Listen to: Gold, Galahs and the Milky Way: unlocking the universe, on ABC Big Ideas

Additional menu

Science In Public

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

Operations

Dopamine addiction, the art of Antarctica’s future, and a modern-day Noah’s ark in Perth

Monday 15 August 2022

Highlights from day three of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.  
  • NSW: Unstable internet connection: why we’re addicted to dopamine
  • TAS: How an astronomer is helping an ecologist eavesdrop on bats and bitterns – Swansea
  • VIC: How hydrogen could create jobs and cut carbon dioxide
  • WA: In a pickle: making food go further
  • NSW: The future of the Antarctic envisaged by artists and scientists – Wollongong
  • WA: Inside a modern-day Noah’s ark conserving Western Australia’s threatened plants
  • VIC: Saturn up close – Ballarat
  • QLD: Making waves: a century of Australian coral reef science
Read on for more on these, including event contact details.
Also today:
  • SA: Kindy kids meet marine creatures at the Marine Discovery Centre
  • QLD: Cyber, artificial intelligence, and STEM Punks: summit explores our future defence force
[Read more…] about Dopamine addiction, the art of Antarctica’s future, and a modern-day Noah’s ark in Perth

Bats and bitterns, reinventing rubbish, and will Raiders’ fans register on the Richter scale?

Sunday 14 August 2022

Highlights from day two of National Science Week

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

ACT: Footy Quake: can a rugby crowd register on the Richter scale?
NSW: Fighting superbugs, big bad tech, caring for sky country, and microfactories making new materials from old – Sydney Science Festival is back
NSW: What and where the wild things are in Western Sydney
TAS: How an astronomer is helping an ecologist eavesdrop on bats and bitterns – Swansea
ACT: A band of physicists go on a roadtrip to explain quantum and dark matter – Tharwa
VIC: Step inside the International Space Station and take a selfie
ACT: Science while you shop – multiple locations in Canberra
NT: Students survey the Territory’s soil, from Darwin’s dirt to sands in Central Australia

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

[Read more…] about Bats and bitterns, reinventing rubbish, and will Raiders’ fans register on the Richter scale?

Sex in the sea, planting butterflies, and will we have enough prawns for Christmas?

Saturday 13 August

Highlights from day one of National Science Week

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

ACT: Reaching organism: an adults-only marine science show
NSW: Orchids, traditional knowledge, and the plant doctors: the secret science inside the Royal Botanic Garden
NSW: Saving the planet by gardening underwater – Lake Macquarie
NT: Will we have enough prawns for Christmas?
QLD: Cultural connection and Indigenous astronomy with Uncle Wayne Fossey – Logan
VIC: Starlings flock, humans crowd, drones… zizz?  Explore the swarm in this exhibition-cum-experiment
QLD: Feeding caterpillars to get butterflies – Kuranda
WA: Hack a webcam; see inside your cells

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

[Read more…] about Sex in the sea, planting butterflies, and will we have enough prawns for Christmas?

Caring for Sky Country, the pipi shuffle, 65,000 years managing water and more

Explore Indigenous Knowledge this National Science Week, 13 to 21 August

Available for interview:

  • Kamilaroi water scientist Bradley Moggridge
  • Ngarrindjeri sustainable fisher Derek Walker on harvesting pipi in Goolwa
  • Caring for Sky Country with Gamilaraay astronomer Karlie Noon in Sydney
  • Gomeroi astrophysicist Krystal de Napoli, talking science through stories in NSW & Tas
  • The Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern
[Read more…] about Caring for Sky Country, the pipi shuffle, 65,000 years managing water and more

Selfies in ‘space’; sex in the sea; rugby on the Richter scale; and what do scientists think of sci-fi?

ENTERTAINMENT highlights from across Australia this National Science Week

  • One-up your mate’s Bali pics with selfies in a replica International Space Station – Melbourne
  • This ain’t your mammal’s reproduction, in the adults-only Sex on the Beach Science Show – Canberra
  • What do experts make of the ‘science’ in Mars Attacks!? – Canberra
  • Can Raider’s fans move the needle? Earthquake experts will find out – Canberra
  • Brewing experimental beer, with interactive drink-along four packs – online and Hobart
  • Dr Karl, dinosaurs, furry friends, and a T-Rex autopsy show: all on the Sydney Science Trail – Mt Annan and Sydney
  • Plant-powered cars, Jurassic poop, the science of piracy, and more at Festival of Bright Ideas 2022 – Hobart
  • Battle of the boffins: which scientific field is best? – Hindmarsh, SA

More on these highlights below.

ScScientists, performers and event organisers are available for interview leading up to and throughout National Science Week: 13 to 21 August.

[Read more…] about Selfies in ‘space’; sex in the sea; rugby on the Richter scale; and what do scientists think of sci-fi?

The arresting drama of dementia; Antarctic prophesies; humanity as swarm, and more

Great National Science Week ARTS stories up for grabs now around Australia

Phone scanning art
  • Award-winning theatre based on real stories of dementia, with neurobiologist-led audience discussion – Adelaide, SA
  • Starlings flock; humans crowd; drones… zizz?  Explore the swarm in this exhibition-cum-experiment – Parkville, VIC
  • Explaining cancer biology to young people through pop-culture, art and augmented reality – online
  • Antarctic explorers (both artistic and scientific) visualise their predictions for the future of an alien, vital continent – Wollongong

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, performers and event organisers are available for interview leading up to and throughout National Science Week: 13 to 21 August.

[Read more…] about The arresting drama of dementia; Antarctic prophesies; humanity as swarm, and more

How do collisions of rocks with planets help the planets evolve?

Planetary scientist Katarina Miljkovic is available to discuss the nature of planets in Hobart this week. It’s part of a national tour of public and school talks promoting opportunities for women in physics. Her free public lecture on Tuesday 9 August is part of National Science Week.

The planets in our solar system are vastly different although they all formed from the same cloud of gas and dust around a star – our sun. Why is this?

Associate Professor Katarina Miljkovic thinks the answers lie in studying how asteroids, comets and meteors bombarded the planets in the past, changing the surface conditions.

She works at Curtin University’s Space Science and Technology Centre and School of Earth and Planetary Sciences and uses data from several NASA missions.

[Read more…] about How do collisions of rocks with planets help the planets evolve?

Sea Country, science on silos, daleks and drones, and Alzheimer’s takes centre stage

Dozens of Science Week stories around South Australia

More on these highlights below.

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

[Read more…] about Sea Country, science on silos, daleks and drones, and Alzheimer’s takes centre stage

Growing skills and STEM careers this National Science Week

Media release from The Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science

4 August 2022

The Australian Government is celebrating the work of our scientists this National Science Week, working to close the gender gap and inspire the next generation to be part of the highly skilled STEM sector. 

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic made the comments at Parliament House as he marked this year’s National Science Week, which will run from 13-21 August.

“Australia is home to some of the best and brightest scientists and researchers – and it’s an incredible talent pool that we want to grow,” Minister Husic said.

“The Government is determined to address the gender gap in our science and research sectors, to ensure that girls and women can see a place in that STEM talent pool and then to take a deep breath and dive in.” 

[Read more…] about Growing skills and STEM careers this National Science Week

Fighting superbugs, life in space, microfactories, and what do Australians really think of science?

This year’s festival runs from 13 to 21 August, with thousands of events.

National launch with Minister at Parliament House – Thursday 4 August.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview leading up to and throughout National Science Week. Here are some early stories:

  • National: 88% of Australians trust science and scientists, but scepticism has increased slightly amid social media misinformation – 3M State of Science Index 2022 results reveal what we think of science
  • Canberra: First Nations Sciences of the Land: the official launch of National Science Week at Parliament House
  • Hobart: Dr Karl, a NASA astrobiologist, and 150 roving scientists walk into a science bar…
  • Adelaide: Daleks, racing drones, and dinosaur droppings: Science Alive! is back
  • Melbourne & online: Are you smarter than a TV personality? Charlie Pickering quizzes Nate Byrne, Lawrence Leung and scientists
  • Melbourne: Step inside the International Space Station and take a selfie
  • Perth: What does climate change have to do with human rights?
  • National, with Brisbane talent: 1,500+ rockets simultaneously launched around Australia
  • Darwin: Thunderbirds are go! Why have they gone? Ask a palaeontologist
  • Sydney: Fighting superbugs, big bad tech, caring for sky country, and microfactories making new materials from old – Sydney Science Festival returns.
[Read more…] about Fighting superbugs, life in space, microfactories, and what do Australians really think of science?