ASC2012 – you know you want to go. Here’s why!

Posted on 25 January 2012 by Achim Eberhart

27 February 2012

29 February 2012

On the web, your colleague in the office down the hall is as close as the one from the other end of the continent – but wouldn’t it be nice to catch up with all of them in more than 140 characters? In person and in one place? To chat about what they’ve been up to and even get to know all those colleagues you didn’t even know you had? ASC2012 is the place to do exactly that. From February 27 to 29 science (and) communication professionals from all over Australia come together at Sydney’s Masonic Centre to discuss old and new media, past and future campaigns, established and beginning careers…

All chief scientists, including the big cheese of Australian science himself, Ian Chubb, will offer their account of the current state of science and policy in Australia – followed by generously timed Q & A sessions. Of course, among all these celebrities, the communicators’ own perspective on science, politics and lobbyism will not be neglected either!

A wide variety of professional development sessions, many of them in interactive workshop format, will provide new tools for even the most seasoned science communicators. Sci Comm newbies, on the other hand, will find inspiration from other young professionals and tips from veterans during a speed mentoring event.

Among many others we’ll find sessions on the development of professional communication plans, how to spot and fix common problems with science writing and how to communicate clearly and concisely (in three minutes, to be precise…). Yet another session instructs scientists how to manage their relationship with the media – and ensure their work is represented the way they want it to be.

As a matter of fact ASC2012 won’t stop short of new or less common media. We’ll learn about the value of computer games and there will also be a serious look at social media in science communication. The program even boasts a science-art exhibition.

Finally, having all these communication tools is very useful, but how can we know that our strategies are effective and the message reaches the target audience? ASC2012 has a solution for that, too. Several presentations and workshops deal with the evaluation of science communication. Yes, even ASC2012 itself will be evaluated – live on stage!

ASC2012
Getting science where it’s needed
Sydney Masonic Centre
27 to 29 February

View the detailed conference program here.

Are computer games and apps the new frontiers for communicating science?

Posted on 19 January 2012 by Achim Eberhart

27 February 2012

29 February 2012

Computer games can be a powerful form of media, not only in school teaching, but also to engage the general public in science. In a session at the Australian Science Communicators’ National Conference, ASC2012, a panel of experienced game designers and educators will explore and explain how this is done. Among the speakers at this session will be Cathy Howe, project leader for MacICT’s Game Design Team and Sam Doust, who developed the ‘participatory drama’ Bluebird AR for ABC online.

The success story of computer games closely tracks that of the technology on which we play them: personal computers, gaming consoles and lately mobile phones. As these devices have spread and developed into sophisticated multi-media communication tools, computer games themselves have become intricate ‘worlds’ within which gamers – often together with other players – solve complex challenges. What started off as a means of passing time and escaping reality is increasingly being recognised as valuable training to wrestle with real-world problems. Military forces across the globe have long been using game-like simulations to train soldiers. Educational institutions are now following suit.

Playing computer games children acquire skills through applying them to challenges. This problem-based learning, argues Prof James Paul Gee of Arizona State University, the author of several books on the educational value of video games, is far more effective than the classic teaching approach, which is “focused on relating facts and how well students retain this info”. A purely mathematical activity can become much more engaging when, with the help of video games, students can be involved in developing the entire exercise. Alice Leung, head science teacher at Merrylands High School in Sydney and a speaker at the GAME ON! video gaming festival last October experienced this, when she started using a Formula 1 racing game to teach Newton’s laws of motion. An additional advantage of game-based learning is that students are happy to play more often and longer than the time they would devote to conventional study. The immediate feedback and constant rewards for every individual point scored or level completed in a computer game leads to the release of the pleasure hormone dopamine in the brain and keeps gamers happy and playing.

ASC2012
Getting science where it’s needed
Sydney Masonic Centre
27 to 29 February 2012

Concurrent Session 4D

The ASC NSW Christmas Party – Fri 9 December

Posted on 25 November 2011 by RebeccaRose

9 December 2011
6:30 pm	to	11:30 pm

Hi folks,

You’re all invited to a night of food, fun and friends at the ASC NSW Christmas Party.

This is a great chance to meet fellow ASC members and discover the people behind the emails.

And we’re offering free drinks (well, two) to all members, nibblies and a great Trivia quiz.

Cost: Members are free, non-members $5 (partners and other potential ASC’ers welcome)

When: From 6.30 pm till late, Friday 9 December

Where: The Star Bar, 600 George St, Sydney (just down from Town Hall station, opposite Events Cinemas)
We have a room on the ground floor, at the back (the ‘Amber Bar’…. there will be a welcome sign).

What to wear: A dash of Christmas! (Something we can see: not your special Xmas undies…. Hat, earrings, tie, reindeer-antlers etc.)

RSVP: Would love to know if you can make it so please send us an email by Wednesday 30 November (it will help us know how much food to order) or visit the ASC Facebook page
Email: ascnsw@gmail.com

Best wishes and a very Merry Christmas from the ASC NSW Committee

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.

The Joy of Chocolate, November 16th 2011 in NSW

Posted on 7 November 2011 by Ian Woolf

16 November 2011
6:30 pm	to	7:30 pm

Come on a journey to learn about all things chocolate (and, yes, taste the stuff!).

Your guide will be Galit Segev, a qualified chef with a master’s degree in Food Science and Biochemistry and 10 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

You’ll discover:

* how chocolate gets from the cacao tree to your table, through fermentation, drying and conching
* how dark, milk and white chocolate differ
* the art of tempering chocolate, and why it’s done.

See firsthand the difference between cacao beans and cacao nibs, and taste chocolate from different origins.
Galit’s session was a hit at the Ultimo Science Festival. This is an event no chocoholic should miss!

When: Wednesday 16 November: 6:30-7.30 pm
Where: Clarendon Hotel, 156 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, NSW (upstairs). Meals will be available from the bar.

Cost: ASC Members $10; Non-members $20

Bookings Essential
Call Rebecca: 0410 635 083, reply via this email: ascnsw@gmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161008257328549

Continue reading →

ACT Event: New media: what do audiences want and how can communicators add value?

Posted on 4 November 2011 by claireharris

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:

CHRIS CASSELLA: Managing Director of ScienceAlert
DEREK MULLER: filmmaker, educator and founder of video blog Veritasium
WILL GRANT: from ANU and social media researcher
CRAIG THOMLER: government 2.0 advocate

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!

More on our panel

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

The ASC Canberra AGM – please attend, we need a quorum to proceed!

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).

President
Vice-President
National liaison position (this position can be held as a dual-role by President, Treasurer or Committee member)
Treasurer
Secretary
Rest of committee (Brains Trust)

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/

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

ASC ACT event: Evaluating science communication programs w/shop – 26 July

Posted on 6 July 2011 by claireharris

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:

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 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.

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/

WCSJ2011 June 27-29, Doha, Qatar – the countdown begins

Posted on 9 June 2011 by Jesse Shore

27 June 2011

29 June 2011

With less than three weeks to go until the World Conference of Science Journalists 2011 in Doha, Qatar, conference rooms are being readied, lunch menus fixed, hotel rooms prepared, airport shuttles booked and most importantly speakers are putting the finishing touches to their presentations. If you have yet to book your place for what will be an inspiring, provocative look at the past, present and future of science journalism there are still delegate places available. To register for the Conference visit: http://www.wcsj2011.org/user/register . Rates start at just $400/273 EUR for the full conference (lower rates are available for students). Hotel accommodation has been arranged at a special rate of 200 Qrs per night equivalent to $55/38 EUR. You can also enjoy the Conference’s special airline discount with Qatar Airlines (up to 25% off listed prices) visit http://www.wcsj2011.org/visasforqatar for details.

It is not often that science journalists take time out to reflect on their profession, and only every two years that we do this on an international scale – so act now to make sure you don’t miss out.

The WCSJ2011 – bringing cultures together
The World Conference of Science Journalists is a bi-annual event of the World Federation of Science Journalists. The co-hosts for 2011 are the Arab Science Journalists Association (ASJA) and the National Association of Science Writers (NASW).

The Main Menu – The Programme

A word from the Programme Director, Deborah Blum
As this is the first world conference to be held in an Arab country and in a developing region of the world, we wanted this program to represent those perspectives and to be inclusive of journalists – and journalistic storytelling – from a range of countries and cultures not often represented in international conferences.

Here you will find science writers from Egypt, Pakistan, Qatar, and Lebanon sharing their stories with journalists from Chile, Argentina and Brazil, adding their knowledge to that of reporters from Russia, China, India and Japan, joining their work with communicators from France, England, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, and building on the perspective of science writers from the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Our program begins and ends with perspectives on journalism in the Arab world, concluding with a look at journalism and democracy. We are proud that the conference is representative of the original location of the conference in Cairo, Egypt, and acknowledges the generosity and commitment of Qatar Foundation to keeping this meeting in an Arab country. Within this program, you will also find a wide range of issues on both a regional scale (the challenges of storytelling in Africa, in Latin America, in Asia, for instance) and on a global scale (explorations of climate change, emerging diseases, agriculture, natural disasters, and the physical sciences). There are sessions for those seeking to improve their skills in everything from narrative storytelling to the latest in digital skills. You will also find explorations of media ethics and science ethics, lessons on how to create a great radio program or a brilliant documentary film and on how to use social media and what that use may mean for the future of journalism. To help navigate these, you’ll find a program clearly organized by “tracks” ranging from biomedical to best practices.

For the full programme visit http://www.wcsj2011.org/program. The Conference venue is the brand new Student Centre of the Qatar Foundation’s Education City. Education City covers 14 square kilometres and houses educational facilities from school age to research level and branch campuses of some of the world’s leading universities, making this a superb setting for the WCSJ2011. For more on the venue see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_City

The 2nd Annual National Science Communication Officers’ Forum 2011

Posted on 30 May 2011 by Kali Madden

23 August 2011 11:00 am

24 August 2011 11:00 am

22-24 November 2011 (tentative)
Citigate Central, Sydney

Essential Tools and Approaches for Developing Communication Strategies within Scientific and Technical Research Environments

EXPLORE;
• Applying Innovative Strategies for Dealing with the Media
• Negotiating the Science Communication Spectrum for Better Results
• Maintaining Scientific Integrity
• Communicating Complex Information with Creativity

Science communication has changed in recent times with the ever-growing use of online media, adding an exciting yet challenging dimension to the communication process. Communicating strategies may have to be changed or adjusted because of new media, which can be particularly daunting when applied to complex science or technical content.

In this forum, science communication professionals will showcase, debate and discuss their experiences in communicating science to diverse audiences. Issues that are key to tackling science communication effectively will be explored and examples of professional best practice will be given.

This event will maintain its tradition of being an exciting and highly interactive platform for networking and gaining new insights into a high-level of professional practice. It provides practicality though a variety of real-life examples of how to enhance work performance.

Featured speakers come from a range of organizations and backgrounds including public and private sector, higher education, media and represent the varied market and roles of Science Communication.

WHO WILL ATTEND
Directors, Managers and Officers in the Private, Public, and Education Sectors responsible for:
• Science Communication
• Corporate Communication
• Communication and Marketing
• Communication and Public Affairs
• Technical Communication
• Research and Development

Click here to view the brochure; http://bit.ly/iqt4B1

ASC Members receive a 10% discount off the standard registration fee.
For more information;
Visit Liquid Learning’s website at: www.liquidlearning.com.au
Email: marketing@liquidlearning.com.au
Phone: (02) 9437 1311

Australian Science Communicators

for those who make science accessible

Category Archives: Event