Welcome to the ASB Newsletter #15
Please consult our website (http://www.anatomy.su.oz.au/ASB/)
We are in the process of upgrading the ASB website and I would appreciate
your suggestions for improvements.

ITEM #1: Philip Kuchel elected to the Australian Academy of Science (AAS).

Philip came to The University of Sydney in 1980 from Newcastle Faculty of
Medicine where he was foundation Senior Lecturer in Medical Biochemistry
since early 1978. He was a President of ASB (1988-90) and is now Immediate
Past-President of ASBMB. He has been Chair of the Academy Biophysics
Committee and twice on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Committees.
Like Glenn King this year, and Greg Ralston before me, he was a Boehringer
Medallist of ASBMB (or the ABS as it was then) in 1983. He completed his
PhD was with Laurie Nichol and Peter Jeffrey in Physical Biochemistry at
the JCSMR 1972-1975. Philip was a Nuffield Dominions fellowship in
Biochemistry at Oxford and accepted but deferred a CJ Martin NH&MRC
Fellowship before being  appointed at Newcastle University

His recent work has involved using NMR to study molecular diffusion to
measure membrane transport, ligand-macromolecule association,
macromolecular association, and the 'new' diffusion-diffraction phenomenon
to measure cell dimensions etc.

His citation to the AAS read:

Philip Kuchel is one of Australia's leading theoretical and physical
biochemists, and is distinguished for his work on the application of NMR
spectroscopy to biological systems, particularly the human erythrocyte. He
has applied NMR spectroscopy to aspects of membrane transport, the physical
environment inside cells, and the modelling of metabolic pathways. His most
important discovery has been that of the 'split peak' phenomenon which was
used by him to obtain information on the kinetics of rapid transmembrane
exchange processes in whole cells as well as applying it extensively in
other studies.
 
 

ITEM #2: The National Committee of the AAS met on May 9 and discussed the
following agenda items.
(i) The production of a single A4 colour leaflet providing images and text
to promote the discipline of Biophysics to undergraduate and postgraduate
students. Many thanks to those members who have submitted graphics for this
project.
If other members have graphics to be considered for incorporation into this
document, please contact Dr. Tony Collings by email at: tonyc@dap.csiro.au
who is coordinating this project.

(ii) The Committee has made a proposal through the AAS that the ARC fund a
scheme to be known as RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES which would
allow science students to gain research experience in inter-state
institutions. The committee proposed that the scheme would be administered
through the National Committees of the AAS and would be equally funded by
the ARC and the host institutions and selection of research topics by
prospective applicants could be done via the AAS website. The scheme might
also be available to international students.

The committee would be pleased to hear the opinions of the ASB membership
on this initiative. Contact Cris dos Remedios at: crisdos@anatomy.su.oz.au

(iii) The incorporation of the ASB in Victoria. Incorporation of the ASB is
necessary to protect members of its executive from personal financial
liability. Brett Hambly (Treasurer) agreed to liaise with Cyril Curtain to
effect this change.

ITEM #3.  The April bulletin from FASTS is appended.

FASTS circular for April.

1. FASTS goes West!
The FASTS submission to the West Review of Higher Education has called on
Government and universities to work together to create an efficient,
competitive, well-equipped university sector.
The increase in the student numbers combined with a decrease in the funding
per effective full-time student has put enormous strains on university
budgets. Current realities are that not all 37 universities in Australia
can offer top-level scientific and technological facilities in education
and research in all disciplines.
Reorganisation of the higher education sector is required - and the
rearrangements will not be minor. FASTS investigated and considered the
consequences of three alternative courses of action in our submission: a.
closing some universities b. refocussing the universities within a regional
area to eliminate course duplications c. concentrating infrastructure
support on the highest-performing departments.
We also urged further support for infrastructure - libraries, labs,
buildings and equipment - to accompany the process of reorganisation; and
pointed out that it is almost impossible for university graduates to meet
industry expectations unless the university equipment they use matches
industry standards.
Many university laboratories no longer meet basic occupational health and
safety requirements, and are increasingly operating on outdated and failing
equipment.
I have to thank Dr Chris Easton for his sterling work in drawing the
submission together. A full copy is available on our web site.
2. The Budget The Budget is being handed down on Tuesday May 13. Peter
McGauran has again invited me to view the Budget from his office, and to
discuss SET matters with him. I am not expecting any dramatic news as far
as S&T is concerned, although there have been disturbing rumours about cuts
to the CRC program.
We will pay particular attention to the five matters raised in our
pre-Budget submission: a. the impending shortage of qualified mathematics
and science teachers. b. creating a national vision for Australia which
develops specific aims for S&T c. the restoration of the 150% tax
deductibility for industrial R&D. d. access to high-quality science
education and research at Australian universities. e. a whole-of-Government
approach to Australia's Ocean Territory
3. FASTS in science policy
Minister McGauran has continued to express appreciation for the role FASTS
plays in policy formulation. In a recent letter, he said he had instructed
his Departmental officers to seek our advice on international scientific
collaboration.
He has also invited me to discuss with Chief Scientist John Stocker
Victorian initiatives to set priorities for S&T, which were views I
initially raised with the Minister.
The role of FASTS in policy areas was the subject of a television interview
which Lesley Warner of UCQ recorded with me for the Open Learning Program.
It turned out to be a good discussion of FASTS' role in policy, and Member
Societies might find it useful to show to their meetings. Copies can be
borrowed from the FASTS' office.
4. The WISET Report WISET made recommendations about boosting the
participation of Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET). It
was completed in May 1995, and has since disappeared into a black hole. The
Labor Government failed to respond in its final months of office (although
the Report was commissioned by one of its Ministers).
The new Government has declined to make a formal response to what it sees
as a Labor initiative, so even though the Report has been dubbed "a
valuable analysis" it still lies dormant. We are urging the Government to
take a more active interest in its findings.
Australia suffers because the whole area of SET  "expresses a strong sense
of masculine ownership" (WISET p3), to the extent that only 6.9% of staff
in engineering and processing in higher education institutions are women.
5. Affiliate members A number of groups have been invited to become
non-voting Affiliate Members of FASTS, at the discretion of the Board. They
all have an interest in S&T policy and share the broad aims of FASTS but do
not fit the narrow definition of a professional or learned society as set
out in the FASTS' Constitution.
I believe that the support of these groups will bolster FASTS' capacity to
represent the broad interests of S&T groups to Government in Australia.
Government prefers to deal with large representative groups which cover the
broad sweep of interests of that sector, rather than smaller bodies with
strong sectional interests.
6. The Stocker Inquiry The submission and discussion rounds are almost
complete, and the final report is expected about June 22. I expect that
among other issues the inquiry will comment on the way in which priorities
are set in different portfolios dependant on a S&T information base, and on
the advisory processes within and to Government.
7. Senate inquiry into Commonwealth powers in environment The Senate has
initiated an inquiry into Commonwealth powers in environmental protection
and ecologically-sustainable development in Australia, to be chaired by SA
Democrat Senator Meg Lees.  An information pack on how to make a submission
and the terms of reference are available from Committee Secretary Robert
King on (06) 277 3525. The closing date for submissions is Friday June 20.
8. John Bell John Bell, former Deputy Secretary of DIST, has resigned to
take up a position as Managing Director of ANUTech at ANU in Canberra from
May 19. He has been one of FASTS' strongest allies and supporters, and his
resignation places added pressure on the Chief Scientist and his staff in
DIST.
9. The newImages Conference I participated in this Anglo-Australian
Conference in Sydney. It compared the roles of the Chief Scientists of the
two countries. In the UK the position is supported by 100 staff, but one
wonders whether a cost-benefit analysis would show the advisory function
there has been any more effective than in Australia.
Likely outcomes include additional exchanges for young scientists, and a
cooperative approach to science festivals of each country. But it is clear
that the UK has a definite role in the European Union and Australia a
growing role in Pacific Rim SET alliances.
10. Media President-elect Peter Cullen and I had lunch with the Editor and
Science Writer of the Canberra Times, to discuss increasing coverage of
SET. We were advised to maintain regular contact (not only when we need
them!), and make our stories locally relevant.
I still look to every regional newspaper in Australia having regular weekly
S&T sections, as the Canberra Times does. Toss Gascoigne is a valuable
mentor in this area.  FASTS' media coverage this month included: "Forum
tackles science career issues" (R&D News) "Tips for media-shy scientists"
(Australian) "Nation's scientists start lobbying to discover wider power
base" (Canberra Times) "Group to start sciences push" (West Australian)
"Bleak prospects for young scientists" (Search) "Suspicion of media remains
an issue" (New Scientist) "Geologists' PhD dearth" (Fin Review) "An end to
the shrink-wrapped career" (ANU Reporter) "'Raw deal' for young scientists"
(Search) "Call for national science body" (Australian)

A reminder that the excellent talks at the National Press Club by Ian Lowe
and Peter Doherty are available from Media Monitors. Video tapes $40, audio
tapes $26, transcripts $50. Ph (06) 239 5233, or fax (06) 239 5244. Both
speeches are also on the FASTS' web site (free!)

Joe Baker
7 May 1997
 

Cris dos Remedios
ASB President

Cris dos Remedios. D.Sc.
Institute for Biomedical Research
The University of Sydney, F13
Sydney 2006 Australia
Phone +61 2 93513209;  Fax +61 2 93512813