Monthly Archives: July 2011

ASC National Conference 2012 Update

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The news from the head of our conference organising committee, Rod Lamberts, is that our professional conference organiser has produced a short-list of Sydney venues. The dates for the conference are 27-29 February 2012 with a preconference event likely on the evening of Sunday 26 February. We are now in the process of deciding which venue to choose. Rod has the conference committee started on a range of tasks and program ideas and soon will issue a call for papers for the research stream of the conference.

I note that several new topics are being proposed for the conference. This reflects the growing maturity of the field of science communication and that as professionals, our work is involving a wider range of activities, technologies and responsibilities.

A popular feature of the previous conference was that many sessions had a range of speakers presenting various aspects of a central topic. This encouraged greater discussion from the floor and interaction among the speakers. The upcoming conference will also emphasise interactive discussions, opportunities to network and professional development sessions.

Details will be coming soon. In the meantime I encourage you to mark the conference dates in your diaries, include it as part of your professional training plans, and put your hands up to be a session producer when the call is issued.

Jesse Shore

National President

New Scope editor

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The Executive Committee and I were ecstatic with the response to the recent advertisement for the position of Scope editor. But then we had the agony of deciding between excellent applications from several well qualified candidates. In the end, we went for an unexpected outcome.

I’m pleased to announce that not only do we have a new editor for Scope, but that we have two new editors in a job sharing arrangement. Sally Miles (no relation to Laura), from Sydney, and Silvia Piviali, from Perth, will team up to produce our newsletter.

The Executive is anticipating that this job-share will contribute to building up expertise and experience within the ASC and ease workloads during increasingly busy times.

I look forward to Sally and Silvia introducing themselves to you in their new role.

Jesse Shore

National President

National Science Week (NSWk) – August 13-21

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Author: Jesse Shore

National Science Week (NSWk) is 13-21 August, and with related events scheduled either side of that nine day week it becomes a three or four week ‘week’. Many of the activities during this time are organised and/or delivered by ASC members. We are a diverse bunch and our many-sided involvement in NSWk mirrors this. It is likely that the more successful NSWk becomes, the more work, and hopefully employment, there is for science communicators.

I have a special mention about ASC member involvement in NSWk activity in South Australia. The ASC SA branch committee works closely with the SA NSWk coordinating committee (and I expect other ASC branches have representatives on their local NSWk committees). The branch is helping organise the launch of NSWk in SA. In conjunction with that event, they are announcing their two awards: the Unsung Hero of South Australian Science and Unsung Hero of South Australian Science Communication.

ASC SA is following that up with a book launch of Dinosaurs in Australia, a CSIRO publication, and is holding this notable and timely NSWk event in association with RiAus.

Last year around 1.4 million Australians attended NSWk events. Individual ASC members and our branches are doing their bit to increase this number as well as raise the quality of Australians’ engagement in science.

And given the efforts of full-time science communicators, I expect we will contribute to the three or four week ‘week’ extending into an even more horologically incorrect time period.

See http://www.scienceweek.gov.au/Pages/index.aspx for a list of NSWk events, and http://www.scienceweek.gov.au/National/Pages/default.aspx to learn more about NSWk and its future dates.

Jesse Shore

National President

 

ASC management committees – old and new heads

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Managing the ASC through the National Council and Executive requires the input of diverse voices and levels of experience. A few years ago the ASC wisely decided to add the position of Past-President to the management committees. This is a vital way to keep a person with key corporate knowledge involved in our decision making. Some other roles on the committees are filled by members have offered their services and insights over a number of years. They have worked well with those who have joined the committees more recently. The balance of experience brings benefits to our discussions.

In another article in this issue of Scope I mention that Phil Dooley has resigned from our national committees to take a posting overseas. He is taking with him several years of experience at the branch level and two years at national level.

I know that some other members will be making this their last year of long and distinguished service on national committees. The Executive will seek to fill current and expected upcoming vacancies and I encourage members to consider involvement at the national level. It is advisable that you have participated on a branch or national committee previously. You may have an opportunity to assist a member of the Executive to learn the ropes of their role before going solo.

I’ll send out more news about roles on national committees soon.

Jesse Shore

National President

Young Tall Poppy Science Award Campaign and the ASC

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I am pleased to announce that the ASC has signed a Letter of Agreement (LoA) with the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS).

AIPS runs the nationwide Young Tall Poppy Science Awards. Selection criteria for these awards include outstanding research / academic achievement as well as excellence in communication and community engagement to promote an understanding of science. For more information about these awards visit http://www.aips.net.au/tall-poppies/tall-poppy-campaign/.

The winners of these awards participate in education and community outreach programs. The ASC has been looking for ways to involve the award winners in our branch events and national conference. The LoA will help this to happen as it states that a Tall Poppy’s participation in an ASC event will count towards their obligation to particulate in at least two outreach activities in the year following their award.

I will encourage ASC branches to develop events involving the Tall Poppy winners. Such events could explore the stratagems used by these early career scientists to communicate their work and what tools they seek to improve their skills.

The main points of the LoA follow:

“ASC and AIPS recognise:

  • the need to build connections between scientists and science communicators;
  • the need for professional development for both scientists and science communicators in science communication;
  • the importance of partnerships to further science communication objectives; and
  • the need to reward and celebrate science communication excellence.

ASC and AIPS agree that:

  • A Tall Poppy forum or other joint event will be held annually where possible in each State and Territory of Australia as a professional development initiative for ASC members and for the young scientists involved;
  • The Tall Poppy Campaign will liaise with relevant State & Territory chapters of ASC to make this happen; and
  • A Tall Poppy’s participation in such an event will count towards their obligation to participate in at least two outreach activities in the year following their Award

In addition, efforts to cross promote our mutual objectives will be made in any such initiatives, and our achievements will be reviewed after one year of operation of this agreement.”

Jesse Shore

National President

What’s happening with Inspiring Australia?

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I recently had a useful discussion with key people of the Inspiring Australia (IA) team in Canberra. IA is moving in several directions in line with the IA Report and it seems clear that the ASC has many shared interests in this initiative.

One of the main points of discussion was about the upcoming ASC National Conference in February 2012 and potential ways for IA to be involved. We enthusiastically explored several topics covering common ground. I hope we can make some of the suggestions happen as this collaboration would have substantial mutual benefit.

As foreshadowed in the IA Report, the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR) plans to organise discussions and a review of the science prizes it supports. I will collate and forward to the IA team the comments many of you contributed to our ASC-list discussion about science prizes.

To find out which expert working groups IA has underway, check out the Inspiring Australia newsletter. The July issue came out last week. If you want to subscribe send an email to inspiring.australia@innovation.gov.au.

For further information about the newsletter and IA call (02) 6270 2868 or view www.innovation.gov.au/InspiringAustralia.

Jesse Shore

National President

ASC VIC – Novel sci-comm activities targeting adults

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When: Tuesday 2 August, 6.30pm – 8.30pm

Place: Ian Potter Room, Graduate House, University of Melbourne, 220 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053

Free for ASC Members, $10 non-members.

The Victorian re-science team ( www.re-science.org.au ) has been piloting novel events in unusual venues and everyday environments which target adult audiences. Whether it is scientists presenting at the local fruit ‘n’ veg market or a drama & science performance at Melbourne Anglican Cathedral these ideas are novel experiments in science communication.

This ASC Victoria event will be an opportunity to hear some of the recent lessons learnt by the re-science team. We expect the session will provoke and support discussion of how to better build and sustain sci-comm activities for Victorian adults.

**Please RSVP to vic_president at asc.asn.au so we can
plan catering appropriately. **

Food provided (please include any dietary requirements in your RSVP).

Bar available (very reasonable pricing).

Car parking available on Leicester Street (free after 6.30pm).

Look forward to seeing you there. Several further ASC Vic events on the way.

Ian Muchamore
ASC Victoria President

Phil Dooley – JETstar

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Phil Dooley, co-vice president of the ASC, former chair of the NSW branch committee and all-around great person, is leaving us and Australia. He is heading for a life in Oxford where he will be in a science communication position at the Joint European Torus (JET) – Europe’s largest Fusion Device.

Phil injected much energy into the NSW branch over several years and has been a science communication force for good as a member of the National Council and Executive. I’m confident that all ASC members who know Phil will join me in wishing him all the best for his new job in the old world. And we trust that his leap from the Physics department at Sydney University to JET is more than a break-even step (a weak fusion joke).

Phil will be leaving in the latter part of August, giving you time to inundate him with neutrons and other niceties for his journey.

Jesse Shore

National President

Great communication tips from the BSA Conference

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Reports and Presentations from the British Science Association’s Science Communication Conference 2011 are now available to download. See what was discussed, the issues raised, suggested solutions and read great case studies of innovative public engagement projects.
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“You can now download the final 2011 Science Communication Conference report packed with all the case studies, break-out discussions and learning points from the two days.” Amy Lothian, Science in Society Officer, British Science Association

Go to BSA Link

Provided by Susan Kirk (QLD Web Editor)

Liquid Learning’s Forum Rescheduled

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Author: Kali Madden

ASC is supporting Liquid Learning’s second annual National Science Communication Officers’ Forum

It has been rescheduled to 22-24 November 2011 in Sydney, Citigate Central. Read more…

The event in brief:

Essential Tools and Approaches for Developing Communication Strategies within Scientific and Technical Research Environments

Explore:
• Applying Innovative Strategies for Dealing with the Media
• Negotiating the Science Communication Spectrum for Better Results
• Maintaining Scientific Integrity
• Communicating Complex Information with Creativity

Click here to view the brochure: http://bit.ly/iqt4B.

ASC members receive a 10% discount off the standard registration fee. For more information, visit Liquid Learning’s website at: www.liquidlearning.com.au or email: marketing@liquidlearning.com.au or telephone: (02) 9437 1311