– Dear ASCers

Cosmos Online – the daily news and features site of COSMOS magazine – is planning an overhaul, and we’d be interested in hearing from regular readers.

We’re currently running a multiple choice poll on the site, which asks the following:

*What would you like to see on Cosmos Online?*

– More daily news – More feature stories – More opinion pieces – Reviews: movies, books, theatre – Blogs – Science videos – A regular podcast Science events calendar

We’d be delighted to hear your thoughts. Go to http://is.gd/fruuB

If your what you’d like to see is not among the choices, you can add your own in the comments section at the bottom of the poll.

Thanks in advance everyone!

– Wilson da Silva Editor-in-Chief, COSMOS

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Get your grant proposal writing skills in gear:

The National Science Week Grants round for 2011 will open at 9:00am (EST) 1 October 2010 and will close at 5:00pm (EDT) 22 October 2010. The National Science Week grants provide an opportunity for individuals and organisations that are interested in delivering a science event or activity for their local community during National Science Week.

For more information about National Science Week and the grants round, contact Simon France for the latest newsletter.

Simon France

Science Communications and Strategic Partnerships

Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

King Edward Terrace, Canberra ACT 2600

PO Box 5322, Kingston ACT 2604

Phone: + 61 2 62702868

Email: simon.france@innovation.gov.au

Web: http://www.innovation.gov.au www.innovation.gov.au

Cheers, Jesse

Jesse Shore

President, Australian Science Communicators, 2010

http://www.asc.asn.au/ http://www.asc.asn.au/

Jesse Shore PhD Science Communicator http://www.prismaticsciences.com/picts/email_img.jpg P: (02) 9810 2328 M: 0415 841 276 E: jesse@prismaticsciences.com W: http://www.prismaticsciences.com/ www.prismaticsciences.com

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*The platypus and the whizzywig: A masterclass on the strange beasts of New Holland and the social media world Tuesday 19 October 4.00 – 6.30 pm, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne *

Join James Hutson, ASC Webmaster and Des Cowley, Rare Printed Collections Manager at the State Library of Victoria for a special masterclass on social media techniques followed by a viewing of some treasures from the Library’s Rare Books Collection.

Find out about the kangaroo, platypus, banksias and other fauna and flora discovered by the first explorers to Australia, and how these mysterious creatures shook the 18thcentury worldview. Des Cowley has more than twenty years’ experience working with the Library’s Rare Books Collection, which comprises over 100,000 items.

ASC web expert James Hutson is an experienced graphic designer and internet maven. Join James on a taster tour to get started on WordPress, Twitter for business, NINGs, LinkedIn, and WYSIWYGs (What You See Is What You Get text editors for websites).

This special ASC event in partnership with the State Library of Victoria is FREE for ASC members, $25 for non-members. Non-members join ASC today to get a free place at this event, see: www.asc.asn.au/join for details.

Places are limited to 15 so book early by e-mailing Laura Miles, ASC Victoria Vice-President, editor@asc.asn.au

Imagery in Science Communication

Science communication isn’t just about the words. There’s also the use of visuals including photographs, diagrams, micrographs. These are becoming commonplace and there is an increasing demand to use them effectively.

Paul Ricketts is a Graphic Designer with DUIT Multimedia. He has worked with the ABC in Sydney and Perth and also with the Beyond International Limited. Paul also started the first computer graphics company producing broadcast quality graphics with desktop computers in Australia. Paul will be sharing his wealth of experience of using images in science communication.

www.duit.uwa.edu.au/about

Paul Ricketts will team with Jodie Ween to walk us through the process of producing a film from storyboarding to a walk through a working studio.

Where: Centre for Learning Technology

http://www.clt.uwa.edu.au/contact

When: Friday, 24 September 2010, 4:00PM – 5:00PM

Drinks and nibbles provided.

1 October: No seminar: Teaching Week Break

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Dear ASCers

If you’re in Sydney tonight, be sure not to miss the first Club Cosmos event, “What Have Animals Ever Done For Us?”

A science in the pub style event, it will be recorded for podcast and vodcast on the COSMOS and RiAus sites later this year. Not only will you have a lot of fun, you can win $260 worth of prizes!

*WHEN: *7pm to 9pm tonight (Sept 22) *WHERE: *Top floor, Harlequin Inn, 152-156 Harris Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009

*SUMMARY:* “What Have Animals Ever Done For Us?”

Do we really need animals? What’s all this biodiversity stuff anyway? To celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity, we’re getting together a microbiologist, an ecologist and an insect-loving entomologist to discuss – over a few beers and peanuts – why would should care about biodiversity at all. Chaired by Wilson da Silva, editor of COSMOS, it promises to be a night of fun, stimulating discussion, a few laughs, door prizes plus real science with a beer chaser. Panelists are: insect-plant relations specialist, Dieter Hochuli; entomology senior lecturer, Sarah Mansfield; and microbe champion, Brendan Burns.

*PRIZES*

– 1x 12-month subscription to COSMOS, worth $55 – 1x DVD of the film *Push* starring Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning ($35.95) – 2x COSMOS backpacks ($29.95 ea) – 2x books: *The Canon: The Beautiful Basics of Scienc*e by Natalie Angier ($27.95 ea) – 2x COSMOS T-shirts ($25 ea) – 1x COSMOS cap ($17) – 1x COSMOS mug ($14)

Register at http://clubcosmos.eventbrite.com/

Brought to you by COSMOS and the Royal Institution of Australia, in association with Science in the City. This event is made possible by a grant from the Council of Australasian Museum Directors with funding from the Science Connections Program of the Federal Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

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Read:

http://jcom.sissa.it/archive/09/03/Jcom0903%282010%29C01/Jcom0903%282010 %29C04

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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STARS, SPACE AND SHARKS Tickets are available for purchase (online only) at http://starsspaceandsharks.eventbrite.com

Six local primary schools, connected through their science network are collaborating with the School of Science at Curtin University to host the inaugural Space Stars and Sharks ­ Eminent Speakers Event.

This evening event offers families an exciting and rare opportunity to hear from and meet eminent Western Australian scientists who are leaders in their fields.

Come along with your family and discover the amazing science that is currently happening in WA, become inspired about the world around us and find out how you can become involved!

Speakers include world renowned scientists and WA residents Professor Steven Tingay and Dr Brad Norman.

Professor Steven Tingay specialises in radio astronomy. His research includes study of astronomic phenomena including super massive black holes, exploding stars and jets from binary star systems.

Prof. Tingay is also involved in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The SKA is the next generation radio telescope and will be the largest in the world! It is currently in the planning stage with WA short listed to host this amazing scientific instrument.

Dr Brad Norman is an expert on whalesharks (the largest living fish species on Earth). While whale sharks are huge, they are gentle giants and not much is known about them. This lack of information prompted Brad to begin the ECOCEAN project. Through this project, Brad has been able to find out a lot more about whalesharks, their movements around the world¹s oceans and how to make sure they are protected.

Introductory address WA Chief Scientist, Professor Lyn Beazley.

Seats are extremely limited and the lecture will be aimed at parents and students from year 5, 6 and 7, but general public are welcome.

Date: 13 October 2010 Time: 7.30pm to 8.45pm Location: Curtin University Cost: Individual tickets $7.00 each or Family ticket $22.00 (4 people)

PRIZES – three science packs valued at $100 available on the evening as door prizes.

Tickets are available for purchase (online only) at http://starsspaceandsharks.eventbrite.com

This fundraising event will use money raised to provide well-needed science equipment for the primary schools involved in this initiative.

This is a joint initiative between School of Science at Curtin University, Brentwood Primary School, Brookman Primary School, Burrendah Primary School, Parkwood Primary School, Rostrata Primary School and Willetton Primary School.

Emma Donnelly| Science Outreach Coordinator Faculty of Science and Engineering | Curtin University of Technology | GPO Box U1987 Perth 6845 Western Australia t: +61 8 9266 1021 | f: +61 8 9266 2021 | Office: Building 311 Room 147

Email: e.donnelly@curtin.edu.au Web: http://science.curtin.edu.au/outreach/

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Search for ‘Top Geoshot’ Earth Science Week photo competition

Earth science is all around us. It influences our lives on a daily basis and many of us barely notice it. Geoscience Australia is looking for a collection of ‘Top GeoShots’ to display throughout Earth Science Week. Who better to create those images than you? So get out there, explore and don’t forget your camera! Take a photograph that captures the essence of earth science in Australia.

Email your entry to education@ga.gov.au by 4 October 2010 along with a completed entry form available from Geoscience Australia’s website, and you could see your photo feature in Geoscience Australia’s public foyer in Canberra. Winners will also receive a professionally framed enlargement of their photo.

Geoscience Australia will be hosting a range of activities to celebrate Earth Science Week 2010, culminating with its annual Open Day in Canberra on Sunday 17 October from 10am-4pm

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