Central Queensland University has welcomed its acceptance as a Foreign Affiliate Member (FAM) of the Incorporated Research Organisations in Seismology.. (IRIS).

Is it now among a select group of only 3 Australian universities to be FAMs. The only other Australian universities on the memership list at http://www.iris.edu/about/members.htm are Australian National University and the University of Queensland.

Michael Turnbull 

CQU Adjunct Research Fellow Mike Turnbull said that he and his research colleague, Adjunct Professor Kevin McCue, had started the application process more than a year ago.

Mr Turnbull is leader of the Central Queensland Seismology Research Group (CQSRG), based at Bundaberg Campus, and also a research assistant based at the Centre for Process Engineering and Light Metals (PELM) at Gladstone Campus. Professor McCue is Director, Australian Seismological Centre Pty Ltd, based in Canberra.

"CQU becoming a member attests to the national and international high standing in which the CQU seismology staffing and research output is held," Mr Turnbull said.

"The most immediate and obvious benefit that CQU receives from the membership is international accreditation of the seismology research being carried out through CQSRG, under the auspice of CQU.

"This recognition provides opportunities for collaborative research with numerous fellow member organisations throughout the world by providing an assurance of our credentials.

"The membership provides unrestricted access to the world's largest database of seismic data, and an unlimited and secure data archival repository, including free data management software.

"All seismic data created by CQSRG in the past and in the future can be transferred to the repository and kept secure for future research. That data can be recovered by all cooperating IRIS members, including CQU, at any time.

"The membership also provides CQSRG with competitive access to a huge warehouse of expensive and state-of-the-art seismology research instrumentation and other facilities."

Mr Turnbull said requirements for admission to IRIS were quite strict and included:

 * Examination of the applicant's qualifications and recent research output by the IRIS committee, which includes a panel of international experts.

 * Recommendations from current international and compatriot IRIS member organisations regarding suitable peer standing of the applicant organisation and its seismic research staff.

* The acceptance by IRIS of a commitment by the applicant organisation to maintain the IRIS mission statement, to:

 - Facilitate and conduct geophysical investigation of seismic sources and earth properties using seismic and geophysical methods.

 - Promote exchange of geophysical data and knowledge, both through use of standards for network operations, data formats and exchange protocols, and through pursuing policies of free and unrestricted data access.

 - Foster cooperation among IRIS members, affiliates and other organisations in order to advance geophysical research and convey benefits from geophysical progress to all of humanity.