• ASB98
• ASB99
• AUSTRALIAN BID FOR IUPAB CONGRESS IN 2008
• PRESTIGIOUS ASBMB AWARDS TO ASB MEMBERS
• FASTS ON GST AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
• SUMMARY OF FASTS circular for June
• FORUM ON BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
• Internet Conference on Protection Against the Hazards of UVR
• NEW VERSION OF Australia and New Zealand Biomedical Directory
_____________________________________________________________________
***ASB98***
December 4-6, 1998 (note these dates in your diary!)
Tom Wydrzynski and his organising committee are making excellent
progress with plans for ASB98. The tentative program (posted on
our web site at http://www.anatomy.su.oz.au/ASB/ForthMeeting.html)
includes six international and 12 national invited speakers as well
as ample opportunity for contributed oral and poster presentations.
The Young Biophysicist Award will be made and there will be a prize
for the best student presentation (oral or poster). Topics to be
covered include Spectroscopy & Energy Transfer, Bioimaging, Channels,
Structure & Recognition, Bioenergetics, Protein Mechanics, and
Water
in Biological Systems. For more information, please see our web site
(where we will post regular updates) or contact Tom Wydrzynski (Chair,
Organising Committee) at tom@rsbs.anu.edu.au
(or FAX: 02 6279 8056).
_____________________________________________________________________
***ASB99***
Sept 22-26, 1999 (note these dates in your diary!)
Planning is under way for the 1999 ASB Scientific Meeting. You
will recall that at the 1997 AGM in Melbourne, David Parry requested
that the ASB consider holding a satellite meeting on biosensors
following the IUPAB Conference in India in early September 1999.
This invitation was accepted and Christa Critchley agreed to the
University of Queensland again hosting the meeting. Since the Asia-
Pacific Biosensor group also gets together every two years, Tony
Collings, with the consent of the ASB Committee, proposed a joint
meeting to that group at their symposium in Christchurch in January.
Thus, at this point in time, we are looking at ASB 99 being held on
the Gold Coast from September 22 to 26 (Wed-Sat), 1999, with the
possibility of an experimental workshop at Griffith University on
the 27th. The following week, the ASPP and ASBMB will hold their
meetings at Jupiter's Casino in Broadbeach. Richard John of Griffith
University Gold Coast campus will join Christa and Tony on the
organising committee. Tony and Christa have already spoken to the
Mercure Hotel re concession rates and checked their facilities (this
is, in fact, the former Pan Pacific where we held the very successful
1994 conference) and have looked at a block booking at some of the
cheaper apartments close by where the accommodation rates are very
reasonable by any standards.
So, put these dates in your 1999 calendar and start organising the
cars for the students to get up to the Gold Coast for a memorable
meeting. We are looking at 3 and 1/2 days (all single session) to
accommodate our usual ASB scientific program in addition to the
biosensor work. For further information, you can contact Christa or
Tony by email (C.Critchley@botany.uq.edu.au
or tonyc@tip.csiro.au).
____________________________________________________________________
IUPAB MEETING IN 2008
The venues for the next three IUPAB (International Union for Pure and
Applied Biophysics) Congresses have already been decided; they will
be held in India (1999), Argentina (2002), and USA (2005). However,
the venue for 2008 is still to be determined. It has been suggested
that ASB should bid for Australia to host the International IUPAB
Congress and General Assembly in 2008. Could you please send your
comments on this idea to either myself (glenn@biochem.usyd.edu.au)
or Cris dos Remedios (crisdos@anatomy.usyd.edu.au)
as we will need
to begin formulating plans if there is general agreement from the
membership on this issue.
_____________________________________________________________________
AWARDS TO ASB MEMBERS
I am delighted to be able to report that Prof. Ray Norton, Chair of
ASB97, has been awarded the 1998 Amrad Pharmacia Biotechnology Medal
by the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The
award is for distinguished contributions to the field of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology, and it provides funds for a Travelling Lecture-
ship so that Ray can present his work at numerous institutions around
Australia. So watch out for a talk by Ray in your local area.
Jamie Fletcher, winner of the ASB97 student poster prize, has been
awarded the 1998 Progen Fellowship by the Australian Society for
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Jamie will use the $2000 Fellowship
to attend the XVIIIth International Conference on Magnetic Resonance
in
Biological Systems to be held in Tokyo in August.
____________________________________________________________________
FASTS ON GST AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Peter Cullen, President of FASTS, has sent a letter to the Federal
Treasurer, the Hon Peter Costello MP, that warns about possible
adverse effects of a GST on research in Australia. The letter was
published in The Canberra Times on 21 July 1998, and a full transcript
is available at http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/fasts/1998/GST.html.
____________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY OF FASTS circular for June
Following is a sumamry of the FASTS circular for June, 1998. The full
transcript is available at http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/fasts/1998/Jun98.html.
1. THE BERD HAS FLOWN
Australia has just recorded its first fall in business expenditure
on
R&D (BERD) since the Australian Bureau of Statistics began measuring
R&D
in the mid 1970s. This is another gloomy sign for Australia's economic
outlook, and a bad sign as we enter a millennium which is going to
place
an increasing emphasis on industries that are sophisticated, intelligent
and sustainable.
A fall in BERD was widely predicted since the abolition of the 150 per
cent tax deductibility for industrial R&D in the 1996 Budget, and
its
replacement by the START Scheme.
The decrease in BERD does need to be read with caution, because the
fall in 1996-97 was exaggerated by an unusually high figure for 1995-96.
But the figures confirm an unacceptably low performance in the inter-
national arena. Last year Australia outranked only China, Italy, India,
ew Zealand and Spain in an comparison of BERD in 24 countries from
the
OECD and Asian-Pacific region.
2. PM'S SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND INNOVATION COUNCIL
The newly expanded PMSEIC is one of the successes of this Government.
Some excellent papers were presented at the last meeting, notably by
ARC Chair Vicki Sara on the interactions between industry and uni-
versities; and Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
President Tim Besley on the nexus between science and its applications.
All PMSEIC papers are now available on the web at:
http://www.dist.gov.au/science/pmseic/pmseic.html.
3. REVIEW OF AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL
I met with David Penington to discuss future directions for the ARC,
as part of a review of its organisational structure initiated by the
ARC. A draft paper has been circulated. When this report is finalised
in mid-July it will be incorporated in the Council's Strategic Plan
and general comment will be invited.
4. SCIENCE NOW!
Melbourne organisers of Science NOW! in Science Week report over 260
media "hits" to give good coverage of this new-look science forum.
The Fresh Scientists - those younger scientists who had presented
stimulating papers at conferences - gained excellent coverage, and
organisers are looking to boost this section in 1999.
5. MEETING WITH DIST
Together with Joe Baker and Toss Gascoigne, I met with four officers
from DIST led by Paul Wellings last month. The informal meeting raised
matters of concern to both sides, and it was agreed to keep details
confidential to enable frank discussion. The meeting discussed venture
capital and commercialisation, and may lead to a joint study on the
impediments to commercialisation for working scientists. FASTS raised
the issues of possible impacts of a GST on research organisations,
and
a funding mechanism for major national research facilities.
6. GRAHAM JOHNSTON AM
Congratulations to former FASTS' President Professor Graham Johnston,
who was awarded an AM in the latest honours list for 'Service to bio-
organic chemistry and pharmacology, to scientific organisations and
science policy development'.
Other scientists to be honoured in the Queens' Birthday list included
Professor Antony Burgess (AC) Ludwig Institute in Melbourne for
scientific research and clinical medicine; Emeritus Professor Mollie
Holman (AO) Monash University for scientific research related to
autonomic nervous system function and control of smooth muscle, and
to education; and Professor Lesley Parker (AM), Deputy Vice-Chancellor
of Curtin University, for promoting gender development in mathematics
and science education
7. STATE S&T AGENCIES
FASTS is to one of the co-sponsors for the next meeting of the State
and
Territory agencies concerned with promoting S&T in their jurisdictions.
The meeting will be hosted by the ACT Government, and DIST are the
other
co-sponsors.
8. DRAFT MARINE S&T POLICY
Minister John Moore recently launched a draft version of the Marine
S&T
Plan, for comment (by July 15). It is available from DIST at GPO Box
9289,
ACT, 2601) or on the web at http://www.dist.gov.au/science/marine/draft.
Peter Cullen
President, FASTS
10 July
_______________________________________________________________________
ON BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
[Using the CRC Program to improve your bottom line]
This forum is to be held on Monday 10 August at the University of
Sydney and is being run by the Business Higher Education Round Table
in conjunction with the Cooperative Research Centres Association.
This Forum aims to show how real business benefits are being derived
from participation in the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program.
It comprises a series of short talks from several CRC Directors as
well as number from industry participants in CRCs and covers the range
of industry sectors in which CRCs are found. The Chief Scientist Prof.
John Stocker has also agreed to talk and Mr Neville Roach, Chairman
&
CEO of Fujitsu will chair the Forum.
It will run from 3 pm to 6.20 pm and be followed by drinks and dinner;
the Hon. Andrew Thomson, Minister for Sport & Tourism is the after
dinner
speaker.
The Business Higher Education Round Table membership comprises Vice
Chancellors of all Australian Universities and CEOs of large companies
whilst the CRC Association comprises most of the currently operating
Cooperative Research Centres.
For further information please contact:
Ms Anne Munday
Business Higher Education Round Table
Shell House
1 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Ph: 03 9654 8824; Fax: 03 9654 8835
Email: bhert@ozemail.com.au
_______________________________________________________________________
Internet Conference on Protection Against the Hazards of UVR
1st December - 20th December 1998
An Internet Conference will be held in which contributions will be
displayed on Web sites of the Internet Photochemistry and Photobiology.
The Conference aims to discuss the hazards of UVR and methods for
reducing human exposure to harmful UV. Authors can submit their
contributions for consideration either as a paper or poster.
Contributed papers will be subjected to a full refereeing procedure
and they will be published by the Internet Photochemistry and
Photobiology. Posters will not be published.
To submit a contribution, follow the instructions in the Guide to
Submission web page at http://www.photobiology.com/UVR98/default.htm.
Alternatively, you may post your contribution (saved on a disk) to
Dr Joe Wong, Centre for Medical and Health Physics, School of Physical
Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane,
QLD 4001, Australia. Deadlines for receipt of contributions is 1st
October,
1998 (word processor format) or 1st November 1998 (HTML format).For
further information, send an email to Dr Joe Wong (c.wong@qut.edu.au).
_______________________________________________________________________
NEW VERSION OF Australia and New Zealand Biomedical Directory
[the following is a summary of a letter from Robert R. Haski,
Director of Eli Lilly Australia]
Following the success of the published Australia and New Zealand
Biomedical Directory (1993), which summarised the then current
biomedical research activity, we are pleased to announce its next
revision, using the power of the World Wide Web.
We invite you and your colleagues to be part of this new initiative.
By entering a summary of your current research projects and interests
via the Lilly Australia Website (http://www.lilly.com.au),
your work
will have worldwide scientific exposure. This is a unique networking
and information exchange opportunity for the Australian and New Zealand
biomedical research community. Please visit the site to explore the
previous 1993 data, to see how the search engine operates and how your
data will be displayed. This website is provided at no cost to users
and
has no 'banners' or product advertising.
Should you have any questions or require further information, either
contact us via the website Feedback tab or phone us on (02) 9325 4523
(office hours). Our fax number is (02) 9325 4579.
_______________________________________________________________________
Glenn King
President, ASB
July 28, 1998
ADDENDUM TO ASB NEWSLETTER #23
------------------------------
• INCORPORATION OF ASB IN STATE OF VICTORIA
• UPDATE ON DATES FOR ASB99
• CORRECTION ON VENUE FOR IUPAB 2005
• FASTS BIOTECHNOLOGY POSITION PAPER
INCORPORATION OF ASB IN STATE OF VICTORIA
-----------------------------------------
The Australian Society for Biophysics was incorporated in the state
of Victoria on 28th July, 1998. Incorporation provides us with three
major benefits:
1. Provided they act responsibly, members and office-bearers cannot
be sued if the Association is in default.
2. The Association is a legal person and can take legal action on its
own behalf.
3. It is essential for the Association to be incorporated if it is to
seek major grants for the conduct of meetings and other
purposes.
Cyril Curtain provided me with the following scenario that outlines
point (1) above. The ASB decides to hold a major international meeting.
Being incorporated it will have no difficulty in attracting grants.
All
goes well and as the week of the meeting approaches a large panel of
international speakers has been arranged and there is a huge number
of
local and overseas registrants. Then at the first plenary session
disaster strikes. The high-voltage feeder line to the City where the
meeting is being held fails and heralds the beginning of a week of
blackouts. The committee acts swiftly and secures an emergency generating
plant. The exorbitant fee charged for this will blow the meeting budget
and leave the ASB in debt, but the committee have been assured by the
newly-privatised power company will recompense them. Unfortunately,
as the
claims for damages mount the company's lawyers argue that the power
failure
was due to an act of God and not to its faulty maintenance. The supplier
of
the generating plant and sundry other debtors sue the now-broke ASB,
but
because they acted in good faith the committee and members will not
be
personally liable. Further, because it is a legal person, the Association
finds that it is able to join in a successful class action brought
against
the power company by a firm of lawyers famous for their "no win no
fee"
approach to litigation.
The Incorporation documents were prepared almost single-handedly by
Cyril
Curtain with minimal input from the Executive, and they went through
the
Corporate Affairs Office without requiring changes. Many thanks to
Cyril
for a great job. We will think of you fondly next time we get sued!
_______________________________________________________________________
UPDATE ON DATES FOR ASB99
-------------------------
Due to a clash with the IUPAB Congress, the dates for ASB99 have been
moved forward to Thurs, Sept 30 - Sun, Oct 3. The Thursday will overlap
with the combined ASBMB/ASPP meeting and Christa and Tony are looking
into the possibility of holding some joint sessions with ASBMB/ASPP
on
this day. The main ASB meeting will probably run on Thursday/Friday,
with
the Biosensor satellite on Saturday/Sunday. Please contact Christa
Critchley
(C.Critchley@botany.uq.edu.au)
or Tony Collings (tony.collings@tip.csiro.au)
if you have a problem with these dates.
_______________________________________________________________________
CORRECTION ON VENUE FOR IUPAB 2005
----------------------------------
David Parry has pointed out that while the USA is likely to bid for
the IUPAB Congress in 2005, no decision about the venue has been made
at this stage. The final decision will be made at the New Delhi Congress
in September, 1999.
BIOTECHNOLOGY POSITION PAPER
----------------------------
Dr Peter French has been asked to put together a position paper for
FASTS on the issues of importance to the Australian biotechnology
community. He is seeking contributions to the paper from member
societies. This is your chance to tell FASTS what you think are the
important issues and what they should lobby for. For example,
* What are your feelings about regulatory issues - should they be
strengthened, streamlined, abolished, tightened?
* Public education - how should it be done, if at all; who should do
it; in what areas?
* What are the research priorities, and how should they be co-ordinated
(leave it to industry; via NHMRC, ARC, or other body)
* Biotechnology represents an enormous potential export industry for
Australia. How should government nurture, encourage, support
it?
* Does government have a role in protecting Australia's IP?
* How can government provide some venture capital for early stage
biotechnology?
* What should be done to train scientists in academia to exploit/
commercialise their IP in biotechnology - in other words how
to
forge industry/academia linkages - is the CRC program sufficient-
should it be extended, altered?
If you have any discussion papers, or other documentation in this area
that you think would be of use, Dr French would be grateful to receive
it. Please give this a reasonable priority as he hopes to have the
paper
finalised by the end of August. His contact details are:
Dr Peter French
TEL: 61-2-9361-2388
Principal Scientific Officer and Manager
FAX: 61-2-9361-2391
Centre for Immunology, St Vincent's Hospital
Victoria Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
_______________________________________________________________________
Glenn King
President, ASB
6th August, 1998