ASC2018 - 11-15 Nov, Sydney

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Sci Comm Cabaret: Creative Science Communication in the Pub

When: Sunday 11th November, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Where: 3 Wise Monkeys Pub (upstairs), 555 George Street, Sydney
Hashtag: #s3

Free for conference delegates (RSVP during registration) or purchase separately.

Register now!

Science Communicators from around the country show off their creative approaches to communication in an informal setting, to start the conference off with a bang.

Expect Stand Up, Stories, Songs, Poetry and more from all walks of science in this no-holds-barred night celebrating innovation in sci comm, and a love of science delivered with truly entertaining style.

A great chance to make new connections, catch up with old colleagues and get inspired for the conference.

Lineup

Dr Phil Dooley (Phil Up On Science) wants to know what Schrodinger’s cat thinks about still being in a box 100 years later.

Heather Catchpole‘s poetry will make you smile, frown and dance like Gloria Gaynor.

Michael Mills‘ alter-ego Professor Flint frequently causes dinosaur stampedes.

Petr Lebedev doesn’t bother doing science communication, he gets artificial intelligence to do it -Imagine Carl Sagan and William Shakespeare in a blender.

JT Yeung is going to tell us the story of the Indian frog prince who could fight viruses.

Dr Michael Leach’s science poems are pub-tested with a collective called “The Write Stuff” and in the 2018 Bendigo Writers Festival.

When energy is supplied in the form of Swing Dancing music, Rachel Rayner undergoes Lindy Hop phase transition from solid to liquid to gas.

Wildlife monitoring student Shannon Panuska has some koala-ty StandUp to share.

Ecological hip hop artist Dave Wong likes chatting with endangered goannas.

Presenter slots still available, contact philuponscience@gmail.com to get involved.

Keep tabs on the conversation and express your interest on the Facebook event here.

Purchase separately ($10 or $5 for members) or free for conference delegates (RSVP during registration).

Register now!

**This is a public event. Register to save your seat!**

Share on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/848630658859692/

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Including Scientists in SciComm

When: Tuesday 13th November, 9:15am – 11:15am
Where: Theatrette, Level 2 behind the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #T3

This session will explore the range of different ways Questacon engages and collaborates with scientists and STEM professionals. It will highlight how this collaboration can create richer and more genuine engagement opportunities for students and the general public, connecting them to relevant STEM ideas and challenges. It will also show how this collaboration can create a learning experience for the involved scientist/STEM professional.
Examples include:

  • Questacon’s Regional Invention Conventions using STEM professionals to pose design and innovation challenges to students, giving them a problem to solve with real world connection
  • Boutique Botanical Teacher PD, developed alongside the 2017 ACT Scientist of the Year to bring plant science into the classroom.
  • Mind in Residence program, using local academics to develop new content within Questacon in the form of shows and demonstrations, helping bring cutting edge science to the public
  • Enterprising Australians web portal, using STEM professionals to tell stories of innovation, becoming inspiration for the next generation of innovators

Session

Case studies: Cultural Institutions and Festivals

Presenters

Broderick Matthews, A/g National Programs Manager, Questacon

Amelia Coman, Special Activities and External Liaison Officer, Questacon

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New Role for Science in Science Communication – Lessons to learn from analyzing CCS media coverage in Germany

When: Tuesday 13th November, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #T12

The analysis of the media coverage of CCS in daily newspapers from 2004 to 2014 of CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) provided new insight into the role of science and science public relations (PR) within the public debate. While CCS is linked to various industry sectors, such as cement and steel production, the German debate predominantly focused on the coal and energy branches. CCS, while it is an important issue within the context of climate-change mitigation options, has played a major role in the agendas of scientists, researchers, and engineers. Nevertheless, CCS media coverage in Germany was dominated by other stakeholder groups. The analysis showed, that science has lost its role as a proactive actor within science communication. It seems, that new approaches for future science PR has to be deduced to strengthen, once again, the role of science communication. Among these approaches, it is important to pursue a more differentiated understanding of target audiences and regional concerns. Science PR has to accept that science itself is no longer the only stakeholder and actor within science communication.

Session

Evidence-based scicom: Research exploring new and social media

Presenter

Simon Schneider, Universität Potsdam, Institut für Erd- und Umweltwissenschaften

 

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The missing link for STEM diversity

When: Tuesday 13th November, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Where: L1, Level 2 to the left of the registration/foyer area, down the hallway and through the doors on the right
Hashtag: #T14

A diverse science, technology, engineering and mathematics skilled workforce is critical for innovation, entrepreneurism and a competitive national economy. Not everyone from multifarious backgrounds who have passion for STEM and scientific research remain in the workforce. They also don’t consider STEM research and occupations as an employment choice. In a substantial number of cases one of the many reasons for this trend is the ability to communicate their concepts and also the ability to understand scientific concepts. The wider research community in the STEM sector has emphasised that the reasons for ‘brain drain’ need to be better understood. But more importantly, we need to bring back the tide of highly specialised, highly trained individuals leaving research by providing them with some valuable tools, mentoring and networking opportunities in the wider successful STEM network base.

The line-up of successful researchers from well represented multicultural and diverse backgrounds in this session will talk about the strength of diversity and discuss how to fill the missing links.

Session Producer, MC

Dr Astha Singh, Vice President | ASC NSW, ASC

Presenter

Associate Professor Devanshi Seth, Principal Scientist, RPA Hospital and Clinical Associate Professor, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney

Dr Noushin Nasiri, Lecturer at School of Engineering, Macquarie University

Alfonso Ballestas-Barrientos, PhD Candidate, Laboratory of Advanced Catalysis for Sustainability, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney

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Permission to be Bold: Art-Science Engagement

When: Tuesday 13th November, 9:15am – 11:15am
Where: L1, Level 2 to the left of the registration/foyer area, down the hallway and through the doors on the right
Hashtag: #T4

Communicating science and technology research that has societal impacts can be challenging. Individuals engage with research from diverse points of view, and some communication, event and activity formats do not incorporate or acknowledge these different personal and cultural narratives. This can exclude or discourage audiences, or miss opportunities to reach new ones.

This interactive workshop will explore how art science collaborations can offer a different way to engage audiences with such research. With a ground-up introduction, selected examples from world practice, collaborative activities, and take-home tips from experienced facilitators, participants can dip a toe into the excitement, challenge and rigour involved in facilitating, producing or participating in art-science collaborations.

Session Producers/Workshop Facilitators/Presenters

David Robertson, Lecturer, Monash University

Lizzie Crouch, Senior Coordinator of Engagement, SensiLab, Monash University

Presenter

Nathan Harrison, Performer and Writer, Applespiel

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Communicating Climate Change and other Complex and Contested Content

When: Tuesday 13th November, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Where: Theatrette, Level 2 behind the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #T13

Join climate change communicators to discuss the latest approaches to communicating controversial research. The panel will draw from perspectives and case studies from university centres of excellence, government research organisations, communication consultancies, and non-profit organisations. You’ll obtain specific suggestions on the use of infographics, video and other innovative communication approaches, ideas about campaign timing, and guidance on drawing from a robust foundation of science to effectively communicate in complex and contested domains.

MC

Simon Torok, Director, Scientell

Panel

Paul Holper, Director, Scientell

Karen Pearce, Director, Bloom communication, and communicator for the National Environmental Science Program’s Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub

Martin Rice, Acting CEO and the Head of Research, Climate Council

Alvin Stone, Media and Communication Manager, ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes

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Informal post conference drinks

When: Wednesday 14th November, 6:00pm onwards
Where: Pumphouse Restaurant and Bar, 17 Little Pier St, Darling Harbour

Not finished mingling and having fun yet? Then join us for a drink at the Pumphouse Restaurant and Bar.  The ASC NSW branch will be providing some snacks whilst you continue to discuss the amazing content that has been on display at the conference for three days.

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STEMpunk Podcast: Live at ASC

STEMPUNKWhen: Tuesday 13th November, 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Hashtag: #T7

STEMpunk podcast investigates what STEM is, who does it, and why.

The format of the show is like a panel show where we ask Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths questions, as well as a question from our previous guests. STEMpunk has also run a number of successful live quiz and trivia events.

STEMpunk is not like most other Science podcasts, choosing to interview not only people people involved in STEM, but others outside as well. And for those involved in STEM, we ask them questions about things outside of STEM. We have interviewed some fantastic guests like Dr Katie Mack, Dr Karl, Dr Margaret Wertheim and Professor Brian Schmidt.

This session will be an informal chat with the STEMpunk hosts interviewing expert practitioners at the ASC conference about what STEM is, and who does it. The hosts will encourage audience participation and questions to make the podcast as interesting and conversational as possible.

This session will be released as an episode for the STEMpunk podcast.

http://stempunkpodcast.blogspot.com.au/

Session Producer/Session Chair/Presenter

Tom Gordon, Producer/Host, STEMpunk

Presenters

Christie Mcmonigal, Host, STEMpunk

Shane Hengst, Host, STEMpunk

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Who to believe? How epistemic cognition can inform science communication

When: Wednesday 13th November, 8:40am – 9:10am
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #T1

Two patients with the same condition decide to research possible treatments. They encounter multiple sources, from experts and others, each with different – sometimes contradictory – information. Depending on whom they believe and how they integrate these claims, the patients may make radically different decisions. These situations are commonplace in everyday life, from medical choices, to our voting decisions. How do we understand these differences, and support people in making the best decisions?

Epistemic cognition provides one lens onto this problem. Epistemic cognition is the study of how people think about the justification, source, complexity, and certainty of knowledge. When we evaluate evidence, think about where and when it applies, and connect claims to build models, we engage our epistemic cognition. Understanding how people navigate their own, and others’ knowledge is one of the most pressing social issues of our time in order to develop a sustainable society. I’ll draw on research in epistemic cognition, and my own research on how people search for and talk about evidence, to flag key implications of epistemic cognition research for science communication.

Session Producer

Isabelle Kingsley, PhD candidate, Science Communication, University of New South Wales

Invited Speaker

Dr Simon Knight, Lecturer, Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation, University of Technology Sydney

 

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Taking your presentation skills to the next level

When: Tuesday 13th November, 11:45am – 12:45pm
Where: Theatre, Level 2 down the stairs to the right of the registration/foyer area
Hashtag: #T6

The key to the art of presentation is knowing it’s a dictatorship, and you are in control.

Dr Karl will take you on a fun guided tour through how to deliver a Powerpoint/Keynote presentation. There will be tips and tools to help you engage your audience, from simple microphone technique to how to blend content and segues to generate humour.

Learn the skills to take your audience on a science journey to remember from one of the country’s most experienced presenters.

Session Producer/Chair

Dr Phil Dooley, ASC National Co-Vice-President, Phil Up On Science

Workshop Facilitator/Presenter/Performer

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Julius Sumner Miller Fellow for Sci Comm, University of Sydney

Australian Science Communicators

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Questions? Please contact Kali on asc2018@asc.asn.au.

Acknowledgements

© 2018 Australian Science Communicators

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