Details on the ASPS Education and Outreach Award can be accessed HERE.

Details on the RN Robertson Travelling Fellowship can be accessed HERE.

Dear ASPS Members,

Welcome back after an extraordinary year of challenges. I would like to bring your attention to the 2021 Science Meets Parliament event organised by Science & Technology Australia (STA).

STA represents more than 80 societies, including ASPS, and is Australia’s peak body in science and technology. It conducts outreach sessions involving the public and government and tries to influence public policy in these areas. Each year STA organises its flagship event called Science Meets Parliament (SmP). This event connects parliamentarians with STEM practitioners and leaders in order to share information and ideas and to help build Australia’s excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

This event usually occurs in Canberra during a parliamentary sitting period. However, due to Covid19, the 2021 program will be spread over several virtual sessions between 2 March and 1 April. This includes a Gala Dinner to be held on the 29 March in five separate cities. More information on Science Meets Parliament and a detailed program can be found here: https://sta.eventsair.com/smp2021/

ASPS is allowed to invite two members to attend this worthwhile initiative. Any members interested in applying should contact our Secretary Simon Williams (simon.williams@anu.edu.au) by 12 February to express their interest and provide a CV. We especially encourage early career researchers to apply. Please study the SmP program carefully being mindful of the dates and the time commitment it requires.

Regards, Peter Ryan

President ASPS

 The January Global Plant Council E-Bulletin can be accessed HERE.

Hello ASPS members,

Meet Australia’s newest Superstars of STEM

Australia’s newest Superstars of STEM – 60 brilliant women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics who want to step into the spotlight as experts in their fields – will be announced today.

The new Superstars reflects the strong diversity of women in STEM – including three Indigenous scientists and engineers, and a record number of Superstars from South Australia and the ACT.

Science & Technology Australia Chief Executive Officer Misha Schubert said the program gave women in STEM the skills and confidence to step into expert commentary roles in the media.

“It’s hard to be what you can’t see,” she said. “Women are still seriously under-represented in STEM – especially at the senior leadership levels.”

“The Superstars of STEM program sets out to smash stereotypes of what a scientist, technologist, engineer or mathematician look like – these powerful role models show girls that STEM is for them.”

“We thank the Australian Government for its strong support of this important program, which is already having a profound impact.”

“Sustaining this type of program for the long-term is more important than ever amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in the STEM workforce.”

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews will today officially announce those chosen for Science & Technology Australia’s game-changing Superstars of STEM program in 2021.

“This program upends the adage ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ by increasing the visibility of women in STEM and encouraging girls and young women to aspire to an exciting STEM career,” Minister Andrews said.

“With STEM skills crucial to driving innovation and playing a significant role in preparing people for the jobs of the future, it’s essential that all Australians have the opportunity to participate in these fields.

“Gender equity in STEM is a key focus of the Morrison Government and we’re taking action to support women in STEM careers and provide diverse STEM role models to inspire the next generation.”

Since doing the program, current Superstar Dr Kudzai Kanhutu has become a regular on ABC’s The Drum, regularly sharing her expertise in frontline health challenges, technology and current affairs.

Another current Superstar Dr Kate Cole generated front-page media in May that led to a ban on hundreds on unsafe masks, protecting frontline healthcare workers and the Australian public.

“There is no way I would have spoken to the media before the Superstars of STEM program, and if I hadn’t done that, more than 600 questionable masks would still be on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods,” she says.

Supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, these next 60 Superstars of STEM will participate in the program in 2021 and 2022.

STA thanks GE and The Department of Defence as partners of the Superstars of STEM program in 2021-2022. The program is also supported by the Australian Science Media Centre, The Conversation and STEM Matters.

Our full list of new Superstars is now available on our website

Media contacts:
Science & Technology Australia: media inquiries: Misha Schubert 0421 612 351
Minister Karen Andrews’ office: Keegan Buzza 0447 697 846 or Jennifer Jennings 0435 121 347

Dear ASPS members

STA announces new President-elect and Executive

Science & Technology Australia is pleased to announce the election of new members to its Executive Committee at STA’s Annual General Meeting today.

Silo-busting innovator and industry-engaged research entrepreneur Professor Mark Hutchinson is STA’s new President-elect. He will become President at the end of or next AGM in November 2021.

For seven years, Mark has been Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics at the University of Adelaide. He will be the first South Australian to serve as STA President.

The centre has produced 15 spin-outs and start-ups and has 30 flourishing industry partnerships. Its silo-busting approach encourages engineers, physicists, chemists and biologists to work across disciplines to build new products and techniques using light at the cellular level.

STA’s newly-elected executive members are:

• President-elect – Professor Mark Hutchinson
• Secretary – Jas Chambers
• Policy Committee Chair – Professor Sharath Sriram
• Early Career Representative – Dr Chloe Taylor

STA President Associate Professor Jeremy Brownlie congratulated the newly-elected Executive and said he looked forward to working with them all.

He also thanked outgoing Secretary Associate Professor Darren Saunders and outgoing ECR representative Associate Professor Sumeet Walia for their excellent service to STA.

“We are blessed with a wealth of talented leaders across the STEM sector who want to contribute their energy, ideas and leadership to STA’s success,” he said.

“Mark will be outstanding as our next President, and the refreshed Executive including Sharath, Jas and Chloe reflects the excellence, diversity and breadth of skills in the sector.”

“I thank Darren Saunders for his excellent work as our secretary supporting governance work, and Sumeet Walia for his work for early career researchers and as co-chair of STA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.”

STA President-elect Professor Mark Hutchinson said he was honoured to have been entrusted by the STA members to lead the organisation as President from the end of 2021.

“I want to work with the STEM sector to help foster even deeper connections between the research community and those who need our research to transform lives, industries and policy,” he said.

“I see an exciting set of possibilities to identify challenges that Government and industry want to solve – and bringing our best research brains to that task.”

“I want to support our STEM workforce, share entrepreneurial skills, foster diversity and equity, and propel even more Australian science and technology from the bookshelf to the boardroom.”

He looks forward to working closely with current President Jeremy Brownlie and CEO Misha Schubert over the next year as President-elect.

“Jeremy has worked tirelessly to strengthen STA’s visibility as a respected policy and advocacy voice for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors,” he said.

“It will be an honour to work with him over the next year and to succeed him as President in November.”

Media contacts:
Science & Technology Australia: 6257 2891

Hello ASPS members,

Our Annual General Meeting is Thursday, October 1.

Time: 12-2pm EST

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://anu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwvdOutrjojG9eIIHzpt2ElNXnit2sxBtbu

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The Agenda and Diversity and Inclusion policy draft are attached for your consideration. All other draft reports are available through the ASPS website HERE.

See you at the AGM.

Hello ASPS members,

Please join us for a special edition of Plantae Presents, featuring four Australian Society of Plant Scientists awardees: the joint-winners of the Jan Anderson Award, Crystal Sweetman and Kristine Crous; the winner of the Peter Goldacre Award, Alex Wu; and the winner of the ASPS-FBP Best Paper Award, Karen Frick. Each will present a 15 or 20 minute talk, followed by five minutes of questions. This is a two hour webinar with the start times indicated below.

Wednesday Sept 30

Adel/Dar 4.00pm

Syd/Melb/Bris/Hob/Can 4.30pm

Perth 2.30pm

UK 7:30am, CET 8:30am, EDT 2:30am, (PDT 11:30 pm Tues Sept 29)

You can now register through the link below!

https://plantae.org/plantae-presents-asps-awardees-lectures-crystal-sweetman-kristine-crous-alex-wu-and-karen-frick/

The September GPC e-bulletin is also avaiable HERE.

Dear ASPS past and present members,

As you are aware we will not hold an ASPS scientific meeting this year. However, we are planning to celebrate the achievements of our ASPS award winners with a special ASPS-Awards session host through the Plantae Presents – Virtual Science Talks.

Date: Wednesday 30^th September

Time: 4-6pm

We will also be holding the ASPS AGM the following day

Date: Thursday 1^st October

Time: 12-2pm

Registration and schedule details for these events will be sent soon.

Dear ASPS members,

Announcing the 2020 ASPS award winners;

Peter Goldacre Award – Alex Wu.

Jan Anderson Award (joint winners)- Kristine Crous and Crystal Sweetman.

ASPS Teaching Award – Hank Greenway, David Turner, Jane Gibbs and Brian Atwell.

Congratulations!

Announcing Peter Ryan as our ASPS President Elect.

The July Global Plan Council e-Bulletin can be accessed HERE.

Dear ASPS members,

ASPS member Matt Gilliham is giving a talk through the Plantae webinar series this Wednesday April 8th at 11am EST. Plantae have managed increase the number of participants for each webinar to 3000 so everyone should be able to view. Plantae are on the lookout for other willing speakers from around the world.

Register free through this link

https://plantae.org/plantae-presents-a-new-global-plant-science-talk-series/?fbclid=IwAR3kE7nS72fMgV9TKFqnQ8bqzrmpidok6XM6BbbKXLL8gFnogy3VOiljzU8

The Australian Academy of Science have asked us to advertise the call for applications for the Boden Conference award. The Academy established this award to fund small specialist conferences in the biological sciences with the generous support of the late Dr Alex Boden AO FAA. These conferences, which usually run for about 2 days, are designed to bring together researchers working in rapidly advancing fields to discuss current advances and problems. A sum of up to $10,000 is provided, and organisers are encouraged to seek additional funding from other sources. One conference is funded annually.

Applications close on June 1 2020.

Further information can be obtained from:     https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/boden-research-conferences

Kind regards,

Dr Simon Williams

Honorary Secretary of the ASPS

Dear ASPS members,

ASPS member Matt Gilliham is giving a talk through the Plantae webinar series this Wednesday April 8th at 11am EST. Plantae have managed increase the number of participants for each webinar to 3000 so everyone should be able to view. Plantae are on the lookout for other willing speakers from around the world.

Register free through this link

https://plantae.org/plantae-presents-a-new-global-plant-science-talk-series/?fbclid=IwAR3kE7nS72fMgV9TKFqnQ8bqzrmpidok6XM6BbbKXLL8gFnogy3VOiljzU8

The Australian Academy of Science have asked us to advertise the call for applications for the Boden Conference award. The Academy established this award to fund small specialist conferences in the biological sciences with the generous support of the late Dr Alex Boden AO FAA. These conferences, which usually run for about 2 days, are designed to bring together researchers working in rapidly advancing fields to discuss current advances and problems. A sum of up to $10,000 is provided, and organisers are encouraged to seek additional funding from other sources. One conference is funded annually.

Applications close on June 1 2020.

Further information can be obtained from:     https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/boden-research-conferences

Kind regards,

Dr Simon Williams

Honorary Secretary of the ASPS