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AusGeo News December 2013 Issue No. 112

Welcome to AusGeo News 112

Since the last issue of AusGeo News, Geoscience Australia has become part of the new Department of Industry. The Minister for Industry is the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, a role he previously held during 2001-07. The Department also has a new Secretary, Glenys Beauchamp PSM. Prior to her new appointment, she served as Secretary of the former Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Arts and Sport. Glenys has also served as Deputy Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Deputy Secretary, former Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Included in this December issue is an article on Geoscience Australia's contribution to the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. Every year Australian's go through fires across every state and territory. Geoscience Australia has been involved in the BNHCRC from the initial concept. Geoscience Australia is continuing its involvement in the lead up to the scheduled start of the research program around January 2014 through projects on exposure, building vulnerability and coastal hazards.

There is a report on an exciting new project to image the deep-crustal electrical conductivity of the Australian Continent commenced in Victoria this month. The Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) is a national survey being undertaken by Geoscience Australia in conjunction with AuScope, the Australian National Seismic Imaging Resource (ANSIR) , the State and Northern Territory geological surveys, the University of Adelaide and other partners.

Also included in this issue is a report on the prototype Corner Reflectors deployed outside Canberra. The Corner Reflects are part of the geospatial component of the Australian Geophysical Observing System (AGOS) enabling precise measurement of ground deformation which is a reliable means to perform ongoing radiometric and geometric measurements for calibration of SAR instruments on satellites.

Product news features the release of the 2013 preliminary edition of its Australian Geological Provinces dataset. The dataset contains descriptions and spatial extents of the fundamental geological elements of the Australian continent and its offshore surrounds. Province types include sedimentary basins, tectonic provinces such as cratons and orogens, igneous provinces and metallogenic provinces.

Geoscience Australia is committed to continuously assessing and improving our level and quality of services. As always we welcome your feedback and encourage you to use the email address at the end of each article.

Finally, I wish to thank all our readers for your continuing support and extend best wishes for the festive season and the New Year.

Dr Chris Pigram

CEO Geoscience Australia

Unless otherwise noted, all Geoscience Australia material on this website is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence.