AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS - SA branch minutes, September 2001 Minutes of the committee meeting held at 6pm on Tuesday 11th September 2001 in the tea room of the Dept. of Physics and Mathematical Physics at Adelaide University. PRESENT: Ford, Canney, French, Samardzic, Veitch, Bouwknegt, Blankleider (latter part of meeting) and Campbell. APOLOGIES: Cockshell, Kalloniatis and Leinweber (and maybe Carter). MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING: There were no corrections, so Bouwknegt suggested they be accepted. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES: Bouwknegt asked Samardzic about the information on the video camera. Samardzic said that she has the information and undertook to provide it later. The feedback page on the web has not been fixed. CHAIR'S REPORT: Bouwknegt noted that he had distributed a separate report on the "Science Meets Parliament" event to the committee earlier in the day by email. He said that he had enjoyed the event and that it had an important function, with hopes that it will bring some policy change. He noted that he has put an evaluation by FASTS of the event on the web page, in the executive area. TABLED DOCUMENTS: Bouwknegt tabled a document produced by FASTS, outlining the big issues that they were pushing at "Science Meets Parliament", which was a handout to delegates to streamline discussion. He referred to the notice from National Science Week (which is 17-25th August next year, and will be in August for 4-5 years) inviting requests for support. Applications must be made by 1st Nov. Bouwknegt said that he will put in a blank proposal for a public lecture, although there is the option for something different if anyone has a proposal. TREASURER'S REPORT: French tabled the reconciliation and cheque details for May - 31st August, noting that the balance has fallen from about $5000 to about $4700. He said that the AGM bill for last year is in this financial year and the bill has now been finalised and paid. All cheques in and out are listed, although full details are only given for cheques out. Bouwknegt raised the issue of asking for national reserves for travel scholarships. French suggested asking for a 3-year package, rather than attempting to renew it each year. French noted that he has claimed GST back though the national branch, but has heard nothing from them about it. He suggested a change in account keeping to Canney to facilitate GST tracking. Campbell and Samardzic had some queries which French answered. Bouwknegt thanked French for being treasurer and for being part of the committee, and welcomed Canney as the new treasurer. French said he has some forms which Canney needs to sign, to give his signature to the bank. GOLD BRAGG MEDAL NOMINATION: Bouwknegt reported that the state nomination has to be in to the national branch by Sept. 22nd and we want one person from each Uni. to be on a committee to select the nomination from the three made by each of the SA universities. The selected committee is Ford and Veitch, with someone (either John Pattison or Bruce Wedding) from the UniSA. Bouwknegt commented that this had to be done at short notice. Campbell reported that he had handed on the Adelaide and UniSA nominations to Blankleider at the end of July. AGM ARRANGEMENTS: Campbell tabled copies of the full menu, from which the committee chose the required pairs of options. Bouwknegt is to hand these choices on to Kalloniatis. It was decided to subsidise student members so that they will pay only $15:00. The following list of possible speakers was discussed: - Prof. John Prescott - Prof. Tony Thomas - Toss Gasgoine or Peter ? from FASTS - Margaret Folkard - Natasha Stott-Despoja - Someone suggested by Samardzic whose name I didn't catch. Bouwknegt suggested that as everyone is not present, he will get committee members to vote by email and approach speakers in order of preference. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: MEETINGS and PUBLICITY: Bouwknegt undertook to send an entry about the Chisholm public lecture to "Inside Adelaide", with it being understood that Campbell will send an item to the Adelaidean. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: EDUCATION: Samardzic said that they had not had a meeting, but at the next meeting they are to discuss initiatives in primary education. The intention is to make resources (such as those built up for the Space School) in areas such as Space and Astronomy, along with providing teacher training. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: SCIENCE POLICY COMMITTEE: Bouwknegt has taken over as convenor from Canney. There is nothing to report except the "Science Meets Parliament" event. Samardzic reported that at this she was supposed to meet with Meg Lees, but she was busy so she sent over the report with a representative. She also met Barry Wakeland (Liberal, Wakefield) who wanted to talk about mining, but unfortunately along with 2 guys from the mining industry. However it went well. Bouwknegt reported on the breakfast with Amanda Vandstone, where she had been defensive at first, but things had improved, especially on discussion of the 1-sq-km radiotelescope, which he had asked Robin Storer to follow up. Boukwnegt asked Samardzic to send in the requested thankyou note to the politicians. Canney asked about the national science policy meeting that was supposed to take place. Bouwknegt said that the relevant people were not there. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Samardzic referred to the proposal, approved last year, to transfer the money for the Claire Corani awards to the keeping of the national branch and to transfer administration of the award from WIP to the local state branch. Due to the change in national committee members, it is necessary to put the proposal forward again, so she sought approval of the committee to do this. The reasons for change are: - currently the money is in a passbook account and earns little interest, so it is proposed that it be held by the national branch and given interest at the average rate received for their deposits. - membership in the SA branch of WIP is declining, so it would be safer if it is administered by the state branch. She noted that there could be a problem if the national branch sends the prize money and then a prize is not awarded. French suggested that this be handled by the branch paying the prize and then getting reimbursement from the national fund. Bouwknegt suggested that the proposal be tabled (at the national branch) again and the transfer made. He asked about who is organising the WIP lecture tour for next year. Samardzic said that there were too few present at the last WIP meeting to decide. She noted that there were historical reasons that this had been done in SA recently, and it is possible that someone interstate could do it for next year. She confirmed that WIP would continue to organise the lecture tour. Bouwknegt confirmed that the lecture theatre is booked for the public lecture in October. He said that he will be away, but he is hoping to get Prof. Angus Hurst to introduce the speaker. He agreed that Campbell should put an advert in the Advertiser for the lecture, and put out a supper. He asked that Campbell send him the proposed advert for the Advertiser. Bouwknegt asked if those present were prepared to serve on next year's committee. French said that he would be on the committee, but (due to other committments) could not take on responsibilities. Noone else present declined. Campbell confirmed that he is willing to continue as secretary, but noted he is close to the 8-year limit for the job. He said that members need to be given a month's notice of the AGM and must be notified of the committee's recommendation for next year's committee by October 31st. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: This was set for the AGM, which is on Thursday November 22nd. L Campbell, 11-9-01 ACTION SUMMARY: BOUWKNEGT - To send an advert about the October public lecture to "Inside Adelaide". - To put in a funding request to National Science Week for a blank proposal for a public lecture. - To make a proposal to the national branch to use national reserves to fund student travel scholarships. - To inform Kalloniatis of the choices made by the committee about the AGM menu. - To conduct a vote by committee members on the choice of AGM speaker. - To contact the possible AGM speakers, in order of preference. - To arrange for someone (preferably Prof. Angus Hurst) to introduce the speaker at the October public lecture. CAMPBELL - To send details of the October public lecture to the Adelaidean. - To advertise the October public lecture in the Advertiser. - To send the proposed advert for the Advertiser to Bouwknegt. - To put out a supper after the public lecture. - To notify members of the AGM and of the committee's recommendation for next year's committee. CANNEY - To consider a change to the accounting, as recommended by French, to keep track of GST payments. FORD - To take part in selection of the Gold Bragg state nomination. FRENCH - To provide Canny with the forms requied to supply his signature to the bank. SAMARDZIC - To circulate details of the cost of the candidate video cameras. - To discuss primary-school initiatives at the next education subcommittee meeting. - To send "thankyou" notes to the politicians she met at "Science Meets Parliament". - To retable the proposed changes to the arrangements for the Claire Corani award with the national branch. VEITCH - To arrange the selection process for the state Gold Bragg medal nomination.