AAL Committee Membership - Applications now closed

Astronomy Australia Limited (AAL) seeks applications for its four advisory committees. AAL also seeks applications for a new Astronomy Supercomputer Time Assignment Committee.

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

AAL finances a range of infrastructure projects from Australian Government funding, and also arranges access for Australian astronomers to international optical telescopes such as Gemini and Magellan. The AAL Board, appointed by the Members, oversees the progress of these projects, and is required to report regularly to the Government.

Advisory Committees

AAL has four Advisory Committees that assist the Board in both monitoring projects, and apprising the Board of relevant developments in the national and international astronomy landscape. Information on the committees, including their membership and terms of reference, can be found on AAL's website:

• Antarctic Astronomy Advisory Committee (AAAC)
• Astronomy eResearch Advisory Committee (AeRAC)
• Optical Telescopes Advisory Committee (OTAC)
• Radio Telescopes Advisory Committee (RTAC)

AAL is looking for new members for these committees from 2012, to replace outgoing members. These advisory committees meet four times a year, most often via teleconference, to discuss AAL-funded projects and to advise the Board as requested. All membership terms will be 2 years with the possibility of renewal.

Astronomy Supercomputer Time Allocation Committee

AAL has created the Astronomy Supercomputer Time Allocation Committee (ASTAC). This committee will be tasked with allocating the time given to astronomy on several supercomputers including gSTAR, the Swinburne Supercomputer, and the NCI National Facility (1 million CPU-hrs/yr as per NCI Guidelines). Draft terms of reference are available on the website, with the details of how ASTAC will function to be determined over the next few months. It is expected that ASTAC will meet twice a year, and members will be expected to read proposals.

Applications

If you consider yourself well placed to contribute to any of these committees via your expertise and ideas, and share AAL's vision of wanting Australian astronomers to have access to the best research infrastructure, please email Amanda Kocz with a maximum one A4 page application with:

• which committee you wish to serve on,
• a brief CV,
• your relevant expertise,
• and, any relevant conflicts of interest.

AAL encourages applications from everyone with the appropriate expertise and skills, including early-to-mid career researchers. AAL also recognises the low level of female participation on its committees and has therefore set a target of 25% female representation over all its committees, and encourages applications from women. Travel costs for those participating in these committees will be met by AAL.

The deadline for applications is Friday 23rd September 2011 at 4pm AEST. Late applications will not be accepted.

Applications will be reviewed by the AAL Board Chair, Deputy Chair and CEO. This group will make nominations to the AAL Board for consideration at its next meeting on 10th November 2011. Those who are successfully appointed by the Board will be informed on 14th November 2011.

For more information please contact Amanda Kocz (03 9214 8758 or amanda.kocz@astronomyaustralia.org.au).