Grab a beer and meet a dozen bright sparks at Fresh Science at the Pub after work on Monday 15 October.
You’ll hear about growing galaxies and building spaceships, arthritis in your gums and gaming addictions.
These young scientists have been through a media boot camp, but can they write a poem about termites? Can they explain the connection between cows and HIV in a minute?
The science is free, the drinks are at bar prices… and there may even be fireworks.
Read on for more science communication activities happening around Victoria:
- Join us at the pub for a quick dose of Fresh Science
- Genetics helping children with epilepsy – ICT for Life Sciences Forum
- Virtual worlds and smart farming – Big Picture seminar at Swinburne
- How does anaesthesia work? The science of keeping us alive
- Jelly baby waves and ‘synchrotrons for dummies’ at the Australian Synchrotron open day
- Get your work out there with media training for scientists
Join us at the pub for a quick dose of Fresh Science
How are termites used for prospecting and how can cows help prevent HIV?
How do galaxies grow and how are spaceships are built?
Can arthritis show in your gums and is gaming addictive?
Meet 12 of Australia’s most interesting young scientists over a beer after work next Monday at the Duke of Kent.
Each year, we bring a bunch of bright early-career scientists to Melbourne for a media boot camp. We give them the chance to strut their stuff, presenting their work to schoolkids, journalists and the pub-going public.
When: 6.30pm, Monday 15 October
Where: Upstairs at the Duke of Kent (293 La Trobe St, Melbourne)
The science is free, drinks and meals are at bar prices.
More information on Fresh Science at: http://freshscience.org.au/2012/fresh-science-at-the-pub
Genetics helping children with epilepsy – ICT for Life Sciences Forum
How do you tell if a child has epilepsy or a different movement disorder?
Paediatric neurologist Prof Ingrid Scheffer is using genetics to differentiate between different types of seizures.
She’s found that one gene may actually cause both disorders occurring in different parts of the body at different ages.
It’s the first step towards developing therapies for these neurological disorders.
She will present this work at the ICT for Life Sciences Forum on Monday night.
When: Monday 15 October, lecture at 6pm, refreshments from 5pm
Where: The Auditorium, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne
The ICT for Life Sciences Forum encourages innovation in ‘new biology’ – the convergence of the life sciences with the physical sciences, engineering and ICT.
Register for the free lecture at: http://ict4lifesciences.microevents.com.au/event/ict-for-life-sciences-forum-prof-ingrid-scheffer
More information on Ingrid’s previous work at: www.scienceinpublic.com.au/loreal/laureates/one-unlucky-letter-causes-an-infant-epilepsy
Virtual worlds and smart farming – Big Picture seminar at Swinburne
In remote Australia, farmers need better technology to share information and make the best use of limited resources. An online tool called FarmNet is helping farmers to crunch weather data and crop information to better plan their water use.
And across Australia, telcos are struggling to keep up with the demand for video calls and video streaming. Massively distributed networks, usually used for online games like World of Warcraft, could be a solution.
Researchers from the National ICT Australia Victorian Research Laboratory (NICTA VRL) are working with companies like Telstra and IBM to put their computer technology to work in the real world.
Santosh Kulkarni and Khusro Saleem will speak about their work at a NICTA VRL Big Picture Seminar at Swinburne next Wednesday.
When: Wednesday 17 October, seminar at 6pm, refreshments from 5.30
Where: Swinburne University, Room ATC 103, Advanced Technologies Centre, 427-451 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn
More details on the Big Picture seminar series at: http://nicta.com.au/events/big_picture/vrl
How does anaesthesia work? The science of keeping us alive
What are the ongoing effects of anaesthetics on us and our bodies?
On Wednesday night Prof David Story, Chair of Anaesthesia at the University of Melbourne, will be presenting on the history of anaesthesia and the effects it can have on us.
His talk will also focus on how we can be affected by anaesthesia even after we come out of hospital and what can be done to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients after surgery.
All welcome, no booking needed – and stay for free drinks and pizza after the talk.
When: Wednesday 17 October 2012, 6.30pm
Where: Gene Technology Access Centre, 1H Royal Parade, Parkville
For more information, visit: www.anzaas.org.au/victoria
Jelly baby waves and ‘synchrotrons for dummies’ – Australian Synchrotron open day
Get in behind the scenes and talk with synchrotron scientists and machine operators who can explain how the synchrotron works at the Australian Synchrotron Open Day.
You can book a self-guided tour or a 15-minute overview called ‘Synchrotron for Dummies’. Or you can join in on the children’s activities.
Triple R will broadcast live interviewing scientists about how they use the synchrotron to study Alzheimer’s, leukaemia and the common cold; to destroy tumours without damaging normal tissue; how they can study mineral processes; make ‘green cement’; and research our cultural heritage.
The day is free but bookings are essential – sessions booked out last year.
When: Sunday 14 October, 10am-4pm
Where: Australian Synchrotron, 800 Blackburn Rd, Clayton
More information and bookings at: www.synchrotron.org.au/index.php/news/events/australian-events/event/103-2012%20Open%20Day
Get your work out there with media training for scientists
We’re holding two media training courses for scientists in Melbourne in October and November.
These one-day media training workshops are aimed at teaching scientists how to better present their work to the media, the public and their stakeholders.
They focus on helping scientists present their work in a way that attracts attention and helps journalists cover science stories accurately.
The courses are scheduled for Thursday 25 October (confirmed) and Wednesday 14 November.
There’s more information on our media training at: www.scienceinpublic.com.au/training
If you’re interested in attending, or have any questions, please contact Niall – niall@scienceinpublic.com.au or (03) 9398 1416.