Interesting article in terms of using social media to reach a demographic and how to reach that elusive age group.
http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/258803/20111130/facebook-apps-bring-millions-new-young-readers.htm
| 29 November 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
Join the Australian Science Communicators and CSIRO Discovery for this event discussing the changing face of communication with four dynamic new (and social) media experts.
From Twitter to Facebook to YouTube to Government 2.0, this event will be an interactive session covering successes, failures, insights and trends in new media. Learn why it’s critical that communication professionals understand new media opportunities and pitfalls and explore what the future holds.
Our panel features:
Following our thought-provoking panel discussion we will run the ACT branch AGM (see below)
When: Tuesday 29 November
Time: 6pm start with drinks & nibbles
Where: CSIRO Discovery Optus lecture theatre, Clunies Ross St, Black Mountain, ACT (map and parking info)
Cost: free. Evening also features a lucky door prize for an ASC member attending the AGM.
RSVP and enquiries: asccanberra AT gmail.com. Check out ACT ASC on Facebook and feel free to ask questions to our panel here!
CHRIS CASSELLA
Chris Cassella
Chris Cassella, Managing Director of ScienceAlert Pty Ltd, is an ex-Microsoft programmer and failed neuroscientist. He partnered with Julian Cribb in 2007 to revamp the ScienceAlert website for his Master of Science Communication degree at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science. He is a strong proponent of Facebook as a platform to ‘inspire and engage’ the world with science.
ScienceAlert reaches over a million people a month between its website and Facebook page. With over a half a million fans, ScienceAlert is the most popular science news site on Facebook and has more fans than news icons like The Wall St Journal, TIME magazine, The UK Financial Times, The Washington Post and The Huffington Post.
Web: www.sciencealert.com.au, www.facebook.com/sciencealert, Twitter: @sciencealert
DEREK MULLER
Derek Muller
Derek Muller is an Australia-born, Canadian-raised filmmaker and educator. He completed his PhD at the University of Sydney on how to design multimedia to teach physics. Putting this research to use, he created the science video blog Veritasium at the beginning of 2011. He has made over 70 short films which together have been watched millions of times. Derek also lectures at UTS, teaches at Matrix Education, and presents for Catalyst on the ABC.
Twitter: @veritasium, Facebook.com/veritasium, Youtube.com/veritasium, Veritasium.com, veritasium@gmail.com, reddit.com/user/veritasium
WILL GRANT
Will Grant
Will Grant is a lecturer and researcher at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science. His research and writing has focused on the intersection between science, society and politics, and how this intersection is changing with new social technologies.
Twitter: @willozap, http://cpas.anu.edu.au/person/dr-will-grant
CRAIG THOMLER
Craig Thomler
Government 2.0 Advocate with over 15 years experience in early-stage companies, Craig joined the public service in 2006, focusing on improving public governance through strategic use of digital technologies. Recognised internationally as a leader in the field, Craig speaks regularly on Government 2.0 strategy and practice and blogs at http://egovau.blogspot.com.
Twitter: @eGovAU, @craigthomler
Are you a proactive member wanting to be part of shaping ASC? All positions on the committee are genuinely open. The committee’s main responsibilities are organising networking and professional development events for ASC members in Canberra and supporting and shaping the national activities.
AGENDA
1. Confirmation of members attending, apologies, proxies.
2. Confirmation of the Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting
3. Tabling of treasurer and president reports
4. Nominations sought for office bearers (those in bold mandatory). Where more than one nomination, vote by members in secret ballot (nominees leave the room).
5. Any other business
6. Close meeting
Please register your interest in being a committee member by emailing ‘asccanberra AT gmail.com’ before the meeting.
If you cannot attend the meeting, please send a proxy vote via email as we need a quorum (20% of current member numbers or 20 members, whichever is less).
Being on the committee is a great way to build your professional network, get event management experience and learn new skills. And the committee has been known, of course, to enjoy catching up often for breakfast or over a beer.
More information about the ASC Canberra Committee can be found at: www.asc.asn.au/state-and-national/act/
*Event Tonight in Canberra*
Friday 28th October, 4.30-6.00 PM
Interested in making science films? Come along tonight to join the network, swap tips and hear about some exciting new projects on the boil.
We’ll be checking out a selection of top Scinema entries and getting a sneak peek at footage from The Long Conversation, a science communication project shot in the communities of the Murray Darling Basin. There are 15 minute slots available if you’d like to present your ideas or work, so come along and pitch a film concept, show off your latest cut, ask for help and contacts or just sit back and listen in.
When: Friday 28th October, 4.30-6.00pm
Venue: ANU, Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Physics Link Building 38A, Green Couch Room
RSVP by email to bobby.cerini@anu.edu.au or SMS to 0415032701
Bobby Cerini
Consultant in Science Communication & PhD Candidate
The Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS)
A Centre for the National Commission of UNESCO
The Australian National University
Building 38A – Physics Link
Canberra, ACT 0200
Australia
CRICOS provider 00120C
Telephone: 0415 032 701
Email: bobby.cerini@anu.edu.au <http://bobby.cerini@anu.edu.au>
Web: http://cpas.anu.edu.au
The media scene has changed, and so has the role of the media release. But what is the new role, and how can science make the best use of them?
ASC QLD’s first writing workshop for 2011 will teach you how to:
This will be a practical workshop and participants should bring laptops, and draft or past media releases to work on. Comprehensive notes will be provided to students.
What:
ASC Writing Workshop
When:
Tuesday 27th September, 2011 6pm-9pm
Where:
The Queens Arms Hotel, 64 James Street, New Farm.
Presenters:
Jenni Metcalfe and Toss Gascoigne, who have been training scientists and others for more than 18 years in communication skills
Entry:
$99 for ASC members; $165 for non-ASC members. This includes food and supper.
Participants:
Maximum 15
RSVP:
Please RSVP robbie[at]econnect.com.au ASAP to secure your spot
Thanks to Kiran Shettigara from The Science Exchange, RiAus for providing this information:
Where Worlds Collide- Saturday 20 August 2011
Event review by Freya Dougan-Whaite
RiAus teamed up with Adelaide’s Friendly Street Poets to share a selection of poetry informed by scientific concepts and inspired by the wonders of science in everyday life. The event, aptly named Where Worlds Collide, is part of the Great Big Science Read which occurs annually during National Science Week. The aim was to reach a new audience by exploring the juncture where arts and science meet. Winners of the RiAus Sci-Ku competition (science Haiku) were also announced, and entrants from New South Wales and the Northern Territory were excited to be flown into Adelaide for the ceremony.
The speakers varied in age and gender, and the event was entertaining and fast-paced. Chemistry and Physics, became metaphor for human emotion and lifelong relationships with the beauty of nature were shared.
The public were invited to be involved through an open-mic session in the week before the event, where anyone could share three minutes of their poetry. Several talented speakers from the open-mic were booked to reappear for Where Worlds Collide.
The combination of professional poets/writers, competition winners and open-mic talent, contributed to an event that truly engaged an audience that may not otherwise attend a science event.
| 26 July 2011 | ||
| 3:00 pm | to | 5:00 pm |
Evaluating Science Communication Programs
a workshop with Larraine J Larri
Director and Principal Consultant
Renshaw-Hitchen and Associates
When: 3-5pm Tuesday 26th July
Where: Industry link room, CSIRO Discovery Centre, Black Mountain, ACT
This is a hands-on, two-hour workshop in program evaluation specially designed for Science Communicators.
In this workshop, Larraine draws on her many years experience as an evaluator and educationist to give you an insight into evaluation theory and practice. She does this with examples from her projects relevant to Science Communicators. These have included working with Questacon Outreach, CSIRO Education and the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative. As Larraine says, ‘… it’s hard to make evaluation fun’, but with her action learning approach, you’ll have an experience that is practical and engaging. Come prepared to work on your own program area to develop a draft evaluation plan. You will also receive a workbook which includes detailed notes.
By the end of the session you will have a basic understanding of:
Book now* at http://www.ascact1.eventbrite.com
$35 ASC members
$50 non-members
*Limited spaces, prepayment required
For more info contact: asccanberra@gmail.com
Evaluating Science Communication Programs
a workshop with Larraine J Larri
Director and Principal Consultant
Renshaw-Hitchen and Associates
When: 3-5pm Tuesday 26th July
Where: Industry link room, CSIRO Discovery Centre, Black Mountain, ACT
This is a hands-on, two-hour workshop in program evaluation specially designed for Science Communicators.
In this workshop, Larraine draws on her many years experience as an evaluator and educationist to give you an insight into evaluation theory and practice. She does this with examples from her projects relevant to Science Communicators. These have included working with Questacon Outreach, CSIRO Education and the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative. As Larraine says, ‘… it’s hard to make evaluation fun’, but with her action learning approach, you’ll have an experience that is practical and engaging. Come prepared to work on your own program area to develop a draft evaluation plan. You will also receive a workbook which includes detailed notes.
By the end of the session you will have a basic understanding of:
What program evaluation is and its relationship to research.
The different types of program evaluation and when you would use them: Design, Process, Impact, and Economic Evaluations.
Typical steps in planning, implementing and reporting an evaluation, including: engaging and working with consultants; scoping the terms of reference for an evaluation; identifying the key evaluation questions.
Typical tools used in evaluations such as: Program Logic; Data Matrix; qualitative and quantitative data collection strategies; Appreciative Enquiry; Most Significant Change; Participatory and Empowerment evaluation.
How to develop a monitoring and evaluation plan.
Book now* at www.ascact1.eventbrite.com
$35 ASC members
$50 non-members
*Limited spaces, prepayment required
Event organiser: Nicole McAlester, for more info contact: u3047826@uni.canberra.edu.au
ASC Canberra Committee
Our ASC profile.
Join us on Facebook
Join ASC: http://www.asc.asn.au/join/
Fenella Edwards, Vice-President, ACT branch, writes: To celebrate National Youth Week and the International Year of Chemistry, CSIRO Discovery hosted an evening for young people – of all ages!
The theme of chemistry was visible in an array of non-alcoholic cocktails, or ‘mocktails’ mixed up by the ACT Branch of Australian Science Communicators. These colourful concoctions, as well as admission to the Discovery exhibition with live creature shows, were included in the free admission event.
Local bands ‘Project B’ (Lyneham High School) and ‘Loud Mud’ (Gundaroo) entertained all with jazz and light rock before the poetry element of the evening sparked up some creative chemistry among the crowd.
Canberra poet extraordinaire Hal Judge guided us through a group performance of two of his poems, and invited the audience to submit creative answers to questions to win prizes. The audience were then dazzled (if not intimidated) by fabulous performances of local poets Omar Musa and Andrew Galan before the open-mic poetry competition got underway – with $500 in worth of prizes up for grabs for the best original poem/story/song having a chemistry theme.
The winning poem by Sarah Sherringham ‘The Tale of the Very Strange Step-mother’ was a modern day remake of the fairy tale Snow White, the following is an excerpt:
“Some people said she married him just for the cash
And they were not entirely mistaken in that.
The sciences had taken such a beating and a shunning,
Rich husbands were the last source of research funding!
In the room she’d been given to dress for tea,
She’d set up some kind of weird laboratory
Where beakers bubbled and test tubes foamed;
She stayed in there all day and night, on her own.
…
Wrapped up her research (in time for tea
Published her treatise on Clean Energy;
Became the leading expert in her field of Chemistry;
And these days she’s a Professor at the University.”
Also during the evening, prizes were awarded to the winners of the National Youth Week science-art competition, ‘When Science Meets Art’. The winning entries were on display in the CSIRO Discovery gallery space throughout National Youth Week, see the prize winners at: http://www.csiro.au/resources/When-Science-Meets-Art-2011.html
An action-provoking keynote address by well-known visionary and science communications specialist Julian Cribb headlines the 44th annual Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology convention, to be held 10 – 13 July 2011 in Sydney.
In keeping with the convention’s theme ‘Tackling Tomorrow Today’, Cribb will speak about the major risks to global food security over the coming half century, the implications for food, science, technology and society, and of the effects of a 30 year lack of local investment in agricultural and food science and technology.
Cribb believes the world faces the probability of extreme regional food insecurity by the mid-century unless we take action now on land, water, nutrients, energy, fish, technology and climate instability. One of the challenges he will put to the industry is to help reinvent our cities and food systems so they recycle water, energy and nutrients, to help head off the ‘coming famine’.
He returns to the stage later to present a proposal for a national nutrient plan’, prompting the design of systems that recapture the current phenomenal waste of nutrients by agriculture, processing, retail, foodservice and consumers. He will also speak on the need to totally redesign the Australian diet.
Other speakers at the Food Production Security session include David Barling (City University, London, UK) addressing ‘impact of food policy on food security’, and Alison Bowman (Industry & Investment NSW, Wagga Wagga, NSW) on ‘The value of investing in R&D to secure the food supply’.
The AIFST Convention is co-located with FoodPro at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney NSW Australia.
It opens on Sunday 10 July and concludes Tuesday 12 July, with additional workshops Wednesday 13 July 2011.
For registration details visit www.aifst.com.au. Bookings made before 3 June attract an earlybird rate.
BIOGRAPHICAL DETAIL:
Julian Cribb is the principal of Julian Cribb & Associates, specialists in science communication. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
From 1996-2002 he was Director, National Awareness, for Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO where he oversaw a 150 per cent growth in the organisation’s media profile.
A journalist since 1969, he was editor of the “National Farmer” and “Sunday Independent” newspapers, editor-in-chief of the Australian Rural Times, and chief of the Australian Agricultural News Bureau. For ten years he was agriculture correspondent, science and technology correspondent and scientific editor for The Australian and still writes a regular column for the national daily. He edits Australian R&D Review and ScienceAlert.com.au, the nation’s leading scientific news site.
He has received 32 awards for journalism including the Order of Australia Association Media Prize, the inaugural Eureka Prize for environmental journalism, the inaugural AUSTRADE award for international business journalism, the Dalgety Award for rural journalism, two MBF Awards for medical journalism and five Michael Daley Awards for science journalism.
He was national foundation president of the Australian Science Communicators (ASC), president of the National Rural and Resources Press Club, a member of CSIRO advisory committees for agriculture, fisheries and entomology. He has served as a Director of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Crawford Fund, the Secretariat for International Landcare, CSIRO Publishing, the Australian Minerals and Energy Environment Foundation, the National Science and Technology Centre (Questacon) and the Council of the Academy of technological Sciences & Engineering.
His published work includes more than 8,000 print articles, 1000 broadcasts, 3000 media releases and 400 speeches as well as “The Forgotten Country”, six editions of “Australian Agriculture”, “The White Death”, “Dry Times” and “Open Science”. His most recent book is “The Coming Famine: the global food crisis and what we can do to avoid it”, which explores the issues around food security and the actions by nations and individuals necessary to assure it.
At a recent meeting, the ASC Canberra committee decided we had heard of the Inspiring Australia (IA) report, but didn’t know much about what it said, what was happening as a result or what the implications were for us as science communicators. So we asked Simon France from the Australian government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Resources and Margaret McIver, our local IA officer, to tell us all about it.
We had a good turn-out of over 30 people, including a few new faces and a few new members.
Simon gave us a national perspective in a polished way – he’s been touring the country presenting information sessions about IA recently. The full report is online (http://www.innovation.gov.au/science/inspiringaustralia/Pages/default.aspx) so I won’t repeat it here, but my five top bits of useful information from Simon were:
I hope Simon will correct me if my scribbly notes have not been translated correctly.
Marg gave us a run-down of local action, including presentations by Dr Fiona Wood, authentique Cafe Scientifique events in conjunction with the Alliance Francaise and a Science meets Art competition for Youth Week (which we got to admire over wine and cheese after her presentation). Marg has developed a calendar of science events in Canberra which she sends to her email list monthly (or so).
David George, from the ACT government’s Chief Minister’s Department, which supports Marg’s position, was also able to tell us about their recent move into the science communication realm, though which they are involved in a number of programs such as the Tall Poppy Campaign and CSIRO’s Canberra education centre.
Big thanks to our presenters, who have inspired us to get involved with Inspiring Australia. We’re watching that space with interest.
Liz Yuncken
ASC Canberra Committee
| 24 November 2010 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
The world is facing numerous challenges and dwindling natural resources but it’s far from ‘doom and gloom’.
Co-author of The Sixth Wave, he says that we are about to embark upon the next wave of innovation. In this wave a spectacular boom in technology and powerful new markets will drive a shift away from resource dependence to a new way of life: resource efficiency. Waste will be a source of opportunity and nature a source of inspiration.
What roles do science communicators play in this?
When: Wed 24 Nov 2010
Time: 6.00pm for 6:15pm start
Where: CSIRO Discovery Clunies Ross St, New Acton, Canberra.
Evening also features:
Free public event. Donations taken for drinks and nibbles.
RSVP and enquiries: asccanberra@gmail.com, 0413 883 414
James Bradfield Moody’s profile: www.csiro.au/people/James.Moody
More about The Sixth Wave: www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6688.htm
The ASC Canberra AGM
We’d love to have more people involved in the local committee. The committee’s main responsibilities are organising networking and professional development events for ASC members in Canberra and supporting and shaping the national activities.
The bare minimum positions we must elect are:
1. President
2. Treasurer
3. Brains Trust (the rest of the committee)
Please register your interest in being a committee member with Claire Harris (claireharris.oz@gmail.com) before the meeting if possible.
Being on the committee is a great way to build your professional network and get event management experience. And we like to enjoy ourselves, catching up often for breakfast or in the evening over a beer.
More information about the ASC Canberra Committee can be found at: www.asc.asn.au/state-and-national/act/
The world is facing numerous challenges and dwindling natural resources but it’s far from ‘doom and gloom’.
Join ASC Canberra to hear JThe world is facing numerous challenges and dwindling natural resources but it’s far from ‘doom and gloom’.
Join ASC Canberra to hear James Bradfield Moody talk about the emerging new wave of innovation. Co-author of The Sixth Wave James says the next wave of innovation will be about resources: natural resources, human resources and information. What role do science communicators play in this?
Evening also features:
• a raffle for ASC members **win The Sixth Wave
• (super-fast) ASC Canberra Annual General Meeting to vote in the new committee (details next page)
ames Bradfield Moody talk about the emerging new wave of innovation. Co-author of The Sixth Wave James says the next wave of innovation will be about resources: natural resources, human resources and information. What role do science communicators play in this?
Evening also features:
• a raffle for ASC members **win The Sixth Wave
• (super-fast) ASC Canberra Annual General Meeting to vote in the new committee (details next page)