The recently released report “Inspiring Australia. A national strategy for engagement with the sciences” is arguably the most relevant and significant report that ASC has seen. It deals specifically with the need for better science communication in Australia – a need that inspired the creation of ASC some 16 years ago, and makes many diverse recommendations that will strike a chord with ASC members.

Many of those members will have been consulted in the preparation of the report, and will have some views about its content and recommendations, as will others to whom the report is new. In my view the report has much to offer, but the test will be in how (and how completely) some of it’s recommendations are put into practice, how others will be interpreted and how others again might be improved or clarified.

Given that ASC is the national professional body for Australian Science Communicators, it is essential that we have a considered response to the report which reflects the diversity of experiences and involvement of our members.

Jesse Shore has asked me to collate these responses. I recognise that, for many who are already overburdened, tackling a full report may be arduous, but I would ask you to consider and comment on at least the recommendation that most affects or interests you. If you can do more, it will be most welcome, but one response from each member would be a very good start.

Some of us have already been asked to comment on the report in the media, and those comments will be included. Tim Thwaites has suggested that the parts of the report most relevant to ASC are:

Recommendations 2-4 (re advisory bodies)

Recommendation 7 (re annual science and society forums; an obvious link to ASC conferences)

Recommendation 9 (re collaborative projects)

Recommendation 10 (ASC has already moved a long way towards accrediting science communication courses)

Recommendation 13 (re the ‘national framework – local action) approach)

Recommendation 14 (The proposed nReport reational web presence – can we help out or give advice?)

and Recommendation 15 (ASC’s potential involvement in evaluation).

I think that most members would also be interested in Recommendation 1 (re a national initiative to increase….public engagement in the sciences) and Recommendation 2 (strategic national priorities for communicating science…) and probably other recommendations as well.

The report (Executive Summary and full report) can be found as a pdf at:-

at www.innovation.gov.au http://www.innovation.gov.au/General/Corp-MC/Pages/InspiringAustralia.aspx. or http://www.innovation.gov.au/General/Corp-MC/Pages/InspiringAustralia.aspx

I recommend reading the full report. It is clearly written and, importantly, provides the reasoning behind the recommendations.

Please send any comments to me at rob.morrison@flinders.edu.au with “INSPIRING AUSTRALIA RESPONSE” in the subject line by the end of March (mid-March is even better) and identifying by the report’s own numbering system which recommendation or part of the report your comments refer to.

Rob Morrison Vice President, ASC

Hi, all

Please find below draft minutes from the ASC national AGM held on 16 December 2009 in Sydney. Please notify me of any errors or omissions.

Cheers

Meg

Meg Rive | Secretary | Australian Science Communicators | 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.asc.asn.au | Private Bag 1, Aspendale VIC 3195 Australia

ASC-FY2009-Accounts-Income&Expenditure.pdf ASC-FY2008-Accounts-Income&Expenditure.pdf

Program Development and Communications Manager

Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS)

We have a position coming up for a Program Development and Communications Manager. Our current manager is leaving to become CEO of Craft ACT – a wonderful opportunity for Avi but very sad for us. We have adopted a clear communications strategy and established databases and planning schedules for HASS on the Hill so the job is well set up for someone coming in. See below for further details of the position.

Helen O’Neil

Executive Director

Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

T: 02 6201 2740

M: 0417 230 540

11B6-8

University of Canberra

Bruce ACT 2617

www.chass.org.au/

Program Development and Communications Manager

Attributes

The Program Development and Communications Manager will be reliable, confident, adaptable and willing to accept responsibility. The position requires a variety of organisational and planning skills to support the effective operation of a small office team focussed on service for member organisations and implementing the Council’s strategic plan. The position requires experience of marketing and/or public relations and an interest in the Council’s sector of the humanities, creative arts and social sciences. The ability to maintain a website to support a communications plan aimed at reaching the membership and broader public targets is desirable.

Duty statement

Under the general direction of the Executive Director:

Program development

* Devise and construct CHASS programs relevant to the Council’s strategic plan and goals, including the annual HASS on the Hill event bringing researchers to Canberra to meet and brief policy makers. * Manage all aspects of these events, including

* Drafting programs and budgets, * Negotiating with speakers, * Managing venues, * Web information and * Delegate registration, * Sponsorship, * Catering and * Travel

Communications

* Support membership services through a communications plan for member organisations and CHASS networks of researchers, educators, practitioners and artists

* Manage a communications strategy based on the business plan’s goals for promotion and advocacy covering events, web, print and email media

* Identify potential new members for CHASS and work with Office and Membership Manager on maintaining levels of service for existing Council members

General

* Maintain orderly office and financial procedures with Office Manager and Finance Officer to ensure program and communications budgets are tracked and reviewed * Draft correspondence relevant to events and communications schedule * Support CHASS’ budgeting and costing of strategic planning goals * Supervise staff as necessary * Contribute to discussion on policy * Carry out other tasks as required

Selection Criteria

1. Demonstrated experience in managing events, networks and workshops including budgets, timelines and scheduling responsibilities.

2. Proven ability to deliver a communications program using online and print media, within the context of a communications and media strategy.

3. Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and set priorities in organising programs and events.

4. Good interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain good relationships within a small team.

5. An interest in building networks around issues and research projects.

6. An understanding of budget processes and its relationship to delivering organisational goals.

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

In my message below I described the background to a blog entry titled ‘Attack of the Chocolatier’ on David Gillespie’s site: www.raisin-hell.com

There are now more than 70 comments on that site, of which about 30 are from me.

I wouldn’t expect anyone to try to read all the comments (unless they are suffering from insomnia), but you may be interested in the following comment which has gone to several of Gillespie’s other blog entries. It will also go to the Nutritionists Network and to Gillespie’s entries on Crikey, among other places.

If any journalist is interested in writing an article about this, I would pleased to assist in any way I can.

Chris Forbes-Ewan

19 Hedley St

Scottsdale Tas 7260

Phone: 03 6352 2092

COMMENT

Readers of David Gillespie’s blogs may be interested to know that it is now more than two weeks since I first attempted to get David to reply to a series of questions in a comment about his blog entry titled ‘Attack of the Chocolatier’.

My questions cut to the core of David’s treatment (or rather mistreatment) of the science that he claims underpins his book ‘Sweet Poison’. David hasn’t answered any of my questions.

By refusing (or perhaps more appropriately not being able) to answer those questions, David is tacitly admitting that the science behind his book ‘Sweet Poison’ is fatally flawed.

As I have demonstrated in other comments on ‘Attack of the Chocolatier’ and in my Ockham’s Razor program (ABC Radio National) of 10 Jan 10, David Gillespie is not a reliable source of information on the health effects of fructose.

The questions are:

(i) In light of the evidence provided by Rosemary Stanton that there has either been no increase or a slight decline in food intake in the last 30 years (see my comment sent on January 29, 2010 at 8:48 PM), do you still believe that food intake has increased by 30% in Australia in the last three decades?

(ii) Taking into account your claim that average Australian intake of fructose is about two-thirds the average intake in the US, and that the US intake accounts for 9-10% of total energy intake (references provided in my comment sent on January 29, 2010 at 10:10 PM) do you still claim that almost 20% of our energy intake is now derived from fructose?

(iii) Noting that the authors of the 1985 paper by Reiser et al. [Am J Clin Nutr. 1985 Aug;42(2):242-51] refer (more than once) to a ‘… lack of relationship between the onset of the abnormalities and the type of dietary carbohydrate’, do you still claim that fructose consumption was the cause of severe heart conditions in four participants in that study?

(iv) Noting that at least 19 human fructose-feeding studies were conducted after 1985 (references provided in my comment of January 30, 2010 at 6:02 PM) do you still claim that no further human studies were conducted following that date?

(v) Noting that the World Health Organisation recommends that the maximum safe intake of added sugars is 10% of total energy (or rather just short of 10%); that the NHMRC dietary guideline is to ‘consume only moderate levels of sugars and foods containing added sugars’; that the American Heart Association sets safe upper levels of intake of 35 g of added sugar for men and 25 g for women, and that 12 of the 19 references to human studies conducted in the period 1985-2007 reported positive or, at worst, neutral effects attributable to fructose, do you still believe that added fructose is a poison in the diet at any dose?

(vi) Given that the NHMRC in Australia and ACSM in the US (and other national health authorities) recognise the value of physical activity in weight control, do you still believe that physical activity has no role to play in weight control?

(vii) Noting that the conclusion of the most recent meta-analysis (in the December 26 edition of Clinical Nutrition) concludes that ‘There is no support from the human literature for the hypothesis that sucrose may be physically addictive …’, do you still insist that fructose-the relevant component of sucrose in this context-is addictive in humans?

From: asc-list-bounces@lists.asc.asn.au [mailto:asc-list-bounces@lists.asc.asn.au] On Behalf Of Chris Forbes-Ewan Sent: Saturday, 30 January 2010 10:47 PM To: asc-list@lists.asc.asn.au Subject: [ASC-list] Fructose and obesity

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:

http://www.raisin-hell.com/

Chris Forbes-Ewan

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER

* Public speaking role

* Communicating science

* Brisbane based

QIMR is one of Australia’s largest and most successful medical research institutes. We investigate the genetic and environmental causes of more than 40 diseases, and are developing new diagnostics, better treatments and prevention strategies to promote health and well being for all people.

The External Relations Department is part of QIMR’s Corporate Division and is responsible for the Institute’s science communication, education and fundraising programs.

We are looking for an energetic and enthusiastic person who enjoys meeting people and working with the public to run our community engagement program.

Your role will be to educate the community about who we are and what we do by conducting tours of our research facilities at Herston, speaking to community groups in Brisbane and surrounds and coordinating displays. You will actively contribute to our fundraising program by educating the community about our reliance on their support through donations to make our research happen.

To be successful in this role you will need to be a very confident public speaker who is comfortable speaking to small and large groups and a range of audiences including school students, the general community, business people and members of service clubs and community organisations. You will have a driver’s licence and be available to work outside normal business hours when required.

Salary range is $48,935-$54,736. Attractive salary packaging and superannuation options also apply. This is a permanent full time appointment.

Further information is available from Science Communication Manager, Sarah Tennant on 07 3362 0291 or Sarah.Tennant@qimr.edu.au

Queensland Institute of Medical Research

Sarah Tennant

Science Communication Manager

300 Herston Road, Herston QLD, 4006

PO Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, 4029

Tel: +61 7 3362 0291 | Mobile: +61412 553 004 | Fax: +61 7 3362 0102

Email: sarah.tennant@qimr.edu.au

http://www.qimr.edu.au http://www.qimr.edu.au/

Better health through medical research

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

ANZAAS Vic Science Talk, Free, all welcome (booking not needed) Free pizza and drinks after the talk

At: Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC), in the grounds of University High School, 1H Royal Parade Parkville, off Story Street

Monday 1st March 2009, at 6:30 pm ***Special Monday Evening Talk***

– Nicola Temple –

Biologist with the Australian Marine Conservation Society, Brisbane

“To Lihou and back: a climate change odyssey”

In December 2009, Nicola joined a group of scientists, filmmakers, conservationists as well as avid birders and divers that set off on an 11 day adventure to Lihou Reef, one of the world’s largest atolls, located east of the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea. This remote area is rarely visited by humans, though this does not mean that it is not affected by human actions. The trip’s mission was to explore the region in search of signs of human induced climate change; to make the connection between these remote cays and islets and our every day lives. Diving with sharks, sea snake encounters, boobies and bleaching…join Nicola as she shares stories from this adventure, and the concerning observations of how we are affecting such remote areas of our planet.

Use the Royal Melbourne Hospital tram stop in Royal Parade. Parking available at RMH, University of Melbourne, and designated places in Park Drive, Royal Parade & Story Street

***We are pleased to acknowledge the support by GTAC, CSL and La Trobe University University for the ANZAAS Melbourne science talks series***

Further Info:

Peter Kemeny: Tel: 0409 028 165 email peter.kemenyATgmail.com

http://www.anzaas.org.au/vic/

http://www.anzaas.org.au/vic/events.php

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

Wanted: info on recent and forthcoming Popular Science books

The ABC is compiling a list of popular science books either recently published (late last year) or due to be published in 2010 which have been written by Australia-based authors (including researchers).

They could be on any topic or style (including biography, magic realism, science fiction) and should be for a general audience, not a text book for students.

If you are able to help we’d love to hear from you, publishers, researchers or science communicators!

Please send info to Abbie Thomas, ABC Science Online, thomas.abigail@abc.net.au

Thank you.

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

The information contained in this email and any attachment is confidential and may contain legally privileged or copyright material. It is intended only for the use of the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are not permitted to disseminate, distribute or copy this email or any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this email from your system. The ABC does not represent or warrant that this transmission is secure or virus free. Before opening any attachment you should check for viruses. The ABC’s liability is limited to resupplying any email and attachments.

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

Dear ASC NSW members – now with more details.

FREE NANOTECHNOLOGY FORUM

Presented by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science & Research

For ICONN: Australia’s International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

What are the big issues about small technologies?

James O’Loghlin from the ABC’s New Inventors hosts a speculative discussion on how nanotechnology products are developed and reach the consumer.

Our panel of experts will discuss the development of a nanotechnology product from research and development, through to risk and safety assessment for regulatory approval, then to commercialisation and finally reaching the consumer, examining the different issues that can arise at each stage.

Matt Trau, from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at UQ, has an invention incorporating nanotechnology.

Our panel will explore how his invention might become a product and reach patients:

* Brian Priestly from the Australian Centre for Human Health Risk Assessment will help us through the regulatory hurdles

* Stuart Hazell, former CEO of PanBio, will guide us through the ‘Valley of (commercial) Death’.

* Tricia Greenway from the Consumer Health Forum will ground our thinking and remind us what the public really wants.

* Dr Kristin Alford from Bridge8 and

* Tom Faunce from the Australian National University will prod and nudge our panellist on communication, the law and other issues.

Come and hear an informative discussion about how new technologies reach you, and how the public might be more involved in influencing which technologies we adopt.

FREE EVENT

Date: Tuesday 23 February, 6pm-8pm

Venue: Bayside Auditorium A, Level 1, Sydney Convention Centre Darling Harbour.

Enquiries: 1800 631 276

This forum is part of the 2010 International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICONN 2010)

For more information about ICONN visit – http://www.ausnano.net/iconn2010/

For media contact me.

Kind regards,

Niall