Bushfire science and journalism: Communicating when emotions run high

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7 February 2010 7:00 pmto10 February 2010 10:00 pm

Australian Science Communicators (ASC) presents a public panel discussion to kick-off the national conference.

BUSHFIRE SCIENCE AND JOURNALISM: COMMUNICATING WHEN EMOTIONS RUN HIGH

Date: Sunday 7 February
Time: 6:45pm for a 7pm start
Venue: CSIRO Discovery, North Science Road, off Clunies Ross in Acton (up behind the ANU) Google map here
Cost: Free entry, drinks and bar snacks available at bar prices

Panel and MC:

  • Dr Andrew Sullivan, Team leader of CSIRO’s Bushfire Dynamics and Applications Team, interviewed many times by the media following the Victorian bushfires
  • Michael Gawenda, Director, University of Melbourne’s Centre for the Advanced Study of Journalism and co-author of the report ‘The Black Saturday Bushfires: How the media covered Australia’s worst peace-time disaster’
  • Lyndal Byford, Media manager at the Australian Science Media Centre, ASMC provided rapid-roundups of expert comment following the Victorian bushfires
  • Louise Maher, Drive program presenter for ABC Canberra, was on-air during the Canberra bushfires in 2003
  • MC: Mary Mulcahy, Communication Manager, CSIRO

This is also the welcome function for the ASC national conference being held in Canberra from 8-10 July. You can still register to attend the conference: www.asc.asn.au

National Day of Mourning
The Prime Minister has declared Sunday 7 February, a National Day of Mourning to remember those who died in the 2009 Victorian bushfires with the Australian flag to be flown at half-mast. In Victoria, a central multi-faith service, will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral. There will be a minute’s silence at noon for Australians to pause and remember the devastating effects of the Black Saturday and Gippsland fires.

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