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Science In Public

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

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The physics of a gas-powered world: 2012 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year

Eric May

Fifty years ago, natural gas was usually burnt off because it was too expensive to transport it long distances to customers. Then liquefaction became practical. That made the exploitation of Western Australia’s remote gas reserves possible. The gas can be transported as liquid natural gas (LNG) at 1/600th the volume of the original gas. Today, Australian LNG is powering the economic transformation of Asia. It’s the cleanest fossil fuel. And Professor Eric May is on a mission to make it cleaner still. [Read more…] about The physics of a gas-powered world: 2012 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year

Drawing ahead of cancer: Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year

Mark Shackleton

When he was five, Mark Shackleton’s grandmother asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up. “I am going to cure cancer,” came the confident reply amid raucous family laughter.

Although he’s not there yet, the winner of the 2012 Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year, Dr Mark Shackleton, is already changing the way researchers view, approach and treat cancer. [Read more…] about Drawing ahead of cancer: Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year

The primary foundation of community awareness: 2012 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools

Michael van der Ploeg

Students in the northwest of Tasmania are entering the wide world of science, thanks to Mr Michael van der Ploeg, assistant principal and specialist science teacher at Table Cape Primary School in Wynyard. His work is having an impact in schools right along the coast. [Read more…] about The primary foundation of community awareness: 2012 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools

Science schooling for students with special needs: 2012 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools

Anita Trenwith

Mrs Anita Trenwith is a born teacher who thinks science should be fun—and that every student deserves a science education. Her current focus is science for special education students, a field in which she has instituted something of a revolution at Salisbury High School, north of Adelaide. It used to be principally a show-and-tell class. Under Mrs Trenwith it is a hands-on experience which teaches both knowledge and life skills. [Read more…] about Science schooling for students with special needs: 2012 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools

PM’s science prizes to be announced next week

Next Wednesday evening, 31 October, the Prime Minister will announce the winners of the 2012 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science at a dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House, Canberra.

We have password-protected media kits for the five winners available online here.

There will be a media briefing in the Great Hall at noon on Wednesday 31 October, all details of the prize winners are under a strict embargo of 5pm on Wednesday 31 October.

If you need to know in advance who the winners are, call Niall Byrne on 0417 131 977 or email niall@scienceinpublic.com.au.

[Read more…] about PM’s science prizes to be announced next week

PM's science prizes to be announced next week

Next Wednesday evening, 31 October, the Prime Minister will announce the winners of the 2012 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science at a dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House, Canberra.

We have password-protected media kits for the five winners available online here.

There will be a media briefing in the Great Hall at noon on Wednesday 31 October, all details of the prize winners are under a strict embargo of 5pm on Wednesday 31 October.

If you need to know in advance who the winners are, call Niall Byrne on 0417 131 977 or email niall@scienceinpublic.com.au.

[Read more…] about PM's science prizes to be announced next week

Galaxies in the thick of it grow up fast

In a quest to learn more about our own galaxy, a Sydney astronomer has identified dozens of previously unknown galaxies in a distant cluster.

Using one of the world’s largest optical telescopes, Dr Amanda Bauer—an ARC Super Science Fellow at the Australian Astronomical Observatory—and her team around the world have been studying this cluster closely. They have found that the galaxies close together in the crowded centre of the cluster mature faster than those in isolation on the cluster’s outskirts.

“We are trying to find out why galaxies stop growing and mature, because this will tell us something about the ultimate fate of our own galaxy, the Milky Way,” Amanda says.

A galaxy grows when it is forming new stars. Amanda is trying to find out what stops galaxies from doing this, therefore reaching maturity. [Read more…] about Galaxies in the thick of it grow up fast

Cardiology, TB, aging and immunology – Centenary wins support for research thrust

Centenary scientists have won over $5 million in the latest NHMRC grant round – with seven research grants and three early career fellowships.

The development of a TB vaccine, the genetic regulation of ageing, the fundamental workings of the immune system, the genetic basis of heart disease—these are some of the research areas of key interest to Centenary Institute for which the Australian Government has announced funding through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). [Read more…] about Cardiology, TB, aging and immunology – Centenary wins support for research thrust

Turmeric could spice up malaria therapy

A Centenary researcher is off to New Delhi to study the impact on cerebral malaria of the major ingredient of turmeric, curcumin.

Dr Saparna Pai has been awarded an Australian Academy of Science Early-Career Australia-India Fellowship to investigate curcumin’s action on immune cells during malaria infection. The Fellowships were announced by the Academy during the visit to India of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.

[Read more…] about Turmeric could spice up malaria therapy

Milk that protects against HIV

Melbourne researchers have developed cows’ milk that protects human cells from HIV.

The milk contains antibodies which defend against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The next step will be to develop it into a cream which women can apply to protect themselves from contracting HIV from sexual partners.

Melbourne University’s Dr Marit Kramski and colleagues found that using cows to produce HIV-inhibiting antibodies is cheaper than existing methods.

They worked with Australian biotechnology company Immuron Ltd to develop the milk. The scientists vaccinated pregnant cows with an HIV protein and studied the first milk that cows produced after giving birth.

The first milk, called the colostrum, is naturally packed with antibodies to protect the newborn calf from infections. The vaccinated cows produced HIV antibodies in their milk.

“We were able to harvest antibodies specific to the HIV surface protein from the milk,” said Marit, who is presenting her research this week as one of the winners of Fresh Science — a national program for early-career scientists.

“We have tested these antibodies and found in our laboratory experiments that they bind to HIV and that this inhibits the virus from infecting and entering human cells,” she said.

Cows cannot contract HIV. But their  immune systems develop antibodies against the foreign protein.

The HIV-inhibiting antibodies from cows’ milk will be developed into a cream called a microbicide that is applied into the vagina before and /or after sex to protect women from contracting sexually transmitted infections. Other microbicides are being developed around the world but the antibodies in this research are easier and cheaper to produce, providing a new HIV-prevention strategy.

“We hope that our anti-HIV milk antibodies will provide a user-friendly, female-controlled, safe and effective tool for the prevention of sexually acquired HIV infection,” Marit said.

“If proven effective in humans, it will empower women to protect themselves against HIV.”

About 30 million people are living with HIV globally and there is presently no effective vaccine for humans.The research was supported by the Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research and the NHMRC.

Marit and her colleagues are now developing plans for animal and human studies.

Marit Kramski is one of 12 early career scientists unveiling their research to the public for the first time thanks to Fresh Science, a national program sponsored by the Australian Government.

An example of Marit’s work is online here: http://aac.asm.org/content/early/2012/05/30/AAC.00453-12.abstract

 

Marit Kramski analysing cells on a computer (Credit: Gregor Lichtfuss)

Marit Kramski in the lab

Marit Kramski describing her research in the time it takes a sparkler to burn. Credit: Thami Croeser

Marit Kramski, left, in a lab at The University of Melbourne with frozen milk containing HIV antibodies. Her colleagues Behnaz Heydarchi, middle, and Rob Center, right are pictured with her.