Tag Archives: People

ASC National Conference 2012 – update

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The conference will be at Sydney Masonic Centre from 27-29 February 2012. Here’s a quick overview on progress so far:

  • Opening keynote: Professor Ian Chubb, Australia’s Chief Scientist will open the conference and be the first plenary speaker.
  • Hail to the Chiefs: Several state Chief Scientists have accepted invitations to speak at the conference. We anticipate they will feature in a plenary and perhaps parallel sessions.
  • Nobel presence: In a special video interview made for the conference, Australia’s 2011 Nobel Prize winner for Physics, Professor Brian Schmidt, will talk about the role of science communication in his work both before and after being awarded the Nobel. Rod Lamberts and Sue Stocklmayer will be asking him the hard questions. This special session will include a broad discussion of the role of science communication for science prize winners. Brian will be speaking in Washington during our conference and was sorry that he couldn’t be in two places at once.
  • Program progress: The program committee is digesting the submissions from the recent call for session producers and their proposals.
  • Pre-conference kick-start: There have been discussions with key people about the pre-conference event. If all goes well it will be fun and thought-provoking, and be a great way to lead into the conference proper.
  • Research stream: Rod Lamberts has nine reviewers lined up to scrutinise submitted research papers. Some of them may help with a subsequent monograph of a selection of edited papers to be produced after the conference is over.
  • Website: The conference website has gone live. Have a look at http://2012conf.asc.asn.au/.
  • Lots of infrastructure is being set in place and there are a few hurdles to get over. Online registrations will be activated any day now.

Jesse Shore
National President

Member Profile: Dr Maia Sauren

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Dr Maia Sauren

Victorian National Representative

As a stubborn six-year-old, Maia Sauren heard about the scariness of bees (‘your whole hand gets huge! and then they DIE!’), so she decided to find out for herself. She resolutely stalked a poor, helpless creature and poked it until it duly gave its life for science. As an adult, Maia is a little more gentle with her experimental subjects.

A few years ago, Maia heard about this amazing job description called ‘know cool things about science and find ways to tell people how incredible they are’, so she joined the ASC list and is the current Victorian National Representative.

Just last week, Maia became the rather awesome-sounding Dr. Sauren, Electrical Engineer. She’s not quite sure what to do with all her freedom now the Ph.D. is behind her, but she’s considering reverting to using the first person when referring to herself. Her thesis was on the radiation safety of mobile phones, and she thinks they’re quite safe to use now!

Member Profile: Sally Miles

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Sally Miles has always had a strong interest in Science Communication. Upon completing a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University in 1997, she sought ways to communicate environmental issues and practical solutions to the public. Sally has worked in communications roles with Clean Up Australia, The Wilderness Society, Planet Ark and Conservation Volunteers Australia. In 2008, Sally moved into the corporate sector through Big Switch Projects and more recently, the Carbon Reduction Institute (CRI), working with businesses on developing and communicating their sustainability and climate change programs.

Sally has researched, written and spoken on many environmental issues including climate change, energy efficiency, biodiversity, water management and waste issues such as plastic bags, container deposits and e-waste. She has developed a diverse range of environmental programs from indigenous education kits to corporate staff engagement events.

Sally lives in Sydney and currently works as an independent writer and consultant in Sustainability Communications. She reads and writes on all things Science and is planning to complete her Masters in Media Practice at Sydney University next year. She also looks after her two young children: Jack (2.5yrs) and Lily (6months). In the few spare moments between nappy changes she enjoys blogging, yoga, meditation and running (& may or may not survive her first half marathon coming up in September).

Connect with Sally on Linkedin.

 

Member Profile: Silvia Piviali

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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 25th 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 management committees – old and new heads

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Managing the ASC through the National Council and Executive requires the input of diverse voices and levels of experience. A few years ago the ASC wisely decided to add the position of Past-President to the management committees. This is a vital way to keep a person with key corporate knowledge involved in our decision making. Some other roles on the committees are filled by members have offered their services and insights over a number of years. They have worked well with those who have joined the committees more recently. The balance of experience brings benefits to our discussions.

In another article in this issue of Scope I mention that Phil Dooley has resigned from our national committees to take a posting overseas. He is taking with him several years of experience at the branch level and two years at national level.

I know that some other members will be making this their last year of long and distinguished service on national committees. The Executive will seek to fill current and expected upcoming vacancies and I encourage members to consider involvement at the national level. It is advisable that you have participated on a branch or national committee previously. You may have an opportunity to assist a member of the Executive to learn the ropes of their role before going solo.

I’ll send out more news about roles on national committees soon.

Jesse Shore

National President

Phil Dooley – JETstar

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Phil Dooley, co-vice president of the ASC, former chair of the NSW branch committee and all-around great person, is leaving us and Australia. He is heading for a life in Oxford where he will be in a science communication position at the Joint European Torus (JET) – Europe’s largest Fusion Device.

Phil injected much energy into the NSW branch over several years and has been a science communication force for good as a member of the National Council and Executive. I’m confident that all ASC members who know Phil will join me in wishing him all the best for his new job in the old world. And we trust that his leap from the Physics department at Sydney University to JET is more than a break-even step (a weak fusion joke).

Phil will be leaving in the latter part of August, giving you time to inundate him with neutrons and other niceties for his journey.

Jesse Shore

National President

Peter Pockley awarded Academy Medal for 2010

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I am pleased to report that Peter Pockley, a long standing member of ASC, today has been awarded the Australian Academy of Science Academy Medal for 2010.

The Academy announced his award was for ‘outstanding contributions to science by means other than the conduct of scientific research’, where his efforts ‘significantly advanced the cause of science and technology in Australia’. This medal is normally awarded no more than once in three years.

The links to the Australian Academy of Science about this award are

http://www.science.org.au/news/feature.html

http://www.science.org.au/awards/awardees/academy-medal-awards.html#2010

Peter has been a pioneer and leader of science communication in various media over many years. It is wonderful news that he has been recognised in this way for his many contributions to engaging audiences with science.

Jesse Shore
President ASC 2010

2010 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes – nominations close 7 May

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One way to raise the profile of ASC and science communication in Australia is for ASC members to nominate suitable candidates for the five Eureka prizes being offered in Science Communication and Journalism.

One of the prizes in this category, Advancement of Climate Change Knowledge, is new this year. Whether you nominate yourself or provide a report in support of a nomination mention that you are a member of ASC in the required documentation. Entries close midnight AEST 7 May 2010.

For a complete list of all 19 prizes, entry details and online forms go to http://eureka.australianmuseum.net.au/enter.

Science Communication and Journalism

·         Advancement of Climate Change Knowledge

Sponsored by New South Wales Government

·         Environmental Journalism

Sponsored by Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

·         Promoting Understanding of Science

Sponsored by Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

·         Science Journalism

Sponsored by Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

·         Science Photography

Sponsored by New Scientist

Jesse Shore
National President

From the President, April 2010: Survey winners, making friends and IY

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I am happy to announce that Tesse Hoekstra and Annie Harris were selected from the respondents to the ASC post-conference survey as the winners of copies of Julian Cribb’s ‘Open Science’ book. I expect they will find it as a good a read as I did. Julian’s book contains a range of useful and sometimes surprising tips.

The responses to the survey also made a good read. Many of the 70 respondents made constructive suggestions about how to make the conference better as well as mentioning numerous aspects they found as highlights. In general respondents rated the conference highly, finding it informative and useful for networking. We now have to consider when to hold the next conference. Expect to be asked for input.

Since the conference ASC National Council and Executive have been working on numerous matters relating to medium and long-term planning, and considering the implications of the Inspiring Australia report. I have had preliminary discussions with DIISR personnel and will continue the process. I am optimistic that ASC will play a significant role in helping to fulfil the aims of the report. Actions we are taking now include seeking new or closer relationships with professional scientific and educational bodies and government scientific organisations. In general we will act to place us in a beneficial position when government funding eventually becomes available to implement the recommendations of the report.

We are currently considering members’ responses to Rob Morrison’s request for feedback about the Inspiring Australia report. We are still awaiting responses from a member and branch or two but we already have plenty to chew over. Your feedback will help guide our actions.

Next year is the International Year of Chemistry. IYC offers opportunities for chemical-inclined ASC members (think laterally here) and our branches to engage with a wide range of professional chemistry, educational, industry, government and environmental groups. To find out the contact person in your region view http://www.chemistry2011.org/connect/the-iyc-network?show_node=1241. Get in touch with these people now because some groups have started their planning for next year’s events.

Jesse Shore

National President