Science In Public
Science writers, communicators, media, training, and public relations
In 2003, Mrs Brooke Topelberg—only three years out from an education degree and just back from two years’ teaching in inner London—was appointed science coordinator of Westminster Primary School. The school is set in a high immigrant, low socio-economic suburban area in northern Perth. Science was a low priority at the school.
Jane WrightStudents at Adelaide’s Loreto College have been investigating extra-sensory perception, finding the best way to neutralise spills of household cleaners, and testing the antibiotic effects of Manuka honey. They present their results not just by writing reports, but using talks, videos, role-plays and stories. Their activities are typical of the practical, can-do attitude of their science coordinator, Dr Jane Wright. It’s an attitude she’s also applied in her leadership of her chosen profession.
In 1768 the British Admiralty sent Captain James Cook to the Pacific to monitor the transit of the planet Venus across the Sun. On his way home to England, Cook mapped Australia’s east coast, and claimed New South Wales.
For about 40,000 years before that, the indigenous peoples of Australia had been developing remarkably sophisticated explanations of the workings of the Southern Sky. [Read more…] about Born from astronomy…Creating a future with astronomy
Tracy Ainsworth James Cook University Coral interactions more complex than ever suspected. Dr Tracy Ainsworth’s research is changing our understanding of the life of the tiny coral animals that built Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef. Her work comes at a critical time for the future of coral reefs—threatened by a warming ocean and by coral […]
Eve McDonald-Madden The University of Queensland Turning to mathematics to allow us to make smarter conservation decisions. The diversity of life on Earth underpins the global economy. But we’re losing biodiversity at an unprecedented rate and human-induced climate change will threaten more species—up to 37 per cent of the plants and animals with which we […]
Georgina Such The University of Melbourne Smart capsules could change the way we deliver drugs. Today, when we’re treated for cancer, the drug spreads throughout the body indiscriminately. Along the way it causes side-effects such as nausea and hair loss. To tackle this problem Georgina imagines a miniscule capsule designed like a set of Russian […]
On Wednesday 24 August the three L’Oréal Fellows visited the Australian Synchrotron for the L’Oréal Australia Girls in Science school forums.
The three fellows presented their research to over 160 high achieving female students in year’s 9-12.
The students then had the opportunity to ask the fellows questions about their day to day life, how they got to where they are now and their research.
Tamara Davis, an award-winning astrophysicist from the University of Queensland, is the 2011 Australian Institute of Physics Women in Physics lecturer. Tamara, who was a 2009 L’Oréal Australia For Women in Science Fellow, is giving public talks and talks to school students on the search for dark matter and dark energy in the Universe [Read more…] about The AIP Women in Physics lecture tour: Tamara Davis on ‘The dark side of the Universe’
Today at the 3rd World Congress of Asian Psychiatry in Melbourne this week, we explore treating mental illness with exercise, diet, mindfulness, meditation, complementary medicines and seafood. Is it time to go back to basics in treating mood disorders?
More on the Congress below. [Read more…] about Giving birth to depression, one psychiatrist for half a million people and other stories