We are pleased to announce the new Call for Proposals at the Anglo-Australian Telescope for observations in Semester 2020A (February 2020 - July 2020).

​The deadline for the proposals is 16 September 2019, at 17:00 AEST. Proposals to the Australian Time Allocation Committee (ATAC) must follow the ATAC Policies and Procedures and be submitted before the deadline using the Lens proposal form. 

Australian proposals may seek either Open Time or Paid Time on the AAT.  Open Time is only available to Australian proposals with at least half of the proposers and the lead proposer based at Australian institutions. Inquiries regarding the terms and conditions for AAT Paid Time can be made to Astronomy Australia Limited.

The GMTO Corporation is constructing the 25.4 metre Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) in Chile, in which AAL and the Australian National University are partners. AAL is looking to fill 2 vacancies, one for an Australian-based astronomer to serve on the Board of the GMTO Corporation, and one to serve on the GMT Science Advisory Committee. Please follow the links below for a description of what each role entails plus how to apply, and please get in touch with the named contact person if you have any questions.

• GMTO Board
• GMT Science Advisory Committee

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Applications for both positions close on Friday 23rd August 2019 at 5pm AWST.
 
AAL is committed to equity and diversity and encourages applications from anyone with the appropriate expertise and skill level.

AAL thanks the Australian Government for ~$1.4M in new funding to support Australian involvement in international projects and partnerships:

AAL is delighted to have been awarded $990K through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) towards the ongoing development of GMT Integral Field Spectrograph at AAO-Stromlo. We thank the Hon Dan Tehan, Minister for Education, for this investment, which will help to maintain momentum with Australia's technical contributions to the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT).

Australia is currently involved in two significant GMT work packages: the MANIFEST fibre-feed system at AAO-Macquarie and the GMT Integral Field Spectrograph at AAO-Stromlo. GMTIFS is designed to address key scientific questions of interest to Australian researchers, including understanding the nature of supermassive black-holes at the centres of galaxies, understanding the birth and evolution of galaxies in the universe and probing the atmospheric composition of extra-solar planets. GMTIFS is envisaged to be a first-light instrument for the GMT and is featured prominently in the recently released Giant Magellan Telescope 2018 Science book. 

AAL is delighted to be awarded a grant of $160K from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS)  to support a range of Australia-China Consortium for Astrophysical Research (ACAMAR) activities. This builds upon a similar award last financial year which supported the ACAMAR workshop in April 2019, the recently announced ACAMAR SKA fellowship and SKA PhD scholarship schemes. The new grant will ensure the successful continuation of Australian-Chinese research partnerships. 

The DIIS has also awarded AAL a grant of $230K to continue our support of the Australia-ESO Strategic Partnership and other overseas optical telescopes. The Department had previously contracted AAL to undertake such activities until June 2020; this new award will continue to fund AAL to undertake such activities until June 2022, allowing AAL to take a longer-term view of assisting the Department to engage with ESO, and other projects including the GMT.

AAL thanks the DIIS for both these grants, which provide significant support for Australian astronomer engagement in international facilities and partnerships.

Applications close on Friday 5 July 5PM AWST

Astronomy Australia Ltd (AAL), on behalf of the Gravitational Wave Data Centre (GWDC), is inviting applications from suitably qualified Australian-based astronomers and eResearch specialists willing to represent the Australian astronomy community on the Gravitational Wave Data Centre Advisory Panel. 

Applications 
If you wish to contribute to the Gravitational Wave Data Centre Advisory Panel via your expertise, ideas, and experience, please email AAL with a maximum three-page application with: 

• A brief CV,
• Your relevant expertise, 
• Any relevant conflicts of interest

AAL is committed to equity and diversity and encourages applications from everyone with the appropriate expertise and skills.

​The AAL Board will review all received applications and make the appointment. Queries can be made to Dr Robert Shen, AAL Senior program manager, 03 9214 5520. 

Applications close on Friday 5 July 5PM AWST. Late applications will not be accepted. 

More details can be downloaded below: 
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Applications close on Thursday 9th May 5 PM AWST.
 
On behalf of the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) Council, Astronomy Australia Limited (AAL) seeks to appoint two new members to the AAT Users’ Committee (AATUC). One of these positions is for a regular member, while the other is reserved for a postgraduate student.  The AATUC provides advice to the AAT Council and SSO Director on the operational and development issues relating to the AAT. AATUC will meet twice a year via videoconferencing in February and August.
 
If you consider yourself well placed to contribute to this committee via your expertise, ideas, and experience, please email applications@astronomyaustralia.org.au with a maximum three page application with:
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• a covering letter describing your expertise relevant to the committee terms of reference
• a brief CV
• any relevant conflicts of interest.

AAL is committed to equity and diversity and encourages applications from all interested candidates with relevant expertise and skills. AAL specifically considers gender balance across committee appointments. AAL also considers the range of specialisations and seniorities required for the committee’s effective operation and seeks to maximise the number of AAL member institutions involved with committees it appoints.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact AAL if you have any questions regarding the AATUC committee:

Mita Brierley, CBO, 02 9850 6371
Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer, Program Manager, 02 9850 6379

Applications close on Thursday 9th May 5 PM AWST. Late applications will not be accepted.
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More details can be downloaded below:

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• AAL is advertising a newly created part-time role
• We are seeking a person with highly developed communications skills and experience in producing printed and digital content, social media and events
• Must be able to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders

The role
The successful applicant will work collaboratively within a small team environment to coordinate and implement AAL’s communications activities. The role is based at AAL’s Victoria office, located alongside the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn. We offer a relaxed, flexible, family-friendly environment, close to public transport, approximately 6km east of Melbourne’s CBD.
 
The person
Applicants should possess a degree level qualification with relevant work experience managing communications dealing with scientific concepts or a technical project.
 
You should have experience delivering compelling content over varying channels, including social media, an ability to write compelling content which articulates complicated technical strategies from multiple sources, and highly developed communication skills, having partnered with and influenced senior stakeholders in previous roles.
 
This role is a permanent part-time position at a level of around 3 days/week. Flexible working arrangements may be negotiated.
 
Remuneration
The remuneration package will be in the range of around $80,000 p.a. pro-rata, plus employer superannuation contributions of 9.5%.
 
Position Description
​communications_officer.pdf
 
Enquiries
To discuss this role please contact James Murray, Senior Program Manager via applications@astronomyaustralia.org.au or on 03 9214 8426.
To apply for this role, please submit a covering letter and resume via email to applications@astronomyaustralia.org.au
 
Applications Close
17 May 2019, 5:00 PM (AEST).

The first AAL industry engagement seed funding round is now completed. We'd like to congratulate the following four successful applications: 

​AAL looks forward to working with the successful applicants in 2019 to help build deeper industry engagement! 

Applications close on Wednesday 13th February 2019, 5 PM AWST.
 
On behalf of the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) Council, Astronomy Australia Limited (AAL) seeks to appoint three new members to the AAT Time Allocation Committee.  ATAC is the committee that allocates time on the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT), as well as Australian time on the Blanco telescope. ATAC meets twice a year in person, with the next meeting scheduled for early May.
 
If you consider yourself well placed to contribute to this committee via your expertise, ideas, and experience, please email applications@astronomyaustralia.org.au with a maximum three page application with:

• a covering letter describing your expertise relevant to the committee terms of reference
• a brief CV
• any relevant conflicts of interest.

AAL is committed to equity and diversity and encourages applications from all interested candidates with relevant expertise and skills. To achieve our gender balance targets across the committee membership, at least one of these appointments will be offered to a suitable female candidate and at least one appointment will be offered to a suitable male candidate.

Please do not hesitate to contact AAL if you have any questions regarding these committees:

Mita Brierley, Senior Program Manager
Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer, Program Manager


Applications close on Wednesday 13th February 2019, 5 PM AWST. Late applications will not be accepted.

​More details can be downloaded below:
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Proposals are invited from the astronomy community to advance their industry engagement projects. Astronomy Australia Ltd. (AAL) has a budget of up to $100K to advance the collaboration(s) between astronomy groups and industry partners. Furthermore, AAL expects that its investment in industry engagement portfolio may continue beyond the initial seed funding period, but subject to funding availability.
AAL Industry Engagement Seed Funding proposals may include, but not limited to:

• Funding projects that assist in solving industry problems.
• Funding projects that assist in commercializing technology through industry partnerships.
• Funding assistance towards preparing joint proposals between academics and industry for third-party funding e.g. ARC Linkage Project Grants.

Please note:  

• Only proposals from academic or technical staff working in an Australian University or research organisation on a project that involves industry engagement will be considered. 

For further details and the evaluation criteria can be found here: 

1. Call for AAL Industry Engagement Seed Funding 
2. Call for AAL Industry Engagement Seed Funding - Proposal Template 

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​The proposal should be submitted by email no later than 5pm AWST on 20 February 2019 to robert.shen@astronomyaustralia.org.au​