Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research : Australian stem cell science

ASSCR Logo Competition

Susan Hawes — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:46:00 GMT

The Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) is running a competition for the design of a logo. A cash prize of $500 will be awarded to the winner. The winner may also have a year's free membership to the ASSCR.

Some helpful points to designing a logo for the ASSCR:

Top 5 images associated with the ASSCR -
Stem cells, Australasian, education, networking, communication

A few adjectives to describe how the audience should perceive the ASSCR
Non-profit, useful, informative, well-informed, supportive, facilitating, connecting, educating

What makes the ASSCR special/distinct/unique?
Thereare a number of networks around the world concerned with promotinggreater communication, collaboration and education about stem cellsamongst professionals and also the pubic. What is unique about theASSCR is its region - Australasia.

What other alternatives does the target user have to access the information and services that the ASSCR is offering?

In the respect that the ASSCR will be creating new opportunities for communication, collaboration and education (for example through running workshops, training courses, conferences and facilitating mentoring) there is currently no other place for the user to find such information in the concise way it will be presented - because the ASSCR will be looking to facilitate communication where it sees that there is a need or gap that it can help bridge.

Key concepts in this respect are: concise, interaction and access.

Concise: There is much information available in the form of academic papers, policy documents, legislation, annual reports, press releases or international and interstate training courses and conferences. The ASSCR will provide busy professionals with the opportunity to make contacts and gather information across disciplines in a concise manner.

Interaction: The ASSCR will help bring people together to interact; and share ideas, skills and information; who may not otherwise have had the opportunity.

Access: The ASSCR will bring new information and skill sharing opportunities to regions that don't already have easy access to them. It will also promote greater understanding across disciplines as ae debate in the public.

Target Audience
The target audience will be primarily research scientists working in stem cells, also clinicians, ethicists, administrators, lawyers, biotechnology companies, politicians, media and interested laypeople.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LOGO

1. The logo should look good in black and white as well as in colour.

2. The logo should have the flexibility to be incorporated in many different digital & print formats. You should provide at least 5 example applications in your entry.

eg. Letterheads, envelopes, newsletters, with compliments slips, brochures, websites, emails, banner ads, program guides and PowerPoint presentation slides.

The logo may also be used alongside other logos if the ASSCR is a co-organiser or co-sponsor of an event.

3. The logo should be supplied in a specific Pantone colour.

Deadline: The competition closes last mail Monday 11th February.

The winner will be announced Monday 18th February.

Email your LOGO design to Nola Camden (Nola.Camden@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au).

For more information about the ASSCR or to register your interest, contact this blog

ASSCR Rules

Susan Hawes — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:44:00 GMT

Photo from Gary Peh (Monash University).

Neural cells from human embryonic stem cells labelled green for a specific protein nestin, with the nucleus stained blue.

OK, so at our recent steering committee meeting to establish the new Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research we talked about rules.

All Societies require rules and in this, the ASSCR is no exception. So, our last meeting established some basic rules, very similar to most societies. Some of them are as follows:

MEMBERSHIP

Regular Members or those professionals working in with stem cells or in a stem cell related field. Regular membership will also include people working in a company rather than just an academic environment. Corporate memberships were also discussed as possible.

Student Members - Student members will be required to be actively studying in a stem cell related field and have full voting privileges.

Associate Members - Anyone interested in stem cell biology and therapies.

Membership fees will be due on the 1st of August of each year. Usually membership fees are due prior to the annual meeting of the society and therefore registrants may be able to get reduced society membership fees at the time of registration for the conference.

Membership fees will be $85 for regular members and $40 for student members. These will be due on the 1st of August of each year. Usually membership fees are due prior to the annual meeting of the society and therefore registrants may be able to get reduced society membership fees at the time of registration for the conference.

The society will require a stated privacy policy that specifies that member contact details and information will not be distributed if the member specifies this on the application form at the time of registration.

GOVERNANCE

There will be 5 members of the executive committee with an additional 5 general members of the committee preferably representing different regions. These members and the executive committee should have the ability to co-opt someone onto the committee. A student representative should also be included on the committee.

The 5 executive committee members will be an elected President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Communication Officer and also a Vice-President.

Nomination of the executive committee will be elected at the first AGM. The steering committee members should consider who would be willing and suitable to fill these positions on the committee before this time. Or, if anyone outside the steering committee wants to nominate someone or themselves, get in touch!

LOCATION & TIME OF COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

Time of committee members should be a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 2 years after which time the Vice President will preferably become President Elect.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

So as to ensure representation throughout Australia and New Zealand, we also discussed the location of the ASCC committee members and if this should change each year to align with an annual conference. Concerns were raised if there were enough suitable members in each state of Australia or New Zealand to fill all 10 places per year. Alternatively, representatives from different states coming onto the committee at different times would ensure more consistency and continuity of the society.

If you have any comments or are interested in being involved, let us know!

Who should be members?

Susan Hawes — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:39:00 GMT

We also talked about different types of membership: full and student members (tertiary or higher degree).

You could be a full member if you are a scientist, ethicist or clinician who works or is associated with stem cells.  An associate membership was also proposed for administrators working within the area of stem cell biology or clinical applications and really anyone else, who is interested.

So, how much should membership cost?  This was also considered; some people suggested yearly fees from $60 to $80 for a full member and $20 for students. Others felt it should be more.

What do you think? Is $80 too cheap to financially support a society? To start with, we would like to be able to support meetings, organise an annual meeting or possibly publish a newsletter. Still, keeping costs low encourages more members, so it’s a quandary. 

Development of an Australasian Stem Cell Society

Susan Hawes — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:25:00 GMT

An Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research will establish a stem cell research network in Australia and New Zealand, with interaction within the Asia Pacific Region and provide support and education about stem cells to research scientists and the general public. An aim would be that the Society organise or promote meetings.

Forty stem cell scientists and ethicists attended a meeting at the ISSCR, Cairns June 2007 and since, another 20 have registered their interest

Keep visiting this blog for further information