Division of Environmental and Life Sciences

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

ELS Museums and Collections Review
We are seeking your feedback!

Opportunities
- Climate Change Focus: "Imagining the Real, Life on a Greenhouse Earth"
- "Scientists in Schools" : Register Today!

Events
- Genes to Geosciences Seminar this Wednesday
- State Library of NSW Talk: "Changing the Culture Climate"
-...and just in case you missed it the Powerhouse Museum presents Al Gore's Climate Change lecture
- Sydney Acquarium Conservation Fund Tailored Tour of the Sydney Acquarium
- ELS Seminar Series

News from the Dean

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you to everyone who attended the morning tea on Friday in support of Oxfam's 'Close the Gap' campaign. We do appreciate your support, and the time taken out of your day to come and sign the pledge. Anyone who missed this opportunity and would like to do so is encouraged to visit the ELS Centre front desk. The pledge will be available to sign until Tuesday 22 April (which is National Close the Gap Day).

The Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has released more details about ERA, the replacement for the RQF.

"The Australian Government believes research is something to be proud of. It has launched the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative as a measure of the achievements of researchers in our publicly funded higher education institutions. This will show how Australian university researchers stack up, not just against each other, but against the best in the world. ERA will help identify not only the strengths in our national research effort, but the gaps, and will help to fill them..." Further details at:- http://www.minister.industry.gov.au/senatorthehonkimcarr/pages/aneweraforaustralianresearchqualityassessment.aspx

As mentioned in the last edition of Science News, I can confirm that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Steven Schwarz and the Provost, Prof Judyth Sachs, will be visiting the Division on Friday 9th May at 10.30 am in the Biology Tea Room. This visit will be to provide the Division with an update on major initiatives and changes and will be an opportunity to receive staff feedback and suggestions and hopefully the opportunity for some Q&A. All staff are welcome.

Finally, the Division's congratulations go to Karina Luzia, PhD Candidate in Human Geography. Karina has been awarded first prize in the Association of American Geographers' Sexuality and Space Study Group Annual Student Paper Competition. Karina's paper, 'Day Care as Battleground: Using Moral Panic to Locate the Front Lines', was selected from many submitted from around the world. Well done Karina. That is a tremendous achievement on the international stage.

Till next week,

Kevin

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Review of Museums and Collections in the Division of Environmental and Life Sciences

As the University restructures into a new four faculty model, now is an appropriate time to review museums and collections in the Division with a view to their effective utilisation in alignment with institutional aspirations.

The ELS Division has two museums, Biological Sciences (E8A) and Earth Sciences (foyer E5A) that are used in a range of community engagement programs (including schools) and some teaching programs. The Division’s teaching and research programs are also supported by a diverse range of material collections housed throughgout the Division.

Review process

A Working Group has been established. This group will convene at regular intervals until the review is complete.

We would now like to call for submissions addressing the terms of reference from both the Division and external stakeholders. Based on, but not limited by, these submissions we will interview selected people with a view to investigating some or all of these questions in greater depth.

We will produce a draft paper with recommendations for discussion among the Division Executive. After incorporating any further responses a final report will be submitted to the new Executive of the Faculty of Science. We intend to complete this process by the end of June.

Terms of reference

The review will seek answers to the following questions:-

· What material collections exist within the Division?

· How can these be best utilised to support learning and teaching goals?

· How can these be best utilised to support outreach goals?

· In particular, how do we best deploy material in available exhibition space?

· What should we offer in terms of school programs for student recruitment?

· What other audiences should we be attempting to engage via exhibition work?

· How do we implement an effective process for managing such a program?

· How should any changes be aligned with the Museum Studies program?

We welcome your input. Please send submission to

Andrew Simpson (Chair Museums and Collections Working Group)
Division of Environmental and Life Sciences
Macquarie University, NSW 2109

or by email to: asimpson@els.mq.edu.au

All submissions will be treated with confidentiality.

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ELS Congratulates Karina Luzia, PhD Candidate

Many thanks to Robyn Dowling who informed us during the week that Karina Luzia, PhD Candidate in the Department of Human Geography, has been awarded first prize in the Association of American Geographers' Sexuality and Space Study Group Annual Student Paper Competition. Karina's paper, 'Day Care as Battleground: Using Moral Panic to Locate the Front Lines' was selected from many submitted from around the world.

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Opportunities

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ANU/ Manning House Climate Change Focus

IMAGINING THE REAL: LIFE ON A GREENHOUSE EARTH

in honor of Barry Jones

At the Australian National University, Canberra, 11-12 June, 08

Speakers include climate scientists: Prof Barry Brook, Prof Ian Enting, Prof Janette Lindesay, Prof Graeme Pearman, Dr Barrie Pittock, Dr Michael Raupach, Prof Will Steffen; Earth and prehistory scientists: Dr Geoff Davies, Dr David Denham, Dr Andrew Glikson (conference convenor), Dr Simon Haberle, Prof Malcolm McCulloch, Dr Bradley Opdyke; political leaders: Senator Lyn Allison, Dr Carmen Lawrence; environmental lawyers: Phillip Toyne, Andrew MacIntosh; health and population experts: Prof Stephen Boyden, Dr Bryan Furnass (conference co-convenor), Prof Tony McMichael, Dr Sue Wareham; humanists: Phillip Adams, Dr Paul Collins, Tony Kevin, Dierk von Behrens; poet: Mark O'Connor.

Further info can be found at: http://www.manningclark.org.au/events/conference2008/index.html

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Register today for Scientists in Schools - 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, Employment and Workplace Relations. 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.

If you are already involved in a student or teacher programme, we’d love to hear about it. Please register online so that we can promote your ideas and provide you both with free support material and teaching resources.

If not, you can register to be matched with a teacher so that you can work with a school in a way that suits you both - 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.

Please inform Rachel Rizk (x 6045, rachel.rizk@mq.edu.au), Science and Technology Liaison Officer at Macquarie University if you participate in this program.

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Events

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Genes to Geosciences Seminar:

"PUMPIN' AND JUMPIN': TOWARD SIMPLE RULES FOR CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL"

by Prof. Steven Vogel, Duke University

Summary: The parts of organisms that pump liquids or throw projectiles range 100,000-fold in length, and these outputs serve diverse tasks. Two devices help us discern order amid this complexity. We can seek matches between predicted and empirical scaling exponents - an approach familiar to biologists. Or we can contrive dimensionless indices, of especial value because they have no residual length dimensions. We use that latter (but not necessarily the usual indices) too rarely, given their proven utility in the hands of engineers.

Wednesday 23rd April, 1:00pm, Building E8A room 290 (Biology tearoom)

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Changing the Cultural Climate
Over recent years, climate change has risen to the top of the agenda in public debate, but what about the cultural change that will surely come with it? A forum with Robyn Williams AO, writer and science broadcaster; Professor Gail Jones, novelist; Nigel Allen, WWF International; chaired by Professor Jane Goodall

When: Thursday 24 April 2008 5:30pm-7:00pm Apr 24 Cost: $22, $20 (seniors), $15 (Friends & students), includes light refreshments
Venue: Metcalfe Auditorium, State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Bookings: State Library of NSW www.sl.nsw.gov.au (02) 9273 1770

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Al Gore's Climate Project Slide Show
Just in case you've been under a rock somewhere, Nell Schofield, well-known for her media work, presents this slide show on the issues and consequences of climate change in Australia, based on Al Gore's famous film An Inconvenient Truth.

When: Sunday 27 April 2008, 2:00am-3:00am Apr 27 Cost: $10/$6 conc/$5 students/members free)
Venue: level 2, Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo
Enquiries: Powerhouse Museum www.powerhousemuseum.com/whatson/ (02) 9217 0417

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Sydney Aquarium Conservation Fund Event

Join the Sydney Acquarium Conservation Fund for a night of underwater wonder with a tailor-made conservation tour of the Sydney Aquarium. Walk amongst jellyfish, platypus and barramundi without getting wet, and take a look at some of what goes on behind the scenes of Sydney's number one aquarium.

The tour will be guided by a professional keeper who will deliver in depth talks on aquatic species and ecosystems. The tour will end in the gorgeous Reef Theatre where you can enjoy a glass of wine against a floor to ceiling backdrop of tropical fish and sharks. A forum will follow, led by Claudette Rechtorik – programme coordinator of Sydney Aquarium Conservation Fund – to discuss SACF's efforts to engage and educate community groups on marine conservation.

As part of SACF's mission to communicate conservation issues to the broader community, they have offered this sumptuous event to ASC for a drastically reduced price.
Come along to be entertained and educated about our blue planet, and support Australian aquatic conservation.

When: Wednesday 30 April
Time: 6.30 to 8.30 pm
Where: Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour
Cost: $5 donation to SACF for Members; $15 donation to SACF for Non-Members
RSVP: Monday 28 April to Carla Avolio
email: carlaavolio@gmail.com or phone 0405 318 361
Web: www.sydneyaquarium.com.au

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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

Air pollution could cause asthma
Research has found that free radicals in the air could be a cause of asthma and other respiratory diseases, particularly at night when pollution concentrations rise.

Indigenous health still years behind
With current policies it will take up to 2000 years to close the gap and bring indigenous life expectancies up to the Australian average, research has found.

Elderly vulnerable to skin cancer
Older Australians should have regular skin checks, suggests research that found the elderly account for almost three quarters of non-melanoma skin cancer deaths.

Zinc rich barley possible
Regions of the barley chromosome that cause the plant to use zinc more efficiently have been identified, promising barley containing more zinc for the human diet. 

NZ unready for genetic modification
Only half of the strategies developed to control genetically modified organisms have been put into place in New Zealand, according to latest findings.

Pap smears slash cancer risk
Women with untreated cervical problems are up to 50 per cent more likely to develop vaginal cancer, revealed findings that highlight the importance of pap smears.

Study eases dioxin poisoning fears
A study has revealed that many workers thought to have been exposed to dioxin have an average level of the carcinogen in their blood and a normal life expectancy.

Snail and plants help treat pain
Molecules from cone snail venom and certain African plants have been combined to create new drugs for reducing previously hard to treat chronic pain.

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