Tag Archives: 1100-1200

Concurrent Session 6D Professional Development; Science Communication Evaluation: Q&A

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Do you have a question about evaluation?  Want to hear about tips, tricks, or techniques for evaluating your activities? Come query our panel of evaluation-minded experts from both within, and outside, the science communication field.

This session is designed for both practitioners and researchers who have been, or will be, involved in science communication evaluation. It will be facilitated Q&A-style; participants are asked to submit questions prior to the session to m.mckenzie@uq.edu.au.

Pre-conference materials:

A request for participants to email their evaluation questions to m.mckenzie@uq.edu.au or tweet with the hashtag #ASCEval

Melanie McKenzie (session producer & facilitator), PhD researcher at The University of Queensland and workshop facilitator at Econnect Communication

Cheryl Reed (panellist), Director, Ipsos Social Research Institute

Keren Winterford (panellist), Citizen Voice and Action Learning Specialist, World Vision.

Craig Cormick (panellist), Manager of Public Awareness and Community Engagement, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

Cobi Smith (panellist), PhD researcher at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science and Science in Society and Facilitator at the Royal Institution of Australia.

Concurrent Session 6C Professional Development: Delegate generated content

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How often have you been to a conference, heard something inspirational, and thought, “if only there was a session on that here”? Well, at ASC 2012, we are aiming to make that happen. If you have an idea that needs be further explored or perhaps you feel a speaker could have used more time in their original session, propose it to the conference organisers. We have left a bit of time, and some space as well, in the program to allow for ad hoc, delegate inspired, session. We even have a back of professional facilitators ready to help.

Concurrent Session 6B Research and Papers (PhDs plus)

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Australia is rapidly becoming a notable player in the world of science communication research and scholarship. The ASC 2012 national conference features 5, hour-long sessions in which some of our best and brightest share their research stories. Presentations are brief as the opportunity to interact with presenters and other delegates is something we feel is of great value in the conference space.

A critical examination of the promotion of public understanding of science in Japan

Mitsuru Kudo, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

What’s special in a good meal? A study to examine the “good” or “special” meal as identified by children to gauge the strength of tradition and family values in the face of nutritional directives

Penny Wilson (presenting author), Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra

Sean Perera (co-author), Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra

William Lai (co-author), Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra

Heroes in science: Communication and the art of inspiration

Bobby Cerini, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

From climate change to climate dogs

Chris Gerbing (presenting author), Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia

Graeme Anderson (co-author), Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia

Chris Sounness (co-author), Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia

Dale Grey (co-author), Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia

CAASTRO astronomy outreach & the demographics of social media

Wiebke Ebeling (presenting author), ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO), Australia and International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, Curtin University, Perth, Australia

Steven Tingay (co-author), ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO), Australia and International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, Curtin University, Perth, Australia

Concurrent Session 6A Using the 2011 Community Attitudes Survey to inform policy and science engagement programs

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We regularly talk of the need for an evidence base for science engagement in Australia. In 2007, the Victorian Government released its first survey on adult’ attitudes and engagement with science and technology (www.business.vic.gov.au/communityresearch). Four years later, the 2011 survey is completed. What’s changed? What could it mean for communicators and policy makers?

Use this interactive session to become familiar with the data and interrogate it on-line to answer your own questions or just get to know your audience better. Hear policy makers and science communicators discuss their use of data to inform engagement approaches and policy development. BYO computer or ipad.

Wendy Williams (session producer), Manager, Science and Innovation Outreach, Dept of Business and Innovation

Charlie Coulton (speaker), Senior Research Consultant, Sweeney Research

Jenni Metcalfe (speaker), Director, EConnect

Concurrent Session 4D Are computer games and apps the new frontiers for communicating science?

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Computer games and apps are particularly rapidly developing and immensely popular media. They have expanded from entertainment and leisure pursuits to business training to school educational uses and as online means of involving the public in environmental and other matters. These media offer new approaches to framing your science content. Find out how these media may serve your communication needs and make a game out of engaging the public in science.

Jesse Shore (session producer), Science Communicator, Prismatic Sciences & ASC President

Ian Allen (chair), Executive Producer, Content, ABC

Sam Doust  (panellist), Creative Director, StratDev, ABC Innovation

Alan Murray (panellist), Lecturer in Games Programming, Qantm College

Cathie Howe (panellist),   Game Design Project Leader, Macquarie ICT Innovations Centre

Paul Gray (panellist), Director of Community & Customer Experience, Bubble Gum interactive

 

 

Concurrent Session 4C Professional Development; Engaging with the media on your own terms

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The pressure on researchers to beef up their public engagement comes at a time when traditional media models are themselves facing pressure or breaking down. But should scientists be engaging with the public in the first place? Why and, if so, how? How can an individual make sure the version of their work that appears in the media one that they’re happy with, that doesn’t come back to haunt them? This session is for anyone who has views on science communication and the media. It is intended to be interactive – not a sermon – and hopefully productive.

Pre-conference materials 

The Conversation website is www.theconversation.edu.au. They can also be followed on twitter at @conversationEDU or found on Facebook as The Conversation

Paul Dalgarno (session producer and speaker), Deputy Editor and Science and Technology Editor, The Conversation

Concurrent Session 4B Research and Papers (PhDs plus)

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Australia is rapidly becoming a notable player in the world of science communication research and scholarship. The ASC 2012 national conference features 5, hour-long sessions in which some of our best and brightest share their research stories. Presentations are brief as the opportunity to interact with presenters and other delegates is something we feel is of great value in the conference space.

The representation of science and scientists on postage stamps

Christopher Yardley, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Understandings of nature and the anti-whaling campaign

Simon Copland, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

A ‘kronic’ case study – responsible science communication and its impact

Sarah Lau, ChemCentre, Western Australia

Gateways for engagement

Jason Boudville, ScienceNetwork WA, Perth, Australia

A vital divide  – the future of alternative medicine in a scientific society

Mike McRae, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

A qualitative pilot study exploring Australian women’s attitudes to genetically-modified foods

Heather Bray (presenting author), School of History and Politics, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.

Rachel A. Ankeny (co-author), School of History and Politics, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.

Concurrent Session 4A The Consultancy Game

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How does one go about setting up a business in science communication consultancy?  Where do the clients come from?  What services do they want?  How much should they be charged?  What are the first steps to take?  How do you begin to ‘think business’?  What are the advantages of working from home, and working from an office?  Should you buy-in skills like book-keeping, graphic design, web site design and IT, or do them in-house?  Anyone contemplating consultancy work (or even looking to hire consultants) will be interested in this explanation of what it takes to establish and maintain a science communication consultancy.

Toss Gascoigne (session producer), Director, Toss Gascoigne and Associates

Cobi Smith (chair), PhD researcher at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science and Science in Society and Facilitator at the Royal Institution of Australia.

Jenni Metcalfe (speaker), Director, Econnect Communication

Kristin Alford (speaker), Managing Director, Bridge8

Niall Byrne (speaker), Creative Director, Science in Public

Concurrent Session 1D Speed mentoring: short shots of career tips

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Want to get a load of tips from experienced people about how to build a successful career in science communication in only 60 minutes? And get practice in networking skills and interviewing techniques at the same time? Then join the speed mentoring session. In groups of three, you will move through a room filled with people who have been there and done that in diverse areas of sci-comm. In short energetic conversations you can find out the likes and dislikes of various fields, what are the jobs prospects and maybe find a match for a future ongoing mentoring relationship.

Jesse Shore (session producer and facilitator), Principal, Prismatic Sciences & ASC President

Chris Casella (mentor), Managing Director, ScienceAlert Pty Ltd

Cassandra Casey (mentor), Brand and Communications Manager , Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)

Chris Krishna-Pillay (mentor), Victorian Manager, CSIRO Education

James Hutson (mentor), Manager of Digital Production, Bridge8

Karl Kruszelnicki (mentor), Julius Sumner Miller Fellow, Science Foundation for Physics, University of Sydney

Elizabeth Finkel (mentor), Science writer, journalist, Freelance correspondent

John Curran (mentor), General Manager, Communications, CSIRO

Tim Thwaites (mentor), Freelance science writer and broadcaster, Science in Public

Wilson da Silva (mentor), Editor-in-Chief, Cosmos Magazine, Luna Media Pty Ltd

Craig Cormick (mentor), Manager Enabling Technologies, Public Awareness and Community Engagement, Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education

Paul Willis ( mentor), Director, RiAus

Susannah Eliott  (mentor), CEO, Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC)

Bernie Hobbs (mentor), Science Broadcaster, ABC

Yen Heng (mentor), Science Communications Manager, National Measurement Institute

Adam Spencer (mentor), Radio Presenter, ABC

 

Concurrent Session 1C Professional Development; Seven step process for making a Communication Plan

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The best ideas will be lost if people never see them.

Ideas and research results need to be communicated if they are to have impact. Not to communicate is to diminish the value of a research project. People won’t appreciate the capacity of your organisation or research because they have not heard about its work. Staff and colleagues will lack a clear sense of direction.  Poor communication causes ignorance and confusion. 

This session sets out seven practical steps to designing a communication plan, a sure-fire way to add value to any research.

Jenni Metcalfe (session leader), Director, Econnect Communication

Toss Gascoigne (session producer and leader), Director, Toss Gascoigne and Associates