MICROSCOPY STRATEGIC ADVISORY GROUP

The group met on Wednesday 24th September in the Faculty Board Room, RSBS.

Present were: Prof. Jonathan Stone (Chair), Dr Paul Cooper (BoZo), Prof. Ian Jackson (RSES), Dr Tim Senden (RSPhysSE), Dr Sally Stowe (ANUEMU), Dr Rosemary White (CSIRO), Dr Ray Withers (RSC),

Documents tabled: Distribution of ANUEMU non-salary expenditure 1990-2002, Preliminary outline of microscopy and related resources at ANUEMU

1. Apologies: Dr Helen O'Neill, Dr Zbigniew Stachurski, Prof. Simon Ringer

2. The minutes of the previous meeting accepted with corrections:
Item 3. "Further" to be removed from "It was agreed that the system be discussed further at the next meeting".

3. Report on Focused Ion Beam.
Dr Stowe reported that after some delays all components had been delivered and were being installed. Images were expected within a few days. A meeting of potential users would be held to assess the demand for additional accessories and discuss ways of funding them.

4. Zeiss Apotome deconvolution microscope.
Professor Stone reported that the microscope had been installed within the last few days, was performing very well, and that a demonstration would follow the meeting. Concerning its funding, in addition to the $29,000 from ANUEMU, and $25,000 from NIBS reported at the last meeting, individual researchers in RSBS had now agreed to contribute $15,000 and RSBS collectively would make a further substantial contribution to the total cost of $140,000.
Dr Withers expressed concern that MSTAG had not been provided with evidence of support from researchers, nor asked to consider the matter before a decision was made. He asked that MSTAG members be sent microscopy bids for comment well before they were lodged.

Asked to clarify the role of MSTAG, Professor Stone stressed the need for forward planning and a positive, proactive contribution in the broad context of ANU microscopy. MSTAG’s role should be to advise the DVC (Research) on strategies and possibilities, and to provide cognate advice where asked and, indeed, even if not asked. It was not, in his view, the role of MSTAG to approve initiatives coming from research schools or departments.

5. Name change for ANUEMU
Dr Senden pointed out that ANUEMU was now a well recognised "brand name". Dr Withers reminded the committee that if "nanotechnology" was removed from the suggested name (ANU Microscopy, nanotechnology and Microanalysis), the residue would be hard to differentiate from the names of other microscopy units in Australia. Professor Jackson expressed concern that the inclusion of the term "nanotechnology" might impact adversely on other projected enterprises within the ANU which planned to include the word in their titles.
The matter was referred to the next meeting for further discussion.

6. Launch function
The date of the function to publicise new acquisitions by the ANUEMU was confirmed as 23rd October. Invitations had been posted.

7.Discussion of microscopy resources.
Dr Stowe provided information on the yearly expenditure on small and medium equipment by ANUEMU, exclusive of the EM Reserve or large equipment grants. The amount varied greatly from year to year because of competing demands but the average was a little over $40Kpa. The amount allocated to the deconvolution microscope, and (for 2004) towards an upright confocal, was well within this.
To serve as a background to MSTAG discussion, Dr Stowe presented a preliminary diagram outlining shared microscopy and some related resources at the ANU, and asked for comments and additions before the next meeting. Major users and resource providers would also be added. Members were reminded of the broader shared equipment website being developed by ANUEMU and the BRF (reachable via the ANUEMU home page or http://www.anu.edu.au/equip/index.htm)

8. Laser microdissection system.
A grant had been submitted to the NH&MRC Enabling Fund. CIs were from RSBS, JCSMR and the ANUEMU. The NH&MRC requirements meant that support had been restricted to medically oriented applications, although the potential user base, and already expressed support, was much wider. No capital costs were committed. Dr Stowe proposed that an ARC bid be prepared for next year, without funding from the EM Reserve, to be lodged should this bid be unsuccessful. Dr White, who was about to visit Perth to use the laser microdissection system there, offered to report on any queries members might have about the practicalities of the new technology.
There followed some discussion about the EM Reserve, and its commitment through 2004 (at present funding levels) for an analytical FESEM was confirmed.

9. Web-based booking system. Programming by a casual programmer was progressing. It was agreed that the situation would be reviewed after another month.

10. Other business:
Professor Jackson raised two points following on from previous minutes:
- Improving funding contributions from users' research grants.
Dr Stowe reported that the procedures followed by the Sydney EM unit to ensure users included funding for EM in grant applications were much the same as at the ANU, although their Research Office was probably more practised in identifying such opportunities. There had been a marked increase in the number of ANU users able to contribute to EM costs from grants, and it would make sense to retain current procedures for another year or so to see how the funding pattern developed.
- Preparations for the next major equipment bid.
Dr Stowe reported that she would start to canvas support for an analytical FESEM soon, and asked for suggestions from MSTAG members.

The meeting closed at 12.45pm, the members moving to the EM Unit for a demonstration of the new deconvolution microscope.