Author Archives: claireharris

Position Vacant – Public Affairs Officer, ACIAR, Canberra

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The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) looks to a world where poverty has been reduced and the livelihoods of many improved through more productive and sustainable agriculture emerging from collaborative international research. ACIAR is a small government agency where your contribution can have wide reaching international impact.

About you

You are a highly energetic, achievement-oriented person with a proven track record in public affairs, media or journalism. You are a relationship builder and an influential communicator and dedicated to working in a collegial mode with internal and external stakeholders.

About the role

Reporting to the Manager Communications and Governance the Public Affairs Officer duties include:

  1. Assisting with media relations (with local and international media), including: handling media inquiries, writing media releases, organising press events, monitoring and compiling media coverage and building and maintaining target media lists.
  2. Facilitating and arranging media interaction for senior staff and project leaders, providing support including arranging interviews, briefing and press conferences.
  3. Preparing statements, backgrounders, key messages, talking points, opinion articles and Questions and Answers.
  4. Assisting with planning, writing, copyediting and proofreading articles for Partners magazine, photo sourcing and editing, preparing information for the website and other communications material.
  5. Conducting research and fact checking for the preparation of publications, media releases, speeches, presentations, reports and briefs.
  6. Assisting with developing and implementing communications plans (corporate and program), media plans and public awareness initiatives.

About our conditions

We are located at Fern Hill Park, Bruce (Canberra) close to bus routes and community facilities and we have free parking. We offer flexibility in working practices and employment conditions.

How to apply

Applicants must address the selection criteria and must be Australian citizens. A candidate information pack including selection criteria should be obtained from www.aciar.gov.au/recruitment or by telephoning 02 6217 0500.  Completed applications, can be emailed to the HR Manager: Ms Sharyn Turner email turner@aciar.gov.au.  Applications close 28 February 2010.

Canberra drinks – all invited (post-conference)

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10 February 2010
6:30 pmto9:30 pm

The ASC ACT branch welcomes you to continue your conference conversations in style with a drink in the gardens of University House from 6:30pm…

If you’re from Canberra, it’s a great place to grab a beer, meet the local committee and tell us what events you’d like to see in 2010.

If you’re from out of town, it’s a great place to grab a bite to eat, say farewell to new friends and call a taxi. And if you were involved with conference organising, planning, speaking or volunteering, it’s a great place to grab a glass of champagne, put your feet up and celebrate.

In short, if you’re interested in anything to do with communicating and science, come along for a social drink.

University House is a short walk across campus – more info at http://www.anu.edu.au/unihouse – ACT members will be around to lead the way from CPAS, the new scienc-art hub.

Bushfire science and journalism: Communicating when emotions run high

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7 February 2010 7:00 pmto10 February 2010 10:00 pm

Australian Science Communicators (ASC) presents a public panel discussion to kick-off the national conference.

BUSHFIRE SCIENCE AND JOURNALISM: COMMUNICATING WHEN EMOTIONS RUN HIGH

Date: Sunday 7 February
Time: 6:45pm for a 7pm start
Venue: CSIRO Discovery, North Science Road, off Clunies Ross in Acton (up behind the ANU) Google map here
Cost: Free entry, drinks and bar snacks available at bar prices

Panel and MC:

  • Dr Andrew Sullivan, Team leader of CSIRO’s Bushfire Dynamics and Applications Team, interviewed many times by the media following the Victorian bushfires
  • Michael Gawenda, Director, University of Melbourne’s Centre for the Advanced Study of Journalism and co-author of the report ‘The Black Saturday Bushfires: How the media covered Australia’s worst peace-time disaster’
  • Lyndal Byford, Media manager at the Australian Science Media Centre, ASMC provided rapid-roundups of expert comment following the Victorian bushfires
  • Louise Maher, Drive program presenter for ABC Canberra, was on-air during the Canberra bushfires in 2003
  • MC: Mary Mulcahy, Communication Manager, CSIRO

This is also the welcome function for the ASC national conference being held in Canberra from 8-10 July. You can still register to attend the conference: www.asc.asn.au

National Day of Mourning
The Prime Minister has declared Sunday 7 February, a National Day of Mourning to remember those who died in the 2009 Victorian bushfires with the Australian flag to be flown at half-mast. In Victoria, a central multi-faith service, will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral. There will be a minute’s silence at noon for Australians to pause and remember the devastating effects of the Black Saturday and Gippsland fires.

Attention Canberrans – what do you want from ASC in Canberra?

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The Canberra ASC committee is running a survey to find out what Canberrans want from ASC

What is important to you? What events do you want?

Click here to take the ASC Canberra survey

The survey should take only 5-10 mins (10 questions).

Responses to the survey will be used to inform where the ASC Canberra committee should be investing its energy and to tailor the events we’re planning on running this year.

Please only respond if you are in Canberra or take advantage of Canberra events.

No personal details are gathered through this survey. If you have any questions please email asccanberra@gmail.com

ASC ACT branch AGM

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1 December 2009
6:00 pmto8:00 pm

The ASC ACT branch is holding its Annual General Meeting and you are invited

Date: Tuesday 1 December, 6pm
Location: King O’Malley’s ‘snug’ room, Garema Place, Civic

Free entry, nibblies provided, drinks available from the bar.

Agenda items include:

  • Discussion of the ASC’s future at the local level: What do members want? Who would like to be involved?
  • Call for nominations for the new committee. Committee will include required office bearers (president, treasurer, national liaison (which can be combined with the other positions)) and the ‘brains trust’.
    The brains trust is made up of interested people who may like to provide feedback, get involved at different times, or simply be kept informed of internal ASC ACT brains trust discussions. What do you think? If you would like to be on the brains trust, or take on an official role, please contact the ASC Committee (details below) before the meeting so we can send you more information on the roles.
  • Reports from the president and treasurer
  • Update on the National Conference, to be held in Canberra in February.

If you cannot make the meeting, please send your proxy vote to Jo Savill (2009 President): jo.savill ‘at’ gmail.com; the current committee: asccanberra ‘at’ gmail.com; or another member who is attending so we have the required quorum.

Stem Cells at the Pub

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22 November 2009
7:00 pmto9:00 pm
7:00 pmto9:00 pm

Whether the story is about promises of groundbreaking cures, allegations of scientific fraud or warnings of ethical dilemmas, stem cell research makes headlines and sparks debate.

How does the media shape the public’s perceptions of stem cells and scientists? Is the promise of stem cells over-hyped?

Who is responsible for keeping the story straight?

Stem Cells at the Pub

Date: Sunday 22 November

Time: 7pm for 7.30pm start

Venue: Canberra Labor Club, Civic, 16 Petrie Plaza

Panel features:

  • Prof Alan Trounson (California Institute of Regenerative Medicine)
  • Leigh Dayton (The Australian)
  • Simon Grose (Science Media)
  • Rebecca Skinner (Communication Officer, Australian Stem Cell Centre)
  • Assoc Prof Edna Hardeman (University of Sydney)

This event is free and open to the public.

Seats are limited so rsvp to 0402710943 or asccanberra ‘at’ gmail.com.

Presented by the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research and the Australian Science Communicators.

More links: Alan Trounson’s profile on ABC, Australian Stem Cell Centre, About Science Media.

Climate adaptation conference: Call for abstracts

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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.

Canberra networking opportunity 4 June

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4 June 2009
6:00 pmto10:00 pm

Wondering who else is communicating science in Canberra? Wondering where they are, what they do, and what great ideas they can share?

This is an open invitation to anyone interested in meeting other professional science communicators and those interested in science communication — whether from government departments, research organisations or the private sector. Join us to meet new people and make professional contacts. Bring your colleagues or just bring
yourself –we’ll have an activity to get people talking.

Date: Thursday 4 June 2009
Time: 6:00pm
Location: King O’Malley’s Irish Pub, 131 City Walk, Canberra City.
Food: Some nibbles will be provided – gold coin donation gratefully received.

RSVPs appreciated (but not essential) – email Claire (claire.harris at csiro.au).