Invasive animals at Amazing World of Science

Carp, gambusia (mosquito fish) and goldfish will be on display live at the National Convention Centre in Canberra from 20 to 23rd August.  Those in Canberra should stop by and see the CRC’s fantastic display, which has been organised by Dean Gilligan from NSW DPI.  We are very grateful to Dean, the Lachlan Catchment CMA, the MDBC and others that have helped pull together an excellent exhibit: - a large fishtank on a trailer.  Several fish tanks actually.

Over 20,000 people will visit the Amazing World of Science, one of the premier events at the Australian Science Festival.  Put the dates in your diary now, so you don’t forget when the Olympics take over our brainspace for a few weeks.

The Science Festival in Canberra is part of national Science Week, which is the largest Festival in Australia.  Other events in Canberra include the Bush Tucker Man, Les Hiddins talking at a Science in the Pub event (those with good memories may recall that the ABC nearly cancelled Science in the Pub after Nick Mooney from Tasmanian DPI appeared in “Let’s Get Feral in the Pub” a few years ago – the final edited tape that could go to air was reportedly only 3 minutes long after a 2.5 hour taping session), and “Speed date a Scientist”, in which the CRC’s CEO has signed up for three sessions.

If you’d like to help out on the CRC’s display for a few hours, let us know diane.holloway@invasiveanimals.com

IA CRC student wins award

Congratulations to Tarnya Cox who was the 2008 UniQuest Trailblazer Award winner in the student category.  Trailblazers is a competition for original, innovative early-stage research and entrepreneurial ideas run by UniQuest which a part of the Uni of Qld (http://www.uniquest.com.au/). 

Tarnya had 5 minutes to pitch her work on a non-lethal, non-environmentally invasive form of vertebrate pest control (carnivore odours as repellants project) to a panel of UniQuest members, venture capitalists and patent attorneys.

"UniQuest’s annual Trailblazer innovation competition was developed to reward innovative ideas and early-stage research, which have the potential to benefit the community, industry or business as well as generate a financial return".

Tarnya won a cash prize, plus award winners are assisted by UniQuest to turn their ideas into real-world commercial applications if appropriate.

Well done, Taryna!CRC media release: rabbit impact

Pest Animal Management Diploma course

The Education Program of the Invasive Animals CRC has developed and trialled a Diploma level (6 units at level V) training course in best practice pest management under the Australian Qualifications Framework.  The aim of the course is to increase the capacity of those involved in planning and implementing strategic and cooperative invasive animal management.  The course complements the pest animal training course being developed by NSW DPI for levels 1 – IV. It is consistent with and will help meet the adoption aims of VPC’s National Pest Animal Strategy.

The course is delivered by the Institute for Applied Ecology and the Invasive Animals CRC, through the University of Canberra College, a Registered Training Organisation. Upon full completion of the course students will be awarded 6 of the 10 units that form the Diploma of Conservation and Land Management, Specialising in Vertebrate Pest Management. The remaining 4 units can be obtained via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) through TOCAL College.

The following are some comments that the current cohort of course participants have said about the course.

 “My knowledge of many aspects of pest management has improved” – Pest Animal Project Officer. 

“The course is really well structured and introduces the topics in a very logical order” – Senior Pest Coordinator.

“The content is informative, beneficial and the format works” – Govt Pest Officer. 

“It’s all content that we use and need in our everyday employment. It will enable us to do our jobs better” –  Senior pest Animal Ranger.

“Having such an expert yet approachable facilitator like Mike has been great” – Pest Animal Project Officer. 

The course fee for 2009 will be $7000 (plus travel and accommodation costs) and will include all text resources and reference materials. It runs for 2 semesters (15 weeks each) beginning around the last week of February and is delivered primarily online supported by 3 short compulsory residential components in Canberra (February, July, and November). Students are required to develop and present a practical pest management plan as part of the course assessment.

For more detail contact Stephen Dalla Costa:

Stephen.Dalla.Costa@canberra.edu.au, telephone: (02) 6201 5728, or Mike Braysher mike.braysher@canberra.edu.au, telephone: (02) 6260 8112.

Download the course flyer [here].
 

Great cane toad muster

The Stop the Toad Foundation has organised a 'National Cane Toad Eradication Week' from October 11-19th at Timber Creek Nt and Kununurra WA. 

The Foundation will play a central advisory role to bring together a range of community groups, indigenous partners and other interested parties across northern Australia with the common aim of undertaking a week of sustained effort against populations of cane toads late in the northern dry season. [read more about their work].

They are seeking volunteers for the muster.   They will provide food and training.  Registration is essential: call 1300 788 735 or 0400 130 397.  

Call for conference papers

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW would like to invite submissions for the call for papers for the 'Saving a Sunburnt Country' conference.  The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW is the principal sponsor for the conference. 

Relevant theme: planning for higher temperature scenarios and other climate induced changes – the challenges of assisting mitigation and adaptation for biodiversity and ecosystems.

Information on how to register interest in either presenting or attending is available at www.nccnsw.org.au/sunburntcountry.

Live futures event: Sydney

Come along on Sunday August 17 to Newtown Square (corner of King St and Enmore Road opposite Newtown Station) for a one day festival to explore the future - climate experts, scientists, artists, designers, technologists, film-makes, speakers, performers and more.  There will be workshops, interactive forums, a demo of Second Life (virtual world experience), technology and much more.  Part of National Science Week.  Visit www.globalyouthfutures.org for more information.

Murray Darling Basin: the end of the line reports

The last of 18 specific reports on water availability in every region of the Murray Darling Basin has been completed by the CSIRO’s Murray Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project team.

Dr Tom Hatton, Director of the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, says the Murray region report has sobering news for the environment and communities at the end of the system. (6:10) The Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project tracks the entire river system, from the Darling in Queensland to the mouth of the Murray River, the Coorong region in South Australia.

Read more at: http://www.csiro.au/multimedia/MDBSYMurrayRegionReport.html

Rewards for scientific papers

A reminder that it is a requirement of the CRC's Participants Agreement that all proposed publications arising from the "Activities" (including all projects) be approved by a Program Leader before submission.   Technically this includes journal articles, conference papers, conference posters, press releases, and reports.  The policy and approval documents are available on the website in About Us/Corporate strategy and policies/internal policies and procedures. 

Authors should be aware that the IA CRC also maintains a reward scheme for scientific papers accepted for publication.   When any authors publishing work affiliated with CRC projects completes the 'approval to publish' procedures, and approvals are sent in to the Communications Unit via Program Leaders, a process is instigated that results in the researchers being sent a Universal Gift card that can be used at any place Visa is accepted.

It is well worth your while to properly complete this process and acknowledge the CRC in your publications!!  

It should be noted that the purpose of this policy and procedures is to ensure intellectual property belonging to the CRC and its Participants is appropriately protected, and that the CRC is acknowledged.