Australian Institute of Physics, SA branch.

Minutes of the committee meeting held at 6pm on Wednesday 
March 31st 2004 in room 113, Oliphant building, University
of Adelaide

Present:   Jamie Quniton, Michael Brunger, Laurence Campbell,
           Peter Veitch, Olivia Samardzic, Boris Blankleider,
           Wade Shiell, and Sam Drake.
Apologies: Peter Bouwknegt and Susan Cockshell.

Minutes of the last meeting:
  Veitch noted that the national secretariat is an organisation
that includes mechanical engineers, but "Mechanical Engineers" 
is not included in the name. Nobody could remember what
"VC" might have been. The minutes were then accepted.
(moved: Brunger, seconded: Samardzic).

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:
   Veitch said he has emailed the Hon. Sec. about contacting Michael
Bromley and about the process of the award, but has had no response. 
Veitch has proposed a tour for which the AIP should pay. He contacted
Samantha Carter but she is busy and doesn't have time to be
coopted on the committee.

TABLED DOCUMENTS:
   Veitch tabled:
   - a letter from SASTA about the Oliphant Science awards,
   - an application for a travel grant from David Ridout,
   - the unconfirmed minutes of the council meeting (for which
      members who want a copy should email Veitch), and
   - the budget (which everyone should have seen)
   Samardzic tabled a letter about the Claire Corani prize for the
   UniSA (being a letter to Campbell). She identified the known
   awardees as Claire Mason from Flinders and Rosenberg from the
   UNISA.

CHAIR'S REPORT:
   Veitch noted that Samantha Carter and Michael Bromley had 
been discussed earlier. Quinton asked if Michael Bromley could
speak in National Science week. Veitch replied that we have
already asked for the WIP lecture to be in National Science
Week, and that Bromley's talk will depend on when he is available.
   Veitch reported being approached by SPACED for support for
an event this Friday, for which he has offered up to $200.
The Union will provide an invoice, hence we will be able to
claim the GST. (Shiell reported spending of $150 on alcohol
and $150 on food.) A liquor licence is still needed. They have
catered for 50 and want students to attend. (Shiell said that
he is asking lots of people.) Veitch said he would bring 
Physics staff from another function.
    Samardzic asked about the Physics club at Flinders. This
led to a discussion of nanotechnology.

TREASURER'S REPORT:
   Quinton reported that there was been no change in the bank
account since the last meeting, with the balance at over $10000.
He said that he has to set up a new balance sheet for national
requirements, but that the drama is in the transfer.

SPONSORSHIP OF OLIPHANT AWARDS:
   Veitch reported that the awards have changed considerably,
tending to more considerable prizes of $500 and up, with the
return being to have company logos on display. There will no
longer be an AIP Physics award, so it is questionable if this
is a good vehicle. Veitch is to ring up and ask whether
a directed prize is allowed.

SUBCOMMITTEES: SCIENCE POLICY:
   Nothing to report.

SUBCOMMITTEES: EDUCATION:
    Samardzic said that members have not found a suitable
common time to have a meeting. She gave notice of a meeting for
National Science Week on 16th April, noting that she usually
attends these. SA National Science Week will be 8th-22nd August,
with the national week being 14th-22nd August. (Veitch noted
that he wants the WIP lecture in that week.) Samardzic said the
launch for NSweek would be on Mon 9th August and that she is 
seeking money for prizes and also another event. She asked for
suggestions.

SUBCOMMITTEES: MEETINGS:
   Veitch acknowledged Drake as convenor, noting that he is also
on the subcommittee. He reported that the RACI prefers 21st. June
for the joint meeting, with their schedule:
  6-7 pm:    business meeting
  7-7:45 pm: dinner
  8:00 pm:   talk by Jamie Quinton
Brunger reported that the chemists are keen for us to join them
at dinner and is to ask about their level of subsidy. Veitch 
suggested that we adopt the chemists' format and finalise this 
event by email.
   Veitch summarised other events:
   - Joint meeting with the ASSA: Pres. John Hisco has suggested 
     it be in September. (It will be the first Wednesday in whatever
     month is selected.)
   - In August in National Science week, hopefully the WIP lecture
     plus the Quiz.
   - Careers night?
   - Student night? (This is when postgraduates from each University
     give a talk about their research work.)
   - Joint meeting with the AIB. We need to think of an interesting 
     biology talk eg Mungo Man plus other fossils from Victoria
     and migration of people from Java, preferably with more Physics.
   - The AGM will be in November.
   Veitch said that we need to identify a couple of other speakers, 
noting that money is available for accomodation and airfares. He
declared an "action for everyone" to think of speakers,including 
visitors, and to email details to Drake. Samardzic suggested the 
Space University (May-June) as a source and undertook to email 
details of the web site for this.
   Veitch reported that this is the 50th. anniversary of the first
PhDs awarded at Adelaide, floating the possibility of a talk by
Bob Crompton (who is the surviving Physics PhD).
   It was decided to hold the Student night in late April, and that
Campbell should send a letter to departments about this immediately.
Veitch is to book the Kerr Grant.
   Blankleider suggested Joe Wolfe from the UNSW dept. of acoustics
as a possible speaker. Quinton thinks that he is a good speaker and
undergook to contact him about a talk in May or July, including a 
query as to whether it should be a public or members' lecture.
   Samardzic asked about members' lectures. Veitch said to do 
whatever is appropriate for each speaker. Samardzic suggested that
a "Space University" talk would probably be a public lecture.
   Quinton asked about the priority for the student night, noting
that only colleagues turned up in NSW. Veitch suggested putting on
pizza and beer.
   Veitch reminded that the distinguished service award to John
Prescott is to be presented sometime. Campbell suggested moving the
Student Night to the first week in May (due to student holidays in
April) and this was agreed to. Campbell suggested presenting
the Bronze Bragg awards at this, but the consensus was that the
talks are not suitable. Veitch suggested that the joint
meeting with the AIB may be suitable for this. Quinton suggested
maybe Joe Wolfe could be the speaker. Veitch suggested to
organise the talk and than ask the biologists.

In later discussion:
   Veitch asked Drake to make up a list of meetings. Shiell said
that there are no student events other than the barbeque, but he
is waiting for the AGM next week. Quinton undertook to provide
a contact for nanotech at Flinders. Thursday May 6th was chosen
for the Student Night.

SUBCOMMITTEES: AWARDS:
   Veitch asked Blankleider to arrange the silver and bronze awards.
In response to a question about timing for the gold bragg nomination,
Campbell explained that last year the national branch had contacted
heads of departments by email, without notifying AIP branches. He
was hopeful that this year's committee might be more organised.
    Blankleider said that he has the information for the bronze awards.
He noted that he has had a serious problem because SABSA told the
students that they would receive and awards and he has been
innundated with requests about it. Veitch and Brunger are to 
ask Cliff Rothenberg to ask SABSA not to tell the students in the
future.

NOMINATION FOR WIP:
   Someone suggested the 3 female federation lecturers, such as
Helen Quinn (who will speak at the Congress). Veitch asked if there
is a SA nomination.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
   David Ridout's application for a postgraduate student travel 
scholarship was approved subject to the submission of an abstract 
and a letter of support from the supervisor (which has been 
requested by Veitch). Drake suggested that the amount was small, 
but Brunger said that there are other sources available and so 
it adds up.
   Quinton suggested having committee meetings at Bragg's house, but
Campbell noted that we would have to pay for it. Veitch said he
has received a letter from the minister about the Bragg residence
and that he will reply and mention the World Year of Physics.
Veitch expressed satisfaction with the venue at last year's AGM.
Quniton suggested we should get free access in return for support.
Brunger noted that groups can get free meeting facilities at
hotels if it provides custom afterwards. Veitch asked for a
comparison of the meeting facilities at the Directors' hotel 
compared to the Public Schools Club. 

NEXT MEETING:  To be held at 6pm on Wednesday May 12th in a 
               room (yet to be determined) in the Physics Building
               at the University of Adelaide.

The meeting finished about 7:10pm.

                                 Laurence Campbell   11-4-04