Tag Archives: day 3

Concurrent Session 7D Imagining the future: Science informing future vision

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From Star Trek to NASA many of today’s innovations grew from unintended applications, science fiction and future predictions. With so much change projected over the next 50 years through population and resource pressures, climate impacts and technologic innovation, how does science communicate a novel and uncertain future? Questions held to the end for discussion.

Liese Coulter (session producer & chair), Knowledge Communication Manger, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF).

Phoebe Bond (presenter), Emerging writer and Communications and Marketing Officer, Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research (VCCCAR)

Bobby Cerini (presenter), Science Communication Consultant and Public Engagement Specialist, CPAS

Cris Kennedy (presenter), Manager of Public Programs, CSIRO Discovery Centre and Director of the SCINEMA

John Clarke (presenter), Scientist, CSIRO

Concurrent Session 7C Professional Development; Participatory evaluation of the ASC conference

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This session will give science communicators practical experience with a method for evaluating science communication activities, while contributing to evaluation of the ASC conference itself.

Participatory evaluation is a concept relevant to science communication on multiple levels. Science communication theory has moved from a top-down model to two-way engagement – evaluation of science communication activities should share this model of best practice. This session forms part of Cobi Smith’s PhD research at ANU. An information sheet about this research is available below; this information and consent forms will be handed out at the start of the session.

Pre-conference materials

Research Participant Information Sheet (PDF)

http://www.hfrp.org/evaluation/the-evaluation-exchange/issue-archive/participatory-evaluation/what-is-participatory-evaluation-pe-what-are-its-roots

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPOVERTY/EXTISPMA/0,,contentMDK:20190347~menuPK:412148~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384329,00.html

http://nzaidtools.nzaid.govt.nz/sites/default/files/tools/0953358.pdf

Cobi Smith (session producer and facilitator), 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.

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

Rod Lamberts (facilitator), Deputy Director, Australian National Centre for Public  Awareness of Science ANU

 

Concurrent Session 7B Science Art: A dialogue about the value of art in Communicating science

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“Can you really get the story from a picture in a magazine.” or hanging on a wall, or projected across the side of a Westfield, or sung by two musicians suspended from the flag pole at open day?  Where does science art simply become art and how can we best use the nature, aesthetic and audience of art to get a more serious science centric message across?

Pre-conference materials:

Body Fluid II  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5Q06A2iqfE

iHeartJazz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMJQ9p3N1XA&feature=related

Subsoma http://www.michaeladavies.net/subsoma/

Faraday’s Candle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4jqZKe7sq4

Derek Williamson (session producer & speaker), Museum Manager, University of New South Wales

Chris Krishna-Pillay (session producer and speaker), Producer/Director, ChrisKrishna-Pillay.com

Vicki Gardiner (speaker), Operations Manager, Marinova Pty Ltd

John A Douglas (speaker), Intermedia Artist

Concurrent Session 7A The War on Science

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THE WAR ON SCIENCE – LESSONS FROM THE TRENCHES.

Is there really a war against science – and if so, who is waging it, and what can be done about it?

This participatory session will begin with the outcomes of a recent workshop on the War on Science, held inCanberrain December 2011, addressing issues related to climate change and other contentious sciences; influencers of public debates; and how the public react to science stories that challenge their established values. It will then seek participant input to discuss the issues raised, see how relevant they are or not to wider science communicators, and then seek to further develop practical outcomes that can be used in science communications

Pre-conference materials

War on Science PDF (Background Material)

War on Science PDF2 (Background Material)

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/ockhamsrazor/a-scientific-view-of-non-scientific-beliefs/3593910

http://technyou.edu.au/2011/11/risk-science-unplugged-why-do-smart-people-believe-dumb-things/

http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/features/online/4197/a-scientific-view-non-science-beliefs?page=1

Craig Cormick (session producer, facilitator and presenter), Manager of Public Awareness and Community Engagement, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

Plenary 11 Science to Policy: War Stories From the Heart of The Action

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Science Communication in Australia is getting political. Whether we like it or not, we’re more and more likely to be forced to communicate our science in a complicated and often fractious political environment. This panel discussion brings together leading voices from the political end of science communication and science advocacy to discuss the current state of the relationship between science and policy formation, and how we as science communicators can conquer this environment. This session would be of most benefit to those working to communicate politically contentious science, those working at the science / policy interface, or those who care about the future of this country.

Will Grant (session producer & facilitator), Lecturer and Researcher, Australian National University 

Anna-Maria Arabia (panellist), CEO, Science Technology Australia.

Tony Peacock (panellist), CEO, CRC Association

Kylie Walker (panellist), Director Communications and Outreach, Australian Academy of Science

Plenary 9 “Discoveries Need Dollars: Protect research”: A case study of a successful science advocacy campaign

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Initiated by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in March 2011, the “Discoveries Need Dollars” campaign was a response to the threat of budget cuts by the Federal Government. The campaign’s aim was to protect health and medical research funding in Australia.

The grassroots campaign made extensive use of social media, and developed a strong presence on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to reach, inform and motivate supporters.

The panel will discuss the design and implementation of the campaign, the communications strategies used and ways to continue the dialogue between science, society and policy decision makers.

Krystal Evans (session producer & panellist), Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 

Will Grant (facilitator), Lecturer and Researcher, Australian National University 

Ms Penny Fannin (panellist), Strategic Communications and Marketing Manager, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research    

Dr Rachael Dunlop (panellist), Research and Communications Officer, The Heart Research Institute

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