From: <Tony.Wong_at_email.protected>
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 12:56:46 +1000

Begin forwarded message:

>From: Tony Wong <Tony.Wong_at_csiro.<!--nospam-->au>
>Date: 22 March 2006 11:53:53 PM
>To: Christopher Wright <c.wright_at_adfa.<!--nospam-->edu.au>
>Cc: Sarah Maddison <smaddison_at_swin.<!--nospam-->edu.au>, Kate Brooks
><Kate.Brooks_at_csiro.<!--nospam-->au>, melanie_at_hilbert.<!--nospam-->maths.utas.edu.au, Robert
>Smith <R.SMITH_at_adfa.<!--nospam-->edu.au>, warrick.lawson_at_unsw.<!--nospam-->adfa.edu.au, Stuart
>Ryder <sdr_at_aaoepp.<!--nospam-->aao.gov.au>, Brad Carter <carterb_at_usq.<!--nospam-->edu.au>,
>john.lattanzio_at_sci.<!--nospam-->monash.edu.au, "Lomb, Nick" <NickL_at_PHM.<!--nospam-->GOV.AU>
>Subject: Re: SOC email
>
>Chris,
>
>To begin with - would you like me to investigate the possibility of
>setting up a mailing list + hypermail archive for this group, so we
>can always look up previous posts on a webpage? This has been
>possible at ATNF in the past, though you may have this facility at
>ADFA too.
>
>We had a brief discussion at ATNF morning tea about PASA today. Most
>commentators seemed to question the need for maintaining the journal.
>Bob Williams (STScI) noted that even PASP is under threat, which is a
>bit sobering because I sometimes actually read papers published there.
>The possibility of a pan-Asia-Pacific journal was mentioned, but it's
>only an idea at this stage. I think Australia could take a major
>role, as the largest English-speaking country in the region and one of
>the most developed, but it also entails a big responsibility for
>nurturing the development of the region - quantity often greatly
>exceeds quality in some of these countries. Anyway, judging from
>response, it is indeed a topic people are willing to discuss!
>
>Tony
>
>On 17/03/2006, at 4:43 PM, Christopher Wright wrote:
>
>>17 March 2006
>> 
>>Dear All,
>> 
>>Firstly, many thanks for responding positively to our invitation to
>>sit on the Scientific Organising Committee for the 2006 ASA Annual
>>Scientific Meeting. Welcome! You can probably see from the adressee
>>list who your fellow SOC members are, but for completeness we are:
>>Warrick Lawson - UNSW_at_ADFA   Chair
>>Chris Wright - UNSW_at_ADFA  Assisting Chair
>>Kate Brooks - ATNF
>>Brad Carter - University of Southern Queensland
>>Melanie Johnston-Hollitt - University of Tasmania
>>John Lattanzio -  Monash University
>>Nick Lomb - Sydney Observatory
>>Sarah Maddison - Swinburne University
>>Stuart Ryder - AAO
>>Tony Wong - UNSW/ATNF
>> 
>>We think this SOC structure represents a pretty good balance
>>between early and mid-career people, and a broad cross section of
>>astronomical interests and techniques.
>> 
>>Time is marching on, and it is in fact less than 4 months until the
>>meeting. The LOC will be bringing up the web site hopefully next
>>week, and a call for contributions will be made then too. But the SOC
>>can already start thinking about the scientific sessions.
>> 
>>Suggestions we have received thus far are for:
>> 
>>1) A dedicated educational session. This has been supported by the
>>ASA's Education and Public Outreach Committee (EPOC), and will be run
>>by Nick Lomb (Chair of the EPOC). What we have to decide upon is a
>>request that speakers in this session be given the flexibility to
>>also present a scientific paper, the argument being that if forced to
>>give only one presentation then an attendee will choose to
>>present their science paper. So we need to decide whether people can
>>give two papers at the ASM, and if so do we cap that at some number
>>(with the proviso that one of the papers be education-related)? Nick
>>has said that there are already 3 people who wish to give two papers.
>>Assuming that a whole session cannot be filled by 15 min talks, Nick
>>has also suggested a panel discussion.
>> 
>>2) A dedicated Gemini results session. This was suggested by a senior
>>member of the ASA Council. The main reason (I believe) is that the
>>ARC is funding Australia's involvement in Gemini, and we as a
>>community should be pro-active in "advertising" the good science we
>>get from Gemini.
>> 
>>3) A discussion forum on the future of the Publications of the
>>Astronomical Society of Australia (PASA). Again, this was suggested
>>by a senior member of the ASA Council. Apparently the cost to the ASA
>>(paid to CSIRO) is fairly substantial, and the question of
>>cost-benefit is being raised.
>> 
>>4) A session/discussion forum on Women in Astronomy. This was
>>suggested by Sarah Maddison, as a prelude to her and Anne Green going
>>to the 2006 IAU GA in Prague. Anne and Sarah are co-Chairs of the IAU
>>Working Group on women in astronomy. Sarah suggested a lunch-time
>>slot.
>> 
>>That's it for sessions so far, but as you can see there is already a
>>fair bit to think about.
>> 
>>Finally, the SOC also has the opportunity to suggest candidates for
>>the Harley Wood Public Lecture. If you can think of a suitable
>>person, perhaps an overseas visitor at your institution, then please
>>make your suggestion. A potential candidate (Mike Dopita, RSAA ANU,
>>Federation Fellow) has already been put forward by a senior ASA
>>Council member.
>> 
>>Anyway, that's it for now.
>> 
>>Cheers
>>Chris
>>  
>> 
>==================================================================
>Tony Wong, ARC-CSIRO Linkage Postdoctoral Fellow
>CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility +61-2-9372-4399
>School of Physics, University of New South Wales +61-2-9385-5470
>E-mail: Tony.Wong_at_csiro.<!--nospam-->au
>FAX: +61-2-9372-4310
>URL: http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/twong
>==================================================================
>
>
==================================================================
Tony Wong, ARC-CSIRO Linkage Postdoctoral Fellow
CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility +61-2-9372-4399
School of Physics, University of New South Wales +61-2-9385-5470
E-mail: Tony.Wong_at_csiro.<!--nospam-->au
FAX: +61-2-9372-4310
URL: http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/twong
==================================================================
Received on 2006-03-28 11:57:15