Alert Newsletter 712

Posted: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 under Alert Newsletter

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1. Latest vacancies for the Royal Society of New Zealand close next week

Public Lead, Creative Commons Aotearoa New Zealand

The Royal Society of New Zealand is home to the Creative Commons Aotearoa New Zealand (CCANZ) project. We are currently seeking a part time (0.8 FTE) person for a twelve month fixed term position. The successful candidate will undertake the public outreach activities for CCANZ, contribute to the strategic direction of the project and coordinate the Advisory Panel and Legal Team. Applications close 18 April.

http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/organisation/about/vacancies/public-lead-creative-commons-aotearoa-new-zealand/

Publications Coordinator

A full-time publications coordinator is sought to be part of the frontline face of the Royal Society of New Zealand’s publishing team, handling submissions to the Society’s eight journals. The role will provide editorial support and advice to our team of senior and associate editors around the country, and will advise and support authors and reviewers at all stages of the manuscript handling process. Applications close 16 April.

http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/organisation/about/vacancies/publications-coordinator/

2 .Whitebait spawning speaker and workshop, Nelson, 16-18 April

Dr Mike Hickford, research biologist in the Marine Ecology Research Group at the University of Canterbury will speak on whitebait spawning habitat: putting all your eggs in one, very small, basket. 7.30 to 9.30 pm, Monday, 16 April, Cawthron.

Inanga, Galaxias maculatus, is one of the most widely distributed fish species in the southern hemisphere and lays its eggs only in riparian vegetation in the tidal area of streams and rivers. Inanga comprises about 95% of the whitebait catch in New Zealand. Our surveys have shown that there is a negative correlation between stream/river size and spawning success; many big rivers with large adult populations have virtually no egg production.

Full programme includes practical workshop on how to find whitebait spawning areas. Contact Trevor.James@tasman.govt.nz

3. Juno to Jupiter astronomy meeting, Nelson, 12 April

In August of last year the Juno spacecraft was launched. Destination: Jupiter. It is not due to arrive at the giant planet until 2016, but when it does it hopefully will start collecting data that will tell us a lot more about the interior of the planet and answer questions about how our solar system formed. The talk will be an overview of the mission and will include quite a number of NASA videos.  In addition there will be a short report on the big Australian Amateur Astronomy Convention held over the Easter weekend in Brisbane.

Details: 7.30pm, Thursday12 April, Cawthron Seminar Room.

4. FUSIONZ website for science, technology, humanities jobs

This week, Fusionz has 4 vacancies for jobs. The latest jobs are:

  • Publications Coordinator: Royal Society of New Zealand, Wellington
  • Public Lead, Creative Commons Aotearoa New Zealand: Royal Society of New Zealand, Wellington
  • Postdoctoral Fellow: University of Otago, Christchurch
  • Scientist – Fisheries Acoustics : NIWA, Wellington

For more information and to list your vacancy – http://fusionz.royalsociety.org.nz/

5. Nominations called for premier conservation award, Loder Cup, closes 31 May

Nominations are being accepted for the Loder Cup 2012. The Loder Cup is New Zealand’s premier conservation award. Gerald Loder donated the Loder Cup in 1926 to “encourage and honour New Zealanders who work to investigate, promote, retain and cherish our indigenous flora”. The Minister of Conservation awards the Loder Cup to a person or group of people who best represent the objectives of the Cup, to celebrate their outstanding conservation work in New Zealand.

Request a nomination form by contacting: Karen Upton, Department of Conservation, +64 4 471 0726, kupton@doc.govt.nz. Applications close 5pm 31 May.

More information about the Loder Cup.

6. Understanding NZ Earthquakes, Cafe Scientifique in Lower Hutt, Thursday 26 April

The recent destructive earthquakes in Canterbury have brought the hazard of earthquakes in New Zealand into sharp focus. What can seismologists tell us about why and how this earthquake sequence happened?

Dr Martin Reyners, a seismologist at GNS Science, will describe how the history of plate tectonics in New Zealand has dictated the type of earthquake sequence that occurred in Canterbury. He will also answer questions on how earthquake type will differ in other parts of the country, including Wellington.

Thursday 6–7.15pm, Wholly Bagels, Myrtle Street, Lower Hutt. Details.

7. Bioenergy scholarship seeking applications, round closes 30 April

The Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (BANZ) has established a bioenergy scholarship and is currently seeking applications for the first round of applications.

BANZ is undertaking initiatives to help ensure greater development of the skills, experience and knowledge of bioenergy professionals in New Zealand, including attracting those involved in associated activities to consider specialising in bioenergy.

BANZ has established a scholarship scheme which will be available for the purposes of specific training, research, travel or industry-based work experience.

Information on the scholarships and the criteria for application can be found on the BANZ website.

8. Immigration and population diversity international workshop underway

The National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis at the University of Waikato will be holding an international workshop on the Economic Impacts of Immigration and Population Diversity at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato this week, 11-13 April.

More than 60 economists, social scientists and policymakers from across the globe will gather to consider recent research on the economics of diversity, specifically looking at migration trends and policies. Director of NIDEA, Professor Natalie Jackson, says a main feature of the workshop is that visiting academics learn about New Zealand and Australia’s immigration history.

Contact  Roxane Miller, 07 838 4645, or roxane@waikato.ac.nz

9. “Sea-Level Rise: Meeting the Challenge” – New Zealand Climate Change Centre Conference 10-11 May 2012, Wellington

Demand for science-based advice to assist coastal planning for sea-level rise due to climate change is growing. In light of this the New Zealand Climate Change Centre (NZCCC) invites you to attend a conference focussing on sea-level rise and addressing associated coastal planning challenges.

The conference will include keynote speakers from overseas and New Zealand as well as case study examples illustrating how sea-level rise projections have been incorporated into coastal planning. The conference will provide ample opportunity for interaction between attendees through panel and breakout group discussions.

Please visit the dedicated conference website for further information and to register for the conference:  www.confer.co.nz/nzccc2012

Contact: Richard Nottage (NZCCC) r.nottage@nzclimatechangecentre.org  (04 386 0327)

10. Our Changing World, Thursday 9.00 pm, Radio New Zealand National

Alison Ballance, Veronika Meduna and Ruth Beran http://radionz.co.nz/ourchangingworld email ourchangingworld@radionz.co.nz Tel (04) 474 1910.

Stick insects are found throughout New Zealand, but they arrived here from the tropics. Landcare Research ecologists are keen to work out how these night-active camouflage artists have adapted to life in colder climates, and Veronika Meduna joins a team during a midnight fieldtrip.

The Fiordland Islands Restoration Programme is an ambitious effort to remove introduced animals and restore native biodiversity on some of the hundreds of islands in Fiordland National Park. The programme began in 1988 with the eradication of rats from Breaksea Island, and more recently has been removing deer and stoats from the two largest islands in Fiordland, Secretary and Resolution islands. Resolution Island became the world’s first designated island sanctuary in 1891, and in this Our Changing World feature Alison Ballance heads south on a Department of Conservation stoat-trapping trip to remote Dusky Sound, on board the boat Southern Winds, to find out how effective 2315 traps are at eliminating stoats on a rugged island that is nearly 21,000 hectares in size.

Shorter science, health and environment features also air during Afternoons with Jim Mora at 3.35 pm, Monday to Thursday. The programme is repeated at 1.10 am on Sunday mornings.

You can download a podcast or listen to streaming audio of programmes you’ve missed in the complete programme archive at: http://radionz.co.nz/ourchangingworld

11. Follow the Royal Society of New Zealand on Facebook and Twitter

Get timely updates from the Royal Society of New Zealand team via our Facebook and Twitter channels.

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