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Science In Public

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

Jurassic poop, tracking space junk, and trees saving cities

Saturday 20 August 2022

Highlights from the penultimate day of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.
  • SA: Tree scientist on the vital importance of the urban forest
  • NSW: Dr Karl, dinosaurs, furry friends, and a T-Rex autopsy show: all on the Sydney Science Trail – Mt Annan and Sydney
  • NSW: The Indigenous night sky, bush food, and technology – Redfern
  • TAS: Plant-powered cars, Jurassic poop, the science of piracy, and more at Festival of Bright Ideas
  • TAS: Bugs, bats, brains, and space junk: young scientists tour the Apple Isle
  • VIC: Insect swarm or giant kinetic sculpture? Explore the swarm in an exhibition-cum-experiment
  • WA: How to go green in a regional centre – Geraldton
  • SA & WA: A band of physicists go on a road trip to explain quantum and dark matter – Adelaide on Saturday; WA next week

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

Also today:
Coming up tomorrow:

Faecal matters, saving species, and a Huon pine from Roman times – see a preview of Sunday’s highlights.

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

Tree scientist encourages gardeners to grow the urban forest – Adelaide, SA

Trees reduce pollution, create shade and encourage biodiversity, according to plant scientist Dr Kathryn Hill. They’re also nature’s airconditioners, keeping cities cool in the face of the urban heat island effect.

Kathryn studies how well trees are growing and how much carbon they’re storing by measuring their scientific values.  She even compares how plants grew 65 million years ago to how the same species grow today. 

Amateur plant scientists can help her grow and study more trees in Adelaide by attending her National Science Week workshops.

Saturday 20 August and Saturday 28 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/what-is-the-value-of-urban-forest

Media enquiries: Kathryn Hill, kathryn@debillenvironmental.com.au or 0423 693 733 

The Indigenous night sky, bush food, and technology – Redfern, NSW

Kangaroo skin clock with wooden tools

What can Aboriginal astronomy tell us about the night sky? How are native flora used in bush medicine and soap making? How do Indigenous Australians make axes from stone and other artefacts? What can deadly science tell us about seaweed, birdlife, engineering, textiles, and more? What can 60 000+ years of Indigenous culture tell us about sustainable living?

The Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern is a celebration of Indigenous and Western science, and the achivements of Indigenous youth and Elders. This annual event demonstrates the value of traditional and contemporary Indigenous knowledge in science and technology. Indigenous students assist in demonstrating activities.

Saturday 20 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/indigenous-science-experience-at-redfern-2/redfern

Media enquiries: Joanne Jamie, joanne.jamie@mq.edu.au, 0439 170 683 or 02 9850 8283.            

Indigenous student leaders and event organiser Joanne Jamie (non-Indigenous) are available for media interviews. View video from 2019 event.

Dr Karl, dinosaurs, furry friends, and a T-Rex autopsy show: all on the Sydney Science Trail – Mt Annan and 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 and Mt Annan.

Ask Dr Karl 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.

Australian Museum: Saturday 20 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/sydney-science-trail-community-saturday-at-the-australian-museum/sydney

Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan: Saturday 20 August. Event details: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/event/sydney-science-trail-at-the-australian-botanic-garden-mount-annan/mount-annan

Scientists and experts available for media interviews.

Media enquiries:

Plant-powered cars, Jurassic poop, the science of piracy, and more at Festival of Bright Ideas 2022 – Hobart, TAS

  • Cars of the future could be fuelled by plants, according to Dr Graham Walker. He’ll be exploring the future of energy, including solar power and storing carbon dioxide.
  • The singing palaeontologist Professor Flint explores the science of dinosaur droppings and the origin of faeces.
  • Find out about the science of piracy in Piratechniques 101, with ABC’s Lish Fejer (Pirate Captain ScungeBucket).
  • Plus, the science of circus trapeze, robot building, drug designing, bunny cuddling, forest secrets, volcano and lava science, and underwater creatures: more than different 40 science sessions, all under one roof.

These are just some of the speakers, activities and displays at the Festival of Bright Ideas, Tasmania’s largest public STEM event, at Princes Wharf 1 on Hobart’s waterfront.

Saturday 20 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/festival-of-bright-ideas-2022/hobart

Media enquiries: Sarah Bayne, sarah@luminousevents.com.au or 0419 472 539

Bugs, bats, brains, and space junk: young scientists tour Tasmania

Meet Mars the computer scientist tracking space junk, Alyce the bat-woman working in caves, Dipon the cheesy microbiologist, Alex the ecologist turned tabby cat tracker, Ash the brain researcher seeking a stroke of genuis, and Shasta the entomologist who can tell you all about bugs and why we should eat them.

These are just a few of the Young Tassie Scientists team — passionate early career researchers bringing science presentations and activities to schools and public events state-wide during August.

The group aim to inform Tasmanians about what’s happening in STEM research across the island, with a focus on reaching regional, rural and island communities. They’re also sharing their science stories in Hobart at the Festival of Bright Ideas.

Multiple dates and locations.

And at Festival of Bright Ideas: Friday 19 – Saturday 20 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/young-tassie-scientists-at-festival-of-bright-ideas/hobart

Media enquiries: Emily Attrill (she/her), emily.attrill@utas.edu.au or 0448 336 552

All of the Young Tassie Scientists are available for media interviews.

Starlings flock, humans crowd, drones… zizz?  Explore the swarm in this exhibition-cum-experiment – Parkville, VIC

From nanobots to native bees, superorganisms to social media – is it better to be part of a pack or go it alone?

Part exhibition, part experiment, SWARM uncovers the very essence of collective behaviour and questions what drives us to be social.

More than half of Earth’s 7.9 billion people live highly urbanised lives; increasingly connected through social media and digital interfaces, we share our lives to hordes of followers, crowdsource ideas, digitise our workforces, and become part of global political movements.

Swarming behaviour underlies nearly everything: swarms of social insects, murmurations of birds, molecular movements, swarm algorithms driving choices, and even swarms of drones and nanorobots helping (or hindering) the very essence of what it means to be human.

At a time of unprecedented societal upheaval due to the current global viral pandemic, Science Gallery Melbourne is delving into the science and art behind what it means to be part of a pack.

Saturday 13 August – Saturday 3 December. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/science-gallery-melbourne-swarm/parkville

Media enquiries: Katrina Hall, kathall@ozemail.com.au or 0421 153 046.

Available for interview:

More information: melbourne.sciencegallery.com/swarm

Goodness Festival: Sustainable Living Expo – Geraldton, WA

Can Geraldton go green? Experts are here to help, with practical science-based advice, workshops, guest speakers, and interactive displays to show locals the various ways to reduce their environmental footprints.

The inaugural Sustainable Living Festival is hosted by the Goodness Festival and Midwest Carbon Zero to explore sustainable daily living.

Find out about:

  • seed saving to preserve local plant biodiversity
  • edible seaweed and foraging
  • reducing waste when there’s limited local recycling options
  • permaculture design for the local environment
  • building more sustainable homes
  • bike repair and electric bikes
  • grey water systems
  • zero-waste hacks for the home.

A variety of stalls, workshops, panels, guest speakers, and interactive displays will demonstrate to the public the various ways their environmental impact can be reduced.

The expo will be held at the beautiful Geraldton Foreshore, highlighting the importance of caring for and securing knowledge about our local environment.

Saturday 20 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/goodness-festival-sustainable-living-expo/geraldtonMedia enquiries: Lara Sampson, connect@scinapse.org.au or 0477 426 878

Members of Midwest Carbon Zero Hamish McLean, Vivienne Lobo and Lara Sampson are available for interviews.

A band of physicists go on a road trip to explain quantum and dark matter – Adelaide on Saturday; WA next week

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

Adelaide: Saturday 20 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/national-quantum-and-dark-matter-road-trip/adelaide and www.scienceweek.net.au/event/national-quantum-and-dark-matter-road-trip/adelaide-1

Quairading, WA: Thursday 25 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/national-quantum-and-dark-matter-road-trip/quairdading

Perth: Saturday 27 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/national-quantum-and-dark-matter-road-trip/crawley

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.