Official notice of 2020 Australian Science Communicators AGM (online via Zoom)

This is the official notice of the Australian Science Communicators’ Annual General Meeting, to be held online via zoom on THURSDAY 10 DECEMBER 2020 (please note new date)

The 2020 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.

When: Thursday 10 December

Perth: 5pm

Brisbane: 7pm

Adelaide/Darwin: 7.30pm

Sydney/Melb/Canberra: 8pm

Where: Online via zoom (please RSVP and you will be emailed a link to join).

RSVP via Form below or via this link

Only financial ASC members are eligible to attend the AGM. Please check you have renewed your membership community.asc.asn.au

Executive Council Positions

Given the turmoil of 2020, the current executive has offered to remain in to provide caretaker/continuity to the organisation over 2020/21.

The current ASC President Lisa Bailey will be remaining in the President’s role.

The current ASC Secretary position shared by Shiloh Gerrity and Michelle Riedlinger will continue.

The current ASC Treasurer Aiden Muirhead will continue.

The current ASC Vice President Lynette Plenderleith will continue.

If you are interested in joining the Executive Council (as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President x 2), then please contact the National Secretary. If more than one person is interested in a particular position, then an election will take place.

Reps on the National Council

Branches are required to nominate and endorse a National Representative to join the National Council at their Branch AGM. If this has happened, please notified the National Secretary.

Agenda items and notices of motions

Proposed agenda items, notices of motion must be received by 5.30pm (AEDT) Tuesday 1 December 2020 and can be sent to president@asc.asn.au. Note that notices of motion require a proposer and a seconder.

Proxies

Members unable to attend the AGM in person can provide an online proxy. This will allow members to nominate another current ASC member attending the meeting to hold their proxy, or alternatively the National Secretary. Instructions for nominating proxies will be circulated prior to the AGM along with the final notification of official business. Please note, organisations that have a membership may nominate only one (1) representative to vote.

The following items are current as of 3 November 2020:

• 2020 AGM Agenda
• ASC Constitution
• Minutes from the previous AGM (November 2019)

 

Why did you choose to study science?

Following my compulsory science education in school, I chose to study science at A-level (exams that are studied and taken by 16-18-year-olds in the UK prior to University) because I loved trying to understand the world and the way in which we live. I pursued a combined undergraduate and master’s degree in Physics with Space Science and Technology at the University of Leicester because I had brilliant A-level physics teachers who instilled a love of the discipline into me. During my time at Leicester I fell in love with satellites and was lucky enough to do a PhD there as well, in which I used satellites to make measurements of greenhouse gases at the Earth’s surface. I then made the completely logical step of taking up a scholarship with the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation to study the relationship between science and theatre in Tokyo for a couple of years, which is where I first began to suspect that there might be more to the positivist mindset into which I had become indoctrinated…

Looking back now, what has been the best part of your career in SciComm?

Having the opportunity to combine poetry and science and to be in a position where I get to read, write, and perform poetry as part of my job. When I set up my blog The Poetry of Science a few years ago, it was on a bit of a whim. But as a result of that blog (which is still going strong), I have been able to build an entire community of practice, developing a research paradigm that combines poetic inquiry with science communication research and practice. As well as further outreach opportunities, such as the accompanying podcast, I have been fortunate enough to write a book, conduct a variety of research studies, and give keynote speeches all over the world. I can honestly say that I love my job, and I feel incredibly privileged to be able to continue this work in my current role as Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at The University of Western Australia.

Where has your career led you?

Literally right around the world. From the North of England to the West Coast of Australia, via Japan, China, and America. I have been lucky enough to study, teach, and research science communication all over the globe, and doing so has really helped me to better understand the need to diversify science, and to use my voice and privilege to create platforms for others to share their knowledge and expertise.

What excites you most about your work?

The opportunity to work with others and to learn from different publics about their expertise. I love collaborating and working with people who have different opinions on what science is and what it can be. If anyone reading this is interesting in connecting with me and potentially developing a collaboration then my Twitter feed is always open!

What advice do you have for anyone considering a career in SciComm?

Think about what area of SciComm you want to get into. Do you want to be a SciComm practitioner? Do you want to be a SciComm researcher? Do you want to be a scientist who has a side hustle in SciComm? Science communication is a varied field and there are many routes into it (and out of it!); thinking about which particular niche you want to occupy will help you to frame your work and where you sit within the wider SciComm environment.

What are some of the greatest challenges that you’ve overcome in your SciComm career?  

I’m not sure I’ve overcome them yet to be honest. The two biggest battles I face are trying to convince people that my work is about more than teaching people how to give good presentations, and that using poetry and games is a serious way in which to engender dialogue and participation in science. Helping to set up Consilience, the world’s first peer-reviewed poetry journal has gone some way to convince others of my intent, but there is still a way to go!