Network News & Events 2008

The Network is pleased to announce another ECR call for funding. Posted Oct 08

Call for Round 7 funding under the Early Career Researcher Scheme now open!
Eligibility: under this scheme, an ECR is defined as someone who is enrolled for a research higher degree, or is less than 5 years post PhD.
Funding is to be used during the period January - September of 2009. Interested ECRs wishing to apply must be a member from any one of the Network's contributing institutions, of which a listing is provided here
Application form download here. Advert/conditions click here
Closing date for applications is 7th November, 2008 in word format please, to maria.lekis@adelaide.edu.au. Announcement of successful applications is expected by mid December 2008.

2 Day workshop - An integrated modelling-data approach to the Australasian Holocene. Posted September 08

The ARC Research Network for Earth System Science, led by Steven Phipps, has been conducting a suite of simulations of the last 10,000 years using the CSIRO Mk3L climate model. These simulations have been conducted with the support of CSIRO, APAC and iVEC. We announced these simulations some time ago – and we are now close to completion.
We have snapshot simulations for 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 ka BP. Results are available in netCDF via an OPeNDAP server. Transient simulations of the period from 8 ka BP to the present day are also underway. These will not be complete until early 2009, but interim results are available.
We aim to conduct an initial 2 day workshop on the 12th and 13th November at UNSW. The aims of this workshop are:
• To outline the capacity now available

o Modelling capacity, including experiments already conducted
o Data availability – what palaeodata are available to confront the models

• Identification of key science questions and uncertainties
• Are there links between these key science questions and the modelling capacity?
• Can we design and execute experiments to exploit these links using Mk3L, FOAM or UVic? (These models are all available for palaeoclimate simulations.)
• Who wants to use their palaeodata to expose strengths and weaknesses in the snapshot and transient simulations?
Our objectives ultimately are two-fold;
1. identify gaps in the modelling, design ARC proposals to address these gaps; and
2. identify gaps in the palaeodata; design ARC proposals to address these gaps.
In both cases, the objectives co-inform each other.
We also plan, if it proves viable, to execute a suite of relatively short diagnostic projects that evaluate the CSIRO Mk3L simulations, with the aim of a special issue of a journal. This will be explored if it looks appropriate and will be discussed at the workshop.
ARCNESS can fund travel for key participants, where those participants plan to engage in the post-workshop objectives. Where these objectives appear exciting to graduate students, we strongly encourage their participation and we will provide travel support. There is no registration fee.
Please contact Andy Pitman if you wish to attend at apitman@unsw.edu.au.

Call for ECR funding round 6 has now closed. A total of 11 applications were received, 7 applications were awarded funding to the total value $13,133, as follows (posted June 08):

1. C. Lehmann, Postdoc, Charles Darwin University, 'Genetics and ecology of Australian tropical savanna tree species, lab visit: awarded $1,000
2. B. Murphy, ARC Research Associate, University of TasmaniaTraining course in Spatial Statistical Modeling: awarded $1,633
3. K.Sparks, PhD Candidate, Univeristy of Adelaide, Molecular systematics and ecology of the Monomorium rothsteini species complex, international lab visit: awarded $2,500
4. K.Abrams, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide, Systematics and phylogeography of the Parabathynellidae of Australia, international lab visit: awarded: $2,500
5. M. Sistrom, PhD Candidate, SA Museum, Research visit to the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Centre, University of Michigan, USA: awarded: $2,500
6. N. Porch, Research Assoc. ANU, International Lab visit to California Academy of Sciences and University of California, Berkeley: awarded $2,000
7. N. Weichel, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide, Lab visit to CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, NT for ecological sampling techniques of Australia's arid zone ants: awarded $1,000

2 applications are still under review and 1 was deemed ineligiable.

Call for Abstracts - 9th International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography (9ICSHMO). Posted June08

Extremes: Climate and Water in the Southern Hemisphere, 9-13 February 2009, Melbourne, Australia, http://www.bom.gov.au/events/9icshmo/

Abstracts are now being accepted for the 9th International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography, to be held on 9-13 February 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. This is a joint conference of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS).

Posters as well as oral presentations are solicited on all aspects of the meteorology and oceanography of the Southern Hemisphere. The meeting is organised around the broad theme: "Extremes: Climate and Water in the Southern Hemisphere”. Particular attention will be given to the following theme areas, however it should be stressed that a broad range of submissions are encouraged and are NOT restricted just to the following areas:

The International Polar Year; Ocean and Atmosphere Observations in the Southern Hemisphere; Inter-Ocean Exchanges and Southern Hemisphere Ocean Modelling; Earth System Science Issues in the Southern Hemisphere; Monsoon Systems and Extremes; Paleoclimate of the Southern Hemisphere: The Past Informing the Future; Extremes in the Context of Interannual to Interdecadal Variability; Weather, Climate and Hydrological Predictions in the Southern Hemisphere; Urban climate and Air quality; Special Session on Southern Hemisphere THORPEX; Special Session on Pacific Island Science Activities; Special Session on Regional Climate Change Studies in the Southern Hemisphere; The Program Committee also encourages submissions on recent scientific accomplishments and synthesis for the Southern Hemisphere for global programs like WCRP, CLIVAR, GEWEX, IGBP, GCOS, GOOS, GEOSS, and IPCC.

Please submit your abstract electronically at http://www.bom.gov.au/events/9icshmo/abstracts.shtml by 1 August 2008.

There will be a limited amount of funding to support the participation in 9ICSHMO of graduate students, young scientists, or scientists from developing countries. Applications for travel support can be made on-line during abstract submission.

Job Opportunity, posted June 08

Head of Participation, GBIF Secretariat. Sector: Biodiversity, biodiversity informatics. This 5 year post (renewable) is located in Copenhagen. Deadline Date for applications is 4th August, 2008 and for further information please visit the Global Biodiversity Information Facility website.

Charles Dawin Symposium 2009, 22-24 September

2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of his work The Origin of the Species. The Symposium will provide an opportunity to bring together a range of speakers world wide to appreciate and debate Darwin's findings. For more information and registration, please visit http://www.cdu.edu.au/cdss2009/

'Wold-class environment vision for Mt Lofty Ranges' See what our WGP members are up to:

Media release http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news27221.html

New Call for ECR Funding, posted May 08. Round 6 funding under the Early Career Researcher Scheme is now open.

Eligibility: under this scheme, an ECR is defined as someone who is enrolled for a research higher degree, or is less than 5 years post PhD.
Funding is to be used during the period July - December of 2008. Interested ECRs wishing to apply must be a member from any one of the Network's contributing institutions, of which a listing is enclosed within the advertisement. See below.
Application form download here. Advert/conditions click here
Closing date for applications is 30th May, 2008 in word format please, to maria.lekis@adelaide.edu.au. Announcement of successful applications is expected by mid June 2008.

Postdoc opportunity at the South Australian Museum, posted March 08

Please find attached an advertisement for a new 3-year research position in terrestrial invertebrates at the South Australian Museum. Closing date 11th April. Please note that the position is only available to Australian citizens or permanent residents.

National Postgraduate Training Workshop in Systematics, The University of Adelaide, 21-25 July 2008. Posted Feb 08

Sponsored by: Australian Biological Resources Study; ARC Environmental Futures Network; Research Network for Vegetation Function &; Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology & Biodiversity (The University of Adelaide)

This workshop will include advanced level training in phylogenetic methods, mapping and GIS overlay, interactive key development, imaging techniques, nomenclature, databases, publishing results, finding a job, and much more.

The workshop is designed for PhD students in the first half of their project, but applications will be accepted from anyone who is in the first 3 years of candidature. Funding is available to assist students attending the workshop, but there is a maximum of 30 places - available only to students enrolled in Australian and New Zealand Universities. Application deadline 31 March 2008

Download Application here. Enquiries to michelle.guzik@adelaide.edu.au