Systematics and Evolution conference, Melbourne, UPDATE

[Wilson, Robin]

Society of Australian Systematic Biologists (SASB) &
Australasian Evolution Society (AES)
University of Melbourne & Museum Victoria, Melbourne
16-18 July 2001
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REGISTRATON REMINDER AND UPDATE
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The Society of Australian Systematic Biologists (SASB) and the Australasian
Evolution Society (AES) will hold joint meetings at the University of
Melbourne and Museum Victoria, Melbourne, 16-18  July 2001.  This notice
updates previous information posted to SASB and Taxacom, and elsewhere.  The
conference web sites http://www.zoology.unimelb.edu.au/aes/aes_2001.html and
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/about/conferences/sasb2001.htm will be updated
with this information shortly.

Early registration deadline
Early registration for the conference ($180/$80 student-concession) has been
extended until 22 May.  After that date registration will be accepted at
$250.  Thanks to the many who have registered already, those people will
receive a detailed confirmation email shortly.

Submission of abstracts
Please use the attached form (also available from the web sites). Abstracts,
and queries about abstracts, should be emailed to
evolution at zoology.unimelb.edu.au. Closing date for submission of abstracts
is 31 May 2001.

Queries by email preferred
During 7-21 May 2001 Robin Wilson will only be able to respond to queries if
they are emailed to rwilson at museum.vic.gov.au.  Other contacts are on the
conference web pages.

SASB AGM
As already notified, the 2001 Annual General Meeting of the Society of
Australian
Systematic Biologists will be held at 11:30 am on Wednesday 18 July 2001 in
the Copeland Theatre, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne.
This Meeting is for the purposes of conducting Society business, for the
change-over of the Council, and to provide an opportunity for members to
get together.

Conference dinner
Following many comments about the cost of the conference dinner, costs have
been renegotiated and the dinner will now be $80, not $100 as previously
advised.  Those who have already paid will receive a refund.  The dinner
will still comprise 3 courses, plus 4 hour drink service, viewing of the new
Evolution Gallery at Museum Victoria, and after dinner speaker Gary Nelson
When I was alive, by Alfred Russel Wallace. It promises to be a great night,
those who wish to change plans and now attend the conference dinner should
email rwilson at museum.vic.gov.au, by 22 May 2001 if at all possible.

Short-range endemism in the Australian biota
The symposium Short-range endemism in the Australian biota will take place
on Tuesday 17 July.  Please contact the convenors Mark Harvey
mark.harvey at museum.wa.gov.au and Liz James ejames at rbgmelb.org.au) to discuss
possible contributions, or just indicate your interest on the registration
and abstract forms. (see the confernce website for further information)

Workshop: Opportunities for digital publishing of systematics
In Australia, a large fraction of systematic papers are published by state
museums, herbaria, Royal societies, and similar small, non-profit
publishers, many of which do not have the resources to provide full Internet
access to their journals.  A workshop is planned, possibly to run on the
afternoon of Weds 18 July, to explore the issues and opportunities for
providing users of systematic papers with full on-line access. If you are an
editor or publisher, or have a similar interest in this area, please contact
Robin Wilson, rwilson at museum.vic.gov.au.

Scientific illustration weekend workshop
Places are still available for this workshop, which is planned to run on
Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday (14-15 July), finishing in time for
the welcome function at Ormond College.  Chris Lambkin, University of
Queensland, will now assist teaching this course.  Expressions of interest,
including discipline (vertebrate or invertebrate
zoology/botany/mycology/etc) to Robin Wilson, rwilson at museum.vic.gov.au.
(see the confernce website for further information)


Bird-watching tour to Werribee and the You Yangs
A bird watching trip to the south west of Melbourne is being organised for
Sunday July15 preceding the conference. The trip will visit Melbourne Water
Western Treatment Plant (Werribee Sewage Farm) and the You Yangs regional
park.

Werribee Sewage Farm contains a system of natural and artificial ponds, a
small estuary, and highly enriched intertidal zone. It attracts huge numbers
of water birds and migratory waders (best in summer, but still very
worthwhile in winter). Potential highlights for our trip are unbelievable
large masses of waterbirds, crakes, rails and orange-bellied parrots that
winter in the coastal vegetation.

The You Yangs are a small set of hills with granite boulders and exposed
rock faces, in the plains southwest of Melbourne. They will provide an
opportunity to view some bush birds.

The trip will depart Melbourne at 9:00 am and return in time for the
pre-conference icebreaker function. Cost is $50 per person and will include
lunch. BYO binoculars, spotting scope etc.  Further details can be obtained
from John Moverley jmover at museum.vic.gov.au. The registration form has been
updated to include this option, but those who have already registered can
express their interest by email to John Moverley jmover at museum.vic.gov.au or
Robin Wilson, rwilson at museum.vic.gov.au and we will make arrangements for
payment.



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Robin Wilson
Museum of Victoria
GPO Box 666E
Melbourne Vic 3001
AUSTRALIA

rwilson at museum.vic.gov.au
telephone 03  8341 7429
fax 03 8341 7442
[international 613 replaces 03]




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