Monthly Archives: October 2013

Unsung Hero of Australian Science Communication 2013

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The Australian Science Communicators
is proud to present the
Unsung Hero of Australian Science Communication Award

The award will be presented during the
Australian Science Communicators National Conference
2–5 February 2014 in Brisbane.

 ASC Unsung Hero Award 2013 Nomination Form – Entry

The Unsung Hero of Australian Science Communication is an initiative of the Australian Science Communicators. The ASC offers this award to honour a person (or group of people) who exemplifies science communication. The award is intended to recognise those whose contribution has been so significant over a period of time that they should by now have been recognised.

 

Criteria

The criteria for nomination for the Unsung Hero of Australian Science Communication are:

1. Nominees must reside in Australia and be actively engaged in science* communication, interpreted broadly to include, but not limited to, pursuits such as:

  • teaching,
  • broadcasting,
  • script and book writing,
  • science shows,
  • science promotion and
  • interpretation of science within institutions.

* The definition here is broad and includes science, technology and innovation. Also refer to criterion 5.

2. The work for which the nominee is being nominated must have been carried out in Australia.

3. Nominees, whether a person, people or group, should not have received significant recognition for their contribution to science and its promotion. This will almost certainly rule out a ‘top’ or well-known science communicator. The nominee will need to show that they regard science communication as an integral part of scientific endeavour.

4. Nominees should have a considerable or prolonged record (at least several years) in science communication.

Therefore it is unlikely that this would apply to a candidate whose contribution, however significant, is of short duration.

5. Nominators must give careful consideration to what counts as ‘science’ – for example, nominees from technological or environmental fields should be nominated not just on the basis of their contribution to those particular fields, but because the scientific side of their work is strong and their communication contributes to a better understanding of the process and practice of science.

Notes:

This award may be made to a candidate whose work is in education, promotion or communication in one or many fields but where the science component of their work is highly significant.

Benefits of the award

The Unsung Hero award recognises and celebrates excellence in science communication, and is presented at a national level. The scope of the award is not covered in existing national science award programs, and therefore, the Unsung Hero award provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the attributes and practices of science communicators.

For example, a science communication practitioner, this is a valuable acknowledgement of their work and efforts as identified by their peers. As another example, for a scientist who communicates science, the Unsung Hero award recognises the value of their communication efforts and the fact that this work complements their scientific achievements.

The award may help a recipient to focus attention on their efforts, give them greater credibility in their work and raise awareness of the scientific topics that they communicate.

 

Selection process

Selection is based solely on the written information provided on the nomination form.

A selection committee of representatives from the Australian Science Communicators will assess all nominations and determine the award recipient.

In some instances the selection committee may request further information before making their final decision.

The Australian Science Communicators reserves the right to make no awards should the judges consider that the quality of candidates does not warrant awards, or should the nominated candidate(s) not satisfy the selection criteria.

 

Award nominations

ASC Unsung Hero Award 2013 Nomination Form – Entry

Requirements for Award Nomination

The nominator must be a financial member of the ASC, but the nominee need not be a member. The nominator should first consult with the nominee and referees to ensure the nominee is aware of, and consents to, the application.

Each nomination must comprise a fully completed award nomination form.

Preferable length: 2 pages.

 

Nominations close at 5pm on Friday 13 December 2013.

 

Nomination enquiries to
Sarah Lau
slau@chemcentre.wa.gov.au

Send completed nominations to
Ms Kali Madden
Executive Officer – Australian Science Communicators
PO Box 13, Billinudgel, NSW 2483
Email: office@asc.asn.au

Official Notice of ASC AGM 2013

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This is the official notice of the Australian Science Communicators’ Annual General Meeting, to be held in Canberra, ACT on 29 November 2013.

The AGM is being hosted by the ASC ACT Branch and the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science.

Another year under our belt and ASC moves into its 20th in 2014. Come along to the national AGM and help shape the future of the organisation and have a drink and yummy food with fellow members. Share war stories, successes and get to know others in your network. With some casual entertainment on hand, this is sure to be an enjoyable evening.

When: Friday 29 November 2013 – 5.00pm networking and refreshments for a 6.00pm start to the AGM

Where: Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, ANU

RSVP: http://ascnetworkagm.eventbrite.com.au/

ASC members: free (Only currently financial ASC members are eligible to attend the AGM.)

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.

Members also have the chance to elect a new National President. Proposed agenda items, notices of motion and presidential nominations must be received by Thursday 21 November 2013 and can be sent to Sarah Lau, National Secretary (slau@chemcentre.wa.gov.au).

Note that notices of motion require a proposer and a seconder, and nominations for President need to be agreed by the nominee.

Proxies

Members unable to attend the AGM in person are able to give proxies to other members attending the meeting. This means that unless members are at the physical meeting in Canberra or hub point in Perth, you will need to designate a proxy to vote.

 

To designate your proxy:

  • Download and complete the proxy form, and ensure a copy of this form is with your proxy to take to the AGM (Appointment of Proxy 2013 Online Form)
    • Check one box only for the proposed Constitutional amendment
    • If you do not provide voting instructions in these sections, you authorise the proxy holder to decide how the proxy will vote
    • Notify the National Secretary, Sarah Lau (slau@chemcentre.wa.gov.au) – this must be done or the proxy and vote is not considered valid
    • Ensure that the proxy form is completed prior to 4.00pm AEDST on Friday 29 November 2013

Please note that votes will remain confidential at all times. All voting instructions and proxy forms will be collected and destroyed at the conclusion of the AGM.

 

The following items are current as of 22 November 2013:

part 2

Five winners of the 2013 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science

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In the Great Hall of Parliament House, Prime Minister Abbott presented his Prizes for Science to five remarkable Australians.

In an official release Prime Minister Abbott said, “Australia has a wealth of scientific talent. Our people are full of great ideas.

“The Federal Government will continue to provide the strong support our scientific community needs so it can get on with finding the next innovation or treatment for disease.”

The 2013 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science go to:

Terry Speed

Terry Speed

 

Terry Speed – Fighting cancer by the numbers
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne
$300,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

 

 

 

Angela Moles (c) Peter Morris

Angela Moles (c) Peter Morris

 

Angela Moles – It’s not a jungle out there: rocking the ecological boat
University of New South Wales in Sydney
$50,000 Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year

 

 

 

Andrea Morello

Andrea Morello (c) Peter Morris

 

Andrea Morello – Quantum computing becomes more than just spin
University of New South Wales in Sydney
$50,000 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year

 

 

 

Sarah Chapman

Sarah Chapman

 

Sarah Chapman – Using a motor race to fuel interest in science
Townsville State High School
$50,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools

 

 

 

Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson

 

Richard Johnson – A teacher’s laboratory becomes a primary source of inspiration
Rostrata Primary School in Perth
$50,000 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools

 

 

 

 

For their full citations and the Prime Minister’s official comments, go to: http://www.industry.gov.au/scienceprizes

For high res photos and videos go to: http://www.scienceinpublic.com.au/prime-ministers-prize

Bragg UNSW press prize for science writing 2013

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The winner of The Bragg UNSW Press Prize for Science Writing 2013 was announced by the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir at a ceremony last night at Government House in Sydney.

Professor Fred Watson won the $7000 winner’s prize for his piece ‘Here come the ubernerds: Planets, Pluto and Prague’, from his book ‘Star-Craving Mad: Tales from a Travelling Astronomer’.

Runners-up prizes were awarded to UNSW’s Professor Chris Turney for ‘Martyrs to Gondwanaland: The cost of scientific exploration’ and Gina Perry for ‘Beyond the shock machine’.

In 2012, UNSW Press launched a new annual prize for the best short non-fiction piece on science written for a general audience. The Bragg UNSW Press Prize is named in honour of Australia’s first Nobel Laureates, William Henry Bragg and his son William Lawrence Bragg. The Braggs won the 1915 Nobel Prize for physics. The Bragg UNSW Press Prize is supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

The winning entries are included in The Best Australian Science Writing 2013, published by NewSouth at UNSW.

For further information contact:

Matt Howard publicist

t 02 8936 0026 m 0400 221 815 e matt.howard@newsouthbooks.com.au w www.newsouthbooks.com.au

ACT workshop October 31: producing great podcasts

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31 October 2013
6:00 pmto8:00 pm

Running events, writing blogs and maybe even producing video clips might all be in a days work but what about podcasting?

Podcasting might seem technical and complicated but it is far from it. Nowadays, it is easy to get started with some basic tools, free software and super cheap hosting options. You could have your audience listening to your dulcet tones in no time!

The ACT branch of the Australian Science Communicators has asked Daniel Oyston, Content Marketer and Canberra local (see bio below) to walk us through the process of setting up and delivering a podcast, tailored to your audience – you can see some examples of Daniel’s work here.

The 2 hour workshop includes a full set of notes and information on:

  • how your podcast will fit into your existing communications,
  • how to identify topics,
  • the equipment you will need,
  • how to construct a show,
  • how to edit the recording and
  • getting you audience to access your podcast on their phones through iTunes and RSS (Android).

Daniel will leave time for any specific questions you may have and has also said that if you have a recording, he will happily walk you through how to turn it into a podcast.

So, if you have always wanted to learn about podcasting but never known how to start, why not spend an evening with your colleagues, learn together and have a bit of fun!

  • When: Thursday, October 31st, 2013
  • Time: 6pm to 8pm (arrive 10 minutes early)
  • Where: Conference Room, CSIRO Corporate Centre, Limestone Avenue, Campbell, Canberra
  • What to bring: Laptop, tablet and/or smartphone
  • Cost: Free for ASC members and $15 for non members
Numbers are limited so please register at http://ascpodcastworkshop.eventbrite.com.au
Finger food and drinks provided. For more information email asccanberra@gmail.com
Bio: Daniel Oyston has a Masters in Marketing and over 10 years experience in the field, working with small to medium sized businesses including not for profit organisations, private companies and government departments. He currently runs his own consultancy business Content Grasshopper and also lectures at the University of Canberra. You can find more information about Daniel on his website – www.contentgrasshopper.com.au.

Behind the scenes at the Western Australian Herbarium

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Join us on Monday 21 October for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Western Australian Herbarium with Collections Manager Karina Knight!

Drinks and nibblies will be provided prior to the tour (from 5.30pm) with the tour commencing at 6.00pm and taking around 1-1.5 hours.

Stay for networking and further refreshments after the tour.

Places are limited, so please head to https://asc-wa-herbarium.eventbrite.com.au to book your place for this unique event (members free, non-members $10).

We look forward to seeing you there,
ASC-WA

The Curiosity Show hits the internet

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Thank you to Curiosity Show host Prof. Rob Morrison for taking the time to answer our questions about the launch of the show online.

Many Australian’s hold fond memories of mornings on the couch, watching The Curiosity Show… and after a 23 year hiatus, they have returned to thrill a new generation of eager Australians!

The Curiosity Show has hit the web, with all the classic segments – including favourites like Make-and-Do, Nature and Puzzles – now available on youtube. You can also connect with the show on their website, facebook and twitter.

Prof. Rob Morrison, Curiosity show host, said that originally the show was designed to deal with science and technology, without overtly teaching it. He says, “we did this by using things like natural history segments, lots of making and doing, and things like art and music segments.

“Making and Doing meant things like mousetrap racing cars, battery-powered hovercraft, pill-bottle torches, and mousetrap paddlewheelers, where children had to deal with power sources, gearing, and power-weight ratios without their ever being called that.  We also showed the objects that we made working so they knew what to expect if they got their versions right.

“We used things like art and music for similar reasons. For example,  making your own PVC panpipes or PVC recorder involved science and technology in working out the length of pipe to get the right pitch, and exploring the proportions of paintings, seashells, and flower centres brought in golden proportions and Fibonacci numbers without overtly teaching those as maths.

“We did lots of tricks and puzzles, too. You can deal with a great deal of maths when you dress it up as magic, and children who would run a mile from a maths segment are quite happy to learn how to do a trick that might baffle a parent or two.”

Prof Morrison, and fellow Curiosity Show host Deane Hutton, have enlisted the help of digital media agency Enabled Solutions to aid in the process of uploading the segments to the internet. By doing this, the show can benefit from not only their expertise in cross-platform digital media, but also their links to a number of educational services.

The wide variety of segments and projects available mean that there are a number of opportunities for teachers from all different areas to expose their children to hands-on learning experiences – while giving children an appreciation of the role of science in all aspects of the world around them.

“There are lots of art, language, maths segments which touch on science and technology (e.g. origin of “knots” and “log” which come from sailing ships; origin of sayings like “red herring” and riddles like “which came first, chicken or egg?” These all have science in their explanations.

“We were aiming at upper primary levels, where crossover in the curriculum is very much to be encouraged so that the artificial divisions imposed by curriculum areas are not introduced too soon for children to see how science connects to everything.

“Some art segments use maths (Golden mean) while others, such as simple lithography, work because of the ability of water to repel oil, and that allows limestone printing. This joint mix of science within other areas is important.  Other segments, such as those in the “Make and Do” playlist, offer things to build or do that are more overtly science or technology, but good fun to play with as well.

“We also had a series, and there are some of these segments in there, called “CURIO” in which we show some ancient or obscure bit of technology, ask kids to guess what it is and then explain it. It is a window into technology of the past (old mining devices, ship’s candle-holder, miner’s spider etc).

“We strongly believed, and still do, that children obtain a huge amount of incidental learning by making and doing things. It is worrying to see so much of childhood now involves not hands and fingers making things that work, but two thumbs to control a virtual, X-Box world.”

A new climate in Canberra

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Thanks to Brigid Mullane for this opinion piece for Scope.

Since Tony Abbott announced his new cabinet in September, much has been made of the absence of the word ‘science’ in any minister’s title.

Ian Macfarlane is now Minister for Industry, which includes responsibility for the CSIRO. In the previous government, Kim Carr was Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. So, could the change be mainly a expression of Tony Abbott’s stated preference for short titles, rather than a sidelining of science?

The government has disbanded the Climate Commission, seeing no need for a dedicated body to review local and worldwide climate research, and explain it to the government and the people of Australia. It must have great confidence in its Direct Action policies as a way to deal with climate change.

The new Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, expressed this confidence in an interview with the ABC, where he also affirmed his government’s acceptance of climate science and the existing (5% by 2020) emissions targets for Australia, and its in-principle support for ratifying the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol. He noted that research by the Bureau of Meteorology and the CSIRO was available to the government, so he is not averse to climate research as such.

At the same time, the government is moving to shut down the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and the Climate Change Authority, as promised during its campaign. This will require legislation, which the government might find difficult to get through the Senate, whether the existing one, or the new one in July next year. The uncertainty is disruptive, particularly for the CEFC and its clients.

The Senate might also oppose the planned carbon-tax repeal bill, but this could present an opportunity for some negotiation. One part of the Direct Action plan is an Emissions Reduction Fund to buy emissions abatements. This has something in common with emissions trading schemes, in that it seeks to use market mechanisms to reduce lowest-cost emissions first.  Perhaps some compromise bill could be devised, that would be acceptable to the House and the Senate.

Apart from climate science, there was not much talk about science during the campaign. Science in education is the province of the new Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne, who has not made any announcements about this. Meanwhile, the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority continues its work on a national curriculum.

And on the subject of education, some people seem to think that political conservatives are generally anti-science, a view expressed by a recent ABC website contributor. In a personal-attack-style piece on the new government he advised, “don’t be at all surprised to see a push for ‘intelligent design’ to be included in school curriculums”.  This kind of hyperbolic speculation might say more about the ABC’s editorial policy, than about government science policy.

A more rational assessment would suggest that there will be disruption, perhaps for months, to activities meant to deal with climate change, as the new government seeks to replace existing programs with its own. In other areas, there is no evidence so far that the role of science in informing government policy will change very much. Of course, there are many other Abbott policies that could mean big changes if enacted, but that topic is outside the scope of Scope.

President’s update – #ASC14

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Thanks to Claire Harris for the update!

Quick ASC14 stats and facts

  • Over 120 abstract and session submissions
  • 1 conference dinner
  • 1 breakfast hosted by New Zealand Science Communicators
  • Earlybird registrations open until next month
  • Submissions from New Zealand, South Africa and Japan
  • ASC conferences have been run since 1996
  • We will have four streams (in four rooms) of conference activities over the three days

The program committee (Claire Harris, James Hutson, Nancy Longnecker, Kali Madden, Jesse Shore) has been very busy reviewing all the submissions that have come in. We have been very impressed with the ideas and way that people have embraced the theme of Insight, Impact, Innovation.

Many proposals pick up on the hot topics in science communication, with speakers coming from a range of disciplinary backgrounds including communication, research, journalism, policy and business.

The conference will feature a poster session for the first time as well as a spectacular Sci-Art exhibition; social events including a conference dinner featuring a special dignitary and the Unsung Hero of Science Communication Award and a breakfast event with our New Zealand counterparts. Importantly, this is your chance to network with a diverse group of people.

Many of you would know that ASC conferences have been run since 1996. I would love to find out who has been to the most ASC conferences or if attending a past conference has resulted in something of significance for you. Did you meet your current employer? Did you meet your current wife?…

Let us know, comment below!

Event review: Nerd Nite Sydney

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Thanks to Nolanne Chang for this event review.

“Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!”

“Maths, Maths, Maths!”

That’s the sound of Simon Pampena revving up the crowd at this month’s Sydney Nerd Nite. Simon was the first of three guest speakers on the night, with subjects ranging from comedic science to a treatise against traditional lecture methods, to a review of the current thoughts by leading scientists on PTSD. Last month at Nerd Nite Sydney, topics included why we root for Michael Corleone in the Godfather, an obscure treatise on French philosopher-driven films, and a discussion of what makes a good film review, by local critics. Over time, the topics have ranged from the prosaic to the downright crazy, and from the humanities to the sciences.

Nerd Nite Sydney was co-founded by Justine Rodgers and Jessica Grisham, both academics at UNSW. Justine had just come back from studying at the University of Oxford in England and missed the intellectual atmosphere. She wanted an environment where discussions that would normally only be had between academics could be conducted with a broader audience. Stumbling upon the US organisation of Nerd Nite, she wondered if a similar event could be hosted in Sydney – they put her in touch with Jess, who had also expressed interest. Thus, Nerd Nite Sydney was born.

The event is held at Café Lounge in Surry Hills on the first Wednesday of every month. For the first few months around 40 to 50 people turned up; and now, one and a half years later, there are online ticket sales and the venue often reaches maximum capacity (120). This is something to be justifiably proud of, as it goes against the anti-intellectual stereotype often portrayed of Australians. Curiously, the audience seems to have a large age range, and, glancing around the room it’s noticeable that not everyone attending is an academic or the type of person that would normally attend a lecture. This is partially why Café Lounge was chosen – it’s a relaxed, “non-threatening” atmosphere where the audience members can buy bar food and drinks (I can personally vouch for the excellent chips). There’s a small stage and a screen – though not all presenters even use slide decks, preferring to interact more directly with their audience.

On the other hand, the atmosphere presented by the current location, would be harder to accomplish in a larger venue, which would be desired to accommodate their expanding crowd. Occasionally, the group behind Nerd Nite spins off special events, such as organizing a Stand-Up Comedy night at the Ultimo Science Festival (two years in a row now) or Nerd Gala, a night when they brought back several of the most popular Nerd Nite speakers. In addition to their monthly speakers’ night, they are also now trying to expand the role of their Facebook page, to reach their audience much more frequently. Posts on this page include interesting science tidbits, updates on what past speakers are up to, and teasers about the next month’s program.

If you’re interested in learning more about Nerd Nite Sydney – check out their page on Facebook. The event is held the first Wednesday of every month at Café Lounge in Surry Hills – the next event is October 2nd.