Issue 81 Contents

 

2009 WISENet AGM Minutes

 
 

 

Minutes of the 2009 WISENet AGM which commenced on Wednesday 2nd Sept, at 12.30pm (Eastern time) via teleconference. The meeting was continued via the WISENet list-server and concluded at 5pm on Tuesday 8th Sept.
 

Attendance
Teleconference - D Webster, J Byrne, J Arblaster, E Gold, L Wright, S Male, and R Porter.

 

Electronic discussion and voting - D Donohue, J Hollis Weber, D Webster, K Basford, S Stowe, C Praeger, L Wright, E Gold, A Martyn, P Cocker, M Garson, R Lechte, D Goodwillie, K Lamoureux, J Byrne, A Reisner, P Reisner, D Kane, L Conlan, T Lowe, S Brown, R White, J Thomas, A Robinson, S Male.
 

Apologies (to the teleconference)
J Pollard, J Crowley, S Brown, S Turner, R White, A. Robinson, A Martyn, D. Goodwillie, R Lechte, K Lamoureux.
 

Minutes from the 2008 AGM

Diane Webster moved that the minutes of the 2008 AGM published in WISENET Journal Vol 78 be accepted
as a true and accurate record of the meeting. A copy can be accessed via the website (http://www.wisenet-australia.org/). Seconded by Julie Arblaster.

Passed; 23 in favour, 2 abstained.

 

National Co-Convenors Report
The national executive has continued in care-taker mode for 2008/9 and continues to struggle due to vacant positions on the executive and time-commitments of current exec members. In my opinion WISENet is drifting and would benefit greatly from election of a new National (Co)convenor with enthusiasm for the task. I believe that WISENet remains a relevant organisation. However, it will fail unless we are able to reinvigorate it.

 

On behalf of WISENet I’d like to extend a public vote of thanks to the following people for their efforts:

Diane Webster

 

FASTS / National Co-convenor Report

 

FASTS had another active year in 2008-2009 addressing new issues and policies introduced by the incoming Labour Government, although these were constrained by the world’s financial problems. As usual, details of press releases, links to reports and to government policy announcements, etc. can be found on or via the FASTS website: http://www.fasts.org Issues of particular relevance to women in science are outlined below:

  1. General science policy/funding/status issues: On 15 May, 2008, FASTS held a panel discussion to tease out how to build strategies for implementing risk-aware but not risk-averse research project selection and evaluation procedures – Robyn Porter attended. FASTS saw this as a key theme in the review of the National Innovation System.

    Although the new Government pushed ahead with its new agenda, FASTS thought that wholesale changes in science or education funding were unlikely, other than what was promised in the election campaign (primarily 1000 new fellowships; the new innovation centre; changes to HECS rates for science; and changes in student scholarships), especially with constraints on the May budget. A series of reviews (e.g. the Innovation Review, the Review of the NCRIS Roadmap, the Research Training Review, the Bradley Review of Higher Education, the Questacon Review) were all completed in 2008.

    But against expectations, the budget provided significant new investment in science, higher education, research and innovation. In 2009/10 commonwealth expenditure on innovation, science and research will be $8.6b, a 25% increase on 2008/9 budget – the single largest annual increase since science and innovation records began in the late 1970s.
     

  2. Education from K to University was a key election platform for Labor, including science education, and development of some sort of national curriculum for K-12. In 2008, Universities had the lowest unmet demand since 2001. In May, 2008, The House of Representatives Industry, Science and Innovation Committee conducted an inquiry into the contribution that Australian universities make to Australian research training, and the challenges those universities face in recruiting, training and retaining quality research staff.

    Report on participation in science, maths and technology in Australian education released 30 October, 2008: Participation in senior secondary school science has declined over the 30-year period from 1976 to 2007. In 1976, 55% of Year 12 students studied biology, 29% studied chemistry and 28% studied physics. In 2007 the corresponding percentages were 25%, 18% and 15%.

    Since the mid-1990s school retention rates have stabilised and yet science participation has continued to decline. This is critical, as it does appear that the roots of science-based study at university lie in what happens in secondary school and possibly at earlier stages of schooling.

    Throughout Australia, very little time is given to science in the primary school years. Generating higher levels of participation in science-related studies at university appears to be partly dependent on strengthening science education in school. In the senior secondary years there is a sense that school science is not sufficiently connected to recent developments in science.

    The challenge remains to be able to recruit graduates from science-related fields into teaching and teacher training. From the perspective of science teaching this is an important challenge because entrants to undergraduate teacher education courses do not possess strengths in mathematics or science. Students who participated in undergraduate teacher education programs were less often from the highest achievement group in school, predominantly female and, compared to other university students, tended to come from middle rather than upper socioeconomic backgrounds, and nonmetropolitan rather than metropolitan locations.
     

  3. R&D expenditure – comments from FASTS: Public R&D (the aggregate of Government and higher education R&D) increased by 32% in real terms (ie taking account of CPI/inflation) between 2000/1 and 2006/7. In that period expenditure on R&D in science increased by 17%; ICT 11%; Engineering 27%; health and medical 73%; and arts, humanities & social sciences 42%.

    Total Govt expenditure on R&D increased by a modest 2% with a 10% increase in Commonwealth and 9% decline in the aggregate of State and Territory Government expenditure Higher Ed expenditure on R&D increased by 56% in real terms in this period with science up 46%, engineering 54%, ICT 68%, health and medical research 73%; arts, humanities and social sciences 51%.

    In terms of ‘market share’, science declined from 46% to 41% of public R&D and from 33% to 31% in higher ed. indeed the ‘market share’ of science, ICT and engineering in public R&D all declined while arts, humanities and social sciences and medical research increased.

    While ‘public’ science increased by 17% in real terms between 2000/1 and 2006/7 there were significant differences between fields of research with mathematics up 56%, physical sciences up 47%, but earth sciences down 8%, biological sciences up 24% and agriculture, veterinary and environmental sciences up 5%. However, within the fields there were also significant variances. In agriculture, veterinary and environmental sciences, soil and water were up 49%, crop and pasture down 8%; horticulture down 21%, forestry down 36% but environmental sciences up 63%.
     

  4. Panel members of various committees, prestigious fellowships; prominent positions:

    CSIRO CEO – Dr Megan Clark

    Chief Scientist – Professor Penny Sackett

    Science prizes 2008 – Physical Scientist of the Year, Prof. Tanya Monro; Life Scientist of the Year Dr Carola Vinuesa; Prize for Excellence in Primary Teaching.

    President-elect of FASTS – Dr Cathy Foley

    FASTS Executive Director – Anna-Maria Arabia

    Australia Day awards: Lyn Beazley (WA Chief Scientist), Pauline Ladiges (University of Melbourne – taxonomy/systematics)
     

  5. FASTS AGM, November 2008, attended by Robyn Porter of WISENet

    Guest speaker at the FASTS AGM dinner was the Chief Scientist, Penny Sackett.
     

  6. Science Meets Parliament, 18 March 2009.Women were quite well represented, for example

    Forum 1: Strategic Leadership in Science - Senate Alcove, 7.30am – 8.30am
    Panel discussion: The three core questions for strategic leadership of science are: What is the demand? What is the supply side capability? How well connected are they, or not?

In meetings with Parliamentarians, energy, climate change and medical research issues predominated.

 

  1. Five new surveys will be carried out by FASTS, under the overall titleThe science workforce: The changing nature of science based work

    This project will specifically target the nature of the work performed by science graduates who do not become academic or PFRA research scientists.

        1) qualitative study on changing nature of work
        2) Pilot study of BSc graduates (who did not go on to PhD programmes)
        3) Literature review of skills profiles
        4) industry profiles of sciences
        5) analyse job ads for perspectives in what technical requirements are being specified (and presumably not specified)
     

  2. Women in science: why waste productivity, diversity and innovation?

    On Thursday morning, 17 September 2009 at Parliament House Canberra, the Chief Scientist and FASTS are hosting a breakfast and workshop to discuss issues raised in a new report on women in science commissioned by FASTS in association with the Office of the Chief Scientist for Australia.

 

Treasurer’s Report

The statement of accounts and the auditor’s report prepared by Burton Partner were tabled and have been circulated via the list-server. Robyn noted that ‘non-operating other income’ refers to two donations which were received last year. In addition, the Convention Associates society management fee for 2007 was invoiced on 31/12/07 and appeared in the audited accounts for 2007. The fee for 2008 was not invoiced until 10/2/09, so it did not appear in the audited accounts for 2008, but will appear on the 2009 accounts. To keep this pattern and prevent bills for two fees being presented in one year Convention Associates will wait until January 2010 to invoice for the 2009 fee.

 

A query was raised about the low income from subscriptions – Robyn is going to investigate this further and report back. However, it is most likely to be due to the timing of subscription payments.

 

Robyn Porter

 

Membership Coordinator

As of August 2009, 122 members were listed in the database, of which 86 were financial. These numbers represent declining membership to the previous 3 years (see below). By member type there were 92 ordinary members, 15 retired members, 5 students, 1 honorary, 3 complimentary, 4 subscription paying institutions. Membership was divided amongst the Link Groups as follows

 

Julie Arblaster

 

 

Journal Report
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to 2008 WISENet Journal issues.
 

J77 Lynne Wright and Melissa Thompson (Wollongong)
 

J78 Julie Christie, Ines Carrin and Sally Stowe (ACT)
 

J79 Jennifer Byrne, Shau-Chen Fang, Amelia Martyn, Gabrielle O’Sullivan and Deidre Tronson (Sydney).
 

The Journal Co-ordinator position remains unfilled since it was vacated by Olivia in 2006. As a result of this vacancy no journal issues have yet been produced in 2009. Planning started for 25th anniversary editions but has stalled.

 

Jenny Byrne suggested that students studying science communication might be interested in editing journal issues. Editing in this context would cover sourcing, compiling and initial proofreading of articles. This could be done in communication with a designated link group to continue to involve local members in journal production, and to act as a kind of scientific advisory committee/contact. The WISENet journal coordinator would continue to provide final authorisation for publication and would coordinate layout and printing. WISENet can’t afford to pay for a journal editor. However it may be possible to make a small donation as an acknowledgement of this service. The possibility of developing a relationship/partnership with a science communications course coordinator was discussed, such that production of each journal issue could be undertaken by a different group of students as part of their coursework. This represents an interesting option for the longer term production of WISENet Journals.
 

As the next issue was to focus on the 25th anniversary of WISENet an e-mail will be circulated to members offering them an opportunity to edit this special edition. If no response is received Jenny will make enquiries via her contacts in science communications.

 

[Anna Robinson has agreed to lead an editorial team to
produce this issue.]
 

Link Groups
Lynne Wright reported that the NSW-Wollongong group had not held any WISENet specific activities, but that a number of successful Linking Women events had been held.
 

Elspeth Gold reported that no WISENet activities were held in Victoria or Tasmania in 2008/09.At this time no reports have been received from
ACT, NSW-Sydney, Qld.


All Reports
Acceptance of all reports was moved by Diane Webster, seconded by Robyn Porter.
 

Passed; 23 votes in favour, 2 abstained.

 

 

 

Changes to the Constitution -- [click here to download the amended constitution, September 2009]

Why do we need to change the constitution?

Housekeeping! Submission of the change to the constitution that passed at the 2008 AGM failed because we could not adequately complete a checklist which is required by the Registrar General’s office. Therefore, we undertook a review of the constitution to meet the guidelines set out by the Registrar General’s office. As a result the following changes are recommended.
 

Common Seal – New Clause

What is a common seal? It is a ‘rubber stamp’ which states that ‘This is the common seal of WISENet’. (Think of how letters used to be sealed with wax that had been ‘stamped’ prior to the ‘glue’ that’s used now.)
 

Reason for the change: The Associations Incorporation Act states in Schedule 1 that an incorporated association cannot rely on the Model Rules for matters related to the Common Seal of the association. These matters are for the custody and use of the common seal of the association. Unfortunately our current constitution does not mention the common seal at all. We must therefore amend our constitution to include two clauses relating to the common seal.

 

Proposed change:

It is proposed that we closely follow the words of the model rules only amending them slightly to fit our circumstances. The following clause should be inserted as clause 16, and subsequent clauses renumbered accordingly:

16(a) - The common seal of the association must be kept in the custody of a member of the National Link Team.


16 (b) - The common seal must not be attached to any instrument except by the authority of the National Link Team, and attaching of the common seal must be approved by at least 2 members of the National Link Team. Approval may be given via e-mail.


Members Liability – New sub-clause

Reason for the change: As per common seal – we can not rely on the model rules. A new subclause is required dealing with the financial liability of members.
 

Proposed change:

 

Addition of a subclause to clause 16 (becomes clause 17 with the addition of the common seal clause). This clause deals with dissolution of WISENet.

 

17(c) - The liability of a member to contribute towards the payment of the debts and liabilities of the association or the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up of the association is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid by the member in relation to membership of the association as required by clause 4(c).
 

Committee matters – expansion of clause 5
Reason for the change: The RG checklist requires clauses dealing with election of committee members, term of office and filling vacant offices etc. The proposed modifications reflect current practice and have been left broad to ensure maximum flexibility.

 

Proposed Changes:

 

To add sub-clauses to clause 5 covering nomination and election of national link team members. Moving clause 7 which deals with vacancy of the treasurers position to clause 5, and modifying such that it is relevant to any national link team member. Clause 5 has been renumbered to ensure clarity. Note that we don’t have to specify that emails are OK as this covers what ‘writing’ means these days.

 

5.1 MANAGEMENT

 

5.1(e) - In the event of a vacancy occurring in the National Link Team the Association shall as soon as possible elect a member to fill the vacancy and the person so elected shall hold that office until the next Annual General Meeting. Nominations of candidates for election as National Link team members shall be made verbally or in writing. Consent of the candidate to be nominated is required. Candidates may self-nominate. Should there be more than one nomination for any one office, an election shall be determined by ballot.

5.1(f) - Each National Link team member shall hold office until the Annual General meeting following the date of their election, but is eligible for re-election.
 

5.2 VACANCY OF OFFICE
 

5.2 - A person shall cease to be a (National) Link Team member:
 

(a) Upon her/his decease;
 

(b) If she/he resigns office by notice in writing to the Association
 

(c) At the discretion of the National Link Team if she/he shall be absent for more than three (3) consecutive meetings of the National Link Team without leave or (automatically) if she/he shall be absent for more than six (6) months from such meetings;
 

(d) If she/he holds any office of profit under the Association.
 

(e) If she/he commits any fraud or deception on the Association; and/or
 

(f) If the in dividual is declared bankrupt.
 

5.3 TREASURER
 

5.3 (b) The office of the Treasurer shall become vacant upon the conditions detailed in clause 5.2.
 

Custody/Inspection of records – new clause
Reason for change: The RG checklist requires a clause dealing with ‘provision for the custody of any books, documents and/or securities of the association.’
 

Proposed change:
 

Addition of a new clause (#14).
 

14 (a) Copies of association records shall be held by at least two members of the national link team.
 

14 (b) The records, books and other documents of the Association shall be open to inspection at a mutually agreed place, free of charge, by a member of the Association at any reasonable hour, in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988, as amended from time to time. These records, books and other documents may be made available electronically, if appropriate.


Removal of restrictive phrases
Reason for the changes: Enhance flexibility in the management of WISENet and update the constitution to reflect current practices.
 

Proposed changes:
 

Clause 4b: A register of members shall be maintained by each Link Team (delete ‘by each Link Team’)
 

Clause 4d relates to election of honorary life members. It is proposed that the deadline for nominations be changed from ‘January 31st each year’ to ‘14 days prior to the AGM or a special general meeting’

… to enable distribution to all members before the nomination is presented to the AGM or special general meeting for approval.
 

Diane Webster proposed that all constitutional changes be accepted, seconded Elspeth Gold.
 

Passed unanimously; 25 votes in favour.
 

Election of committee members (National Link Team)

Nominations for these positions are still being accepted.
 

Resignations from the National Link Team include:

Positions Vacant

National Convenor:

Membership Coordinator
No nominations were received for this position. Julie has agreed to remain in this position until after the Forum.

Journal Coordinator
This position has been vacant since 2006. No nominations were received for this position. See discussion in the Journal report (above) with regard to possible solutions. Note that implementation of these steps will depend on the outcome of the Forum with respect to finding a new national convenor.

 

WA Link Group Convenor
Sally Male has nominated for this position (Diane Webster, seconded Robyn Porter).
 

Passed, 23 votes in favour, 2 abstained.
 

FASTS Representative
When the Vic link group took over the National link-team Rosemary White agreed to act as National Co-convenor in order to cover FASTS activities which are primarily based in Canberra. To clarify the roles on the National Link team it is suggested that a new titled position be created to specifically cover this role; a FASTS representative. This role is a WISENet position, not a FASTS position. The office holder will be WISENet¡¦s contact person for FASTS business and will be able to represent WISENet at FASTS meetings and similar events. It is assumed that this role will be most conveniently undertaken by someone based in Canberra, although this is not a requirement of the position.
 

It is proposed that a new position be created on the WISENet link team called the FASTS Representative. (Diane Webster, seconded Jenny Bryne).
 

Passed, 24 votes in favour, 1 abstained.
 

Rosemary White has nominated for this position (Diane Webster, seconded Jenny Bryne). Passed, 24 votes in favour, 1 abstained.

Website matters
Alex Reisner, who currently maintains our website, has indicated that it is time we started looking for a replacement. Preliminary discussions are being held with some possible replacements. However, this will not be pursued rigorously until after a new National convenor is found (ie pending the outcome of the 25th anniversary forum).


WISENet’s 25th anniversary celebrations
 

Three events are planned:

Any other business
No additional business was raised at the teleconference or via the list-server. Meeting concluded at 5pm, Tuesday September 8th, 2009.

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 Issue 81 Contents