Past Meetings of the ASF Cave Science Commission

Meetings

The first face-to-face meeting was a workshop at the Buchan Conference in January 2025. This was an informal get-together where S. White presented the proposal to create the commission, its general aims and asked interested people if they would like to be a volunteer with the Commission. The workshop was very productive. Many ASF members suggested ideas and provided offers of co-operation.

The second meeting was via “Zoom” on 14th August 2025. All people who expressed interest earlier were invited.

Agenda for the Zoom Meeting, 14th August 2025

  1. Welcome

  2. Progress so far:

    • Establishment of Commission
    • Aims and objectives
    • Website issues
    • Workshop at Buchan Conference

  3. Structure of Commission

    • Deputy chair
    • General structure
    • Working groups
    • Linkage/liaison with other commissions
    • Administration: Records? Meetings?

  4. Programs

    • Zoom talks/lectures: linkage with Conservation Commission
    • Involvement of clubs, individuals
    • ASF Minimal Impact Code of Ethics for Scientific Investigation

  5. General

    • Discussion and questions etc.
    • Next meeting?

Draft Minutes of the Zoom Meeting, 14th August 2025

  1. Welcome

    Susan chaired the meeting. 13 attendees and one apology.

  2. Progress so far:

    • Establishment of Commission: Questions about specific name of commission as there were some duplications of the word “speleological”. Just make it consistent.
    • Aims and objectives (see Home page here)
    • Website - thanks to Mike (sys admin) and Jill (content)
    • Workshop at Buchan Conference (see top of page here)

  3. Structure of Commission

    • Deputy Chair: A suitable person has expressed interest in this position but had not been able to attend the Zoom. The Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner would typically keep in contact with external people such as John Webb and other interested academics.
    • General structure: Updated to indicate external groups which would typically work with the Commission.
    • Working groups: Working groups can be temporary. We aim to have a register of who is working on what in Australian speleology.
    • Linkage/liaison with other commissions: Importance of Library and Helictite commissions. Discussion of the impact factor of Helictite (investigate procedures, report to group).
    • Administration: Records? Meetings? Discussed. Most likely meetings will continue as ad-hoc email discussion of specific topics. Sue White will circulate the presentation shown at the meeting.

  4. Programs

    • Zoom talks/lectures: linkage with Conservation Commission. Discussion of service providers; important to keep costs down both for users and providers. Two people are able to run these as needed.
    • Involvement of clubs, Individuals: Some people were unable to attend the meeting but are willing to help, e.g. type stuff.
    • ASF Minimal Impact Code of Ethics for Scientific Investigation: Circulated; have a look at it and see if anything needs to be changed.

  5. General - Discussion and questions etc.

    Budgets – each commission has an administration grant each year. Please think about costs that may be incurred and get it into the following year’s budget to be presented at the executive’s January meeting.

    Web site – generally liked. Some questions about decorations left over from the initial template - JR to update.

    Donations – Can we have a Donate button? Yes. This has now been added.

    Collections of speleological material – Discussed. Perhaps a list can be drawn up indicating what institution has a particular speleological collection and how to contact them, to avoid duplication of research. Concerns regarding things that disappear once the research is completed. This can create friction with landowners leading to loss of access.

    ASF library – Has various collections, not just books. This is a work in progress. There are also specific reference items held by academic institutions. Noted that in France, the FSA has a well organised collection.

  6. Next meeting?

    Probably informal emails rather than a formal zoom.