Early career newSletters

Issue 10
March 2012

Editorial: On the benefits of international exposure
Silence is not golden: networking your way in science
Interview — Being a government scientist
Science meets Policymakers: a space to understand each other
The Keynote Address
When Science meets Policy: success, failures, limitations and enablers
Scientists as parents: time to change the deal
Funding opportunities
News bulletin

Editorial - On the benefits of international exposure

Professor Kurt Lambeck has been at the Australian National University since 1977, including 10 years as Director of the Research School of Earth Sciences. He is the immediate past President of the Academy of Science (2006–2010) and presently holds a Chaire Internationale Blaise Pascal at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris.

The Australian Academy of Science has long argued that the benefits of international collaboration in science far exceed the costs, most recently in its Internationalisation of Australian Science position paper www.science.org.au/publications/documents/Internationalisation-of-Australian-Science.pdf. These benefits can be summarised as obtaining early access to the ~97% of the world's ideas and knowledge that is not produced in Australia, with the associated opportunity to use this new knowledge for accessing research platforms not otherwise available and for directing it to areas that are important to Australian society.

Most countries today look beyond their national horizons in order to improve their own science and technology base. Programs to attract young researchers to a nation's research laboratories are receiving high priority even in the most scientifically and technologically advanced countries, and even in times of economic constraints. I was reminded of this only last week in Louvain-la-Neuve where my audience was largely made up of staff, post-docs and PhD students from outside Belgium — they were from the rest of Europe, from eastern and western Asia and from Australia. Throughout Europe graduate programs are increasingly conducted in English because of the importance of attracting non-nationals to their research programs.

The mobility of young researchers does create its own challenges. While recognising the importance, even necessity, of overseas experience for its young and bright students and early career researchers, a nation cannot afford to lose them all. In my own case, I left Australia in the early 1960s, initially for two years, but did not return for 15, more through an unexpected encounter than through any planned intent. Many of my peers never returned. Their various reasons for not returning sooner or not returning at all include the 'size of fish and ponds' issue, marrying a 'local' and issues of children's schooling. Often commensurate positions and resources were not available back in Australia at times when these non-science factors may have encouraged a return.

Again, this is not a particularly Australian issue. China has in recent years developed a strong program of encouraging its young researchers to seek early careers beyond China's borders. I recently raised the question with a senior member of the Chinese Government of whether there was a concern about losing their best. The response was interesting: ‘The challenge is to create an environment that will attract these people back. If we cannot do this then we don't deserve them'.

It can also be daunting for young researchers to seek uncertain overseas appointments nowadays. PhD graduates and postdocs are probably older on average today than they were 20 years ago, and family commitments are likely to have been made that reduce mobility. Another growing issue is the uncertainty of being able to find a position back in Australia a few years down the road. While the number of graduating PhDs is growing, the number of employment opportunities beyond postdoctoral fellowships is not keeping up. Again this is a complex issue. One consideration may be that the overseas experience leads primarily to expectations of careers in research laboratories rather than in industry. In France, where there still are very substantial research laboratories in the private sector, industry is reluctant to recruit PhDs and postdocs of a certain age when there is already a good supply of younger graduates from the ‘Grandes Ecoles'. Perhaps the output of higher research degrees is not compatible with what Australia needs. I would respond to this by saying that an oversupply may be what is required to develop an entrepreneurial research industry around our universities.

But this should not occur at the cost of international exposure and experience during one's early career. Losing that experience will adversely affect the rest of one's career. The reasons that I can enjoy working in Paris today are the early contacts that I developed some 35 years ago. Australia's challenge is to develop programs that provide ‘return' opportunities within a reasonable time frame upon completion of an Australian PhD or a first postdoc. The various fellowship schemes that have been developed by the government in recent years go partway to filling this need but the numbers need to be increased. When I think of the number of research areas in which Australian scientists make significant contributions (including the social sciences and humanities), ask what is required to maintain critical mass, and look at the present demography of our universities and research laboratories, I quickly conclude that we need a program of at least some 100–200 return fellowships a year. This may be aiming for the stars, but failing to make the investments that will allow Australian science to be internationally linked and competitive means failing to invest in the nation's future.

Silence is not golden: networking your way in science

Dr Andrew Siebel — Senior Research Officer, Metabolic and Vascular Physiology, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, and Executive Member of the Australian Early-Mid Career Researchers Forum

After doing my due diligence (aka Google), the most relevant definition I found for networking was that it means developing and maintaining contacts and personal connections with a variety of people who might be helpful to you and your career. Networking is a skill that doesn't come naturally to a lot of scientists but is essential not only professionally, but personally. It is no secret that you are much more likely to get a position if people know you or at least know of you. For similar reasons it is just as important not to burn any bridges along the way in your scientific career, especially in such a relatively small research community as we have here in Australia.

Networking is not always overt or just ‘sucking up' to senior people to get yourself known in the field. Interacting with peers is just as important and sometimes even more so as you are more likely to have common issues and challenges. I found that going to local and International conferences during my PhD was a great way to get a solid grounding in the art of networking. I was lucky enough to have some great mentors/supervisors, who were always willing to introduce me to people in my field of interest. It can be daunting at first speaking to ‘gurus' in the field, but you soon realise that they are just other passionate scientists who love talking about what they do.

Tips for effective networking in science

• Go out of your way to speak to people at conferences

• When presenting an abstract at a conference early in your career, opt for a poster — it gives you more opportunity to network

• Ask your mentor/supervisor to introduce you to people they know to make first contacts easier

• Get involved in professional societies and committees where possible

• Sign up to the Academy's ECR newsletter www.science.org.au/ecr/ecrlist.html

Interview — Being a government scientist

Debora De Freitas, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong (debora@uow.edu.au) has interviewed Mr Tim Pritchard to learn about his experience going from geophysics to science policy and get his advice for early career researchers contemplating a position outside academia.

Tim Pritchard — Manager, Waters and Coastal Science Section, Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet

How did you come to be working for the Office of Environment and Heritage?

I started my career by doing research at universities for about eight years. I did a geophysics degree at the University of Southampton in the UK before getting a job at Sydney University where I also did a Master's degree. It was initially a three-year project looking at palaeomagnetism and plate tectonics in the South West Pacific, so lots of field work and programming. And then I worked at another Sydney university in a teaching position before returning to Sydney University where I did a lot of series analysis of seismic data. During this time, I was on ‘soft money' so I decided that I needed a ‘proper job'! By then I had a family and a mortgage so I needed more security.
Initially I got a job with the Environment Protection Authority in the NSW State Government where I worked for three years before moving to Sydney Water Corporation. After a couple of years there I returned to the Environment Protection Authority where I became the Head of the Marine Waters Unit. I then moved to a higher position which includes dealing with all State waters. During this time agencies were re-structured and I now work at the Office of Environment and Heritage.

What do you think about people with a science background working in non-research positions in science?

It is really good to have people with science backgrounds in policy areas and it is equally good to expose practicing scientists to policy work. This bridges the communication gap that sometimes exists between science and policy. You need at least someone in the policy area or science area who is prepared to make such a connection. If you get both then it is the ideal.

In your opinion, what is missing to close this gap between science and policy?

I think the perspectives of policy people differ from those of researchers. Scientific drivers to develop an understanding of natural processes are not always aligned with policy opportunities. Policy decisions are often made over shorter time frames than research projects.

Another difference is that the scientific workforce tends to be more stable so scientists can have a deeper corporate history. Policy skills are usually more portable so quite often you do not get people sitting in those positions for as long as you would in science areas. This can lead to differences in perspective. Mutual respect for differing perspectives is very important.

Quite often policy operates at a high level and further scientific advice is required for specific applications. Depending on the type of policy, you often need an understanding of local scientific information and evidence to interpret the policy. So it is helpful to have scientists who understand the policy, and policy or operational people who understand the scientific information.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

One of the big advantages of working as a government scientist is that you can apply the science and see the outcomes. You have the opportunity to provide science to inform policies, and you can expand the knowledge base to make informed decisions — decisions that can result in good environmental outcomes.

If you could give some advice for early career researchers who are looking for positions outside academia, what you would suggest?

I think the challenge for people coming from a science background to work either at the interface between science and policy or in technical policy positions, is to get relevant experience outside their own scientific discipline. If you are a scientist with no exposure to policymaking then it is quite a risk for an employer to take you on. With your scientific qualifications it may be quite easy for employers to assess how smart you are, but it is very difficult to know whether or not you have an aptitude for policy. The ability to interpret science in a policy context is difficult to demonstrate unless you have had some exposure to policymaking. This is the thing that separates successful job applicants from unsuccessful ones. Many people get experience working in a voluntary capacity – this can be opportunistic but once you have demonstrated your value then opportunities snowball.

Science meets Policymakers: a space to understand each other

Science meets Policymakers is a new event organised by Science and Technology Australia (formerly FASTS) in partnership with the HC Coombs Policy Forum of the Australian National University (ANU), Canberra. The Australian Academy of Science is a sponsor of the meeting and supported the attendance of two members of the newly established Australian Early-Mid Career Researchers Forum (AEMCRF).

Dr Krystal Evans (AEMCRF member) of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Dr Maggie Evans-Galea (AEMCRF chair) of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute share their thoughts on this sellout event held at the National Gallery on Friday 24 February 2012.

Krystal: As a medical research scientist with little exposure to the policymaking process, for me this event was an insight into a whole new world. Clearly good science is vital to good policy, but also good policy is needed for good science to have good outcomes. Communication really needs to go both ways.

It was agreed that policymakers need to understand science and that scientists could benefit from experiencing the non-linear process of policy development. The question was ‘how to create opportunities'? One of the recommendations arising from the meeting was to establish secondment programs to enhance the dialogue between scientists and policymakers. Successful schemes such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellowships in the US give researchers an opportunity to undertake internships with politicians and government departments. Scientists can directly contribute to the policymaking process, while gaining firsthand experience on how government works.

Maggie: These postdoctoral fellowships have been successful in the US since the early 1970s. I have several friends who have completed one and found it immensely rewarding. Some stayed in Washington DC, while others returned to the lab. Either way, such a program in Australia would be an incredibly valuable opportunity to improve the science–policy interface. It is exciting to learn that the BIO21 cluster is piloting short-term science policy fellowships and that secondment programs are already in discussion with the government. Importantly, this will open an entire new career path for early career researchers — since four in five leave research for different reasons, this career option is certainly a step in the right direction!

Krystal: A quick show of hands during the meeting revealed that 75% of attendees were from government, with the rest mainly from academia, and only a handful from industry. I would have liked to see more research scientists and representation from industry, but as the reputation of this event grows, so too will the diversity of attendees. Altogether, I feel like Science meets Policymakers really was the start of something, a space to get together and understand each other's objectives and priorities. I am looking forward to seeing the outcomes of the recommendations put forward from the day.

Maggie: I fully echo Krystal's sentiments. In my field —translational research — the role of government and policy in expediting novel biomedical therapies from bench to bedside is critical. Science meets Policymakers was an exciting opportunity to network with each other, to communicate the issues and challenges we all face and develop positive, realistic solutions.

Whenever I meet policy advisers, I am always in awe of how broad their knowledge base has to be. In my research, I appreciate the bigger picture of my goals but I also focus in on very specific problems in infinite detail, while policymakers need to zoom out and be across many different aspects of science including climate change, the river systems of Australia, the latest in nanotechnology, food and water security as well as Australia's health and medical research. I learnt that as scientists, we need to be (much) more aware of how the policy-development process works and more open and clear in communicating our research results to others. I also came to appreciate that policymakers do research too — just in a different way and on different topics. Finally, I urge all early career researchers (and others) to attend the second Science meets Policymakers meeting — which will surely be bigger and better than the first!

On the issue of permeability between the science and policymaking worlds, see also these recent articles from GenomeWeb: www.genomeweb.com/blog/listen-them and The Conversation: http://theconversation.edu.au/doctor-doctor-why-so-few-scientists-in-top-government-jobs-5561

Following are the two highlights of the day according to Maggie.

The Keynote Address

Professor Nina Fedoroff is the AAAS President and has years of experience as a science policy adviser to the US government.

Recently, Professor Fedoroff has travelled extensively to many different countries. She believes that the issues of food and water have yet to be effectively addressed, anywhere in the world. This was a mind-blowing tour of the food and water security issues we will all face soon. I wished my 10 year old had been there to hear it. We need to increase our agricultural output with less water, less space and in a hotter climate. Professor Fedoroff also gave an excellent overview of the many cutting-edge initiatives developed in several countries, providing much hope for the future.

When Science meets Policy: success, failures, limitations and enablers

In this insightful panel forum, one particular story stood out. The story about…fish.

Professor Tom Kompas, Director of the Crawford School at the Australian National University (ANU), had the room enthralled with his tale about fish. His quiet, late-night radio voice added to the intriguing win-win-win recount of developing effective fisheries management.

Professor Kompas and his team had developed a model for fisheries management using an Australian Research Council grant. They knew it could work.

So he left ANU to enter policy development for two years. He formed collaborative research groups with professionals from industry, government and science who met on a regular basis. Within four years, all parties were on board and implementation of the fisheries management model could begin, ticking that important translation into policy box.

Despite the time-frame, this was a huge success story — and a very inspiring one!

Scientists as parents: time to change the deal

Blatant sex discrimination against women in science may be history (see Ceci and Williams 2011, Understanding current causes of women's underrepresentation in science, PNAS 108(8) www.pnas.org/content/108/8/3157.full). So why are women still not making it to the higher end of the academic scale?

A recent study in the March–April issue of the magazine American Scientist tries to understand why many female graduate students are derailed from their original academic goals. Women scientists who wish to have children are expected to have their greatest intellectual productivity contemporaneously with their greatest fertility. The tenure system was also created at a time when one-earner, one-caretaker households were the norm and thus it was designed for people without significant responsibilities in household work or child care. The article provides advice for future women students and creative ideas for adapting policies to current realities of juggling home and work that men and women face today: www.americanscientist.org/issues/feature/2012/2/when-scientists-choose-motherhood/

Policy changes aiming at providing greater work-related flexibility for women and men in research careers were announced in September last year by the National Science Foundation at the White House. The new set of policies included grant postponements and suspensions for parental leave, and the availability of supplements to cover research technicians to maintain labs while principal investigators are on family leave. For more details see www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/26/white-house-and-national-science-foundation-announce-new-workplace-flexi

Industrial engineer Lillian Gilbreth was a rare early career scientist and mother of 12. Above, Gilbreth and some of her children gather at the family's home office in Rhode Island in 1916.

Funding opportunities

A postdoc in Spain?

BIOTRACK is a co-funded project by the Marie Curie Actions of the 7th Framework Program of the European Commission and the IDIBAPS consortium for Professional Training and Career Development in Biomedicine. IDIBAPS, a Spanish biomedical research centre linked to the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, offers three-year postdoctoral positions for foreign researchers. Up to eight fellows a year can be recruited.

Four calls will be open in 2012. Find more information on this programme at www.idibaps.org/biotrack

A research visit to France?

The Australian Academy of Science and the Embassy of France have announced a new Fellowship program to help young Australian scientists work with cutting-edge French research institutions. The France–Australia Science Innovation Collaboration (FASIC) Program Early Career Fellowships will support researchers in four priority areas: (1) Medical science and biotechnology, (2) Energy, including clean energy, (3) Sustainable infrastructure and transport and (4) Climate change and environment (areas of marine science, land and water management and fire management).

Australian early career researchers can apply for funding in 2012 until Friday 6 April.

More information is available from www.science.org.au/internat/europe/ecr-france.html

Research grant program announcement from the University of Chicago

The New Frontiers in Astronomy and Cosmology International Grant Competition is offering opportunities for innovative research on the following topics:

• What was the earliest state of the Universe?
• Is our Universe unique or is it part of a much larger multiverse?
• What is the origin of the complexity in the Universe?
• Are we alone in the Universe? Or is there other life and intelligence beyond the solar system?

Grants are offered for theoretical work (up to US$300,000 for two years) and experimental research up to (US$500,000 for two years).

Pre-application due on Monday 16 April.

See www.newfrontiersinastronomy.org for more details.

L'Oréal Australia New Zealand 'For Women in Science' Fellowships

The L'Oréal Fellowships help early career women scientists to consolidate their careers and rise to leadership positions in science. Three $25,000 Fellowships will be awarded to female scientists with no more than five years of post-doctoral experience, to assist their research at an Australian or New Zealand academic or research institution over 12 months.

Nominations open Sunday 1 April and run until Tuesday 1 May.

For more information visit www.scienceinpublic.com.au/loreal/

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Fellowships

NHMRC Early Career Fellowships provide opportunities for Australian researchers to undertake research that is both of major importance in their field and of benefit to Australian health, either in Australia or overseas.

Applications for the 2012 funding round close Thursday 3 May.

More information is available at www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants/apply-funding/early-career-fellowships

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes

The Eureka Prizes are a unique partnership between the Australian Museum and government organisations, institutions, companies and individuals committed to celebrating the vitality, originality and excellence of Australian science. Each year they reward outstanding achievements in a variety of fields including:

• Commercialisation of Innovation - sponsored by Rio Tinto
• Innovative Use of Technology - sponsored by ANSTO
• Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers - sponsored by University of Technology, Sydney
• Promoting Understanding of Australian Science Research - sponsored by Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
• Innovation in Computer Science - sponsored by Google Australia

Nominations close Friday 4 May 2012.

For more information visit www.eureka.australianmuseum.net.au/

Australian Academy of Science: awarding excellence

The Academy is now calling for applications for its 2013 round of prestigious early career awards, travelling fellowships, research funding and conference support (for researchers no more than 40 years old in the calendar year of nomination, except in the case of significant interruptions to their research career). More than $200,000 will be awarded in honorific awards recognising outstanding work in Australian science, travelling fellowships to establish science links between Australia and the world, research grants and conference grants to advance research in a range of disciplines.
Nominations for the honorific awards close 29 July 2012 and applications for travelling fellowships, conference support and research funding close 31 August 2012.
Further information is available from www.science.org.au/awards/

News bulletin

Friday 30 March — Melbourne: ‘In Conversation' with Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt and Professor Andrew Holmes

More details at http://science.org.au/events/lectures-and-speeches/innovation-global-engagement.html

Science at the Shine Dome
On 2-4 May 2012 the Australian Academy of Science is holding its annual three-day meeting Science at the Shine Dome. A special program will run for 70early career researchers, including the New Fellows Seminar, awards presentation, the symposium,100 years of Antarctic Science, and a choice of three career development workshops with senior scientists and media experts:

• Media and communicating science
• Successful scientific collaborations
• Grant writing — getting your research ideas funded

The registration fee is $495, which includes attendance at all activities, lunches and morning/afternoon teas on 2–4 May and dinners on 2 and 3 May.

Full program and registration available at www.science.org.au/events/sats/sats2012/

Critical thinking resource and competition
Brilliant videos from TechNyou cover basic logic and faulty arguments and develop critical thinking skills. Watch Part 1: a valuable argument at www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSZ3BUru59A
TechNyou is an emerging technologies public information resource funded by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE).
Do you think you could come up with an argument to convince Australia's Chief Scientist you're right? TechNyou is giving you the chance to do just that. Make a 3–5 minute video arguing for or against one of the proposed questions and submit it before 1 May 2012 to be in the running to win a 32G Wifi iPAD2.
More information at http://technyou.edu.au/competitions/critical-thinking-competition/

Online citizen science projects: ABC Science is seeking scientists
ABC Science is looking for innovative scientists to participate in three online citizen science projects. Do you have a research idea that will appeal to lots of people and involve an online experiment/survey/test?
Find out more at www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/03/19/3456938.htm

Media training for scientists – Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra
Science in Public holds regular media training courses for scientists in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney in collaboration with Econnect Communication. These one-day courses are especially designed for scientists and will help you present your science in a way that attracts attention, helps journalists cover your story accurately, and meets your needs.

Melbourne: Thursday 12 April, Tuesday 29 May, Wednesday 4 July, Tuesday 15 August, Thursday 27 September, Wednesday 14 November

Sydney: Tuesday 5 June, Thursday 9 August, Tuesday 2 October

Canberra: Wednesday 2 May, Wednesday 8 August.

More courses can be held, also in other locations, if there are at least four people interested.
For more details visit www.scienceinpublic.com.au/training

Brilliant quotes about science

'Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.'

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) is a French microbiologist, chemist, pioneer of the 'Germ theory of disease' and inventor of the process of pasteurization.