Category Archives: SA

SA Event: Teach for Australia – Innovative pathways for outstanding science graduates

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Brought to you by The Tall Poppy Campaign and Teach for Australia:

Event: Teach for Australia – Innovative pathways for outstanding science graduates
Monday 20 February, 2012
Royal Society Room at the SA Museum, North Terrace
12:30pm – 1:30pm (Lunch Included)

Speakers: Adam Buxton, Teach for Australia
Tessa Mudge, Alumni and Associate at Teach for Australia

Places are strictly limited and priority will be given to current SA Tall Poppies and Alumni, but all TP.SA friends and supporters are very welcome!

For more information please do not hesitate in contact myself or TP.SA State Manager Rachel Crees (Rachel.crees@sa.gov.au)

We look forward to seeing you there on Feb 20th

Grant Mills
Outreach Officer South Australian Tall Poppy Campaign
Australian Institute of Policy and Science
& the Tall Poppy Campaign
Tel: (08) 8207 8734
Fax: (08) 8207 8700
Mob: 0424 026 869
Email: grant.mills@sa.gov.au
Web: http://www.aips.net.au
Hours: Monday and Wednesday

Life Member Profile: Barbara Hardy AO

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Barbara Hardy has been working in the environment field in a voluntary capacity since the early 1970s.   During this time she spent five years at the Flinders University of South Australia studying the Earth Sciences (1974-79), following a Science Degree at The University of Adelaide in 1947 (majoring in Chemistry).

She has been a Commissioner of the Australian Heritage Commission, President of the National Parks Foundation of South Australia (now the Nature Foundation SA), Founding President of the Investigator Science and Technology Centre, and Chairman of the South Australian Landcare Committee amongst a number of other roles.

Barbara Hardy was appointed an Officer of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1987, an Honorary Doctorate of the Flinders University in 1993, as well as an Advance Australia Award 1991, SA Great Award 1992, Institution of Engineers Medal 1992, ABC Eureka Award for the Advancement of Science 1994, and was named South Australian Citizen of the Year in 1996.  She is now a Companion of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy where she is a member of the Hydrogen Division.

In October 2001 she was appointed as the Member from Australia in the Asia-Pacific Forum for Environment and Development (APFED), a major international project initiated and funded by the Japanese Ministry for Environment.   APFED “aims to propose a model of equitable and sustainable development for Asia and the Pacific Region”.  Barbara has now stood down as the APFED Member from Australia, as of July 2006, and her place was taken by Greg Bourne, CEO of WWF Australia.

In August 2009 the University of Adelaide presented Barbara with a Distinguished Alumni Award “in recognition of her lifelong commitment, and significant contribution to the advancement of Science Education, Science Awareness, and Environmental Conservation”.

In November 2009. The University of South Australia established the Barbara Hardy Centre for Sustainable Urban Environments.   This organization later became an Institute.

In April 2010 the University of Adelaide admitted Barbara to the Degree of Doctor of the University (honoris causa).

Barbara Hardy’s principal interests are in ecologically sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, environmental valuation, renewable energy production and use, and in business and industrial matters especially as they affect the environment within which we all live.

National Science Week Feedback Event – Adelaide

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Do you want to have a say about National Science Week in South Australia? Do you have feedback or suggestions from this year or a great idea for 2012 and beyond? Are you keen to meet others involved in science-related outreach? You are invited to a Planning Session on Monday 31 October at RiAus (The Science Exchange, off Pirie St, City) from 1.00pm to 4.30pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend this session where we will be looking at ideas for the future direction of National Science Week in SA. These ideas will then be considered by our Coordinating Committee at a meeting in November, and a Strategic Plan set in place.

Some of the topics to be discussed include:

  • What does your organisation want to get out of National Science Week?
  • How can National Science Week be used to support and develop programs throughout the year?
  • What outcomes from National Science Week should we be measuring?
  • Who currently participates in National Science Week and how can we encourage more individuals and organisations to be involved?

Can’t attend in person? You can contribute to digital discussions by signing up to www.saffia.org and going to the dedicated National Science Week forum at:  http://www.saffia.org/index.php?/forum/13-national-science-week-2011-and-beyond/

If you can join us on the day, please RSVP to Rona: rona.sakko@csiro.au

Rona Sakko
On behalf of SA National Science Week Coordinating Committee

Note – National Science Week is planning for the 2012 National Science Week grant round to be open for applications from 7 to 28 November 2011.

Visit to Adelaide for National Science Week 2011

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The ASC South Australia branch, had a busy National Science Week. I missed their contribution to the launch event, but arrived in Adelaide in time to see Science Alive, the huge local Science Week event. I met a number of ASC members who were involved in exhibit stands and talks at this enormous undertaking, which filled a large pavilion at the Adelaide showgrounds. The event attracted around 24,000 people over 3 days. I’ve heard Science Alive will be offered even more space for next year.

The day after Science Alive closed, ASC SA hosted the book launch of Dinosaurs in Australia, a CSIRO publication, and attracted a full house of 120 people to this fun evening.

They held this event in association with RiAus. I look forward to a continued close relationship between the branch and RiAus which is now being led by its new director, Paul Willis.

Jesse Shore

National President

Tall Poppy Awards – Judging now underway

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The Science Excellence Awards is South Australia’s premier event to recognise and reward outstanding scientific endeavour, including its application in industry and the advancement of science and mathematics education.

New categories for Awards

This year’s Awards are being launched with an exciting new set of categories focussed on high achievers in the early stages of their careers, including PhD graduates and early career STEM professionals and educators.

Judging is now underway. Finalists will be announced mid October and a Gala Dinner will be held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on November 3rd. All eight 2011 SA Tall Poppies will be invited to the event where the TPoY will be announced and awarded.

More information:http://www.scienceawards.sa.gov.au/

Improve your writing skills

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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:

  • How to identify the most important and interesting thing in the story, the essential idea that will interest the journalist
  • Structure an effective media release
  • Design clear media messages – that make both journalists and scientists happy!
    Write, and rewrite effective media release
  • Manage scientists: what they think is important is not necessarily going to interest the media!
  • Get timely approvals from the talent, your managers and collaborators
  • Distribute and follow up your releases

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

Where Worlds Collide

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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.

South Australian Science Excellence Awards

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Thanks to Lisa Bailey, RiAus for providing this information:

Calling members of the South Australian science and research community …

Do you know a recent PhD graduate with outstanding early-career achievement or a researcher with no more than five years workforce experience?  Or maybe a school or tertiary teacher who is making an outstanding contribution to student education and inspiring students to study further in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)?

In 2011, the South Australian Science Excellence Awards will be recognising outstanding achievement in the following categories:

  • South Australian Scientist of the Year
  • PhD Research Excellence

-          Health and Medical Sciences

-          Life or Environmental Sciences

-          Physical Sciences/Mathematics/Engineering

  • Early Career STEM Professional

-          Natural and Physical Sciences/Engineering/Mathematics

-          Health and Life Sciences

  • Early Career STEM Educator of the Year

-          School Teaching

-          Tertiary Teaching

 

The SA Scientist of the Year Award receives prize money of $20,000 with the remaining awards each receiving $5,000.

For further information, please visit www.scienceawards.sa.gov.au

National Science Week (SA) Grants

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National Science Week (SA) Grants

Thinking of holding an event in National Science Week?

Through the financial support of the Government of South Australia (via DFEEST), we are pleased to offer a number of small grants (upper limit of $2,000) to organisations who might need financial support to run an event in August in Science Week.
Applications close Friday 10 June 2011.

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