AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
National Committees for Science: ANNUAL REPORT TO COUNCIL on 2006 activities
NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR RADIO SCIENCE
CHAIR: Dr. RAY NORRIS
PERIOD COVERED IN THIS REPORT: 1 January - 31 December, 2006
THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE MET ON:
THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS ARE PROPOSED FOR 2007 (include date and place, if possible):
MEETINGS OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AFFILIATED WITH ICSU
IN 2006 THERE WAS A GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF (include date and place):
IN 2007 THERE WILL BE A GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF (include date and place):
The next URSI GENERAL ASSEMBLY will be held in 9-16 August 2008 in Chicago, IL, USA.
I RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THE FOLLOWING VOTING AUSTRALIAN
DELEGATION:
(The delegation also represents Australian interests in URSI between General Assembly years.)
National Delegate to URSI:
Dr. Ray Norris,
CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility,
P. O. Box 76, Epping NSW 1710
Ph: +61 2 9372 4416
Fax: +61 2 9372 4310
e-mail:Ray.Norris@csiro.au
URSI Commission A delegate
Prof Michael Tobar,
School of Physics M013,
Frequency Standards and metrology Research Group
The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway,
Crawley, WA 6009
Email: mike @physics.uwa.edu.au
Phone: +61 8 6488 3443 Fax: +61 8 6488 1235
URSI Commission B delegate
Dr. Geoff James,
CSIRO Telecommunications and Industrial Physics
P. O. Box 76, Epping, NSW 1710
e-mail: geoffrey.james@tip.csiro.au
Ph: +61 2 9372 4367
Fax: +61 2 9372 4106
URSI Commission C delegate
Prof. Andrew Parfitt
Institute for Telecommunications Research
University of South Australia
SPRI Building
Mawson Lakes Boulevard
MAWSON LAKES
South Australia 5095
Email andrew.parfitt@unisa.edu.au
Tel. +61 8 8302 3310
Fax. +61 8 8302 3873
URSI Commission D delegate
Dr. Le Nguyen Binh,
Electrical & Computer Systems Engineering,
Monash University
P. O. Box Victoria
e-mail: le.nguyen.binh@end.monash.edu.au
Ph: +61 2 6201 2516
Fax: +61 2 6201 5041
URSI Commission E delegate
Ms. Carol Wilson
CSIRO Information and Computing Technology Centre,
PO Box 76
Epping,
NSW 1710
Email Carol.Wilson@csiro.au
Ph +61 9372 4264
Fax +61 9372 4106
URSI Commission F delegate
Dr. David Noon,
Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
University of Queensland
Brisbane, Queensland 4072
e-mail: noon@stargate.cssip.uq.edu.au
Ph: +61 7 3365 3871 Fax: +61 7 3365 4999
URSI Commission G delegate
Prof. Peter L Dyson, Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering, La Trobe University
Bundoora, Victoria 3083
e-mail: p.dyson@latrobe.edu.au
Ph: +61 3 9479 2735 Fax: +61 3 9479 1552
URSI Commission H delegate
Prof. Brian Fraser, Department of Physics, Newcastle University
Callaghan, NSW 2308
e-mail: PHBJF@cc.newcastle.edu.au
Ph: +61 2 4921 5445 Fax: +61 2 4921 6907
URSI Commission J delegate
Dr. Ray Norris,
CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility,
P. O. Box 76, Epping NSW 1710
Ph: +61 2 9372 4416
Fax: +61 2 9372 4310
e-mail:Ray.Norris@csiro.au
URSI Commission K delegate
Dr. Ken Joyner, Director,
Global EME Strategy & Regulatory Affairs
Motorola Australia Pty Limited,
10 Wesley Court, Tally Ho Business Park
East Burwood, 3151, Victoria, Australia
e-mail: Ken.Joyner@motorola.com
Tel Int.: +61 3 9847 7815; Tel Nat.: 03 9847 7815
Fax Int.: +61 3 9847 7773; Fax Nat.: 03 9847 7773
Mobile Int. +61 419 230 128; Mobile Nat.: 0419 230 128
AUSTRALIAN OFFICE HOLDERS IN ICSU AND AFFILIATED BODIES
AUSTRALIANS WHO HELD OFFICE IN 2006 WERE:
(include all appointed/elected memberships of subsidiary bodies, standing committees, commissions etc. as well as appointments to Bureau/Executive positions in the governing body).
|
Person |
International Body |
Position |
Term |
|
Anne Green |
IAU Working Group on women in astronomy |
Co-Chair |
2006-09 |
|
Brian Boyle |
IAU Resolutions Committee |
Member |
2003-09 |
|
Brian Fraser |
Scientific Discipline Representative SCOSTEP |
|
|
|
Brian Fraser |
Working Group on Solar-Terrestrial and Astrophysical Research SCAR |
Member |
|
|
Bruce Slee |
IAU Working Group on historic radio astronomy |
Member |
2006-09 |
|
Bruce Ward |
URSI-COSPAR Working Group on the International Reference Ionosphere |
Member |
2005-2008 |
|
Carol Wilson |
Australian Radiocommunication Study Group 3, |
Chair |
|
|
Dave Jauncey |
URSI Global VLBI Working Group |
Member |
|
|
Dave Jauncey |
IACG Working Group on Space VLBI |
Member |
|
|
David Cole |
World Data Centre for Solar-Terrestrial Science |
Director |
|
|
Dick Hunstead |
IAU Working Group on designations |
Member |
2006-09 |
|
Don Melrose |
IAU Commission 10 (Solar Activity) |
Vice-President |
2006-09 |
|
Don Melrose |
IAU Division II (Solar) |
Vice-President |
2006-09 |
|
Elaine Sadler |
IAU Commission 28 (Galaxies) |
President |
2003-06 |
|
Garth Patterson |
International Space Environment Services (ISES) |
Member |
|
|
Iver Cairns |
IAGA/IUGG |
Australian representative |
2005-2008 |
|
Iver Cairns |
COSPAR |
Australian representative |
2005-2008 |
|
John Davis |
IAU Working Group on optical interferometry |
Member |
2003-06 |
|
John O’Byrne |
IAU Finance Sub-Committee |
Member |
2006-09 |
|
John Reynolds |
IAU WG on reference Frames |
Member |
|
|
John Reynolds |
IAU Working Group on reference frames |
Member |
|
|
John Storey |
SCAR |
IAU rep. |
2006-09 |
|
Mark Calabretta |
IAU FITS working group |
Member |
2003-06 |
|
Martin Asplund |
IAU Commission 35 (Stellar Atmospheres) |
Vice-President |
2006-09 |
|
Martin Asplund |
IAU Commission 12 (Solar Radiation) |
Member |
2006-09 |
|
Michael Burton |
IAU Working Group for Antarctic Astronomy |
chair |
2003-06 |
|
Michael Burton |
IAU Working Group: communicating astronomy with the public |
Member |
2006-09 |
|
Michael Burton |
IAU Working Group for Antarctic astronomy |
Chair |
2006-09 |
|
Michelle Storey |
IAU Working Group on Publishing |
Chair |
2003-06 |
|
Michelle Storey |
IAU Comm. 50, Protection of Existing and Potential Observatory Sites Organising Committee |
Vice-Chair |
2003-06 |
|
Michelle Storey |
IAU Publications Editorial Board |
Member |
2005-08 |
|
Peter Dyson |
PSMOS Steering Committee, SCOSTEP |
Member |
|
|
Peter Dyson |
URSI-COSPAR Working Group on the International Reference Ionosphere |
Member |
2005-08 |
|
Phil Wilkinson |
URSI Board |
Vice President |
2005-2008 |
|
Phil Wilkinson |
URSI Commission G Working Group 1, Ionosonde Network Advisory Group |
Editor |
2005-2008 |
|
Phil Wilkinson |
URSI-COSPAR Working Group on the International Reference Ionosphere |
Member |
2005-2005 |
|
Phil Wilkinson |
URSI Commission G Working Group 4, Ionospheric Research to support radio systems |
Member |
2005-2008 |
|
Phil Wilkinson |
URSI Standing Committee on Publications |
Member |
2005-2008 |
|
Phil Wilkinson |
URSI representative on FAGS (Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Data Analysis Services) |
Vice President |
2006-2008 |
|
Rachel Webster |
IAU Commission 47 (Cosmology) |
President |
2006-09 |
|
Rachel Webster |
IAU Resolutions Committee |
Member |
2006-09 |
|
Ray Norris |
IAU Commission 5 |
President |
2006-09 |
|
Ray Norris |
CODATA |
IAU representative |
2006-09 |
|
Ray Norris |
CODATA Executive Committee |
Member |
2006-08 |
|
Ray Norris |
URSI |
Australian delegate |
2006-09 |
|
Ray Norris |
FAGS Executive Council (Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Services) |
IAU Representative |
2006-09 |
|
Ray Norris |
IAU Working Group on astronomical data |
Chair |
2006-09 |
|
Ron Ekers |
IAU |
President |
2003-06 |
|
Ron Ekers |
URSI Global VLBI Working Group |
Member |
|
|
Ron Ekers |
IAU Working Group on large scale facilities |
Member |
2000-06 |
|
Ron Ekers |
Gruber Advisory Board |
IAU rep. |
2006-09 |
|
Ron Ekers |
IAU Special Nominating Committee |
Advisor |
2006-09 |
|
Sarah Maddison |
IAU Working Group on women in astronomy |
Co-Chair |
2006-09 |
|
Tasso Tzioumis |
ITU Radiocommunication Study Group 7 (Sciences Services) |
Member |
2006-09 |
|
Tasso Tzioumis |
IAU Working Group on RFI mitigation |
Chair |
2006-09 |
|
Tasso Tzioumis |
IUCAF (ICSU committee/ |
URSI member |
2005-08 |
|
W. N. Christiansen |
URSI |
Honorary President |
Life |
|
Wayne Orchiston |
IAU Working Group on Historic Radio Astronomy |
Chair |
2003 - 06 |
|
Wayne Orchiston |
IAU Working Group on historic radio astronomy |
Chair |
2006-09 |
|
Wayne Orchiston |
IAU Working Group on archives |
Member |
2006-09 |
|
Wayne Orchiston |
IAU Working Group on historical instruments |
Member |
2006-09 |
|
Wayne Orchiston |
IAU Working Group on transits of Venus |
Member |
2006-09 |
|
Wim Brouw |
IAU SOFA Review Board |
Member |
2003-06 |
|
Wim Brouw |
IAU Working Group on astronomical data |
Member |
2003-06 |
|
Activity identified in 2006 work plan |
Progress |
|
Update and extend the web-based directory of Australian radio science |
The directory is maintained on http://www.ncrs.org.au/directory.htm |
|
Continue to advertise radio science oriented meetings etc through the NCRS webpage and mailing list. |
Meetings are on http://www.ncrs.org.au/activities.htm
|
|
Run the WARS 2006 Conference in February 2006, and publish the proceedings form this conference on the Web. |
A very successful WARS conference took place at Leura in January 2006. It was attended by 80 people, including 11 students. Invited speakers included: · Dr Trevor Bird on Terahertz (THz) frequencies · Dr Le Nguyen Binh on the advancement of electronic integrated circuit technology and photonics in the last decade. · Prof Ron Ekers showed in a wide-ranging talk that one of the most important events in twentieth century astronomy was the birth of radio astronomy. · Dr Peter C. Kemeny described the Australian Synchrotron · Dr Iver Cairns, Chair of the NCSS, described the need to for a Decadal Plan for Space Science. All other 67 papers were presented as posters covering all aspects of radio science from testing relativity to RF bio-effects and including many papers on propagation, space weather, antennas and in particular a number of papers on the major Australian Square Kilometre Array (SKA) demonstrator project. The prize for the best Student paper was won by Mr Jonathan Boan, University of Adelaide for his paper titled: "Radio Propagation in Fire Environments". WARS proceedings are on http://www.ncrs.org.au/wars.htm |
|
Commence planning for holding the Asia-Pacific Radio Science Conference (AP-RASC) in Perth, 2007 (www.ap-rasc07.org). |
Planning was well underway, and committee structures and web page were set up, but because the department which was to have organised and hosted it has been restructured, AP-RASC in Perth will now not take place. We are instead exploring other alternatives. |
|
Activity identified in 2006 work plan |
Progress |
|
Provide the URSI Radio Science Bulletin with brief summaries of the NCRS activities. |
Papers based on invited WARS talks have been solicited for “Reviews of Radio Science” |
|
Encourage participation in URSI activities by other countries in the local region (S. E. Asia); |
SE Asian participants are being encouraged to attend AP-RASC or its successor, by inviting them on to program committee, etc. |
|
Encourage membership of URSI.
|
This is planned to take place largely via AP-RASC or its successor. |
|
Plan running of the AP-RASC Meeting in Perth, 2007. |
Planning was well underway, and committee structures and web page were set up, but because the department which was to have organised and hosted it has been restructured, AP-RASC in Perth will now not take place. We are instead exploring other alternatives. |
|
Continue to reinforce contacts between National Commission delegates and the URSI Commissions. |
No further action. |
|
Activity |
|
NCRS provided significant input to URSI on 2 issues:
|
|
NCRS provided significant input to the Academy for the PMSEIC working group on Data for Science |
|
NCRS has purchased the domain www.ncrs.org.au so that the NCRS web site will no longer need to be re-hosted when the chair changes. |
|
NCRS has restructured itself to provide adequate representation to the ten commissions of URSI and within the Australian Radio Science Community while satisfying the Academy requirement for a maximum of eight members of the NCRS. It has done this by instituting categories of non-voting and emeritus members. |
|
Australian participation in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project has continued to grow and develop, with the xNTD project, which is an SKA demonstrator, now fully funded by a combination of state and federal funding, including significant CSIRO and NCRIS funds. Australia has now been short-listed as one of the two possible sites for the SKA, the other being South Africa . |
|
Australian participation in the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) mission is developing, and Australia was nominated as a crucial site by the ACES principal scientist (Christophe Salomon) due to its position in the Southern Hemisphere. The federally funded time and frequency transfer facility (precursor to the mission) between the National Measurement Institute and The University of Western Australia has nearly been completed and first operation is scheduled for early 2007. |
|
The responsibility for FedSat has now been taken over by the Department of Defence, ensuring that its data and resources will continue to be available to Australian scientists. |
|
The Australian Radiation Protection & Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has released a draft ELF (0-3000Hz) Radiation Protection Standard for public comment. See http://www.arpansa.gov.au/for_comm.htm for more information. |
|
The new Australian Antenna Measurement Facility (AusAMF) was officially opened by Professor Steven Thurgate of Macquarie University. The AusAMF is an ARC-funded facility comprising a microwave anechoic chamber, a NSI spherical near-field antenna test range, an Agilent PNA plus ancillary equipment to automate antenna measurement and testing. The AusAMF is hosted at the CSIRO’s Radiophysics Laboratory at Marsfield, and is a joint project supported by: CSIRO; Macquarie University; University of Technology, Sydney; Wollongong University; James Cook University; and Argus Technologies, Australia. |
I SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING REPORT TO COUNCIL ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE IN calendar year 2006 (200-250 words):
[Your Report, as presented here, will be published in April 2007, in the National Committees for Science section of the Academy’s Annual Report for 2006-2007].
Radio Science in Australia continues to be strong in most areas. The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) continues to capture the interest of scientists and engineers from a number of different fields. Australia has now been short-listed as one of the two possible sites for the SKA, the other being South Africa, and the Australian SKA prototype, xNTD, is now fully funded, and is expected to deliver cutting-edge science by 2011. The technical challenges across many fields have made this a focus for Australian Radio Science. Other radio science achievements include Australian participation in the “Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space” (ACES) project.
The 2006 Workshop on the Applications of Radio Science (WARS) Conference took place in Leura in February 2006, It was attended by 80 people, including 11 students, and feedback was very positive. The format is unusual in featuring only a small number of invited oral papers, with the primary focus being on interactivity and cross fertilisation triggered by the 67 poster papers. The WARS proceedings are on http://www.ncrs.org.au/wars.htm
Australia was invited, through the NCRS, to host the next Asia-Pacific Radio Science Conference (AP-RASC) in 2007. Planning was well underway, and committee structures and web page were set up, but because the department which was to have organised and hosted it has been restructured, AP-RASC in Perth will now not take place. We are instead exploring other alternatives.
Please complete and return this form by 15 December 2006 to:
Jeanette Mill
National Relations Officer
Australian Academy of Science
E jeanette.mill@science.org.au
P 02 6201 9413
F 02 6201 9494
Ian Potter House, Gordon St, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 2600
GPO Box 783, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 2601