From the Lab to the Layman: Communicating science to the public

As the inaugural SOBR networking dinner has now been and gone we wanted to take a quick moment to say thank you for helping us make the night such an enjoyable evening. As mentioned last night the SOBR network is here to represent you as an early-career researcher and in order to ensure this is done effectively we are asking for your feedback. The feedback survey, which can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YQSJNVC, will take approximately five minutes of your time and will enter you into the draw to win a complimentary three night stay package for two at the exclusive Reef House Resort & Spa Palm Cove (Valued at $1350.00 per package http://www.reefhouse.com.au/) generously donated by Rydges. The package is valid until the 24^th May 2013 and does not include flights. The survey and competition entry closes midnight on Friday 1^st June.

Thanks again for supporting the SOBR network and don’t forget to keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for updates on the upcoming SOBR Symposium 2012, not to mention more photos from the dinner.

Society for Neuroscience Chapter Travel Awards

Whilst the deadline for abstract submissions to the 2012 Society for Neuroscience (SfN) annual meeting has now passed. We thought we'd take a quick moment to let you all know that the Melbourne Chapter of SfN is now welcoming nominations for a number of travel awards.

Chapters Graduate Student Travel Awards

The Chapters Graduate Student Travel Awards honours outstanding graduate students to help defray travel expensesto the SfN annual meeting and complimentary meeting registration.

Chapters Postdoctoral TraineeTravel Award

The Chapters Postdoctoral Trainee Travel Awards honours outstanding postdoctoral trainees to help defray travel expenses to the SfN annual meeting and complimentary meeting registration.

More information and nomination forms for the awards can be found here or by contacting the Melbourne Chapter SfN Secretary Junhau Xiao.

If you're interested make sure you get your nominations in quick as the deadline is Friday 1st June 

Professor Ingrid Scheffer on women in science

Late last week The Age published an article featuring Prof Ingrid Scheffer, one of our special guests for the upcoming networking dinner, on the what it's like to be a female scientist in Australia. 

Professor Ingrid Scheffer. Photo: Simon Schluter

"There is still a glass ceiling for women in science in Australia. More than 50 per cent of PhD students are women and more than 50 per cent of medical students are women. And yet when you get to professorial level, it's fewer than 10 per cent," Prof Ingrid Scheffer.

        

 The full article can be read here.

SOBR networking dinner 'From the Lab to the Layman' now SOLD OUT

SOBR's upcoming networking dinner 'From the Lab to the Layman' is now officially sold out. For those of you who bought tickets you will be hearing from us soon regarding dietary requirements and seating preferences and for those that missed out... Well we'll look forward to seeing you all at the SOBR Symposium 2012!

Discoveries Need Dollars - Protect Research!

The future of medical research in Australia is being debated and your support is vital. The McKeon Review public consultation is on Tuesday, and it is critical that we demonstrate to the panel the strength of support for health and medical research in Melbourne.

What 

McKeon Review public consultation

When

Tuesday 1 May 2-4pm

Where

Crown Melbourne Conference Centre, conference hall 1, level 2 (entrance 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank).

Why

Because plans for the next ten years of health and medical research in Australia will effect you.

About this time last year, we rallied for research to fight the budget cuts and we won. And one of the things we won was this strategic review of health and medical research, called the McKeon Review. They are going to make recommendations to the Government on what Government needs to do to support medical research in Australia. It would be terrible to waste this opportunity to influence the recommendations that the McKeon Review panel will put to Government.

So it's time to show your support again. If you've every complained about the NHMRC, if you've ever worried about your career, your funding, your work/life balance, the future of your research... then be a part of the process that could change it all.

Register your interest here or via email to let them know you'll be there.