Sadly our current office manager, Michelle Burton, is leaving us at Easter for new horizons to the north.
If you know of anyone who is interested in this position – largely doing finances, organising our workshops, providing client support, organising me and making our fun social events work – please ask them to contact Michelle on 07 3846 7111 or admin@econnect.com.au for a position description.
We’re a fun bunch to work with! (most of the time)
Jenni Metcalfe
Director Econnect Communication
PO Box 734
South Brisbane Q 4101
Australia
phone: + 61 7 3846 7111, +0408 551 866
skype: jenni.metcalfe
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With a week to go before the Conference, there’s still time to register and join us in Canberra for a packed program of expert plenaries and social events from 7 – 10 February at the ANU. Tim Thwaites, Kali Madden and team have compiled an exciting array of the very best speakers from around the country.
We have too many speakers to mention but they include: Warwick Anderson, CEO, NHMRC; Margaret Sheil, CEO, ARC; and Mike Whelan, Deputy CE (Operations) CSIRO on the challenges of science communication, Wilson da Silva, COSMOS; Dr Susannah Elliot, CEO, Australian Science Media Centre; and Deborah Smith, Science Editor, Sydney Morning Herald, on the future of science reporting, Laurel Papworth, #4 blogger in Australia; Julie Posetti, University of Canberra; and Casey Whitelaw, Google on social media applications, Dr Craig Cormick and Wendy Williams from DIIRD on public attitudes to science, and some innovative, ‘non-traditional’ approaches to science communication from Dr Joan Leach, Associate Professor Errol Vieth and colleagues.
View the full program, register now or click here to view the current list of delegates. See you in Canberra!
Welcome to the Australian Science Communicators’ website.
Join today and become part of our national network of 350+ science communication professionals. Membership starts at $35.20 with great value benefits including: attendance at national and local ASC events at the member rate (often free), regular e-mail member updates on national and international news, and your unique log-in to participate in the member-only website and e-mail discussion groups.
Interested? For more information, click here…
This is an interesting time for my first post as the ASC President for 2010.
Our national conference, under Tim Thwaites’ guidance, will start soon and it offers a stimulating and varied program including superb professional development and networking opportunities. Many science communicators have already registered and if you are still making up your mind, I encourage you to join us in Canberra. I’m looking forward to making new acquaintances and meeting many of you whom I’ve known only via email or web postings.
It’s true for me to say that I’ve been an ASC member for more years than I remember. I don’t recall when I first joined but I do recall my regret at not being able to attend the joint PCST-ASC conference in 1996. I made up for that by assisting David Ellyard, who organised the next ASC conference in 2001, by chairing the program development committee.
That conference was held at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, which was my workplace for 25 years from 1984 to 2008. I had the excitement of working on the project to build the museum and then gained an ever-evolving job as their senior curator of sciences. Besides developing a wide range of science exhibitions and events I was active with National Science Week events and organising committees and in 2006 was one of the founders of the Ultimo Science Festival, a major National Science Week activity. For a few years I also had a small role helping the ASC NSW team who developed and ran the Eureka Prize winning ‘Science in the Pub’ program.
When I consider what I’d like to achieve this year, I look to all the work of previous ASC Presidents and especially to the platform laid by our immediate past president Tim Thwaites. I want to help realise the ASC vision statement which Tim and the National Council drafted last year. This also includes supporting the implementation and growth of the ASC Course Accreditation System. Moving further I’d like to explore greater relationships with Commonwealth and State Chief Scientists and their related offices while continuing to build on relationships with other science communication organisations such the Australian Science Media Centre and the Royal Institution Australia.
The way ahead is neither straight nor level but I believe the role of science communication will grow in today’s information-swamped but comprehension-challenge world. I want the surfers amongst us to help the ASC to catch this wave. I’m looking forward to interesting times and will see you at the conference!
Jesse Shore
National President
Around the middle of last year an Ockham’s Razor program by David Gillespie was briefly discussed on this list.
Gillespie, who is a lawyer, not a nutritionist or scientist of any other kind, has also written a book, Sweet Poison. In his book and Ockham’s Razor program Gillespie claims that there is overwhelming scientific evidence that fructose consumption is the cause of both the obesity epidemic and most chronic diseases. The URL for his program is:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2009/2621415.htm
Three weeks ago I presented an Ockham’s Razor program in which I argued that Gillespie has grossly exaggerated the case against fructose. The URL for my program is:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2010/2770728.htm
Gillespie responded to my program with an entry on his blog. His blog entry repeats many of the errors contained in his book and Ockham’s program and adds a few new ones. From the early comments about his blog entry and my program, he appears to have strong supporters.
I have also contributed comments, and will continue to do so for a few days yet (there is still a lot to say about David Gillespie’s lack of understanding of nutritional science, his misrepresentation of the results of scientific studies, and his selective use of evidence).
If you are interested in this subject, the blog and comments are available at:
Chris Forbes-Ewan
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Jane (and Phillip),
Great question (and answer) about PPT and the screen aspect ratio.
Realise, though, that having no PPT presentation is “the new black.”
Though PPT has become a norm, strategically varying from the norm can be a good way to be memorable.
Will
William D. Rifkin, PhD Director, Science Communication Program Faculty of Science, BSB-BABS UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052 AUSTRALIA
willrifkin@unsw.edu.au +61 2 9385 2748 +61 2 9385 1530 fax
www.scom.unsw.edu.au www.onset.unsw.edu.au www.dayinscience.unsw.edu.au
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The Helix (for ages 10+) and Scientriffic (for ages 7+) are bi-monthly science magazines produced by the CSIRO’s Double Helix Science Club. They bring students the latest in fascinating science news and hands-on activities.
We are always looking for writers to produce articles for our magazines. The Helix is currently looking for 200-400 word snippets and Scientriffic is looking for 100-250 word pieces. Although we cannot pay for these articles, a byline is given.
If you’re interested in contributing, please email your CV along with a one-line idea for a short story.
Once you are established with the magazines, you will have the opportunity to pitch ideas for paid feature articles.
Contact Roof Fakhri at The Helix: Helix.Editor@csiro.au Contact Jasmine Leong at Scientriffic: Scientriffic@csiro.au
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Dear fellow ASCers I need to get together a standard Powerpoint presentation that is suitable for use on any projector screen or monitor. The question is, what aspect ratio should it be? I’ve been told that for a modern widescreen you need 16 x 9 ratio, while the older squarer screens require4 x 3 ratio. I want a ‘one size fits all’ presentation. If you can cast any light on this dilemma I would be very grateful!! Many thanks Jane Lewis 0422 961355
__________________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo!7: Catch-up on your favourite Channel 7 TV shows easily, legally, and for free at PLUS7. www.tv.yahoo.com.au/plus7
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Hi. A colleague is looking for a week’s work experience with a science PR person / communicator in an organisation like CSIRO or a university if possible from June 21-25 for her 15 year old daughter. Her daughter is really good at English and could help with newsltrs, story gathering, organising media lists, helping with the logistics of a PR event etc.
Suggestions and contact details would be most appreciated.
Cheers, Cathy
Cathy Sage Ph: (03) 9376 1413 Fax: (03) 9376 5585 Mob: 0400 714 603 email: cathy@sagewords.com.au website: www.sagewords.com.au Postal Address: PO Box 1246, Kensington, VIC 3031 St Address: 91 McCracken St., Kensington, VIC 3031
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