Welcome again to the third edition of MAGO. I hope the journal continues to be informative, but I am also inviting feedback on what you like and don't like about the journal. Please email your comments to Anne Webber on a.webber@uq.edu.au.

The last month has been very busy: All RQF feedback meetings and performance appraisals have been finalised, the School's Executive Committee has been formed and met twice, the All Staff meeting has met twice, and the restructure of LCAFS teaching programs have almost been finalized. I recognize that we are half way into the year and that there has been no let up in pressure. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff for their continuing hard work.

Jacqueline Batley has been invited to travel to China in July to participate in the Australia China Young Scientists Exchange Scheme and I know everyone will join me in extending to her heartfelt congratulations. MAGO will feature her report in the next issue.

I will be going on long service leave 2 July to 23 August. Alan and I will be camping across northern Australia to Broome in Western Australia. We are looking forward to our trip and the chance to explore areas we have not previously visited. Neal Menzies will be Acting Head of School in my absence.

Regards

Professor Kaye E Basford
Head of School

Introducing Professor Graeme Hammer

Graeme Hammer is Professor in Crop Science at LCAFS and Research Leader, Agricultural Production Systems Research Unit (APSRU), an unincorporated joint venture of the Queensland Government (DPIF and NRW), CSIRO and The University of Queensland. Graeme's research focuses on understanding and predicting crop growth and development using mathematical models and putting that technology to work to seek solutions to relevant agricultural problems. He is currently leading a new program of research on developing and applying virtual plant modeling capability in the design and breeding of improved crop plants. Major breakthroughs in molecular technologies mean that scientists can engineer genes for simple traits and identify and map parts of the genome that contribute to more complex traits underpinning grain yield, such as water use efficiency and root system architecture. Virtual plant technology provides the missing bridge to connect this molecular knowledge with consequences on whole plant function, or conversely, to connect desirable consequences with molecular knowledge gaps. This gene-to-phenotype or phenotype-to-genotype capacity opens up opportunities for more rapid crop improvement for complex traits.

Graeme has focused his research in this area on grain sorghum and works closely with the DPIF sorghum improvement group. His group is researching the physiological and genetic basis of key adaptive traits in sorghum (tillering, water use, root system architecture, flowering, grain growth, CHO allocation) and capturing this knowledge in the generic crop growth and development modeling framework they have built in APSIM (the Agricultural Production System Simulator). APSIM is the core modelling technology developed within APSRU. It is now widely used throughout the world. The sorghum research is closely linked with work on maize via a major ARC linkage project undertaken with Pioneer Hi-Bred International in the USA.

  
Field day demonstration of research on water extraction and root system architecture
(plants grown in root observation chambers in specially constructed enclosure)

Graeme worked as a research science leader in DPIF before joining SLCAFS. He was responsible for establishing the APSRU group and developing the APSIM platform in collaboration with science leaders from the other lead organisations engaged in APSRU. His earlier activities have included research on seasonal climate prediction and its use in improving management of agricultural systems. He pioneered the link between seasonal climate forecasting and agricultural system management via modeling technology. That development has had significant national and international impact at science and application levels.

Studies on growth efficiencies associated with variation in plant height

Graeme has bachelor degrees in plant science/forestry (Melbourne University) and mathematics/statistics (University of Queensland), a masters degree in forest science (Melbourne University), and a doctorate in crop science (Kansas State University). He is the author of numerous scientific papers and books on crop physiology and modeling and the application of models to agricultural system improvement. He is listed by Thomson ISI (web of science) as among the most highly cited authors in agricultural science. He has presented lead papers at numerous national and international conferences in his area of expertise, is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science, and is a member of scientific advisory boards for research institutes in Australia, Europe, and the USA.

Introducing Leanne Pooley - Administration Assistant Gatton

Prior to joining LCAFS in January, Leanne spent many years in the private sector. The move to work in Gatton was a big change, prompted by a desire for a country lifestyle that she and husband Steve began planning some two years ago when they bought a 200 acre property in Buaraba, located half way between Gatton and Esk.

Leanne and Steve will shortly return from a four week tour of Canada and Alaska before getting down to the nitty gritty of building their new home at Buaraba. With a menagerie of pets already living with them - 2 dogs, several parrots, 3 ducks and numerous fish, Leanne and Steve have plans to add cattle to their animal list but more for income generating than pleasure. Leanne is a keen golfer and has been a member of Redland Bay Golf Club for the past 17 years and with the move to Buaraba hopes to join a Golf Club in the local area.

With many years office management and administrative experience Leanne was a willing volunteer to produce the School's informal newsletter Take a LCAFS Break which looks at the lighter side of the School. She has also taken on board a number of initiatives in an attempt to enhance LCAFS working relationships.

Leanne has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Queensland which she obtained while working full time. This experience helped Leanne to develop her time management skills and gave her insight into University life, but she says "it is very different now being on the 'other side of the desk', and trying to understand how the University operates has been a somewhat vertical learning curve". Leanne has enjoyed the camaraderie in the School and hopes to further develop her administrative support role when she returns from overseas.

Congratulations to Jacqueline Batley who has been invited to travel to China to participate in the Australia China Young Scientists Exchange Scheme 22 July 2007 to 6 August 2007. The programme is being coordinated by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) International Relations Committee and hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

This newly established scheme, aims to promote collaboration between younger Australian and Chinese scientists by allowing participants to form research networks and explore possible areas of collaborative research. It is aimed at mid-career researchers who have shown both technical expertise and leadership potential.

Congratulations to Bob Gilbert who has just been awarded the inaugural Ottewill Lectureship of the UK Polymer Colloids Forum.

Congratulations to Rowena Long who won the Young Scientist award for best short (3 minute) talk at the CRC Assoc conference in Perth.

Congratulations to the following students who have been awarded their doctorate:

Please contact Kaye Hunt on telephone 3365 3458, or email k.hunt@uq.edu.au if you would like to borrow these theses.

Biotechnology for Human Welfare. 20 and 21 July 2007, India. The conference will focus on the recent developments in the field of Biotechnology and related fields. Areas covered are Agricultural Biotechnology, Food Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Nanobiotechnology. Visit http://www.citbiotech2007.info for more information.

ICASET 2007 -International Conference on Applied Science, Engineering and Technology, 24 to 26 August 2007, Germany. The conference aims to bring together researchers, scientists, engineers, and students to exchange and share their experiences, new ideas, and research results about all aspects of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology, and discuss the practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted. Visit http://www.enformatika.org/icaset07/ for more information.

Advances in Antimicrobial Interventions for Quality Control, 13 and 14 September 2007, Canada. The conference aims to educate on advancement in intervention strategies for enhancing food safety; create awareness on upcoming products and state-of-the art technologies; understand the current regulatory requirements related to food safety; impart knowledge on science based control of foodborne pathogens; and network with industry experts and peers. Visit http://www.cmc-cvc.com/english/news_e.asp#Symposium for more information.

8th EMBO/EMBL Joint Conference on Science and Society: The future of our species - Evolution, disease and sustainable development, 2 and 3 November, Germany. The conference includes four sessions covering Emerging, re-emerging and persistent diseases, Global sustainability and biology, Treatment and enhancement, Human evolution: once were apes. Visit http://www.embo.org/scisoc/conference07.html for more information.

Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Genome Annotation Workshop Series, from 8 August 2008, United States of America. The conference will include three workshops: Plant-Associated Microbe Gene Ontology (PAMGO) training workshop, and Oomycete Bioinformatics training workshop and the Hyaloperonspora parasitica Genome Annotation Jamboree. Visit http://www.cpe.vt.edu/vbi-genome/ for more information.

Click the following titles to find out more about them:

Smart State - Partnerships Alliances Facilitation Program
Department of State Development

Measurement, Science and Engineering Research Grants Programs--Fire Research Grants Program
National Institute of Standards & Technology/Technology Administration/DOC

Lise Meitner Program
Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

Call for Applications - Travel/Conference Funding
Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

Postdoctoral Fellowships
Rhodes University

Scientific Visits to Europe, North America and Asia
Australian Academy of Science

Smart Returns Fellowship Scheme
Queensland Government (Office of Higher Education)