ASC corporate members – meeting with Scitech

Posted on 30 December 2011 by Jesse Shore

Interest is growing for organisations to become corporate members of the ASC. While I was in Perth for the 2011 ASC AGM I took the opportunity to meet with the management of one of our most recent new corporate members, Scitech.

Scitech is Perth’s and WA’s state-wide active and progressive science centre. Alan Brien, the director of Scitech, led the discussion which ranged over the recent history of Scitech and its key activities in science communication.

Some of the main points included that Scitech is the lead state institution for overseeing Inspiring Australia activities in WA. Alan’s team gave an update on developments of ScienceNetworkWA, http://sciencewa.net.au/, its online connection to science activity in the state.

We explored a few ways that Scitech and the ASC could work more closely together, starting off with the National Conference. I look forward to seeing some of the ideas being realised soon.

Jesse Shore
National President

Social media reaches elusive demographic

Posted on 19 December 2011 by Susan Kirk

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

ASC national conference travel grants

Posted on 15 December 2011 by Jesse Shore

Up to four travel grants of $200-400 each are available to ASC members from WA for attending the Australian Science Communicators conference in Sydney in February 2012.

The ASC conference will be held 27-29 February 2012 in Sydney at the Sydney Masonic Centre, a centrally located conference venue. We look forward to ASC members from around Australia attending the conference.

To make the event affordable we kept conference registration fees low and sourced economically priced hotels as part of the conference accommodation offering.

We want to encourage more distant members to make the trip and we know that travel costs are a factor, especially to our many members in Western Australia. The National Executive has noted that return airfares from Perth to Sydney average $200 more than flights from other capital cities, with the exception of Darwin which is even more expensive.

The National Executive and WA branch committee will help up to four ASC members overcome the hurdle of this extra cost. Each group are contributing equally to provide $800 towards travel grants. The branch will decide how to allocate the funds, in grants of $200 to $400 each.

ASC conference travel grants

General criteria. To be eligible all applicants must

be residents of Western Australia, and current financial members of the Association (you may apply for membership when you submit your application for the travel grant). You can join or renew membership online at http://www.asc.asn.au/join/.

have limited or no financial support to attend the conference.

submit travel grant applications to the WA branch, asc.events.wa@gmail.com by 6 January 2012. Details of the application are below.

To apply for the grant: send an email to WA branch, asc.events.wa@gmail.com, with a statement in 100 words or less what you want to gain from attending the conference and how the grant will assist you to attend. Include full contact details with the address of your primary residence.

Applications will be assessed by representatives of both the WA branch committee and the National Executive. Applicants will be advised of the outcome in mid-January 2012.

Winning applicants must register for the conference to receive the grant and will get the early bird rate. Each winner will be invited to write an article for Scope about their conference experience.

The WA branch reserves the right not to award any grants.

Emma Donnelly, President of ASC WA Branch
Jesse Shore, National president

Official notice of Australian Science Communicators’ Annual General Meeting, Perth, WA

Posted on 9 November 2011 by sarahlau

30 November 2011
6:00 pm	to	9:30 pm

This is the official notice of the Australian Science Communicators’ Annual General Meeting, to be held in Perth, Western Australia, on 30 November 2011. The AGM is being hosted by the ASC WA Branch. The AGM will be followed by an interactive science quiz night hosted by compere extraordinaire David Ellyard.

Date: Wednesday 30 November 2011
Time: 6.00pm-7.15pm (ASC AGM), 7.30pm – 9.30pm (Science Quiz Night)
Venue: Rosie O’Grady’s, Cnr James & Milligan St, Northbridge, WA
ASC members: free (Only currently financial ASC members are eligible to attend the AGM)
Non-members: $10
Non member students: $5

Registration: http://ascnationalagm2011.eventbrite.com

The ASC AGM will run from 6.00-7:15pm in the Cab Bar and is open to ASC voting members only. The quiz night for all registered participants will begin at 7:30pm sharp in the Cab Bar.

Seats are limited so registration is essential. The seating is 6 people per table. To confirm the members of your table, please email asc.events.wa@gmail.com.

The 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, and news of the upcoming national conference. Members also have the chance to elect a new National President. Proposed agenda items, notices of motion and presidential nominations must be received by Wednesday 23 November.

Note that notices of motion require a proposer and a seconder, and nominations for President need to be agreed by the nominee.

Members unable to attend the AGM in person are able to give proxies to other members attending the meeting, or alternatively, send them to Sarah Lau, National Secretary (slau@chemcentre.wa.gov.au) before 5.00pm AWST on Wednesday 30 November 2011.

Minutes from the ASC AGM 2010, Adelaide, SA

AGENDA (as of 9 November 2011)

1. Confirmation of members attending, apologies
2. Notification of proxies
3. Minutes of 2010 AGM
4. President’s report
5. Treasurer’s report
a) presentation of statement of accounts
b) determination of annual membership fee
c) determination of capitation to be returned to branches
d) determination of honoraria
e) appointment of auditor
f) appointment of public officer
g) preview of 2011 budget
6. Election of 2012 ASC President
7. Motions to amend the Constitution
8. Any other business

Motion to change the ASC Constitution – for ASC AGM 2011

1. Motion to change the Constitution – Motion made by Jesse Shore and seconded by Rob Morrison. We propose the constitution is amended as follows:

[The proposed change to the wording in the revised clause is underlined.]

[Definition from clause 2.9: “Association” means Australian Science Communicators Incorporated.]

Section 5.4 of the constitution – ‘BRANCHES’

Current wording:

5.4.2

Branches may have their own constitutions, but wherever any discrepancy exists, the Constitution of the Association shall prevail.

Proposed new wording

5.4.2

Branches may have their own rules or constitutions, but wherever any discrepancy exists, the Constitution of the Association shall prevail.

Reason for proposed amendment:
This minor change in wording acknowledges that the ASC branches, which are unincorporated bodies, are more likely to have their own rules than constitutions.
We want the branches to be aware they have the right to have rules and to encourage them to adopt rules if they haven’t done so already. The new wording still allows for branches to have constitutions and makes it clear that whether they have rules or constitutions, the Constitution of the Association is the overriding document.

ASC WA Event – Behind the Scenes at WA Museum

Posted on 19 October 2011 by sarahlau

25 October 2011
4:30 pm	to	5:45 pm

Apologies for the short notice. Please register your attendance at http://ascwamuseum.eventbrite.com/

The Australian Science Communicators WA Branch and the Western Australian Museum would like to invite you to a tour of WA Museum Collection and Resource Centre at Welshpool.

When: Tuesday 25 October
Time: 4.30pm – 5.45pm
Where: WA Museum, Kew Street, Welshpool (corner of Orrong Road and Leach Hwy)

The event will include an overview of the WA Museum and its science program by Di Jones, Executive Director, Collections and Research.

Participants will then go on a tour of the Collection and Resource Centre (CRC) with Mark Harvey (Head of Terrestrial Zoology), Alex Bevan (Head of Earth & Planetary Sciences) and Jane Fromont (Head of Aquatic Zoology).

This will be followed by refreshments and networking.

Cost: Free for ASC members, $10 for non-members

Improve your writing skills

Posted on 8 September 2011 by Susan Kirk

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

Member Profile: Silvia Piviali

Posted on 26 August 2011 by silviapiviali

Silvia Piviali

It didn’t take Silvia very long to settle into the way of life in Perth, Western Australia after she immigrated from Italy, at age 6. Its hard to believe that this is her 25^th year of living in Perth, where she is happily settled with her 2 young children and husband of 6 years. From a young age, Silvia always asked lots of questions, and it was this inquisitive and curious nature, that led to an interest then career in Science, specializing in the Medical Sciences. For many years after qualifying, she worked on the laboratory bench, but then her outgoing personality craved contact with people (not specimens!) and she embarked on many interesting career roles such as Sales, Marketing, Recruitment, Writing, Consulting and now as Co-Editor of SCOPE, using the field of Science as her basis. Silvia enjoys keeping fit & healthy through the Swimming & Tennis clubs she is a member of, looking after her rental property, playing with her Golden Retriever dog and taking holidays with her family. Interestingly, Silvia was offered this role whilst still in hospital, after her second child, Chiara, now aged 5 weeks old, came along!!

ASC-WA goes wild at Perth Zoo

Posted on 28 October 2010 by Laura Miles

Wayne Walters, Perth Zoo’s Acting Education Manager, organised an action-packed program for the ASCers, with attendees taking part in the same education and communication activities used with school, community and corporate groups.

Upon arriving, Wayne and Education Officer Claire Gaskin guided ASC members through an African Painted Dog scenario, in which two teams were required to navigate their way across a grid whilst avoiding some of the dangers the dogs face in real life.

This first activity was an engaging introduction to communication and education at Perth Zoo, in which a range of tools and approaches are used to encourage visitors to connect with animal ‘ambassadors’.

From a science communication perspective, Perth Zoo not only works to raise awareness of issues such as conservation and sustainability, but also encourages visitors to change their own daily behaviour to address these issues. Often these actions are simple, but can conflict with existing attitudes. To illustrate these concepts in action, Wayne
explained one of the Zoo’s current campaigns – encouraging people to choose recycled toilet paper.

The group was then immersed in a selection of the Education Team’s ‘educational experiences’, which are designed to allow hands-on experiences around the Zoo’s own programs and operations. For example, one group of ASCers was put to work solving the problem of finding enough termites to feed the Zoo’s numbats.

It was an entertaining and engaging showcase of the many educational programs offered at the Zoo. However, the final part of the visit was the most special, in which Wayne led the party through the Zoo’s African Safari section after dark.

Many of the animals viewed were particularly active and ASCers were fortunate enough to witness the Southern White Rhinoceroses from less than a metre away, and to hear the lions ‘singing’.

ASC-WA must thank WA Secretary, Miriam Sullivan for organising the visit and Claire Gaskin from Perth Zoo for assisting with the educational activities. A special thanks to Wayne Walters for organising an excellent program and sharing Perth Zoo’s approach to communication and education.

Sarah Lau
ASC National Secretary

Are you connected with other Australian Science Communicators?

Posted on 15 April 2010 by Laura Miles

Missing out on the latest news from around the country? Here’s a quick reminder of the ways to stay connected with ASC:

Sign up to the ASC-list and/or ASC-media lists – as immediate e-mails or digests
Browse the ASC website
Ask your membership officer for an invitation code, to post and comment on the ASC website
Get involved with your branch committee

Note that anyone can join the lists as observers, but only current, financial ASC members can post messages. Membership to ASC does not automatically register you to the ASC email lists. You must register through the separate system as described here.

ASC-list is the mailing list for discussing science communication issues and promoting events. The ASC-media list is for press releases and self promotion. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) including details on unsubscribing, converting your list preferences and accessing the archive can be found here.

Australian Science Communicators

for those who make science accessible

Category Archives: WA