PIPE DREAMS
Comment by Royal Society CEO, Dr Steve Thompson Steve.Thompson@rsnz.orgIn recent times, RSNZ has been asked to play some type of facilitating/brokering role in one or two overseas ventures which require cross-organisation collaboration, as well as in domestic ventures such as helping to form a New Zealand ‘grass-roots’ Forum for Sustainable Development. With regard to both international and domestic ventures, the Royal Society needs to establish its own reasons for accepting such invitations. Three criteria seem to apply:
1. Is there a Science Case? Does the venture fill a ‘science gap’ for New Zealand? Would it be in New Zealand’s scientific or capacity building interests to participate? If so, RSNZ can play an encouragement role, but not a lead role.
2. Is there a Business Case? Does a ‘money gap’ exist for the venture? If funds are not fully available, can RSNZ assist in leveraging them?
3. Does a ‘trust gap’ exist? Can RSNZ play a direct role in brokering an arrangement where the parties might not otherwise agree?
This also poses a more general question for RSNZ. Is it equipped and prepared to host ‘network-type’ research committees which bring together executing agencies in projects or programmes for which no other coordinating mechanism (e.g., FRST consortia) would be preferred? If so, what hosting role would be preferable – one of facilitator/convener, or (unlikely) one of lead/holding company? What would be your view? Should the Society continue to develop such a role?
JOB VACANCY – ROYAL SOCIETY
Evaluation Officer, Research Science & TechnologyThe RSNZ is seeking to fill this vacant position which reports to the Manager, Research Funding. The Evaluation Officer will develop and implement methods of measuring the outcomes and impact of the Society’s programmes and report on these for the Society and for the Government.
Desirable attributes for the position include: *excellent quantitative and qualitative evaluation skills; *an appropriate postgraduate qualification; *a knowledge of the New Zealand science environment; *strong interpersonal communication skills; *excellent project management skills.
Applications close on Monday, 4 October and should be emailed to Bruce Jones at RSNZ, who may be contacted for a Position Description.
Tel (04) 4705 767 email bruce.jones@rsnz.org
Alternatively you may visit our web site at http://www.rsnz.org
RSNZ CONFERENCE ON PEOPLE & ENERGY
Royal Society of New Zealand conference 2004, to be held on 18 November 2004 in Christchurch.Early-bird registrations close on 30 September.
For on-line registration, and further information about the conference, please see the conference website:
https://www.rsnz.org/secure/events/rsnz_conf2004.php
SUPPORTER OF DIETETICS HONOURED
Professor Jim Mann FRSNZ was recognised this month with presentation of an Honorary Life Membership of the New Zealand Dietetic Association at its annual conference in Dunedin.The honour was for Professor Mann’s contribution to the fields of diatetics and human nutrition.
NOMINATIONS FOR UNESCO FORUM INVITED
In 2003, the UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge (http://www.unesco.org/education/researchforum) established five Regional Scientific Committees and a Global Scientific Committee.The UNESCO Forum has decided to increase the number of members of its Regional Scientific Committees to eleven. UNESCO therefore invites nominations for candidates for the Regional Scientific Committees for Asia and the Pacific.
Please accompany nominations with the candidate’s full CV (including comprehensive publication record) and academic articles on issues of higher education or knowledge. Alternatively, please send the candidate’s contact information so UNESCO can request it from them.
Please take into account the following considerations when nominating candidates for the Regional Scientific Committee for Asia and the Pacific:
* There are 3 positions to be filled. * Gender balance consideration – the Committee is composed of 4 women and 4 men. * The Forum encourages nominations from a number of countries which are not represented in the Committee, including New Zealand. * The majority of Committee members are from a social sciences background. UNESCO therefore strongly encourages nominations from candidates with a Natural Sciences background and from young researchers.
Please send nominations for the Regional Scientific Committee for Asia and the Pacific to Min-Chul Shim: mc.shim@unesco.org by 1 October 2004.
SCRAP THE RAE, SAYS INSTITUTE
The Times of London reports that the UK Institute for Public Policy Research has published a paper which argues that academics should be able to bid for all research funding through a process run by the research councils, rather than receiving allocations through a ‘flawed” research assessment exercise (RAE).Other recommendations include a proposal that further education colleges should be able to access funding through the Higher Education Innovation Fund, which is currently restricted to higher education institutions.
NZ WATER-RELATED THESES DATABASE
The New Zealand Hydrological Society web site now incorporates a database of 361 NZ water-related theses. Most of the thesis entries include full abstracts.You can search this database from the following web address:
http://hydrologynz.org.nz/abstract/search.php
NZ JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY GOES ONLINE
The New Zealand Ecological Society’s New Zealand Journal of Ecology is now online at:http://www.nzes.org.nz/nzje/
The website provides free access to over 1,000 science articles from 50 years of ecological research. Previously the journal was only available from major libraries. Articles date back to 1952.
The project was funded by the Government’s Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System, which is dedicated to increasing awareness and access for fundamental information about New Zealand’s terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity. The website is served from the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Contact John Sawyer(NZES President) Email: president@nzes.org.nz Tel: (04) 472 5821
MALAGHAN INSTITUTE SEMINAR
‘Understanding mitochondrial and plasma membrane electron transport system from radical perspectives’An Tan, Research Fellow, Cancer Molecular Biology Group, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Friday, 10 September 2004, 1 – 2 p.m. Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Bldg, Victoria University, Kelburn
VICTORIA UNVIERSITY SEMINAR
The Victoria University School of Biological Sciences Ecology & Evolution seminar series presents:Dr Richard Allibone (Queen Elizabeth II National Trust) ‘The QE II Trust, conservation, protection and research potential on private lands in New Zealand’
**PLEASE NOTE NEW VENUE**
Lecture Theatre 301, Kirk Building (KK 301) Kelburn Campus Victoria University of Wellington Friday, 10 September, 4-5 p.m.
MALAGHAN INSTITUTE SEMINAR
‘The human model: a genetic dissection of immunity to infection in natural conditions’Professor Jean-Laurent Casanova, Professor of Paediatrics and Head of the Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases at the Necker-Enfants Malades Medical School in Paris
Friday, 17 September 2004, 1 – 2 p.m. Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Bldg, Victoria University, Kelburn
Professor Casanova’s research was the first to identify the immunodeficiencies of patients extremely susceptible to mycobacterial (Tb) infections (IFN-g R, IL-12R, STAT1).
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY CHEMISTRY TALKS
Talks are as follows:Almas Zayya ‘Phosphorus-Nitrogen Bicyclic Ligands for Homogeneous Catalysts’
Maria Matveenko ‘Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of a Novel Diphosphine Ligand with a Large Bite Angle’
Mathew Cairns ‘Towards the development of an Electrospray Mass Spectrometry Method for the Analysis of Air Particulates’
Aaron Small ‘Photoactivity of calcium silicate-titanium dioxide composite materials’
12 p.m. Friday, 17 September Laby 408, Level 4 Laby Building
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY SEMINAR
School of Biological Sciences Ecology & Evolution seminar series 2004 presents:‘Using Remote Technologies for Reserve Design: Applications and Results from Asia’ Johanna P. Pierre Department of Conservation
**NOTE VENUE** Lecture Theatre 301, Kirk Building (KK 301) Kelburn Parade, Kelburn campus Victoria University of Wellington Friday, 17 September, 4-5 p.m.
ON EUREKA THIS WEEK
This week Eureka takes a close up look at dust. Commonly dismissed as pesky small stuff which gets into lots of unwelcome places and makes us sneeze, dust has lots of interesting mysteries.Dr Karen Pollard, of the University of Canterbury tells us about how stars and planets are formed from dust, while her colleague Professor Jack Baggaley FRSNZ explains how dust may have seeded life on earth by carrying complex molecules from distant galaxies. Coming down to earth, Jamie Schulmiester, also of Canterbury, explains how ancient pollent can tell us about past climates and Hamish McGowan of the University of Queensland talks about dust and current climate as well as how Australian dust invasions. Finally, Professor Julian Crane of the Wellington School of Medicine fills us in on some of the disgusting details of creatures living in the dust of our bedding – how these make us sneeze – and what we can do about it.
This week’s Eureka is produced and presented by Penny Lewis. It will broadcast on National Radio on Saturday, after the 2 p.m. news, and again on Monday evening after the 8 p.m. news.
LEONARD COCKAYNE LECTURE RESCHEDULED
Please note the rescheduled date for the Otago lecture by Associate Professor Dave Kelly is:Wednesday, 6 October at 12.00 p.m., Hutton Lecture Theatre, Otago Musuem, 419 Great King St, Dunedin.
