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
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
NASA oceanographer asks what is the sound of colour? – online
What would colour sound like? What does the world under the icecaps look like?
NASA Oceanographer Ryan Vandermeulen takes satellite data from space-borne sensors that detect the colour variations in the oceans.
The human eye and brain seamlessly detect and translate different wavelengths of colour into images.
Ryan was intrigued by the idea of capturing and isolating the individual components of colour data, and instead of interpreting them into a picture, thranslating these variations into an aural experience. What would colour sound like?
Ryan shows how converting satellite data into music reveals natural harmonies in ocean colour optical signatures in ‘The Sound of Colour’.
Tuesday 16 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/sound-vision-sci-art-on-ocean-ice
Media enquiries: Jamie Coull, jamie.coull@go2q.com.au or 07 5415 1733
Moving images: virtual reality helps us accept death – Carlton, VIC
Guided meditation in virtual reality could comfort the dying in their final moments.
Psychology scientist Dr Nicholas Van Dam will talk to artist Efterpi Soropos about using virtual reality to improve people’s moods, even in the saddest circumstances.
Efterpi has been creating art in palliative care, transforming bleak patient rooms with light, sound and video.
Can guided meditations in virtual nature environments affect our mood and emotions? Can a virtual environment help soothe those in palliative care? And can it ever compare to meditating on the side of a mountain or deep in a forest? Ask the experts.
Tuesday 16 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/immersive-mindfulness-can-real-life-compare-with-digital-worlds/carlton
Media enquiries: Amy Bugeja, abugeja@unimelb.edu.au or 0447 586 191
Nicholas and Effe available for media interviews.
A band of physicists go on a road trip to explain quantum and dark matter – Bendigo today; Stawell tomorrow
Dark matter accounts for 85 per cent of all the matter in the Universe… but we don’t yet know what it is. Australia is a key player in the quest to find out.
Quantum technologies are crucial in the hunt for dark matter, and they’re already used in smart phones and cars, medical imaging, manufacturing, and navigation. But today’s technologies capture only a small fraction of the potential of quantum physics.
The National Quantum & Dark Matter Road Trip brings quantum and dark matter experts to cities and towns around Australia, travelling from Brisbane to Perth via Coffs Harbour, Sydney, Canberra, Bendigo, Stawell, Adelaide, Kalgoorlie and many more towns in between. This follows a successful tour of southern WA in National Science Week last year.
More information: www.qdmroadtrip.org
Bendigo: Tuesday 16 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/national-quantum-and-dark-matter-road-trip/bendigo
Stawell: Wednesday 17 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/national-quantum-and-dark-matter-road-trip/stawell
Media enquiries: Fleur Morrison, fleur.morrison@unimelb.edu.au or 0421 118 233.
Multiple experts involved with different legs of the tour are available for media interviews, including dark matter enlightener Jackie Bondell and UWA particle physicist Ben McAllister.
Dinosaurs, furry friends, Aussie orchids, and a T-Rex autopsy show: all on the Sydney Science Trail – Sydney
See rare orchids, learn about First Nations medicine, and meet scientists from the Australian Institute of Botanical Science at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.
Ask about climate change solutions, hear about First Nations tools and technologies from the experts, meet a furry possum, and come face-to-face with the roving puppet dinosaur Winny the Muttaburrasaurus at Australian Museum.
The Sydney Science Trail is back in multiple locations across the city, with family-friendly activities, an expo, workshops, expert talks, silly science, and spectacular demonstrations.
Education program: Monday 15 – Friday 19 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/sydney-science-trail-education/sydney
Scientists and experts available for media interviews.
Media enquiries:
- For Australian Museum spokespeople, contact Claire Vince, claire.vince@australian.museum or 0468 726 910.
- For Royal Botanic Gardens and Australian Institute of Botanical Science spokespeople, contact Ishwari Naicker, ishwari@polkadotcomms.com.au or 0459 684 431; or Dionne Taylor, dionne@polkadotcomms.com.au or 0411 230 301.
Explaining cancer biology to young people through pop-culture, art and augmented reality – online
How do you engage a broader or younger audience with the science of cancer and the need to reduce the risk of developing the disease?
The ‘Cancer ARt Gallery’ is a new cancer-biology-themed art gallery overlaid with augmented reality (AR), adaptive soundtracks and videography. It presents a series of AR artworks using pop-culture and nostalgic themes to explain cancer biology. It’s the brainchild of Dr Ken Dutton-Regester, a cancer researcher at QIMR Berghofer and founder of creative studio Excite Science.
Each artwork is the result of a collaboration between a cancer researcher and an artist, mutually exploring creative expression to form an immersive and memorable experience.
Saturday 13 – Sunday 21 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/print-and-host-your-own-cancer-themed-augmented-reality-art-gallery
Media enquiries: Ken Dutton-Register, ken@excitescience.org or 0435 931 961
Ken Dutton-Regester is available for media interviews.
Meteorites, sea creatures, bush tucker, and carp wars: science stories projected onto landmark buildings – Regional SA
‘Constellation’ takes audiences on a tour of regional South Australia to see five science stories as large-scale projections onto five iconic landmarks.
- Port Pirie Constellation at City Park uncovers the secret depths and abundant species of the Spencer Gulf.
- Quorn Constellation at the silo goes on a bush tucker trail to arid lands, gorges, and peaks, exploring the evolution of edible and useful plants that can survive in extreme conditions.
- Wallaroo Constellation at the silo explores the history and future of copper, the third most consumed industrial metal in the world, pivotal to industrialisation in South Australia.
- Karoonda Constellation at the silo reveals the story of the Karoonda meteorite as told through the eyes of a local mallee fowl.
- Barmera Constellation at the Bonney Theatre tells the story of Lake Bonney and the carp wars through the eyes of a Murray cod.
These science-art-community collaborations show how each region’s challenges and future were shaped by science and innovation. The landmarks star as a constellation of science-informed storytelling.
Nightly projects throughout the month of August.
Companion events on multiple dates and locations.
Media enquiries: Michael Mills, michael@heapsgood.com.au or 0411 287 381; Samantha Ray, sam@illuminart.com.au or 0431 987 349
Local VIPs and illuminart® producers are available for media interviews.