A new campaign to protect public sector science from commercial and political interference has been launched with the aim of introducing a charter to champion scientific integrity across the federal public sector. A petition calling on Science and Research Minister Chris Evans to support the charter proposal is being circulated by CPSU members, with signatures being collected across the public sector includ-ing CSIRO, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Australian Nu-clear Science and Technology Organisation and the Bureau of Meteorology.

“Science, innovation and research are fundamental to the economic, environ-mental and social needs and aspirations of the Australian community,” CSIRO Staff Association Secretary Sam Popovski said.

“The federal public sector is trusted to discover, apply and communicate science in a frank and fearless manner, without political or commercial interference.

“We believe science integrity is the fun-damental issue that needs to be enforced in order to maximise trust from the pub-lic and to protect agencies and their staff from interference,” he said.

The union push for integrity was partly in response to political attacks on scientists that have marred public debate on issues such as climate change, genetically modi-fied food and water management.

“We’ve seen too many examples – think of the climate change and GM debates – where the players have abandoned policy

critique and transgressed into attacks on scientists and agencies that harm professional reputations and public credibility,” Mr Popovski said.

The Science Integrity Charter is built on a set of five key principles: the open communication and dissemination of scientific work; encouraging the internal and external debate of science issues; contestability of science issues; the in-dependence of public sector institutions and their staff and effective collaboration.

This proposal was devised in consultation with key CPSU delegates and workplace leaders from CSIRO, DSTO, ANSTO and Bureau of Meteorology., Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Geo-science Australia, DIISRTE (Innovation), Australian Institute of Marine Science, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Antarctic Division.

Mr Popovski said that charter would complement and augment - rather than supersede - existing integrity implements that currently exist in organisations such as CSIRO, AIMS and ANSTO.

Integrity test for public sector science

WHEN MEGAN MET ANNA • SCIENCE MEETS PARLIAMENT • CUTS HURT

Beat bullying by working together Former CSIRO Executive Ron Sandland and Graeme Thompson recently released the book Icon in Crisis, which highlights the difficulty and complexity of managing planned research in a changing and increasingly multidisciplinary global research landscape.

In such a complex environment, the Staff Association has consistently argued that better workforce consultation is the key to improving processes for our operations and accountability.

Recent media reports have suggested that bureaucratic bul-lying and harassment have also played a role in CSIRO’s culture.

Whenever real or perceived bullying occurs, our first duty as a union is to offer support to the affected members and seek fair resolution of issues.

The overall numbers of reported incidents remain low, but account for a huge workload of effort in affected workplaces and for the delegates and officers of the Staff Association. The efforts of manage-ment are now similarly focussed on this issue.

For this joint collective approach to work, we need ongoing consultation and renewed efforts to implement and progress the Psychological Health and Wellbeing report devel-oped in CSIRO.

Real improvements in culture and minimisation of bullying and harass-ment will depend on inclusive con-sultation on all issues and strength-ening of our staff collective.

Dr Michael Borgas Staff Association

President

Sam Popovski launches the Science Integrity campaign

Find out how you can help by visiting the Science Integrity Charter websiteGo to www.cpsu.org.au and follow the links

So what’s it like to have the Chief Executive follow you around at work for a day? Not as scary as you might imagine, writes QCAT Librarian Anna Campbell.

I’LL ADMIT TO FEELING A FEW NERVES before Megan Clark arrived. After all, it’s not every day you get to host the boss for a day and share your job with her.

This unusual opportunity grew out of a discussion with Megan at the most recent meeting of CSIRO Consultative Council, which I attended with the Staff Association.

I was there to present the findings of a survey conducted by the Staff Associa-tion into Library Services. The results demonstrated the value researchers place on CSIRO libraries and their staff and revealed concerns about a proposal to reduce current support levels.

I had read an article in BRW which detailed Megan’s program whereby staff could shadow her. I suggested that a reverse shadowing program would be of value as well, and became the first participant in the scheme on the spot, when Megan proposed a visit to QCAT to spend a day ‘shadowing’ me to better understand the work and support librar-ians provide.

Less than three months later I found myself greeting an enthusiastic Chief

Executive, ready for a day on the library front lines. So how did it go?

We shared a busy day of checking out research materials and working on clients’ reference questions, putting out a newsletter, delivering staff inductions, supplying a document delivery request, attending training courses (on ePublish and CSIRO’s new Research Publications Repository) and a divisional briefing session.

Megan had no problems keeping pace with what proved a hectic schedule, and can come back any time!

A highlight was the induction session for new starters that Megan assisted with. I think it’s fair to say that some of the new starters weren’t initially aware that this induction was a little out of the ordinary – until they realised that their induction forms were being signed by the Chief Executive. Looks on faces were priceless!

Megan spoke very positively about her engagement with the Staff Association, saying that she valued her constructive relationship with us.

Megan entered into the spirit of the exercise, making it known that she was my assistant for the day rather than the Chief Executive, saying to me “You’re the boss!” I found her to be very like-able, down to earth and a person who genuinely cares about CSIRO staff. One of the experiences she particularly

enjoyed was the chance to have lunch with the library lunch crowd. She was invited to come back for curry – we have some fantastic cooks – and we look forward to a return visit.

It was refreshing to see a corpo-rate leader with a willingness to try something different to capture a new perspective. I certainly believe that Megan now has a good appreciation of the issues facing CSIRO’s library staff. Hopefully the reverse shadowing pro-gram will be taken up by other members of the Executive Team -particularly those members who participate in the Enterprise Bargaining process - would find the experience particularly valuable. CSIRO staff are free to invite ET members to shadow them for a day, and I recommend it as a valuable expe-rience for all participants.

All in all it was a great opportunity, and my thanks to Megan and her office for making the day possible.

Chief Clark checks out Library Services

Anna CampbellQCAT Librarian

Staff Association Section Councillor

A CSIRO discovery of a new virus in bats – closely related to the Hendra pathogen – could hold the key to unlocking a deadly secret that has claimed the lives of four people since 1994.

Work by CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory has revealed the existence of a new henipavirus, dubbed ‘Cedar’.

The name is taken from the location of the samples that led to the discovery, the suburb of Cedar Grove on Brisbane’s southern outskirts.

AAHL virologist – and Staff Association Section Councillor – Gary Crameri said that while the new discovery was a close relative to the Hendra and Nipah viruses, Cedar was thought to be harmless to animals and humans.

“We put that into mice, guinea pigs and ferrets and what we found was there was no

disease in any of those animals,” Mr Crameri said.

“If we’d done the same thing with Hendra we would have seen dramatic disease in those species,” he said.

While it was still too early to rule out the chance that Cedar could cause illness and death in horses or other animals, the signs were good.

“The significance of discovering a new heni-pavirus that doesn’t cause disease is that it may help us narrow down what it is about the genetic makeup of viruses like Hendra and Nipah that does cause disease and death,” Mr Crameri said.

“Over 70 per cent of people and animals infected with Hendra and Nipah viruses die. This ranks henipaviruses amongst the deadli-est viruses in existence, yet little is known about just how such viruses actually cause disease or death,” he said.

The Hendra virus emerged in Queensland in 1994. Testing undertaken by AAHL in Geelong subsequently identified the hitherto unknown pathogen.

Hendra is a genus of the Paramyxoviridae family of virus, including Nipah and now, Cedar.

Scientists believe the virus is carried by fruit bats and later transmitted to people and horses.

AAHL research could spell Hendra breakthrough

AAHL’s Gary Crameri

Anna Campbell and CSIRO Chief Execuitve Dr Megan Clark

What’s your story?

Our accountbility to you

Aspendale get the chocolates

CSIRO management are confident they are on track with the implementation of recommendations of the regional sites review, claiming that draft site plans have been submitted to relevant executives for review.

The Regional Sites Working Group report was developed in response to a Staff Association campaign focussing on the importance of CSIRO’s regional footprint and the uncertainty faced by many sites in a tough resource environ-ment.

Staff Association Organiser Jeff Carig welcomed management’s report but stressed the importance of verifying actual progress with regional site work-ers themselves.

“The question remains, has there been the sort of progress on the ground in regional sites that reflects what man-agement are saying,” Mr Carig said.

“We’ll be seeking more detail on the practical implementation of regional site plans at the next Consultative Council meeting,” he said.

Mr Carig said that the Staff Association was also seeking the views of regional employees directly on their opinion of the implementation of the Regional Sites Working Group’s recommenda-tions.

“Included in the recommendations is the provision of an annual progress review – the first which is scheduled to occur in February 2013.

“The Staff Association will be visiting regional sites in December and early next year to test these management claims first-hand.

In the meantime, the union would continue to raise awareness of the im-portance of regional science by show-casing the contributions of individual regional sites, Mr Carig said.

“The purpose of our campaign is to maintain the vibrancy of our regional sites and secure their future – not only for the staff but the communities they serve.

“There are some important stories to tell about CSIRO’s regional contribution and the Staff Association is determined to tell them,” he said.

SAVE REGIONAL SCIENCE

Management declares regional site strategy on track

Jeff Carig NSW Organiser

Email your regional story

to csstaff@cpsu.org.au

The Staff Association enacts high standards of financial accountability and transparency on behalf of our members.

A crucial part of our standards is inde-pendent auditing and annual reporting of our Financial and Operating Reports and the conduct of our Annual General Meeting (AGM).

This year, the AGM will be held at CSIRO Clayton on Thursday 6 December, commencing at 11am.

It is a Fair Work Australia requirement that we notify all members at least 21 days in advance of the AGM and provide full access to our Financial and Operating Reports.

These documents and the formal agenda for the meeting are now available on our website www.cpsu-csiro.org.au

If you have any questions or comments, please email csstaff@cpsu.org.au.

The inaugural Staff Association Foot-ball Challenge Cup has been won by Aspendale, who beat Clayton CMIS in a close fought game amid challenging weather conditions.

Monash University Oval was the venue for a keen contest between the two rivals.

Clayton CMIS went ahead to hold a 2-1 lead at half time. However Aspendale fought back in the second period, scoring two more goals to snatch victory.

Referee Sam Popovski said that the game was played in good spirits. “I’m sure both teams are looking forward to a re-match.”

Calling all contributors!

Wavelength is always on the lookout for new stories. But we need your help.

Perhaps it’s an issue you believe the Staff Association should cover. Or it could be a story that you think might interest other members.

All you need to do is email anthony.keenan@cpsu.org.au with a brief outline of your story idea.

Don’t forget to include your contact details.

More photos online at www.cpsu-csiro.org.au Got a good story? We want to hear from you!

CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescope. Photo: David McClenaghan

Hundreds of Australian scientists from a range of disciplines participated in the thirteenth Science meets Parliament, hosted by Science and Technology Australia.

Making connections

CSIRO was well represented and Staff Association members joined with CPSU colleagues from other Federal Public Sector science organisations such as ANSTO, DSTO and the Bureau of Mete-orology.

The first day featured advice from lead-ing bureaucrats, journalists and science communicators on new strategies and trusted methods to highlight the impor-tance research.

Gala Celebration

Parliament’s Great Hall was the venue for a Gala Dinner with special guests including Minister for Science and Re-search, Senator Chris Evans and Nobel laureate Professor Brian Schmidt.

The Gala Dinner was also the venue for the launch of a new group, the Parliamentary Friends of Science.

Convened by Labor’s Richard Marles and Coalition MP Karen Andrews, the friend-ship group has been formed to foster a closer relationship between parliamen-tarians and scientists.

Ministerial Q and A

Minister Evans endured some candid questioning from scientists the following morning in a as part of a special briefing session. Topics scrutintised included the budget position and the future of sci-ence funding, as well as the campaign from CPSU members to implement a Science Integrity Charter for the Federal public sector.

Political delegations

Small groups of conference delegates attended private meetings with Senators and MPs from across the Parliament. The meetings provided an opportunity for scientists to provide an insight into their research.

Other events throughout the two days included a breakfast forum with Parliamentary Secretary Mark Dreyfus MP, a National Press Club address from Professor Brian Schmidt, a visit to Question Time in the House of Rep-resentatives, and a cocktail function hosted by the Australian Greens.

POLITICS

Science meets Parliament 2012

Read more and view photos at

www.cpsu-csiro.org.au

A public campaign by CPSU has been launched to protect essential public services from funding and job cuts.

The Cuts Hurt campaign draws on research demonstrating the everyday support for the public services deliv-ered to citizens.

But amid rising demand, Australia’s world-class public service is under threat from short-sighted budget cuts.

Right now federal public servants are struggling to deal with a $2.4 billion Budget reduction and 4,200 job cuts.

For CSIRO this translates to a $23 million budget cut over the next four years, equivalent to 100 forced redundancies and increased workloads.

The Federal Coalition is determined to bite even deeper, promising to cut 12,000 public sector jobs and slash $50-70 billion in government spending if it is elected.

With the public sector already under pressure, cuts of this scale will severe-ly damage public services in Australia.

Staff Association members are encour-aged to support the Cuts Hurt cam-paign by visiting the website - www.cutshurt.com.au - and uploading a photo.

Make sure our political leaders understand that cuts to public services hurt everyone.

Cuts hurt campaign gathers pace

More information at www.cutshurt.com.au

CPSU delegation to SmP2012 with Anna-Maria Arabia (STA), Richard Marles MP and Michael Borgas Minister Chris Evans addresses scientists

HOW YOU CAN HELP 1. Visit www.cutshurt.com.au then download and print the Cuts Hurt poster

2. Fill in how the cuts will hurt you and take a photo.

3. Upload the photo and share with your friends.

Science and Technology Australia CEO Anna-Maria Arabia