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The fastest and smuttiest CRC PhD project…

Alistair McTaggart's PhD project has completely revised the taxonomy of three large genera of smut fungi.

Alistair McTaggart accepts his award for best student poster at the 2009 Science Exchange

Plant viruses – Friend or Foe?

The 9th Australasian Plant Virology Workshop (APVW) titled Plant viruses – friend or foe? was held in Melbourne from 16-19 October 2010.






	

	  

			  

	  
	  

	  
		
simon says...




I write this column following the disappointing news last week that our bid to continue our very successful CRC was not supported by the CRC Program. The reasons for not being supported are not yet fully clear but a meeting will be held with the CRC Program on 23 December, at which time a debrief will be provided.


 


While the news was not what we wanted to hear, everyone involved in the CRC should be very proud of what has been achieved over the past 12 months. The other positive news is that we still have the next CRC round (14) to which we can submit a proposal. Submitting a proposal into the next round will be dependent on Participants continuing to support the CRC and the feedback received from the CRC Program. From the initial discussions it would appear that there is still very strong support from our Participants to submit a proposal for the extension of this CRC. A meeting will be held with Participants at the Science Exchange in February to discuss the submission of another bid.


 


As a significant amount of work was put into developing the unsuccessful bid I do not expect that we will need to start from ‘square one’ but rather polish and address those areas that made us less competitive than the successful bids.


 


I would like to thank everyone who assisted us throughout the different phases of the bid process. We could not have completed the task without the efforts of a large number of people.


 


Having mentioned the upcoming meeting at the Science Exchange I can update everyone that Kate Scott and her team are well advanced in organising what will be another standout event. Registrations are numbering over 140 and Kirsty Bayliss and James Ridsdill-Smith have compiled a program that showcases the achievements of our CRC. I look forward to catching up with many of you at this event.


 


Another of our PhD students has just presented his final seminar and will submit his thesis on 24 December. Alistair McTaggart has revised the taxonomy of three smut fungi and I am very impressed with his ability to complete his PhD in less than three years. As you will read in a separate article of this Leaflet, Alistair is off to the US in the new year to commence a post-doc position. On behalf of the CRC we wish him all the best.


 


January will also see the loss of one of our valuable staff members with Alana van Meurs, our Communications Officer moving to Perth. Alana has contributed greatly to the CRC and she managed the production of the Plant Biosecurity: collaborative research initiatives magazine which has been very well received. We wish Alana all the best in her new life on the west coast.


 


2010 has been a very successful year for the CRC despite the bad news in the past few weeks. Hopefully 2011 will see us prepare a revised bid that will get the nod of the CRC Committee.


 


On behalf of everyone at the CRC, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year and look forward to catching up with many of you at the Science Exchange in February.

 


 


 Simon McKirdy Signature


 


Dr Simon McKirdy

Chief Executive Officer


 


 




biosecurity in cartoon by Ang


 Ang's Christmas Cartoon
	  		
	  
		
in this issue... 


Professor John Lovett


from the arm of the chair


Professor John Lovett always looks on the bright side. READ MORE




speedy smut specialist


Alistair McTaggart's PhD project has completely revised the taxonomy of three large genera of smut fungi. READ MORE 




training efficiencies gained through mobile technologies 


Dr Ruth Wallace and her project team recently won the Best Project Award from the Australian and New Zealand Mobile Learning Group for their work on mobile learning projects. READ MORE




statistical modelling provides greater confidence


PhD students Mark Stanaway and Nichole Hammond both recently submitted their theses READ MORE about their projects.




findings published in high level scientific journal


Further to our article in the last edition of The Leaflet Dr Dean Paini and his team's paper has been published in Nature Communications. READ MORE




other news...


Board Member, Professor John Irwin enjoys juggling multiple roles while still maintaining his interest in breeding lucerne. READ MORE 


The CRCNPB offer much more than just a stipend to our students. READ MORE in our Education and Training update


The CRCNPB sponsored the 9th Australasian Plant Virology Workshop. READ MORE


The CRC strong commitment to fruit fly research was demonstrated to an international audience at the International Symposiums on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance. READ MORE


A workshop on remote diagnostics is to be held in April 2011 in Darwin, Northern Territory. READ MORE


Capture the beauty of insects and you could win a $100 ABC Shop gift voucher! READ MORE


Sign up for the Cooperative Research Centres Association Newsletter. READ MORE 
	  		
	  

	











   
 Professor John Irwin  
 
 
 

	  

  	
    
Professor John Irwin  finished up at the University of 



  

   
  
 







   
 Education and Training: An update 
 
 
 

	  

  	
    
Our PhD candidates are currently working hard to meet their completion deadlines, with twelve due to submit their theses by April 2011.



  

   
  
 









    

        
Dr Grant Hamilton visited Kansas State University from 19 - 26 August 2010.



        

    

    

                        

            
TRAVEL DETAILS

            

                Researcher
HAMILTONG
When: August 2010
Location: United States
Summary: 
While visiting Kansas State University and the United States Department of Agriculture Dr Grant Hamilton gained valuable knowledge and insight into the detection and sampling of pests in grain bulks and processing facilities.
            

        

                
        
        
        

            
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Dr YongLin Ren travelled to Lisbon, Portugal to attend the 10th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection (IWCSPP) from 25 July to 3 August.



        

    

    

                        

            
TRAVEL DETAILS

            

                Researcher
RENY
When: July 2010
Location: Portugal
Summary: 
Dr YongLin Ren gave two oral presentations and submitted a full paper at the 10th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection.
            

        

                
        
        
        

            
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In June this year, Anna Rathe attended the 13th International Auchenorrhyncha Congress and the 7th International Workshop on Leafhoppers and Planthoppers of Economic Significance 



        

    

    

                        

            
TRAVEL DETAILS

            

                Researcher
RATHEA
When: June 2010
Location: France 
Summary: 
PhD candidate Anna Rathe gain invaluable experience and knowledge while attending the 13th International Auchenorrhyncha Congress and the 7th International Workshop on Leafhoppers and Planthoppers of Economic Significance 
            

        

                
        
        
        

            
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Dr Greg Daglish participated in the 10th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection (IWCSPP) which was held from 27 June to 2 July 2010 in Estoril, Portugal.



        

    

    

                        

            
TRAVEL DETAILS

            

                Researcher
DAGLISHG
When: 27 June
Location: Portugal
Summary: 
Dr Greg Daglish attended the 10th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection where he was able to network with researchers on shared interests including grain insect ecology, interpreting trap data and grain protectants.
            

        

                
        
        
        

            
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In June PhD Candidate Bobbie Hitchcock attended a meeting in Melbourne with the project team for 
                        

            
TRAVEL DETAILS

            

                Researcher
HITCHCOCKB
When: June 2010
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Summary: 
PhD Candidate Bobbie Hitchcock flew to Budapest to present her work at the Invasive Species Symposium of the IXth  
            

        

                
        
        
        

            
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