Do you know an up-and-coming stem cell researcher who deserves to be recognised for their work?
Applications for the 2016 Metcalf Prizes for Stem Cell Research are now open, offering cash and valuable recognition to boost the careers of two Australian early to mid career researchers. More below.
This week is Innovation Week 2015, an initiative led by the Australian Science & Innovation Forum (ASIF) in partnership with the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) and backed by the Victorian government. Their timing was perfect given that the goss is that the innovation statement will come out early next week—kudos to Marguerite Evans-Galea and her colleagues.
And their message is…we are good at innovation. As Michelle Gallaher (@startupshelly) reminded us at the Royal Society of Victoria last night, “There were $2 billion in biotech deals done in Australia this year including HatchTech, who secured up to $279 million for their head lice treatment, and Starpharma’s $650 million plus deal with AstraZeneca”.
On Wednesday the Defence Science Group also reminded me that the little rocket that thinks it’s a ship (Nulka) has earned billions of dollars and they’ve got many more clever devices which are protecting Australian soldiers, sailors and pilots, and earning export dollars.
Take a look at what the Innovation Week team have done, and consider getting involved next year – www.innovationweek2015.org.
The Victorians are also putting some serious money into supporting women scientists through career breaks. Yesterday they announced their first four Inspiring Women Fellowships each worth up to $150,000. Natalie Hannan was one of them. She’s a 2006 Fresh Scientist looking at pre-eclampsia and delivering drugs directly to the placenta.
And finally, before you break for Christmas, tell me the highlights of your best research from Australia and around the world for our 2016 Stories of Australian Science collection. Stories cost $1,200 each with discounts for two or more. We’ll want them ready to show off when we head to the United States for the AAAS meeting in DC in February. More below.
The cracking team of caffeinated science enthusiasts at Science in Public and I would like to wish you all the best for the festive season. We will be closing the office for two weeks from COB Friday 18 December and will re-open on Monday 4 January. But if you are in need of some urgent “break-the-glass” PR support over the break, we can be reached on mobile.
The $50,000 Metcalf Prizes for Stem Cell Research
Applications open now until March 21
Two up-and-coming leaders in stem cell science will be awarded $50,000 each to boost their career to the next level.
The Metcalf Prizes are open to mid-career Australian stem cell researchers. The winners will be chosen for their scientific excellence, proven leadership ability and the potential to have a continuing influence on stem cell research in Australia.
Last year the prizes went to Christine Wells for her work creating an online encyclopedia for knowledge sharing amongst researchers and Ryan Lister for his work on understanding and modifying the retained ‘memories’ of reprogrammed stem cells. Read more about Christine’s research here, and Ryan’s research here.
Applications are encouraged from all fields – from agriculture to medicine, if you are working with stem cells, you are eligible. Last year’s unsuccessful applicants are also encouraged to apply again this year if they are still eligible.
Or if you know someone who is a worthy candidate, encourage them to enter. Encouragement from respected peers is often what gives emerging research leaders the confidence to put themselves forward. In our experience almost all applicants for the nation’s science prizes, especially for the early-career prizes, were encouraged to apply by their colleagues or supervisors.
The Metcalf Prizes are an initiative of the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia.
More at: www.stemcellfoundation.net.au/researchers/metcalf-prizes
Stories of Australian Science 2016 – open for submissions
We’re looking for great stories of Australian science from 2015 to share with journalists, politicians and science leaders around the world—starting at the AAAS meeting in Washington in February.
Stories of Australian Science summarises the best of Australian science from the past year.
Last year we included stories on the hunt for dark matter in a gold mine, the 3D printed jet engine and insulin in a plant seed. We’re currently sharing them via #AusSciStories and they’re online here.
Next year we will also send copies to thousands of schools around the country as a part of the National Science Week mail-out in March/April.
If you’ve got a story you’d like to include in our next storybook, email me or call the office on (03) 9398 1416.
We write the stories for you—all you need to do is tell us what you’d like to include in the publication, and give us your scientist’s contact details.
Prices start at $1,200 + GST for a single story, and are discounted for multiple stories.
More details at: stories.scienceinpublic.com.au/submission
Smart dogs/living with animals and without asthma…give Cosmos for Christmas
It’s been a great year for the team at Cosmos, with excellent stories in the magazine and online, and editor Elizabeth Finkel taking home the 2015 Department of Industry and Science Eureka Prize for Science Journalism for her piece on the statins controversy.
A Cosmos subscription ($59 per year) is a great science-themed Christmas gift idea that keeps giving throughout the year. Here are previews of a couple of stories from the December/January issue:
What smart dogs can teach us
Efforts to breed a smarter dog could help researchers understand which genes influence human behaviour. Working kelpies have specific behavioural traits that combine to make them indispensable on a farm, and now researchers are matching these traits with specific stretches of the dogs’ DNA. It may help solve the mysterious link between complex human behaviour and DNA.
The health benefits of farm animals
Studies have shown that rural living almost halves the asthma risk in children. Living with farm animals may boost our immune systems as children, and help protect us from asthma. As well as encouraging the European trend of farm-based crèches, it could point toward a future vaccine.