President’s note
This last month has been very exciting one for us at WOMEESA, we passed a new WOMEESA Constitution that enables us to make strides forward to finalise the association and financial set up. This will enable us to attract sponsorship, support existing initiatives and offer new opportunities to members. I’ve lost count of the weeks gone by in the current Sydney lockdown, 14?, but glad to see change on the horizon and we hope it isn’t too long before we’ll be able to enjoy some face-to-face WOMEESA activities again here in Australia. Stay tuned for the WOMEESA AGM date and online workshops coming your way for November. We hope all our members in Australasia and beyond are keeping safe and well. Please remember to let us know by email if your contact info changes. I was delighted this month to hear that Marine Scientist Nicole Webster has been appointed as Chief Scientist at Australian Antarctic Division, and to see our Newsletter Editor-In-Chief, Melanie Finch, featured by Women’s Agenda.
Heather Handley
WOMEESA News
The new WOMEESA constitution was voted in on Friday 24th September 2021. This constitution better reflects the objectives and needs of the association and is compliant under the New South Wales (NSW) Associations Incorporation Act 2009.
Earth Science Week is 10-16 October and Geoscience Australia has some great events planned. Our highlight will be a talk from WOMEESA Member Steph McLennan from Geoscience Australia about managing the environmental impacts of human and animal activity in Antarctica on 13 October at 11am (AEDT). To register for that event and find out more about other activities, see the GA webpage.
sandra Villacorta SUPPORTING WOMEN IN GEOSCIENCE
We are so proud of WOMEESA Member, Sandra Villacorta, for her leadership in supporting women in geoscience and inspiring the next generation of geoscientists here in Australia and within Latin America. Sandra has participated and organised a number of events to highlight current challenges and solutions to women’s participation in geoscience and WOMEESA are proud to support the event Sandra is organising at MinerLima in November ‘Peruvian Women in Geosciences’. We spoke to Sandra to learn more and here’s what she had to say:
“After participating in the session "Share your story" at AESC2021, I felt identified with the professionals who shared their challenges and experiences as women, mothers and geoscientists. That is why I proposed to replicate it, first through the Latin American Chapter of IGEO, where I organized the webinar: "Female educators in Geosciences in Latin America: Challenges and Opportunities" and then, in Peru, due to the invitation of the organizing committee of MinerLima (the geoscience exhibition organized every year in Lima).
I think it is really important to create greater opportunities for encouraging professionals to participate in the global movement that will make gender equality and diversity policies more explicit at all levels. It will make it possible to take the next step towards that goal, especially in Latin America, where the problem is more accentuated by the patriarchal and macho society that still prevails.
The event, like its predecessors, aims to share the challenges and experiences of geologists, mining engineers and other Peruvian professionals, to inspire the next generations of women who are studying or want to venture into geosciences careers in Peru.”
Great work Sandra! You can register for the event here.
Online Seminar Series
Each month we host a seminar via zoom from a WOMEESA member. Our seminar series aims to increase the visibility of women in science and provide inspiring role models. All are welcome, even non-members.
Details of upcoming seminars on posted the seminar webpage here, and past seminars are posted on our YouTube channel here. We’re also compiling a list of talks by women in earth and environmental sciences in the region which you can find on the seminars webpage.
The September WOMEESA seminar was presented by Dr Anita Parbhakar-Fox about her career in environmental geoscience and minorities in geoscience. You can watch it here.
Don’t miss the next WOMEESA Seminar:
Wednesday 13 October, 2pm AEDT (Sydney time)
Dr Katelyn Johnson
GNS Science I Te Pū Ao
“Reconstructing Holocene climate variability offshore Adélie Land, East Antarctica”
See our website for more information and registration
Future seminars:
Wednesday 10 November, 2pm AEDT (Sydney time/1:30pm Adelaide)
Dr Emily Leyden, University of Adelaide
Wednesday 8 December, 2pm AEDT (Sydney time/1:30pm Adelaide)
Associate Professor Caroline Tiddy, University of South Australia
Shut Up And Write #SUAW
On the last Friday of the month we hold an online Shut Up and Write #SUAW session via zoom. We get together and talk briefly about what we want to achieve in the session, then write for about 50 minutes.
It’s a great opportunity to connect with other members and get some uninterrupted writing done. Even if you don’t have anything to write, you can just come along and say hi.
Next event will be Friday 29 October, 12 pm (Sydney time) the zoom link will be emailed out to members.
Member spotlights
Our member spotlights are helping increasing the visibility of women working in earth and environmental sciences in the region and share experiences. If you would like to feature on a member spotlight page or write an article for our blog page please get in touch with Jess (j.hillman@gns.cri.nz)
Take a look at the most recent spotlights here
Other WOMEESA News
the Earth Futures Festival
Credit: Katarzyna Gonsior
The Earth Futures Festival is an international film and video festival showcasing the role of geoscience in our sustainable future, created and led by our President, Heather Handley in partnership with UNESCO IGCP.
The Festival aims to raise international awareness of the role of Earth Science in our sustainable future by educating and inspiring others, creating diverse role models, motivating positive global change and attracting a diverse range of people towards both study and careers in the field of geoscience.
The Festival takes place online with in person events in New York City, Paris and Sydney in September-October 2022. Entries open early next year. There’s an award fro Women in Geoscience so find out more here and get filming!
Ever wondered why volcanoes erupt?
Big research news in the geoscience world with WOMEESA Vice President Dr Teresa Ubide from the University of Queensland and team publishing a paper last week that showed how processes in volcanoes alter the chemistry of magmas and cause magma to erupt. So this is a new answer to the classic question that kids always ask geologists - "why do volcanoes erupt?" Teresa found that when magma is under the surface pooling deep under a volcano, it begins to crystallise. This process of crystallisation preferentially enriches the magma in volatiles (water, gases) and reduces the density of the magma. Magma that experiences a reduction in density becomes more buoyant, so this process could actually be the catalyst for volcanic eruptions! If you would like to know more, the paper is here and there is also this article in the Conversation. An additional awesome aspect of this paper is in the acknowledgements section of the paper: “We dedicate the work to our years of friendship and collaboration, and to Bruno, Arnau, and Garoé, all born during the gestation of this manuscript”.
New research reveals link between sea ice, Algal Blooms and climate
In research published in Nature Geoscience this month, Dr Katelyn Johnson of GNS Science led a team of researchers who have managed to shed light on the complex relationships between sea ice, algal blooms and climate events in Antarctica. The team carefully analysed 170m of marine sediment core and found that reductions in annual algal blooms were correlated with El Niño Southern Oscillation climate events, suggesting that the blooms occurred when sea ice broke up and melted. Since these blooms form the base of the food chain and represent huge carbon sinks, the relationship is very important for future climate models. Unlike the Arctic where sea ice is rapidly melting as the climate warms, Antarctica has been shown to have a particularly complicated reaction to climate change, with growth of sea ice in some areas. This work links together several aspects of this complex system, allowing better predictions for what will happen next. We are so delighted that Katelyn will be presenting the October WOMEESA seminar! To find out more and register, go to our website.
Australian earthquake explained
Map of the 48 magnitude 5.8+ earthquakes over the past 150 years. This is the only one in Victoria. Credit: Adam Pascale
For WOMEESA members from New Zealand, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake might seem relatively mundane. But for those of us in SE Australia, last week was the first time many of us have experienced an earthquake first hand and, once we ascertained that there was (surprisingly) little damage and no harm caused to people, it was extremely exciting. The earthquake epicentre was about 115 km east of Melbourne and Dr Dee Ninis of the Seismology Research Centre was the first to determine it’s intensity and then later in the day wrote this great explainer in the Conversation.
WOMEESA members on Avid Research Podcast
A number of WOMEESA members have starred on the Avid Research Podcast over the last month! Dr Karen Joyce of James Cook University spoke about the incredible work she has done creating GeoNadir, an initiative that allows drone operators from around the world to upload their data for free in order to facilitate protection of at-risk ecosystems. She also created She Maps, which is an education program that aims to get girls into the world of drone data and coding.
The episode after Karen’s starred Dr Melanie Finch of Monash University, who spoke about being a structural geologist and an academic, critical minerals, the future of geoscience in Australia and the importance of science communication.
Choose your own science adventure
The AGU has put together 17 profiles that showcase the diverse and surprising career pathways that are available to Earth and Environmental scientists. I particularly loved reading about Filipino Geographer Joy Santiago who uses GIS and maps to reduce disaster risks in the Philippines. This is an excellent resource to pass on to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Ada Lovelace Day
On 12 October there will be a Wikipedia edit-a-thon, to create more biographies of STEM women and to teach those new to wiki editing how to go about it. The event is run by volunteers and inspired by English mathematician and computer programmer Ada Lovelace. The New Zealand and Australia part of the event will be from noon New Zealand time (NZST) until 8 pm Sydney time (AEDT), covering 10 hours of the 24 hour global event and then handing off to Wikipedia friends in Asia, Africa, and the UK. For more info and the zoom link, check out the event page.
Women scientists and politics
Angela Merkel retires from her role as Chancellor of Germany this month with a huge approval rating both within Germany and internationally and an astonishing 15+ years in the top job. She is also a scientist- a quantum chemist (part of quantum mechanics, the discipline that brought us Schrödingers cat), and many attribute her wild success as a leader to her scientific training. That has caused some to put the call out to scientists to consider a switch to politics, suggesting that the world would be a better place if scientists led it. It is easy to understand why a government based on facts and evidence would be advantageous when science is the key to solving our greatest challenges (COVID and climate change). Professor Emma Johnston and Dr Kylie Walker wrote this article in the Conversation about what the world could look like if we had more scientists in politics. It is a fantastic article and certainly inspiring. To suggest that women contemplating a move from science into politics might be deterred by recent events is probably a huge understatement. It will be interesting to see what Tanya Plibersek has to say on that issue and it just so happens that she's giving a free online talk entitled "Ending sexism, misogyny and racism" on October 7 at 5pm - you can register here.
Opportunities
The Geoscience Society of Australia is hosting two online sessions for Early Career Geoscientists: GSA Neo 12-13 Oct 12-2.30pm AEDT both days. The sessions will include workshops, presentations & panel discussions designed to give Early Career Geoscientists the competitive edge, increase confidence and strengthen networks. GSA members free, $20 non-members
The Early Career Volcanology Reading-Rendezvous (ECR Volcanology R-R) are organising a monthly, virtual reading group to discuss papers broadly related to volcanology. Their aim is to provide an accessible, inclusive, and diverse platform for ECRs to discuss novel topics in volcanology, and in turn promote the open exchange of knowledge and ideas. They are gauging interest in running a session at an Australia/New Zealand-friendly time. It’s a purposefully broad definition of early career (e.g., undergrads, postgrads, post-docs, and early-career faculty, scientists, and technicians) to encourage wide participation. If you’re interested, please fill out this quick form and sign up to their mailing list.
Ahunuku Māori Summer Scholarship Programme is open for applications from university students of Māori descent. It is a scholarship taken over the summer break where students work with GNS Science researchers on research projects. Applications closing soon!
The organising committee of the Geological Society of New Zealand’s annual conference have extended the deadline for early bird registration to 30 September. They have a couple of very exciting plenary lectures and a public lecture that sound like they are not to be missed! Members of the Geoscience Society of Australia receive discounts to this conference.
Geoscience Information Association Grant, ALIA Des Tellis (30 September)
The International Association of Sedimentologists have grants available now to their members for post grad research and post docs (30 September)
Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program, Smithsonian (1 November)
Discovery Early Career Research Award, Australian Research Council (17 November)
Jobs:
Two- year research fellowship position in fossils and geochemistry available at Curtin University, Western Australia: Research Associate EPS Fossils 787623
Two- year research fellowship position in fossils and geochemistry available at Curtin University, Western Australia: Research Associate EPS Fossils 787623
The Teacher Earth Science Education Program (TESEP) are looking to employ geology-trained or environmental science-trained educators to assist in face-to-face delivery of the TESEP Teacher Earth Science Education Program in NSW, QLD and SA. The TESEP “The Challenging Earth’’ series of topics includes Climate Change, Groundwater, Our Place in Space, Energy Mix, Rocks & Mining. TESEP is happy to discuss variations and possibilities. For further information and to apply contact. Jill Stevens (Chairperson TESEP) Email: cp@tesep.org.au
NSW - Regional Coordinators for central NSW, NE NSW, SE – south coast NSW, north coast NSW, NW-north-central NSW (5 positions)
QLD - Possibly SE Qld-Brisbane-Sunshine Coast, Gladstone-Mackay-Rockhampton, Townsville-Cairns-Cloncurry (3 positions)
SA - Regional Coordinators for eastern SA, western SA (2 part-time, paid positions)
Associate professor in Environmental studies at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (15 Oct)
There is a job available at Uni Wollongong in School of Geography & Sustainable Communities for Indigenous lecturer, level A or B. PHD not necessary. For info DM on twitter: @DrNickGill @ACCESS_GEOG
Ion Microprobe Specialist at Curtin University, Western Australia (11 November)
Mineral Systems Research Geologist at CSIRO, Perth (3 October)
PhD opportunities:
New PhD projects at CODES Geology, geochemistry & genesis of the Havieron gold-copper deposit, Paterson Provence, WA https://bit.ly/3zG5qpB Closes Oct 14
Five(!) PhD projects in computational geophysics at the University of Otago
Positions in nanoscale geochem processes in peridotites at Curtin University
Characteristics of the regolith associated with mafic and ultramafic-hosted nickel-copper mineralisation at Curtin University
Deep time global scale landscape evolution models at the University of Sydney
Have an opportunity you’d like to share then let us know!
Upcoming Events
The WOMEESA shut up and write September session
The next #SUAW is this Friday 29 October at 12 pm AEDT (Sydney time), check your email for the zoom login details. Note that WOMEESA runs on Sydney time all year round and Sydney changes to daylight savings time at the beginning of October, so please be sure to check what that means for your local time zone. We’d love to see you at the next SUAW, it’s always a great chance for a quick catch up and then some uninterrupted writing time.
WOMEESA virtual seminar series
The October seminar in our monthly series will be presented by Dr Katelyn Johnson from GNS Science Te Pū Ao on October 13 at 2 pm (AEDT, Sydney time, which is 4pm in Auckland). To find out more and register to attend head over to our website. The WOMEESA seminars are the second Wednesday of every month at 2 pm (Sydney time). If you want to catch up on past WOMEESA seminars you can check them out on our YouTube channel.
WOMEESA local face-to-face bimonthly catch-ups
WOMEESA local catch-ups are bimonthly but on hold in locked down regions at the moment. If you are interested in organising a F2F in your own state or neighbourhood contact Heather Handley (heather.handley@mq.edu.au) to find out how.
Newsletter Editor-in-Chief
Melanie Finch
Melanie is a WOMEESA team member and geoscience lecturer at Monash University. Please contact Melanie if you see something to include in next month’s newsletter Melanie.Finch@monash.edu.
Newsletter Contributors
Heather Handley
Heather Handley is the Co-Founder and President of WOMEESA, Adjunct Assoc. Prof. at Monash University and Honorary Assoc. Prof. at Macquarie University.