Welcome to Newsletter No. 18. Visit the ASB site
(http://www.anatomy.su.oz.au/ASB/)

DEADLINE FOR THE ASB CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS IS AUGUST 18

Items in this bulletin are:

(1) Amendments to the ASB constitution - from Tony Collings

(2) Thank you Cyril Curtain for representing ASB in Canberra ON AUG 8

(3) A proposal for National Summer Scholarships for sciences honours students

(4) Information from FASTS

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(1) Amendments to the ASB constitution - from Tony Collings

As foreshadowed at the 1996 Annual General Meeting in Hobart, notice of motion is given for the following changes to the
constitution. The propoed amentdments become effective with the support of a two-thirds majority of the Members resent
and voting at the Annul General Meeting.

5.3: State Representative shall hold office for one year and shall be eligible for re-election on an annual basis (Currently
positions can be held for a maximum of 2 years only).

6.1 Subject to this clause 6, all office bearers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall assume office
immediately following the election and retain it until the next Annual General Meeting. (The constitution specifies that a
postal election will be held in May ir June with the terms of office running from July 1 to June 30).

6.4 Nomination for all positions shall be with the explciit consent of the nominee. (There is nothing in the present
Constitution requiring a nominee to, or even know about, the nominastion.
 

Nominations are called for the positions of Secretary, Treasurer and State Representative of the Society. These should
be forwarded to the Secretary and be accompanied by the signatures if the nominator, a seconder and the consent of the
nominee. Alternatively, nominations can be presented from the floor at the Annual General Meeting.

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(2) Thanks to Cyril Curtain who has gallantly agreed to representing ASB at the National Forum in Canberra ON AUG
8. We look forward to reading your report on the outcome of the meeting to decide the fate of the ANZAAS conferences.

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(3) A proposal for National Summer Scholarships for sciences honours students

The following working guidelines have been sent to the Australian Academy of Science for consideration by Professor John
White. In essence, the proposal suggests a mechanism to allow increased mobility for 50 of our best science graduates to
work for 8 weeks in a laboratory outside fo their mother campus.

AAS NATIONAL SUMMER VACATION
RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS

PURPOSE:

® To promote scientific and engineering research in Australia
® To increase the inter-campus mobility of undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a
career in science.

Few chances exist for our best science students to move to new institutions for research experience at
the end of their undergraduate studies. It is intended that students who wish to continue their studies at
the postgraduate level would benefit from making close contact with research laboratories in
institutions other than their own. The NATIONAL SUMMER VACATION RESEARCH
SCHOLARSHIPS initiative would provide an opportunity

FUNDING: It is proposed that the Scholarships of $2500 for an 8 week period (or pro rata for not
less than 4 weeks) be funded:
® 50% by the Australian Research Council who would also consider travel assistance
® 50% by the host institution who would also guarantee all on site research and insurance costs.

ELIGIBILITY: Students who have completed an honours course and who have applied to enrol for a
higher degree. Applicants must be either Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia.

Fields of research include any research defined by the Australian Academy of Science.

Supervisors must be individuals clearly identified by the undergraduate applicant.

Closing date for applications will coincide with application deadlines for postgraduate study.

RESEARCH PROPOSALS: Research projects would be deposited with the Australian Academy of
Science website (http://www.science.org.au) by participating scientists. Each proposal should be a
discrete research. The AAS will prepare a set of A set of guidelines to assist individual researchers in
preparing proposals. Research projects would need authorisation by the Head of Department/School
particularly in relation to available facilities and ethical approvals.

GRANT ADMINISTRATION: Research proposals would be evaluated by the existing National
Committees of the AAS, ranked on a scale and the top 50 applicants (based on undergraduate records)
would be funded.

REVIEW of PROCESS: The program would have an initial tenure of 3 years and would be reviewed
at the end of the second year. Review guidelines would be based on whether:
® The research experience is considered to be appropriate to the original aims;
® Whether the quality of the supervisors including a review of difficulties encountered;
® The adequacy of the student selection process;
® The commitment of the host institutions
 

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(4) Information from FASTS
 

1. MORTIMER REVIEW
The future of the Cooperative Research Centres is looking less rosy. The
financial screws have been turned a little tighter, with a three per cent
efficiency dividend being applied from 1997-98, and a reduction of funding
foreshadowed in the Budget's Forward Estimates.

Now the Mortimer Review has emerged. The CRC Program, which has been
internationally admired as a model for bringing research and industry
together, comes in for harsh judgement.

Mortimer recommends a cut in the overall budget for the CRC program from
$146 million in the 1997-98 budget, to a maximum of $20 million. This
funding would be restricted to the "public Good" CRCs, with all other CRCs
being regarded as delivering a "private benefit".

His Review has been greeted by general applause of the business community,
and FASTS joins them in supporting recommendations which set the right
climate for growth. Clear systems to encourage a whole-of-Government
program to support industrial development and investment are admirable
objectives.

But his recommendations on basic research and ecologically sustainable
development are not backed by argument or analysis to justify the
recommendations.

He goes on to set unjustified target earnings from external sources for
researchers like CSIRO (50 per cent), and the Australian Institute of
Marine Science (AIMS) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology
Organisation (ANSTO) (both 37 per cent), and the universities (50 per cent
increase by 2005).

The net effect would be to diminish the fundamental and strategic research
efforts of our national research institutions, in the quest to lift
external earnings.

In ten years the intellectual capital of bodies like CSIRO could well be
exhausted.

The recommendation to wind up the Rural Industries R&D Corporation (RIRDC)
and the Land and Water Corporations (including LWRRDC), and those on the
sustainable management of natural resources are similarly flawed.

In the recommendations on R&D, the Review's thinking leaves no room for
direct Government funding for capacity building. There is little long-term
vision in such an approach, and FASTS cannot stand by and watch any
wholesale dismantling of the public research effort.

The Mortimer Review is available on the web at
www.dist.gov.au/events/Mortimer/index.html
(or through the "Going for Growth" button on the DIST home page)
or in hard copy from Government bookshops.

I have specifically sought involvement of Presidents of Member Societies in
preparing a response to the Mortimer Review.

2. THE STOCKER REPORT
FASTS is urging the Government to adopt some of the less contentious
aspects of the Stocker Review immediately. A considered response to the
Review is in the final stages of preparation, and a meeting has been
arranged with Minister Peter McGauran on 26 August.

3. NEW MEMBER
I am delighted to announce that FASTS has a second Affiliate Member, the
Scientific Suppliers Association of Australia. The SSAA represents
companies supplying research and industry with instruments and materials,
and its 100 plus members have a gross turnover approaching $1 billion
annually.

FASTS welcomes the opportunity to strengthen our connections with industry.
This will increase our capacity to advise Government on S&T issues across
the board.

4. STATE S&T POLICIES
State Governments are becoming more aware of the role S&T can play in
wealth creation and solving environmental problems. Victoria has joined WA
in announcing an S&T policy, and other states are showing similar interest.
 

The States are showing the Commonwealth Government the way. Despite
criticism from industry, business and S&T groups, the Commonwealth has been
resistant to the idea of establishing a national vision, and setting out a
clear role for S&T in helping realise this vision.

Perhaps the combined weight of advice from the community and commissioned
reports from Mortimer, Stocker, and the impending Goldsworthy Review of IT
will persuade the Government to act more decisively in this area.

5. SCIENCE CAREERS PROCEEDINGS
The Proceedings of the Forum on Science Careers have now been launched by
Minister Peter McGauran in Canberra and Melbourne. President-elect Peter
Cullen represented FASTS in Canberra, and Board Member Jan Thomas in
Melbourne.

The Minister addressed groups of young scientists in both centres, and said
that he "open to any suggestions" which might solve the problems young
scientists find when they seek careers in research.

For those with suggestions on careers, the Minister's fax number is 06-273 4150.

6. PMSEC DEC 10
The Prime Minister is likely to address the issue of marine science at the
next meeting of his Science and Engineering Council, tentatively scheduled
for 10 December from 9 am to 2 pm.

The Prime Minister has shown a strong commitment to PMSEC. While it
provides a valuable occasion for Cabinet Ministers to meet with leading
figures from S&T, the reforms suggested in the Stocker Report add value to
a day which is important to the science community.

7. ASSISTING MEMBER SOCIETIES
FASTS can help Members lift their public profile. Toss Gascoigne worked
with the Australian Marine Sciences Association to help them launch
"Towards a National Marine Science Policy".

This involved helping arrange meetings with Ministers, preparation of a
media release, organisation of media event, and liaison with the Australian
Geosciences Council.

8 NEW POLICY DOCUMENT
FASTS Council on November 20 will concentrate on revising the Policy
Document and drawing up the list of Ten Top Priority issues for 1998.

These will be particularly important in terms of the political cycle, with
a pre-election Budget due in mid-May 1998. Agenda papers for Council are
about to be mailed out, and Members should consider their input into these
policy matters.

9. MEDIA
Releases
"Promising signs on science careers"
"Call to create "super science" pool"
"Mortimer review found wanting"

Coverage
Lab News July p8 "Science 1, Sport 0 in new poll"
Lab News June 97 p 10 "What they'd like to come out of the West"
Search July p169 "Australians prefer science in media"
Search July p169 "Govt resolve on S&T challenged by Stocker"
Campus Review July 16 p1 "Scientists go mad for Gemini"
Courier Mail July 14 p 6 "Science leaders call for marine strategy"
Financial Review August 1 p20 "Scientists dissect Mortimer's recommendations"
 

Joe Baker
7 August 1997

Note our new Web address: http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/fasts/
And our new phone and fax numbers!
 

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