[Aqualist] Science meets Parliament & call for student nominations

[HEIJNIS, Henk]

Dear AQUA-members,

Science meets Parliament will be held on March 8th & 9th 2005.
One of the themes will be Climate Change (see details below)!!

AQUA executive has decided to support a Postgraduate Student to attend SmP, the Industry Dinner and a travel allowance. 
Postgraduate students are invited to send me (henk.heijnis at ansto.gov.au) a short 100 word essay on why AQUA & Quaternary science is a relevant science and why you want to attend  SmP. Please send details and essay before February 11 2005.

All members are encouraged to attend - it is an excellent opportunity to put our science on the map. 
The appointments with policticians are either from your own elecotorate or an electorate where you do your research.

Kind regards

Henk Heijnis





Science meets Parliament 2005 - Registrations open  

As previously advised, the dates for the next Science meets Parliament are
Tuesday and Wednesday, March 8th and 9th, 2005.

Registrations are now open and the registration form is on our website at
http://www.fasts.org/Fsite/SmP/2005/registration.htm

The format of Science meets Parliament has been changed with greater
emphasis on the 'science'.

There will be four fora open to the broader Parliamentary community and
media on a number of key issues, including a bio-medical hypothetical
hosted by Dr Norman Swan.

The Industry Dinner will be at the Great Hall of Parliament House.

Registration

FASTS will ensure that each Society who wishes to participate in SmP  can
do so. As overall numbers are limited to 200 this may mean we are  unable
to accept all registrations.

The registration fees(including GST) for Science meets Parliament are;
FASTS' Members 			$220.00
Postdocs/PhD students	  	  $90.00
(Includes lunch at National Press Club, Lunch at Parliament House,
'Science for Breakfast' for early career researchers and PhD students (see
below) and morning and afternoon teas).

Please note a late fee of $100 will apply for registrations after February
12th, 2005.

Government-Industry-Science Dinner in Great Hall, Parliament House,
Tuesday March 8, 2005 FASTS' Members 					  $90.00
Postdocs/PhD students	  			  $50.00
Non-FASTS' members				$180.00
(Dress: Lounge Suit).

Program
Day 1: Tuesday 8th _ National Press Club, Canberra.
9.00 - 10.00am 		Registration
10.00 - 11.30am	Compulsory session on the aims and objectives of SmP.
Briefing on the key issues. 11.30am - 12.30pm.	Morning Tea - then planning
with your partners. 12.30 - 2.00pm	National Press Club Lunch - Guest
speaker is the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the
Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson. 2.15pm - 4.00pm (Concurrent
session)	Briefing sessions on how to talk with Parliamentarians, the role
of political staff and so forth. This session is required for all people
who have not participated in SmP previously. 2.30pm - 3.30pm (Concurrent
session)	Forum "managing public perceptions of emerging technologies" -
presented by Biotechnology Australia.

This session is open to participants who have attended SmP before and
choose not to go to the Briefing session. 4.00pm - 4.30pm	afternoon tea,
meet your partners, summing up.
7.00pm for 7.30pm	Government- Industry-Science Dinner, Great Hall of
Parliament House.

Day 2: Wednesday 9th - Parliament House, Canberra.

7.30am - 8.45am	'Science for Breakfast'. An informal breakfast for young
Parliamentarians , early-career researchers and PhD students.

NB: Due to size of venue, numbers are restricted and bookings accepted on
a first in basis. To register ECR and PhD students should contact Robyn at
the FASTS office directly (robyn.fasts at anu.edu.au) 8.00am -
6.00pm	Scientists meet with the Parliamentarians.

Four Events
During the course of the day there will also be four events open to all
participating scientists (depending on their meeting commitments),
Parliamentarians, political and other parliamentary staff and media.  The
four events are -
1)	Bio-medical Hypothetical focusing on the science, politics and
institutional elements of a viral pandemic. Host: Dr Norman Swan, ABC
Health Report. 2)	Climate Change Forum - What is the scientific consensus?
What are the outstanding questions? Scientific, political, policy, public
health and industry implications? 3)	Science Education Forum - focusing on
the enabling sciences and mathematics. 4)	Forum on flexible career paths,
science skills shortages and minimising attrition. This session will focus
on opportunities and challenges to minimise attrition of science skills by
looking to more flexible career paths, re-entry and re-training for
scientists, notably, but not exclusively, women seeking to re-enter
science after family commitments.

Accommodation
Accommodation has been reserved at University House, ANU - 18 Balmain
Crescent, Acton, phone 02 6125 5211 - at a special rate of $94 for single
occupancy rooms.  Bookings are to be made by registrants. Please cite
"FASTS' SmP" to receive the discount rate.

Two key foci of this SmP are:

1)	Make it concrete and real - People are typically more responsive to
ideas, technologies and insights that have a direct bearing on them and
their local community. Not everyone is fascinated by a partial stochastic
differential equation. Parliamentarians are no different. Participating
scientists are urged to think locally - an insight, for example, that
creates 10 new jobs or improves the water quality of Ballarat means a lot
to the member representing Ballarat. 2)	It's about long-term relations. In
Parliament House now are the next 2 - 3 Prime Ministers, Treasurers,
Science, Environment and Industry Ministers, Shadow Ministers and so
forth. If current Parliamentarians develop a stronger sense of the
possibilities and real benefits of investment in science, mathematics and
technology then there may be long term benefits for all. (Bit like R&D
actually...)

If you have any inquiries about Science meets Parliament please do not
hesitate to contact

Dr Henk Heijnis
Principal Research Scientist 
President of the Australasian Quaternary Association
Adjunct Professor Quaternary Science (UTS)

ANSTO-Environment
PMB 1 Menai 
2234 NSW Australia
T-+61-2-97173209
F-+61-2-97179270
www.ansto.gov.au