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National Science Week 2020 transforms during COVID-19

Media release from the Hon Karen Andrews MP, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology

This year’s National Science Week will embrace the problem-solving spirit of Australia’s science community, with even COVID-19 unable to stop celebrations beginning tomorrow.

More than 1,100 events are happening across Australia, many of them online, including Australia’s biggest satellite selfie, virtual tours of Great Southern Reef marine life and exploring wildlife in your own backyard for the Great Aussie BioQuest.

Launching National Science Week today, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said event organisers had shown great resourcefulness in rapidly adapting to the circumstances of the pandemic.

“As they say, necessity is the mother of invention and this year we’ve seen incredible inventiveness and a can-do attitude to ensure National Science Week can go ahead,” Minister Andrews said.

[Read more…] about National Science Week 2020 transforms during COVID-19

Taste the future, eat a spider, ferment your cabbage

Great National Science Week FOOD stories up for grabs now around Australia.

  • Taste tomorrow: fake meat, sautéed spider and lobster lollies —Melbourne
  • Eating for the planet—talent in Sydney and Melbourne
  • Take a virtual tour of the world’s only Sourdough Library—Tasmania
  • What’s wrong with ultra-processed food? — Melbourne
  • Carbon Counter: cut your contribution to climate change—online

These are just a few of appetising events and activities happening across Australia during National Science Week: August 15 to 23.

If you’re after more great ideas for highly visual stories, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/science-week, and on Twitter at @SciWKMedia.

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

[Read more…] about Taste the future, eat a spider, ferment your cabbage

Deadly slime, essential meds and pandemic-proofing Australia

Great HEALTH stories up for grabs now around Australia.

  • What’s working in Australia’s COVID response? —Canberra
  • Fit or fat? How your postcode affects your health—Sydney
  • Why can’t some people get the essential medicines they need?—Sydney
  • Can we pandemic-proof the future? Ask Ian Frazer—Brisbane
  • The dangers of staying awake: speak to a sleep scientist—Perth
  • Sunlight: are you getting the right amount? —Perth
  • Can you eat for healthier planet?—talent in Sydney and Melbourne
  • Discover how superbugs get super-villain superpowers—Adelaide

These are just a few of the health-related events and activities happening across Australia during National Science Week (August 15 to 23).

If you’re after more great ideas for highly visual stories, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/science-week, and on Twitter at @SciWKMedia.

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

[Read more…] about Deadly slime, essential meds and pandemic-proofing Australia

How much carbon will you pledge to save this National Science Week?

See how much carbon you could save with just one small change and join our national online challenge to cut carbon emissions.

Media release: Wednesday 12 August

Talent available for interview and quotes

Put on a jumper when you’re cold, cut your shower time, eat roo or fish instead of beef, cycle instead of driving. These are some of the small changes that you, your household or your school can adopt to reduce your carbon footprint.

Sign on at Carbon Counter, a countrywide challenge produced by the ABC Science for National Science Week. See what savings your lifestyle hacks will make and pledge to make a difference.

The Carbon Counter project – which launches onWednesday 12 August– invites individuals, households and schools to pledge small changes to day-to-day energy, food and transport use with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas production.

[Read more…] about How much carbon will you pledge to save this National Science Week?

VIC: Dancing androids, chook-wire viruses, and the future of beer

Great National Science Week stories and talent up for grabs in Melbourne and around Victoria, including:

  • Real whodunnits: what’s fact and fiction on crime TV shows and disaster movies?
  • How will beer taste in the future?
  • Black holes, dark matter, tipping points and new horizons: art collides with astrophysics
  • Phasmid of the opera: performances featuring music, dance and a stick insect
  • Discover the galaxy in your kitchen
  • Vaccines, coronavirus, criminal trials, and climate change: trusting science in a time of crisis
  • Making viruses from couscous and chook-wire
  • Gamers: can you power up enough molecules to fire a laser?
  • Take a virtual reality tour of the solar system
  • Become a Carbon Counter and join the challenge cut our contribution to climate change.

More on these highlights below, and others at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/science-week, and on Twitter at @SciWKMedia.

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

[Read more…] about VIC: Dancing androids, chook-wire viruses, and the future of beer

TAS: Wine science, wilderness, and beauty from the ashes

Great National Science Week stories and talent up for grabs around Tasmania, including:

  • Meet the sneezing scientist, a cheesy microbiologist, Batwoman, and more Young Tassie Scientists
  • Famous Tasmanians talk science in the wilderness
  • Are bushfires good for plankton?
  • What can four different brews teach you about the science of beer?
  • Beauty from the ashes: recovery after bushfires—Tasmania
  • Where does your pinot get its flavour and aroma from? Ask a wine scientist (yes, that is a real thing!)
  • Become a Carbon Counter and join the challenge cut our contribution to climate change.

More on these highlights below, and others at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/science-week, and on Twitter at @SciWKMedia.

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

[Read more…] about TAS: Wine science, wilderness, and beauty from the ashes

NSW: Bat poop, dark skies, making beer with algae, and defining the rights of the Moon

Great National Science Week stories and talent up for grabs in Sydney and regional New South Wales, including:

  • Identify a frog and see the emu in the sky on the Sydney Science Trail
  • Talking climate change like your life depends on it—with Tim Flannery, social researcher Rebecca Huntley, and marine scientist Emma Johnston
  • Learn from 60,000 years of Aboriginal astronomy and Indigenous knowledge
  • Should the Moon have legal rights?
  • Is your diet good for the planet?
  • Get your dark sky back
  • From supermassive black holes to Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador—meet Lisa Harvey-Smith
  • What do algae have to do with beer-making?
  • Plant pathogens, pests and pollinators: the fight to get food on your plate
  • Become a Carbon Counter and join the challenge cut our contribution to climate change.

More on these highlights below, and others at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/science-week, and on Twitter at @SciWKMedia.

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

[Read more…] about NSW: Bat poop, dark skies, making beer with algae, and defining the rights of the Moon

WA: Count cuttlefish, map quokka genomes, and make a melon go boom

Great National Science Week stories and talent up for grabs around Western Australia, including:

  • Take up the challenge to change the future of our oceans?
  • Flying doctors: saving lives while flying thousands of metres above sea level
  • How much sunlight is good for your health?
  • Can big data help save the quokka, koala and wallaby?
  • Hit the beach in Kalgoorlie
  • How many rubber bands can a watermelon withstand?
  • Which would win in a fight: the ocean or Mars?
  • Become a Carbon Counter and join the challenge cut our contribution to climate change.

More on these highlights below, and others at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/science-week, and on Twitter at @SciWKMedia.

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

[Read more…] about WA: Count cuttlefish, map quokka genomes, and make a melon go boom

QLD: Nudibranchs, exploding watermelons, NASA missions, and more

Great National Science Week stories and talent up for grabs around Brisbane and regional Queensland, including:

  • Discover the factories of the future
  • Can Gen Z rescue humanity?
  • Make a melon go boom
  • What’s the connection between NASA and phytoplankton?
  • How to use your panic-bought food stash
  • Brissie Science Festival kicks off
  • Roo or beef? Become a Carbon Counter and cut your contribution to climate change

More on these highlights below, and others at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/science-week, and on Twitter at @SciWKMedia.

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

[Read more…] about QLD: Nudibranchs, exploding watermelons, NASA missions, and more