We’re looking for stories of Australia-US research collaborations for a collection for the Australian Embassy in Washington DC. Our focus will be on innovations that are close to a commercial application and/or has achieved a practical outcome for both nations. More below.
Earlier this year we asked for Indonesia and Japan story leads. Our collection of Stories of Australia-Indonesia Innovation has been published online. It features a better vaccine for rotavirus, the latest in the discovery of the Hobbit, and stories on how Australian research is supporting the transformation of Indonesia. It’s now available online. More below and read the stories here. Our 2015 Japan stories are here. And look out for Japan collaboration videos in the New Year.
We’re also calling for great stories to include in our 2017 publication of Stories of Australian Science. It’s an annual print and online publication, bringing together discoveries, prize-winners and top achievers in Aussie science, which we distribute all over the country and overseas. Prices start from $1,200. More below.
As funders start to incorporate altmetrics, good communication will become more important than ever. We now offer a range of communication, pitching and media training services. Our first dates for 2017 are out now. More below.
Grants for citizen science are now available from the Australian government. They’re handing out $4 million. The deadline is 17 February. More below.
We close this Wednesday 21 December and re-open on Wednesday 4 January.
Have a lovely Christmas and we look forward to more brilliant Australian science next year.
Kind regards,
Niall
In this bulletin:
- Put your science in front of those who matter most—Stories of Australian Science
- Tell us your stories of Australia-US research collaborations
- A better vaccine for rotavirus; discovering the Hobbit; and predicting fires, floods and earthquakes—Stories of Australia-Indonesia Innovation
- Communication training—book in now for 2017
- $4 million in grants for citizen science programs
Put your science in front of those who matter most
Stories of Australian Science 2017 now open for submissions
Each year we feature highlights of Australian science in a print and online publication, bringing together discoveries, prize-winners and top achievers.
Our books are used by journalists, scientists, politicians and science policy-makers, as a useful reference for keeping up-to-date with new and exciting developments in Australian research. Read the 2016 edition here.
We print 15,000 copies and share the stories widely—including all Australian MPs and Senators, our extensive list of Australian and international journalists, and heads of scientific organisations around the country.
For the 2017 edition, we’ll start promoting the stories at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting in Boston—so if you want your science included, we’ll need your story by 31 January. Prices start at $1,200 + GST for a single story, and are discounted for multiple stories.
More information on distribution and prices at stories.scienceinpublic.com.au/submission, or contact Lydia or myself on lydia@scienceinpublic.com.au and niall@scienceinpublic.com.au
Tell us your stories of Australia-US research collaborations
The Australian Embassy in Washington DC is looking for great examples of collaborative research involving Australia and the US. They’re particularly interested in research that’s close to a commercial application or has achieved a practical outcome for both nations.
Anthony Murfett is our Minister Counsellor (Industry, Science and Education) in DC. His role there is to develop and implement strategies to strengthen Australia’s engagement with the industry and innovation, science, research and education systems in the US and Canada.
So please let us know your most exciting US collaborations and we’ll compile them and share them with Anthony.
We’ll then write up selected stories for a series of factsheets for use in the USA.
Previously we’ve written about:
- America’s largest warships use Nulka for missile defence. It’s a little Aussie rocket that pretends it’s a ship.
- Texan cotton farmers are growing crops that use less water, less pesticide and produce better cotton, with the help of CSIRO cotton genetics.
- Across America, deaf children are hearing for the first time thanks to a cochlear implant or bionic ear invented and manufactured in Australia.
We’re keen to highlight new examples of collaborative research between the two nations, as well as the more well-known examples such as Gardasil.
You can see our stories on collaboration with Japan at stories.scienceinpublic.com.au/japan, and our latest collection on Indonesia collaborations at stories.scienceinpublic.com.au/indonesia.
So if you know of partnerships in a similar vein, please contact myself on niall@scienceinpublic.com.au or Ellie on ellie@scienceinpublic.com.au with some information about the work and the details of the scientist we can talk to (if it’s not you).
A better vaccine for rotavirus; discovering the Hobbit; and predicting fires, floods and earthquakes
Stories of Australia-Indonesia Innovation now available online
Developing a better vaccine for rotavirus, the gastro-bug that kills around 200,000 children globally each year; discovering the Hobbit; help in times of crisis such as the Black Saturday bushfires; and predicting fires, floods and earthquakes that will affect the region—Indonesia and Australia have been collaborating in science and innovation for many years, and continue to do so.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing a taste of these stories via social media, on @AusSciStories (Twitter) and Stories of Australian Science (Facebook and Instagram).
We’ve created a collection documenting some of the diverse projects that are engaging Indonesian and Australian scientists in research that’s changing both nations.
You can see the collection as individual stories at: stories.scienceinpublic.com.au/indonesia, or in a printable pdf format at: stories.scienceinpublic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/6736-Stories-of-Australia-Indonesia-Innovation-2016_for-online.pdf [5MB].
The list is not meant to be a comprehensive summary of Australia-Indonesia research underway or completed, but a celebration of the diversity of collaborative projects.
Stories of Australia-Indonesia Innovation is the result of a collaboration between Science in Public and The Australia-Indonesia Centre. The stories were selected after Science in Public put out a public call for ideas. We wish to thank the researchers and institutions that have made this publication possible.
Communication training—book in now for 2017
Communication, pitching, engagement, presentation, and media training for scientists
We offer a flexible range of training programs to help your researchers understand their audiences, the essence of their story, and how to build their profile with the audiences and stakeholders that matter for their projects and for their long-term career development.
We’ve locked in 2017 dates for our media and communication training courses for scientists. We’ll be in:
- Melbourne: Wednesday 8 February, Tuesday 2 May, Thursday 22 June
- Adelaide: Wednesday 22 February, Tuesday 6 June
- Sydney: Thursday 9 March, Thursday 25 May
- Perth: Wednesday 15 March, Wednesday 5 July
- Canberra: Wednesday 5 April
Registration is now open for all courses via EventBrite.
In these courses, we’ll help you shape the story of your research into a form that works for the media, as well as for government, industry and other stakeholders.
Over the years we’ve helped Monash launch the world’s first printed jet engine, revealed the loss of half the coral on the Great Barrier Reef, helped CERN announce the Higgs boson, and revealed the link between CSIRO’s Wi-Fi patent and Aussie astronomy.
Working journalists from television, print and radio will join us over the course of the day to explain what makes news for them. And you’ll get the chance to practise being interviewed in front of a camera and on tape.
The day’s insights and training will help you feel more comfortable in dealing with journalists when media opportunities arise.
We also offer customised training for your researchers.
- Our training forums work for 20 to 200 students and can cover everything from pitching to business to building a public profile.
- For six to 12 people we offer intensive one day hands-on workshops
- For individuals we offer personalised training in your office or with coffee and cake in our Spotswood offices.
Find out more at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/training
$4 million in grants for citizen science programs
Could your research use a helping hand from volunteers and give them insight into the research process?
Grants of between $50,000 to $500,000 are now available to Australian researchers for projects that directly involve the public.
Examples of successful citizen science projects:
- Redmap has the help of divers, and commercial and recreational fishers to help keep tabs on the changing distributions of marine species across thousands of kilometres of coastline and ocean. It’s also changing the participants’ understanding of climate change.
- Wildlife Spotter has seen more than 50,000 citizen scientists identify 3.2 million animals in 2.5 million photographs taken by camera traps, attracting volunteer support equivalent to one research assistant working a 40-hour week for 15 years.
Projects must be Australian scientific research projects that include the participation of the public through a range of activities—including collecting and analysing data, formulating research questions and organising research teams.
Grant applications are now open, and will close at 4pm AEDT on 17 February 2017.
For more information and to apply, visit www.business.gov.au/csg.
Read the media release from Minister Greg Hunt.
Science in Public – planning, mentoring, communicating
Contact me to find out more about our services to train, mentor, plan and deliver media and communication strategies for science. We offer:
Communication plans, mentoring and training
We can review your stakeholders, messages and tools and help you and your communication team refine your plans. We offer this service for individual announcements or for a whole program or institute.
Media releases, launches, and campaigns
We can help you develop an outreach program, from a simple media release through to a launch, a summit, a conference, or a film.
Publications and copy-writing
From a tweet to a newsletter; from a brochure to a Nature supplement, we can write compelling and accurate science-driven copy which captures the essence of your story and purpose.
Kind regards,
________
Niall Byrne
Creative Director
Science in Public
82 Hudsons Road, Spotswood VIC 3015
PO Box 2076 Spotswood VIC 3015
03 9398 1416, 0417 131 977
niall@scienceinpublic.com.au
twitter.com/scienceinpublic
www.scienceinpublic.com.au
