School of Agriculture, Food & Wine promoting careers in agriculture at the Royal Adelaide Show

The Golden Grains pavilion at the the Royal Adelaide Show is hosting the “Ground 2 Grub” (G2G) exhibit. This exhibit showcases the South Australia’s award winning grains plus contains interactive science-based displays focusing on plant breeding for quality grain, pests in the paddock, soil health and precision agriculture.

Show goers in this pavilion get to touch, see, smell and understand the process of growing quality grain from the scientists in the lab to the farmer in the field to the food on the plate. The G2G exhibit was developed over two years with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society’s Grain and Fodder Committee.   This year the School of Agriculture, Food & Wine is presenting a number of hands on activities as part of G2G. These include:

• See and taste barley exhibit: showcasing what foods barley is used in
• Plant and soil health: come and test soil pH and see how salt effects plant growth
• Just what does gluten do in bread?

A crucial aspect of the display presents the myriad of career opportunities for Agricultural Science Graduates.  The Show runs from 2 Sept-10 Sept 2011.

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Marschner’s Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 3rd Edition

Congratulations to Associate Professor Petra Marschner, who has seen the third edition of Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants through to publication!

Flyer

From the Elsevier website:

“Respected and known worldwide in the field for his research in plant nutrition, Dr. Horst Marschner authored two editions of Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. His research greatly advanced the understanding of rhizosphere processes and trace element uptake by plants and he published extensively in a variety of plant nutrition areas. While doing agricultural research in West Africa in 1996, Dr. Marschner contracted malaria and passed away, and until now this legacy title went unrevised. Despite the passage of time, it remains the definitive reference on plant mineral nutrition.

 

“Great progress has been made in the understanding of various aspects of plant nutrition and in recent years the view on the mode of action of mineral nutrients in plant metabolism and yield formation has shifted. Nutrients are not only viewed as constituents of plant compounds (constructing material), enzymes and electron transport chains but also as signals regulating plant metabolism via complex signal transduction networks. In these networks, phytohormones also play an important role. Principles of the mode of action of phytohormones and examples of the interaction of hormones and mineral nutrients on source and sink strength and yield formation are discussed in this edition. Phytohormones have a role as chemical messengers (internal signals) to coordinate development and responses to environmental stimuli at the whole plant level. These and many other molecular developments are covered in the long-awaited new edition.

“Esteemed plant nutrition expert and Horst Marschner’s daughter, Dr. Petra Marschner, together with a team of key co-authors who worked with Horst Marschner on his research, now present a thoroughly updated and revised third edition of Marschner’s Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, maintaining its value for plant nutritionists worldwide.”

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Plant Cell Wall CoE in media

Improved nutrition for billions of people around the world and the development of clean, green biofuels are two key aims of the new ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, a $32 million biotechnology centre based at the University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus.

See the following Adelaide Now link: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/research-to-change-plants-for-better/story-fn6bqpju-1226115599605

Also: The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls http://www.adelaide.edu.au/plant-cell-walls/

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Celebration of the first organic and carbon-neutral winery in Australia

David Bruer of Temple Bruer Wines (and former Roseworthy Ag College Academic) would like to invite interested people to an event on  Tuesday 26th July at the National Wine Centre, Adelaide.

This event is announcing and celebrating his aim of becoming the first organic and carbon-neutral winery in Australia. It is closely linked with the results from David’s recent environmental carbon audit.

He has a seven-point plan to reduce carbon emissions from his winery, which he has already started with his switch to lightweight bottles.

David will speak about his plans at a reception at the National Wine Centre of Australia, at the corner of Botanic and Hackney Rds, Adelaide, on Tuesday July 26 at 11.15am. Mark Gishen, Chief Environmental Officer of the SA Wine Industry Association will also be speaking. Interested journalists and media have been invited. Wine from David’s vineyard and light refreshments will be served.

RSVP: Please RSVP to Sarah Cole (0402 833 193 or sarah@econnect.com.au) as soon as you’re able so we can cater for you.

Getting to the National Wine Centre: A passenger set down area is available on Hackney Road. Short term parking is available along Hackney Road and Plane Tree Drive, and car parks are located on Frome Road, Rundle Street and North Terrace.

Sarah Cole

Science Communicator

Econnect Communication

www.econnect.com.au

Post: 228/55 Flemington Road, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051

Ph 0402 833 193

Head office: 14 Horan St, West End, Brisbane, Qld, 4101

Ph 07 3846 7111, Fax 07 3846 7144

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Advisory Board of Agriculture – Services To Primary Production Award 2011

The Advisory Board of Agriculture (ABA) is calling for nominations for the Service to Primary Production Award.

Nominees need not be Bureau members and the award is not restricted to farmers.

Nominations are welcome for people from any area involved with primary production, including service industries, government, education and agro-politics.

Applications close Friday 12 August 2011. The award finalists will be invited to attend the Agricultural Bureau of SA’s AGM / Awards Night coined the “Spirit of Excellence” Award Night, to be held Monday 12 September 2011. The Spirit of Excellence Awards Night is supported by the ABA, Primary Industries and Resources SA, advisory company RSM Bird Cameron and the Stock Journal.

For more information and a nomination form please visit the ABA website.

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Science Alive! Careers day speakers – Fri 5 August

Science Alive!- is the three day SA National Science Week event held in the Goyder Pavilion at the Adelaide Showgrounds from Friday 5th – Sunday 7th August.

Friday is a Secondary Schools ‘Careers focus’ day- Saturday and Sunday are general public.

The Science Alive Committee is looking for speakers to assist in a ‘Speed Networking’ activity (x 2) on:

Date: Friday, 5th August 2011
Location: Goyder Pavilion, Wayville Showgrounds
Times: 10.15am – 10.40am & 12.15pm – 12.40pm

Breakdown of the ‘Speed Networking’ activity:

• During these events- (10.15 – 10.40, and 12.15 – 12.40), There will be ~20 chairs set out in a semi-circle around the back of the theatre with a working Scientist at each, complete with laminated A3 sheet giving name and ~ 3 words max re their science.
• Wranglers will organise ~ 1/20th share of the students per speaker, then the Scientists will have 5 minutes to speak with their captives along the lines of how sorry they feel for all the other speakers because , “I HAVE THE BEST SCIENCE JOB IN THE WORLD!”.. here’s what I do, here’s an artefact or three from my work, my education pathway was. 1 minute for questions.
• A blow from a whistle and all student groups (assisted by wranglers) rotate one Scientist clockwise.
• Repeat ~4 times.
• Speakers collapse, wranglers gently guide students into the Careers presentation seating which has, until this point been fenced off with bunting.

Current draft of Friday’s timetable:

10.15 – 11.00; speed dating and RiAUS Science Careers Presentation by Director and former Catalyst TV Presenter Paul Willis

10.15 – 10.40; speed dating (20 scientists)

10.40 – 11.00 RiAus Science Careers Presentation

11.30 – 11.50 Spectacular Chemistry Science Show

11.50 iPod draw #1 on main stage (5 mins max)

12.15 – 1.00; speed dating and RiAUS Science Careers Presentation by Director and former Catalyst TV Presenter Paul Willis

12.15 – 12.40; speed dating (20 scientists)

12.40 – 1.00 RiAus Science Careers Presentation

LUNCH BREAK

1.30 – 1.50 Spectacular Chemistry Science Show

1.50 iPod draw #2 on main stage (5 mins max)

Ian Maynard, one of the Science Alive Committee members for this event is coordinating the above Speed Networking activity. He needs several scientists to participate for this to work effectively.

If you are interested in helping out on the day, please contact:

Donna Montes
Marketing and Outreach (Events & Web)
Faculty of Sciences Office
The University of Adelaide, AUSTRALIA 5005
Ph : +61 8 8303 4325
Fax : +61 8 8303 4386
e-mail: donna.montes@adelaide.edu.au

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“Connecting with the Waite”

Urrbrae House, in conjunction with The Office of Community Engagement, presents a photographic exhibition:

“Connecting with the Waite”

Monday 15 August – Friday 19 August 2011
All are welcome to visit the exhibition daily, 11 am til 3 pm

Photographers, to enter please contact Amanda Jackson, 8303 7497 or amanda.jackson@adelaide.edu.au.

Entries close Friday 23 July 2011

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AFW 3-Minute Thesis, Wednesday 13 July, 2 pm

27 AFW students have entered the 3MT Competition this year (largest single group in the University) and there is great excitement among the participants. The best of these will compete at School level on 13 July 2pm in the Charles Hawker Conference Centre Auditorium, and the winners will proceed on to the Faculty heats on 27 July.

Please put 2pm 13 July in your diaries and come to support our postgrads as they explain their thesis research in 3 minutes or less. The judging panel will present awards for the winners and we’ll put on an afternoon tea for everyone.

See you there.

Cam Grant (Deputy Head of School, Postgraduate).

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Scientists in Schools

The Scientists in Schools program is run nationally by the CSIRO, but is not limited to their staff. This program offers a great professional development opportunity for PhD students, Post docs and Researchers. The contact time in a School required ranges from a brief presentation, right through a more active class room role.

There is an invitation to all research higher degree students and scientists who are based at the Waite Campus to come along and find out more about the national program Scientists in Schools. An information session will be run on Wednesday 22 June at 5 pm in the Winery Tutorial Room (Hickinbotham Wine Science Laboratory).

This session at the Waite aims to give a bit of background about the program, with examples from Scientists and Teachers about their experiences.

If you can’t make the session you can get more information from:

Rebecca Anderson

SA Project Officer | Scientists in Schools

CSIRO Education

Phone: +61 8 8463 5990 | Fax: +61 8 8463 5916

sis.sa@csiro.au

www.scientistsinschools.edu.au

www.mathematiciansinschools.edu.au

Address: Education Development Centre, Milner Street, Hindmarsh SA 5007

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How Economics Can Add Value to Research: Eran Binenbaum

Focusing on improving your chances of success in gaining grant money, creating successful partnerships and achieving increased impact for your research

Speaker: Eran Binenbaum

Tuesday 14 June, 1 pm
Lecture Theatre 4 (Room 118), Charles Hawker Building, Waite Campus

RSVP to Rosalind Whysall at rosalind.whysall@adelaide.edu.au

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