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AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE WORKSHOP 2008

Enhancing the quality of the experience of postdocs and early career researchers
The Shine Dome, Canberra, 14–15 February 2008

Program

Thursday, 14 February 2008
9:55am	Welcome Professor Kurt Lambeck, PresAA, FRS President, Australian Academy of Science
10:00am	Opening Senator The Hon. Kim Carr Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
Session 1: Everyone needs mentoring and new skills! Chair: Professor Kurt Lambeck, PresAA, FRS President, Australian Academy of Science
10:20am	Why mentoring? Why acquire new skills? Why now? Professor Bob Williamson, AO, FAA, FRS Chair of the National Committee for Medicine, Australian Academy of Science
10:35am	The best mentoring Professor Rachel Webster University of Melbourne Winner of Nature award for mentoring excellence in Australia, 2007
11:00am	Mentoring and skills acquisition: An essential component of Australian health and medical research, but how do we achieve it? Professor Warwick Anderson AM Chief Executive Officer, National Health and Medical Research Council
Session 2: Writing grants Chair: Professor Susanne von Caemmerer FAA Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University
11:40am	Writing great grants – public and private perspectives Professor Brendan Crabb The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
12:00pm	Break-out groups to discuss mentoring – preliminary discussion
12:50pm	Summary Professor Bob Williamson AO, FAA, FRS Chair of the National Committee for Medicine, Australian Academy of Science
Session 3: The international dimension Chair: Professor Jenny Graves FAA Foreign Secretary, Australian Academy of Science
2:00pm	Introduction Professor Jenny Graves FAA Foreign Secretary, Australian Academy of Science
2:10pm	The international dimension to research, collaborations and networking Professor Bryan Gaensler Physics, University of Sydney
2:40pm	Discussion
Session 4: Talking to students, colleagues, the media and the public Chair: Professor Philip Kuchel, FAA Secretary (Science Policy), Australian Academy of Science
3:00pm	Addressing specialised audiences, students, and the public Dr Janet Salisbury Director Biotext Pty Ltd
3:20pm	Dealing with the media – how to present well Mr Toss Gascoigne Executive Director, Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Session 5: Setting up your scientific team/laboratory and project management Chair: Professor Graham Farquhar, FAA, FRS Secretary (Biological Sciences), Australian Academy of Science
4:20pm	How to be researcher, teacher, administrator and mother Professor Michelle Simmons, FAA School of Physics, University of New South Wales
4:40pm	Break into groups: Define issues for discussion and resolution tomorrow
5:20pm	Break-out groups: Summary Professor Graham Farquhar, FAA, FRS Secretary (Biological Sciences), Australian Academy of Science
7:00pm	Dinner: The Hall, University House Dinner speech: Mentoring and skills acquisition: personal insights and an ARC perspective Professor Margaret Sheil CEO, Australian Research Council
Friday, 15 February 2008
Session 5: Setting up your scientific team/laboratory and project management (continued) Chair: Professor Graham Farquhar, FAA, FRS Secretary (Biological Sciences), Australian Academy of Science
9:00am	University and institute administration and data management Professor Alan Lawson Graduate School, University of Queensland
9:25am	Recruitment and selection of staff: A quick guide to HR Mr Bradley Beasley Employment Services, Human Resources, Australian National University
10:40am	The art of negotiation Dr Moira Clay Associate Director, Children’s Cancer Institute Australia
11:00am	Finance for beginners Dr Leanna Read, FTSE CEO and Managing Director, TGR BioSciences Pty Ltd
11:20am	Extended discussion
Session 6: Conclusions Chair: Professor Philip Kuchel, FAA Secretary (Science Policy), Australian Academy of Science
1:40pm	Questions to participants What program is needed to provide mentoring and necessary skills to early career researchers in Australia? How best can early career researchers engage with the Australian Academy of Science?
1:55pm	Break into groups for discussion
3:00pm	Report-back from discussion panels
3.30pm	General discussion and summary Chair: Professor Sue Serjeantson, AO Executive Secretary, Australian Academy of Science Comments by Kurt Lambeck (President), Bob Williamson (convener of meeting), Philip Kuchel and all participants.
4:00pm	Close