Tasks, Actions and Activities proposed

Liaison with other commissions

Other commissions including Helictite, Library & Archives, Conservation, Publications, KCF, Grants (& others as needed).
Provide information for other commissions e.g Conservation Commission to assist with campaigns for better management of cave and karst resources.

Development of working groups e.g. earth sciences, biology, social sciences, management etc. These should maintain a detailed register of relevant scientists working in the various fields, and liaise with relevant field work, expeditions and club projects as appropriate.

Set up and maintain a register of sources of various services, e.g. dating, thin section production, assistance with ID of “finds” (from photographs) etc.
Establish a list of “who is currently researching what” in speleology. This will list current Australasian cave and karst scientists (who is doing what and where), and an up-to-date list of experts in particular fields.
A list of standards currently used for speleological activities starting with the ASF standards.
A list of software currently used in speleology.
A list of who is offering training in aspects of speleology such as cave mapping.

Maintain the commission’s website within the ASF website system

Jill is updating the content and Mike is managing the system.

Co-operate with the development of a series of Zoom presentations. The current system that started during COVID is excellent but possibly needs support to keep it going.
Run a commission workshop at ASF Conferences. This will be an on-going activity.
Encourage the publication of appropriate material in club newsletters, Caves Australia and Helictite, as well as external publications.
Encourage ASF members to give presentations to outside organisations e.g. Field Naturalist clubs, conservation societies, local interest groups etc.

Foster member clubs to develop appropriate projects that can be funded by the KCF or Grants commissions.
Maintain (as far as possible) a list of active projects and proposed projects.
Help citizen scientists to contribute to Australian cave science by providing some help and guidelines on what projects they could become involved with. Can we put them in touch with an expert on the topic?
Provide links to information on cave environment monitoring. What instruments have people used in the field e.g. monitoring equipment, data loggers. Who has expertise in this, how can one get up to speed on this?

Act as a vehicle to channel publications to Helictite. As discussed in the August 2025 meeting, this requires Helictite to increase its impact factor, which is currently being investigated.

Earlier notes are below. Completed items have been removed from this list.

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Provide advice on running cave science workshops and help by maintaining a calendar of such events. Further work needed
Set up an email address as a general contact TODO

This will go to various people, to be determined.