What makes science news?

Science Communicators

How do you get science into the news? How do you ensure the science is accurately reported?

Join journalists from the Age, Ten, The Aus, and 3AW at the Redback next Tuesday for a discussion on what makes science news for their audiences.

Also, coming up: Fresh Science; Nanotechnology; a city networking soiree; and a look at quantum reality.

I’m writing to you as someone with an interest in science communication in Victoria. If you do not wish to receive these updates on science communication events happening in Victoria, please let me know.

These bulletins are also available as an rss feed from http://www.scienceinpublic.com/blog/category/bulletins/asc

You can also sign up to the Australian Science Communicator’s email discussion list at www.asc.asn.au

In this bulletin:

Meet the press – Tuesday 19 May

Fresh Science – Monday 1 June

Using nanotechnology in medicine and health – Tuesday 2 June

ASC in the city – Tuesday 23 June

Quantum reality – Tuesday 21 July

Coming up: print & design, docos, TV producers and more

ASC Victoria committee

Media training

Join the ASC

Kind regards,
Niall

ASC Victoria President

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Meet the press – Tuesday 19 May

What makes science news? How do you get your science reported on television, in the newspaper and on radio? And how do you ensure it stays accurate?

Join three local Melbourne journalists in a discussion about what makes science news for their audiences.

  • Gerard Scholten, senior reporter with Channel Ten
  • Andrew Trounson, The Australian Higher Education supplement
  • Bridie Smith, science reporter at The Age
  • Donna Demaio, 3AW radio news

Date: Tuesday 19 May

Time: 6.30pm for 7pm start. We’ll break for dinner around 8pm.

Venue: Redback Brewery, 75 Flemington Road, North Melbourne

Cost: Free for members, $10 for non-members, $5 for students. Meals and drinks at bar prices.

RSVP to Sarah Brooker, sarah@scienceinpublic.com.au, 9398 1416, 0413 332 489

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Fresh Science – Monday 1 June

Join top young scientists down at the pub as they reveal their latest science discoveries over a beer.

Cold tuna tummies, imaging whiplash, aerodynamic octopusies, owl forensics, return of the bilby, volcanic extinctions, imaginary friends, life in fools gold and under the ice, defogging the universe, woolly sunscreen and more.

Triple R’s Dr Andi will take this year’s Fresh Scientists through their paces challenging them to describe their work in one minute or less, and in verse.

Fresh Science is a national competition that selects 16 top young scientists from around Australia to present their work to the media and public. Fresh Science is supported by the Australian government through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

Date: Monday 1 June

Time: 6.30pm for 7pm start. Dinner will be served throughout.

Venue: Redback Brewery, 75 Flemington Road, North Melbourne (downstairs in the front bar)

Cost: Free. Meals and drinks at bar prices.

RSVP to Sarah Brooker, sarah@freshscience.org, 9398 1416, 0413 332 489

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Using nanotechnology in medicine and health – Tuesday 2 June

Hosted by the Australasian Medical Writers Association

Nanotechnology is regarded as one of the most important sources of new technology-it is heralded as making products and processes smaller, smarter, cleaner and safer. The application of nanotechnology is increasing in a wide range of industries including medicine and health practice-it has huge potential, but there are some concerns.

Join us to learn more about advances in nanotechnology and biomedicine and the ethical, legal, policy and social issues that accompany it.

Guest speakers:

  • Dr. Peter Binks, CEO, NanoVentures Australia
  • Dr Bob Irving, COO, NanoVentures Australia

Date: Tuesday 2 June 2009

Time: 6.30 pm

Venue: The Redback Hotel, 75 Flemington Road, North Melbourne (downstairs in the restaurant)

Cost: Free for AMWA members, $10 for non-members.

Dinner and drinks at pub prices.

RSVP and enquiries: L.E. Ohman le@medicalwriters.org or Jacinta Miller jacmil@bigpond.com

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ASC in the city – Tuesday 23 June

Join the ASC for drinks and canapés in the city at 3 Degrees at QV.

This is a great opportunity to network with your peers. Bring along your colleagues and friends for a social evening, a chance to meet Melbourne’s science communicators and find out about ASC future activities and plans.

Date: Tuesday 23 June 2009

Time: 6pm-9pm

Venue: 3 Degrees, QV Square ( www.3degrees.com.au )

Canapes provided, drinks at bar prices

Further details: Ian Muchamore ian@imthinking.com.au

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Quantum reality – Tuesday 21 July

Explore the strange and beautiful world of quantum mechanics – multiple realities, absolute uncertainty, many-worlds, quantum teleportation, quantum computing, and other generally spooky stuff of the Universe.

Our guest speaker Lloyd Hollenberg is a quantum theorist in the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne. He is an ARC Professorial Fellow and also the program manager for Quantum Device Modelling & Algorithms within the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computing Technology.

If that isn’t complex enough, Lloyd has spoken across Australia and overseas on topics as diverse as quantum physics, quarks and gluons, and the acoustics of the didgeridoo.

Date: Tuesday 21 July 2009

Time: 6.30 pm for a 7pm start

Venue: The Redback Hotel, 75 Flemington Road, North Melbourne (upstairs in the function room)

Cost: Free for AMWA members, $10 for non-members, $5 for students.

Dinner and drinks at pub prices.

RSVP: L.E. Ohman leohman1@bigpond.net.au

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Coming up: print & design, docos, TV producers and more

The committee are planning and coordinating sessions for the rest of the year. We’ll send you dates as soon as they’re confirmed, but in the meantime, here are some of the ideas we are working on:

  • Design, print and production
  • National Science Week touring speaker
  • Melbourne Writers Festival
  • Science documentaries
  • Social Marketing for science
  • Science of bushfires
  • World Congress of Science and Factual TV Producers

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ASC Victoria committee

These sessions are organised by the volunteer ASC Victoria committee. If you are interested in being involved in the committee please contact Meg Rive at meg.rive@csiro.au. We will be holding our AGM shortly where it’s your chance to get involved.

Right now, your committee is:

  • Niall Byrne: President
  • Jason Major: Treasurer
  • Meg Rive: Regional representative on the national ASC board
  • L.E. Ohman
  • Ian Muchamore
  • James Hutson
  • Laura Miles

Thanks to Tiki Swain for her time on the committee. Tiki is taking a break to look after her new baby, Sparrow Lorelei.

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Media training

We (Science in Public) are holding media training courses for scientists in Melbourne on 9 June, 15 July, and 20 August. Details are available at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/blog/training. A discount is available for ASC financial members.

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Join the ASC

We need your membership to help us build ASC as a true national organisation for people with an interest in science communication.

Visit our website at www.asc.asn.au for membership information, and advice on how to join the ASC’s national discussion list, ASC-list and media release list ASC-media.

If this message has been forwarded to you and you would like to receive future bulletins then please email me at niall@scienceinpublic.com.au