Summer is fast approaching and with it the renewed threat of bushfire.
Nine months on, Black Saturday is very fresh in the public memory. Join us for an expert panel discussion on communicating science in the emotionally charged environment of a bushfire and its aftermath.
We’re also calling for science communication papers for the February 2010 ASC National congress, and promoting some big events including the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers, the Genographic Project’s Melbourne results event and the Victorian ASC’s Christmas party.
In this bulletin:
- Bushfire Science: communicating in an emotionally charged environment
- ASC National Conference 2010: 8-10 February ANU, Canberra
- ASC National Conference 2010: Call for papers
- The Journey of Humanity—from African origins to life in a warming world, 6 December
- World Congress of Science and Factual Producers coming to Melbourne
- World Congress of Science and Factual Producers public events
- A Very ASC VIC Christmas
- Medical Writers: Xmas, networking and a conversation on ‘writing for the consumer”
- Science in Public media training
- Welcome to our newest VIC members
- Join the ASC (and check out our revamped website)
- ASC Victoria committee
Kind regards,
Niall
ASC Victoria President
If you do not wish to receive these updates on science communication events happening in Victoria, please let me know. These emails are also available as an rss feed from http://www.scienceinpublic.com/blog/category/bulletins/asc
You can also sign up to the Australian Science Communicator’s email discussion list at www.asc.asn.au
Bushfire Science: communicating in an emotionally charged environment
6.45 for 7pm, Tuesday 17 November 2009
Clare Castle Hotel, 421 Rathdowne St, Carlton [NOTE OUR NEW VENUE]
Using the Black Saturday bushfires as a case study, three panellists will discuss the role of scientists, science communicators, and the media in communicating science in an emotionally charged environment, and provide an insight into how those caught up in the bushfires viewed the media attention.
The panel will be made up of:
- Kevin Hennessy (CSIRO climate scientist)
- Steve Varga (Wandong resident, appeared on SBS Insight and an ABC documentary at www.abc.net.au/innovation/blacksaturday/people/steve)
- John Ferguson (Herald Sun journalist)
Free for members, $10 for non-members, $5 for non-member students
Meals and drinks at bar prices.
RSVP: meg.rive@csiro.au (as we’re trialling a new venue ,RSVPs would be enormously helpful- especially if you are hoping to eat)
ASC National Conference 2010: 8-10 February ANU, Canberra
The ASC Conference will be held at the Australian National University in Canberra February 8 – 10.
We already have a strong draft program, built around social media, communicating complex issues, science communicating and the Arts and the latest science communication research.
Conference registration will open soon and we will announce our key speakers at that time.
Of course, the main attraction will be meeting and talking with other communicators, and there will be plenty of opportunity to do so during the conference proper and at the associated social events
Keep checking the ASC website(asc.asn.au) and the ASC mailing lists for the latest information.
ASC National Conference 2010: Call for papers
A segment of the conference devoted to hearing about and discussing the latest research on Science Communication.
The ASC president has now put out a call for research papers. The call is open to anyone involved in science communication research–attached to a university or not. All papers will be assessed on their merits.
Full details: http://www.asc.asn.au/2009/10/ascnatconf2010-call-for-papers/
Deadline: 7 December 2009
The Journey of Humanity—from African origins to life in a warming world, 6 December
UPDATE 1 Dec 2009: Please note ammended event details.
Discover Melburnians’ deep ancestry and the journey of humanity from African origins to life in a warming world.
In October a thousand Melburnians queued up to participate in the Genographic Project. The first hundred received a free analysis of their deep ancestry. Spencer Wells, the global leader of the Genographic Project, will report back on the results. This is a free forum at the University of Melbourne.
Booking is essential.
Location: The Spot Theatre, 198 Berkley St, Melbourne
Time: 10am-12pm Lecture (free)
More information and tickets available at: http://humanjourneys.com.au/index.php?page=registration
World Congress of Science and Factual Producers coming to Melbourne
The World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) is THE must-attend gathering for producers, broadcasters and distributors working in factual television and this year it’s here in Melbourne December 1 – 4, 2009.
Full details including registration information can be found here: http://wcsfp.com/
World Congress of Science and Factual Producers public events
Usually those outside the industry miss out on the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) but not this time. This year the WCSFP will open its doors to the public on Friday, December 4 at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne for:
- Understanding the Human Brain 9.30 -10:30 am
ABC Science broadcaster Robyn Williams and special Congress guest – renowned brain researcher, author and Fellow of the Royal Institute, Baroness Susan Greenfield look at the history of brain research. More for: http://wcsfp.com/index.php/2009/popup/event/understanding_the_human_brain/ - Ripping Yarns 11am –noon
Five scientists and historians reveal their stories: see what it takes to grab the attention of the world’s TV producers. More for: http://wcsfp.com/index.php/2009/popup/event/ripping_yarns/ - We Are Family! 1.30-3.30pm
- Dr. Spencer Wells will discuss The Genographic Project and the making of the National Geographic TV documentary The Family Tree with ABC TV & Radio presenters Adam Spencer and Dr. Karl, also known as the “Sleek Geeks”. More for: http://wcsfp.com/index.php/2009/popup/event/we_are_family/
UPDATE 1 Dec 2009: These sessions are now fully booked.
A Very ASC VIC Christmas
It’s beginning to look a lot like a celebration to mark the Northern hemisphere winter solstice subsequently co-opted by the Romans and the early Christian church.
Anyway Christmas time is a time of family, community and even ASC togetherness. Join us for A Very ASC VIC Christmas where we examine “Human-powered propulsion of flattened spheroids across a surface of synthetic angiosperms” or as we’d communicate it to the public: lawn bowls.
7.30pm Thursday 10 Dec 2009
Fitzroy Bowls Club
http://bit.ly/fitzbowlsmap
Bowling is from 8.30-10.30pm We’ll have 3 rinks/lanes and that’ll mean 24 people can bowl comfortably. More if we timeshare.
Cost $15 per head (for those who wish to bowl)
We’ll hire a bbq and ASC will cover cost for simple bbq fare (bread, salad, sausages)
Drinks at bar prices
RSVP to james@scienceinpublic.com.au (we need a good idea of numbers by 1 December)
Medical Writers: Xmas, networking and a conversation on “writing for the consumer”
Join the Victorian members of AMWA for Christmas drinks and an evening of networking.
Featuring a conversation on writing for the consumer with Dr Cal Miller, Director, Mi-tec Medical Publishing, and Fiona Landgren, Director, Communicating for Health and Project Health.
Cal and Fiona will discuss:
- What constitutes successful communication in this genre
- Different areas of consumer writing
- How writing for the consumer differs from other types of medical writing
Tuesday 1 December 2009 @ 6.30 p.m.
New venue: Royal Melbourne Hotel, 629 Bourke St, Melbourne (just off Spencer St. near Southern Cross Station)
Admission is free for AMWA members, $10 for non-members. Drinks and meals at pub prices
RSVP for numbers to L.E. Ohman: le@medicalwriters.org or Jacinta Miller: membership@medicalwriters.org
For more on the Australasian Medical Writers Association check their website: www.medicalwriters.org
Science in Public media training
We (Science in Public) are holding media training courses for scientists in Melbourne on
- Wednesday 18 November 2009,
- Tuesday 8 December 2009 and
- Thursday 21 January 2010
We are also planning courses in Sydney and Canberra:
- Sydney – November /December 2009 Date TBC and
- Canberra – November /December 2009 Date TBC
Details are available at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/blog/training. A discount is available for ASC financial members.
Welcome to ASC’s newest VIC members
Hello, good evening and welcome to new ASC Vic members:
- Rebecca Skinner: Senior Manager , Communications and Networking- Australian Stem Cell Centre
- Brooke Manly: Communications Officer – CSIRO Minerals
- Alexandra Roginski: Communications Manager, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash
- Ayan Dasvarma: Project Officer, NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Clinical Science in Diabetes
- Vivien Lee: PhD student, Experimental Particle Physics at University of Melbourne
- Sonja Mennen: Communications Officer, CSIRO Land and Water
Join the ASC (and check out our revamped website)
We need your membership to help build ASC as a true national organisation for people with an interest in science communication.
Visit our revamped website at www.asc.asn.au for membership information, how to join the ASC’s mailing lists and more science social media than you can point a mouse at.
If this message has been forwarded to you and you would like to receive future bulletins then please email me at niall@scienceinpublic.com.au
ASC Victoria committee
These sessions are organised by the volunteer ASC Victoria committee. If you are interested in being involved in the committee please contact Meg Rive at meg.rive@csiro.au. We will be holding our AGM shortly where it’s your chance to get involved.
Right now, your committee is:
- Niall Byrne: President
- Jason Major: Treasurer
- Meg Rive: Regional representative on the national ASC board
- L.E. Ohman
- Ian Muchamore
- James Hutson
- Laura Miles
Kind regards,
Niall
ASC Victoria President
__________
Niall Byrne
Creative Director
Science in Public
ph +61 3 9398 1416
mobile +61 417 131 977
skype niall_byrne