Pitching to Japanese, Chinese businesses and science TV; debunking pseudoscience; 1,000 scientists for World Record; Fresh Science in the Pub and more

Bulletins, Science stakeholder bulletins

Interested in profiling your science to those who make, buy, and produce science television? I’m heading to San Francisco next week for the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers.

Next year the conference is coming to Australia and they are keen to meet local researchers with good stories. Drop me a line.

Pitching your technology to Asian partners. Join me for a free session hosted by the City of Melbourne on 4 December. It’s a precursor to the City’s annual business mission to China and Japan in March next year. More below.

Tune up your critical thinking and pseudoscience radar at Skepticon this weekend in Sydney, and with Jason Silva in Melbourne tonight and Sydney on Sunday.

Break a World Record and the stereotype of what a scientist looks like by joining in UNSW’s record-breaking attempt at the largest gathering of people dressed as scientists at the end of November.

Or head to the pub in Melbourne (29 November) and Perth (6 December) for the latest science over a beer.

In this bulletin:

And finally, media & communication training for scientists.

If you or any of your staff need help shaping your science into a story for stakeholders, the public, industry, or the media join us for one of our training courses. Or talk to us about a customised course.

We’ve got courses coming up in:

  • Perth – 7 December
  • Melbourne – 12 December.

Futurism and debunking pseudoscience this weekend MLB and SYD

Futurism, technology, creativity, the science of awe, disruptive innovation, relationships and mental health.

Bringing it all together is Jason Silva: storyteller, futurist and host of National Geographic’s Brain Games, who is speaking in Melbourne tonight and Sydney this weekend.

Jason is speaking as part of Skepticon 2017, the Australian Skeptics national convention.

The Skeptics encourage critical thinking presented with pseudoscience, paranormal ideas and questionable claims.

Book yourself to get Awestruck.

  • Melbourne – The Athenaeum Theatre, tonight, Friday 17 November; and
  • Sydney – The City Recital Hall, Sunday 19 November.

OR

Book yourself in for a weekend of debunking at Skepticon or individual sessions on topics such as the vaccination campaign and cult survivors.

Speakers include Alan Duffy, Dr Karl, Lawrence Leung, Sonya Pemberton, Adam Spencer, the War on Waste’s Craig Reucassel, the Checkout presenter Kate Browne and former SMH science editor Marcus Strom.

Awestruck and Skepticon are both presented by Think Inc., an Australian-based initiative dedicated to igniting intellectual discussion and encouraging critical thinking by hosting events with the world’s leading intellectuals.

Help break a World Record (and stereotype) by being a scientist

If you’re a scientist and want to show the world what a scientist looks like, join UNSW in setting a Guinness World Record of the largest gathering of people dressed as scientists.

Bring: lab coat, lab glasses and a piece of lab equipment (they will also supply).

  • Globe Lawn, UNSW 3pm Monday 27 November

Some scientists wear wetsuits, some wear field gear, and others wear just plain clothes. The reality is most scientists don’t wear lab coats and lab glasses, and scientists are much more diverse.

So why don’t you help break a Guinness World Record and debunk the stereotype of what scientists look like.

Share/Like/Watch the video call-out

Fresh Science in the pub in Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth

Hear the latest science with a beer in your hand.

Ten up-and-coming scientists will describe their scientific discoveries in the time it takes a sparkler to burn out.

Recently we’ve heard about: making better batteries from thin air, the love lives of sea snakes and finding out what triggers volcanic eruptions, at pubs in Brisbane, Adelaide, and Sydney.
So, what #FreshSci will we hear in Melbourne and Perth?

Tickets are free, but bookings essential.

  • The Belgian Beer Café, Southbank in Melbourne on Wednesday, 29 November. Book now.
  • The Brisbane Hotel, in Perth on Wednesday, 6 December. Book now.

Are you a Melbourne business interested in expanding to Asia?

If you work in health and life sciences or sustainable urban design and are interested in pursuing business opportunities in China and Japan, you may be interested in joining a City of Melbourne business mission to China and Japan.

Led by Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, AC, you will have the opportunity to meet with businesses in Osaka, Japan and Tianjin, Beijing, Wuxi and Suzhou, China. The next business mission is 21-30 March 2018.

They are now seeking expressions of interest from local business representatives and entrepreneurs from the following fields:

  • health and life sciences industries
  • sustainable urban design
  • general aviation
  • innovation and startups
  • game development.

Expressions of interest close 30 November.

More information: www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/melbmission

Pitching your technology to business

What are the crucial elements that make a good business pitch or presentation? How can you improve your communication skills to stand out from the crowd?

Join Niall Byrne, Creative Director from Melbourne PR firm Science in Public, as he guides you into the world of results-based professional speaking, with particular emphasis on why presentations need to be tailor-made to suit an Asian audience.

This forum will also introduce the City’s Mission to Japan and China.

Date: Monday 4 December 2017
Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm
Where: Supper Room – Melbourne Town Hall, 90-120 Swanston Street, Melbourne

For more information, and RSVP 03 9658 9366 or globaldesign@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Science and Factual TV: global meeting for those who make, buy, and broadcast science and factual television

Next week I will be in San Francisco attending the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers.

It’s a chance to hear and see what’s happening in science television with speakers revealing emerging content trends and highlighting industry issues.

In 2018 we have the chance to promote Australian science to a global audience when the conference comes here.

So I’ll be at the conference spruiking Australian science and connecting them back to Australia. If you’re interested in being involved in the conference next year, please drop me a line.

And mark the date in your diaries—last week of November 2018.

Broadcasters and producers that usually attend include: ABC TV, ARTE, BBC, CBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, Discovery Channel US, Discovery Channel Canada, Discovery Science, France 5, National Geographic Int., NDR, NHK, Rai, Thirteen/WNET and WGBH.

Communication and engagement training—final dates for 2017

Do you (or any of your staff) need help shaping your science into a story for stakeholders, the public, industry, or the media?

Our final media and communication training courses for scientists for 2017 will be in:

  • Perth – 7 December
  • Melbourne – 12 December.

Registration is now open for all courses via EventBrite.

In these courses, we’ll help you shape the story of your research into a form that works for the media, as well as for government, industry and other stakeholders. The day’s insights and training will help you feel more comfortable in dealing with journalists when media opportunities arise.

Over the years we’ve helped Monash launch the world’s first printed jet engine, revealed the loss of half the coral on the Great Barrier Reef, helped CERN announce the Higgs boson, and revealed the link between CSIRO’s Wi-Fi patent and Aussie astronomy.

Working journalists from television, print and radio will join us over the course of the day to explain what makes news for them. And you’ll get the chance to practise being interviewed in front of a camera and on tape.

Want to build your own training?

We also offer a flexible range of training programs to help your researchers understand their audiences, the essence of their story, and how to build their profile with the audiences and stakeholders that matter for their projects and for their long-term career development.

Our offerings include:

  • Meet your audience: from government, business, and/or the media
  • Make your pitch: what’s the essence of your story
  • Build your profile: websites, media, social media
  • Make your story work for mainstream media
  • Presentation training: make your story come to life
  • Photography and videography for scientists.

“The biggest prize I received as a Fresh Science finalist was intensive media training by Science in Public,” says astrophysicist Alan Duffy.

“I gained experience in different media formats such as radio and TV with practise interviewing, and invaluable coaching in how to tailor my message that I use to this day.”

For more information on a bespoke course, visit www.scienceinpublic.com.au/training or call us on 03 9398 1416.