Wednesday 17 August 2022
Highlights from day five of National Science Week
Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.
- NSW: Marie Curie, an inventor of a hair-sized endoscope, and France’s first female astronaut: a Powerhouse of women in science
- NT: An AI ‘Time Machine’ and a health lab on wheels – Gunyangara
- ACT: Flying drones, engineering defence, art-robots, and biology balloons: meet the women of science and art
- VIC: Misinformation puts the Q into 5G
- SA: Insect corn chips and roasted seaweed: what will you be eating in 2050? – online via Adelaide
- QLD: A bottled history of cures and quackery
Read on for more on these, including event contact details.
Also today:
- WA: Hot versus cold, the science of sound, and the birth of Planet Earth: at Scitech.
- TAS: Explore the Antarctic landscape in an exhibition and virtual reality film THIN ICE VR.
National Science Week 2022 runs from 13 to 21 August. Media kit at www.scienceinpublic.com.au. Or visit the National Science Week website for more events and activities: www.scienceweek.net.au.
For general Science Week media enquiries:
Tanya Ha: tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863
Jane Watkins: jane@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0425 803 204
More about the event highlights
Marie Curie, an inventor of a hair-sized endoscope, and France’s first female astronaut: a Powerhouse of women in science – Ultimo, NSW
What challenges are encountered by women in their scientific careers in Australia and in France? Hear from top female researchers, engineers and astronauts in a panel discussion.
Speakers:
- Chair Prof Katherine Daniell: research fellow at the Australian National University and President of the Australian French Association for Research and Innovation.
- Prof Natalie Hannan: Associate Dean, Diversity & Inclusion at the University of Melbourne, Natalie is passionate about developing new approaches to combat complications in pregnancy.
- Dr Claudie Haigneré: first French female astronaut (CNES/ESA), expert in rheumatology and neurosciences. Claudie is a member of several foundations supporting STEM in education and innovation.
- Dr Jiawen Li: senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide and L’Oréal-UNESCO fellow “For Women in Science”, Jiawen is developing ‘hair-sized’ endoscopes to better diagnose diseases.
- Dr Madge Martin: researcher at the French Research Agency CNRS and L’Oréal-UNESCO fellow “For Women in Science”. Madge combines mathematics, mechanics, and biology to better understand living tissues.
The discussion will be followed by a screening of the film Marie Curie: The Courage of Knowledge.
Wednesday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/the-skys-no-limit-women-in-health-science/ultimo
Media enquiries: Siân Davies, sian@articulatepr.com.au, 0402 728 462; or Sasha Haughan, sasha@articulatepr.com.au, 0405 006 035
An AI ‘Time Machine’ and a health lab on wheels – Northeast Arnhem Land, NT
Chronic diseases – such as diabetes and heart disease – cause suffering for thousands of Australians, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
The Menzies School of Health Research is letting people experience the effects of long-term diseases before they get sick. HealthLAB – a clinic on wheels – lets people see heart and kidney ultrasounds, hear their heart beating, and try on ‘alcohol goggles’ that mimic raised blood alcohol levels. An award-winning interactive Time Machine app completes the picture – literally – by showing how those choices affect appearance.
HealthLAB will travel to locations around Darwin and Northeast Arnhem Land, giving locals the opportunity to talk to a range of scientists and health professionals about the science behind the inner workings of the human body, the technology behind the equipment we use, and exciting future careers in science.
Gunyangara: Wednesday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/healthlab-dhupuma-barker/gunyangara
Media enquiries: Nicole Boyd, healthlab@menzies.edu.au or 08 8946 8539.
Heidi Smith-Vaughan is available for media interviews.
Flying drones, engineering defence, art-robots, and biology balloons: meet the women of science and art – Canberra, ACT
- Katie Vidal from She Maps has taught hundreds of children how to fly drones.
- Molecular biologist and balloon artist Dr Chloe Lim created a balloon show to introduce the concept of genetics to children.
- Entrepreneur Claire Harris sparked the start of a Canberra tribe of art-robots.
- Naomi Duckworth from the Department of Defence is a systems engineer and is working on Australia’s future Navy ships.
They provide interesting perspectives on art and science in a series of events hosted by science writer and performer Dr Phil Dooley.
Wednesday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/canberra-women-of-science-and-art/canberra
Media enquiries: Claire Harris, claire@innovatecommunicate.com
Speakers are available for media interviews.
Misinformation puts the Q into 5G – Parkville, VIC
Radiation scientists are ready to correct phoney information.
Scientists will publicly measure wifi and mobile phone tower radio waves in Melbourne’s busy, built-up inner city to address health concerns about 5G networks.
Radiation experts from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency will counter misinformation about the 5G rollout and bust the myth that mobile phones cause cancer.
Wednesday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/misinformation/parkville
Media enquiries: David Sibenaler, eme@arpansa.gov.au or 03 9433 2211
Photo and filming opportunities as scientists measure radio waves from sources like broadcast radio, WiFi and mobile phone towers in Melbourne.
Electromagnetic energy experts are available for media interviews.
Insect corn chips and roasted seaweed: what will you be eating in 2050? – online via Adelaide
Aussies in the future will eat corn chips made of edible insects and roasted seaweed, according to dietician Hannah Rohrlach.
Innovations in food technology and threats to food security are changing the way Aussies source, buy and eat their food. Hannah will explain why some of current favourite foods will still be around in 2050 and why some of them won’t be.
Hannah is hosting an interactive online event, where a box of futuristic food is delivered to the home of registered audience members.
Wednesday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/what-will-you-be-eating-in-2050
Media enquiries: Hannah Rohrlach hello@post-dining.com or 0438 186 375
Images available.
A bottled history of cures and quackery – South Brisbane
From chloroform to quinine, and from dugong oil to snake oil, you can tell a lot about the history of medicine by the antique bottles left behind.
Queensland Museum Assistant Curator, Tess Shingles shares the stories of special objects from the museum collection in her presentation ‘Bottled Health: The benefits of glass for peddling dangerous medicines and cure-alls’.
Wednesday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/bottled-health-the-benefits-of-glass-for-peddling-dangerous-medicines-and-cure-alls/south-brisbane
Media enquiries: media@qm.qld.gov.au
- Kylie Hay, (07) 3153 4450, 0434 565 852 (Monday to Thursday)
- Christine Robertson, (07) 3153 4451, 0417 741 710 (Wednesday to Friday)
Tess Shingles is available for media interviews.