An important note from co-president, Jirana Craven

Dear ASC Members,

I am reaching out to share some personal news with implications for the ASC.

I have recently accepted a new position as Events and Projects Coordinator at the Science Teachers Association of Victoria. I am excited about the role as it combines my passion for science, science communication, and event coordination, and a great opportunity to contribute to the field of science education. 

To accommodate this new professional direction, I have made the difficult decision to end my tenure as Co-President at the Australian Science Communicators, effective immediately.

I am confident in Tom’s capability to continue in the president role on his own, and I respect Tom for undertaking this additional unplanned responsibility. Our discussions have reassured me that, although not what we expected, this decision is the right one for the ASC and me.

Tom and I had envisioned many exciting projects for what was intended as our final year leading the ASC. Tom, supported by Council, will need to reprioritise and some of these initiatives might face delays or require re-evaluation. I encourage anyone with the capacity and interest to step in and support these projects. ASC has a bright future, and your involvement can help maintain its momentum. 

I am deeply grateful for my time as Co-President. The warm welcome we received upon being elected, and the continued support you’ve all shown us has been tremendous – and makes it so much harder to leave. I am immensely proud of the progress Tom and I have achieved together, and the opportunity to work with such a diverse group of people has been inspirational. I look forward to cheering on Tom and the committee from the sidelines for the rest of the year. 

I appreciate your understanding and ongoing support during this change.

Kind regards,
Jirana Craven

Annual General Meeting 2023

The Australian Science Communicators Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held virtually on Zoom on Wednesday, 29 November 2023 at 5pm AEDT | 4:30pm ACDT | 4pm AEST | 3:30pm ACST | 2pm AWST.

Please fill in this form (https://forms.gle/c1xXfH6vt8x98GReA) to:

  • register to attend the AGM or appoint a proxy to attend in your place;
  • submit an agenda item to be discussed at the AGM; and
  • self-nominate to be an Executive Committee member.

Our AGM is a key event in our annual calendar where we meet with our membership to report on our progress in the last financial year. This is also an opportunity for our membership to voice their concerns or suggestions and become more involved by participating in the election for positions in the ASC Executive Committee.

If you are not able to attend the AGM, please appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. The AGM agenda will be sent out a week prior to the event. 

Please contact office@asc.asn.au if you have any questions.

We hope to see you there.

Call for Abstracts: ASC2024 Conference

We’re thrilled to announce that the call for abstracts for the Australian Science Communicators Conference 2024 (ASC2024) is officially open! The main conference events will take place in Perth from 17th to 20th June 2024, with additional pre-conference and post-conference events scheduled for the 16th and 21st of June. This year’s theme is “Support, Connect, Grow” and we invite you to take this opportunity to share your expertise with fellow science communicators.

Conference Details

Location: Perth
Main Conference Dates: 17-20 June 2024  
Pre and Post-Conference Events: 16 & 21 June 2024
Theme: Support, Connect, Grow

Presentation Formats

Choose from a range of formats to share your work and insights:

  • Case Study or Research Talk: Talk about your unique projects or research findings.
  • Panel Discussion: Lead insightful conversations among experts and attendees.
  • Workshop: Conduct an interactive session. Workshops targeting mid- to advanced-career members are especially encouraged.
  • Digital Poster: Display your research or project visually as either a static image, or a short video.

For those with an unconventional or innovative idea, please get in touch to explore its suitability for the conference.

How to Submit

Use this form to submit your abstracts and speaker bios.

Note: Your presentation or session can only be confirmed after you have acquired a conference ticket.

Important Dates

  • Workshop & Panel Submission Deadline: 15 March 2024
  • Talk Submission Deadline: 15 April 2024
  • Digital Poster Submission Deadline: 9 June 2024

Further Information

  • Opportunities for presenters are available on all four days of the main conference.
  • You may submit multiple applications.
  • All presenters must acquire a paid conference ticket to confirm their spot in the programme.
  • Submissions are accepted from registrants planning to attend virtually however preference will be given to in-person presentations.

Need Assistance?

If you encounter difficulties with the abstract submission form, please email events @ asc.asn.au.

Registration Coming Soon…

We are currently resolving some technical challenges with our registration platform. Keep an eye on your emails, the website and social media channels for updates on when registration will open this month.


Don’t miss this chance to support, connect, and grow with peers and experts in the science communication field. We eagerly await your submissions and look forward to welcoming you to ASC2024 in Perth!

Best regards,
The ASC Team

Welcoming Our Executive Officers to the ASC

We are delighted to announce the appointment of two highly skilled Executive Officers (EOs) to the secretariat team. Emma and Kate bring with them a wealth of complementary experience, expertise, and a proven track record in the fields of science communication and outreach. Their diverse backgrounds and unique skills are already proving to be a massive support to the executive committee.

Meet Emma Berthold (left) and Kate Patterson (right) ASC’s Executive Officers.

Meet Emma: Science Communicator and Content Creator

Some may have already e-met Emma while she’s been helping the organisation this past year. 

Emma is a science writer, editor and digital content producer with more than a decade of experience across a variety of marketing and communications roles.

She previously worked with the Australian Academy of Science editing policy reports, writing news article content, and providing science communication expertise for a range of content types and campaigns. She also produced feature article content and managed social media for the ANU College of Science.

Now freelancing out of the scenic town of Port Macquarie, Emma offers a range of science writing, editing and communications services. Her academic credentials include a Master of Media Practice from the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Science (Biological science) from UNSW Sydney and a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) from Macquarie University. 

Introducing Kate: Melding Creative Design and Scientific Rigour

Kate comes to us with over 15 years of experience in the sector and is a long time active ASC member, featuring a blend of strategic design, transdisciplinary research, and communication. Her work spans collaborations with not-for-profit medical research institutes, scientists, and medical professionals. 

Kate has an exceptional knack for utilising storytelling, 3D, and 2D animation to make complex scientific topics digestible for broad audiences. Her academic background is equally impressive. She holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Sydney University, a PhD in Molecular Biology from UNSW Sydney, and an MPhil in Media Arts, also from UNSW Sydney.

Kate’s focus on creative innovation and her commitment to promoting scientific literacy, along with her previous history and involvement with the ASC, make her a fantastic addition to the ASC family.


We are incredibly fortunate to have Emma and Kate on board. We’re excited to see how their unique skills and perspectives will contribute to our overarching goals. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to them as they help us embark on this new chapter of the Australian Science Communicators.

Here’s to new beginnings and to taking the ASC to unprecedented heights!

The ASC Team

Online event: Debrief with the ASC Science Meets Parliament delegates

Join Claire Harris, Phil Dooley, Adam Selinger and Preeti Castle, ASC delegates who attended Science Meets Parliament as they share what happened, their experience, what they’ve learnt and what ASC and our membership can do to help with scicomm advocacy.

Date: 18 April
Time: 4PM AEST | 3:30PM ACST | 2PM AWST
Platform: Zoom

Register here.

We will be recording the session in the hopes to have it available for those who can’t attend however this will be awhile before it is available for viewing. This discussion will be hosted as a Zoom meeting. If you do not wish to be recorded please keep your camera off and microphone muted during the session.

ASC2023 Demo Extravaganza

The Australian Science Communicators invites you to join an ASC2023 Conference satellite event, Welcome Reception and Demo Extravaganza. This event will be an opportunity for locals and those visiting to catch-up and learn from each other.

It is open to anyone interested in scicomm to participate and attend, even if they aren’t attending the conference. So please invite any who might be interested. 

We’re looking for presenters to share a way of demonstrating a scientific concept or message.

This could be something you’ve used for years, something you’ve whipped together last minute or something you want to try out for a bit of fun. It can be any style of engagement, poetry, interpretive dance, explosive.

Whichever method you choose, please fill in the form to highlight your interest in participating and be ready to do a risk assessment if it’s potentially dangerous!

Depending on the props you require, there may be an opportunity for us to source these items (ie. Liquid Nitrogen). Dr Graham Walker will work with you to make sure you have access to everything you need and ensure everything is safe after receiving your application.

Event details: 

Date: 14 February, 6pm 

Cost: Free

Location: Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS), ANU

Get involved. Register a demonstration

Not attending the conference, but want to attend this event? RSVP here.

Wait, there’s a conference? Find out more here.