RACI WA Branch Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

In This Issue: p1 Central Australia water sampling p4 Monthly Meeting Schedule p5 Bayliss Youth Lecture p6 Lord & Co p6 What you get for membership dollar p7 Hackers Golf Day p9 Rowe Scientific p10 Rowe Calendar of Events p10 Newsletter Advertising & Deadline Contact the RACI WA Branch: www.raci.org.au/branches/wa-branch Branch Co-ordinator: Ben Fletcher 0403 022 968 wabranch@raci.org.au ABN: 69 030 287 244 IRN: A0040386D ARBN: 102 726 429 Follow RACI: Facebook at facebook.com/RACInational, Twitter at @RACI_HQ Instagram at @racinational

More Central Australia Dreaming… or leaving your lab behind for time with Brahmans,

eagles and Antilopines!

With one client’s water samples taken (see article in December 2017 WA RACI Newsletter, https://www.raci.org.au/branches/wa-

branch), it was time to move into the next sampling area. This was centred on a cattle station homestead where we would be also staying. Before we left our first sampling area, we mentioned this to one of the locals and he quickly replied "you don't want to go there mate, one meal a day, no air conditioning and you have to sleep in a swag on the floor.” I looked at my colleague; “can't be that bad” I said not too confidently, “we'll be right”. Undeterred next morning we set off, it was 120 km down one of the local one lane bitumen "Highways" which extended endlessly into a rolling horizon – spectacular! Avoiding 3-trailer road trains coming the other way was an interesting experience (the locals gave me many tips on how to negotiate this task, so “I was right”). A left turn and a 20 km ride on a dirt road across some harsh looking country followed; note that if we missed that left turn, God only knows where we would’ve ended up! We saw the homestead cluster of buildings in the distance and drove forward with some trepidation. A welcoming hand painted sign greeted us as we drove through the front gates, then along some large cattle yards and along a private air strip before driving into a

cluster of buildings including the homestead, large workshops, diesel power station, kitchen/dining area and donger accommodation. The central area of the cluster consisted of a lush green lawn area, canopied by large leafy trees full of birds and in some cases mangoes. Foals pranced about while their mothers gently grazed…a bit of paradise in a harsh land generated by using

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Central Australia Dreaming (Continued) the large aquifer resource in the area. Accommodation was clean, furnished and air-conditioned, with the camp cook providing three square meals a day. So much for local knowledge back at the other place. Rumours, as in other places, spread in the bush. And yes, there were a few frogs about (a different type though), but enough of that. Water bores were dotted throughout the multi thousand square kilometre property, being used to water the several tens of thousands head of Brahman cattle being grown for live export. We were completing a baseline water survey, taking samples which had to be quickly couriered back to the Perth laboratories for analysis by such techniques as IC, ICP-OES and ICP-MS. As described in the previous article, we also took water samples to determine the age and recharge rate of the aquifer which is very important for the responsible utilisation of the aquifer. Some bores were in very remote places which entailed some fabulous four-wheel driving experiences – the landscapes and colours were once again stunning; it was like living in a Van Gogh painting. Apart from the usual troublesome creatures, we were warned about charging water buffalo and brumby mobs that would gallop across the road without warning. These weren't covered in my 4WD course but luckily they didn’t happen (they would however have been interesting experiences!). Once reached, sampling from the station bores was more straightforward than previous since they were fitted with diesel-driven pumps which in most cases had been running for a while, so no need for the pre-flushing step as in the previous samplings.

Being in very remote sampling areas, extra precautions were required: GPS tracking devices, EPIRBS, satellite phones were all in our communications armoury and we had plenty of spare water and carried a sizeable field first aid kit (I also had a couple of cans of my favourite emergency food SPAM tucked away in my back pack). Being always accompanied by an experienced site person in a second vehicle we were indeed in safe hands, but you can never be too careful in this environment. Being way away from the beaten track, more wondrous vistas were revealed, in particular of the flora and fauna. It was a fantastic place to observe birds of prey. The skies were always filled with eagles, hawks and the like (I was always furiously flicking through my bird field guide trying to identify them – very difficult to do when they are circling way above you!). We passed a nesting pair of eagles (I think) and I quickly took a photo from some distance (not wanting to disturb the raptor family too much), but after looking quickly at the shot, it looked like I only captured an empty nest. Zooming and closer inspection after returning home did however reveal a reasonable baby portrait of the new addition. Antilopine Wallabies – I’d never heard of them until one of the station hands told me about them. Sleek and antelope-like, they are very distinctive animals with the females having white velvety fur and the males a rich cherry red. One hopped across our path, and post trip inspection of the quick snap taken revealed a reasonable picture of a female in full flight.

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Central Australia Dreaming (Continued)

For the time of the year, I expected more wild-flowers to be about but it was pretty bare except at one sampling point where we found ourselves right in the middle of a big outcrop of NT’s floral emblem, Sturt’s Desert Rose. As expected, natural products chemists have extracted some interesting terpenoid compounds from it (see https://doi.org/10.1071/BT9960601). After each day’s driving and sampling, it was back to the station for a quick refresh before joining the station crew for a drink (which they certainly deserved working all day in the heat, humidity and dust), followed by dinner in a super clean room (boots off, socks only). Spending time with the station staff we learnt a little bit about station life and its workings. First priority was water for the stock. The area was blessed with a major underground aquifer, from which water was pumped to the surface into large tanks. From these, water was gravity fed into concrete drinking troughs for the cattle. The water level was controlled by a float; out there it has to be simple. Maintenance of water flow through these systems throughout the property was top priority. Feed was the next priority; during the wet season, cattle were allowed to mostly fend for themselves from the sparse sprouting’s, but in the dry season, additional hay and “cow-lick” was provided. Separating the different cattle e.g. expectant cows, young animals, into large paddocks was also a big task. Bulls were kept well away from the herd until it was “their time”. This segregation was effected by a number of means: motorbikes, all-terrain vehicles, helicopter and much to my amazement, cowboys (as they introduced themselves as) on horses. The team of drovers that we met were mainly members of one family, and contracted from Queensland. The team leader in particular, spent much time with me describing his love of his work and, with almost a tear in his eye, the love for his horses. Other important tasks were vermin control (wild dogs were the problem du joir during our stay), mechanical maintenance of vehicles

and the diesel-driven power station, and many other tasks. A busy place! We completed our sampling of most of the station bores ahead of time, but as luck would have it we did have a bit of trouble starting the last bore which annoyed us. Despite what we had seen and experienced we were impatient to get home - it had been a long trip. But we persisted and once the sampling was completed, we packed up, said goodbye to our friends the station hands, drovers, cook and station manager, and set off to Darwin for the flight back to Perth. All the samples eventually arrived at the lab with analysis already completed on some previously-couriered samples by the time we arrived. It had been a successful trip. The motto of this story? Same as the previous article about this trip - Chemistry can take you to some wonderful places… Alf Larcher, FRACI @AlfLarcher / larcheralf@gmail.com

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RACI Monthly Meetings

Please come to the RACI Members Monthly Meeting. This is a great chance to meet fellow members and be entertained by guest speakers. All welcome – membership is not a prerequisite to attendance (so please bring a friend).

Date: Usually 3rd Tuesday of every month Time: From 5.30pm. Seminar/presentation commences at 6.15pm. Refreshments prior and at seminar conclusion Venue: Exhibition Area, Building 500, Curtin University Cost:: $5 charge to cover refreshments (limited drinks and snacks) (receipts can be provided) RSVP: wabranch@raci.org.au to assist with catering purposes Or register online (preferably by Friday before meeting)

FEBRUARY 2018 Tues 20th

Astrochemistry: The when, what, where and how? By Chenoa Tremblay from MinAnalytical

Astrochemistry is defined as the study of the formation, destruction and excitation of molecules and atoms in space. The discipline is a combination of physics, astronomy and chemistry and overlays heavily with astrobiology and astrobiochemistry. The spectroscopic analysis of our Universe is completed across the electromagnetic spectrum from x-ray to radio and by combining this knowledge we have created our most complete understanding of the formation of stars and galaxies.

Chenoa's work, using the Murchison Widefield array in Western Australia, aims to detect low-frequency molecular transitions at ~100MHz (3m wavelengths) to search for the large chain molecular building blocks for life and low-energy transitions of simple molecules. They have successfully conducted a spectral-line survey of 400 square degrees (the size of 1600 moons on the sky) around the Galactic centre and Orion constellation. In this talk Chenoa will discuss the when, what, where and how of the study the astrochemistry within our Galaxy and other galaxies.

Please register on: https://www.raci.org.au/events/event/november-wa-branch-mmm-2-copy

MARCH 2018 Tues 13th UWA Thurs 15th Curtin

2018 BAYLISS YOUTH LECTURE From Trojan Horses to Pro Donkey Riding and Everything in Between: My Life as a Nanoscientist. Presented by Dr Tristan Clemons

Tristan’s research focuses on the development of tiny nanoparticles, one thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair which are designed for applications in drug delivery in medicine for diseases such as cancer, spinal cord and burn injuries. These nanoparticles can be engineered to have a range of different functions including delivering a drug to the site needed in the body, while also incorporating imaging probes to determine where the nanoparticle is releasing its payload. Two functions which can lead to the avoidance of serious side effects. Not only is Tristan a research scientist but he also represents Australia in hockey with the Kookaburras, his talk will discuss some of the parallels he has experienced between elite sport and his science, while providing a few interesting stories along the way.

Dr Tristan Clemons completed his PhD studies in 2014 as a part of the BioNano research group led by Iyer Swaminathan at the University of Western Australia. Tristan was successful in obtaining a NHMRC Peter Doherty Australian Biomedical Research Fellowship which he begun in late 2014. In 2018 Tristan will not only be focussing on the Bayliss Lecture series but will also be aiming to gain selection to attend the Commonwealth Games in April on the Gold Coast.

Details next page. Registration: UWA Tuesday 13th https://raci-bayliss-2018-uwa.eventbrite.com.au Curtin Thursday 15th https://raci-bayliss-2018-curtin.eventbrite.com.au

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: February 2018 5

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: February 2018 6

Units

• 1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz

• Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower

• 1 million-million microphones = 1 megaphone

• 2 million bicycles = 2 megacycles

• 52 cards = 1 decacards

• 1 millionth of a fish = 1 microfiche

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: February 2018 7

2017 RACI “HACKERS” GOLF DAY Friday 1st of December

The sun dawned bright on Collier Park golf course that, despite

previous experience, had no idea what was about to hit it.

Twenty or so or the most

occasional golfers that ever gripped the wrong end of the club descended onto the fairways for the Annual RACI “Hackers” Golf

Day.

Other than that, nothing had changed. Balls, divots, clubs and bags flew in all directions. Rigid control of rules and conditions

ensured all the players returned before dusk to celebration,

libation and humiliation.

The scores? Are there really winners, or losers in the midst of

such a display of sporting prowess? Indeed the

mathematical ability of the scorers is such that any awards were

purely symbolic.

Sufficient to say, a grand time was had by all.

Thanks to Graeme Walker for

keeping us all in line, GW Scientific and LECO for prizes

and everyone present for subjecting themselves to such

utter chaos once again.

Alistair Day

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RACI WA Branch Newsletter: February 2018 8

2017 RACI “HACKERS” GOLF DAY (Continued)

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: February 2018 9

Chemistry in Australia online Did you know you can read Chemistry in Australia online?

Find a free pdf of each month’s full issue here: http://chemaust.raci.org.au/

2nd Women in STEM Leadership Summit 21-25 May 2018, Sydney

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/2nd-women-in-stem-leadership-summit-tickets-42187762734

A scientist investigating behavior in bullfrogs notices that when startled by a loud noise the frog jumps.

Deciding to experiment further he yells "Jump" and notes that the frog jumps a distance of 40cm.

He then cuts off a front leg, yells jump and the frog jumps 30cm. He cuts off the other front leg, yells jump; the frog jumps 20cm. He cuts off a back leg, yells jump; the frog barely manages to jump 6cm. Cutting off the last leg when he yells jump the frog doesn't move. He yells louder; the frog

doesn't move. In his notebook the scientist concludes: "A frog with no legs becomes deaf."

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: February 2018 10

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2018 Presented by Rowe Scientific Pty Ltd

www.rowe.com.au 13.02.2018 Branch Committee Meeting Room 500.3101 “pod”, Building 500, Curtin Uni WA Branch RACI 20.02.2018 Monthly Members Meeting Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin Uni. WA Branch RACI 13.03.2018 Bayliss Youth Lecture Wilsmore Lecture Theatre, UWA Chem Ed Group 15.03.2018 Bayliss Youth Lecture Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin Uni. Chem Ed Group 10.04.2018 Branch Committee Meeting Room 500.3101 “pod”, Building 500, Curtin Uni WA Branch RACI 17.04.2018 Monthly Members Meeting Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin Uni. WA Branch RACI 15.05.2018 Monthly Members Meeting Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin Uni. WA Branch RACI 12.06.2018 Branch Committee Meeting Room 500.3101 “pod”, Building 500, Curtin Uni WA Branch RACI 19.06.2018 Monthly Members Meeting TBA - UWA/Murdoch WA Branch RACI June 2018 Titration Stakes Part 1 Building 500, Curtin Uni Chem Ed Group 17.07.2018 Monthly Members Meeting Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin Uni. WA Branch RACI 14.08.2018 Branch Committee Meeting Room 500.3101 “pod”, Building 500, Curtin Uni WA Branch RACI 11-19.08 2018 National Science Week

August 2018 National Science Week Awards Dinner Date and venue TBA WA Branch RACI

August 2018 Titration Stakes Final Murdoch Uni, Building TBA Chem Ed Group August 2018 Student Career's Night Date and venue TBA M&CD Group 18.09.2018 Monthly Members Meeting Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin Uni. WA Branch RACI

Enquiries to Branch Coordinator Ben Fletcher: 0403 022 968, wabranch@raci.org.au

Something to Ponder: • Can you cry under water? • How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just

murdered? • Since bread is square, why is sandwich meat round? • Why do you have to "put your two cents in"...but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's

that extra penny going to? Taxes? • Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity? • Does a radioactive cat have 18 half-lives?

E-MAIL ADVERTISING RATES

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Branch Newsletter Deadlines For 2018 Month of Journal Deadline Date March Friday 23 February April Friday 23 March

Deadline is close of business (5 pm) on the nominated dates. Please submit all articles to raciwanewsletter@gmail.com