MAY 2002 |
From the EXCO:
SASAqS medal nominations are awaited for 2002. All medal nominations should be sent to the chairman of the medals committee, Digby Cyrus (dcyrus@pan.uzulu.ac.za). The nomination letter must include the name of the nominee, for which medal (gold, silver or bronze) the person is nominated, the name(s) of the proponent(s) and a motivation. Remember that theses or publications by PhD or MSc students may be nominated for bronze medals.
SASAqS Conference 2002 – Bloemfontein. People interested in attending the conference from 30 June to 5 July 2002 may still register and submit abstracts. Please contact Dr. Jan Roos (roosjc@sci.uovs.ac.za).
Anybody wishing to submit an item for inclusion in the next issue must please email the information to Victor Wepener (vw@na.rau.ac.za) before the 10th of the particular month.
In Brief:
1. Mollusk shell material – Dr. Jenny Day
2. Data base for river rehabilitation expertise – Dr Mandy Uys
Meetings:
1. Joint European - Southern African international conference: Pesticides in non-target agricultural environments: environmental and economic implications (January 21-23, 2003, University of Cape Town, South Africa)
2. World Congress on Aquatic Protected Areas 2002 (14 ‑ 17 August 2002, Cairns Queensland, Australia)
Publications:
1. Vos et al (2002)
2. Call for latest research publications by SASAqS members
Job opportunities/ Bursaries and Fellowships:
1. The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) (previously the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology) invites applications for the position of AQUATIC BIOLOGIST
2. South African National Parks: Kruger National Park - Plant Ecology Fellowships
In Brief:
1. REQUEST FOR MOLLUSCAN SHELL MATERIAL
Dr John Compton of the Geology Dept at UCT, and I, are interested in getting hold of small amounts of molluscan shell material from South African rivers in order to do some trace metal analyses on them. We are particularly interested in freshwater mussels. If anyone has some old specimens lying around, or can easily obtain fresh material, please let me know.
Many thanks. Jenny Day (jday@botzoo.uct.ac.za)
2. DATABASE FOR RIVER REHABILITATION EXPERTISE
A kind reminder to all interested people to please complete the questionnaire that was circulated in the April issue of SASAqS News.
Meetings:
1. Joint European - Southern African international conference: Pesticides in non-target agricultural environments: environmental and economic implications (January 21-23, 2003, University of Cape Town, South Africa).
Both Europe and Africa are experiencing intensified agricultural development and the inevitable environmental pressures that result. At the same time there is a growing need for 'environmentally friendly' products. Good examples are the fruit and wine industries in South Africa, where competition for world markets requires specialisation and diversification of cropping systems but there is also a need to harmonize production systems with the increasing ecological demands of consumers. It is thus anticipated that ecotoxicological assessments and risk mitigation strategies leading to environmentally acceptable methods of crop production will become increasingly important.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE of this conference is to bring together scientists, economists and representatives of government and industry to discuss the various issues, including methods for assessing the effects of exposure to agricultural pesticides, strategies for risk management, and the economic implications of pesticides in non-target terrestrial and aquatic environments. The situation in southern Africa as a developing region will be of particular interest but delegates from elsewhere in the developing and the developed world are encouraged to participate.
For Further information: Web: http://www.tu-bs.de/conference-CPT Or E-mail: pest@botzoo.uct.ac.za (or see PDF flyer)
2. World Congress on Aquatic Protected Areas
14 ‑ 17 August 2002, Venue: Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Theme: What works best and how do we know??
Contact: OzAccom Conference Services, Tel: +61 7 3854 1611,Email: apa2002@ozaccom.com.au, Website: www.ozaccom.com.au/apa2002
Registration: Please note that the earlybird deadline is 14 June 2002. Brochures are available ‑ please contact Rochelle Manderson (rochelle@ozaccom.com.au) if you require any brochures for distribution.
Publications:
Bioassessment
P Vos, V Wepener and DP Cyrus (2002). Efficiency of the SASS4 rapid bioassessment protocol in determining river health: A case study on the Mhlathuze River, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Water SA 28(1): 13-22. Can be obtained following the link below:
http://www.wrc.org.za/wrcpublications/wrcwatersa/WSA2002/January/wsa28no1.htm
Publications by Society Members
All members of the Society are invited to send in the references of their latest publications. In this manner other members of the Society can remain updated with the latest research output in aquatic science in South Africa.
Job opportunities/ Bursaries and Fellowships:
Aquatic Biologist
The SAIAB is a National Facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF) dedicated to understanding fishes and aquatic environments. Research is focused on the conservation and wise use of African fishes and aquatic biodiversity in freshwater, estuarine and marine environments.
The Institute seeks the services of a suitably qualified biologist for work in aquatic environments. The post entails planning and undertaking research, communication of research results through publication in national and international journals and other media, training and supervision of students, and generating contracts and consultancies. Previous experience and publications in the aquatic biodiversity field, particularly taxonomic, systematic and genetic research, will be a strong recommendation.
A minimum of an MSc degree and at least four years post-BSc research experience is required for this post. This will be an affirmative action appointment made in terms of the NRF’s and SAIAB’s policy of employment equity and redress, with suitably qualified persons from previously disadvantaged race groups being encouraged to apply.
Application forms and further information about the Institute and the post are available from the Administration Manager: phone: 046-6035800; fax: 046-6222403; E-mail: L.Coetzee@ru.ac.za Internet: http//www.saiab.ru.ac.za.
The closing date for applications is Friday 31 May 2002.
South African National Parks: Kruger National Park - Plant Ecology Fellowships
Calls are invited for proposals from prospective candidates to receive full‑time study grants in plant ecology in the following categories: postdoctoral, doctoral and thesis‑based masters. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has made available these grants via the Kruger National Park to advance the status of basic plant ecosystem science in southern Africa, stipends being R35 000 per year for Masters students, R55 000 for doctoral students, and up to R75 000 (depending on specific university arrangements) for postdoctoral students. Additional funds will be made available for operational expenses. The project theme, to be developed by the student and supervisors, should focus at least partly on the Kruger Park region and must contribute to useful fundamental understanding there. The closing date for short proposals is the end of June 2002, or until a suitable candidate/s is found. Further information and basic guidelines are provided below. Further information and guidelines for application
Funding has been made available by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in an effort to advance basic plant ecosystem science in southern Africa and further demonstrate the usefulness of such fundamental work in and around the Kruger National Park. Preference will be given to promising South African nationals, who should identify a suitable university and negotiate excellent supervisors, develop a topic of sound scientific quality and initially submit a short proposal. Durations are two years for postdoctoral grants, a maximum of three years for masters, and a maximum of four years for doctoral students.
Criteria for selection will be:
§ quality of research idea proposed; potential to advance the
§ science of plant ecology
§ context within research programmes in the KNP and/or immediate
§ surrounds
§ personal promise
§ quality of supervision
§ quality and clarity of the proposal itself
Candidates should therefore submit the short proposal (less than 2000 words) together with other documentation described below, electronically, to Dr Holger Eckhardt at holgere@parks-sa.co.za by the closing date. Expect prompt acknowledgement of receipt, else follow‑up by phoning 013‑7354227. Other documentation required is an electronic copy of an endorsement of the proposal by prospective supervisor/s, indicating the likely institution at which you will study; and your curriculum vitae, which must include the names of two references other than the prospective supervisors. You will be informed at the latest by the end of August 2002 whether or not you have been selected in this round. Grantees and supervisors will then enter a phase of detailed proposal and operational budget development together with the Kruger National Park and its advisors in this programme. Once contracts are finalised and student registration verified, stipend and other payments will usually be made via the relevant university. Some information of Kruger Park research objectives is available at http://www.parks sa.co.za/ (via Kruger Park / Scientific Services / Management Plan / Vols VII and VIII and "opportunities for participation") though constructive novel ideas are encouraged. The names of members of the selection panel will be made known on request ‑ obviously, any who supervise a student who applies, are recused from that evaluation.
This section of SASAqS News is aimed at advertising available employment opportunities, postgraduate bursaries, post-doc positions and fellowships in aquatic sciences. All information must please be sent to Victor Wepener (vw@na.rau.ac.za ) before the 10th of the month.