In a quest to learn more about our own galaxy, a Sydney astronomer has identified dozens of previously unknown galaxies in a distant cluster.

Using one of the world’s largest optical telescopes, Dr Amanda Bauer—an ARC Super Science Fellow at the Australian Astronomical Observatory—and her team around the world have been studying this cluster closely. They have found that the galaxies close together in the crowded centre of the cluster mature faster than those in isolation on the cluster’s outskirts.

“We are trying to find out why galaxies stop growing and mature, because this will tell us something about the ultimate fate of our own galaxy, the Milky Way,” Amanda says.

A galaxy grows when it is forming new stars. Amanda is trying to find out what stops galaxies from doing this, therefore reaching maturity. [continue reading…]

Grab a beer and meet a dozen bright sparks at Fresh Science at the Pub after work on Monday 15 October.

You’ll hear about growing galaxies and building spaceships, arthritis in your gums and gaming addictions. [continue reading…]

This year, thanks to funding from the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science, Research and Tertiary Education through the Inspiring Australia initiative, and partners in other states, we’ve expanded the program to include state finals in:

• Queensland, supported by the University of Queensland;
• Victoria, supported by Scienceworks;
• New South Wales, supported by ANSTO and;
• South Australia

Here’s the state finalists – we’ll announce the national finalists in the next week or so. [continue reading…]

It’s science prize season: we’ve just celebrated three outstanding young women at the 6th L’Oréal Australia and New Zealand For Women in Science awards, and the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes will be awarded next month.
[continue reading…]

Do you know any exceptional early career researchers with peer reviewed papers and potential to be a media star?

If so, consider nominating them for Fresh Science – a competition where we train them and throw them to the media lions – generating hundreds of stories.

More info on that below, and also:

• Put your science in front of pollies and journos
• 30 travel grants to Europe for PhD students via EMBL Australia
• Never miss a prize deadline – check our science prize calendar
• Forever young – growing old gracefully with science
• ‘The Sound of Breaking Glass’ – women in science news
• Women in Science Parliamentary Friendship Group
• Media training for scientists – Melbourne, Sydney (and maybe Adelaide)

[continue reading…]

Please help us identify the unsung achievers of Australian science for the Prime Ministers, and welcome to my occasional email to the science community on prizes and other activities.

• Nominations are now open for The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science — please help us identify unsung achievers; also L’Oreal Fellowships open 1 April; and a science prize database;
• How does Nature rate your university;
• Ten billion dollars for vaccine delivery – meet the man leading the global alliance GAVI in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney;
• Media training in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra;
• Supporters needed for Fresh Science state finals;
• Ian Chubb speaking in Melbourne for NICTA;
• Reaching global science journalists – a dinner in Vancouver and our story collections
• Who are Science in Public

[continue reading…]

Please help us identify the unsung achievers of Australian science for the Prime Ministers, and welcome to my occasional email to the science community on prizes and other activities.

• Nominations are now open for The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science — please help us identify unsung achievers; also L’Oreal Fellowships open 1 April; and a science prize database;
• How does Nature rate your university;
• Ten billion dollars for vaccine delivery – meet the man leading the global alliance GAVI in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney;
• Media training in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra;
• Supporters needed for Fresh Science state finals;
• Ian Chubb speaking in Melbourne for NICTA;
• Reaching global science journalists – a dinner in Vancouver and our story collections
• Who are Science in Public

[continue reading…]

Can we design plant roots to use less water?  A Queensland scientist says yes, and her genetic discoveries are now being used by sorghum growers as a first step to drought-resistant food crops by changing the shape of the roots to absorb more water.
[continue reading…]