This is the official notice of the Australian Science Communicator Annual General Meeting, to be held in Adelaide, South Australia, on the 13 December 2010. The AGM is being hosted by the ASC SA Branch and RiAus. The AGM This will be followed by an interactive quiz night co-hosted by compere extraordinaire David Ellyard and featuring special guest Dr Zoz Brooks from the Discovery Channel.

Date: Monday 13 December 2010

Time: 6.00pm-7.15pm (ASC AGM), 7.30pm – 9.30pm (Interactive Quiz Night)

Venue: RiAus, Science Exchange, Exchange Place, Adelaide

Cost: RiAus and ASC members: free (Please note, only current ASC members are eligible to attend the AGM), Non members: $10, Non member students: $5

Registration: http://ascnationalagmsa2010.eventbrite.com

The ASC AGM will run from 6-7:15pm in the RiAus boardroom, and is open to ASC voting members only. If you’re not able to vote, you can start the party early as the bar will be open from 6pm to enjoy a drink and have a chat with Zoz Brooks. The quiz night for all registered participants will begin at 7:30pm sharp in the auditorium; the bar will be open throughout the night. Seats are limited so registration is essential.

Participants will be allocated table numbers to promote networking; seating requests are welcome (email richard.musgrove@sa.gov.au).

The AGM is an opportunity for members to hear about the year’s events at the national level, and also to have their say about what should happen in the year to come. It also includes reports from the President and Treasurer, and this year will feature proposed changes to the ASC constitution. Members also have the chance to elect a new National President.

Included below as text is the agenda for the AGM.

Proposed agenda items, notices of motion and presidential nominations must be received by Monday 6 December. Note that notices of motion require a proposer and a seconder, and nominations for President need to be agreed by the nominee.

Members unable to attend the AGM in person are able to give proxies to other members attending the meeting, or alternatively, send them to Sarah Lau, National Secretary (slau@chemcentre.wa.gov.au) before 5.00pm AEDST on Monday 13 December.

AGENDA

1. Confirmation of members attending, apologies

2. Notification of proxies

3. Minutes of 2009 AGM

4. President’s report

5. Treasurer’s report

a) presentation of statement of accounts

b) determination of annual membership fee

c) determination of capitation to be returned to branches

d) determination of honoraria

e) appointment of auditor

f) appointment of public officer

g) tabling of 2010 budget

6. Election of 2011 ASC President

7. Motions to amend the Constitution

8. Motion to ratify selection of Life member

9. Any other business

Note: Proposed constitutional changes and minutes from the 2009 AGM will be circulated in a separate email to the ASC-list.

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Dr Peter Pockley, one of Australia’s preeminent science writers and broadcasters, will be giving a free public presentation entitled:

“One chemist’s odd journey – from Olympic flame to lead isotopes, satellite TV, other media and bungling politics.”

It will be held at Melbourne University in the Cuming Theatre, School of Chemistry, on Wednesday 24 November, 4:15pm.

Please RSVP to Rachel Caruso, rcaruso@unimelb.edu.au

Enquiries (03) 8344 7146

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Dear ASers,

Last night the PM spoke about Inspiring Australia.

And Senator Carr talked about the importance of good science journalism.

Full text at http://www.scienceinpublic.com/blog/prime-ministers-prize/pmspeech

And http://www.scienceinpublic.com/blog/prime-ministers-prize/speech

Here’s an extract from the PM’s speech:

…That is why my government is investing $21 million over three years in Inspiring Australia, the country’s first ever national strategy for science engagement.

This program has been developed by Senator Carr to champion the cause of science and help share the achievements of science with the whole nation.

The early phases of the strategy are already underway.

Through Inspiring Australia, we will continue to recognise achievement through these Prizes for Science.

We will continue to support National Science Week, Australia’s premier vehicle for bringing science and research to the people, right across the country.

But Inspiring Australia will go further, supporting science events and activities in Australia’s cities, regional and remote areas all year round.

We will target young people, outer-metropolitan and regional areas, and Indigenous and remote communities too.

We will connect with popular community events such as writers’ weeks and music festivals.

And Inspiring Australia will connect with mainstream and new media to promote science issues and achievements to an even wider public.

You do great things.

Let’s ensure the community gets to hear about them.

And from the Minister’s speech:

…Think for a moment of how few special science rounds there are in our major dailies.

The Australian Science Media Centre has identified just eleven dedicated science writers writing in the major national and metropolitan papers. Eight of them double as environment, technology, or general news reporters.

So who’s giving us the science news? More and more, it comes from what Robyn Williams calls ‘the Dark Side’ – the world of public relations. In a recent edition of The Walkley (February 2010), he points out that PR officers outnumber journalists twenty to one in the Australian Science Communicators.

Then there is social media, some of which is well-informed. But a lot of it is not. There is a mass of anecdote, opinion, and special pleading – all demanding to be treated as the intellectual equivalent of science. There are too many people who are willing to acquiesce to that demand.

Since the days of Galileo, individual scientists have been reluctant to engage in public controversy. A sense of isolation can be intimidating. And intimidation is a powerful silencer. That’s why the friends of science within the political system have to speak up. But we need more…

________ Niall Byrne Science in Public has moved to: 82 Hudsons Road, Spotswood Vic 3015 Our postal address is PO Box 2076 Spotswood VIC 3015 Our landline stays the same – 03 9398 1416

Niall’s mobile: 0417 131 977 Sarah’s mobile: 0413 332 489 niall@scienceinpublic.com.au Twitter scienceinpublic Full contact details at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/blog

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I will be out of the office starting 17/11/2010 and will not return until 22/11/2010.

I am on leave from Wednesday 17th November, returning Monday 22nd November.

I will respond to your email when I return.

For urgent queries, please contact Luella Charles (luella.charles@diird.vic.gov.au, 9655 8961)

Urgent personal messages can be left on my mobile: 0414 891 416.

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As you may be aware, Naomi Oreskes is currently touring nationally talking about her book Merchants of Doubt. We are planning to livestream this event on Thursday evening (6pm start time SA time) if any ASC members are interested in tuning in.

To watch: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/merchants-of-doubt

You would be hard-pressed to find any working climate scientist who didn’t think global warming is happening, and has been for some time. But ever since researchers first began examining the evidence that our planet was heating up-and that human activities were probably to blame-people have been questioning the data, doubting the evidence, and attacking the scientists who collect and explain it.

Join science historian Naomi Oreskes as she gives a US perspective on what – or rather who – is to blame for this conundrum. How a cadre of ideologues have clouded the public interpretation of scientific facts to advance a political and economic agenda, effectively campaigning to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge over four decades across a range of issues: denying the link between smoking and lung cancer, CFC’s and the ozone hole or coal smoke and acid rain, skewing the public understanding of some of the most critical issues of our era.

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Dear ASCers,

I’ve been invited to participate in a one day forum to discuss the future shape and contribution of learning and education to sustainability in NSW.

This offers an opportunity for me to send in wise words drawn from the collective minds of ASC.

Each invitee has been asked to send in something on their vision or a possible future framework for circulation to all participants before the meeting. They want a paragraph about, “…your hopes/ expectations for the future for sustainability education in NSW and/or what you would like to discuss at the forum in working towards a framework for the future.”

My vision is rather narrowly focussed at the moment so I’m seeking views from your vantage points. I invite you to send me a few words which will form the paragraph I send in. This is your chance to have a remote controlled contribution to a planning session.

Further information:

The Forum will take the first steps in a process over several months which will seek to:

1. Develop an agreed vision and key principles for learning for sustainability in NSW for the next decade

2. Develop a framework to support this vision and a process for implementing it.

Thanks,

Jesse Shore

National president

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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In case anyone is interested: http://riausondemand.org.au/event/ascsa-monthly-science-in-the-media-and-an-editors-perspective/

Cheers Lisa

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Dear ASC’ers,

Tomorrow the Prime Minister will present her Prizes for Science. The embargo is 5 pm on Wednesday 17 November 2010.

The winners will be at Parliament House from 11 am tomorrow morning and available in the Press Gallery from 1 pm.

Other science news: a L’Oréal award and $100,000 for an Aussie scientist discovering bacteria everywhere; Chinese science leaders in Australia marking 30 years of collaboration; CERN director here soon for physics congress; the end of the world; and…

‘When you’re up to your arse in alligators, it’s hard to remember that your original intention was to drain the swamp.’ This quote sets the scene for a black comedy on biodiversity staged in the skeleton gallery of the Australian Museum tonight and Thursday.

Our latest bulletin includes information on: Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science L’Oréal Award for Australian geo-microbiologist – finding bugs everywhere The LHC, the end of the world in 2012… physics in action What does Jack Bonhom have in that box? Thirty Stories for Thirty Years Biodiversity Year Did the Earth move for you?

For more information on any of the above, read our latest bulletin at http://www.scienceinpublic.com/blog/bulletins/november16

Kind regards,

Niall

________

Niall Byrne

Science in Public has moved to:

82 Hudsons Road, Spotswood Vic 3015 Our postal address is PO Box 2076 Spotswood VIC 3015 Our landline stays the same – 03 9398 1416

Niall’s mobile: 0417 131 977 Sarah’s mobile: 0413 332 489

niall@scienceinpublic.com.au Twitter scienceinpublic Full contact details at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/blog

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ASC NSW branch – November get-together

MAKING SCIENCE AS PERVASIVE AS SPORTS IN TODAY’S SOCIETY

Dennis Schatz, Pacific Science Centre, Seattle, Washington State, USA

Tuesday 30TH NOV, 6.30 – 8 PM Clarendon Hotel – Upstairs 156 Devonshire St, Surry Hills ( 5 minutes walk from Central Railway ) RSVP: ascnsw@gmail.com

Light catering provided Free drink for ASC members Bar menu and drinks available.

Description: If we want a STEM literate public, then we need to focus on more than what happens in primary and secondary education where people spend only 3% of their lives. This means making STEM a lifelong, life-wide and life-deep activity ­ just like sports. Come hear Dennis Schatz, Senior Vice President at Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington, describe his institution’s activities that seek to attain this dream.

Some of Dennis’s interests include:

* Co-directing Washington State LASER (Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform), Washington state¹s science education reform effort. More information is at www.WaStateLASER.org http://www.wastatelaser.org/

* Portal to the Public program that works with scientists from universities, government agencies and industries to help them effectively communicate with public audiences. More information is at www.pacsci.org/portal/ http://www.pacsci.org/portal/

* US National Research Council¹s development of Surrounded by Science (http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12614). This book and its companion book (Learning Science in Informal Environments — http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12190) provide a theoretical framework for how people learn science in informal settings.

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