An important update for the Western Australian Astrophotography Community.
Revised 18 December 2020.
The Western Australian astrophotography community is advised of the following updates.
For any enquiries, please use the contact page via www.celestialvisions.com.au
The Western Australian astrophotography community is advised of the following updates.
For any enquiries, please use the contact page via www.celestialvisions.com.au
Update: 15 June 2020. Revised 18 December 2020.
An open letter to the Astronomy WA Network
On 1 October 2019, the co-chairperson of the Astronomy WA Network issued a letter using the Astronomy WA Network letterhead, without having obtained committee endorsement from committee members first.
Her letter of 1 October 2019 contains defamatory comments and makes false accusations of a serious manner, makes judgements and declares significant penalties, before any opportunity was provided for the accused to defend themselves.
This is fundamentally unjust.
In response, an open letter to the Astronomy WA Network was forwarded to the co-chairperson Carol Redford. No response was ever forthcoming from the Astronomy WA Network.
Dr John Goldsmith / Celestial Visions
Her letter of 1 October 2019 contains defamatory comments and makes false accusations of a serious manner, makes judgements and declares significant penalties, before any opportunity was provided for the accused to defend themselves.
This is fundamentally unjust.
In response, an open letter to the Astronomy WA Network was forwarded to the co-chairperson Carol Redford. No response was ever forthcoming from the Astronomy WA Network.
Dr John Goldsmith / Celestial Visions
Update: 14 May 2020. Revised 18 December 2020.
Preliminary notice regarding the 2019 Astrofest application to the Western Australia Premiers Science Award.
In 2019, a written request was submitted to the Astrofest Committee requesting access to the application documents. No response was forthcoming from the Astrofest Committee.
After discussion in late 2019 with the Western Australian Science Minister, Dave Kelly MLA, a formal Freedom of Information request was submitted to the Western Australian Government, and that FOI application was successful in early 2020. Three documents were promptly supplied, being the Astrofest award application to the Western Australian Premiers Science Award / Chevron Science Engagement Award, 2019. The three documents, redacted of personal information (by the Western Australian Government), are available.
The application guidelines clearly state that submitted information should be accurate and non-misleading. Any single incidence of the application that contains false or misleading information should have invalidated the award application. An analysis of the claims made in the Astrofest award application to the Premiers Science Award has identified at least 12 false and misleading claims.
The recipient of the $5000 cash prize, being for the Premiers Science Award / Chevron Science Engagement award 2019, in relation to Astrofest, has not been shared in a equitable and fair manner, to the many organisations and individuals who have all contributed to the Astrofest event, 2009 – 2019.
Preliminary notice regarding the 2019 Astrofest application to the Western Australia Premiers Science Award.
In 2019, a written request was submitted to the Astrofest Committee requesting access to the application documents. No response was forthcoming from the Astrofest Committee.
After discussion in late 2019 with the Western Australian Science Minister, Dave Kelly MLA, a formal Freedom of Information request was submitted to the Western Australian Government, and that FOI application was successful in early 2020. Three documents were promptly supplied, being the Astrofest award application to the Western Australian Premiers Science Award / Chevron Science Engagement Award, 2019. The three documents, redacted of personal information (by the Western Australian Government), are available.
The application guidelines clearly state that submitted information should be accurate and non-misleading. Any single incidence of the application that contains false or misleading information should have invalidated the award application. An analysis of the claims made in the Astrofest award application to the Premiers Science Award has identified at least 12 false and misleading claims.
The recipient of the $5000 cash prize, being for the Premiers Science Award / Chevron Science Engagement award 2019, in relation to Astrofest, has not been shared in a equitable and fair manner, to the many organisations and individuals who have all contributed to the Astrofest event, 2009 – 2019.