Nominate now for the 2011 Unsung hero awards South Australia

Posted on 24 May 2011 by lisushi

National Science Week (SA) and Australian Science Communicators (SA)

are proud to jointly offer the

2011 UNSUNG HERO AWARDS OF
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE
These awards aim to recognise those who have not yet received significant recognition for their contribution to science or science communication.
There are 2 awards: the Unsung Hero of South Australian Science and the Unsung Hero of South Australian Science Communication.

Applications close in July. Please contact Rona rona.sakko@csiro.au for further information and a nomination form.

Please read the criteria for each award carefully to ensure that nominations are made for the appropriate award.

Unsung Hero of South Australian Science

This award honours a person or group, at this particular time, who exemplifies the aims and objectives of National Science Week and Australian Science Communicators (SA).

The criteria for nomination for the UNSUNG HERO OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE are as follows:

1. Nominees must reside in South Australia and actively engage in science research, scientific methodology, administration or practice. While nominees should have shown respect for science communication, this award recognises science practitioners in areas other than teaching and communication.

Those whose strengths lie in these latter areas might be suitable nominees for the award of UNSUNG HERO OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION.

2. The work for which the nominee is being nominated must have been carried out in South Australia or, if of national significance, should have considerable relevance to South Australia.

3. The nominee should be a person, people or group who have not yet received significant recognition for their contribution to science. This will almost certainly rule out a ‘top’ or popular scientist.

The nominee should have shown that they regard science communication as an integral part of scientific work.

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

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. 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.

Notes:
There will always be more good candidates than can be awarded; therefore there is no shortlist from which a ‘top’ candidate is to be chosen.

This award should identify an exemplar.

This award may be made to a candidate whose work is in science or in a number of related fields (e.g. technology, environment, health etc) where the science component of their work is highly significant.

Factors which may influence the final selection are many and varied and may include topical and political issues, etc.

Unsung Hero of South Australian Science Communication

This award is a companion to the UNSUNG HERO OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE, and honours a person or group who exemplify science communication.

The criteria for nomination for the UNSUNG HERO OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION are as follows:

1. Nominees must be resident in South Australia and 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 cultural institutions.

Those whose strengths lie in other areas such as science research, practice or administration may be suitable nominees for the UNSUNG HERO OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE award.

2. The work for which the nominee is being nominated must have been carried out in South Australia or, if of national significance, it should have considerable relevance to South Australia.

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

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

Notes:
There will always be more good candidates than can be awarded; therefore there is no shortlist from which a ‘top’ candidate is to be chosen.

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

Tall Poppies South Australia – May Newsletter

Posted on 9 May 2011 by rscrees

Please follow this link to read the first issue of “Eleusis” – the monthly newsletter of the Tall Poppy Campaign in South Australia. Enjoy!

Eleusis 1

Rally for Research – Adelaide

Posted on 19 April 2011 by jbyrne

This article was originally published here with pictures and video.

In Australia at the moment there is a real fear that our Government (who are supposed to be on the left side of that political line) is going to cut $400 million from medical research budgets. To protest this rallies are being run in most Australian capital cities to advertise the role of scientists in the community and to show all scientists that collectively we have a voice that can be heard, you just have to start shouting.

A couple of days ago the rally in my city was held and whilst I couldn’t make it (due to teaching obligations) my good friend Thomas Tu, with whom I started Disease of the Week (on which he has also written a post about this) a few years ago, has been heavily involved. You can find a radio interview he did on one of Australia’s largest radio stations, Triple J, here (about a third of the way in) and there is a video of him giving a speech at the rally. He is standing on the steps of our city’s Parliament House.

So what can you do if you can’t make a rally or are in another country but want to show your support? Jump on the Discoveries need Dollars website or the Facebook page and ‘Like’ or follow the Twitter page and at all these places there is more info.

We are trying to make it a big issue to protect medical research, our livelihoods and encourage more students into science careers and it makes it very difficult when not only is money taken away but when its predicted to affect early career researchers hardest.

If you can help and you care about medical research I implore you to do as much as you can.

I’ll get off my high-horse now.

James Byrne

Associate Lecturer at University of Adelaide
Bacteriology PhD student and writer at Disease Prone

The new improved ASC SA branch

Posted on 24 February 2011 by Laura Miles

The SA branch of ASC reformed in 2010 after a lapse of several years. It has been a successful year, with strong membership and support of programs. Given that the branch lapsed because too much was being done by too few previously, the committee was structured this time to ensure that each person on it has only one job to do. This ensures that the various tasks are done well, but there is a finite limit to what is being asked of each busy person.

This worked very well in 2010 and we have extended it for 2011. It also means committee meetings are short and few, being held for about 30 minutes after some events. Effectively the “portfolio” system manages itself, thanks to the quality of those who have taken the portfolios on.

For those interested in experimenting with this, the various positions are President, VP, Secretary Treasurer, Program Coordinator, Event Manager, Membership Co-ordinator, Minutes Secretary, and three committee members, who take on some of the extra tasks and overflow (eg forming a program committee). Some are also representatives of other bodies (eg National Science Week [NSWk], RiAus) with whom we work closely.

The program in 2010 consisted of two kinds of activities, monthly events and additional workshops. Both are free for members while non-members pay, and this encourages some to join on the night to get free entrance to what is on offer. We also have a policy that members can bring a prospective member to one event free to see if they like us.

A special event in National Science Week is the ASCSA/NSWk awards of Unsung Hero of Science and of Science Communication (2 awards). We started this at the same time as the national award many years ago, and have run it ever since, the National Science Week Committee taking it on when ASCSA lapsed. it is now jointly run. We expanded the awards from just science to an additional science communication award for two reasons. (1) Many applicants for the unsung hero of science were actually in science communication, and (b) who will offer such an award if ASC doesn’t? These awards have good local recognition and press coverage, and we make them at the launch of National Science Week in front of a large and influential audience, the Minister handing out the awards while the Chief Scientist reads the citation.

2010 ended with the national AGM in Adelaide, followed by a fabulous evening with David Ellyard doing his quiz, and Zoz Brooks providing tremendous video interludes, showing extracts from his TV shows (mostly very high speed video of scientific phenomena slowed down).

Our program for 2011 is already mapped out, thanks to our terrific programs group, and I would be happy to share it. We would also love to see the programs of other branches, as there will certainly be good ideas there that we could also try.

Rob Morrison, ASCSA Pres/branch rep.

Workshops (eg media training, how to make a video segment etc) are typically $50 for non-members; partly to raise funds, butr also to show members that they get value for their membership (2 workshops and you are in credit).

Dr Rob Morrison
rob.morrison [at] flinders.edu.au

ASCSA: Science in the media, an editors perspective (Podcast)

Posted on 16 November 2010 by lisushi

Event held at the Science Exchange, Adelaide

Monday 15 November 2010.

The Advertiser is an unusual daily paper in australia in having specialist reporters in science, environment and health. Editor Melvin Mansell joined us at the November ASCSA event for a discussion on the quantity and quality of science reporting in Australia.

Why does an editor employ specialist reporters in these areas? What benefits do they bring to the paper? Does the addition of specialist reporters give a media outlet additional credibility, and how well do media outlets cover science without reporters with a science background?

Podcast available at

http://riausondemand.org.au/event/ascsa-monthly-science-in-the-media-and-an-editors-perspective/

Event: ‘Innovate and communicate’ + Canberra AGM

Posted on 12 November 2010 by claireharris

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’.

Join ASC Canberra to hear James Bradfield Moody talk about the emerging new wave of innovation.

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:

drinks and nibbles
a raffle for ASC members **win The Sixth Wave
quick ASC Canberra Annual General Meeting to elect 2011 committee (details below).

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)

Arts SA funding bulletin

Posted on 27 October 2010 by Reganf

Arts SA and the Australia Council for the Arts funding opportunities

The Australia Council’s Digital Culture Fund: calling all geeks!

Call yourself a geek? Fancy some money to make some digital art or help other people to discover their inner geek?

If you answered yes to any of the above, the Australia Council’s Digital Culture Fund and Geek in Residence program may be just what you’re looking for.

The Digital Culture Fund offers up to $40,000 for artists working with innovative technologies in a live context with a strong focus on audience engagement. The Geek in Residence program offers up to $25,000 towards a technically confident artist (or artistically confident technician) to work in an arts organisation on a temporary subsidised placement.

To find out more, you are invited to come along to a special event at Adelaide’s home of DIY geek culture, Format Collective.

Date: Saturday 30 October

Time: 1pm – 4pm

Venue: Format Collective, 15 Peel Street, ADELAIDE (just off Hindley)

Contact: f.plumley@australiacouncil.gov.au

More info: http://bit.ly/digf2f

You will have the chance to hear all about the work the Australia Council for the Arts is doing to support the digital era, find out more about these two funds, meet some of last year’s successful applicants and do some ‘geek speed dating’. Format Collective will also be launching its new iPhone zine app.

Meetings to discuss individual applications with an Australia Council staff member are available at Format on Monday 1 November. Visit http://artsdigitalera.eventbrite.com/?s=2410709 to book an appointment.

And don’t forget Art SA’s Independent makers and presenters program Professional development category closes this Friday 29 October at 5pm.

The Professional development category helps independent artists build their own practice through skills and career pathway opportunities. For more information go to http://www.arts.sa.gov.au/ or contact Arts SA on 8463 5444.

Please feel free to forward this information to your networks or an arts related organisation that can benefit from the information enclosed. You may be able assist in the distribution of this information to other arts organisations and artists. Apologies in advance for any cross-mailing that may occur with this Email.

_____

To change the Email Topics to which you are currently subscribed (or to Unsubscribe), click http://www.arts.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?s=mailManager&id=2854&uuid=B0F960AD-5056-AC24-6CB60E90FC10C914 here

_______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

ASCSA Video editing workshop (1/11/10)

Posted on 20 October 2010 by lisushi

1 November 2010
6:00 pm	to	9:00 pm

ASCSA Video Production Workshop With Josh Cockfield, Rob Morrison, Deane Hutton and Steve Kern

http://ascsa-video-workshop.eventbrite.com

Date: Monday 1st November 2010

Time: 6pm-9pm

Venue: RiAus main auditorium

Video is a powerful communication tool and is no longer the sole domain of TV stations and established production companies.

Cameras are getting cheaper, editing can be done on a basic laptop and the Internet provides an inexpensive way to broadcast the finished product. This provides a fantastic opportunity for teachers, students, scientists and anyone else with an interest in science to create engaging and informative science content. One of the best things about science is that is can be a hands-on activity so it makes sense to use a visual medium to communicate scientific concepts.

But as anyone who has spent time on Youtube knows, there is an awful lot of rubbish out there when it comes to amateur videography. So how do you turn your ideas into something that won’t make people cringe?

Well, you could start by coming along to the ASCSA Video Production workshop! The workshop will be broken up into three segments: script writing, filming and editing. We will set you up in small groups and Josh Cockfield, assisted by Rob Morrison, Deane Hutton and Steve Kern, will guide you through each of these phases to produce a fun bit of science video.

Josh produces children’s science television and documentaries for Network 10. Rob and Deane have more than 65 years of experience between them as TV broadcasters and videographers. That paring of names should be familiar: Deane and Rob were the team fronting the acclaimed educational children’s TV show “the Curiosity Show” produced on Channel 9 from 1972 to 1990. Steve has worked for Warner Brothers, been a producer for Channel 9 and is currently a Senior Programs co-ordinator at the RiAus. He has a wealth of experience writing, directing and producing a range of film, television and documentary projects across digital media platforms.

Bookings: at http://ascsa-video-workshop.eventbrite.com Cost: Free to ASCSA members, non-members $40, Students $25. Payment at the door please. Workshop limited to 15 people.

Please email Richard.musgrove@sa.gov.au if you need further information. You will be sent the workshop agenda soon after registration. We would like to start at 6pm so please be there at 5:45pm. _______________________________________________ ASC-list mailing list list@asc.asn.au http://www.asc.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=115

Australian Science Communicators

for those who make science accessible

Category Archives: SA

Nominate now for the 2011 Unsung hero awards South Australia

Tall Poppies South Australia – May Newsletter

The new improved ASC SA branch

ASCSA: Science in the media, an editors perspective (Podcast)