A pair of spectacles can cost just $2. An eye test and fitting can take just 30 minutes.

So why are over 700 million people suffering from poor vision?

An international study by the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Australia and South Africa, and Johns Hopkins University in the US reveals that lack of access to basic optometry services is costing US$202 billion each year.

The research is published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation.

More below.

Also in this bulletin:

• Twenty seven years of coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef
• Dates for the Fresh Science 2012 National Final
• Inside the synchrotron
• Australia’s other great telescope complex [continue reading…]

Today Australian engineers reveal in Nature how they have written information to a single electron opening the way to a quantum computer based on silicon.

Quantum computers promise to solve complex problems that are currently impossible on even the world’s largest supercomputers if only we could make one. Many esoteric approaches have been tried.

Researchers at UNSW said, “We can do this using silicon – and computer makers already know how to use that.

See below for more details. [continue reading…]

Know a top scientist whose contribution hasn’t been recognised? Or an emerging leader in science? A couple of major science prizes are closing next week:

• the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, including the $300,000 main prize, two $50,000 prizes for early to mid-career scientists and two $50,000 prizes for science teachers
• the L’Oréal Australia & New Zealand For Women in Science Fellowships, worth $25,000 for three early-career women scientists
• next week – EMBL Australia will open a travel grant scheme to send our best young PhD students to an EMBL campus in Europe
• the Eureka Prizes, for research, scientific leadership and communication

[continue reading…]

Know a top scientist whose contribution hasn’t been recognised? Or an emerging leader in science? A couple of major science prizes are closing next week:

• the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, including the $300,000 main prize, two $50,000 prizes for early to mid-career scientists and two $50,000 prizes for science teachers
• the L’Oréal Australia & New Zealand For Women in Science Fellowships, worth $25,000 for three early-career women scientists
• next week – EMBL Australia will open a travel grant scheme to send our best young PhD students to an EMBL campus in Europe
• the Eureka Prizes, for research, scientific leadership and communication

[continue reading…]

Science in Public media bulletin 18 October 2011.

• Immune peacekeepers discovered
• The Centenary Institute Lawrence Creative Prize
• 2011 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science
• What’s behind Australia’s Physics Nobel
• Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt on the 2011 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science
• Australian “Immortal” documentary wins international film festival prize

[continue reading…]

Will climate change Victoria’s wines and how do we save the plants that feed and clothe us – find out at free public talks as part of the 18th International Botanical Congress in Melbourne this week. [continue reading…]

Next Wednesday evening the Prime Minister will present her Prizes for Science. The embargo is 5 pm on Wednesday 17 November 2010.

Other science news coming up includes: a black comedy on biodiversity staged in the skeleton gallery of the Australian Museum; Chinese science leaders in Australia marking 30 years of collaboration; CERN director here soon for physics congress; the end of the world; the future of transport and more.

Here’s the details: [continue reading…]

Next Wednesday evening the Prime Minister will present her Prizes for Science. The embargo is 5 pm on Wednesday 17 November 2010.

Other science news coming up includes: a black comedy on biodiversity staged in the skeleton gallery of the Australian Museum; Chinese science leaders in Australia marking 30 years of collaboration; CERN director here soon for physics congress; the end of the world; the future of transport and more.

Here’s the details: [continue reading…]