Australian Institute of Physics, SA branch.

Minutes of the committee meeting held at 6pm on Thursday June 12th 2003 in the 
tearoom of the Physics building at the University of Adelaide.

Present: Veitch,  Cockshell, Campbell, Canney, and Blankleider.
        
Apologies: Bouwknegt, Kalloniatis, Samardzic, and Carter.

It was not known whether 5 members was enough for a quorum, so the meeting
could not make decisions.

Minutes of the last meeting:
  Corrections:  
  - "Russ Baudinette" was spelt incorrectly.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:
   It was made clear that the dinner at Regatta's mentioned by Carter at the
last meeting is an event to be organised by Carter and is not an AIP or SPACED
event.

CHAIR'S REPORT:
   Veitch said he had nothing to report, except for items to be raised under
"Meetings" later.

TREASURERS REPORT:
   Canney distributed the current status up to yesterday and a bank statement 
to the end of May. He raised the question of the income request for this year. 
(Veitch said it has not been submitted yet.) He asked for Kalloniatis to chase 
up receipts for honoraria paid to Shores and Frenkel. Canney requested 
that "extra" expenses for meetings should be approved beforehand at a 
committee meeting. (Veitch confirmed that this was a reasonable request.) 
Canney confirmed that he has sent an invoice for ...? (Veitch is to ask Carter 
about the student association invoice for the lecture.) He noted that $1600 
has been paid out without any income. He reported that the books for last year 
have been sent to an auditor suggested by Cathy, but he has not had a 
response. (Veitch deemed the 2003 budget to be a top priority, but
said he had been too busy to do it because he had been taking part of 
the "meetings" load off Kalloniatis.) Canney noted the need to avoid any 
request that "doubled up" on items already funded. 

TABLED DOCUMENTS:
   Campbell tabled letters from Flinders University nominating students for the
Claire Corani award and the Silver Bragg medal, and handed them on to 
Blankleider. He tabled a letter (which he had received some time ago ) from 
member Dean Dowling which suggested two speakers: Susan Gunner on "Physics and 
economics" and Prof David Pegg on "Mach's Principle and the Reality of the 
Fictitious Inertial Forces". Campbell noted that the first request had been 
partially met by the lecture by Prof. Speth (confirming that Dean Dowling was 
present at this) and that Susan didn't wish to give the lecture requested. 
Campbell suggested he would file the request, pending any reports on Prof. 
David Pegg as a speaker. 
   Campbell tabled a CDROM containing most of the branch's electronic records 
up to June 9th 2003. He suggested that for security it should be kept by the 
Chair. Veitch agreed to take it.
   Veitch tabled an email from RACI (the Royal Australian Chemical Institute) 
from Ken Pidgeon, suggesting a joint meeting in October. Blankleider supported 
such a joint meeting, drawing on his experience in the joint teaching of 
Nanotechnology by Chemistry and Physics departments, where very different 
styles are used for the same thing. Campbell noted that, at the last general 
meeting, the few members present had requested interdisciplinary talks.
    Veitch noted the resignation by Hale and expressed the committee's thanks 
for her short but stellar contribution. He added that she had suggested some 
potential cooptees to replace her, to be discussed under "Any Other Business".

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: MEETINGS:
   As Kalloniatis was not here, Veitch has been working on the "Meetings". For 
the joint lecture with the AIB, Veitch reported that Kalloniatis has contacted 
Robert Hill. The AIB is keen and has suggested a talk on dating things of 
interest to biology, suggesting Tim Flannery and Bert Roberts (a 
geomorphologist from the Uni. of Wollongong). Veitch had consulted Prof. 
Prescott, who thought either speaker could give a talk with sufficient Physics 
content individually. Robert Hill had suggested a panel, in which case Prof. 
Prescott had volunteered to take part as a Physicist. Veitch sought comments 
on these options. Canney preferred a single speaker. Campbell suggested that 
any of the options would be good. Blankleider suggested that speakers
need to be make aware of the requirement for Physics content. Veitch confirmed 
that Prof. Prescott thought that both speakers could talk about the physics of 
the dating processes. Veitch said he would get back to Robert Hill with 
a "yes" for sometime in July.
   For the AIP/ASSA joint meeting, Veitch confirmed that Melanie Johnston-
Hollitt has agreed to talk on the square-kilometre array on Wednesday 6th 
August. Melanie has promised to send an abstract soon. The talk will be in the 
Kerr Grant, which is a suitable size for the members of the AIP and the ASSA. 
Veitch added that the CSIRO travelling exhibition will be put in the room at 
the (western) end of the corridor, with nibbles. He noted that Union Hall was 
not available on the date, but that the Kerr Grant is better for proximity to 
the exhibition. He noted that we can have the CSIRO exhibition for free. 
Campbell noted that the meetings with the ASSA start at 8pm and Veitch 
confirmed that this time is acceptable.
   Veitch reported that the the talk by astronaut Chiang-Diaz has been 
confirmed for 20th. August. Campbell suggested that this should be the 21st if 
it is on a Thursday. Veitch undertook to check the date and said that he is 
currently trying to book Union Hall for this. He reported that Prof. Tony 
Thomas says the astronaut is a fantastic speaker. We will only have to pay for 
accomodation, and not an airfare. Veitch undertook to ask for both sponsorship 
and publicity for this from National Science Week, and also for publicity for 
the WIP lecture. However, Cockshell thought that it is too late for either of 
these. It was suggested that they should be put on the Nat. Science week 
website.
   Veitch reported progress on the WIP lecture, to be on the 10th. or 11th. of 
September. He has received two abstracts, one for the public lecture (entitled
"Catch, move and twist using optical tweezers") and another for a technical
symposium. The one for the public lecture needs modification and Veitch is to 
contact Helena about it. He noted that many airfares are involved and that 
there is an issue with funding for this.
   Cockshell reported that an astronaut, Pamela Melrays, will be here for the 
Space School (July 17th.-19th.) and that she can give a public lecture if the 
AIP can provide about $1000 in sponsorship. Veitch suggested that, given the 
clash with the AIB meeting and the similarity to the talk by Chiang-Diaz, we 
should forego a talk by Pamela.
   Cockshell reported that the Quiz will be held on Friday 22nd August. Veitch 
handed her some things from Hale for the education committee.
   Veitch raised the timing of the student night, with the 2nd or 3rd week in 
October as the preferred time. It was realised that we need to know when the 
breaks are held at all the universities before a definite date can be chosen.
   This led to discussion as to whether the date (Sept. 19th.) for the Careers 
night was suitable. Veitch noted that it is OK for Adelaide students, as it is 
the last day of the term at Adelaide Uni.
   In response to a question by Veitch, Cockshell confirmed that the Quiz is 
organised, except that someone else will need to get the prizes in place of 
Hale. She thought that things are going well for organisation of the Careers 
Night.
   Veitch asked if the AGM is held in late November. Campbell confirmed that it
is usually in the interval 24-27th November. Veitch suggested that there be a 
break with no meetings between the student night and the AGM, and that we must 
wait for input from other committee members before setting the date. Veitch 
undertook to email the committee about the AGM date and suggestions for 
speakers. There was consensus that the Chapel restaurant had been an 
acceptable venue, but Veitch is to seek an opinion from Judith Pollard.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: EDUCATION
   Cockshell confirmed that everything had been covered under "meetings".

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: SCIENCE POLICY 
   Nothing has been done.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
   Veitch raised committee nominations, noting that Hale had suggested Sam 
Drake and Ceridwen Livingstone. Campbell said he didn't know if Sam Drake was 
a member and that Ceridwen is definately not. Veitch noted that Kalloniatis 
wants to step down as "Meetings" convenor after the lecture by Chiang-Diaz. 
Veitch said he would email the committee about the 2 new people suggested, 
given that we may be inquorate. Blankleider suggested that a new academic 
(Jamie Quentin) at Flinders  be approached about the AIP, and Campbell 
undertook to do this. Blankleider reported  that Jamie did a PhD in Physics 
before working in Chemistry. Veitch noted that he would be good for a joint 
talk.
   Veitch said that he had received the video of the talk by Prof. Prescott. 
The sound is even (thanks to Prof. using a microphone). The Powerpoint slides 
are OK, but a bit dark. It it worth distributing, but he will show it to Prof. 
Prescott first. Veitch said that it is not clear whether the videos are viable 
if this is as good as it gets. (There is one more to come, of the didjeridoo 
lecture.) The screen is sometimes out of focus, which should not occur.
   Veitch noted that he had received lots of positive comments about the 
didjeridoo lecture and the harmonic singing.
   There was consensus that people were happy with the supper platters and we
will make it the default for suppers. Campbell noted that it worked better 
last time, as the caterers decided to precut the cheese.
   Campbell is to determine the supper arrangements for the joint meeting by
consultation with Steve Cook at the next ASSA meeting.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: This was set for 14th August 2003.

                                                   Laurence Campbell, 16-6-03