Teleconference - 30 Nov 2009
|
|
|
Agenda
Report on 25th Anniversary Forum
What next for WISENet
Attendance:
Robyn Porter, Lynne Wright, Katarina Mikac, Ines Carrin, Julie Arblaster, Anna Robinson, Diane Webster, Jenny Bryne, [Rosemary White — listening only due to problem with phone connection].
Introductions
Katarina Mikac; Researcher and lecturer at the University of Wollongong. Research area = quarantine entomology. Katarina has expressed an interest in becoming actively involved in WISENet, potentially as the next national convenor.
Forum Feedback
Lynne indicated that forum went very well. Energy levels were high and it ‘all came together in the end’. Approx 50 people attended (~10 from outside Wollongong). The forum captured a diversity of science and many personal experiences in science. The keynote speakers (Margaret and Sharon) presented interesting talks, the 3 minute science presentations were well received. The forum was a source of good ideas with potential for further development (e.g. website, profiles etc). However, there wasn’t much time to specifically address the question of where to next for WISENet.
Lynne thanked Judy Wallace for her efforts in organising the forum.
Ines attended the forum; fantastic, well organised, excellent mix of ages and experiences, 3 minute talks were good. Remains a need to further explore the future of WISENet.
Anna attended the forum; added that the forum was good for women in science, but there were very few WISENet members in attendance, and as highlighted by Lynne and Ines, this meant that the future of WISENet remains to be addressed.
Lynne noted that many people completed membership forms. Diane offered a formal thank you to Lynne on behalf of WISENet for a timely and well organised event. Thank you.
25th Anniversary Journal Issue
Anna indicated this is progressing well.
Diane offered a formal thank you to Anna for taking on the job of editing this edition.
What next for WISENet
At this point there is potential for a new convenor to be found as a result of the forum. Diane will continue discussions regarding this and other roles with Katarina, Pamela and Lynne, and/or any others who are interested.
Modernising WISENet
Given current discussions around the future of WISENet, and Alex’s request that we begin to look for a replacement website person much discussion focused on how we might ‘make-over’ WISENet via a website update (up-grade).
The website was set up 10 years ago and has only really been added onto since then. As such it is due for an overhaul.
Questions that were raised and discussed to varying degrees during the teleconference
Can we make the website the hub of our organisation?
Can the journal be replaced by the website; not necessarily just an electronic copy of the current traditional journal style, but rather a complete re-think of how we communicate the information WISENet is seeking to communicate?
How can we use current IT applications to connect and network more effectively?
How can we use current IT applications to revitalise WISENet and provide a real service to our members?
Do we have members with knowledge of IT who would be interested in helping make this happen?
Are email list-servers still the best way to communicate with members?
Interactive applications?
Could it generate automatic membership renewals?
Does new technology overlap with what convention associates do for us?
Could it have a members only section [reason to subscribe, privacy, additional networking features, more personal information, financial reporting etc]?
Is there funding available
Yes, potentially $2000 for set up. It was also noted that the journal costs ~$2,500pa, which could potentially be used for ongoing maintenance of a website rather than production of a traditional journal.
Where should the website be hosted, by whom
key feature would be the ability to update the information without the need for extensive IT skills. (access and ease of changes).
ideally the site would not need to be moved every time the convenor changes, or the webmaster changes.
Company (contracted) vs
university vs individual (member or otherwise), vs student (from
IT-courses with
client based project).
Other IT matters flagged during discussion
List-server may need to be moved from ANU (current host)
Dosser, a database of specialist equipment set up by Sally Stowe under the auspices of the ANU and CSIRO is currently hosted by the ANU.
this database may need to be moved. Could it be run from the WISENet website?
database serves as a means of connecting people.
Survey of members
Lynne has access (via her staff) to someone with expertise in using SurveyMonkey (free online questionnaire and survey tool), who is available until the end of January. Given the changes under discussion it would be a good time to survey members both for their opinions, and to advertise the potential changes under discussion.
___________________________________________
Action Required
Survey of members
a) Diane to liaise with Lynne (or more likely Lynne¡¦s expert?) to
organise a first draft of questions which will be circulated
to the exec.
Leadership and new members of the
National Link Team
a) Diane will continue discussions regarding this and other roles
with Katarina, Pamela and Lynne, and/or any others who are interested.
Workshop to follow-up on the
website/ WISENet make-over questions, i.e. bring together our ideas
(what we would like to do) with IT expertise (what can be done, and for how
much).
a) suggest that we co-ordinate this with an AGM in March/April 2010.
b) Diane to follow-up in early Feb 2010 [my IT skills and knowledge
are abysmal so any offers to run a sub-committee would be most gratefully
accepted!]
General note
Previous teleconferences have been hosted by Telstra. This one was hosted by Greymouse. Overall cost is likely to be significantly (at least 10x) less. However, there seems to have been a problem with at least one connection.