SEQ AGM + Meet the Experts

30 January 2013
6:00 pmto8:00 pm

The South East Queensland AGM will be held on Wednesday 30th January at QPAC cafe, South Brisbane.

Members can nominate on the night or via proxy for the following positions:

  • President
  • Treasurer
  • Secretary
  • Social media manager
  • Student liaison
  • Committee member

To coincide, we will be hosting a panel discussion with three prominent science communicators

  • Jenni Metcalfe, Director of Econnect Communication
  • Claire Cameron, Acting Science Communications Manager at Queensland Institute of Medical Research
  • Ben Creagh, Communication Manager with CSIROs Environment Group
  • Liz Minchin, Queensland editor, The Conversation

They will share their experiences, both good and bad, in communicating science to various audiences and reveal the challenges of understanding the needs, expectations and concerns of specific audiences.

This event is aimed at science communicators, researchers, scientists – at all levels – who are interested in learning about what practicing science communicators do in their day-to-day working lives and why it matters. It will also provide attendees with a forum to explore networking opportunities.

When: Wednseday 30th January, 2013 from 6pm
Where: QPAC cafe, South Brisbane
RSVP: robbie@econnect.com.au

National AGM and Trivia Night

27 November 2012
6:00 pmto10:00 pm
6:00 pmto10:00 pm

Think you could out-fact Dr Karl? Then show off your skills at our Science Trivia Night.

Organise a table of friends or team up with others on the night. Hosted by science all-rounder David Ellyard the night will be a great way to meet like minded people and exercise the brain.

ASC members are also encouraged to attend the National AGM which will be held before the Trivia, to share their ideas on organising the next ASC conference to be held in Brisbane in 2014 and to elect a new president.

What: Science Trivia Night and National AGM
When: Tuesday 27th November, AGM will run from 6-7pm. Trivia will kick off at 7:30pm
Where: Ship Inn, Southbank
Cost: ASC members free, Non-members $10, Non-member students $5
Bookings:  Please book your tickets at brisciquiz2012.eventbrite.com.au

Member Profile: Susan Kirk

Susan Kirk is a nationally published writer, with a degree in journalism and TAFE qualifications in horticulture.  She has written for many different publications but lately writes extensively for Rural Press publications including Good Fruit and Vegetables and Australian Horticulture.

She wrote a number of the Taste booklets (Global Food and Wine) which showcased Australian produce and producers and even did a stint as a restaurant critique. She loves growing, cooking and consuming food so over the years the interest in ornamental plants turned into an interest in food plants.

She has just recently started a herb nursery with her partner Bob on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, aptly named, Hinterland Herbs, concentrating on culinary and medicinal herb plants.

She is a member of the Media Alliance, Horticulture Media Association and is a member of and the Queensland web editor for the Australian Science Communicators.

Science communication and social media now a national conversation

Last month ASC members were offered a 10% discount on the entry fee to a niche event on science communication in social media. Many of the speakers on the program were ASC members from around the nation. In conjunction with Media140, the ASC made several student scholarships possible for local science communication students at the University of Queensland.

The Science Communication Program Convenor at the University of Queensland Dr Joan Leach had this to say about the event:

“Media140 catalysed a number of conversations that are going on nationally.  There is great research and engagement work going on at Australian Universities on the power and perils of digital media.  Being able to apply this research in the context of science communication—and talk to colleagues and people making great strides in using and understanding these technologies was super-stimulating.  And, the conference practiced what it preached with a fabulously talented contingent of journalism and science communication students from UQ blogging, tweeting, and networking their way through the event!   ASC supported science communication students from UQ who engaged with colleagues in China during the event and have used their insights into digital media to inform their upcoming citizen science event in Brisbane.  This was a rare event where research, practice, and discussion of pedagogy was all possible and relevant.”

You can find out more about tertiary qualifications in Science Communication in Australia here.

ASC readers who couldn’t make the event this time can look forward to several articles from attending students soon. Initial feedback on the experience follows.

“The Media 140 event was so inspiring for me as a newbie. It really enlightened me on using new media as a channel to transmit the scientific information.”Basil Liu [Basil blogs in both Chinese and English, see his related event posting here, or on facebook here.]

“I thought the media140 event was an excellent opportunity to find out about the variety of applications new media can offer in science communication. In particular I was impressed by the enthusiasm attendees showed at the potential these forms of media hold in communicating their message.”Sally Grosvenor

“Funnily enough, overall I think the best thing that I got out of the day was just the exposure to that environment – as a student you rarely get the opportunity to attend conferences, and see how working professionals and academics work and think. It gave me a bit of a taste of the ‘real world’, listening to everyone talk about their work. It definitely makes me happy and excited to be entering into this field.”Emily Christoffels

“Media140 was an absolute blast. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many interesting, new thoughts or ideas to agree with in one day before.”
Nicholas Aslin

Two free tickets plus big student discounts up for grabs at Media140

We are pleased to announce yet another endeavour to support those who make science accessible.

ASC have partnered with Media140 to offer FREE tickets to two lucky ASC members at the frontiers event exploring the impact of social technologies on science communication being held in Brisbane next week.

http://www.amiando.com/media140FrontiersBrisbane.html?page=463781

Members who think they would benefit from attending this event are invited to submit a submission to office@asc.asn.au by 7 pm AEST this Sunday 24 April, describing in no more than 50 words what current role or project could use some social media enhancement. Please include a contact phone number and e-mail address so we can notify you if you win.

ASC President Jesse Shore will select two of the entries for free admission to this international and timely event. Winners will be required to write a short article for publication on the ASC web site no more than a month after the event briefly describing their current role or project, what it aims to accomplish, and how the frontiers event contributed to their social media skills, knowledge and/or intentions for future. Good luck!

To check how relevant the event will be for your own explorations and applications of social media to science communication, see the event program here: http://www.amiando.co/media140FrontiersBrisbane.html?page=513990

In addition three full student scholarships were allocated to support the future of science communication in Australia.

The student scholarship recipients are enrolled in “Presenting Science” with lecturer Melanie McKenzie this semester in the Science Communication Program at the University of Queensland.

You can read more about tertiary science communication programs in Australia on our web site here: http://www.asc.asn.au/about/tertiary-programs/

Students still wishing to attend the event are eligible for a 40% discount, and ASC members are still eligible for 10%.

Interested? Register here:

http://bit.ly/asc140ticket

Posted on behalf of Kali Madden, ASC Membership Officer
office [at] asc.asn.au

Climate adaptation conference: Call for abstracts

29 June 2010to1 July 2010

The Climate Adaptation Futures Conference, Gold Coast June 2010 is now calling for abstracts.

There are 3 obvious communication topics: Risk communication and behavioural change, Communication of information for adaptation, Climate information for users.

More info: http://www.nccarf.edu.au/conference2010

This conference will be one of the first international forums to focus solely on climate impacts and adaptation. It will bring together scientists and decision makers from developed and developing countries to share research approaches, methods and results. It will explore the way forward in a world where impacts are increasingly observable and adaptation actions are increasingly required.

BrisScience: The Science of Sustaining our Urban Landscapes

17 August 2009
6:30 pmto8:00 pm

The 10th International Congress of Ecology (www.intecol10.org/) is to be held in Brisbane from 16 – 21 August 2009. In conjunction with INTECOL we will be hosting a Public lecture & panel discussion focused on Urban Ecology, sustainable urban planning and development and the responsibility of ecologists in securing our future. Continue reading