News from the Centres
NSW Centre News Fiona Johnson Chair, NSW Centre
Extreme Trivia. Credit: Fiona Johnson
In conjunction with the World Climate Research Program Grand Challenge on Weather and Climate Extremes workshop at UNSW in February (see page 45 for more. —Ed.), we held an Extreme Trivia evening to network with the international visitors and learn a bit more about extremes in the climate around the world. With our quiz masters Agata Imielska and Lisa Alexander and divided into teams of international experts, AMOS members and CCRC researchers, we had an enjoyable evening attempting to remember the highest daily rainfall recorded in Australia or the sea surface temperature required to generate a tropical cyclone. One round saw all teams take on Australia’s own climate trivia guru, Dr. Blair Trewin, who won hands down.
ACT Centre News Bob Cechet
Chair, ACT Centre The A.C.T. AMOS Branch took the opportunity to celebrate World Meteorological Day with a joint event with the Bureau of Meteorology, held at the Bureau facility in Civic. Lucy McGarva and Dr. Julien Lerat hosted a talk on our theme: “The role of the Bureau in the global climate observation network and forecasting our water resources”. AMOS members received a rundown of some of the new/
updated web data services available including floods, stream flows and Murray Darling Basin monitoring data. This was the first AMOS branch meeting of the year, where traditionally the student prizes are awarded. The winners of the 2014 prizes are: A.C.T. AMOS 2nd Year Student Award: Ellen Cliff (ANU, RSES) A.C.T. AMOS 3rd Year Student Award (this year, jointly awarded): Ellen McRae (ANU, RSES) & Sonya Wellby (ANU, FSES) A.C.T. AMOS Presentation Award: Rachael Griffiths (UNSW, PEMS); with Honourable Mentions to Jacqui Clements (UNSW) & Sonya Wellby (ANU)
Three of the winners (L to R; Sonya Welby, Ellen Cliff and Rachael Griffiths) with Bob Cechet (Chair. A.C.T. AMOS Branch).
The Presentation Award is given to the best student presentation at the previous year’s XMAS/AGM function. The very high standard of the 2014 presentations resulted in the A.C.T. committee yielding to relentless pressure from Emeritus Professor De Deckker (ANU) to award ALL presenters. The prizes were a framed certificate as well as a cash contribution.
Tasmania Centre News Andrew Marshall Chair, Hobart Centre
The Hobart Centre of AMOS has secured a 2015 National Science Week grant for their upcoming public lecture and forum on impacts of the East Australian Current on Tasmania, a joint event with the Australian Marine Bulletin of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society Vol. 28 page 32
Sciences Association. Events will be held in association with the University of Tasmania in Hobart on 18 August and Launceston on 19 August. (http://www.scienceweek. net.au/2015-national-grant-round-recipients).