Science In Public
Science writers, communicators, media, training, and public relations
The next generation of hearing aids could be made in Melbourne thanks to a Victorian government grant that will fast-track the prototyping of Australian-designed hearing aids.
The $50,000 small technology grant will fund Australia Hears to use RMIT’s rapid prototyping facilities to test new hearing aid designs. [Read more…] about Making hearing aids in Melbourne
Melbourne researchers have invented a small, smart, self-managed hearing aid that outperforms most conventional hearing aids for less than half the price.
It uses technology first developed for Australia’s bionic ear, and is so simple to set up that most users can buy one over the internet and fit it themselves. That brings the cost down to between $1,000 and $1500, or less than $3000 for a pair. [Read more…] about A hearing aid you install yourself
The Australia Hears media kit is now available – more info from niall@scienceinpublic.com.au, 0417 131 977.
These fact sheets are included in the media kit. You can download them separately here.
Fact sheet 1: Rediscover a world of sound – Australian researchers have invented a small, smart, self-managed hearing aid that outperforms most conventional devices for less then half the price.
Fact sheet 2: High-tech hearing at low cost – the science and technology behind Australia Hears.
Fact sheet 3: Ears wide open – the long road – bringing Australian hearing science to the community and the market.
Fact sheet 4: Independent audiologist Steve Grayson-Riley discusses the Australia Hears hearing aids
Fact sheet 5: Returning to the whole world of sound – Tim Thwaites, a science writer and broadcaster with Science in Public talks about his introduction to Australia Hears. He trialled and now uses an Australia Hears hearing aid that he purchased at his own expense online.
Australian Academy of Science media release
AAS 1/11
Sixty of Australia’s big-thinking young geoscientists have identified how to ensure this country continues to be a powerhouse of mining for at least the next century.
The report of a Think Tank on the future of resource discovery and utilisation held at the Australian Academy of Science late last year was launched by the Minister for Resources and Energy, The Hon Martin Ferguson, today at the Shine Dome in Gordon Street, Canberra at 3 pm. [Read more…] about Ensuring Australia’s mining future
On radio this week…
25 years ago when Barry Jones was Science Minister he called scientists wimps, and told them to get out of their labs and fight for better support for science. [Read more…] about Frank Fenner, an ice monitor, obesity and 25 years of science advocacy
This week Niall talked about the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. You can read about the winners at http://www.scienceinpublic.com/blog/prime-ministers-prize/pmprizeinbrief
Niall’s stories standing in for Tim on radio this week
More scary news on how the environment in which we live can leave a mark on our genes. This work in mice showed poor diet and parental neglect changed gene activity for three generations. [Read more…] about Whales with sunburn, are pets good and other stories
This commitment is great news and a wonderful follow-up to the UN global health conference held in Melbourne last month. Here’s the media release from GAVI – the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.
Mary Robinson, Chair of the GAVI Alliance Board, welcomes the new commitment, which will help save the lives of 4.2 million children
(issued by GAVI)
[Read more…] about Australia commits $US58 million to global vaccines initiative
Australian engineers and physicists have developed a ‘single electron reader’, one of the key building blocks needed to make a quantum computer. Their work was published online by Nature on Monday 27 September.
These pages contain background resources for the paper. [Read more…] about Single electron reader opens path for quantum computing