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29/09: Australia ratifies the SKA Observatory Convention

28/9/2020

His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of Australia, authorising Australia’s ratification of the SKA Observatory Convention. Credit: SKA Observatory.

AAL is delighted to report that Australia has now ratified the SKA Observatory Convention, becoming the fourth country to do so in preparation for the establishment of the SKA Observatory.

The SKA Observatory is the Intergovernmental Organisation that will build and operate the SKA – the largest science facility on the planet. The Australian SKA site is CSIRO’s Murchison Radio astronomy Observatory (MRO), located around 800km north of Perth. This 'radio quiet' location will allow the SKA to detect extremely faint radio signals from space, without interference from human radio activity.

Australia’s involvement in the project will see Australian astronomers at the forefront of astronomical discoveries with access to world-leading SKA science facilities and data. Australian businesses will also lead construction of SKA infrastructure locally and contribute to the development of new technologies used in the SKA.

The SKA is supported by 15 countries: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The Australia-New Zealand SKA Coordination Committee (ANZSCC) supports Australia’s involvement in the global SKA project. AAL is a project partner and member of the ANZSCC through expert member and AAL CEO Mark McAuley.
Please contact Mark for more information about AAL and Australia's role in the SKA Observatory.

24/9: AAL is seeking a new Program Manager

24/9/2020

AAL is currently seeking a new full time Program Manager, to be located in the Melbourne office (Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn Campus). The position is for one year with the possibility for renewal.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Program Manager will be part of a team that has responsibility for overseeing research infrastructure projects and facilities involving astronomical observatories and high performance computers.

Interstate travel may be required as part of this role. As AAL is a small company, all members of staff are expected to spend some of their time assisting with general operations. AAL offers relaxed, flexible, family-friendly work arrangements. Under current COVID-19 restrictions, AAL staff are predominantly working from home.

A full position description for the role of Program Manager can be found here.

The closing date for applications is 26 October at 9am.
Applicants should send their CV and a covering letter to: applications@astronomyaustralia.org.au

Any further questions about this role should be directed to AAL Director of Operations James Murray:
james.murray@astronomyaustralia.org.au

22/09: AAL is seeking applications to fill a vacancy on its Board

22/9/2020

Astronomy Australia Ltd (AAL) is currently seeking applications to fill a vacancy on the AAL Board.

AAL is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee whose Members are all Australian universities and research organisations with a significant astronomy research capability. Its core business is to manage programs which provide astronomers with access to national astronomy infrastructure.

AAL finances a range of research infrastructure projects from Australian Government funding and supports Australian engagement with various international observatories. The AAL Board, appointed by the Members, oversees the progress of these projects. At the conclusion of the AAL AGM on 25 November 2020, there will be one vacancy on the AAL Board. AAL now invites applications from qualified individuals to fill this vacancy.

Applications close on 9 October 2020 at 8:00 PM AEDT. Please see this link for more detail on the role and how to apply.

Applications should be directed to AAL Company Secretary, Catherine Andrews: catherine.andrews@astronomyaustralia.org.au

Should you have any enquiries regarding this advertisement, please contact the following AAL representatives:

Mr Mark McAuley, AAL CEO, mark.mcauley@astronomyaustralia.org.au, or
Dr Sarah Pearce, Nomination Committee Chair, sarah.pearce@astronomyaustralia.org.au

Applications close on 9 October 2020 at 8:00 PM AEDT. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

17/09: Major NSF grant announced for the GMT project

16/9/2020

A major NSF grant accelerates development for one of the world’s most powerful telescopes. The Giant Magellan Telescope is currently being constructed at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. With seven of the world’s largest mirrors ever constructed, each at 8.4 meters in diameter, the GMT will provide ten times better resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: GMTO Corporation/M3 Engineering.

AAL is delighted by the recent announcement of a US $17.5M grant, awarded to the GMTO Corporation by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The GMTO Corporation is the organisation responsible for the development and operation of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) project, currently under construction at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.

When complete, the GMT will be one of three next-generation extremely large optical telescopes, with Australia being approximately a 10% partner in the telescope. The GMT is designed to have a resolving power ten times greater than the Hubble Space Telescope, and will help to expand our knowledge of the universe.

The GMTO has 12 founder institutions, including AAL and the Australian National University (ANU). For more information on the GMT project, see this link. For more on AAL's role as a founding partner, please contact AAL's CEO Mark McAuley, or AAL's Chief Business Officer, Mita Brierley.

16/09: Call for nominations to ESO Scientific Technical Committee

16/9/2020

ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) observatory at Paranal, with the Moon, Venus and Jupiter glowing brightly overhead. Image credit: ESO/Y. Beletsky

Under the Strategic Partnership between Australia and ESO, Australia is entitled to representation on The ESO Scientific Technical Committee (STC). As with the other ESO committees Australia is involved with, having an astronomer on the STC will allow the community to make the most of this unprecedented 10-year scientific partnership. Hence, The Australian Government has asked AAL to invite astronomers to self‑nominate for a role on the STC, using the cover sheet attached here.

The deadline for nominations is 7pm AEST (5pm AWST) on Friday 2 October 2020, via applications@astronomyaustralia.org.au.

Australia’s Observer to the STC will be appointed for a term of three (3) years, with the possibility of reappointment for a further three-year term. ESO would particularly welcome nominees with expertise in the areas listed below, as these are currently the skills sought by the STC:

Interferometry and Adaptive Optics (AO) at optical/IR wavelengths
Innovative operational models
Data archiving
Cosmology
Mid-IR astrophysics, particularly relating to the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT)

Upon receipt of the nominations, AAL will conduct an internal merit-based short-listing process, presenting the shortlist to Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER). During its next meeting (over 1-2 December 2020), the ESO Council will then consider the candidates and select the next Australian Observer to the STC.

The selected representative must be available to attend all STC meetings during their appointment term, starting from the first STC meeting of 2021, expected in mid-April 2021 (TBC), and under usual circumstances would be held at ESO Headquarters, Garching, Germany. While there is no remuneration associated with the role, ESO covers reasonable travel and accommodation expenses to attend the meetings. Representatives on ESO governing bodies also participate as ex officio members on the Australia-ESO Coordinating Group, who meet up to four times per year, with most attendees participating by video link.

AAL and DISER would like to thank and acknowledge the important work of the outgoing inaugural Observer to the ESO STC, A/Prof. Michael Ireland (ANU).

Enquiries about this position can be sent to AAL Program Manager Dr Stuart Ryder: Stuart.Ryder@astronomyaustralia.org.au.

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