Yearly Archives: 2011

A science communicator’s holiday?

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When planning to travel interstate or territory I encourage members to contact the local branch committees. You might find they are running an event or workshop that meets your interests or that they can provide you an opportunity to present something yourself to share your expertise. You’ll also have some valuable and enjoyable networking and socialising.

 

There are potential taxation benefits and real professional gains in mixing a bit of science communication with a holiday. This is even more so for a business trip. So make use of the branches for fun and profit.

 

This is also a way to make contacts in our non-branch regions. The NT and Tasmania are slowly growing in member numbers but do not yet have local branch committees. The same goes for central and northern Queensland (members in several states suffer the tyranny of distance but especially Queensland folks).

 

If you are heading in those directions, contact Kali Madden <office at asc.asn.au>. Kali can look into putting you in contact with members interested in exchanging science communication perspectives (perhaps over a drink or dinner).

 

Several of the branches have contact details of their committee members on the ASC website. It’s worth an email or two to seek the benefits of networking.

 

Jesse Shore

National President

Congratulations to ASC Victoria – now 101 members strong

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Numerical milestones have both symbolic and real meanings. It great to see that our Victorian branch has recently exceeded the hundred mark in number of members. NSW is not far behind and ACT is also closing in on the century. ASC membership is growing across the nation and we are nearly at 500 members. These are significant symbols along our path.

The aim is to associate these rising numbers with an increase in meaningful activities and services within the volunteer framework of the organisation. So it’s good to note that the VIC branch has an event-full second half of 2011 and other branches also have busy programs.

We have a load to share (as in ‘lots’ and ‘effort’) to run events, offer networking and professional development opportunities, and meet the needs of the members. This means translating increasing member numbers on the books into more hands on deck.

Full steam ahead.

Jesse Shore
National President

Ideas for ASC branch events

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ASC branch committees always need good ideas for events. Last December I posted a list of 30 events the branches ran last year and I think it’s worth mentioning some topics which are worth borrowing.

For the latest ideas check the events listing for each branch on the ASC website.

New ideas are very welcome. Email them to me if you don’t have the contact details of your local committee. Or post them on the asc-list.

  • The science of art: a sculptor and science writer explore the links between science and art
  • Discovery After Dark: music and cocktails at CSIRO Discovery Centre (i.e. make use of your local science communication sites – botanic gardens, zoos, museums, university sci-com study centres, etc)
  • How to improvise: active impro(visation) workshop
  • Translating science into action: explores disciplines that help convert science content into community actions
  • Pies at the pub for Pi Day: pies at the pub and maths games and entertainment for Pi Day 22 July
  • Trends in science documentaries: (i.e. what other trends should we explore?)
  • Successful Freelancing for Science Communicators: (I highly recommend this topic)
  • Communicating Climate Change And Other Risky Business: How should we use science to communicate about climate change and other risky environmental issues?
  • Speed networking – like speed dating with science – a social networking opportunity
  • Science of beer and meet other science communication folk: (at a brewery, where else)
  • Science blogging – who and why?: basic intro to science blogging
  • The Dilemmas of Science Reporting: Complexity, risk, and the dissident voice: veracity without complexity, communicating risk and dealing with dissidents – including ourselves
  • Updates on “Inspiring Australia” activities: (i.e. invite your local IA project officer)
  • Evaluating Effectiveness: best practice in evaluating science communication activities
  • Media training workshop: preparing a science research story for the media, case study of website story, examples of over-hyped science stories
  • Video editing workshop: film a simple science demonstration, edit the footage and produce a fun bit of science video.
  • Annual General Meeting and Quiz Night: (e.g. fun following procedures)
  • What do the public really think? public surveys, polls and focus groups
  • Science Centric 2010: massive networking event for those who explain, teach, present, write, blog, twitter, film, illustrate, animate or otherwise communicate science or technology, news, ideas, concepts or research?
  • The Naked (or dressed) Scientist: invite good science communicators who are also science prize winners to reveal their communication insights, methods, inspirations, etc
  • Masterclass on the social media world: (a new and evolving world of communication)
  • End of Year Celebration and lunch with Chief Scientist (as guest speaker)

Jesse Shore
National President

ASC national conference 2012 – PCO appointed; time for brainstorming

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We’ve appointed Waldron Smith Management as the professional conference organiser for ASC 2012. They worked well with us previously when they were the PCO for the very successful 2007 World Congress of Science Journalists, held in Melbourne and hosted by ASC.

Our next steps will be to work with the PCO to develop the conference budget and get the basic infrastructure moving. Then Rod Lamberts, the chair of our national conference organising committee, can unleash the keen ASC committee to start working on the program and numerous other details.

Brainstorming is welcome across the nation. Last year the NSW branch held a brainstorming session which produced a lot of ideas that Tim and Kali incorporated into the conference. I encourage all the branches to organise similar events as soon as feasible to dream up what they would like to see as part of the conference. Send the results to Rod (he will attend these events if possible) and he will collate them for his team.

The conference will be in Sydney from 27-29 February, with perhaps a welcoming event on Sunday 26 Feb.

Jesse Shore
National President

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

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27 June 2011to29 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

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-06-05

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  • #FreshSci top young Au scientists talk about their discoveries over a beer. 6pm Monday 6 June. Duke of Kent. Melbourne. http://t.co/47ovMTi #

Job Opportunities at RiAus

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ASC members may be interested in the following opportunity…..

RiAus Employment Opportunities
1. Programs co-ordinator
2. Programs co-ordinator, youth and education
The Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) –is a contemporary and accessible national home for science; a place for people to listen, talk, blog, download and think about science in all its shapes and forms – currently has vacancies for two positions within the programs team.
Passionate about engaging the public with science and technology, you will work on the development and delivery on a broad range of innovative science-communication activities for a variety of audiences.
Educated to degree level in a science-related subject and with relevant postgraduate qualifications and/or experience, your knowledge of and passion for science will make you an invaluable member of our small but vibrant Programs team.
Detailed job descriptions are available at http://www.riaus.org.au/science/about/job_opportunities.jsp

APPLICATION PROCESS
Please apply by 30 June 2011 (electronically or via hard copy) with a CV and covering letter to:
Lisa Bailey
RiAus
PO Box 3652
Rundle Mall
Adelaide, SA 5000
lbailey@riaus.org.au
Interviews will be conducted during the week of 4-8 July.

The 2nd Annual National Science Communication Officers’ Forum 2011

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23 August 2011 11:00 amto24 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

National Science Week (SA) Grants

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National Science Week (SA) Grants

Thinking of holding an event in National Science Week?

Through the financial support of the Government of South Australia (via DFEEST), we are pleased to offer a number of small grants (upper limit of $2,000) to organisations who might need financial support to run an event in August in Science Week.
Applications close Friday 10 June 2011.

Continue reading →

Nominate now for the 2011 Unsung hero awards South Australia

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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.

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 and their communication contributes to a better understanding of the process and practice of science.

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.