Above: Members of the Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry Group witness the Director signing of the co-operative research agreement between RSES and NIPR.

This week the Director signed a co-operative research agreement between RSES, the National Institute of Polar Research and the Research Organization of Information and Systems based in Tachikawa, Japan. The agreement recognises the value of collaboration in research into the geochemistry of planetary materials, and provides a vehicle for the exchange of scientists and support personnel between the two institutes with a view to encouraging the development of a long-term program for future research collaboration.

NIPR was amongst the first international institutes to purchase a SHRIMP, primarily for research on rocks and meteorites collected from Antarctica. It has recently purchased a second SHRIMP, the first to be equipped with a 5-channel advanced multiple collector, giving NIPR SIMS analytical capabilities currently not available at RSES.

Read more about the National Institute of Polar Research SHRIMP Lab here: SHRIMP Lab NIPR

Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

Our thoughts go to our professional staff Rajesh Erigela and Joel Tatapudi who have managed to secure the School’s Warramunga research facility in the Northern Territory during recent severe fires.  Rajesh and Joel’s efforts maintaining fire breaks over preceding months, and fast thinking during the fires, have saved all critical fixed infrastructure and avoided any harm to themselves. They no doubt are looking forward to more risk free and less demanding weeks ahead. Best wishes from all of us in Canberra.

Steve Eggins

Australian researchers from the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science have produced a remarkable high-resolution animation of the largest El Niño ever recorded using Australia’s most powerful supercomputer, Raijin.

The animation looks beneath the ocean surface to reveal the oceanic processes that led to the 1997/98 El Niño – an event that caused billions of dollars of damage worldwide and was followed by consecutive strong La Niña events.

“Raijin gives us the capacity to model complex global systems like El Niño that require a high resolution for a better accuracy,” said a member of the team from the Australian National University, Associate Prof Andy Hogg.

Read on at Extraordinary Animation Reveals Ocean's Role

Five members of RSES (right to left: Robert Rapp, Suzette Timmerman, Antony Burnham, Patrick Goodarzi and Lynton Jaques) travelled to Botswana recently to join more than 320 scientists and diamond mining industry experts at the 11th International Kimberlite Conference, an event that takes place every four to five years to present advances in the study of kimberlites, diamond deposits and the mantle.

The group presented 3 oral and 4 poster presentations. Robert Rapp described his work constraining the source of diamond-forming and metasomatizing fluids in the cratonic lithosphere from experiments in the multi-anvil apparatus, Suzette Timmerman demonstrated the relationship between fluid end-members and noble gases in South African diamonds, Antony Burnham presented new data about the relationship between mineral inclusions and zoning in diamond, Patrick Goodarzi described his work on the geochemistry of xenoliths from a Namibian kimberlite and Lynton Jaques presented information on mantle compositions and processes from trace element inventories of olivine in diamondiferous olivine lamproites and characterised the extreme mineralogical and geochemical zoning across one the world's largest lamproite bodies, the Argyle lamproites of Western Australia.

Travel to the conference was funded by an ANU ECR Travel Grant to Antony Burnham, the ANU Vice-Chancellor’s HDR Travel Grant to Paddy Goodarzi, and IKC support to Paddy Goodarzi and Suzette Timmerman.

Several students and staff from the experimental petrology group attended the annual meeting of the Specialist Group in Geochemistry Mineralogy and Petrology of the GSA in Benalla, Victoria. Hugh O’Neill and Greg Yaxley presented on the first day, students Michael Anenburg, Laura Miller and Melanie Sieber presented their talks on the second day, and Johanna Sommer contributed a poster. The research presented by our representative promoted a healthy discussion and attracted much interest from the Australian petrology community. The informal networking sessions enabled students to meet established researchers in the field, and discuss opportunities for future collaborations. Overall, the meeting proved to be successful, enjoyable, and we’re looking forward for the next one.

12–1pm Tuesday 31 Oct 2017

Location: Science Teaching Building #136, Level 3, Linnaeus Way, ANU

Speaker: Professor Richard Baker, Pro Vice-Chancellor (University Experience), ANU

Richard will speak about the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) process and other gender equity initiatives at ANU. Richard is the Chair of the ANU Self Assessment team which will oversee, guide, prepare and submit the application for SAGE Athena SWAN institutional Bronze Award.

Read more here: Joint Colleges of Science Equity & Diversity Seminar & here:  ANU's Participation in the SAGE Pilot Program

National Science Week 2018 Grants

Apply now: National Science Week 2018 grants  Applications close 5pm AEDT 12 October 2017.

ARC Future Fellowship Workshop & Information Session: Wednesday 11 October 10am-12pm

More information on Future Fellowships can be obtained from the ARC website.

2017 Planetary Frontiers Workshop 16 – 17 November, Room E6A 102, Macquarie University.

This year the Planetary Frontiers Workshop will be held in conjunction with the Australian Space Research Conference, 13 – 15 November at the University of Sydney (see http://www.nssa.com.au/17asrc)

Registrations deadline: 1 November 2017 For more information: http://goo.gl/Eww7Mx

2017 WAMSI Research Conference

The Western Australian Marine Science Institution’s Research Conference includes sessions from its Dredging Science Node (22-23 November 2017) and Kimberley Marine Research Program (28-30 November 2017). 22-30 November 2017 - Perth

AMOS-ICSHMO 2018

The Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society and the American Meteorological Society, are holding the Joint 25th AMOS National Conference and 12th International Conference for Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography, AMOS-ICSHMO 2018, at UNSW Sydney 5-9 February 2018

ANU Education Grants Scheme

Applications for Round 1 of the 2018 ANU Education Grants scheme are due 10am 17 October 2017

ANU Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Enhancement Grants (ANUTEG) support innovative and creative teaching initiatives and projects, and are linked to improving coursework student learning at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

ANU Linkage for Learning and Teaching Grants (ANULLTG) support strategic connections between ANU and organisations outside of the higher education sector to develop opportunities for ANU coursework students. Submit your applications to promotingexcellence@anu.edu.au by 10am Tuesday 17 October.

2017 Travel Grants for Women in STEM

Female employees and PHD students with a STEM related focus at Australian universities or research organisations - you are eligible to apply for the Campus Travel and Virgin Australia 2017 Travel Grant. Applications close Friday 20 October 2017

>>> Read More

The Earth-Life Science Institute, ELSI Origins Network (EON) at Tokyo Institute of Technology offers a range of opportunities and funding for international researchers and students. Check out the EON seed grants and visitor opportunities .  EON also hosts workshops with a requirement for interdisciplinary, international speakers and early career researchers are encouraged to attend.  Students should watch out for the Summer and Winter student workshops!

New Publications:

ARC Linkage Projects 2017 Round 2 Deadlines

Carer support for travelling staff members:

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