Division of Environmental and Life Sciences

News From the Dean
The weekly update from the acting Dean of Division, A/Prof Kevin McCracken

Award for New Vertebrates Text
John Merrick's new text has received a Certificate of Commendation in the 2007 Whitley Awards.

Opportunities
- Planning Institute of Australia National Conference Call for Papers
- Scientists in Schools (this week we have a specific list of schools seeking a pet scientist)

Events
- MUBRI Seminar this Tuesday
- Biological Sciences Seminar this Wednesday
- EPS Seminar this Friday
- ELS Seminar Series

News from the Dean

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back from the mid-semester break for the final rundown to the exams and the end of the year.

Some more congratulations this week to Roger Hiller for his successful ARC with Paul Curmi and Greg Scholes through UNSW. Well done to everyone in ELS for their achievements. Liz spent Thursday and Friday of last week at the Australian Deans of Science meeting in Sydney and she will no doubt have some good ideas to pass on when she returns. Today and tomorrow, Liz is at the University of Tasmania , assisting with their promotions.

One item of interest from the Research Office:-

The University of NSW is running a free workshop at Kensington to help build awareness about the Australian Synchrotron. This is aimed at potential new users from the physical, chemical and biological sciences who would like to learn more about the problems that can be solved using a Synchrotron and how to contact the existing users in NSW. Further details from: http://www.sseau.unsw.edu.au

Till next week

Kevin

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Award for new vertebrates text

A book on Australasian vertebrates co-edited by Visiting Fellow in the Graduate School of the Environment at Macquarie University , Dr John Merrick, has received a Certificate of Commendation in the 2007 Whitley Awards.

Merrick headed up an editorial team including Michael Archer, Georgina Hickey and Michael Lee and a group of over 50 author researchers to produce Evolution and Biogeography of Australasian Vertebrates, which received the Certificate in the best Reference Text category.

The Whitley Awards, first presented in 1979, are hosted by the Royal Zoological Society of NSW and presented each year at a ceremony at The Australian Museum in Sydney . They are a tribute to Gilbert Whitley (1903-1975), who was the Curator of Fishes at the Australian Museum from 1922 to 1964. The awards are for outstanding publications that deal with the promotion and conservation of Australasian faunas.

Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Merrick paid tribute to everyone involved, especially Graduate School of the Environment and other Macquarie University colleagues for support and encouragement. On behalf of the team Merrick thanked the Royal Zoological Society for the public acknowledgement and noted the very favourable international reviews being released about the volume. He explained that the volume synthesised the past and current climate changes with an understanding of previous and current vertebrate biodiversity of the region, for more effective conservation and management in future.

"This is another major academic publication of international significance, that will be a benchmark for years to come, and bring credit to Macquarie . " he said.

This story is adapted from a story appearing on the Macquarie University PR and Marketing website at http://www.pr.mq.edu.au/events/index.asp?ItemID=3140

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New ARIES Publication

The Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability (ARIES) has recently released the research publication: A Review of Air Quality Community Education.

There is a wide range of community environmental education programs in Australia but little guidance on selecting effective approaches. This report provides a review of recent air quality programs both nationally and internationally to identify those factors which will improve the effectiveness of existing and future initiatives.

Several key questions were asked by the study:

Q. What education and learning approaches are used in air quality education programs?

Q. How can air quality education go beyond raising awareness towards achieving change in people's choices and actions?

Q. What are the key lessons learnt from investing in education to achieve air quality outcomes?

Q. Which education approaches are more effective in bringing about sustainable change?

Q. How can the effectiveness of air quality education programs be enhanced?

This research was undertaken by ARIES and funded by the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources (DEW) through the Natural Heritage Trust. ARIES is based at Macquarie University , Sydney , and its core business is to undertake innovative research that informs policy and practice in Education for Sustainability and that translates awareness of sustainability issues into action and change.

Skamp, K., Bergmann, I. , Taplin, R. and Cooke, K. (2006) A Review of Air Quality Education . Sydney : Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability. ISBN - 1 74138 178 9

Electronic copies of the report can be downloaded from the ARIES website at www.aries.mq.edu.au/publications.htm .

To obtain a hard copy, please contact:

ARIES Coordinator
Graduate School of the Environment
Macquarie University , Sydney
North Ryde NSW 2109
Australia

E: ariescoordinator@gse.mq.edu.au

T: +612 9850 8597

W: www.aries.mq.edu.au

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Opportunities

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Call For Papers Planning Institute of Australia 2008 National Congress, April 2008 in Sydney

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 31 OCTOBER - SUBMIT YOUR PAPER NOW!

You are invited to submit an abstract for consideration by the Planning Institute of Australia 2008 National Congress Program Committee. All abstracts will be rigorously reviewed by a panel of industry experts who will assess them for inclusion in the Planning Institute of Australia 2008 National Congress program.

Abstract Submission is only available online - please download and read the Submission Guidelines (available below). If you have problems using the online form, please contact the Congress Secretariat by email: info@conexion.com.au or phone: +612 9518 7722.

http://www.pia2008.com/pdf/callforpaperforwebsite.pdf

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Scientists in Schools is a new learning experience that allows scientists and schools to work together across Australia .

Scientists in Schools is being run by CSIRO and the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training. Teachers and scientists who register will form partnerships and work together in a way that suits both partners, with the aim of providing inspiration, fun and learning for students, teachers and scientists alike.  Some ideas for ways to work together include speaking about careers, helping students with science investigations or taking the class on a tour of your workplace.

Interested? Register today so we can match you up as soon as possible. Visit http://www.scientistsinschools.edu.au for lots of ideas and information and to register online.

You can also email scientistsinschools@csiro.au or call 02 6276 6397 for more information.

A list of schools that would like to work with Macquarie University researchers (including postgraduate candidates) is below.  For privacy reasons the school name cannot be divulged.

Secondary school-junior in AUBURN
Interested in working with a scientist on: Living Things, Matter, Earth and Space, Energy and Force

Primary school in BILGOLA
Interested in working with a scientist on: Earth and Space, Mathematics, Living Things

Primary school in BLACKTOWN
Interested in working with a scientist on: Energy and Force

Secondary school - senior in BLACKTOWN
Interested in working with a scienctist on: Energy and Force, Living Things, Matter, Engineering and Technology, Earth and Space

Secondary school - junior in BLACKTOWN
Interested in working with a scientist on: Matter, Engineering and Technology, Living Things, Energy and Force, Earth and Space

Secondary school - junior in CASTLE HILL
Interested in working with a scientist on: Earth and Space,   Living Things, Energy and Force, Matter

Secondary school - senior in CROWS NEST
Interested in working with a scientist on: Engineering and Technology, Matter

Primary school in HOMEBUSH
Interested in working with a scientist on: Energy and Force

Primary school in HORNSBY   
Interested in working with a scientist on: Earth and Space, Energy and Force, Energy and Force
        
Primary school in LAKEMBA
Interested in working with a scientist on: Engineering and Technology, Energy and Force, Mathematics, Matter, Living Things, Earth and Space

Primary school in NARRABEEN 
Interested in working with a scientist on: Matter, Engineering and Technology, Energy and Force

Primary school in NORTH STRATHFIELD 
Interested in working with a scientist on: Energy and Force, Engineering and Technology

Primary school in RYDE  
Interested in working with a scientist on:Living Things, Mathematics, Energy and Force

Primary school in SEVEN HILLS
Interested in working with a scientist on: Earth and Space, Energy and Force, Living Things

Primary school in WESTMEAD  
Interested in working with a scientist on: Earth and Space, Energy and Force, Living Things

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Events

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MUBRI Seminar Tuesday 9th October at 12 noon in F7B room 322

Title: Hydrocarbon spills on Antarctic soils: effects on soil bacterial communities

Speaker: Dr Jackie Aislabie, Landcare Research, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Human activity in Antarctica relies heavily on fossil fuels for transportation and the generation of power. Hydrocarbon contamination of Antarctic soils is associated with past and present scientific research stations and former drilling projects. Culture-independent surveys of control and contaminated Antarctic soil revealed that contaminated mineral soil was less diverse than control soil and dominated by Proteobacteria. In contrast the bacterial diversity of ornithogenic soil was less impacted by hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria isolated from contaminated soils have been assigned to a number of genera including Rhodococcus, Gordonia, Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas.

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EPS Seminar this Friday

"Boninite and the development of Cambrian subduction in the SE Gondwanan margin"

Prof. John Foden, Adelaide University

Friday 12 October, 1.05pm, Building E5A room 119.

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Biological Sciences Seminar this Wednesday

"A dummy's guide to the evolution and development of cerebral lateralization"

Dr. Culum Brown, Macquarie University

Wednesday 10 October, 1:00 pm, Building E8A room 290.

Cerebral lateralization refers to the partitioning of cognitive function in either  hemisphere of the brain. For many years laterality was thought to be a unique human trait because of its close association with language formation. Over the last decade, however, it has been revealed that laterality is wide-spread in the animal world. Everything from octopus and fish to primates show evidence of lateralized cognitive function that is often overtly expressed as lateralized behaviour (eg handedness). Here we explore the evolution and development of cerebral lateralization in the vertebrate lineage using fishes as model organisms.

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ELS Seminar Series

Departments in ELS host seminars covering a wide range of topics associated with ongoing research projects and other areas of interest. The seminars are delivered by academics, research staff, and students from within the Division, as well as guest speakers from other institutions and industry. Details of times, dates, locations and topics of seminars to be held over the next few weeks are listed here.

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Snippets

Aus water planning falls short
A new report has revealed that there are serious gaps in urban water planning in some parts of Australia, which could lead to water supply problems in the future.

Scientists discover diabetes cause
Research has uncovered the molecule that prevents insulin production, bringing scientists a step closer to both curing and preventing Type 2 diabetes.

Proof: even lattés provide antioxidants
New research strengthens the argument that coffee is good for us by proving that even lattés contain high levels of antioxidants.

Climate change parches Southern Aus
Research warns that Southern Australia will continue to dry up over the next decades as rainfall in winter and spring drops.

Child death rates remain high
Research has shown that child mortality has not decreased in the past three decades, with one child in 11 dying before their fifth birthday.

Lab recreates nature's cancer remedy
Researchers have successfully synthesized a rare anti-cancer compound, orginally found in Malaysian shrubs, which may treat colon cancer.

Test reveals food poisoning culprit
A new technique has been developed that can quickly and cheaply diagnose the bacteria that is the most common cause of food poisoning in Australia.

Detention cripples refugees' health
Prolonged detention has a devastating long term effect on the mental health of asylum seekers, according to a new report.

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