For those who missed the virtual lecture by Dr Eloise Foo entitled “Dating in the dark – The underground world of beneficial plant-microbe relationships” on 21 June 2020, view it on our new YouTube channel.
The advancement of knowledge
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Nominations close 31 August.
Nominations are now open for the Royal Society of Tasmania Peter Smith Medal. This medal is awarded biennially to an outstanding early career researcher in any field. The recipient receives a medal and will be invited to deliver “The Peter Smith Lecture” to the Society.
For the purpose of the medal, “early career” means within the first seven years since the award of a PhD, at the time of the nomination deadline. Extensions to the seven years post-PhD eligibility requirement will be offered to applicants whose career has been interrupted to accommodate carer responsibilities, illness or other circumstances.
Further conditions of the award are:
On the first page of the nomination, give (1) the name of the candidate, contact address and email, and (2) the name of the nominator, contact address and email.
On the second page, provide a concise description of the nominee’s achievements relevant to the Peter Smith Medal in language that is widely understood outside the nominee’s field of research. The nominee’s research or other scholarly contributions to science, history or other field of learning, industry or society should be clearly stated.
Provide the nominee’s curriculum vitae in full. Include the nominee’s education history, the date/s of receipt of degrees and a list of published works. The most significant publications should be highlighted (e.g. with an asterisk). For co-authored papers, provide a percentage estimate of the nominee’s contribution. The Honours, Medals and Awards Committee has limited ability to seek additional information and therefore depends entirely on the nomination submission.
All matters pertaining to the Society awards are confidential until the public announcement of the awards at the Society’s Annual General Meeting each year. Confidentiality must also be observed by both the nominator and nominee.
Please send nominations as a single Word or PDF file by email to the Secretary at admin@rst.org.au before COB, August 31. Please enter “Honours Committee” in the subject line of the email message.
Professor Jocelyn McPhie (Chair) on behalf of the RST Honours and Awards Committee
Jocelyn McPhie is a geologist and for most of her career (1990 to 2015), held an academy position at the University of Tasmania. As an academic, she conducted fundamental and applied research in volcanology, and taught volcanology as well as other undergraduate geology units. Since retiring from the university, she has consulted to the minerals industry, providing technical advice and professional training in volcanology. She maintains an adjunct position with the University of Tasmania, continuing to supervise PhD students and participate in research projects.
Niamh Chapman is a passionate medical researcher and science communicator. She is based at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research in the Blood Pressure Research Group. Niamh’s research is focused on the role of health policy and digital technology for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Niamh is the Founding Director of radio show and podcast That’s What I call Science, which won the national award for Best New Program 2019 from the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. That’s What I Call Science is run by a team of women in STEM that aims to deliver accurate, accessible and engaging content on areas of public interest with expert guests from across the state of Tasmania. The podcast can be found on major streaming services or http://bit.ly/ThatsScienceTAS
Niamh is a member of the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance Emerging Leaders Committee, the Australian Society for Medical Research Tasmania state committee and the Tasmanian National Science Week Coordinating Committee.
Shasta is completing her PhD in 2020, investigating the impact of wildfire on Tasmania’s smallest alpine residents, invertebrates. She is a passionate entomologist and educator, having transitioned to science and science communication from ecotourism in 2009. During her time at Utas Shasta has completed a Bachelor of Science and Honours in zoology/entomology, worked as a tutor for Riawunnah and junior lecturer in the Geography department, volunteered as a Young Tassie Scientist and completed an internship at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington DC, “that’s how I got a species of beetle named after me.”
She also maintains a public presence as the Bug Girl via ABC Radio (also on Facebook), The Gourmet Farmer and Libraries Tasmania to name a few. While interpreting insects for the Tasmanian public, Shasta often talks about insects as food, introduced pests, native pollinators, ecological adaptation and how to identify insects for kids. From her days working as a white water rafting guide and rock climbing instructor Shasta still loves to travel and explore nature “but collecting insects is much easier on the knees.”
Peter S Manchester B.Sc. (Hons), B.Ed. TTC.. Photographic Honors (AFIAP, AAPS, FAPS , FTPF)
Peter is Launceston born, educated at the University of Tasmania in geology, geochemistry and education. Apart from a short period at the Mines Department, then in ocean mining, he served National Service in Vietnam and Papua New Guinea. On return he served 40 years lecturing at TAFE, University and Colleges in geology, chemistry, still and video photography, multimedia (former Head of a Department) and recently geotourism to Australian and overseas to clients of all levels of experience. He is an accredited international judge in digital imagery and has conducted seminars, field trips and weekend getaways on Tasmanian geology, photography and astronomy throughout Tasmania and mainland Australia. He was Australian President of the Australian Photographic Society in 2002 – 2006.
In 2010 Peter self-published a book on Tasmanian geology Created from Chaos – 100 geological sites in Tasmania which has been distributed Australia-wide. (now out of print but in process of writing the updated edition). In June this year Peter was given the challenge to photograph, write and publish a book and poster on Tasmanian fossils taking over from the late Dr. Max Banks. He is also producing a booklet on “30 Tasmanian Geotrails” as a source of use for tourism.
Peter is a much sought after lecturer and educator in geology, geotourism, and mineralogy, while also lecturing at places like U3A on various topics as scientific toys, inventions, meteorites and orchid growing. As an orchid grower he collects and presents at his place at Oakdowns.
The Royal Society of Tasmania coat of arms carved by Nellie Payne in 1930