: 2-5pm; venue TBD – Save the date!

General News and Announcements

Yet More Accolades for David Mabberley – Council of the Society for the History of Natural History have just announced that David Mabberley (Adjunct Professor in this department) is the winner of the John Thackray Medal for 2018, capping off an illustrious year in which he was also presented with the award of Doctor of Science (D.Sc. honoris causa) by the Vice-Chancellor, Macquarie University, for his outstanding contribution to horticultural science.

The John Thackray Medal, awarded for significant achievement in biological and earth sciences, was awarded to David for: Painting by numbers: the life and art of Ferdinand Bauer (Sydney, New South Publishing, 2017, ISBN: 978-174223 5226).

The details of the award appeared in the society’s newsletter as follows:

It is a marvellous work that has answered, with great conviction, a long-standing unanswered question. How did Bauer manage to achieve, in his final finished works, such beautiful colour accuracy, given that some of his field sketches had been made many years previously? The answer is, as one of the panel members pointed out, that Bauer “annotated his field drawings with a colour-coding system of up to a thousand different shades”. David Mabberley compared unfinished drawings in Vienna with finished works in the Natural History Museum to show, in the “most compelling way”, how Bauer achieved this. Moreover, as one of the other judges stated, not only did he solve this conundrum, the work is a “unique source of accumulated information on Bauer’s life, art and field work during expeditions, viewed against the artistic techniques of his time”. The result is a “lavishly produced work with superb colour reproductions” which is also very clearly written and accessible. a fitting recognition of his work in botany worldwide.

Another beautiful publication from David, Joseph Banks’ Florilegium: Botanical Treasures from Cook’s First Voyage (Thames & Hudson, London & New York, also with US and Italian editions), that was awarded the James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award in 2017, was shortlisted last year for the Apollo International Art Magazine Book of the Year 2018.

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University bioQuest is back! Take photos and add data to the Atlas of Living Australia. Join the Macquarie University bioQuest team and earn points for prizes. See attached flyer for more information. Got questions? Email <samantha.newton@mq.edu.au>.

2019_BioQuest_poster

Have you completed the MQ Inclusion Survey? So far around 25 people from Biology have completed the survey, compared to nearly 50 in Molecular Sciences – let’s not let them beat us!

You can access the FSE inclusion survey here:

  https://mqedu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ezm6mqVZkOhnonX  

This survey has been designed to help us understand Macquarie’s current culture and provide information to help us to continue to build a community that is diverse, inclusive and where all staff are able to flourish. The data from this survey will enable our Department and the University to identify where progress is being made but also where further work and changes are needed to ensure all staff at MQ are supported, safe and treated equitably.  An overview of the results and responses to the data will also be shared with the university community. Analysis will be conducted by the Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Team. Responses and personal details gathered in the course of the survey will remain anonymous. No data will be shared or made available where individuals can be identified. The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. Please take some time to respond to this survey as your feedback will be extremely valuable to our department and to the University. For more information on the survey, please see that attached FAQs, or contact the Workplace Diversity & inclusion team – <workplacediversityinclusion@mq.edu.au>. Inclusion Survey – FAQs

This week – Flindersia australis, Australian Teak.

Flindersia australis, Australian Teak, is a splendid tree from the rainforests of northern NSW and SE Queensland. It is also a magnificent street tree and there are numerous specimens listed by City of Sydney as trees of particular significance. Flindersia australis was collected from Broad Sound north of Rockhampton by botanist Robert Brown on 18^th September 1802 during the voyage of the Investigator. Brown named the tree after the ship’s captain, Matthew Flinders.  

OPPORTUNITIES

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Evolutionary Genomics – The department is currently advertising a continuing academic position for a Lecturer in Evolutionary Genomics. We are keen to attract a diverse range of applicants so please pass the advert on to great people we would like to encourage to apply and more generally through your networks.

http://jobs.mq.edu.au/cw/en/job/505380/lecturer-or-senior-lecturer-in-evolutionary-genomics

The Sydney Institute of Marine Science Living Seawalls team is looking for a Research Assistant (6 month, full-time appointment) to conduct lab and field-based research. If interested in applying, please see the attached job advertisement. Living Seawalls RA_Job advert

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

Biological Sciences Seminar – Date/Time: Wednesday, 13^th March, 2019; 1pm – 2pm. Speaker: Dr Oscar Perez-Priego, MQU. Title: Understanding the Carbon and Water economy in plants. Venue:  14EAR-280 (Biology Tea Room). More information on this and all department seminars ON OUR WEBPAGE HERE.

MolSci Seminar – Date/Time: Tuesday, 12^th March, 2019; 1.00pm – 2.00pm. Speaker:  Professor Douglas R. MacFarlane, Australian Centre for Electromaterials Science, School of Chemistry, Monash University. Title: Materials Chemistry for Sustainable Energy Storage. Venue:  4WW 322 seminar room. For more, visit: https://goto.mq/7n

Special Leadership Seminar – Date/Time: Thursday, 14^th March, 2019; 2.00pm – 4.00pm. Speaker: Professor Sakkie Pretorius, DVCR, Macquarie University. Title: Leadership and Teamwork in Science. Venue: MQ Incubator, 8 Hadenfeld Avenue. Register Today, Limited spots available: https://sakkie_leadership.eventbrite.com.au

Come learn about:

·        Key insights in leadership and teamwork in science

·        How to become a better leader and team player

Professor Sakkie is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Macquarie University. He is internationally recognised as a pioneer in molecular microbiology and biotechnology and in translating research outcomes to innovative industry applications. Originally from South Africa, Professor Pretorius studied agriculture at the University of the Free State from 1977 until 1986, when he was awarded a PhD for his work on physical, genetic and biochemical characteristics of yeast. He was appointed Professor of Microbiology at Stellenbosch University in 1993, where he later became the founding director of South Africa’s Institute for Wine Biotechnology.

Passionate about authentic leadership, prior to taking up his role at Macquarie, Professor Pretorius held the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President: Research and Innovation at the University of South Australia. Prior to this he was the Managing Director and CEO of the Australian Wine Research Institute.

Prof Sakkie Pretorius_14March

The 8th Annual JAMS Symposium – click for larger image –

Click here to purchase your tickets!

Upcoming Franklin Women Event – Entrepreneurship.

Flyer_Entrepreneurship_March 2019

Meet the Lord of the Cane Toads – Join the Faculty of Science and Engineering Mason Lecture hosted by Professor Rick Shine. He will talk about his research on Australia’s Most Unpopular Animal – the Cane Toad. Find out about how how Rick and his team have discovered ways to control Toad numbers, and to help the native fauna coexist with these toxic invaders.
WHEN: Thursday, 28 March, 2019; 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm.
WHERE: Conference Rooms C & D, Level 3, 18 Wally’s Walk (MUSE), Macquarie University, New South Wales, 2109
RSVP: Thursday, 28 March, 2019. REGISTER HERE!

Special Seminar – Date/Time: Thursday, 21^st March, 2019; 2.00pm – 3.00pm. Speaker:  NSW Senator Dr Mehreen Faruqi. Title: Should Scientists Become Political Leaders? Venue:  Hearing Hub Lecture Theater L1 01.200.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi_21March

The Biology ECR Research Showcase is on Tuesday April 16, 2019 (Biology Tea Room, 14EAR (E8A) – 280, 9.00am – 1.00pm). The Showcase was moved to a new month during the semester break to allow as many Biology members as possible to come. We expect it to be a great half day with fascinating talks, conversations and networking. Please put it in your diaries.

All ECRs are invited (self-nominated of course) to present your work. Please get in touch with the ECR committee to confirm your availability to participate and present your work, preferably before March 15.

For those who are new, this is a half-day mini-conference that acts as a platform for ECRs in Biology to present their work to the entire Department. The aim being to facilitate networking, and to gain visibility, share new ideas, techniques and technology within the Department. It will be held at the Bio Tea Room from 9am to 1pm. It would be ideal if all ECRs presented, of course with a priority for those who have recently joined the Department.

Jonas Wolff, Bruno Buzatto and Stephan Leu will be organising this mini conference. Please get in touch with them.

R-Users Group (RUG) Fortnightly Help Sessions – Do you have a problem with data analysis? Do you want to learn a fantastic analytical tool which goes by the name R? 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. Date: 14 March, 2019. Time: 3.30pm – 4.30pm. Venue: Continuum Room (75 Talavera Road, room 3114).

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

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 2 closes Friday 31 May 2019
– Round 3 closes Friday 27 September 2019
Apply as soon as possible for any travel you intend on taking in 2018, that meets the criteria. Funds awarded must be spent in 2019 and will not be carried into 2020.

Considering Study Leave or Research in Germany? Check out opportunities for funding from the German Academic Exchange Service: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?status=&origin=&subjectGrps=&daad=&q=research%20stays&page=1&detail=50015456

Professional Staff Development Grants scheme opens on 11 March Grants of up to $4000 are available for professional staff to develop their knowledge, skills and experience through activities such as study tours, professional development programs and conferences.

Flying-fox Grant Program 2019 Opens – Offered by Local Government NSW in partnership with the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, our $500,000 Flying-fox Grants Program is open to NSW councils from Friday 8 February. The closing date for applications is 13 March 2019.

With a new Communications Stream, maximum grant amounts range from $10,000 to $50,000, with up to $150,000 available to groups of councils. Councils match grant requests with their own contribution, which can be cash and/or in-kind. Details available on the LGNSW website.

HDR FUNDING

Funding for HDRs – The Tony Price Award is now open. Greville Anthony (Tony) Price was a student in the 1980s, and this bequest supports any aspect of ecological research that involves plants (directly or indirectly) by providing up to $2500 for research or conference attendance. The application is short, and due by 5pm, 29th March. Please see the application form for additional information. If you are unsure whether your research qualifies for the award, please contact Linda Beaumont <linda.beaumont@mq.edu.au>. Tony Price Award Application_2019

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 support successful candidates. New limits from 2019:  PhD students ONLY: Dept. will match up to $1500 of external (non-MQ) funding ONCE per candidate. 

Australian Wildlife Society University Research Grants are scholarships offered to honours or postgraduate students at Australian universities. Each year, ten $1,500 grants are awarded. Applicants wishing to become a member of the Society can do so at www.aws.org.au

Grants are available for research projects of direct relevance to the conservation of Australian wildlife – plant or animal. Grants may be used for the purchase of equipment and consumables, travel expenses related to field research, or attendance at conferences at which you are presenting your work. The grant is paid directly to the student. Closing date: applications are due by the 31st May 2019.

If you are, or supervise, a female PhD candidate who is an Aust citizen or permanent resident, please take a look at these Fellowships:

The 2019 Barbara Hale Fellowships and the 2019 Georgina Sweet Fellowship will close to applications on the 30th April 2019.

The 2019 AFGW Barbara Hale Fellowships are offered to women graduates who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia and are enrolled for a PhD degree by research in any discipline at an Australian university. Only citizens of Australia or Australian permanent residents may apply. In 2019, two (2) AFGW Barbara Hale Fellowships will be offered at $7500 each.

The 2019 AFGW Georgina Sweet Fellowship is offered to women graduates who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia and are enrolled for a PhD degree by research in any discipline at an Australian university. Only citizens of Australia or Australian permanent residents may apply.

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. Registrations are now open for individual consultation bookings. If you are interested, please go to book in for a 30-minute session with a PWA. If you have questions about the PWA program please email hdrmentors@mq.edu.au>

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