Monthly Archives: October 2010

UWA Sci Comm Research and End of Year Wrap

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Wonder what science communication researchers do? Come to this informal round table and find out. And enjoy some good company as we celebrate another successful semester.

End of Year Wrap

UWA Science Communication is made up of people from different science backgrounds. From physical sciences, environmental sciences, neurosciences just to name a few. It makes for a rich and talented group with immense depth.

Come hear about the following:

Caris Allen is seeking answers to questions like: ‘Do farmers read blogs? Are podcasts popular with farmers? Do farmers text?’ as part of her literature review as part of Science Communication Specialist Research Topics (COMM7402).

PhD Candidate Miriam Sullivan is working on framing messages about animal welfare.

PhD candidate Muza Gondwe is preparing her research proposal on the use of digital story telling in connecting cultural knowledge and western science.

PhD candidate Sophia Bickford is sending out a survey to high school science teachers asking them about their experiences and expectations of excursions and incursions.

Honours student Jessie Roxby is preparing her online survey for citizen scientists.

Research Assistant Professor Colin Hanbury is interviewing scientists about factors that affected their career decisions.

Other activities: There are students in UWA Science Communication planning trips during the summer break to practice what they have learned in the real world. There are even whispers of a science film being made!

At this session, we’ll decide on a science book to read over the summer for our first semester book club. Got a suggestion?

Where: Centre for Learning Technology

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

When: 29th, October 2010, 4:00PM – 5:00PM

Drinks and nibbles provided

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Inspiring Australia and science prizes

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I’m seeking information and comments about science award programs in Australia which recognise science communication in selecting the award winners. I’ll provide some context before I fully phrase my request.

The ASC executive is pleased to note that several of our members have participated in initial actions to implement aspects of the Inspiring Australia report. Two expert working groups have convened, one on Science and the Media and the other for Developing an Evidence Base for Science Engagement in Australia. The latter will soon release its recommendations which I’ll post in a separate article.

This work has commenced over the past few months despite the absence of specific federal funding. As money was promised during the election campaign for some recommendations of Inspiring Australia the pace of activity will gradually ramp up. I expect there soon will be a group to review the science prizes funded by the government (related to recommendation 5 of Inspiring Australia).

An email from Questacon (acting for DIISR) says that, “…Questacon will be identifying how award programs can be further enhanced to engage the wider community in science and to profile Australia’s capability overseas.” Questacon welcomes comments on this.

Here’s my request: to prepare for Questacon’s invitation for comments, and the possible expert panel, I ask that you email me information and comments about science award programs at federal, state and local levels that recognise science communication or use it as a criterion in selecting the award winner.

And further context:

Toss Gascoigne reported to the e-list in August that “The Government has now provided $21 million to implement some recommendations from the report, in an election policy announced on 10 September.

Among other things, it will fund:

* the PM’s Prize for Science

* the Eureka Prizes

* National Science Week

* Science events and activities around Australia

* Promotion of science through the media

The three-page policy is at: http://www.alp.org.au/agenda/more—policies/science-for-australia-s-future/. The money is coming from cuts to other activities, such as the CRC program. There is no new money.”

It is good to see continued federal funding for a selection of the Eureka Prizes, especially as two prizes, the Eureka Prize for Science Journalism and the Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science, are strongly related to science communication.

Another interesting award program is the Young Tall Poppy Science Awards. To be considered for these prizes early career research scientist applicants need to have been very active in communicating their scientific research to lay audiences. This awards program operates in several states and territories and is seeking to expand nationally.

Rob Morrison has previously posted an article on the ASC website about how to assign value to an academic’s or research scientist’s science communication activities. The link to his paper is http://www.asc.asn.au/2010/08/what-counts/.

It would be good for ASC members to contribute to Rob’s thoughts and in turn to the anticipated expert panel. I look forward to hearing from you via jesse [at] prismaticsciences.com or add your comment below this article.

Jesse Shore
National President

“What services do science institutions really need from a science communication company?”

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In collating the replies I’ve allowed some duplication to provide different ways of expressing an idea. I leave one brief yet relevant and guiding reply as the last word.

Some services are specific to science communication companies while others could be provided by general communication and marketing companies. Expect some overlap.

A science communication company can help science institutions to:

  • identify their various audiences and the needs of each audience
  • prepare a communications strategy that involves feedback from their audience (e.g. regular phone surveys; product review, other evaluation methods)
  • provide creative, well-informed help with ways to explain difficult science and science-related concepts to particular audiences (e.g. risk, climate change, uncertainty)
  • develop and deliver the messages and media suited for each audience (e.g. design and content of media releases, websites, social media, exhibitions, all print material, multimedia, public and educational programs, radio, etc)
  • help train scientists to communicate their work, empowering them with the skills and tools needed to engage audiences and key stakeholders
  • edit (e.g. putting together the Strategic Plan and proofing)
  • prepare a communications plan and collateral for a specific event (e.g. science conferences, workshops)

Thanks to Sarah Lau (ASC National Secretary and Media and Communications Coordinator, ChemCentre), Clare Mullen (Industry Liaison and Communication Manager, Climate and Water Division, Bureau of Meteorology) and Carrie Bengston (Communication Manager, Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics, CSIRO for contributing to the above.

Thanks also to Jenni Metcalfe (Director, Econnect Communication) for pointing me to http://www.econnect.com.au/services.htm for her list of science communication services. Here is my summary of Econnect’s services:

Engaging the community – designing, implementing, analysing and evaluating community and specialised engagement programs

Research – into target audiences trends, issues and recent relevant research

Planning your communication – review, determine and test communication strategies

Building collaborative teams and networks

Training in communication skills – dealing with media, giving presentations or speeches, skills in engaging communities

Writing and publishing – writing stories that reflect the interests and information needs of your audience for various media

Writing for the web – is different to writing for print. Sci-comm staff can join research or field expeditions to write feature articles.

Editing – substantive edit (content, coherence, flow, structure, and suitability of language) or copy edit (correcting errors)

Interpreting science, and natural and cultural attractions – developing exhibitions and interactive displays, visitor centres, walking trails and signage

Managing the media – conference media management, organise and/or promote events, develop and implement media strategies

The last word goes to Julian Cribb (Principal of Julian Cribb & Associates):

“You might add “not waste the public’s money” (by producing science which nobody wants to adopt)”. In reply to my follow-up question, “Do you think many scientific organisations would appreciate and adopt such advice?”, Julian answered, “The ones that care about getting re-funded do!”

Jesse Shore
National President

Liquid Learning’s National Science Communication Officers’ Forum – ASC free pass

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I’m pleased to announce that the ASC member selected for the free pass to attend the Science Communication Officers’ Forum is Anneliese Gillard of Victoria. It is never easy to choose between worthy candidates and I thank the other applicants for their interest.

I phoned Anneliese to get more information about her than the 25 words of the application for the pass. She joined the ASC this July and is taking advantage of networking opportunities by attending ASC events in Melbourne. She works as a Project Manager at a small Biotech company.

Anneliese is also keen to get involved with the ASC generally, and to provide assistance to the ASC Exec or to the Victorian branch committee with forthcoming events. She says it’s a great opportunity to meet and get to know the amazing set of people who seem to make up this organisation, as well as for her to get active in science communication, albeit from a slightly different angle.

She is looking forward to the two full days of professional development sessions of the forum. I’ll ask her to write an article for the membership about her experience. It would also be good to hear from other members who attend the forum.

Jesse Shore
National President

From the President, October 2010: Too much, yet not enough

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Communicating Climate Change workshops: The last two of a three workshop series in Communicating Climate Change were held in Sydney. ASC, Sydney Environmental Educators Network (SEEN) and International Association for Public Participation Australasia (IAP2) collaborated to put on this series. The events were of high quality and well received. The main attendees were from sustainability and adapting to climate change departments in local councils. Overall numbers were below expectations but we broke even. It may be worth making the workshops a full day each, repeating the series in another city and seek to broaden the appeal to attract a larger and more diverse audience.

Member’s comments about the Inspiring Australia report: I finally got around to editing Rob Morrison’s report of member’s comments and his analysis. As I mention in a separate article this document is worth a read, especially the first 6 pages if you are short of time. The document covers much ground and offers many suggestions for action.

Science communication services to science organisations: In late August I asked you to nominate services which science communication companies can offer to science research organisations. I collated your excellent replies and have posted them to the website. I hope the list proves useful and will be added to in the future.

National Science Week – been and gone: I had time to attend only a few National Science Week (NSWk) events in Sydney but enjoyed every one of them. The official launch of NSWk was at the Botanic Gardens and offered a good opportunity to talk to key players in NSWk and the Inspiring Australia report. Phil Dooley, chair of the NSW ASC branch, presented an exciting science talk with demonstrations to around 250 people at the Powerhouse Museum. I believe many ASC members were busy delivering science engagement activities this year. Post an article to the ASC website if you had a significant science engagement experience during NSWk.

Eureka Awards big night: renewed funding and review of science prizes: It is good to hear that DIISR will continue to support at least three of the Eureka Awards. Please see my article requesting information about other science award programs that have science communication as a criterion.

Young Tall Poppy Awards: I attended the Young Tall Poppy awards event in NSW and then met with Elektra Spathopoulos, Executive Director of the Australian Institute of Policy and Science and the Tall Poppy Campaign. We discussed how our organisations can assist one another especially as the Tall Poppy science awards has science communication as a key criterion. Elektra was interested in the improvisational theatre training workshops I’ve been trying to get going. Much more needs to be done to make this happen.

2012 National Conference Planning Committee: I had a great response to my invitation for members to join the planning committee for our 2012 National conference. I’ll announce the people selected in late November. Much thanks to those who put up their hands.

Networking in NSW: Going by invitations to events and exchange of information I see an increasing appreciation of the ASC by the NSW Office of Science and Medical Research (OSMR) and its parent department. It takes time to make connections and then maintain them but is worth it for the potential support we stand to gain. I know that our branches are developing or building on connections with their state and territory governments and chief scientists.

ASC-AAEE professional development workshops: The proposed workshops in collaboration with the Australian Association of Environmental Education have fallen into the ‘much needs to happen’ category although the Sydney Climate Change workshops have provided a useful learning experience. I still think this is something we can look forward to happening.

What is science?: Great idea for an ASC project but I need to write a brief to get this started with Rob Morrison’s help. I spoke with the Executive Officer & Editor of the Australian Skeptics and he says that this may be something we can work together on.

Membership renewals: Please renew your membership if you haven’t already done so. We have a pretty good renewal response and we will send final reminders to those still to renew.

Jesse Shore
National President

Observations on the Inspiring Australia report and its relevance to the ASC

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Not before time, and yet still timely, I’m pleased to release ASC’s digestion of the Inspiring Australia Report. This document is partly our response to the report, partly a framework for constructive actions and partly a reworking of the report from an ASC viewpoint.

ASC vice-president, Rob Morrison, has done a masterful job of collating members’ comments about the Inspiring Australia Report and synthesising them with his own detailed analysis. It has taken me some time to make some judicious edits and identify the actions that ASC could, should and has taken for each recommendation in Inspiring Australia. The ASC Executive has approved the document for circulation.

We view this as a living document which will evolve and inspire other papers and actions, such as my request for members to comment about science prizes.

I advise that you read at least the first six action packed pages of this document. Pages 7 to 12 also make good reading as they go into deeper analysis of major themes.

The ASC Executive, Rob, and I thank those members who offered comments about the Inspiring Australia Report and welcome theirs and others comments on the current paper.

Jesse Shore
National President

Summary of Rob M’s comments re IA, with Exec summary 3-10-10

ASC-WA goes wild at Perth Zoo

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Wayne Walters, Perth Zoo’s Acting Education Manager, organised an action-packed program for the ASCers, with attendees taking part in the same education and communication activities used with school, community and corporate groups.

Upon arriving, Wayne and Education Officer Claire Gaskin guided ASC members through an African Painted Dog scenario, in which two teams were required to navigate their way across a grid whilst avoiding some of the dangers the dogs face in real life.

This first activity was an engaging introduction to communication and education at Perth Zoo, in which a range of tools and approaches are used to encourage visitors to connect with animal ‘ambassadors’.

From a science communication perspective, Perth Zoo not only works to raise awareness of issues such as conservation and sustainability, but also encourages visitors to change their own daily behaviour to address these issues. Often these actions are simple, but can conflict with existing attitudes. To illustrate these concepts in action, Wayne
explained one of the Zoo’s current campaigns – encouraging people to choose recycled toilet paper.

The group was then immersed in a selection of the Education Team’s ‘educational experiences’, which are designed to allow hands-on experiences around the Zoo’s own programs and operations. For example, one group of ASCers was put to work solving the problem of finding enough termites to feed the Zoo’s numbats.

It was an entertaining and engaging showcase of the many educational programs offered at the Zoo. However, the final part of the visit was the most special, in which Wayne led the party through the Zoo’s African Safari section after dark.

Many of the animals viewed were particularly active and ASCers were fortunate enough to witness the Southern White Rhinoceroses from less than a metre away, and to hear the lions ‘singing’.

ASC-WA must thank WA Secretary, Miriam Sullivan for organising the visit and Claire Gaskin from Perth Zoo for assisting with the educational activities. A special thanks to Wayne Walters for organising an excellent program and sharing Perth Zoo’s approach to communication and education.

Sarah Lau
ASC National Secretary

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#5

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For ASC members in Adelaide- come along to the fifth instalment of the Thinking Critically About Sustainable Energy series- Demand side management and energy storage

Free, but booking essential http://www.riaus.org.au/events/2010/11/03/thinking_critically_about_sustainable_energy_demand_side_management_and_energy_storage.jsp

If you can’t make it or are somewhere else in the world, you can now view the entire TCASE series at the new RiAus On Demand Site http://riausondemand.org.au/feature_series/thinking-critically-about-sustainable-energy/

Thinking critically about sustainable energy: Demand side management and energy storage Barry Brook, Andrew Dicks, Craig Oakeshott, Glenn Platt Wednesday 3 November 6.00-7.30pm The Science Exchange

Consumer demand for electricity is highly variable and power generation must constantly be balanced with demand. Demand side management (DSM) aims to improve the efficiency of energy consumption by reducing demand and using supplementary energy sources at peak times.

Emerging systems can store excess energy produced during low demand periods and return it to the grid during peak periods. Also, Smartgrids, which can monitor and control domestic usage instantly, are just around the corner. Will these systems really be able to improve the efficiency of the grid? Will they play a significant role in reducing our power consumption?

Join Professor Barry Brook and his expert panel as they explain the role of these technologies will play in power grids of the future.

This event is the fifth of six public forums aimed at providing a comprehensive examination of sustainable energy technologies and critical evaluation of their potential for reducing carbon emissions. Presented in association with the Centre for Energy Technology, University of Adelaide’s Environment Institute and the Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources.

[cid:image001.jpg@01CB7689.E60A6870] Steve Kern Senior Programs Co-ordinator

Ri Australia PO Box 3652 RUNDLE MALL SA 5000 Ph: (08) 7120 8604 | Fax: (08) 8221 6563 | skern@riaus.org.au| www.riaus.org.au The Royal Institution of Australia Inc is a Charitable Institution and is a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) ABN: 98638459658

Think B4U Print 1 ream of paper = 6% of a tree and 5.4kg CO2 in the atmosphere 3 sheets of A4 paper = 1 litre of water

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Arts SA funding bulletin

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Arts SA and the Australia Council for the Arts funding opportunities

The Australia Council’s Digital Culture Fund: calling all geeks!

Call yourself a geek? Fancy some money to make some digital art or help other people to discover their inner geek?

If you answered yes to any of the above, the Australia Council’s Digital Culture Fund and Geek in Residence program may be just what you’re looking for.

The Digital Culture Fund offers up to $40,000 for artists working with innovative technologies in a live context with a strong focus on audience engagement. The Geek in Residence program offers up to $25,000 towards a technically confident artist (or artistically confident technician) to work in an arts organisation on a temporary subsidised placement.

To find out more, you are invited to come along to a special event at Adelaide’s home of DIY geek culture, Format Collective.

Date: Saturday 30 October

Time: 1pm – 4pm

Venue: Format Collective, 15 Peel Street, ADELAIDE (just off Hindley)

Contact: f.plumley@australiacouncil.gov.au

More info: http://bit.ly/digf2f

You will have the chance to hear all about the work the Australia Council for the Arts is doing to support the digital era, find out more about these two funds, meet some of last year’s successful applicants and do some ‘geek speed dating’. Format Collective will also be launching its new iPhone zine app.

Meetings to discuss individual applications with an Australia Council staff member are available at Format on Monday 1 November. Visit http://artsdigitalera.eventbrite.com/?s=2410709 to book an appointment.

And don’t forget Art SA’s Independent makers and presenters program Professional development category closes this Friday 29 October at 5pm.

The Professional development category helps independent artists build their own practice through skills and career pathway opportunities. For more information go to http://www.arts.sa.gov.au/ or contact Arts SA on 8463 5444.

Please feel free to forward this information to your networks or an arts related organisation that can benefit from the information enclosed. You may be able assist in the distribution of this information to other arts organisations and artists. Apologies in advance for any cross-mailing that may occur with this Email.

_____

To change the Email Topics to which you are currently subscribed (or to Unsubscribe), click http://www.arts.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?s=mailManager&id=2854&uuid=B0F960AD-5056-AC24-6CB60E90FC10C914 here

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Radio Netherlands calling – SA

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Radio Netherlands are looking for a radio journalist in South Australia, can anyone help?

“We’re looking for a reporter to do a piece about the Seawater Greenhouse project in Port Augusta in southern Australia for a programme about the future of farming. Here is a link to the projecthttp://www.seawatergreenhouse.com/australia.html

We would probably want the reporter to go to the site, get some sound and interview one of the 2 people in charge, extract some clips and then do a 2-way (donut) with them using those clips. They would need to have access to a studio, or we’d do it as a tape synch.

Deadline is Tuesday November 9th so it needs to be set up soon. Please contact.Marijke.peters@rnw.nl

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