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Science In Public

Science writers, communicators, media, training, and public relations

Kieren Topp

Science vs fake news, dark matter art, planet-saving urban forests, and diving to the bottom of the Mariana Trench

Saturday 12 August: highlights from day one of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

NSW: A writer, a broadcaster and an AI expert discuss science in the age of fake news.

NSW: Nicole Yamase: the first Pacific Islander to visit the deepest point of the Mariana Trench.

VIC: Can art shed light on invisible dark matter?

ACT: First Nations food and medicine with Wiradjuri man Adam Shipp.

SA: Tree scientist encourages gardeners to grow the urban forest.

TAS: Science, music, Indigenous astronomy at NOCTURNA Dark Sky Retreat.

WA: Finding aliens, love, energy, innovation, and the bottom of the ocean at The Anti-conference.

WA: Why it’s good to have a bird brain.

Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.

Also today:
[Read more…] about Science vs fake news, dark matter art, planet-saving urban forests, and diving to the bottom of the Mariana Trench

An Aussie astronaut, plants fighting climate change, scientists’ drag battle, and a giant Poo Palace

Dozens of Science Week stories around New South Wales

  • An Aussie astronaut, art therapy, deep sea science, space junk and Sky Country –all at the Sydney Science Festival.
  • Newcastle’s giant inflatable Poo Palace recreates the journey of food, from lips to loo.
  • What’s the role of plants, wetlands and phytoplankton in tackling climate change?
  • What’s the secret to happiness? An 85-year-long scientific study has some ideas.
  • Scientists by day; drag performers by night. Who will be crowned the ‘ultimate drag scientist’?
  • Who makes the ‘laws’ in space? When do you need to call a space lawyer? Who can mine the moon? – Newcastle.
  • Indigenous science, song-lines and stars – Wollongong.
  • Meet the super microbes who could save us from plastic – Orange, Sydney & Newcastle.
  • Marshmallow bazookas, leaf-blower levitation, and explosive liquid nitrogen with Dr Graham in Goulburn.
  • Become a poo, race a solar car, explore the moon – Newcastle.
  • Floods, storms and the Wyangala dam: a First Nation perspective – Wyangala.

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

Read on for direct contact details for each event, or contact Tanya Ha – tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

[Read more…] about An Aussie astronaut, plants fighting climate change, scientists’ drag battle, and a giant Poo Palace

Dr Karl, beer science, animal private parts, and Indigenous astronomy at a dark sky party

Dozens of Science Week stories around Tasmania

  • Dr Karl: what’s the science in future careers?
  • Science, music, Indigenous astronomy at NOCTURNA Dark Sky Retreat.
  • Cats, chemicals, brains, stress, and space junk: young scientists tour Tasmania.
  • Multi-chambered vaginas, elongated clitorises, pseudo-penises and more: improv and 3D-printed animal vaginas reveal the world of female reproduction.
  • Experimental beers with three independent breweries and two thirsty scientists.
  • Citizen scientists wanted to investigate microplastics.
  • Racing robots, seed bombs, an augmented reality sandpit, and more at the Festival of Bright Ideas.
  • How the Southern Ocean is keeping the planet from overheating.
  • Kooo-koo-kaa-kaa, croak, screeee… What is Australia’s favourite animal sound?

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

Read on for direct contact details for each event, or contact Tanya Ha – tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au, 0404 083 863.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find stories in your area using the event listing.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

[Read more…] about Dr Karl, beer science, animal private parts, and Indigenous astronomy at a dark sky party

Birds soar high in poll to identify Australia’s favourite animal sound.

Banjo frog hops into the top 10. Cicada holds tight.

Is your favourite still singing? Or did it ‘croak’?

Vote now for your favourite from the remaining animal calls.

Over 90,000 voters have made their voices heard in the search for Australia’s Favourite Animal Sound.

Birds perch high in the top 10, with voters expressing their affection for the songs of the magpie, kookaburra, lyrebird, whipbird, butcherbird, black cockatoo, boobook and the fairy wren.

[Read more…] about Birds soar high in poll to identify Australia’s favourite animal sound.

Spider crabs, science denial, and a play by ChatGPT

Dozens of Science Week stories around Victoria

And 5pm TONIGHT photo opportunity at launch event of Science Week in WA

  • DARK MATTERS exhibition – can art make the invisible universe visible?
  • Solving great spider crab mysteries, without getting wet, sandy or bitten.
  • Is AI the next Shakespeare? See a play written by ChatGPT.
  • Astrophysicists vs science fiction, and a sci-fi costume competition.
  • Should we care about science denialism? Ask psychologists and scientists.
  • Dog happiness and mental health.
  • A band of physicists on a road trip around Victoria to explain quantum and dark matter.
  • Software, sunscreen and STEM Sisters: pop-up science talks outside the Library.
  • What is Australia’s favourite animal sound?

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout Science Week.

Read on for direct contact details for each event, or contact Tanya Ha – tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

[Read more…] about Spider crabs, science denial, and a play by ChatGPT

Bird brains; raising the dead; the rise of AI; a scabby cartoon; and elemental energy.

Dozens of Science Week stories around Western Australia

And 5pm TONIGHT photo opportunity at launch event of Science Week in WA

  • The rise of AI: what are the risks and benefits?
  • Finding aliens, love, energy, innovation, and the bottom of the ocean at The Anti-conference
  • Why it’s good to have a bird brain
  • Bringing the dead back to life: Ask a palaeontologist and archaeologist how
  • ‘Scab’: a Microtoons animation bringing microbiology to people with autism
  • Noongar knowledge and elemental energies from earth, air, water and fire
  • Gems and ancient sea fossils: rocks on earth and in space
  • What is Australia’s favourite animal sound?

More on these below and visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

Direct contact details for each event are below or contact Tanya Ha on tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

[Read more…] about Bird brains; raising the dead; the rise of AI; a scabby cartoon; and elemental energy.

Soap made using ingredients from Country. Tested using Merck technology.

Merck travelled to the Northern Territory with the DeadlyScience team to pilot the first DeadlyLabs kit. It’s a project led by Indigenous Elders in the Robinson River region to share their knowledge, their ideas, and their care for the community.

Images available for media use

“It was an amazing experience for staff, students, and community. Everyone is still talking about it,” says Chris Errington from Robinson River School.

That’s the feedback from local learners and teachers in rural Northern Territory who road-tested a new science kit in May, which explores the chemistry of soap-making and hygiene with activities and experiments based in Indigenous science.

DeadlyLabs – a new project from DeadlyScience, supported by Merck, a leading science and technology company, is designed to merge cultural knowledge and learning on Country with hands-on experiments in the classroom.

[Read more…] about Soap made using ingredients from Country. Tested using Merck technology.

Dark matter art; from space to the Deep; AI and First Nations; animal sounds and bits; a Poo Palace

The national festival that reaches nearly 2 million people through thousands of events is back from 12 to 20 August.

Entertainment, business, environment, food and wine, Indigenous media, the arts, health, technology, farming and agriculture, lifestyle, education, LGBTQI+, and disability media…National Science Week offers stories for every round.

Here are a few early picks:

[Read more…] about Dark matter art; from space to the Deep; AI and First Nations; animal sounds and bits; a Poo Palace

What is your favourite animal sound? Cast your vote in our national poll

Koo-koo-kaa-kaa, crawk, howl… nationwide project to proclaim Australia’s favourite call of the wild.

Media contacts: Laura Boland, laura@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0408 166 426; or Tanya Ha, tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Participate at: www.abc.net.au/sounds from 31 July.

Do you love the summer night sounds of cicadas? Or the outback howl of dingoes? Are you intrigued by the lyrebird’s mimicry or the mating croaks of frisky frogs?

The search is on to find our most-loved Aussie animal sound. This National Science Week, ABC Science wants people to go online to eavesdrop on the animal kingdom, explore the wonder and science of bioacoustics, and vote for their favourite call of the wild.

“Bioacoustics – the study of the sounds of wildlife – is really important for science,” says ecologist and science communicator Dr Jen Martin.

[Read more…] about What is your favourite animal sound? Cast your vote in our national poll

Dog happiness; and dark matters – on a roadtrip and in an exhibition

Dozens of Science Week stories around Victoria

  • Can art shed light on dark matter?
  • Dog happiness and mental health
  • A band of physicists go on a road trip to explain quantum and dark matter
  • What is Australia’s favourite animal sound?

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

[Read more…] about Dog happiness; and dark matters – on a roadtrip and in an exhibition