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A moment of great bravery
05 September 2016
by
Joanne Ernest
I began my PhD in 2010 with Dr Tony Gendall at La Trobe University, Melbourne. Tony’s group is using reverse genetics to investigate the physiological and cellular roles of two sodium/proton antiporters. These proteins affect cell differentiation and expansion, ro
ot length and lateral root development as well as subcellular trafficking. In my thesis I described the expression patterns of these antiporters in Arabidopsis, and described their role in trafficking seed proteins to a specialised storage vacuole in developing embryos. I presented some this work at two ComBio meetings (2012 and 2014), as well as the International Conference for Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) in 2013, the Australian Research Assembly on Brassicas (ARAB) in 2014, and the Agriculture Bioscience International Conference in 2015. A chapter of my thesis was published in 2015 in the journal of Plant and Cell Physiology (Ashnest et al. 2015).
Like many other PhD candidates, I began looking for a post doc fellowship about 6 months before submitting my thesis. I had applied for several advertised positions, but hadn’t been granted even an interview. Then in May of 2015, I met Dr Tim Sharbel at a free seminar at the AgriBio Systems Biology conference. Tim was in the process of moving his entire lab from Germany to Canada, and was recruiting post docs. Tim’s content and manner really impressed me, and when he mentioned that he was hiring, I decided on the spur of the moment that I would approach him about a job. I went to the ladies’ room and did the “power pose” for 2 minutes, then bravely walked up to Tim and introduced myself (he’s since told me that he had no idea how nervous I was…). We had a brief chat, and arranged to meet more comprehensively the next day. I remember going home and asking my husband, “how do you feel about Canada? Because I met this guy today…”
Tim and I chatted for about an hour the following morning. No pressure, I thought, but this is an interview! In the end it went really well; I had the skill set that Tim was looking for and we got along great. About a fortnight later, after Tim had read my CV and some positive emails from my referees, he offered me a job! There was a little more back and forth over contracts, and it took some time for us to arrange permits to work and live in Canada, and to pack up our home and all our things, but about 6 months later my husband, my cat and I were boarding a plane to Saskatoon. Now I’m living on the other side of the world, working with a wonderful team of people, and doing some really exciting science. I owe it all to the power pose and a moment of great bravery!
Author email: Dr Joanne Ernest < joanne.ernest@gifs.ca>
Notification of the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Australian Society of
26 August 2016
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Dear Members of ASPS,
Please be advised that the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Australian Society of
Plant Scientists will be held 18:15 – 19:15 on Thursday, 6 October, Plaza P2, Brisbane
Convention Centre, Brisbane, Qld. As usual, the ASPS Annual General Meeting has been
scheduled during the COMBIO conference week.
Attached, please find the Preliminary Agenda. If you would like to add any items to the
Agenda, please e-mail these to the Honorary Secretary Martha Ludwig
(martha.ludwig@uwa.edu.au or secretary@asps.org.au), by Wednesday, 15 September
2016.
Sincerely,
John Evans
(President of ASPS)
Advanced Greenhouse Research and Education Training Facility for Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment
12 August 2016
Greenhouse Research Education Training Facility
The world-class greenhouse facility, currently under development at the University’s Hawkesbury Campus, is a partnership between the University and Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIAL).
With a bold vision is to enhance national and international food security for an energy and water constrained future, this new facility will help Australian growers tap into the latest research and practices within greenhouse crop production to make their operations more efficient, and meet the increased demand for fresh food that can be delivered quickly to markets. The facility will have a strong education and training focus, working in partnership with industry partners to provide a student experience which produces career-ready graduates through involvement in engaged learning, projects and research in their studies.
Why is the Western Sydney University Greenhouse unique?
The Greenhouse RETF will enable unprecedented control of temperature, humidity, CO2 and light to deliver higher productivity while lowering energy and water inputs. Based on a design from the Wageningen University Research in The Netherlands, the Greenhouse will provide high levels of control over humidity, temperature, light and CO2. This facility – the first of its kind and scale in Australia – will allow researchers to test multiple conditions affecting the growth of plants in protected crop environments. The results of this research will be increased crop yields and lower costs to both the producers and the environment.
The Design
The nearest known equivalent greenhouse research facility is located in The Netherlands,at the Wageningen University Greenhouse Horticulture Research Institute (WUR). To ensure a state-of-the-art Facility design, Western Sydney University has partnered with experts from WUR, Dr JC (Sjaak) Bekker and Dr Silke Hemming, for consultation and advice as to the most appropriate design and construction for the University Greenhouse Research Education and Training Facility. This partnership with WUR creates an opportunity for Western Sydney University to position itself as a national leader in greenhouse horticulture research and education. This partnership will include staff and student exchanges, joint supervision of postgraduate research students, and assistance from WUR to develop training and education resource material.
The Industry Consulting Committee
The Greenhouse Research Education and Training Facility Industry Consultation Committee (ICC) provides strategic direction to the research and education programs, as well as providing input into the design phase of the Facility.
The ICC consists of eight to twelve members, including representatives from the two main stakeholder organisations (Western Sydney University and HIAL), influential leaders from tertiary education, vocation and training, government, business, communications and/or community sectors; who are committed to contributing to the Facility’s objectives. The ICC is Chaired by Mr Graeme Smith from Protected Cropping Australia.
Research Goals
- Interaction of plant sciences – engineering, economics
- Establish bench marks in productivity, water use, energy efficiency for key crops
- Investigate contrasting greenhouse covering materials on light, crop growth and energy balance
- Investigate potential of ‘closed’ systems on crop growth, temperature, CO2, water use and energy efficiency
- Integrated studies, analysis of overall system productivity, sustainability, efficiency.
The research team of Prof. David Tissue, Zhonghua Chen and Chris Cazzonelli are excited to drive new research areas to advance horticultural research within the Australian climate.
Training and Skill Development
The training of qualified, forward-thinking graduates is crucial to ensure that Australia has a bright future in the Agriculture sector. In collaboration with industry, the Western Sydney University Greenhouse RETF will provide a quality education program in the agriculture space.
Western Sydney University has committed to refresh and renew the way in which it offers and promotes ‘agriculture’ to provide a new, robust suite of agriculture and associated units, majors, sub majors, minors and courses that will offer students the opportunity to enter careers that meets global needs and student interest.
While the research program will generate new management practises and technologies, a training and education centre will also be established as part of the project to assist industry in building a future skilled workforce. The Greenhouse RETF will be an icon for peri-urban agriculture research, education and training at the University.
The research, education and training carried out at this facility is expected to result in a large number of partnership opportunities for UWS, resulting in collaborations with the protected cropping industry, TAFE, related government agencies and regional, national and international communities.
Email: David Thompson | Communications Officer
Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment
P: 0429 951 552 or 02 4570 1623
GPC E-Bulletin July 2016
01 August 2016
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Global Plant Council is running a lunchtime session at ComBio 2016
26 July 2016
Do not miss “Addressing Global Challenges in Plant Science: the importance of co-operation beyond national boundaries” by @GlobalPlantGPC @ #combio2016 https://www.asbmb.org.au/…/ComBio2016%20-%20Provisional%20S…
Invitation to support petition by Nobel Laureates
17 July 2016
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Dear ASPS members,
I would like to encourage you to add your support to this petition by Nobel Laureates.
Thanks
John Evans, President ASPS
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ComBio 2015- ASPS Travel Award Recipient Report
14 July 2016
By
Kathryn Dumschott
PhD Candidate, Centre for Carbon Water and Food, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University of Sydney
The ASPS travel award gave me the opportunity to present my research involving carbon accumulation and partitioning in the legume species Vicia faba (faba bean) at ComBio 2015. Legumes are vitally important for human nutrition and agricultural practices. As we face global population increases and the effects of climate change become evermore apparent, it is crucial to focus on improving legume tolerance to environmental stress. Plants rely on changes in metabolism and carbon allocation to adapt to and tolerate their changing environment. Understanding these responses on a physiological, chemical and molecular basis is crucial for developing improved breeding strategies. Being able to discuss my project provided me the opportunity to hone my presentation skills as well as share my research with the ComBio community. The diverse range and high quality of plant science research covered throughout ComBio2015 meant that every lecture and symposium was both unique and interesting. Overall, it was a great experience that broadened my view on all the research being done in Australia as well as in the international plant science community.
Contact: kathryn.dumschott@sydney.edu.au
ComBio2016 – extension of poster submission deadline
29 June 2016
Dear past and present ASPS members,
ComBio2016 – 3 – 7 October 2016: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
ComBio2016 incorporates the annual meetings of the ASBMB, ASPS and ANZSCDB.
The official abstract submission deadline has now passed. Invited abstract submission remains open, but oral requests have now closed. The ComBio2016 Program Committee is pleased to advise that the poster abstract submission deadline has been extended as follows:
Poster abstracts will be programmed within themes if received by Monday, 25 July and details published in the conference program, conference App and on the website.
Poster abstracts will be programmed in Late Posters if received by Monday, 15 August and details published in the conference program, conference App and on the website (but will not be programmed within themes).
Poster abstracts will be programmed as On Site Posters on the program revisions board at the conference if received by Monday, 26 September. The poster presentation details will not be published in the conference program, conference App or on the website.
Abstracts can be submitted at: https://www.asbmb.org.au/cgi-bin/combio2016-abstract-form.cgi
Registrations are welcome and can be made at: https://www.asbmb.org.au/cgi-bin/combio2016-registration-form.cgi
Please note that you need to register prior to submitting an abstract. The earlybird fee has now closed.
The provisional symposium schedule and timetable can be downloaded from: http://www.asbmb.org.au/combio2016/symposia.html and http://www.asbmb.org.au/combio2016/timetable.html
The plenary speaker bio-sketches and photographs can be viewed at: http://www.asbmb.org.au/combio2016/plenary.html
Further information:
Sally Jay
Employment opportunities and ComBio2016 early bird registration due 27th June.
21 June 2016
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There are new plant science employment opportunities in Melbourne and Perth.
ComBio2016: 3-7 October 2016 – Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
ComBio2016 is a combination of the ASBMB, ASPS and ANZSCDB Annual Meetings
A reminder that the Early Registration & Abstract Deadline is Monday, 27 June 2016
Dear ASPS / ANZSCDB Past and Present Members
A reminder that the early registration and abstract submission deadline is on Monday, 27 June.
Online registration and abstract submission is open and you can register at:
and submit your abstract at:
Please note that you need to register prior to submitting your abstract.
The provisional program timetable and the provisional symposium schedule can be accessed from http://www.asbmb.org.au/combio2016/timetable.html and http://www.asbmb.org.au/combio2016/symposia.html respectively.
The plenary speakers and their photographs and bio-sketches can be accessed from: http://www.asbmb.org.au/combio2016/plenary.html
Further information: Sally Jay: combio@asbmb.org.au
On the Pulse – Legume Symposium in Celebration of the International Year of the Pulses
15 June 2016
ON THE PULSE – RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2016
2016 marks the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s International Year of Pulses – a celebration of the importance of these legumes.
On Tuesday 12 July, the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment at the University of Sydney will host the 2016 Research Symposium, On the Pulse.
On the Pulse brings together domestic and international researchers to discuss strategies and advances that are future proofing pulse agriculture, focusing on three themes: pulse diversity, pulse benefits to agronomy and genetic pulse sustainability.
Download the Symposium program (PDF, 1.37MB)
Event details
Tuesday 12 July 2016
8.15am – 6.00pm
Veterinary Science Conference Centre
University of Sydney
Free Registration
For more information
Liz Kenna
+61 2 9351 5697
liz.kenna@sydney.edu.au sydney.edu.au/agriculture/outreach/symposium
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