In this edition:
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News From the Dean |
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Science News Asks: Should Scientists Sell Science? |
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Opportunities |
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Events |
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Snippets | |
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Science News Archive | |
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News from the Dean |
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Dear Colleagues, First off this week let me thank Hatch Stokes for his valuable contribution to the Department of CBMS as Head, and welcome Helena Nevalainen as the new Head of this Department. Staff intending to apply for OSP for 2009 should start thinking about their applications now. The first step should be to consult the HR OSP Policy Document: http://www.pers.mq.edu.au/policy/develop/1904.pdf . It is essential to inform yourself of OSP Policy/Principles and Procedures. Applications for 2009 OSP need to be submitted to my office by Monday 14 July 2008 to allow time for applications to be considered and recommendations forwarded to Human Resources and the DVC (Research) by the end of that month. Congratulations to Katherine Barry, Greg Holwell and Marie Herberstein (Biological Sciences) for managing to hit both a prestigious journal ( Behavioural Ecology ) and The Sydney Morning Herald (March 24) in the one go with their research on sexual cannibalism amongst praying mantids. Male readers of the SMH piece were no doubt pleased they were born a bit higher up the evolutionary scale than mantids. I am sure the article stimulated a fair bit of conversation across the breakfast tables of Sydney . Oxfam Australia have written to me congratulating the university and in particular the Indigenous Bioresources Research Group for the development and application of ethically sound research protocols governing collaborative research with Indigenous people. This has prompted Oxfam to invite us to support their CLOSE THE GAP campaign which aims to level life expectancy between Indigenous and other Australians. The ELS Centre will be supporting this campaign and the national Close the Gap Day on Tuesday 22 April. Further information will be sent shortly. To find out more about the campaign see www.oxfam.org.au/closethegap . The Vice-Chancellor's office have sent through details about the first issue of the Higher Education 2020 Newsletter. This aims to keep the sector and stakeholders informed about the Australian Government's higher education policies and programs. The current issue includes information on the recently announced Review of Australian Higher Education, updates on key issues and developments, and contact details for the Higher Education Group. The newsletter will be published on a bimonthly basis. This issue, along with archived copies of the former newsletter, are available at: http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/higher_education/publications_resources/2020_newsletter/default.htm . For those teaching an introductory course (at undergraduate or postgraduate level) we have been invited to participate via e-mail in a research project investigating effective teaching approaches. If interested, please spend a few minutes reading the information on the web (2 pages) at http://www.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/documents/maths_learning_centre/TeachingApproaches.pdf , which has full information about the project and how to participate. For more information or if you have difficulty accessing the web-link please email Sue on s.gordon@mail.usyd.edu.au. The Australian Centre for Environmental Law is hosting "The state of environmental assessment: a national conference" on 23 May 2008 at the National Museum of Australia , Canberra . This conference is the first to take a national look at this issue, examining the state of the law and practice of environmental assessment across the country and the need for reform at both a state and federal level. Program information and registration details can be found on the ACEL website: http://law.anu.edu.au/acel . Enquiries to: rsvp@law.anu.edu.au And finally, a reminder that EOI's for Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities are due to the Research Office by 5:00 pm on Monday 31 March (ie today)! Till next time, Kevin
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We ask you: Scientists Should Sell Science?
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While the new Labor government is proposing a "charter" to encourage scientists to express views freely and to protect them when engaging in public debate about science-related issues, a young scientist is urging a broadening of the university science curriculum to prepare his fellow scientists better for educating the public about science's value. Writing in the April issue of Australasian Science magazine, Dr Andrew Baker, a lecturer in Environmental Science at Queensland University of Technology, challenges his colleagues to be proactive. He says: While the solution may seem simply that scientists should sell science, he believes: "Regrettably, most scientists are unable to broker knowledge in a clear, understandable fashion to the person on the street [and] a rising tide of jargon is almost submerging scientific disciplines. Practitioners, even in closely related disciplines within science, can have trouble understanding each other. If so, how can they hope to speak with a clear voice to the public?" One way to combat this trend is for university science educators to place strategic focus on developing creative thinking skills in their students. We currently spend much time indoctrinating science students in rules of method. This is critically important in allowing students to grasp how to do good science, but it also stifles creativity. Would we also benefit in also getting students to think outside the box by writing opinion essays and composing work into simple, powerful prose aimed at the layperson? Would this process ensure that our young scientists more clearly understand the fundamental implications of their work? Would it foster an ability to translate science¹s value to an eager, but currently frustrated and confused, public? What do you think? All comments welcome, simply e-mail sciencenews@els.mq.edu.au. |
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Opportunities |
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_________________________________________________________ General Staff Porfessional Development Grants Applications for General Staff Professional Development Grants for 1st semester 2008 are to be submitted to gill Ellis by 5pm, 18th April. These grants are available to all continuing members of the Division's general staff. Please follow the instructions that can be found on the Division's web page at http://www.els.mq.edu.au/staff/generalpd_info.htm
_________________________________________________________ Research Officer (Food, Environment & Health), Centre for Social Science Research Rockhampton Fixed Term (2 years) - Full Time Total remuneration range from $60 102 to $73 098 per annum includes salary from $51 369 to $62 477 per annum and employer superannuation plus annual leave loading.
CQU is seeking to recruit a Research Officer to work in multidisciplinary teams with a strong focus on evidence-based population health and service delivery interventions. The position is focussed on the relationships between food, environment and health. Opportunities to contribute to the learning and teaching activities of Central Queensland University in relevant discipline areas may also be negotiated. Applications close: 28 April 2008 Enquiries: Associate Professor Stewart Lockie, Director, Centre for Social Science Research on telephone (07) 4930 6539 ; email: s.lockie@cqu.edu.au
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Job Opportunity: Senior Project Officer: Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre A Senior Project Officer is required to work with a multi disciplinary expert committee on an ongoing basis in assessing risk to the animal and human population in Australia of emergent infectious disease. In particular, the project officer and committee will provide advice to the Australian Biosecurity CRC (AB-CRC) of immediate and longer term research needs in risk assessment, communication and early detection. In this role you will be directly responsible to the Biosecurity Risk Intelligence Scanning Council (BRISC) of the AB-CRC and be involved in the development of BRISC and its functions. You will be required to work with the members of BRISC and to collaborate with other members of the centre’s multidisciplinary (and multi-site) management team to develop a framework for biosecurity risk assessment. You will work with BRISC to develop interpretive tools and to commission additional research work as required, analysing data and other information and overseeing/commissioning work. The position will assist BRISC to determine priorities by ensuring background papers and additional research reports are provided. You will have a broad knowledge of the science of emerging infectious disease in the animal and public health arena. A background in risk assessment and a good understanding of research processes is ideal. You will also have the ability to perform literature reviews and provide preliminary analysis of those reviews. This is a full time, fixed term position for 1 year with an option to renew for a further year. The remuneration package will be in the range of $69,944 - $74,609pa, plus employer superannuation contributions. Please contact Sue Campbell to obtain the position description and selection criteria at sue.campbell@abcrc.org.au. To discuss the role contact Dr Stephen Prowse, telephone (+61) 07 3346 8862. Applications close 24 April 2008 _________________________________________________________
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Events |
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_________________________________________________________ Biological Science Seminar: "Fatal attraction or just attraction? Evaluating alternative hypotheses on the occurrence of sexual cannibalism in praying mantids"
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St Vincent's Hospital Talk - history and medical achievements _________________________________________________________ Gleebooks Special - David Stratton & Margaret Pomeranz LIVE!
The Astrolabe - the most remarkable scientific instrument devised in pre-modern times? 9320 6225
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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
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