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The mystery of leaf size solved – photos
Indigenous and Western science caring for country in Arnhem Land
A unique collaboration between scientists and Aboriginal people in remote south-eastern Arnhem Land is building knowledge about country and how local people can better manage it.
In the last nine years the Ngukurr Wi Stadi bla Kantri (We Study the Country) Research Team has discovered species new to science, found new populations of threatened species, preserved culturally-significant wetlands, and documented the community’s plants and animals in eight local languages.
Led by ecologist Dr Emilie Ens from Macquarie University and Ngandi Elder Cherry Wulumirr Daniels, this citizen science research is also working with the Yugul Mangi Rangers to better manage the new threats facing their country—like feral animals, weeds, climate change and altered fire regimes.
The project is blending ecological methods with traditional knowledge and ways of seeing country. “Our ancestors were rangers. We were rangers for 40,000 years and are rangers today,” Cherry says. “It’s a responsibility for us to look after those things.”
“We are not doing it for ourselves. We are doing this for our country and for our people and for the sake of our culture, keeping our culture alive and strong.”
[Read more…] about Indigenous and Western science caring for country in Arnhem Land
Are you a slave to your smartphones? Or master of your mobile?
We spend three hours a day on our phones, on average, with almost one in five of us admitting we check our phone at least once every 15 minutes.
These are some of the early findings from Australia’s Biggest Smartphone Survey, which is looking at how we use our smartphones and how we feel about them.
In particular, researchers want to hear from more young people, especially those aged between 12 and 25.
Psychology PhD student Bep Uink from Murdoch University, says: “Young Australians are digital natives so it’s possible they have more sophisticated relationships with their smartphones than their parents’ generation.”
“It’s really important for researchers to hear from young people about the benefits they get from their smartphones, and conversely the downsides of having such a ubiquitous device in their lives, that we might not otherwise be aware of,” she says.
Other early findings from the survey show: [Read more…] about Are you a slave to your smartphones? Or master of your mobile?
Sex, genes and rock ‘n’ roll; inside a dodgy drug lab; physics of recycling; and more
Saturday 19 August 2017
Highlights for day eight of National Science Week’s nine-day ‘week’
National and international talent, researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. Plenty of photo opportunities.
Hobart
Perth
Blue Mountains
Canberra
- Opening of Canberra’s revamped recycling facility: tour the facility, meet the experts and see how physics sorts trash from treasure. Drone footage available.
- Scienceability: young adults with a disability running a free science workshop open to the public.
- Dancing with the Science Stars: astronomy, gravitational waves and Antarctic research explained… with the help of dancers.
Keeping the lights on; Mayan astronomy; Whisky Academy; bull science; and more
Friday 18 August 2017
Highlights for day seven of National Science Week
446 events and exhibitions, 23 online activities, and dozens of great stories and talent.
National and international talent, researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. Plenty of photo opportunities.
Melbourne
- Are your genes your destiny? Gattaca 20 years on.
- What can we learn about ancient astronomy from Mayan ruins? Ask an expert from Honduras.
Sydney
Darwin
- Meet the science writer who turned 13 sea voyages in three years into a book and a play. And hear from her on science, journalism and telling the stories of climate change.
[Read more…] about Keeping the lights on; Mayan astronomy; Whisky Academy; bull science; and more
Our earthquake science epicenter; new recycling plant opening; ‘tree lobsters’ and peacock spiders; the physics of beer; and more
- Opening of Canberra’s re-vamped recycling facility…tour the facility, meet the experts and see how physics sorts trash from treasure. Drone footage available.
- ‘Tree lobster’ stick insects and small peacock spiders on the big screen. And meet the man who discovered these tiny dancing spiders.
- Scienceability: young adults with a disability running a free science workshop open to the public.
- Ask scientists to explain physics using beer.
- Geoscience Australia open day—see inside Australia’s epicenter for earthquake detection, how we use satellites to find water for agriculture, and precious rocks for our smartphones.
- Dancing with the Science Stars: astronomy, gravitational waves and Antarctic research explained…with the help of dancers.
- 1,000 science Scouts and Guides saving the planet.
- How to turn a ‘dead’ seed into a living plant.
- Do you have a healthy relationship with your smartphone? Researchers want to know.
More on these highlights below, and others at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/science-week, and on Twitter at @SciWKMedia.
The botany of booze; drones on the farm; wildlife forensics; plastic oceans; and more
Thursday 17 August 2017
Highlights from day six of National Science Week
448 events and exhibitions, 22 online activities, and dozens of great stories and talent.
National and international talent, researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. Plenty of photo opportunities.
- Wildlife forensics: meet the scientist using genetics to fight illegal wildlife trafficking. And the man who can tell how long you’ve been dead by looking at your bugs.
- Botany distilled: the best plants and science for making your favourite alcoholic drink.
- Raiding nature’s medicine chest: chemistry saving lives and creating jobs.
Charters Towers (near Townsville)
Hobart
The ‘Madhouse Effect’; evil weevils; the funniest physicist; the language of plants; dingo puppies; and more
Wednesday 16 August 2017
Highlights from day five of National Science Week
476 events and exhibitions, 22 online activities, and dozens of great stories and talent.
National and international talent, researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. Plenty of photo opportunities.
Canberra (10am, Parliament House)
Sydney
- What Western science can learn from 50,000+ years of Indigenous knowledge.
- Madhouse Effect: international experts explain what’s really stopping action on climate change.
Melbourne
Western Australia and South Australia
- Is there an evil weevil lurking in your pantry? Biosecurity agencies want your help.
Wine science; pulse checks for politicians; microplastics; a kids’ coding hackathon; and more
Tuesday 15 August 2017
Highlights from Day 4 of National Science Week
454 events and exhibitions, 21 online activities, and dozens of great stories and talent.
National and international talent, researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country. Plenty of photo opportunities.
From Antarctica to ocean plastics, and fighting MS to the science of whisky…Tassie science on show
Dozens of stories and interesting people at 150+ Science Week events in Tasmania
- The barista scientist, the insect lover, and other Young Tassie Scientists tour the state.
- What did a voyage to Antarctica tell us about women in science? Meet the scientist studying the scientists.
- What do rabbits and sea urchins taste like? Fighting invasive species by making them gourmet—Launceston.
- Behind the scenes—how do you make an Attenborough documentary?
- Whisky Academy: the science behind Tassie’s whisky boom—Strahan.
- Multiple Sclerosis: meet the Tassie scientists looking for solutions for the 23,000 Australians affected.
- Fluorescence—from forensic science to highlighter pens and spinach. Sydney chemist Elizabeth New reveals all.
- Tasmanian climate science experts on the big changes that are happening in our oceans and ice—local differences in global warming, sea level rise, acidification and reefs—Sandy Bay and Launceston.
- Trash in the tummies of seabirds, microplastics, and a surfboard fin made from recycled plastic waste: the problems and solutions of ocean plastic pollution.
- Do you have a healthy relationship with your smartphone? Researchers want to know.
More on these highlights below, and others at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/science-week, and on Twitter at @SciWKMedia.