Newsletter #5 (June, 1996). AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY FOR BIOPHYSICS www address: http://www.anatomy.su.oz.au/ASB/ Contents: (1) Report from the National Committee for Biophysics (a committee of the Australian Academy of Science) (2) CONGRATULATIONS Adele Coster (3) Edited news from FASTS. If you have newsworthy items which are likely to be of interest to your biophysicist colleagues or suggestions for our web page please send them to me at crisdos@anatomy.su.oaz.au ___________________________________________ NB IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER FOR THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN HOBART. For registration information browse the conference web page: http;//physics_1.phys.utas.edu.au/PHYSICS/ASB96/ Postgraduate students are eligible for travel assistance. ___________________________________________ Item (1) Report from the AAS National Committee for Biophysics. The Committee met on May 10 at The University of Sydney. The National Committee would like feedback on the suggestion that the ASB produce a 4-page colour brochure describing what biophysics is and what biophysicists do. It would cost aboout $2500 to produce about 10,000 copies. They might be of interest to students entering universities (eg Open Days). I have approached the Australian Academy of Science who indicated that they may be able to assist in some way. A full discussion of the merits and otherwise of this proposal will be debated at the annual meeting in Hobart. For those who cannot come to Hobart please tell me whether you are in favour of the idea and particularly if you would like to contribute words and or a colour graphic to this venture. ___________________________________________ Item (2) Congratulations to Adele Coster for her award of a travel grant to attend the IUPAB Conference in Amsterdam. Postgraduate students should keep in mind that these Travel Fellowship awards from the IUPAB are intended to assist young scientists students to attend its Congresses. ___________________________________________ Item (3) News from FASTS. The revitalised FASTS has an extensive Newsletter which can be viewed in toto on the FASTS web site (Jhttp://bimbo.pharmacol.su.oz.au/fasts/fastshome.html). I have extracted the following items. If you have comments etc they can be addressed to Joe Baker, President of Toss Gascoigne (Executive Director). The email address is: fasts@anu.edu.au (Phone: 06-282 2026: Fax: 06-282 2953) 1. News from the new Government The impact that the $8 billion cuts will have on science and technology are not yet known, but there are some ominous signs. The Universities are clearly going to be in for a difficult time, and the Government is looking hard at all areas of expenditure. The rhetoric in Canberra is that since the $8 billion hole was discovered, all pre-election commitments are back on the table. Big programs are prime targets! That means that the CRC program and the 150 per cent deductibility for industrial R&D are being closely examined. The danger is that in its attempts to cut expenditure, the new Government will axe programs or promises which require long-term commitments to make them viable. The Space Program is one such program in doubt, in contrast to the Coalition S&T Policy for "a viable space research program". In their policy, the Coalition criticised the previous Government for "funding doubts, disrupted programs and continual reviews." The interests of the science and technology community need to be represented in a vigorous manner, which is a job for FASTS. We also need to remind the new Government that pre-election promises are taken seriously 2. The new Ministers This is a most important time to meet with Ministers. It is now that they are working out how to put policies into action, and when they are most receptive to advice. We are committed to ensuring that Ministers in different portfolios (eg Education, Environment and Primary Industries and Regional Development) are aware of their access to scientific and technological abilities throughout Australia. FASTS has put several matters to Minister Peter McGauran, including a completely new approach to the funding of R&D by industry, and FASTS' views on how responsibilities between ASTEC (now ASETEC), PMSEC and the Chief Scientist should be divided. We have opened discussion on how scientists and technologists could play a part in the development of Australia, through involvement in the 42 Regional Development Organisations. These matters will be picked up in talks with Senator Grant Tambling, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development, and Minister McGauran, together. 3. Careers for scientists The limited career path for younger and middle-ranking Australian scientists existing on "soft" funding is a matter of continuing concern. We have discussed this with Minister McGauran, and recommended that ASETEC undertake a proper examination of the causes and solutions. One change which would help younger scientists would be to increase the size and duration of grants, and couple this with review process earlier in the term of the grant so that they would have more notice of the extension or termination of programs. The combined expertise of FASTS' Member Societies would make FASTS a valuable member of the working party looking at this problem. ___________________________________________ from Cris dos Remedios President ASB URL:http://www.anatomy.su.oz.au/~mru