Wall Street Journal Asia Fellowship

The Wall Street Journal Asia Fellowship at New York University, a program funded by The Wall Street Journal , in association with New York University , is looking for applications for one or two promising journalists from Asia to enroll in the three-semester masters program in business and economic reporting at the NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute .

The Fellowship covers tuition expenses and fees for two of the three semesters of the program, as well as providing a stipend of US$22,000. The Fellowship also covers travel to New York as well as some incidental costs, such as textbooks.

For more information – http://wsjfellowship.com/

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Communicating science in a political minefield – Keynote plenary talk at ASC Conference, Tuesday 9 February 2010

Professor Will Steffen is just on his way back from Copenhagen and has much to share with science communicators at the Hot Air symposium to be held on Tuesday Feb 9 next year in Canberra. His presentation will be the keynote talk for Hot Air AND the plenary talk for the ASC conference that day. The draft abstract of his presentation is pasted below.

Register NOW for the ASC conference at www.asc.asn.au

The early bird registration discount finish January 15.

Climate change: Communicating science in a political minefield

Will Steffen, Executive Director, ANU Climate Change Institute

“Without science, we are just building castles in the air” – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, COP15, Copenhagen, 16 December 2009

Science has played a crucial role – in fact, the essential role – in the development of anthropogenic climate change as an issue that has now gone beyond science, beyond the normal type of environmental issue, and has become a much broader societal issue. As climate change now reaches into the heart of contemporary society – core values, world perspectives, belief systems – it has become a political minefield. Thus, communicating the science of climate change has become far more complex than communicating the science itself – how the climate system works and how human activities are influencing the system. With respect to climate change, science communication is now operating in a wholly different arena than before.

How do we cope with this new situation? This presentation will explore the question by going back to some fundamental principles that underpin modern science. How is modern science different from other knowledge systems? How does science work and how does it guarantee quality? Why does the science of the climate change deniers fail compared to mainstream climate science? How can we best communicate this to a public that is challenged, confronted and frightened about the real implications of climate change? How can we convey this to mainstream media that have significantly misunderstood and misinterpreted what climate science is all about?

Jenni Metcalfe

Director Econnect Communication

PO Box 734

South Brisbane Q 4101

Australia

www.econnect.com.au

jenni@econnect.com.au

phone: + 61 7 3846 7111, +0408 551 866

skype: jenni.metcalfe

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-20

  • Hmm. Climate change denial rife. AND quite a bit of oil interest in top 10 largest companies. Just saying http://bit.ly/92LxSr #

Pictures, audio, video and comments on COP15

Hi All,

Nigel Kerby from the Australian Science Media Centre has been in Copenhagen for the past two weeks and stayed up last night to hear the final plenary. He has developed a fascinating archive of pictures, audio, video and comments with an Australian flavour, including pics of protesters, long queues and various Australian scientific and political figures attending COP15. Gives a real sense of what it has been like there.

If you just want to see the pictures go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussmc. The entire resource is available for anyone interested at http://www.aussmc.org/COP15.php

Cheers

Susannah

Dr Susannah Eliott

Chief Executive Officer

Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) ***Note new phone/fax and street address**

New street address: The Science Exchange, 55 Exchange Place, ADELAIDE SA 5000

Postal address has not changed: PO Box 237, RUNDLE MALL SA 5000

Ph: (08) 7120 8660 | Fax: (08) 8231 7333 | www.aussmc.org http://www.aussmc.org/

The Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) is an independent, non-profit service for the news media, giving journalists direct access to evidence-based science and expertise. The national centre is advised by a Science Advisory Panel and governed by a Board of Management. It is supported by a wide variety of sectors with each contribution capped at 10% of total running costs. Foundation sponsors are the ABC, APN News & Media, Cochlear Foundation Ltd, CSIRO, the Govt of SA, Innovative Research Universities Australia, Macquarie Bank, Media Monitors, News Ltd, New South Wales Govt, Orica Ltd, Queensland Govt, ResMed Inc, the Royal Institution of Australia, the State Govt of Victoria, Network Ten and the University of Melbourne. Gold Sponsors are ATSE, Cisco Systems Inc., CSL Ltd, IBM Australia, Johnson Winter & Slattery, Shell Australia Ltd and the University of Adelaide.

Disclaimer: Please note that any views expressed are the personal opinions of the experts named. They do not represent the views of the AusSMC or any other organisation unless specifically stated. The AusSMC attempts to provide a range of views from the scientific community.

The AusSMC can help journalists find an expert on a topical area of science. For more details, contact us. If you do not wish to receive further emails from the AusSMC, please reply with “Unsubscribe” in the Subject.

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Uni of Melb Faculty of Science move reviews of 2012 and Avatar

Hello everyone,

We’ve recently (e.g a couple of days ago !) moved all of our Faculty of Science news and features into a seperate blog.

For the past year we’ve commissioned our staff and students review the latest film releases (e.g District 9, Terminator Salvation) . Two of our latest reviews are for 2012 (reviewed by a chemist) and Avatar (reviewed by a geneticist) . Since they’re the latest releases we thought you might like to check it out http://sciencematters.unimelb.edu.au, along with our other content.

Please excuse the “mess”, we’re still finalising the design and fixing up the photographs and layout in our stories.

Kind Regards,

Sara Brocklesby and Natalie Pestana Editors, Science Matters University of Melbourne

Communicating the science of climate change to the people – Keynote speaker confirmed, Tues Feb 9 as part of ASC conference

Professor Will Steffen is Executive Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute at the

Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, and is also Science Adviser, Department

of Climate Change, Australian Government.

>From 1998 to mid-2004, he served as Executive Director of the International Geosphere-

Biosphere Programme, based in Stockholm, Sweden. His research interests span a broad

range within the field of Earth System science, with a special emphasis on terrestrial ecosystem

interactions with global change; the global carbon cycle; incorporation of human

processes in Earth System modelling and analysis; and sustainability, climate change and

the Earth System.

Jenni Metcalfe

Director Econnect Communication

PO Box 734

South Brisbane Q 4101

Australia

www.econnect.com.au

jenni@econnect.com.au

phone: + 61 7 3846 7111, +0408 551 866

skype: jenni.metcalfe

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proxies for ASC AGM

Hi everyone, especially fellow Queenslanders. I will be attending the AGM in Sydney tomorrow night. Feel free to send me any proxies if you can’t make it!

Cheers

Jenni Metcalfe

Director Econnect Communication

PO Box 734

South Brisbane Q 4101

Australia

www.econnect.com.au

jenni@econnect.com.au

phone: + 61 7 3846 7111, +0408 551 866

skype: jenni.metcalfe

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ASC AGM 2009 – calling all RSVPs and proxies

A reminder that the national AGM will be held tomorrow evening in Sydney – details below. If you are a financial member but unable to attend, please send your RSVP or proxy to me (or someone else attending the meeting) by 5pm tomorrow (AEDST) on meg.rive@csiro.au. We won’t be able to process proxies received by me after this time.

Please note an addition to the agenda. Under Item 5: Treasurer’s Report, we will also be appointing ASC’s public officer, as we have done in previous AGMs.

Cheers

Meg

Meg Rive | Communication Manager | CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship | P +61 3 9545 8301 (Mon-Tue) | P +61 3 9239 4433 (Wed-Fri) | F +61 3 9239 4444 | M +61 438 007 301 | www.csiro.au/wfo | Private Bag 1, Aspendale VIC 3195 Australia

Knowing our oceans, securing our future

________________________________ From: Rive, Meg (WFO F/Ship, Aspendale) Sent: Wednesday, 9 December 2009 5:31 PM To: ‘asc-list@lists.asc.asn.au’ Subject: National: ASC AGM 2009 – agenda, presidential nominees and call for proxies

Hi, all

Please find below the agenda for next Wednesday’s national ASC Annual General Meeting (I will circulate minutes from the 2008 AGM in a subsequent email, for your reference). This year’s event will take place at 6pm at the Clarendon Hotel, 156 Devonshire St, Surry Hills. Be there to vote, discuss, munch nibbles and sip a free drink. Further details, and details of the trivia extravaganza immediately following the AGM, are at the bottom of this email. Please RSVP for either or both events to me (meg.rive@csiro.au).

If you are unable to make it to the Clarendon Hotel yourself, please send your proxy to me (meg.rive@csiro.au) or someone else who will be attending the meeting, before 5pm (AEDST) on Wednesday 16 December.

To date there has been one nomination for the role of ASC President in 2010: Jesse Shore. Jesse Shore has over 26 years of experience as a science communicator. Currently he works through his business, Prismatic Sciences, to develop science-based programs for various audiences and media. From 1984 through 2008 he worked at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney where he was an exhibition project leader during the building of the museum and then Senior Curator of sciences for 21 years. While at the museum he created, directed and promoted a wide range of science exhibitions and events and in 2006 was one of the founders of the Ultimo Science Festival, a major National Science Week activity. Jesse was involved with National Science Week events and organising committees from 1997 through 2008 and chaired the 2001 NSWk NSW Coordinating Committee. He has been an active member of the Australian Science Communicators for many years and headed the program committee for the national conference held at the Powerhouse in 2001. Jesse is currently treasurer and National Council representative of the ASC NSW branch.

Nominations for President can still be lodged (with me) up until 5pm (AEDST) on Wednesday 16 December.

Cheers

Meg

Editor for children’s science magazine

CSIRO Education is seeking a highly organised and creative person with excellent communication skills to fill the role of The Helix Editor. The position needs to be filled as soon as possible (no later than 1 February) until December 2010.

The Helix magazine is part of CSIRO’s Double Helix Science Club and is aimed at communicating science to readers of ages 10 and above. The Editor is responsible for editing and producing the bi-monthly magazine and its teachers guide. The position will involve coordinating the production of the magazine including sourcing stories, images and other content as well as coordinating freelance writers, illustrators, designers and others who contribute to the production of the magazine.

The position requires a person who has: * excellent skills in organisation, managing priorities, and working to deadlines * very strong interpersonal and communication skills, particularly written communication (preferably with experience in communicating with children) * creativity and initiative * a willingness to actively support CSIRO’s code of conduct and health, safety and environment policies.

The position would be at a CSOF4 level (salary in the range $70 784-$80 081) and would be based in Canberra.

Those who are interested in the position should send a CV accompanied by a brief expression of interest outlining your claims to the position to elizabeth.yuncken@csiro.au. Expressions of interest close 21 December 2009. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Liz Yuncken Memberships and Publications Manager CSIRO Education

Phone: +61 2 6276 6264 | Fax: +61 2 6276 6641 elizabeth.yuncken@csiro.au | www.csiro.au Address: PO Box 225 Dickson ACT 2602

PLEASE NOTE The information contained in this email may be confidential or privileged. Any unauthorised use or disclosure is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please delete it immediately and notify the sender by return email. Thank you. To the extent permitted by law, CSIRO does not represent, warrant and/or guarantee that the integrity of this communication has been maintained or that the communication is free of errors, virus, interception or interference.

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

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Some of the sessions and speakers at Hot Air – Communicating the science of climate change to the people – Tues Feb 9 in Canberra as part of ASC conference

To register for this symposium and the ASC conference, go to www.asc.asn.au

Panel – The challenges and needs of urban communities when communicating the science of climate change

Giselle Wilkinson has been a social and environmental activist for other 30 years. She helped to found and shape the Sustainable Living Foundation, a community-based not for profit organisation that informs and inspires the wider community about sustainable living. She is a Director of Safe Climate Australia and is currently facilitating Victoria’s first urban affordable / sustainable co-housing development.

Richard Gilmore is Executive Director of Earthwatch, which is currently running the ClimateWatch program. Prior to joining Earthwatch in 2007, Richard worked at Amcor Recycling where he held a number of roles, most recently as NSW Business Development Manager.

Peta Ashworth is a senior social scientist within CSIRO’s Division of Exploration and Mining. Peta leads a team of social researchers examining stakeholder perceptions to areas of national significance to Australia. Her main research interest has been examining public perceptions to climate change and energy technologies. Her team developed the EnergyMark process of engaging communities in climate change.

Chair: Dr Simon Torok works in communication and marketing for CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research in Melbourne. This involves managing a team of designers and communicators to raise awareness of the division’s climate change research and other marine and atmospheric work.

Panel – The challenges and needs of rural and regional communities when communicating the science of climate change

Leith Boully and her family have an irrigation and dryland farming and grazing property at Dirranbandi in Queensland. She has been involved in natural resource management (particularly water) at local, State and National levels for about 20 years. Leith is passionate about developing the capacity of individuals and communities to participate effectively in these processes. Leith is Chairman Boully Pastoral Co and founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Farmers.

Clare Mullen works for the Bureau of Meteorology as a ‘Climate Communicator’, in the Bureau’s National Climate Centre. The Bureau’s mission is to observe and understand Australian weather and climate, and provide meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic services in support of Australia’s national needs and international obligations.

Dr Peter Hayman is the Principal Scientist in Climate Applications at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) based at the Waite Institute, a position he has held since May 2004. Prior to moving to Adelaide he was coordinator of climate applications for NSW Agriculture. Peter is an agricultural scientist with an interest in applying climate information to dryland and irrigated farming systems. Since the early 1990s he has worked with farmers in managing climate risk on a range of projects in Australia, Cambodia and The Philippines.

Dr Gretta Pecl is a marine ecologist focused on interdisciplinary research to address questions critical to both ecological understanding of our marine systems and sustainable management of resources. She is particularly interested in assessing how the movement and migration of marine species affects their population structure.

Chair: David Salt is a Canberra-based science writer and editor. In years gone by he has set up The Helix magazine for CSIRO and Newton magazine for Australian Geographic. He has co-authored two environmental texts on resilience and agroforestry, and these days works half-time at the Australian National University producing/ Decision Point/, a research magazine on environmental decision theory. His greatest joy is engaging an average Australian with some aspect of complex science.

Panel: Media coverage of the science of climate change – challenges and opportunities

Sarah Clarke is the ABC’s national environment and science correspondent, reporting for both ABC Radio and Television. She has travelled extensively around Australia reporting on the environment and the impacts of the drought and climate change across a number of programs including ABC’s 7pm news, Lateline http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/ , 7.30 Report http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/ , Foreign Correspondent http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/ and across radio news and the ABC’s flagship radio current affairs programs AM http://www.abc.net.au/am/ , The World Today http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/ and PM http://www.abc.net.au/pm/ . (TBC)

Simon Grose is Science Media’s Parliamentary Press Gallery Correspondent and a freelance S&T writer and editor. He joined CSIRO Public Affairs in Canberra in 1988 and from 1990-93 was press secretary to a Federal Minister. >From 1994 to 2002 he was S&T Editor and Computing Editor for The Canberra Times. Since 2002 he has been a contributor to The Canberra Times and other publications including Crikey, Nature Medicine, and Australasian Science.

Assoc. Professor Philip Chubb’s career combines leadership positions in print, television and online media with publishing, business and communications technology. Prior to joining Monash University as Associate Professor in 2008, his industry roles included Melbourne Editor of The National Times, leader writer of The Age and deputy editor of Time Australia; in television he was Executive Producer of The 7.30 Report (Victoria) and National Editor of The 7.30 Report.

Dr Jonathon Howard is a teacher and researcher at Charles Sturt University where his research focuses on water and society- including how people value and use water, and how it is managed. He is currently a Ministerial appointee to the http://www.murray.cma.nsw.gov.au Murray Catchment Authority and chairs its Community and Implementation Committee. He is also on the Executive of the http://www.aaee.org.au/ Australian Association for Environmental Education.

Chair: David Ellyard has been active in science communication for nearly 40 years, covering radio and TV, talks, journalism and book writing. He is a former President of the Australian Science Communicators and is currently Treasurer

Jenni Metcalfe

Director Econnect Communication

PO Box 734

South Brisbane Q 4101

Australia

www.econnect.com.au

jenni@econnect.com.au

phone: + 61 7 3846 7111, +0408 551 866

skype: jenni.metcalfe

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