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Science In Public

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

Sarah Bradley

Insect corn chips, a future health ‘Time Machine’, France’s first female astronaut, and who put the Q into 5G?

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.
[Read more…] about Insect corn chips, a future health ‘Time Machine’, France’s first female astronaut, and who put the Q into 5G?

Why cities need trees; seabed rehab; hydrogen energy 101; and saving species for a living

ENVIRONMENT highlights from across Australia this National Science Week

  • Caring for the rare: meet the people saving Victoria’s species – online via Parliament House, VIC
  • How hydrogen could create jobs and cut carbon dioxide – Hawthorn, VIC
  • Saving the planet by gardening underwater – Lake Macquarie and Sydney, NSW
  • Tree scientist encourages gardeners to grow the urban forest – Adelaide, SA
  • Feeding caterpillars to get butterflies – Kuranda, QLD
  • Wattle vs Wollemi: what is Australia’s favourite tree? – online

More on these highlights below.

[Read more…] about Why cities need trees; seabed rehab; hydrogen energy 101; and saving species for a living

Bats and bitterns, reinventing rubbish, and will Raiders’ fans register on the Richter scale?

Sunday 14 August 2022

Highlights from day two of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

ACT: Footy Quake: can a rugby crowd register on the Richter scale?
NSW: Fighting superbugs, big bad tech, caring for sky country, and microfactories making new materials from old – Sydney Science Festival is back
NSW: What and where the wild things are in Western Sydney
TAS: How an astronomer is helping an ecologist eavesdrop on bats and bitterns – Swansea
ACT: A band of physicists go on a roadtrip to explain quantum and dark matter – Tharwa
VIC: Step inside the International Space Station and take a selfie
ACT: Science while you shop – multiple locations in Canberra
NT: Students survey the Territory’s soil, from Darwin’s dirt to sands in Central Australia

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

[Read more…] about Bats and bitterns, reinventing rubbish, and will Raiders’ fans register on the Richter scale?

Sex in the sea, planting butterflies, and will we have enough prawns for Christmas?

Saturday 13 August

Highlights from day one of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.  

ACT: Reaching organism: an adults-only marine science show
NSW: Orchids, traditional knowledge, and the plant doctors: the secret science inside the Royal Botanic Garden
NSW: Saving the planet by gardening underwater – Lake Macquarie
NT: Will we have enough prawns for Christmas?
QLD: Cultural connection and Indigenous astronomy with Uncle Wayne Fossey – Logan
VIC: Starlings flock, humans crowd, drones… zizz?  Explore the swarm in this exhibition-cum-experiment
QLD: Feeding caterpillars to get butterflies – Kuranda
WA: Hack a webcam; see inside your cells

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

[Read more…] about Sex in the sea, planting butterflies, and will we have enough prawns for Christmas?

Caring for Sky Country, the pipi shuffle, 65,000 years managing water and more

Explore Indigenous Knowledge this National Science Week, 13 to 21 August

Available for interview:

  • Kamilaroi water scientist Bradley Moggridge
  • Ngarrindjeri sustainable fisher Derek Walker on harvesting pipi in Goolwa
  • Caring for Sky Country with Gamilaraay astronomer Karlie Noon in Sydney
  • Gomeroi astrophysicist Krystal de Napoli, talking science through stories in NSW & Tas
  • The Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern
[Read more…] about Caring for Sky Country, the pipi shuffle, 65,000 years managing water and more

Selfies in ‘space’; sex in the sea; rugby on the Richter scale; and what do scientists think of sci-fi?

ENTERTAINMENT highlights from across Australia this National Science Week

  • One-up your mate’s Bali pics with selfies in a replica International Space Station – Melbourne
  • This ain’t your mammal’s reproduction, in the adults-only Sex on the Beach Science Show – Canberra
  • What do experts make of the ‘science’ in Mars Attacks!? – Canberra
  • Can Raider’s fans move the needle? Earthquake experts will find out – Canberra
  • Brewing experimental beer, with interactive drink-along four packs – online and Hobart
  • Dr Karl, dinosaurs, furry friends, and a T-Rex autopsy show: all on the Sydney Science Trail – Mt Annan and Sydney
  • Plant-powered cars, Jurassic poop, the science of piracy, and more at Festival of Bright Ideas 2022 – Hobart
  • Battle of the boffins: which scientific field is best? – Hindmarsh, SA

More on these highlights below.

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

[Read more…] about Selfies in ‘space’; sex in the sea; rugby on the Richter scale; and what do scientists think of sci-fi?

Sea Country, science on silos, daleks and drones, and Alzheimer’s takes centre stage

Dozens of Science Week stories around South Australia

More on these highlights below.

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

[Read more…] about Sea Country, science on silos, daleks and drones, and Alzheimer’s takes centre stage

Fighting superbugs, life in space, microfactories, and what do Australians really think of science?

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

National launch with Minister at Parliament House – Thursday 4 August.

Scientists, experts and event organisers are available for interview leading up to and throughout National Science Week. Here are some early stories:

  • National: 88% of Australians trust science and scientists, but scepticism has increased slightly amid social media misinformation – 3M State of Science Index 2022 results reveal what we think of science
  • Canberra: First Nations Sciences of the Land: the official launch of National Science Week at Parliament House
  • Hobart: Dr Karl, a NASA astrobiologist, and 150 roving scientists walk into a science bar…
  • Adelaide: Daleks, racing drones, and dinosaur droppings: Science Alive! is back
  • Melbourne & online: Are you smarter than a TV personality? Charlie Pickering quizzes Nate Byrne, Lawrence Leung and scientists
  • Melbourne: Step inside the International Space Station and take a selfie
  • Perth: What does climate change have to do with human rights?
  • National, with Brisbane talent: 1,500+ rockets simultaneously launched around Australia
  • Darwin: Thunderbirds are go! Why have they gone? Ask a palaeontologist
  • Sydney: Fighting superbugs, big bad tech, caring for sky country, and microfactories making new materials from old – Sydney Science Festival returns.
[Read more…] about Fighting superbugs, life in space, microfactories, and what do Australians really think of science?

Bat caves, eating bugs, beer science, and a NASA astrobiologist

Dozens of Science Week stories around Tasmania

More on these highlights below.

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

[Read more…] about Bat caves, eating bugs, beer science, and a NASA astrobiologist

Factchecking 5G, future energy, swarming behaviour, and how real is virtual reality?

Dozens of Science Week stories around Victoria

More on these highlights below.

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

[Read more…] about Factchecking 5G, future energy, swarming behaviour, and how real is virtual reality?