Upcoming Events
9-14 July 2017:
Astronomical Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Australian National University, ACT
Steering Committee election:
We are now inviting nominations for four positions on the chapter Steering Committee, which are chair (replacing the incumbent chair), student representative, and three ordinary committee members. These positions are open to all Chapter members, except for the student representative (open to students only). Existing Steering Committee members are welcome to renominate if they wish.
The election schedule is as follows:
– call for nominations: 9-23 June
– election period: 26 June – 6 July
– results announced: 7 July
– new positions commence: 10 July
David Parkinson be the returning officer for this election, so all nominations should go to his university email (d dot parkinson at uq dot edu dot au). Each nomination must include a brief paragraph summarising your interest in the position and how you envisage to contribute to the broad goals of the Chapter. Please note that this information will be made available to voters.
Past Events
3-8 July 2016:
Astronomical Society of Australia’s Annual Scientific Meeting, University of Sydney, NSW.
30-31 May 2016:
2016 ASA ECR Mentoring Workshop, Yarra Valley Estates, VIC.
Thursday 30th July 2015: SIfA EMCR Workshop
The aim of this workshop is to present career options for astronomers in industrial, technical or commercial positions, and in other branches of academia. The event is focused on career development for our students and early-career researchers, as well as highlighting the benefits that PhD graduates can bring to industrial, technical or commercial roles. This event is being organized by Sydney Institute for Astronomy and CAASTRO.
Friday 20th February 2015: ECR Mentoring online introduction
To commence our ECR mentoring scheme, we will be holding an online kick-off session using Google Hangouts. This will be approximately one hour, 11am-12pm, and the video will be available afterwards on YouTube. The purpose of such a session will be to discuss what people should be looking for in such a scheme, and how to start it in such a way to make the most from it. Participation is strongly encouraged!
To access the hangout, follow the link to our Google+ page.
Tuesday 18th November: The Annual CAASTRO ECR and Student Workshop.
Being held prior to the CAASTRO Annual Retreat, is “Running a Successful Research Project”. The session will be run by Phil Crosby from CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science from 9:30am – 4:00pm at University of Queensland on Tuesday 18 November. Catering will be provided throughout the day.
http://www.caastro.org/event/2014-retreat
Thursday 27th and Friday 28th November: University of Southern Queensland writing retreat
The ECR chapter of the ASA will be holding a writing retreat at the University of Southern Queensland on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th November, directly following the fourth Australian Exoplanet Workshop. The retreat will be held on campus at the University of Southern Queensland, and will be free to attend. The goal is to provide a quiet and distraction free environment where ECRs can work on papers and grant applications, and also with a safe forum for helpful and constructive feedback. The days would be broken into two sessions, pre- and post-lunch, with the first couple of hours scheduled as writing time, with the final hour of a session for collaborative review. On the evening of Thursday 27th, the attendees are invited to meet in central Toowoomba for dinner and drinks, to help build a sense of community, and to strengthen their professional networks.
To register, contact Jonathan Horner or fill in this short webform.
Thursday 27th & Friday 28th November: The 2014 ATNF/AAO Bolton Symposium
This symposium is intended for post-doctoral astronomers to showcase the excellent science that is being done with the breadth of facilities available with the ATNF and AAO.
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/conferences/2014/boltonsymp/index.html
Thursday 9 October 2014: Sydney ECR Happy Hour
As you know, there are many early-career researchers (ECRs) based at various astronomy institutes around Sydney. However, and unfortunately, there has so far been few opportunities to get to know each other. Hence, some of us have had the idea of inviting all Sydney based ECRs together for a simple social event on a semi-regular basis (every 3 months or so). The plan is to meet in a pub/restaurant, have an informal catch up, get to know each other, and share experiences, drinks and a good pub meal!
So you are cordially invited to the first of these events, which will take place on Thursday 9 October, 6pm onwards, @ the Harts Pub (Essex St, The Rocks).
If you already know you are planning to come, please email Caroline Foster at cfoster[at]aao.gov.au, just so we have an idea of numbers. That said, no RSVP is required, so do turn up on the day if you want to.
10-11 September 2014: AAO Writing Workshop
The AAO is hosting a “Writing Session” Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 September. The two goals of the workshop are to give ECRs a chance for some distraction free writing or other research with an opportunity for friendly peer feedback, and to help get to know one another. Most of the time will be quiet and informal, with it left to the participants as how to best spend their time. Some breakout rooms will be available for discussion. There will also be a group dinner on Thursday evening open to all ECRs and their plus ones (no need to have come to the writing workshop to come to the dinner).
Registration (required) at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12VjV8DPPSznf3fTJEm0ggHZ4eX9FrKXLn7T3C2hgric/viewform?usp=send_form. There is no cost, but catering is not provided (so bring lunch or money for lunch).
Speed meet-a-mentor session (co-organised with the Women in Astronomy chapter of the ASA) at the ASA Annual Scientific Meeting at Macquarie University, 5pm Tuesday 22nd July, 2014.
2nd ASA Early Career Researcher Mentoring workshop, 2-3 June 2014, Cedar Creek Lodges, Tamborine Mountain, Queensland
Workshop on “How to be an effective referee“, being held at CAASTRO, 44-70 Rosehill Street, Redfern, Sydney on Friday 29th November 2013.
Social mixer at the ASA Annual Scientific Meeting at Monash University, Melbourne, on Monday 8th July 2013.
ASA Early Career Researcher Mentoring Workshop 2012
External Events
Science at the Shine Dome Tuesday 27th May to Thursday 29th May 2014.