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Science In Public

Science writers, communicators, media, training, and public relations

Operations

National action needed to fast-track life-saving discoveries and to ensure that all healthcare is evidence based

  • Cancer survival rates, COVID response and rapid vaccine development show how research can rapidly transform healthcare outcomes
  • But Australia is not currently translating the findings of research efficiently into benefits for patients because of fragmentation within the health system and between health, academia and industry.
  • Report reveals how integrating routine clinical care with generation of evidence represents our best pathway to deliver better patient experiences, improve patient outcomes, and increase staff satisfaction.
[Read more…] about National action needed to fast-track life-saving discoveries and to ensure that all healthcare is evidence based

Cancer art, the sound of colour, and how real is virtual reality?

Tuesday 16 August 2022

Highlights from day four of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.  
  • Online: NASA oceanographer asks what is the sound of colour?
  • VIC: Moving images: how real is virtual reality?
  • VIC: A band of physicists go on a road trip to explain quantum and dark matter – Bendigo today; Stawell tomorrow
  • NSW: Dinosaurs, furry friends, and a T-Rex autopsy show: schools on the Sydney Science Trail
  • Online: Explaining cancer biology to young people through pop-culture, art and augmented reality – Brisbane talent
  • SA: Meteorites, sea creatures, bush tucker, and carp wars: science stories projected onto landmark buildings – multiple regional locations

Read on for more on these, including event contact details.

Also today:
  • TAS: The treasures of Tassie’s dark skies with Ulverstone Planetarium principal astronomer
  • NT: Take a sneak peek inside the Natural Science Collection storeroom at MAGNT
[Read more…] about Cancer art, the sound of colour, and how real is virtual reality?

Dopamine addiction, the art of Antarctica’s future, and a modern-day Noah’s ark in Perth

Monday 15 August 2022

Highlights from day three of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.  
  • NSW: Unstable internet connection: why we’re addicted to dopamine
  • TAS: How an astronomer is helping an ecologist eavesdrop on bats and bitterns – Swansea
  • VIC: How hydrogen could create jobs and cut carbon dioxide
  • WA: In a pickle: making food go further
  • NSW: The future of the Antarctic envisaged by artists and scientists – Wollongong
  • WA: Inside a modern-day Noah’s ark conserving Western Australia’s threatened plants
  • VIC: Saturn up close – Ballarat
  • QLD: Making waves: a century of Australian coral reef science
Read on for more on these, including event contact details.
Also today:
  • SA: Kindy kids meet marine creatures at the Marine Discovery Centre
  • QLD: Cyber, artificial intelligence, and STEM Punks: summit explores our future defence force
[Read more…] about Dopamine addiction, the art of Antarctica’s future, and a modern-day Noah’s ark in Perth

The arresting drama of dementia; Antarctic prophesies; humanity as swarm, and more

Great National Science Week ARTS stories up for grabs now around Australia

Phone scanning art
  • Award-winning theatre based on real stories of dementia, with neurobiologist-led audience discussion – Adelaide, SA
  • Starlings flock; humans crowd; drones… zizz?  Explore the swarm in this exhibition-cum-experiment – Parkville, VIC
  • Explaining cancer biology to young people through pop-culture, art and augmented reality – online
  • Antarctic explorers (both artistic and scientific) visualise their predictions for the future of an alien, vital continent – Wollongong

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, performers and event organisers are available for interview leading up to and throughout National Science Week: 13 to 21 August.

[Read more…] about The arresting drama of dementia; Antarctic prophesies; humanity as swarm, and more

Growing skills and STEM careers this National Science Week

Media release from The Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science

4 August 2022

The Australian Government is celebrating the work of our scientists this National Science Week, working to close the gender gap and inspire the next generation to be part of the highly skilled STEM sector. 

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic made the comments at Parliament House as he marked this year’s National Science Week, which will run from 13-21 August.

“Australia is home to some of the best and brightest scientists and researchers – and it’s an incredible talent pool that we want to grow,” Minister Husic said.

“The Government is determined to address the gender gap in our science and research sectors, to ensure that girls and women can see a place in that STEM talent pool and then to take a deep breath and dive in.” 

[Read more…] about Growing skills and STEM careers this National Science Week

Planting butterflies, bottled cures and quackery, cancer art, and hundreds of mini-rockets take to the skies

Dozens of Science Week stories around Queensland

More on these highlights below.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

[Read more…] about Planting butterflies, bottled cures and quackery, cancer art, and hundreds of mini-rockets take to the skies

Sex in the sea, the science in sci-fi, dance hall becomes a lab, and measuring a Footy Quake

Dozens of Science Week stories around ACT

More on these highlights below.

[Read more…] about Sex in the sea, the science in sci-fi, dance hall becomes a lab, and measuring a Footy Quake

What is your favourite tree? Cast your vote in our national poll

Karri, tea tree, river red gum… nationwide project to crown Australia’s most loved species.

The poll opens on Monday 1 August. The list will be cut to the top 20 on Friday 12 August, then 10 finalists on Friday 19 August, and the winner will be announced on Friday August 26.

Images available for media use

Meet the 33 contender trees

Participate at: www.abc.net.au/trees from 1 August.

Mountain ash at Lake Tali Karng
Credit: Claire Gilder

Do you love the water-bulging boab or the towering mountain ash, the world’s tallest flowering tree? Are you intrigued by the carbon capturing power of grey mangrove ecosystems or the ‘living fossil’ story of the Wollemi pine?

The search is on to find Australia’s favourite tree. This National Science Week, ABC Science wants people to go online to explore the wonder and science of the plant kingdom, and vote for their favourite tree.

[Read more…] about What is your favourite tree? Cast your vote in our national poll

How do collisions of rocks with planets help the planets evolve?

Planetary scientist Katarina Miljkovic is available to discuss the nature of planets in Melbourne this week. It’s part of a national tour of public and school talks promoting opportunities for women in physics.

The planets in our solar system are vastly different although they all formed from the same cloud of gas and dust around a star – our sun. Why is this?

Associate Professor Katarina Miljkovic thinks the answers lie in studying how asteroids, comets and meteors bombarded the planets in the past, changing the surface conditions.

She works at Curtin University’s Space Science and Technology Centre and School of Earth and Planetary Sciences and uses data from several NASA missions.

[Read more…] about How do collisions of rocks with planets help the planets evolve?

Dopamine hits; Antarctic art; a mass rocket launch; and will we have enough prawns for Christmas?

This year’s festival runs 13 to 21 August, with thousands of events around Australia.

Entertainment, business, environment, food and wine, Indigenous media, the arts, health, technology, farming and agriculture, lifestyle, education, and disability media…

EVERY round can find a story in this year’s National Science Week. Here are some of the early top picks:

[Read more…] about Dopamine hits; Antarctic art; a mass rocket launch; and will we have enough prawns for Christmas?