CEO's Update
Reflecting on the vast continent that we strive to understand. Image: Dr Sam Rayapaty, Australian National University
Happy Christmas AuScope and friends! I hope you all have a chance to relax and recharge over the summer break. I’m pleased to share some closing thoughts with you on 2019 as we wind down.
First up, check out our 2018 — 2019 Highlights video if you have not seen it yet.
Next, as you know, we have also been synthesising ideas on future investments that have been produced by our national geoscience community since late 2018. As a result, we have generated a Draft 10-Year Strategic Plan and Draft 5-Year Investment Plan that we will distribute to working groups shortly, and then the wider geoscience community at the beginning of February 2020. We will then request all feedback by Friday 28 February 2020. If you would like to be notified about the draft plans and are not already on our mailing list, please sign up.
If you would like to be notified about the draft plans and are not already on our mailing list, please sign up.
Now to our amazing community.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Peter Woodgate who completed his final term as an AuScope Board member at the AGM in November. Peter has been a member of the AuScope Board for seven years and has provide incredibly valuable leadership and guidance over that time. We wish Peter well in his new role as Chair of the SmartSat CRC. May your future be full of spaceships and satellites, Peter!
As always, our research community continue to do outstanding research and be recognised for doing so. In particular, I would like to congratulate Professor Dietmar Muller for being awarded the 2019 Clarke Medal from the Royal Society of NSW and Dr Sabin Zahirovic who was named a Sydney University Robinson Fellow.
Finally, reflecting on a whirlwind 2019 ‘conference season’.
This year, Jo Condon and I were fortunate to be able to attend Science Meets Parliament, an annual event organised by Science and Technology Australia (STA) that provides scientists with an opportunity to meet with politicians of all political persuasions and discuss science with them. Whilst we as a community often feel that we are not being heard and that science is no longer valued interacting with people like Richard Marles, Adam Bandt, Katie Allen, Graham Perrett, Perin Davey and Karen Andrews (amongst many others) who are committed to science and developing evidence based policy, gave us cause for some optimism.
Scientists from all walks, including esteemed surgeon, Fiona Wood (centre) learn how to pitch science to politicians at Science meets Parliament 2019. Image: Bradley Cummings
To close, visiting AGU in San Francisco last week along with a huge contingent of Australian and AuScope related researchers was, as always, an exhausting but amazing event. It is clear that our research community continues to undertake novel science and punch above our weight internationally. Many very interesting connections were made and hopefully the next few years will lead to formalisation of several collaborations between AuScope and a number of similar organisations in the US, Europe and elsewhere.
All in all, 2019 marks a momentous end to the decade. I am really proud of the way our geoscience community has come together in the last few years, it feels more collegiate than ever. I look forward to realising the next steps that we need to take to tackle our decadal challenges in 2020.
Have a safe and happy holiday period. We look forward to connecting again in the new year.
Warm regards,
Tim Rawling
IDEAS?
If you would like to discuss opportunities for collaboration with AuScope, please get in touch with Tim Rawling.