Australian Institute of Physics - SA branch. Minutes of the committee meeting held at 6pm on Thursday May 9th in the tea room of the Dept. of Physics and Mathematical Physics at the University of Adelaide. PRESENT: Bouwknegt, Kalloniatis, Hale, Canney, Veitch, Leinweber, Cockshell and Campbell. APOLOGIES: Samardzic, French. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING: There were some typographical errors which Bouwknegt has corrected in the version on the web page. Otherwise they were accepted. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES: Bouwknegt has asked Judith Pollard for a nomination for the Claire Corani prize, but Campbell has not received anything yet. Campbell said he was not sure whether the nomination should be given to Blankleider or Samardzic. CHAIR'S REPORT: Bouwknegt went over the report sent by email earlier in the day. He reported that the proposal for funding (at a national level) for National Science Week had been unsuccessful. There is still a possibility of state funding. The WIP lecture is still to be organised because the advert for nominations did not get into the "Physicist". He said that there is an understanding, but not a strict rule, that it should be an Australasian woman this year. There is a National Science Week meeting next week, where we might be able to get state-level funding. He cannot go next week, so wondered if someone else can. John O'Connor is to visit on August 8th., so a committee meeting should be held on that day. John is willing to talk to heads of departments. He is here for only half a day, but he should also talk to students and DSTO. Leinweber suggested that the talk to students could be organised through SPACED. Bouwknegt suggested Canney and Samardzic should think about DSTO issues, including the small proportion of AIP members to Physicists. Bouwknegt reported that the national treasurer is behind in her duties, so the SA budget has not been handled, although it was the second to be submitted. TABLED DOCUMENTS: - The invitation to the National Science Week meeting next Tuesday. - A request from the director of the National Youth Science forum seeking support for year-12 Unley-High student Richard Meyer to go on a study tour in Russia, connected to Space activities. Campbell reported that the branch had contributed in a similar situation a few years ago and that the student had in return given a 10-minute talk at the Student night. Veitch called for priority to be given to AIP students. Bouwknegt verified that Physics was not stated in the application as of particular interest to the student. Campbell suggested that the new rule that travel scholarships be given only to AIP members should apply. There was consensus that a contribution should not be made. - A registration brochure of the AIP2002 Congress. (Campbell and Veitch are to attend the Congress.) - A membership brochure of the Australian Mathematical Society. Bouwknegt suggested it as an example of what the AIP should have. - A booklet of ASTA (the Australian Science Teachers' Association). - The Flinders nomination for the Claire Corani prize. As neither Samardzic or Blankleider were present, Campbell held on to this. TREASURER'S REPORT: Canney reported that there had been no income or expenditure and so there was no report. He had not received answers from the national treasurer. Bouwknegt suggested that the questions had not yet been addressed, but confirmed that they had been received. Kalloniatis reported that Matthew Bailes had travelled with Ansett (for the talk last September) and there were no receipts. He said he has asked Carmel to get the relevant invoices from the archives at Thebarton. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: SCIENCE POLICY COMMITTEE: Bouwknegt referred to the draft policy document that he has made available on the web page, asking for comments, particularly on a proposal to seek particular expertise from high-school science teachers. He asked Cockshell to look at this. Leinweber described the recommendations for University research as weak, as there were no plans for the revitalisation of Physics staff. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: MEETINGS Kalloniatis handed out a report (Appendix I) and worked through it. As Bouwknegt is away next week and Veitch is unavailable on Tuesdays, Kalloniatis said he would chair the meeting on Tuesday. He noted that there was some doubt if the Bragg medal would be ready on time. After Kalloniatis explained the situation with the astronaut lecture, the original proposal to give $750 was reviewed. It was accepted that the AIP should put $1000 towards the event, in return for being cited as a joint sponsor and free entry to the reception for AIP members who produce their membership card. (The reception will be a "grand affair", to which the chancellor has invited the Premier.) Kalloniatis undertook to check if a technician would be available for the talk, but this was before Leinweber suggested that organisation of the event should be done by WISER. It was decided that the Student Night should be held in September and Campbell undertook to get preparations for this underway. Kalloniatis is to check if the Hollenberg lecture can be held in October. Kalloniatis reported that the Biology society has agreed to a joint meeting and is prepared to go along with our choice of speaker. He has spoken about this with John Findlay-Jones, who is concerned as to whether the synchrotron is still topical. On the question of whether we should have a structural chemist as a speaker, Leinweber suggested it is OK for a members' lecture but not a public lecture - in fact the members have requested interaction with people in other fields. Hale noted that the proposed speaker Andrea Gerson is to leave for Canada shortly, and suggested that the talk should be in June. This was supported by Bouwknegt. Kalloniatis undertook to contact Steve Cook of the Astronomical Society of South Australia tomorrow concerning a joint meeting. Hale reported that she had spoken to the Careers office at Flinders, which had organised a "Women in Science Careers" night. It was structured around a panel (including Samardzic) and had been effective. She noted that the Victorian AIP branch is to run a meeting with a similar theme and structure. She suggested we invite employers (who would do it to promote their own business) and employed people. Having a panel allows several people to be invited. Hale did not have particular suggestions. Kalloniatis suggested that Samardzic be invited to talk. Hale suggested approaching Laserex, Coherent Scientific and SOLA. She suggested inviting 5-7 people, and confirmed to Bouwknegt that it would be for both undergraduate and postgraduate students and could be advertised to schools. Veitch suggested this be done at the Quiz. Canney suggested that there should be a range of people. Hale said the intention is to get recent graduates who would appeal to the audience. Someone said "no geeks". SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: EDUCATION: Cockshell reported that the Space School is scheduled for 17th-19th July. She has been trying to contact people at Flinders University for this, but has had no response. The Adelaide contact is Veitch. He asked if a speaker was required. Cockshell said not, but it could be possible. It is possible that an astronaut may be available, but this has been made less likely due to delays in the opening of the Investigator Space exhibition. (Kalloniatis suggested that Abraham Chian and Samardzic should communicate about the Space School.) Cockshell said that the Quiz is highly likely in National Science week and could be combined with a "careers" event. Veitch reported that in the Physics SAC there were some possible professional development issues. It is not clear what is viable yet. ANY OTHER BUSINESS? No. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING: This was set for Thursday July 4th., but in Bouwknegt's absence Veitch may call a meeting earlier if there is anything urgent. Laurence Campbell, 9-5-02 Appendix I - Kalloniatis' written report: 1. Absence from 6 July-4 Sept. ----------------------------------------- For work related reasons. I didn't confirm earlier as it only became clear in the last month. I am endeavouring to arrange the big events to fall when I am about, and other events that can have a momentum of their own to fall in the period I am away, or I will delegate at the appropriate time. 2. Michael Nielsen Public Lecture ----------------------------------------- All prepared. See you next Tuesday! Status of Bronze Medal, though? 3. Clarification on Astronaut lecture --------------------------------------------------------------- I feel I have misled people on the precise nature of this lecture, and our role in it. When I approach Abraham Chian (WISER) I asked if he had a participant in his workshop who could also give us a public lecture. Within that context he mentioned the astronaut, and that WISER and NITP were anyway planning on him giving a public lecture etc... I naturally assumed that the astronaut was first and foremost a workshop participant. It turns out the the workshop is quite incidental as far as they are concerned: he was being brought out PRINCIPALLY to give a public lecture, and thereby to promote WISER and NITP to the university and outside community. I feel I have therefore misrepresented the precise role of the AIP in this. We cannot look at this anymore as `` WISER lending us a speaker''. Rather, we are (if we continue with this) supporters in this, but really the original aim was to promote WISER and NITP, and Tony Thomas is fairly clear cut about this. I apologise deeply is I have misled in anyway here. Also, for reasons beyond our control (the social program of the WISER Workshop), the date of the event has been shifted to WED. 24th JULY. We have selected in the end, the Scott Theatre. Finally, I also need to make it clear that NASA is very tight with its astronauts. Franklin is presently about to launch on a mission and thus until he returns to earth, in the best of worlds, but possibly even later, we will not receive any confirmation that he's actually coming. So, it is all rather tentative still. 4. Digeridoo lecture ---------------------------------------------------------------- Lloyd Hollenberg got a good writeup on his work on this area in the HES of the Australian recently (see attached). The main impediment to closing funding deals is that there isn't an indigenous participant in this. But we said last time that we could fund a bit extra if needed to get this running. Dates is a difficult question. I would rather it be after my return from OS. Lloyd is holding the presentation anyway for National Science Week in Melbourne (Sept.) and has a heavy teaching load for second semester. Thus, what does an end of November date say, ie immediately after examinations? Samantha will be applying for some support from the alumni association. The other question is: for non-members, what sort of admission price should we have? Is $10, with $5 concession, too low? 5. Other events --------------------------------------------------------------------- *AIPBio: still unclear. I am thinking a September date for this, after my return from OS. Andrea Gerson is not a physicist, and will most likely be away. Other subjects: Nanotechnology? The problem is not subjects, but suggestions for speakers. Do they have to be physicists. Is ``status of the synchrotron'' still topical? Does it matter if a structural chemist addresses this? She would fall neatly between physics and biology... *ASSA: David Malin? I fear, at risk of clogging up the end of the year, this, and the following event, will have to occur in my absence. There is still an outstanding invoice from Matthew Bailes, who alas travelled with ANSETT! I have asked Carmel to get admin to dig it out of their archives. * Student night -- can this be set in train? Can Laurence steer this one through? * Careers Night. Can Penny work on this? 6. Other suggestions.