Tag Archives: conference

#ASC14 highlights

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Thanks to Claire Harris for sharing her highlights.

  • Over 100 distinguished speakers across disciplines and industries
  • Leaders and visionaries of our time such as:
    • Ian Lowe (Emeritus Professor of Science, Technology and Society at Griffith University and President of the Australian Conservation Foundation)
    • Susannah Eliott (CEO of the Australian Science Media Centre)
    • Drew Berry (Biomedical Animator at Walter Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research), Lloyd Godson (Ultramarathon running aquanaut and adventurer)
    • Dr Geoff Garrett (Queensland Chief Scientist)
    • Prof Léonie Rennie (Emeritus Professor at Science and Mathematics Education Centre, Curtin University)
    • Warwick Anderson (CEO of NHMRC, Australia’s major governmental funding body for health and medical research)
    • Bernie Hobbs (Award-winning science writer and broadcaster with ABC Science Online).
  • Over 200 attendees from all career stages from students to leaders in their fields
  • Attendees from Australia, New Zealand, Africa, USA and Japan
  • Three days of main conference program featuring case studies, talks, roundtable discussions, workshops and training, and debates.
  • A program designed to inspire. With a theme of Insight, Impact, Innovation, ASC2014 emphasises innovation in science communication stimulated by understanding our audiences, using visual communication and new media, and demonstrating the impact of our efforts.
  • A special Sunday with a hands-on community storytelling workshop (fully booked but waitlist available) and a public event ‘The Storytelling of Science: a triple anniversary celebration’ featuring Tim Flannery (Chair of the Climate Council), Lynne Malcolm (ABC Science), Jenny Graves (Australian Academy of Science Secretary for Education and Public Awareness)
  • A spectacular sci-art exhibition (called SPECTRUM), a SCINEMA screening, poster showcase and speed networking (Monday 3 February)
  • A first ever joint Science Communicators New Zealand and Australian Science Communicators breakfast event. Learn about the evolution of science communication in New Zealand and Australia with this panel featuring: Ian Lowe, Toss Gascoigne (Director at Toss Gascoigne & Associates), Jean Fleming (Professor of Science Communication and Associate Dean of Outreach at the University of Otago, New Zealand) and Jenni Metcalfe (Director of Econnect Communication)
  • The conference dinner featuring Robyn Williams (ABC Radio National’s The Science Show and Ockham’s Razor) presenting the Unsung Hero of Australian Science Communication Award (Tuesday 4 February)
  • The best networking you’ll find: cross-industry, cross-geography and cross-disciplinary.
  • A full stream of professional development including: web building, editing, animation, online strategy, commercial foundations, getting published, journalism and storytelling.

#ASC14 Podcast – Sarah Lau – Presenter at the ASC National Conference

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Sarah Lau is a graduate of the Science Communication course at UWA, and worked at the science museum in Perth called Scitech, and was primarily responsible for creating engaging science shows and experiences for visitors. In 2009 Sarah joined ChemCentre in Bently, where she is responsible for the public profile of the organisation – this covers everything from media duties through to marketing and all communication related activities in between. When not working as Communication Manager for ChemCentre in Western Australia, Sarah spends her time keeping things in order as the Secretary of the ASC.

Get your tickets for the ASC14 conference to learn more about her and many other great science communicators, at www.2014conf.asc.asn.au.

The 2013 Unsung Hero of Science Communication Award #ASC14

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Thank you to Simon Chester for preparing this piece.

The Unsung Hero of Science Communication award is offered annually by the Australian Science Communicators (ASC), and recognises and celebrates excellence in science communication across Australia.

Science communication is the process of making science accessible, and encouraging engagement with scientific processes and outcomes. This engagement allows people to make better-informed decisions about some of the most critical issues facing society and the planet.

Science communication can come from many sources, including scientists, teachers, journalists, writers, entertainers, students, and other communicators including, most noticeably, radio and TV personalities.

One of the members of the judging panel from last year’s award, former ASC President and Eureka Awards Science Book Prize winner, David Ellyard, recognises the importance of communicating science out to the public, but that science communication isn’t just about the top-level celebrities.

“Science communication is at the heart of the scientific enterprise,” said David. “The everyday people who pay for science to be done, and who will be impacted by scientific discoveries, are entitled to know what is going on. And they will commonly find it fascinating.

“Science communication goes on at many levels, from high profile journalism, conferences, and TV documentaries to informal person to person chats,” said David. “The high-fliers get a lot of kudos, but those who work productively in other dimensions are also worthy of acknowledgment.”

The ASC has traditionally acknowledged unsung Australian scientists, but, last year, felt that it was past time to shine the spotlight onto those who communicate the science – especially as the scope of the award is not covered in existing national science award programs. Thus, in 2012, the Unsung Hero of Science Communication award was born.

“The ASC created this award to honour a person or group who exemplify science communication, who have not yet received significant recognition for their contribution to science and its promotion, and for work done in Australia over a considerable or prolonged time” said Jesse Shore.

In 2012, that person was editor and publisher of the magazine Australasian Science, Guy Nolch.

According to the judges, Guy Nolch was recognised for: his long period of distinguished science publishing (more than 20 years publishing Australasian Science); training and mentoring science communicators; making scientists’ work accessible to and understood by the public; dealing with controversial issues; his major contributions to the discussion of science policy and scientific issues in Australia; and for the fostering of good science journalism in Australia and for promotion of leading Australian scientists and their research.

As a publisher of a long-standing science magazine, Guy sees targeted publications as becoming ever more important as tools for quality science communication.

“The mainstream media has a greater reliance on syndicated stories these days, and pitch their stories at the centre of the demographic bell curve,” said Guy. “Niche publications like Australasian Science can focus more on local research and researchers, and provide more in-depth analysis of a broader range of research and its potential consequences.

“Newspapers have let science reporters go and the most noise is made by shock jocks with a particular entrenched view that is based more on the proprietor’s objectives than true objectivity. There are good writers out there, but, on the whole, they’re under pressure to file something short on a sexy topic before the rest of the pack run with it.”

But hope is not lost, as technology has turned any writer into a potential publisher, and budding communicators are now able to perfect their skills on their own blogs. Guy had this advice to offer to anyone interested in communicating science:

“In many ways it’s easier these days to get a portfolio of work together by self-publishing online in blogs, podcasts, and social media. Many niche magazines like Australasian Science will also welcome you to pitch story ideas. Check out the contributors’ guidelines so you can tailor your idea to the audience you’ll be reaching, and have a crack!”

The Unsung Hero of Australian Science Communication 2013 award will be presented during the Australian Science Communicators National Conference, held from 2-5 February 2014 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The 2014 ASC Conference also marks the 20th anniversary of ASC, so come join delegates from agencies like CSIRO, ANSTO, ATSE, Cooperative Research Centres, NHMRC, museums, universities, research institutes, and privately-run technology companies, as they celebrate the anniversary, learn about innovative practice and new initiatives, and hear from national leaders across research/technology, communication, media, business, industry and education.

Telling a science story: Industry and science engagement

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Thank you to Julia Martin for preparing this piece.

Metaphor, visualisation and allegory are hardly the terms you’d expect business people to use when talking about science. But according to the industry insiders, imagination and story-telling are invaluable tools for anyone serious about communicating scientific knowledge to the public, employees and potential investors.

Recent reports from the Royal Academy of Engineers in the United Kingdom and the Australian Department of Industry’s Inspiring Australia Science Engagement Strategy describe the science outreach needs of business and industry. The surprise is that even in science-based enterprises like mining, industry insiders report that inspiration is as important as information when talking about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Business sees the value of science engagement in terms of corporate social responsibility, employee satisfaction and positive local relationships, as well as brand awareness. And while some may be cynical about such motivations, the pressures on businesses to mitigate risk mean that science engagement is often less about spin and more about building a positive operating environment.  As one industry leader commented, not doing science engagement can have far higher costs to a business than working openly and long-term with the community.

Relationships and networks, especially individual relationships, carry great weight in the communication of science in business settings. In Inspiring Industry to Inspire Australia: Business and Science Outreach, Peter Bury of the Australian Plastics and Chemicals Association points out that PACIA has been able to progress industry initiatives faster than in some countries with larger economies. He cites industry peaks as being an ideal way to translate the latest research into best practice, with members looking to their representative body for reliable scientific advice.

Personal links allow business to ‘put faces to the science’, and these links can endure for decades. Some of the most long-standing industry-science communication partnerships in Australia, such as the Shell Questacon Science Circus, rely on partnerships forged by individuals as far back as the early 1980s. In representative bodies like the University of New South Wales Science Advisory Council, industry members place high value on meeting scientists directly and sharing knowledge. For business, learning how scientists think lays important foundations for future partnerships, and ideally, a more science-friendly business world.

A panel of industry experts will be discussing these themes and their own experiences of business and industry-driven science engagement in the session Business and industry communities and controversy what role does science communication play in public engagement? at the Australian Science Communicators National Conference in Brisbane, on 3 February, 2014.

Please comment below, or email claireharris.oz [at] gmail.com or use #ASC14 on Twitter if you have a question for our panel: Suzanne Miller (Chief Executive Officer and Director, Queensland Museum Network), Kurt Heidecker (CEO of the Gladstone Industry Leadership Group), Geoff Brooke (Co-founder and Managing Partner of GBS Venture Partners), Jacqui McGill (Asset President of BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal) and Jason Prior (Research Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney). (The session will be facilitated by Julia Martin and is co-produced by Claire Harris and Julia Martin.)

ASC 2014 conference update

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The Australian Science Communicators national conference 2014 is now only a matter of weeks away so it is time to revisit the website and make sure you have your finger on the ever increasing conference pulse.

Just a few of the things to catch up on are:

  • Only today to register to be in the running to win the ultimate Decadence Suite package at the Rydges Hotel Southbank (complete with chocolates, champagne, breakfast and huge king bed). The prize will be drawn on the 20th of December.
  • A draft program is now available on the conference website.
  • If you can’t make it to Brisbane, you can now livestream the conference from the comfort of your own home! Registrations for the livestream are available here, and for the exercise to be viable we need to get 100 registrations, so please get involved! Tell your colleagues overseas too!
  • Check out the awesome events – also available to the public – including the Storytelling of Science event (Sunday 2 February), the cross-Tasman SCANZ-ASC breakfast (Tuesday 4 February), and the conference dinner (Tuesday 4 February) featuring Robyn Williams awarding the Unsung Hero of Australian Science Communication award. Book tickets for all here (selecting special item tickets option).  

Don’t forget to tweet at conference hashtag #ASC14!

President’s update – #ASC14

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Thanks to Claire Harris for the update!

Quick ASC14 stats and facts

  • Over 120 abstract and session submissions
  • 1 conference dinner
  • 1 breakfast hosted by New Zealand Science Communicators
  • Earlybird registrations open until next month
  • Submissions from New Zealand, South Africa and Japan
  • ASC conferences have been run since 1996
  • We will have four streams (in four rooms) of conference activities over the three days

The program committee (Claire Harris, James Hutson, Nancy Longnecker, Kali Madden, Jesse Shore) has been very busy reviewing all the submissions that have come in. We have been very impressed with the ideas and way that people have embraced the theme of Insight, Impact, Innovation.

Many proposals pick up on the hot topics in science communication, with speakers coming from a range of disciplinary backgrounds including communication, research, journalism, policy and business.

The conference will feature a poster session for the first time as well as a spectacular Sci-Art exhibition; social events including a conference dinner featuring a special dignitary and the Unsung Hero of Science Communication Award and a breakfast event with our New Zealand counterparts. Importantly, this is your chance to network with a diverse group of people.

Many of you would know that ASC conferences have been run since 1996. I would love to find out who has been to the most ASC conferences or if attending a past conference has resulted in something of significance for you. Did you meet your current employer? Did you meet your current wife?…

Let us know, comment below!

ASC 2014 conference update

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Register now for the ASC2014 conference (2 to 5 February 2014, Brisbane)

Thank you to Claire Harris for providing us with the conference update. This article was published in ASC’s newsletter Scope (August edition).

ASC 2014 conference activities are in full swing with only 2 weeks left until all session proposals and abstracts are due.

What you submit is going to shape the entire three days…

Why do we do this you might ask? Because the ASC conference philosophy is to facilitate a conference that is for you and in many areas, by you. Indeed the Conference Organising and Program Committees have been, for many months, digesting feedback from past conferences and from recent events, discussions on the ASC-list, conversations we’ve had with you face to face or by email…

We all have our thinking caps on about responding to and actioning the feedback and ideas. Part of this, though, can only be achieved with you, our members and supporters of the science communication community. For you are all champions and agents of change. So here’s your chance to make a difference to the conference program!

To answer a couple of questions we’ve had about the way that the conference programming will be done and how the more-traditional research stream is being handled this year, we want to provide some more here.

Firstly, we know many of you live and breathe a mix of research/theory and practice in your jobs and science communication interest, while others sometimes struggle to keep on top of all that’s going on. This is why, put simply, we’re aiming to integrate research and practice across the program; to help bridge perceived or real gaps between these two areas. We believe this type of approach has the potential to make our conference more valuable for our diverse community. We hope we come some way to achieving this integration in our program! Your advice and feedback will assist with this process.

We have also had calls for more case studies and real life stories, good and bad and everything in between, from practitioners. There are so many people doing interesting things that we don’t often get to hear about. And we’ve had requests for more time for research questions and answers, more research embedded in the main program, and a poster session.

In addition, a conference proceedings has long been on the wish list.For the first time we are in a position to offer all speakers and session producers the opportunity to submit abstracts and, if they want to, papers for conference proceedings. So the knowledge and experience of presenters can live on into the future.

More information is available at our conference website and if you have any conference session ideas or special events you want to run by the program committee (or need some assistance in developing), please email program.committee@asc.asn.au.

Registrations are open. Sponsors are welcome.

Member profile – Sarah Lau

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Thank you to Sarah Lau who shared her deepest darkest secrets with us for this Q&A profile!

When not working as Communication Manager for ChemCentre in Western Australia, Sarah spends her time keeping things in order as the Secretary of the ASC. As a long-term member, Sarah’s commitment to the ASC is a great example of what keeps a volunteer organisation like ours running like clockwork. She kindly took some time out of her busy schedule to answer some ASC profile pop-quiz questions.

Read on to find out about everything from ASC WA events to malformed origami!

 

When you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?

As a small child, my career choices were heavily influenced by books and television, so I went through phases of wanting to be a journalist, a police officer, a lawyer… at one point I’d even settled on being a spy. Eventually when I hit high school I decided I wanted to get into science, but a disastrous Year 12 practical chemistry exam made me realise that lab work wasn’t for me. So I decided to combine my passion for science with my love of talking and working with people, which led me to science communication.

Apart from being superstar secretary of the ASC, what work do you do?

In my daily role, I am the Communication Manager at ChemCentre, the WA chemical and forensic science facility. This is a fascinating and varied job which sees me doing everything from briefing media on synthetic drugs to devising marketing strategies for air monitoring analysis. Right now I am working with our team to deliver a series of August outreach activities, tying into National Science Week, and culminating with ChemCentre’s annual Open Day. (Shameless plug – if you’re in WA, come by on Saturday 24 August!)

With another hat on, I work as a science communication and presentation consultant. The most exciting role I have taken on recently was for The University of Western Australia, working with some of UWA’s highest profile scientists to deliver the Science for our Future Festival program across South East Asia.

Has your time with the ASC helped or hindered your work?

I joined ASC as a student when I was studying Science Communication at The University of Western Australia. I found it was very useful, as it gave me a chance to engage with established professionals and consider future career directions.

As an early career professional, being involved with ASC, and particularly volunteering at the branch level, meant that I had the chance to develop skills and build a network of contacts.

Now, my role with ASC has grown to allow me to support the evolution of ASC as we expand and move towards a professional association. As I’ve become more involved with ASC, one my favourite things has been the chance to connect with ASC members from across Australia and hear their experiences.

Why is science communication important?

I see science communication as ‘bridging the gap’ – bringing skills and expertise to connect the world of science and an intended audience. I’ve always considered that science communicators help make science accessible, relevant and engaging. Science communicators also bring perspective and expertise to scientists to help the scientific process in the modern world. The benefits to ensuring science is communicated are wide-ranging, including better informed decision making in the wider community, and increased uptake of science at the policy and governance level. I think the recognition of science communication as a specialisation is increasing, and along with it, an appreciation of the value of science communicators.

What ASC events are you looking forward to this year?

In WA, there is a fantastic local committee which has worked hard to create a diverse programs of events, including social, professional and networking events. We’ve had some great evaluation events and I’m looking forward to this program continuing this year. Fast forward to 2014 – I am excited about the ASC National Conference in Brisbane!

When you are not science communicating, what are your hobbies/interests?

Not much has changed since I was young, so books and television still feature prominently. I adore music and I’m easily distracted by music videos. I also love checking out the great cafes and bars now popping up all over Perth. And for the novelty category – I enjoy attempting geometric origami structures, which is an odd choice for someone with little artistic ability or patience!

ASC partner with BIG science communication summit

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Thanks to Claire Harris for her run-down of the ASC/BIG science blogosphere team.

There is no doubt that the BIG Science Communication Summit provided a memorable experience for those that attended. And… for those who watched from afar via the EASELivestream and on social media (for example, using the hashtag #bigsci13 on Twitter).

ASC was proud to be a community partner with the Inspiring Australia, TechNyou and ScienceRewired teams and to be part of delivering the vision for the BIG Science Communication Summit. The event aimed to deliver an opportunity for science communicators to collaboratively discuss the challenges they face individually and collectively, and to develop solutions through engaging both before and during the event.

ScienceRewired provided an opportunity for six ASC members to have berths on the social media team – to drive discussion and debate – and to attend the event.

The ASC Live Bloggers were:

  • Amelia Swan (@SwanAmelia)
  • Victoria Leitch (@craniophiles)
  • Melissa Lyne (@malyne)
  • Kali Madden (@ASCkali)
  • Sarah Lau (@LaLaLausy)
  • Sam Askin (@samaskin). Sam actually contributed from his office in Townsville. Kali said: We were all amazed that he could be so ‘in the moment’ and we thought he must have been sitting in the gallery with the rest of the team!

The super team of live bloggers (ok, yes I was one of them but hell, I’m going with super!) were encouraged to explore topics of interest and contribute Tweets, blogs, photo galleries. The ASC live bloggers also played an important part in reporting the happenings at the event, particularly the workshops, as they weren’t being live-streamed.

Kylie Sturgess, the Social Media Coordinator for ScienceRewired led us through the, at times for me slightly confusing, social media playground set up for the event. (I for one had some experience in Twitter, Facebook and blogs but Storify, live streaming… not so much.)

Kylie Sturgess actively podcasted, networked and blogged/Tweeted/photographed the event along with the team. She gathered some great stories on Storify.

I think I can speak on behalf of the team to say that Kylie was a bundle of fun and a font of knowledge on social media.

Apparently #bigsci13 trended on Twitter on both days for Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and we got feedback from attendees present and online saying they appreciated the contributions from the team.

Bloggers’ selfie: Claire Harris (left), Vanessa Hill (middle), Victoria Leitch (top), Kylie Sturgess (bottom)

Some Tweets:

@sciencerewired: Missed a session from yesterday? Didn’t see it livestreamed? Thanks to our Social Media Team, catch up at: http://sciencerewired.org/summit/category/blog/ … #BigSci13 This Tweet was Retweeted 14 times.

@DoUBelieveInDog: @sciencerewired Can confirm you are coming through loud and clear and amazeballs on the live stream #bigsci13  🙂 (Just need more #dogs!)

@nessyhill: Mwahhahaha RT @chachiconnell: So there’s bloggers hidden in the gallery #bigsci13 I’m getting flashbacks of the #redwedding #GoT

See some of the live bloggers’ contributions on one of the Storifys.

Check out some of the blog posts written by the team:

Thanks for a great experience and all your hard work ASC crew, Kylie and indeed all involved in the event.

Bloggers’ selfie: Will Grant (left), Sarah Lau (middle), Amelia Swan (left)