CRC for Plant Biosecurity - chairman message

Carry on cooperating

CRICHTONA — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:48:28 +0000

Regular readers of ‘The Leaflet’ may recall the facsimile World War II poster which I used as part of my musings in the November 2011 edition. It’s been seen quite widely ‘around the traps’. [This is an arcane expression which I picked up from the Invasive Animals CRC types. I believe they’re thinking of trying them for rabbit control in their latest iteration. But, as ever, I digress].

What I hadn’t seen, until this week, was the flip side of the red poster.

Whilst we of the CRCNPB fraternity would never allow ourselves to panic or freak out, certainly not simultaneously, the blue poster is relevant to the intense activity which is attending the establishment of the Plant Biosecurity CRC (PBCRC).

For those who thought the game was over in November when we received glad tidings from DIISR I fear I have to disillusion you. In fact, by announcing the successful CRCs early, DIISR (now DIISRTE) was able to shift its deadlines for completion of the relevant documentation forward. Hence, our last meeting of the year – 21 December with our colleagues from New Zealand Crop and Food – was very quickly followed by a ‘Core Team’ meeting on 4 January to plan strategy and tactics up to 30 June.

All Participants speedily received documentation – and deadlines – largely through the hard work of Nick Langley over what was risibly described as ‘the holidays’. There has followed an intensive program of contacts by Nick, many being face-to-face with Participants, (perhaps I should rephrase that – no, I’ll see if it gets past the censor) especially to discuss business and legal aspects of the ‘PBCRC’. Meanwhile, Simon and I have also had a program of visits to ensure that we have buy-in at all levels with our Participant colleagues.

Perhaps even more importantly, we have used these visits as an opportunity to say ‘thank you’, not only for participating but also for the substantial efforts which so many in our CRC community made on behalf of the bid.

Happily, no significant impediments to our completing all DIISRTE and other requirements in a timely fashion have emerged, to date, with Participants favouring plans for a seamless transition from ‘CRCNPB’ to ‘PBCRC’.

An interesting phenomenon has been the number of expressions of interest in becoming part of the CRC. Approaches have been made by both potential investors and potential research providers. Whilst this is flattering, care will be needed to ensure that focus is retained. Ultimately, of course, it will be a matter for Participants to decide whether to accept any approaches to become part of the PBCRC.

Establishment of the PBCRC apart, there are other interesting activities and times ahead. David Eagling has made a major effort in compiling the greater part of a comprehensive CRCNPB ‘Exit Report’ for DIISRTE. The fact that he completed it while having his appendix removed (seen here) makes the effort the more commendable. He barely flinched and insisted that the punctuation be perfect.

The CRC Association Annual Conference ‘Collaborate: Innovate’ at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide (15-17 May), will be closely followed by the CRCNPB Science Exchange at The Vines in the Swan Valley near Perth (22-25 May). Max Knobel and Andrew Crichton, with a little help from their friends, are working hard on the latter and we are encouraging maximum participation in a unique event which will celebrate the ‘old’ and welcome the ‘new’. So make your travel plans now.

Meanwhile, I thought this picture of the CEO, navigating by iPad, on his travels would be of interest. You might even be able to hitch a ride…..

Back to The Leaflet.

HO! HO! HO!

CRICHTONA — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:28:13 +0000

“…there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour."
- A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Pretty much the reaction in CRCNPB circles when the hoped for Christmas present was delivered - and early, to boot. Thank you Santa Carr* and the DIISR elves.

In previous columns Simon and I have mentioned the fantastic amount of help and support we’ve received during the past two years. Much of this resulted from the common purpose and commitment which have developed since we launched the push to establish the CRCNPB back in 2004. Being part of the CRCNPB clearly means a lot to many people. I recall an element of gloom at the 2011 Science Exchange when there was concern that, maybe, it would be the last such event. To me, this was an indication of how much the CRCNPB has become valued – not least by the 160 or so scientists who contribute to its work - and it’s great that we shall all meet again in 2012 (and beyond) for a Science Exchange.

The Science Exchanges are part of the CRCNPB’s track record, which is enviable. CRCs need to carry out first rate science and, most importantly, science which is directed to meeting a demand. In this context I must mention Gary Kong and associates’ remarkable achievement as they continue to add to what have become known, irreverently, as ‘Kong’s Gongs’ for the development of the remote microscope network. Apart for the awards which have been made, progress with remote diagnostics was a certain winner so far as the successful Round 14 bid was concerned.

But we also need to reflect on the broader achievements of the CRCNPB. The publication record in scientific journals, for example, is sound and getting better; our PhD students are completing their theses and finding employment in plant biosecurity, and the ‘IP’ portfolio is growing and being nurtured with some commercial developments a distinct possibility.

What a tremendous platform from which to launch the PBCRC!

And work is well in hand to do just this. The earlier-than-expected announcement of the outcomes of CRC Round 14 meant that we had, effectively, an extra month in which to commence the many activities which need to be completed to ‘wind up’ the CRCNPB and to commence its successor.

CRCNPB Management has made good progress on several fronts, especially in dealing with the voluminous documentation required.

On 19 December Simon, Nick and I attended a meeting at DIISTRE# (as it has now become) for a CRC briefing. And on 20 December the Board held a Workshop to advance preparations for 2012. Participants are being kept ‘in the loop’. All indications are that the transition to the PBCRC can be managed with a – greatly to be desired - minimum involvement of the legal fraternity…….

[This is actually Ebenezer Scrooge but I refuse to say ‘Bah! Humbug!’ this Christmas because, if ever there was a ‘season to be jolly’, this is it].

Thank you, readers, one and all. 2011 was great but, bearing in mind the work that now has to be done, I’m reminded of one of Sir Winston Churchill’s many ‘quotable quotes’: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning”. May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and a Prosperous New Year. I look forward to working with you all in 2012.

*Armnote: the Gillard government reshuffle of 12 December included a new look for ‘Innovative Industries and Skills’.

In addition to his current responsibilities as Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Hon. Greg Combet AM MP has been appointed Minister for Innovation and Industry.
Senator the Hon. Chris Evans will remain Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, along with new responsibilities as Minister for Science and Research. Greg Combet and Chris Evans will together head a new Department encompassing Skills, Higher Education, Innovation and Research. At the DIISRTE meeting on 19 December we were told that Senator Evans is expected to take responsibility for CRCs.
Senator the Hon. Kim Carr will take up new responsibilities as Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Defence Materiel.

Senator Carr was the only Minister to lose his cabinet position as other demoted colleagues managed to hang on. Not a welcome Christmas reward for a politician who has been a friend of the CRC Program and is credited with a better outcome, in terms of numbers of bids supported in 2011, than had been expected. We can expect that Tony Peacock and the CRC Association will be working hard on our behalf to ensure that the new order is fully apprised of CRC achievements and aspirations.

#Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

Back to The Leaflet.

MERCY?

CRICHTONA — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:46:46 +0000

‘The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath’.

William Shakespeare ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

Last week was not a particularly easy week. Arriving at the CRCNPB office jet-lagged on Monday morning (but fortunately not the victim of the Qantas downheaval) it became immediately obvious that no sympathy for my condition would be forthcoming from Obersturmbannführer (or ‘Senior Assault Unit Leader’) Max Knobel or her aide Leutnant Anders von Crichton of the kommunizieren kommissariat (‘KK’, for short). “You vill produce ze presentation, unt today - or ve haf vays” was the gist of the message which they conveyed.

[I digress at this point to add that my delicate condition has not been alleviated by the customary level of ‘TLC’ provided by Mrs L who is sojourning in the Himalayas. However, an email received today states “On the roads we have cattle, pigs and dogs and also monkeys which can be aggressive. In the forest next to the road are leopards and cobra!! I have been told that it is not a good idea to go out at night”. So I’m not exactly envious].

To return to the business at hand. As of Friday the re-bid presentation had been through 23 drafts, the Interview Team had endured two ‘mock’ interviews, conducted as closely as possible to the real thing, and there was still a bit of polish to apply.

Imagine my consternation, therefore, when the aforementioned Obersturmbannführer and her aide remarked, with menace, “Oh, unt remember that your ‘Faltblatt’ copy is due tomorrow”.

Well, at least it makes a change from trying to reduce the inordinate amount of CRC application documentation into not more than 25 slides for a critical audience which will have minimal biosecurity background. An act of mercy by the members of the ‘KK’, in a distorted sort of way.

Whatever the outcome of Monday morning’s 0900h interview – the equivalent of an appointment with a firing squad at dawn – the effort that has gone into the presentation, as with the whole re-bid process has been phenomenal. When the dust settles I’m sure that the CEO will want to thank the many individuals who have contributed but while the effort is fresh in the mind I am delighted to acknowledge the ‘extra-CRC’ people who have helped us through this week. Firstly, Dr John Radcliffe, Honorary Research Fellow in CSIRO and possibly the most experienced ‘mock interviewer’ in Australia. John journeyed from Adelaide to organise the panel for the first ‘mock’ on Tuesday afternoon. His objective was to replicate the actual interview process as closely as possible and, with some confidence, l can assert that we were unlikely to be probed more deeply by the CRC panel than we were by John and Professor Tony Peacock, CEO of the CRC Association, and the CRCNPB’s Business Manager Mr Nick Langley.

A repeat performance, enlightened by Tuesday’s feedback, was made on Wednesday for a panel convened by Dr Joanne Daly, Strategic Advisor to the CSIRO Executive. The indefatigable Tony Peacock again took part, and the CRCNPB’s Research Leader, Dr David Eagling, completed the triumvirate.

The combination of outside wisdom and experience with ‘inside information’ made for two rigorous exercises which left the interviewees winded, but which were of great benefit by means of the resultant modifications to the content and style of the presentation.

All we had to do now, just like Shakespeare’s players back in 1600, was to perform and trust that we shall not be subject to the hurling of projectiles by the ‘groundlings and stinkards’ or, indeed, be expected to deliver a ‘pound of flesh’ as well as a presentation.

Meanwhile, this World War II leaflet – which I photographed earlier this year ‘Somewhere in England’ - seems appropriate to our present case.

Armnote: following publication of the September edition of ‘The Leaflet’ a long-standing and valued former colleague reported to me that one of his juniors had anxiously enquired ‘Is Lovett alright?’ My former colleague had responded that I appeared to be much as he had always known me but he knew that I would appreciate the expression of concern. There, gentle reader, you see? There is a modicum of mercy still to be found if one looks hard enough and in the right place.

Back to The Leaflet.

Spring 2011

CRICHTONA — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:33:12 +0000

Spring, absolutely the best time for a leaflet!

Spring, the season celebrated in poetry, prose and song.

Spring (click to hear song), featured in one of the ditties of Tom Lehrer, Harvard lecturer, satirist, pianist, mathematician and polymath. (With a c.v. like that we could use him in the CRCNPB).

“Spring is here, a-suh-puh-ring is here.
Life is skittles and life is beer.
I think the loveliest time of the year
Is the spring! I do - Don't you? 'Course you do.
but there's one thing that makes spring complete for me
and makes every Sunday a treat for me
All the world seems in tune
On a spring afternoon
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park ...”

Pigeons apart, who doesn’t welcome Spring? If Winter is the time for colds and flu’, Spring is the time for Frühjahrsmüdigkeit or, as we know it, ‘Spring fever’. Apart from its obvious effects on the arm of the Chair attempting to write his bimonthly ‘Leaflet’ column, ‘Spring fever’ is a term applied to several sets of physical and psychological symptoms associated with the arrival of Spring. In general, it refers to an increase in energy, vitality and, particularly, the appetite for - something which wouldn’t get past the CRCNPB censor. Suffice to use the words of Alfred, Lord Tennyson
“In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love”. (Goodness only knows what young women are thinking about. The Footy Finals? Or this character perhaps?)

This is ‘Spring-heeled Jack’. With a name like that he might go well for the Wallabies. ‘Jack’ is a character in English folklore of the Victorian era who was known for his startling jumps. The first claimed sighting of Spring-heeled Jack was in 1837. Later sightings were reported all over England and were especially prevalent in suburban London, the Midlands and Scotland. There are many theories about the nature and identity of Spring-heeled Jack. He was an early ‘urban legend’ who was very popular in his time, due to the tales of his bizarre appearance and ability to make extraordinary leaps, regardless of leaving carbon footprints, to the point that he became the topic of several works of fiction.

Spring-heeled Jack was described by people who claimed to have seen him as having a terrifying and frightful appearance, with diabolical physiognomy, clawed hands, and eyes that "resembled red balls of fire", (pace Jerry Lee Lewis) rather like the team assembling the ‘re-bid’ on the day before submission was due. One report claimed that, beneath a black cloak, he wore a helmet and a tight-fitting white garment like an oilskin. Hm. Beware the censor, again. Many stories also mention a "Devil-like" aspect. Others said he was tall and thin, with the appearance of a gentleman. Several reports mention that he could breathe out blue and white flames (a metho drinker, perhaps?) and that he wore sharp metallic claws at his fingertips. Eat your heart out Hugh Jackman. At least two people claimed that he was able to speak comprehensible English. Plainly, any resemblance to a CRCNPB identity is purely coincidental.

The point is – yes, I know you were beginning to wonder – that this is the time to into action. And one thing has put a spring in our step. As the CEO has reported in his column, we have survived the initial DIISR cull and take our Plant Biosecurity CRC bid to interview in November. That’s no mean achievement in a field of 26 bidders. But it’s far from the end of the story.

In 2004 (Round 9) the odds for gaining support were around 50%. Many observers felt that the proposed CRCNPB was a ‘public good’ bid in a ‘private good’ funding climate, hence, that we had a limited chance of success. But, on a level playing field, we met all the criteria and we succeeded. And we succeeded again in 2006 (Round 10) with the supplementary bid.

By 2010 (Round 13), as budgetary circumstances dictated reduced Government support for the CRC Program, the chances of success had become a lot poorer. At the recent CRC Association meeting (17 and 18 August) this was estimated as around 13% for the initial submissions, the worst odds of any competitive Australian Government funding program – none of which has been hit as hard as the CRCs. Similar odds appertained to the 26 aspirants in 2011 (Round 14).

CRCs, a model highly regarded around the World, now command just $165 700 000, or 1.8%, of Government’s $9.4 billion (2011-2012) annual investment in science, research and innovation.
As of 1 September the odds for PBCRC success have increased to, maybe, 40-50%. Not quite as good as 2004 but with the benefit of the Round 13 bid we have a sound understanding of the environment in which we’re competing. We have submitted a first class bid which, in the context of the CRC Program and its objectives – and on a level playing field - should succeed, just as it did in 2004. While a small team has had the prime responsibility for putting the bid on the field of play there has been tremendous support from a host of supporters in the whole CRCNPB community – yes, you all ‘sprang’ (sorry!) into action when asked to help.

So, the ‘Leaflet’ for ‘SPRING 2012’ will celebrate one of two things. A fantastic seven years for CRCNPB or a fantastic seven years for CRCNPB plus the prospect of six years of PBCRC. As they say, ‘Watch this space’ and, maybe, ‘LOOK OUT PIGEONS’.

Déjà vu – not true?

CRICHTONA — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:04:41 +0000

“Déjà vu: the experience of feeling sure that one has already witnessed or experienced a current situation, even though the exact circumstances of the previous encounter are uncertain and were perhaps imagined”.

Some observers have suggested that we of the ‘Core Team’ working on the Round 14 bid to establish the Plant Biosecurity CRC (PBCRC) must, collectively, be suffering from déjà vu. After all, haven’t we been here before – and only a year ago?

Given that the suggestion has been made, and given the pride that the CRCNPB takes in its willingness to undertake innovative investigative approaches, an examination of the CEO’s brain has been undertaken in order to determine whether or not déjà vu is, indeed, a factor to be taken into account.

By the application of Superior Quizzing Using Inquisitive Remote Macroscopy (SQUIRM ©) it is possible, for the first time ever, to put before the readership of ‘The Leaflet’ this recent facsimile of the CEO’s brain, taken as he grapples with the final week of preparing the Round 14 PBCRC bid.

Déjà vu may be attributable to stimulation of the hypothalamus, which – as all ‘Leaflet’ readers will know - controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian cycles (encompassing appetite, energy, mood, sleep and libido). In turn, stimulation of the hypothalamus drives the activity of the temporal lobe and the hippocampus, important components of the brain's memory circuit.

Arthur Funkhouser (yes, really) reports that déjà vu might originate from a mismatch of past and present information being processed by the brain. An alternative explanation is a slight malfunctioning between the long and short-term memory circuits of the brain. Somehow, specific information shortcuts its way from short to long-term memory storage, bypassing the usual mechanisms for storage transfer.

Funkhouser aside, the salient point is that if déjà vu was, indeed, the driver for the CEO’s input to Round 14 bid activities the SQUIRM © would reveal signs of frenzied hypothalamic activity - a hypothalamus veritably pulsing with activity. In fact, such is not the case. The image reveals a quiescent hypothalamus, at peace with the world and serenely going about its business of achieving a successful Round 14 outcome.

Come December, this encouraging image suggests that we can hope that our collective hypothalami – whatever our states of fatigue, hunger, thirst, lack of sleep, appetite, energy, mood, sleep or libido - will not have to deal with unpleasant déjà vu.

[Footnotes:

1. At the 2012 conference of the Cooperative Research Centres Association SQUIRM © is confidently expected to continue the CRCNPB’s proud record of gaining awards.

2. This copy was written after the Chairman had fallen off the arm of his chair. It was bound to happen sometime. Consequently, it is possible that the content reflects either hypnagogic hallucinations or hypnopompic hallucinations , or possibly both. In any event the Chairman has declined to subject himself to a SQUIRM ©scan – at least, not until the Round 14 bid has been submitted].

Plus ca change…

CRICHTONA — Wed, 04 May 2011 05:22:02 +0000

As a comparative internet neophyte I continue to be amazed at the riches therein.

A bit of otherwise idle research can throw up some extraordinary coincidences or, perhaps, merely illustrate the observation of George Bernard Shaw that ‘If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience’.

Consider the following hundred year odyssey, in the context of what’s been in the news in 2011, thus far…

1911

January 3 – 7.7 magnitude earthquake, Turkestan.
January 13 – Johannes Johannes Bjelke-Petersen born (Premier of Queensland).
November 1 – World's first combat aerial bombing mission takes place, Libya.

1921

May 14 – Tsunami, Makassar Strait, Indonesia.
August 14 – Masawa earthquake, Eritrea.
October 3 – Ray Lindwall born (Australian fast bowler and St George full-back).

1931

February 3 – 7.9 magnitude earthquake destroys much of Napier, NZ.
June 19 – Attempt by US President Herbert Hoover to stop the banking crisis in Central Europe from causing a worldwide financial meltdown.
August 31 – Yangtze River floods, leaving 23 million homeless.

1941

January 21 – WWII – Australian and British forces attack Tobruk, Libya.
February 6 – WWII – Fall of Benghazi to the Western Desert Force.
May 24 – Bob Dylan born, American poet and musician (debatable).

1951

June 15 - July 1 – In New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, thousands of hectares of forests are destroyed in fires.
August 6 – Daryl Somers born (entertainer?).
December 6 – State of emergency declared in Egypt due to increasing riots.

1961

June 1 – 6.7 magnitude earthquake hits Ethiopia, her most devastating of the 20th century.
September 29 – Julia Gillard born (the jury’s out).
October 10 – Volcanic eruption on Tristan da Cunha causes whole population to be evacuated.

1971

February 7 – Earthquake kills 31 in Tuscania, Italy.
April 24 – Tsunami 85 metres high rises over the Ryukyu Islands in Japan, throwing a 750-ton block of coral 2.5 kilometres inland.
July 3 – Julian Assange born (the jury’s in).

1981

January 20 – Brendan Fevola born (bingler).
January 23 – earthquake of 6.8 magnitude in Sichuan, China kills 150.
February 24 – magnitude 6.7 earthquake hits Athens, killing 16 people, injuring thousands and destroying several buildings.

1991

April 22 – 7.6 earthquake kills 82 in Costa Rica and Panama.
April 29 – Tropical cyclone hits Bangladesh, killing an estimated 138,000 people.
June 13 – Spectator killed by lightning at U.S. Open.

2001

January 13 – 7.6 magnitude earthquake hits El Salvador, killing at least 800 people and leaving thousands homeless.
January 15 – Wikipedia launched.
June 23 – 7.9 magnitude earthquake hits south of Peru.

2011

January 10 – Worst floods in Queensland for 30 years.
January 14 – Devastating floods in Victoria.
February 12 – Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigns.
February 22 – 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes Christchurch.
February 24 – Libya crisis gathers pace: cities of Benghazi, Tobruk and Tripoli involved.
March 11 – 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hits east Japan.

Now, ‘Why’ you ask ‘has the Chairman favoured us with these irrelevant musings? Hasn’t he anything better to do – the re-bid for example?’ Pray, gentle reader, do not be alarmed. The re-bid is progressing well. We have learned from the lessons of 2010 (pace George) and the success factors of 2004 have been re-appraised. We’re optimistic that the earth may move for us but, just now and again, a little reflection is good for relaxing the synapses. Try it.