Fresh Science turns 20 this year.
We’re giving 50 up-and-coming researchers from 25 organisations the chance to hone their communication skills, and practise presenting their science to journalists, schoolkids, science leaders, and down at their local pub.
We received close to 150 nominations for Fresh Science this year. It was tough to judge!
Hear the latest science and meet this year’s Fresh Scientists at pub events in Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth – details below.
Thank you to the 17 universities, three museums, and other groups that have partnered with us to deliver Fresh Science this year.
Also this month:
- $500,000 in grants for National Science Week 2018 events–applications for grants between $2,000 and $20,000 are open until 12 October.
- The winners of the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science will be announced on Wednesday 18 October, at Parliament House in Canberra. Follow @inspiringaus and #PMPrize to be the first to hear who has won.
- Nominations for the 2018 Clunies Ross Awards, closing 27 October.
- $22,000 grants for big ideas in agriculture, fisheries and forestry from young rural innovators are open until 13 October.
- EMCRs have until 2 October to apply for a grant from the Academy of Science to meet their Nobel heroes in Germany.
- Or apply for a Fellowship to study in Japan by 30 October.
And finally, media & communication training for scientists:
If you or any of your staff need help shaping your science into a story for stakeholders, the public, industry, or the media, join us for one of our training courses. Or talk to us about a customised course.
We’ve got courses coming up in:
- Sydney – 11 October
- Melbourne – early December (TBC)
- Perth – 7 December
$500,000 in Science Week grants up for grabs
Applications are now open for grants of between $2,000 and $20,000 to support events in National Science Week 2018.
Grants are available for individuals, community groups, universities, research institutions and other organisations to hold events for the public to participate in science across the country.
It’s your chance to secure funding to join in Australia’s national celebration of science, which this year featured more than 2,000 events around the country.
National Science Week provides high profile science engagement activities across the nation. It is also an important opportunity for the science community to celebrate and showcase science to the Australian public and the world.
Next year’s National Science Week will run from 11 to 19 August 2018.
Applications are open until 5pm AEDT 12 October 2017 via the AusIndustry website.
Fresh Science in the pub in Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth
Come and watch as 10 fresh, young scientists present their work at the pub.
These up-and-coming scientists will describe their scientific discoveries in the time it takes a sparkler to burn out. It’s about a minute–sparklers vary.
Last year we heard about: A DNA test for rhino horn, fighting dust-mite allergies with fish oil, taking cow pee out of our waterways, the secret life of gut bacteria, and how exercise before prostate surgery helps recovery and much more.
So, what’s #FreshSci this year?
Join us to find out at our pub events around the country. Tickets are free, but booking are essential.
- Collectors Café at the Queensland Museum in Brisbane on 30 October. Book now.
- The Lion Hotel, Adelaide on 8 November. Book now.
- The Forresters in Surry Hills, Sydney on 15 November. Book now.
- The Belgian Beer Café, Southbank in Melbourne on 29 November. Book now.
- The Brisbane Hotel, in Perth on 6 December. Book now.
Also, a big thank you to our sponsors and supporters who help us find all this great talent and train them up to be our next spokespeople for science.
This year they are:
Nationally: New Scientist
In Vic: The Royal Society of Victoria, The University of Melbourne, Deakin, Monash University, RMIT, La Trobe University and CSIRO
In Qld: Econnect Communication, the Queensland Government, QUT, University of the Sunshine Coast, Griffith University, and the University of Queensland
In SA: the South Australian Museum, Flinders University, University of South Australia, and the University of Adelaide
In WA: the WA Museum, Edith Cowan University, the University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, and the University of Notre Dame Australia
In NSW: UNSW and the Australian Museum.
Communication and engagement training—final dates for 2017
Do you (or any of your staff) need help shaping your science into a story for stakeholders, the public, industry, or the media?
Our final media and communication training courses for scientists for 2017 will be in:
- Sydney – 11 October
- Melbourne – early December (TBC)
- Perth –7 December
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. The day’s insights and training will help you feel more comfortable in dealing with journalists when media opportunities arise.
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.
Want to build your own training?
We also 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.
Our offerings include:
- Meet your audience: from government, business, and/or the media
- Make your pitch: what’s the essence of your story
- Build your profile: websites, media, social media
- Make your story work for mainstream media
- Presentation training: make your story come to life
- Photography and videography for scientists.
“The biggest prize I received as a Fresh Science finalist was intensive media training by Science in Public,” says astrophysicist Alan Duffy.
“I gained experience in different media formats such as radio and TV with practise interviewing, and invaluable coaching in how to tailor my message that I use to this day.”
For more information on a bespoke course, visit www.scienceinpublic.com.au/training or call us on 03 9398 1416.
Other prizes and events
2018 Clunies Ross Awards nominations close 27 October
The Clunies Ross Awards recognise contributions by dedicated individuals to the application of technology for the benefit of Australia.
The Academy of Technology and Engineering will honour 2018 Clunies Ross Award winners in three categories:
Entrepreneur of the year
For those who have played a leadership role in the translation to a commercial enterprise with a financially successful outcome of a technology based product or service in which they have personally had a significant input in the inventorship/development of the technology, such as last year’s winner Professor Andrew Wilks.
Knowledge commercialisation
For those who have been responsible for a technology which has been commercialised most likely by licensing with a financially successful outcome, such as last year’s winner Mr Darryn Smart.
Innovation
For those who have been responsible for the adoption of a technology of demonstrably significant potential, currently at a stage where the financial outcomes are yet to be realised and/or the benefits are of a measurable broad community nature, such as last year’s winner Professor Mike Xie FTSE.
Nominations close 2pm (AEDT) Friday 27 October 2017.
More at: www.atse.org.au/atse/content/about/clunies-ross-award-nominations.aspx
$22,000 grants for big ideas in agriculture from young rural innovators
Grant applications are now open for the 2018 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
If you’re 18-35, this is your chance to apply for a grant of up to $22,000 to fund your project on an innovative or emerging scientific issue that will benefit Australia’s primary industries.
There are 11 industry Science Award categories open for applications: cotton; dairy; established, new and emerging rural industries; fisheries and aquaculture; grains; health and biosecurity; meat and livestock; pork; red meat processing; viticulture and oenology; and wool.
Winners of the industry category Science Awards are then invited to apply for the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources’ Award, which provides additional funding for an extended research project.
Applications close 5pm AEDT Friday 13 October 2017.
More at: www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/conferences-events/scienceawards
Last chance for grants to meet your Nobel heroes in Germany
The Australian Academy of Science are offering travel grants for to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Germany for 2018. This year’s meeting is Physiology or Medicine.
Successful applicants will receive a travel scholarship to attend the meeting and undertake a group study tour following the Lindau meeting. Applications are open to Doctoral students and early-career researchers within five years of receiving their PhD.
Applications close 5pm AEDT Tuesday 2 October 2017.
More at: www.science.org.au/opportunities/travel/nobel-laureates-meetings/lindau-nobel-laureates-meetings
Fellowships in Japan
The Academy of Science is also inviting applications from Australian researchers, who are within six years of receiving their PhD, for the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowships.
The Fellowships commence between 1 April and 30 November 2018 and fund research for one to two years at a university or research institution in Japan.
The deadline for applications is 5pm AEDT Monday 30 October.