The Wong lab did a joint Christmas party this year with colleagues from Melbourne University and Latrobe. We went on a boat cruise on the Yarra River on a 40 degree day.
Congratulations Anna and Nick!
Anna Senior and Nick Deal have both been awarded their doctorates! Yay!
Australian Evolution Society Conference
This year’s AES conference was hosted by UNSW. Bob, Jake and Lucinda presented their research. Bob also had a reunion with his wonderful PhD advisors from ANU.
In the news
Jake’s recent research in Biology Letters on impacts of Prozac on social behaviour in fish has received global media coverage. Jake and Bob have been busy doing radio interviews, including on ABC and BBC. For an example of some of the media coverage, see here.
Visit to McMaster
Following the SETAC North America meeting in Canada, Bob and Jake were hosted by the wonderful Prof Sigal Balshine and got to spend a couple of days interacting with colleagues at McMaster University – and eating giant pizzas.
Congratulations Jake
Jake was awarded the best platform presentation at the SETAC North America Conference in Toronto, Canada. Well done Jake!
Marsden grant success
Delighted to have been awarded a New Zealand Marsden grant in collaboration with Dr Sarah Flanagan (Canterbury) and Prof Judith Mank (University of British Columbia) to investigate the role of sexual selection in driving the evolution of sex biased gene expression in pipefishes
Invited workshop in Dessau, Germany
Several past and current members of the lab were invited to an international workshop in Germany to discuss the role of behavioural endpoints in the regulation of chemical pollutants. Workshop brought together regulators, scientists and government agencies from North America, Europe and Australia.
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Conference
Bob and Michael both delivered presentations at the 11th DOHaD congress in Melbourne this year.
VicWater Conference
Bob delivered an invited keynote on the impacts of pharmaceutical pollution at the VicWater 2019 Annual Conference in Melbourne.
Society for Reproductive Biology Conference
Bob was invited to present a keynote on the impacts of human induced environmental change on reproduction in wildlife at the 2019 Society for Reproductive Biology Conference in Sydney.
Welcome Jack Orford
A big welcome to the latest member of the Wong lab, Jack Orford, who will be working with Bob and Dr Lesley Alton on the impact of pharmaceuticals on frogs.
SETAC Australasia meeting
Bob, Minna, Jake and Oscar attended the SETAC Australasia meeting in Darwin, where Minna was presented with her Early Career Medal and Michael was awarded his Postgrad Research Publication Award (in absentia). Bob also won a prize for most provocative conference presentation title (Sex on steroids).
Michael starts exciting new postdoc
Michael started his new postdoctoral position in Tomas Brodin’s amazing lab in Umea, Sweden. Congratulations Michael!
Bob at UNSW
Bob spent two days hanging out with postgraduate students and colleagues at UNSW, where he ran a workshop for early career researchers and delivered a seminar at the Evolution and Ecology Research Centre.
Proud as punch
Michael was awarded his PhD today and both Bob and Minna got to dress up to attend the ceremony and academic procession.
SETAC Helsinki meeting
The Wong lab was well represented at the SETAC Europe meeting in Helsinki this year, with Bob, Minna, Jake and Michael all presenting talks/posters. Minna also co-organised a session at the conference titled ‘Examining Behavioural Effects of Chemical Contaminants and Other Stressors on Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution of Wildlife.’
Bob at University of Melbourne
Bob spent a lovely day today catching up with staff and students in the Department of Biosciences, where he also delivered a seminar on the lab’s pharmaceutical work.
Congratulations, Jake and Michael!
Congratulations to Jake Martin for receiving a Toxics Travel Award, and to Michael Bertram for winning a Company of Biologists Travel Grant from the Society for Experimental Biology!!
Lab retreat in Dromana
The lab spent a couple of days bonding over food and board games in Dromana.
