BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT MATTERS | September 8, 2017

Dear all,

At this week’s Department meeting there was unanimous endorsement for Department support for marriage equality, joining Academic Senate in their position. I’m proud that the Department has shown leadership in this important issue and I’m sure many other departments and Faculties across the university will follow. We have now shown our formal support through the marriage equality campaign (australianmarriageequality.org). If you wish to display your support on your office door, the poster can be picked up from the HoD office or you can print it yourself.

Do you feel you that admin processes limit your capacity to do your job as well as you would like? We will be running a session next Tuesday lunchtime to identify the administrative pinch-points that can take up so much of our time and to try to find some creative solutions. There will be white-boarding and post-it notes! All students and staff should come along to provide input and ideas.

The department meeting slides can be found here.

cheerio,

Michelle

Save the Date

This coming week 11th – 15th September

Tues 12th: Department admin pinch-points meeting; 1pm – 2pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Wed 13th: Special Seminar – Fleur Ponton MQU; 10.00-11.00am; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Wed 13th: Department Seminar – Dr Caragh Threlfall, The University of Melbourne; 1pm – 2pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Thu 14th: Special Seminar – Myles Menz, University of Bern; 2.00pm to 3.00pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Thu 14th: Writing Workshop; 2:30-4:30pm, E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Fri 15th: Biology Department MRes Information Session; 12-2pm, E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Following week 18th – 22nd September

Tue 19th: ECR Showcase; from 9:20am – all day; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Wed 20th: Department Morning Tea; 10:30am – 11:30am; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Wed 20th: Department Seminar – Dr Kate Lynch, MQ Departmental ECR; 1pm – 2pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Thu 21st: Special Seminar – Hauke Koch, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 9.00am – 10.00am; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Thu 21st: Writing Workshop; 2:30-4:30pm, E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Coming up

Every Thursday for the next few months: Writing Workshop; 2:30-4:00pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Sept 27th: MQ Graduation ceremony for Biological Sciences (Academic staff register here)

Oct 3rd: Special Seminar – A/Prof Maren Wellenreuther “Women in Science: Highlighting the changing face of evolutionary biology”; 1 – 2pm; C8A 310 Senate Room.

Nov 13-14: Department Retreat for Academic Staff; venue TBC.

Dec 5th: Formal Department Meeting for Grading, followed by the Christmas Party.

Department seminar schedule
October 4th: Dr Lesley Lancaster, University of Aberdeen
October 11th: Dr John Martin, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
October 18th: Ayesha Tulloch
October 25th: Associate Professor Carla Sgro, Monash University
November 1st: Dr Marc Seid, University of Scranton, USA
November 8th: Associate Professor Bob Wong, Monash University
November 15th: Professor Dan Blumstein, UCLA
November 22nd: Associate Professor Nathan Lo, The University of Sydney

General News and Announcements

Biological Sciences Says YES to Equality

The Department of Biological Sciences at Macquarie University supports marriage equality. It is the right of any adult and their consenting adult partner to have their relationship recognised under Australian law, regardless of gender. 

The department is proud to join leaders in government, industry and business across Australia to say YES to marriage equality (http://www.australianmarriageequality.org/organisations-that-support-marriage-equality/). Macquarie University Senate also endorsed marriage equality this week and we hope that Departments and Faculties across the university will join us.

Posters to show your support can be picked up from the HoD office.

Biology Equality

Biology scoops the pool at the Faculty 3MT competition

Vanessa Pirotta and Kaja Wierucka did Biology proud by coming 1st and 2nd at the Faculty 3-minute-thesis competition – well done to both!

Weekly Department Seminar

Day/Date/Time/Place: Wednesday, 13th September, 1pm – 2pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Speaker: Dr Caragh Threlfall, The University of Melbourne

Title: Assessing the effectiveness of urban greening in restoring urban biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem function

Abstract: Urbanisation drives ecosystem degradation, threatening biodiversity, and disrupting ecosystem function. To offset some of these impacts, urban greening initiatives are increasing worldwide. Initiatives including planting street trees, revegetating habitats, creating new parks, green roofs and encouraging wildlife gardening, are becoming common in Australia and internationally. Until recently, urban ecology research has focussed on the study of remnant vegetation in cities, largely ignoring designed, constructed green spaces that make up a large portion of the landscape. Landscapes designed to maximise the retention of native vegetation patches and encourage vegetation establishment throughout the urban matrix through urban greening initiatives could yield significant biodiversity benefits and maintain critical ecosystem functions. However, despite the current popularity of urban greening programs, the consideration of biodiversity or ecosystem function in their design or management is limited. In this talk, I examine ways urban greening can be used to improve habitat for urban biodiversity to address this knowledge gap, using examples from streetscapes, backyards, green roofs, parks and golf courses. I will present our findings that utilise a combination of ecological and social surveys, targeting a diversity of taxa, including native bees, beetles, bugs, birds, insectivorous bats and butterflies, in addition to assessing vegetation structure and composition, and public values and attitudes towards urban biodiversity. This research highlights the role of people in shaping urban biodiversity and ecosystem function, and demonstrates that successful implementation of urban greening initiatives relies on understanding the scale at which social & ecological drivers operate.

Special Seminar

Day/Date/Time/Place: Wednesday, 13th September, 10:00 – 11:00pm, E8A-280 (Tea Room).

Speaker: Dr. Fleur Ponton, MQU. 

Title: Nutritional Immunology: An integrated approach of the interactions between nutrition, immunity and infection.

Abstract: Nutrition is critical to immune defence and resistance to pathogens, with consequences that affect not only the health, welfare and reproductive success of individual organisms, but also have profound ecological and evolutionary implications. My research focuses in better understanding the network of interactions that defines the relationships between nutrition, immunity, infection, and microbiota to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the key determinants of the outcome of host–pathogen interactions. During this talk, I will present the research I developed on parasitic manipulation and nutritional immunology and how I applied it to provide a more robust understanding of nutritional ecology of the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, ‘Qfly’), one of the most difficult and costly pest management challenge for Australian fruit producers.

Speaker Bio: Dr Ponton arrived in Australia as a Human Frontier Postdoctoral Fellow in 2007. Upon joining Prof Stephen J Simpson’s lab at the University of Sydney, she developed a new axis of research that aimed to describe the network of interactions that defines the relationships between nutrition, infection, and host fitness. In 2010, Dr Ponton was awarded a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the University of Sydney to continue her work in the Simpson’s lab, whereby her research then focused on better understanding key determinants of the outcome of host–symbiont interactions such as nutrition, gut microbiota, and immunity in insects. In 2015, Dr Ponton joined Prof Phil Taylor’s group at Macquarie University to apply her framework of research to biosecurity threat species such as the Queensland fruit fly. The primary goal of her current research is to understand how the interactions between nutrition and symbionts can be applied to biological control programs of biosecurity threat species. The framework and methods originated from Dr Ponton’s research has opened a new avenue in the study of insect-symbiont interactions, and have been applied across disciplines including nutritional sciences and ecology, animal behaviour, as well as agricultural and environmental health.

Special Seminar

Day/Date/Time/Place: Thursday, 14th September, 2:00 – 3:00pm, E8A-280 (Tea Room).

Speaker: Dr Myles Menz, University of Bern, Switzerland. 

Title: Understanding insect migration: from individuals to species.

Abstract: Animal migration is a fascinating phenomenon, involving a complex combination of ecological, behavioural and physiological traits. Insects are the most diverse and abundant group of terrestrial migrants, often with billions of individuals moving within a single season. Migrants connect habitats and populations, and can have profound beneficial and detrimental effects on ecosystems and resident communities. However, the mechanisms behind insect migration are still relatively poorly understood. I will present data from an ongoing research program investigating the mechanisms driving insect migration across multiple spatial scales in Europe. I will also demonstrate that using a combination of techniques is important for studying migration behaviour at multiple stages in the migratory cycle. Understanding individual and population level differences in migratory tendency can shed light on the evolution of migration. Furthermore, studying migratory dynamics across large spatial and temporal scales will improve our ability to predict the influences of environmental change on migratory insect populations. Finally, I will conclude by outlining some of the exciting opportunities for studying insect migration and movement ecology in Australia.

Speaker Bio: Myles Menz undertook his PhD at The University of Western Australia and Kings Park and Botanic Garden, studying the conservation biology and landscape ecology of a rare orchid-pollinator interaction. Since mid-2013, Myles has been a post-doc in the Division of Community Ecology at the University of Bern, Switzerland, where he has led an independent research group focusing on the ecology and behaviour of migration in insects, from the individual to the population level. Myles also has an interest in landscape ecology and ecosystem restoration, and has ongoing projects investigating the response of pollinator communities to landscape change.

ECR Biology Research Showcase – September 19th, Biology Tearoom, Starts 9.20am.

Come and celebrate the research of our departments’ ECRs by attending this year’s Biology ECR Research Showcase on Tuesday 19th September. This year we have nearly a full day of 13 speakers from diverse laboratories in the department, with plenty of time to network and catch up at morning tea, lunch and final drinks – all provided by our supportive department.

See the attached timetable and bios of our speakers that volunteered to take part in the day. We look forward to seeing you there  – everyone is invited so please encourage your HDR students to attend, as well as yourselves!

Your hosts: Rachael D and Ajay

Master of Research Information Session – September 15th

We will be holding a Biology MRes information session (15 Sept, 12-2pm) for third year students who maybe interested in entering the MRes program in 2018. In this session we will discuss course requirements, provide an overview of units, introduce potential candidates to the diverse research opportunities in biology, and cover application dates/process. If you would like to showcase your lab or possible projects please send a single slide to Michelle Power by Sept 7.

This is a great opportunity to expose our undergrads to research areas and also potentially attract new students to your lab. Even if you prefer to find students by other pathways it is still useful to showcase what we do as a department.

Biology Safety Alert

Reminder the 2017 department Safety Awareness Program kicked off in July and is still running.

This year the department will combine the virtue of Coffee with the good of WHS.

All you need to do is pick up a FREE coffee voucher from the HOD’s office, invite a friend or colleague for coffee, have a chat about WHS in your area and Tweet a pic with a WHS caption to @MQBiology or share on facebook @BiologicalSciencesMQ

Our conversation starters will get you going…it’s EASY

Looking forward to seeing all your tweets or posts.

Coffee&WHS slides

Report from Boot Camp – Pearl Beach

We are into the last morning of the HDR writing boot camp at beautiful Pearl Beach and I’m happy to report that all students have successfully completed the first drafts of their whole manuscripts as well as taking part in peer-to-peer reviewing of each others work and discussions about how to best write the different sections of papers. Everyone has worked extremely hard and there are now 16 new manuscripts for the Department well on the way.

Franklin Women Upcoming Event – Career Transitions Breakfast

Franklin Women event, Career Transitions Breakfast is being held on 27th September 2017. The event is all about showcasing and celebrating the diverse ways women are forging successful careers in the health and medical research sector, in and outside of academia.

To talk to attendees about career transitions and provide practical tips on identifying our professional strengths,  an excellent guest speaker has been invited, as well as a panel of experts who help candidates from a research backgrounds move into various roles in the sector. Also invited are women who have transitioned into diverse health and medical research careers to join each table as a Table Expert to share their experiences…

More information and registration is via our website.

Franklin Women Career Transitions

Ecological Society of Australia Student Research Awards

ESA’s student research awards close 30 September. Remember that the department will match (up to $2000) successful grants awarded to our HDR students. Info on how to apply is here.

Invitation to be Co-Signatory on Article “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity”

Twenty five years ago, in 1992, the Union of Concerned Scientists and more than 1500 scientists published the famous declaration entitled “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity”. They called on humanity to curb environmental destruction, warning “all humanity that a great change in our stewardship of the earth and the life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided.” Now, on the 25th anniversary of their famous call, we looked back at their warning and evaluated the human response over the last quarter century. This 25-year update will soon be published by BioScience.

To see the in press article “World scientists’ warning to humanity: a second notice” and add your name as a co-signatory, click: http://scientistswarning.forestry.oregonstate.edu/

This short article is only 1,000 words long and can be read in 6 minutes. If you are a scientist, we invite you to endorse this article by adding your name to the co-signatory list. In doing so, when the article is published by BioScience, you will be included in the full list of co-signatories in the article’s online supplemental material. We invite all types of scientists to sign (e.g. ecologists, economists, social scientists, medicine, etc.) including graduate students in the sciences.

With your help, by forwarding this email to your scientist contacts, we will have many more scientists as co-signatories to present to world leaders. The deadline for signing is September 19, 2017. Thanks for helping get this important message to world leaders and to humanity. As of today, September 1, 2017, the article has been signed by nearly 7,000 scientists from 135 countries.

Plant of the Week

This week, Phebalium squamulosum, Forest Phebalium, a close relative of Boronia but without the showy pink colours. This species is unusual, in that there are at least 8 subspecies which intergrade, making them sometimes very difficult to identify.

Did You Participate in an Outreach Activity Recently for the Department? (and we know you did during Science Week!)

Don’t forget to fill in the super-quick form here – – ACCESS OUTREACH FORM HERE

Recycle Your Old Mobile Phones and Tablets on Campus from 3 October to 4 November

To reduce e-waste and the need to extract new minerals, the Jane Goodall Institute Australia (JGIA) recycles mobile phones and tablets in any condition as well as their chargers.

Drop off your device at the Department front desk.

All phones are data-wiped and factory reset before reuse. Before donating, use the factory reset option to delete all of your data (it is device specific but the product webpage will have instructions) and remove the devices from their iCloud accounts (in the case of iPhones). (Ipad: http://support.apple.com/en-us/ht5661; Iphone: http://support.apple.com/en-us/ts4515).

Want to learn more about conservation projects with JGIA? Then visit the Roots and Shoots website to see how you can become involved. http://rootsandshoots.org.au/

If you have any questions about JGIA or Roots and Shoots, please contact Dr K-lynn Smith at <NSW@janegoodall.org.au> or <klynn.smith@mq.edu.au>.

Sustainability Talks and Q&A: Green and Public Spaces

When: Wednesday 13 September

Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm

Where: 12 Wally’s Walk Building E7A – Level 8, Macquarie University

Bookings essential!

FEATURING PRESENTATIONS BY:

DR PETER DAVIES, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Planning, Macquarie University

ADRIAN MCGREGOR, Founder and CEO of McGregor Coxall

KYLIE LEGGE, Founding Director of Place Partners

BEN PEACOCK, Founder of Republic of Everyone

For more information on the speakers, other ‘Sustainability Talks’ events and to register, visit www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/sustainabilitytalks

2017-09-13 Green and Public Spaces Poster

REP Masterclass: Developmental Plasticity and Evolution

Wednesday 20th September (9:00 – 13:00 with short breaks).

Organised by David Wells, this offering will include substantial opportunity for discussion. Everyone very welcome to attend.

The Modern Synthesis has been the dominant paradigm in evolutionary biology since the 1930s and 1940s, but proposals to modify it, typically by extending it in various ways, have recently become more insistent. This workshop will examine the proposed Extended Evolutionary Synthesis by examining the work of one specific proponent, Mary Jane West-Eberhard, whose book, Developmental Plasticity and Evolution, arguably represents the most comprehensive attempt at synthesis. The work of others will be discussed as appropriate. Evolution by natural selection has three pre-requisites: variation, selection and inheritance. WestEberhard does not disagree with this, but argues that it needs to be seen in the context of development understood as all phenotypic change during the lifetimes of individual organisms or higher units of organization. For example, she argues that some of what appears to be evolution by natural selection is actually the rearrangement of pre-existing developmental modules, with little or no genetic change. Where there is genetic change, it is genetic accommodation to the changes occurring in the phenotype. In general, West-Eberhard treats genes as ‘followers rather than leaders’ in evolution. How strong is the empirical evidence for this view, and does her synthesis hang together? WestEberhard’s focus is on the arrangement of components in a system, not on the action of any one component, specifically the gene. Particular attention will be paid to her liberal use of the concept of ‘emergence’, understood as a macro-level phenomenon such as evolutionary novelty arising from micro-level phenomena, while nevertheless having autonomy from the micro-level base on which it depends. There will be substantial opportunity for discussion.

Click here to register for ‘Developmental Plasticity and Evolution.’

REP masterclass: ‘On the Origins of Art’

Friday 20 October 2017 (12-noon – 4:30pm)

Engagement with and appreciation of art could be described as defining of all human cultures. Why? Can we ask or answer the question of where human art came from and why we are an artistic species. Elizabeth Pearce is the chief curator of an exhibition at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart which is exploring these issues. Her exhibition and thinking draw on contributions from philosophy, neuroscience and psychology to explore these issues. In this transdisciplinary workshop, we will explore where human artistic endeavour might have come from.

Click here to register for ‘On the Origins of Art.’

REP Masterclass: Making Your Science Matter: Linking Science with Action to Improve the World

Two-hour workshop running on Tuesday, October 24th (2-4 pm)

Instructors:
Dr. Elizabeth Madin, Macquarie University
Dr. Emily Darling, Wildlife Conservation Society
Dr. Marah Hardt, Future of Fish
Prof. Lesley Hughes, Macquarie University

Co-badged with MQU Marine Research Centre

We all want to feel like our research matters…but it is sometimes hard to know how to make it relevant to people and institutions beyond academia. How can we best make our science understood, appreciated, and perhaps even acted upon by policy-makers? These are the kinds of questions we will delve into. Inspired by the book “Escape from the Ivory Tower” by Nancy Baron, this short course will help you improve your ability to design and communicate your science to benefit the world at large.

Participant numbers will be capped (first-in secures a place).

Click here to register for ‘Making your science matter: Linking science with action to improve the world.’

Accommodation Needed

Marta, a polish postdoc will visit the Department in November and is looking for accommodation from Nov 3 – Nov 27. If you have anything available for her, please email her directly: <marta.a.skowron@gmail.com>.

Additions to the Department Matters

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.

1. Please write in third person. The information is coming from the Newsletter, not directly from you.
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Keeping to these guidelines will streamline your article’s addition to the newsletter.  Thank you.

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