Australian Institute of Physics, SA branch.

Minutes of the committee meeting on Thursday 11th April 2002, held in
the tea room of the Dept. of Physics and Mathematical Physics at the
University of Adelaide.

Present: Hale, Kalloniatis, Carter, Canney, Bouwknegt, Leinweber and Campbell.

Apologies: Cockshell, Ford, French, Blankleider, Samardzic, Veitch.

Minutes of the last meeting: Bouwknegt moved that these be accepted.

Business arising from the minutes: Bouwknegt undertook to ask Judith
   Pollard about a nomination from Adelaide Uni.  for the Claire
   Corani prize.

CHAIR'S REPORT: Bouwknegt reported that: 
  - he was to submit a budget last week, but the national branch was not
    ready. They will transfer some money if required.
  - The SA treasurer's books are definetely lost and this needs to
    be reported to the national treasurer. We have a record of
    cheques and statements - it is receipts that are missing.
 
  - He has signed up 28 3rd-year students for free AIP membership and
    will ask John Pattison about UniSA doing this. Campbell is to chase
    up what has happened at Flinders.
  - John O'Connor has proposed dates in June or August for a visit.
  - On travel support for students, we need guidlines for
    budgeting. These should be national. John O'Connor has proposed
    $100. We will budget for 3 at $250. John also stipulated
    AIP-sponsored conferences, but this is not be our rule.  Leinweber
    proposed keeping the number at 6, as there should be more than 3
    applications. Campbell suggested a minimum membership
    required. There was agreement for this and it was decided that the
    student should be a financial member for 12 months prior to
    receiving a scholarship.)  A member's request about Physics
    Olympiad training was discussed. Leinweber noted that the AIP had
    done this about 4 years ago but that others had done it since.
    There was concensus that we don't have the time or money to do
    it. Bouwknegt is to follow the issue up in a meeting next week.

REPORT ON THE AIP CONGRESS:
       Bouwknegt reported that there are 350 abstracts, with an expectation
of 500 delegates. This doesn't match up to the Adelaide profile of
1000 abstracts and 650 delegates. If there are less than 400 delegates
there would be a loss of $8000. There is a defecit of $130000, of
which $30000 is funded, leaving a potential loss of $100000. It is
underwritten by the AIP, the Inst. of Engineers, Photonics Australia
and the Australian Optical Society. Registration is still not open,
but the booklet has been sent to the printer.

TREASURER'S REPORT: 

  Canney reported that he had emailed financial statements to Cathy
Foley and asked if there is enough detail, but had received no
reply. He tabled an expenditure report and bank reconciliation, with
the balance at $4000. There will be no input this year until the
budget is approved. He said that the TAFE bill had been sent to
Bouwknegt.  
  Bouwknegt said he had got the correspondence on this and
talked to French. We had eventually paid for dinner for 40 and drinks
for 32. TAFE wouldn't reduce the numbers as the food was prepared. The
necessary correspondence has been lost with the books, so the letter
showing agreement is lost. There was agreement to let the issue drop.
  Bouwknegt referred to the draft budget he had distributed, with
numbers from Kalloniatis and Samardzic. He noted that the "meetings"
budget was reasonable, and that there is $1000 for student travel and
$400 for awards. (Campbell explained the reason for the drop in
newsletter costs.) The education budget is for the Quiz Night, a new
initiative for secondary students and teacher training.  
  Bouwknegt said the total is now $9300, with the proposed video
camera to be treated separately. He expressed concern about spending
thousands for a single event, and asked about the total for the
Hollenberg talk. Kalloniatis listed the costs and suggested that it
would be less than $1000 for the AIP, as co-sponsors are to put in
money for the cultural content of the talk. The cost of airfares for
associated artists is still not covered, and Kalloniatis is seeking to
find alternative arrangements or funding for this.  
  Bouwknegt said that he will send off the budget, as it is approved
by those present. Leinweber raised the issue of wine and there was
agreement that the AIp should put out 1 bottle each of red and white
wine at suppers after meetings. Bouwknegt noted that the budget is
flexible and that people can ask for more.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: AWARDS:

   Bouwknegt, on behalf of Blankleider, reviewed the request from the Aust.
College of Physical Science and Engineering to partially support an Oliphant
medal through the AIP. The proposal was accepted.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: MEETINGS:

   Kalloniatis expressed disappointment that no events had been
possible until May. He supported members' meetings but none are
available. He reported that he is still discussing a talk on the
synchrotron with the Australian Institute for Biology. Andrea Gerson of
the UniSA could advise on or be the speaker.  
  Kalloniatis reported on a proposed joint public lecture with WISER
(at the CSSM and headed by Abraham Chian) by an astronaut
(Prof. Franklin Chan-Diaz) on plasma propulsion. The AIP would need to
cover the venue, advertising and support a reception. The proposed
venue is Bonython Hall, Elder Hall or Scott Theatre. For the latter,
the cost is $635, or $230 if the AIP is treated as an on-campus group,
and a trolley of equipment must be obtained from ITS. (Campbell
queried if this includes a technician.)
  Kalloniatis described the reception, to which WISER wants to invite
100 guests.  There was much discussion of the costs and alternative
proposals. Bouwknegt resolved that we could pay for AIP members and
invited guests, but not conference participants, and set a limit of
$750.  
  Kalloniatis described the proposed talk by Lloyd Hollenberg on
the digeridoo.  It is a grand affair in which Hollenberg describes the
Physics, with performances by a digeridoo player and a harmonic
singer. There will be a talk by a local indigenous leader. The
entrance fee in Melbourne was $20. Costs will be shared with cultural
sources, so we need only cover it as a Physics. Kalloniatis said
Carter had given tremendous help with the other funding.  
  Carter reported that the accomodation will be covered by DDF and
honourariums for the performers by SPACED and ANTAR. (Hollenberg has
waived on an honourarium.)  However, she still needs to find funcing
for 2 airfares at $490 each for the performers. She tabled a proposal
for selling cardboard tubes at the door for a demonstration during the
talk.
  There was some discussion of alternatives. Bouwknegt suggested getting
a venue from the School of Music and Carter said that she still had
some possible sources to contact. Bouwknegt asked Carter to explore
further possibilities, then an executive decision will be made.  
  It was decided that Michael Nielsen should be approached to give a
public lecture in the near future, at which the Bragg awards can be
given. Kalloniatis is to draft a letter to Michael Nielsen, asking for
a talk in mid-May. He asked about the Women-in-Physics
lecture. Bouwknegt said that it is to be in National Science Week.
  Hale asked Campbell why a new member had received no AIP
notices. Campbell explained that no notices had been sent this year as
there had been no events.  Bouwknegt noted that the Science Policy
committee had not met.  
  Carter raised the idea of a Careers Night, giving an example of such
held by the AIAA. Bouwknegt confirmed that everyone agreed that there
should be a Careers Night and asked the "meetings" subcommittee to
discuss it.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
   Bouwknegt reported that Dr Michael Ford is leaving and thanked him for his
work on the committee.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
   This was set for Thursday 9th May 2002.

                                                         L Campbell, 8/5/02