No Images? Click here Hi there, We hope you are having a great Summer break! Semester 1 begins in just over two weeks, so it's a good time to start to think about your year ahead. To new students - welcome to GradSci_NEWS. This is your fortnightly update on events, opportunities and news, hand-picked for you. Between editions, you can keep up to date with Science related news via our Science Student News Facebook page. And keep up to date with Faculty news via our Science at Melbourne Facebook page, and Science at Melbourne Twitter account. Read on to find out this month's important news, orientation information and more! IN THIS ISSUE
New StudentsGraduate WelcomeThis session is to welcome students to the Faculty of Science, review Faculty expectations, hear from current students and learn about services available. There are also course specific sessions available. To find out more go to the orientation website. Mon 20 Feb 9:30am - 11:30am. Graduate Researchers OrientationOrientation Day for Graduate Researchers provides a welcome to all graduate researchers (PhD, Professional Doctorate, Masters by Research or MPhil candidates) who are new to the University of Melbourne or a graduate research degree. The day introduces you to the important elements of your graduate research degree, and the comprehensive research training and professional development services available at the University. Fri 24 Feb, 9:00am - 2:00pm, Copland Theatre, The Spot building, Parkville Campus. Moving from regional areas to Melbourne?Hear from a panel of graduate students who have made the move from regional Victoria to Metro Melbourne. They will talk about their journey and experience, and introduce support services available to students from regional areas. Wed 22 Feb 2:00pm - 3:00pm in the Sunderland Theatre. More info on their website. Register here to attend. EventsLaunch of the School of GeographyHear Reverend Tim Costello AO, Chief Advocate for World Vision Australia and Patron of the Australian Geography Teachers Association, reflect on the important role Geography plays in educating the global citizens of tomorrow. An overview of the School's strategic vision, and brief summaries of current research projects will also be presented. Refreshments will be served during the reception. Thurs 23 Feb, 5.45pm - 8:30pm. More info and registration here. Graduate Students’ Association Workshop seriesThe GSA is once again running a number of heavily subsidised study support programs and workshops for graduate students, including SPSS, NVivo, Word and Excel, thesis boot camps and more. They are also expanding the Mind the Gap workshop series, a line-up of employability workshops designed to help prepare students for the realities of work. Students can sign up by visiting the website. Breaking News: An insiders guide to the new media climateFind out what journalists need in order to tell a story in an engaging way while remaining true to the science. Hosted by environmental campaigner, science journalist and broadcaster Tanya Ha, this event is a must for environmental advocates and researchers who need to know how to work with the media we have, rather than an idealised version we might hope for. Thu 16 Feb, 5:45pm – 7:30pm. Register here. Top JobsAnnual Giving Telethon CallersLooking for a casual job and love talking to people over the phone? The University of Melbourne is recruiting 30 current undergraduate and postgraduate students for its Regular Giving Telethon. Check out the job description for more details here. Senior Research Officer - Statistician, Cancer Council VictoriaWhat: A full-time fixed term position for 12 months D. E. Shaw ResearchWhat: Numerous roles including Computational Chemistry and Biology Opportunities, Biomolecular Force Field Development, Postdoctoral Fellowships. Quantitative Developer - Data Analysis Team, Akuna CapitalWhat: As a Quantitative Developer you can expect to work on multiple projects impacting nearly every aspect of the firm. OpportunitiesInterested in undertaking an internship in 2017?The Science and Technology Internship Subject will enable you to gain real experience working in a science or technology-related workplace, for course credit! Start investigating your options and learn more about the subject here. Science Student Ambassador Program 2017Do you love studying science at Melbourne? Become a Science Student Ambassador and complement your studies with the skills that give you a leading edge upon finishing your degree. As a Science Student Ambassador you will have the opportunity to contribute to various activities run by the Faculty, while developing your skills in public speaking, communication and interpersonal skills, presentation skills, teamwork and networking. Participation is voluntary and you will be the face of the University at key events. You will be highly influential in decisions that have a big impact on the University including a student’s decision to study with us. Events may be at the University, Faculty or School level. Applicants must have completed a minimum of one semester of study in the Faculty of Science with a H3 average. For more information, and to obtain a copy of the Position Description, email Jennifer De Gabriele or call her on 03 8344 7949. Applications close February 20, 2017. Short intensive Statistical coursesNeed confidence in statistics for your research or need to present data effectively? The Statistical Consulting Centre is offering the following courses for graduate research students, available in early 2017: Statistics for Research Workers (using R) – Wed 15 Feb – Wed 22 Feb (6 days) Clubs and SocietiesClubs & Societies SummerFest 2017There are over 200 clubs and societies on campus. To check them out, come along to the Clubs & Societies SummerFest on Wed 22 Feb and Thurs 23 Feb, on Union Lawn from 11:00am - 3:00pm. Sci-Comm 101Each newsletter we feature tips from our very own science communication extraordinaire in the School of BioSciences, Dr Jen Martin. Follow Jen on Twitter @scidocmartin or check out her blog, Espresso Science. SciComm Tip #12 Learn to make great Powerpoint slidesChances are, at some point you will give a talk using Powerpoint (or equivalent) slides. And no matter how interesting the content is and how well you speak, bad slides can completely wreck your talk. So invest time in making fantastic slides that enhance, rather than distract from your message. A simple rule to follow: less is always more. Fewer slides, minimal text and animations only if essential. Here are a few good tips, and there’s plenty more useful advice online. ScholarshipsHousing BursariesDo you need to live away from home to attend University? Applications are open for the Housing Bursary. Find out more info and how to apply here. Applications close Fri 3 March. Eleanor and Joseph Wertheim ScholarshipApplications are now open for this scholarship to assist female students (over 25 years old) who are experiencing compassionate or compelling circumstances. Receive a stipend of approximately $20,000 per annum (pro rata). Applications close Tues 28 Feb. Apply online. Northcote Trust BursaryThis bursary assists Indigenous Australian students to meet the cost of study at the University of Melbourne. Applications due Fri 3 March. For more information and how to apply visit the website. Sport ScholarshipsMelbourne University Sports provide various scholarships to assist elite and emerging student-athletes to reach their potential whilst studying at Melbourne. For further information, please refer to the Melbourne University Sport Elite Athlete Program. Faculty ScholarshipsDame Margaret Blackwood Soroptimist Scholarship (BioSciences) – For female students enrolled in a PhD or MPhil in genetics. Closing date Fri 3 March. Students must be enrolled in the Faculty of Science and meet other eligibility requirements as listed in the application forms. Information and application forms are available here.
Science in the MediaExploring the impact of city lights on birds, and building better detergentsNew Up Close podcast! Hear from BioSciences PhD student Anne Aulsebrook, who is looking at how urban lighting and light pollution is impacting the health and behaviour of wild birds that make their home in our cities. Listen here. A stone, skip and a hop away from saving a bayAn innovative approach to saving Port Phillip Bay’s biodiversity involves using healthy reefs to save damaged ones. Find out more about this research by Dr Eric Treml (School of BioSciences) in this Pursuit article and video. Making big sense of big data: The quest to improve human reasoningA team co-led by Tim van Gelder from the School of BioSciences has just been announced as the recipients of up to $19.5 million in funding to study how to analyse crowd-sourced thinking to make better decisions. Find out how in this Pursuit article. University NewsSustainability PlanThe University’s Sustainability Plan, which was recently released, is designed to strengthen our commitment towards better management of the Earth’s climate. The University acknowledges the seriousness and urgency of the threats posed by a changing climate and fully supports a lower emissions future. The Plan is deliberately ambitious. It represents a strengthened commitment to lead and act on sustainability challenges. Efforts focus on the integration of research, teaching, engagement, governance and operations. To find out more, go to the website. ServicesStop 1Stop 1 is your one stop shop for everything from enrolment advice to financial aid. For a full list of services on offer, visit the website. We recommend that you go online firstly to solve your queries, and start a one-on-one online chat if you need. myUniAppsThe myUniApps platform provides current students with online access to study-related software packages including Microsoft Office, MATLAB, Endnote, SPSS, Maple, EstimateS, I-Tree Eco and more. Please visit the website, log-in and have a look. Academic Skills individual appointmentsIndividual appointments on academic skills and English development are available all year round. Visit the Book a Stop 1 adviser page for more information and to book. Academic Writing Drop-ins will recommence in Week 3 (Mon 13 March). To stay up to date over the summer holidays, please like our Science at Melbourne and the Science Student News pages on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. Until next time we are truly yours, Science News |